Athena stood firm before her peers, shield raised defiantly.

  “How dare you get in my way!” Artemis snapped, aiming her bow at Athena.

  The Great Hall fell into stunned silence. Every God stood motionless, tension thick in the air.

  Zeus’s voice broke the stillness, his tone calm, but heavy with authority. “Explain yourself, Athena.”

  Athena spoke. “Are we not Gods?”

  Zeus’s gaze hardened. “And what exactly is your point?”

  “With respect Sire, why are we acting like frightened mortals? As if a lion prowled among us?”

  From the opposite side of the Great Hall, Hera’s voice rang out, furious. “You dare insult your King while defending that abomination? You forget your place.”

  Athena retorted. “Since when does a King need his Queen to speak for him?”

  Hera’s fury rose in her voice. “Enough! I don't have to listen to this, Guards, seize her!”

  Without warning, four pods descended from the ceiling at speed, embedding themselves into the marble floor. Upon landing, they split open in four directions. From within each, a silver centurion automaton emerged. Their red eyes flared to life as they awakened, drawing polished spears, gleaming shields and shining helmets with a red plume. Heading to restrain Athena.

  “Delay that order,” Zeus commanded calmly.

  Instantly, the automatons stopped, standing at ease, their eyes dimming.

  “Thank you, Father.” Athena said.

  Zeus scowled at his daughter. “In this moment, I am your King. Address me as such.”

  Athena bowed her head slightly. “Yes, Sire. And forgive my outburst. But how can it be just to execute a creature one believed to be your son, my brother, in cold blood?”

  Zeus said nothing. She continued, her voice steady and resolute.

  “Sire, I have served you faithfully for many millennia. I’ve never questioned your rulings, no matter how swift or severe. But justice begins with knowledge of a crime. Condemnation without that knowledge is nothing but tyranny.”

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  A murmur rippled through the Olympians. Even Hera hesitated.

  Zeus' voice echoed above the murmuring crowd.

  “Silence.”

  The crowd hushed.

  “So be it, I shall let judgment ensue. Themis, Goddess of divine justice, approach. Your King calls upon you.”

  From where Athena stood, the crowd parted as Themis made her way forward, her flowing white toga edged in silver. A golden scale emblem gleamed on her back. Her eyes, hidden beneath a black blindfold, marked her impartiality.

  “How may I serve, Your Majesty?” she asked solemnly, standing before him.

  “Themis, my most trusted adviser in all of Olympus, grant me your wisdom to cast judgment this day,” Zeus requested.

  “As you wish, my King.”

  Themis stepped back several paces. She brought her hands together, palms glowing gold, then twisted—right over left—and drew them apart. Between them shimmered the golden Scales of Justice. She raised the scales to her lips and began whispering in a language lost to all others. A silver light radiated from her form. The Gods held their breath. The scales remained still.

  Then the stone creature laughed.

  “So this is how you Gods dispense justice.”

  “Silence beast,” Apollo snapped. “Lest you welcome another arrow.”

  The creature went quiet.

  Suddenly, the divine scales tipped for all to see.

  Judgment being made Themis began to close the scales between her glowing palms until they vanished from sight. Zeus moved Metis to his right, then spoke. “Step forward, Themis.”

  She made her way to The King’s side and began to whisper her counsel in her lost language.

  Zeus stood looking out at the crowd, his face unreadable asif in a trance. When she finished, she stepped back and curtsied, making her way back into the crowd.

  Zeus lifted his gaze to the assembled Gods once more. His voice echoed through the marble hall.

  “After taking counsel, I have reached my judgment. For the good of Olympus and all the realms, execute the stone creature.”

  The monster laughed loudly and began to rise. Without hesitation, Apollo released his arrow whistling through the air.

  Athena turned sharply toward her stone brother, witnessing just as the arrow struck his skull, embedding itself directly in the right temple. The light left his eyes as the head fell lifelessly to the ground.

  A cry tore from Athena, her anguish echoing through the Great Hall. Metis collapsed to her knees, sobbing openly. “My son…”

  Zeus turned without a word and began walking away towards the back of the Great Hall.

  “Hermes,” he called.

  The messenger God appeared in a blink. “You summoned me, Your Majesty?”

  “Clear the hall. Have it cleaned,” Zeus commanded.

  “And the body?” Hermes asked. The King replied. “Deliver it to Hephaestus. He may find use for it.”

  Hermes bowed. “As you command.”

  He clapped twice, floating high in the air for all to see. “All Gods are to exit immediately by order of The King.”

  Athena’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “Don’t you dare walk away, I’m not done with you!”

  The Lord of Lightning froze to his daughter’s words.

  “I am not some lowly peasant you can dismiss! What gave you the right to extinguish his life just now? I demand an answer, Zeus!” Athena bellowed.

  Zeus called out. “Hermes.”

  The Messenger God returned once again to The King’s side, then he continued to speak.

  “Delay that order. All shall remain and bear witness instead.”

  Hermes clapped again, floating high once more. “The King commands all to stay and bear witness.”

  A spark of white lightning jolted around Zeus’s body as he turned to face his defiant Daughter.