“Then isn’t it a good thing that you didn’t give her the other dress?” Jason said. “I told you she didn’t deserve it.” He turned to me, and for a moment I saw something different in his eyes. It wasn’t his usual smugness or arrogance. I might have been wrong, but it looked like a warning.
“I suppose I should thank you both, then,” I said. “This dress suits me much better than the crimson one.”
“That’s what my Jason said,” Medea replied, simpering sidelong at him. I couldn’t be certain, but I thought I saw him cringe just a little. “I wanted you to keep the first one, but he said no. I’d die before I’d disagree with him. He even insisted on coming with me, to make sure you found the right gift waiting for you when you woke up.”
I gave Medea a hard stare. “I might not be as civilized as you, Lady, but I’ve slept under more than one king’s roof. Last night was the first time my room was entered secretly, not once, but twice. You treat the sacred trust between host and guest differently here in Colchis.”
She tittered. Either she was going to ignore my accusations or she simply didn’t believe she’d done anything wrong. “You sleep very soundly, for such a famous huntress,” she said.
“I’ll do better about that in future,” I told her. “Count on it.”
Just then, Milo appeared at one end of the walkway. He must have realized he’d lost me entirely and was now backtracking. Medea’s sharp eyes spotted him at once.
“You mustn’t waste any more time on us, dear Atalanta,” she cooed. “I see your precious friend has come seeking you. Better hurry to his side, before he loses interest.”
I didn’t like her insinuating tone, but before I could react, Jason spoke. “My beloved princess is right, Atalanta. There’s nothing to hold you here, in our company. In fact, I’ve got work for you.” He ducked back into his room and returned holding a pile of blankets, which he shoved at me. “Take these to the Argo.”
I wanted to object, but whatever else Jason was, he was still our leader. It would be childish to defy him over such a trivial command. I bowed my head and started for the stairs. “Come on, Milo!” I called back over one shoulder.
Milo tried to scamper after me, only to have Jason’s hand fall to his shoulder. “You can manage a few blankets on your own. Milo will accompany me to the training ground. I’m sure Iolaus will be happy to see that at least one of his weapons bearers is still doing his proper job.”
I had no choice. I left Milo standing there between Jason and his wild-eyed lady. I couldn’t save Hylas, I thought bitterly as I descended the stairs. I can’t let anything happen to Milo.
10
A FEAST FOR THE FURIES
Three days passed before I was able to talk to Milo again. No matter how early I woke up and went to the room my friend shared with some of the other crewmen, he was never there. To my disappointment, I also failed to encounter my brothers and those Argonauts I knew and liked best. Jason, however, seemed to show up everywhere I turned, Medea clinging to him like a wet olive leaf. It was all I could do to dodge them before they spied me.
I did run into Orpheus, late in the afternoon of the second day, and asked him about the others. “I only see them at the evening meal, when I’m stuck at the women’s table,” I complained. “They look well, but we don’t get to exchange a single word, and afterward everyone goes to bed.”
“Argus spends his time renewing ties with his family,” the singer replied. “Iolaus and your brothers are probably exercising on the royal training ground.”
“Where is it?” I asked eagerly.
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve been going elsewhere to do my own sort of exercise.” He held up his lyre. “Care for a lesson?” He soon discovered I had a voice fit to frighten crows and no real interest in learning to pluck anything but a bowstring, but it was kind of him to offer.
On the morning of the third day, I was sitting on a rock just outside the citadel gate, lazily wondering whether I should explore the city below or spend the day down by the waterside, when luck let me find Milo. He was heading out with Iolaus and my brothers, his arms filled with javelins. The men all carried swords, and Polydeuces had a bow and quiver on his back.
“No need to ask where you’re going,” I said, overjoyed to see them. “I’ve been wanting to visit a good training ground for weeks, since before we left Iolkos. Give me just a moment to put on something better than this and I’ll come with you!” I tugged at the blue dress.
“The training ground’s not the place for you, Helllllanta,” Castor declared. He cast a quick glance at the guards on duty at the gate behind us.
“That’s not your decision to make, is it?” I replied sweetly.
Polydeuces laughed. “It never was. Come on, then.”
“Are you insane?” Castor spoke in an anxious whisper that only we five could hear. “She’s supposed to be Atalanta. You think the other men know nothing about that woman’s reputation for strength and speed, for excellence with the spear and the bow?”
“Helen’s smart,” Iolaus murmured. “She wouldn’t come to the training ground if she thought it would endanger her disguise.”
“You know I’m good with the bow and the light javelin,” I reminded Castor. “And if I can’t outpace any man on the crew in a footrace, I’ll—”
“And what if they challenge you to a sword match?” he interrupted. “You could never hope to beat any of them.”
“Oh really,” I said, planting my hands on my hips. “I seem to remember beating you a time or two.”