A/N Good Morning :-) Well here I am with another chapter at last. Please let me know if you enjoy it.

As always, I own nothing but my own thoughts - if I owned Atlantis they'd still be making it!


The sitting room Pasiphae had chosen as her private work space was light and airy with large south facing windows overlooking the formal gardens of the royal estate. Near the windows was the large table where she chose to complete any written duties that she had in what was the brightest part of the room. She looked thoughtfully out at those gardens now, the parchment containing the figures for wine production on the estate that she had requested lying discarded on the table in front of her.

Somewhere in the garden a bird trilled out its song. Pasiphae craned her neck to try to see it amongst the branches of the ornamental trees and leaves of the carefully cultivated bushes. A movement on one of the broad well-kept pathways caught her eye and she turned her head to look. As she watched, her former mother-in-law came into view, gliding gracefully along the path to a carved bench before sitting herself down on it, apparently enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the garden.

Pasiphae frowned lightly. She had promised Tyro that she would allow her to see Jason, even if it was only for a short time, and she had not yet worked out how to do it without her son finding out that the old woman was his grandmother; something that she still believed was undesirable – suspecting that Jason would allow the thought to distract him at the wrong moment and potentially place him in danger. His apparent ability to see both the past and the future complicated matters too. If she allowed him to meet Tyro, would it trigger some sort of vision and tell him who his grandmother was? It was an angle that she felt would require careful consideration.

Yet she had given the old woman her word, and that was not something that Pasiphae wished to go back on. She watched her former mother-in-law thoughtfully, noting how peaceful and relaxed the woman looked – how like Jason she looked – when she was alone. Pasiphae's mind busily mulled over the problem as she regarded the old woman; one more call upon her attention. She was equal to the tasks she had to complete, of that she had no doubt – but this relatively minor problem needed solving quickly before it became too much of a distraction from her other responsibilities.

She turned as someone diffidently tapped the door. Ah good. That must be the food that she had ordered for the midday meal.

"Come," she ordered.

A procession of serving girls brought plump olives, fresh bread, a selection of cheeses and meats, ripe fruit and rich wine into the room – enough for a solitary diner – and laid it all out on a low table near a reclining couch on the far wall of the room. Pasiphae nodded regally, satisfied that her orders had been obeyed, and waited for the servants to depart before standing and gliding across the room to lie on the couch.

She had not initially been expecting to eat alone but Minos informed her over breakfast that he would be attending a meeting with a small group of the allied kings and would order a light meal to be served there. With Ariadne engaged for the day with Prince Chalcon, who had decided to take the beautiful Princess riding, and Jason visiting the Oracle, it had seemed a waste of both time and resources to have a full meal in the dining room with only herself in attendance. Far better that the kitchens should concentrate their efforts on producing a superlative supper for the King and his guests.

The Queen sighed to herself as she popped an olive into her mouth. It went against all her natural instincts to leave her son alone with a woman she had long considered to be her enemy. After all, who knew what the Oracle might be telling him? Pasiphae knew that the Seeress could not actually lie – that her gift prevented it – and yet she had a way of manipulating the truth to make you believe what she wanted you to believe. She could be insidiously poisoning Jason against his family if she believed it suited her purposes and Pasiphae would not know.

She sighed again.

No. She knew deep down that the Oracle was by far the best person to help Jason now and had suspected that her own presence would only hinder matters. She had to believe that the Oracle was her ally in this matter; she had to trust that the woman would act in everyone's best interests – but trust was not something that Pasiphae found easy to come by.

She ate and drank distractedly, mind too busy planning her next moves to truly enjoy the meal. There were still lots of things that she had to do today before she could allow herself to relax. One of those, of course, was speaking to Alexarchos and making sure that the man understood that she was the ultimate authority when it came to decisions about the household and that he should not take it upon himself to make any important decision without consulting her. For now he could wait though. It might do him good to make him sweat a little; to make him worry about his meeting with her; to worry about his position. That way he would be easier to terrify into submission.

Pasiphae took one last sip of wine and carefully placed the vessel back on the table, before ringing for the servants to clear away the remains of her meal. Pasiphae watched them work imperiously but silently. She was not about to fraternise with servants after all. It was only as the last one was about to leave that she acted.

"You!" she said sharply. "Find the man Pythagoras and bring him to me."

"At once My Lady," the man muttered.

Pasiphae fought the urge to roll her eyes. She could not stand mumbling servants. Did they really think she wanted to strain her ears to hear their responses? She would never have stood for such a thing in the Palace and was not about to let standards slip while they were here in Pagenia. She made the mental note to add it to the list of things she wished to chastise Alexarchos about.

Smiling acidly to herself, she reclined on the couch and waited. In a shorter time than she would have expected, the door was tapped once more. At least the servants knew how to follow orders quickly, she decided, even if they were barely articulate.

"Come," she ordered.

Pythagoras looked a little nervous, she noted. Pasiphae nearly smiled. Her reputation for ruthlessness was carefully cultivated and used to her best advantage at all times. Whilst she had no desire to frighten Jason's younger friend unnecessarily, it would not hurt for him to be wary of her. It would mean that he would be more likely to follow her orders without argument.

He came across to room and dropped to one knee in the traditional manner of genuflection. He stayed there – as was expected until he was given leave to move.

"For goodness sake get up and sit down," Pasiphae snapped. "I am not about to have a conversation with the top of your head."

Pythagoras swallowed hard as he stood up but Pasiphae couldn't help noticing that the look he gave her was respectful but direct; that although he was nervous, he was not cowed. She gestured impatiently at a nearby chair and waited as the young man perched on the edge of it.

"Some days ago, I requested that you should begin testing my son to ascertain where the gaps lie in his education," Pasiphae began. "I had anticipated that you would report to me reasonably quickly." She held up one hand to forestall any protest. "I am aware that there were circumstances which precluded this," she went on. "Not least your journey with Jason to Athanos… Yet I believe that now you are returned the time has come for you to deliver your report."

Pythagoras straightened in his chair and nodded.

"I thought that might be why you had sent for me, My Lady," he said softly, reaching beneath the open fronted outer tunic he usually wore and removing a piece of parchment from somewhere inside.

"I am glad to see you come prepared," Pasiphae replied with some satisfaction.

"It seemed prudent, Your Majesty," Pythagoras answered.

"A clever and practical young man," the Queen said coolly. "That is something which I can appreciate… I have always preferred to be prepared for any eventuality myself. Now tell me… how well educated is Jason?"

"Better educated than I suspect you feared, My Lady," Pythagoras murmured. "There are gaps but they are mostly relating to the history and culture of Atlantis itself rather than in basic knowledge. Mathematics is very good… although his way of expressing number is not one I have encountered before – but the answers were correct so it must simply be a difference in form. You already know that Jason reads and writes well. His use of syntax and grammar is also good… but he struggled when it came to comprehending formal Greek – the language of the ancestors – I suspect he has had little opportunity to study this. It is relatively easy to rectify though… it will simply be a matter of practice. Rhetoric and oration are not something I believe Jason will ever enjoy or find particularly easy. It is not in his nature – he is a little too self-effacing for that. He did recite for me with a little prompting… I think he believed I was joking when I first asked him to – but he was clearly uncomfortable doing so."

Pasiphae's eyes narrowed.

"He will need to learn to get over that," she asserted sharply. "Public speaking is a skill which is of great importance and must be cultivated."

Pythagoras glanced back at the parchment in his hands.

"Aside from an interest in anatomy, the natural sciences are not my forte," he admitted. "Jason's knowledge of them seems reasonable enough to me. Astronomy… he can identify most of the major constellations – although he knows them by strange names… Indeed, it might be interesting to make a comparative study of the names that he uses and the names that are more common to us."

"Do that in your own time," Pasiphae snapped. "That is not what I engaged you for."

"No, Your Majesty," Pythagoras hurriedly agreed. "I did intend to suggest… that is, of course I will not undertake… I mean…"

"Stop babbling and get on with it," Pasiphae ordered impatiently.

Pythagoras swallowed hard.

"Jason's grasp of the geography of Hellas is… I suppose it could best be described as… adequate. He could identify most of the major cities and states… although he was far from clear on all of them. Some of the names he uses for places are strange and there were places that he could not identify at all. I believe that you know Jason grew up far from these shores and in fact I am a little pleased that he has learned as much of the geography of the region as he has – particularly of Atlantis itself… of which I believe he knew nothing before he arrived here." He paused and sighed. "Jason's grasp of the laws of Atlantis is extremely weak," he admitted, "and his knowledge of the history is almost non-existent. He knows little of the Gods and cannot name their feast days or recite any prayers. He knows nothing of the customs surrounding our festivals and can only name the main attributes of one or two of the major Gods."

"Go on," Pasiphae said, frowning deeply; her mind already working out which subjects Pythagoras should tackle first when tutoring her strong-willed son.

"I have not had the time or opportunity to assess art, music, philosophy or poetry. I intended to but our journey to Athanos precluded it. I will, of course, administer the tests in these subjects as soon as possible and deliver the results to you."

Pasiphae flicked her hand dismissively.

"They are less important at this time," she stated. "I would not have your testing of these subjects hold up the start of your lessons in others. They can be looked at later."

"Yes, My Lady," Pythagoras murmured. He looked at the Queen with a slightly wry smile. "I must admit I did not even look at gymnasium," he admitted. "Jason is far better than me at it so I did not really see a point."

"Yes," Pasiphae agreed drolly. "I believe you are correct. If there is one subject that my son does not need instruction in it is gymnasium… Some formal military training would seem to be in order, however… but I will not expect that of you." She looked at Pythagoras out of the corner of her eyes, raising an eyebrow as she did. "I will speak with General Dion… perhaps he might be able to allocate an officer to assist in this. If nothing else, some grounding in tactics will be beneficial."

Pythagoras chose not to reply. He knew that this was not his forte after all. He sat and waited in silence as Pasiphae mulled things over.

The Queen held out one hand imperiously, silently demanding the parchment that Pythagoras had been consulting. It was not that she disbelieved anything that the young man had been telling her – it was more that she wanted to give herself a moment to consider matters properly. She perused the parchment with narrowed eyes.

"Time will be set aside each day for study," she informed Pythagoras. "I will draw up a schedule. There may be days when Jason is required to attend to other duties – you will be informed on the days when your services are not required. You will begin with history, law and rhetoric. As far as I can see, these are the subjects where Jason's education is most lacking. He will require a grounding in formal Greek but that is something you can tackle once his knowledge and understanding of the subjects I have identified as most important is improved. I will expect you to administer tests in those subjects you have missed so far, to determine what further tutoring my son might require but, as I have said, those tests should not interfere with your lessons. I will also expect regular progress reports and that you will inform me of any problems. Jason will be expected to work to the best of his abilities and I will not have him using his friendship with you as an excuse to perform at a lesser level… is this clear?"

"Yes, My Lady," Pythagoras replied softly.

"Good," Pasiphae retorted. "I will also impress this upon Jason. My expectations of him are high and my expectations of you as a tutor are no less so. I will expect regular testing to ascertain whether Jason is learning as rapidly as I would anticipate and you will inform me of the results of those tests – whether they are good or bad. I hope that this arrangement will work for Jason's sake and I will not remove you from your position for a poor test result… but make no mistake, I will not hesitate to end your employment if I feel that you are not living up to expectations or that you are allowing Jason to take advantage of your friendship and good nature and underachieving as a result."

The words 'good nature' were almost said with a sneer.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Pythagoras responded. He had expected no less after all.

"Very well," Pasiphae said imperiously. "You will begin tomorrow after breakfast. I believe that Jason will be required by the King later in the morning but no doubt a man of your abilities will be able to work around that. You will then continue after the midday meal as time allows."

"You do not wish us to begin this afternoon?"

Pasiphae's eyes softened.

"No," she said more gently than before. "No, I believe tomorrow will do well enough. Jason has had business with the Oracle today and I do not know how long that business will take. I suspect that it will have been difficult and that he will be drained afterwards. I would not have your lessons beginning badly because he is too tired to be receptive."

She looked at Pythagoras thoughtfully.

"I believe that I owe a debt of gratitude to your friend Hercules; that I must give him my thanks," she went on. "It was he, was it not, who told Jason to confide in me?"

Pythagoras restrained himself from smiling broadly but inside he was relieved. So Jason had told his mother about the prophetic dreams and visions he had been having? Good. He always fared better when he could be persuaded to talk about his worries and problems, and, given her own abilities (or at least the abilities she was rumoured to have), Pasiphae was in a far better place to help him under the circumstances than either one of his friends.

"It was, You Majesty," the mathematician replied steadily.

"Then you may inform him that I am grateful for his… intervention," Pasiphae said imperiously. "You have your instructions," she added. "I will not detain you any further."

It was a clear dismissal and Pythagoras took it as such, standing and bowing respectfully to the Queen, even as his mind turned towards the task she had set for him.

Once he had gone, Pasiphae sat back, deep in thought. She believed she had impressed upon the young man the importance of his role and her expectations of him – now she just had to do the same with Jason. She hoped he would not fight against her instructions out of sheer stubbornness. Surely he would not – he was essentially a good boy after all.

A tap at the door startled her, making her frown deeply. She was not expecting to be disturbed after all. In fact, her only other appointment as such would be with Alexarchos and surely he would not have been foolhardy enough to arrive before he was sent for?

"Come," she ordered sharply.

The servant who entered the room was very young and very nervous.

"Forgive me, My Lady," she mumbled. "There is a man to see you. He says you are expecting him."

"Speak up girl!" Pasiphae snapped. "If you cannot deliver a simple message audibly then I will instruct Alexarchos to replace you with someone who can! Now… I do not believe that I am expecting anyone. What did this man actually say?"

The girl looked at the Queen with large, frightened eyes.

"He said his name was Timais, My Lady," the girl answered, trembling. "He said that you had sent for him to discuss improvements to wine production." She said the last bit as though she was reciting it.

Pasiphae raised an eyebrow.

"Where is the man now?" she demanded.

"He came to the servant's entrance, My Lady," the girl replied. "The head cook told him to wait in the room where Master Alexarchos does the accounts usually."

"Then go and fetch him at once girl," Pasiphae barked. "He must not be kept waiting any longer."

Once the servant had scuttled off, Pasiphae stood and crossed to the window, allowing herself a brief gloating smile. It appeared that one of her ploys might be paying off already. The door opened and closed behind her and she heard someone entering the room, but she did not turn yet; making the newcomer wait to emphasise their place as a supplicant and her own superiority.

"Your Majesty." Timais' gravelly voice was deeply respectful; unctuous even.

"Timais," Pasiphae acknowledged, still without turning – apparently directing all of her attention to the scene out of the window.

Silence stretched out for a moment or two.

Finally, Pasiphae turned to find the man still down on one knee, head bowed deferentially. She swept across the room and sat back down on the couch gracefully.

"You have news for me?" she demanded. "You have done as I ordered?"

"I have, My Lady," Timais confirmed. "I have followed the boy closely and observed all his actions."

"You were not seen?"

"No, My Lady. I have done this many times before."

"So," Pasiphae said, "what have you discovered?"

"Prince Chalcon appears to be an admirable young man," Timais answered. "He is kind, dutiful and well liked by the men his father has brought with him… which is more than can be said for King Agrias."

"That is hardly news," Pasiphae retorted with a snort. "Agrias of Tanagra has never been popular. So you have found nothing then."

"I would not say that Your Highness," her companion murmured respectfully.

Pasiphae's eyes narrowed as she looked at him. Timais was a non-descript man of middling years; ordinary; uninteresting. She suspected that was the secret of his success at information gathering – that he was essentially unmemorable and could move around largely unnoticed. She had engaged his services several times over the years but had never actually met him before – preferring to work through Heptarian in years gone by.

"Do not try my patience," she said sharply. "What have you discovered?"

"As I said, Prince Chalcon appears to be a fine young man in every respect… but he has a secret that he would do anything to keep concealed – especially from his father."

Pasiphae leant forwards, all her attention now focussed on the man in front of her.

"What secret?" she demanded.

"Although the Prince is well liked, he has not real allies," Timais observed. "King Agrias' temper is legendary and he brooks no dissention from his will."

"Neither do I," Pasiphae snapped. "Get on with it!"

"The only person in the retinue that the Prince even comes close to trusting is his manservant, Damianos. Last night, Damianos was dispatched back to Tanagra with a message. I have managed to learn the contents of this message."

"And?"

"It would appear that Prince Chalcon has been having an assignation with a girl," Timais replied with a smirk. "His father would certainly view her as unsuitable. I have made enquiries and learned that this girl is a daughter of minor nobility – certainly not someone who King Agrias would view as a good match even for his youngest son. The King has been most particular about matches for his sons… With the exception of the eldest who was married off to his own cousin, all the other Princes have been married or at least betrothed to princesses from other states. Of course, none of them were heirs to the throne in the way that Princess Ariadne is, but they have brought alliances, power and status to Tanagra… and betrothing his youngest son to the heir to Atlantis has been a great coup for King Agrias. If he were to find out that Prince Chalcon had been dallying with some random young woman and putting all his plans in jeopardy? Well… I suspect his response would be immediate and dire."

"You have done well, Timais," Pasiphae purred.

She stood in one sinuous movement and glided across the room to the table. Opening a box on the top, she removed a small pouch and returned to the couch, sitting regally and holding the pouch out to Timais.

The man came forwards and took the pouch from her, hefting it slightly in his hand to feel the weight and bowing low.

"I am only glad to be use My Lady," he murmured. "I trust that you will remember this service."

Pasiphae frowned, her face hardening. She had thought to use Timais' services again in the future (he had proved to be a useful servant several times over the years) but she had no intention of allowing him to think that she was in anyway beholden to him.

"On the contrary," she replied in a deadly quiet voice. "I will do everything in my power to forget that we ever met, Timais, and if you value your life I would suggest that you do the same… do you understand?"

Timais actually had the gall to look affronted.

"Your Majesty cannot mean to threaten me," he stated bluntly. "I am sure, after all, that King Agrias would be deeply concerned that you have been arranging to spy on his son."

"He might… but you will not tell him."

"Are you sure of that My Lady?" Timais enquired, apparently certain that he had Pasiphae exactly where he wanted her.

"As certain as I am that you will choose to forget this meeting," Pasiphae retorted, still in the same quiet but lethal tone. "But enough of this… unpleasantness. You must be eager to return home. As I recall Lissagra is particularly lovely at this time of year. And how is your beautiful wife? Does she still frequent the dressmaker just to the north of the agora? And your children? Three of them are there not? Your eldest boy must be ten by now."

It paid to have many sources of information, she reflected, and more than worthwhile finding out everything you could about the people who were serving you – especially in more nefarious capacities. She was certain the Timais would get the point.

The man stared at her in open horror.

"Nearly eleven, Your Majesty," he said, unable to keep the hint of fear from registering in his voice.

"It would be so unfortunate if anything were to happen to them." Pasiphae's face hardened even more and she leant forward so that her face was mere inches away from her companions. "Do not make the mistake of crossing me," she said in a deadly whisper. "I do not think you would like the consequences if you did. Now, you will leave and return to Lissagra and if you are very lucky I will succeed in forgetting that I ever met you."

Timais swallowed hard.

"Yes, My Lady," he replied, cowed into submission. "It will be as you say."

"Then I believe we understand one another," Pasiphae said, smiling coldly. "You have been well paid for your services and now you will leave here and you will never speak of this meeting to anyone; will never even think of it again. You will live out your life quietly and forget that you ever came here… unless you would like your family to pay the price."

"No, You Majesty," Timais answered. "I have never been to Pagenia. I am no more than a simple trader and I will be very pleased to go home to Lissagra."

"Good," Pasiphae retorted. "Now leave!"

After he had left the room, she sat back and thought, lips pursed and hands interlace in front of her mouth. Every instinct was telling her that Agrias needed to be disposed of; to be dealt with permanently before he could damage her plans for the future irrevocably. Poison would be the ideal choice of weapon – something slow so that he would not even realise something was wrong until it was too late; something that could be put down to natural causes. Yet she daren't do it for now. Minos needed Agrias' men too much. If the Tanagran King were to die, there was no guarantee that his successor would follow through with the bargains he had made; that the Tanagran army would continue to support Minos. It was fully believable that they would fall into some disarray in the immediate aftermath of Agrias' death and that they would be recalled home to ensure the continued stability of Tanagra.

No, Pasiphae could not risk that happening. Agrias would be allowed to live… for now. Still, she was not about to allow the Tanagran boy to marry Ariadne and ultimately take the throne – that was Jason's place whether he realised it yet or not.

A memory rose unbidden of another young girl, barely sixteen years old, too thin and with big dark eyes that seemed too large for her face – essentially sold into marriage with a stranger to save her kingdom; to ensure her family's safety and her brother's place on the throne. Pasiphae shook herself. It did no good to remember; no good to dwell on the past and on what might have been if things had been just a little different. It was true that she had once been a young girl in a similar position to the one Ariadne found herself in now and therefore had a certain amount of sympathy with her stepdaughter's plight, but she was not about to allow herself to become weak because of it.

If Timais' information was correct (and he had never failed her in the past), then she had leverage over Prince Chalcon that she could use. Pasiphae smiled to herself. The engysis would be broken and the marriage would not go ahead. She was now certain of it.


Jason trudged tiredly back across the courtyard towards the main steps of the house. He'd been with the Oracle far longer than he had expected to be and didn't feel like it had been all that helpful to be honest. He had only just managed to grasp the very edges of what the Seeress had been talking about as she had attempted to begin to teach him to focus what she kept insisting on referring to as his 'gift' (although Jason was more inclined to think of it as a curse personally). She had insisted that he was doing really well, but Jason really didn't feel like he was; felt stupid and slow because he just couldn't seem to get what she was saying.

Eventually, she had told him to go and get some rest and Jason had been only too glad to leave to be honest; he had a headache that was rapidly reaching monstrous proportions (next stop migraine city – and he didn't want that) and wasn't sure how much more he could actually take right now. All he wanted to do was to curl up somewhere quiet and dark and to try to sort through everything he had been told today.

"Jason."

Ariadne's voice stopped him in his tracks and he turned with an approximation of his usual bright smile. Things might be awkward between them at the moment but there would never be a time when he wouldn't make time for Ariadne; when he would be so rude as to walk away from her. He loved her too much for that.

Don't think of that, he told himself sternly. You can't think of her like that anymore. You'll both end up hurt if you can't let go.

The beautiful Princess walked over to him, smiling gently, her eyes warm with affection (don't think of it as love). She reached out her hand as though she was going to take his, only to let it fall helplessly at the last moment.

"Hello," Jason said.

"Hello," Ariadne replied. "I had not seen you today. I missed you at breakfast and I was worried. Are you alright?"

"Worried about me? Why? I'm fine," Jason answered hurriedly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Ariadne half reached out again and then aborted the gesture once more.

"When you went to Athanos and you were gone for so many days, I could not help but fear for you," Ariadne said. "I do not think I could bear it if something happened to you… The thought that I might never see you again… it has tormented me. Especially since I did not even say goodbye or wish you luck."

She looked almost on the verge of tears.

Jason longed to pull her in for a hug but knew that he couldn't; that it would be inappropriate under the circumstances.

"Ariadne, we can't do this," he murmured, feeling the pit open up in his stomach again.

"I know."

"Because you are you, and I am me… and you are betrothed to another."

Ariadne closed her eyes briefly. Hearing her words to Jason on the eve of the Pankration recited back to her now was a bitter thing to have to swallow – although she knew that Jason was not trying to be unkind; that he was hurting as much as she was.

"I have said it before, but if the choice was mine alone…" she said softly.

"I know," Jason replied. "I've always known… and if things were different I wouldn't leave you either. Not for a single moment." He swallowed and looked at her earnestly. "But we are who we are and we both have different parts to play; different responsibilities. I understand that now. I've accepted what cannot be… but… Ariadne, you know you can always trust me don't you? I will always be there. I will always help if it's within my power. I promise that I won't let you down."

"You never have," Ariadne whispered.

"There you are." A bright voice boomed out across the courtyard. "I was beginning to wonder where you had got to. I took the horses back to the stables and left them with one of the servants."

Ariadne turned to greet the newcomer with a smile that would only appear fixed to those who knew her best.

"Prince Chalcon," she said. "As you can see, I did not go far."

Chalcon strode across the courtyard to join her, looking curiously at Jason.

"Jason, this is Prince Chalcon of Tanagra," she murmured. "Prince Chalcon, this is Jason… a kinsman of my family. He is recently returned from Athanos."

"Ah," Chalcon said, smiling. "You must be King Minos' champion. My father has told me about you… although knowing my father's biases, I suspect he may not have been entirely accurate." He hesitated for a moment. "My father can be a little… cruel," he admitted. "I hope you will not judge me by his behaviour and opinions… I am very pleased to make your acquaintance Jason."

"Your Highness," Jason replied, nodding his head in the way his mother had instructed him to do.

"No," Chalcon stated. "That will not do. I see no need for titles here. My name is Chalcon… nothing more."

"Your father might see it differently," Jason pointed out.

He frowned, feeling a little hypocritical – after all, he didn't like it when Pasiphae insisted on people referring to him as 'My Lord'.

"My father does not need to know," Chalcon said, smiling conspiratorially. "You are a kinsman to the Princess here… and I would like us to be friends."

Jason tried to smile politely. Making friends with the Tanagran Prince was really the last thing he felt like doing but Chalcon seemed pleasant enough and was clearly trying hard. It would be rude of him to refuse, he supposed – and, really, what reason did he have to dislike the man? Because Chalcon was betrothed to Ariadne? That was hardly his fault; that was his father's doing not his.

"Of course," he said, attempting a smile that was more than a little rueful. "I would be honoured to be your friend."

"That is good!" Chalcon declared.

He clapped the younger man on the shoulder enthusiastically, although he used so much force that Jason felt his knees begin to buckle slightly.

"Are you absolutely sure you are alright?" Ariadne asked again, a faint frown marring her beautiful face. "You look tired."

"I'm fine," Jason replied. "Really. I am still a bit tired from the journey yesterday but that's all."

"If that is the case then we should leave you to go and rest," Chalcon said, not unkindly. "I have been on enough long journeys myself to know how hard it can be to catch up on rest afterwards. I understand that there is to be a feast tonight. I hope to see you there? It would be pleasant to have friendly conversation with someone close to my own age for once."

"I will be there," Jason confirmed cautiously.

He wasn't completely sure how he felt about the Tanagran Prince yet and the combination of his pounding headache and tangled emotions weren't helping him think clearly.

"Good… good," Chalcon replied. He hesitated for a moment. "If I am honest I do have an ulterior motive," he admitted. "I have spent most of my adult life attending suppers, feasts and banquets with a succession of very dull old men who my father has gathered as advisors. To be frank, their conversation bores me. I have few friends and none who are with me in Pagenia so if you are not there I will be condemned to another evening of tedious company… apart from Ariadne of course – but doubtless she will be dragged off by the ladies at some point in the evening." He smiled at the Princess and then turned back to Jason with a vaguely mischievous grin.

Jason couldn't help returning the smile. Having had to attend a few formal dinners now, he could fully understand Chalcon's feelings.

"I'll save you from boredom if you'll do the same for me," he said.

"It may not be the dull advisors that Jason needs rescuing from," Ariadne interjected, her eyes dancing. "The last few formal dinners we have had here, he has been accosted by several of the local ladies. There is one in particular who seems most taken with his company. She is the wife of one of the town officials."

"Not that woman in the tight frock?" Jason muttered, looking aghast. "Please don't tell me she's going to be there tonight…"

"Courage, my friend," Chalcon said with a laugh. "If you can rescue me from the dull old men, I will keep the overly familiar women away from you." He paused for a moment. "Perhaps it is too forward of me to ask, but do you hunt?"

"It depends what you mean," Jason answered. "I hunt for food not pleasure."

"It is a good way to put fresh meat on the table," Chalcon replied. "If you would be agreeable, perhaps we could hunt together at some point… or spar. Whichever you would prefer… but maybe I am getting too far ahead of myself? Forgive me. It is just that if we are to be friends, I would like us to get to know one another… and I would wish it to be away from the meetings that King Minos is having every day." He hesitated again. "I just feel that the stiff and formal setting in which we live is not a good place to get to know someone… which is why I suggested today's excursion," he added to Ariadne. "If we are to be married, we really should get to know each other a little better."

Jason's guts twisted at the comment.

"I would be happy to spar or hunt," he said. "Whatever you'd like to do."

"Then we will arrange it," Chalcon replied. "But for now we will take our leave of you. This beautiful creature has promised me a guided tour of the gardens before I have to return to the town to get ready for tonight's feast." He gestured towards Ariadne, his eyes sparkling playfully.

Once they had gone, Jason dropped his head forwards and pinched the bridge of his nose hard between thumb and forefinger, blowing out a tired breath as he did. Tension was ratchetting his headache even higher – a constant thumping that made it nearly impossible to think straight – and that encounter hadn't helped. He didn't know what to make of Chalcon. The man seemed likeable enough (almost over eager in his efforts to be friendly) and it wasn't his fault that he was going to marry the woman that Jason loved, but Jason still wasn't sure how he felt.

"Are you alright?"

Jason started. He wished people wouldn't keep sneaking up on him. He turned to face Pythagoras.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" he asked plaintively.

"Well I cannot speak for anyone else, but in my experience it is not normal to stand in the middle of a courtyard staring at the ground," Pythagoras replied. "But then, you have never been completely normal." He grinned brightly to show that he was only teasing.

Jason grunted in response and Pythagoras' bright smile vanished instantly – being replaced by a worried look.

"You did not answer my question," he pointed out gently.

"I'm fine," Jason answered shortly.

Pythagoras winced. He knew Jason's 'I'm fine' only too well and knew that it rarely meant that he truly was alright; more often than not it actually meant that his friend was about as far from fine as it was possible to be but didn't want to talk about whatever was troubling him. Time for a different tactic then.

"Here," he said, producing a small vial from a satchel on his hip and handing it to his friend.

Jason took it with a frown.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I had an audience with the Queen earlier to discuss a schedule for study," Pythagoras said obliquely, ignoring Jason's audible frustrated sigh. "She informed me that we were not to start studying together until tomorrow as you were with the Oracle and she suspected that it would not have been an easy meeting. I haven't had the same sort of dealings with the Oracle that you have, but on the rare occasions I have spoken with her I have found that her pronouncements are rather difficult to understand and have given me a headache. As you have been with her for some time today, I thought that might help to take the edge off." He gestured towards the vial he had handed his friend.

Jason took it and shook his head gently – immediately wishing he hadn't when his headache spiked.

"Sometimes I think you know me better than I know myself," he murmured ruefully, swallowing the contents of the vial in one quick gulp.

"No," Pythagoras disagreed. "I do not… but I do know you well enough to know that you would suffer in silence if I let you."

Jason rolled his eyes, although he did not verbally disagree.

Pythagoras gave him a long look, noting the tension in Jason's shoulders; the air of disquiet that seemed to roll off him in waves.

"Bathhouse or beach?" he asked.

Jason smiled – not quite his usual bright lop-sided grin but getting towards it.

"Beach," he replied, needing no explanation for Pythagoras' question.

Pythagoras returned his smile.

"Let's go then," he said.

Without another word, the two young men turned and jogged back across the courtyard and through the archway, heading away from the estate and down towards the town.


The beach at Pagenia was very much like the beach at Atlantis; both were remarkably peaceful places. The fishing boats that launched from the shore would be far out to sea now as the fisherman that worked in these waters took advantage of the break in the winter weather and the relatively calm seas today.

The sound of the waves lapping at the shore was soothing, broken every so often by the cry of a solitary gull overhead; a strangely haunting and lonely sound.

Pythagoras sat quietly on the beach, ostensibly studying the sea birds, but casting occasional sidelong glances at his companion.

Jason had taken off his shoes and sat down, burying his feet in the sand and turning his face toward the winter sun (pale and wan but warmer than he would have expected for this time of year), his hands splayed on the sand behind him to support himself. Neither he nor Pythagoras had spoken since they had arrived here (their friendship comfortable and secure enough that neither one of them felt the need to fill every silence with unnecessary chatter) but the mathematician was pleased to see the tension seeping back out of his friend with every moment that passed.

He returned to his observation of the birds, reaching down into his satchel to take out parchment and charcoal, hoping to attempt a sketch of the gull circling above him.

"Thanks for this."

Jason broke the silence without turning to look at Pythagoras.

"We all need a break now and again," Pythagoras replied, putting his attempt at a drawing to one side and turning to focus his attention on his friend, resting his arms loosely on his bent knees.

"Maybe," Jason acknowledged. "Today's a bad day," he admitted. "I really thought I'd got beyond dark days like this."

"Everyone has bad days," Pythagoras pointed out. "I think, perhaps, that you are just a little more aware of them after what happened a few months ago."

"It's possible," Jason agreed. "I just hate it that I seem to manage to involve everyone else too; to worry them. I hate it that whenever I have a day like this you and Hercules seem so worried."

Pythagoras sighed softly.

"I would think myself a poor friend if I did not worry," he said, hooking his arms around his knees. "I do worry about you when this happens because I do not like to see you unhappy… but I also worry when you go off on one of those ridiculously heroic missions that you seem to set yourself… just as I worry about Hercules drinking or gambling too much. I still fear that he will go off one day and do something stupid to try to save Medusa; that he will jump in without thinking and we will not be able to save him. It is natural to worry about your friends; your family… and I suspect, if you are honest, that you feel exactly the same about Hercules and me… After all, I seem to recall a man who offered his life as a sacrifice in place of me with less than two day's acquaintance… and who insisted on staying with me when the Furies were hunting me and the situation looked hopeless. You told me then," he went on, nudging Jason's shoulder with his own, "that that is what friends are for."

Jason snorted quietly.

"It was the right thing to do," he protested. "I couldn't let you be killed by the Minotaur or face the Furies on your own. I would have been being selfish if I hadn't at least tried to help."

"Just as you felt that you had to make the bargain with Circe to save Hercules and Medusa," Pythagoras murmured, "and you could not have lived with yourself if you had not… As I said then, that is why you are the noblest of all of us."

Jason shrugged and looked away, embarrassed.

Pythagoras smiled affectionately and shook his head.

"What will it take for you to believe that Hercules and I care every bit as much for you as you care for us?" he asked.

He didn't really expect an answer to the question; he suspected Jason didn't know the answer anyway.

"I do know that you both care." Jason's softly spoken statement took Pythagoras by surprise. "We're family… but just because I know that you care and that you worry… well, it doesn't mean I have to like worrying you does it?"

"No," Pythagoras agreed, "because I would not like to feel I had upset or worried you either… but equally you have to accept that it is in my nature to worry."

"If you didn't have anything else to worry about you'd worry about not being worried," Jason teased gently.

"Probably," Pythagoras replied, breaking into a grin.

They lapsed into silence for a few minutes.

"I am not surprised that today has not been easy," Pythagoras said eventually. "You have been under increasing pressure lately and telling both the Queen and the Oracle about the visions you have been having cannot have been easy."

Jason grimaced.

"She told me that I can't get rid of them," he admitted. "She said I have to learn to control them. That they're a gift from the Gods; a blessing… but I'm not really sure I believe that. It just makes me more of a freak than ever."

Pythagoras frowned deeply.

"Having different abilities from other people does not make you a freak," he said, perhaps a little more forcefully than he intended. "Hercules has exceptional strength. Is he 'a freak'. I am more intelligent than some. Am I 'a freak'?"

"Well I'm not sure any of us could be classed as completely normal," Jason pointed out with a wry smile.

"The point I am trying to make," Pythagoras went on, ignoring the fact that his friend had spoken, "is that everyone is different. We all have different talents and abilities… and that is as it should be. I believe that the Gods give us our talents for a reason. That we each have a destiny and that our unique abilities have been granted to us to allow us to fulfil that destiny."

"And what if someone doesn't want their destiny?" Jason asked quietly, looking out to sea. "What if I wish to break free of this fate that has been decided for me? If I refuse to follow their plan?"

"Jason, please," Pythagoras implored. "Even you cannot defy the will of the Gods. They will destroy you if you try."

He looked almost stricken. Jason glanced across at him and frowned. He had forgotten just how much Pythagoras revered and feared the Gods.

"Don't worry," the young hero murmured, reaching out to place a hand on his mathematically inclined friend's arm. "I'm not really planning on challenging the Gods – even if I don't quite believe in them the way that you do. It was a hypothetical question. I'm tired and frustrated and it's making me a bit grumpy, that's all."

"Things did not go well with the Oracle then," Pythagoras stated.

"About as well as can be expected I suppose," Jason answered. "I know she's trying to help me – to teach me – but it doesn't help that I don't really understand what she's getting at. I think I understood about one word in three. It makes me feel like I'm completely stupid; that I'm being really dense because I just can't figure out what she means or what she wants me to do."

"I suspect it is simply that the subject is new," Pythagoras replied sympathetically. "I do not know of anyone who can learn all there is to know about something the first time they receive instruction. Give it time. I have no doubt you will master her lessons sooner or later."

Jason grunted and flopped onto his back on the sand, staring up at the sky morosely.

"You will get sand in your hair," Pythagoras pointed out, his practicality coming to the fore.

"Won't be the first time," Jason responded.

He watched the clouds drifting by lazily, mind wandering as he looked for patterns in them. He allowed the tranquillity of his surroundings to seep into him, finally relaxing him; the sound of the waves gently lapping at the shore washing away all conscious thought as his eyes drifted across the clouds overhead.

Pythagoras watched him affectionately for a moment, before turning back to his sketching with some satisfaction. He had been right in thinking that Jason needed to get away from the royal estate for a bit; the tension he had observed in his friend was easing with every passing moment.

Suddenly Jason sat up, eyes wide and blinking as his expression changed into one of startled realisation.

"What?" asked Pythagoras. "What is it?"

"I think I've just worked out something she was getting at," Jason said slowly. "She kept telling me that I needed to 'remove all distractions' and 'focus my inner eye'." He rolled his eyes as he said it. "I think what she meant was that I needed to relax and stop thinking about things. She said that learning to let go was the first step to learning control." He hesitated for a moment. "She also seems to think that I probably had this gift as a kid but that my Dad somehow taught me to block it out; to suppress it. She said that I have to 'unlearn the bad habits of a lifetime' before I can learn to control the visions."

Pythagoras frowned lightly, his fertile mind mulling the problem (as he saw it) over.

"Perhaps…" he began, "that is… I think that you may find that you need find your own way to interpret the Oracle's lessons. I have no doubt that there is much that she can teach you… but perhaps, rather than being overly hard upon yourself for not understanding her meaning straight away, you should take time to quietly think over all she has said and see if understanding comes later. I know that our lives are more restricted here than they used to be when we were in our own home in Atlantis and that there are calls on all our time that there did not used to be… and that this means that you have little opportunity to go for the sorts of long walks that you used to… but perhaps you might still find the time to escape from the house occasionally – even if it is only to come here to the beach for a short time. I would be more than willing to accompany you… if you would like the company at any time that is."

"You may be right," Jason acknowledged, "and getting away now and then sounds good. I miss being able to go off for walks to clear my head. I haven't really had time in the past few weeks but I think maybe I need to make time… and, yeah, I would appreciate the company from time to time." He paused and looked back out to sea for a long moment. "Would you mind if we changed the subject now though?" he asked. "Apparently there's going to be another formal dinner tonight and I'd sort of like to try to relax a bit before it; to not have to think about the Oracle or any of that for a while."

"Of course," Pythagoras replied.

He looked curiously at Jason.

"Who was that with the Princess?" he asked.

Jason grimaced.

"Prince Chalcon of Tanagra," he replied. "Ariadne is betrothed to him."

"Ah," Pythagoras replied tactfully, not completely sure what else he should say; uncertain whether Jason would need comforting.

He was sure that his friend would not take meeting the man who Ariadne was promised to particularly well and couldn't imagine what the Princess was thinking about introducing them in this way.

"I would not have expected her to introduce the two of you in that way," he added.

"Why not?" Jason said flatly. "We had to meet sometime and that was as good a way as any… especially since he will be at this feast tonight anyway." He paused. "Actually, I don't think Ariadne intended us to meet like that," he admitted. "We just happened to be coming back at the same time and she stopped to say hello… and then he joined us." He glanced across at Pythagoras. "I didn't realise you'd seen us talking."

The blonde mathematician shrugged.

"I was waiting for you to come back," he admitted. "I had been waiting by the door to your chamber but I was beginning to get funny looks from the servants… so I thought I would wait in the courtyard instead. I arrived at the entrance in time to see the Princess and her companion taking their leave of you." He looked appraisingly at Jason. "It cannot have been an easy meeting," he observed.

"It was alright," Jason replied. "It was fine."

Pythagoras hid a wince at his use of the word 'fine' again.

"Are you sure?" he asked carefully.

"Yes," Jason snapped.

He caught the slightly hurt look that Pythagoras directed at him and sighed softly. He hadn't really meant to snap at his friend.

"Sorry," he murmured. "I didn't mean to bite. It really was alright. He seems… nice and I hope she'll be happy."

"Jason…"

"It's alright, Pythagoras. I've accepted that she's going to marry him. I told her that I will always be there for her. No matter what."

Pythagoras looked down at the sand and then back out to sea.

"It will not be easy," he said softly. "No-one would blame you for walking away. No-one would think ill of you."

"I would blame me," Jason retorted. "I gave Ariadne my word and I will not break it." He sighed and watched the waves gently breaking against the shoreline. "She introduced me as a kinsman of her family," he admitted softly. "Prince Chalcon… I don't think he had any idea that… well it doesn't matter what feelings Ariadne or I have does it? She's betrothed to him."

"Yes, she is," Pythagoras replied gently. "And with the engysis made there can be no going back without dishonour falling on the King." He sighed. "This is not like it was with Heptarian," he went on. "There is no contest you can win to alter the course of events."

"No," Jason agreed. "It isn't like it was with Heptarian… but then, Prince Chalcon doesn't seem to be the same sort of person as Heptarian anyway."

"What's he like?" the young genius asked.

He was naturally a little curious but that wasn't why he was asking – experience had taught him that Jason fared better if he could be persuaded to open up; if he wasn't left to brood.

"Like I said, he seems nice," Jason answered, hooking his arms around his knees. "He was friendly and charming. I suspect he would be very good socially; good at small talk… Everything a good prince should be"

The last was said a little more bitterly.

"Jason…"

"It's alright," Jason went on. "It doesn't matter. It's just… I don't think I could ever manage to… well… I just don't think I would ever make that sort of good impression." He sighed. "The more formal dinners and social gatherings I go to, the more I realise why I've always avoided parties. I'm no good at small talk and I'm always afraid that I'm going to say or do something and terminally offend someone important without actually meaning to; without realising what I've done. I'm never going to manage to be what Pasiphae wants me to be no matter how hard I try. I'm just not cut out to be a proper prince."

Pythagoras mirrored his posture.

"I think you sell yourself short," he said seriously. "It is a fault of yours that I have noticed before – that you undervalue yourself; think less of yourself than others do of you." He smiled at Jason fondly. "Not that I expect to convince you of this… I've never managed it before… But think about it, if you were so likely to give a bad impression, would the King or Queen risk humiliation by repeatedly insisting on your presence at formal occasions? I think not. While they might have done so once, they would not be likely to repeat such a mistake. The fact that they keep expecting you to attend is in itself a sign that they do not find you wanting."

Jason snorted softly, but the corners of his mouth quirked up into a slight smile at the same time.

"Pasiphae certainly seems keen for me to be there," he acknowledged.

He paused for a moment, looking out to sea and biting his lip. He wasn't entirely sure how his friend would react to what he was about to say, although he did remind himself that it was Pythagoras he was talking to – the less volatile and more understanding of his two friends – and not Hercules… who was almost certain to object.

"I've got something to tell you actually," he said softly, "and I don't quite know… I'm not sure you're going to like what I'm going to say – and I know Hercules won't."

"Why?" Pythagoras asked insistently. "Jason what have you done?"

"Nothing," Jason replied defensively. "At least… nothing yet – and it's not permanent anyway… I can still stop it if I want…"

Pythagoras turned to face his friend, expression very serious now and attention fully focussed on Jason.

"You are babbling," he pointed out. "It is something that Hercules accuses me of all too frequently when there is something that I am nervous of saying. So tell me – what is it?"

Jason swallowed hard.

"You know that my mother wants me to stay with them permanently?" he asked. "That she wants me to take what she keeps referring to as 'my rightful place'?"

"She has hardly made a secret of it," Pythagoras answered.

"The thing is… I'm not ready to make any permanent decisions yet and I've told her that," Jason went on. "She's been pretty good about not pushing me actually; about not forcing me into anything… but I know she wants me to learn more about what taking the place she wants me to would entail – and I can't do that if I don't try. That's partly what the lessons she wants you to do with me are about I think; teaching me about her world and the life she wants me to be part of."

"I suspect you are right," Pythagoras replied. "But you still haven't told me what it is that you think Hercules and I won't like."

Jason sighed.

"When we get back to Atlantis, I won't be coming home with you guys," he admitted softly. "Not at first anyway. I want to… when I think of home it's of you guys and our house." He paused for a moment. "But I don't think it would be fair of me to reject everything Pasiphae and the King are offering without considering it seriously… and I don't think I can do that without knowing a bit more about their everyday lives when there's not a siege and we're not at war. I spoke to Pasiphae yesterday and I told her that I think I'd like to stay with them at the Palace for a while once we are back in Atlantis. I don't think I'll really be able to make a decision about the future unless I do and if I don't…"

"You will always wonder what would have happened if you had given them a chance," Pythagoras finished for him. "I think you are right. I think that you do have to do this. They are your family after all."

"So are you and Hercules," Jason asserted firmly. "I didn't have a family until I met you guys; I didn't have a home. I'm not just going to turn my back on you."

"I never thought you would," Pythagoras assured him. "And we will still be there. If you decide in the end that you do not wish to remain at the Palace, your bed will still be there in our house. It will remain your home for as long as you want it to… but this is a course you have to take so that you do not look back and regret what might have been."

Jason looked at him seriously.

"Thank you," he said.

"For what?" Pythagoras asked.

"For being so understanding. For making it easier for me." Jason paused. "I'm still not sure Hercules will take it well though," he added. "I don't want him to think that I'm abandoning you guys."

Pythagoras sighed.

"Hercules may not react well at first," he acknowledged. "I suspect he will worry… not that he will ever admit it of course."

"Of course not," Jason agreed with a slight grin.

Pythagoras couldn't help returning that faint smile with one of his own; Hercules' constant refusal to admit that he worried about either of his friends had become something of a running joke between the two of them.

"If he does explode," he said carefully, not wanting to offend Jason, "I would suggest trying not to antagonise him further… I know you would not try to," he added, holding up one hand to forestall his friend's objection, "but Hercules' temper is not always easy to navigate and you sometimes dig your heels in at the most inconvenient moments."

"So what are you saying?" Jason asked.

"I am saying that no matter what Hercules says – or shouts – the best course would be to remain calm and to try to placate him," Pythagoras advised. "I know that is not always easy but the best thing would be simply to weather the storm as best you can; to allow him to lose his temper and calm down of his own accord. I am speaking from experience. I have known Hercules for a lot longer than you have after all. In the end Hercules will come around as he always does. We will both be there to help if you should need it, I am sure of it. I will support you… no matter where you decide your future lies in the end."

"You always have," Jason replied. "You have always been the kindest man I have ever met." He put a hand on Pythagoras' arm. "You're a good friend, Pythagoras."

The young genius looked down at the sand, faintly embarrassed by his friend's declaration; he certainly didn't think he was all that special after all.

"I try," he muttered. "So, Prince Chalcon seemed nice?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah," Jason replied. "He… erm… he said he would like to be friends."

"He wants to be friends?" Pythagoras asked, a little startled. "But you have only just met…"

"I know," Jason answered, "but he seemed pretty genuine about it… I got the feeling he's a bit lonely. He admitted that he doesn't have many friends and that none of them are here in Pagenia so I think he was just looking for a bit of company."

"How do you feel about that?"

Jason sighed and looked out to sea again.

"I don't know," he acknowledged pensively. "I have every reason in the world to dislike him; I don't want to like him and be his friend…"

"No-one could blame you for feeling like that under the circumstances," Pythagoras replied.

"Maybe," Jason responded, "but there's just one problem."

"What's that?"

"I think I do like him," Jason admitted. "He seems like a really nice guy and what his father's done isn't his fault. Pasiphae basically told me yesterday that Prince Chalcon doesn't seem to be happy about the engagement but that he's trying to make the best of it – just like the rest of us. You'll get to judge him for yourself soon enough though – he wants to go hunting or to spar or something… he basically left it up to me to decide – and you know I'm not going to go anywhere without you guys… as long as you want to come, that is."

"Don't be ridiculous," Pythagoras replied. "Of course I will come… and I suspect that wild horses would not be able to drag Hercules away – especially if there is a chance to show off his hunting prowess… although I do have to ask, will King Agrias be there? Or indeed any of the other kings? Because I do not think they would take too kindly to going on a hunting expedition with Hercules or I."

"Why?" Jason asked.

Pythagoras smiled widely. Jason's inability to see class distinction was in some ways one of his more endearing traits – even if it had caused a great deal of trouble for him and his friends in the past; his somewhat unique view of life was refreshing if nothing else.

"Because we are peasants," the mathematician gently pointed out. "We are not members of the nobility."

Jason turned to look at his friend with a frown.

"You're worth more than them put together," he growled.

"It does not alter the fact that they are rich and powerful," Pythagoras murmured. "Something which I fear neither Hercules nor I will ever be… and I would not wish to be. I would like to be a little more comfortably off than we generally are. I would like to know that we always have enough to eat and to be able to spend my time at study rather than working at one of Hercules' guarding jobs – which never seem to end well – and yet I find that in general I am satisfied with my life. All this is beside the point, however. My original question stands. If you were to go hunting with Prince Chalcon, will King Agrias or any of the other kings be there?"

"I don't think so," Jason answered. "I get the feeling Prince Chalcon wants to get away from his father for a bit and this will give him an excuse."

He dropped back to lie on the sand again, head pillowed on his arms, watching the clouds go by idly as the winter sun shone down warmly.

"We're not in any rush to get back, are we?" he asked.

"Not as far as I'm concerned," Pythagoras replied. "Hercules has gone beetle racing… don't ask," he added as Jason turned his head to squint at him. "I have no reason to hurry back if you do not."

"Nah," Jason murmured. "There's the formal dinner tonight but I don't have anywhere to be until then."

"Then we can stay as long as we like," Pythagoras said.

"Good," Jason responded.

He turned back to look at the sky, the last of the tension draining out of him. Beside him, Pythagoras lay back and looked up at the clouds himself.

"Are you looking for pictures in the clouds again?" the young genius asked, remembering Jason doing it once before and smiling at the memory.

"When I was a little boy my Dad's friend Mac used to come and take me out whenever he was back in town," Jason told him quietly. "More often than not we'd end up at the beach. Most of the time I didn't want to go back when it was time to leave… I mean, it was different when I was living with Chloe but the rest of the time… Anyway, I used to try to put off leaving for as long as possible; used to lie on the sand and look up at the clouds and make up stories in my head; pretend that I was somebody's long lost son and they were out there somewhere looking for me, that sort of thing. But most of the time, I'd just look at the clouds and daydream; look to see what pictures I could see there and make up things that might happen if I saw something specific… Like maybe, if I saw a horse or something then someone would be coming to rescue me from the children's home, that sort of thing." He smiled softly up at the sky. "Sometimes I like to just look up at the sky and remember, you know? To look for the things that I looked for back then and to think about just how far I've come since then."

"It is an innocent enough pastime in a troubled world," Pythagoras agreed. He glanced at his friend. "Perhaps I will join you in it," he added with a grin.

"As long as you don't keep telling me you've seen triangles this time," Jason replied, chuckling.

He stretched lazily and returned to his quiet contemplation of the clouds once more.