Suspicion filled Apollôn like a soulful song.
He knew he was not the only one. His beloved twin sister and adored younger brother, Hermês, shared the burden of suspicion with him.
Hestia was hiding something.
Artemis feared that something may have happened to her. None had forgotten about Priapos who still hides within the sheep he shepherds. The eldest was much too kind hearted that some blinded by Erôs and Himeros may attempt to take advantage.
Apollôn was not concerned about that. He knew that it was not to be true. There was an otherworldly glow around the chaste goddesses, and Hestia still shined as bright as her hearth.
This was something different as if her hearth shines brighter. Almost as bright as he, the god of light. Almost as bright as he, who Zeus allows to pull the reins of Helios' chariot.
Nothing escapes the eyes of the Farshooter, especially not as he pulled the sun across the sky. When The Huntress prowled through the lands at the height of the full moon. When the Swift-footed herald traveled the lands.
Nothing escaped them.
Even Apemosyne had not managed to escape Hermês.
And yet, Hestia would venture alongside the lands of Sparta before disappearing completely. They could still sense that she was on earth, but they could not see her. Apollôn wished he knew where she was hiding. While he knew nothing amorous was happening, he feared that something nefarious was brewing underneath their eyes. This had been going on for many moons now.
With that thought in mind, Apollôn made the decision to inform the council. There was no reason to continue to hide this from his Father.
He moved to head back to Olympos, but he paused as his attention was once again drawn to the beautiful youth. With his copper-hued skin, curly dark hair, eyes as purple as Zagreus' grapes, and his kind brilliant smile, Apollôn pushed his suspicions to the back of his mind. Hyakinthos had called him for help and guidance.
The god moved closer, brushing the hair from the mortal's face. His voice was soft like a familiar song as he said, "Tell me what ails you." The young prince looked at him. Stress and fatigue lined his beautiful face.
Hyakinthos flashed him a small smile before looking back down at the reports in front of him. "There are many things. Whispers of war with Athens have started to flow through the wind again, milord." He looked sadly down at the papers. King Amyclas was not worried, however. The might of Sparta was immeasurable with Apollôn and Arês as their patrons. While Athênê Eryma was the favored daughter of Father Zeus, Apollôn Boêdromios was the favored son.
The prince sighed as he looked at the other papers. "The naiads also bring word of a foreign land further north of the river. They had been unable to swim upstream for many moons until recently. Land... a kingdom has been acquired further south." His brow furrowed worriedly. "The naiads and nymphs ventured towards this new land bringing news of its beauty and exoticness. As they venture closer, it is as if Pontus and Thalassa pulled them forward to Kythira. The island of celestial Aphroditê. They speak as if they were right at our doors and with a blink of an eye, they were farther away."
King Amyclas had been insufferable about that. The way the naiads spoke as if they were honestly one foot past their borders. "They lay claim that Eurotas' waters somehow flowed so strongly through the pathway that they believed they were still in Lacedaemon."
Apollôn was about to offer counsel before the weight of his lover's words settled into his mind. A new kingdom on such holy land and Sparta had not known of its existence. Olympos had not known of its existence; surely the founding of such a rumored land would have caught the eye of the gods. Aphroditê would have not spared any reprieve to speak on such rumored beauty.
