Page 185 of Styx

In the end it was Perses who answered,

‘Oceanus’s palace.’

I looked at him,

his mouth was set

in a grim line.

‘We should go to my father’s home,’

I told him, my voice soft

but determined.

‘No,’ Perses disagreed.

‘We must warn Oceanus.’

I considered Metis,

her role in all this.

Her promise to us.

‘Give Metis time to speak to Zeus,’

I said, and Styx and Leto agreed.

‘If you tell Oceanus now,

he will react poorly

and it is Metis who will pay

the ultimate price for this.’

Perses did not answer,

and with a jolt, I realized

he believed Metis

should be punished

for her actions here.

But he did not say it.

Looking at my face,

he softened and acquiesced.

‘We will give her time.

But once we hear from her,

we must do what is right