Chapter 10: The Gods Challenge Loyalty among Comrades

Having failed the test

The men on the ship journeyed onwards

Toward the Laestrygonians’ Island

Where only death and curses lay

For those who didn't sail on Odysseus' ship

But rather sailed on another ship next to.

As they reached the harbors

The ships went up in flames

As they entered, never to even a chance

So on did great Odysseus go

And reaching the island of the horrid sorcerous

Circe, condemner of man.

The gods all looked on as the ship took its course.

Athena however left the room,

A single tear trickling down her face

Resourceful Hermes, guide to all that travel,

Left the room behind her.

'Oh, my sweet sister dearest,

We need to test him

And sure we haven't told anyone else

So why worry?

He isn't foolish enough to have himself killed.'

Athena then turned around to look at him.

'And that is the problem

For what about Keres in Troy?

Where did she go?

Then the fires that just spring out of thin air.

Apollo is here with us

And i cannot think of another god or being

That has the power seen in those flames

In both Troy and Laestrygonians’ Island.

Someone else is in the game

And we need to act with haste,

Or else.'

Hermes just looked at her

During a long pause in conversation

Trying to read her

To understand what line of logic she was following.

'So if i were in your shoes,

Where would i look to?'

'How about looking at whom they are reaching,

For we can't trust her,

Nor any of the other minor gods that are still in play

Other than Aiolus

Who did as told without a second hesitation.

We cannot go after those that we have passed through his journey

Except for Keres, we need to look at her further.

So let us test Odysseus

But not just him,

Those that he encounters

For they may not just be coincidence

And in fact related.

For now, however,

Let us depart onto our separate ways,

But hopefully both paths lead to the same end.'

With that being said,

Both parties left,

Each heading into the opposite direction.