The Five of Swords
Standard disclaimer applies – I don't own any of them.
Thank you so much to everyone who responded to chapter 2 and to awanthika, gotanygrapes and Angel, who I can't respond to personally – thanks for your reviews, I really appreciate them. I'm sorry this has been so long in coming. I don't know if anyone's still following this story but if you are, then I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Three
Before he knew it, three days had passed in the blink of an eye and Jason found himself once more approaching the front door of his house. Only things were just a little different now: not knowing how long this brother of Hercules was going to stay, Jason wasn't sure of his reception. He had bought no wine or pies from the agora. His feelings of despondency and his concerns about his place in life had, over time with both his mother (who was indeed, far more understanding and loving than Jason had initially given her credit for) and his stepfather, been put to a sort of uneasy rest. Keeping Minos' words of reassurance in his heart, Jason paused for a fraction on the doorstep, wondering if he should knock first. If it turned out there still was no room for him, then that was fine: but Jason wasn't leaving without a decent conversation with both his friends. There was certainly room enough around the table for four of them to share a meal and clear the air. Jason sent up a silent prayer that all would be back to normal again. If he had to move on, he had already decided to return to the Palace instead. A sad, bitter feeling encompassed Jason every time he thought of his father and his strange coldness. Certainly their relationship would not be ended on one bad day. Of course Jason would see him again and they would mend whatever bridges had been damaged between them. But not just yet: Aeson had hurt him and the young man intended to keep his distance for a little while, just until they had both gained a bit more perspective on the matter.
But that door was not opening itself. Taking a deep breath, Jason pushed down on the handle and swung it open, stepping inside quickly, as though he may be thrown out again if someone cottoned on to what he was doing. He shut the door behind him, keeping his bag on his shoulder for now, until he knew more. Looking around, Jason was faintly surprised to see the house unchanged, looking as it always did – a little cluttered (where Pythagoras had not found time to see to yet), smelling faintly of the herbs and plants that the young genius kept hanging for his various remedies and the familiar smell of cracked, worn leather. A smile crept over his face as its little comforts began to fill the cracks in his confidence.
"Hello?" he called out, cautiously. "Anyone home?" Jason took a few more steps inside, stopping by the table where the food-basket from the Palace had been delivered and sat waiting. Pythagoras was yet to bring it to the kitchen to unpack. With a small smile, Jason casually turned the jars and bowls over, examining the contents. There were, he noted with a touch of guilt, noticeably fewer wine skeins and no pies whatsoever. A large wrapped package he discovered, though, contained both a wheel of his favourite cheese and a selection of cured meats that he had taken a liking to over breakfasts at the Palace. Jason grinned, feeling a pleasant warmth in his stomach. His mother's hand had most definitely been guiding this week's selection – both in her small, loving gestures and in her quiet, protective moments of passive-aggressiveness.
Turning his attention away from the food, Jason glanced towards his bed, unsurprised to see an unfamiliar travelling bag underneath it. The bed had been neatly made – far neater than he himself usually was – the warm winter furs folded neatly down at the foot of the bed and the pillows perfectly smoothed. Either Pythagoras had been playing a good host or their guest was particularly meticulous. He began to picture the two very opposite natures of these brothers and what their childhood must have been like – each one's habits grinding on the other one's nerves. And then it dawned on him: the bag was still here. The man was still here. So there would be no room, once more, for him. He sighed, feeling his disappointment keenly and a touch of annoyance too.
"Jason?" Pythagoras' bright voice suddenly sounded from behind him, causing him to spin around. The mathematician's face was beaming widely as he approached from the balcony. "Sorry, I was hanging some washing – the air is crisp enough to dry it well today." Seeing his friend so happy to see him, melted Jason's worries away. Pythagoras quickly crossed the room and embraced him with wide, open arms. "It's so good to see you, Jason," he enthused. "I missed you last week."
Laughing lightly and silently soaking up his friend's welcome, Jason waved it off. "I hear it's very crowded in here." He didn't miss the way Pythagoras' kind features hardened a little as he firmly shook his head.
"Not so crowded that we can not make room for four. Hercules was being a little…over-zealous last week." Then he pointed to a comfortable-looking mattress on the floor near the hearth. Plump pillows were piled up on one end and a warm, soft selection of blankets had been drawn up over the bed, the ends tucked snugly beneath the mattress. It looked like the world's most comfortable bed and Jason was stuck by a sudden urge to collapse right into it and test it out. But he didn't. Instead, he turned and grinned back at his friend.
"That's for me?"
Pythagoras nodded. "I am sorry you cannot have your own bed back yet but I've made this one as comfortable as I can: the mattress is well-stuffed with hay beneath and feathers on top." He paused before adding, a little icily. "Hercules did it." Jason tried not to wince at the hard tone, wondering if Hercules had been given any say in the matter at all.
"It's great," he assured his friend, sincerely. "Thanks." Carefully, he walked over to it and sat down, surprised by how something so soft and downy, could still support his weight. He let his bag drop to the floor beside the mattress and swung his legs over onto the mattress, lying down with a flop and a smile as he all but melted into the pillows. Above him, Jason heard an irritated sigh from Pythagoras.
"Jason please get your muddy feet off the blankets – they've just been washed and dried." With an embarrassed apology, Jason quickly did as his friend asked, scooting back around and pushing himself back onto his feet.
"I love it," he confirmed again. "So I'll get to meet this Iphicles after all?"
"Yes – I'm glad you do. Though, not wanting to be a bad host, I will admit that I shall be even gladder to get the house back to normal when he goes." The volume of Pythagoras' voice indicated to Jason that their guest was not within the house or else he would never have risked causing offence. As he spoke, Pythagoras collected the basket from the table and carried it into the kitchen.
"Wine?" he asked Jason. "It's almost time for the meal so I do not see it as excessive to enjoy a cup now." Eagerly, Jason nodded. Now that he knew he was staying and with Hercules' apparent blessing, both his spirits and his waning appetite were returning. A cup of sweet red wine sounded perfect, sitting about the fire and sharing the events of the last few days. As if sensing his thoughts, Pythagoras called out: "Why don't you go and sit by the fire and I shall bring some over?"
A moment later and both boys had pulled up wooden benches around the hearth, softening them with warm folds of fur. Pythagoras had heated the wine ever so slightly, over the cooking fire and added just a touch of spice – another exotic gift from the weekly food-baskets. Jason inhaled the scent over his cup, closing his eyes as memories of mulled wine on Christmas Eves flooded back to him. The fire popped and crackled, sending sparks flying. Jason grinned and, spotting a pine-cone amongst the pile of kindling, tossed it onto the fire, watching it suddenly soar and explode. Pausing in his own drink, Pythagoras rolled his eyes, fondly, causing Jason to laugh. Jason found amusement in the simplest aspects of their daily lives. But it did occasionally remind the young genius to stop analysing the world around him and to start taking pleasure from it more often.
"So," Jason began, after they had each had time to enjoy their quiet drink. "What's he like?"
Assuming Jason meant Iphicles, Pythagoras gave a neutral shrug. "Different to Hercules," he said, carefully. "There are similarities – vague ones. You will see what I mean when you meet him. But it seems remarkable indeed that these two men should have grown up in the same household and be borne from the same parents." He shook his blonde curls in mild amazement. "Did you know they are twins?"
Jason almost choked on his sip of wine, his eyes widening. He put the cup next to him on the bench as he coughed, thumping himself in the middle of his chest. Finally, his breathing returned to normal. "Twins?" he repeated. "I'm taking it they can't be identical?" The idea of another Hercules running around, the same but changed through differing experiences, made him feel quite disconcerted. Pythagoras sat forwards, shaking his head.
"No," he agreed. "Fraternal only. Iphicles was born first, incidentally. Strange, but I rarely think of Hercules as being the younger of anybody." The young man paused, looking thoughtful. "It's funny: not just because they hardly seem alike but the way Hercules is acting around his brother."
"How do you mean?"
Pythagoras hesitated a moment, unsure whether to give voice to his suspicions. Would that be uncharitable of him? But he had so missed Jason's company and having someone to confide in that his conscience could not withstand the battering of his calculating mind for long. "Twitchy," he supplied. "We barely say ten words around the dinner table before Hercules forcibly changes the subject to something like the weather or the local pie-man." Jason grinned, imagining his burly friend's somewhat club-footed way of barrelling on to a different subject. "And," Pythagoras continued now on a roll, "he asks him every morning if he thinks he will be leaving soon. Every morning, though he tries to phrase it politely. Well, politely for Hercules."
"How come he isn't leaving?"
"Storms out at sea. Iphicles says he sailed from Athens but until the weather calms, it's not safe to sail back again." They both paused as they took another sip of their wine, letting the liquid warm their chests.
"Still though," Jason pointed out. "He hasn't seen him in a long time – there's bound to be some weirdness." He didn't point out the similar relationship between his blonde friend and his own brother, Arcum. The events that nearly cost Pythagoras his life and also dredged up dark and painful secrets for his friend, was not something Jason found easy to reference. He had never had a brother and he never would, save for what he liked to think he shared with Pythagoras, but Jason was a firm believer in loyalty amongst your family: that Arcum had been so willing to murder his own brother had angered Jason more than he felt comfortable admitting to either of his friends.
With a reluctant sigh, Pythagoras admitted, "That is true. Though they never seem to speak of the past which makes it difficult to piece together reasons."
Jason nodded, sensing his inquisitive friend was never happy with an unsolved mystery. "Where are they now?"
Pythagoras glanced out at the darkening sky. Storm clouds were coming in fast. He must bring the washing in from the balcony and shut up the windows. "Iphicles likes his walks – he says it gives him time to think and Hercules volunteered to go with him." Which had surprised the young man – Hercules usually breathed a sigh of relief when his brother left the house. Pythagoras harboured a sinking suspicion that their friend had been trying to delay meeting Jason again. Well good! Pythagoras suddenly decided. That meant he was feeling guilty for last week's foolishness and well he should do. But he didn't want Hercules caught in the rain, either.
Thankfully, at that moment, the front door banged open and was quickly followed by two sets of heavy feet entering, stamping on the ground to either dislodge mud or else to warm them up. "Ah," Pythagoras exclaimed. "Good. Would either of you like some wine to warm up with?" He rose from the fire and went to the kitchen, pouring two more cups.
"Ah!" Hercules exclaimed, coming to join him in the kitchen, his outstretched ruddy hands and his long, satisfied sigh giving all the answer Pythagoras needed as he handed a steaming cup to his friend.
"Most kind," a deep voice rumbled, appreciatively. The man was still hanging up his cloak by the door and removing his muddy, offensive boots before entering the rest of the house. Immediately, Jason swivelled to get a look, still half-expecting to see Hercules but perhaps with a shock of curly red hair. What he saw couldn't have surprised him more.
Standing a good foot above his brother, Iphicles' broad chest and shoulders still showed the lines and tones of his muscles, even beneath his thick, green woollen tunic and though sturdy, his body was lean. He would be, Jason thought, quite an intimidating figure to meet coming down a dark alley. His dark trousers and good quality leather boots, indicated he had done well enough for himself in life and was certainly above the usual class of garments they occasionally purchased in the agora. The man's arms too, though hidden beneath long sleeves, were muscular, though what may have begun as the strength of a fighting man had, over the years, been tuned and remoulded by hard, day to day work. Trying not to make his inspection too obvious, Jason tried to analyse the face he saw as Iphicles met Pythagoras in the kitchen, accepting the proffered drink with a sincere murmur of gratitude. His face bore little resemblance to his brother's, except perhaps for the set of his eyes. His face was longer, narrower and it was framed by a short-cropped head of dark blonde hair, trimmed neatly around his ears and the back of his neck. A beard, as neatly kept as the hair on his head, graced his chin but what struck Jason the most was the long, jagged white scar that ran the length of his face from just under his left eye, down to the left-hand corner of his mouth. However that had happened, though clearly long-healed over, it must have been painful.
As if aware of the scrutiny he was under, the man suddenly turned and fixed his eyes on Jason. Immediately, he blushed in embarrassment and, if anything confirmed his guilt more, looking away quickly. However, Iphicles did not appear to have taken offence. He stepped forwards towards where Jason had risen to his feet, still by the fire.
"Forgive me," the man began. "You must be Jason?"
Hesitantly, Jason nodded. Hercules had come to stand just a little behind his brother and Jason quickly caught his friend's eye. His expression was wary as he watched the exchange carefully though Jason couldn't think of a reason why. "Thank you for the use of your bed," Iphicles continued, bowing slightly at the waist. "I hope to be able to return it to you as soon as possible, once these wretched storms at sea have passed."
The man's deep voice had an oddly lulling effect. Jason smiled, bashfully. "That's fine. You don't need to rush off on my account – I'm more than happy with the temporary arrangements." Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Hercules almost bite his tongue and again, wondered at the man's strange behaviour.
"Alright everyone," Pythagoras suddenly announced. "Lunch is ready." He held in his hands a large, steaming pot of pork stew, richly filled out with carrots, beans and onions. "Hercules, can you grab the bread and Jason, can you get the bowls from the shelf?" Glad to have something to do, Jason complied and a short flurry of activity followed wherein food was laid out and eagerly served to the four hungry men, now seated around the table.
Once bowls were full and wine cups re-filled and the odd exchange of pleasant conversation had broken the ice, Pythagoras sat back a moment and beamed at everyone. "So," he announced, "I am very glad, Iphicles that you and Jason have finally got to meet. It would have been a shame indeed if you had been forced to leave without meeting the last member of our rather strange little family." Jason blushed, furiously though he gave an embarrassed smile all the same. Glancing up, he caught Hercules' eye. He and the wrestler had not had a quiet moment to themselves yet, though the guilt he often saw in his friend's eyes and, like now, the fondness (even if it was a little sad) let Jason know that his previous fears of rejection were unfounded.
"Yes, Jason," Hercules added quietly, clearing his throat. The man glanced down at his bowl for a moment before making himself meet his young friend's waiting expression. "I'm sorry about last week. Don't know what I was thinking – there's plenty of room and even if there wasn't, we'd make do." He watched Jason try to wave off the apology but he knew perfectly well how relieved his friend was to hear it. He could read the signs on the boy, clear as day and the fact that he had hurt his young friend by his rejection, still stung. "We missed you." The last admittance was muttered quickly and half-masked by a slurp of a spoonful of stew but Jason heard it all the same. He grinned.
"That's okay. It's just good to be back." Turning to Pythagoras, he raised a spoonful of the stew. "This is delicious – thanks."
Pythagoras gave a modest shrug. "It's amazing what you can do when you are fortunate enough to have the right ingredients. These spices, for example…" He paused a moment in confusion, as Hercules suddenly cleared his throat, shooting a puzzled look at the wrestler. "Well…yes," he finished, rather awkwardly, unsure as to why he felt he couldn't finish his sentence.
For a moment, Jason glanced curiously between his two friends before turning his attention to Iphicles. "So are you in Atlantis to visit Hercules?"
Hercules smiled tightly as Iphicles regarded him with a long, slow look. "Yes," he eventually answered. "I felt it was time to reconnect with the past."
Jason chuckled. "What was Hercules like as a child?" Pythagoras leaned forwards, grinning even as their guest waved a politely dismissive hand.
"Much as he is now. Though Time has left its mark upon us all." For a moment, he locked a meaningful look with his brother and Jason wished he knew what was making Hercules so uncomfortable. Then, Iphicles turned to look, with interest, at Jason. "So, Pythagoras tells me you have a job outside of the city that takes you away from home for several days each week?"
Glancing quickly at Pythagoras, his young friend smiled and gave a short shrug, indicating that that was as far as he had got in explaining Jason's regular absence. Beside him, Hercules narrowed his eyes, presumably trying to think of a way to fill the gap. But Jason's mouth was already talking. "Uh, yes," he answered. "I work for a wealthy family on an estate outside of the city. Near the hills."
Iphicles raised a curious eyebrow. "And what is it that you do there?"
Jason glanced down at the table: he hated lying, especially on the spot. But he certainly couldn't reveal the truth. "I'm sort of whatever they need me to be – an errand boy; a guard."
At that, the tall man breathed in deeply, closing his eyes momentarily as if some kind of kindred understanding had just passed, unspoken, between the two of them. "Ah, a guard. A soldier. A noble profession – protecting others. I was a guard once – did Hercules tell you?"
It was the most animated Jason had seen their guest become but before he could question him further, Hercules rose so quickly that he banged his thighs on the table, causing everyone's bowls to jog and all eyes to turn to him. "Iphicles!" Hercules interrupted, fixing such a look upon his brother that, even without the rest of Hercules' speech, the man understood enough to silently, discretely nod. "We need more wine. Come, help me choose a bottle in the kitchen." And with that, Hercules stumbled away from the table and backed in to the kitchen, waiting tensely for his brother to follow. Muttering a quiet apology for the interruption, Iphicles rose and excused himself to follow.
"There's not much of a choice!" Pythagoras called after them. "We only have two bottles out there."
Once alone in the kitchen, Hercules rounded on his brother. "Are you out of your mind?" he insisted, in a quiet hiss. Iphicles' stony expression did not falter though he raised one eyebrow in a gesture for Hercules to explain. Seeing that his brother either refused to listen to reason or else was genuinely blind to it, Hercules rolled his eyes, checked Jason and Pythagoras were still engaged in their conversation at the table, and then leaned in a little closer to Iphicles. "Look, it's best not to dwell on the past – you understand?" Iphicles frowned. "It's not the same as you remember it out there," Hercules continued, gesturing vaguely towards the door. "Different times; different feelings. People are happy with the way things are. You just can't go round blurting out…"
"I bear no shame for my past, however you may feel differently," Iphicles shot back, though in deference to his brother's sense of urgency, he kept his voice low. Not as low as Hercules might have liked, of course.
"Even if it could get you killed?" he countered though something deeper, hidden and uneasy, danced just beneath the surface: an unspoken truth that neither could put voice to.
But Iphicles shook his head, laughing harshly. "With so many people in the city for the month of Poseideon, who will notice a few more strangers in their midst." His gaze turned far away for a moment and as Hercules looked up at his brother, worry filling his tired eyes, he felt a sadness enshroud the man. Abruptly, Iphicles seemed to come back to himself. "No," he announced. "You must not be concerned for me, brother." Then, before Hercules could say another word, Iphicles had already turned back to the young men at the table.
"So," he announced, coming back to join them. "It has been many years since I was last in Atlantis and I have not ventured further than the agora and a few old haunts thus far. I should be most grateful if you could all accompany me on a walk around the city tomorrow. Perhaps we can compare the old and the new? I am curious to see how my city has changed."
He re-seated himself with a polite smile and Pythagoras beamed back. Jason smiled too though there was something still bothering him – perhaps it was to do with Hercules' strange behaviour or perhaps it had something to do with the fact that every gesture of Iphicles seemed to be concealing something else? But, Pythagoras was happy enough and he had been around the man for longer.
Jason nodded. "Sounds great. What time do you want to leave?" The man had a definite military vibe about him and those kind of people formed disciplines that were very hard to break, Jason feared. The idea of cold baths at dawn, followed by an eight-mile hike was utterly unappealing to the young man. Before Iphicles could reply, however, Hercules re-joined them, quickly saying:
"I can't do tomorrow, I'm afraid. I have to work."
Pythagoras raised an eyebrow. Hercules had not had a job last night. But then, he had been out quite a bit in recent hours – perhaps this had been his endeavour? But to seek employment while his family was visiting? It felt a little strange timing especially as, with the food and drink delivered each week from the Palace, demands on their money had gradually begun to lessen.
"I didn't know you had a job," Jason exclaimed. Hercules glanced down at him with a touch of irritation.
"It's not for long. I'm just transporting some grain from a farmer's barn to his customers. Should only be a couple of days." He beamed at them all and clapped his hands together, fixing his eye on Iphicles. "I'm sure you can entertain yourself for a couple of days and then I'll be more than happy to take you on the grand tour when I'm off work." He nudged his brother's shoulder with his elbow. "I have quite a few places in mind – trust me, you're going to love them!"
Jason grinned and rolled his eyes. He somehow couldn't imagine the straight-laced Iphicles rolling out of the tavern at two in the morning with a voluptuous woman wrapped about his person, already reeking of the morning after. However, Iphicles simply turned his head towards his brother, saying: "I am sure I shall find your guidance enlightening, brother and I am sorry that you are engaged for the coming few days. However," and here he turned to the two boys, "we do not need to wait so long to take a simple walk. Would the two of you be my guides in my brother's absence?"
"Sure," Jason shrugged,
"Absolutely," Pythagoras agreed. "We would be most happy to."
For the first time since meeting him, Jason saw their guest grin. "Splendid! There, you see brother?" He reached out a hand and clapped Hercules on the shoulder. "It all works out well in the end. I'm sure your young friends and I will have much to talk about on our travels." Hercules smiled tightly and turned away but not before Jason caught the sour, darkening expression on his face.
Morning light filtered through the silk hangings to cast golden rays over the Royal family's private breakfast. This was not the lavish spread reserved for formal banquets, although there would be many in Atlantis who would define lavish in very different terms. This table was smaller, more intimate and certainly Ariadne and occasionally, her father, appreciated the difference. This was family. Pasiphae nodded to a waiting server to refresh her glass of pomegranate juice, so much like the blood-red flow of wine. As the serving woman hurried to fulfil the Queen's request, Pasiphae sat back, silently watching her husband animatedly discussing the festivities with her stepdaughter. It was rare they saw Ariadne these days, though Pasiphae could not bring herself to regret it. It had to be said that she shared far fewer barbs with the girl these days. That was certainly Jason's influence. He had a way of putting people at their ease, breaking through icy barriers with his unassuming ways and his somewhat audacious sense of humour. He could include the whole room in one sweeping smile and make you all, for a moment, forget your pettiness. With Jason around the table, Pasiphae reluctantly admitted that she too, felt the closeness the more personal setting afforded them. It really was family to her, when her son was with them.
"May I be excused, Father?" Ariadne's perfectly measured tone suddenly caught Pasiphae's attention and the Queen briefly turned to look to her stepdaughter. Minos raised a surprised eyebrow.
"Already? It seems as though you have hardly sat down."
Though, when he inspected his daughter's plate, it did appear that she had finished her breakfast and the king had been satisfied that she had taken enough to begin with. This scrutiny, Minos realised, it was a fairly recent habit he had developed, although he had always been protective – some might argue over-protective – of his daughter. But in recent weeks, since his stepson's gradual recovery, his wife had taken to monitoring the boy's meals more carefully, starting with ensuring he made it to the table to begin with. It was a custom that he, both as husband and stepfather, had quickly found himself supporting her in. He smiled to himself as he recalled the first few battle of wills between themselves and the young man. It had sometimes required a mixture of gentle persuasion, threats and cunning to achieve their aim, but the boy usually capitulated in the end.
Though getting him to the table had been only half the battle: seeing that he ate enough to satisfy his basic needs was sometimes another challenge in and of itself. It was not that Jason appeared to dislike time spent with the family – indeed, their conversations could be light-hearted, warm and witty, particularly with a fine bottle of wine shared around the family. However, as time wore on there was always somewhere else Jason needed to be, rather than sitting around a table – something he needed to be doing. Minos got the impression that meal-times with his friends were far simpler affairs and over much more quickly. Jason's energy levels were astounding at times though his impatience did help to ensure that he ate enough to satisfy his mother's expectations, in order to be excused from the table as quickly as possible. No, he was a good lad but Minos had built up a certain amount of caution and suspicion over his eating habit and, alas, Ariadne had been caught up in that same suspicion. He just couldn't help himself: if one developed such strange behaviour, who was to say the other one would not also? After all, they did spend more and more time together.
However, this was not the case today. Ariadne smiled at him. "I know and I do miss our conversations. But the people are bringing offerings to the Temple throughout the week and I told Melas I would be there to help with the sanctification."
Minos nodded. "And it does the people good to see their Princess, performing her duties alongside them." Absently, Pasiphae also nodded her agreement, unseen by the others. Though the girl's piety could be somewhat nauseating at times, she represented the family well, amongst the rank and file of Atlantis.
"Very well," the king agreed, leaning to kiss his daughter on the cheek as she rose from the table. "But do not forget your family here," he teased. "I have heard tell that the artists have arrived already." Minos looked to his wife for confirmation – no-one entered or left the Palace without the mistress of the house knowing.
Pasiphae nodded once more. "Indeed. I have sent them to the North Tower to set up their work."
"Splendid."
Ariadne gave a short bow to her parents: "I shall not forget. I shall return as soon as the morning offerings are complete." And then she turned and gracefully swept out of the room as a servant immediately moved in to clear her place away and refresh any plates or cups that were deemed to be wanting.
Once the servants had moved away again, to stand at the walls of the room, Minos turned to his wife: "Speaking of the artists, we must be sure Jason is ready."
The queen took a sip of her drink before carefully replacing it on the table. "I shall speak to him on his return." She paused a moment. "As we have not seen him since yesterday, we can assume he actually stayed in the city." Her tone was still a little frosty on the subject. Jason had assured her that he left of his own volition but, as far as she was concerned, that was not the point. She entrusted her son to these friends of his - to this man, Hercules – when he was not with her. She did not send him out for three days to simply wander aimlessly. Not that he had but that was an entirely different matter to make her seethe.
Minos tore a piece of bread, dipping it in a small bowl of olive oil and herbs. "Is he going to see Aeson afterwards?"
His wife shook her head, a smug smile on her lips. "No. Jason is still too hurt, too angry. It will not last long but, given Aeson's ability to turn his affection on and off at a moment's notice, it will also not be long before he hurts the boy again."
Minos sighed, though he did not appear to disagree with his wife. "It is regrettable for Jason," he admitted. "But it works out well for us. Do you suppose Aeson even knows he is pushing his son away?"
He watched Pasiphae scoff. "Aeson cannot imagine why anyone would not love and dote over him or picture a time when Jason will not blindly follow him and hang off his every word and though I would dearly love to march into that colony and give him a piece of my mind, I shall not dissuade him from his folly. Let Jason see him for the man he is and the sooner we can put that wretched man out of our lives."
Pasiphae paused a moment, tearing a less than lady-like chunk out of her bread. It appeared that when alone with her husband and when discussing her son and her ex-husband, her mannerisms could become quite savage.
"Jason loves his father," Minos felt obliged to point out, unsure why he was supporting his rival. "And he usually returns so happy from his visits." Perhaps that was it: very simply, it made the boy happy.
"Oh, perhaps," she muttered, tersely. "But that will only serve Aeson for so long. The Gods know that Jason and I have our fights," she continued, "but I am trying to love him for who he is and not the young man I had imagined he would be." Pasiphae stopped and sighed, softly. "I know I must try harder – let him know how proud I am of him, just the way he is."
"I am sure he knows, my love. Though if you wanted to say it again, I do not imagine he will tire of hearing it." A sort of sad pensiveness began to build around the Queen like a dark, permeating cloud as she nodded, silently. To Minos, the darkness only served to make her more beautiful, more open.
"What troubles you?"
Abruptly, the Queen looked up and smiled, a little too quickly. "Nothing, my Lord." Then she saw her husband's canny expression and sighed, sharply. Since when had Minos developed such perception, she wondered begrudgingly. Seeing that he would not let the matter drop until she satisfied his curiosity, Pasiphae relented just a little. "I try and I try with Jason but it appears I am fated to always make the same mistakes: I judge him too harshly, I do not always see his value until he is walking away from me and then I must scramble to show him that I have noticed. But with you, he seems far more at ease. You see a side to my son that I do not and I…I wish I could talk to him as you do."
With a sad smile, Minos reached across the table and took his wife's hand, squeezing her fingers gently. "You are a good mother, Pasiphae. Trust that you have a good son and let your love speak for you, let is see for you. You and he are not as distant as you fear, believe me."
Pasiphae quickly returned the pressure on his fingers before carefully releasing him, indicating their moment of intimacy was over. "Thank you," she smiled. "But now we must put such topics to rest. I believe there is a busy day ahead for both of us." Signalling her intentions carefully, the queen turned back to her breakfast, relieved when Minos did the same. Advice from her husband was difficult to hear as the pride prickled in her chest. But, all things considered and for the sake of her son, perhaps on this one occasion, it would not hurt to listen to him?
Jason grinned as his feet landed with a satisfying squelch into the thick mud on the other side of the wooden fence. The lower half of his trousers were slathered in dark mud and the child in Jason still enjoyed the free abandon of getting thoroughly encased in dirt. Ahead of him, Iphicles waited in the barren field, ploughed of its crops and the soil ready to be turned and the stones dug out. He smiled as he watched the young man leap the fence, ignoring the stile and the more controlled landing that it would have afforded him. Jason caught his knowing eye and ducked his head, bashfully as he trotted over to join him. Jason, Iphicles thought to himself, was certainly an energetic one and no doubt made sure Hercules had to run to keep up with him. As Jason reached him they both turned and waited patiently for Pythagoras to join them. While certainly not unfit in any way, the young mathematician, Iphicles noted, was not in as much of a hurry as Jason and took careful measure to avoid large bogs of mud, where there was an easy route around it. He also made proper use of the stile to ease his landing and in so doing, was far cleaner than his young companion. The blonde boy had a sharp mind, he noted: often, over the last few nights, he had enthused to him not only about his love of triangles – an interest he himself had little opinion on though he knew of plenty of men who shared such love of academia – but also on mathematics, the sciences and the world in general. The large man was not, it had to be said, a particularly educated man but he appreciated it in others and listening to Pythagoras' earnestness had been quietly satisfying.
"Were these fields when you were a boy?" Jason asked, as Pythagoras joined them, casting a withering look at the state of Jason's clothing and the mud he would no doubt traipse through his clean house – unless he took his boots off at the door, which the genius had every intention of making him do.
The three continued trudging along the pathway, towards the other end of the field. "It was forest when I last came here," Iphicles said. He indicated the landscape with a wide sweep of his arm. "From the ridge to the stream, all tall sturdy trees and excellent hunting. You could find many a deer if you ventured out early enough and were light-footed."
Jason snickered. "Did Hercules score on any of those counts?" Pythagoras' eyes widened and he elbowed Jason in the ribs with a quiet hiss of surprise. However, he could not help the guilty smile that spread across his face. With Jason as a co-conspirator it was bloody difficult to avoid being drawn in to his friend's often wicked sense of humour sometimes.
Momentarily worried that he might have offended Iphicles, Jason winced. "Sorry," he apologised. But looking up at their strange guest, Jason breathed a silent sigh of relief when he saw the man chuckle. There had been no malice in the lad's jest. Those two boys, he reasoned, clearly loved his brother and his brother was just as devoted to them. If he had not been told differently, Iphicles had half expected Hercules to explain to him that these were his sons not his friends, his wife for some reason, no longer sharing their lives.
Shaking his head, he placed a hand on Jason's shoulder. "Hercules had a good eye for hunting," he said. "But perhaps he did not see so well in the early morning light. But this soil," he remarked, stooping to scoop a sample up in his hand, "is too good for forestry and the land too flat." He spread his fingers a little, teasing the rich soil through his fingers. "See that colour? Rich and fertile. And the sun," he continued, pointing to where it would have been, had it not been cast behind a pearly cloud of sky, "is in just the right position to give the crops what they need, whilst being sheltered from the worst of the wind by the hills." He looked around him and breathed in deeply. "No, this was a wise move."
They continued on their way down the path, Jason and Pythagoras pausing when they spotted something of interest such as coins or arrowheads, in the churned up earth. Iphicles watched them with a growing indulgence as they showed each other their finds, either pocketing them or else tossing them back into the furrows. "You seem to know a lot about farming," Pythagoras remarked, lightly.
"A fair bit. I own some farms in Athens – vineyards, mostly."
Pythagoras looked anew at him. "I had no idea. I somehow imagined something…different." Though he blushed at the sudden thought that Iphicles might ask him what his first impression was. Fortunately, it appeared Iphicles was either not a curious man or not particularly self-obsessed.
The man laughed. "I know a little of the mechanics of it all but I must confess that I have very able men who manage and run the estates for me." Then he paused in their journey and glanced over at Pythagoras, his gaze speculative. "I am in need of someone such as yourself, as it happens. Someone with a good head for figures and an agile mind to handle the accounts of the vineyard in Athens." Pythagoras' eyes widened.
"Me?"
Jason, too stopped and turned to them, a question in his dark eyes. Pythagoras sputtered for a moment, wrestling with the idea. "Work for you? In Athens?" His blue eyes widened as he worried his lower lip. The tall man gave a neutral shrug.
"If you have no interest in Athens and in leaving Atlantis, I would understand. But I thought the city might interest you and the work is not as dull as it might sound. But no matter. The offer is there and I shall leave you to consider or dismiss it as you will." Then Iphicles abruptly turned. "Now let us press on. There is still much to see." And with that, he strode away, his longer legs covering almost twice the span that either Jason or Pythagoras could manage. Jason still stared curiously at Pythagoras as they stayed behind a moment. Catching his intent eye, Pythagoras laughed lightly, blushing.
"That's an interesting offer," Jason began, hoping to draw his friend out into a discussion. But Iphicles was moving further ahead and his blonde friend, clearly embarrassed, merely shook his head, waving off Jason's statement.
"It doesn't matter," he insisted quietly. "Just silly nonsense. Now, we mustn't get too far behind or we'll never catch up." With out another word, Pythagoras set off, following where their guest had led, picking his way around the boggier patches. Jason stood just a moment longer, watching after him, his dark curls blowing in the wind. Pythagoras had clearly felt uncomfortable by the prospect and certainly shocked. But he hadn't exactly said no.
It was near dark when the three returned, weary and seeped with cold, to the little house. As soon as Pythagoras pushed open the door, the warm, golden glow of the lamps and the crackle of the roaring fire spread out to greet them. All three paused in the open doorway for a moment, soaking up the comforting warmth. The wind had picked up on their journey back, whipping about them and straight through the thin cloaks of the younger two and as they had rounded the corner onto their street, the heavens had finally opened. Pythagoras didn't exactly have much meat on his bones to temper the biting effects but it was not himself that he worried for. As the air had thinned and the journey continued, Pythagoras could not help but cast worried glances over to where Jason tried to unsuccessfully smother cough after cough, finally stopping by the hedgerows, almost doubled over to the point where the young mathematician worried he might retch. Gone were thoughts of the mess his young friend would make of his nice clean house. Instead, all he wanted to do was bundle him next to the fire with a soothing tonic for his chest. Perhaps, if he was careful not to nag too much, he might persuade Jason to get an early night?
"Are you lot going to stand there all night with the wind and rain blowing into every corner of what used to be my warm house?" The sharp rumble from the house suddenly snapped Pythagoras, and indeed all of them, from their basking. With a start, Pythagoras hastily turned and shut the door, leaving the howling wind behind them and mumbling a quiet apology as he did so. Iphicles took off his cloak and hung it by the door, choosing to ignore his brother's irate grumble. Perhaps he was all too used to the bark without the bite, having grown up in the man's company?
Jason quietly prised his muddy boots off and left them by the door. He had grown quieter and quieter on the last leg of their trip and now, it seemed, he was content to just melt into the background entirely. His shoulders slightly hunched and his head bowed, Jason trundled into the house, heading straight to his makeshift sleeping area to fish out a clean set of clothes. They weren't his warmest, unfortunately, but they would have to do. Of course, he had a wonderfully warm, thick, woolen set of clothes at the Palace but the mere thought of wearing those here was out of the question. Having pulled out the only other set of clothes he possessed, Jason glanced apprehensively about the room. Had it been only the three of them, he wouldn't have hesitated to strip off his muddy clothes where he stood, redressing in strategic stages. After his little stint as a dog, there really wasn't much left to his friends' imaginations. But with their guest around, he felt it inappropriate.
"And just what kept you so long? I thought you'd be back hours ago."
Hercules' hard, suspicious voice, coming from right behind him made Jason spin around, immediately setting off another round of coughing. Instantly, the older man narrowed his eyes in concern as Pythagoras came to join them. "Perhaps the lecture can wait, Hercules?" Pythagoras said quietly, not wanting to embarrass Jason. "Jason needs a change of clothes and to warm up first." But his gentle lecture was unnecessary. As soon as the older man had got a good look at the lad, he had formed the same conclusion, narrowing his eyes almost dangerously. Jason, his head bowed from the coughing, missed the gesture but Pythagoras did not. Inwardly, the young genius smirked. Even if Jason tried to resist his ministrations (though looking at him, he wasn't sure his friend would object too much) it looked as though he had Hercules on his side and when the wrestler threw his weight into an argument, Jason stood very little chance of winning.
The man nodded brusquely. He put a hand on Jason's shoulder and began steering him towards his own room. "You can change in my room," he announced. "But don't you get mud everywhere. Honestly, have you been rolling in it?" He didn't give Jason a chance to answer as he bundled him off. Shoving the startled boy into his room, Jason turned to face him before he shut the door, a question on his lips. But once more, Hercules cut him off. "And when you get out of there, Pythagoras will have some disgusting drink for you and you'd better drink all of it or I'll pack you straight off to bed." A frown that morphed into a small scowl, knotted the centre of Jason's forehead as he narrowed his eyes and Hercules slammed the door shut in his face.
"It won't be disgusting," Pythagoras muttered, mostly to himself as Hercules had already turned away in a huff. "Honey and lemon is very soothing." But no-one was listening and it was good, he supposed, that he and Hercules were joined in purpose. So he quietly made his way into the kitchen and began heating the water. There was some left-over soup still sitting in an iron pot by the stove and, he surmised, something hot would go down well with all of them.
Hercules turned to look back at the closed door to his room, frowning when he thought about how long Jason had been trudging about in the cold for, not to mention the company he was in.
"Is Jason alright?"
Iphicles low voice startled him and Hercules turned to face his brother's concerned expression. His eyes narrowed. "He's fine. Nothing for you to worry about."
"He just seems a little unwell…"
"Well don't drag them over hill and dale in the middle of winter for hours on end, and they'll be fine, won't they?" And with that, Hercules turned and stomped over to the kitchen, intent on hovering over Pythagoras' shoulder as he prepared the food and drink, until Iphicles took note of his hostility and moved away.
When Jason had emerged, clean and dry, from Hercules' room, he had obligingly taken the hot honey and lemon drink (pleased it was actually a pleasant mix) and allowed himself to be led to sit by the fire, a blanket around his shoulders. Eventually, the fire had proved too much and Jason had let the blanket slide to the floor. Since his colour and breathing had much improved, no-one objected. Pythagoras had set next to him, eating a bowl of beef broth which, Jason noted, the others also enjoyed though further away and seated around the table. Hercules, he realised, spent most of his time in between trying to make small talk with his brother, watching Iphicles through suspicious eyes. There was something…odd about his friend's behaviour that night, as though there was something he wanted to say, something he wanted to ask but couldn't bring himself to. Every now and then, Hercules would look up and catch Jason's eye and then give one of his wide, concealing smiles as if Jason were one of the city guards that Hercules routinely tried to evade with charming deception.
Eventually, the two older men had excused themselves and taken themselves off to bed, the weight of the day on their aging bones, finally catching up with them. Pythagoras had gone to clean up the kitchen, immediately dismissing Jason's offer to help. He liked things done a certain way anyway and Jason usually ended up hanging a utensil where it didn't belong. And so, Jason – for whom sleep did not come so easily – found himself sitting at the table, the blanket once more wrapped around his shoulders as the fire had reduced to a warm glow. He glanced up as a shadow fell across him to see Pythagoras watching him with a kind smile.
"I thought you would have gone to sleep yourself." Jason smiled knowingly, causing his young friend to hastily add, "I'm not nagging. I just thought you'd be tired after all the traipsing about." With a gentle sigh, Pythagoras eased himself down onto the wooden bench that Jason had just shuffled along to allow him room. He watched the young man softly shake his head, turning to face him, his face gently lit from the dying fire.
"I wasn't tired," Jason admitted. "Well, my body is but my mind's still awake. Figured I'd just sit here for a while." He indicated his makeshift bed, placed near the hearth. "Not like I have far to go to fall into bed." Pythagoras laughed quietly, in agreement. "What about you?" Jason pressed. "That kitchen was clean about an hour ago, even by your standards." He watched his blonde friend keenly, noting the way Pythagoras suddenly blushed and looked away, as if caught out in a lie. The young genius began unconsciously playing with the hem of his robe. Something in Jason's gut began to turn. "You're thinking about Iphicles' offer, aren't you?" he asked, kindly, trying not to let either his eyes or his voice betray his emotions and stop his friend from opening up to him, when he so clearly needed to. Pythagoras leaving Atlantis seemed almost an impossible scenario to imagine. He loved the city, he was content here.
But then, Jason wondered uneasily, what if he did accept his role at the Palace? What if he did decide to marry Ariadne? He would spend more and more time away. Was it fair to expect his friends to just be waiting here for him? Never moving on with their lives. Never changing. Next to him, Pythagoras finally looked up to him with honest, wrought blue eyes.
"I don't know," he admitted in a frustrated sigh. "On the one hand I can never imagine leaving Atlantis, leaving Hercules. I don't know what he'd do without me sometimes – how he'd keep enough food in the house to last him through winter." Jason grinned, making some of the tension leave his young friend's shoulders as the genius found himself smiling back.
"But on the other hand?" Jason prompted, nudging him gently with his elbow. A knowing, indulgent smile was on his face, despite the pain in his chest and seeing it, Pythagoras reluctantly allowed his own smile to stay a little longer.
"It's Athens!" he exclaimed, as if that alone should be all he needed to say. "I have sometimes dreamed of living there. The buildings, the universities, the thinkers! They thrive in such a place – they are the heart and soul behind the city. To say the offer is tempting is…" Suddenly, he glanced down in embarrassment, shame creeping over his face. "Listen to me – talking such nonsense. I don't even know why I'm even considering such an offer. It was flattering, nothing more. I could never leave my friends, leave Atlantis. Why would I ever want to?"
But I might be leaving anyway, Jason thought grimly. And Hercules, no matter what he boasts, won't be here for ever. And as for Atlantis?
Jason sighed and for a moment, bowed his head to his chest, a dozen cold thoughts, trying to drown him, chilling him to the depths. After a moment longer he raised his head to meet Pythagoras' worried expression. "I don't want you to leave," he admitted. "And there are plenty of reasons for you to stay, just as you said. But nothing stays the same forever, no matter how much we want it to. I'm learning that one pretty quickly." He paused and smiled, ruefully, his youthful features suddenly aged and weary. "And you know, though you can't see it now, there are some pretty good reasons for maybe getting out of Atlantis, too. But only you can decide. Just know I'll be behind you, whatever you choose."
Pythagoras' eyes shone brightly for a moment as he listened to his friend's comforting advice. Jason often acted as though he were clueless, naive of the world. But there was a keen intelligence behind those gentle eyes. He wrapped a thin arm around the lad's shoulders. "Thank you, Jason. I shall think about it, though I doubt I shall change my mind." Then he rose to his feet. "But I am tired now and I think I shall go to bed."
"Goodnight," Jason said, smiling as he watched him stretch, cat-like.
"Goodnight," Pythagoras returned. "And though I fear this may be nagging, don't stay up too late." And Jason chuckled softly to himself, nodding his understanding as his friend disappeared into his room.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading this far. I hope you enjoyed it.