Broker

Chapter 125

The air that morning was hot but soothing. She sat up in her bed, the sheets falling down her shoulders as she cast her eyes about her simple room. A humble desk carved of wood from far away, a chair with it. To the right of the desk was a small shelf that was stacked with a variety of written materials. A few tablets, some scrolls from home, and a roll of wooden strips bound together by ropes. She slid to her feet and grabbed her gown, sliding it on and glancing out the window. Beyond it was a view of the gardens, many terraces going down filled with flowing water and beautiful trees and flowers. Beyond it was the desert, an expanse of unbroken sand that stretched to the horizon.

She stopped at the window for a moment and admired the view, resting her hand in the opening and leaned her head out to take a breath of air. “I like it here,” She murmured, “It’s quieter than home.”

A knock came to her door and she turned, blinking furiously and reaching up to check herself. Her blonde hair fell in rivulets around her shoulders and she quickly reached for a long needle on the small table where her gown had been, “A moment!” She called.

A gruff voice responded with a laugh, “Don’t keep me waiting too long.”

She perked up, half way through binding her hair up, “Father?” She called.

“Were you expecting someone else this early in the morning?” He asked testily.

She broke into a wide smile and hurried to the door, her hair half done. She threw it open with delight and looked up into the grizzled face that looked down at her. A pair of orange eyes burned as hot as the sun behind a mess of black hair that hung loosely to cover the wounds on his tan face. He was big, muscular, powerful, even with the false leg that he leaned on. The golden metal creaked a bit as he shifted in his stance. To anyone else in the world he seemed so scary, but to her, he was just her beloved father. The most impressive person in the world in her mind. She reached up and took his face in her hands, “What are you doing here?” She laughed, “It’s so good to see you!”

Her father swept her up in his arms and gave her a hug, having to kneel down a bit so she didn’t  hang loosely in his grip. “I came to witness,” He said, “I wanted to be here in person for it.”

Her eyes widened, “You came all the way from Olympus to see me?” She gasped, leaning back a bit and looking him over, “Won’t grandfather be upset?”

“He’s here too,” He said with a chuckle and caught the confused look on her face, “You know him, he wouldn’t miss an opportunity to get away from home for a little while.”

She snorted and he set her down, “Let me finish getting dressed. The ceremony isn’t for a little while,” She said quickly, turning to the room.

“Of course,” He nodded, “And Pandora?” He called.

She turned to look up into his face, “Yes Father?”

“Congratulations.”

It wasn’t long after that she was walking arm in arm with her father through the halls of the grand palace. The staff walked by and bowed before quickly hurrying back to their duties. It felt so strange getting such deference from them, even now. She knew most of it was due to her parentage, but she couldn’t help but think about her simple life before all of this. A life as a normal girl. Not a poor life, she never wanted for anything. Except to know the man that was now walking with her out into the sunlight. 

Ahead of her another man stood, he somehow looked younger than her father even though she knew that couldn’t be further from the truth. He had off-gray hair that seemed to glimmer with violet and wore white robes under light golden armor. He was speaking animatedly with another man with dark curly hair and tan skin who wore much looser clothing, closer to what the locals wore but far more refined and expensive. Silk from the east. As they drew in closer the two men  turned from their conversation and cleared their throats.

They’re talking about something inappropriate, I bet,

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Lord Zeus threw out his arms in delight, “Pandora! There she is!” He barked out a laugh and walked forward, glancing over at her father, “Hephaestus.”

“Father,” Her father said with a nod.

Lord Zeus grinned, “Gilgamesh here was just telling me all about these gardens and some of the exciting things that happen in them,” He chuckled, “They have some incredible parties here. I should send Dionysus some time!”

“I believe that might be considered an act of war from some perspectives,” Prince Gilgamesh said as he walked over to join them, putting his hand on his hip before grinning cockily, “You wouldn’t want to anger my mother, would you?”

Lord Zeus balked and glanced in Gilgamesh’s direction, “You make it sound like that boy would bring the whole palace down!”

“Wouldn’t he?” Gilgamesh countered. “Enough, enough,” He laughed and waved a hand before turning his attention to Pandora. His eyes bored down at her and she shifted a bit on her feet, he never looked at her like he did the others in the palace. He’d often seem dismissive, but for her he reserved a gaze of intense attention, “We’re getting distracted from the person of the hour,” He said and tilted his head a bit. Pandora shifted on her feet again under his stare and she felt her father get a bit closer.

“Gilgamesh, please,” Hephaestus warned the man.

“Hmm?” Gilgamesh hummed, glancing up at her father, he blinked a few times before seeming to realize something, “Ah! Of course,” He cleared his throat and took a step back, resting his hands on his hips, “Pandora!” He said with significantly more gravitas than before. His good humor evaporated, “Your presence is requested in the throne room. Do not be late!” He commanded..

She quickly bowed, “Yes, your Majesty.”

He nodded before turning away and vanishing into a flash of golden light, the air seemed to weigh significantly less on her shoulders and she let out a breath, she hadn’t even noticed the pressure until he was gone. A few meters away her grandfather scratched at his chin, looking curiously at the spot where Gilgamesh disappeared and then back at Pandora, “I wonder what he wanted with you. It seemed important, whatever he was going to say.”

Her father gave his father a deadpan look, “The same thing you want wherever you go, father,” He said with a grunt, drawing a flush from Pandora who cleared her throat and looked away.

Zeus balked, “He’s older than I am!” He protested.

“Never stopped you,” Hephaestus jabbed.

Zeus cleared his throat, “Well, either way,” He waved his hand to dismiss the conversation before he dug himself a hole. “I’m looking forward to seeing this. An Arbiter hasn’t been anointed in a while, and for Olympus!”

Pandora cleared her throat, “I don’t know where she’ll send me, Lord Zeus,” She said hesitantly.

He huffed, “Of course she’ll send you home, it is only logical!”

“There is already an arbiter on Olympus,” Hephaestus pointed out, though he sounded a little sad in saying so.

Zeus crossed his arms, “Athena doesn’t count! She’s part of the court now!”

“My sister would be upset to hear you say that,” Hephaestus said, “She’s rather proud of her role.”

Pandora just stood there, trying to follow the conversation. Their lives were so beyond her. The great ones of Olympus were so distant in her mind. The battles they fought for the sake of the world in the mystic places, beyond the world and through those terrifying portals. Everything they thought about was simply in another realm. Her grandfather was hundreds of years old, perhaps even a thousand. She had barely lived two decades, and nearly a quarter of that time had been isolated here at the grand palace. Farther away from danger than anyone could possibly be. 

“...how did things go with Thor?” Her father asked, his words drawing her out of her thoughts.

“About as well as you can expect,” Zeus said with a shake of his head, “The man is beyond stubborn, but he agreed to help. I should be able to speak with Odin soon. Damn their manic bureaucracy,” Zeus spat.

“That’s what happens when you live in a place detached from the world,” Hephaestus chuckled, “They shouldn’t have moved into that mystic place. It’s having an effect on them, I’m certain. Loki has become strange.”

Pandora cleared her throat, “Should… should I be hearing this?” She asked.

The two men swiveled to look in her direction, looking a bit startled. Zeus cleared his throat, “Probably not,” He said uncomfortably, “Please keep what you heard to yourself, young lady.”

She felt her heart skip a little, nerves going up her spine. She bowed, “Yes, Lord Zeus.”

The duo glanced at one another and Hephaestus put a hand on her shoulder, “We should head to the throne room. The Queen is waiting,” He said comfortingly before glancing at his father, “Shall we?”

Zeus hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh, “Very well, I wanted to see this but to be honest I didn’t want to see her,” He grumbled and started to walk, Pandora and Hephaestus moving to join him. He scratched at his chin, there was a little stubble there. Pandora wondered if he was thinking about growing his beard back. He used to have a thick one but had opted to remain clean shaven after he had regained some youth. Apparently grandmother hated it. “That woman always makes me nervous.”

“She was your arbiter, I read about it,” Pandora said thoughtfully.

Zeus grimaced, “She was,” He confirmed with a grunt, “Not exactly a pleasant memory.”

Pandora looked to him, confused, “But she’s so kind.”

He barked out a laugh, “To you! Oh, that woman hated me.”

“I wonder why,” Hephaestus grumbled, getting a petulant look from his father as they followed the path around the palace. It would have been simple for the two men to just vanish and reappear at the entrance, they each had their ways of moving quickly, but they were kind enough to walk Pandora to the gates where the guards stood. A pair of unfeeling marble statues stood in their path, looking down on them from their great heights. They did not speak, rather, they simply pushed the doors open and allowed them inside.

Just as they entered another person was leaving. The trio didn’t stop their walk as the pale, dark haired man from the east walked past them. He cast them a cautious look, his slitted eyes burning for a moment before he moved on. She could feel the mana rippling off of him like a heat haze that only vanished when the doors shut behind them. Zeus and Hephaestus exchanged a look, “What’s the snake doing here?” Hephaestus asked.

“At least it wasn’t that damn monkey,” Zeus grunted, “We would have never made it to the throne room with that buffoon talking our ears off.”

Pandora chose to ignore their whispers this time, glancing up towards the top of the stairs where the second pair of doors waited in the impressive palace. Around them was a grand space made entirely of blue stone, it glimmered in the lights that hovered in the air around them. The scent of flowers permeated everything, the gardens outside a pale imitation to the grandeur of the interior. She’d grown used to it, though, and didn’t stop to marvel. Instead she held out her hand and exhaled, feeling the mana in the air gather as a small cube the size of a fruit appeared in her hand. She opened it and drew out a tiny lotus that appeared to be made entirely of a single gemstone. 

She closed the box and affixed the lotus to her hair. Her father glanced at her, “A gift? Why do you keep it in your box?”

“It is alive,” Pandora said quietly, steeling her nerve as they began their ascent, “It would wilt if I didn’t. She gave it to me.”

“A precious thing then,” Her father said with a grave nod. Zeus just rolled his eyes and continued up the stairs alongside them. They arrived at the second pair of gates and the guards once more pushed the doors open to reveal the throne room. A field of lapis blue hung above them and along the walls while greenery stretched across the entirety of the space. It seemed like they were outside in the sunlight, a bright sphere glowing in the air above them. Ahead, a high seat made of gold waited. Gilgamesh stood to the right of it, but Pandora’s eyes were fixed on the woman sitting on the throne.

She had black hair that curled like Gilgamesh, her tan skin gleamed beautifully against the assortment of golden jewelry that hung on her person. She was tall, regal, and just looking at her made one feel small. Tattoos across her body gleamed with golden light and swam as if fish in the sea, moving constantly. She wore a black gown adorned with golden plates that affixed it to her body. Yet it was her eyes that were the most arresting, they burned with golden light, flames in her head rather than mortal eyes. 

“Zeus,” The queen spoke and the air shuddered.

“Queen Ishtar,” Zeus said as they drew near.

“Still cavorting rather than doing your duties?” She asked.

“I am who I am,” He said unflinchingly, staring back at her. “I cannot change my nature. I am a King now, and I serve my role as best I can.”

Ishtar narrowed her eyes, “I certainly hope so,” She said before turning her eyes to Pandora. “Hello, my student.”

Pandora dropped to a knee, “Teacher.”

“You’ll be leaving me soon,” Ishtar murmured, “You will be missed by more than myself.”

“If only I could stay by your side forever,” Pandora said before looking up, “You’ve taught me so much. How to see, how to understand, how to teach, how to guide the next generation. The great ones that I shepherd will be so only because of your wisdom.”

“And to think you mouthed off to me the first time we met,” Ishtar laughed. Pandora blushed a little and cleared her throat. The Queen leaned forward, “I’m proud of you. I have seen what you become, what you will do with your gift, and what you will do with mine,” She said before extending her hand, “You will live a hard life, but one day you will be remembered for the good you do for the entire world. I cannot praise you enough.”

Pandora choked, tears welling in her eyes, “Thank you, my Queen,” She croaked as she got to her feet. She walked past her father and grandfather, past Gilgamesh who inclined his head, and up the dais. She reached out and took the woman’s hand. “I, Pandora, daughter of Hephaestus, son of Zeus, will be your arbiter. Just like my brothers and sisters, your students, I will guide those who are destined for greatness and serve this world with everything I am.”

The great one’s hand tightened and she smiled with a little bit of sorrow in her eyes, “The Pact is made. Be strong, Arbiter Pandora.”

–

“...and so the young arbiter began her story. It’s late, and that’s all I have for now,” Chunhua pointed out, checking her watch as the Aspirants all blinked, drawn out of the story abruptly and letting out a few groans. She held up her hands, “Maybe some other time,” She said before glancing at Sonya who was giving her an odd look. Chunhua had been careful not to use the real names, of course, and had changed a bit more, in her own version. The core was still there. Hopefully, with time, the people that needed to would understand it.

She let out a breath and got to her feet, stretching her arms before putting her hands on her hips. She may still be suspended but that didn’t change how she was going to handle things, “Aspirants! Lights out!” She barked and they all quickly followed suit, their day on the beach coming to an end.