Cousin to the King

While Thebe showed Art around Tiryns, Argus had been taken to his paterfamilias. Throughout the palace, members of the court could hear Eurystheus berating his scion, calling him a disgrace to the House of Perseus, and this was relayed to Art and Thebe. Upon hearing this, Thebe exclaimed: "What a hypocrite he is! Though I am new to Tiryns is it not said that Eurystheus hid in a large brass pot and sat at the bottom of it gibbering with fear when Heracles returned with the Erymanthian Boar?"

Upon hearing this, Art was certain that Eurystheus, Grandson of the Gorgon-Slayer Perseus, was the shame of his house. What else could such a descendant of a hero have been?

As the Young Gael and the Athenian Girl, followed by their lynx companion Niall, proceeded to go forth from Tiryns once more, they were stopped by a bearded man, clad in a tunic. "Hold, young man!" the man said, approaching.

Looking to Thebe, Art inquired: "Who is this?"

"Atreus, cousin to Eurystheus." Thebe answered.

Looking up at Atreus, Art asked: "How might I help you, Atreus?"

"No help required, young man." Said Atreus with a smile. "I saw you fight Argus, he who threatened my sons Agamemnon and Menelaus."

"Thebe mentioned that." Commented Art. "How you are your sons?"

"Agamemnon is three twelvemonths old and Menelaus one." Atreus answered. Aghast at what he was told, Art thought of his recent opponent. Argus was sixteen, the same age as Art was. How could he threaten a three-twelvemonth old boy and his twelvemonths old brother? Nodding, Atreus said: "Aye, young man, he is more of a coward than you realize. I would like to thank you for what you did and to let you know, that should you ever need it, I shall grant you protection to the best of my abilities."

Giving a small bow, Art said: "Thank you, Lord Atreus." Nodding once more, Atreus walked off. Watching as the King's Cousin made his departure, Art said to Thebe: "He seems nice."

"He… Has his moments." Commented Thebe, taking hold for Art's arm and pulling him along the path out of Tiryns. "But I must say, I believe his sons Agamemnon and Menelaus will grow to be nobler than him."

On this subject, Thebe was correct. Both of the Sons of Atreus would become nobler than their paterfamilias, but it could be said that the younger son would prove the noblest of the House of Atreus and would be the one to ultimately escape the curse upon their family, being able to live happily with Helena of Lacedaemon, who had yet to be born, when the Trojan War was behind them.

"If they are…" began Art. "Then truly they will prove better than Argus has compared to his paterfamilias."

Giving a small laugh, Thebe asked: "How do you find Tiryns?"

"It is a place that I might like to call home." Art replied. "Provided Argus was not there."

"As would I."

"Do you miss Athens?"

For a moment, Thebe was silent. Art knew not what was going on in her mind, but he would inquire later, but still, he did not ask again. She would answer when she wished to and when she finally did, outside of the citadel, she answered in the negative. That alone caused Art to wonder, what manner of king ruled Athens?