lady," said one of the Athenians, a woman. The servants were squatting on the ground in a circle about us, still panting a bit with their own late exertions. "I looked to see, but he was off and gone by the time I did."
"That boy should be fed to the lion in the Queen's Menagerie," observed another of the servants.
"I nearly agree with you," I said in a shaky voice.
"Certainly I would have left the little whelp to his own fate and then said nothing more about it," said Icarus.
"No, you would not," I said.
"No, perhaps not," he concurred. "But now there can be no attempt at hushing this up. Even if," he glanced at the Athenians, "even if we could all be trusted to hold our tongues, there is your wrist. It must be tended and you will not be able to use it for a time. That will cause comment."
I had not got that far in my thoughts yet. Icarus was right. The tale would undoubtedly spread and gain color and volume as it did so. Peopleâmost especially my fatherâwould be convinced that Asterius was a wild and untamable beast.
"Could we notâ" My eyes traveled around the ring of Athenians and I knew it would not do. They were sympathetic now, but they would not hold their tongues, all the same.
I stood up straight, cradling my wrist, and addressed the Athenians. "We who were here today know what happened. The boy hid behind a tree and threw stones at the Lord Asterius. Only when the Lord Asterius was injured did he seek to harm the boy. I charge you, tell the tale that way. Do not let people believe that my brother attacked an innocent child. As it is," I turned and looked at my brother. "I fear I will not be able to take him outside the Labyrinth again for a very longtime, if ever."
The Athenians nodded and made obeisance to me. Icarus made sure of their word by discreetly passing a few coins about the circle. Soon I stood and flexed my muscles, preparing for the long journey down the mountain. As I moved cautiously about, I guessed that I would be most dreadfully sore when I woke next morning, but save for my wrist, there did not seem any serious damage.
Icarus, who had been watching me, called out, loud and clear: "Hail, Bull Rider!" It was the salute given to those who have successfully ridden the bull in the bull games without falling off or being gored.
The Athenians saluted me likewise, crying in unison: "Hail, Bull Rider!"
Traitorous tears started without warning from my eyes, and my cheeks burned like fire. I bowed briefly, as the bull dancers do, more to hide my face than for any other reason, and then quickly turned to look out to sea.
There was a black speck among the dancing sea lights. It was still so far away that I could not make it out.
"Icarus," I said, and pointed.
His eyes were sharper than mine. "It is the black sail," he said. "My Lord Asterius's new servants come."
Behind me, I heard the Athenians give a soft, sighing cry.
CHAPTER SIX
THE PRESENTATION
"Y OU BREAK YOUR WORD OF HONOR TO ME, YOUR DAUGHTER and heir, for that posturing ninny?"
I stared at Ariadne, fascinated. I had never seen her so angry. Every drop of blood seemed to have drained from her face. The very hair on her head was alive and waving with fury. Her fists were balled, as though she would strike our mother as she sat on her throne.
"That "posturing ninny" restored your brother Glaucus to life," Mother remarked calmly, leaning back and studying her daughter. "He deserves a reward. Several rewards, in fact. I value all my children, not my daughters alone."
"Then give him a reward, by all means. Give him land, a house, a ship, whatever he desires, but don't give him my Athenian."
Mother's eyes grew cold. "None of the Athenians are yours, daughter. They are mine, to dispose of as I see fit."
"You promised!" Ariadne was now nearly spitting with rage.
I wished I were closer to Ariadne so that I might kick her ankle or deliver a warning pinch to her arm. She was going too far. Ours was a loving mother, but she
"That boy should be fed to the lion in the Queen's Menagerie," observed another of the servants.
"I nearly agree with you," I said in a shaky voice.
"Certainly I would have left the little whelp to his own fate and then said nothing more about it," said Icarus.
"No, you would not," I said.
"No, perhaps not," he concurred. "But now there can be no attempt at hushing this up. Even if," he glanced at the Athenians, "even if we could all be trusted to hold our tongues, there is your wrist. It must be tended and you will not be able to use it for a time. That will cause comment."
I had not got that far in my thoughts yet. Icarus was right. The tale would undoubtedly spread and gain color and volume as it did so. Peopleâmost especially my fatherâwould be convinced that Asterius was a wild and untamable beast.
"Could we notâ" My eyes traveled around the ring of Athenians and I knew it would not do. They were sympathetic now, but they would not hold their tongues, all the same.
I stood up straight, cradling my wrist, and addressed the Athenians. "We who were here today know what happened. The boy hid behind a tree and threw stones at the Lord Asterius. Only when the Lord Asterius was injured did he seek to harm the boy. I charge you, tell the tale that way. Do not let people believe that my brother attacked an innocent child. As it is," I turned and looked at my brother. "I fear I will not be able to take him outside the Labyrinth again for a very longtime, if ever."
The Athenians nodded and made obeisance to me. Icarus made sure of their word by discreetly passing a few coins about the circle. Soon I stood and flexed my muscles, preparing for the long journey down the mountain. As I moved cautiously about, I guessed that I would be most dreadfully sore when I woke next morning, but save for my wrist, there did not seem any serious damage.
Icarus, who had been watching me, called out, loud and clear: "Hail, Bull Rider!" It was the salute given to those who have successfully ridden the bull in the bull games without falling off or being gored.
The Athenians saluted me likewise, crying in unison: "Hail, Bull Rider!"
Traitorous tears started without warning from my eyes, and my cheeks burned like fire. I bowed briefly, as the bull dancers do, more to hide my face than for any other reason, and then quickly turned to look out to sea.
There was a black speck among the dancing sea lights. It was still so far away that I could not make it out.
"Icarus," I said, and pointed.
His eyes were sharper than mine. "It is the black sail," he said. "My Lord Asterius's new servants come."
Behind me, I heard the Athenians give a soft, sighing cry.
CHAPTER SIX
THE PRESENTATION
"Y OU BREAK YOUR WORD OF HONOR TO ME, YOUR DAUGHTER and heir, for that posturing ninny?"
I stared at Ariadne, fascinated. I had never seen her so angry. Every drop of blood seemed to have drained from her face. The very hair on her head was alive and waving with fury. Her fists were balled, as though she would strike our mother as she sat on her throne.
"That "posturing ninny" restored your brother Glaucus to life," Mother remarked calmly, leaning back and studying her daughter. "He deserves a reward. Several rewards, in fact. I value all my children, not my daughters alone."
"Then give him a reward, by all means. Give him land, a house, a ship, whatever he desires, but don't give him my Athenian."
Mother's eyes grew cold. "None of the Athenians are yours, daughter. They are mine, to dispose of as I see fit."
"You promised!" Ariadne was now nearly spitting with rage.
I wished I were closer to Ariadne so that I might kick her ankle or deliver a warning pinch to her arm. She was going too far. Ours was a loving mother, but she
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