111. Lessons in Cartography
Lessons in Cartography
It was Perses who spoke in the end.
Perses who saw what we needed was hope.
He took Asteria’s and Leto’s hands
and made a promise to them both.
‘We will find her. We will bring her home.’
Pallas held me while I wept.
Did Metis blame me too?
Did she know I knew the secret
and kept it from her too?
She was the only Oceanid sister
I had ever loved and I had never told her
for I thought it would keep her safe.
Now she was gone, and all I wanted
was to let her know this was all for her.
That keeping her a secret protected her.
Pallas spoke quietly. ‘We need a map.’
Coeus turned to him. ‘A map of where?’
Pallas smiled. ‘Everywhere.’
Coeus folded his hands,
and from between his fingers appeared light.
He drew in the air, the beam gleaming
in the darkness of the chambers,
and he showed us his map of the seas,
the stars, and the soil.