‘A lot wealthier since she started accepting bribes. I get the impression some of the group that hired her aren’t too pleased at the amount she charges.’
Laet’s lips twitched in the semblance of a smile. ‘Then they’re fools. Kleonike is worth it to them. She’s worth more. There aren’t that many mortals left who can summon a semi-divine.’
Idomeneus looked at her quizzically. ‘You’ve been summoned by a lot of priestesses in your time.’
‘I have. But mostly in the centuries after Troy. Have you not noticed the amount of human contact lessening, these recent years?’
Idomeneus shrugged. ‘I suppose so. I never gave it much thought.’
‘The days of close connection between Mount Olympus and the cities of Greece are coming to an end, Idomeneus. Heroes no longer walk with men. Centaurs no longer teach the sons of kings. The divines are withdrawing, and the semi-divines are following them. Kleonike is one of the last priestesses capable of making contact with us.’ Laet looked thoughtful. ‘That woman on the beach. It’s a surprise to find an Amazon in Athens. Apparently the Goddess Athena has not yet relinquished direct intervention.’
She took a coin from the bag and examined it. ‘Best quality silver. The mines at Laurium have always been very beneficial for Athens. If not for the slaves who have to dig it out the ground.’
‘What do you care about their slaves?’
‘Nothing at all. Though I’m amused at these philosophers talking about ethics when it’s wealth from their slaves that keeps them prosperous.’
Laet put the coin in her purse, an elegantly embroidered item from Corinth. ‘It’s so gratifying to be paid for spreading destruction. Often I’ve done it for free.’
‘I hear the peace conference almost came to blows.’
‘It’s not hard to spread disorder among people who already hate each other. The Athenians and Spartans are locked into their ways and will never change. It will finish them eventually.’
Laet looked around the small tavern room, which was clean but furnished in very basic fashion.
‘You must rent us a house somewhere. I don’t like this tavern.’
She gazed out of the window, northwards to the fine white buildings and marble columns of Athens. She murmured a line from Euripides’ Medea:
I’ll travel to the land of Erechtheus,
to live with Aegeus, son of Pandion.
‘Which reminds me, Idomeneus, I’d like to go to the theatre.’
‘The theatre? What for?’
‘I’m a cultured woman.’
‘Are you planning on spreading some reckless folly around?’
‘That depends on whether or not I like the plays.’
The Goddess Athena
On Mount Olympus, the Goddess Athena was impatient. She took a cup of wine from an attendant, but held it in front of her without drinking.
‘What’s keeping Bremusa? She should have reported by now.’
The goddess was monitoring one of the altars in her mansion. It was directly connected to the small shrine near the harbour in Athens.
‘There’s someone entering the shrine now,’ said her attendant. As they watched, the door to the rather small, dark space opened.
‘Finally,’ said the goddess. ‘Open it up so Bremusa can see me through the altar there.’
The figure lit a candle.
‘It’s not Bremusa!’ cried the goddess. ‘It’s that idiotic young poet! Quickly, close it down! Don’t let him see me.’
The attendant hurriedly spoke a few words, lowering a mystical barrier, ensuring that Luxos could not see all the way to Olympus. Unaware that he was being observed by Athena, Luxos faced the altar in front of him and bowed to the small statue of the goddess.
On Mount Olympus, Athena frowned. ‘I hope this doesn’t go on too long. I want to talk to Bremusa.’
Luxos was talking quite animatedly. ‘… and I wrote this great piece of lyric poetry which would fit right into the final scene of Aristophanes’ play but he won’t even listen to it! And then I asked if I could read some of my poetry before his play starts, because that’s a really good spot, the whole of Athens would hear me. I’ve got some new metrical innovations which would really shake things up. I could revolutionise poetry in Athens! But Aristophanes says that spot is reserved for a well-known poet so he’s giving it to Isidoros. I’d be much better than him! And then I asked if I could come to his drinking party because all these wealthy people will be there that might want to sponsor me but he says I can’t come. Aristophanes is really mean… He could help me get my poetry heard if he wanted.’
There was a pause.
‘But that’s not really why I came to talk to you tonight, Goddess.’
‘There’s more?’ sighed Athena.
‘I met this wonderful girl! She’s beautiful and nice and friendly and she likes my poetry and everything! But of course I didn’t have any money to buy her food or anything, because I’m so poor. But she didn’t seem to mind. She was so lovely. I was wondering if you could help me find her again, and maybe put in a good word for me? I think she might be some sort of nymph. Well, she was good at making daisies anyway. I really need to find her again.’
At that moment, as the goddess and her attendant watched, Bremusa poked her head into the shrine.
‘Are you going to be in there all night? Other people want to pray, you know!’
‘Hey,’ cried Luxos. ‘Don’t interrupt other people’s prayers. It’s impious. Oh, wait, you’re the woman that was with Metris! Are you her friend? Is she here now? Wow, I’ve never had a prayer answered so quickly!’
Luxos turned eagerly back towards the altar. ‘You brought her here already! Thank you, Goddess Athena. Look, I brought you some daisies!’
With that Luxos rushed from the small shrine. Back on Mount Olympus, Athena’s attendant was raising an eyebrow.
‘Daisies?’
‘It’s all he can afford,’ said the goddess, rather stiffly.
‘No chance of him roasting an ox, I suppose.’
Inside the shrine, Bremusa was looking a little flustered. She hadn’t expected Luxos to be there, and wasn’t sure if the goddess was in attendance or not. Suddenly Athena’s face appeared in the altar.
‘Goddess, you’re here.’
‘Yes, I saw you come in. But I was hiding from Luxos. I couldn’t let him see me, of course.’
‘Of course,’ agreed Bremusa. ‘For a mortal to see a goddess directly is terrible impiety.’
‘I was thinking more of the tedium I might suffer if he started reciting his poetry. But yes, it’s impiety too. I’d have been obliged to turn him into a tree or something. So, tell me what’s happening. Did Metris help you find Laet?’
Bremusa looked disgusted. ‘Metris couldn’t find the sea if you took her to the beach. She lied about having powers.’
‘Really? Can’t she dispel Laet’s negative influence?’
‘She can’t do anything except make daisies and buttercups. I’ve never encountered a more useless nymph.’
Unexpectedly, the goddess smiled. ‘I presume she’s the one with whom Luxos has fallen in love?’
‘Apparently. Isn’t Athens meant to be full of intellectual giants and great artists? How come I keep tripping over this ridiculous young poet?’
‘Have you heard any of his poetry?’
‘No. Metris likes it so must be bad.’
The shrine was so small that Bremusa’s sword touched the wall, making a small metallic sound.
‘However, finding Laet is not really such a problem, Goddess. Just go where everyone is making bad decisions. You should have heard the arguments in the agora after she walked through this afternoon. Everyone was buying useless junk and then trying to get their money back, the place was in chaos. The woman’s a plague. She’ll ruin the peace conference for sure. I don’t know how I’m going to thwart her. Do you have any suggestions?’