The Owl Princess

Book 2: Chapter 3- The Funeral Games of Prince Luke

Piper accompanied Annabeth as she strolled with her mother through the palace gardens: an idyllic expanse of perfectly manicured ornamental citrus and olive trees and grape vines growing on trellises, all bordered by lily plants, Queen Hera's favorite flowers. In a few weeks, these gardens would be perfumed by lilies and lemon blossoms and at the height of summer, you could pick fresh olives, grapes, and oranges from the branches. Some of the trees and vines formed shady bowers where a passerby could sit and get out of the sun. Standing among the flowers were statues of famous lovers: Paris and Helen, Daphne and the God of the Sun, and Achilles and Patroclus. A closer inspection showed that these couples were not as blissful as they might appear. Paris carried Helen off in his arms; Helen appeared to be fearful and trying to resist him. Daphne fled from the God of the Sun; the tips of her fingers showed that she was beginning to turn into a laurel tree. Patroclus clutched his side, where Hector's spear had stabbed him; Achilles cradled his dying companion in his arms.
"Patír hasn't spoken to me since the banquet," Annabeth told Queen Athena as they perused the statue of Achilles and Patroclus, a new addition to the collection.
"Your father is a proud man," Queen Athena replied, "He doesn't like to admit when he's wrong."
"Must be a family trait," Annabeth gave a wry smile, acknowledging that she was very much her father's daughter.
"...but he'll get over it. You did a brave thing, Annabeth, speaking up for that slave. A wise ruler defends the innocent and sees that justice is done. You have learned well."
Queen Athena admired the look of agony on Patroclus's face and Achilles's anguished expression.
"This is exquisite work, do you who the artist is?"
"I believe it's by Rachel of Delphi."
Piper had heard of Rachel of a Delphi. She belonged to a noble oikos from Phocis and had been dedicated since childhood to the temple of the God of the Sun in Delphi, where she served as priestess. The God of the Sun was the patron of the arts and of medicine so his devotees were often singers, musicians, painters, sculptors, and healers. It was said that the god had given her the gift of prophecy. Following the death of the great Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi, last year, everyone believed that Rachel would be named her successor.
A thin slave with a cinnamon complexion and a shaved head and inky fingers, Queen Athena's personal secretary, approached.
"My Lady," his deep voice called in a guttural Egyptian accent, "Your lord husband wishes to discuss the orders of business for the next meeting of the council."
"I come, Gamal," Queen Athena replied, following the slave back inside the palace.
Free from her mother's supervision, Annabeth picked up the hem of her chiton and ran towards the tallest of the orange trees. She put a dainty foot clad in a delicate leather sandal on the lowest branch of the tree and began to climb.
"What are you doing?" Piper demanded.
"Climb up here and see for yourself," Annabeth giggled.
Piper pulled up the skirt of her own chiton and lifted herself up to join her friend. From their perch, they could see a field where a group of young men were exercising naked, their muscles glistening with olive oil.
A/N Ancient Greeks exercised and participated in athletic competitions, naked. The word "gymnasium", a place where you exercise, comes from the Ancient Greek word for naked and translates to "place for being naked." The fact that all of the athletes were naked was part of the reason why women were banned from the Olympic Games. The Ancient Greeks had the opposite view of nudity than the one we have today: today, images of nude or semi nude women are fairly common and we're less comfortable with male nudity but back then, the naked male body was considered the height of beauty while women, considered flawed versions of men, were expected to cover themselves up.
Piper blushed.
"We shouldn't be looking at this."
"Percy is warming up for Luke's funeral games later today. I thought I'd look in and see if I'm getting my money's worth."

A/N 😏😉😳😂🤣