A/N I'm back! Thank you all for being so patient waiting for the arrival of this chapter and for all the lovely reviews. I really hope that after having made you wait for so long this chapter is alright.
Please let me know if it is...
The fire crackled cheerfully as Pythagoras crouched near it, mixing some crushed herbs into a paste, his medical paraphernalia laid out before him. From the corner of his eye he could see his friend sitting against the wall of the cavern, so still that you could almost believe that he was a statue hewn from the rock itself rather than a living, breathing young man. But then, the blonde reflected, sitting absolutely still was probably the only position that would allow Jason some measure of comfort right now; the constant throbbing pain he would be feeling just through breathing was likely to be made much worse by moving around. Really what Pythagoras would like to do – what all his experience was telling him was necessary – was to bundle his friend up in a nice soft bed propped up against plump pillows (because sitting up was probably going to be more comfortable than lying down after all). Unfortunately that wasn't a possibility at the moment. The young mathematician sighed. The hard, unyielding floor of a cave was hardly going to be conducive to Jason's comfort or recovery.
With long, dextrous fingers Pythagoras finished mixing the salve he was working on and carefully transferred most of it into a small jar, placing a lid onto it and sealing the top with melted wax to allow it to be carried without spilling when they inevitably had to move on from the cave. The remaining portion he placed into a bowl and covered lightly with a cloth. Jason would undoubtedly refer to it as "gloop" and much as hearing his remedies referred to in that way annoyed Pythagoras he would privately have to admit that this particular salve did look exceptionally gloopy. Still if it helped to make Jason less sore – helped to heal the truly spectacular bruising around his chest and side – Pythagoras would take a bit of gloopiness any day. Not that he was planning on using it for a day or so anyway – somehow he didn't think Jason would want to be touched at present since last night's examination had clearly caused him so much pain.
He glanced up as his friend as he moved on to mixing his next tonic; a painkilling concoction that would be useful for more than one of their party. What was going through Jason's head right now? After announcing that he thought he could see a way out of their current predicament he had remained frustratingly quiet, suggesting that it would be better to wait until Hercules returned from hunting and Dion from wherever he was patrolling so that he only had to talk things through once rather than repeating himself for a new audience. Pythagoras supposed he could see Jason's point. Since then he had sat quietly, keeping as still as he could. The blonde mathematician would have been happier if he had eaten something but Pythagoras suspected that the ache from his side was becoming unbearable enough to drive his appetite away, especially since the painkilling tonic from last night would have worn off by now.
Tonic finished and safely decanted into a suitable container, stopper firmly in place, Pythagoras paused to wipe his hands on a small cloth. Perhaps something to soothe a cough might be in order too? He considered the idea for a moment before reluctantly deciding that he really didn't have the right ingredients to put together a suitable mixture. Ideally he would like to have some flaxseed, boiled down to a mush, mixed with honey and then strained through a cloth to form a thick, gooey but effective cough remedy. He still had a little comb of honey tucked away in a jar at the bottom of his bag but no flaxseed and no way of getting any out here. Pythagoras thought of his well-stocked shelves at home with more than a little regret. Experience of living with Hercules and in latter days Jason had taught him the importance of keeping a good supply of medicinal items in stock. He didn't even have any lemon to mix with the honey to form a soothing drink. The young blonde sighed. While he liked to be prepared for any eventuality this was something he had not foreseen and he was only grateful that he had had the foresight to grab a few of his more useful herbs from home back when they had first gone to stay at the Palace in spite of Hercules' ridicule.
A soft sound caught his ears as he worked and he looked up sharply with concern. The Queen was sleeping peacefully on the far side of the fire, worn out by the Oracle's ministrations earlier that morning but stronger than she had been as a result. Pythagoras looked back across at Jason, frowned and hurried to his friend's side. The dark haired young man seemed to be fighting to suppress wave after wave of coughing, arms wrapped protectively about himself and head bowed. Between coughs he was whimpering quietly to himself, but was clearly unaware that he was doing it. Even as he hurried across the cave, Pythagoras could see Ariadne drawing close as well, her concern written on her face, and waved her back. He did not doubt the Princess' good intentions and in no way wished to give offence but he knew Jason only too well and knew just how badly his friend would want to keep how he was feeling to himself; how he would not want anyone to see what he viewed as his own weakness. Pythagoras sighed. Sometimes Jason's stoicism was very wearing particularly when it got in the way of the young man receiving the comfort that he needed.
Ariadne looked at Pythagoras with an imperiously raised eyebrow and carried on moving forwards, channelling all the authority of her father into her look. Pythagoras gulped a little. The beautiful Princess was so gentle under normal circumstances that it was easy to forget just whose daughter she was, but right in this moment it was plain. The look she directed at the mathematician clearly told him that she was not going to take no for an answer right now; she was worried about Jason and plainly intended to check on his wellbeing personally no matter what anyone else thought.
Pythagoras sighed silently. No matter how good Ariadne's intentions were her interference at this point was only likely to cause complications, but it seemed that she was not going to be put off. Perhaps though she might be diverted – at least until Jason had regained a measure of control over himself; could breathe properly again and was not trying to curl himself into an agonised ball. Even as he moved forwards, Pythagoras looked down at his own empty hands with a frown. In his haste to get to his friend he had forgotten to pick up the tonic that should ease Jason's suffering. It was stupid of him; thoughtless. Yet it might work in his favour right now. He turned to the Princess with a reassuring smile.
"Would you fetch the stoppered bottle from near the fire please My Lady?" he asked. Then he turned appraising eyes on Jason, narrowing them thoughtfully. "And a cup of water if you would be so kind," he added.
Ariadne also glanced at Jason and nodded tightly, moving to do as the young genius asked. Much as she wanted to know what was wrong with Jason, much as she wanted to provide what help or comfort she could, she knew that Pythagoras, with his healing knowledge, was in a far better position to aid his friend.
Pythagoras smiled as reassuringly as he could at the girl as she scrambled to do as he asked. Then he turned back to Jason. Sitting himself down alongside Jason he wrapped one thin arm around his friend's shoulders, carefully rubbing up and down the taut back, taking care not to get anywhere near Jason's left side where his ribs were damaged. There was little else that he could do until the coughing fit passed, unless… Casting about with his other hand Pythagoras grabbed a blanket from the ground. Letting Jason go for a moment, the mathematician rolled it tightly and then turned back to his friend with determination.
"Here," he said with certainty. "Press this into your side. It should help to support your ribs as you cough and stop them hurting so badly."
He was rewarded by seeing the dark head bob once as Jason acknowledged what he was saying. Taking this as all the permission he needed Pythagoras inserted the rolled blanket into the curl of his friend's body and pressed it in hard. He felt as well as heard Jason whimper and winced in sympathy. It worried the young genius just how much and how often his friend was coughing to be honest. He had known that since being poisoned Jason had been experiencing some tightness in his chest, had found himself growing breathless on exertion or in cold air and had been plagued by a sharp, hacking cough whenever the temperature dropped, but he hadn't realise that it was this bad. If he had he would have made sure that his friend had remained tucked up indoors – although under the present circumstances with the Amphigeneians taking the city he supposed that that might not have been for the best.
As Ariadne scrambled back with both the bottle Pythagoras had prepared and a cup of water, slopping perilously close to the rim of the vessel and splashing over her hand, the coughs that were bubbling up from Jason's chest finally subsided and he began to uncurl slightly, head still dropped forwards as he struggled to catch his breath. Pythagoras sat back down alongside him and slipped an arm back around his shoulders, feeling Jason wilt against him, temporarily drained of all energy. With a frown the mathematician realised that Pasiphae had woken up on the far side of the fire and had tried to struggle to sit up to see what exactly was wrong with her son, only to find herself gently restrained by her husband who was talking to her earnestly in a tone too low to be caught by outside ears.
"Sorry," he heard Jason murmur breathlessly, still sagging against his side. "That one caught me a bit unawares. I'm fine now."
"Are you?" Ariadne asked sharply. "Are you really fine? Because it seems to me that there has been something wrong for days. Something you have been keeping from me… and it ends now. I want to know what's wrong."
Jason tried to take a deep breath to answer her but broke off with a wince, panting breathlessly through a spike of pain and wilting even further into Pythagoras. It would be better, he decided, if he could just persuade the fire that seemed to be burning in his side to quiet down and be quenched. The only thing that seemed to be working to muffle the pain at the moment was absolute stillness and until he achieved that he had a suspicion that he wouldn't be able to appease the drumbeat in his ribcage. It was distinctly irritating to have company before he had control; to not have had the chance to put his stoic face back into place. As things were there seemed no way that he could hide his aches and pains from anyone and he felt frustratingly unwell, stomach rolling and chest tightening from a combination of the pain and the sheer effort it was taking to just breathe.
With a conscious effort the brunette pushed himself upright from his blonde friend, gritting his teeth against the resultant flare in his ribs, placing one hand lightly against his side to try to still the thrum of pain. For a moment he laid his head back against the rock wall of the cave, waiting until the absolute stillness that he was trying so hard to achieve dulled the spike of hot pain down to a muted but constant ache. It was weird how much worse he felt now than when they had been travelling to Dodona – although he supposed that adrenaline had a lot to do with that; that as soon as he had been able to stop, to relax and let someone else take responsibility for the protection of the group, the distraction of duty had gone and allowed his mind and body to fully concentrate on the fact that he was hurt.
Another cough threatened to bubble up from his chest but he supressed it as best he could, grimacing painfully. Pythagoras took the cup of water from Ariadne and held it out to him, his other hand resting comfortingly on Jason's shoulder, fingers tracing a soothing pattern on the back of his friend's shoulder blade.
"Take small sips," he advised. "It should help to soothe your throat."
Jason nodded and smiled weakly, taking the cup and sipping at it. Once it was empty he handed it back to Pythagoras with a soft expression of gratitude and turned back to Ariadne, knowing that the girl would expect an explanation.
"I will be fine," he asserted. "I damaged a couple of ribs the other day that's all."
Ariadne frowned at the breathless quality to his voice.
"When?" she demanded. "And how?"
"I cracked them a few weeks ago," Jason admitted. "I reinjured them in the fight at the Temple."
Ariadne huffed a disbelieving and frustrated breath.
"So you have travelled all the way from Atlantis to Dodona and carried on for four days without treatment? We travelled as a group of four and you never said a word to any of us! Did you never stop to consider what might have happened if you had collapsed? What would we have done then?"
"There didn't seem much point in worrying anyone," Jason answered. "There was nothing that you could have done while we were camping out in the forest. With the Amphigeneians patrolling the woods we couldn't afford to stop for me."
"We would have found some way of helping you," Ariadne retorted. "You should have told us so that if you had become ill we would have been prepared." She hovered a hand near to his shoulder, aware that her father was watching and would not approve of public displays of affection. "I could not bear to lose you… and I do not think Pasiphae could stand it either."
Jason shot a guilty glance at his mother.
Pythagoras leant in closely
"I think she has realised that something is wrong," he murmured.
Jason swore quietly.
"Did you really think that Pasiphae wouldn't notice?" Ariadne asked incredulously. "She has the sharpest eyes I have ever seen."
"I was going to tell her," Jason said. "I just wanted to feel a bit better first… I didn't want her to worry."
"Speaking of feeling better," Pythagoras said, measuring some fluid out of the bottle into the cup, swirling it around and handing it to his friend, "this should ease your discomfort."
Jason nodded and took the cup gratefully. Right at this moment in time he couldn't care less what the contents tasted like as long as they worked the way that Pythagoras believed they would. He turned back to Ariadne.
"Do you think we could skip the lecture for now?" he asked a little plaintively. "I've already heard one from your father this morning."
"I do not intend to lecture," Ariadne answered. "I'm worried about you."
"You don't need to be," Jason argued.
"Well someone has to be," Ariadne retorted with some asperity, "since you are clearly unwilling to worry about your own health and wellbeing… and I do not think Pasiphae would take too kindly to you neglecting your wellbeing for anything or anyone."
Pythagoras watched them both for a moment, trying hard not to roll his eyes at Jason's inevitable attempt at stoicism or show amusement at the fact that the Princess was in her own way equally as stubborn as his strong willed friend.
Feeling himself being watched Jason turned his head to face his friend.
"What?" he asked defensively.
"It is nothing," Pythagoras responded, trying to hide his merriment. "It was merely a passing thought that amused me." Then his expression became serious and vaguely apologetic once more. "I am only sorry that there is not more that I can do to make things easier," he said regretfully. "The cold hard floor of a cave is hardly conducive to recovery from any sort of injury and that holds as true for broken bones as it does for an arrow wound to the stomach."
Jason waved away his words with a faint sigh.
"It isn't your fault," he said softly. "It isn't anyone's fault. Yes I've broken a few ribs but they're painful more than serious and I think I'll probably live. As for staying in this cave I don't think we'll be able to remain here for that much longer to be honest. Anaxandros is bound to start sending out patrols as soon as he's regrouped a bit – and probably with increasing strength. After all he must know by now that the King escaped the city and it can't be long until he works out that you have too," he turned to look at Ariadne. "If he hasn't already worked it out. You're heir to the throne so he really can't afford to let either you or your father escape… and once he knows that the Queen is still alive that will only make him more determined to dispose of you all. It's really only a matter of time before someone stumbles on this cave… it's simply too close to Atlantis. Anaxandros will hunt the King like an animal… hunt you like an animal… and he will not give up until you are captured or dead. I'll die before I see that happen but for safety's sake we cannot stay here for long."
"Jason he will hunt you too," Pythagoras pointed out gently but with certainty.
"Anaxandros?" Jason sounded slightly startled at the suggestion. "Why? I hardly think he'd bother with the likes of me."
"You are the son of the former King of Atlantis," Ariadne pointed out. "There are many even within the city who would say that you had more right to the throne than me… or my father; who would say that you are the true heir to the throne. Anaxandros will no more be able to risk you escaping than he will my father or I… and he has met you and knows what you look like. He must know that it was you that wounded him in the Temple and I believe he will want his revenge."
"I'm not heir to anything," Jason answered sharply. "You are Poseidon's Servant. A Goddess on Earth. Heir to the throne… and I'm just… well… me. Just Jason. Nothing special." He sighed. "The point is though that we are going to have to move on." He looked at Pythagoras. "How soon will it be before we can move the Queen safely?"
"You are talking about moving a woman with a serious injury," Pythagoras protested. "The situation with any injury of that nature is fluid. Yes, at present it does appear that Her Majesty is recovering, and recovering far more rapidly than I would have believed possible given the nature of the wound, but it is a delicate balance and it would not take a great deal for that balance to be upset. Any premature actions could have dire consequences."
"I know," Jason admitted, "and I would not wish to endanger her health… but I can see no other way. Tell me honestly Pythagoras how well will she recover if we remain here in this cave?"
Pythagoras sighed.
"You are right that her recovery will be hindered," he murmured slowly. "She needs to be resting in a nice soft bed, in a clean environment where the chances of infection can be reduced. She needs to be allowed to recuperate in comfort with painkilling tonics to encourage her to heal… as do you," he added with a hard look at Jason.
"I'll be fine," Jason retorted firmly, his face setting into a stubborn frown as he waved away Pythagoras' concern. "If we could get her to somewhere comfortable… somewhere like you described… would it be worth the risk?
"It would depend," Pythagoras answered. "At this precise moment in time then I would – if forced – have to say yes… that the Queen is stable enough to be moved as long as it were in easy stages with a definite goal in mind and as long as the destination were not too far away… but that might change at any moment."
"It's not a risk that I would take lightly," Jason said softly, "but Anaxandros will send out hunting parties and we have to be ready to move on before they get here… and be ready to keep moving if we need to… but we need to make the decision before the Amphigeneians take it out of our hands and make it for us."
"So what are you suggesting?" a deep voice rumbled.
Jason looked up in surprise to find that Minos had left Pasiphae's side and approached them unawares. Behind him Dion loomed out of the semi darkness, returned from whatever scouting mission he had been on, while Hercules entered the cave dragging the carcass of a wild pig – a boar Jason supposed and a large one at that. It would be enough to feed them all without needing try to hunt for anymore meat and Jason found himself remarkably impressed by his older friend's skill.
"Nice pig," he muttered.
"Nice pig?" Hercules responded incredulously. "I'll have you know that this is a prime specimen of a wild boar hunted with great skill and caught with great personal valour."
"My mistake," Jason responded with a grin, his eyes flashing with mirth.
"It nearly skewered me with its great tusks," Hercules asserted, warming to his subject, "but I was too clever for it. I sidestepped its charge and drove in for the kill."
"Hercules!" Pythagoras hissed urgently.
"Not the time?" the burly wrestler asked.
"No," Pythagoras confirmed with a glance at the incredulously glowering King.
"I believe you were about to tell us of your suggestions for the immediate future," Minos stated a little impatiently, staring hard at Jason.
Jason gulped. He knew that what he was considering had the potential to work, even if it carried a few risks, but having to spell it out in front of the King was still more than a little daunting.
"Yes Your Majesty," he said, ducking his head automatically.
Minos frowned even more deeply at the reaction but motioned for Jason to continue.
"It's pretty simple really," Jason stated. He turned to Dion. "The other day you said that you had been stationed on the borders of Atlantis for many years."
"That is correct," the big general responded.
"So I'm guessing that you were stationed in a garrison somewhere?"
"In the town of Ityria, yes," Dion answered.
"And there are other towns with garrisons in?"
"Of course."
"And it's likely that some of these towns and garrisons will still be loyal to the King isn't it," Jason said with growing confidence. He did not precisely voice it as a question.
"I would expect so," Dion answered with a faintly growing smile.
"What are you getting at?" Hercules demanded.
"I believe he is suggesting that we should form our own army," Pythagoras murmured.
"Sort of," Jason admitted. "Just bear with me a minute." He looked at Dion again. "What are the nearest towns to here with the most loyal garrisons?"
"Mallena, Kantontum and Ephitake," Dion answered without hesitation.
"But surely Anaxandros will send soldiers to those towns to subdue them," Pythagoras said. "One of his first moves should be to disband the Atlantian army… or at least to subsume it into his own."
"Which is why we have to move quickly before he has a chance to get to the outlying districts," Jason answered. He looked at Minos. "Is there any way of confirming that orders come directly from you My Lord and are not faked?"
"I have the Royal Seal," Minos confirmed. "Any orders that I dispatch to the distant garrisons would be marked with it."
"And you still have it with you?"
"Of course," Minos answered. "It never leaves me."
"Then we might just have a chance," Jason muttered, half to himself. "Send a runner to each of the garrisons at Mallena, Kantontum and Ephitake with orders to the senior officer to gather his troops and take them to a location of your choosing. Tell your officers to mobilise as quietly as possible and slip out of each town under cover of darkness. With luck the Amphigeneians won't take notice of small groups of men moving in dribs and drabs until it's too late. Send extra copies of the orders with the runners and get the senior officer of each garrison to dispatch men to other garrisons – ones that you know will have remained loyal. If every garrison you send a man to sends out men to two or three more it will quickly gather momentum and you will regain control of a small army. The only problem I can see will be working out where to send the troops. You need somewhere we can regroup in safety but that Anaxandros might not think to look."
"Pagenia," Dion said with certainty. "It is a small town close to the border… a minor settlement with only a small garrison. It is out of the way and likely to be forgotten until the major settlements have been brought to heel." He gave Jason a hard look. "Even gathering the troops from the garrisons we will not have enough men to retake Atlantis."
"I know," Jason answered patiently, "and that's not exactly what I had planned anyway. The troops will be a start, nothing more." He glanced at Minos. "How many of Atlantis' allies would still come to your aid if you called My Lord?" he asked.
Minos sighed.
"Some of them will undoubtedly abandon me now that Anaxandros has taken the city," he admitted. "There are still those who will remain friendly, however. Laius of Thebes would come to my aid and Attalos of Pergamon… and where Attalos leads Mithridates of Pontus will follow. Others would come in response to the actions of those three but Anaxandros' first move will surely have been to dispatch emissaries to our allies to inform them of the fall of Atlantis. Those that were on route will have turned for home."
"But they won't have got very far yet will they?" Jason pointed out. "If we can move quickly enough we can get word to them long before they reach their own borders and ask them to meet us at Pagenia."
"It's a desperate gamble My Lord and fraught with more risks than I like to take," Dion rumbled, "but it might just give us the chance of retaking Atlantis."
Minos sat down on a blanket and steepled his fingers, clearly deep in thought.
"Who would you send to the garrisons?" he enquired.
"I think it would have to be the three soldiers who accompanied you from Atlantis, My Lord," Jason answered respectfully. "Even with sealed orders whoever goes will need to convince the garrison commanders to see them in the first place and it would be easier for a soldier than a civilian."
"It would make those of us who were left here more vulnerable," Melas pointed out, his deep voice mellifluous. "Both the Oracle and the King must be defended."
"There would be enough of us left to defend the group," Jason disagreed. "We'd be left with Dion, Nisos, Hercules, me and His Majesty with swords and Pythagoras and Ariadne with bows. I'm not aiming to start a war with just us but there are enough of us to defend against a standard patrol. Any more than that and we'd probably struggle even with the three extra men."
"I have a sword too," Pythagoras pointed out.
"I know you do," Jason answered. "I was just trying to point out that we have two ranged weapons here and actually you'd probably be more use with your bow at the moment – pick them off from a distance you know?"
Pythagoras pulled a face.
"You should not be fighting anyway," he ventured. "You are injured."
Jason grinned.
"Yeah but I think I could still wield a sword if push came to shove," he said. "If an Amphigeneian patrol finds us I'm not likely be able to sit back and let everyone else do the work."
"So we wait here until Dion's men send word that the garrisons are on the move?" Hercules asked.
"No," Jason answered. "We're just a bit too close to Atlantis here. I think we need to get a bit further away from the city… and for preference to a place where the Queen can recover a bit more. Then as soon as we are ready we head for Pagenia."
"Where did you have in mind?" Minos asked, focussing his full attention on his stepson.
"There's a hunting lodge in the forest," Jason said. "It's deep in the woods… well hidden unless you know where it is… It's far enough from the city that it might be missed in the first sweep and has the advantage that we should be able to see any enemy soldiers coming from a short distance away and should be able to escape into the woods if we need to."
"I know it," Minos acknowledged, "although I am surprised that you do. It is a former royal hunting lodge but it has been abandoned for many years and as far as I am aware should be fairly derelict. It is unlikely to be much more comfortable than this cave."
Jason exchanged a look with his friends.
"Actually it should be fairly well equipped, Your Majesty," Pythagoras offered. "We came across it several months ago and as no one seemed to use it and it appeared to have been abandoned we adopted it and have used it several times as an overnight shelter when we have been out hunting. It will not have the level of luxury that is appropriate to your position but there is a marriage bed and the mattress has been re-stuffed with fresh hay and feathers, and there are supplies there… dried herbs, dried fruit and lentils, barley… that sort of thing. There are also blankets and pillows." He hesitated. "We do not have a great deal to spare," he admitted, "and there have been times when we have all been closer to starvation than I would like to think… but over the months we have built up a few supplies at the hunting lodge to enable us to eat and sleep in comfort if the weather closes in and the hunt goes badly." He paused again briefly. "The thing that concerns me is that Her Majesty should really not be moved at present."
"I know," Jason agreed, "but we may not have a choice. At least this way there will be a warm, clean and relatively comfortable bed for her to be resting in. Will it actually be dangerous to move her?"
"She will not be able to walk," Pythagoras cautioned. "If we carry her and take the journey in nice easy stages then, yes, she should be able to make the trip to the hunting lodge… but she is unlikely to be able to make the long walk to Pagenia even with a few more days rest. Her Majesty is not yet strong enough to withstand the rigours of such a journey. Her injury is such that she will be at risk of infection."
"What if we had horses?" Nisos asked from his place behind Dion where he had stayed silent throughout the discussion to this point.
"Horses would make things easier and would help us to transport the Queen more easily," Pythagoras said. "It is possible that she might be able to make the journey to Pagenia on horseback if she were to rest as much as possible over the preceding few days and once again travel in stages. I do not think it will be easy to obtain horses however."
"Maybe and maybe not," Nisos answered with a smile. "My brother runs the stables in the town of Colia. It's a small no account place on the far side of the forest. I could see you all settled in this hunting lodge that you are speaking of and carry on to visit my brother. He is a former soldier himself – had to leave the army because of an injury – and has always been loyal to the throne. I am certain that he will lend us his best horses… certainly enough for yourself, the Queen and the Princess to ride Your Majesty," he added, addressing Minos directly. "It will take me no more than a few days to go to my brother and return to your side."
"Much as I acknowledge the need for us to move to a more secure location – or at least a less easily discovered one – I will not risk the Queen's life or health," Minos responded slowly. "If I understand what you are saying properly you believe that she could be moved now but that you would not truly be happy to see that happen; that you would worry about the consequences," he looked at Pythagoras who inclined his head in acknowledgement and agreement. "Very well then… we will remain here until this unnaturally clever young man is happy for Pasiphae to be moved and believes that she is well enough." He nodded to Pythagoras.
"Presuming I have any say in matters that concern my own body…" Pasiphae's acerbic tone took them all by surprise.
As Dion stepped sideways out of the way the Queen was revealed propped against the wall on the far side of the fire. She had pushed herself up to sit against the wall with trembling arms that she tried hard to still and regarded them all imperiously from her position, the sheer force of her personality enough to still the conversation even in her current condition. Alongside her the Oracle knelt, smiling enigmatically but not yet feeling the need to join in the conversation.
"I am merely worried for your wellbeing my love," Minos said. "I would not see any more harm coming to you."
Pasiphae felt a surge of something that might have been affection towards her husband. It was always a surprise to be confronted with the evidence of his love for her, especially given her own emotions towards him tended to range from ambivalent to contemptuous most of the time. Lately though, since she had discovered that her son still lived and even more so since Jason had come back into her life, she had begun to regard Minos with increasing affection. Perhaps it would never be described as love but they were comfortable together in their own way; were used to one another. To allow her husband (to allow anyone) into her heart seemed like such an alien thing to do and yet it had felt natural to allow Jason access to that part of her that was normally closed off and hidden away and now it felt like Minos was worming his way in through the gap a little too. His reaction to her son had both surprised and warmed her; the fact that every time he spoke of the boy he sounded a little less like the King and a little more like a father and the obviously growing respect and (dare she even think it?) affection he was displaying was both remarkably sudden and startling… and pleased her more than she would have believed possible.
"I know My Lord," she answered warmly. "I am not so weak as everyone seems to believe I am though and feeling a little better every day. For all our sakes we must move on sooner rather than later and I believe that it would be better to leave while I am feeling strong enough. It will do no good to delay our departure for too long and an extra day will hardly cause any great improvement in my condition. Better to leave soon and find a place of relative safety and comfort for a few days than to be caught like rats in a trap. I do not wish to remain in this dark and uncomfortable place for any longer than is strictly necessary."
Minos sighed.
"Very well," he conceded. "As long as those within the group possessed of healing skill deem you to be well enough we will make our departure tomorrow." He held up one hand to forestall any arguments from any of his companions. "That is my decision," he proclaimed. "My final word on the matter and there will be no argument." He looked around the group imperiously as though daring anyone to object. "Good," he said when no objections were forthcoming. "Now I believe that we have further plans to make."
As sunset approached the usually bustling streets of Atlantis emptied rapidly in response to the Amphigeneian imposed curfew, which started every night with the going down of the sun and ended every morning with the dawn. Soon enough the only people seen in any numbers in the streets were the enemy soldiers patrolling from street to street with hard faces and cold eyes, their hands never straying far from the hilts of their swords, ready to crush any resistance to the new rule.
There had been resistance of course, just as soon as the confusion and shock at the speed of the Amphigeneian assault had sunk in – and rumours abounded about the fate of the King and the rest of the royal family. There were those who said that Minos and his family were prisoners in their own cells beneath the Palace or had been killed in the initial assault on the Temple; who shook their heads and cast their eyes heavenwards and said (with the benefit of hindsight) that really what other fate could there have been for a man who usurped the throne in the first place. For the most part though the people were still in shock; Minos had not been a bad King after all (if a little paranoid and hard at times) and the city had gone through a period of stability and prosperity under his rule for more than twenty years. He had always shown great respect and honour towards the Gods and had genuinely seemed to be interested in the welfare of his Kingdom and its people – as many now remembered. Many silently prayed in the safety of their own homes that the King had managed to escape; that he had been spared.
For the most part those prayers were kept secret, however. The fear of reprisals was too great. Already the cells beneath the citadel were heaving with men and women awaiting execution for supposedly seditious activities (even if those activities were simply to express displeasure at the change of rule) and bodies hung from the rafters of houses, left to rot where they had died as a warning to the rest of the populous that any disobedience would be harshly dealt with.
Here and there a figure scuttled from doorway to doorway – citizens who for the most part were terrified of the consequences of being caught out once the curfew began, as it soon would. There were very few people within the city who didn't know – or at least know of – someone that hadn't been dragged off for infringing the new laws.
Gelo left the tavern where he had been conducting "business" on behalf of Meriones and looked up and down the streets with a bitter smirk. What was his city coming to? In five short days it had been subjugated and brutalised; subjected to the tyranny that inevitably came with a coup – or at least as far as any of the citizens knew or could remember. Had it been this way when Minos had taken over? Gelo had been a child at the time but he could still remember his parents talking in hushed whispers behind closed doors; the early curfews that were designed to ensure that the populace had no time to get together and form a rebellion; the fear that had pervaded the streets. It was the same fear that he could feel now, hanging heavily in the air; a living thing that wormed its way inside the minds of the citizens and twisted their thoughts, making them fearful of one another – always afraid that the person they were speaking to might denounce them to the authorities for the slightest thing. It was a fear that set neighbour against neighbour; brother against brother. Perhaps the reach of time had affected his memory and perhaps his own status as a child at the time of the last coup was colouring his view somewhat (given that there must have been things that his parents had shielded him from), but somehow the city seemed even more fearful this time around to Gelo's jaded eyes.
He should be getting home he supposed. But really what was home? Simply a sparsely furnished rented room in the back of a widow woman's house that he had occupied ever since his wife's unfortunate death in childbirth so many years ago now – it was not somewhere that he would return to out of choice but with the taverns closing early because of the curfew it wasn't as though he had much choice.
Of course he really ought to go and tell Meriones about the successful conclusion of the business he had been sent on. His large employer often left the minor details of any job that Gelo had been asked to do to the man himself, reasoning that neither he nor Kerkyon needed someone looking over their shoulder all the time. It helped that over the years they had become less like employer and employee and more like friends. Meriones was generous with his two closest employees and they often found themselves sharing in the rewards of any successful business deal that they had been a part of. After so many years there was really no-one else that Gelo could imagine himself working for. Not that that stopped some of the other merchants from trying to entice him away of course and avoiding those offers had almost become a game. Besides which Gelo felt that it did Meriones good to occasionally hint that he might take up a place with one of the giant's rivals. He was fairly certain that Meriones never took him completely seriously but it did help to keep the enormous man on his toes. Meriones was quite simply one of the most intelligent men that Gelo had ever met with a business sense that was unrivalled within the commercial quarter of Atlantis but because of that there were times when he was in danger of becoming bored – of letting his mind stagnate – and giving him a challenge (in this case ensuring the continuing loyalty of a trusted employee) gave him something to think about and stimulated him. Gelo could be nearly as manipulative as his boss when he wanted to be.
He looked appraisingly down the deserted street once again. Sunset was definitely on its way but not yet so close that he wouldn't be able to reach Meriones' house in time. As for returning home after the curfew had begun? Well the Amphigeneian soldiers didn't know these streets anywhere near as well as he did so evading them should prove no real problem. He had his own entrance to his rooms and the elderly widow he rented them from was largely deaf so there was unlikely to be any witnesses to his arrival home after the deadline.
With the practiced ease of someone who began his career in less than legitimate circumstances Gelo slipped silently from doorway to doorway, using the habits of a lifetime to keep him concealed from sight. Even now not all of Meriones' dealings were strictly above board and anyone who worked for him for any length of time had learned the value of keeping to the shadows; the skill of hiding in plain sight. Gelo smiled sardonically to himself. Some old habits were hard to break and right now he got the feeling that they would stand him in good stead.
Letting himself in through the inner door to Meriones' house Gelo was struck once again by the simplicity with which his friend chose to live. Few would imagine, looking at this simply but comfortably furnished room, that Meriones was in fact a very wealthy man. He had come from the gutters in the same way that Gelo himself had and was routinely looked down upon by the nobles that frequented the stalls and taverns that he owned or supplied – was treated as no better than the dust on their sandals even as they sampled the expensive wines he imported or bought the exquisite silks or exotic perfumes traded in – yet there was no doubt that in terms of sheer wealth he could have bought them out many times over. It was a strange dichotomy to his character: the man who loved expensive wines and exotic foods above all things and yet chose to live so simply.
Meriones was standing in the window of the main living room staring down into the empty street below, his face hidden by shadow. Gelo paused in the doorway from the kitchen and frowned. It had been many years since he had seen Meriones looking so pensive and troubled and given how astute the enormous man was at reading a situation – at reading the mood of the city – he could not help the shiver of foreboding that ran through him.
"You have news for me?" Meriones asked without turning.
"None of it good," Gelo answered. "Our new King has ordered a general census of both the people and their goods. He has issued a proclamation that all storehouses are to be opened for his investigators inspection and copies of all documents are to be turned over to his officials. The merchants believe that he intends to bleed the city dry."
"That is undoubtedly true," Meriones responded, still looking out over the street, "but he will not do it yet. First he must be sure of his hold over the city. I have lived through this type of turmoil before – have seen a King deposed and a new one rise in his stead – but never have I seen so many atrocities committed in such a short space of time. This Anaxandros intends to rule by fear; to force the people to submit to his rule through deliberate cruelty. Yet sooner or later he must send the bulk of his army back to Amphigeneia and control the city without such a large force at his back. He will not begin to bleed the city of taxes and resources until he is certain that we are completely cowed; that we will not be in any state to rebel against him. If he had intended to begin stripping Atlantis of its assets immediately his soldiers would not have been prevented from looting our homes; raping our women; selling our menfolk and children into slavery. It will come eventually… but not yet. First he must be sure that Atlantis' allies are not going to come to our aid. Then he must make sure that the entire kingdom is subjugated and not just the city. When he strikes he will want to make sure that it is the entire kingdom he is stripping of resources and not simply the city."
"If that's what you believe is coming should I begin to make plans for us to get out of the city?" Gelo asked calmly. It would do no good as far as he could see to panic.
"And go where?" Meriones rumbled humourlessly. "No my friend. We will remain here and do what we can. Our main assets are at least safe. I oversaw their removal from the city several days ago."
"How?" Gelo couldn't help but blurt.
"Did you not think it strange that you had not seen Kerkyon for several days? He is well on his way to Pathmos by now at the head of a large caravan of goods. There he will wait until it is safe to return home. I used the tunnels as soon as it became clear that the Palace had fallen and selected men who were trustworthy to accompany Kerkyon. Now, what other news is there?"
"Little is certain," Gelo admitted. "The King has not been seen since the Palace and Temple fell. There are many who think that he was killed or that he is a prisoner in his own cells along with so many others."
"I hardly think that is likely," Meriones remarked. Leaving the window he crossed the room and moved back into the kitchen. Gesturing for Gelo to take a seat the enormous merchant grabbed a flagon of wine and two cups from the side and sat opposite his friend and employee, pouring them both a drink and taking a long sip of his own, sighing as the rich fruity flavour hit the back of his throat.
"Good vintage," Gelo noted laconically.
His companion spread his hands wide and gave a self-deprecating smile, his grin remarkably boyish.
"One does one's best," he answered. Then he sighed again, his broad face growing serious once more.
"Why do you believe that the King is still alive and free?" Gelo asked.
"If he were dead then Anaxandros would have crowed it from the rooftops," Meriones responded. "It would suit his purposes for Minos to be dead. A deceased King could have no further claim to the throne and could not be used as a rallying point for rebellion. Likewise if he had been captured then the Amphigeneians would have wasted no time in parading him through the streets before the citizens of Atlantis like an animal to show us how completely we are beaten; the pride of Atlantis humbled before the might of Amphigeneia." His voice had taken on a bitter, sarcastic tone. "They would have ensured that the King was utterly degraded in front of us and then they would have publically executed him in the most brutal way possible. No my friend. You mark my words. The King has escaped and is out there somewhere… and Anaxandros will be hunting him."
"I'll consider them marked then," his friend answered, taking a slow draught of his drink and placing the now empty cup on the table.
Meriones took the hint immediately and refilled the empty vessel. How many times over the years had they sat like this in an evening – whether it was at the tavern or in Meriones' own home? Too many to count really. Gelo toyed with his cup for a moment.
"There has been another proclamation from the Palace," he began slowly. "It was issued late this afternoon… it threatened dire punishment for anyone providing safe harbour for "the upstart Princess, false Oracle or the son of Aeson"… that giving shelter to any one of them would be viewed as treason against the "rightful King" Anaxandros."
"They believe that the Princess is still in the city then?"
"It would seem so," Gelo answered. "It would also seem that both she and the Oracle escaped the Palace and Temple… but I do not understand the business about the "son of Aeson". Everyone knows that the child was killed as an infant… that he was killed in the civil war. Why would Anaxandros believe any different?"
Meriones hesitated for a moment. He had not told anyone what he had learned from Hercules just a few short weeks ago – not even Gelo or Kerkyon. In part it was to protect Jason, knowing that his young friend would not want the secret of his birth to come out. It was also to protect Gelo, however. Meriones felt that the less people that knew the truth the better. If Gelo didn't know the truth then at least he could distance himself from Meriones if the Amphigeneians found out that he had helped the fugitives escape.
"Who knows what goes through the head of a madman?" he murmured. "There were rumours for years that the little Prince had survived but that was all they were. Surely if the child had survived the Queen would know about it? Yet there have been no announcements."
"I suppose you are right," Gelo sighed. "It is just that for a moment when I heard the words of the dictate I hoped…"
"That they were true? That the Prince we lost would come to save the city and us all? It is a desire that many in the city share I am sure," Meriones answered. "And who knows? Maybe we will find a hero to save us."
"You do not really believe that," Gelo said with a sardonic smile.
"My beliefs are… complicated," his enormous companion said. "I pray for salvation. I pray for a hero. The sort of hero that the old legends speak of; that you hear of in the old tales and songs. Yet I accept that we must also help ourselves. How can we expect anyone to save us if we sit back and do nothing? The presence of any sort of hero should rally us but we should not expect any salvation that we are not willing to fight for. It is true that we need a visible symbol to rally around… someone to issue a clarion call… but we must not expect too much. We must do what we can for ourselves – for our city and people – before we look for help from elsewhere."
"Yeah but what can we do? They've won. We are isolated and alone. Anyone who was a soldier in the army is being hunted throughout the city. Many of them are killed where they stand or strung up from the nearest rafters unless they are willing to reenlist with the Amphigeneians and inform upon their own friends and former brothers-in-arms. In the face of such mindless brutality what can any one man do?"
"There are… things that may be done to help those in danger," Meriones answered softly. "Ways that Anaxandros' rule might be resisted without immediately committing suicide by openly challenging his soldiers."
"What are you planning?" Gelo asked suspiciously.
"Me?" Meriones responded innocently. "Why would you thing that I was planning anything? I was merely speculating on what a man might do."
"I know you too well you old fox. You have some trick up your sleeve and I think I'd better know the worst now."
"I cannot tell you," Meriones answered. "You have worked for me for these last fifteen years and I count you as a friend now and not just an employee. I will not willingly place a friend in danger. If I could have sent you out of the city with Kerkyon I would have. As it was I needed you to be my eyes and ears in the city in the way you have always been but I cannot in all conscience continue with that. The stakes are too high now and I will not risk your life unnecessarily. What I am doing… they will call it treason and sooner or later they will find out and come for me. If you do not know the truth then you can distance yourself from me. You can be safe my old friend."
"I rather think that that should be my decision don't you?" Gelo answered, toying with his cup once more. "I'm not the callow boy you took on as an apprentice all those years ago. I'm a full grown man and I can make my own decisions. I know you wish to protect me old friend, but in this you can't. Whether or not I choose to help with whatever you are doing is a decision for me to make."
Meriones looked at him thoughtfully.
"You are right," he admitted with a sigh, "and I am sorry. I have no right to make decisions for you. It is only that I have few enough friends and I wish to see them safe. Kerkyon is safely in Pathmos I hope and Hercules and his boys are beyond my aid. Forgive me for wanting to ensure the safety of those friends I have left."
Gelo frowned.
"Where's Hercules?" he asked. "I presumed he would be at home."
"He and the boys are not in Atlantis at present," Meriones hedged. "They are otherwise engaged outside the city."
"They're lucky then," Gelo said. "But now what is your plan?"
"I do not have a plan as such," Meriones answered. "It is more that I have certain… resources at my disposal and ways and means of getting into and out of the city even when it is essentially cut off. I am… assisting those soldiers who are still loyal to King Minos to escape the city. I understand that some of them are making their ways to the garrisons in the outlying towns. What they might find there I do not know but at least they may have a chance of evading the Amphigeneian forces that way. I will assist anyone who needs to escape from Anaxandros in the same way."
Gelo let out an explosive breath
"The smugglers tunnels," he said with certainty. He looked at Meriones shrewdly. "It is a risk… and it will mean that we'll have to abandon those tunnels when this is all over… or at least until they have faded from people's minds but I can see why you're using them… and why you're doing what you're doing. So then, what's our next move?"
"Sooner or later we will be caught," Meriones cautioned.
"Yes," Gelo answered.
"Someone will get sloppy or someone will inform against us… there are always those who are willing to collaborate in these situations… who are willing to do anything to ingratiate themselves or earn a few coins."
"I know," Gelo said calmly.
"We can expect no mercy if they do catch us… they will try us for treason and execute us like common criminals."
"Meriones… I know. What's our next move?"
Meriones smiled and reached for the wine flagon, pouring two more drinks in preparation of what he was sure would be a long night ahead.
"Well my friend," he said, "if you are certain that this is a risk you are willing to take, let us begin to plan."
