Medea the Enchantress by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

Author:Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Aladdin

7

Hungry

ALL EYES TURNED TOWARD BITHYNIA, a region along the coast of Turkey. The figurehead was right. A man wearing a crown and boxing gloves was on the shore, jumping around on the sandy beach inside a roped-off area that looked like a boxing ring. Though he was the only person inside the ring, he was punching the air in front of himself as if combating some invisible fighter.

A crowd standing outside the ring clapped their hands or banged clubs together now and then to applaud his actions. Nearby there were long tables heaped with food and drink. Medea licked her lips, practically drooling. Would they share?

At a signal from Jason, the sailors dragged their oars to slow the Argo. “Excuse me, Your Royal Highness,” he called out. “We are on a long voyage and about to cross the Black Sea to Colchis. Do you have food you could spare?”

Hearing this, the king stopped punching the air to stare at the ship. After reading the name painted on its side, he thrust his arms wide. “The Argo! I’ve heard about you guys. Pheme’s been spreading the word all over Earth about your quest. I suppose you’ve come to invite me, King Amycus, and the Bebryces people I rule to be part of the musical Apollonius is going to make about your exploits?”

“If you’ll let us dine at your table, Orpheus will certainly mention you and your hospitality in one of his songs,” offered Jason.

The king planted his boxing gloves on his hips, appearing annoyed. “Mention me? Bah! I want a starring role! But I suppose I must do something outrageous to get more than a mention, right?” He cocked his head, thinking.

“Well, I—” Jason started to say.

“Fine. Here’s my idea,” the king interrupted him. “I hereby challenge one of your crew to a boxing match!”

The Argonauts just stared at him like he was batty, and given his odd behavior, Medea figured there was a very good chance that he was.

“Come on. Send your best fighter in here. I can beat any of you,” the king boasted, hopping around the boxing ring like a cricket and punching at the air. “And if I win, I get to throw the loser off a cliff. Include that in your little musical, why don’t you? Ha-ha-ha! How’s that for outrageous!”

“What if we win?” Jason countered. “Then can we share your food?”

“Sorry! It’s fake food, meant only to lure worthy opponents here to fight me. You can’t actually eat it, but I can offer you something else in the unlikely event that the opponent you send is victorious.” The king snapped his fingers. “Royal accountant!” he called out. “Get over here, pronto!” A short man with a large mustache ran out from the crowd. Bowing to the king, he handed Amycus a cloth bag as big as his head. Its contents clinked and clanked when the king held it up to show the Argonauts.

“If against all odds your fighter wins, I will give you this bag of coins.

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