JiminQueens2's blog

Ganymede didn’t even realize what he was doing before he reached out and grabbed a handful of Phaethon’s dark, curly hair and yanked hard, pulling him away from Lord Zeus and sending him stumbling backwards across the hall.  The wine jug fell from Phaethon’s grasp and landed with a shattering crash on the floor.  Ganymede smiled; Phaethon would have to go get a new jug, and while he was gone, Ganymede would take up his rightful place at the side of Lord Zeus.  “Your wine, Lord Z—”

He never finished the sentence, because suddenly someone grabbed his shoulder and pulled hard, spinning him around.  He had just enough time to register that Phaethon, his face a mask of rage, was standing before him before the other youth’s hand came up and slapped him in the face!

Ganymede actually staggered back a pace or two, and then turned back to Phaethon.  Pure fury took over, and he lunged at his rival, but before he could get his hands on Phaethon, a muscled arm across his chest stopped him in mid-charge.  Ganymede blinked at the sight of Lord Hermes, the swiftest of the gods, coming between him and Phaethon.

Some of the other gods, Apollo among them, crowded around Phaethon, keeping him from launching himself at Ganymede.  A deep, throaty chuckle filled the feasting room as Lord Zeus rose from his chair and strode over to look at his two cup bearers.  “It would seem,” he said, “that we have a mild dispute between these two youths.  How do you all suppose we have them resolve it?”

“Wrestling!” suggested Hermes.

“Boxing!” countered Apollo.

“No,” said Heracles.  The newest of the gods came forward.  “Let them contend in the pankration.”

“Yes!” Ares, the god of battle, leaped to his feet.  “Let them fight as my Spartans do, with nothing held back!”

“I think that would do very well,” Lord Zeus said.  He gave a penetrating look that made Ganymede feel just a tinge of fear, then transferred it to Phaethon.  “Unless either of you would care to cede your place at my side to the other?”

The fear withered and died as soon as the words left Lord Zeus’ lips.  “That is my place, Lord Zeus,” he snarled, “and this cretin will never be worthy of it!”

Phaethon shot him a glare as fiery as his father’s chariot.  “I look forward to proving that it is my place,” he spat, “over your broken body!”

“Then the contest shall happen!” thundered Lord Zeus.  “To the arena!”

The assembled gods – not the goddesses, though noble Athena gave an almost wistful glance at the two combatants – rose from their places and made their way from the great hall, sweeping Ganymede in their midst.  Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Phaethon similarly swamped by the Olympians, and his eyes narrowed in anger.  Pankration was the most brutal, bloody form of combat possible, and it was entirely possible that he’d be hurt badly, but it would be worth it if he could stand over Phaethon’s beaten, shattered body in victory.