CHAPTER TEN

 

 

We returned to the same room after midday meal and a spot of rest and relaxation. Pontus greeted us boisterously, “Let’s go, Mighty Olympians! Gather around.”

On the wall, Pontus had hammered up a map of the Caldron, our home field for War Games. We all approached the wall in a loose, disorganized cluster. Pontus continued speaking while pointing to the map. “Let’s be clear about the landscape here. The strengths and weaknesses of our field. The opportunities and threats of The Thick, which is the densely-forested area of the Caldron. Our returning team members can certainly attest.”

Low rumbles and whispers circulated amongst us. Phi placed a hand on Don’s back. I clutched Metis’ hand in a gesture of solidarity. I reveled in the warmth of her palm. We’d gone through a rough patch in The Thick last term when she’d mistakenly speared me. That was water under the bridge at this point and I trusted her. In fact, we all needed to learn to trust one another.

Pontus indicated a few more significant landmarks and said, “Obviously, you can’t truly appreciate the scale of this until you get out there, but even for experienced War Games participants, it’s always good to get a bird’s-eye view of the entire course before trekking out. We should’ve brought out the maps last term when Zeus got here, and then again upon Metis’ return. Now we have Amphitrite back as well, and Aphrodite to induct.” He stopped to catch his breath. “Half-way down the southern ridge is a nest of wyvern dragons. They are extremely aggressive. Avoid them at all costs.”

“I can attest,” I said.

“And wolves on the northern side of the river,” said Metis, no doubt remembering our encounter with the skin-crawling snarls and their crimson eyes. She gripped my hand tighter.

“Yes, avoid them too,” Pontus said. “But that also adds to our home field advantage. We know where they are. Other teams don’t.”

“But, the Othrys team knows everything we know,” Phi said.

“True. Of course, our battles with them have been the fabric of legend,” Pontus responded. “I think we have pretty good additions to our team this year in Zeus, Metis, and you, Amphitrite. It could be just the combination we need to win. Zeus’s fire and determination; Metis’ cunning smarts; and Amphitrite’s competitive zeal. Aphrodite, I’ve not yet heard of your fighting skills.”

“But you will,” Aphro quipped.

“That so?” Metis asked.

Aphrodite nodded. “I’m pretty damn mean with a sword. Took a class at lower school.”

Metis scoffed, “They didn’t even teach sword fighting at Kithira.”

“They didn’t? Hmmph.” Aphro raised her thick eyebrows and stared down her nose at Metis. “You wanna test my skills, anyway?”

Metis’ hand twitched against my palm.

“Ladies, please,” Pontus said, clapping his large hands. “I love the competitive fire. I think Aphrodite will fit in just fine here. Just remember, we’re all on the same team. Let’s get in a good practice and bring the title back home, shall we?”

Pontus threw his arm around Aphrodite’s shoulder on one side and Metis’ on the other. “Let’s go get acquainted with the field.”

As we all strolled down to the Cloudwell, I felt Metis sticking close to my left side. My skin was hyperaware of the energy that radiated from her. Nervousness wound my stomach into a knot at the thought of returning to the Caldron, especially The Thick. I tried to focus on the practice and preparing for this new game, but my mind kept wandering back to the pack of wolves Metis and I encountered. And the wyvern dragon that nearly ended me.

Once we arrived down to the Armory, Pontus said, “We have the mighty Aztlan Aztecs and the Norse coming, and with three new-ish team members, actually four now, we need to be on top of our game. In fact, I’m thinking of holding another practice in two hemeras. Hestia and Demeter, you remember their MVP from last year, Itzpapalotl, right?”

“The Obsidian Butterfly. She was a beauty and a beast.” Tia’s face grew somber. Her green eyes darkened. “Yes. I remember her well. Fast and furious.” A scowl crept across her face. “I have a bone to pick with her. She will feel my wrath.”

“Don’t forget Quetzalcoatl. What a snake!” Don added.

“Aztecs, smashtecs …” Hera jeered. “I have two words for you. Thor and Baldr.”

Meter high-fived Hera. “I know, right?”

“I’ll make sure I get the wedding invitations out before this weekend,” Shade mumbled.

Hera fake-frowned. “Jealousy is so not a good color on you. Clashes with your skin tone.”

Meter chuckled.

“All right, let’s focus please.” Pontus stepped between us all. “Poseidon, I’m going to try something a little different this year. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m going to let everyone fight for the team captain spot.”

“No offense taken, Coach. Mu Omega Pi. Till the day I die.”

“Excellent.” Pontus rubbed his thick hands together. “Go suit up.”

Phi, Meter, Tia, and Don entered the Armory without pause. My feet, however, remained rooted to the ground. I was not alone. Hera tossed a sidelong glance at me. I turned a blank stare toward Shade, and then Metis. Aphro also remained in place. Their eyes mirrored the fraught anxiety in my own soul. My lips pressed tightly, an expression that was returned.

Pontus noticed us. “Everything all right?”

Metis broke our silence. “I think I speak for everyone in present company, minus Aphrodite of course, when I say that stepping into the Armory again … after what we saw … you know, Ouranos … his last words … I think we’re all just a little verklempt.”

Pontus folded his immense arms and sighed. “Well, there is that.” He reached up and tugged on his bottom lip, looking each of us in the eyes. “The best we can do is honor his memory by giving our best effort and being the best versions of ourselves. He’d want that. Nay, he’d demand it. And besides, we all shall gain the necessary closure once the trial is over and Kronos is imprisoned in Tartarus forever.”

Hera said, “Coach Pontus, you’re always there to encourage us, settle us down, and set us on the correct path forward. I really appreciate your steady calm.”

Pontus smiled genuinely. “Someone has to apply the cool hand to counteract all these hot heads … yours included, dear Hera.”

Hera pointed to her nose and then toward Pontus as we proceeded gingerly into the Armory where everyone else had already dressed. Shade grabbed his black mesh battle tunic. Hera and Aphrodite both reached for the one marked with ‘A’ for Alpha. My mouth gaped for a moment to see how the confrontation would play out. With the tunic firmly in the grasp of both, the girls stared at one another for longer than was comfortable. But in the end, Aphro bit her lip and smiled, letting the tunic fall from her hand in slow motion. Hera’s faced reddened again. I wondered if it was anger or something else. Hera’s head whipped toward me. I quickly busied myself, locating my own battle tunic.

I poked my head outside the door. “Coach Pontus, how can the newbies like Metis, Aphro, Amphitrite, and myself get the battle tunics monogrammed?”

“Easy, my boy,” he answered. “Bring it back with you to campus and I’ll take it to the Cyclopes to see that it gets done.”

Everyone finished dressing. In contrast to my first encounter with the Armory, when everyone dressed alone, filled with latent tension, we each helped one another to fit into our gear. The moment really showcased our team perspective and unity. Tia and Meter helped Aphro, to the extent she needed it. I definitely wasn’t offering my help. Neither was Don.

Outside, we stood in the titanic shadow cast by the sun against Pontus’ broad back. Everyone launched into a series of limb loosening exercises. Lunging. Pulling. Reaching. Stretching. Aphro struggled to fit her helmet over her bushy crown of curls. Eventually, she loosened her puffs, allowing her full head of hair to cascade down over her armored shoulders. Meter helped to pull her hair back and restrain it at the neck. Once Aphro finished and finally dropped her helm into place, she looked absolutely fierce.

“Today’s challenge is simple,” Pontus pointed out into the wilderness. “I’ve set out six Hurler posts all around the entire field of play, all equidistant from here. The first one of you to hurl back to this semi-circle is captain this week.”

“Any flags?” Shade asked with a pitch of eagerness.

“No flags in this exercise. And since you’re not warring against another school or one another, you may remove the oxblood tips on your weapons so that if you encounter the wolves or, Gaia forbid, a dragon, you can defend yourselves. Those beasts are surely out there.”

We all scrambled to remove the tips. Don leaned close to Phi’s ear, pushed aside her dark indigo hair, and whispered something inaudible to the rest of us. Phi giggled, wrinkled her straight nose, and shoved him away.

Hera’s head whipped toward them. She must’ve read their minds. Hera tossed a glance at me and shook her head. I wondered what Don could’ve said to warrant that reaction?

“Poseidon,” Pontus’s baritone voice rumbled, “I, too think, it is great to have Amphitrite back, but take care not to lose focus.” He peered into the eyes of everyone. “Everyone would do well to heed our discussion this morning on leadership. You are all vying for captain. And though you may labor together in teams, only one of you can become captain.”

“What’s the time frame, Coach?” Shade asked.

“The retirement of the sun chariot,” Pontus replied matter-of-factly. “When you can no longer see evidence of Hyperion’s efforts from this vantage point.”

“Actually, it’s Helios who guides the chariot now,” I said, rubbing the suddenly itchy skin on my forearms.

“Wait … that long? Sundown?” Tia asked. “You must’ve hidden them well.”

“Right you are, Zeus,” Pontus responded. “And Hestia … yes, I did.”

“Pffft, I got this.” Meter stepped forward, placing her helmet snugly onto her head. “I can track footsteps better than anyone here.”

Metis set her helmet atop her head in such a manner that it angled backward. The bottom rested just over her forehead. She side-eyed Meter. “Good luck with that. Trails grow cold. Strategy and competitive game theory are better guides. Think as your opponent does—in this case, Pontus.”

“It’s a good thing I can’t read your mind right now, Coach,” Hera chuckled. “Guess I’ll just siphon knowledge off Metis.”

“Siphon? Really?” Phi complained.

“Did I say that?” Hera covered her mouth in faux shock. “I meant glean.”

Shade raised his arms in the air to form an X over his head. “Are we gonna jack our jaws all day? I have a Hurler post to find.”

Aphro wrapped her fingers around Shade’s bicep. “Mmmm, confidence is as sexy as a tight six-pack of abs. Shade, mind if I tag along with you?”

Shade stammered over his words. “Uh-uhmm, sure. But, don’t slow me down or get in my way …” Shade glanced at Don and me, and then Hera. “I plan on winning this thing.”

“Darlin’, I’d never dream of impeding you. I’ll even help you win.”

Hera cleared her throat. “Said the spider to the fly …”

Shade gazed into Aphro’s eyes like he wanted to speak … but didn’t.

Hera rolled her head on her shoulders. “Damn, Shade.” She stuck her finger down her throat. “You’re gonna make me vomit. Coach, can we go now?”

“Go!” Pontus snapped his wrist forward.