King of Underworld

Chapter 95

The Trial of Ares and Poseidon - (2)

The next day I went to the hills near Athens.

This must be the place Ares told me about.

I have to go through Athens, so I'll have to take the main road.

While I'm at it, let's have a look at Athena's city.

As you would expect from a city dedicated to the goddess of wisdom, there are many olive trees planted along the streets.

It was as prosperous as my own Thebes, with many free citizens carving statues of Athena from cedar wood.

"I sell bronze lamps brought from other cities!

"I have olive oil blessed by the goddess Athena for a mere penny..."

"I need some sacrifices for the goddess, can I buy some of these pigs?"

The folklore of the goddess was not bad. It was easy to see that most of the citizens were Athena's followers,

and the olives she distributed had long since become a staple of every city dweller's diet.

After a bit of exploring, I soon came across a Nexus in the hills near Athens.

I passed through the lattice, which contained the power to bite the people around it and to illusionise the landscape within...

"Hmph. Do you think Hades would side with an asshole like you? I'm sure they'd be rather bothered if the population of the underworld increased with the war."

"Nor would I side with the son of a bigot who tried to rape my daughter!"

"Enough, both of you. The other gods will arrive in a few minutes, so let the trial decide."

Ares and Poseidon are already having a nervous breakdown, and Zeus is trying to mediate between them.

All the gods were there to give their opinion on the matter. Even Amphitrite, Poseidon's faithful wife, is there.

"The consequences... I want this, for not a day goes by that Olympus is quiet.

"The goddesses Demeter and Artemis have not yet arrived.

"If we wait a little longer, perhaps... Ah, Hades!"

The goddess of beauty, whose beauty even her flowery veil can't hide.

Hestia, the goddess of hearth and home, sees me and calls out.

"Hestia, you're here too."

"I usually try to stay out of these things, but..."

The goddess of the braziers sighs and shakes her head, her eyes still on Poseidon and Ares, who are in a foul mood.

Ah, now that Zeus has intervened, they're backing off.

"Well, Hades is here and the other gods... I think we're all here, so we'd better get started."

One by one the other gods arrived,

and finally the process of settling the flirtation between Poseidon and Ares began.

* * *

So began the first trial of the gods on a hill near Athens.

The court was well furnished, with stone chairs arranged in rows.

Off to the side was a separate room for Zeus, Hestia and other gods of high rank...

"Let us begin, then."

I stepped up to the appropriate dais as judge and looked down.

Let's see, first... Was it Ares who argued in his favour?

"Hmmm... I won't say anything, I'm sure you're the better judge."

Zeus looks pleased, but doesn't say much.

He's already decided that the trial has turned in Ares' favour.

I look over at Poseidon and he's frowning.

Perhaps he thought he would win the trial because of his position and Ares' usual warlike behaviour.

"Then I will give my verdict. I too believe that Ares had no choice but to kill Poseidon's son."

"Hades, you are also his nephew, how could you..."

"And the daughter of Ares, who was nearly raped by my nephew, is my great-granddaughter."

Poseidon interrupted, unable to accept the outcome.

"I have searched the memories of Halilithios, who came to the underworld yesterday, and he was just as Athena said... He even tried to rape Ares' daughter. Ares even killed him, not realising in his haste that he was the son of Poseidon. I doubt anyone would wield a sword to do such a terrible thing to their own daughter."

"No, but..."

[Poseidon. I have searched your son's memory with the help of the goddess Mnemosyne... I see that you had a small part in the mischief Halilithios made in Athens].

[Athena has often interfered in my affairs].

[Do I really need to reveal all this here, I'll save your dignity in moderation]...

[......]

He looked at Poseidon and used his divine powers to make his point.

Zeus isn't paying attention, he's chatting to Hera next to him, so no one can hear him.

It's true that Halithios was an asshole, and it's true that he tried to rape Ares' daughter.

But there's also a bit of Poseidon, who deliberately sent his son to the outskirts of Athens to get him to go rogue.

"And while Ares' actions were justified, he did kill Poseidon's son. It was technically kinship murder."

"But Big Daddy, that's..."

"So, Ares, you will spend two months in the underworld."

[Ares, understand that if you go unpunished, Poseidon's retribution will surely follow].

[Ah... no, thank you for your consideration].

Ares lowers his head slightly towards me.

Zeus is nonchalant, and Poseidon grumbles that the punishment is too short, but that's about it.

I think that's enough of a setback.

The other Gods nod in agreement with my judgement.

"Hmmm..."

"So Ares will be punished for two months?"

"Well, that seems about right."

"Mild for a punishment for killing the son of the Lord of the Sea."

"Nonsense, Hades is trying to save face."

"Aha! In the judgement of Hades and the other gods, Ares' actions were justified, but as punishment for killing Poseidon's son, he will spend two months in the underworld..."

Looking around, Zeus rose from his seat and cleared the room,

I stepped down from the dais and advised Poseidon.

"Look after your own children. That Triton I saw the other day seemed to be in good shape."

"That's why he's my heir. The others have many sore fingers."

As he turned and left, the Sea Lord looked rather lonely.

It wasn't Poseidon's orders that made Halithios go rogue near Athens, it was his own personality.

He doesn't know how to treat his own children, and not everything goes their way...

The way he embraces his children should be seen as a twisted affection.

It may be a characteristic of the ocean that it constantly creates rough and unruly waves, but it embraces all life below the surface.