Archiwum
- Index
- Margit Sandemo Cykl Saga o Królestwie Światła (04) Mężczyzna z Doliny Mgieł
- Crymsyn Hart [Devil's Tavern 04] Seduction [Aspen] (pdf)
- Dan Abnett Duchy Gaunta 04 Gwardia Honorowa
- Alexander, Lloyd Chronicles of Prydain 04 Taran Wanderer
- Smedman Lisa Wojna Pajęczej Królowej 04 Zagłada
- DePalo_Anna_ _Szesciu_wspanialych_04_ _Niechciana_milosc
- Zelazny, Roger The Second Chronicles of Amber 04 Knight of Shadows
- 04 Grobowa Tajemnica Harris Charlaine
- Jeff Lindsay Dzieło Dextera 04
- Huebner, Louise Witchcraft For All (Wicca 04)
- zanotowane.pl
- doc.pisz.pl
- pdf.pisz.pl
- epicusfuror.xlx.pl
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Phrontis
and Argeus can go on with you, and good riddance."
"She does not want to go home," Jason said, casting a glance back at the
distant
figure of Medea. Proteus looked too, and saw that her face was turned in
their
direction.
But the prince did not reply to that, or even look back at his sister. He
seemed
to be waiting for Jason to make a more meaningful response.
It took the captain of the Argonauts a while to find the exact words he
wanted
to use next. "I suppose King Aeetes intends to punish her."
"Well . . . my father is an angry man," Apsyrtus agreed, judiciously. "In
fact,
I don't believe I have ever seen him as angry as he is now. Probably you've
heard the story that's recently been going around about that other king? The
one
who's said to have poked out the eyes of his sluttish daughter with long
bronze
pins? You mustn't think anything of the kind will happen to Medea. No, I very
much doubt that any punishment my father has in mind would go as far as death
or
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mutilation. If he did have some such idea, I'd certainly talk him out of it.
My
sister" he nodded in her direction, without looking "is after all a valuable
asset to the crown. Eminently marriageable. Even after an episode like this.
Some new version of events will be developed. It will turn out that she's had
a
chaperone with her all the while she's been away from home."
"As a matter of fact she has. Her maid, the one called Mouse."
"Ah, there, you see? That will help."
With Proteus moving silently on their heels, the prince and the captain
walked
on, debating a little more around the fringes of the situation. Such matters
as
whether Aeetes had any additional complaints, what living conditions had been
like for the princess aboard the Argo. But Apsyrtus was now taking it as
settled
that Medea would have to come home with him.
At length a silence fell. Proteus, nervously shifting his grip on his spear,
had
been waiting for some clever counterargument from Jason. Persuading people to
do
things for him was what Jason's life was all about. But now Proteus could
tell
by his leader's face that there was nothing of the kind in prospect. Proteus
thought to himself: I can't believe it. He's simply going to cave in. Unless
he
is planning some deception. Jason has the wit for that, if he would use it.
He
gave her all that talk of faithfulness and marriage. But the truth is he
really
cares for nothing and no one but his own ambition.
Apsyrtus was evidently reaching the same conclusion. Confident now that he
had
won, Medea's brother remarked how unseemly it was for a young unmarried girl
of
royal blood to be living, day after day and night after night among a group
of
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men, whether chaperoned or not.
Now the details of the surrender were being discussed, with some attempt at a
face-saving arrangement for Jason. The Temple of Diana was conveniently at
hand,
and could be put to a good use.
The captain tentatively agreed that Medea and her maid would be put in charge
of
the temple priestess for a few days; and in that time the temple authorities
would hear the case and judge whether she was to be sent back to her father
or
not.
Again an elegant gesture from Apsyrtus. "I am sure they will come to the
right
conclusion. Then, you see, there will be no point in our having a battle. You
can take home the Fleece, as proof of having honorably succeeded in your
mission. And I can go home too." By now the prince had evidently realized
that
Proteus was present as something more than a mere bodyguard, and was talking
to
him almost as much as to Jason.
Apsyrtus seemed to have no doubt at all as to how that judgment would come
out.
Proteus had to bite his tongue to keep from shouting protests and bitter
accusations. It was only with a great effort that he kept quiet, and
wooden-faced. He would only be placing himself and his shipmates in greater
danger if he let an enemy see violent disagreement in the camp of the
Argonauts.
* * *
When the meeting was over, Apsyrtus calmly climbed back into his small boat,
which had been more or less keeping up with the men as they walked along the
shore, and was briskly rowed away, in the direction of one of the large
warships
across the channel.
After waving a farewell, Proteus and his captain started back to rejoin the
other Argonauts near the ship. Jason for once did not ask his opinion, and
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Proteus did not offer it. Instead, a taut silence grew between them.
But when they returned to camp, Medea was waiting for them and demanded to
know
what had been decided. Her voice was loud enough for most of the men to hear,
and a small crowd of interested Argonauts began to form.
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