Sacred Bride by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788632812
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2019-10-07T00:00:00+00:00

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We meet in a house in the town which Diomedes has managed to secure as lodgings. Bria and I enter a small upstairs room to find him and another Athena champion already present: Menestheus, king of Athens.

If there is a common characteristic among the theioi of Athena, it’s that we’re ruled by our heads. Even Diomedes, who isn’t outwardly a thinker, restrains his emotions with rationality. But in this turbulent world, we’re a minority. Most men, other theioi in particular, are ruled by the irrational forces of honour and ego.

That doesn’t always make us Athena-worshippers nice people, of course. Not even his mother would claim that for Menestheus, a lean and lordly man in his late twenties, wealthy and with a reputation as a cold-hearted horse-trader. He’s so reserved when we’re introduced, he’s bordering on disdain. I honestly can’t see him winning anyone’s heart, let alone Helen’s. But perhaps he won’t need to – his riches might be enough.

I’m puzzled why he hasn’t already married, when many men don’t expect to survive their thirties, but I’m guessing his ambition has caused him to wait for a better marriage than any he’s considered as yet, while his reluctance to risk himself in the ugly slaughter of battle gives him no urgency to breed before being cut down.

Menestheus clearly has little time for me: an outsider from a remote island with no wealth, few ships and a tiny army compared to his. And he knows Helen despises me. He also knows I was neck-deep in the Theseus kidnapping plot. He’s far more worried about being upstaged by Diomedes, who cuts a vastly more impressive figure as a warrior, is closer to Helen’s age, and is devastatingly handsome to boot.

And that’s us –Athena’s three most eligible champions. There are others, but they don’t have either the birth or the brawn to make them realistic candidates for Helen’s hand.

We’re joined in our meeting by an old woman from Tiryns who I met last year. Teliope is one of Athena’s precious avatars – someone who can house the goddess’s spirit for a worthwhile period of time. When we’ve placed guards outside the door and locked it, Teliope intones a prayer. Within moments, her spine straightens, her grey hair becomes lustrous and her green eyes go grey. A silver helmet appears on her head and an owl shrieks, somewhere in the night outside.

We raise our arms in supplication. Athena surveys us gravely, then indicates the chairs arranged around the walls. ‘Please, sit,’ she says in a cool, resonant voice.

Diomedes gazes at her with worshipful, even puppy-like devotion – he’s both a believer, and madly in love with her. It won’t do him any good; she’s a virgin goddess. Menestheus is reverent and nervous, as though he doesn’t know how to react to someone who outranks him. Bria’s laconically obedient, while I’m measured and watchful. Athena knows I have another allegiance – to Prometheus – something she chose to live with when she claimed me and awakened my theioi powers.

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