The Gatekeeper's Challenge by Eva Pohler

Author:Eva Pohler [Pohler, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Green Press/Eva Pohler
Published: 2012-11-27T00:00:00+00:00

“If Hades hadn’t already made this deal with you, I might have intervened, but now I can’t risk turning my brother against me over this minor matter.”

Than looked across the room at his mother and grandmother, seated on their double throne. His mother was in tears, his grandmother holding her hand and comforting her.

“Can’t you just forget this girl?” Artemis suddenly said.

He knew the virgin goddesses would never understand him, so he turned to Aphrodite and Hera, natural enemies most of the time, and silently prayed to them. “Aphrodite, goddess of love, stand by me. Queen Hera, patron of all wives and mothers, feel my aching heart.”

Hera’s face softened. Than thought she would speak, but it was Hermes who crossed the room to Than’s side. “These two lovers won’t give up. Therese is willing to fight for Thanatos. I say let her. Thanatos is willing to accept the consequences of breaking his oath. What more is there to say? If he’ll withstand the maenads and exile for the rest of eternity, justice will be served.”

Persephone stood from her throne. “Justice? I’m so sick of justice! What happened to mercy? Two souls love one another. Why can’t we let them be happy?”

Aphrodite stood and said, “Hear, hear!”

The room roared with angry voices until Zeus’s thundering growl silenced them. “To answer your question, Persephone, there are too many interests at stake. The girl had her chance to avenge her parents’ death last summer. She made her choice. The court agreed on a plan of action. The power of this court would be undermined if we didn’t uphold its decisions.”

“Hear, hear!” Ares said, mocking Aphrodite with a mischievous smile.

“This discussion is over,” Zeus commanded. He stood from his throne and left the room by way of his chamber door, directly behind his throne.

Than went to his mother and grandmother. “Trust me. Don’t make any more trouble for me here.”

“The thought of my son being torn to pieces every year…”

“Please, Mother.” He kissed the top of her head and then crossed the room to Hephaestus.

“Sir, you made a sword and shield for Therese last summer. Do you know what became of them?”

Hephaestus put a hand on Than’s shoulder, smiled kindly—his ugly, misshapen face taking on a kind of beauty—and said, “I have them in my forge. I recovered them from the battleground. I don’t like to see my handiwork wasted. Listen, I’m sorry for your troubles. And if there’s anything I can do to help, I will. I hate that dastardly god of war, for reasons I’m sure you know, and like my wife, I like to see lovers united in marriage.”

Than smiled for the first time that day.

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