Chapter 13 - Zeus gives an offer.
FLASHBACK CONTINUEZ.
The throne room had gone quiet. The God on the throne finally spoke. "Dhira." The voice rolled through the chamber, calm and steady. "I am Zeus." Unlike the others in the hall, his voice carried no accent at all. "I'm the God of Olympus." Every word landed clean and clear, as if the language itself had been made for him. "I sent you the letter… inviting you as a guest of honor." A small pause… "And you agreed."
Dhira stood with his hands loosely at his sides, looking straight toward the throne, one thumb idly brushing the fabric of his antariya. Zeus continued. "You may have already met my son…" His gaze shifted slightly. "…Ares." Ares stood near the tall windows, arms crossed, he had stood up from his throne at some point. His face is usually calm and cold. Zeus then turned his attention to the woman beside Dhira. "…and Loki." Another pause. "You may leave." The words were not loud. But the weight behind them made it clear. It wasn't a suggestion.
Loki felt it immediately. An order. She was already turning to go when— "A moment, Vater." Ares' deep voice cut in. The German edge in his words was impossible to miss when he spoke like that. "She is with me." He stepped forward slightly. "She may stay." For a few seconds— Nothing. Zeus said nothing. Then his attention returned to Dhira. The mortal looked back. No fear. Just curiosity.
Zeus studied him for a moment. "You may be wondering why I invited you here."
Dhira didn't nod. Didn't speak. He just kept looking at him. Zeus continued. "There is a war going on for some time." The air in the hall shifted. "A battle that has lasted long enough." He spoke slowly, each syllabus followed by a pause. "It's a battle that will either be written into history…" A low rumble of distant thunder rolled through the clouds outside. "…or be completely forgotten." "Only living in memory." He leaned slightly forward on the throne. "And I want you to be part of it."
Ares' eyes narrowed. Zeus continued. "I want you…" The next words came calmly. "…to lead my army against the—"
"NEIN." Ares' roar exploded across the hall. The palace itself trembled. Marble pillars shuddered. Outside the clouds twisted violently. Even Loki let out a low whistle under her breath.
"Oh this vill be good…"
Ares stepped forward, fury burning in his eyes. "A mortal cannot command ze armies of gods!" His voice echoed through the chamber. "This is absurd!" He pointed directly at Dhira. "Zis man?" "A mortal warrior?"
"Ve vill become ze laughing stock of ze entire universe!" He kept going. "This is madness!"
"You cannot place ze fate of Olympus under ze command of a mortal who can't even live pazt two centuriez—"
Outside the sky had begun to darken.
Dhira noticed it. So did Loki. The clouds were thickening. Lightning flickered silently inside them. Zeus waited. Letting Ares speak. Letting him vent. Then— Zeus spoke again.
"Enough." The word was quiet. But the sky trembled.
Lightning cracked across the clouds outside the palace. Ares froze. For a second it looked like he realized what he had just done. But stubbornness won. He tried to speak again. "Father I—"
"ARES."
This time Zeus' voice rose.
Thunder exploded across the sky. The entire hall lit up white for a split second. Ares stopped. Completely.
Zeus leaned back on the throne. "You have your own army." His voice returned to calm again. "You have your wars."
"You have your battles." He gestured lazily.
"You may take care of those." Then his gaze moved back toward Dhira. "The army Dhira will lead…" A pause. "…will be the army of Olympus."
"Mine. They will represent me in this war. He will represent me in this war." Another pause. "It has nothing to do with you."
Ares' eyes burned, Dhira could feel the slight variations in the air. Zeus continued.
"I called you here to inform you of this."
"You are a war general." "Your task is to follow command." "Not question it." A small pause. "Do you understand?"
Ares didn't reply. The hall grew quiet again. Zeus tilted his head slightly.
"Perhaps my voice was too low." The next words came like thunder rolling through the sky. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Lightning erupted outside the palace. The marble floor vibrated. Ares slowly nodded.
"…Ja." Zeus leaned back again.
"Good." Then his gaze returned to Dhira. The mortal had been watching the entire exchange with a faintly amused expression. When Zeus looked at him, Dhira straightened slightly.
Zeus asked calmly, "What do you think of this arrangement… Dhira?" Loki's orange eyes immediately shifted to him. She wanted to hear this. This was the moment. Would he accept? Would he choose to become the enemy of the God of War? Or, Would he try to smooth things over? Use clever words. Please Ares. Please Zeus. Lower himself a little to keep both sides happy. In Loki's mind, those were the only two options. Dhira spoke.
"No."
For a second, The entire hall stopped. The word felt… heavy. Loki blinked. She had lived thousands of years. She had seen kings, warriors, gods. But hearing someone say no to Zeus so plainly, That was rare. Dhira hadn't bowed. Hadn't softened it. Just, No. Loki slowly turned her head toward him. Did he really just— Yes. He had. Across the hall Ares stood completely still. For once, The God of War looked shocked. Loki glanced toward the throne. Even she hesitated to look directly at Zeus right now.
Then Zeus spoke again. His voice unchanged. "Why is that?" Dhira shrugged slightly. "I don't want to." Just like that. Loki almost dropped her drink. Dhira continued calmly.
"I think I'm better where I belong." He tapped his chest lightly. "Between my friends."
"My people."
"I'm satisfied…" Silence filled the throne room. Several seconds passed. Then— Zeus made a sound.
"…Hmm." Not anger. Not rage. Just a thoughtful hum.
"I would like you to reconsider."
"This is not an offer many are given."
"You may not encounter such an opportunity again."
Dhira shook his head slowly. "I'm not that special, my king." He scratched the back of his neck.
"I'm just a mortal." "I probably won't live past two hundred… maybe less." He gestured toward Ares.
"I'm sure he can find someone better suited for the job." The room went still again. Then Zeus answered quietly.
"…Good." The word landed softly and flat.
FLASHBACK END: