Rodrigo, Ana, and Epona returned to their room right away. The horse goddess sat on one of the couches and stretched with a big grin.

  “Well, at least we can rest these last hours before the fight. I’m going to spend them sleeping, if you guys don’t mind,” the blonde goddess said.

  But Ana remained standing at the door in silence, looking worried. Then she took a deep breath.

  “Rui, Epona, I need to talk to you two,” the Irish goddess said.

  “What’s it about, Ana?” Rodrigo asked while grabbing a fruit from the central table.

  “Am I a bother being here, lovebirds?” Epona teased.

  “This is serious, Epona,” Ana said, clearly annoyed.

  “Oh? What’s wrong? Worried about the fight?” Epona asked.

  “No—well, not exactly,” Ana replied.

  “It’s about Tania, isn’t it?” Rodrigo asked.

  “Yes, Rui. There’s something very strange about her,” the dark-haired goddess answered.

  “I thought she was still angry at me,” Rodrigo said, looking downcast.

  “Are you still stuck on that, Rodrigo?” Epona snapped.

  “We’ve all been distant because of training, so we barely spent any time together,” Ana said. “But Tania has been even more distant and melancholic, like she’s lost in her own world.”

  “What do you think is happening to her?” Epona asked.

  “I don’t know. I’ve known her for many years and I’ve never seen her like this. But I do have a theory,” Ana said.

  “What kind of theory?” Epona asked.

  “Remember how my master had spies inside Lel? What stops Lel from having spies here as well?” Ana asked.

  “Spies? Do you suspect someone?” Epona whispered, leaning in closer.

  “I think…” Ana lowered her voice even further and leaned toward them. “I think that Nabu guy is a spy, and he’s brainwashing Tania.”

  “Why him?” Epona whispered, getting even closer.

  “Ever since he started ‘treating’ her depression, she’s been acting like this,” Ana said.

  “Worse, he conveniently decided to leave right before the war against Ares starts. He might be setting up a trap or something.”

  “I heard he can enter people’s dreams. Do you think he’s manipulating Tania with nightmares? One time I came back very late and saw her awake, like a sleepwalker,” Epona said.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “It’s possible. Considering Tania’s past and the depression she’s never overcome, they might be blackmailing her into doing something she doesn’t want,” Ana said.

  “Could it be the town she lives in?” Rodrigo asked.

  “Would Lel really destroy a human city?” Epona asked.

  “They shouldn’t—it would spark rebellion among their allies. But they could send a human army to destroy it. And that’s something even Tania wouldn’t be able to stop,” Ana answered.

  At that moment, Tania opened the door and saw the three of them whispering in the living room. The goddess looked at them with tired, sorrowful eyes, then continued walking toward her bedroom.

  “If something is happening,” Ana said, “we’ll only find out once we leave Palas. Be very careful.”

  “Understood,” Rodrigo and Epona replied.

  That afternoon, Rodrigo and the others were invited to a farewell banquet in the palace’s main dining hall. Tania decided not to go, claiming she was too exhausted.

  There were lamb and pork dishes, along with wine, mead, and plenty of bread.

  At the table sat Horus with two other men in Egyptian attire, Mitras, Sol, Asclepius, Myrddin, Erinle, Khine, Zorya, and several gods and malakim Rodrigo didn’t recognize. Indeed, Nabu was nowhere to be seen, which only strengthened Ana’s and Epona’s suspicions.

  “I guess I’ll just settle for bread and wine. I can’t believe they have no consideration for us vegetarians!” Epona complained.

  “I’ve told you before, Epona, there’s plenty of grass in the garden. Just pull out a bush and put it on your plate,” Ana said sarcastically.

  The two goddesses began arguing.

  Athena entered the hall with a cup of wine in hand, standing in the highest spot where all guests could see her.

  “I’m very grateful to see all of you here, sharing and enjoying this meal together,” the goddess said, raising her cup high.

  Everyone turned to look at her.

  “Tomorrow we fight Ares’s forces to avenge the deaths of Rikbiel and Samyaza, and to bring justice to their devastated families. We will not allow those demons in Lel to belittle and humiliate us—we will show them our worth and our power when we fight for our brothers and friends. Because on this planet, we are one great family, and if someone lays a hand on one of us, we will bring blood to them,” Athena declared.

  The guests cheered, raising their cups.

  “A long time ago, I created Orniskem together with Horus to fight the tyrannical rule of Lel, and I’m deeply grateful that you all chose to join me and place your trust and faith in this humble servant.

  Lel creates wars and suffering in the human world for its own benefit, to feed that false El who sits on the throne—and we will not allow it. Tomorrow we take a great step as a group, bringing Ares’s head before them,” Athena continued, full of passion.

  More cheering erupted through the hall.

  “We also toast to the missions of our brothers who are not present, who currently hold the frontlines in the Baltic Sea, the empires of Ghana, Kanem, Makuria, Ilé-Ifè, and the fallen kingdom of Axum; the kingdoms of the Indian peninsula, Bulgaria, Magyarország, Poland, and the land of Rus. Regions not yet consumed by Lel’s corruption or that are fighting against it.

  This cup is for them as well—our dear brothers. Let us toast to them.”

  All guests raised their cups and shouted, “Cheers!”

  “And I also want to toast to our new friends: Ana, Tania, Epona, and Rocinante, who tomorrow will go fight Ares and rescue their friend from Lel’s hands,” Athena added, still raising her cup.

  Rodrigo turned red with embarrassment—Athena still got his name wrong. He only heard Epona bursting into laughter and spitting her wine from laughing too hard.

  “And finally, let us toast to the gods of Asgard, who have at last agreed to join our group; and to Bellona, who is currently accompanying them,” Athena continued.

  More cheering exploded throughout the hall.

  “Tomorrow will be a day of victory for Orniskem—let us toast to that, and to achieving peace in this multiverse! Cheers!” Athena shouted at the top of her lungs.

  All the guests lifted their cups and shouted in unison:

  “Cheers!”