Hera grinned as she ran her hand through the viewing pool, distorting the images there. Sheâd show Zeus who was boss, the best way she knew how: underhanded manipulation.
Itâd been only too easy to convince Eros to enchant the poor woman. And to have her fuck a monster, well...Hera laughed out loud, disturbing the peacocks wandering around the white marble room.
A princess here, a demi-goddess there, she was sick of it. No man ignored her like that, even if he was king of the gods. Though she couldnât attack him directly, her lips curled into a sly smile, she could certainly undermine the manhood of his champion. The brawny mortal would never see it coming, and Zeus would never be able to prove her part in it.
Hera dipped a slender finger into a pot of honey and licked it off slowly, savoring the weight and sweetness.
The perfect plan.
*~*~*
Aegina hobbled over to the side of the road, wincing whenever she put weight on her left foot. She unfastened her sandal and pulled it off, grimacing at the size of the blisters. Her wavy dark coffee tresses were plastered to her olive skin, adhering to the sheen of sweat the hot afternoon sun had created. Ageina hated her hair, always thought it looked too much like mud.
Perhaps going adventuring wasnât such a good idea after all. But it was too late for that now. Aegina wasnât the type of woman to be wishy-washy. No, sheâd made her decision and was going to stick with it.
Still, it didnât make her throat less parched or her blistering feet less sore. She nursed her foot for another few minutes before gingerly setting it down on the compressed dirt road and continuing onward.
The sun was only about a quarter past its peak when Aegina finally reached Berora. Not having a horse, the journey had forced her to spend her money on a night at a roadside inn. Inn, she snorted, more like a hovel. She raised her wine flask to her mouth and swallowed a few drops of the sweet drink. Both her flask and her purse were running dry.
Aegina ducked into the first inn she came to; resting just on the outskirts of the city, it was a small building with a humble sign depicting a satyr with a wine bottle. The inside of the cramped room was dim and clouded with the smoke from burning herbs. The smell of a roasting pig pervaded the atmosphere and caused Aeginaâs stomach to growl menacingly.
The innkeeper raised an eyebrow at her entrance. He was used to visitors coming at all times of the day, and usually pretty young women were accompanied by large entourages of servants or family. The girl sat down at a rough wooden table and he made his way over with a hearty grin, but on closer evaluation of her bedraggled and dusty appearance, it quickly faded.
âWhat can I do for you?â he asked, clearly feigning politeness.
Aegina responded with a tired but grateful smile. âA cup of wine?â
The innkeeper nodded curtly and returned promptly, snatching up the coins she set down on the table.
She sipped the cool liquid, feeling the suspicious eyes of the innkeeper on her back. Aegina waved him over when her cup was empty. âExcuse me,â she asked as he began to draw away, âdo you know if there are any households looking for a cook?â
The thick lips of the innkeeper pursed in thought. âThere are some larger houses if you go down the road a bit and turn left onto the wide road there. But Iâll warn you, they usually like to have a fatherâs permission.â
When Aeginaâs eyes widened the older man knew she wasnât expecting that.
âWell, my husband has given me permission,â she announced boldly, trying to quell the nervous butterflies in her stomach. âWeâre farmers, and, well, the gods havenât been too kind this season.â
It was a flat out lie and he knew that. But still, looking into her dark doe eyes filled with determination, he felt a strange need to help her. The old man sighed and straightened his tunic.
âTell you what, lady. If night is falling and youâve not yet found a job, seek a woman named Pythia. Everyone around here knows who she is. She will let you spend the night, but think carefully about your husband before accepting work from her. If I were you, Iâd turn around and go back to the farm right now.â
Aegina smiled at him and he found that he couldnât help but smile back. âI appreciate your concern, but I donât think I can go back.â
âYou say that now missy, but..â He just shook his head. âPythia will help you if you need it. Tell her that Huros sent ya.â
Aegina scooped up her belongings and clasped his large hand in her small ones. âThank you Mister Huros, I wonât forget this kindness.â
After a quick stop at a town well to straighten her hair and wash the dust off her face, Aegina set off with a brisk step and high hopes of finding a job.
However, with the sun hanging low in the sky, and having stopped at every house on the street Huros suggested, Aeginaâs hopes were flagging. Sheâd received a couple offers, but without having her husband there to give consent in person, the households had been forced to turn her away. Aegina glanced at a sundial as she made her way through the garden behind the last house. The sun would be setting within an hour.
Dejectedly, Aegina made her way back onto the main street, wondering what she was going to do if she couldnât find a job. A servant at one of the houses had given her some dinner while they chatted, so her stomach wasnât growling anymore, but, she sighed, that was the least of her worries. She could go to that woman Huros had mentioned, but something in the way he said her name made her wonder if that was a good idea.
She kicked at the dust along the side of the road, watching the merchants roll down shades and close their doors for the night.
She had nowhere to stay, no job, no money...
Pythia was her only option it seemed.
Doing her best impression of a lost and innocent maiden, Aegina wandered over to one of the shop owners. When she asked about Pythia, the man looked shocked, but gave her directions anyway. His strange reaction made Aegina even more nervous about her decision to seek the womanâs help. The words ânowhere else to goâ chanted themselves in her head as she made her way towards Pythiaâs residence.
*~*~*
Erosâs long, tan body lay stretched out and naked on the white silk sheets covering Heraâs bed.
âSo, Hera, whereâs my payment?â
Hera smiled coyly, dark eyelashes fluttering against smooth pale cheeks.
âWhatever are you talking about?â
The god of love sat up, wings flexing. âYou know I love a bit of mischief, but Iâm not about to anger Zeus without some sort of...compensation.â
âAngering Zeus? Iâd never ask you to do something like that dear Eros.â Hera lifted the hem of her dress, showing off a long milky white leg as she climbed on to the bed. Eros leaned close to her, breathing in the scent of her skin.
âLovely Hera, I shot an arrow into the heart of the wife of Tyre of Sena.â His tongue flicked out tasting the flesh of her collar bone and traveling up her neck and along her jaw line.
Hera sucked her breath in as his hand came up to cup her breast.
âAnd Tyre of Sena is Zeusâs new favorite mortal.â
âArenât you a clever one,â Hera purred, teasing his golden curls with ivory fingertips.
Her hand dropped to his groin, caressing his member, thick and heavy. Eros nibbled at the base of her neck before throwing his head back and groaning.
The smell of burnt meat filled her chamber and Hera was left stroking empty air. She craned her neck and gave Zeus a flippant smile.
âYouâre back early.â
*~*~*
Pythiaâs house was more of a compound, Aegina decided as a servant led her through the lush green courtyard. Her hostess was lounging upon a couch, chatting animatedly with a group of women who looked to be about the petite housewifeâs age. The servant cleared his throat and announced, âA visitor, Mistress Pythia.â
The older woman turned her shrewd gaze on Aegina, causing her cheeks to flush. Pythia was a woman for whom wealth and age had taken pleasant curvature and finished rounding out her figure, so that her overall appearance was that of a large melon with limbs. Her face was beginning to show lines, but her mouth was stained a bright berry red, as if it hoped to distract from the signs of aging.
âSpin around for me, girl,â she commanded before Aegina even had a chance to introduce herself.
Aegina gave a hesitant turn, while Pythia nodded sagely, surveying the petite but curvy girl.
âAnd your name?â
âAegina,â she managed to stutter.
More nodding. âThat will do. Well, Aegina, care to tell me why youâre here?â
âUhhh...Huros said that if I couldnât find a job, youâd put me up for the night, and maybe offer me a job.â Her sob story spilled out of her mouth, once again a lie, but she spoke with an intensity sheâd not found before, desperation etched in every phrase. Aegina finished quickly, chest tight, eyes seeking some sort of response from the older woman.
Pythia simply raised an eyebrow. âIâd work on that tale a bit, but itâs good enough for me. You can stay the night, but youâll have to work.â
Aegina glanced nervously at the women who surrounded Pythia in the courtyard. She was beginning to realize exactly what Pythia offered at her large estate.
âNot like that.â Pythia tried to suppress the urge to grin at the girlâs obvious discomfort. âOne of my servants has come down with a very disturbing rash. You could take her place for the evening, in exchange for a meal and bed for the night.â
âI guess thatâd be okay.â Aegina smiled brightly, though the butterflies in her stomach hadnât calmed down in the least.
âGood. Girls,â a snap of her fingers caught the attention of the lounging women around the courtyard, âwill you please follow Aegina to her room and see that sheâs...presentable for this evening.â
A bath, three different dresses, each gaping further down her cleavage than was comfortable, and several tightly pulled curls later, Aegina was âpresentable.â One of the girls quickly explained what would be expected of her before running off to tend to her own appearance.