A/N Good morning. Well here I am with another chapter (finally!).

As ever, I own nothing but my own ideas - Atlantis and its characters (unfortunately) belongs to the BBC.

I hope you enjoy the chapter - don't forget to let me know if you do ;-)


Once he had left the meeting room, Jason hurried down the corridor to his own chamber. He couldn't let the Atlantian soldiers get to Medusa, he just couldn't. He wasn't sure who would be more in danger: Medusa, who was being hunted, or the soldiers, who would risk being turned to stone simply by being near to her. The potential for disaster was too high for him to think about. What it boiled down to was that Medusa was a friend and Hercules loved her – would to anything to save her. For Jason that was enough.

He fought the urge to break into a run, knowing that he was more likely to be noticed if he did and wanting to avoid that at all costs. Finally, though, he reached the door of his room and stepped inside.

Hurrying over to the bed, Jason dropped to one knee and grabbed the bag he had stuffed under there when he had returned from Athanos just a couple of days ago. At the time he had believed that he wouldn't need it again until they left to reclaim Atlantis and yet here he was, just three days on, planning another hasty trip. If all went well, though, this would be a very short journey; short enough that he could hopefully find Medusa, escort her to safety and get back here before anyone really noticed he was missing – particularly if he could persuade someone to cover for him.

Really, he was only packing a bag in case of emergency – so that if it took longer than he thought he would still be alright. If, by some twist of bad luck, he was delayed in returning, he knew there would be little chance of his absence escaping his mother's notice but he was willing to face whatever consequences might come his way if it meant saving Medusa.

Pushing himself back to his feet, Jason bit his lip absently, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room, trying to decide what to pack in the bag. He shoved a couple of blankets into it and on a whim grabbed a spare tunic and trousers (the plainest ones he could find in the box at the end of his bed). Crossing to the table, he emptied the fruit out of the bowl into the bag. It would have been better if he could have got some bread and proper food to take for Medusa but this would have to do. If he took the short hunting bow that was tucked behind the door with him there might perhaps be a chance to catch something before he left her so that he could at least make sure she had some fresh meat (something he suspected was a rarity for the woman given that any living creature that looked at her was instantly turned to stone).

Moving quickly, he changed into his everyday clothes (the ones he had arrived at the Palace in all those weeks ago), pulled on his breastplate and grabbed his cloak and sword from a hook on the back of the door. Then he stopped dead in the middle of the room. What was he doing? He'd promised both the King and Pasiphae that he wouldn't run off like this again after that last night in Atlantis when he had left the Palace unannounced and gone to fight in the battle. Yet here he was, jumping into something with both feet without stopping to think about it.

Jason shook himself hard. Hercules always said he acted without thinking – was too impulsive – and right now he was just proving the big man right.

What else could he do though? He supposed he could have tried to speak to Minos (the man had been nothing but kind and fair to him so far after all) but, truth be told, he wasn't entirely sure that would have been fair to the King. Minos had a duty to protect his people and Medusa was a threat to their safety whether Jason liked it or not. He didn't think it would have been right to put the King in a position where he had to choose between the welfare of his men and the happiness of his stepson.

So where did that leave him? He couldn't let Hercules know what was going on – that much was certain. The burly wrestler would want to run off to save Medusa no matter what the cost to himself (Jason resolutely ignored the little voice in his head that pointed out that that was what he had been about to do too) and there was always the risk that he would try to sacrifice himself to save her again, like he had tried to do on the shores of Cisthene. Pythagoras and Jason had long since agreed that they couldn't let that happen – so telling Hercules that Medusa was nearby was definitely out.

That left just two people really who he could talk this over with (he discounted both Ariadne and the Oracle out of hand because he felt there was little either of them could do to help in this particular situation) – Pythagoras and Pasiphae.

Speaking with Pythagoras was a must of course. The genius mathematician would be the one left behind to prevent Hercules from finding out what was going on after all. Pythagoras was likely to want to come along to help but the truth was that since he couldn't look at Medusa safely, he would be much more useful here effectively guarding Hercules and preventing the big man from learning the truth.

So the question remained, should he speak to his mother? Jason paused, deep in thought.

The truth was that he didn't feel like he knew Pasiphae well enough yet to be able to predict how she would react. Would she be sympathetic and understand his need to help a friend? Or would she only see Medusa as a threat and forbid him to go. There was only one way to find out he supposed.

Right there and then though, Jason promised himself that, whatever Pasiphae said, he would still save Medusa from the soldiers Dion was despatching to hunt her (promised Hercules and Medusa that he would not let them down).

Decision made, he stuck his head out of the room and checked the corridor beyond, making sure he wouldn't be seen leaving. As quietly as he could, Jason slipped out and down around the corner to the chamber Pythagoras and Hercules shared.

Outside the door he paused and hid his cloak, sword and bag behind a handy plant so that if Hercules happened to be in the room he wouldn't question what Jason was doing with them (Jason was fairly certain he could explain away the breastplate by saying he'd just returned from sparring or something but the cloak and bag would be a bit of a giveaway that he was planning on going somewhere).

He tapped the door and stuck his head round.

"Alright if I come in?" he asked.

Pythagoras looked up from a parchment he was studying at the table. It appeared to be covered with triangles.

"Of course," he replied. "You don't really need to ask."

Jason made his way in and flopped down onto a stool opposite the mathematician.

"No Hercules?" he inquired, looking around the chambers, relieved when he didn't see the burly wrestler.

"No," Pythagoras answered with a smile as he pushed away the parchment. "Nisos came to ask for his help earlier. Several of the soldiers have been losing heavily at dice in the town. Dion suspects that it may be a rigged game; that a cheat and a trickster is at work. He has asked Nisos to investigate but the soldiers who have lost their money have proved less than willing to talk about it – I suspect they are embarrassed. Nisos knows that Hercules likes to gamble so he came to ask where this possibly rigged game is going on. Hercules decided it would be easier to show him all the possible locations – perhaps because most of them are in taverns – so they have gone off together. I am fully expecting to find him passed out drunk somewhere in the morning."

"It's probably just as well he's not here," Jason said seriously. "It's you I need to talk to anyway… and it's something that I need to keep Hercules from finding out about… for now at least."

Pythagoras frowned deeply. He never liked the thought of keeping secrets from either one of his friends – even at times when he knew it was necessary.

"I think you had better tell me the worst," he said. "What's going on?"

Jason looked down at the table top, trying to gather his thoughts, picking absently at a splinter with one ragged fingernail. Pythagoras' frown deepened with concern and he reached out to still his friend's hands.

"Jason," he said firmly. "What are you worrying about? What is wrong?"

Jason looked up at him, his head still bowed towards the table.

"I think they've found Medusa," he said.

"What are you talking about?" Pythagoras asked. "Who has found Medusa?"

"A patrol," Jason answered. "An Atlantian patrol." He looked his friend full in the face. "Dion has received word that one of the patrols he sent out believes they have encountered a gorgon several hours ride to the west, in the woodlands along the coast. One of the soldiers was apparently turned to stone."

"That doesn't mean that it is definitely Medusa," Pythagoras protested. "I know that gorgons are extremely rare but it is possible that it might not be her."

"I don't think we can afford to take that risk," Jason replied. "The King has ordered Dion to send men to sweep the caves along the coast and destroy the gorgon if they find her. Medusa was living in a cave before… and if it is her I cannot sit idly back and see her killed."

"No," Pythagoras agreed. "We cannot risk that." He looked trustingly at his friend. "So what is the plan?" he asked. "What are we going to do?"

"I'm going to take a horse and head down the coast tonight," Jason answered. "If I leave now I should be able to get there ahead of the soldiers. If it is Medusa then I'll get her away to safety… and if it's not then I think I'm probably the best person to deal with it anyway… after all, I'm the only person we know about that can look at Medusa and not be turned to stone."

"Very well," Pythagoras said. "Give me a few moments to get ready and we will be under way."

"No," Jason replied. "I don't think you should come with me." He grabbed Pythagoras' hand before the young genius could protest against what he was saying. "You know there's no-one I trust more than you and Hercules… and you know there's no-one I'd rather have at my side… but I'm going to need you to cover for me here."

"Jason," Pythagoras began, fully intending to argue his point.

"Listen," Jason said. "If Hercules comes back early and finds us gone, what will he do?"

"Try to follow us," Pythagoras replied with realisation dawning on his face. "And if he discovers that there is a possible threat to Medusa there will be no stopping him."

"Exactly," Jason said. "Part of me wonders whether Medusa left Cisthene because she was afraid that Hercules would come back and try to sacrifice himself for her again. You know that I went back with supplies but she'd gone."

"If that was truly what she feared, then I am very much afraid she may have been right," Pythagoras murmured. "Even now, thinking about what happened is like a knife to his heart. I genuinely fear what he would do if he were to find her again."

"Which is why we can't tell him," Jason replied seriously. "I need you to stay here in case Hercules comes back and to make sure he never learns where I have gone. I give you my word that if this is Medusa, I will get her to safety."

"He will never forgive either one of us if he learns that we kept Medusa's location from him," Pythagoras pointed out.

"I know," Jason admitted, "but I'd far rather have an angry Hercules than a dead Hercules. I'm not willing to risk that even if it means he never talks to me again."

"Yes," Pythagoras replied, looking earnestly at his friend. "Me too."

"Right then," Jason said. "I'd better be getting on. I need to go and speak to Pasiphae before I leave."

Pythagoras frowned.

"Is that wise?" he asked. "Forgive me but Pasiphae is not noted for her kindness and she has shown herself to be somewhat protective of you. Surely she will object to you leaving?"

"Maybe she will," Jason answered, "but I still need to talk to her. I promised her that I wouldn't disappear again without telling her. Apparently she was a bit upset when I did it the night before the Amphigeneians took Atlantis."

"Yes," Pythagoras replied. "She was upset… and more than just a bit. She called me to see her that night before I came to look for you. She was worried and angry."

Jason grimaced and nodded. He still felt a little guilty for worrying his mother so much – even though part of him still struggled to believe anyone had actually been worried about him.

"The King told me," he said softly. "He said she was frightened that she was going to lose me again. I promised him that I'd never go off like that again without talking to someone… I promised them both – and I'm not going to break that promise."

"You never break your promises if there's any way of keeping them," Pythagoras stated. "It is part of what makes you who you are."

"Mmm," Jason replied. "Anyway, I hope that she'll understand why I'm doing this at least… Don't get me wrong, I know she can be difficult and I know that she's not a good person… but she has tried to understand when it's something that I feel strongly about and so far she hasn't let me down… and at the end of the day I'm going to try to rescue Medusa whether my mother agrees or not. I'd rather go with her blessing but I'll still find a way round it if she objects… and I'm more than willing to face any consequences if it means Medusa is safe."

Pythagoras looked steadily at him.

"I do not think any consequences Pasiphae could come up with would be pleasant… or anything to make light of," he pointed out.

The corners of Jason's mouth twisted up slightly into a small but sardonic smile.

"I know," he said, "but I still think it's worth the risk… I don't think Pasiphae would do anything too permanent to me after all… and who knows? She might not object at all." He hesitated for a moment. "You don't have to be part of this if you don't want to," he added. "I won't think any less of you."

"Nonsense," Pythagoras said firmly. "You have no hope of success without me."

He grinned to let Jason know he was joking.

Jason returned his smile.

"No. All will be well," he said, more hopefully than he perhaps believed. "But if I am to get to Medusa before the soldiers, then I need to get moving."

"Very well," Pythagoras replied. "Then let us go and speak with the Queen."


Pasiphae stood in the window of her chamber looking out at the setting sun and going over the events of the day in her mind. Everything was going well. Minos had sent for her shortly after the other Kings had left him and gone over the events of the meeting with her. Jason's suggestion of using ships to transport them and their armies to retake Atlantis definitely met with her approval. The plan was clever both for its simplicity and for the fact that it was not something conventional and was therefore less likely to be anticipated. It was gratifying to learn that her son was capable of reasoned thought – of strategic planning – and was not simply given to impulsive and irrational behaviour. She sighed inaudibly. That last thought was less kind than she had intended. It was just that she worried a little about just how much Jason let himself be ruled by his heart. She knew, though, that he was not unintelligent and he had proved himself to be capable of devising well thought out plans when he had come up with the ideas that had brought them here and given them the means of creating an army. While it was true that he had no formal training in tactics, it was also clear that he had some natural talent – even if his ideas were unconventional.

Minos had been pleased and had made sure that she knew it. Pasiphae smiled softly. She would take some pleasure in letting Jason know just how proud she was of him. It was strange (almost frightening) how much her thoughts and feelings had changed over the last few weeks since she had met her son properly for the first time. Then, much as she had longed to have Jason at her side, she had been determined to mould him into the person she had decided he would be; had decided that she would never be indulgent or ignore any perceived deficiencies in Jason's character; had never dreamed that she would actually find her son charming. Now, she found herself willing to let the smaller things slide a little; found herself looking forwards to the time she spent alone with Jason – jealously guarded any time they had. She loved her dark-haired son fiercely and was far prouder of him than she would ever have believed possible.

The Sun dropped a little lower towards the horizon. It really was a beautiful evening. The sky was coloured in pinks and blues, ranging from a pink so dark it was almost red to a blue so pale it looked silver, and the Sun was a ball of blazing orange-gold, reflected in the sparkling waves of the sea. It would be time to send for the handmaiden who had been looking after her here in Pagenia and to start dressing for supper soon. For the moment, though, Pasiphae was loath to do that, preferring to take a few more minutes to herself (a rarity these days).

A firm knock at the door made her turn swiftly. Jason and his friend Pythagoras slipped quickly into the room, the young mathematician quietly shutting the door behind him. Pasiphae's eyes narrowed suspiciously as she took in her son's appearance. Why was Jason wearing that breastplate?

"I need to talk to you," Jason said before she could speak and dispensing with any greeting.

Pasiphae frowned deeply.

"Go on," she said.

Jason exchanged a quick look with Pythagoras.

"I don't know quite where to start," he admitted.

"The beginning is always a good place," Pasiphae retorted sharply.

Jason swallowed and nodded.

"Yes," he agreed.

He came to stand beside Pasiphae at the window.

"Not long after I first came to Atlantis, an old man came to us and asked us to help him find his daughter," he said. "Anyway, to cut a long story short, this man's daughter had been kidnapped to be initiated into the maenads. I promised him I would rescue her… only, when we found her she didn't want to leave. She had become a maenad."

"That is hardly an unusual story," Pasiphae sniffed. "It is the normal course of events when Dionysus is involved."

"There was another woman there, though, who had been kidnapped by them and wished only for escape. Medusa. Her name was – is – Medusa," Jason went on. "We… I couldn't leave her. I couldn't let the satyrs kill her… so we rescued her and brought her back to Atlantis with us."

Pasiphae's frown grew ever deeper as a dreadful suspicion began to dawn upon her.

"Are you trying to tell me that you have been intimate with this woman?" she demanded.

The look of horror that came over Jason's face was almost comical.

"No!" he spluttered. "God no! She's my friend, nothing more! She and I… I would never… I've never even thought of Medusa that way…"

Pasiphae heaved a silent sigh of relief. The last thing she wanted to have to deal with right now was any claims from former paramours or any children born out of wedlock. Given her son's attachment to Ariadne, and knowing what she did of his character, such an outcome had seemed unlikely – and yet she had still feared it.

"No," Jason went on. "Medusa and Hercules… well, they love each other." He paused and smiled softly to himself. "I don't think any of us expected Medusa to fall in love with Hercules… Hercules least of all… but the heart wants what it wants… you know?"

"Why exactly are you telling me this?" Pasiphae asked sharply. "And why are you wearing armour when I believe you are supposed to be getting ready for supper?"

Jason sighed.

"You remember I told you that I went away to work and when I came back I was ill?" he asked.

"You said you were injured while you were away and that that led to a serious illness," Pasiphae answered."

"Yes," Jason replied. "Medusa helped Pythagoras and Hercules to look after me… and gave me a kick up the bum when I was feeling sorry for myself and needed it."

Pasiphae frowned at his strange turn of phrase but did not interrupt.

"Anyway, not long after that Medusa was kidnapped by someone who Hercules owed money to," her son went on. "He basically told Hercules that he had to retrieve a box that he wanted or Medusa would be killed… What we didn't know at the time was that it was Pandora's Box."

"But that is guarded by Kampê in the blackest depths of Tartarus," Pasiphae stated.

Jason somehow wasn't surprised that his mother knew both what Pandora's Box was and where it had been kept.

"Well it was," he replied. "Hercules and I sort of went and fetched it."

"You descended into Hades?" Pasiphae asked incredulously.

"Well, yes," Jason answered, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. "How else were we going to save Medusa?"

"How exactly did you do this without dying?" Pasiphae demanded.

"We sought out the hierophant Eunapius," Pythagoras answered softly. "We… or perhaps I should say Jason… persuaded him to instruct us in the sacred Mysteries of Eleusis."

"The devotees of Persephone are not known for revealing their secrets," Pasiphae remarked, raising her eyebrow at her son.

"I may have threatened him," Jason muttered, looking a little sheepish. "I'm not necessarily proud of myself for doing it but I was willing to do anything to save Medusa." He paused for a moment and sighed softly. "Anyway, we retrieved the box but before we did, Kampê told us that it had once belonged to Pandora. Well, I couldn't let Kyros have it after that… who knows what he'd have done with it."

"You knew what it was then?"

"I'd heard of it, yeah," Jason admitted. "A box that contains all the evils of the world."

"Indeed," Pasiphae mused softly, looking out at the sunset thoughtfully. "And in the wrong hands it could bring disaster… or be a powerful weapon." She looked sharply at Jason. "Where is the box now?" she demanded.

Jason returned her look steadily.

"You know I am not going to tell you that, don't you?" he replied. "That box has brought nothing but sorrow."

He looked out of the window for a minute before continuing.

"We tricked Kyros by having a copy made of the box and exchanging that for Medusa," he went on. "It worked really well. Only, in the fight that followed, Hercules sent Medusa back to our house for safety. The real box was hidden there. She opened it… and was cursed." He sighed deeply. "Medusa has become a gorgon and we haven't been able to find a cure… or at least, we haven't been able to find a cure that didn't have too high a price."

"It is a tale of woe," Pasiphae said. She looked at Jason shrewdly. "But why are you telling me this now? What has this to do with me?"

"The Oracle would not help me to find a way to lift the curse," Jason replied obliquely. "She said that this is Medusa's fate… but it is a fate that she does not deserve! She has done nothing wrong!"

"There are few who do deserve the fates that are chosen for them… but it is not for you or I to judge," Pasiphae retorted sharply. "It is the Moirai who determine what fate awaits any man or woman."

"Pythagoras says much the same thing," Jason said, "but I cannot accept that this fate is what has been determined for Medusa. I cannot accept that we should do nothing to try to change it."

"That is not what I said and you know it!" Pythagoras responded. "I said that if it was Medusa's fate to be cursed then there was nothing that anyone could have done to avoid it… but that perhaps it is our fate to lift that curse."

"Maybe," Jason acknowledged.

"You still have not answered my question," Pasiphae pointed out briskly.

Jason swallowed hard.

"The only way we found to lift Medusa's curse was for Hercules to sacrifice his life," Jason said. "Medusa wasn't willing to do that – could not see the man she loved die for her – so she left. She had been living in a cave. I went back to take her some supplies but she'd gone."

"So that is how you know that you can look at a gorgon and not be affected by her," Pasiphae murmured, half to herself.

"Anyway," Jason went on. "This evening, just after the meeting ended, Dion asked to speak with the King. He said that his men had accidentally found evidence of a gorgon living somewhere down the coast to the west of here – about three hours ride away. He suggested that if the Amphigeneians got hold of her, she would be a dangerous weapon."

"He is right. She would," Pasiphae stated seriously. "She could kill hundreds without ever lifting a finger."

"Medusa would never do that willingly," Jason asserted. "I know her. I know she would never want to hurt anyone."

"You knew her," Pasiphae corrected sharply. "In my experience, such adversity can irrevocably change a person – and not necessarily for the better." She paused to look at her son. "Even if you are correct, there might be circumstances under which she had no choice."

Jason sighed.

"I know," he admitted. "I may not like to think it, but I do know." He hesitated. "And I understand why Dion has no option but to see her as a threat too. In his mind she is no more than a monster."

"And we do not actually know that it is Medusa," Pythagoras murmured. "Although I do agree that it is likely to be her," he added placatingly in response to Jason's irritated look.

"The King has ordered Dion to despatch men tonight to hunt her down and kill her," Jason said, not taking his eyes from his mother's face. "I can't sit by and see that happen."

"So what do you expect me to do?" Pasiphae asked briskly. "It would seem that the woman's fate is decided. Even were I to succeed in changing Minos' mind, it would likely be too late and the soldiers well on their way before the King could countermand his earlier orders."

"Nothing," Jason answered. "I don't want you to do anything." He paused and took a deep breath. "I'm going to go and get her away before the soldiers can get there. I'm going to take her to somewhere she'll be safe and then come back here."

Pasiphae's eyes hardened instantly.

"I see," she said, her tone deadly cold. "And if I were to order you not to go?"

"Then I'm afraid this would be one of those occasions that we talked about when I would have to refuse to do what you wanted," Jason replied seriously. "I am not going to leave Medusa to suffer and I'm willing to face the consequences of my actions if it comes to that. Besides," he added, "I'm probably the best person to deal with a gorgon anyway, since I can actually look at her and not be affected. A lot of men that we really can't afford to lose could be turned to stone trying to get rid of the gorgon. If it's Medusa, I can take her away from here and hopefully find somewhere where she won't be such a threat to people… and if it isn't, then I can deal with her as I need to."

"It would appear that you have at least begun to think this through," Pasiphae murmured, stepping away to give herself a little time and space to think. "If you have already decided on a course of action though," she said, turning back sharply towards her son, "why have you come to me?"

Jason sighed. He crossed the space between them and caught hold of his mother's hand.

"Because I promised both you and the King that I would never disappear like I did the night before Atlantis fell again," he said softly. "And I promised myself that I would never worry you like that again… I've also promised myself that I won't let Medusa and Hercules down, though. If there is any way to save her, I'm willing to do it." He paused for a moment. "I also told you because I hoped you would understand; that you would see why I want to do this… and why I am the best person to deal with a gorgon – whether it's Medusa or not."

Pasiphae watched him closely for a moment.

"Very well," she replied. She turned her head to fix Pythagoras with a hard look. "And what is to be your role in all of this?" she enquired. "After all I hardly think my son has brought you to my chambers for decorative purposes."

She deliberately ignored the dark look Jason was directing towards her.

Pythagoras flinched slightly and swallowed hard.

"No, my Lady," he answered. "I will remain here to stave off any enquiries. My role will be to ensure that no-one realises Jason has gone."

"Especially Hercules," Jason muttered. "He can be a little… irrational when it comes to Medusa," he added in response to Pasiphae's questioning look. "He doesn't always think clearly."

"I was not aware that your friend Hercules even knew how to think, much less think clearly," Pasiphae replied waspishly.

Jason bristled; his eyes flashing dangerously.

"So if he is to remain here," Pasiphae went on, gesturing at Pythagoras, "and your friend Hercules is not even being told you have gone, who will be accompanying you on this fool's errand you are intent on?"

"No-one," Jason replied abruptly, his anger clear in his sharp tone. "I don't need a babysitter."

Both Pasiphae and Pythagoras looked at him in a slightly confused manner – neither of them fully understanding the strange phraseology.

"It's more important for Pythagoras to stay here and cover for me," Jason added, relenting slightly. "If I'm going to get Medusa away safely then I need to make sure that no-one wonders where I am and starts looking." He sighed. "And the last thing either of us wants is Hercules following me. I told you a few minutes ago that the only way we had found to lift Medusa's curse was for Hercules to sacrifice his own life… only, what I didn't tell you was that he'd already tried. Obviously we stopped him… but I'm afraid that if he finds Medusa he'll try again. Besides," he added with a quick half-smile at Pythagoras, "Pythagoras wouldn't be able to be around Medusa safely anyway. All he would have to do was accidentally glance in her direction and he would be turned to stone. If he were to come with me, I'd probably spend all my time worrying about that."

"I still do not believe that you should go alone," Pasiphae retorted. She held up one hand to stave off her son's objections. "I know that you are capable of looking after yourself," she said, "but it would be easier to complete this mission of yours if you were to have help."

Jason shook his head.

"I couldn't put anyone else in danger like that," he argued.

"And if you were to take someone with you who would not be affected by a gorgon's gaze?" Pasiphae asked lightly.

"I don't understand," Jason admitted. "I don't know of anyone else who can look at Medusa and not be turned to stone."

The corners of Pasiphae's mouth tilted up in cold amusement.

"Do you not?" she asked smoothly. "I believed we had already established some time ago that you were unaffected by the gorgon's curse because you are touched by the Gods."

Jason's eyes narrowed thoughtfully and he frowned slightly as he thought back to the conversation he had had with his mother in the hunting lodge.

"The only other person that I know of who is touched by the Gods is… you," he said slowly.

"Indeed," Pasiphae agreed. "And like you I am unaffected by a gorgon."

She paused and looked out of the window for a moment, gathering her thoughts; her mind busily planning the night ahead.

"So," she said. "This is what will happen. You will leave here and use the servant's door at the side of the house to get to the courtyard – try not to be seen. From there, you will go to the stables and prepare two horses. The stables are likely to be deserted at this time of night so you should not encounter anyone. Lead the horses to the path above the town and wait for me there. I will go to the King and explain our absence at supper. I will tell Minos that I have been called to the temple in the town and that the summons is urgent. You are with me because the Oracle has requested your presence at my side. Minos will not question the will of Poseidon's Oracle. It should buy us the time we need to find this woman you are intent on saving." She turned to Pythagoras. "Your only role will be to prevent your drunken friend from learning that Jason has gone and from finding out why. I suspect you will find that easier than having to lie directly to the King."

"I can't ask you to do this," Jason protested.

"And you have not," Pasiphae retorted sharply. "I do not do this because you have asked me. I do this because I will not see you wantonly place yourself in danger without any means of help, you foolish boy. I would forbid you to do this but I can see no benefit to doing so since you have openly told me you would defy my orders. I could, of course, lock you in your chambers and post guards to prevent your leaving… but I suspect that you would simply try to escape – and it is not a subject that I feel strongly enough about to wish to be at odds with you." She raised an eyebrow and looked at her son gravely. "I know that there will come a time when we are bound to argue and that there will be times when I expect you to obey my commands even if you disagree – but for now I do not see the point of creating discord. Besides," she added in an offhand manner, "it may be that the gorgon might be of use to us as she would be of use to the Amphigeneians. She would be a formidable weapon."

"Medusa would never agree to that," Jason asserted, shaking his head.

"Perhaps you are right," Pasiphae answered. "And perhaps you are not. We shall see when we find her… but if we are to find her and spirit her to safety – presuming that it is indeed your friend of course and not some other monster – we must move quickly. There is little more to say. Go and do as I have instructed and I shall meet you shortly."


"There," Jason called softly, pointing to an object on the beach.

His voice sounded horribly loud in the still night, even though he was speaking as quietly as he could.

They had ridden hard along the coast road, knowing that they would have to move fast if they were to have any chance of finding Medusa and getting her away to safety before the Atlantian troops caught up with them. As they had gone, Jason had told his mother a little more about Medusa as a way of passing the time; had told her the story of how they had met in far more detail than earlier; told her how Medusa had saved his life when he and his friends had been sentenced to leap the bulls (and if he noticed Pasiphae flinch slightly when he casually mentioned the little mud figure wrapped with his hair that Medusa had found and stolen to save him, he chose not to acknowledge it).

It had been easy enough to find the statue of the Atlantian soldier in the woods near the coast; his face forever fixed in a horrified expression; his hands raised as though to ward off his terrible fate. Jason shuddered as he thought about it. It would be better if he could pretend that someone had just created a very lifelike statue out here in the woods, but he couldn't manage to forget that it had once been a living, breathing man.

Leaving the statue behind, they had moved to the top of the cliffs. Having tied up the horses safely where they could be rapidly retrieved later, Jason and the Queen had descended carefully down a steep path to the base of the cliffs and had begun to explore the honeycomb of caves that nestled in the rock-face. The moon was very bright and the air very still.

"What is it?" Pasiphae replied, gliding over to join her son.

"Rats," Jason answered, still pointing. "They've been turned to stone."

He looked at the dark entrance of the cave ahead of him and swallowed hard.

"She must be in there," he added.

"Indeed," Pasiphae agreed. "There is no time to waste. We should find her as quickly as we can and return to the horses."

Jason nodded tightly and lifted the torch he was carrying a little higher as he stepped through the narrow entrance and into the passageway beyond, leaving Pasiphae to watch for approaching soldiers. Near the face of the cliff the passage was really not much more than a crack in the rock; small, dark and narrow.

Jason swallowed hard again. God but he hated small, dark places. His breathing quickened slightly and his hand reflexively gripped the torch a little more firmly, as his free hand trailed along the slimy wall of the cave. Sand crunched beneath his feet.

The passageway opened out into a larger cavern. Near the back were the remains of a small fire and the ragged remnants of what might once have been a blanket or cloak (so tattered now that it was impossible to tell what they had once been).

"Medusa?" Jason called softly.

There was no answer.

"Medusa?" he tried again.

The soft, sibilant susurration of snakes whispered somewhere in the darkness at the back of the cave. Jason stepped forwards.

"Don't come any closer."

There was a desperate note in Medusa's voice; almost a sob in her tone.

"You should not be here."

"Medusa, I had to come," Jason began. "I…"

"How do you know my name?" Medusa interrupted. "Who are you? You are in great danger here."

"It's me," Jason answered. "It's Jason."

"Jason," Medusa repeated. "I have been alone for so long that I had almost forgotten what your voice sounded like."

She stepped forwards into the light cast by Jason's torch.

Jason tried to hide a wince at her appearance. The months since he had last seen her had not been kind to Medusa; the snakes that wreathed her head had grown longer and wild; her dress was little more than a rag and her sandals were clearly worn through.

Medusa stopped suddenly and began to draw back.

"Where is Hercules?" she asked urgently.

"He's not here," Jason answered. "He doesn't know you're here. I didn't tell him."

"Thank the Gods," Medusa answered. "I could not bear it if anything happened to him because of me. I left Cisthene because I was afraid he would come back and try to sacrifice himself for me."

"I know," Jason admitted. "That's why I didn't tell him you were here. I couldn't let anything happen to him either."

He carefully put the torch down on the floor and moved towards his friend; moving very slowly and carefully, the way he would if she were a frightened animal – his hand stretched out to her in a non-threatening manner.

Medusa flinched and half-stepped back as his hand touched her arm – her eyes very wide and wild.

"We have to leave here," Jason said softly. "You are in great danger."

Medusa gave a bitter laugh.

"What can threaten me?" she asked. "I am a danger to every living creature around me. Even the rats don't dare come near me for fear of being turned to stone."

"There are soldiers coming," Jason answered. "Atlantian soldiers. They are coming here to kill you."

"What are you talking about?"

"They know there's a gorgon living in these caves. The King has despatched soldiers to come and find you. To kill you," Jason said urgently. "They can't be far behind me. We have to leave… now."

"The soldier in the woods," Medusa murmured to herself. She looked at Jason sharply. "How do you know this?" she demanded.

"That doesn't matter for now," the young man replied. "I'll explain everything once we're away from here. I'm not going to let any harm come to you. I'm not going to let them kill you."

"Perhaps it would be better if you did," Medusa replied. "Then I wouldn't be a threat to anyone ever again."

"You can't mean that."

"Jason, this is my life now. I am going to spend the rest of my days living in caves as far away from other people as I can get. Do you have any idea what it is like to know that you are cursed like this? To know that you can never look at anyone again? Never speak to anyone? Never know kindness? This is it… forever, until I die."

"You mustn't give up hope," Jason answered. "We will find a cure for you."

"How can I have hope when even the creatures that live along this shoreline fear to come near me?" Medusa asked. "All I know is silence and darkness. I would rather die than live like this."

"Medusa…" Jason began.

"This is all very well, but there are torches approaching so I am afraid any further conversation must wait," Pasiphae's sharp voice came from behind the young man.

Jason turned towards her as Medusa darted back into the deep shadows.

"How far away are they?" he asked.

"Still some distance," Pasiphae replied. "They are in the woods. If we leave quickly we should be well away from here by the time they find this cave. They will have to pause to explore all the caves along the shoreline as we did."

Jason nodded, half to himself.

"Alright," he said.

"You brought someone else here?" Medusa's voice sounded desperate in the darkness.

"It's alright," Pasiphae said gently. "You can come out."

Jason shot her a slightly startled look, taken off guard by the sudden change in her tone.

"You cannot harm me," the Queen went on softly, "any more than you can harm Jason. It is quite safe."

She stepped forwards and reached out a hand.

"Come on," she encouraged.

Medusa stepped slowly back into the light, hugging herself.

"Oh, you poor child," Pasiphae murmured softly as she looked at Medusa properly for the first time.

The sympathy in her tone was unexpected; it wasn't often that the Queen showed her softer side in public after all.

"How is this possible?" Medusa half gasped. "How is it possible that you can both look at me?"

"That is not important at this present time," Pasiphae replied. "What is important is that we should get you away from here as quickly as possible. I believe that Jason has explained the situation to you. Anything else must wait until we are safely away from here."

Medusa peered at her in the flickering torchlight. Realisation dawned on her face and she stared at Pasiphae, stunned.

"You're the Queen," she said to herself.

"Indeed," Pasiphae responded. "I had not believed myself to be so well disguised that you would fail to recognise me. I was hardly attempting concealment after all."

"Your Majesty," Medusa began. "Forgive me, but why would you wish to help me?"

Pasiphae sighed.

"Your wellbeing is important to someone who I care about a great deal," she admitted, without so much as glancing in Jason's direction. "We must leave here now and then we will see what may be done to alleviate your situation. Every moment we linger brings us closer to disaster."

Jason looked at her sharply.

"What do you mean 'alleviate my situation'?" Medusa asked sharply.

"It may be possible to lift your curse," Pasiphae admitted. "There are… ways that such a thing might be achieved… although there may be a price to pay for this."

"I will do anything," Medusa replied. "I would sooner die than live like this any longer."

"Anything? Now that is an interesting proposition," Pasiphae almost purred.

"Pasiphae," Jason growled, slightly suspicious of her motivations.

"I make no promises for now," Pasiphae went on, ignoring Jason's interruption. "If your curse is to be removed I will require the help of another… and for now that must wait. Once the city is back in our hands I will have the time to consider your problem and to cure you."

"What do you mean 'once the city is back in your hands?" Medusa asked. "What's going on?" she added, turning to Jason.

"That's something else I'll need to explain once we are on the road," Jason replied. "We do need to leave now though. I promised that I would not let any harm come to you and I'd rather not have to cut my way through an entire Atlantian detachment to keep that promise."

Medusa looked searchingly at him.

"What happened to you?" she asked softly. "You seem different somehow. You have changed. You're not the boy I knew before."

Jason half-smiled.

"I don't think either of us are the people we were before," he replied equally softly.

"You can discuss this later when we have more leisure," Pasiphae said sharply. "For now, we must escape."

"But where? Where can I ever go? I cannot risk any harm coming to anyone else," Medusa relied. "I would let them kill me first."

"Spare me the histrionics – I have no patience for them," Pasiphae snapped. "I, at least, have some sort of plan even if you have failed to think beyond finding this woman." She raised an eyebrow as she turned to her son.

Jason deliberately ignored her barb – although it still rankled a little that she thought he wouldn't have planned any further than finding Medusa and removing her from immediate danger (even if a small part of him did admit to himself that she was right).

"So where were you thinking we could go?" he asked.

"There is a temple deep in the Calabrian Forest that is dedicated to Hecate," Pasiphae answered. "It is a fortress in its own right. None but the servants of the Goddess dare approach it and few people know of its existence. You will be safe enough there," she added, looking at Medusa. "Not even Anaxandros of Amphigeneia would dare defile it with his presence… he would not risk the wrath of the Goddess."

"I am not a servant of the Goddess," Medusa protested.

"No… but I am. My Goddess will know that you are under my protection," Pasiphae retorted. "You will go to the temple and wait there. Once our present business is concluded, I will come and discuss your predicament with you… now are you finally ready to depart or shall we leave you for the soldiers to deal with?"

Medusa gave a faint nod and stepped towards them. Before she could get very far, Jason moved purposefully towards her, unclasping his cloak as he went. He wrapped it around the startled woman's shoulders and did up the pin at the throat. Medusa stared at him for a moment, clutching the fabric to herself; almost seeming to melt into the warmth of the garment.

"Thank you," she whispered hoarsely.

"You look like you need it more than me," Jason shrugged as Medusa pulled the hood up to cover the snakes that wreathed her head in place of hair. "What you're wearing doesn't look exactly warm and I've got thick tunic and trousers on to keep me warm."

He ignored his mother's raised eyebrow and exasperated look.

"I have not been truly warm in months," Medusa murmured. "I had almost forgotten what it felt like."

"Well you won't be cold again," Jason replied. "Not if I can help it."

He picked up the torch from the floor and began to make his way to the entrance to the cave, moving ahead of the two women with his free hand on the hilt of his sword. As the passage got narrower, he could feel his heart rate speed up and his breathing begin to quicken as the darkness seemed to press in on him. He gnawed on his lower lip and his fingers tightened almost painfully on the sword hilt. God but he did hate small dark spaces and no matter how much he told himself that there was nothing to worry about – nothing to fear – anxiety still gripped him; cold unreasoning panic lurking. He forced down the rising panic and moved on, trying desperately hard to keep the two women with him from seeing how much this disturbed him.

It was really only a matter of moments that they were in the narrow passage yet to Jason it felt much longer. Finally though, he stepped out into the moonlight and drew in a deep shuddering breath, closing his eyes for a second as a vague feeling of dizziness hit him (caused, he suspected, by his own irregular breathing over the past few minutes). He quickly doused the torch in the sand knowing that the light from it would be seen from some distance away and half buried the remains until it looked like no more than a random piece of driftwood. He prised his (now aching) fingers from the hilt of his sword and turned back towards the two women. Pasiphae was watching him thoughtfully, one eyebrow quirked curiously, and Jason had the uncomfortable feeling that she could see right through him. He raised his chin and looked at her steadily; almost daring her to say something.

The corners of the Queen's mouth twisted into a faint knowing smile.

"We must move on," she murmured.

Jason nodded and began to pick his way over the rocks at the base of the cliff, pausing every so often to take the hand of either his mother or Medusa to help them over a rock. Suddenly he stopped and looked at Pasiphae with a grimace.

"The horses," he said cryptically.

"What about them?" the Queen asked.

"If they look at her, they'll be turned to stone… and we need them to get out of here before the soldiers arrive," Jason answered.

"It is fortunate then that I gave this matter some brief thought before we left Pagenia," Pasiphae retorted.

She turned to Medusa.

"As I understand it, it is looking into the face of a gorgon that triggers the curse is it not?" she enquired.

"Yes," Medusa answered. "Nothing living can look at me."

"The fact that we are both here with you proves that that statement is not wholly accurate," Pasiphae stated sharply. "Let us instead say that most living things cannot look at you and survive." She pursed her lips. "Since it is your face which activates the curse then the remedy is simple," she went on. "The horses will not be affected if your face cannot be seen."

Medusa exchanged a startled look with Jason. It was a simple solution and yet was not one which had occurred to them before.

"Hold still," Pasiphae instructed.

She removed a heavy veil from somewhere inside her cloak and pinned it to the inside of the hood on the cloak that Medusa was wearing, covering her face completely.

"There," she said. "It is not a perfect solution but it should work for now. The material is thick enough that nothing should be able to see in through it, yet it should still allow you to see… although your vision might be dimmed somewhat."

"Thank you," Medusa murmured, her voice slightly muffled behind the fabric.

Pasiphae nodded in acknowledgement, although she didn't reply verbally, and the three of them began the climb up the cliff path.

At the top, they led Medusa to where they had left the horses. As Jason untied his mount and boosted Medusa up into the saddle, he glanced back towards the woods to the east. Through the trees he could see lights bobbing; evidence of torches – still deep within the woods at the moment but growing a little closer with every second that passed. Pasiphae had been right – it looked very much as though the soldiers despatched from Pagenia were closing in on them.

He pulled himself up in front of Medusa and grabbed the reins of the horse.

"Hold on tight," he said to his friend. "Hercules would never forgive me if I let anything happen to you."

"We should go west – away from them," Pasiphae said, gesturing towards the bobbing torches.

"No," Jason disagreed. "If they don't find Medusa here, they will just keep searching on down the coast. We could be going west all night with them at our heels the whole way."

"So what do you suggest?" Pasiphae demanded.

Jason looked at the slowly approaching lights thoughtfully, before turning to look at their surroundings through narrowed eyes.

"North," he said. "If we go inland we should avoid them completely. Ride for an hour or so and then turn east, back towards Pagenia. We should avoid them completely that way." He looked seriously at his mother. "Will that still mean we can get to your temple easily enough?" he asked.

Pasiphae nodded.

"There is a road which leads to the Calabrian Forest to the east of Pagenia," she replied. "It will be the quickest route… and, since there are no settlements along it and the Forest itself is largely uninhabited, there should be no Amphigeneians anywhere along it either."

Jason nodded tightly.

"Then let's go," he said, kicking his heels into the sides of his horse and taking off across the moonlit countryside.


As the first light of day touched the sky, the two horses crested a rise to the north-east of Pagenia. Before and below them lay a narrow track that disappeared off into the distance, heading inland. To their right was another pathway that descended into the valley, heading back towards Pagenia. Pasiphae pulled up sharply on the reins of her horse, forcing it to stop. The sudden stop took Jason by surprise and his own horse continued on for a short distance before he brought it to a halt, turning it and walking it back to join his mother.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"This is where I leave you," Pasiphae replied.

"What?" Jason asked in confusion; his thoughts slightly sluggish through lack of sleep.

"If I do not return to the King, my absence will be noted," Pasiphae responded. "And since I believed that tonight's little endeavour was something that you wished to remain a secret, I had thought that that is something we should avoid. If I leave now, I should be able to get back before most of the household has truly risen for the day. If I am seen, then I can claim that I have paid an early morning visit to the temple… but if I were not to be back for breakfast then uncomfortable questions might be asked."

She looked thoughtfully at the path below.

"Turn north when you get to the track," she advised. "The road you will be following leads straight into the Calabrian Forest."

"And how do we find the temple without you?" Jason asked crossly. "You know where it is, I do not. We could be wandering around for days before we find it."

A brief smile touched the Queen's lips.

"I hardly think it will be that difficult," she replied. "In fact, I do not believe you will need me to guide you at all. You are touched by the Gods, as I am. Although you are not a servant of Hecate, her power will draw you to the temple. Those who are touched by the Gods can sense one another's presence… as I believe you are aware."

She gave Jason a significant look, which he returned steadily. The fact that he could feel Pasiphae's presence was something he would need to talk to her about once Medusa was safe and he was back in Pagenia; for now, though, it could wait.

"So," Pasiphae went on, "just as you can sense the presence of another who is touched by the Gods, you will also be able to sense the power of the Goddess. Follow your senses and you will find the temple."

She reached into a bag attached to her saddle and grabbed a scrap of parchment and a stick of charcoal. She wrote a quick note, folded it and handed it to Jason.

"Approach the temple openly but with caution," she advised. "You will be met by a young woman. Like you, she is touched by the Gods and so she will be in no danger from your friend. Strangers do not generally approach the Temple of Hecate so she may be hostile to you at first. Tell her I have sent you and give her that note and she should take care of your friend until I can come."

"She will help us?"

Pasiphae half smiled.

"Yes," she replied. "She will help you for my sake."

"Who is she?" Jason asked.

His mother sighed.

"I do not have time to explain now, but you may be rest assured that once you have successfully completed your mission and returned to us I will tell you everything you wish to know."

She looked at the ever lightening sky and to the east where the Sun had not yet risen above the horizon.

"You must go," she went on, "and I must return to the King's side. You should reach the temple tonight… but you must be back by nightfall tomorrow. I can hide your absence until then but I do not think I would be able to conceal it any longer than that."

Jason nodded.

"Thank you," he said simply. "For everything."

He slipped his necklace off over his head and handed it to Pasiphae – as he had when he had left to go to Athanos.

"I will keep it safe," Pasiphae promised softly.

She looked searchingly at the young man.

"May the Gods go with you," she added seriously. "Farewell."

"Farewell," Jason replied.

He hesitated for a moment, feeling a little guilty that his mother was going to have to travel the rest of the way to Pagenia alone. There was no real alternative to it though; Pasiphae might be in danger travelling alone in these hills (however unlikely that seemed), but Medusa would definitely be in danger if he left her now.

"Go safely," he added.

Pasiphae smiled at him and turned her horse to take the track to Pagenia, moving at a fast trot.

Jason watched her go for a minute before kicking his own horse on to pick its way down the hillside to the path below.

"Jason, what is going on?" Medusa asked from behind him.

She had been almost silent ever since they had started riding.

"It is a very long story," Jason replied. "I'll tell you as we ride."

"Why are you trusting the Queen of all people?" Medusa demanded. "Have you forgotten that she tried to kill you?"

"No," Jason answered. "I have not forgotten that… but things have changed since you left Atlantis. Pasiphae… well… she wouldn't try to kill me now."

"You cannot know that," Medusa protested. "I know that you like to look for the good in people… but this is Pasiphae we are talking about. She is ruthless and feared. You cannot know that she will not turn on you as soon as it suits her."

"Yes, I can," Jason insisted.

"Please listen to me," Medusa all but begged, her arms tightening around his waist. "I know you. I know that you have a good heart… but not everyone is like you Jason; not everyone means well. You have not heard the stories that are told among the Palace servants."

"No I haven't," Jason admitted. "But I've heard plenty of stories that are told in the city and seen enough for myself." He looked at the path ahead, not turning to look at the woman sitting behind him. "I know that Pasiphae is not known for her kindness… or for helping people without any benefit to herself… and I know that at some point she might let me down… but I also know that she will not even attempt to physically harm me – not now."

"How can you be so certain?" Medusa asked.

She knew how stubborn Jason could be of course, but to her mind obstinately insisting that the Queen would not harm him despite the earlier evidence of her trying to kill him was going too far.

"Because she's my mother." Jason's softly spoken response took her off guard.

"What?" Medusa's reply was one of horrified incredulity.

"She's my mother," Jason replied somewhat grimly. "Like I said, a lot has happened since you left Atlantis; some of it bad and some of it good. I'll explain as much as I can while we travel."