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‘You, a psychopomp, reaper of souls, quaking in your sandals as Jupiter barks orders at you. You should be embarrassed.’

Mercury shook his head, yet said nothing.

‘It is time for change. I hoped you would be smart enough to understand the importance of that,’ she said.

‘Things are the way they are for good reason,’ he said.

‘The power of the pantheon is just as the power in Rome,’ said Minerva. ‘It is centred on the patriarchy; the eternal authority of the father. Who is actually fit to rule? Who will protect the mortals? Who will work to build a better world? Not he.’

‘The world is not to be made perfect.’

‘The words of a coward, if ever I heard them.’

‘Jupiter is not the good king, but he is the strong king.’

‘Is that why he is killing other gods?’ she said, marching closer to him. ‘There is no strength in that.’

‘But you will kill him, in turn?’

‘I will, if I can. If I have to… and I think I shall have to.’

‘You think you would be a better ruler?’

‘I know I would.’

Mercury smiled, gazing off into the distance.

‘It will not matter. Because you won’t succeed,’ he said.

‘I don’t wish to kill you too, Mercury.’

‘I hope it won’t come to that either.’

‘Nor I,’ she said. ‘But soon enough, I will have little choice. If you stand by my father’s side, we’ll be enemies.’

He lowered his head, staring at the flower-strewn ground.

‘It is but a dream, Minerva. You will pay the price. You will end up just like Neptune or Vulcan, lights in the sky for mortals to tell stories about.’

‘Soon, Elysium will be a battleground. It’s time for you to decide which side you stand on,’ she said. ‘Are you with me, or are you with him?’

Still, he did not answer.

‘For too long, you have sat on both sides. You speak to heroes and villains alike, as if they are equals, all in the name of peace. But this peace is merely apathy.’

‘You have misread me.’

‘I think not.’

Minerva raised her spear.

‘I have never fought you, Mercury. I have had no reason to. But I think we both know which of us is the better warrior, and how it will end for you.’

She inched closer, as he retreated.

‘If you lose, I will let you live… but you will serve me.’

As she spoke, the blood-coloured ground rumbled beneath their feet.