He bowed his head to her spiteful soliloquy, eyes closed as cold fear sweat trickled between his shoulder blades. He had opened his heart to the goddess, spoken honestly and fully what was within, and if she was determined not to see that then there truly was no hope left to him.
She had her own agenda, as she always had. Her favorites… and those far from that favored status.
And there was nothing, nothing at all, that he could do. She was a goddess, her power in this domain absolute, and he was only mortal. Any resistance would be used as an excuse for even harsher punishment. No friend of his would stand for him against her. Could stand against her, not when the power and authority that she wielded was so absolute that all others would be rightfully afraid of being dragged down and punished alongside him - cast from the gods's favor - if they protested.
All this, because he had come to apologize.
She had asked him no questions that he could respond to, nor responded to his own prayer to earn her forgiveness and a place in her court. She lashed him with her tongue but gave him nothing but her disdain. If her mind was already made up, then he could do nothing but bow to the inevitable, and he did so gracefully now, sinking into a deep obeisance at her feet.
She had her own agenda, as she always had. Her favorites… and those far from that favored status.
And there was nothing, nothing at all, that he could do. She was a goddess, her power in this domain absolute, and he was only mortal. Any resistance would be used as an excuse for even harsher punishment. No friend of his would stand for him against her. Could stand against her, not when the power and authority that she wielded was so absolute that all others would be rightfully afraid of being dragged down and punished alongside him - cast from the gods's favor - if they protested.
All this, because he had come to apologize.
She had asked him no questions that he could respond to, nor responded to his own prayer to earn her forgiveness and a place in her court. She lashed him with her tongue but gave him nothing but her disdain. If her mind was already made up, then he could do nothing but bow to the inevitable, and he did so gracefully now, sinking into a deep obeisance at her feet.
