Zeus 25 - Praxis

20 - Zeus 25

After a ceremony that crowned both he and Hera with laurel leaves, everyone began to pour out of the pavilion and surround the two chariots that would carry Hermes, Apollonia, and the two apprentices to Mount Olympus. Mages drove both chariots, since the royalty needed their hands free to wave to the crowds. Praxis joined Hermes, while Hera rode behind Apollonia in her chariot. It was strange to look at Hera now, in Ares 24's chariot, and realize she would soon be his wife—because the dynasty would decree her his wife, not because he had chosen her.

I wonder how many truechoices will actually be mine? he thought.

"I will be first," Hermes said to him, loud enough that the crowd surrounding them could hear, "to call you, Zeus 25." As the chariots rolled out onto the highway, the crowd took up the chant, "Zeus 25, Zeus 25, Zeus 25," they roared.

Io had been right all along. Apparently, anyone could become Zeus 25 with the right help and training.

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The rest of the parade was a blur, flags waved and crowds knelt as the chariots rolled by, mages with their apprentices filled the steps of all of the guild halls and crossed their chests with one arm and opened the palm of the other acknowledging their fealty to the next Zeus. Guards saluted them at the Silver Gate and mages of all descriptions lined the Silver Road or floated overhead as they traversed the mountain cliffs to the House of Rock and Air. It seemed everyone knew that a common fisherman, and not the son of the Lord of Argos, had been elevated, and they'd turned out with their families and doeros to cheer the new Zeus.

Phobos, Grand Mage of the House of Rock and Air and second son of Ares 24, greeted the Olympian Games victor as Zeus 25 even though he had four years remaining as an apprentice in the retiring dynasty's reign. Who became the next Zeus mattered so little to Phobos he had not bothered to attend the games, but he descended the steps to show his loyalty to the new apprentice ruler. "Keep the Houses balanced," he advised Praxis.

As they drove on to the House of Law and Punishment, Praxis queried Hermes, "What does 'Keep the Houses balanced' mean?"

"Twice in the past, when an individual House became too strong, they tried to overthrow the dynasty."

"I've never heard such stories."

"No, you wouldn't have. Mages fighting other mages are the last thing AvoDar wants."

"You've met AvoDar?"

"No, but Sadra brings AvoDar's wisdom to us every twenty years when dynastic rulers change. His comments are always recorded by my Oracle, Pythia, and I have listened to them all during my reign."

"Will I have access to your Oracle?"

"Absolutely, it's the fastest way to learn what you need to know."

An hour later, they passed between two of Olympus's Steam Titans, metal giants who towered over the chariots, and they swept through the gates the Titans guarded into the courtyard of the House of Law and Punishment.

Themis, whose statue stood in the main lobby, held an enormous set of scales big enough for a man to stand on either tray. She was honored there as the builder of the House of Law and Punishment. The lobby reminded Praxis of the House of Sea and Stars, but was twice as large and bustling with mages and apprentices.

On the second floor, at the back of the building, was Zeus's Palace whose balcony opened onto the slopes of Mount Olympus. When they got to the throne room, Hermes ascended the dias and sat on his throne, no doubt to remind Praxis that he was an apprentice and not yet Zeus 25.

Appolonia turned to Hera. "At the end of a dynasty, many empty chambers are available in the family portion of the place, so you can stay in the royal apartments with me. Don't worry about being lonely, extra rooms mean space for your friend, Leto, when she visits and anyone else who can support you."