“What’s that?” she asked, tilting her head.
“Hestia mentioned she’d like to take you around Olympus. To show you a different side of things—one I might not think to show you myself.”
Geri blinked. “She did? That’s…actually really nice of her.”
She knew of Hestia mostly through Persephone—how the goddess of the hearth had been one of the few to remain neutral during family conflicts, how she was a quiet force of peace in the background. She’d helped Persephone patch things up with Demeter before her wedding, something that earned her Geri’s silent respect.
“I think she sees you the way she sees Persephone,” he added. “Someone new, but important. Someone who might bring change.”
Geri blinked again, unsure how to respond. “Well…I don’t know about bringing change, but I’d like to meet her properly.”
“Good. I think you’ll like her. She’s calm. Centered.”
She chuckled. “A nice balance to you, you mean?”
He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Exactly.”
*****
What did I get myself into?Geri wondered, trying not to groan aloud as she wove her way through the bustling agora near their home.
The marketplace was lively as ever, bright stalls bursting with bolts of colored cloth, fragrant spices swirling in the warm breeze, and immortals chatting over displays of glittering jewelry and art. But even all that sparkle wasn’t enough to distract her from the churn of uncertainty spinning in her chest.
She needed to get to one of the courtyards where Hestia had told her to meet. Geri pushed onward, skirting around a pair of satyrs arguing over figs, and finally stepped through an archway into a sun-drenched courtyard.
She came up short, blinking at the unexpected sight before her. A small crowd was gathered in neat rows, all diligently working on embroidery hoops.
At the front of the group stood the Hecatoncheires—the hundred-handed giants—each of them simultaneously holding up dozens of needles and brightly colored threads, moving at a mesmerizing speed.
She just stared. Ofallthe things she’d expected to encounter in Olympus, this was nowhere on the list.
She wandered closer, curiosity tugging her forward despite her earlier reluctance. She peered at the rows of embroidery hoops, and a delighted grin crept across her face when she realized the theme of the projects was plants.
Tiny leaves unfurled in green silk threads. Blossoms bloomed in delicate stitches of pinks and yellows. Someone was even painstakingly crafting a cluster of ferns, every frond perfectly detailed. Geri was about to lean in and ask a goddessabout the pale blue lavender she was embroidering when a gentle voice called out behind her.
“Ah, Geri, there you are.”
Geri spun around and found herself face-to-face with Hestia.
Hestia wasn’t flashy like some of the other goddesses. She radiated a quiet warmth, like the comforting glow of a fireplace on a cold Alaskan night. Her soft brown hair was gathered loosely at her nape, and her eyes shone with a calm, steady light. Her presence made Geri’s nerves settle just a little, as though someone had thrown a cozy blanket around her shoulders.
Hestia smiled. “I’m glad you came. I wanted to show you how different groups gather here in Olympus—some for governance, of course, but many simply for…hobbies.”
She gestured at the busy giants, who were now adding tiny embroidered mushrooms to a forest scene. “It’s how we connect and relax.”
Geri blinked, a laugh bubbling up inside her.Immortals…they’re just like us. But she managed to bite back her laugh, pressing her lips together as she tried to focus on what Hestia was saying instead of gawking at hundred-handed giants delicately stitching daisies.
“I’m glad you agreed to meet with me,” Hestia said, giving Geri a small smile.
“Of course. I’m…trying to figure all this out.”
“Well,” Hestia said, linking her arm through Geri’s, “I thought I’d show you some of the sights. Just a few places to give you a taste of Olympus.”
Their first stop was a marble-columned side office tucked just off the agora. A polished gold sign above the door readEternaGlowin elegant script. Inside, Hebe, the goddess of youth, was presiding over a group of immortals, passing out tiny tasting cups filled with a pale, sparkling liquid.
“This is my new line,” Hebe proclaimed as they entered. “A refreshing drink that gives you eternal youth—from the inside out!”
Geri leaned closer to Hestia and whispered, “But…gods don’t age, right?”
