Later that day, Minos knocked on his son's door. He had meant what he'd said about discussing marriage with Pythagoras instead of immediately deciding for him.

"Come in."

Entering, Minos saw Pythagoras was drawing again. Pieces of parchment lay over his table and the king had to bite back an affectionate smile when he saw a smudge of dark grey colouring his left cheekbone.

"I need to speak with you."

Pythagoras pulled out a chair and looked at him expectantly. He was playing with the wooden pencil he'd been drawing with as though he was fighting back the urge to go back to his triangles.

"You aren't getting any younger," the king began before mentally kicking himself. Light blue eyes were drifting over the silver strands speckling his beard and hair, looking at the wrinkles lining his face.

"With all due respect..."

"I know, I know. Pythagoras, you are coming of age for courting."

"I've never even had an erastes."

"I know, but you are coming to the age of thinking of settling down with a husband."

"I don't wish for marriage."

"You don't have to get married immediately. Courting. Seeing if a certain man is the right one for you."

"I don't know any men."

"Your mother, Lord Kapaneus and I were discussing it. We think it may be a good idea to use the Pankration. It starts in four months."

"What for?"

"So a young man might fight for your hand in marriage."

"People die in the Pankration. I don't want anyone to die for me."

"Anyone in particular?"

Pythagoras froze, his grip on his pencil almost breaking it. "What do you mean?"

"The slayer of the Minotaur."

"Who told you?"

"Your mother did. It truly is all in the look."

"Is he why you changed the laws on marriage?"

"Yes."

"He does not know me. I fear he doesn't feel the same."

"Even if he doesn't, you'll have his friendship and loyalty. He seems that sort of man."

"If he doesn't feel the same, he won't enter the Pankration, but if he does..."

"He slew the Minotaur." Minos reminded him.

"I don't suppose many others would wish for me. Most men in Atlantis are married."

"I can give orders to spread the news?"

Pythagoras nodded, the pencil between his fingers dropping. Minos smiled and left the room.

Ariadne threw her arms around the blonde serving girl. "Korinna! I am glad to see you."

"I'm happy to see you also." Korinna smiled. "Shut the door, quickly, I have news."

Ariadne brought wine down and poured it into two cups. Passing one to her friend, she smiled and waited for the young woman to talk.

"Someone who we thought got more aroused at triangles than another person has fallen for someone who recently slew a vicious beast."

Ariadne slammed her hand onto the table. "I knew it! I knew Pythagoras liked him!"

Korinna nodded. "He's fallen hard. Do you think..?"

A groan emanated from one of the rooms. Ariadne pressed a finger to her lips. "Hercules took him out drinking. Poor thing's still not recovered. He's tired, but even so, we'll have to be quiet."

"I see. Do you think," Korinna was whispering now, "that Jason feels the same way?"

"I believe he does. See, he was looking at Pythagoras like...well, like he wanted him."

"As citizens of Atlantis, we really should do something." Korinna told Ariadne.

"Absolutely. But what can we do?"

"Alright. This is what we'll do..." Korinna leaned forward and whispered to Ariadne, her soft light-coloured tresses tickling the brunette's ear.

Jason blinked at Pythagoras as he opened the door. "Hi."

"Korinna said you needed help."

"I'm going scavenging for fruit in the forest. I don't need help."

"I want to help."

Jason opened his mouth to tell him, 'no', that it was dangerous, but something about the look in those blue eyes changed his mind. There was a look in them, one he couldn't identify, but whatever it was, it made him agree.

Hours later, Jason looked at the Atlantian prince and couldn't stop staring. He seemed comfortable in the forest, cutting off berries and examining mushrooms as though he'd been doing it all his life.

"Have you done this before?"

"I have."

Something about the quiet way Pythagoras answered told Jason to be silent. There was something in his past, Jason knew, but he also knew he could not go asking about it.

"As a child, I'd often go into the woods behind the palace."

"Alone?"

Pythagoras smiled. "No. I had a friend. She was wonderful."

"Oh." Every instinct in Jason's body was screaming at him to ask what happened to this friend, but he could see by Pythagoras' closed off look that it wouldn't be wise to ask.

"What about you?"

"I didn't grow up near woods. Londonis is a very large city."

"What were the people like?"

"They were all different. Like the people here."

Pythagoras smiled, imagining the vast city of Londonis, with its people and it large buildings.

"Do you have Pankrations?" Pythagoras asked, trying to appear casual. He wanted to know of Jason's feelings and this was the best way he could think of without abruptly declaring his own.

"What's a Pankration?"

"It's a competition. A fight to get to a knife first. If you get to it, you slash at your opponent." A frown crossed his features. "I don't really like them."

"What's the prize?"

"Usually it's money and honour, but this year..."

"What's different about this year?"

"My parents think I should begin courting soon. The winner gets..." He gestured to himself. "Personally I don't think there'll be many competitors this year."

Jason was too busy imagining this blonde, youthful, innocent man marrying a tall, strong, heavily built warrior to react immediately. He didn't know what it was, but he felt a sensation swoop through his body as though he was internally on fire.

"Jason?"

"We'd better get back."

Pythagoras had seen the look of horror on Jason's face when he'd told him. Not just horror, but fear. By the gods.

Walking through the village, Jason caught Pythagoras' elbow. "Will I be seeing you again?"

"Of course. Maybe not tomorrow, I'm with Heptarian, but the day after should be fine."

"Who's Heptarian?"

"He's a good friend of mine. He'll probably be entering the Pankration. He's not one to shy away from a fight." Pythagoras tocuhed Jason's shoulder. "I have to leave you now, I'm afraid. Goodbye."

Jason was panting as though he'd run a marathon when he got back to the house. Sitting heavily at the table, he wondered what the hell was wrong with him. Why had the news of the Pankration hurt him so?

"Jason? What is it?"

"The Pankration. I, he told me and he's getting married to the winner and I don't know why, but it's..."

"Jason, Jason!" Ariadne shook him, trying to calm him down. "Try and calm down. What happened?"

"There's a Pankration. You know what that is?"

"Yes, I've seen enough of them. Go on."

"Well, this year the winner gets Pythagoras."

"It's upsetting you. Why?"

"I don't know. I just felt...I don't know. Crushed. When he told me, it...hurt."

"Jason, do you like Pythagoras?"

"Of course I do. He's a very nice man."

"You know, Zeus is said to have created people with four arms, four legs and a head with two faces. He split them, fearing the power they could have, so that they are forced to find their other half."

"What are you saying?"

"I believe Pythagoras is your other half."

"We don't know each other."

"You are happiest with him. I can see that."

"What about him?"

"Can you not see his eyes? The way you both looked at each other when you saw the other yesterday was like that of men who had found something truly miraculous. Your mind may not be sure, but your eyes tell everything."

"This is bloody crazy." Jason mumbled, burying his head into his hands. "I left to find my father, and I end up gaining the affections of a prince..."

"Which you feel the same about."

"What can I do? I can't just go up to him and...oh, what do I say to him?"

"Hmm." Ariadne thought hard. "I don't know, but you will have to tell him and soon. Pankrations start in the eighth month of every year. You have four months left."

"I can't just tell him."

"Then I don't know what you can do." Ariadne told him sadly. "Unless you partake in the Pankration."

She meant it as a joke, but Jason's eyes set. 'That's just what I'll do, then.' the brunette decided. 'I'll get him.'