Early morning, at the foot of the Areios Pagos.
The grass rustled, and a figure covered in dew and dust crawled out of a person-shaped depression in the ground.
With every movement, the figure lying on the ground could not help convulsing, his handsome features screwed up into an expression of pure misery and indignation.
Pain. Real, genuine pain.
It felt as though every inch of skin had been torn open and every muscle cut through.
Every bone was trembling.
Every drop of blood was crying out in agony.
Every organ in his body seemed to have been pushed to the point of wanting to stage a collective strike, or simply evacuate the premises altogether.
All of this over one feather.
Did she really have to be that vicious about it?
Lorne reached back with a pained expression and touched his impressively swollen buttocks, gritting his teeth as he picked out a collection of thorn pricks that had embedded themselves in the skin.
"Athena. Just you wait. Your turn is coming."
Just as this particularly wretched victim was making his silent, furious vow, light footsteps approached from ahead.
Two familiar figures were making their way down the mountain path, violet and green eyes scanning in all directions.
"Where is Master?"
"The goddess said he would be waiting at the foot of the mountain.
He should be somewhere around here."
Atalanta and Medusa walked side by side, looking out for the person who had arranged to take them to the Athenian Academy today to complete the enrollment process.
"Oh, you are here already? Up so early?"
Before long, a familiar voice called from somewhere among the trees, and the person they were looking for came walking out from the shade, waving with a smile and taking small, careful steps onto the mountain path.
For some reason, his stride seemed a little unsteady and tentative.
Atalanta noticed and frowned with mild puzzlement.
"Master, you seem a little..."
"I pushed too hard last night practicing a newly acquired power. Used up too much. My body is feeling it a little."
Lorne braced himself against a nearby tree trunk and explained with a smile. "Nothing serious. I will get you both through the enrollment process first and rest afterward."
"Are you sure you are all right? Honestly, I could take Atalanta to register myself." Medusa looked worried and offered the suggestion.
But Lorne waved a hand and declined the offer with a smile. "I am fine.
A small inconvenience like this is not going to stop me."
Insisting on coming along had nothing to do with pride.
He had reasons he could not avoid.
So, after a brief exchange with the two of them, Lorne stepped forward and took the lead, guiding Atalanta and Medusa in the direction of the Athenian Academy.
Before long, the path curved around the hillside and the view opened up.
An impressive academy of vast grounds in the classical Greek temple architectural style came into view.
Groups of young talents from the surrounding city-states trained on the open practice grounds, competing in swordsmanship, archery, and hand-to-hand combat.
Others sat beside quiet gardens, turning through manuscripts on poetry, history, philosophy, and magic.
Some walked the sunlit colonnades with teachers and fellow students after class, engaged in heated debate about the day's lessons.
Though the Athenian Academy was still in its early days, the atmosphere of serious scholarship was already unmistakable.
Lorne gave a quiet nod of satisfaction, then led Medusa and Atalanta through the elegant marble archway and down the paths until they reached a small woodland cottage built at the edge of a lake.
He knocked on the door.
The centaur sage Chiron stepped out on his four long legs and looked at a certain old friend who had been absent for some time with an expression of genuine surprise.
"You are back?"
"Yes. Things went reasonably well."
"Good to have you back."
Chiron gave a small nod, a warmth of long-missed reunion passing through his eyes.
But then, as though something had come to mind, his expression shifted into something subdued in a way that was hard to account for.
Sensing the slightly heavy atmosphere, Lorne smiled at once and beckoned Atalanta forward from behind him. "Oh, by the way. I brought you a new student."
Chiron recovered himself and looked Atalanta over carefully.
His gaze lingered a moment on her arms and on what she carried behind her, and a warm smile spread across his face.
"A skilled archer, and with both hands at that. And that is a fine bow."
"More than that. Her speed and combat technique are both top class. She is also studying herb identification."
Lorne gave his student a good word, then explained his intentions to the centaur sage.
"Professor Horse, she has been living in Arcadia and has only just come down from the deep mountains for the first time, so I would like her to get some grounding in the customs and cultures of different city-states."
"Etiquette and cultural studies? Certainly, no problem."
Chiron gave a nod, then cleared his throat in mild correction.
"Though my name is Chiron."
"Right, right. Herbology is more your area, yes? I will count on you to teach her that side of things when you get the chance, Professor Horse."
"That is fine. But could you call me Chiron?"
"Her combat experience with the bow is also a bit lacking. Feel free to practice with her whenever you have time, Professor Horse."
"All of that is fine, I just..."
"Then there are no problems at all. Are you free this evening, Professor Horse?"
Silence.
Watching this shameless old friend who had clearly decided not to listen to a word anyone said, the good-natured centaur could only give up on reclaiming his own name with a helpless smile.
"Why? Is there something this evening?"
"Atalanta will be in your care for a while, and she has no family or acquaintances in Athens.
As her master I have to show some appreciation, do I not?"
Lorne patted the centaur sage warmly on the shoulder, put on his most enthusiastic expression, and announced in a carrying voice.
"So, dinner at my place tonight.
That is settled."
"Your place?"
Chiron blinked, somewhat surprised.
Now that he thought about it, even after knowing this person for as long as he had, he was not entirely sure where this person actually lived.
"Oh, the residence of Lady Hestia, goddess of the hearth, on the Areios Pagos. I am her attendant god."
"Lady Hestia? Would it not be rather presumptuous to turn up unannounced?"
"Not at all. Lady Hestia is warm and welcoming to everyone. She will not mind in the slightest. And after the help you are giving us today, we absolutely have to receive you properly."
Lorne thumped his chest with a solemn promise, then hooked an arm around the centaur sage's neck and pulled him a step aside, dropping his voice.
"Besides, Lady Hestia is cooking herself tonight. You really cannot afford to miss an opportunity like this."
Hearing the repeated warm invitation, and in particular the name of the person doing the cooking, Chiron felt his resistance waver.
To taste the food personally prepared by the goddess of the hearth was an exceptional pleasure by any measure.
"That is settled then. Help Atalanta get through the enrollment paperwork first, and tonight after classes bring her along for a home visit. We will have a proper meal together."
Lorne gave Chiron a solid pat on the shoulder, then without further discussion left Atalanta behind with Chiron to handle the enrollment, grabbed Medusa by the arm, and made a smooth exit through the front gates of the Athenian Academy.
Once they had put a comfortable distance behind them, a certain someone let the warm, enthusiastic smile fade from his face, then stopped, turned back, and looked quietly toward the grove where Chiron made his home, made a small sign over his chest, and muttered under his breath.
Professor Horse, you are such a good-natured soul.
'You will not hold this against me, will you?'
(End of Chapter)