“What do you want from me?” I muttered. Because you’re not going to get it. My hand strayed to the hilt of my sword.
He chortled softly. “Look at that stormy face! Don’t worry, I don’t want you to share my bed. I like my women ripe and plump as pomegranates, not skinny, nor young enough to be my daughter. I told you, long days at sea can be tedious. You’ve amused me, and you’re the first person here who’s spoken to me as a man, not a net to snare the Fleece. I’ve heard you called ‘Glaucus,’ true?” I nodded. “Well, Glaucus, I only want two things from you: one, your promise to do what you can, by choice or chance, to keep me diverted during this voyage.”
“Given. And the other?”
He released me from his hold and grinned like a man who needs to practice at it. “Your question. The one I must answer to repay you for saving that girl and our ship. Ask it.”
“The carvings on the prow,” I said, pointing forward. “There’s one that’s the face of a young woman. Who’s it supposed to be?”
I earned another of Argus’s rare smiles for that. “Depends who you ask. Jason ordered me to give him Hera, queen of the gods. But I carved the face of the one who’s to blame for me going back to my homeland after all these years.” His smile dimmed. “She said if I went home again, I’d die.”
“Then why did you agree to—?” I began.
“She said if I didn’t go home again, I’d live a long life, but a forgotten one, and I’d die without ever having another sight of the sea.” Argus scratched a few flakes of sunburned skin from his balding head. “What could I do? I swore I’d go. When the Pythia speaks, only fools don’t listen.”
6
A SACRIFICE TO APHRODITE
Argus was right about how a ship’s routine made her crew avid for diversion. In the evenings, more and more of the men drifted over to our campfire because Orpheus was there. The god-gifted Thracian was always good for a song, and Herakles was always good for a bragging tale about his own exploits.
I loved listening to those stories, but so did everyone else. More than once I had to creep away from the fire when I saw Castor and Polydeuces coming. I hated crouching in the shadows, waiting for them to have their fill of songs and stories before returning to their own fireside. One night when the moon was bright enough, I took myself far down the beach, along the water’s edge, drew my sword, and began dueling an imaginary opponent. I deliberately chose the place where the water lapped the shore, because the sodden ground was unstable. I’d have to pay attention to my footwork as well as how I wielded my blade or risk a tumble. It wasn’t the most useful training, but it was exercise, and better than lurking in the dark.
“Want a partner, Glaucus?” Hylas’s soft words took me by surprise. I whirled around in a spray of sand and brine. He stepped forward, sword in hand.
My blood pounded in my ears. A chance to practice swordsmanship with Hylas? A chance to match my skills against those of a lad trained by great Herakles himself? The idea thrilled me. Better still, it was an opportunity to win the respect and approval of the one boy I wanted to notice me. Things had gotten to the point where the mere sight of Hylas sent my imagination flying wild. I was convinced that his notice, respect, and approval would have to lead to more…someday. Someday when you can let him know that you’re a girl, I told myself.
“I’d love that, Hylas,” I blurted. Suddenly a cold wave of reality crashed over my head and I sighed. “But we can’t.”
“Why not? I’ll go easy on you.” He chuckled.
I didn’t. “If we practice, everyone’ll hear the sound of swords clashing and come running up to watch the show.”
“So? Let them come.”
“Including the Spartan princes?” I reminded him.
“Oh.” His face fell. “You’re right, I guess.” He sheathed his sword reluctantly. I did the same. “Gods above, Glaucus, isn’t there any hope that you and the Spartans could settle whatever’s bad between you? What did you do to them?”
“Don’t ask me to talk about that,” I said.
“I’ll bet Milo knows.” I didn’t reply, hoping he’d drop the matter, but he went on to say, “You’re not denying it. Glaucus, I accept that you and I can never be as close as you and Milo. You two share a homeland and you’ve traveled together all the way from Calydon. There’s a strong bond between you, one I don’t want to interfere with, but—but—” He looked up, and moonlight turned his perfect face silver. I wanted to kiss him, then and there. “—but I thought, I hoped that we weren’t just shipmates. I thought we were friends.”
“We are,” I murmured.
“Then why can’t you talk to me? I want to help you! Glaucus, please—” He grabbed my arms and squeezed them hard. I was breathless, all of my romantic dreams flooding over me at his touch.
“Hylas, I—”
“Well, what do we have here?” Thunderous laughter rolled over our heads. Herakles stepped in, threw his mighty arms around our shoulders, and separated us effortlessly. “If I were you lads, I’d pick a more secluded temple to worship Aphrodite.”
“That’s not what we were doing!” I cried. My face was aflame from hairline to neck.