Chapter 1âHeraâs Discovery
ââAnd by Tatarus, Iâm sick of it!â Hera shouted.
Athena looked demurely away. âWell, he is Father of the Gods. He is supposed to make a few new ones, every now and thenâŚâ The pair were eating ambrosia on a terrace on Mount Olympus, home to the pantheon of Gods that dominated most of the Middle Sea.
Hera glanced at Athena bitterly. âHeâs also my husband!â she snapped. âI canât believe you all defend him like that! Donât rules count for anything?â
Athena gave a polite cough. âWell, yes, they do, butâwell, he IS the rules.â She glanced at Hera sympathetically. âItâs important to remember that.â
Hera looked away. âAnd I count for nothing? Iâm the Queen of HeavenâŚâ
Athena sighed. âHeraâheâs my father. Donât ask me to attack himâI canâtâŚâ
Hera nodded slowly. âI should have expected that fromâŚâ Suddenly she gasped. âOh, would you look at that?â, she said, pointing over to another table.
Athena glanced over and then stared, her eyes wide. âWhy thatâhussyâŚâ
The object of their scorn sat at the opposite end of the terrace. Aphrodite was being fed ambrosia by Ares, who tall, handsome, and definitely not her husband.
Hera shook her head. âHow can Hephaestus stand that?â
Athena sighed and shrugged. âHeâs really to sweet for his own goodâŚâ
Hera glared over at the loversâ table. âAnd with Ares? Heâs not even an Olympian! That Thracian bastard spends most of his time sucking up to Zeus and the rest of us, and the other half boasting! The moment he runs back to daddy Atlas is the moment the whole Mount Olympus gets cleaned upâŚâ Hera shuddered. âAnd to have an affair with him! That woman has absolutely no tasteâŚâ
Athena nodded. âHephaestus really deserves better than her.â
Hera looked at her pointedly. âHe was always fond of you.â
Athena started and then shook her head a little too hurriedly for Heraâs tastes. âOh, you know I pledged to Zeus to remain chaste and unwedâŚâ