ATN 3: THE JAR IN THE MAZE

LIFE CHANGING REWARDS

Now, me, Tina and my family were left. Ares called Tina. She walked up, confidently. That's my girl, isn't it?

"What do you want, daughter of Ares?" Zeus asked.

"A Styx oath, from my father." Tina said, confidently again. As if she had planned this all along.

"What?" Ares asked, confused, "What oath?"

"An oath, that you will spend an evening with me and Del once every week. I just want some father-daughters time. Won't you give it to me, Dad?"

Ares looked at her for a second. While the other gods pressed their laughter, Hestia didn't hide it. "She got you, war-boy." She cried.

"Yeah, yeah, she did." Ares kept thinking.

"Dad, its not a big thing I ask." Tina said.

"I am thinking of the day." Ares said, "Got it. Every Saturday evening. Two hours with my Atlantean daughters, unless I have a good reason to skip, which I will notify them. I swear on the river Styx."

"Good reason to skip?" Tina asked.

"It's a good start." Demeter said to Ares. Ares nodded.

"Thank you, Dad."

Tina returned with a victorious smile. Zeus called Dadai next. "Avik, son of Aphrodite. What do you wish to be rewarded with?"

"A certain freedom for my guide."

"Guide?"

"Iris, the goddess of rainbows." Iris looked at the two intently.

"What kind of freedom for her? She is not imprisoned in Atlantis."

"No, not that. I am just asking you to forgive her portal restrictions, like Delphi and Olympus."

Zeus stayed quiet for a bit, and then, said, "You ask a little too much, boy."

"Let it go, Avik." Iris said to Dadai.

"I don't think he does." Apollo said, "I am more than happy to let her open portals into Delphi. She opened a portal outside the universe, and that saved us all."

Zeus went quiet again, but after Hera pleaded to him, he finally gave in. Well, Hera still got game. Iris gazed at the two thrones with a glint of hope, as Zeus said, "Fine, from now on, Iris's portal restrictions are lifted. She is free to open portals to everywhere."

Another huge round of applause followed. Iris looked embarrassed. She turned to her godly size, approached the Olympian Council, and thanked them. Then, she and Dadai returned.

"Riya Chatterjee, daughter of Triton, come on." Poseidon called (He was so cool).

Riya stepped up. "What do you want, child?" Poseidon asked.

"Can me and my family visit your house anytime we want?"

"Anytime you want." Poseidon said, "I and Amphitrite will be happy to host you."

"That is all I want. Free passes to the under sea palace."

"Five at a time." Poseidon said.

"Five at a time." Riya repeated, and came back very enthusiastically. I whispered to her, "You seemed happy."

"The next two are drop big bombs. Specially Abhro. I had to keep it simple."

"Anything you wanted that you didn't ask for?" Tina asked.

"Nah!" Riya said, "I have everything. What else do I want?"

"Abhro Chatterjee, son of Aphrodite, up you come." Hera called.