GOLDEN FLEECE QUEST:THE EXILED ONE

By hercules

“There’s Phineus,” Atalanta said.

She and Heracles approached Phineus.

“Heracles, Atalanta, you’ve both returned,” Phineus said in a friendly, calm voice, which sounded a little faint.

“Yes, Phineus,” said Atalanta. “We have returned.”

“I’m very pleased to see you both.”

“Likewise,” Heracles and Atalanta said in unison.”

Phineus stared at the other sailors, then at the Argo.

“A fine vessel to look upon,” he said.

“Thank you,” said Heracles.

“Heracles built her. He named her, the Argo.”

“I take it that Heracles is the captain?”

“No, he’s not the captain of this vessel and neither am I.”

“Who is the captain?”

Jason moved forwards.

“I, am the captain.”

“Tell me your name.”

“My name is Jason.”

“I am very honoured to meet you, Jason.”

“Likewise, Phineus.”

“I was admiring the Argo.”

“She is indeed a fine vessel,” Jason said.

“The other members of your crew are a fine-looking bunch.”

“My crew members are known as Argonauts.”

Jason had taken a liking to Phineus.

“Tell me, Jason, are you and the Argonauts on a voyage?”

“We certainly are.”

“Where too?”

“The land of Colchis.”

A chill went down Phineus spine.

“The kingdom of the ruthless tyrant, Aeetes.”

“That’s the one.”

“If you and the Argonauts are stopping off here to take on food and water, then feel free. There’s plenty of it.”

“Thank you.”

Jason turned to Heracles and Atalanta.

“Let’s see now,” said Heracles. “You and Jason stay on the beach, Atalanta. Would you care to stay with them, Phineus?”

“Certainly, I’d be delighted.”

Jason and Atalanta were both equally as delighted.

“Good. I will go off with the others to get food and water.”

So it was agreed.

Phineus stayed on the beach with Jason and Atalanta, while Heracles went off with the other Argonauts to get food and water.

“Now, Jason, suppose you tell me all about yourself,” said Phineus. “I rarely get visitors these days.”

Jason began.

“Well, I will start off by saying, that I am a member of the royal family of Thessaly.”

That took Phineus by surprise. He was almost seldom visited by members of royalty.

“I’ve heard of Thessaly,” he said. “A far-off land, ruled by the vile tyrant Pelias.”

“You can say that again,” said Atalanta.

“Pelias happens to be my uncle. He seized the kingdom when I was ten and imprisoned my parents, Aeson and Medea. Heracles and Atalanta took me from the palace and raised me to manhood.”

“Have you returned to the palace to confront Pelias?”

“I have, yes. But he said that he will only hand the

kingdom back to my parents, if I get him the Golden Fleece.”

Phineus wasn’t surprised to hear that. He knew all too well, that many kings and queens of the known world, craved the Fleece.

“So I take it then, that you and the Argonauts are going to Colchis to get the Fleece?”

“Indeed we are. However, I don’t believe a word that Pelias said and neither do Heracles and Atalanta.”

“So why go to Colchis to get the Fleece?” Phineas asked. “What do you intend to gain from it?”

“I don’t intend to gain anything from it. I don’t even want the Fleece. I’m only doing this to make Pelias believe that I have fallen for his trickery. He deceived me, so I deceived him.”

“Pelias does want the Fleece though,” said Atalanta.

“That’s all he wants,” Jason said.

Phineus thought Jason to be a very clever and cunning man. He admired him for it.

“Now, tell me about the voyage so far,” he said.

Jason had a lot to reveal. However, he wasn’t sure how Phineus would view his actions, against Amycus.

“Well, to start off with, we journeyed to the island where King Cyzicus, Queen Megara and Princess Iona live. Along the way we were driven off course by five miles.”

“King Cyzicus and his family were most welcoming,” said Atalanta. “We feasted and stayed overnight in the palace.”

“I knew Cyzicus and Megara when they were younger.

Iona was a small girl.”

“She’s all grown up now,” Atalanta said.

“What happened next?”

“We sailed on to the island of King Amycus,” Jason replied.

“That wretched scoundrel,” said Phineus. “I met him once and his ways did not please me at all.”

“A terrible storm sprung up along the way and we lost twenty oars,” Heracles said. “The oarsmen had to take it in turns to row after that.”

“The storm blew us off course, by twenty miles,” said Atalanta.

“That’s some distance,” Phineus said.

“Still, we reached the island,” said Jason. “Though we didn’t receive a warm welcome from Amycus.”

“He came to the shore with dozens of soldiers, to prevent us from landing,” Atalanta said. “But Heracles saw to it that he did and had him tied to the mast.”

“Good for him.”

“After that, we fought and killed all the soldiers,” said Jason. “Then took on food and water and had new oars made, before leaving the island.”

“What became of Amycus? Did you let him go?”

Jason wondered what Phineus would say.

“Well, no. I er – I had him cast overboard.”

“Good for you Jason,” said Phineus, who wasn’t the least bit disappointed. “Good riddance to rulers like that, I say.”

“After that, we made our way through the channel to reach this ocean,” Atalanta said. “Then onto here. The sea was rough again and the wind stronger, but not powerful enough to blow us off course.”

“So now, it’s onto Colchis,” said Jason.

With that, Jason and Atalanta finished telling their shared story with Phineus, who had been most inspired. Hardly ever did he hear ones like it from passing sailors.

“Before you go on,” Phineus said. “You must hear my story.”

“Heracles and I have told Jason all about you.”

“I never doubted it, but it’s fitting that Jason should hear it from me also.”

“Go ahead,” Jason said.

This was Phineus’ story.

“Many, many years ago, I don’t know how many to be exact, there was a time when I ruled a faraway kingdom.

“A fair king I was. I saw to it that everyone had shares – food, drink, housing and so on. The farmers had their equal share of land for growing crops and raising animals. I was very proud of it all.

“However, there were a few people, who were not on the same level as everyone else. They were very greedy and wanted things, which I forbade by law. In the end they became over-materialistic and violent.

“I tried to bring an end to it, but to no avail. So I had no choice in the end, but to banish them from the kingdom. Unfortunately, that was a big mistake.

“The banished ones returned with a mighty army, in order to revenge themselves against me. Succeeded they did too.

“I was over-thrown and cast into prison for a year. Within that year, a new leader, called Proteus, was placed on the throne. A vile, ruthless king, Proteus turned out to be, totally against the ways of peace.

“Proteus reigned terror over the kingdom – bringing in slavery, poverty and torture.

“When I was released, I was brought here, to live all alone in exile. So there you have it.”

Jason was moved to sadness and horror by Phineus’s story.

“That must have been a devastating experience.” he said.

“It was indeed,” said Phineus. “Still, kingdoms rise and

fall all the time. There are many vile rulers in the known world. Proteus, Pelias and Aeetes, are but a few.

“Peace comes at a price at times and those who are greedy and violent, do everything in their power, to snuff it out.”

Heracles and Atalanta had told Jason as much.

Jason wondered for a moment whether Phineus missed being a king.

“Do you miss being in the position of royalty?” he asked.

“Not at all. Ruling a kingdom is not the most important thing in the world. In reality, we are all kings and queens of our own inner kingdoms.”

Jason knew that to be very true.

“Would you leave this place if someone gave you the opportunity?” he asked. “Would you settle down in a more civilized place?”

“Never.”

“Why not?” asked Jason.

“Because I have all I need here. Mother Earth provides me with nourishment. I have my cave and there are many lifeforms around to admire and communicate with. So I shall stay here until the end of my days, in peace.”

“Good for you,” Jason said.

Suddenly, the other Argonauts returned with containers and skins, full of food and water. Heracles brought up the rear.

“All done, Jason,” he said.

“Good work,” said Jason.

“Well, Phineus, it is time for us to move on,” Atalanta said.

“Yes, time to continue with the voyage,” said Heracles.

Phineus felt a little sad. He wished the sailors could stay longer, like others had when visiting the island. Yet he knew that they had to move on.

Jason had it in mind to visit Phineus again, as did Heracles and Atalanta.

“If we succeed in our quest, then we’ll visit you again,” he said.

“You can be sure of that,” said Atalanta.

That was enough to lift Phineus’s spirits.

“Please do,” he said.

“Well, it’s been good seeing you again, Phineus,” said Heracles.

“Yes, it’s been good to see you,” Atalanta said.

“Likewise to the pair of you.”

Jason turned his attention to the rest of the crew.

“Right, let’s get everything onboard,” he ordered.

So the sailors carried the food and water onboard and took their places.

Then finally, they left the island.

Phineus looked on as the Argo disappeared round a headland.

Every day from that moment, he was going to gaze towards the horizon on the other side of the island, waiting in hope for Jason and the Argonauts to appear.

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