Back to chapter menu
Chapter 66 Chapter 68
“Impossible!”
Psyche woke up to the sound of Aphrodite’s voice in the doorway. Apollo was just starting to pull the sun into the sky.
Psyche got up.
She was a sight. Wheat and barley dust covered her hair, making it a few shades lighter. Dried sweat mixed with dirt made streaks down her face.
Aphrodite walked into the granary, ignoring Psyche. She walked through the rows of bins, inspecting Psyche’s work.
“How did you do it?” Aphrodite asked. The question felt more like an accusation.
“Admittedly, I had help. The task would have been impossible to complete by myself,” Psyche said. Then she looked worried. “Am I allowed to have help?”
Aphrodite was quiet for a moment.
“Who helped you?” Aphrodite asked.
“Some ants. The insects are quite skilled at sorting grain,” Psyche said.
Aphrodite looked at Psyche.
“Ants?? How?? Such disgusting insects are not allowed in my realm,” Aphrodite said.
“They aren’t disgusting,” Psyche said.
Aphrodite glared at her and Psyche lowered her eyes.
“How did they get here?” Aphrodite asked.
“I don’t know. I found one by the tree when I went out to rest and before long, a whole army of ants were in the granary helping me,” Psyche said. “I can’t explain it.”
Aphrodite scowled.
“No matter,” Aphrodite said briskly. “Your second task has already begun. Come along.”
Aphrodite led Psyche out of the granary.
As they walked, Psyche wondered if she would be given something to eat. She was awfully hungry. Aphrodite didn’t seem to be in the best mood for her to ask, so she let her stomach go on rumbling.
The two reached Psyche’s specially-made shabby chariot. It was packed and ready to go.
“This will take you to your second task,” Aphrodite said. “Inside the chariot you will find everything you need. Make it back to the meeting point before sun up tomorrow and you’ll be brought back here. Miss it, and you’ve found the location of your exile.”
Aphrodite smiled.
“And what is the task,” Psyche asked.
Aphrodite dropped her smile and looked annoyed.
“You must bring back a basket full of golden wool. The golden-haired sheep graze on an island where the chariot cannot land, so you’ll have to swim across the river from the landing point to get there,” Aphrodite said.
“Swim? But I –” Psyche began.
“Time is wasting! Better get going,” Aphrodite said in a sing-song voice as she turned away.
She was tired of looking at Psyche. What her son ever saw in that girl, she’d never know.
Psyche stood by the chariot for a moment, wondering what she was getting herself into. The granary had been pretty impossible. Gathering wool from sheep didn’t sound so bad. She’d seen the villagers during the sheep shearing season have competitions to see who could cut the curly hair off the fastest. There were festivities along with the work.
Swimming across the river to get there felt like an additional task. Psyche didn’t really know how to swim well. She was comfortable in water, but when it came to swimming, she felt inadequate.
Still, this was her second task and if she didn’t complete it she would be exiled anyway.
Psyche straightened her shoulders and climbed into the chariot.
Her greatest hope, at the moment, was that there would be food among the supplies.
If I Had Words 
Excited to hear your thoughts! Comment here.