Warrior Rising (Goddess Summoning #6)(3)

“It’s Discord’s fault, you know. She was angry at not being invited to Peleus and Thetis’s wedding, so she started the rumor,” Venus said. “I know it was her because in all the gossip I’m called Aphrodite. Discord knows I prefer my Roman name. It’s just like her to start rumors about me using the name I like least just to irritate me. I wasn’t even at that silly party!”

“Discord does know how to annoy,” Hera said.

“No wonder she doesn’t get invited to many parties,” Venus said.

“The rumor is that Venus, or rather Aphrodite”—Hera paused and smiled apologetically at Venus—“gave Helen to Paris as reward for his choosing you as the fairest of the three of us,” Hera said.

“I’ve heard that nonsense, too. Which is the main reason the war is making my ass hurt. I’m so done with the Greeks and Trojans blaming everything on women—goddesses in particular. Darlings, we really must do something to encourage this little war to end. Now.”

“It’s been almost ten years. As far as I’m concerned that is nine years too long,” Hera said.

“Exactly,” Venus said.

“Agreed,” Athena said.

“So what do we do about it?” Venus sighed. “They blame it on the women, but it’s the damnable men of the ancient world with their archaic attitudes that actually keep everything stirred up.”

“You know it’s really not Odysseus’s fault.” Athena spoke up quickly, as always, defending her favorite.

Venus snorted.

“I believe you’re right, Athena,” Hera said, nodding slowly. “Achilles and his rage is at the heart of the war.”

“Yes,” Athena said. “He’s definitely the problem. Take him and his Myrmidons out of the equation and the Greeks would probably lose heart and not be able to keep up the siege on Troy.” Clearly annoyed, the goddess tapped one slim finger against the glass of her wine goblet. “We should have known he would come to no good all those years ago when Thetis evoked our aid. Had we acted then it would have saved us a lot of irritation.”

Hera sighed. “We didn’t act then because of the problems it would have caused between Zeus and me. Again.”

“Would you please explain what you two are talking about?” Venus said.

“You know Thetis went to Zeus’s oracle at Dodona asking about her son’s future, don’t you?” Hera asked the Goddess of Love.

“Vaguely. Wasn’t it something about Achilles having a choice between fame and a long life?”

“Yes, the impetuous boy chose fame, of course,” Athena said. “And when he did, Thetis begged our aid. We heard her, and I know I for one meant to act.” The goddess shrugged her lovely rounded shoulders. “It just never seemed the right time. And I will admit that it simply slipped my mind.”

“I, too, meant to act. I suppose I allowed the trouble it would cause with Zeus to dissuade me. And then there is that terrible berserker rage Zeus gifted Achilles with. The moment his emotions are overly aroused—be they good or bad—it possesses him and then there is no reasoning with him.” Hera lowered her voice conspiratorially. “I hear that women are so terrified of him that he hasn’t even taken a lover in years.”

Venus snorted again. “Achilles needs a good dose of a strong, independent woman from the modern world. That would fix him right up and cure him of that berserker nonsense. Then he could be reasoned with. I’m sure now that he’s not a ridiculous adolescent he has some kind of sense and doesn’t particularly want to die before his hair even begins to gray.” She paused to sip her ambrosia and noticed that Hera and Athena were staring at her. “What?”

“I do believe the Goddess of Love may just have our solution,” Athena said.

“Yes, and if she brings the modern woman to Troy, Zeus certainly won’t hold me responsible for anything that happens because of it,” Hera said.

“So glad to help with your marital issues,” Venus said sarcastically.

“Will you do it or not?” Athena asked, being her usual blunt self.

“Of course I’ll help. I’m as sick as you two of the whole Trojan War issue—rumors and all.” Venus brushed back her hair and sipped her ambrosia as she considered her next move. “I am very familiar with the city of Tulsa in the modern world. It would be a simple thing for me to point my oracle in that direction. Perhaps through some judicious eavesdropping I can discover the perfect woman for Achilles.” She smiled and shrugged nonchalantly. “Once I find her I could simply zap her here. We can have a little chat with her about helping us reason with Achilles before I send her to the Greek camp. I suppose…” Venus paused and sipped her wine while the other two goddesses waited impatiently for her to continue.

“You suppose?” Hera prompted.

“I suppose we should offer the woman a lovely reward or whatnot for her services.”

“Reward? Should it not be reward enough that she was chosen by a goddess?” Athena said, frowning.

Venus rolled her eyes. “Athena, darling, you need to get out more. Modern mortals, especially modern mortal women, don’t bow down and simper and worship us like sycophants. It’s actually very refreshing to walk amongst them.” Venus smiled, remembering her adventures in Tulsa and the eternal love she had won. “Just trust me on this one.”