Page 125 of Styx

Two figures stood before us.

I tensed and Styx did too,

expecting Eurybia and Crius

to be as cold and dark as their reputations

had depicted them to be.

Instead, two kind old faces

smiled and welcomed us all

with wide open arms.

A Palace in the Clouds

It was only after meeting them

that I realized how strongly Gods relied

on their reputations to be worshipped.

The first question Eurybia asked

Styx and me as Perses and Pallas

spoke to their father was

‘My dear ones, I hope my sons

are being kind to you?’

Styx and I looked at each other

and we both smiled at once.

Styx had started smiling so much

more these days and it gladdened

my heart to see. ‘Yes. Yes,

they are kind. And good,’

I told her. ‘You have raised

them both well.’ Eurybia beamed.

‘Crius and I are equals. We raised

our sons to see their consorts

the way we see each other.’

Styx answered,

her voice laced with bitterness,