She glared at Shade. “Watch me. Leadership is making hard choices in the face of doubt. I’m proving right now that I belong here. What about you?”
Don stood and opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Phi placed on hand on his shoulder. “You know better.” She winked.
Don and I shifted in our seats. Shade couldn’t catch a break. I had to chuckle, internally of course.
“I have plenty of leadership qualities. You’ll see,” Shade countered. “Besides, leadership starts with getting to class on time.”
“Leadership has nothing to do with punctuality. Even tardy, I could lead circles around you.”
Meter plopped onto her throne and crossed her legs. “We would’ve been here earlier except I had to lead a mission to the bathhouse to figure out what kind of magic product Aphrodite puts on her hair. I just love it.”
“Right?” Amphitrite chimed.
“And truth be told,” Hestia added, flipping her own hair over her shoulder, “if you boys were half the leaders you proclaim to be, you’d have waited for us instead of proceeding without us. Leadership isn’t going it alone. Is it, Zeus? No, it’s not. Now then, let’s get started.”
Metis stepped in front of the room. “In fact, since you’re outnumbered, boys, and since discussion will be better facilitated when we can see one another’s eyes, let’s form a semi-circle with these thrones, shall we? Don, Shade, you concur? How’s that for leadership?”
“Ladies and gentlemen …” Pontus coughed. “Now that everyone is here, let’s stay on task please? I know we’re all a bit tense over recent events. We must keep our heads, yes? Metis, that’s actually a good idea. Let’s shift these thrones around.” He looked up toward the door to the room. “And do we have someone new?”
We all turned around to see Aphro leaning on the door frame, her chiton-clad hip stuck out exaggeratedly.
“Who’s going to show some real leadership and offer me a throne?”
I didn’t dare move a muscle. Shade scrambled to move a throne into position in the circle that Metis had suggested.
Aphro stroked his dark hair. “Good boy.” She sat down and crossed her legs. “Let’s get on with it. Poseidon, you were saying?”
Everyone took a moment to reposition their thrones in the new configuration. A dull roar of under-the-breath murmuring and throne feet scraping across the floor filled the room.
“While you all are moving your seats,” Pontus began, “let me tell you a story. I grew up on Thera, sea all around me. Like many of you, prior to Rhea divulging to you her parental linkage, I had no idea who my parents were. The only thing I knew was a love of water, the sea, the ocean. As I grew older and left Thera for the mainland, I encountered more people. Eros, Phanes, Erebos … Gaia … Ouranos. We had many of the same discussions and conflicts that you now have. Who’s going to rule what?” He paused pensively. “I became ruler of the sea because I am the sea. I’ve not demonstrated my abilities as much as some, because I don’t thirst for power. Don, though, can attest to what I can do.”
Don nodded.
“I live by the credo … walk softly and cause a huge wave when the moment demands it,” Pontus continued. “So I’ve ruled the sea, sort of by default. Ouranos became master of the heavens because he alone could sit on the throne and interface with it completely without losing his mind. I never even tried. He grew up in the high mountains near Smolikas. So it seemed natural for him. Gaia, believe it or not, was very grounded in her youth. Growing up humbly in the area around Delphi, she simply knew the earth, landscape, and topography better than anyone. Much like our Demeter. She also had a very true sense of divine order. And so she naturally gravitated toward judicial oversight. All that is to say, bickering over positions of power is a new thing with youngsters. I guess it’s the natural order of things.”
“Wow,” Tia said. “I love that story. But what does it have to do with leadership?”
“My point is,” Pontus replied, “leadership does not have to be filled with conflict. So let’s get back to our discussion on the subject at hand.”
“Actually …” Don stood and turned to Hera. “Leadership does look a lot like what you did last term with Zeus in Calisthenics class. I saw real command and control in that move with Zeus on the pillars. He was struggling up there. You turned around and helped him through it. Gutsy.”
Hera flashed a half-smile. “Just to add to what Don was saying, I also think it’s about being able to explain your strategy well enough to gain consensus. Zeus did that well in our search for Don, Tia, and Meter. I give credit when it’s due.”
“Great point,” Tia said. “But even if you can’t gain consensus, leadership is having the inner confidence to make tough decisions in spite of disagreement, especially if the outcome will benefit the team over the individual.”
“Oh …” I raised my hand. “You mean like when I decided to go to Othrys despite disagreement?”
“No,” Hera countered. “That was just rash.”
“But you went with me.”
Hera’s flexed bicep strained against her gold armlet. “Yes. Now that’s leadership. I was leading everyone else to go with me … to help save you.”
“All right, you all raise great discussion points,” Pontus said as he jumped back into the fray. “I do think it’s important to either have the intelligence to draft your own winning strategy or to surround yourself with smart people who can help you reach a sound strategy.”
“I’m all about surrounding myself with people …” Aphro said.
“I know that’s right …” Metis mumbled.
Shade wiped his long hair out of his eyes. “But if you surround yourself with people smarter than you, they’ll rise up against you if you if they don’t like what you’re doing.”
“You won’t have a choice in that matter, now will you, Shade?” Hera chirped.
Shade’s head whipped around.
Hera didn’t back down an inch. “Something you wanted to say?”
Shade huffed.
Pontus continued, “Another leadership quality is having the thick skin of a pachyderm. Because Hades is right. If your subordinates or teammates don’t like the way you’re leading, they have a responsibility to tell you so. And yes, if they really don’t like how you’re leading, they’ll revolt. Right or wrong, that is what led to Kronos siphoning off students and faculty to Othrys and fracturing our dear academy. He didn’t agree with Ouranos’ leadership. At least, that’s the official story.” He massaged his goatee. “If you ask me, Kronos is just insane, for what that’s worth.”
“Too true,” Tia added. “But back to your point, Coach, yes, thick skin is a must. But to be a good leader, you must also be a good follower. And, being a good follower means you don’t disagree with what the leader proposes unless you have a valid reason. Like two years ago when Meter sensed that the Mayans had set a trap and I wanted to storm the right side of their stronghold. She disagreed strongly. Don heard everyone and eventually listened to Meter because she was right. We could’ve lost that match.”
“Good example, Hestia. Now class, ponder this question.” Pontus raised a finger in the air. “Does a leader always need a follower?”
The room fell silent again.
“Yes. And no,” Phi finally responded. “To lead, by definition, implies that someone is following.”
Pontus smiled. “Hera, Meter, anything you’d like to add to that?”
They both shook their heads.
“Zeus, you’ve been quiet. What say you?” Pontus asked.
“I think Don split the arrow,” I replied. “The only thing I would add is that a great leader does so naturally. Like a torch in a dark corridor. Followers will fall in line because light offers hope in the darkness.”
A pronounced hush blanketed the room. I darted furtive glances around at my classmates, and then to Coach Pontus. No one responded except with sidelong glances and raised ey
ebrows.
Shade scoffed, “Did you get that off of some sappy parchment down at Stone, Scroll, and Sword?”
Everyone laughed.
“Well, I think Zeus made an excellent argument. I’m impressed,” Pontus said. “And you, Aphrodite. I haven’t heard much from you today. What say you?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know if I’m much of a leader,” she began, “but I seem to get plenty of followers.”
Metis coughed loudly.
Deeper discussions on the subject continued until we broke for midday meal. Pontus told us to meet back in the same room that afternoon for our first War Games practice of the season. Tia and Meter pulled Aphro out of the room soon after class dismissed, while Hera stayed glued to her throne for undoubtedly a stern warning from Pontus. Famished, I almost ran upstairs to the Andron with Metis. But then, flashes of memories crashed through my head of the last time I, or rather, we were in the Caldron for War Games practice.
CHAPTER TEN
We returned to the same room after midday meal and a spot of rest and relaxation. Pontus greeted us boisterously, “Let’s go, Mighty Olympians! Gather around.”
On the wall, Pontus had hammered up a map of the Caldron, our home field for War Games. We all approached the wall in a loose, disorganized cluster. Pontus continued speaking while pointing to the map. “Let’s be clear about the landscape here. The strengths and weaknesses of our field. The opportunities and threats of The Thick, which is the densely-forested area of the Caldron. Our returning team members can certainly attest.”
Low rumbles and whispers circulated amongst us. Phi placed a hand on Don’s back. I clutched Metis’ hand in a gesture of solidarity. I reveled in the warmth of her palm. We’d gone through a rough patch in The Thick last term when she’d mistakenly speared me. That was water under the bridge at this point and I trusted her. In fact, we all needed to learn to trust one another.
Pontus indicated a few more significant landmarks and said, “Obviously, you can’t truly appreciate the scale of this until you get out there, but even for experienced War Games participants, it’s always good to get a bird’s-eye view of the entire course before trekking out. We should’ve brought out the maps last term when Zeus got here, and then again upon Metis’ return. Now we have Amphitrite back as well, and Aphrodite to induct.” He stopped to catch his breath. “Half-way down the southern ridge is a nest of wyvern dragons. They are extremely aggressive. Avoid them at all costs.”
“I can attest,” I said.
“And wolves on the northern side of the river,” said Metis, no doubt remembering our encounter with the skin-crawling snarls and their crimson eyes. She gripped my hand tighter.
“Yes, avoid them too,” Pontus said. “But that also adds to our home field advantage. We know where they are. Other teams don’t.”
“But, the Othrys team knows everything we know,” Phi said.
“True. Of course, our battles with them have been the fabric of legend,” Pontus responded. “I think we have pretty good additions to our team this year in Zeus, Metis, and you, Amphitrite. It could be just the combination we need to win. Zeus’s fire and determination; Metis’ cunning smarts; and Amphitrite’s competitive zeal. Aphrodite, I’ve not yet heard of your fighting skills.”
“But you will,” Aphro quipped.
“That so?” Metis asked.
Aphrodite nodded. “I’m pretty damn mean with a sword. Took a class at lower school.”
Metis scoffed, “They didn’t even teach sword fighting at Kithira.”
“They didn’t? Hmmph.” Aphro raised her thick eyebrows and stared down her nose at Metis. “You wanna test my skills, anyway?”
Metis’ hand twitched against my palm.
“Ladies, please,” Pontus said, clapping his large hands. “I love the competitive fire. I think Aphrodite will fit in just fine here. Just remember, we’re all on the same team. Let’s get in a good practice and bring the title back home, shall we?”
Pontus threw his arm around Aphrodite’s shoulder on one side and Metis’ on the other. “Let’s go get acquainted with the field.”
As we all strolled down to the Cloudwell, I felt Metis sticking close to my left side. My skin was hyperaware of the energy that radiated from her. Nervousness wound my stomach into a knot at the thought of returning to the Caldron, especially The Thick. I tried to focus on the practice and preparing for this new game, but my mind kept wandering back to the pack of wolves Metis and I encountered. And the wyvern dragon that nearly ended me.
Once we arrived down to the Armory, Pontus said, “We have the mighty Aztlan Aztecs and the Norse coming, and with three new-ish team members, actually four now, we need to be on top of our game. In fact, I’m thinking of holding another practice in two hemeras. Hestia and Demeter, you remember their MVP from last year, Itzpapalotl, right?”
“The Obsidian Butterfly. She was a beauty and a beast.” Tia’s face grew somber. Her green eyes darkened. “Yes. I remember her well. Fast and furious.” A scowl crept across her face. “I have a bone to pick with her. She will feel my wrath.”
“Don’t forget Quetzalcoatl. What a snake!” Don added.
“Aztecs, smashtecs …” Hera jeered. “I have two words for you. Thor and Baldr.”
Meter high-fived Hera. “I know, right?”
“I’ll make sure I get the wedding invitations out before this weekend,” Shade mumbled.
Hera fake-frowned. “Jealousy is so not a good color on you. Clashes with your skin tone.”
Meter chuckled.
“All right, let’s focus please.” Pontus stepped between us all. “Poseidon, I’m going to try something a little different this year. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m going to let everyone fight for the team captain spot.”
“No offense taken, Coach. Mu Omega Pi. Till the day I die.”
“Excellent.” Pontus rubbed his thick hands together. “Go suit up.”
Phi, Meter, Tia, and Don entered the Armory without pause. My feet, however, remained rooted to the ground. I was not alone. Hera tossed a sidelong glance at me. I turned a blank stare toward Shade, and then Metis. Aphro also remained in place. Their eyes mirrored the fraught anxiety in my own soul. My lips pressed tightly, an expression that was returned.
Pontus noticed us. “Everything all right?”
Metis broke our silence. “I think I speak for everyone in present company, minus Aphrodite of course, when I say that stepping into the Armory again … after what we saw … you know, Ouranos … his last words … I think we’re all just a little verklempt.”
Pontus folded his immense arms and sighed. “Well, there is that.” He reached up and tugged on his bottom lip, looking each of us in the eyes. “The best we can do is honor his memory by giving our best effort and being the best versions of ourselves. He’d want that. Nay, he’d demand it. And besides, we all shall gain the necessary closure once the trial is over and Kronos is imprisoned in Tartarus forever.”
Hera said, “Coach Pontus, you’re always there to encourage us, settle us down, and set us on the correct path forward. I really appreciate your steady calm.”
Pontus smiled genuinely. “Someone has to apply the cool hand to counteract all these hot heads … yours included, dear Hera.”
Hera pointed to her nose and then toward Pontus as we proceeded gingerly into the Armory where everyone else had already dressed. Shade grabbed his black mesh battle tunic. Hera and Aphrodite both reached for the one marked with ‘A’ for Alpha. My mouth gaped for a moment to see how the confrontation would play out. With the tunic firmly in the grasp of both, the girls stared at one another for longer than was comfortable. But in the end, Aphro bit her lip and smiled, letting the tunic fall from her hand in slow motion. Hera’s faced reddened again. I wondered if it was anger or something else. Hera’s head whipped toward me. I quickly busied myself, locating my own battle tunic.
I poked my head outside the door. “Coac
h Pontus, how can the newbies like Metis, Aphro, Amphitrite, and myself get the battle tunics monogrammed?”
“Easy, my boy,” he answered. “Bring it back with you to campus and I’ll take it to the Cyclopes to see that it gets done.”
Everyone finished dressing. In contrast to my first encounter with the Armory, when everyone dressed alone, filled with latent tension, we each helped one another to fit into our gear. The moment really showcased our team perspective and unity. Tia and Meter helped Aphro, to the extent she needed it. I definitely wasn’t offering my help. Neither was Don.
Outside, we stood in the titanic shadow cast by the sun against Pontus’ broad back. Everyone launched into a series of limb loosening exercises. Lunging. Pulling. Reaching. Stretching. Aphro struggled to fit her helmet over her bushy crown of curls. Eventually, she loosened her puffs, allowing her full head of hair to cascade down over her armored shoulders. Meter helped to pull her hair back and restrain it at the neck. Once Aphro finished and finally dropped her helm into place, she looked absolutely fierce.
“Today’s challenge is simple,” Pontus pointed out into the wilderness. “I’ve set out six Hurler posts all around the entire field of play, all equidistant from here. The first one of you to hurl back to this semi-circle is captain this week.”
“Any flags?” Shade asked with a pitch of eagerness.
“No flags in this exercise. And since you’re not warring against another school or one another, you may remove the oxblood tips on your weapons so that if you encounter the wolves or, Gaia forbid, a dragon, you can defend yourselves. Those beasts are surely out there.”
We all scrambled to remove the tips. Don leaned close to Phi’s ear, pushed aside her dark indigo hair, and whispered something inaudible to the rest of us. Phi giggled, wrinkled her straight nose, and shoved him away.
Hera’s head whipped toward them. She must’ve read their minds. Hera tossed a glance at me and shook her head. I wondered what Don could’ve said to warrant that reaction?
The High Court Page 6
