Thanks for all the support I've been getting while writing this, and sorry for not updating in such a long time, but I've been having writers-block + a constant lack of time. Now enjoy this chapter! And don't hesitate in bringing me feedback on it as well, you know have had found them very useful earlier.

Farewell

It was raining hard that mid-October morning when Zeus left with the Kouretes and some handfuls of other gods and goddesses of war who had been gathering here before the take-off. More deities were waiting in hiding in other places.

The sun had not yet risen, Divine Light cast spooky glows and shadows over the assembled fighters. Arms of iron and bronze were gleaming and the few adamantine weapons were shining with their own eerie blue light, reflecting off the carriers shields and breast-plates. They sure looked lethal and dreadful those divinities, lusting for the clash of armour, for blood and death, and upon beholding them I shivered slightly, even if I knew that they were "our guys".

So much had happened these months. So many new faces had turned up with news from around the world. This was the first time I met Gods from the Ethiopian and Asian continents. Strong and fierce gods with burning eyes who wanted nothing but siding with Zeus against the Titan tyrant.

I had had my doubts first when seeing these gods. Doubts that they would obey such a young man; some of them were several hundred years old, why should they take orders from an 18 year old? Yet Zeus' charisma worked on them too.

They might be powerful one by one, but they lacked the leader-skills that could be found in a god like Pyrrhikhos, so they had not been able to gather followers, instead they had fought like one-man armies. And now, upon beholding Zeus, they all knew that this was the man who would finally be able to unite the Gods of the world against the Titans. One by one they had put down their exotic weapons by Zeus' feet, swearing to follow him to the bitter end.

Zeus had accepted their wows and started to form an army out of these new arrivals. He had run tests on them, seeing where their skills and traits laid, and where they could be of best use. There were some he made officers, others who became front soldiers, and yet another group who he sent undercover as spies. The latter were skilled shapechangers with the ability to hide and blend in everywhere.

One of the people ending up in Zeus' inner circle was of course his beloved Metis. Another one was a stunning beauty named Themis. And she had a way of looking at Zeus that made me certain she was going to try to take him from Metis.

Oceanos' daughter didn't seem to be aware of the danger, she was all occupied with the upcoming war. With managing logistics and planning campaigns.
" Shall I talk to her, you think?" I asked Adrasteia.
"About Themis? I don't know." My sister, who had been peeling apples for pies, put down her knife and looked at me.

" On one hand", she said, "Metis needs to know. She's only 22. Too young to know all the tricks and twists older women can set about if they want to steal a man from someone. On the other hand - these deities are preparing to go to war, they need to concentrate on that now. They can't afford intrigues and love-games. I think I have a better idea. "
" What?"

" Talk to Zeus! Tell him that Themis wants him. Most probably he already knows, but do advise him to stick to Metis. If nothing else so for the sake of keeping the head of the army together. Warn him that fuzzing with this amazon might get him in trouble and taint the leadership of the Divine army. That must not happen. Do also ask one of the Kouretes to keep an eye on Themis. I think Melisseus is the best man for that. He might even be able to distract her. "

Interlude

Themis did disrupt the relation between Metis and Zeus, but not until the war was over. The Themis-Zeus thing didn't last long though, Themis left Zeus when Zeus cheated on her in turn. These days she lives in India with a local god while her daughters Dike, Eumonia and Eirene are travelling around the world, involving themselves in peace-keeping and law-upholding projects.

I haven't seen any of them in a long time, when Dike, goddess of justice, suddenly steps over the threshold of Little Hellas. Her jet-black hair is cut in a short page and her hazel eyes are shining when she comes striding up to the round table where a handful of deities are gathered, grabbing an empty chair on the move.

She's wearing pink leather, carrying a motorcycle helmet in the same colour and I'm ready to bet my penthouse flat that the Harley Davidson she has parked outside is pink as well.

"Apollo", she says after the mandatory greetings. "I wanna know the whereabouts of Apollo. Anyone?"
"Always straight on point", answers Hermes while filling up Ishtar's glass of wine.
"Yeah, or else you ain't getting anything done. Know anything about our bro', Hermes?"

" Has been a while", the God of Heralds and Tradesmen admits. "I helped him with selling some investments a while ago. At that time he was using the name Felix Paolo, working with that Eurovision Song Contest happening in old Athens. He needed money for saving one of his record companies. "
" Are they all bankrupting these days?" Ishtar asks.
"Yeah, people don't buy records anymore. Not while they can download everything for free", Hermes points out.

"I don't think that's right!" The goddess Innana, sitting next to me, says. "If the artists don't make any money, how are they going to..."
" It's not the artists who loose the big buck", Hudson returns, "it's the greedy bigshots at the record companies."

" Apollo", Dike insists, while the others start the download debate all over again, saying what has already been said a million times before.
" Yes, Apollo", Hermes says. "I have two mail addresses that might work. felix.paolo AT goldenarrowrecords.uk and a.polonius AT bigbangevents. com And there's a UK cellphone number too, wait a moment!"

While Dike tries the addresses on her laptop, Hermes pulls out his own notebook and starts to browse through one of the biggest address folders I have ever seen. And when Dike tells that a.polonius AT bigbangevents. com is bouncing, she gets three more mail-addresses and several phone numbers.

" You know all these people?" I ask Hermes.
" Know and know, most of them are mortals, how can you learn to know somebody in less than a hundred years? They're mostly business relations. And a few for pleassures. "

" It is in fact the download thing I want to discuss with him", Dike tells. "We can't go on like this. I'm the goddess of justice and I'm seeing the law being broken in several countries. And while the record companies rely on copy protection programs people loose their respect in the law. This has to change, that's why I want to talk to Apollo."
" But the legal download chains? iTunes and the likes?" Hermes asks.
" They're not enough", Dike says. "They came too late, when mortals had already learned that music and later movies were out there for free. "

Then we're at it again, and when immortals starts to argue a lot of heads are turned in the restaurant. After a while Ganymedes has to come over and tell us to calm down a bit, because we are annoying his other guests. A perfectly normal evening at Little Hellas in other words.

Interlude ends

Zeus held me hard one last time while the others were gathering their arms and tools around him.
" Goodbye for a while, Thea-darling. I have no idea how long this will take, but when it's over we'll see each other again, and you'll have to make more honey-cakes for me."
"You have your whole backpack full of them, Zeusy."
" I know. But they're only going to last a week."

" Be careful, Zeus! I love you. You were my little boy who has grown up to be the greatest young god. Good luck and trust your instincts. And take care of Metis. "
" I sure will. Thea - one more thing!"
" Yes?"
" If I send someone here, my mother or a sister or brother - will you take care of that one like you did for me? Because it might be that this person is too weak to battle and he or she will be needing a safe and comfortable home. And since I have placed an Aegis around this place it will be completely beyond the reach of Cronos or any other Titan. "

" I certainly will do that, Zeus. I'll do everything for you. "
" Thank you, Thea. In return - when I some day get my own home you will always be welcome there."
" This will always be your home, Zeus. "

" We have to get going!" Themis urged from behind Zeus.
" I know! "

One last squeeze with those strong arms and then he let go. He took up his backpack and handed it over to the godlet carrying it for him and then he hung his swords on his back and took up the man-sized labryx-axe.
" Sisters and Brothers in arms!" Zeus called out. "We're off for whatever destiny waiting. Metis, Themis, Helios, Selene! You fly with me up front! Nike, Bia, Kratos, Zelos, you take up the rear! Kotos, Briareus, Gyges - right flank, Thelxinoe, Aiode, Arkhe, Melete - left flank! All the others in between according to plan. And may the Fates be with you all as we're embarking this Vehicle of Change! "

Then they were off in the air, and while they disappeared among the clouds of the overcast sky I felt my eyes blur. I was crying for the first time in I don't know how long. Adrasteia was crying too, and we hugged each other for quite some time.

It felt so strange entering the building again. My cave-home of dug-out stone felt so empty and abandoned when all the people had left. All the rooms that only half an hour ago had been filled with noise and buzz of a million things being taken care of, were now echoing with silence, and I could hear my own heart-beat in my ears.

" So life is back to normal again? Addie said and picked up a forgotten helmet, trying it on, admiring herself in the reflection from a likewise forgotten bronze shield. "
" I don't know what normal is. Is this normal? He's been here for almost two decades, my little Zeus. Without him - what am I going to do? Go back to herding? I'd..."

" I know what you mean. Thea, I'm - I don't think I'm staying either. I need to see the world. And you should also get out a bit more. Perhaps finding a lover. "
" Addie, there's a war going on out there. No time for love for most people. Before the hostilities are over I think it's safest to linger here for those who do not do battle. Zeus' Aegis will keep this place from being harmed. "

" Thea, when Zeus takes residence somewhere - will you move there?"
" I don't think so. I'd visit of course. But I suppose he'll need a life on his own. Without his old ward 'keeping an eye' on him. Because that's how it's going to feel, no matter how old any of us are."