Thanks to Aurora Spirit, Bluer Sky, Brown-eyed snowy owl, Harayuku Girl, Cat in the web and Pennant for your encouraging words. And sorry for not updating in a while, life has been busy. But here's finally the next chapter.

The Kouretes

The Kouretes was a brotherhood of fire- and war gods who had sworn an oath to put the Titan regime to an end or die trying. They were eleven and their names were Pyrrhikhos, Idaios, Kyrbas, Prymneus, Mimas, Akmon, Damneus, Okythoos, Melisseus, Ôlenos and Haimonios.

Pyrrhikhos, whose name means War-Dance, was their leader, a big man with wild, red hair and beard, piercing steel-grey eyes beneath bsuhy brows and freckles all over his bulky, muscular body. He was war-clad and carried two swords and a round shield on his back, but had had manners enough to remove his awesome, winged helmet before banging on my door that freezing January morning with a smell of snow in the air.

Such was his appearance that I had thought the three year old Zeus, who went down to answer the door, would have been terrified. But my boy was intrigued instead.
" Thea, Addi! " he called up the stairs, " They have come! The war-gods are here! Hurry! You gotta see them, they're simply that cool! "

" Zeus, Zeus", I answered and put away the dishes, " I don't think I have to hurry, they are not leaving, right? " I wiped my wet hands on a towel and asked Adrasteia to prepare refreshments for the arrivals.
" Have them come in! And close the door!" I called to Zeus, as I felt the chilly wind snake itself around my legs. I quickly changed into a better dress, went down the stairs, and stopped dead at the appearance of Pyrrhikhos and his men who were crowding in my too small hallway.

They were savages! Pure and simple! I guess I had expected something like Cronos' well disciplined soldiers, but this all male band was nothing like that. Sure they were armed to their teeth and beyond, but they looked more like a rag-tag bandit gang than real militia; buff, bearded and hairy men and with grim, almost fearsome expressions on their weathered faces.

And Addi was shocked of course. She had real doubts with letting these men in, having them walking on her clean floors with muddy boots while they were installing themselves in the newly prepared quarters, and dumped huge and heavy leather sacks with mysterious containment everywhere. The week prior their arrival Adrasteia and I had caved out more of the mountain to make room for them, Zeus being a great help here. The little boy had fused away stone by the fathoms, and left the finer works to me and my sister.

And while the loud and foul-mouthed but heartily men moved in, Zeus was all over the place, mouth agape and big round eyes, while he looked at and fingered upon the Kouretes' arms, tools and other appliances. And none of them seemed to mind. Pyrrhikhos ruffled Zeus' blond curls instead, asking:
" Is this the little Prince we're here for? "

" It sure is, Pyrr", another one called. His name was Mimas, and he was an impersonator, great at disguising himself as whatever he wanted." Just look at the lad's aura, it sparkles like the Aurora Borealis of Hyperborea. "
" What's an Ororoboriliz and where's Iperborier? " Zeus asked immediately.
" A curios one I take", Mimas pointed out.
" Answer my question instead, longnose! " Zeus ordered.

I was quite taken aback, I had never heard such a sound of command in the voice of this little lad. Here he was talking to one of the fiercest warrior gods known, and he was sounding more like a general than an awed little boy. But the Kouretes didn't take offence.

" Aurora Borealis is a light-phenomena made by the goddess Aurora, living up north. And Hyperborea is her land, the land we are coming from. " The one answering was Akmon, a broad-shouldered, stout man with curly blond hair and round, blue eyes over a hawky nose.
" I'm going to go there once", Zeus declared. "After taking care of the shit-head Cronos, that is."
" That's a real God speaking", Pyrrhikhos exclaimed; and as strange it might sound, Zeus had already gained the respect of these hardened warriors.

Interlude

A few miles south of the city of München in Germany lies a large castle surrounded by a great property. Wealthy people can go there hunting for wild boars and deers. The castle is owned by a Pierre Claus, eccentric billionaire who has made his fortunes in silicon mining. When the computer boom started in the 80:ies this man bought almost all the silicon mines in the world and thus he mostly controls the market price of silicon.

Very few have seen him though, he usually deals trough subordinates. Still if they had, they would not believe their eyes; because this Pierre Claus doesn't look the way one would expect of a wealthy business-man, but more like a cross between a hippie and a participant in one of these World Wrestling shows. And if they'd meet him even fewer would believe him to be a nearly 5500 year old immortal named Pyrrhikhos.

Yes, these days he and his Kouretes are all located around the Bayern area in Germany, owning breweries and hotels or breeding race"horses and hound dogs. And when Zeus says he's going to go see 'his buddies', it's them he means, and these trips usually includes a lot of drinking, hunts, games and dirty jokes.
" I guess he needs these, just like we need our 'all girls nights out'", Hera told me once while shopping in Paris.

I realise it has been a long time since I saw or even talked to any of the Kouretes. Perhaps I should mail them my scribblings, or at least the Kouretes chapter. Problem is they have never been great readers any of them and would probably just file it.

I put my feet on the table and idly browse through one of Hudson's athletic magazines. Another well known big man is on the front side. Hero K. Leslie, whom I know as Heracles, is being interviewed about his high-profile gym-chain Twelve Labours and the extensive philosophy behind it. Apparently it has become the new celeb thing, and the waiting list is being described as "long as the Sunset Boulevard itself".

Interlude ends

Already the same day the Kouretes started to model their new living-quarters. They were checking on and strengthening the protection-spells in the area and two of them, Idaios and Kyrbas, were preparing a training turf fit for all kinds of martial arts. Prymneus, who originally was a sailor, begun to build something he called showers by the waterfall on the western slope of the mountain.

Damneus and Akmon started to manufacture weapons and then more weapons and Okythoos went out on a trek to make maps over the area. All the time Zeus was everywhere taking interest and asking questions. I could tell by his body-language that this was one of the most exiting days in his young life. But he was still only a three-year old and at the end of the afternoon he was beginning to tire.

Damneus had placed a big double-axe against the wall, and Zeus had been looking at it for quite some time, admiring the shining iron and the elaborated woodwork in the handler. When dinner was over he went there again and this time he tried to move it, to lift it; but it was too heavy for his little arms (to be honest, it would have been too heavy for most grown-up mortal men) and he dropped it, hitting his foot.

The next moment he came running to me, crying. Not so much out of pain as out of shame over his weakness.
" Zeusylove, it's okay!" I held him in my arms. "That's a grown-up mans weapon and you are still a little boy. You just have to be patient. In a few years I'm sure you are going to be able to not just lift an axe like that but also to swing it and attack the bad guys with it. "

" But look at me crying " He sobbed. "They're gonna think me a wimp! "
" Who? The Kouretes? No! I think they were crying and weeping too when they were three years old. "
" You think so?"
" I'm certain."

" You bet", Pyrrhikhos was saying, looking up from the breast-plate he was polishing, sitting by the new, large meal table which Haimonios and Melisseus had manufactured just an hour ago. "I cried last year, being 518 years old. My old horse died and I was weeping like a baby over the animal. Tears are nothing to be ashamed of. They're a normal part of life. We cry when we get sad or hurt or simply when we get a cold wind in our eyes. And don't you worry about that axe. It's as Amalthea said, a grown-up mans weapon. Damneus'll make a little one for you with which you can start your training. "

" He will?" Zeus smiled through tears.
" He sure does. And not only an axe. Swords, bows and arrows, stone-slingers, spears, javelins, throwing-daggers and a multitude of other things."
" Cool!" Zeus was drying his tears.
" And we're going to bring in horses too. You are going to learn to ride."
" Way cool! When?"

" In time", Pyrrhikhos said. "Now little gentleman I guess it's bathing and bed-time for you."
" No way! I never go to bed until -"
" Perhaps not under the ladies regime. But you're going to be a warrior and that'll mean some changes in your life. Like rising before sunrise and long training-classes in the mornings and theory in the afternoons. And this will demand alertness in body as well as in mind."

" But - Thea - "
" No 'but's now, Zeusy", I told him. " Do as Pyrrhikhos tells you, go ask Addie for your bath and then it's bed time."
" You never told me I had to -"
" Perhaps not, but I don't know that much of the warriors way. Yet from now on you are going to have to obey Pyrrhikhos if you're going to be a warrior. In fact we will all have to obey him here from now on. He is in charge because he knows what is in need to be done. "

" But it's your place", Zeus pointed out, still reluctant to obey.
" Yes, but times are changing. Now it's time to prepare for war, and Pyrrhikhos knows more than me about these things, so it's only natural that he calls the rules. That's how it has to work. Every time needs its ruler and it's usually the one who knows most about important and relevant things who is best fit to rule. "

" Then I'm going to learn everything about all the things so I can rule all the time", Zeus stated, looking at me with an almost breathtaking intensity in his blue eyes. Once more I was taken aback by his determination and strength of soul. "And I will never eat carrots or spinach", he added almost as an afterthought.
" Zeus, that's in the future. Now is now, so off to Addie, darling! "

This time Zeus ran off, calling for my sister.
" An unusual child", Pyrrhikhos pointed out. " Very intelligent and strong in his heart. He sure is going to bend the world at his will and leave impressions, whatever he's The One as Oceanos believes or not. "
" What do you think, Pyrrhikhos? Is he The One? "

" I believe he is, Amalthea. With that aura and this wisdom at such an early age he must be. Which means he will have to be threatened with a lot of love and common sense. Such a powerful soul can be dangerous risen in the wrong environment. Just look at Cronos! I'm glad Zeus has you, you are a very wise woman, Lady Amalthea. And, by the way, do call me Pyrr! "
" If you call me Thea. "
" Sure! "

¤¤¤

It would have been strange if it hadn't happened, that romance which started to sprout between me and Pyrr - over days it seemed. In spite of his awe-inspiring looks he sure was a gentleman. Not the poetry-writing or hand kissing type mind you, but I have never been attracted to that kind anyway. I prefer them when they are tickling me and whisper dirty words in my ears or get a necklace somewhere and then just hang it around my neck without further fuzz.

Pyrr was that kind of man. And before I knew it he had sneaked into my bedroom and then into my heart, and we started a relation which lasted until we had to part years later when the real war against Cronos started. Adrasteia on the other hand flirted both with Ôlenos and Kyrbas but never settled for any longer relation.