Setting Out

In the dark of night did Art, Thebe, Niall and Timaeus all go forth from Tiryns. They were quick for there was no doubting that Eurystheus had ears all over the citadel that was his capital.

The moon was full and as Thebe looked up at it, she uttered: "I hope that no animal falls from there such as the first of Heracles' labours."

Curious, Art asked: "What beast was that?"

Alas, Thebe could not remember. As they set out, Art wondered what manner of beast could have fallen from the moon. A wolf perhaps? Alas, if Thebe could not remember how was he to know? He could not ask Timaeus, for the Corinthian was an ignorant individual. He could share a few pieces of information, but beyond that he knew absolutely nothing about the deeds of an individual.

How long they walked, Art knew not. When they finally sat down to rest, the moon still high in the sky, he removed the boar tusk helmet that Atreus had given him and looked it over. After that, he looked at the round shield he had been given. This was his armour it seemed. Would that Atreus could have given him more.

A helmet, a shield and a sword… That was all that he had been given. And perhaps it was enough. If one was fast enough and lucky enough, perhaps they wouldn't need a breastplate. Still, it would have been nice to have one.

Laying back on the grass, Art looked at Thebe and wondering what was on her mind, he asked her. Thus, did she answer: "I am hoping that Selene will turn her light away for just a moment."

Understanding that Selene was the Achaean goddess of the moon, Art looked at the tree that the four of them were resting beneath. Its leaves gave some shade, but still a bit less light shining down on the earth probably would not have been such a bad idea.

"Perhaps a cloud will block her light for the time being." Said Art, closing his eyes for a moment. Opening them, he then asked: "Are you sad to be going away from your father and stepmother?"

"I am." Thebe answered. "But I pray that one day I will be able to return to Tiryns to see them once more."

"Hopefully when there is no more Eurystheus and Argus." Commented the Young Gael. "Honestly, I think Atreus would make for a good king."

"I think Agamemnon has more potential, young as he is." Stated Thebe. "Still, the son must follow the father, so if he is to be king one day then his paterfamilias Atreus must precede him." Changing the subject, she then said: "The helmet and shield that Atreus gave you are well-made. I remember being present for Aegeus rewarding such things to his own men, while I stood at the side and watched with the rest of my sex. The armour he would award them always seemed not as well made or like they had seen their better days a decade prior."

"Perhaps Athenian craftsmanship is not on par with that of Argive craftsmanship." Suggested Art. "A lot of good it would do Eurystheus. If the Battle of Kadesh had involved Argolis instead of Egypt or the Hittites, he would either have fled or spent the entire of it hiding in the city."

Laughing, the Athenian Girl said: "How I would have loved to see him hide in that pot! There is a reason wherefore no one respects him and that is because a monarch should be brave, not a coward such as he."

"Truly, Heracles should have been the next born son of the House of Perseus rather than him." The Young Gael uttered.

Closing his eyes once more, Art rested next to Thebe while Timaeus kept watch, seated upon a rock, with Niall nearby, keeping the Corinthian company. With the rest came dreams, and in those dreams did Art see many things. He saw the Lernean Hydra as people had described it to him: a great serpent with nine heads, but was that really the truth? Art had heard of a fort called Hydra under the command of a man named Lernos, could it not be possible that the Lernean Hydra was simply Fort Hydra? What if there was no hydra and the swamp itself where it had dwelt was the true monster? What if the hydra had simply been a gang of nine bandits with a symbol of a serpent upon their shields or some such thing? What was the answer? What was the Lernean Hydra? Was it truly a nine-headed serpent or something else?

Alas, Art knew not.

His dreams shifting, he found himself after the Hind with the Golden Antlers. Of this, Art had no question about. There must have been such a beast, but run as he might, there was no way he would ever be able to catch it.

Not even in his dreams.

Next, he found himself searching for the Erymanthian Boar. Could it have been something more than just a boar? He knew not, but he found no reason for it to be anything else. The world was strange, but often a boar was simply a boar.

After the Hydra, the Hind and the Boar, Art was grateful he did not find himself in the Augean Stables. Stables that had not been cleaned for three decades was not a place worth visiting, even if they had since been cleaned by Heracles by diverting a river.

Where he did find himself was in Nature's Glory, in a small clearing in the forest, a calm river nearby. It was nice, peaceful and then he saw—

No one ever expects to be woken up by a rooster crowing in their ear. Art and Thebe were no such exception. Bolting up, both looked at the demon bird, who immediately turn and fled the moment Niall began to charge.

There must have been a farm nearby… Wherefore could a fox have not gotten that infernal avian?

Looking at Thebe asked: "Are you alright, Thebe?"

"A little bit frightened, but I'll be alright." She replied. "How about you, Art?"

"I am just about the same." He replied. Looking to Timaeus, the Young Gael stared in amazement. The Corinthian was not even bothered by that devil bird's crowing. He was sound asleep… or dead. Muttering his breath, Art uttered: "He better be dead, otherwise we better find ourselves a companion who does not sleep so heavily."

Shaking Timaeus awake, the Young Gael watched as the Corinthian stared at him and asked: "Oh, is it morning?"

Somewhat annoyed, Art inquired: "Is the sun up?"

Looking to the sky, Timaeus nodded and said: "Yes."

"Then it is morning, watchman."

Confused, Timaeus asked: "What?" Upon realizing what his job had been, the Corinthian muttered: "Yes, yes, of course." Running his hand through his hair, he then said more loudly: "I had a dream of my youth, chasing after maidens."

"With how frail you are, Timaeus, I have difficult imagining that." Commented Art honestly, turning to Niall and stroking the lynx's back while Thebe scratched him under the chin.

"I shouldn't have." Stated the Corinthian as he stood. "It is the reason I walk with a cane."

"And your toothless mouth?" inquired Thebe.

"Courting a married woman." Answered Timaeus. "Her husband did not like that."

With a blank expression, Art commented: "I would say not."

Taking a look around, he saw no sign of a search party. Either they were well ahead of Argus or… Or? What "or"? There was no "or". If there was then what was it? That Argus and his party were going in a completely different direction? An Achaean should have known what direction Crete was in… At least he hoped. At any rate a mainlander should have known where the islands were.

Perhaps Eurystheus' ears had not heard and his eyes had not seen. That was definitely a reason for them to be well aware of Argus, perhaps he had even been sent in the wrong direction. Perhaps Atreus really had told his kinsmen that Art and Thebe had gone to Troezen.

They could hope.

Looking at Niall, Art saw the lynx laying upon his shield. It was true then. A cat really would lay on any flat surface… Well, flat-ish. The shield was circular and domed, but still Niall lay upon it.

Sitting down, the Young Gael stroked the lynx's fur. His mismatched eyes on the distance, wondering how far of a sea journey it was to Crete, he suddenly felt a hand upon his. Turning his head, he saw Thebe, turning her head in his direction. It seemed she too had been stroking Niall.

With a small blush appearing upon their countenances, the Young Gael and the Athenian Girl smiled at one another. It was a sweet moment, but alas, not to last. Timaeus exclaimed: "Alright, lets get going! Crete awaits!"

He then proceeded to walk in the direction of Tiryns.

With the same blank expression as he had earlier, Art stood and said: "Other way, Timaeus."

Immediately, Timaeus turned around, muttering: "Yes, yes. Of course, of course."

Shaking his head, Art turned his attention to Thebe. Helping her up, he then put on his helmet and picked up his shield, which Niall was kind enough to get off of. Turning his attention to the Athenian Girl, the Young Gael asked: "Do you have the message that Atreus gave prepared for Minos?"

Holding up the parchment, Thebe nodded before saying: "Timaeus sure is an odd fellow."

"I suppose." Commented Art. "It is honestly wonder he has lived to see his forties."

"Sometimes the Fates smile upon people."

"The Fates or luck?" asked the Young Gael.

"No one is that lucky." Thebe replied. "It has to be the Fates. If what he said about courting a married woman is true then it is a wonder her husband didn't kill him."

Laughing, Art nodded as he and Thebe began to follow after Timaeus, Niall following after them in turn. Scratching his neck, the Young Gael then inquired: "How did you sleep?"

"Very well until the rooster woke me up." Thebe answered. "How about you?"

Smiling to himself, Art said: "Oh, very much the same with me." Thinking back to his dream, he thought of the last image he saw: Thebe emerging from the water.