Chapter Thirteen: The Stranger

Hip followed the stranger across the mountains of Greenland to the highest peak north of the Arctic Circle. The stranger entered a cave just below its summit. The entire area was covered in ice and snow.

But the cave itself was cozy and well stocked. There was an empty fireplace made of rock to the very back with a mantle where bowls and pots were stacked. Flanking the fireplace were a couch and a bed with a table between them. This was obviously the god’s home.

“Come lie down,” he said. “I can help you heal.”

Hip went to the couch, keeping his hand on the shoulder where the arm had been severed. In spite of the pressure, blood seeped through his fingers and fell onto the rocky floor of the cave.

“We should call Apollo,” Hip groaned as the god rubbed ice against the wound.

“We don’t need him, Hypnos,” the god said, just before he pressed the broken limb against Hip’s shoulder. “This will hurt.”

The god’s hands became ablaze, like the sun. Hip clenched his jaw and resisted crying out. In a moment, the god’s hands returned to normal. Hip looked down at his arm, panting for air. The blazing hands had cauterized his flesh, and the bleeding had stopped.

“The skin is attached,” the god said, “but you need to hold still for several hours while the bone heals, too.”

“Thanks.” Hip relaxed against the back of the couch, feeling breathless and exhausted. “You know my name, but I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“No, we haven’t,” the god said. “I tend to keep to myself.”

“Why did you help me, then?”

“You were in need of it.” The god poured some wine into a golden goblet and handed it to Hip before pouring some for himself. “This is very old wine. It’s good, no?”

It slid down smoothly and had the right mixture of dry and sweet. It tasted like the wine of Dionysus. “Very. Thank you.”

The god shot a flame from his hand toward the log in the fireplace and set it ablaze. “That’s better,” he said. “Hungry?” He held out a bowl of peanuts.

Hip shook his head. “So, who are you?”

“If I tell you, you must swear on the River Styx to tell no one.”

Hip furrowed his brow. “May I know why?”

“Like I said, I prefer to keep to myself. I’m a very old god who’s been all but forgotten by the ruling pantheon, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

Hip’s curiosity won out. “I swear on the River Styx.”

“My name’s Aether.”

Hip’s head was still ringing from having been slammed against rock. “Did you say Keeper?” That was a strange name.

“Aether.”

“Oh, I’ve heard of you,” Hip said. “You’re the god of the upper air.”

The god took another sip of his wine. “I’m surprised you’ve heard of me. I don’t even figure into any of the creation stories anymore.”

“You came from Chaos and formed the heavenly stars, right?”

The white god nodded. “I am the air that the Olympians breathe, though they know very little of me.”

“Because you prefer to keep to yourself?”

“That’s right.” He finished the last of his wine and refilled it from the bottle on the table. “More?”

“No, thanks, I’m good.” Then he added, “I can’t thank you enough for what you did today.”

“You can thank me by keeping me out of the stories you tell to the other gods.”

“We could use your help,” Hip said. “Someone has been attacking Gaia and releasing Giants, like the one we fought today. That monster swallowed Ares’s leg, and we need to get it back.”

“I have an herb you could leave by the beast while he sleeps. If he eats it—and he most likely will—it will cause him to regurgitate the contents of his stomach. Then you can wait for the Giant to move on before you go back for the leg. That way, you wouldn’t have to fight him again.”

Hip grinned. “Dude, you’re my new best friend.”

A prayer from Persephone made Hip frown. Where are you?

 

Jen held on to Stormy’s neck as the whirlpool pushed them around.

“I’m so sorry I got us into this,” she said to Stormy. “Will you ever forgive me?”

He whinnied a reply that she understood as, “I already have.”

In the next moment, they were thrust from the round, menacing, sucker-mouth of Charybdis onto hard sand. Jen spat out water as she jumped to her feet. Then she helped Stormy up as Charybdis receded back into the sea. On the shore beside them were Keto and Scylla, and they were smiling.

Jen looked around. They were on a small island the size of her barn back home. The question was, which island?

“Where are we?” she asked, panting.

Keto laughed. “If I wanted you to know that, I wouldn’t have had Charybdis swallow you up and bring you here.”

Jen met Scylla’s gaze. “What are you going to do now?”

“Teach you a lesson,” Scylla said. “No one is disrespectful to my mother without consequences. She was once the queen of the seven seas. And one day she may be again.”

Jen narrowed her eyes at Keto. “Do you have something to do with the attacks on Gaia?”

Keto shrugged. “Your people already questioned me. I’m sorry to say I can’t take credit for that.”

Keto’s reference to the Olympians as Jen’s people lifted Jen’s confidence. It had been a year since she’d joined them as a goddess, and she was still getting used to the idea. “But you know who’s behind it?”

“I didn’t at the time I was questioned,” she said.

“And now?”

“I don’t think I want to divulge that to you,” Keto said. “Even if I am sending you to a place where you’ll never be able to tell anyone anyway.”

“Which is?”

“My husband’s hungry stomach,” Keto said. “He’s always hungry. And he’s irritable when he’s hungry. And, for some reason, he thinks it’s my duty to feed him. If I slip you down his throat whole, you’ll make his stomach feel full, and I’ll get that crabby merman off my back for good.”

Jen’s knees trembled. She felt like she was going to collapse onto the sand. Should she pray for help and risk getting Stormy eaten, too? Or could she figure out how to get them both out of this mess on her own? She glanced around the island again, trying to come up with a plan. She needed to find a way to stall these monsters so she could think of something. Maybe she would draw her sword and take her chances.

“Your husband doesn’t sound like a very nice guy,” Jen said, grasping at straws.

“He was once the King of the Sea,” Scylla said. “So you need to be more respectful.”

“Do you know what they call him now?” Keto asked. “The Old Man of the Sea. Do you know how insulting it is for a deity to be called an old man? It’s demeaning.”

“If you want more respect from the Olympians,” Jen said, “why are you always threatening them? Why not work with them, become allies, and earn their respect?”

Jen could tell by Keto’s ever reddening complexion that she had said the wrong thing.

The merwoman darted across the sand and shouted angrily in Jen’s face, “I don’t need to earn anything from anyone! I’m already owed it because of who I am. I am the mother of all monsters, and there is no one who should be more greatly feared than I!”

Jen shrank back, her heart pounding against her throat, her throat closing up. “You promised you would let Stormy go. I’ve cooperated. Now set him free.”

“Not until you’re in my husband’s stomach!”

 

Hip winced at the pain in his shoulder as he took another sip of the wine and studied his host. He wondered why Aether was so bent on keeping to himself. Was there more to his story? He recalled being told that the ancient god had sided with the Olympians during their war with the Titans by creating a shield over Tartarus that had helped keep the enemies down; but, beyond that, Hip knew nothing of him. Hip thought later he might ask his cousin Aeolus—that windbag—what he knew, since it was likely the two deities had crossed paths from time to time. For now, he told his mother he was okay but injured. But then she asked about Jen, saying that Hecate had been summoned to the duties of Sleep.

“Are you sure you don’t want more?” Aether asked of the wine.

As Hip was about to reply to his mother, he received an urgent prayer from Jen. “Oh no.” He sat up on the couch and winced with pain.

“What is it?” Aether asked.

Hip felt the blood leave his face. “My wife is about to be swallowed by Phorcys.”

“Where are they?” Aether asked.

“On a tiny island. That’s all she knows.”

“I have an idea where,” Aether said, getting to his feet. “If you swear to say nothing about me to the other gods, I’ll guarantee her safety.”

“How can you guarantee it?” Hip asked, on the verge of praying to his father.

“If I can’t save her before she’s swallowed, I’ll use my herb to get her out.”

“Her horse, too,” Hip said.

“I’ll be back soon.” Aether hovered at the mouth of the cave. “And remember, no one is to know my name.”

In his desperation, Hip agreed, but he felt uneasy about the god’s demand.

 

Than went over the safety rules with the passengers on his raft where they were docked near the bank of the Animas River just before nine in the morning. He had three little ones and their parents aboard today, which wasn’t uncommon, since he always guided the two-hour tours. The more experienced guides preferred the longer, all day trips, and Than didn’t want to be away from his family for that long. Besides, with his arm still healing, the easy, two-hour tours were all he could handle.

The three little black-haired boys probably ranged in age between seven and ten. Their little faces peered up at him from over their orange life vests. The two younger boys were full of smiles, but the oldest gripped his vest with white knuckles. His face was paler than that of his brothers.

“We’re going to take it slow at first,” Than explained. “If you want me to speed things up or make the ride more thrilling for you, just let me know.”

“I wanna go fast!” the youngest said.

The oldest boy frowned. “But not too fast. Safety first.”

“Smart boy,” Than said to the oldest. “Safety will always be our priority.”

The oldest boy forced a smile and then asked, “Are you sure you can do this with that arm in a cast?”

“Absolutely,” Than assured him. “I can use my hand. The cast is just there to make sure my elbow heals in place.”

The boy didn’t seem too convinced.

Than added, “And if anyone wants me to stop the raft at any time, just speak up.”

Than untied the raft from the dock and pushed them off. He sensed the fear in the oldest boy, noticed the shiver that traveled down his spine. To make him feel less afraid and to distract him from his worries, Than made conversation. He asked where the family was from, how long they were staying, what else were they doing while they were in Colorado (they were from Arizona), and what did they think of Colorado so far. Than helped them spot Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, moose, rabbits, and other wildlife along the mountains on either side of them as they made their way through the narrow gorge.

Than relished the presence of these living souls. Never in his ancient life could he had ever predicted that he would one day have this chance to board joyous mortals, full of life and wonder, nor could he have anticipated the breathtaking ride over the river he’d offer them day after day. If Charon knew, would he be green with envy?

In spite of the conversation, Than took in the amazing views, unable to believe that the season was already coming to an end. He had taken the job in May, which didn’t seem that long ago, and now here he was, guiding the last ride of the year. By mid-September, the weather became too cold and the rivers too slow for the trips to be safe and enjoyable for most people. In June, the snow melting from the mountains reinvigorated the river and easily trimmed what was a two-hour tour in September by thirty minutes.

As much as he would miss the breathtaking views and the exhilarating ride down the river, Than was having a hard time relating to the melancholy Therese had been feeling lately. She missed being a goddess far more than he missed being a god. Maybe it was because he had been one for centuries longer, or maybe it was because his job as Death had been monotonous. Maybe it was because he was still reeling in the incredible sensations a mortal body experienced—which was profoundly more intense than what a god experienced of the world.

He was enjoying his life as a husband and a father in the Upperworld. He loved the Colorado mountains, the trees, the birds, and the raging river. He especially enjoyed sharing these things with the twins.

But he did miss his immortal family. He’d forgotten how frequently he used to communicate with his brother and sisters, even if they didn’t see each other face-to-face as often as they’d liked. And although his father wasn’t a big talker, his mother used to make a point of speaking to him regularly.

Since becoming a mortal, Than prayed to them on a regular basis, but he was never sure if they actually heard his prayers.

 

Jen gave Stormy a frightful look of apology as she stood on the bank of the tiny island where Charybdis had delivered them. Phorcys appeared, looking put out about having to travel away from his dilapidated castle.

“What’s this all about?” he asked Keto and Scylla from the shallow water lapping at the bright, warm sand.

“Suppertime,” Keto said.

The Old Man of the Sea glanced first at Jen and then back at his wife. “You foolish woman!” Phorcys growled. “This goddess is a favorite of Hades. Do you think it wise to incur his wrath?”

“That’s not going to happen,” Scylla replied. “Hades will never know.”

“We forced her to cooperate,” Keto explained, “by threatening the life of her beloved horse.”

“I’d rather eat the beast than the girl,” Phorcys said.

“No!” Jen cried. “They promised to spare him!”

At that moment, the oxygen seemed to thin, as it had in the belly of Charybdis. Jen looked at the others, and all of them, even Stormy, were gasping for air like fish out of water. Keto and Phorcys flung themselves out to sea, but Scylla and Jen merely stared at one another with wide eyes as Stormy fell on the bank and they were left weak, barely able to stand, gasping at air, where none came.

Just as Jen fell to the sand and closed her eyes, she felt something whisk her up from the ground and carry her off. She opened her mouth wide, but still no air came, so she stopped straining and gave into the nothingness that wanted her.