GOLDEN FLEECE QUEST:ANOTHER ROYAL FEAST

Later on Aeetes returned to the throne room. The dancers, musicians and other Colchians, except Helios, left the throne room, to make way for the coming feast.

Chairs and rectangular tables were brought in by servants and set down.

More servants came in with empty plates and goblets of gold, followed by golden vessels of wine and plates of gold piled up with food, including a variety of meats and fruit.

Once everything had been laid out, the servants left the throne room.

“A fine-looking feast, your lordship,” said Jason.

“You, Heracles and Atalanta will sit with me, Jason,” Aeetes said. “I want to hear all about this voyage.”

Again Jason felt on edge, but he didn’t dare show it. He knew that he would have to tell more lies and half-truths.

There was unrest among the Argonauts too, though they didn’t dare show it either.

“Nothing would please me better, your lordship,” Jason lied.

“I’ll join in too,” said Helios, who was just as enthusiastic to hear about the voyage.

“Very well,” Jason said.

He, along with Atalanta, Heracles and Helios sat at a table with Aeetes, while the other Argonauts sat elsewhere.

“Now then, tell me about the voyage,” the king said, as the feast started. “You join in too Heracles and you Atalanta.”

“Well, we started out from the faraway land of Thessaly,” Jason began.

“I know of Thessaly and king Pelias,” said Aeetes. “Word reached me long ago, that Pelias overthrew the former rulers, Aeson and Medea and seized the kingdom.”

“He still rules there,” Atalanta said.

“After leaving Thessaly, we visited King Cyzicus, Queen Megara and Princess Iona,” said Jason. “The sea was very rough, the wind strong and we were blown off course by five miles.

“But we reached the island of Cyzicus and his family in one piece. There we feasted and took on food and water.”

“After visiting king Cyzicus and his family, we headed for the island of King Amycus,” Heracles said. “Along the way, there came upon us, a terrifying storm.

Twenty oars were lost and we were blown twenty miles off course.”

“That didn’t stop us though,” said Atalanta. “Heracles steered us back on course again. Though with half the oars gone, the oarsmen had to take it in turns to row the rest of the way to the island.”

“When we reached the island, we were given a most unwarm welcome by King Amycus,” Jason said. “He came to the shore with dozens of soldiers, to prevent us from landing.”

“Heracles settled the matter though,” said Atalanta. “He saw to it that Aeetes allowed us to go ashore to take what we needed.”

“How did you manage to settle the matter, Hercules? Did you threaten him with that club of yours?”

“I sure did, your lordship.”

“When Amycus gave in, Heracles had him tied to the mast, your lordship,” Jason said.

Aeetes found that rather amusing.

“Most cunning of you,” he said. “But tell me what the soldiers did. Did they attack?”

“At Amycus’ command they did, your lordship,” Heracles replied. “But we defeated them all.”

Aeetes was very impressed.

“What happened after all the soldiers were killed?”

“We took on food and water, made new oars and sailed on, your lordship,” replied Atalanta.

“What became of King Amycus? Did you release him?”

“No, your lordship,” Jason replied. “Heracles had him cast overboard.”

Aeetes thought that was very amusing. He laughed about it too.

Helios on the other-hand was shocked, but he continued to remain silent.

“After travelling on, we went through the passage leading to this sea, your lordship,” said Atalanta. “Then on to the island of the exiled Phineus. Along the way we faced rough conditions, but nothing powerful enough to blow us off course.”

“Phineus told me all about the devastating decline of his kingdom and his exile, your lordship,” Jason said.

“He said that peace comes at a price.”

Helios understood that, all too well.

“After visiting Phineus, we came to Colchis, your lordship,” said Heracles. “Along the way we got caught in another storm and were blown off course. Fifteen oars we lost too.

“However, I managed to get us here, your lordship. We had to stop off at a beach to make new oars. Then we sailed on, until we finally reached Aea.”

Neither Heracles, Atalanta, or Jason, dared to mention Mopsus.

There was a moments silence at the table.

“A fascinating story,” Aeetes said. “Worthy in the history of sea-faring.”

“I thank you, your lordship,” said Jason, who like Heracles and Atalanta, was relieved to get it over with.

“Now I shall retire for the night,” Aeetes said. “You, Jason, will sleep in the throne room, along with the Argonauts.”

“I thank you again, your lordship.”

So it was.

Aeetes summoned his servants to remove everything, but the chairs from the throne room. He then followed them.

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