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“Idiot bastards,” your uncle remarks flatly. “The Heraclids gamble away their future to appease their domestic detractors. These scouting parties achieve nothing, although I can hardly refuse the gift of their bronze. A shame that they share their progenitor’s fecundity and have heirs aplenty to sacrifice every summer. I’ll scour the coasts for their vessels and double the patrols – the Dorians come in groups of four. But what brings you to the Palace, nephew?” His bushy eyebrows lower with interest.
You’re quick to explain what you have deduced about the marriage of Polynices and Argia – of the war that must now occur between Argos and Thebes. But before you begin to ask about the forces he will call upon, Adrastus holds up his mighty palm – “Hippomedon – please. Wait until the feast tonight – I will make the announcement there.” You bite your tongue, with difficulty.
“Why not visit with your wife until the feast? She arrived at the temple of Dionysus last night, as you well know.” Adrastus comments blandly – you do your best to hide your shock. You did <span class="mu-i">not</span> well know – you last saw her three nights hence in your own bedroom, and she had been absent when you rose to leave at dawn. You curse inwardly – no doubt she arose before you, took that damned stallion that she loves, and has been riding ahead of you ever since. How many times have you instructed her not to travel alone?! The same free spirit that you found so attractive before now makes you want to tear out your hair in frustration.
Adrastus clearly detects your irritation and intuits the source of it, adding wryly:
“Or perhaps, I will order you to bring your Heraclidean armor to the bronzesmiths, to have your man fitted? Sometimes, duty is a blessing, nephew. Oh, and I almost forget – your cousin Capaneus is due for a humbling. He’s been in the training yards accosting half of our guests for duels – he’s creating havoc! Consider providing him proper instruction in courtly behavior?” Your mood shifts at once, as a grin break out on your face – you have always enjoyed bloodying your over-bold rival.
>what do, /qst/? You have a free afternoon!
>Go to the Bronzesmith’s Quarter and have Argyros sized for his own bronze. With luck, they’ll have an existing set that can be modified for him.
>Visit with Euanippe, your wife, at the temple of Dionysus. What was she thinking? She gambled with her life riding by the Dorians – you could strangle her for her risk-taking!
>Find Capaneus in the training yards and teach him some manners – the brute only respects violence, and this you can provide him.
>Call upon Lord Amphiarus – you cannot shake the memory of your discussion before the funeral pyre. Odd of you to remember it after all these years, and you’ve not had a meaningful conversation with the man since that time. Perhaps he may speak more openly about his thoughts to a man fully grown.
>Something else?
