Etruscan Demigods

Sacrifices and Diplomacy

Back to the greeks and etruscans.

As Arnth led the trio through the wooden cabins, Percy caughed on to some of the wispered conversations between the inhabitants of Mechlum Tinia.

"Look at his scars. What a warrior!" A man said to his son.

"Who are they?" A woman asked another.

"They look like heroes." Another one said.

Percy didn't like the attention, but Annabeth did. "They admire you as a warrior. They have respect for you." She explained Percy when she saw his expression, that barely hid his dislike.

"If you say so." Percy answered. Annabeth wanted to say something else, as Arnth stopped and said "Here we are." They were in a small park and stood before a wooden temple, that Annabeth identified as a smaller copie of the Menrva temple of Veii. It hat two rows of each four tuscan columns. Behind the columns the temple was divided into three chambers. Inside were candles and lit them enough to show the statue of a goddess in battle armor with spear and shield. "Is that an Athena temple?" Percy asked. Annabeth shook her head and answered "No, its for Menvra. The etruscan equivalent. She is like my mother, just not a virgin." Arnth heared that and asked "Your mother is a virgin?" Annabeth nodded and said "I don't want to explain it, right now." He nodded and yelled to the Temple "Lars! Come out! I have here some guests you would like to meet!"

Out of the left side chamber a man in his thirties appeared. He wore a yellow tunic under a leather coat and had long, curly, dark blonde hair, flowing out under a mitra. In his right hand was a Lituus, a staff like the crosier of catholic bishops. "Ah, Arnth! You're back so soon, I hope everything went as it should." The man greeted. Arnth scratched his neck and said "Mostly." The man nodded and asked "Who are these three?"

Arnth introduced them and Lars was delighted to learn, that Rachel was the oracle priestress of Delphi. "What an honor! Be welcome, Priestress! Come into the temple, we have to sacrifice to the gods for that they were so kind to send you here!" He grabbed a puzzled Rachel by her arm and dragged her into the temple, brabbling something about a good omen and that he had a sheep ready to sacrifice it. Rachel mouthed a "Help" to the other two but it was to no avail.

The other three stood outside while Rachel and Lars sacrificed the sheep. Rachel had to fight the urge to throw up, when the priest first killed the sheep and than cut it open to take out the inner organs. Than he grabbed the liver and cut it into two pieces. It was a very bloody work and both were smeared with the spilled blood, Lars more than Rachel. After cutting the liver, he took a look at it. "Interesting!" He said. "What is interesting?" Rachel wanted to know, to which he winked her closer. "There, look!" He pointed at something in the liver but she did not know what he wanted to show her. "What?"

He looked taken aback from her answer and asked "Don't you know how to read from the liver? I thought you are an oracle!" "I am, but not a Hieromacer!" She answered a bit too loud.

He nodded and said "Well, then, look. I will explain." He pointed at the right side and said "This is our side. And the left is the outside. People, groups and beings that could oppose us. Here on the left, there is the palace gate, a cudgel and that means that an opposing king and violence. Both sides have these calcified burrows of roundworm larvae on the surface." Rachel had to gag. Lars ignored that and explained "That is a bad omen. But on both sides. I think there will be a battle and many will be lost on both sides. But look! A Groove in the shape of a foot! That could mean a retreat! Which would be a bad omen for our enemy but a good one for us." Now he looked inspected the right part and said "Ah! There, a ligament of the rounded liver. That means strength. And there the connective tissue strands are very strong. Strong and united you could say. Or a strong alliance."