by P. C. Cast
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
"I was wrong,” Venus said, bursting into Hera’s private chamber.
“Was? I believe the correct word is ‘am,’ as in ‘I am wrong to disturb you in your chamber, my queen. ’ ”
“I know, I know. I wouldn’t have bothered you except I do believe it’s an emergency,” Venus said, conjuring ambrosia out of the air.
“What has happened? Do not tell me your little mortal who’s in Polyxena’s body has gotten herself almost killed again. By Zeus’s beard! This Trojan War gets more and more annoying by the day. ”
“No, Kat’s fine. It’s Athena. ”
Hera had been reclining on a velvet and gold chaise, delicately nibbling sugarcoated, ambrosia-soaked grapes, but Venus’s proclamation had her sitting straight up in concern. “What is it? What has happened to Athena?”
“She has had sex with Odysseus. ”
Hera blinked once, twice, then shook her head as if to clear it. “I could not have heard you correctly. I thought you said Athena has had sex with Odysseus. ”
“That is exactly what I just said. ” Venus sat on the chaise next to Hera and conjured a glass of ambrosia for her queen. “I was keeping an eye on the Greek camp. I mean, we certainly don’t want another debacle like the attempt on Kat’s life. ”
“Of course—of course, you must be diligent. What did you see?”
“Sex. Between Odysseus and Athena. On the beach. ” Venus spoke in shocked little bursts between sips of ambrosia. “She conjured a satin blanket for them. It was actually very romantic, if slippery. ”
“You watched after you knew who they were?”
“Of course not!” Venus drank her wine, not meeting Hera’s eyes. “Though I can tell you, from the little I saw, that Odysseus is very, um, enthusiastic. ”
“Well, good for Athena. She has been far too serious for far too long. ” Hera lifted one slim brow at Venus. “And this is what you’re saying you were wrong about? I’m surprised at you. How many times have I heard you rail at Athena that she needed to orgasm, she needed to loosen up, she needed this, that and the other. Now she’s finally got some of the ‘other’ and you think it’s a problem? You, Goddess of Love, do not make sense. ”
“I wanted her to do all of that with Odysseus before we decided to step into the Trojan War on the side of the Trojans. After what happened on the beach tonight do you think Athena is going to allow Odysseus and his men to be defeated?”
“Oh no. ”
“That is my point. So we’ve gotten Achilles out of the way and set up events to bring about the end of the war. Now here comes the Goddess of War, firmly behind Odysseus’s firm behind. Even if she only manipulates things without actually stepping into the battle, she will more than equal the absence of Achilles. ”
“Perhaps you should have a little talk with your mortal. If we sent Achilles back into the fray along with Athena’s influence, I imagine the war would end quickly. And that is what we wanted,” Hera said, sighing heavily. “Though the thought of that wretched Agamemnon being victorious certainly rankles me. ”
“I suppose I could…” Venus said.
“You suppose you could, but?”
“But I’ve also been watching Achilles and Katrina. They’re in love,” Venus said.
“And this is important to me because?”
“Because if Kat loves him she won’t be willing to send him to his death. Remember that little prophecy about Achilles being killed before the Trojan walls after he kills Hector?”
“Your modern mortal is but one player in this drama. I will not allow her to get in the way of what needs to be done,” Hera said.
“Hera, you have, of course, had dealings with modern mortals, and you do visit Tulsa to see your son from time to time, I know that. And I mean no disrespect when I say this, but for all your interaction with modern mortals, you really don’t understand them. They don’t revere or fear us as do the ancients. ”
“They should!” Hera snapped. Then she drew a deep breath and controlled her temper. “You know that I do not enjoy being cruel, so we’ll wait a little longer and see what happens. But if Athena weighs in on the side of Greece, we will have no choice but to put our might behind the army and aid in their victory. I will not risk creating enmity with the Goddess of War. ”
“There are those who would argue that love is stronger than war,” Venus said, with an unusual hardness in her voice.
Hera touched the goddess’s arm softly. “I did not mean to say that Athena is more important to me than are you. But would Love want to cause civil strife amongst the gods for the sake of one modern mortal?”
“Isn’t that what I’m being accused of in the ancient world, only the strife I was supposed to have caused over one mortal woman is between the Greeks and the Trojans?”
“Yes, and how do you feel about that?” Hera asked shrewdly.
“I despise the fact that the war is being blamed on me,” Venus said.
“So I’m assuming you wouldn’t want anything similar to happen on Mount Olympus. ”
“No, I wouldn’t. ” Venus sighed. “So we wait and see what happens. ”
“And if Athena aids Odysseus?”
“Then Achilles will have to reenter the battle,” Venus said.
“Good. We’ve decided,” Hera said.
“Sadly, we have. ”
Venus sipped her ambrosia and thought about how distraught Achilles had been the four days Kat had been unconscious. Well, at least he has known love, no matter how brief.
"Okay, all I said was I wanted a bath—as in being submerged in water versus splashing in a little bowl that smells like roses. You’re kicking me out of your camp for that?” Kat asked teasingly.
“Did I not tell you that I would give you anything you wished, if it were within my power?” Achilles touched her arm briefly where it linked with his. She noticed he did that a lot lately—touched her with brief, gentle caresses. He didn’t let his touch linger and he didn’t kiss her. It was as if he was attempting to become used to her in stages—small stages that wouldn’t arouse the berserker. She felt his eyes on her and looked up to see him watching her closely. “Tell me if we’ve gone too far. I won’t have you fatigued. ”
They’d gone down the beach away from camp for a while, and then turned inland, following a little goat path. It hadn’t been a short walk, but it hadn’t turned into an exhausting hike, either. “Like I told Jacky. I’ve slept enough for decades and I’m perfectly fine. ” Kat made the statement firmly. Not that she hadn’t been freaked out by how much last night’s meal and discussion had exhausted her. She’d planned on another little hypnotism exercise with Achilles, but had been out the second her head had touched the pillow. And, worse, she’d slept all the way through to early afternoon. She felt good now, but the whole incident had scared her. She’d already killed off one body. What was the limit? What if this one went bad, too? Would Venus save her? And if she did, what kind of body would the next one be? She was actually getting attached to this one and wasn’t sure if she wanted to even consider what might—
“You look troubled. ” Achilles broke into her internal babble.
“I was just thinking about mortality,” she said.
“Mortality—that is a subject I have thought little about until lately,” Achilles said.
“Really? I would have thought that after you made the choice to die young, you would have been counting down the years and thinking about it all the time. ”
He gave a self-deprecating snort. “When I was young I rarely thought—and if I did it was only of the next battle and the next opportunity for glory. ”
“Hey, twenty-nine is not old. You’re still really young. ”
“I haven’t been young for more than a decade. ”
Kat looked up at him, knowing that the deep scars that had prematurely aged his face had also taken a similar toll on his soul. “Maybe some of that can be reversed
,” she said.
Obviously noting the direction of her gaze his lips lifted and he said, “Your friend is an excellent healer, but even she cannot reverse these. ” Achilles pointed at his facial scars.
Kat grinned. “Was that a joke? And the sky didn’t fall in, nor did you get struck by lightning. ”
“It’s your bad influence on me. ”
“Don’t you mean the fact that I’ve bespelled you? Remember, Jacky’s a witch—I’m a witch—everywhere a witch—witch. ”
“I stand corrected. You have bespelled me. ” Then he surprised her by pulling her, briefly, into his arms and hugging her hard. “And we are here. ” Achilles took her by the shoulders and turned Kat around.
“Achilles! It’s beautiful!” Kat was facing an oasis. Willows ringed a basin formed by butter-colored limestone. A stream dumped into the basin, filled it and then gurgled out the other side. It was small, but definitely big enough for someone to bathe comfortably in. Overlooking the oasis was a small temple that reminded Kat of a gazebo, only this one was made of marble with graceful columns and a domed roof. In the middle of the temple a blanket had been spread out. Atop it sat a laden basket. “What’s all this?” Kat asked, walking around the pool to the temple.
“It’s a shrine dedicated to Venus. I discovered it years ago. It’s been abandoned because of the war. I’ve come here many times to think—to get away. ”
Kat glanced back at him, surprised to see that he looked embarrassed. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone needs time alone. ”
“Ah, but Achilles, terror of maidens and battlefield berserker, is not everyone. If my men knew I found solace at a shrine dedicated to the Goddess of Love. ” He laughed humorlessly and shook his head. “They would probably begin to believe that I had finally gone mad. ”
“But they seem to have accepted me being with you just fine. Haven’t they?”
Achilles shrugged. “Right now they are too preoccupied to even be shocked by you warming my bed. ”
“They want to fight,” Kat said, her stomach clenching.
“They do. ”
“And what do you want?”
“You already know my heart. I long for nothing as much as to return to Phthia and to find peace. ” Achilles paused, meeting her gaze before he continued. “And love. ”
“You’ve already found love,” Kat said softly.
Achilles closed the distance between them, joining her in the middle of Venus’s shrine. He took her hand. “Have I found love? Even though we don’t know that the berserker can be defeated?”
“Yes, you have. And the berserker can be defeated; I know it. ” Slowly and deliberately, Kat rose on her tiptoes, while pulling him gently down to her. She kissed him softly. She didn’t linger or deepen the kiss, but she also didn’t make a frightened rush to get away. The kiss was her promise to him that the future he’d dreamed could be real. But she didn’t push it—she didn’t push him. Smiling, Kat looked down at the basket. “If this shrine has been abandoned for years, how did this get here?”
“Your wish to bathe reminded me of this place. While you slept today I brought these things out here. I thought you might enjoy getting away together. ” He said the words with his usual gruff confidence, but Kat could see the question in his eyes. One sign of fear or hesitation in her would undo him.
“You were absolutely right—it’s a great idea. ”
He smiled and bowed with exaggerated formality. “Your bath awaits, Princess, and then we shall dine on whatever I frightened Aetnia into packing. ”
Kat shook her head at him. “It’s probably a couple arsenic sandwiches with a side dish of glass stew. ” Then she glanced down at the clear pool of water and her throat suddenly felt dry. “Have you checked it to be sure that there aren’t any slimy things in there that might be waiting to eat me?”
“Would the word of a sea goddess reassure you?”
Surprised, Kat looked around the little tree-lined oasis. “Is your mom here?”
“She came with me earlier today and made quite certain everything was safe for you. ”
“I’ve got to quit sleeping so much. I miss everything. ” Kat took a step closer to the water. It did look harmless and utterly inviting. And it would be so good to get completely clean.
Achilles cleared his throat. She met his eyes.
“I’ll be here, with my back turned while you bathe. You need only call out to me and I can be by your side in an instant. ”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you kept an eye on me? What if something grabs me and I can’t call out to you. ” Kat watched the different emotions play across his face: desire and fear and need. When she realized fear was winning out, she said, “Why is it that the berserker doesn’t possess you when you argue with Agamemnon? Doesn’t he make you terribly angry?”
He looked surprised at her question, but answered readily enough. “Of course he does. The old bastard rarely fails to anger me. ”
“Then why doesn’t the berserker possess you?” she asked again.
Achilles shrugged. “I suppose because I’ve grown accustomed to how he makes me feel. I tell myself it’s just Agamemnon, and the king is not a battle I am allowed to fight. ”
“Then why not tell yourself that I am just Katrina, the woman you desire. This is the way I make you feel, and I am not a battle you are allowed to fight. ”
She saw hope flare and then die in his eyes. Achilles shook his head. “No. It is not the same thing. ”
“It could be if you believed it was. ”
He kept shaking his head. “No. I will not chance it. ”
“Well, I will. Listen—you have warning before the berserker possesses you, don’t you?”
“Some,” he said reluctantly.
“Okay. It’s simple then. You sit down up there. Make yourself comfortable. There’s wine in that basket, right?”
"Yes. ”
“Drink it and relax. I’ll bathe. You keep an eye on me to be sure nothing stings me senseless. ” She held up her hand when he opened his mouth. “Yes, I know. Jacky says I’m already lacking sense. ” His lips twitched. “You really shouldn’t listen to her. ”
“At this moment her observations seem very insightful,” Achilles said.
She frowned at him in mock severity. “Whatever you do, don’t ever tell her that. So, you sit up there. I’ll bathe. Everything will be just fine. ”
“And if it isn’t?”
“If you start to look crazy I’ll use my panic button. ” She lifted the locket that still hung around her neck.
He looked doubtful. “Venus might be busy. ”
“Nah, she gave me her word. Plus she is one seriously nosy goddess. She’ll be here, even if it’s just to gather gossip. ” Kat walked the few steps back to him and put her hand gently on his arm. “Here’s the deal. You need to believe in yourself and in your ability to keep me safe as much as I believe in you. ”
“You believe I can keep you safe?”
Kat smiled into his scarred, life-battered face. “Of course I do. You have kept me safe. ” She kissed him softly on the cheek then started determinedly toward her waiting bath, crossing her fingers in front of her and sending up a silent prayer to Venus, If you have to watch, maybe now would be a good time…