195. I Told Him About Metis’s Visit
I Told Him About Metis’s Visit
How she arrived in her gilded glory.
How she looked every inch the God-Queen.
How she had taken my hand and asked
me if I could have goddesshood would I take it?
How taking the side
of the Olympians would guarantee it.
She claimed Zeus was unlike his father,
and how even now, it was not too late.
Not too late to join their side.
How they had a need for Pallas too.
That his weaponry would be mighty
and not like the cumbersome,
poorly made adamantine sword
she wore at her waist now.
When I looked up to meet his eyes,
I saw all of it there.
The sorrow,
the fury,
but worst of all,
the betrayal.
‘You promised me’ – his voice was hoarse
with a tempered wrath – ‘that you would
never keep a secret from me.
Not ever again.’
‘And you never kept secrets from me?’
My voice rose sharply.
‘Why did you never tell me of Asteria’s
daughter, Hekate?’
Pallas ran his hand through his hair,
frustration making his fingers tremble.
‘What good would it do for you to know
of a child you may never meet?’
I retreated back from him in revulsion.
‘Who are you to make such decisions
for me? She is my niece, my friend’s daughter!’
Pallas’s eyes met mine and I saw molten fury.
‘I am not the one who has kept secrets
that could win or lose us the war!’
My split eyes flashed as I hissed,
‘And when was I supposed
to tell you of what happened,
when you are never here?’