GOLDEN FLEECE QUEST:KING AEETES

Heracles’ actions against Mopsus, had sent a wave of fear through most of the Argonauts. No way, were the rest of the oarsmen going to stir things up again – not after that.

Worst of all, the dreadful thought of Mopsus exposing the mission to Aeetes, over-hung everyone’s head, like an infamous cloud of darkness.

The thing was, there was no going back.

The sailors had to go on with their quest and live in hope, that their worst fears would never be realized.

When the sailors reached Aea, they pulled in alongside a pontoon and went ashore armed. Heracles moored the Argo.

The waterfront was rather busy.

People were going in and out of buildings, walking through alleys, looking at stools, fighting, drinking.

Others were working onboard ships.

Mopsus wasn’t to be seen anywhere.

“We’ll head straight for the palace,” said Heracles.

“And if Mopsus is there?” Jason asked fearfully.

“We’ll cross that bridge when, or if we come to it,” replied Heracles.

The sailors headed for a path leading to the palace and began to make their way up it.

“Have you thought about how we’re going to get the Fleece, Heracles?” Atalanta asked.

“I have.”

“Go on,” said Jason.

“I’m going to try and gain some inside help, from one of the servants maybe.”

Atalanta and Jason had concerns about that.

“Are you sure that’s such a good idea?” Atalanta asked.

“No, but it’s the only idea I can think of.”

“The thing is, the servants might be loyal to Aeetes,” said Jason. “We might get betrayed.”

That thought had occurred to Heracles and Atalanta.

“We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it,” Heracles said.

Meanwhile, the two guards standing outside the courtyard gates, were staring at Jason and the Argonauts coming up the path. They wore grey chitons, black armour and had bronze swords.

“I don’t like the look of that,” the right-hand guard said, with an edge of fear in his voice.

“Look at that man with the club,” the left-handed onesaid open-mouthed.

“We’d better tell the king.”

The guards went through the gates, rushed across the courtyard, which was rather spacious and entered the palace.

Meanwhile, king Aeetes was in the throne room with a gathering of people including slaves, guards and musicians, watching a group of young dancing women.

The throne room itself, wasn’t a very pleasant sight for the eye to behold.

There were pillars, two pairs of side doors and braziers, but no beautiful frescoes like in the throne room of king Cyzicus.

Instead, there were paintings and tapestries all over the walls, showing bloody battle scenes.

The throne, on the other-hand, was a majestic sight to behold. It was all gold with legs shaped like those of a lion, arms shaped like the front legs of a lion and a back shaped like the folded wings of an eagle.

Aeetes, on the other hand, painted a different picture entirely.

He looked about fifty years of age with a bald head, large pointy ears, slanting black, owl-like eyebrows and menacing, dark eyes.

He wore an embroider less black robe, rings of gold and silver on every finger, but no crown.

He certainly did not look like the kind of king to get on the wrong side of.

Suddenly, the throne room doors burst open and in came the guards.

“What is the meaning of this?” Aeetes asked in a cold voice.

“My lord, there are over three dozen men and one woman approaching the palace,” one of the guards said fearfully.

“All of them are armed, my lord,” said the other guard.

The entertainment stopped and a wave of silence fell.

“Armed did you say?” Aeetes asked.

“Yes, my lord,”

“One of them stands about eight feet tall and carries a huge club, my lord.”

Aeetes calmed down a little.

“What are you thinking, my lord?” one of the throne room guards asked with an edge of fear in his voice.

“I am thinking about the man with the club. There is only one man in the known world, who I know of, that fits that description.”

“Who, my lord?” another throne room guard asked fearfully.

“Heracles.”

People started muttering to one another.

“Should we gather our forces and fight, my lord?” one of the guards asked.

That, was the last thing Aeetes wanted.

“No,” he replied firmly. “I want them all to come in.”

“You’re crazy, my lord,” said another guard.

“To you I may be, but I want Heracles and all those with him in here. Heracles paid me a visit before and we were on good terms. I want to find out why he has come again.”

“Well, if you’re sure my lord?” the guard asked.

“I am.”

The king turned to the guards, who had entered the throne room.

“Let them in when they arrive.”

“Yes, my lord,” the two guards said in unison.

They returned to their stations outside the courtyard and waited for the approaching sailors.

When the latter reached the palace, they halted before the nervous guards.

“We’ve come to see the king,” Heracles said firmly.

“A good thing too,” said the left-hand guard.

“The king wishes to see you all at once.”

“Please enter.”

The guards opened the gates – allowing Jason and the Argonauts through.

The sailors strode across the courtyard, led by Heracles and entered the palace. They then made their way through into the throne room, where Aeetes was waiting impatiently.

People started whispering again as Heracles approached Aeetes. The sheer size of the former filled them with awe.

“Greetings to you, Heracles,” the king said kindly. “And to you Atalanta.”

“Greetings, your lordship,” Atalanta and Heracles said kindly, in unison.

They bowed together.

“It’s been a long time,” said Aeetes. “About fourteen years.”

“A long time indeed, your lordship,” Atalanta said.

Aeetes focused his attention on the other sailors and wondered why they were all armed too. He didn’t suspect an attack, seeing as Heracles and Atalanta were present.

“Tell me who the others are,” he asked.

Heracles beckoned the rest forwards.

Jason went first and stood by Heracles and Atalanta.

“This, is Jason, your lordship,” said Heracles. “He is the captain of a ship, which I built, called the Argo. We sailed in the Argo to Colchis.”

“Then I take it, Heracles, that you, Atalanta and those others, are members of the crew?”

“We are, your lordship.”

Aeetes faced Jason.

“Welcome to Colchis, Jason.”

“Thank you, your lordship,” Jason said with a bow.

The king faced the other crew members.

“The same to all of you.”

“Thank you, your lordship,” the rest of the Argonauts said in unison.

They all bowed together.

Aeetes was showing an attitude of kindness, but the sailors were a little on edge. They all wondered whether Mopsus had reached the palace first and betrayed them. If so, then was the king putting his act of kindness on?

Jason was on edge the most, for he had no idea what questions the king might ask him.

“Tell me, Jason, why have you all come armed?”

Jason was waiting for that.

“That’s simple enough, your lordship. We arm ourselves wherever we go, should any trouble befall upon us.”

That was the only answer Jason could come up with. It was however, only a half-truth. He and the Argonauts had no reason to arm themselves when visiting king Cyzicus and his family, or the exiled Phineus.

“That sounds reasonable enough,” said Aeetes.

“One must be on guard, your lordship,” Heracles said.

“Well, I want to hear all about the voyage,” said Aeetes. “When we feast later.”

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