A/N I'm sorry it's been longer than ever between updates this time. Real life has not been behaving itself for the past couple of months and my writing time has been severely curtailed. I will admit that I've been struggling with writer's block too (once again due to the aforesaid real life issues making it hard for me to concentrate).
Still, the chapter is here now. Please let me know if you enjoy it :-)
The shadows of evening had spread rapidly, the lamps and candles had been lit and supper was almost ready to be served. Minos paced the small atrium adjoining the dining room impatiently; he was hungry and keen to sit down at the table. The door behind him opened and he turned to greet the newcomer.
"Father." Ariadne's voice was warm and vibrant; tinged with love.
"Ariadne," Minos greeted his daughter.
"Pasiphae informed me that Lord Herodion and his family have arrived safely."
"They have indeed… as you shall see for yourself at supper shortly." Minos schooled his face to avoid smiling, knowing what the question his daughter really wanted to ask was. "Jason and his friends have also returned safe and well," he added.
He fought the smile even harder at Ariadne's faint sigh of relief, his lips twitching. Then his eyes narrowed slightly. Ariadne's hair was caught back from her face to flow down her back in heavy, deliberately curled tresses. This was the way she normally wore it. What caught her father's attention, though, was the fact that instead of wearing a diadem (as she usually did), nestled in Ariadne's dark hair were a pair of golden combs, inlaid with emeralds, garnets and brightly coloured enamel, holding the weight of her hair back from her face. Minos knew these combs well; had had them made for Pasiphae many years ago and knew they were one of his wife's favourite pieces of jewellery – she had been wearing them the night that Atlantis had fallen and carried them to Pagenia with her. He also knew that, given the somewhat strained relationship between his daughter and her stepmother, Pasiphae was not given to lending Ariadne pieces of jewellery – especially not two of her favourite pieces. He wondered briefly what his wife was up to now.
"Your Majesty."
Minos smiled at his stepson's respectful tone of voice, even as he wondered how the young man had managed to enter the room so silently that neither he nor Ariadne (from the start of surprise she gave) had even heard him arrive.
"I'm not late, am I?" Jason added softly.
"No," Minos confirmed, turning. "Supper has not yet been served and as you can see we have not yet sat at table. You are early enough. Only we three have arrived at present."
He shot a scrutinising look at his stepson, noting approvingly that Jason looked far less tired than he had when he had arrived earlier.
"You are well rested now?" he added.
"Yes My Lord," Jason replied, nodding.
"Good," Minos said firmly.
His eyes narrowed once more as he took in the young man's appearance fully. Jason was more formally attired than usual; the silver trimmed blue tunic he was wearing bearing a resemblance to the one he had worn when he had gone with Minos to meet King Anaxandros in the days before Atlantis had fallen to the Amphigeneians. The colour and quality of the fabric plainly marked him out as a member of the royal family – something that Jason had so far avoided doing out of choice.
Minos raised a curious eyebrow. Perhaps Pasiphae had instructed Jason to wear these clothes tonight but for the life of him Minos couldn't see why when it was just a simple supper among old friends. He wondered anew what his wife was up to now.
As if he had summoned her, Pasiphae swept into the atrium regally, taking in the occupants of the room in a single glance. Her eyes lingered for a moment on her son and her expression became faintly quizzical, although it was soon masked by her usual inscrutable look. She turned to her husband with a slight smile.
"My Lord," she greeted Minos. "I trust that the arrangements for this evening are to your satisfaction. I believe Alexarchos informed you of my decisions over the menu."
"Pasiphae," Minos acknowledged her, taking her hands in his briefly. "I am more than satisfied. As I recall, several of the dishes are among Lord Herodion's favourites. I am pleased that you took the trouble to discover that. We will go in as soon as supper is called. No doubt our guests and Jason's friends will join us shortly."
"I am glad that you are pleased," Pasiphae replied. She looked around at Ariadne and Jason. "My but we do have beautiful children," she remarked, pleasure colouring her tone.
"We are indeed fortunate in this," Minos asserted.
The Queen inclined her head in agreement and turned towards her son, embracing Jason lightly.
"You look very nice," she complimented.
Jason fought not to duck his head awkwardly.
"I just thought that with what we were talking about earlier and … well… if I'm going to stay for a while… I said I wanted to learn what your life was like normally and I do. I want to know what it's like to be part of your family… but I don't think I can do that if I don't let myself be part of your family – part of my family. I'm not talking about telling the rest of the world who I am yet… but I do think I need to try to fit in a bit more," he said.
Pasiphae's eyes softened.
"You will not regret this," she replied gently.
"I hope so," Jason answered candidly. "I've never really stayed in one place for any length of time before… not since I was a child at least. Living with Pythagoras and Hercules… it's the longest I've stayed anywhere in years."
"May I ask why?" Pasiphae enquired curiously.
"Never really found somewhere to call home I suppose," Jason answered. "I never really felt like I fitted in where I came from so I never settled down… That and work; the job that I chose – that I trained for – involved a lot of travelling. I spent a lot of time at sea because of it." He hesitated for a moment. "I've never been very good at putting down roots," he admitted.
"As I told you, I will not compel you to stay," Pasiphae responded. "Although I do desire it."
"Thank you," Jason replied.
A throat being pointedly cleared made them both turn. The King was watching them, one eyebrow raised.
"I seem to be missing something here," he said sternly.
"I have not had the opportunity to speak with you since our guests arrived," Pasiphae answered, moving towards her husband. "I spoke with Jason earlier and he informed me that he wishes to remain with us for a time once we have returned to Atlantis; that he would like to learn more about our family and what our lives entail."
Minos turned towards his stepson with a faintly surprised expression.
"And this is what you sincerely desire?" he asked gravely.
Jason straightened slightly – once again fighting the urge to duck his head awkwardly.
"It is," he confirmed. "You told me that only I could choose my own path in life but to do that I think I need to know a bit more about what I might be getting into."
"Caution is a good trait to foster," Minos said approvingly. "There is a time and a place for decisive action… but equally there will be times when it pays to be cautious and to gather all the information you can." He paused. "I have noted that your basic nature tends more towards impulsive action than circumspection. This is not always a bad thing yet I would see you temper it with reasoned thought as well."
"Yes, My Lord," Jason replied with a wry smile.
"You feel that I am trying to teach you something that you already know perhaps," the King said knowingly, hiding his amusement at his stepson's half-spluttered denial. "It is of no matter," he went on. "Know that I am not displeased at your decision. I had thought, before Anaxandros took Atlantis by treachery, to make an offer to you once the siege was resolved that would make the thought of remaining in the Palace for a time more palatable to you; that would allow you access both to your old life and to our home, at least for the immediate future. So I hope you will understand that I am more than happy that you have come to this decision of your own accord." He reached out a hand and placed it warmly on the young man's shoulder. "I am certain that your mother has already ensured that you know this, but I wish you to be clear on something… there is not a time when you are not welcome in our home – be it day or night you will be made welcome. I know that your mother is keen for you to see it as your home too."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Jason answered with a slightly shy smile, a little embarrassed at all the attention.
Minos' eyes softened with understanding and he patted the young man on the shoulder. Before he could say anything else, however, a gong sounded to inform the residents of the house who had not yet reached the dining room that food was about to be served and the ever deferential Alexarchos appeared in the doorway.
"Finally," Minos growled, with a hard look at the overseer. "I had begun to fear that we were going to have to find our own supper."
"Forgive me Your Majesty," Alexarchos murmured. "There was a minor problem in the kitchen but it has been rectified now. I can only apologise that your supper has been so inexcusably delayed."
"A problem?" Pasiphae's voice was sharp. "What problem?"
"It is of no concern, My Lady," Alexarchos replied. "A minor irritation which was quickly solved."
Minos nearly winced. He knew from long experience just what a bad idea it was to cross his wife or try to fob her off with platitudes – particularly when it came to the ordering of her household.
"I believed that I had made it sufficiently clear to you that I was to be consulted on all matters pertaining to this household," Pasiphae stated in a deadly quiet tone – so sharp that it could have cut glass. "Was I somehow unclear in my instructions?"
Alexarchos gulped.
"No, My Lady," he replied hastily. "I merely wished to save you any unnecessary concern about a matter that was easily dealt with."
His eyes darted nervously around the room as though he was looking for someone to help him out of the hole he was digging.
Pasiphae raised an imperious eyebrow.
"I see," she replied icily.
"Forgive me, My Lady. I meant no offence." The estate overseer was definitely sweating by this point. "It is simply a misunderstanding on my part."
Pasiphae hummed a humourless laugh as she stared hard at the man.
"A misunderstanding," she said. "I see. You will come to my chambers immediately following the midday meal tomorrow to receive my instruction so that we can ensure that we do not repeat this… misunderstanding."
Alexarchos gulped again.
"Of course, Your Majesty," he answered, thoroughly cowed.
"Now, you will answer my first question," Pasiphae continued. "What was this problem that meant that supper is delayed?"
"One of the servants in the kitchen was taken ill suddenly, My Lady," Alexarchos replied. "It meant that the head cook was not able to produce supper in as timely a manner as usual."
Minos' eyes narrowed.
"This sudden illness… there was nothing suspicious about it?" he demanded. "And had this unwell servant handled any of our food?"
The uncomfortable thought that this might be an attempt to poison him lingered in his mind.
"No, Your Majesty," Alexarchos hurried to reassure him. "The supper had not yet begun to be prepared when the servant was taken ill. As to the illness… the girl fainted. It has happened before, some months ago now. There is no fever – she is simply uncommonly tired and weak. No doubt a few days rest will see her back in the kitchens. In the meantime I have engaged a temporary replacement to commence work tomorrow."
"Indeed," Pasiphae said, still looking hard at the man. "You will bring this… temporary replacement with you when you come to my chambers tomorrow. I wish to see for myself whether they are suitable."
"Of course, My Lady," Alexarchos assured her. "It will be as you say."
"Father, perhaps we should go through to the dining room now before the food spoils," Ariadne said softly. She turned to look at Alexarchos. "I hope the girl gets better soon," she added. "If there is anything I can do to help…"
"You are very kind Your Highness," Alexarchos murmured.
"Very well, let us go through," Minos said. He looked around with a deep frown, "but where are our guests? As I recall, in times gone by Lord Herodion was always exceptionally punctual and I would not have expected the years to have altered that aspect of his character."
The estate overseer hesitated slightly, still feeling the Queen's sharp gaze boring into him.
"I believe that that may be my fault My Lord," he admitted. "When I discovered supper was to be delayed, I took the decision both to delay ringing the gong and sending someone to fetch your visitors. I thought that after such a long and arduous journey they would be more comfortable in the chambers set aside for them than sitting in the dining room. If I have taken too much upon myself I can only apologise."
"You have indeed taken a great deal upon yourself," snorted Pasiphae, sharply.
She caught the narrow-eyed glare that both her son and stepdaughter were giving her and relented slightly.
"I will accept that you acted with the best possible intentions, however," she relented, "and perhaps it is for the best," she added, looking at her husband. "We would not wish Lord Herodion or his family to be discomforted after all."
"No," Minos agreed. "We would not."
"I am of the opinion, however, that these are not decisions you should be taking," Pasiphae went on. "We will discuss your role here fully tomorrow. I will expect you to keep me fully informed of all goings on in this house in the future… as is my duty and my right."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Alexarchos said hastily. "I have sent a maid to fetch everyone else for supper," he added nervously. "They should join you shortly."
"Then let us go and be seated to await their arrival," Minos said firmly.
Supper had been a pleasant affair. Minos had spent time catching up with his old friend in the presence of his family. If there seemed to be a little awkwardness between his daughter and stepson then, sadly, he supposed it was only to be expected. The King was not blind and far from stupid and knew only too well how things stood between the two of them. He sighed softly to himself as he toyed with a cup of wine in his private council chamber, deep in thought. It was not a situation that was easy for anyone to deal with, least of all two young people barely at the start of their adult lives and caught up in their own emotions.
After supper, when everyone was relaxed and well fed, they had retired to one of the family rooms; a pleasant chamber for sitting in.
The two little foundlings that Herodion seemed intent on taking in had been left in the chambers where he and his family had rested earlier under the care of one of the female servants; they were just too young to be up this late at night. This had left Lady Ianthe free to enjoy the evening without worry. She had moved to the couches on one side of the sitting room after supper in the company of Ariadne, where they had been deep in conversation.
On the other side of the room, Jason had gone to join his two friends accompanied by young Iollas. One of the men had produced a Petteia board from somewhere (although where they had found it was a mystery) and they seemed to be engrossed in a game; Jason and Iollas teaming up against Pythagoras while Hercules looked on.
Overseeing everything, Pasiphae had moved between everyone with her usual poise and grace; ever the gracious hostess in social situations. Minos was only too aware of what an asset she was to him. Since everyone had seemed to be settled and comfortable, the King had felt no qualms in retreating to his personal council chambers with some good wine and his oldest friend, where he had preceded to explain to Herodion everything that had gone on in the past few weeks. He had somewhat skipped over Jason's identity, however, only telling Herodion that the young man was a relative by marriage; it wasn't that he was worried about his old friend's reaction, it was more that he felt the need to protect his stepson's privacy (although it was not something he would ever have imagined thinking about in times gone by).
Which of course brought him to where he was now, sitting at the table where he had taken to working, playing with his cup of wine, deep in thought and waiting for his old friend to respond.
Herodion, for his part, was standing in the window with his back to the King, looking out over Pagenia, bathed in moonlight and lit by the glow of torches and lamps on the street corners and in the windows of the houses.
"Well," he said finally, "that is quite a set of events."
"Indeed," Minos replied, draining his cup and slamming it sharply down on the table top. "And I would appreciate your wisdom and advice, old friend. I know what I must do. I know that Atlantis must be retaken… but how am I to do it? That is the question. The army we are gathering… the alliances we are making… it is good and will give us the men that we need… but to be sure of succeeding I believe we will require the element of surprise. We must strike before Anaxandros can prepare… and yet I cannot see how that can be achieved. Whichever direction we approach the city from he will surely have warning of our coming; after all, I had plenty of warning that the Amphigeneians were approaching and in the end the city must have fallen through treachery – I can see no other way that Anaxandros would have known of the way through the sewers… and since he does indeed know that route of entry, we cannot rely upon using it ourselves."
"No," Herodion answered, thoughtfully. "If there is any chance that Anaxandros of Amphigeneia might know the way through the sewers we cannot use them."
He turned away from the window and paced across the room, sitting down on the opposite side of the table to the King.
"You are correct, though," he added. "It would benefit us to have the element of surprise."
"Indeed," Minos retorted with a sigh. He paused for a moment. "There is another option for entering the city," he admitted, "but I do not know how feasible it will be."
"Go on."
"I told you that when we escaped from the Temple we were separated; that Jason and a young soldier got the Oracle and Ariadne out of the city and joined us later."
"Yes."
"I did not tell you how they got out of the city, however."
Minos poured himself another cup of wine before continuing.
"It would appear that there is at least one smugglers tunnel beneath the city," he continued. "Ariadne was brought out of the city through it. I learned of its existence through overhearing a conversation between Jason and his two friends. I am unsure as to how much use this tunnel will be, however. I have spoken extensively with Jason on the subject and from his description the tunnel would be far too small to move any meaningful amount of men through."
He paused again and took a sip of his wine, gesturing for Herodion to help himself.
"So, we know of a tunnel beneath the city but its usefulness is negated by its size," Herodion murmured thoughtfully, reaching for the wine flagon and a second cup. He took a long sip and sighed contentedly. "This is an excellent wine," he complimented.
"Thank you," Minos answered. "It comes from this estate. That is indeed the sum of things," he added. "There are, however, apparently rumours within Atlantis about the existence of further smugglers tunnels leading out under the city walls. The man Hercules informed me that such rumours have existed since he was a child and that as a child he and his friends would attempt to find the entrances without success. He firmly believes that the tunnels exist but could not tell me where the entrances would be found – and, as he has never actually seen them, could tell me nothing of their size and condition… and even if we could find a tunnel that was large enough to smuggle troops into the city through, the problem remains that we cannot – as far as I can see – approach the city without being noticed."
"That is a problem that we must give plenty of thought to," Herodion replied. "But there are other problems on your mind, old friend – I do not have to be able to read your mind to see that."
Minos sighed.
"Yes," he said. "I have many cares on my mind at present and too many calls on my time."
"Then allow me to help ease your burdens a little, My Lord. What troubles you?"
"Ariadne," Minos answered shortly.
"Ah," Herodion murmured. "She has grown into a very beautiful young woman."
He looked shrewdly at Minos.
"You are concerned about her proposed marriage to the Tanagran prince," he stated. "You do not like him?"
"No," Minos replied. "Prince Chalcon is amiable enough and far more honourable than I would have had right to expect given who his father is… but marriage to him will mean that Atlantis will inevitably become a vassal state to Tanagra. I know that when I am gone, Chalcon and Ariadne would be King and Queen in name only. It would be Agrias that ruled in reality… and I do not trust him. Besides which… it may be a foolish thought, but I had hoped to see Ariadne happy – and I am not sure that she ever will be with the Tanagran boy."
"You believe that she dislikes him?" Herodion asked. "Or perhaps you fear that he will not treat her as well as you would wish?"
"Quite the contrary," Minos declared. "From what I have seen of Prince Chalcon he is a worthy young man who will go out of his way to make things as comfortable and pleasant as he can for Ariadne. He does not love her – how could he on so short an acquaintance? And I know that Ariadne has always expected to marry for duty and not love. She is as dutiful and pleasant towards Prince Chalcon as anyone could have hoped her to be." He paused and looked away for a moment, sighing deeply. "As King I know that the marriage of the heir to the throne must take place for the benefit of the state; that my daughter must make a marriage that is to Atlantis' best advantage. As a father I find that my daughter's happiness is of great importance to me. If there was a way that these two things could be reconciled then I would do it… but there is not. In order to guarantee the support of Agrias of Tanagra in our venture to retake Atlantis, I have had to sacrifice Ariadne's lasting happiness… and that sits uneasily in my mind. There was no other option. The engysis had to be made…"
"Why are you so certain that Ariadne will not be happy in her marriage?"
"Because I have reason to believe that her heart is already fixed upon another," Minos answered softly, "and under other circumstances I might have been tempted to think about it."
"Better for the heir to the throne to be betrothed to a son of Atlantis," Herodion remarked shrewdly.
He chuckled at Minos' startled look.
"Come old friend," he said. "It is hardly a great stretch of the imagination for me to have understood the meaning behind your words. As heir to the throne, the Princess Ariadne can hardly have travelled far from Atlantis after all – so her opportunities for meeting anyone from beyond our borders must naturally be limited… and an alliance between the old royal family of Atlantis and your own would have healed the last of the divisions within the city; would have marked a final end to the civil war and put a stop to any lingering discontent at the outcome. The marriage between Ariadne and Pasiphae's son could have solved a great many things."
Minos' expression darkened.
"Who told you?" he demanded.
"No-one," Herodion answered. "I did not need to be told. The clues were there. Back in Athanos my wife made a remark that she could not believe you would have appointed a peasant as your champion – and she was right; I know you, My Lord… our customs dictate that Atlantis' champion should be drawn from the nobility and you are too much the politician to offend the court by deviating so far from what is expected."
"There has been precedent for a peasant champion," Minos objected. "As I recall it happened in the days of King Cleonymus."
"Five generations ago," Herodion pointed out dryly, "and never in a time of such turmoil. If the city was at peace it might have been accepted… but you know as well as I do that when there is strife what the people most crave is as much stability and normality as they can find – no matter how small that stability might be. No, My Lord, at such a time as this you would not have selected a peasant… and even if the people believed the boy to be a peasant now, you would have arranged for the misconception to be corrected – even if you concealed his true identity from them."
"Even so," Minos began.
"Besides," Herodion continued, "I was there when you took the throne. The boy was so young when he was presumed to have been killed that it is hard to see the baby that he was in the man he has become and yet there is something in his smile that remains. In the days that we travelled together, I had reason to observe Jason quite closely and there are remnants of his family in his looks and demeanour; once you realise who he is the hints are clear. Also, there was a moment where he became slightly cross – not truly angry but a little irritated – and in that moment it was plain that he was Pasiphae's son. I have, after all, had occasion to see the fires of anger burning in Her Majesty's eyes many times in years gone by. The same fire flashes in Jason's eyes; the same expression."
"He does have her eyes," Minos agreed.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger.
"Jason's identity is a secret known to few people," he went on, giving Herodion a hard look, "and for the moment that is how it must remain."
"You have my word on it," Herodion murmured.
"I will admit to you that the news of the boy's survival came as something of a shock. I was pleased for Pasiphae's sake – I know only too well how the loss of her son grieved her – and yet I could make no promises as to my intentions and actions towards him aside from promising Pasiphae that I would not harm the lad. After all, I had no way of knowing how the boy would behave; whether he would seek to challenge me. We did not even know the boy's identity at that stage – only that he had survived. To have promised more would have seemed imprudent."
"But you do not believe that he will challenge you now?"
"Jason? No," Minos replied firmly. "I do not believe that Jason will ever seek that sort of power out of choice." He paused again to take another sip of wine. "He is not what I expected at all. It appears that the Gods have a sense of humour because our paths had crossed at several points in the past without any of us knowing his relationship to the Queen. Indeed he had saved Ariadne's life and had rid our city of the Minotaur. I initially believed him to be uncultured; that he did not have the first idea of proper etiquette or how to believe in polite society... It is true that Jason is largely unversed in our ways and culture and he is outspoken at times – particularly if there is something that he feels strongly about – and yet I find that I grow increasingly fond of him. There is much in the boy to be applauded and fostered; many good qualities. I knew from our previous encounters that Jason was brave but he is also quick thinking and unswervingly loyal. His mother is currently taking steps to ascertain his level of education and rectify any deficiencies we find. To give Jason the polish that he requires – the grounding in our customs, laws and history – it will require a great deal of work… yet I begin to believe that the boy might be equal to the task – and the Gods know Pasiphae certainly is. Her deepest desire is that he should take his place within our family. She is determined that he should be accepted… and you know how… forceful the Queen can be when she is determined."
"Indeed," Herodion murmured.
"I value her strength greatly; I always have. I have taken comfort in it over the years – used it to bolster my own strength."
"You cannot blame her wishing to have her son as part of her life after so many years of being denied the opportunity to be his mother."
"And I do not," Minos asserted. "I understand the joy that Pasiphae must undoubtedly feel. Jason has just this day indicated that he would wish to remain in our household for a time once we are returned to the Palace in Atlantis; that he wants to learn more about our family before he takes a final decision as to where his future lies… and I find myself hoping that his future lies with us – and not just for his mother's sake. That, however, is for the future… for now we must concern ourselves with the present."
"And yet thoughts of the future must shape our decisions in the present," his companion replied.
"Undoubtedly," Minos agreed, "but some things must naturally take precedence over others… and for now I must out of necessity think more of regaining my city than what might lie beyond." He sighed softly and took another drink. "I need your help, old friend," he admitted. "I need your advice like never before. If I am to navigate this mess, I fear I must make hard decisions that may upset those around me. I require a good advisor to stand at my side."
"And that is where I will be, My Lord," Herodion promised, reaching across the table to clasp his old friend's arm. "I am here to support and advise you in whatever way you deem necessary."
Minos smiled faintly.
"Very well," he said. "Then we will begin tomorrow. For now it is growing late and we should look to the comfort of your wife and the children. I will have Alexarchos take you to the quarters he has obtained for you in the town and will expect to see you after breakfast tomorrow. I have a strategy meeting with Mithridates and Attalos. Unfortunately Agrias will also be in attendance so your support and wisdom will be greatly appreciated."
"Will Prince Chalcon be there?"
"I do not think so. He has requested a private audience with Ariadne in the morning. This will not be a full meeting, however, so there is no requirement for him to be there and I suspect he feels that his time will be better spent trying to charm my daughter. Under other circumstances he might even have been right."
"But you do not feel that Princess Ariadne would welcome the attention?" Herodion asked softly.
"Oh I am certain she will do her duty and that she will be pleasant enough but I do not delude myself that this situation is anything that she desires."
"Because her affections are already fixed upon her stepbrother? Surely they cannot have known one another long enough for a deep attachment to have formed though?"
"I am not entirely certain as to how long they have known one another," Minos admitted grudgingly. "Nor how they met. A few months ago I was gravely unwell and believed to be on my deathbed. During that time there was a misunderstanding, instigated by my wife's treacherous nephew, that led to Ariadne being condemned to the brazen bull for treason. It was Jason and his friends who rescued her at that time, although I am aware that they had help from the captain of my guards, Ramos – who was killed in the process, unfortunately."
"A loss you must have felt most keenly," Herodion murmured.
"Indeed," Minos sighed. "Although Dion is a fine replacement. Fortunately I recovered enough to put matters to rights and return my daughter to her rightful place. It became obvious upon speaking with her that she knew the young man who had so gallantly rescued her and I suspect she had called upon him for assistance in the past from little things she has said – although I do not know what assistance she could have required. How they came to know one another in the first place I cannot imagine since Jason was apparently no more than a peasant and Ariadne a princess and goddess on Earth. I had her send for him to meet with her at the Temple so that I might offer him a reward – a reward, I might add, that he refused. During our conversation I became aware that he had feelings towards her – it was clear in his eyes – and I felt that I had sufficient cause to warn him off. I tried to be as pleasant about it as possible – it would have been unfair to do otherwise given that the boy had been instrumental in her liberation – but I ensured that he was left with no illusions on the matter; I made sure that he knew that nothing could ever happen between them. It did not occur to me at the time that Jason's feelings towards Ariadne might be reciprocated… perhaps I was naïve; certainly I had failed to take account of the fact that my daughter was no longer a little girl and had become a women at some point while I was not paying as much attention to her as I should. Once I realised… I was as gentle with Ariadne as I could be, but in her heart she had to know that it would never be a suitable match – or so I believed. I informed her that she could never see the boy again." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Once I learned that Pasiphae's son lived – and once we discovered the lad's identity – it seemed serendipitous. I had begun to feel that if Jason could be trained in proper behaviour, it would be an ideal solution to the problem of Ariadne's future marriage. As you said, it would have been far better for her to have been betrothed to a son of Atlantis than that of a foreign state – no matter how close an ally that state might be. I had decided to see how well the boy would adapt before I made the decision. There is much for him to learn before he would have truly been worthy of my daughter's hand… and he would have needed to accept and acknowledge his place in the world – something that I believe he is moving towards but is not ready for as yet. As such I had informed Ariadne that I had not given Jason permission to court her and that they must remain as siblings for the time being… and it seems that now they must forever remain as brother and sister for the decision has been taken from my hands. The engysis has been made with Prince Chalcon and cannot now be broken. Were I to break it, I would bring dishonour on my house and that I will not do."
"It is a pretty puzzle."
"And not one which I know the answer to," Minos answered morosely. "There are too many things outside my control at present; too many problems weighing on my mind. I cannot clearly see the answer to any of them because they are so tangled and intertwined… and because there seem to be so many."
"Then allow me to alleviate some of your burden, My Lord," Herodion murmured earnestly. "What does the Queen think?" he added, knowing that Pasiphae's opinions were not to be discounted, knowing that she possessed a sharp political mind.
"I do not know," Minos admitted. "When Agrias first approached me with his outrageous demand for Ariadne's hand, Pasiphae counselled me to make the engysis… but since then I have not discussed matters with her. I suspect that she is seeking a way out of the marriage but she has not chosen to tell me of it. It is an astute political move – if something goes wrong in her manoeuvring, I can truthfully state that I knew nothing of it – even to the point of swearing an oath on the bronze bull. As such no dishonour can fall on me."
"And have you discussed retaking Atlantis with her?"
"Not yet," the King replied.
He sighed.
"Pasiphae is a remarkable woman, but she is only a woman and subject to the frailties of her sex… and she was so severely wounded in the escape from the city. I have not wished to burden her at a time when she is so recently recovered – is still regaining her strength really… and with Jason gone from Pagenia to escort your family back here, I believed that she had enough concerns of her own."
"That was a mistake, My Lord," Herodion stated firmly. "As a warrior, you do not keep a weapon and then refuse to use it. Her Majesty is, as you say, a remarkable woman who is likely to have a perspective that you may not have considered. As your advisor, I would recommend sharing your burdens with her – she may see a solution that you have not considered." He hesitated for a moment. "As to the problem of the Princess' marriage… with your permission I will consult with the Queen. It may be that I can be of some small service to her in her endeavours without embarrassing you. Indeed I will ensure that you know nothing of what I am doing so that you may not be compromised in your dealings with Agrias and the other kings. This is the last time we will speak of it."
Minos gave his old friend a serious look.
"Thank you," he said simply. "You cannot know what a comfort it is to know that I have your wisdom and support to lean on."
"You are welcome, old friend," Herodion replied. "I would not wish to be anywhere else right now... but you are right – it is late and the journey from Athanos was both long and arduous. I would like to settle my family in our temporary home. The children especially ought to be settled for the night."
"Then by all means let us return to the sitting room and the ladies," Minos stated. "Alexarchos will see that you are safely conducted to the home in town where you will be staying and we will resume this conversation tomorrow."
He stood and came around the table, clapping his old friend on the back as Herodion stood alongside him, before ushering him out of the room to re-join their families.
The morning light was pale and wan as it broke through the morning haze. For the moment, the rains that had lashed the coast yesterday had cleared and the winds had died down, leaving the day fine. The Oracle looked out across the small precinct before the Pagenian temple from the doorway where she stood, watching the play of light across the surface of the flagstones. This was not a bad place she supposed – a haven of tranquillity in an uncertain world – and yet she yearned for the familiar surroundings of her own peaceful chambers beneath the great Temple of Poseidon in Atlantis itself.
I am out of sorts, she thought.
Her dreams had been so dark lately; shrouded in uncertainty. The different paths of the future were laid out before her and she desperately hoped that she could make sure they right one was taken. There were so many variables though; so many things that could go wrong; so many of the paths led to disaster and destruction.
This must not come to pass.
The only real question was how she should approach things; what she should do. There was, after all, a great deal at risk here.
We must not lose him. He must not fall into darkness.
The Oracle's eyes narrowed as she considered the problems and the options that she faced.
"What troubles you?"
Melas' mellifluous voice interrupted her thoughts and she turned to acknowledge Poseidon's High Priest.
"There are times when I wonder whether you share my gift of foresight," she murmured ironically.
"No," Melas replied, coming to her side, "and I would not wish to… yet it takes no prescience to see that you have been distracted these past days. Something is troubling your mind."
"With our flight from Atlantis and the cruelty of the Amphigeneians, we should all be troubled and all pray to the Gods."
"And I do… I pray that the Gods will deliver us from our current troubles," Melas replied. "But there is something more. What is it? Tell me…"
"The Gods have spoken," the Oracle answered with quiet intensity. "A new dawn is beginning. There is both much to hope for and much to fear."
She turned away from her closest ally and made her way back inside the building to the chamber that had been set up for the faithful to consult with her – a room vastly different from the oracular chamber beneath the Temple in Atlantis. She stopped and knelt before the large bowl on the floor, beginning to strew the surface of the water with sweet scented herbs as she muttered barely audible incantations.
A large hand came down over her own and stilled their movement. The Oracle stopped and looked down into her bowl for a moment before looking up to see Melas, crouched before her, his eyes reflecting his concern.
"What do you see?" he implored.
At least this early in the morning they were unlikely to be disturbed by any visitors, the Oracle reflected; although there were few who would dare to interrupt Poseidon's Oracle and his High Priest in any case.
She was all too aware though that the Queen had sent word that she would require a private audience with the Oracle first thing this morning and could therefore arrive at any time. To have her walk in on this conversation was something that the Oracle was keen to avoid if possible.
She blinked.
"I feel the presence of the God beside me," she replied, "and yet my vision is clouded and unclear. One thing is plain, however – we have just one hope for the future; to stave off destruction."
"Jason," Melas intoned.
"Jason," the Oracle agreed. "If he should falter or fall then thousands will perish and all Atlantis will be destroyed."
"This is nothing new," Melas stated, his eyes intent. "You have told me this many times in the past."
"It is nonetheless true," the Oracle said sharply. "Atlantis is facing many perils. Only he can save us."
She drew a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment before continuing.
"There are many forces driving and pulling at Jason at present," she went on. "If he should give in to the darkness that gathers around him… then all will be lost."
"You speak of Pasiphae?"
The Oracle snorted – a curiously indelicate sound from a usually poised and enigmatic woman.
"No," she replied. "Pasiphae stands unabashed in the light as always. It is true that the source of many of her powers is darkness… and yet, in this case I genuinely believe she means Jason no harm. She would no sooner see him falter than I would. Strange as it may sound, Pasiphae is our ally in this. Her love for Jason may well overcome her baser motivations. She hungers for power and desires to maintain her grip on the throne but I have seen her love for her son demonstrated in our recent conversations." She paused and drew another deep breath – letting it out in a sigh. "No. It is not Pasiphae that we should fear."
"Then who?" Melas asked seriously.
"Jason himself," the Oracle murmured. "He has been showing clear signs of prescience – of the gift of sight. Unless he can learn to control the gifts he has been given – unless he fully accepts who he is and the abilities the Gods have granted him – he will be driven mad by them. His heart will blacken and he will be lost to us forever."
"You have seen this?"
"I have seen it," the Oracle confirmed, "and it must not come to pass… For the sake of all of us Jason must not fall into darkness." She glanced around the room. "But we must speak no more of this now. The Queen has demanded an audience this morning and I believe she will be here momentarily. I must prepare myself to speak with her."
Melas nodded.
"Then I will go to my duties," he said.
Once she was alone again, the Oracle bent low over the bowl and began to mutter prayers once more, her hands swirling complicated patterns in the herb strewn water. Her eyes closed as a vision took her, before snapping back open as the trance faded and she was hurled back into the real world, breathing hard and blinking.
This must not happen, she thought. This future must be prevented.
She stood and walked over to a low stone altar as another thought hit her.
Pasiphae is bringing Jason to me. That is why she has demanded an audience so early. I must prepare.
With practiced ease, she selected a herb from the pile on the altar, chopping it and placing it into a small bowl. Deep in thought, she ground some spices in a mortar and added them before pouring in a mixture of wine and water and stirring the concoction. Then she stood back. The last ingredients to the brew she was making had to be added at the last possible moment. For now she was as prepared as she could be. She smiled softly.
"I have been expecting you," she said softly.
In the doorway, Pasiphae restrained the urge to roll her eyes at the Oracle's statement. These apparently mysterious pronouncements might impress the weak minded but they did little for her. Of course the Oracle had been expecting her; she had sent word last evening after all.
"Spare me the cheap theatrics," she snapped.
The Oracle turned, her smile enigmatic, and stretched her hands out towards Jason, walking over to the young man and taking his hands in her own.
"I have been waiting for you," she said to him, completely ignoring Pasiphae's presence. She looked searchingly into Jason's eyes. "You have been troubled," she observed. "You should have come to me sooner."
Jason looked at her for a moment before looking away and licking his lips.
"Ah I see," the Oracle murmured sadly. "You no longer trust me as you once did."
"I want to," Jason answered honestly, meeting her eyes once more, "but you've hidden so many things from me. How can I be certain that you're going to tell me the truth now?"
"All I have done I have done to protect you," the Oracle replied. "I wish you could see that."
"I'm trying," Jason said. "It might just take a bit of time before I can fully trust you again."
The Oracle looked at him searchingly again.
"Very well," she said. "What is it that you need of me?"
She knew the answer of course – but equally knew that her next course of action depended on Jason and how much he was willing to open up to her.
Jason glanced at Pasiphae a little nervously. Pasiphae's encouraging nod and half smile reassured him somehow.
"I have been advised to talk to you," he said. "You have been kind to me from the moment I first arrived in Atlantis – even if you have kept things from me."
"I will always try to help you as much as I can," the Oracle replied. "What is it that you wish to talk about?"
She cast a look at Pasiphae as she spoke and saw the Queen smile knowingly.
"I've been having these dreams," Jason said with another half anxious look at his mother, "and there are times when… well… they come true. Dreams about the future." He swallowed hard. "Sometimes it happens when I'm awake too."
The Oracle sighed.
"The gift of foresight is both rare and difficult," she said softly. "It is given by the Gods to relatively few. The few who are blessed are born with the gift and in some it is seen in childhood. For others, though, it does not become apparent until they are adults." She paused for a moment. "If this is indeed a blessing you have been given then you must learn to use it; to control it. I can help you with this… but first I must know how strong your gift is."
She turned away from Jason and moved back to the stone altar, taking a pinch of herbs and a second of dried flowers from small pots and sprinkling them onto the surface of the liquid in the bowl. Then she picked up the vessel, crossed to the centre of the room and knelt.
"It is time," she said.
"Time for what?" Jason asked, moving towards her and dropping down to kneel opposite her.
"I have done my best to guide you but change is upon us and now you must forge your own path," the Oracle replied. "I cannot help you further until we know the full extent of this gift the Gods have granted you. Drink deeply and we shall see."
She held out the bowl towards the young man placing her hands over his as he took it from her and raised it to his mouth, pulling a face at the taste.
"Clear your mind of all thoughts," she said softly.
She could pinpoint the exact moment that the realisation that something wasn't right – that the drink was drugged and affecting him in some way – came into Jason's eyes, even as his eyes glazed over and he began to sway unsteadily, reaching out to grasp her arms.
"Don't fight it," she murmured. "Let the kykeon wash over you."
As he toppled sideways, eyelids fluttering as he fought to stay conscious, she gently guided him into her waiting arms, holding his head against her chest and resting her chin against his curls and rocking him slightly as he panted desperately. She manoeuvred Jason quickly and carefully to the floor as he began to shake; the seizure she had induced gripping him, limbs spasming and head tossing from side to side as his eyes rolled beneath his lids.
"What have you done?" Pasiphae demanded angrily, striding forwards. "I will see you suffer for this."
"I have done what I had to," the Oracle snapped. "Jason will take no harm from this and it is necessary if you wish me to help him." She shot a sharp glare over her shoulder at the Queen. "Now be still and allow the thing to take its course," she ordered, turning her attention back to the writhing young man in front of her and beginning to chant loud prayers.
Jason was beyond knowing what was going on in the room around him. His body continued to react and thrash as the vision forced upon him took him – image upon image flashing before his eyes.
An Atlantian soldier sank down through deep water, blue cloak flowing out behind him and limbs loose in death.
Pasiphae stood triumphantly at the top of the steps of the Palace as the massed Atlantian guard knelt as one before her.
Ariadne fell to her knees, screaming at the sky, her beautiful face contorted and her elegant court dress and outstretched hands stained with bright, fresh blood as a knife fell from them to clatter against the marble tiles of the floor.
The Atlantian soldier sank further, his blank, dead eyes open and staring unseeingly at the water surrounding him.
Jason fought, hacking and slashing his way through his enemies, fighting on desperately in the face of overwhelming odds.
A knife protruded from the stomach of a blue clad figure, hands grabbing at it as blood pumped over them.
An explosion in a stack of crates blew them apart like matchsticks; large slivers of wood flung out with deadly force as the men standing near were tossed like rag dolls.
Atlantis burned.
Meriones stood shackled before the brazen bull, his head held high and his face impassive. A guard shoved him harshly in the centre of the back to force him to step forwards towards his fate.
Jason knelt before his mother, eyes burning as he looked up at her, awaiting his orders.
Pasiphae looked down at him, a cruel smile on her lips, knowing that she was in the position she had always wanted to be in: ruling Atlantis.
A young woman ran through woodland, a cloak billowing behind her, her hair streaming out – a tumbled mass of curls on one side and a series of thin, smooth plaits on the other.
Jason thrust the great double doors of the Temple open and stepped through into the shadowy space beyond, the anger on his face evident. He stalked forwards towards a figure half hidden in the shadows, every taut movement demonstrating his rage.
"It's finished," he growled.
Jason sat on a rocky outcrop in the middle of the forest with a young woman at his side.
For a long moment they looked at one another and then both of them moved in and they were kissing passionately, her hand moving over his upper arm and his tangling in her hair, catching at the thin plaits on the one side.
The hissing of snakes alerted him to her presence long before he saw her. He lifted the torch higher and moved forwards, one hand against the slimy cave wall, running with water. The ground was slick underfoot and he moved carefully to avoid slipping. Every so often he caught his foot against something, half stumbling when he did. One of the times he stumbled, he lowered the torch to see what he had tripped on. It looked like a rock at first glance and then he realised it was a stone hand – a piece of a man, turned into a statue and then smashed. He shuddered and pressed on.
Ahead of him the cave opened out. She was standing with her back to him, shrouded in darkness. He drew his sword as quietly as possible and stepped forwards.
The snakes that wreathed her head hissed loudly and she turned with a cruel laugh.
He looked into her eyes and shuddered again: she was completely mad now.
"Jason," she greeted him.
"Medusa," he replied.
He raised his sword and prepared to take the life of a woman who had once been his friend.
The prow of a ship crested a great wave on a storm-tossed sea, the sky pitch black and the waves lashing wildly the sides of the vessel. The eyes painted on the prow rose and fell with the waves like some sort of great sea monster rearing up from the ocean, as forks of lightning lit the sky behind it. As it rose to the highest point the name came into view: Argo.
The soldier sank even further, the light around him fading as he slipped further and further from the surface. He landed hard on the newly created sea bed, a cloud of sand stirred up around him. Beyond him were blocks of stone and broken off pillars; the foot of a statue; part of a bed; a table; a child's board game; the head of the bull statue from the Temple.
The ruins of Atlantis lying on the sea floor.
Jason's eyes snapped open as he drew in a gasping breath. He pushed himself up, eyes wide, into the waiting arms of the Oracle, his breathing shuddering.
The Oracle drew him towards herself, resting his head against her chest as she rocked him gently; comfortingly. Jason reached up and clutched at her shoulder as she held him.
"What was that?" he asked.
"It is the fate that awaits us all," the Oracle replied, drawing back slightly to look into the young man's face. "We have already taken the first steps along this path. It is the future that we are trying to prevent."
Jason sat up and rested his arms against his bent knees, still shuddering.
"How?" he demanded. "How can anyone prevent that?"
"You can," the Oracle asserted. "You are not like ordinary men, Jason. You must embrace your destiny."
Jason snorted.
"But that was not the point in all this," the Oracle went on.
"So what was the point?" Pasiphae barked.
The Oracle turned to look at her sharply; she had almost managed to forget that the other woman was there.
"The point was that I wished to see how powerful Jason's gift of foresight is," she snapped, "as I think I have already explained." She turned back to Jason and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "There are some with this gift who have barely any strength at all – who only see the strongest of images and those only imperfectly. Likewise there are seers who are very strongly gifted – who the Gods speak with regularly – such seers are usually appointed oracles. I needed to know how powerfully the Gods had blessed you so that I would know how best to guide you."
"And your conclusion?" Pasiphae demanded.
"Your gift is stronger than I had expected," the Oracle said, ignoring the Queen and speaking directly to Jason. "You do not have the abilities of an oracle but you are much stronger than I would have anticipated for one who has come into their gift in adulthood. It is more normal for adults whose gift has manifested in early childhood to have the stronger powers of foresight. Now tell me about your dreams."
"What did you want to know?" Jason asked warily.
Pasiphae resisted the urge to sigh loudly. It seemed her son still couldn't bring himself to let his guard down fully – even when he knew that it would be to his benefit to open up.
"I want to know how often it is happening," the Oracle said softly.
"It's not every night," Jason replied, "and it's not every dream. Sometimes my dreams are just that: dreams."
"But it is happening enough that you are not sleeping properly," Pasiphae said sharply.
Jason nodded awkwardly.
"Yeah," he admitted. "But that's not something particularly new. I once told Pythagoras and Hercules that insomnia and I are old friends."
"Your friend Pythagoras informed me of that," Pasiphae replied. "He seemed concerned."
"Pythagoras worries too much," Jason said firmly, not wanting to be drawn into a discussion on his sleeping habits.
"Do you always know the difference between a normal dream and one that foreshadows the future?" the Oracle enquired gently.
Jason looked startled
"Yes," he answered.
"How?" the Oracle asked.
"I… don't know," Jason replied slowly. "I just do. Is it important?"
"You must learn to control this gift you have been given. Your answers allow me to judge how best we might approach that." The Oracle paused. "I wish only to help you as I have always done."
"You told me yesterday that you believed some of the visions you have been experiencing were of the past and not the future," Pasiphae prompted.
She had been aware for weeks that this was the case – had spoken with the Oracle about it when she had first realised that Jason might have the gift of foresight (and she still wasn't sure whether it was a blessing or a curse) after the meeting with Anaxandros – but it would not do to let Jason know that; it might make him defensive if he knew they had been discussing him.
"Yeah but that was probably just my imagination," Jason argued. "My Dad always said I had an overactive imagination. He said that I needed to stop telling people about the things I made up – that they'd think I was a liar or a bit… well… not quite normal. That I was too old for imaginary friends and that sort of thing."
He pushed himself to his feet and moved over to the altar, keeping his back to the two women and apparently looking at the things on the stone surface. He felt distinctly uncomfortable talking about this; like he was betraying his father by talking about things the man had told him to keep to himself all those years ago.
The Oracle moved to stand at his shoulder.
"How old were you the first time you spoke to someone that no-one else could see?" she asked gently.
Jason shot her another startled look.
"I don't remember," he replied. "But Dad told me that they weren't really there; that it was just my imagination. I mean, all children have imaginary friends at one time or other, don't they?"
"Perhaps," Pasiphae replied ironically, coming up on his other side but keeping far enough away that he wouldn't feel hemmed in, "but I very much doubt that most children have dreams of the future."
Jason shook his head stubbornly.
"I didn't," he argued. "I just had vivid dreams, that's all. Dad explained that they were make believe – not real – and that I shouldn't tell people about them. That no-one really wanted to hear about them. I promised him that I wouldn't talk about them anymore. It was right before he went away."
"And you kept your promise," the Oracle murmured.
"Of course I did," Jason replied. "Besides, he was right – I grew out of it eventually, like all children do."
The Oracle smiled enigmatically and half turned away.
"But the things you saw in your dreams as a child came true later," she said with certainty.
Jason frowned.
"I don't know what you mean," he muttered defensively.
"I believe that you do know exactly what I mean," the Oracle murmured quietly.
Jason picked up a cup from on the altar and toyed with it, turning it in his hands until a gentle hand on his own stilled him. He looked down blankly at the hand covering his own, before looking up into the gentle eyes of the Seeress.
"Jason, I cannot help you if you will not let me," she said. "You must tell me."
Jason snorted and pulled away from her, withdrawing to the other side of the room to give himself some space.
"Yes," he answered shortly. "Sometimes it feels like the things I dreamt back then did come true. I used to dream about a city on a hill and a man with the head of a bull… but I don't really remember properly – I was too young. Isn't it possible that I'm just projecting things that have happened recently back onto childhood dreams? That I'm not really remembering them properly and that I'm embellishing them with things that have happened since."
Neither of the two women could miss the almost desperate note in his voice.
"No," the Oracle said. "I do not believe so."
"Then what am I?" the young man demanded helplessly. "You told me that I was touched by the Gods – that I was created by the Gods. What kind of monster did they create? What kind of monster am I?"
Pasiphae crossed the chamber in an instant and grabbed her son's hands.
"You are not a monster," she said emphatically. "You are my son." She reached up with one hand to gently touch the side of Jason's face. "You are so very special," she said. "You are far more virtuous than I can ever pretend to be and you cannot know how much your presence means to me."
Jason swallowed hard. He didn't think he'd ever get used to open declarations of affection from anyone (least of all his mother) or the feeling of being wanted. He nodded bashfully.
"The Queen is right," the Oracle agreed. "You are no monster. The gift of foresight is hard to come to terms with and hard to control, but it is a gift from the Gods."
She paused and sighed.
"It would appear, from what you have said, that your gift began to manifest in early childhood and that your Father was only too aware of your potential abilities. Whether he intended to or not, his instructions taught you to suppress these abilities… and that will make our job so much harder now."
"How so?" Pasiphae demanded sharply, turning to face the other woman.
"Because he is unconsciously fighting this every step of the way," the Oracle replied. "This is why your head aches whenever a vision breaks through," she said to Jason. "As it does now."
Jason grimaced.
"How did you know?" he asked, bringing up one hand to rub the tension out of the back of his neck.
"I was once a young girl subject to visions that I could not hope to understand or control," the Oracle answered. "I had to learn to focus them as you will so that now, to a large extent, I can choose when I will receive them. They do not occur at truly inconvenient moments and they do not force themselves upon me when I do not wish it much of the time – although there are occasions, of course, when Poseidon chooses to send me a vision for a purpose and then I cannot control the timing."
"Can you help me to get rid of this altogether?" Jason asked.
"No," the Oracle replied. "The Gods have given you this gift for a purpose and I cannot interfere in that even if I wished to."
"But you can teach me to control it?"
"I can," the Oracle said.
She crossed the room with a cup she had been preparing in her hands.
"Firstly, drink this to rid yourself of the headache," she instructed, "and then we will begin."
