Warriors in Bronze Read Online Free Page B
Took me days to find him. Cornered him at last on a rocky hillside, strung my bow and shot. By The Lady, the brazen barbs glanced off his hide like raindrops! I charged and swung my club; the wood splintered on his ribs. Nothing left but my hands, so I closed and strangled the brute.'
Hercules drank deeply, wiped his mouth. 'Not too difficult, really, for a man of my courage and strength.'
Atreus entered the Hall, Jason rolling by his side, and interrupted Hercules' fascinating discourse. The Marshal said, 'Here, Jason, is the Hero who wishes to sail in Argo. I promised you'd be surprised - it's Hercules, no less!'
Hercules waved his cup. 'Ho, Jason, well met! I'm told you want a champion to stiffen your force, set an example, provide initiative and guts. You've found him! When do we start?'
Jason's face showed none of the pleasure and gratitude befitting the occasion. 'Hercules, blast my eyes! Be damned if you step on my deck! Anyone but you! Are you aware,' said Jason tautly, 'that Neleus of Pylos, whose city you looted, whose sons you slaughtered, is my uncle?'
'I didn't know,' said Hercules.
'Nor I,' Atreus murmured despondently, seeing the stratagem he had woven shredding about his ears.
Hercules recovered his poise. 'Unfortunate, I admit, but these things happen. Chances of war, my good fellow, chances of war!'
Jason's weatherworn features suffused. Atreus seized his elbow, led him aside and whispered energetically in his ear. The sailor angrily shook his head. After a long confabulation Atreus brought him back to Hercules who, between great gulps of wine, bragged loudly about a gigantic stag he caught and killed in Arcadia.
'I have persuaded Jason to overlook the - um - unfortunate accident at Pylos. He agrees you should return with him to Iolcos, and voyage in Argo to Colchis.'
Hercules belched. "Can't do without me. Bound to fail unless you have the strongest and bravest Hero in Achaea to lead the way. That's me. I'll find you your gold.'
He buried his nose in the goblet. Jason turned on his heel and stamped from the Hall.
Atreus smiled contentedly as we crossed the Great Court together. 'I had to promise Jason a sheep-flock's price in treasure. Well worth it. But fancy voyaging to the ends of the earth on the word of a wandering Thracian! These Argonauts will vanish without trace - and we're rid of Hercules.' Atreus chuckled. 'Pity about Jason, though. I like the chap. Now to dispose of another nuisance.'
His eyes discouraged the question that trembled on my lips.
***
Hercules, Jason and the Heroes the king had chosen departed for Iolcos. When Hercules tried to insist on taking his ragbag following Jason tersely specified Argo' s strict capacity: fifty men and stores were all she could embark. Hercules growled and submitted. Hyllus and Iolaus led their retinue to Tiryns; Atreus watched them go and tweaked his beard. 'We'll have to evict those rascals before many moons have passed,' he reflected aloud. 'Shouldn't be too difficult now the figurehead has gone.'
The linchpins of Eurystheus' realm were Tiryns and Mycenae. Tiryns now lacked a Warden. The king accepted Atreus' suggestion and nominated Thyestes.
Menelaus was one of Thyestes' squires and must accompany him to Tiryns. We had never before been separated; both of us felt the wrench. I asked him, while he packed his gear, whether he enjoyed serving Thyestes.
Menelaus shrugged. 'I don't. Damnably free with his whip if you make a mistake. He's surly and unapproachable, and keeps his household nobles at a distance. Even his family fears him. The only person Thyestes likes is a ten-year-old daughter, Pelopia, and he dotes on the brat.'
I said, 'That curious creature Plisthenes lives in his household. Do you ever see him?'
'Now and again. Most of the time he stays secluded in his rooms. He's going with us to Tiryns - and I'd rather he wasn't. Fellow gives me the creeps.'
Thyestes and his retinue departed on a beautiful springtime day, warm
Hercules drank deeply, wiped his mouth. 'Not too difficult, really, for a man of my courage and strength.'
Atreus entered the Hall, Jason rolling by his side, and interrupted Hercules' fascinating discourse. The Marshal said, 'Here, Jason, is the Hero who wishes to sail in Argo. I promised you'd be surprised - it's Hercules, no less!'
Hercules waved his cup. 'Ho, Jason, well met! I'm told you want a champion to stiffen your force, set an example, provide initiative and guts. You've found him! When do we start?'
Jason's face showed none of the pleasure and gratitude befitting the occasion. 'Hercules, blast my eyes! Be damned if you step on my deck! Anyone but you! Are you aware,' said Jason tautly, 'that Neleus of Pylos, whose city you looted, whose sons you slaughtered, is my uncle?'
'I didn't know,' said Hercules.
'Nor I,' Atreus murmured despondently, seeing the stratagem he had woven shredding about his ears.
Hercules recovered his poise. 'Unfortunate, I admit, but these things happen. Chances of war, my good fellow, chances of war!'
Jason's weatherworn features suffused. Atreus seized his elbow, led him aside and whispered energetically in his ear. The sailor angrily shook his head. After a long confabulation Atreus brought him back to Hercules who, between great gulps of wine, bragged loudly about a gigantic stag he caught and killed in Arcadia.
'I have persuaded Jason to overlook the - um - unfortunate accident at Pylos. He agrees you should return with him to Iolcos, and voyage in Argo to Colchis.'
Hercules belched. "Can't do without me. Bound to fail unless you have the strongest and bravest Hero in Achaea to lead the way. That's me. I'll find you your gold.'
He buried his nose in the goblet. Jason turned on his heel and stamped from the Hall.
Atreus smiled contentedly as we crossed the Great Court together. 'I had to promise Jason a sheep-flock's price in treasure. Well worth it. But fancy voyaging to the ends of the earth on the word of a wandering Thracian! These Argonauts will vanish without trace - and we're rid of Hercules.' Atreus chuckled. 'Pity about Jason, though. I like the chap. Now to dispose of another nuisance.'
His eyes discouraged the question that trembled on my lips.
***
Hercules, Jason and the Heroes the king had chosen departed for Iolcos. When Hercules tried to insist on taking his ragbag following Jason tersely specified Argo' s strict capacity: fifty men and stores were all she could embark. Hercules growled and submitted. Hyllus and Iolaus led their retinue to Tiryns; Atreus watched them go and tweaked his beard. 'We'll have to evict those rascals before many moons have passed,' he reflected aloud. 'Shouldn't be too difficult now the figurehead has gone.'
The linchpins of Eurystheus' realm were Tiryns and Mycenae. Tiryns now lacked a Warden. The king accepted Atreus' suggestion and nominated Thyestes.
Menelaus was one of Thyestes' squires and must accompany him to Tiryns. We had never before been separated; both of us felt the wrench. I asked him, while he packed his gear, whether he enjoyed serving Thyestes.
Menelaus shrugged. 'I don't. Damnably free with his whip if you make a mistake. He's surly and unapproachable, and keeps his household nobles at a distance. Even his family fears him. The only person Thyestes likes is a ten-year-old daughter, Pelopia, and he dotes on the brat.'
I said, 'That curious creature Plisthenes lives in his household. Do you ever see him?'
'Now and again. Most of the time he stays secluded in his rooms. He's going with us to Tiryns - and I'd rather he wasn't. Fellow gives me the creeps.'
Thyestes and his retinue departed on a beautiful springtime day, warm
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