14. Gods of weather and wind

A.N The fourth wind god Euros – the Eastern wind – has yet to be born when this part of the story takes place

"Hello, Diadara," said the tall and slender god and flashed a toothy smile at the ginger-haired goddess behind the desk. His long, musty brown and thin dreads were tied back in a bun covered with a burgundy cloth, hazel eyes sparkling merrily. "I'm here to see Aiolos."
"Okay, Zephyros," Diadara replied and reached for her sight mirror. "I'll see if he's in!"
"No, wait!" Zephyros reached out with a hand like a wiper and grabbed Diadara's slender ankle. "Who's she? Over there?"
"That's Aphrodite. The new Goddess of Love," the secretary told, her gaze following the god's eyes.
"She's adorable," the Western Wind craned his head. Diadara murmured something inaudible in return to which Zephyros couldn't help laugh.

"Don't tell me you're envious!"
"Shushulush..."
"Say what?"
"She's a slut."
"Oh no, come on! Don't gimme that crap! Not you! You're too intelligent for that kind of skivvy talk!"
"But they..."
"But nothing, lass! You don't have anything to be envious of."
"It's nothing like that, Zephyros, but..."

"Zephy!" A ringing tenor cut them off as a shadow fell in across the desk of Diadara. "So glad you could make it so quickly!"
"Aiolos, Iris said it was urgent, so I came here right away."
"Well, it's not a house on fire, nothing like that," the Windmaster said as he laid his arm around the angular shoulders of the Western Wind and started to walk with him down the corridor to his office in the Southern Wing. Zephyros turned and flashed Diadara a smile, but what he really wanted to do was getting one last look at the goddess in orange chiton, who was standing two desks away conversing an office nymph.

But there was no time for ogling; Aiolos was down to business immediately, the way he always did.
"You know we have this slightly delicate situation down in Canaan with a typhoon syndrome and I don't want to alert Zeus and the other big shots yet. But if it's not taken care off..."

*o*o*

Aphrodite had felt the unfamiliar god's gaze sliding over her body, taking her in and checking her out. Now, her curiosity was naturally awakened. She couldn't help feeling his bold appreciation and she turned her neck slightly – barely notably, as she glanced inquiringly in his direction. Had he been here during the night of the initiation? She didn't think so; she couldn't recall saying hello to him at least. Suddenly a new sight bowl didn't fell that important, in spite of knowing she had to work on the case Queen Hera had given her. Aphrodite followed the disappearing duo with her eyes. Aiolos she knew. Talkative. Flirty. He was charming but not really original. She could figure him being a nice diversion, nothing more. But that other god with his cocoa-brown skin and curious eyes?! She wanted to know more about him.

All this passed through her mind in a mere heartbeat and the nymph in front of her continued talking about sight bowls like nothing had happened.
"Sorry, Lavi," Aphrodite interrupted. "Who's that god who just went into Aiolos' office together with him?"
"Oh, that's Zephyros. God of the Western Wind."
"Haven't seen him before. He doesn't live at Olympos?"
"Yes, he does," Lavi replied. "Yet like all wind gods he has a volatile mind. Never stays long in the same place. A bit absent-minded. A bit aloof. So someone's gotta keep an eye on 'em, you know," the nymph shook her head with an almost motherly look to her countenance. "And that's to be Lord Aiolos."
"I see," Aphrodite nodded, trying to keep her face straight at the notion of Aiolos being a 'Lord'. He appeared everything but lord like. Then again, she'd never been much for fancy titles, she preferred to look beyond such epithets and discover whom the title was attached to.

Lavi resumed her talk about sight bowls and Aphrodite forced herself to listen, even if it was hard since Zephyros had plastered himself all over her mind. She recollected something another goddess had let slip at her initiation day. About weather gods. There was something which came with weather. A capricious, creative intelligence which could be dangerous as well as benevolent. Weather was powerful, volatile and hard to harness and it took its god or goddess to handle. Consequently gods with traits in the weather area were especially clever, dexterous and fast thinking. Attractive, exciting deities! That was where Zeus' charm came from. As well as his infamous temper and his not exactly harmless appearance. So now this other Z. The Western Wind. What was there to learn about him?

More or less distracted Aphrodite let Lavi help her with the sight pool of choice for studying her mortal king. The goddess of love knew she would have to visit young Chrysodemos in person too. Perhaps even confront him in disguise to see what kind of character he was. Perhaps even going all the way into the bed chamber with him, to gauge his desires. That scheme was nothing she was a stranger to; if it could help her pick the right princess she would definitely go ahead with it. But first of all she had to do the pre-work using the sight pool. Both when it came to King Chrysodemos in Tiryns and to take a closer looks at those princesses.

Aphrodite had already decided that the choice was to be between Allida of Thebes, Airanna of Cecropia and Embla of Sparta. One of these three would be the future queen of Tiryns. Now she was going to pick whom. She knew she had to do this meticulously, to show Queen Hera that she was up to the job. To show that they had chosen the right person to become Goddess of Love at Olympos. She would hate going the same way as Lyssia, Phaesyle and those other goddesses who had preceded her. Not to mention how disappointed her mother would be.

Conjuring up the sight bowl of recommendation Lavi handed it over to Aphrodite, who took it between her hands, admiring the well-crafted silver work. The bowl was perhaps eleven inch in diameter and two and a half inch deep and the silver surface was polished and shiny. The sides were adorned with a meandering pattern, looking like entwined snakes and in the bottom of the bowl was a sun with a pretty face upon it – large eyes with long lashes were smiling at her and the lips were full and sensual. Aphrodite couldn't help smile back at the happy yet noseless figure. This bowl would bring her luck, she was certain of that.
"Thank you, Lavi," she bowed her head slightly at the nymph and Lavi's cheeks were blossoming.
"Pleasure is mine," she responded and looked down.

While doing her best to force the thoughts of Zephyros to the back of her head, Aphrodite returned to her home to begin her work with finding a future queen for king Chrysodemos of Tiryns.

*o*o*

"So, you're Aphrodite," Zephyros beamed as he lifted his glass towards the goddess in front of him. "The new Goddess of Love."
"Yes, that should be me," Aphrodite replied and she couldn't help wetting her lips slightly and pout them almost seductively at the handsome god who was regarding her with curious, brown eyes beneath thick and arced brows, an almost mischievous smile curving his lips.
"I'm delighted to see such a beauty among us Olympians; you sure are a pride for your profession, Aphrodite." Zephyros reached out and took her hand, pecking it gently.

Zephyros was a divorcée; Aphrodite had made sure to find that out before she went to work with her mortal matchmaking. He had been married to a goddess named Khloris earlier, with which he had a son, Karpos, but that was more than a hundred years ago and since then he had lived the bachelor's life, coming and going as it bemused him and not really bothering with such trifling things as routine and rules. No, Zephyros was a god with a mind of his own, just as his older brother Boreas. But while Boreas was harsh and grim, Zephyros was gentle and full of humour. There was a younger brother as well – Notos, but he was barely a teenager and was still being trained by Aiolos, although just as Zephyros was honored as the god of the West Wind and Boreas the North Wind, young Notos has got the honorific South Wind.

"You're flattering me, Zephyros," Aphrodite purred. "There are so many beautiful goddesses here at the top of the Olympos, and I'm hardly among the fairest."
"Oh, that's diffidence speaking and you know it," the charming god said, tilted his head and grinned even wider, his teeth setting off oddly white against his quite dark skin. Quick-wittedly Aphrodite beamed back and spun the beverage around in her glass. "So how do you like Olympos?" Zephyros went on and Aphrodite swallowed her drink, putting the glass down upon the decorative linen tablecloth of the side-table next to her.

"I like it a lot," she began. "It's beautiful and opulent and full of the most interesting and exciting people. Although I'm still getting used to certain things. Like these gatherings of immortals," she said and waved her hand out across the floor where some 50 flamboyant gods and goddesses were assembled. All waiting for the arrival of Zeus and Hera and the start of the Grand Dinner, while sampling from the drink plates the nymphs were carrying around. "You know I used to live down there among the mortals for so long, and they never mingled like this. Not even in the royal courts. People down there have to struggle so much to just get by. You know, sometimes I get the feeling that it's unfair that we have all these things while they have so very little."

"Aphrodite, we have our own struggles, as you well know," The Wind answered her. "We have hard tasks to perform and if we fail we can cause disasters. I've seen gods being punished severely for trouble they've created. Then there's always these power games going on. It's like a hurricane where Lord Zeus is in the eye of the storm. He and Hera. While it might be quite calm where they are, just outside their nearest vicinity this tempest is raging on." While speaking, Zephyros was animating with his fudge brown left hand as if he was about to conjure up a gale right there and then. "This fight for power and position, these ruthless people trampling on one another. They say they love you and kiss your cheek and when you turn around, the cannot wait to stab you in the back. Sure, you must have noticed it too."
"I have," she admitted, recalling her precursors and their unknown fate. One day she was going to find out what had become of them. When she felt ready to know.
"But let us not talk about such dismal things on such a wonderful night, sweet Aphrodite. Tell me more about how you find it here!"

"Full of lovely men alike you. That I like," Aphrodite smiled. Then she sobered up and told about the job she was doing for Queen Hera – without naming any of those mortals or their homes to the West Wind. Sure, he was exquisite, but her mother Dione had warned her so many times against trusting any Olympian until she was dead sure they would not try to use any information of hers to their own benefit regardless of how it might affect her. Therefore she just described the matchmaking, concentrating on the way to do it rather than who was involved.

When she was done Zephyros hesitated with his response, seemingly thinking things over.
"Can you match immortals as well?" he inquired after a few silent heartbeats and sipped from his glass.
"Yes, sure," Aphrodite nodded her head. "It's not all that different. Although I haven't tried it so many times. Haven't got that much practice to be honest."
"Oh, well that should only be natural, my sweet!" Zephyros smiled. "Since there are fewer of us. Much fewer."

"Do you have anyone special in mind?" Aphrodite asked, glad the conversation had spun away from the possible hazard of revealing King Chrysodemos.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I have," the Wind responded and put away his emptied glass as the nymph came strolling by with her plate. He didn't grab another one, that hinted at a certain restraint.
"Whom, may I ask?"
"My brother."
"Young Notus spilling his teenage seed, right?"
"Actually no. It's my older brother. Boreas. He has a die-hard crush on a goddess called Oreithyia. A minor of Attica. Near that town which Athena and Poseidon are quarreling about."

"Hm – haven't heard of that."
"No, it's a place called Cecropia, which both of them has laid claim upon and both refuse to back down."
"And this – Oreithyia lives there? Well, isn't it her town then?" Aphrodite asked. Meanwhile she made herself a mental note about Cecropia, the town of princess Airanna. It could be advantageous to known that Poseidon and Athena both desired that city. Perhaps it would be a factor of importance in her ongoing matchmaking case.
"Pah!" Zephyros exclaimed. "Oreithyia's town my ass! When two top notch Olympians move in? Forget it! Now, my brother is all lost in the eyes of this Oreithyia, keeps dreaming about her ever since she was here at Olympos last solstice. And he's been all gloomy over her. And she – well she can't wait to get far far away whenever he's in the vicinity. Naturally I wonder if you could... mayhap... well..."
"Do my thing?"
"Exactly," the god smiled.
"I'll see what I can do," Aphrodite promised while Zeus and Hera entered the hall.

*o*o*

The next morning when Aphrodite woke up she didn't remember where she was during the very first brief moments. The fragrances around her were unalike the ones she was used to and the light came from a different angle. She was lying spooned up against a warm body – and then she remembered – Zephyros. She smiled at the recollection. They had drifted apart during the dinner, where she ended up sitting with Hemera and her sister Nyx, the light god Phosphoros and a few others. It was a talkative posse and she enjoyed herself heartily. After dinner Hemera had gone to bed and Nyx had gone working, so Aphrodite had walked down in the rose garden all by herself, admiring the flowers of Demeter while the celestial music of Apollo and his Muses came drifting through the open doors to the terrace together with the soft sound of people talking and laughing.

There she encountered Zephyros again, and she wasn't really sure who seduced whom, but after certain moments of flirting and teasing around it could only end in one way. And – oh my – he had been wonderfully tender. More so than Apollo or Hermes, who were both more wild and hot. While Aphrodite had almost expected a wind to be animalistic, this man was nothing like that. Zephyros had been full of wondrous tricks, that was true but he was never rough on her. With a smile, she turned around and faced the still slumbering god. He sure looked like a child with his featured softened by sleep. Yet, so did most men.

Raising on her elbow, Aphrodite leaned towards the West Wind and kissed him gently on his full lips, nibbling him awake. Moaning tiredly, Zephyros opened his mouth and invited her into an encounter of tongues, as he embraced her from behind, gently squeezing her bottom.
"Oh, you really are IT," Zephyros gasped as they disconnected from the kiss.
"What?" Aphrodite whispered huskily. She could feel his arousal against her right tight and it triggered her as well. Turning her yearning and wet.
"You really are the Goddess of Love. The real thing."
"You said so yesterday too," she smiled at the West Wind.
"I did. Guess that indicates I seriously mean it," he grinned.

After that not much was said since they began teasing each other eagerly and hot, making love like picking up where they had left the evening before. Later, when they were both sated, Aphrodite raised from bed.
"Sorry, I would've loved to stay in bed with you all day long, my lovely Wind. But I have things to do, people to see."

Zephyros knew better than to reach for her and plead with her to stay. Instead he sat up too although he didn't get out of bed immediately. He explained where to find his bathroom and told her that the nymphs always filled up the tub with warm water this time of day when he was at home.
"Feel free to use it, sweetheart. Then I hope to see you tonight again. I too have my duties to take care of, you see."
"Certainly," Aphrodite replied and blew him a kiss. "You're very generous! I'll see you tonight, Zephyros!" She grabbed her golden-rimmed orange chiton and scarf and danced away across the floor tiles, out through the ornate oak door and down the hallway to where the bathroom was. And sure, there was a bath ready for her, the nymph must have understood she was here (or at least that there was a woman friend of Zephyros around) because the bath was smelling of roses and lavender, far from the musky fragrances men seemed to appreciate. There was also a large towel and a tiny cup of soup which she used to wash her hair with.
"I just wish there was a way to rinse it more thoroughly," she said to herself. "Like some waterfall kind of thing. That would be just delightful!"

She remembered washing her hair in waterfalls at Cyprus, that had been awesome. There were things the nature provided with and which men (or gods) could not compete with. Things that were just too grand. Then she remembered that there actually were a few of all those waterfalls on Olympos. Perhaps she could give one of them a try some day. Washing her hair in a waterfall. It was probably ice-cold, mountain lake water, but that was what shielding was for. Finishing her bath, she toweled herself off quickly before she returned home to her sight bowl and to the doabouts of King Chrysodemos of Tiryns.

*o*o*

"Now what is this racket?" Queen Hera cut Aphrodite off right in the middle of her explanation of why she had picked the princess Airanna of Cecropia as a wife for Chrysodemos. Aphrodite did also perk up at the risen voices from outside the door and as the Queen stood she followed too. "You must excuse me, dear, we'll have to finish this later. I must go see what's going on," Hera said and Aphrodite agreed.
"I understand fully, this sounds more serious than just some envious quarrel."
"Yes and Poseidon! It can turn out really nasty when he gets mad," Hera pointed out. "Come on, Aphrodite, we can need several eyes, ears and brains to straighten this out."

Aphrodite followed Hera along down the stairs and out in the large two story parlour on the fourth floor - and sure, there was Poseidon, steaming with rage, crossed muscular arms and intimidating stance. Opposite of him stood Zeus' daughter Athena, akimbo and astute looking none the happier.
"Actually, Poseidon, I came to Cecropia more than 30 years ago. When it was just a backwater village with mud streets and pigs and donkeys roaming about. I may safely say it was just one of those places which you couldn't care less about. I made it into what it is today. This town is my creation, virtually as if I'd built it myself stone by stone and with my own bare hands, and it is nothing I intend to give up."

"Athena – face it that li'l town is still barely more than a village. Whereas I can offer a terrific harbour. I can reinvent Cecropia into the perfect gate to the sea and the islands beyond. A trade hub! That is more than you can ever give the place."
"A harbour, huh – as if the people of Cecropia wouldn't be able to build one themselves!"
"If that is true, Athena, then they don't need you either. Now, I am taking a serious interest in that place, so you better go play somewhere else!"
"Now you two, what is the matter?" Hera enquired – a bit unnecessary one might think, because both she and Aphrodite had heard those latest exchanges.

Scanning the room, Aphrodite noted that besides Poseidon and Athena there were a trio scared nymphs huddling in a corner and two goddesses whom Aphrodite remembered were called Clymene and Nearea and who looked more curious than anything else. There was also the god Boreas and Aphrodite remembered briefly what she had promised his brother. The second and the third god, who were flanking Poseidon were men she didn't know. The final person in the room was Nike who was sitting on a couch with a screwd look upon her face. Almost like she was the one to pick the outcome of this event, select the winner. Almost like she had already done it, only without telling anyone yet.

"The matter, my dear Hera," Poseidon began, turning his head slightly to face the Queen, "is called Cecropia. A small town in southern Attica which I have seen fit for a harbour and trade route. I have plans for Cecropia. Pronounced plans. Whatever this bantam girl is aiming to stand in my way. And..."
"'Standing in nobody's way!" Athena replied. "People know me in Cecropia and they want me to remain there. They don't want bubba here to come troddling all over the place. Especially since he couldn't be bothered earlier. Before I -" angrily Athena banged her fist in her chest, "- came there and starting to give these people something to be proud of. So don't come here talking about standing in the way, because if anyone does, it's you Poseidon!" Athena moved her hand and pointed her index finger to the god in front of her.
"Now that was the most imprudent..." the Sea God began but Hera cut him off with a voice like a lash of a whip.

"That's enough. From both of you!" Hera said but Poseidon didn't stop.
"...thing I've heard in a long time. Athena, you better show some respect. If I had my trident around I'd taught you one or two things!"
"Like what?" Athena shot back. "How to show it up your ass?"
"Quiet!" Hera snapped, harsh and stern. At the same time Aphrodite couldn't help grinning. Athena sure had guts, because it took a lot of those to dare talking back to Poseidon that way. Poseidon opened up his mouth like a fish on dry land, but Hera glared daggers at him as she went on.

"I guess everyone of us here are aware what you two are quarreling about. No why is it that this town is not big enough for the two of you? And I don't want to hear what the other one should re-think but what you are not willing to change. Athena, you first!" Hera turned to her step daughter, who crossed her arms and sighed irritated.

"I don't want to change my plans for Cecropia," Athena said. "These plans have been in motion now for a bit more than two dozen years. And they do not include Poseidon."
"And why is that?" Hera asked.
"Easy enough," Athena responded and dared a glance at her uncle. "Wherever Poseidon shows up it gets all unstable. He changes procedure and position from one day to the next. Just like the sea. That's nothing for a city of mortals, a city where there's supposed to be some continuation. Besides I want to build this town based upon science and art. And these things have never been Poseidon's cup of nectar. I'd even claim he despise them. Considering them girlish! I rest my case!" Athena nodded briskly.

"Hey...!" Poseidon began and Athena replied.
"It's true and you know it!"
"Athena!" Hera berated her. "You had your say. It's Poseidon's turn now." She turned to the sea god, who was still standing posed more or less like he wanted to attack the goddess who opposed him.
"As I say – I want to build a harbour. She can doodle with her arts and her science wherever she wants but a harbour has to be where the sea is."
"As if there isn't enough shores in Hellas?" Athena huffed.
"Come on, Poseidon!" Hera challenged him. "Give us a better reason for us to believe you are the man to rule Cecropia and not Athena."

"Well," Poseidon almost laughed. "Foremost she is not a man..."
"You squid, you know what Hera meant, don't you?" Athena snarled and Aphrodite felt the titter starting to bubble within her chest.
"It's a good reason as an..." Poseidon began before realizing that he had put his foot in his mouth. Meanwhile Athena was smirking with delight, she had got her uncle right where he wanted. Into the corner where he started to be a no-brain male pig and she could delight in hoarding the other women, including Queen Hera behind her.

However Hera was not playing the gender game. Not this time. She was merely shaking her head at the two of them.
"Honestly, I'm not convinced. Of any of your explanation. We'll have to take this to the Dodekatheon Council. Next week's meeting. Before that none of you are to go down to Cecropia and mess around with things to support your case. Then I will hold such actions against you. Go home and brush up your speeches instead. All the rest of the Council will listen and have their say. Now, Aphrodite and I have some work to finish, so I don't have time for this anymore.
"Hera, you can't..." Poseidon began and the Queen glared at him.
"You heard me, Sea God. Next week!" Almost mimicking Athena, she pointed her index finger at him and then she turned on her heels, deep blue dress swirling around her long legs, as she started up the stairs. Aphrodite began to follow, but not before she had cast a glance at Athena, her eyes telling 'I'm on your side in this, girl!'