Chapter 5

Athena jerked her narrow chin up a little, in bare acknowledge. Pallas's father was a minor god. Her kingdom was barely an eighth the size of Olympus, and Athena had humbled every god she met, yet the brown-haired maiden before her seemed unfazed.

They regarded each other for a moment. When Athena didn't blink, Pallas smiled again. The corner of her lustrous lips stretched like a cat's.

"Do you talk?" Pallas asked.

Athena's silence had always been excusable before. She talked when she wanted to, not when people asked her to. But Pallas's question carried a hidden challenge.

"I do," she said.

"Ah." Pallas grinned. "Glad you find me worthy of hearing your voice."

The daughter of Zeus frowned. Sarcasm was still unknown to her, and for the first time, Athena was at a loss for words. She did not find it to her liking. In her mind, everything should be said as it was supposed to mean.

"I came here to learn," she spoke again. "Now show me where I shall stay."

Pallas's smile remained on her face as she straightened herself back. Her beautiful green eyes never left the goddess. Then she clapped her hands twice. Two nymphs emerged from the corner of the room and bowed to them.

"That would be the job of my palace maids, Lady Athena," Pallas said. "I am too busy at the moment."

Athena had always been a wonder and a favorite daughter of Zeus, but now she was just another guest in front of this sea-born girl. But she had been listening in her father's court long enough to know dismissal when she heard it.

~*~

The palace's complex was built full of twisting gem-lit corridors and inner golden-doored chambers.

At the welcome dinner, Athena discovered that the river-god had a hall full of mermaid-children. The Tritonides, they were called, cousins of the Nereids. Their heads grew long flowing hair the color of sea-weeds and other bright coral flowers, and not just the whole hair, but also in the impossibility of separated-color from one single strand to another. The lower half of their body was rough with fine glittering scales, and under their ears, they had gills like sharks did.

They were summoned to the hall at dusk by a herald with crab-arms. The conch-trumpets were blown from deep in the palace's caverns. Everyone had tumbled into the hallway, eager to see the gray-eyed daughter of Zeus.

They were not disappointed. In the hall, Athena's beauty shone like a flame, drawing eyes all around her. She sat erect on her chair, her limbs arranged themselves with perfect grace, as if she was a living sculpture, always with her spear and horse-plumed helmet by her side. The sight of the goddess made everyone forget about their food and drink.

Pallas sat beside her father's throne to the left opposite Athena. The girl did not look at the goddess again. She seemed to be busy conversing with her other sisters. They giggled at something Pallas had said.

Then Triton rose from his throne.

"I am pleased to welcome the handsome daughter of Zeus to our hall," the god spoke over the murmuring crowd. Everyone went silent to listen to him. "Athena shall be in my care for the time being until the goddess herself decides otherwise. Now we shall raise our cups to honor the lady as a new member of our family."

From their long coral-entwined tables, the cups were raised with a chorus of "Hail, Athena!"

Pallas caught Athena's eyes again, and she raised hers with a smile.

~*~

Athena was introduced to the practice field, which set in a colossal Libyan temple on the bank of the river. She was given a simpler spear to practice with. All around her, the other warrior-nymphs threw and grazed each other's shield. Some practiced archery on the back of their sprinting horses, some were wrestling in hand-to-hand combat, or racing on chariots.

Triton watched them from the pavilion, his trident always in hand. When he walked on land, he reminded Athena of his proud sea-lord father, but he also exuded calmness, like a calm sea.

A nymph passed her a second spear after Athena broke the first with her casual throw. The spear split into a thousand pieces against an elm tree, which she used as a target. She was not used to handling a perishable weapon. Then she heard a giggle from a distant. Her flashing gray eyes darted to a group of maidens, searching for that chiming voice.

Pallas was there, looking back at her.

Athena gripped her spear, feeling embarrassed for the first time. Pallas made her feel incompetent even for a simple task. But she decided to improve on herself instead of minding about Triton's strange daughter.

After the practice, the river-god took her for a ride on his dolphin-drawn chariot to the nearest sea. His steed cruised over the waves, splashing salt-water like a skipping stone. The Tritonides followed them. Athena stood, listening to Triton's lecture. But once in a while, she caught a glimpse of Pallas swimming as fast as the school of mermaids around her.

The following days, Athena began the same routines. During the training with spears and swords, she tried not to break as well as to injure any of her selected opponents. Over time, she learned to use less of her brute god's strength and more of her strategies.

But once in a while, she found Pallas still had the same amused smile on her lips whenever their eyes met.

Meals in the vaulted dining hall were her only relief. Everyone was preoccupied with gossips and daily jests. Then the buzz of constant voices eased as mouths were stuffed full. The mermaids had grown used to having Athena there. They returned to their normal excitements of finding a rare black pearl or sighting a sea monster. No one dared to talk to her as the golden maiden herself made it unapproachable for them.

A few days later, Triton left to do his other duties, carrying messages from every ocean of the world to Poseidon. Athena was left to fend for herself.

In silence, Athena ate her meal and drank her wine alone.

"Her blood is high and her time is precious, do not bother wasting your breath with the mighty daughter of Zeus," they whispered to one another. Athena heard them, but she paid them no mind. She could deal with gods many times mightier than Triton, but with his bunch of mer-children, Athena had not a clue.

Pallas became louder and livelier, circulating among the tables, laughing and teasing her sisters. One of these days, she sat closer to Athena than usual, only a table away. Her bare feet swung back and forth over her chair while she ate her dinner delightfully.

Nymph, Athena thought with a hint of disdain.

Pallas turned as if she had heard her. For a second, their gazes held. Athena was not one to pick a fight or to back out from it either, but this wasn't a fight of any sort. It was something else more violent. Her heart suddenly filled with hot golden blood. Her skin prickled as if she had just lifted her father's lightning. Athena had to tear her eyes away. She couldn't seem to stand this unusual discomfort.

And then just like that, Athena rose from her seat and left the hall.