Bethany scowled as she remembered Archon and the others slaying the infant Strykerius claimed to be. "I thought her son died at birth?"
"Strykerius!" Apollo barked, making the boy jump in response. "Go inside and leave us."
There was something extremely strange about all of this, but she didn't have time to worry about it. She had an idiot god to win over.
"What can I do for you, little cousin?"
She cringed at Apollo's play on the rumors that the Egyptian goddess Isis had birthed him. But Bethany wasn't fooled. Her aunt had much better taste than to get knocked up by Zeus. There wasn't enough nectar or wine in the universe for that union.
"I have been sent to negotiate terms."
Apollo smirked. "Tired of having your asses handed to you by a Greek prince?"
She glared at him. "Fine. I don't need this. I can go home to Egypt and live quite happily while you take second throne to Zeus as you always do." She started to leave.
"Wait!"
Bethany turned back to face him. "Yes?"
"What exactly are you asking me?"
"They want you to tup a Greek princess as distraction for your people and pantheon while we fortify our army and position to renew this war at a later time. We take Greece and overthrow your lovely family, and then hand it over to you to enjoy."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because Atlanteans, unlike Greeks, have never craved war. We'd rather live in peace. If Greece has a single god, he-or in this case, you-will be too busy to turn your eyes to our shores. So Greeks can be owned by your Apollites, your son will have a throne, you will rule Olympus, and we can be left alone."
"And which princess do you want me to tup?"
"The one at Didymos."
A full-fledged smile spread across his face. "Didymos? Really? I'd much rather have their prince than their princess."
Bethany shrugged nonchalantly. "You can have them both for all I care. But I wouldn't use the prince to negotiate over. Even Greeks tend to frown at offering up their sons as whores to their male gods."
Apollo laughed. "You are wise, Bet'anya. And you are right.... By the way, tell Archon thanks for this leverage. I appreciate it and will remember it."
She inclined her head to him. "Have fun with your prince. Just get that bastard off our shores."
"Don't worry. I will gladly do both."
August 15, 9530 BC
With Galen by his side, Styxx watched in grim determination as their men boarded the ships that would take them to the shores of the Atlantis mainland.
Within hours, they'd set sail. By nightfall, they'd make shore, and come the morrow, they'd own Atlantis and every Atlantean would bow down to his Stygian Omada....
"Prince Styxx!"
He turned at the sharp cry as a messenger came into camp at a dead run. The boy reined his horse, and jumped from it. He rushed to Styxx and knelt down then extended a rolled scroll toward him.
This shit can't be good....
Not given the boy's expression or his hurry. Dread riding him harder than the messenger had his horse, Styxx took the scroll and saw six royal seals on it from the largest city-states who were their allies. Those seals included his father's. Never in the last twenty-one months had his father sent anything to him. And nothing this official.
Styxx could sense in his soul that his day was about to be ruined.
He tore the scroll open and read it. And with every word, his jaw dropped more. No ... Not after they'd come so far and gotten so very close.