Chapter 6, Eve and the Goddess of Warfare

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There was a stunned silence in the room closely followed by a cacophony of voices.

"What?

"How could that be?"

"Surely you are mistaken."

Eve waved for their attention. "Settle down. Let me explain."

"Please do, Col. Baird," Jenkins said. "Start by explaining how you came back six months ago."

"Well, I am sure there is no chapter in that other book that relates the exciting tale of how the four of us sat around this table trying to figure this all out, so it's not as if I could come back to this moment. I actually returned months ago, right in the middle of that skirmish with The Brotherhood. Right in the middle of the battle, actually."

"The fight with Dulaque?" Ezekiel asked. "The one where Lamia almost skewered you?"

"Yes, that's the one," Eve replied. "Funny thing about that injury…Lamia wasn't the one who gave it to me. I received that particular wound in an entirely different battle."

Cassandra raised both of her hands in the classic 'stop right there' position. "I think you have lost me. I am so confused. What other battle? And wait, if you came back six months ago then you knew about all this! You could have stopped it from happening!"

Eve sorted through her scrambled memories and tried to make sense of it all. "I didn't know." She protested feebly. "I mean, I did…but then I didn't. I knew everything for just a second and then I was fighting Dulaque and his crew, and I just didn't know anything about all this until just now. I can't explain it."

"I can," Jenkins said quietly. "This is called a time paradox. No one can be in a particular time twice. You were returned to this world in a time period that you were already existing in. When you arrived back, your two selves would immediately merge into one in order for the paradox to be corrected. In such a case, the strongest rules. The version of you that actually belonged in that time would have eclipsed the version of you that did not. And that is why you knew everything for only a moment before the memory was gone. An injury is stronger than health, so you got to keep that particular little souvenir. You have your memories back now because now…is not before…it is no longer a paradox."

"Ookaay," Ezekiel said. "We got that. Sorta. Maybe a little. Anyway, let's jump ahead to the good part. What happened in the book, Eve?"

"First, I need to state the obvious…" Eve hesitated. "I'm sorry. I failed."

Cassandra slid her hand across the table and laid it across Eve's as she softly murmured, "Its ok, Eve. We know you did your best."

Eve nodded, took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. "Thanks, Cassie. Okay. Okay. So, this is what happened…"

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The light was so bright that Eve worried that it would damage her retina. The last thought she had before passing out was that Ezekiel was right. It wasn't pleasant and it did sound like a swooshy kinda boom.

She woke on a cold slate floor. As she gathered her senses, she heard voices raised in anger. Using an intricately carved stone column to steady herself, Eve pulled herself to her feet and peered cautiously around the column. It appeared to be a large and very grand church of some sort. No, of course not, she corrected herself. This is a temple. Several young women in flowing toga-style dresses cowered in fear, as an argument raged before them. A lovely young girl wearing jewels in her hair and a haughty expression stood resolutely before a tall, striking woman with a commanding air. The woman wore full armor. A heavy sword was strapped to her back and she carried a bow. Her long black hair was held off her patrician face by a wreath of olive leaves.

In a petulant whine, the younger girl said, "I only speak the truth! You are just a jealous old crone. My beauty is far superior to yours. I am more beautiful than anyone and they should be building this temple for me! They should be worshiping me! I am much prettier than you!"

The goddess - for that was most assuredly what she was - spoke with anger and disgust. "Foolish child! You have no idea of what you speak! And for your sin of hubris, you must be punished!"

She turned to the handmaidens and with a flick of her hand commanded them to leave. Clearly terrified, they hastened to obey their mistress. When the room was empty, the goddess turned slowly back to the young woman. Pointing towards the girl, the goddess whispered a few soft words and there was another flash and boom that knocked Eve to her knees. Eve heard the girl screaming in horror.

Reaching out for the column once again, Eve stood shakily and peeked around it at the goddess just as another briefer flash of light blinded her. Wow, what is with these people and the light shows, anyway? Eve tried to make sense of what she saw before the flash. Was that a bunch of snakes? Damn. I hate snakes. Why does it have to be snakes?

The goddess sighed. Clearly caught in her own thoughts, it took her a moment to realize that she was not alone. She slowly raised her head and looked directly at Eve's hiding place. In the absence of more lights, booms, screams and snakes, Eve was encouraged enough to come out from behind the column and step cautiously up to the goddess.

"You would be Athena, I presume."

"Yes, I am the goddess Athena, daughter of Zeus. And you would be?"

"My name is Eve Baird. I am…the Guardian for the Librarians." That always seemed like such a lame thing to say but somehow it inevitably seemed to work.

"The Guardian for the Librarians."

There was a moment of silence while Athena digested this. And then she laughed. Her laughter was like the sound of lovely church bells on a Sunday morning. Eve was so mesmerized by the sound of her laughter that she neglected to feel offended that she was the source of the humor.

"Oh, mortal! You have made me smile on a day that I thought no smiles would come. I honor your name, Eve Baird!"

"Yeah, thanks," Eve said carefully, "I could see that you were having a tough day. That girl was a bit cheeky, huh?"

"Hmmm. Medusa. Her foolish pride knew no bounds. It was necessary to exact a hefty penance upon her," Athena replied sadly.

"Medusa? That was Medusa? So, that was…a head full of snakes I saw?" Eve blurted out, her surprise overpowering her caution.

Athena looked at Eve sharply, her back ramrod straight and her jaw clenched. "You disapprove, Eve Baird?"

"Um, well no. I mean, she was obnoxious with all that 'I am prettier than you' crap, but maybe the punishment was… well, a bit harsh?"

"You do not understand. I had thought that you would. Here you stand, in my temple, fearlessly engaging me in debate. You are a warrior, Eve Baird. I am the goddess of warfare- I know another warrior when I see one. How do you fail to understand?" Athena gazed at Eve with something resembling regret.

Eve straightened and looked directly into Athena's eyes. What she saw there was strangely familiar. "Yes, Athena. You are correct. I too am a warrior. I beg your pardon for my thoughtless assumptions. Please tell me, how did Medusa anger you?"

"She was an embarrassment to us!"

Eve was startled by both Athena's words and her vehemence.

"I am the goddess of warfare, of defense! I protect. I fight. I kill, but only in defense of that which is important, that which is dear to me and those who cannot defend themselves. I am also the goddess of craft, arts and literature. Do you think that beauty should be valued above these things? Do you believe that they built this temple to honor my beauty?"

"No," Eve replied quietly. "I think they built this temple to honor your strength and courage."

"Thank you. But Medusa, that silly, silly girl thinks that a woman's value is measured by her beauty alone. Do you measure your own value with that ruler, Eve?"

"No…I…do…not," Eve said slowly but firmly.

Athena smiled. "I thought not."

"Ok, I get it. That little twit was giving us all a bad name and she totally deserved to have her hair turned into snakes. But, I have got to ask…that last little flash when she disappeared…did you…?"

"Kill her?" Athena said gently. "No, I did not. I sent her to live on an island with the gorgons.

They are all blind. She can do no harm to any innocents there."

Eve delved into her memories for the tale of Medusa, but no details came to her.

"Um, blind?" Eve asked.

"Oh, did I not mention that part? Medusa is now so ugly that anyone who gazes upon her will turn to stone. But the gorgons are blind, so she will not cause them harm. She will, at least, have company to live out her life with. The island is so remote that it is unlikely to be visited by anyone else."

"That was actually…kind of you. Merciful."

"I am not a monster, Eve."

"I know that, Athena. I also know that you are the goddess of wisdom, intellect and reason. And knowing this, I hope that you will help me."

Athena tilted her head in interest. "Speak."

"First, let me ask you something. When I told you I was the Guardian for the Librarians, you laughed. Why?"

"A silly joke. Who sent you with this tale? Hermes? It must be Hermes. He is the only one I have told about the Book of Myths. And of course, my brother is quite the prankster!"

"The Book of Myths?"

"Yes," Athena chuckled with that beautiful bell-toned sound. "The wonderful Book of Myths that tells the amazing stories of the Librarians! It is truly a treasure, this book! I have procured it as a gift for my father and asked my brother, the messenger Hermes, to deliver it for me. I should have known better than to tell him about it."

"Athena. I am Eve Baird."

"What nonsense is this?"

"I am Col. Eve Baird. I am the Guardian. And the Library is real. It just isn't real…here. The book can transport people. My colleague-my friend- Jake touched a page and was brought here to your world. I need to bring him home."

Athena studied Eve thoughtfully. "Can this be so? You do look like the picture."

"What picture?"

Athena reached behind a carved alter and brought out a glossy wooden box. Reaching within, she lifted a beautiful book, pages gilded and cover studded with precious jewels. She gently turned the delicate pages until she found the illustration she sought and held it aloft for Eve to see. "This picture."

Eve stood rigid in shock as she saw an illustration of a fierce battle. She could see a number of combatants but her attention was riveted on one. Standing in the foreground, bloodied from multiple injuries but steadfastly wielding a sword, was a figure that was unmistakably Eve.

"Yes," She replied in awe. "That does seem to be me."

Athena paused in thought and then nodded sagely. "How can I help you, fellow warrior, Guardian of the Librarians?"

Eve's grateful reply died on her lips as two of Athena's handmaidens burst in.

"My goddess! They come! Poseidon and his soldiers have stormed the gates and murdered the guards! They seek control of the city of King Cecrops and plan to kill us all to obtain it!"

Athena placed the book on the altar and drew her sword in a single fluid motion. "You need to leave now, Eve. Go immediately! This is not a battle you will survive!"

"Athena, please! I need…"

The doors burst open again, and the room swarmed with soldiers- many soldiers with green scaly skin. They were led by a giant man, also green with a long flowing beard and carrying a mighty trident.

As the soldiers closed in, Eve had no time think but could only react. She spun and landed a solid kick to the midsection of the nearest soldier. He fell in surprise, but judging by the shock that went through her body when she landed that kick on the muscular monster, Eve knew he would not be down for long. Two more of the soldiers immediately followed. Eve flattened her hand and chopped brutally at the neck of one, while side kicking the other. The first gurgled as he went down but the second was unfazed and landed a punch to Eve's cheek that left her dazed though still standing. She parried with an elbow to his nose that made contact with a satisfying crack and spun just a second too late to see another of the creatures bearing down upon her flank.

Eve saw the flash of a sword as it swung in her direction. With a speed that would have earned Ezekiel's admiration, Eve dodged the sword attack. She succeeded in avoiding a fatal thrust but the sword slashed across her ribcage as she fell to the side, crashing into the very column that initially had served as her hiding place.

Through a haze of pain, Eve felt her blood streaming down her side. Her fingers touched the cold steel of a sword hilt, dropped by one of the fallen, and she clutched it with determination. She fought to regain her footing but slipped in a puddle of what was likely her own blood and crashed to the slate floor. Looking up, she saw the soldier who had wounded her closing in for the kill thrust. Her training and reflexes kicked in and she slashed the sword in a powerful backhand maneuver which almost completely beheaded her opponent and rained gore down upon her.

The clanging of swords and the cries of the fallen almost drowned out the soft bell-toned voice in her ear. "I know this is not what you wish, but I would have you live to fight another day. Eve Baird, I honor your name. Go now."

Eve gazed up at Athena in confusion and then looked down quickly when she felt the tingle in her fingers. Her right hand still clutched the sword but her left hand, bloodied and bruised, rested upon the illustration of herself in the Book of Myths.

There was a flash and a swooshy kinda boom.

The noise of the battle waged on, but was somehow different. Eve felt disoriented as she noted that the combatants were no longer green.

"You are not nearly as formidable as they say," said Dulaque mockingly. "Kill the Guardian, Lamia!"

Eve experienced an intense moment of regret, a feeling of loss and sadness. With unsteady legs, she climbed to her feet grasping a sword that she had somehow acquired. She raised her head, and staring directly into the eyes of Dulaque's lackey, she calmly said, "Bring it."

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"I failed."

"You did nothing wrong, Col. Baird." Jenkins said, as the others nodded in agreement. "You gave it your best."

"Well, my best was not good enough."

"Someone else needs to try," said Cassie.

With an abrupt crash, the back door burst open and in came a gust of wind seemingly delivering a tall, lanky man dressed in jungle fatigues who was absently brushing off what appeared to be sparkling pink pixie dust which coated his entire body.

"Hey, everybody!" Flynn Carsen called enthusiastically. "What's up?"