An Epic of a Knight and Valkyrie

Chapter 6

The next day, we were out and about again. The old couple had kindly given us a Greek style breakfast. It consisted of barley bread dipped and delicious wine that made me forget that I wasn’t a drinker for moment, as well as pancakes, which I devoured at once. I prayed both before and after the meal in thanks, thankful for the filling breakfast. Roy did the same, and Wendy did her own silent, lengthy prayer that lasted half the time while we ate. I was surprised to see the old couple scoop half of their plate, the best looking part, right into the fire and watch as it burned.

“A sacrifice to the gods.” The old woman explained at my baffled expression. “We give up what we can to the gods to pray and be thankful.”

 Interesting. We Christians often fasted, but never sacrificed food. In a way, it was just as loyal.

“So where is that place you were talking about, Sebastian?” Roy prodded; bring me out of my reverie. We’d been wandering the streets once more, looking around as I daydreamed.

“It should be in that direction.” I pointed uphill. “The Parthenon should be hard to miss. If we ask anyone, they’ll point us in the right direction.”

 It didn’t even take that much. We were able to see the towering building after just heading in its general direction, going up the hill it was built on to reach it. I noticed as we approached that it was either the center of architecture of this city, or the men who built it had put in a lot more effort into its construction. It was beautifully intimidating, to the point that a nonbeliever like myself could feel the aura of something bigger than myself looming.

“It’s empty.” Wendy noted as we came to the pillars of the large, gorgeous structure. “Aside from her, of course.”

 She pointed to the big bronze statue at the end of the hall of columns, perfectly aligned between the two sides, holding what looked like an angel in one hand, and a shield with a snake beneath it in the other. She also had a spear leaning against one shoulder, so I had no doubt that it was the goddess being worshipped by this site.

“With no priests here, it leaves us at square one.” Roy sighed irritably.

“Not exactly.” Wendy disagreed. “When in doubt, pray.”

 “To a goddess of a different faith?” He raised his eyebrows as Wendy already headed toward the statue.

“I may believe in different gods, but she is a goddess all the same. I came her seeking her aid, did I not?”

 Roy grumbled in derision even as he followed after, unwilling to leave her alone. I stayed back to admire the architecture a bit more.

“Magnificent, isn’t it?”

I jumped as I noticed the woman who’d managed to sneak up behind me. She was smilingly widely at the ceiling with an air of self-satisfaction that was almost smug.

She had long golden hair and sharp features and eyes, features that would intimidate anyone on first sight. She wore a Greek robe and golden sandals and had a tall, erect stature that made her seem older and more mature, in a way.

“Are you the priestess here?” I asked as my heartbeat’s rate returned to normal. She shrugged. “If you would like to call me so. But unlike most priestesses, I have not been gifted with oracular abilities by the gods. Have you come to pray to our Lady Athena?”

 “We’ve come seeking her help.” I nodded grimly. “But not through simple praying. It would be better if we could directly consult with her.”

 “Direct consultation?” She raised an eyebrow curiously. “If you want to speak with a god, why not go to Delphi? The Sybil there is the very incarnation of Apollo, after all.”