GOLDEN FLEECE QUEST:HELIOS

Things seemed to be going fine, well for the present. The sailors still felt on edge, but not as much as before. After all, Mopsus hadn’t appeared.

“That sounds fine, your lordship,” Jason said.

“For the time being, the entertainment shall continue,” said Aeetes. “I want to get to know you more, Jason.”

Jason, now felt exceedingly troubled. He knew only too well, that he would have to come up with falsehoods to hide his true identity and anything else Aeetes had in mind to find out. He had to think fast too.

The Argonauts were equally as concerned about the matter.

“That suits me fine, your lordship,” Jason lied.

“Come and join us, Heracles,” said Aeetes. “You too, Atalanta.”

Heracles had other intentions.

“Not me, your lordship,” he said. “I want to talk with some of the other Colchians here.”

“As you wish.”

So Heracles went off, while Atalanta and Jason joined Aeetes.

He engaged in conversations with many of the people watching the entertainment, in hope of gaining inside assistance, to seize the Golden Fleece. He didn’t dare mention that presently.

At one point, he came across a man around Jason’s age, standing apart from everyone else.

“Who might you be?” he asked.

“My name is Helios.”

“Do you live in the palace?”

“I do, but I’d rather get away though.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not happy with the king’s cruel and vile ways.”

Heracles didn’t blame Helios.

“Where would you go?” he asked.

“Away from Colchis, if I had the opportunity. I would

jump onboard a ship, bound for a faraway shore.”

That aroused Heracles’ curiosity.

“Do you know much about the sea?” he asked.

“I sure do, but I’ve never been out there.”

Heracles knew of a way to help Helios.

“Well, I could ask Jason if he will be willing to take you with us when we leave tomorrow.”

That brightened things up for Helios.

“Are you serious?” he asked.

“I sure am, but I’ll have to put it past the king first.”

“Will you do it now?”

“Certainly.”

Heracles and Helios went over to Aeetes, who was deep in conversation with Jason and Atalanta.

“Ah, Heracles,” the King said. “Have you come to join us?”

“I have, your lordship.”

Aeetes stared at Helios.

“Why is he with you?”

“Well, your lordship, Helios wishes to leave Colchis. If it’s okay with you, Jason and with, your lordship, then he can sail with us.”

Jason agreed at once. He needed a spare crew member to replace Mopsus.

“He may come, if, his lordship allows it?”

“I agree too,” Atalanta said.

“Well, your lordship?” Heracles asked.

Aeetes looked at Helios again for a moment, then turned back to face Heracles.

“Very well,” he said with no objection in his voice. “Helios may go when you all leave. After all, he has no family here and he’s no servant either.”

Helios couldn’t believe his luck.

“Thank you, your lordship,” said Heracles.

“When are you going to sail on, Jason?” Aeetes asked.

“Tomorrow, your lordship. After we’ve taken on food and water.”

“Tonight, you and the Argonauts will stay in the palace,” said Aeetes.

Jason was most pleased to hear that and so were Heracles and Atalanta. They all thought that stealing the fleece and fleeing in the night, would arouse suspicion.

He felt disturbed enough as it was, for he had told many half-truths and complete falsehoods while talking with Aeetes.

“I thank you, your lordship,” he said.

“And now I must see to it, that the feast prepared,” said Aeetes.

He got up and left through one of the pairs of side doors.

Helios turned to Heracles.

“Thanks for what you did to help me,” he said.

“You’re welcome.”

“We need a spare crew member anyway,” said Jason.

“You know something, Jason, something tells me, that you and the Argonauts didn’t come here just to visit the king,” Helios said quietly.

Heracles, Jason and Atalanta exchanged glances with one another. They wondered whether Helios had a sense of intuition.

“May I speak with you a moment where we won’t be overheard, Helios,” Atalanta whispered.

“Sure.”

Atalanta and Helios went and stood out of earshot.

“You’re right. There is more to our visit.”

Helios suspected as much.

“Please, tell me.”

There was nothing for it. Atalanta had to tell Helios the truth, but she knew not how he would take it.

“Well, we’ve come for the Golden Fleece,” she said very quietly.

She waited with baited breath.

“The Golden Fleece?” Helios asked open-mouthed.

“Yes, the Golden Fleece.”

“The Fleece won’t be easy to get hold of.”

“Heracles and I saw the Fleece, when we first came here. It was well guarded and still is now, we suspect.”

“It is guarded, yes. More than once, I have been tempted to steal the Fleece and escape with it. Now that I come to think of it, I can help you get the Fleece.”

That took a great weight off Atalanta’s shoulders.

“Tell me how,” she said.

“Well, I can see to it that one of the servants gets the guards drugged after the feast.”

“That sounds fine.”

“I’ll have things arranged now.”

Helios went off through the other side door, while Atalanta went back to join Jason and Heracles.

“Helios is going to help us,” she said.

Heracles and Jason were relieved.

“How?” asked Jason.

“He’s going to see to it that one of the servants gets the guards drugged after the feast.”

“That’s fine,” Heracles said.

Helios returned soon.

“It’s all been arranged,” he said.

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