130. Conditions
Conditions
I was a nymph. My whole existence
was conditional to the whims
of the Gods, as I had learned.
But for the others,
conditions were a peculiarity.
Pallas and Perses both startled at this.
‘But what if she is doing something
that threatens the order of things?’
asked Perses, his deep voice rumbling.
Asteria stared at him as though
seeing him in a different light
for the very first time.
Atlas gave him an unexpected smile.
‘If she is disturbing the order
of things, then perhaps the order
is meant to be disturbed.’
At this, all three male divinities
looked perplexed.
But Leto, Asteria, and I understood
precisely what Atlas was suggesting.
Our fates were already written.
Metis could only do
what her destiny demanded.
Fate was inescapable, even for Goddesses.
I raised my head to look at Atlas.
‘If it is meant to be,’ I said quietly,
‘we will not stop her.
Please tell us where she is.’
Atlas thoughtfully picked
a star from a nearby tree.
‘You must travel
to the place where the light
and the darkness meet.’
Another riddle. I sighed.
Was this entire journey
simply full of riddles?
Even the child in my belly
did not appreciate this.
I turned to look at the others.
But it was Zephyrus
who spoke up.
‘You must call for Notus.
He is the only one who knows
the precise point
of the nocturnal and diurnal feast.’
And with this, he disappeared.