An Unexpected Ally by Sophia Kouidou-Giles

Author:Sophia Kouidou-Giles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press

EIGHTEEN

Once airborne, they soared and glided, taking advantage of winds and thermals above the earth. At first, Zeus’s eagle traveled high above the sea. His nape feathers fluttered in the wind, and Circe held on gently, resting her head on his soft plumage, glad that she had braided her hair that often lifted off her shoulders. They bonded their bodies to each other for the long day’s journey; she felt every shift of his wings and each change in direction as he rode wind currents and responded to sky drafts.

From time to time, she leaned to view the blue watery surface below, interrupted by rocks, islands, swaths of earth, and dots of ships crossing the Mediterranean. Her lips recited spells she fashioned to coax fair winds for the journey, mantras that echoed in the ether. Meeting seagulls in flight, she would sing out to the divine master of winds, “I summon your sacred wings to carry us along, peaceful Aeolus.” When strong thermals moved them along, she would urge, “Mighty winds, chart our way back home swiftly.”

The eagle tore the skies, flapping his powerful outstretched wings, with tip feathers spread and separated in a show of royal majesty. She looked around in wonder, her eyes sparkling. It had to be Zeus’s messenger. She muttered grateful praises to the father of all.

For a few minutes, her vision was blurry inside the gray mass of a cloud. Droplets of condensation formed on her body, giving her chills. Her father, Helios, was waiting to wrap her in his welcome radiant comfort as she cupped her eyes to protect them from the glare. She knew well that blurry state of mind. As she came out of it, the sun felt so steadying, so clarifying.

The eagle stayed in flight in a steadfast trajectory. By noon they were over the mainland. By dusk she sensed he was flying over the sea in lower altitudes. She could see surface currents following the whims of the wind and changing directions. She marveled at the beautiful earth below, with all humanity asleep and awake, doing and undoing. She loved them all, their struggles, their victories, their foils. Her days in Delos had awakened in her the awareness of sharing in their passions, and the beauty of their spirit. There was no place for the arrogance and disdain of Perse for mortals. Although she would never admit it, she loved them all, even this god, the heartbroken Glaucus. As the sun dipped behind the horizon line, Aeaea came into view, appearing so tiny, and her anticipation grew.

Zeus’s eagle surveyed the landscape and landed on the ground at the grove next to her palace. Elated, Circe climbed down onto terra firma, stretched her limbs, and extended her hands to the eagle in a gesture of appreciation. Her delicate lips were chapped from the sun and the winds, and her throat was dry. She clapped her hands to get her servants’ attention and walked to the crystal waters of a spring, filled her cupped hand, drank deeply, and then splashed water on her face.

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