Heroes: Volume II of Mythos

T HE Q UEEN OF P OISONS Aegeus’s plan could not have backfired more spectacularly. Far from ridding himself of this threat to his peace and security, he had propelled Theseus to even greater heights of popularity and acclaim. All Athens thrilled at the procession through the streets as Theseus led the great bull, once so ferocious, but now as placid and docile as a castrated ox, and made the noble and modest sacrifice to Apollo. The people had never seen such a hero. Aegeus was bound to throw a feast in his honour and it was while he was moodily dressing for this that Medea entered his chamber. ‘This young man bodes nothing but ill for us, my husband.’ ‘I am aware of it.’ ‘See here …’ Medea showed him a small crystal phial. ‘In there is a quantity of wolf’s bane …’ ‘The queen of poisons, they call it, do they not?’ ‘It has many names,’ said Medea coldly. ‘Blue rocket, devil’s helmet, leopard’s fire, aconite.fn11 It is enough to know that it kills. I drop the contents into the popinjay prince’s cup and lo! we are rid of the problem. It will seem as though he has had a fit, a storm in the mind, and we shall put it about so. Hades was greedy for so great a soul to come to the Underworld, we will say, and he sent Thanatos, Lord of Death, to bring Theseus to his eternal rest in paradise.’ ‘You’re a clever little thing,’ said Aegeus, chucking her under the chin. ‘Don’t ever do that again.’ ‘No, Medea, m’dear.’ He did not see Medea slip the poison into Theseus’s cup at table, but a sign from her showed that she had managed to do so. She did not go quite so far as to tap the side of her nose and wink, but the slow and meaningful nod she gave Aegeus assured him that all was ready. ‘So now, my people,’ said Aegeus rising with a cup in his hand. ‘I offer a toast to our guest, this prince of Troezen, this slayer of bandits and tamer of bulls, our new friend and protector. Let us drink to the health of Lord Theseus, for so I now name him.’ Enthusiastic murmurs of assent ran round the hall as the guests drank to Theseus, who sat modestly nodding his thanks. ‘And now our guest must reply,’ said Medea. ‘Oh, now, well …’ Theseus rose to his feet, grasping a goblet in nervous hands. ‘I am not much of a fellow for talking. I know the art of speech-making is prized here in Athens and I hope some day to learn. For the most part I let my sword do the talking …’ he opened his cloak slightly and put a hand to the hilt of his sword. A murmur of sympathetic and admiring laughter ran round the hall. ‘But I drink to –’ ‘No!’ To the astonishment of all present King Aegeus suddenly leaned forward and violently struck the cup from Theseus’s hands. ‘That sword,’ he said, pointing to Theseus’s side. ‘I buried that very sword in the ground for my son to find.’ ‘And these rotten old sandals,’ said Theseus with a laugh, pulling one of them from his foot. ‘How I cursed them when I was on the road.’ Father and son fell into each others’ arms. It was a moment before Aegeus called Medea to mind. ‘And as for you, sorceress, witch and –’ But she had gone. She left Athens never to return. Some swore that they saw her flying across the sky in a chariot drawn by dragons, her son Medus by her side.fn12