GOLDEN FLEECE QUEST:BETRAYAL

Jason and the Argonauts had left the city of Aea far behind.

They had sailed back down the river and were heading out into the open sea to safety, well, so they hoped.

Young Helios was told all about the former Argonaut, Mopsus.

In the palace, it was a totally different story.

Aeetes sat fuming on the throne. Determined he was, to discover who had stolen the Golden Fleece.

“I want everyone in the throne room, at once” the king said angrily to three present guards.

“At once, my lord?” asked one of the guards.

“At once. I will not rest, until I find out who stole the Golden Fleece.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

Aeetes watched the guards leave the throne room.

Before long, they returned with everyone else in the palace.

The other residents could tell by the furious look on the king’s face that something terrible was amiss. A wave of dread spread through their hearts.

“I have summoned you all here, because a most outrageous crime has been committed,” he said angrily. “The Golden Fleece has been stolen.”

Murmurs spread fast among the residents.

Apsyrtus was petrified.

“I will not rest until I find the guilty one. Maybe more than one of you had a hand in it. Rest assured, I will know, once the palace has been searched. No one, is to leave the throne room, until the Fleece has been found.”

Meanwhile, a man was making his way up to the courtyard gates – a man who had been known to everyone onboard the Argo, except Helios. The man was none other, than Mopsus.

When the former Argonaut reached the gates, the guards moved together in front of him.

“Stop right there, stranger,” said the right-hand guard. “And state your business.”

“I have come to see the king, on very urgent business.”

“Why is your business so urgent?” the left-hand guard asked.

“It concerns the Golden Fleece.”

The guards nodded at one another, then turned back to Mopsus, who was waiting impatiently.

“In that case, you’d better see the king,” said the right-hand guard.

Mopsus sighed with relief as the guards parted and opened the gates.

“I’ll take you to the king,” the left-hand guard said.

Mopsus followed the guard fearfully across the courtyard and into the palace.

“Be warned, the king is in a very angry mood,” the guard said when they reached the main throne room

doors.

“I’ll face what comes.”

The guard opened the doors and led Mopsus in to face Aeetes, who still looked furious.

When the king set eyes on them, he became even more annoyed.

“What is it?” he asked very crossly. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“There is a stranger here who wishes to speak with my lord,” the guard replied nervously.

“I have no time for strangers right now. Take him away.”

“His business concerns the Fleece, my lord.”

People started muttering to one another.

“Leave us to it,” Aeetes said in a calmer voice.

The guard exited the throne room, leaving a terrified Mopsus to his fate.

“Tell me everything you know.”

“I know who stole the Fleece, your lordship.”

“Tell me.”

“It was Jason and the Argonauts, your lordship.”

Mopsus held his breath, as people murmured.

“SILENCE!” Aeetes roared.

The murmurs stopped at once.

“Are you certain?”

“Absolutely, your lordship. I was down near the Argo, when your lordship spoke of the Fleece.”

There was another brief moment of silence. The king’s thoughts were all over the place and Mopsus was waiting for the worst.

“Tell me, do you know Jason and the Argonauts?”

The game was starting to look up for the former Argonaut. He saw no point in denying his involvement to steal the Fleece.

“Yes, your lordship. I sailed with them to Colchis.”

“You sailed with them?”

“Up until I was cast overboard by Heracles, your lordship.”

“Was it your intention to help steal the Fleece?”

“It was before I was cast overboard, your lordship. After that, I grew to hate Jason and the Argonauts –

Heracles especially. So I came here, to betray them to your lordship.”

Mopsus baited his breath and awaited his fate.

“I should have you executed,” Aeetes said furiously. “I should have you burned on the stake, cast into a pit of fire, tortured on the rack, beaten with spiked metal balls, impaled on a pole, thrown onto a bed of spikes, peeled as an orange, hunted down and eaten alive by my hounds.”

Mopsus, was in a devastating predicament – a predicament, which he saw no way out of.

“Indeed you should, your lordship,” he said.

“However, I will spare your life, if you help me get the Golden Fleece back.”

Mopsus couldn’t believe it.

“That, I am most willing to do, your lordship.”

“The thing is, I have no idea where Jason and the Argonauts are heading. Jason told me that he and his crew are sailing wherever the tide carries them.”

“HAH! The only place Jason and the Argonauts are going, is back to Thessaly, your lordship.”

Aeetes was taken aback.

“That’s not what Jason told me,” he said angrily.

“I bet there are many things, which he did not tell your lordship.”

“Go on,” Aeetes said with a tone of curiosity in his voice.

“Jason, so happens to be the son of Aeson and Medea of Thessaly, your lordship.”

“Is he now?”

“Yes, your lordship. Jason is a member of the royal family of Thessaly.”

Aeetes was getting more and more curious. More curious than angry in fact.

“Interesting,” he said. “Tell me more.”

“Well, your lordship, Jason went to confront Pelias, who happens to be his uncle, but without success. The thing is, Pelias refused to hand the kingdom back to Aeson and Medea, unless Jason gets him the Fleece. Jason isn’t convinced though. He believes that Pelias only wants the Fleece.”

“Why did Pelias not kill him?”

“Because it is forbidden by the royal laws of Thessaly.”

“I see,” Aeetes sneered. “Well, the laws here are different. If Pelias cannot kill Jason, then I will have him killed, if I have too.”

“What will you do?”

“I will chase down the Argo with a fleet of war galleys and force Jason to hand the Fleece back. If he refuses, I will order my fleet to send the Argo to the depths with everyone onboard. If he does hand the Fleece back, I will let them go.”

Mopsus was disappointed to hear the latter.

“By the way, I do not know your name,” said Aeetes.

“My name is Mopsus, your lordship.”

“Well, Mopsus, you will come and join me.”

“Nothing would give me greater pleasure, your lordship,” Mopsus sneered.

He wanted no more, than to witness the downfall, of his former companions.

“I take it that Jason and the Argonauts will be stopping off at places along the way?” asked Aeetes.

“Yes, your lordship. First, they will head for the island of Phineus.”

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