Thoth had learned his lesson, years ago, about reading by the lake. Countless sodden books and lost notes later, he’d resolved to never carry anything valuable around visibly, unless it was two in the morning and he was hastily transporting some tomes and equipment to his private, lockable lab. It seemed, though, that if he couldn’t reap some benefits from being outed as the only son of the most famous and celebrated deity in the world then – well – what was the point of all those special looks, then?

So, he’d taken the risk. After a few weeks’ careful observation of his peers in a casual (for Thoth) field study, he determined that the likelihood of being chucked in the lake again, along with his precious books, had significantly decreased to make reading by the lake statistically viable. It was really just bad luck that Tarquin was also at the lake that day.

“The hell is this?” The bully growled, slapping the first tome out of Thoth’s hands while the rest of his gang surrounded the latter to ensure he couldn’t escape. Tarquin shook his head pityingly. “Oh, beakface. We tried to make you acceptable to civilised society. Must be your father’s influence.”

Thoth’s fists, hooked under the remaining two books still in his arms, clenched. Tarquin’s eyes gleamed.

“Who is your father, anyway?” He asked, his tone casual. This had been Tarquin’s latest ploy. Supposedly it was the question on every gossiper’s lips.

And so ensued the unfortunate scene which Astra overheard, in which Thoth had very little input. Force of habit and many long, hard-learned lessons had taught him that it was best not to speak – or try to react at all – whenever Tarquin or any of his cronies were in the vicinity. His lips were still tightly sealed when the young woman came storming up to them, her blue-grey eyes blazing. Thoth often had difficulty identifying facial expressions, but there was no mistaking this one. He wouldn’t especially have liked to have her look at him the way she was looking at Tarquin right now.

“You know, Tarquin,” she spat, “I thought we had a little chat about picking on people.”

Tarquin probably reacted, but Thoth missed it. A light frown began to crease his forehead: the beginnings of one of the famous scowls he had learned from his late adopted father, Joel. His suspicions were confirmed when she got right into Tarquin’s face and started to verbally rip into him.

Great. So now Thoth needed to be rescued by a girl?

It wouldn’t be the first time, unfortunately. He gritted his teeth and took the opportunity to swipe his book back from Tarquin’s slack grip, right before the girl in question performed an incredible move. She wasn’t big – a hair taller than Thoth and probably about the same age – but she must have had some kind of super strength, because she gripped Tarquin’s shirt and lifted him up off the ground. The rest of the gang backed up a few steps, and Thoth almost dropped his books in surprise. Tarquin was three years his senior and about twice his size. It was like watching David topple Goliath.

The exchange didn’t last long. Tarquin and his friends scarpered, leaving Thoth alone with Wonder Woman.

“Uhh…” Surprise finally gave way to the underlying sense of indignation. “Thanks, I guess,” he grumbled, dropping his books on the ground in a way which didn’t make him seem grateful at all. Little Thoth has to be rescued by the nasty bullies by a little girl – this would be all over the castle by lunchtime.


MASTER OF THE ORBIS . MASTER OF THE WATER ELEMENT . SON OF AURA