The High Court

by Chris Ledbetter

  “Yes. All.”

  “And do you know how they died?”

  My jaw clenched. My neck spasmed into a cord as I described how I and my siblings/classmates found their bodies the night before the new term began a week or so ago.

  “Well,” Themis said, “that adds a separate wrinkle to this trial, does it not?”

  Someone spoke. Possibly Phanes. “If it pleases the court, the Khaos Council is in the middle of investigating this particular matter.”

  “So noted,” Themis said. After a long pause she spoke again. “Zeus, I think you’ll find that you can reopen your eyes.”

  I opened my eyes one eyelash at a time. Everything around me had returned to normal. Every stone beneath my feet was unmoved. “Whoa …”

  Themis looked at Gaia who’d maintained a stoic expression. “I think it’s time we heard from the lord of light himself. Zeus, you may return to your seat.” She wheeled around to face away from me. “All Mother Gaia, I finally summon Hyperion to speak on his own behalf.”

  He rose from his chair, still bound by dark matter ties, and ambled to the black square. “I warn you … I fear nothing.”

  “Duly noted,” Themis said. “State your name for the court.”

  “Hyperion. Husband of Theia. Lord of Light. Hauler of the Sun. In fact, I am the Sun.”

  As he spoke, the mist crept from its confines under the stones. I was happy to be out of its psychotic clutches, although it was interesting to see it from this perspective.

  “Very well,” Themis said. “You’ve heard the charges. You’ve heard the testimony. On the day in question, you veered from your appointed duty to carry the Sun, and you made the decision to descend upon unsuspecting people with whom you had no prior knowledge or contact, and then gave the order to kill them. Have I got that about right?”

  Hyperion remained silent. His facial muscles tensed. His yellow tunic hung loosely on his brown-skinned frame.

  “According to sworn testimony from Pallas and Perses, you compelled them to act using mind control. They assert they did not act of their own will. Is this correct?”

  Hyperion looked over his shoulder toward where Pallas and Perses stood.

  “What can you offer that differs from these accounts?” Themis asked.

  Hyperion’s head dropped and then rose again. A scowl darkened his features.

  In the absence of a response, Themis continued, “It is also well documented that you have anger management issues. Would you say that is a true statement?”

  Hyperion turned his scowl toward Themis. “Do not lecture me like I am a child,” he blared. “Fury would course your veins too if you hauled the sun across the heavens every day. I assure you of that. You have no idea. Furthermore, dear sister of mine, do you even recall the terrors I endured so that I could perform the damned job to which I’m entrusted? Do you remember, little dove?”

  “That transgression is not the purview of this trial—”

  “Well, let’s make it the focus, shall we?” He struggled mightily against his dark matter shackles, to no avail. He addressed Gaia. “Mother … do you remember what he did?”

  Gaia maintained a stone façade, her smooth brown skin and high cheekbones unmoved.

  Hyperion marched forward. “Shall I tell the court what Father did? Shall I?” he yelled.

  Gaia’s voice startled me in its smoothness. She spoke in slow staccato. “I know what he did. Trust me.”

  “If you knew, why didn’t you stop him?” He turned around the court. “Why didn’t any of you? Monsters, the whole lot of you rotten bastards. You all sat and watched and did nothing!”

  Gaia remained silent.

  I sat spellbound by all of the revelations.

  Themis cleared her throat. “Let us remind the court and all in attendance that Gaia is not on trial here. Neither is Ouranos. You, Hyperion, are on trial for killing an innocent.”

  “I didn’t kill him or anyone else. I could have easily. But I didn’t.”

  “We fully understand your role as facilitator and orchestrator … and your use of deity magic to control young minds, which is expressly forbidden by the Elder Code.”

  “I didn’t even order the assault on Crete!”

  “Witnesses say you did. And testimony has come forth that there were more witnesses to your deed, but they are all dead now. Did you kill them as well to silence them?”

  “No!”

  “What about the three witnesses that are here who have testified to you giving the order to kill?”

  “All right! I gave the verbal command and used mind control. But I didn’t order the attack in the first place.”

  Themis crossed her arms. “Then who did?”

  “Kronos.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  If a feather had hit the floor at that moment, it would’ve sounded like a hammer striking an anvil. Whispers and gazes crisscrossed the court. Rhea stood. Iapetus grabbed her wrist. She attempted to yank it away, but he held fast. She glowered at him, twisting her wrist around his arm in such a manner that she soon appeared to be on the verge of breaking his arm.

  “Somebody better come get Iapetus before I hurt his feelings,” Rhea called out.

  Themis nodded toward Kottos. The beast crossed the room and gathered Iapetus, who grimaced as Rhea released him from his unfortunate entanglement. Kottos covered Iapetus’ mouth with one of his ten hands and secured the Othrys Headmaster in the air with the other nine. After guiding Iapetus out of the court, struggling and writhing, he then returned to his post near the back of the room.

  Meanwhile, I was simply trying to process what Hyperion had recently revealed. Kronos had been behind the attack from the very beginning? My skin temperature rose again. Dark red splotches appeared up and down my arms. I rubbed them from forearm to bicep.

  Themis regained control of the trial. “Hyperion, you understand that you have sworn an oath to Gaia to tell the truth, yes?”

  He nodded. “I refuse to go down to Tartarus for Kronos or anyone else. He ordered the strike.”

  Themis cast a glance at Gaia and then said, “It’s easy enough to discard responsibility. Who else can corroborate this claim? How does the court know you’re not just trying to sidestep punishment with wild accusations? Was anyone around when he allegedly ordered you to do this?”

  “Of course not. It was intended to be a covert opera—”

  “Oh really?” Themis scoffed. “So, you knew you were acting nefariously when you all set this plan into motion?”

  Hyperion’s eyes failed to blink.

  Themis continued, “The only parties to your clandestine affairs are the two of you? When the court asks Kronos about this and if he rejects your notion, then we have an impasse.” She glanced at Gaia and then returned her attention to Hyperion. “Relay to the court please, if Kronos did in fact order the assassination of an innocent … what, pray tell, did he say that could possibly compel you to perform such a heinous act?”

  Hyperion cleared his throat. He stood a bit straighter. “Kronos said that the Oracles had divined that a boy on Crete would bring about the destruction of our existence.”

  “And you believed him?”

  “The triple-tongued edicts of the Oracles may confound some, but they never mislead. They never lie.”

  “I see.”

  “Dear sister, who’s never met with hardship her entire life …” Hyperion drew short, quick breaths, spittle running down his face. “I run the sword’s edge between this realm and others in our vast cosmos that may wish to do us harm. I stand on the precipice of sanity every day to not only allow you to walk in the light, but also to provide protection for all we hold dear. I am the sentinel on the wall, the first and the last line of defense against the darkness. Me, all by my damn self! So yes, when my trusted brother comes to me and charges me with protecting House Titan from hostile aggression by removing a threat, I act accordingly. I take my appointment serious
ly. Who else is going to stand on the wall? You?” He pointed, seething. “You, with your fancy chitons and golden himations and your highbrow ethics and formalities? You couldn’t haul the sun across the sky even if I doused you with enchanted oil to save you from the agony I endure. You couldn’t even wield the chariot. You couldn’t hold the reins. The mares would never obey you!”

  Themis’ voice grew even more commanding than it had been. “And you, dear brother, lack the soul-level integrity and broad-swath moral fiber to oversee matters of law, order, and social balance … so we’re even. Oh, except for the fact that you’re on trial … and I’m not.”

  “Themis!” Gaia’s voice thundered. “Maintain your composure. Water only becomes mud when it mixes with dirt.”

  Themis pursed her lips. “Apologies, All Mother.”

  Gaia stood. Her flowing green chiton moved and ruffled as if a gentle breeze blew into her face.

  Themis stiffened her back. “All rise!”

  Everyone in the court stood. My stomach twisted in a knot.

  Gaia spoke evenly. “I’ve heard enough to render my ruling. And it is final. On the matter of Hellas versus Hyperion for the murder of Anytos and the assault of Amalthea of Crete … I find Hyperion guilty as charged. I hereby release Pallas and Perses of any responsibility in this transgression as they were under Hyperion’s mind control.”

  “What?” Hyperion roared. “You must be joking.”

  “I sentence you to Tartarus for a term equaling the age of Anytos or until my fatigue sets in, whichever is longer.”

  Theia, Hyperion’s wife, had sat with a stoic expression for the entire trial. Her face never faltered upon hearing the verdict. But a tear managed to escape the corner of her eye as she stood. She smoothed down her garments and walked out of the court without a word to anyone.

  I thrust my fist in the air, a smile beaming on my face. “Yes! Anytos is avenged.”

  The court became awash in rustling, sudden movement, and celebratory cheers.

  Hera slapped hands with me. “Congrats. One down, one to go.”

  Meter and Tia ambled over and hugged me. Tia sighed, “Wow. That was intense.” Metis rose from her seat and ran over to embrace me. “You won.”

  “Not just me. We all did. Hellas did.”

  “No!” Hyperion yelled. “I did nothing wrong. Everyone in attendance here today … I put you first … your safety … your security … your protection. An innocent boy died, yes. But it was to protect you all. The Oracles don’t lie. You owe me!”

  Gaia circled her hands in the air. “Kottos.”

  The many-armed monster hoisted Hyperion into the air like he was a child’s toy. The former lord of light struggled and strained against the beast. It was no use. Kottos disappeared into the room at the rear and the door shut. Hyperion’s sun had set.

  Metis threaded her fingers through mine and whispered, “That was a mighty blow you just dealt. You might just get a kiss later.”

  I turned halfway to her. “If you play your hand correctly, my dear.”

  She laughed. “If I play my hand correctly?” she scoffed. “That’s a tall goblet of nectar, right there. Hmmph, maybe I’ll just save my kiss for Aphrodite then. How’s that hand?”

  I smiled. “Well, played. Speaking of … I hope all is well back on Limnos. I can’t wait to get out of here.” I sighed. “One more trial to go.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  After a brief recess, during which we all grabbed some food and stepped outside to get some fresh air, the inner room was reset for the second trial. I intentionally tried to avoid Telesto, but she cornered me.

  “Zeus, how are you?” Telesto asked, her voice higher pitched than I remembered. Her oval face beamed. “You look well.”

  “As do you,” I responded.

  An awkward silence followed. Her gaze trailed over my breastplate. Mine dropped to her golden sandals as I averted my eyes from hers. I rolled a pebble over the ground beneath my feet.

  “I’ve thought long and hard about you since … you know,” she said. Her lips tightened. “I certainly thought that your suspension would be temporary, that you’d eventually come back to school. Then you vanished, and I graduated and moved on to Othrys. And you’re at MO Prep. The stories …” She drew a deep breath and twirled the ends of her aquamarine hair. “The stories that swirl around about you … that you had killed Anytos and attacked your own mother, Amalthea … It was all a bit much. I had to come and see what was true.”

  I sighed. “For a moment earlier, I thought you had come to testify against me.”

  “I’d never have done that.”

  Metis sidled up beside me and threaded her fingers through mine. “Telesto, fancy seeing you here. How are you?”

  Telesto offered a half-smile. “I’m well. Thank you,” she said softly. “I should get going. It was great seeing you, Zeus. I’m glad the truth prevailed.” She walked away.

  Metis gripped my hand tighter. “Careful, some waterborn can lure men to their demise with beautiful voices.”

  “Well,” I said, turning to her, “it’s a good thing I have you as my lighthouse to brighten the rough waters.”

  “Sometimes, it feels like life is one huge storm at sea.” She brought her other hand up to caress my cheek. “But we’ll brave it together.”

  As we were about to re-enter the court, Rhea pulled us aside just before the towering portico. “You’re all doing well in there. This next case is a little trickier but I have faith that all will work out. I hear all your questions and anxieties assaulting my mind right now. Demeter and Hestia, forget the totality of what you have heard. Just focus on the abductions. Focus on your truth.” She turned to Hera. “You, Metis, and Zeus focus on evidence you found and when you found it. And then Ouranos’ final words.” She sucked her teeth. “I so wish I had been there for that … to embrace him one last time. We didn’t always see eye to eye, as with most parents and their children, but I loved him deeply.”

  After Phanes scanned us again to ensure no one possessed any contraband, we re-entered the court’s inner chamber. Eros and Erebos stood to the right of Gaia’s throne. She walked away from a hushed conversation with Themis and took her seat again.

  Themis announced, “Our second trial today is Hellas versus Kronos.”

  “Bring him out,” Gaia said.

  As before, along the back wall of the building, the huge door scraped upward. Chains rattled. From the dark shadow of the room Kronos strode out. A dingy white tunic draped over his imposing body. His hair seemed a bit longer and unkempt. His eyebrows still preceded him. Kottos marched him in front of Gaia. My ichor blood instantly ran hot.

  Themis faced him. “By virtue of thorough investigation by the Khaos Council, enough cause has been discovered to bring you before The High Court on three counts of assault, three charges of abduction, impersonation by way of shapeshifting, and the murder of Ouranos, Our Father, Master of the Heavens, Ruler of the Sky Throne. Kronos, how do you answer these charges?”

  “I will be vindicated.”

  “That is not an appropriate response—”

  “But it’s true.”

  Themis crossed her arms. “There are only one of two responses the court will entertain. Either you claim to be guilty, in which case the trial is over and you’ll join Hyperion in the bowels of Tartarus. Or, you claim no guilt, in which case—”

  “Not. Guilty.” Kronos gazed directly at Gaia.

  Gaia’s beautiful face didn’t even twitch.

  Themis pointed to the defendant’s chair. “Very well then, you may—”

  “Don’t you want to know why I’m not guilty?” Kronos mused.

  Themis dragged her gaze slowly toward Kronos. “Your moment of defense has not yet arrived. Please take a seat and prepare to hear witnesses.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Themis faced the rest of the court. “Will any step forward to present testimony for or against
?”

  Iapetus who had re-entered the courtroom under strict guidelines, Rhea, Eros, Phanes, Erebos, and all of us students stood and walked to the back room holding area. Kottos again herded us.

  Themis tapped Eros on the shoulder. “You’re first.”

  After waiting for what seemed an eternity as everyone else took their eventual turns going to testify, my turn finally came. Themis escorted me out.

  “Please take your mark on the black square.”

  I did so. Vapor slowly rose from the floor again. I closed my eyes and steeled myself for the whole fear of heights thing. But no swirling winds came. No heat. I opened one eye. All the squares around me were still in place. But I was startled to see Iapetus in front of me. I gazed slowly over my shoulder. He sat in the witness section as well. Now he faced me in the box. As I turned back around, Iapetus shoved his hand into my chest and grabbed my lung.

  “Hey! Wake up!” Themis yelled, snapping me out of my vapor induced haze. “State your name again for the court. Don’t make me say it again.”

  Iapetus still gripped my lung. “Z-Z-Zeus,” I stammered.

  “Finally. I thought we’d lost you,” she said. “Now then, heretofore we’ve heard testimony related to the Observatory, evidence found therein, a series of abductions, the search that ensued for the abducted, and—finally—Ouranos … where you found him and what he said.”

  I nodded.

  “To make it clear for the court, were you ever abducted?”

  “No,” I answered.

  “Now, is it your understanding that all of these events began with the Oracles’ prophecy?”

  I winced from the pressure applied to my lung. “Yes.”

  Themis paced back and forth. “Let’s consider for a moment that you are the boy in the prophecy and—as Hyperion testified—he truly felt he was protecting us all by killing said boy. Furthermore, the prophecy goes on to foretell of Ouranos’ murder. You just happened to be in the presence of Ouranos when he took his last breath, and no one, save yourself, can account for your whereabouts on the night Ouranos was fatally wounded.” She sighed. “All of these things—you came from an island, the Sky was slain, and you being there—lends credence to the idea that the Oracles were correct, and their prophecy came true when you killed Ouranos.”