Free Warrior Rising by P. C. Cast Page A

you believe that he’d be interested in moving on to another woman? I mean, it sounds like he had a thing for the old one.”
    â€œIt wasn’t a love relationship,” Venus said. “Achilles’ pride was hurt by Briseis being taken, not his heart.”
    â€œHow can you be so sure?” Jacky asked.
    â€œAgamemnon told me that Briseis’s beauty was wasted on Achilles,” Hera said.
    â€œGreat. Kat, he’s gay,” Jacky said.
    â€œGay?” Athena looked utterly confused.
    â€œAchilles is not gay,” Venus said.
    â€œGay?” Athena repeated, tapping her foot in annoyance.
    â€œIt means he only shtups other men,” Jacky explained.
    â€œShtups means fu—”
    â€œI understand what that means,” Athena said. “And I agree with Venus. Achilles is not gay. But he hasn’t taken a lover in many years, so Briseis was definitely not his lover.”
    â€œHow do you know that?” Venus said.
    â€œHis mother told me,” Athena said.
    â€œWhy no lover?” Kat asked.
    â€œOh, that’s easy to explain,” Athena said. “He frightens maidens.”
    â€œWhy?” Jacky asked, looking more than a little alarmed.
    â€œThe berserker rage scares them. Apparently it comes upon him when a passionate emotion is aroused—be it lust or anger,” Athena said.
    â€œYes, and maidens from the ancient world are not equipped to handle such a man, but I know that modern mortal women are different—stronger, smarter, more independent. Also, I heard you say that you counsel men as part of your living. That’s why I chose you.” Venus finished with a big smile for Kat.
    â€œWell, it’s not just men I counsel. Actually it’s mostly couples whose marriages are in trouble.”
    Venus waved her hands dismissively. “It’s all the same. I also heard you described as very optimistic. And you said that you like men. See, you’re perfect for this job.”
    â€œAnd she says she wasn’t spying on you,” Jacky said.
    Athena suddenly added, “Thetis mentioned something about Achilles’ horribly scarred visage frightening maidens, too.”
    â€œI didn’t know Achilles was scarred,” Venus said.
    â€œNeither did I,” Hera said.
    Athena shrugged. “Apparently they’re battle scars. Thetis said the berserker rage hasn’t always come upon him easily.”
    â€œWell, that could be a good thing. It shows that he needs a trigger to make it happen. If I can get him to identify the trigger, then maybe he can disarm it,” Kat said. “Sounds like Anger Management 101.”
    â€œInteresting . . . You do not seem troubled by the fact that he is scarred,” Athena said.
    Jacky answered before Kat could. “As Venus keeps tellin’ you, modern women are different. It takes more than a few scars to put us off.”
    â€œI’d like to think that I have the ability to see beyond the physical,” Kat said.
    â€œDitto,” Jacky said. Then she pointed down at her body. “Present company excepted. God, do I have to be wearing pink? I hate pink.”
    â€œIt looks good on you, though. You really are very pretty, Jacky,” Kat said.
    â€œPretty white,” Jacky muttered.
    â€œNo, really. Is there a mirror around here?” she asked Venus.
    â€œEleithyia, darling, could you bring us a lovely looking glass?”
    The priestess hurried off and returned quickly with a medium-sized round mirror, framed in bronze. Kat took it from her and held it so Jacky could look at herself.
    â€œSee?”
    Jacky’s eyes got huge. Her hands went up to her hair. “My dear sweet baby Jesus, I have tresses . Long, flowing, curling, blond tresses .”
    â€œThey’re pretty,” Kat said.
    â€œThey’re fucking overwhelming. You know I have not one clue how to take care of white girl hair. Especially not this much white girl