The Oracle of Delphi (Greek Myth Fantasy Series) (24 page)

Perseus flew over the castle, surveying the placement of Polydectes’ men. They looked upward into the sky and pointed at him, shouting his name. Pegasus intrigued them, and they followed him into the courtyard as he landed gently on the ground. He sat atop Pegasus, waiting, watching, until all the soldiers crowded around, and King Polydectes himself strolled out to greet him.

“I have come for my mother!” he shouted to the king.

King Polydectes smiled a crooked smile, but Perseus kept up his façade pretending not to know his mother was not there. One of his men started to speak, but the king stopped him with a chubby ringed hand to his mouth.

“Of course, Perseus.” Polydectes eyed the bag. “I see you have brought the head of Medusa in exchange, just as we agreed upon.” He looked to his guard and nodded. “Gather it up,” he told him.

The guard moved forward to do so, but Perseus grabbed the bag and brought it to his lap. “Not so fast,” he told him. “The deal was you release my mother unharmed, and I give you the head of Medusa.”

“Give me the head first, and you shall have your mother.”

“Fine,” he said with a nod of agreement. “You show her to me so I know she is still alive and unharmed, and I will be happy to do that.”

Mumbling arose softly from among the king’s men, and Polydectes’ beady little eyes scanned the courtyard. Perseus was aware that his men surrounded him, and the scraping of their swords verified he was about to be attacked. Pegasus stomped his golden hooves beneath him, wings starting to unfurl, ready for flight.

“Easy, boy,” Perseus told the horse, holding him steady. “They aren’t going to hurt us.”

“Well, Perseus, as you can see, I cannot produce your mother. I am afraid I have killed her already, and will do the same to you if you do not hand over Medusa’s head right now.”

“Your threats will no longer work on me, Polydectes. I know my mother has escaped and you have not harmed her. And I plan on freeing every inhabitant of this island from your control.”

“You are going to have to fight off my entire army before you can even think of getting to me,” the king warned. “Highly unlikely you will win, as you have yet to even draw your sword.”

“I do not need a sword,” Perseus told him, slowly untying the string atop the magic bag. His slipped his fingers inside, feeling the face of Medusa to know her eyes’ direction. “I am a demi-god, son of the almighty Zeus,” he warned him. “I can slay not only you, but your entire army without even drawing my sword.”

The soldiers laughed, as did King Polydectes, until they saw Perseus reaching into the bag.

“No,” said Polydectes, “you cannot do that.” He raised a hand to hide his face and backed away, but his men stood ready to protect him.

“If you want the head of Medusa,” Perseus told him, “then come and get it.” With that spoken, he lifted the head from the magic bag, holding it high above him. The soldiers’ smiles of mockery died on their faces, as their eyes gazed upon those of the Gorgon Medusa.

A beam of fiery light shot forth from the head, stopping the warriors from advancing. One after another they screamed and tried to turn. But it was too late; their bodies turned to stone and crumbled to the ground.

Perseus turned Pegasus, holding the head up in all directions. The warriors first gazed upon Medusa’s face and then died at his feet.

Perseus looked around seeing that every man there was now a pillar of rock, except for King Polydectes, who cowered behind the stone fountain, hiding his eyes against his arm.

“You cannot hide forever, Polydectes. Now uncover your eyes and look at me.”

“No!” he cried and fell upon the ground, curled into a ball. “You cannot make me look into the eyes of Medusa.”

Perseus jumped from the horse, and strolled to the king’s side. With one hand, he grabbed the king’s hair, forcing his face upwards.

“Look at me,” he said. “Be a warrior and face the man who is about to take your life.”

Polydectes whimpered like a child, his face turned upward, but his eyes remained closed. “Do not kill me, please, I beg of you. I do not want to die.”

“It is too late,” he told him. “Too many people have suffered and died at your hand. You must die in order to pay for their lives.”

The king opened his eyes then, looking at Perseus. The head hung low at Perseus’s side.

“Then do it,” he told him. “Do it and be done with it already. Then you can be King of Seriphus. After all, that is what you want - to be worshipped, is it not? You are a sad excuse for a demi-god, Perseus. You will never compare to the gods, so stop trying.”

Perseus felt the weight of the man’s words, and he knew what he had said was true. While Perseus had always wanted the glory of the gods, he knew he was only a demi-god. He had no outstanding attributes besides a bit of strength now and then. But he knew this was not enough to even be considered a successful demi-god.

“Do not talk to the son of Zeus that way!” He yanked the man’s head back, the king’s eyes opening wide. Then he raised the head of Medusa and watched King Polydectes turn to stone before him. His hair crumbled like gravel in his grip, and before he knew it, the King of Seriphus was dead.

He stood staring at the man before him, seeing that fame and power was not all he had thought it would be. He no longer wanted to be a god, a king, or even anyone’s hero. He just wanted to live a peaceful life as husband to Andromeda and father to his child.

He walked slowly back to Pegasus, placing the head in the bag. Hoisting himself atop, he flew out over the ocean, far from the little island. The head of Medusa would never kill a man again. If Polydectes had wanted it as a weapon of war, then others would covet it, too. Perseus could not allow that.

In a way, Perseus felt no better than King Polydectes for using the head for his own means, but the islanders needed a hero. He knew he was not a hero, but he was their savior. He did what he felt he needed to do to free the people of Seriphus. His island was free of evil, and the head of Medusa was no longer needed. He dropped the bag into the water. The waves washed over it, and it floated for a mere second before it sank out of sight into the depths of the sea. And now that the task was done, he hoped he would never have to think about the head of Medusa again.

Perseus found his mother hiding among the cliffs just as Dictys had said. He ran to her, picking her up, and twirling her in the air in a tight embrace.

“Perseus,” she cried. “I am so happy you are back. I have worried the entire time you were away.”

“Well, you need worry no longer, Mother.” He placed her on her feet at his side. “I am back and the people of Seriphus are free.”

“Free?” asked a male islander, coming up to greet them. “Are you saying Polydectes is dead?”

“Not only him, but his entire army has been turned to stone by the eyes of Medusa.”

The islanders came out of hiding one by one, smiling at Perseus. The man before them raised a hand to gain their attention. “All hail to Perseus, our hero.”

The crowd cheered, clapped and shouted for joy. Fathers tossed their children into the air, and the men's wives danced in merriment. Perseus could not help but love the sounds of the children’s happy squeals. The islanders were free from the evil clutches of King Polydectes for the first time in their lives.

“I am not a hero,” he told them sincerely. “I only did what anyone else would do if their mother’s life were threatened.”

“But you did so much more,” Danaë reminded him. “You freed the people. That is something that will live on and be spoken on the tongues of generations forever.”

“Mother, please,” he told her, guiding her toward Pegasus. “I have so much to tell you, so let us get back to the hut.”

“Oh, Perseus,” she said with a sudden sadness in her eyes. “So much has happened here, too, while you were gone.”

“It is all right, Mother,” he said, pulling her to his chest as the tears welled in her eyes. “I saw Dictys and he told me about Iris. King Polydectes will never hurt anyone again.”

“Son, it is good to be beside you again. Welcome home.” Pegasus snorted and unfurled its wings, making her laugh in joy. “Where did you find the wonderful flying horse?” she asked, walking over to pet it.

Perseus felt a calm encompass him at the sight of his mother petting the winged horse. It was a beautiful sight. An image he hoped he would hold in his mind forever. Her face shone with an inner light that encompassed her entire being. Her mature beauty shone even in the tiny lines around her eyes and mouth. She was not immortal like the gods, but the love that emanated from her, not only for her son, but also for the land and people around her, would live forever. He had no doubt why Zeus was attracted to this mere mortal. Even a god could not help but feel honored to be in her presence.

“The horse’s name is Pegasus. He was a gift from my father.”

Danaë took a sharp intake of breath and her eyes grew wide. “Your father?”

“Yes. I met Zeus, Mother. He helped me many times along my journey.”

Her eyes glistened with wetness and her gaze returned to the horse. Her hand moved over its back in mindless circles. Her fingers trembled. Perseus had met Zeus - something she had never done even though she had birthed the god’s baby. The corner of her mouth turned up in a smile.

“I am happy for you,” she told him. “But tell me, what else happened in your adventures?”

Perseus laid a hand on her shoulder, giving her a slight squeeze of affection and acknowledgment for her act of easy acceptance to all that had happened throughout her own life, let alone his.

“I met Andromeda,” he continued. “Just as you said I would.”

His mother’s smile widened as she looked up into his eyes. “So where is she? I want to meet her.”

“My wife is back at the hut.”

“Wife?” His mother reached over and hugged him in a strong embrace of congratulations.

“She is pregnant.”

“Oh my,” Danaë exclaimed. “I am going to be a grandmother.”

“Mayhap not. Andromeda is very ill with a fever and I am very worried. I am not at all sure either of them will survive.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Her foot was already in the stirrup. “I have a daughter by marriage to cure, now let us get going.”

Perseus helped his mother into the saddle and positioned himself behind her. He guided Pegasus toward the hut quickly, hoping his mother could save the lives of Andromeda and his unborn baby.

*   *   *

It had been a week since Perseus arrived on Seriphus, and he could see the comfort his presence on the island brought to the people. He smiled at his mother as she sat under a tree with her arm around Andromeda. His wife, thanks to Danaë, was completely healed, and their unborn baby seemed to be fine as well.

Dictys accepted Andromeda into the family quickly, and though her presence could never replace that of Iris, it lifted the man’s spirits to have another woman in the family. Dictys approached Perseus, slapping him soundly on the back.

“Well, Perseus, it will be good to have a baby in the family again. I only wish Iris were here to enjoy it. She loved children but could never have any of her own. Helping raise you from a baby brought many happy years to her life. I can only thank you for returning once again.”

“A baby will be a new experience for me,” Perseus told him. “but I am longing to teach my own child the sports I love to practice.”

Perseus looked down the shore at the sea of faces that watched him. The islanders were crowded around, enjoying the small sport competition they held once a month. Perseus felt the surge of energy within him. He picked up a spear and flung it down the beach in one mighty move. The spear bypassed all of the other competitor’s spears and landed farther than anyone on the island had ever thrown it in previous competitions.

He nodded to the cheering crowd, enjoying the reception they gave him. It felt so good to be home. And now with Polydectes gone, the people were free to enjoy themselves. Looking over to Andromeda, he winked. He loved the feeling of being married. She smiled shyly, then threw him a kiss. Danaë saw it and threw Perseus a kiss of her own. How lucky he was to have the two women he loved both happy and alive.

Seriphus felt truly like home now for the first time in his life. But sadly, he knew Andromeda would want to return to Thessaly, and he would not keep her from her royal heritage. They would leave for the mainland in a few days’ time.

But with Polydectes gone, he did not feel the urge to leave the island and find a new home. This was his home, and these were his people. But he would give all this up to be with the woman he loved.

He rubbed sand against his palms, smiling toward Andromeda, as he prepared himself for his weakest event - the discus throw. Though he loved to throw the discus, it always ended up in disaster. But now after what he had been through, he thought he could use his demi-god strength and throw it with precision farther than he ever had.

His strength surely was honed after the trials he had been through. The crowd urged him to do it, and he could not disappoint them. He could not disappoint himself. One perfect throw and he knew he would never have to use his demi-god strength again. He would live instead as a normal man as Andromeda’s husband. One more throw, and his days of trying to live up to the gods were through.

“Show me what you can do, honey,” Andromeda called out sweetly.

He bent over and picked up the discus, placing it precisely against his palm. His fingers curled over the edge, and he felt a strange anticipation.

“Careful,” warned his mother.

“Watch that strength, boy,” shouted Dictys from the judge’s stand. “Try to control it.”

“I will,” he told Dictys, hoping it was true. Pegasus snorted his disapproval from behind, stomping his hooves as Perseus wound up into a fast spin.

He was about to let go when a voice from the beach distracted him.

“Look, there is a ship coming into the cove!” called someone. 

Instead of concentrating on his target, his eyes wandered in a blur to a large ship pulling into the cove just beyond the cliffs. Concentration broken, the discus slipped from his grip. Instead of heading for the tree trunk, which was his target, it whizzed over the beach and hit the rocks of the cove.

“Cover your heads!” cried Dictys, “it is going to ricochet again.”

“Damn!” Perseus grumbled under his breath, already feeling the sting of defeat. Though he loved the sport, the discus did not seem to love him. Just this once, with Andromeda watching, he wished he could have thrown it properly.

The discus clanged off the rocks of the cove, but instead of ricocheting back to the beach, it hit another rock, which sent it sailing out over the water.

The crowd screamed as it headed toward the ship and struck a man standing on the deck. Though the ship was still far out on the water, Perseus could see the man drop down to the deck and disappear from sight.

“Perseus!” called his mother, getting to her feet.

“What happened?” asked Andromeda.

“I think I have hurt someone, though I didn’t mean to.” Perseus jumped atop Pegasus and flew out over the water to try to help the unfortunate man.

The crew ran helplessly back and forth as Perseus landed Pegasus on the deck. He slipped off quickly and ran to the man lying face down. He flipped him over, noticing his eyes were closed. A deep gash above the man’s graying brow left Perseus’s mark upon him. The discus lay next to the man, and he felt horrible because of the accident. “I am so sorry,” said Perseus, “I did not mean to hurt anyone.”

A crewmember felt for the man’s heartbeat, and a chill ran up Perseus’s spine as the man’s eyes flickered open and focused on him.

“Who …are … you?” the man asked with his dying breath.

“I am Perseus, son of Danaë,” he answered. “I am also the son of Zeus.”

The man’s eyes rounded in horror and he looked up to the sky.

“Nooooo!” he cried, and then his eyes closed, his head dropping to the side as he went still.

“He is dead!” exclaimed the shipmate. “You killed him!” He pointed an accusing finger at Perseus.

“I did not mean to,” he said, shaking his head in denial. “It was an accident.”

“No,” said the crewmember. “It was not an accident, it was the fulfillment of a prophecy.”

Perseus stilled, his muscles tensing in the process. The only prophecy he knew about was the one his mother had warned him would someday come true. But that involved his grandfather, far away in Argos. This man was just an unfortunate stranger who wandered into an incident that caused his death.

“Of what prophecy do you speak?” He kept his eyes focused on the dead man.

“If you are really Perseus, son of Danaë,” said the crewmemeber, “then this man is your grandfather. This is King Acrisius of Argos. You have killed him with your discus. The prophecy of the Oracle of Delphi has been fulfilled!”