Chapter 6

Since then, Athena kept herself even more aloof. Her gaze was ready to leap away if she felt Pallas's presence there.

But the sea-born maiden was craftier. At least once a day, Pallas managed to draw the goddess's attention. Athena would glance up from her table when the girl caused a burst of giggles or as she led an unexpected singing choir with her sisters, and before Athena could feign indifference, Pallas would catch her looking.

Those brief moments when the line of their eyes connected, were the only moments Athena thought of the most after each day was over. The sudden drop in her stomach, the coursing annoyance and curiosity bothered her mind. Athena couldn't help feeling as if she was a fish eyeing the bait.

Triton returned to his palace and brought relief to Athena. At last, she could focus on something else more important. The god told her news from Olympus. Her father Zeus and Hera were having a child. The Oracle said it would be a boy, but Hera wasn't prophesied like Metis, and her offspring with Zeus was considered harmless to the throne. They already named him, Ares.

Athena received the news with a stoic manner. She had made no comment and simply carried on with her training and learning.

A few weeks later when Triton left again for his duties, she walked into the dining hall to find Pallas at her table. The goddess froze, caught between confusion and anger. But it was Pallas's home, and she could claim any part of the palace. Athena looked around the hall for somewhere else, but the other benches were full of chattering mermaids. The maiden ground her jaw to stay her fury.

Pallas would not push her around with her mischiefs.

Athena brought herself to sit down beside her. Her shoulders tensed as if for a fight. Across the hall, the sea maidens pretended to prattle on. Pallas's presence was like incessant drips of water, subtle yet loud and could cut through stone.

Athena couldn't wait for the dinner to finish. Pallas chatted with a few other girls, who sat closest to her. Once in a while, she brushed the hair from her face, showing her delicately-shaped ear and slender neck. She reached for a bowl of grapes that sat between them and grabbed a handful. One by one, she popped them in her mouth, chewing slowly, still with a trace of her usual smile.

Then she flicked a grape high into the air and caught it back in her mouth. She chewed it and did it again. Each time the grape flew higher and higher, but Pallas would catch them all. She was so skilled that Athena could not ignore it. She had never seen any god behaving like her.

Pallas's eyes flickered to her and smiled again. Athena had no time to look away. Pallas offered her the grapes, "Want to try?"

Athena could feel the other eyes on her. It was not just a grape but an offer of friendship also. She felt the slow urge to reach her hand out for it, but then she would have to flick the grape and catch it in her mouth. It was highly unlikely for Athena to do such a thing.

"No," she replied a bit sharply, and as soon as she said it, Athena felt the first sense of regret. Pallas retreated and did not try to speak to her again until the shiny dinner plates were cleared from their table.

~*~

When Triton returned again, Athena was summoned to his court in private. The hearth was burning with blue fire when she entered the room. The god greeted her with his charitable smile as always, but this time his eyes laced with concerns.

"Athena, I was told that you have been, what should I say, fairly uncooperative with your foster sisters," he said. "Is there any problem you would like to address to me?"

Athena thought it for a moment before she answered, "No, I have not."

"Then why is that you haven't made any companions among my children yet?"

"There is no need for me to have companions, Lord Triton."

That was the straightforwardness of the goddess. The river-god couldn't help admiring it. He smiled again.

"But a good companion would help you to become a great goddess that you're destined to be," he said. "You have nothing to fear."

"Fear?" Athena frowned. "There is no fear in my heart."

"I believe you," Triton said. "But a certain daughter of mine seems to think otherwise."

"Who?"

"Pallas," the god said. "She said you seem to be afraid of her."

Athena opened her mouth to deny it, but a cold realization held back her tongue. It was something that had no shape or form. Pallas had not been particularly disrespectful to her. The mighty daughter of Zeus would know if she was. Yet, she could not place a precise feeling she had towards the sea maiden. Triton nodded as if to acknowledge her silence.

"You may make good use of your stay, Athena."

~*~

Later that day, Athena went to her practice, still thinking about her Triton's words. There was still some fear and fascination blooming on the girls' faces as she passed. But some of them were bold enough to whisper against her: 'She thinks she's too important to mingle with us. Well, Hera and Zeus have a son now, and her brother shall replace her as a true heir.' They didn't know Athena could strike them all at once before they even knew what was coming.

Her narrow world now seemed even narrower.

"Ignore them," a clear voice, like ice-melting streams came to her. Athena turned. It was Pallas who stood, holding a javelin in her hand. Her face now was as calm as her father's. She sent the javelin through a target, piercing it from one side to the other. Athena was quite impressed by it. But she wanted Pallas to be ashamed of her tell-tale mouth.

"You told your father about me," Athena said.

"I'm just concerned," Pallas said. "We are still trying to figure out what kind of a god you are."

"Just know that I am no nymph," Athena snapped back. She had said it more bitterly than she had meant to.

Pallas tilted her head a little, like a curious bird. The slightest crease appeared between her lovely brows. "I do not understand. You seem to harbor some sort of resentment in you."

Just like her father, Pallas had a way of saying things that taunted her. Athena regarded the green-eyed maiden with a stillness that did not belong to mortal. Pallas almost began to brace herself for an onslaught, but Athena's face softened again. She turned away and let out a breath. Something shifted in her stormy eyes. A realization.

Pallas remained silent for a moment as she stared at the young goddess.

"Come with me," she said to Athena after a while later.

"What?" she looked back at her curiously.

"Don't worry, I won't throw you any more grapes," Pallas said. "Come. Please."

Athena considered it for a moment. She longer felt like practicing today and before she could stop herself, she gave the barest nod in agreement.