The Greek Sacrifice

Chapter Five

The dining hall was a huge room with statutes of Ancient Gods in the four corners. The floors gleamed in the light, it was spotless. The couches that were put out for the guests were placed strategically throughout the hall. Hera could hardly wait to delve into the food that was prepared, she was famished.
All the Gods from the other provinces were already gathered in the hall. They stopped talking as they entered the hall. It was obvious that they were lusting after them but who could fault them. They looked stunning.
“Good evening ladies, I trust you found everything to your comfort?” Apollo, Nehram's youngest brother asked.
“Yes, everything was great!” Zoe chirped. It was obvious she found Apollo attractive, she couldn't take her eyes off him.
“You look exactly like your mother,” Hera heard Nehram say, his voice unusually rough and for a brief sound she thought she had seen a flicker of desire in his eyes, but that was not possible, they were enemies and she needed to remember that.
As in ancient times, the host of the feast was expected to follow unwritten rules and rituals upon the attendees arrival. The slaves greeted Hera and her sisters and undertook them in order to spruce them up, placing an ivy crown on their heads, then leading them towards the couches which they shared with another two or three guests where low tables were placed beside them to facilitate food distribution. First they washed their hands and then wine was served to mark the beginning of the feast. The feast was being overseen by a "symposiarch" who would decide how strong the wine for the evening would be, depending on whether the discussions would be  serious or if sensual indulgence were in the offerings. In this case,  they were having a casual feasts and so the wine would be made stronger. The Greeks customarily served their wine mixed with water, as the drinking of pure wine was considered a habit of uncivilized people.
A large variety of appetizers, dishes filled with poultry, chopped meats and seafood covered the tables along with carafes of wine while the host announced the menu.
Besides having spoons to eat thick bean soup and knives to cut up meats which they were served, food was eaten bare handed in Greece. Hera preferred using the bread crust  as a spoon instead of messing up her hands. The dinner came with libations (a pouring out of wine), this was mainly in honour of the ancient Gods. When they were finished eating, they cleaned their hands by wiping them on pieces of bread, which they then tossed to the dogs who patiently waited roaming among the couches, throughout the dining hall, for their share. The slaves then removed the tables, cleaned the floor and brought water and scented oil to spruce them up once again.
The pouring of the wine marked the passing from dinner to the wine drinking phase which was the main part of the feast and Zoe's favorite part. They sang some hymns And danced drunkenly. The tables were then cleared and set up again with dried fruits, nuts, pies, cheeses and sweets as tid bits to accompany the guests’ drinking and their drunken conversations. The wine flowed abundantly, watered down this time at a ratio that was defined by the Toastmaster, who was randomly elected. It ended up being Jason,  Nehram's youngest brother. Nehram summoned his dancers, musicians and acrobats to entertain them while they toasted, sang and conversed up to the early morning hours.
Hera, Athena, Phoebe and Zoe all participated actively in competitive entertainments against the other Gods. The game sometimes was called kottabos, in which they swirled the dregs of their wine in a kylix, a platter-like stemmed drinking vessel, and flung them at a target. Another game they played was skolia, they performed competitively with another guest reciting the first part of a song and another expected to improvise the end of it. Hera had so much fun that she had forgotten about the seriousness of their visit for a while. This would turn out to be a grave mistake. The slaves kept plying them with wine until Hera’s vision blurred.
Hera woke up feeling groggy, she blinked her eyes a number of times in an effort to clear her vision. She had no clue how she had gotten up those large steps to her room. The room was pitch black. This was strange, as normally Shira would light a few candles. Hera then tried to lift her arms to move a tendril that had fallen across her face. That was when she felt the heavy weight of the shackles, her heart started to race when she realized her feet were restricted as well.  What was happening Hera thought wildly. She then heard metal scraping against metal, like a door was being unbolted.
“Hello! Who is there, help me please!” Hera shouted. She heard the door swing open, and light from a torch filled the once dark room. Hera gasped as her eyes traveled the room. Their maidservants were chained to the wall opposite of her. Athena, Zoe and Phoebe were all unconscious but were bound by shackles as well. What was happening she thought once more. Just then, the same Gods who greeted them when they had just arrived, stood tall before her. 
“What is the meaning of this Nehram?” Hera shouted angrily, her temper rising quickly.
“This is us taking over, this is us taking what is rightfully ours. You and your sisters have no right ruling a province. You are weakling. It has been so easy to capture you.” Hera looked at the other Gods,  their faces hard and emotionless. It was then that Hera realized that they had walked right into a trap.
“You filthy, worthless, scoundrels!” Hera screamed,  she closed her eyes and tried to summon her powers but nothing happened, she was extremely frightened.  The Gods laughed at her.
“Don't waste your time, the shackles have been encrusted with Demi Stones, your powers are useless.”
“You traitors!” she raged at Apartheid and Jason, “Why?” she screamed at them, “My sisters and I were not bothering you! We have been peaceful! Why can't you just let us be?” Her questions now directed at Nehram.
“The laws you have implemented in the province of Illyricum is a direct and blatant disrespect to the Ancient Gods and we have decided that enough is enough!” Nehram responded heatedly.
“Ancient Greek laws were outdated and how we live in Illyricum should be of no concern to you!”
“Your people are miserable and keep running away from you to form rebel groups, these groups are the ones that are wreaking havoc in our provinces, that is how it became our business!” Hera sighed, Nehram's words hit her like a ton of bricks. She understood why her people were against their system, hell even she herself went against it. Her head snapped up as she remembered Pontus.
“What are you going to do with my guards and maidservants?” she dreaded the answer that she would get.
“They will be executed.” Nehram responded, he shrugged his shoulders in a dismissive manner. A huge lump formed in her chest. How could they have been so stupid! They walked right into a trap, they should have been more cautious being that Nehram had never hidden his feelings or intentions for Illyricum. The Gods of the Eastern and Western provinces really did surprise her though. They had always been neutral and had supported both Orien and Illyricum.
“Why do you have to execute them?” Nehram laughed
“You already know the answer to that Hera.” His voice had a finality to it, there was no changing his mind. Hera swallowed. Her eyes filled with tears as she thought of Pontus.
“Don't worry, your fate will be different,” Jason chimed in. Her head snapped up.
“What do you mean?” Nehram approached her and bent down so that their eyes were on the same level. He pushed the stray tendril from her face. Hera pulled back and turned her face from him. He swiftly captured her chin in his strong hands and turned her face back to him. He looked deep into her eyes
“You were supposed to be my bride and now you shall be.” Nehram said softly. Hera eyes widened as the implications of what he had just said sunk in.
“Your sisters will also be married off, Phoebe will marry Apartheid, Athena will marry Jason and Zoe will marry Apollo.”
“Over my dead body, I'd rather die. Take me to the gallows.” Hera snarled. Nehram laughed heartily, it sounded melodic. She was amazed, she really did not want to think about how his voice sounded and what it did to her insides. She hated him, he was a vile and evil man, she thought, trying to make herself listen and understand. Her temper raged within her as she thought of what he really wanted to do. He brought his face closer to her and just as he was about to speak, she spat in his face.
The slap was so unexpected, she grabbed her cheek and a fresh wave of tears flooded her eyes. The sting of the slap seemed to spread through her entire body.
“Don't you ever do anything like that again,” his voice dangerously low, his eyes cold and dead once again.
By now, everyone was awake and crying. Nehram ordered his guards to take the maidservants away to the underground prison that was close to the gallows. They had failed their people Hera thought as she watched them being marched out. Pontus was going to die, Hera had never felt more defeated in her entire life. There was nothing she could do to save him. He could not help her either. She cried bitterly. She refused to think about being married to Nehram. She must find a way to escape. She had to save Illyricum.