Astarté fell silent and, as though dizzy, returned to sit on her sister’s throne, where a malak offered her a chalice of wine. The goddess drank it hastily.
After handing the chalice back to the malak, the goddess pressed her head with both hands while shaking it in denial.
“Are you an idiot or what?!” the Phoenician goddess shouted furiously, frustration visible in her eyes. “Your daughter is leading a revolt, a revolt we still cannot contain because some of them ran off into the New World. And you are suggesting that we forgive her in exchange for your life, when you are the most loyal partner we have?”
Astarté continued shaking her head while pressing her temples with her hands.
“Lady Astarté, I am certain that, if I speak with my daughter, I can make her listen to reason,” Zeus added. “She could become my substitute and be a great ally in this war we have against the barbarian powers.”
A malak came running with another chalice of wine. Astarté took it at once and gulped it down in one go. The goddess’s face was beginning to turn red, and she was breathing with difficulty.
“Those idiots, together with those Asgardian gods, made my sister…” the goddess said, but at that moment, she realized she was about to say something secret and fell silent.
Zeus was surprised. Although he had not heard everything, the Hellenic god understood that Orniskem had possibly defeated Anat, and that was why she was not present. In fact, it was possible that Anat had been missing for at least a month, because that was how long ago he had requested an audience, only to be delayed again and again.
“Zeus, please help me,” Astarté said with tears in her eyes. Her voice was beginning to sound hoarse and slower in rhythm, caused by the alcohol. It did not help that three malakim arrived with more chalices of wine, which the goddess immediately drank.
“Lady Astarté, I am certain that will not be good for your health,” Zeus said.
“We tried to Christianize Denmark—hic,” Astarté said in a drunken voice. “But Asgard took that kingdom right out of our hands—hic.”
“Then—hic—I know that Kingdom of Bulgaria has brought in that foreign god whose appearance nobody knows. What is his name? Tiger?—hic,” the goddess said while gripping one of the throne’s armrests with both hands.
“Tengri, Lady Astarté,” Zeus replied.
“Yes, that guy,” Astarté replied. “That—hic—has also put us terribly on edge. His alliance with the Thracian gods…”
The goddess then rose from her throne, but fell to the floor because of her drunkenness. The malakim ran to help her up, but she refused. The goddess continued crying on the floor. At that moment, Zeus understood just how incompetent this girl was, and how little leadership she possessed. He also understood that Lel was truly in trouble if she continued directing everything.
“Only you and Al-Lat have served us well,” the goddess confessed. “But between the two of you, I prefer you.”
The goddess struggled back to her feet and looked Zeus in the eyes.
“Please do not say you want to take your own life. What would this kingdom do without you?” she confessed.
Zeus breathed heavily and remained silent. He knew Astarté was in a moment of desperation, and that, when he confessed he wanted to take his own life, she had seen all of Lel’s plans collapse. At that moment, the Hellenic god felt pity for the Phoenician goddess.
“Do not worry, Lady Astarté. I will continue serving Lel with diligence,” the god finally said.
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Astarté smiled and thanked him.
“However, I would like to reform my daughter. She took the wrong path because of me, and it is my responsibility as her father to teach her the correct one,” the god added.
Astarté remained silent for a moment. Staggering, she returned and sat on the throne.
“Zeus, I cannot execute Athena yet,” Astarté said. “If you wish to proceed in that way, I will not oppose you. But I cannot say the same once my sister is… though I do not know when she will return.”
Zeus felt enormous relief at those words. The goddess had approved his plan, and it would have no cost at all.
“Then, Lady Astarté. If I reform my daughter, will you give her a second chance?” the Hellenic god asked, intrigued.
“You have my word, Zeus,” the Phoenician goddess replied.
The Hellenic god immediately bowed before the Phoenician goddess and thanked her for her words.
“Now then,” Astarté said anxiously, “do not tell anyone that I got drunk and fell on the floor… pretty please,” the goddess said, embarrassed.
“I shall be as silent as a tomb, Lady Astarté,” Zeus said.
Astarté smiled and immediately said:
“I still do not know what prize to give you for the Christianization of Rus, but I assure you that you will soon receive something in Olympus.”
Zeus thanked her. Whatever Astarté sent him was of little importance. The god had the opportunity to save his daughter under Lel’s orders. Now he only had to do it before Anat returned, if she ever returned at all.
The Greek god said goodbye to the Phoenician goddess, who waved her hand with joy. She truly enjoyed the fact that Zeus still remained loyal to Lel, unlike what was beginning to happen with other gods.
“Before you go, Zeus,” Astarté interrupted just before Zeus opened the door to leave.
“Be very careful and watch your back,” the Phoenician goddess said, embarrassed.
Zeus nodded and left the chamber.
Upon exiting through the main door, the girl who had been looking at Zeus with disdain was still there, but her turn had not changed. That made the woman show only an expression of indignation.
Zeus stopped and, without turning to look at the woman, spoke to her:
“We both follow Lel’s orders, Al-Lat. You should not hate me for what our humans do among themselves.”
The woman crossed her arms and reclined in her seat.
“You say that because the Eastern Roman Empire’s days are numbered, while the Abbasid Caliphate will control the world,” she said with a voice full of arrogance.
Zeus then stopped at Al-Lat’s words and sighed.
“Why would you perpetuate a war against the world?” Zeus asked without turning to look at the woman.
“Because that is the duty of a deity!” Al-Lat said. “I am the shepherdess, and they are my flock.”
Then the goddess stood firmly, placing her hands on her little table. Her sleeping lioness woke at that moment.
“Every mother wants to see that her child is the strongest,” she said calmly.
At that moment, Zeus thought of his daughter Athena and sighed.
“You are right, Al-Lat. I too wish for my daughter to be the best,” Zeus replied, and without turning to look at the goddess, he continued on his way through the waiting garden.
Meanwhile, on Anat’s throne, Astarté continued slapping herself so the effect of the alcohol would wear off. But when she slapped the injured side of her face, she doubled over in pain.
“You should not show that side of yourself so much, little sister,” a voice was heard behind the throne where Astarté sat.
The goddess, surprised, turned to look at the person speaking to her.
“Pidray! Since when have you been there?” Astarté asked in surprise.
“For a looong time, big sister!” the goddess said in a childish voice.
Then she jumped and embraced Astarté.
“Enough, Pidray! You know this embarrasses me,” the Phoenician goddess replied, ashamed, while allowing herself to be embraced by the mysterious girl.
“But I love hugging you! You’re so soft!” the mysterious girl said, and then stopped embracing the one she called her sister.
Astarté covered her face and shook her head.
“How embarrassing. You saw me drunk and falling on the floor!” the Phoenician goddess said, mortified.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone, big sister!” the girl replied in a very childish, syrupy voice.
Pidray could not be seen clearly because she was standing in the dark side of the throne, but she looked like a girl of about fifteen. She was shorter than Astarté, but it was possible to see that she had enormous green eyes and moderately long blond hair. She also held a staff in her right hand.
“Listen, Pidray. Rumors have reached me that Jupiter and Tinia may do something against Zeus, and I want to protect him,” Astarté said while looking at the one she called her sister. “I would go, but my hands are tied with this work.”
“Do you want me to go to Olympus together with my two little sisters?” Pidray asked.
“Yes! I would really appreciate it!” Astarté replied while looking at her little sister’s smiling eyes.
Pidray then placed her hand on her forehead.
“No problem, big sister Astarté!” she said in an almost military manner, though still with a very childish voice.
And at that moment, the goddess narrowed her eyes, and a trace of sadism could be seen in her gaze.
“I will eliminate any threat that disrupts the peace in Olympus,” the little goddess said.