--- Goddess of the Underworld Dilia POV

The land of the dead is now on high. I stylise my servants with wings of black feathers, their tools of the trade scythes harvesting spirits and souls instead of wheat and release them once again upon the world, directing them towards the furless ones, the humans, as the harvest amongst them is the most bountiful. Conveniently a craft that glides across the turbulent waters of the great ocean when attacked yields a good bounty of these humans each time as they try to cling onto life and fail. I feel no remorse because they aren’t Beast Kin, yet do provide a yield so nevertheless valuable.

I claim the Sky Realm. I am above the fray, no longer bound to the land and underneath … and therefore call upon the System to recognise my new Realm.

“We cannot grant your request,” he replies in a non-emotional functional tone.

I begin to pace about my palace of white and black marble stone.

“You can’t or won’t oh great system?”

“Can’t. Another is walking your continent who worships a God, and this intruder God claims that Realm.”

Did they say another? Does that mean one? One worshipper has a prior claim because they worship an Intruder God. What is an Intruder God?

“What if they … erm died?”

“Your claim could be processed, a Realm swap of Soil to Air easily accomplished. Your Priests already practice the burning of the dead so the spirit and soul can symbolically rise, rather than the burial of their bodies and descent into the soil. An obvious Realm mismatch, one which the System would be supportive of changing.”

“Most gracious of you, System. I will investigate further.”

The System is there and now … not.

I call to all my agents; they must divert from harvesting and locate the one with an affinity for the Air Realm.

--- Cale Exsmith, Head Overseer of Queensport.

The sea breeze causes my loose linen shirt to billow while the crashing of waves muffles the heavy breathing of the ten sailors following me as they now pause, bent over, hands on their knees. My waterproof soft leather knee-high boots sink into the wet sand of the beach but not enough to worry while I scan the beach towards the cliff face of the mountains for the umpteenth time. Where has the Shrine of Aphrodite gone? I am certain we haven’t journeyed too far, yet I doubt. None of the ten with me have visited the Shrine before and upon reflection perhaps a mistake on my part, yet such a construct is obvious, was obvious previously.

I wave them to follow. This time though I walk. The wet sand gives way to dry, and each footfall requires extra effort to make progress. Upon reaching the cliff face, we begin the journey back, the dry sand sapping our strength with each step.

Middle of the morning we come across a huge tumult of sand, a hole, heavy depressions in the sand in the form of crude footprints and these clues point to an obvious answer. The giant of stone was once the Shrine of Aphrodite, it is the only explanation. I have been a fool, why didn’t I pick up the trail from the landward gates of Queensport?

Leading my ten we jog towards the ocean and then once upon wet sand we race along the beach. I hope I am not too late as I wish to be part of the negotiations. If not negotiations, then perhaps my men and I could possibly tip the balance in favour of one side or another. My sailors and I carry pikes, the longest we could requisition, and we don’t wear armour because a blow from the stone giant would kill regardless, and our efforts needed to go into avoidance while maintaining our distance from either the stone giant or the flesh giant.

--- Arnora, Priestess of Zeus POV

Using my strength, I dig out a shelf like seat to make myself comfortable. I refuse to continue any discussion while hanging from a cliff face. For his part, he seems to assist by compacting any stone and I am, despite myself impressed with the result. A throne of stone, with armrests and a high back which is set back into the mountain proper and generous in size.

“Comfortable?”

I nod as I shimmy back into my throne while placing my elbows upon the armrests and rest my chin upon my intertwined fingers.

“Why is Aphrodite your enemy?” I ask as I take in the view of the wide blue expanse of water, an ocean the humans name it and the waves crashing upon the sand beach oblivious and keeping their rhythm ignorant of our purpose.

He explains in minute detail, every hurt, every affront, and every insult. I don’t interrupt because I am playing for time. There is no way my son wouldn’t even now be returning to me. Occupants, let alone the town guard would have reported the unusual sight of one giant chasing the other and spread the tale.

“Priestess?”

His call returns me to the present. My prayer to Zeus goes unanswered even though I have been in ceremony for the entire time of his speech.

“Your grievances are certainly many and of significant importance, mine are more basic.” I lounge back into my stone throne, arms resting upon the armrests. “Aphrodite once served my God and then betrayed him, and he seeks recompense.”

“What is the name of your God? What are his Realms of Authority?”

There is an eagerness in his voice, yet I don’t doubt this question is also a test. He is trying to confirm what he has been told by others, especially the importance of Realms, otherwise, why would he ask specifics? I see no reason to conceal the power of Zeus, Ruler of the Olympic Pantheon. In fact, I must impress this strange being to ensure he becomes a tool of Zeus …

“Zeus is his name, Ruler God of the Olympic Pantheon, his avatar that of a wise human with long white flowing beard, commanding the Realm of Mastery, which in turn presides over and influences the Realms of Man, Sky and Lightning. Some name him the furious Storm God, yet in my dealings, he is the wise elder.”

His stone form remains motionless, yet the tone of his voice is inquisitive. “You are a Priestess, so lead me to your Temple and your followers. I would want to impress them and determine you and your God’s worth.”

A reasonable request, yet impossible, so I reply with the truth. “That is in part why the mighty Zeus wishes to destroy Aphrodite. Once a Priestess of Zeus herself, she stole his worshippers and made them her own, thereby raising herself and casting Zeus aside. I am the foundation stone upon which Zeus will rebuild in this world. We will forsake the ignorant Beast Kin and appeal to the humans we have found. Zeus’ likeness a perfect match and therefore initial acceptance almost a given and his rise amongst them assured.”

I hate that he is made of passive stone, only from his voice can I discern any deeper message beyond his plain words, while I must school my face and voice to perfection to avoid betraying any clues, especially Zeus’ weak presence on this world.

“Mother, Priestess I am in sight of you. Instructions?” My son, Zeus’ Prophet thought speaks to me, and I sense his concern. Yet he holds back instead of charging in. Where has he grown this wisdom from, I ask myself, yet thankful?

“Stay hidden for now, I am negotiating.”

“So, in essence, you must start from nothing, and you intend to bring religion to the humans of this world?” He pauses, which concerns me. “And you believe his human appearance will be enough … interesting. Mastery of Man, Sky and Lightning doesn’t seem to offer your potential worshippers much, erm incentive.”

My hands wrap around the ends of the armrests assisting me to maintain a surface level of calm, ‘incentive’ he says. Zeus is the Ruler God of his Pantheon, he can command all others, leverage their Realms if need be … I throw out a sweet smile, forcing the edges of my lips to obey.

“You underestimate the full power a Ruler God can leverage, especially when the entire Pantheon of Olympus arrives to educate and support the humanity in this world. Those humans who are upon the Beast Kin shores I am certain a drop in the ocean compared to the total number of humans on this planet and when a great majority of them worship Zeus his power will be incalculable. He offers those who rise in his service Mastery over Men, while he can punish by casting down any enemies with lightning because none will escape his sky-bound view.”

“When is not now though?” He snaps back with the quickest reply I have so far heard from him. Too quick. Of all those words, he decided on the present situation to judge Zeus, not the potential. Didn’t he say at the outset he had time? Is this being dim-witted?

“Take me and another to the land of humans and you will see us sway humanity to the worship of Zeus and as an ally you will be able to share in the bounty which is certain to follow.”

His stone head looks up. I only notice this movement after completion, at the edge of my vision … what does this foreshadow? His hands reach for his waist, and he leans back, slightly. Then I hear a burst of boisterous laughter beside me, behind me … everywhere!

He calms down, ending in a low drawn out, umm. “I could walk there, if I must, you though would somehow need to convince the humans in the nearby township to load your large self aboard a ship and sail south. Sailors being a superstitious lot, I would like to be there when you try to convince them.” I can almost hear the derision in his voice. “Alas Priestess of Zeus, while you would be a good addition to my power, I believe you would serve me best as a distraction and annoyance for Aphrodite, an enemy of my enemy sort of thing. So, with that in mind, I bid you farewell …”

I call out to him, yet his stone form now lumbers off. If he projects his hearing or voice, he simply ignores me, but I suspect he has cancelled the magic he was using, or perhaps redirects. What now? I believe Hrut and I must beat Aphrodite to the human lands, in fact, skip this township, and in haste board a craft and travel across the ocean. That way all of humanity will be within our grasp, instead of this tiny portion.

“Return to the township as a human and secure passage to their lands across the ocean Hrut. Given our weight book and pay passage for three and I will follow. Now go! I am certain the tale of the two giants will have many scrambling to leave on any available craft and you must join them.”

I hear the indecision in his thought speech and I soothe his worries as only a mother can.

He replies, “Return to the mine of the human mother and dig out the glittering ore, gold they call it. Crush it between your hands until pure. Gold is of value to these humans.” I catch his angst, his hesitation. “I obey my Priestess.”

Magus Drexel Marner lumbers down the beach, away from the township. His destination is unknown yet I believe everything he does is with purpose. I climb down and with effort resume my human disguise needing to follow my son’s instructions and possibly with some luck purchase passage on his craft and if not, another.

--- Fawn Exsmith, wife of the Head Overseer POV

Sand flicks upon my face, interrupting my concentration and as a result, my [Clairaudience] spell teeters on the edge of failing. With effort, I maintain the initial casting and slowly crane my head about in the direction of the distraction. I suck in a breath as I look upon a waist instead of a head. Another giant humanoid, glimpses of opaque white skin largely hidden beneath rough furs and fine metal armour. As my eyes scan upwards, his long yellow hair escapes a metal skullcap helm, while his beard is only beginning. The huge axe he leans on while crouching suggests youth or not he is capable of murderous violence. His eyes stare, unblinking … is he under a spell? His line of sight set firmly upon the Giant perched in a huge chair up the mountainside. Something I would have thought impossible except I bore witness to its formation.

My hiding place behind a couple of buried boulders, even though invisible, is more than perfect for a giant youth. I edge around our shared boulder until while still within sight I feel he wouldn’t be able to accidentally step on me. I then resume my listening. So far, they are negotiating an alliance. When he announced himself, I trembled, knowing before me, in another form is the mighty Magus Drexel Marner. With great relief, I watch as he laboriously walks along the beach, away from me, Cale and Queensport. Does he intend to walk all the way to them? I shake my head, impossible. I then notice the giant is no more and running from the boulders is a normal human, possibly a miner from his clothes … who and how? I shale my head. Do I follow?

I check on the female giant, she like me, feels somewhat safer with the Magus now a mere speck on the horizon and climbs down from her perch. What will be her next move? The Magus rejected her offer of an alliance … what? Where did she … another perfectly normal looking human now jogs away from where the giant should be … While their true form is that of a giant, they can pretend to be one of us. I must tell Cale. She is and perhaps the youth is as well, followers of Zeus, an Invader God, whatever that means, and I can only assume they are determined to establish the worship of their master in this world. Reaching for a crow’s feather I perform the required and well-practised intricate movements with hands and fingers and with a final chant cast [Fly] and rise into the air.

She is running up a path into a small valley in the mountain range while he is now one of several more humans greeting a patrol of some sort marching upon the wet sand of the lower beach. A flash of movement draws me back to the mountain range. I do a double-take. Is this possible? This does explain her haste though. A third white-skinned giant, large bushy yellow beard flapping in the sea breeze runs along the cliff face of the mountain, labouring in the soft sand, yet that isn’t the strangest part. In one arm he holds a human to him, her head resting on his shoulder, while in the other arm, or her tail around his arm is the Priestess of Aphrodite. I can only assume they pursue the Magus and I believe, good luck to them and I can only hope he is less potent now than his legend would otherwise suggest.

I arrive within sight of the patrol and instantly recognise my husband, who now orders his men to continue and follow him along the beach sticking to the wet sand. With the flick of my wrist, a thin strand of copper vaporises as I [Message] my husband.

“Send your men back, tell them you will follow them shortly.”

“Yes, wife.”

He slows to a stop and turns about. His mouth opens and closes while he waves back towards Queensport. His men don’t hesitate and with undue haste follow his order. I land beside him and invisible or not his arm is around my waist.

“The sand my dear.”

I lift one booted foot and then the other, the boot prints a dead giveaway of course, especially for him who expects me.

We take a stroll along the beach as the suns sets behind us, while I relay all that I have observed and overheard. Adding my analysis and possible meaning. I especially inform him of the miner he met and warn him that another guest will shortly be entering Queensport by the landward gate.

I feel the pressure on my waist and fold into his arms. His lips meet mine and he, of course, must look ridiculous embracing nothing, kissing nothing and I wonder what any observer would make of his tongue movements!

“Fly my wife and spy on the one in the mountains, I suspect she will join the other in good time, but if not, I must keep an eye on the other. His excuse was weak, returning from his mining claim yet I didn’t notice anything untoward at all. I asked one of my men to run and follow him and the rest of the patrol took up his urgency.”

I brush my fingers across his cheek. “Which God are we favouring husband? It is clear, these two followers are all who remain of Zeus’ religion upon our world, while Aphrodite has at least three who we have seen, yet her Cardinal’s magic is not a trifle of power, and many followers must be required to promote her to such heights.”

“Even invisible I appreciate your gentle touch.” He leans in like a cat demanding more and I smile while complying. “I believe the Magus will determine if Aphrodite and her Cardinal is a strong ally. She will either return or she won’t, while the other two we can simply follow and depending upon their next move act upon.” He releases me and takes a step back. “Now, fly my love and I am certain we will meet back in Queensport even though we follow separate quarry.”

I ruffle his hair and thankfully the [Invisibility] spell doesn’t consider my cheeky gesture an attack as I rise above him before his blind swing at me can connect.

Following the rough path between stunted trees and into a grotto I hold my position above well above her. There is no need to take any risks. With fascination, I observe her mine gold ore the giant way, although in human form. She disappears into the mining tunnel and returns with an impossible load of rock. She then crushes the rock between her hands to separate the gold ore from everything else. This continues until a human chest sized bag is full. Then I follow her back to Queensport.

The guard at the gate questions her and she decides to share some of the bounty with him, rather than delay in argument and I assume illustrate with such proof she has in fact been mining. Given the time required to mine such a load also proof she would be unaware of recent coming and going, especially rumours of giants of stone and flesh. Clever I judge her. She told her story with the calmness of truth reinforced with subtle magic, which was cast when he waved her forward and into the Guard Room.

She then hurries along the main path, which conveniently splits the township and leads directly to the docks. I watch as her eyes dart about, she wastes much effort avoiding everyone else and this deliberate action draws the attention of several pickpockets. She doesn’t elude them, she unknowingly I am certain, simply outruns them. The weight in her backpack, while I am convinced not felt by her, still drags down upon the shoulder straps and for the most part, stays in the same place upon her back. Two signs there is weight in the backpack.

I see his full head of bushy black hair move through the waiting crowd on the dock, he is circumspect in his approach towards her, yet must still hurry as he approaches on an almost perfect line, left-hand side, at an angle. He draws a short blade and places a finger on either side while the webbing in his hand provides the backstop. Within reach, she snaps around to face him. Her lips move and a hand waves. The muscles in his face relax, the blade between his fingers drops to the ground and he generally stands about as if lost or absent-minded. She pays him no heed heading for the last dockside ship.

“Three weights of gold or thirty king’s crowns for the last passage on the Evening Empress! Who wants onboard?”

“Robbery!” shouts more than one from the dock, yet she is drawn like a bee to a bright sunflower.

They exchange some words, and he instructs the ship’s marines to stand aside from the gangway. She hesitates. I don’t understand why at first, yet she is using magic to reduce her size and change her appearance, but this same magic mustn’t change her weight. I thought her footprints in the sand were overly deep, even in the wet sand and now her baulking at the gangway proves the fact. The sailors of course mistake her reluctance for another perfectly valid reason, fear of falling.

I prepare with a loop of leather for a [Levitate] spell. I can’t cast it upon her as I assume my [Invisibility] spell would count that as an attack. Upon the gangplank though should be neutral. The [Warp Wood] spell with this many eyes crowding the dock would be too obvious and resonate with the last unfortunate who fell. Now I just need to search for my husband in the crowd or upon his balcony … do I support her by levitating the gangplank or do I thwart her by applying additional downward pressure?

I have moments I am certain and then I spot him upon his balcony. I cast a [Message] spell.

“Do I ensure she crosses, or do I ensure she falls husband?”

He whispers back, “Crosses.”

I cast [Levitate] and support the gangplank as she edges her boots across without incident, although her first ginger step upon the deck still rolls the ship slightly. None in the dock-side crowd take any notice, yet several of the crew do. Her second step is countered by the waves trying to roll the ship against her, a lucky break if ever there was as the crew relax somewhat, my guess, is they think their sailoring instinct must have deceived them somehow.

Shortly after she smiles at the First Mate and swings her backpack from her shoulders. She scoops out a handful of gold dust from the depths of the bag and allows the fine ore to slip from the palm of her hand and onto a balancing scale. She needs to do this three times more before the pendulum steadies at the centre mark.

With a nod from the First Mate, the marines withdraw the gangplank and sailors untie the dockside ropes. He then shouts to the rest of the crew to make harbour sail while two waiting rowboat crews with oars out trailing ropes behind them stroke to pull the ship away from the dock. This last ship had calculated that those remaining would pay a high fee to escape if they delayed their departure. The delay meant no turn of the tide would be available to assist the ship to make for open waters, which was the reason for the two rowboat crews, nevertheless they needed to escape the harbour before the full force of the incoming tide or be trapped until the next turn.

The ship’s progress is slow, yet progress is progress as they painstakingly make their way from and eventually beyond the docks. Fortunately for them, a strong breeze rolls down from the mountains and fills their sails.

My husband and I watch every moment as this unlikely departure continues to progress.

“Why did you let them leave husband?”

He wraps his arm around my now visible waist. “I have sent a message to the Duke via what I believe is one of the fastest ships in the harbour so he can prepare for their arrival. He can judge for himself if he wishes to support them or not. For us, we wait and see if the Cardinal of Aphrodite returns to us. If she does, then we can send her on another ship if she so desires.”

I brush my lips across his. “You will confuse the Duke if he is sent two choices, my love.”

His lips part due to the wide sly smile he flashes at me. “Why dear, we can’t confuse the Duke, therefore I believe another should receive Aphrodite and her Priestess.” His nose rubs mine and then leans towards my ear. “I was thinking of the Emperor.”

I release a mischievous giggle like I am a teen again knowing a scandalous secret. “Why, my love?”

“I believe the Duke may never forgive us for eliminating his pet and once we are of no further use, we will be invited to a celebration of our own deaths.”

“You are forgoing fame and riches then husband? Are we forever to be big fish in this quaint town?”

We embrace and I welcome his passionate kiss, breathless we release each other’s lips and I lead him into his office. Once inside he spins me to face him once more, and I fly in a different sense to be caught in his loving embrace.

“I expect some recognition from our Duke, gifts, possibly coin and eventually an offer to join his service on his estates if he is successful in manipulating the Priestess of Zeus to support his scheme. I will refuse, citing I am content with my place and role, in a quiet backwater of the empire. If he insists then if the other port is still standing after the Magus visits and the Cardinal fails, we will escape to there and become loyal subjects of a rival Kingdom.”

“You would be satisfied with that?” I ask.

He strokes my hair. “For a time yes. Alternatively, the Cardinal may surprise, and the Emperor will certainly be appreciative of a counter to the Duke’s divinity with his own. I also favour Aphrodite as she has amongst her Realms Truth, while Zeus according to your eavesdropping is not bound by any such constraint.”

“A truthful Emperor? Will he be able to accept such a thing?”

“Doubtful I must agree, yet perhaps his heir will embrace the new religion fully and who knows this could benefit all of the Empire.”

I shake my head and drag my finger down his chin. “There is another alternative.” He raises his eyebrows. I smile. “We could fly across the mountains. There is a huge chair halfway up the mountainside cliff and I wouldn’t be surprised if such a well-placed landing area couldn’t be utilised to ensure two crafty humans utilising the [Fly] spell would reach the top of the mountain range and adventure beyond into a land of strange Beast Kin!”

--- Arnora, Priestess of Zeus POV

Two open my cabin door without knocking and I bolt upright in my modest ship’s bed. One closes the door while the other approaches, licking his lips.

“Where is the gold? A share and we will protect you from others who may entertain the same idea.” His partner snickers.

The backpack rests beyond my pillow under the threadbare sheets upon the bed. I reach for the bag and being such a weak female, I drop the bag at my still booted feet.

“You will need to measure a portion, the backpack is too heavy for the likes of me to move again,” I say, feigning weakness.

They exchange glances, the door holder waving the other forward. As he kneels to open the backpack, I grasp his head in my right hand, my palm flush with his bald pate, my fingers digging into the back of his skull. His hands grab at my wrist while his attempt to scream is cut off when I slam the side of my knee against his open jaw.

The jaw drops on his partner while his hands fall limp off the latch of my door. He takes a tentative step forward and glances at his now silent partner while I stand and wiggle my finger at him. His eyes stare into mine, one step, a second step, and my hand lunges for his throat. His eyes bulge as his hands flail at my wrist while I continue to clamp down.

His hands fall limp and now I have two corpses in my room. This will continue until there are no crew left to sail the ship. I am certain if I walked the deck, I would still be able to glimpse the human port we only just sailed from. I open the round window and test the one I hold by the throat – his head fits through. I feed his legs through first and before his hips wedge themselves, I place his chest on my shoulder and with a hand on each hip I crack the largest bone in a humanoid’s body and then feed his hips into the round window. I crush his rib cage and then push the rest of him through. The splash, feint, unable to compete with the crashing waves against the hull of the ship. I disposed of his companion similarly.

Reaching a decision, I throw my backpack on, exit my room and climb the stairs leading to the deck. The gold held no value to me and while this may change going forward, I needed live sailors to work the ship, therefore I would offer them all a generous bonus. Taking the last couple of steps, I notice a silence. No calls between the sailors, no bellowing orders from the First Mate …

As I scan the deck, all the sailors turn their heads in my direction and then point a finger in my direction. In full view my two corpses float towards me, they are transparent, yet dripping wet, huge wings of black feathers flap rhythmically behind them. I notice the water dripping from them doesn’t puddle upon the deck and quirk my head while trying to understand what this all means.

I hear bones crack and return my attention to my immediate surroundings. Two sailors have fallen to the deck writhing in pain, while four others are trying to grapple and manhandle me off the deck. I grab a head with each of my heads and fling them across the deck. Four more try to take hold of me, all attempting to push me towards the gunwale. I fling another two away and then feel the burn of numerous ropes, two around my neck, one manages to knot around a wrist, while more than one loops around my legs. I try to pull my roped wrist free and hear the creak of resisting wood. I grab the rope with my other hand to assist and the rope around my neck pulls taut dragging my head back and then the ropes around my legs snap tight and pull forward. In the background, I finally hear the First Mate as my back slams onto the deck and the wooden decking underneath cracks.

“Heave as if your lives depend upon it!”

With nothing left to lose I release the illusion revealing my Frost Giant body in all its glory. The rope around my neck doesn’t snap to my surprise and instead I gasp for breath. My legs though have plenty of slack and I kick out at these human vermin connecting more than once feeling and hearing bones crunch under my assault. I try to reach above my head to grab at the rope strangling me.

“Release the anchor, full sail!” he shouts.

I hear the splash of the anchor and feel the rope around a wrist snap taut along with the rope around my neck. My body slides towards the pulling and in response, I slam my heels down trying to break through the deck timbers. The strength in my legs fades, I flutter my eyes while unable to draw another breath.

Is this my doom? Falling foul to humans because they wanted an ore they value, gold? The amount which took no time at all to collect? I can’t help but feel the irony … I think I hear a splash, loud, I taste the saltwater and then blackness.

---

I am not alive. I am somehow aware, enough to know I should be rising towards a distant bright light, yet I am veering away. This is wrong … yet no amount of willpower or wishing brings me closer, instead, my awareness sails through a billowing black cloud. Once through I know I am somewhere else. Calmness washes over me, unasked for yet overwhelming.

A transparent outline of my Frost Giant body returns to me along with an awareness of where I am. A huge room, black and white marble pillars support a marble ceiling, half white and half black, the colour on each side holding for the walls and half the floor, meeting in the middle. My right foot stands upon the white half, my left foot stands upon the black half and lounging upon a grey throne of stone is a Fox Kin. I don’t know how I know she is called that. I hear my own voice and feel my body bow.

“You summoned me Dilia, Goddess of the Overworld and I heed your call. How may I serve you?”

She smiles exposing her tiny sharp teeth. “I needed to expend Divine Dominate to wrest you away from your master. For an Invader God, far from his Dominion your Zeus certainly wanted to reclaim your spirit. I apologise you needed to die over a squabble between Gods. Unfortunately, he held a Realm I needed, and you dear Priestess held his claim upon the Dominion.”

I straighten my body and catch a useless breath. “I don’t understand my Goddess.”

She waves a hand in my direction. “Confusing now, not forever. Explain to me everything you know about Zeus the Ruler God of the Olympians and what you know of them.”

Zeus? Olympians? I struggle at first as if the memories are on the tip of my brain, distant, yet slowly, they return. I am nervous given the delay, thinking Dilia the Goddess of the Underworld will grow impatient and yet there isn’t any hint of dissatisfaction. Once I start speaking, my memory returns upon need and somehow the retelling fills me with joy and purpose. At the end, I am left feeling a simple oneness. Zeus’s statue stands in the palm of my hand, speaking to me while the damp cavern around us fills with the tinkling of water and my son and I are in divine bliss. My Son!?