Minotaur (20 page)

I spent the next few months travelling into the wild lands around Athens. I defeated several bandits and even a couple of monsters. Sadly, unlike the stories of Theseus, my feats went largely unnoticed, probably because I spared many of my enemies, preferring to bring them back to Athens to face trial. This, I suspected, made me appear weak in front of the Athenians. Ironically, many of the bandits I captured were later sentenced to death.

Theseus joined me on a few adventures when he wasn’t otherwise occupied. Unlike my exploits, everything he did was recorded. There’s no need to go into them in great detail here, as you’ve probably heard them before. For a change, there was no great embellishment, only my name was not mentioned. Suffice to say that Theseus beat a hero known as Cercyon at wrestling. Together we defeated a giant boar the size of an ox with eyes like coals of fire. I suspect it came from Hades. Theseus killed both Cercyon and the giant boar without mercy.

We travelled to Marathon and captured a bull to rival any other I had previously seen. That was a challenge, but working together, we were successful.

Our bond grew. I had come to accept Theseus for who he was, and he respected me for it. I grew to care for him. It wasn’t like the love I felt for my brother, Androgeus, but I did love him in a way.

We faced our greatest challenge when some of Aegeus’s nephews, known as the Pallantides, decided to do away with Theseus and myself. They were jealous of Theseus’s status amongst the people and wanted one of their own to sit on the throne after Aegeus.

Accordingly, they tried to assassinate him. As his closest companion, I too had to die. They ambushed us one night. We were outnumbered almost ten to one, but our father, Poseidon, must have been watching over us. Not only that, but our adventures in the wild lands outside Athens had taught us well. We were experienced warriors now, not the soft pampered palace boys we had once been. The men we fought were much like ourselves months earlier. And they were not demi-gods.

We slew many of them, and the others fled Athens, never to return.

Killing hadn’t come easier to me—it’s just that I had come to the realization that it was necessary at times. Even though I still thought about the men I had killed, my dreams were not as troubled as they’d once been.

Theseus, always proud, became more so. He seemed to think he was invincible and became slightly arrogant with the knowledge. It didn’t help that he was often surrounded by sycophants who worshipped him, hanging on his every word. I tried to keep him grounded, but as I had learnt by now, Theseus was not the easiest man to change. He was still fiercely loyal though. Friendship for Theseus was also about equality. I had saved his life more than once. He owed me and would never forget the debt.

Before I knew it, the time of the Panathenaic games had come once more. It had been four years since the last one. Soon, athletes and heroes from all across Greece and the islands of the Aegean would be making their way toward Athens.

I couldn’t wait. My brother, Androgeus, would be among them. I counted down the days to his arrival.

Ω

I watched the ships glide into the harbor at Piraeus, their sails filled with the strong breeze blowing into the Saronic Gulf, their swift pace aided by the single layer of rowers toiling away. There were six of them, all marked with the bull’s head of Crete. I felt a strong mix of emotions seeing them again. Nostalgia, sadness, and, I confess, quite a bit of excitement. The ships carried my brother Androgeus.

Minos was making a statement. He hadn’t needed to send six ships when one would have sufficed. He was letting Athens know how strong Crete was; that they were a power to be feared.

In those days, Crete still had a larger fleet than any other city in Greece, including Athens. Not only that but Minos, insecure in his rule, had spent large sums from the palace treasury building up his armed forces.

“Are you nervous, brother?” asked Theseus at my side. We stood on the cliff top directly above the harbor that served Athens. It reminded me of the time when Theseus and I had stood looking out across the Saronic Gulf. Before Theseus had become Prince of Athens. When life was far simpler.

“A little,” I confessed. “My brother is on one of those ships. I have not seen him in many months.”

“What about King Minos?” he asked.

“I’ll face him when the time comes,” I said, my face hardening.

“I understand your reasons,” said Theseus, referring to my flight from Crete. “You are a wanted man.” He placed one hand reassuringly on my shoulder. “I probably would’ve done the same thing in your position.”

His words were comforting, but I still felt unsure. “I don’t know what to do,” I confessed. “I want to see Androgeus but … ” I trailed off. I’d heard that Minos was also aboard one of those ships. I didn’t know why Minos had come to Athens. It was unusual. Normally, Minos never accompanied the athletes to the games. I could not see Androgeus without coming in contact with Minos. I dreaded that encounter.

“Fear not,” said Theseus. “You are under my protection and that of my father. You are an honored guest of Athens. Even Minos cannot move against you here. You will see your brother again. In fact, I look forward to seeing your brother too. I have heard much about him.”

“You’re still going to enter, then?”

Theseus smiled. “Yes, of course. Not the marathon but certainly the wrestling. I think I have an excellent chance. Most of the others I’ve heard about couldn’t wrestle their way out of a wine skin.”

I wasn’t so sure. Theseus was an excellent wrestler, but he was no match for Androgeus. Androgeus had defeated me on several occasions, just like I had beaten Theseus. Theseus might be strong, agile, and fast, but Androgeus was more so.

The thought had obviously occurred to Theseus. “Why don’t you enter? With your great strength, you would have just as much chance as I.”

Which was exactly why Theseus didn’t want me to enter and risk stealing the glory from him. He knew I had already made my decision. He was just going through the motions in an effort to appear the bigger man.

I shook my head. “Now that you know my past, you know why I can’t enter. It would only serve to antagonize Minos. I’d rather not draw his attention any more than I need to.”

Theseus didn’t push it further. He seemed satisfied by my response. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him smiling.

Ω

Early that evening, Theseus and I had arranged for a message to be passed to Androgeus.

Theseus sat, calmly polishing the breastplate of his new armor while I paced impatiently about his spacious and richly appointed chamber.

“What’s taking him so long?” I grumbled.

“He’s probably training,” said Theseus without looking up from his work. “It’s what I should be doing.”

I heard resentment in his voice, but I suspected that it was contrived. Theseus was as keen to see Androgeus as I, more to assess his opponent than anything else.

I heard the door open. I turned swiftly, excitement fluttering in my breast. A familiar figure I had longed to see for the last few months stood there. My brother, Androgeus.

His handsome face lit up. We rushed into each other’s arms and embraced warmly.

Eventually, after much patting of backs, we separated.

“It’s good to see you, my brother,” said Androgeus. “You are looking well. Stronger than ever. I see you’ve gained a few scars. They’ve improved your looks.”

We both laughed. It was true that my battles during the last few months had left their mark.

“Androgeus,” I said at last. “This is Theseus.”

The two men clasped hands in a warrior’s grip. Looking at them, it was hard to tell them apart. They were roughly the same size, both with slim, athletic builds. Both incredibly handsome. Androgeus was perhaps built a little more strongly, with thicker arms and legs. I felt a sudden surge of jealousy. Androgeus and Theseus could almost pass as brothers. I was the odd one out here.

With an effort of will, I buried the emotion and forced a smile.

I could see that the two men were sizing each other up. Androgeus was four years older but Theseus, thanks to his recent adventures, was a more experienced fighter. Their battle would be closer than I expected.

Androgeus was the reigning champion, having won both the wrestling and the marathon at the previous Panathenaic games. As such, he would not have to enter the competition until much later, unlike Theseus, who would have to battle his way up to earn his place in the finals.

I was eager to catch up on news of my home. The three of us sat down, and Androgeus regaled us with stories of our family and other events from the palace. I discovered that both Androgeus and Phaedra had been punished for their hand in my escape.

Androgeus had been sent away to another island for a couple of months while Minos’s anger cooled. Despite being the favored son, Androgeus had risked much by aiding me. Minos got him out of his sight before he did something he regretted.

As for Phaedra, she was also sent away to one of the small fishing villages on Crete, to work and live in poverty, to learn humility and respect for her father. Catreus and Deucalion, both clever and charming, had managed to avoid punishment.

“What of Daedalus and Icarus?” I feared the answer, but I had to know.

“My father may be a little rash at times,” answered Androgeus diplomatically. “But he was not so foolish as to kill the two best craftsmen in the known world.” I knew Androgeus would’ve been a little more scathing if it was between the two of us, but there was a rival prince present. One that Androgeus didn’t know. He was not about to dishonor his own father in front of a stranger.

“So what did he do to them?” I asked.

“Put them both to work on a major building project underneath the palace. As punishment, they are forced to work night and day. I never see either of them anymore. We’ve even got a new tutor now.”

“What are they building?” I asked. It was a strange thing for Minos to do. The palace was already immense. Why did he need extra room?

“I don’t know,” confessed Androgeus. “It’s very secret though. And large. The amount of rocks and dirt they have already excavated could fill the palace several times over.”

Very odd. But the madness of my father did not concern me unduly. I was more interested in my family. And one person in particular.

“How is Phaedra?” I asked. I silently prayed to Poseidon that she hadn’t been married off yet.

Androgeus raised his eyebrows at me, trying not to grin. “Wondered when you were going to get to her. Why don’t you ask her yourself? You know the whole family is here, don’t you?” he asked.

I didn’t. Even sitting, I suddenly felt a little unsteady. “You mean Phaedra is here?” I asked, breathlessly.

Androgeus smiled. “She certainly is. She wants to see you.”

And I wanted to see her. Desperately.

“How? When?” I asked, my face alive with excitement.

“Easy brother. Don’t injure yourself,” said Androgeus, laughing easily. “You’ll get your chance.”

“There’s a feast planned for tonight,” said Theseus. “To welcome our new guests. King Minos and all his family have been invited, of course.”

“I don’t think it would be wise for me to attend,” I said doubtfully.

“Why not?” asked Theseus. “I told you before. You are under my protection and that of my father. King Minos will not risk offending either of us by pursuing his revenge here. You will be safe.”

“Besides,” said Androgeus. “Your other brothers and sisters will want to see you too.” He reflected for a moment. “Perhaps not Ariadne and Glaucus but Catreus and Deucalion certainly.” He laughed again.

“Good,” said Theseus, clapping his hands. “It’s agreed. We will see you tonight, Androgeus. At the feast.”

If I thought the anticipation of seeing Androgeus was almost unbearable, it was nothing to what I felt at that moment. Phaedra. My Phaedra. Very soon, we would be reunited. I had thought about this moment almost constantly, wishing that we would soon be in each other’s arms again.

My stomach churned with a mixture of nervousness and longing, each vying for supremacy, their conflict only serving to make me nauseous. When the time came, I prayed to the gods that I would not embarrass myself in front of her.

Ω

The feast was an elaborate affair as befitted the arrival of King Minos. Hundreds of boar, deer, fish, and birds were roasted, boiled, fried, and baked. The palace kitchens churned out bread and cakes in such quantities to make even the sturdiest table sag under their prodigious weight. Wine flowed, enough to put a small river to shame.

King Minos sat in the place of honor next to King Aegeus. Theseus sat next to his father, and I, being Theseus’s closest companion, sat only one seat away from my friend, even though I was not part of the Athenian royal family. I only found out later that Theseus had to use his considerable powers of persuasion to convince his father to allow me to sit at the table. Aegeus, by now, knew who I was and daren’t risk offending Minos with my presence. Theseus made him think otherwise. In hindsight, it was a foolish and rash move, but Theseus very rarely listened to the advice of others, including his royal father.

Minos, being the most powerful monarch in the world those days, was not someone you wished to antagonize. I suspect that Theseus did it deliberately. He was not someone who avoided confrontation, and I think that he really did want to embarrass Minos for what he had done to me.

To my disgust, it was Ariadne who got to sit between Theseus and me. It was not exactly a happy family reunion. Ariadne basically ignored me the whole evening, and I had no interest in speaking to her. Just looking at her made me think of Kyon. Even if she had wanted to talk to me, she probably wouldn’t have, given that her attention was riveted on Theseus. I have never seen someone so smitten before.

Aegeus and Minos were clearly trying to join their great cities by a marriage between Theseus and Ariadne. Her position at the table was obviously premeditated.