Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(30)

Clearing her throat she cal ed aloud, "Iapis! I'm ready for refreshments now." Within two breaths there was a firm knock at her door.

"Come in," she said.

The door swung open and Iapis bowed to her. "Goddess, please fol ow me this way." He motioned down the hal the direction in which they had come.

"Thank you, Iapis. I am very hungry."

"I believe you wil be pleased with the delicacies Hades has chosen to honor you." Lina raised her eyebrows. "Hades cooks, too?"

Iapis laughed. "You shal see, Goddess."

Lina bit her lip and fol owed him from the room. What was she thinking? There was probably no cooking in Hel . Like spirits would need to eat? She remembered Eirene pul ing wine from an invisible fold in the air. Goddess of Morons, that's what she was. She needed to keep her mouth closed and her eyes open until she learned the ropes of her new job.

Iapis interrupted her self-chastisement. "Goddess, shal we include Eurydice? I would not want the little spirit to think I am attempting to usurp her position."

"Yes, that's very thoughtful of you, Iapis." Lina raised her voice. "Eurydice! I need you." Almost instantly a door down the hal opened and Eurydice burst out, rushing to her Goddess's side in a flutter of wispy clothing and flying hair.

"Oh, Persephone! I am so glad you cal ed," she gushed, hugging Lina.

"Your Goddess thought that you might wish to accompany us so that you could find your way back easily if she cal ed for refreshment at an odd hour."

Once again, Lina was impressed by lapis' kind treatment of the girl.

"Thank you, Iapis, for putting it so nicely," Lina said.

"Of course." Eurydice nodded her head several times, reminding Lina of an exuberant puppy trying its best to be obedient. "I need to know many things so that I can properly care for Persephone." With an effort, Lina kept from sighing aloud.

"Persephone, Eurydice, if you fol ow me, I wil be pleased to escort you to my Lord." Iapis led them through a maze of corridors, al the while explaining, mostly to Eurydice, mat even though the palace was large, it was real y not difficult to remember one's way around it. Hades had designed it in sections. The frontmost part of it was designated as the Great Hal of Hades, where he held court and heard the petitions of the dead. There was a smal er central meeting area, which was where they were headed. It was linked to the guest wing - where Persephone and Eurydice were staying - complete with two bal rooms. Lina wondered briefly why Hades had bothered to build an entire wing for guests and two rooms for dancing, when he obviously wasn't used to receiving visitors, but she kept her thoughts to herself and let Iapis speak uninterrupted.

"There is an entire wing of the palace designated as Hades' personal chambers. So, as you can see, Eurydice, you need only become familiar with the positions of the different wings of the palace to know where you are."

"Yes, I understand. Perhaps I could be al owed some material with which to draw, so that I might sketch myself a simple map," Eurydice said, looking expectantly at Lina.

"Absolutely. I think that's a great idea. Maybe it could help me find my way around, too. I'm terrible with directions," Lina said. "Iapis, do you think you could find some drawing materials for Eurydice."

"Of course, Goddess. It wil be my personal pleasure to be sure your friend has al that she requires," Iapis said.

"Thank you," Lina and Eurydice said together, grinning at each other as their words mixed harmoniously.

Iapis turned another corner and stopped between a huge set of double doors, which, of course, opened without his touch into a large room in which there was one focal point -  an enormous black marble dining table. Directly over the table were suspended three massive crystal chandeliers. Lina squinted her eyes against their bright, faceted beauty and suddenly understood that the glittering stones were probably not crystals at al .

"Diamonds," Eurydice said in a hushed voice.

"Yes," Iapis said. "My Lord chose to hang the diamond chandeliers in this room because they cast such perfectly clear light over the dining table and complement the chrysocol a candelabrum." Lina dropped her stunned gaze from the diamonds to the half dozen multitiered candelabrums neatly arranged across the vast length of the table. They were made of an unusual blue-green stone into which blazing snow-white candles fitted neatly.

"Chrysocol a?" Lina asked. "I don't think I'm familiar with that stone."

"Chrysocol a hides itself well within the earth." Hades' deep voice made Lina jump. She hadn't heard him come into the room. "I enjoy its unique blending of the colors of turquoise, jade, and Iapis lazuli, but the reason I chose to display the chrysocol a candelabrums on the dining table is because of the stone's properties." He paused, as if deep in thought.

"What are the stone's properties?" Eurydice asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Hades smiled warmly at her. "Chrysocol a is a stone of peace. It soothes the emotions." Eurydice's eyes widened. "I think it is the perfect choice. for a dining chamber."

"I agree with you, little one," Iapis said, causing the girl to blush. Then he bowed to Hades and Persephone and gestured to the table. "If you wish to be seated, I wil inform the servants that you are ready to be served."