Lost in the Labyrinth by Patrice Kindl

Author:Patrice Kindl [Kindl, Patrice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

CHAPTER EIGHT

My FATHER'S SON

"THAT WAS THE MOST CONTRARY, HEADSTRONG, IDIOTIC YOUNG man it has ever been my fortune to meet," said Daedalus.

When the Festival of the Bulls was over, Ariadne had, without a word to anyone, run down into the arena. Unhappily, I followed her, Queta riding on my head and complaining shrilly in my ear. Ariadne seemed different. I didn't like it, and I meant to see what she did next.

We wended our way through the hordes of departing worshipers and at length caught up with Daedalus, who was striding along on his way to the artisans' studios. It appeared that Ariadne wished to question Daedalus about the man Theseus.

"Surely not idiotic," objected Ariadne.

"Yes, idiotic, Princess. I explained three times that the Minotaur, as they call Lord Asterius, does not eat flesh at all, let alone human flesh. And even in Athens they must have heard rumors that the 'Minotaur' is the son of the queen, not of Minos. The fool would barely suffer me to address the queen rather than Minos. And why should he think that either ruler would allow him to butcher their son? He has lost not only his liberty but, very shortly, his life. And all because he would not listen!"

"Oh, but have I not heard you say how different it is over there on the mainland?" said Ariadne eagerly. "How could he know? How could he credit a world in which everything is so altered from all that is familiar to him?"

"Because I told him so," snapped Daedalus. Icarus's father was old—nearly fifty—and the combination of his age and his great value to our queen made him less respectful toward persons of consequence than he should have been.

"Look here. Princess," he said, in a more civil tone. "Let us say that you are a young person but lately departed from your mother's hearth, and that you find yourself at the mercy of one of the most powerful rulers in the world.

"Now, let us suppose that you are the legal and rightful possession of this mighty queen, to be disposed of as she sees fit," Daedalus went on. "And let us also suppose that this queen has every cause to hate you and wish you dead. Why then, Princess Ariadne, if you should ever find yourself in this position, I would advise you to listen very carefully and very gratefully to the counsel of a man older and wiser than you, who is also a distinguished member of your own race and nation." He looked at her under fierce brows.

"That is all I have to say. Good day to you." He caught sight of me behind Ariadne and his manner softened. "Princess Xenodice, you have not been to see us of late. You must not abandon your old friends."

I blushed. It was true enough. I had not stopped by the workshop recently, as I had been able to see Icarus several times in other ways.

"I will come soon," I promised. He bowed and walked rapidly away, obviously impatient to get back to work after a day's holiday.

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