Page 16 of Orpheus
My heart raced from the praise he had just given me. But at the same time, I still felt ashamed of him seeing a vulnerable side to me, when we had only just met last night. “I appreciate your feedback,” I replied. It was my attempt to make it a closed statement, hoping he would not progress to ask me any further questions about the song.
But this was a wish that could not be granted to me, for Calais did go on to be more curious about my lyrics. “The words behind that song… were they how you truly felt?”
I let out a deep sigh. My eyes gazed out into the marine blue waters, hoping they would have a calming effect on me, which they did. “Yes. All of my songs come from raw emotions,” I confessed to him. “It’s difficult, with me being here. Yes, I want to help you, Jason, and your comrades to accomplish what you all set out to do, but at the same time, I cannot help but have second thoughts on my decision to join this excursion. I too have much that I have left behind. My family, my home, my entire life, for that matter. It’s hard to just give all of that up for the very first time and try to maintain composure.”
Calais stepped closer to me before taking a seat on a disheveled cargo box by my side. “So, this is your first time away from your family?”
I nodded. “Yes. For this long of a time, at least.”
“I see. Perhaps I can paint a different perspective for you, to make you see that it’s not as bad as you think it is.” As Calais sat, my eyes shifted towards his posture. His tanned leg muscles roared with how contracted they were. He still wore the same tight green tunic I saw him in last night that accentuated his masculine features. However, I could not help but continue to notice that bulge on his back. It still left me curious as to what exactly it was.
“Most mortals do not have the same luxuries as you do, Orpheus,” he continued. “Think about some of the adults and even children you may have seen in Paestum. Most of them have not been given the same opportunities as you. Some of them are orphans, never having been able to know their real families. Others were likely forced to live in this town because of war and famine. Many of them are stuck in the jobs and roles they have, never given the chance to actually pursue their true passions.”
I know what Calais was insinuating at that moment. It was his polite way of saying that I was being a spoiled brat in all of this. He may be right. That may have been the case. And I am extremely grateful for all that I had received, but no matter what advice or lesson he may have been trying to teach me here, none of it could change my feelings. This was my life, after all, and my own experiences. I could appreciate and value the perspective of others. And I appreciated what he was trying to instill in me, but it was not the kind of support I was looking for at that moment.
“I understand what you’re trying to say. Really, I do. I completely get it. Yes, I am not some pompous prince who is upset over no longer having servants wait on him hand and foot, or anything like that. I recognize that I have been blessed with the many fortunes and opportunities bestowed upon me by the gods, but nevertheless, I still miss my family, Calais. They are all I have in this world. I don’t have any friends or anyone else that understands me, besides Apollo, of course. But other than that, I’m all alone.”
“I’m sorry if my remarks came off as accusatory, Orpheus. That was not my intent at all, and I apologize for that. I should not make assumptions like that without fully getting to know you. I am starting to learn that there is much more to you than meets the eyes,” he commented, with a smirk on his face.
It prompted me to return a smile back at him, alleviating any tension we may have had from this conversation. “Thank you, Calais. You have been nothing but kind to me since the moment we met. Kindness is truly what I need right now.”
“Well then, you will never be disappointed with me then, because kindness is all I have to give,” he replied.
I then felt it between us. I wasn’t quite sure if it was a spark or perhaps something else, but I was drawn to this man, and not based on his gorgeous face, hair, and body alone. There was more substance to him that attracted me. Our discussions that we had with each other seemed to be easy-going, even with how personal they may have seemed. I sensed that he authentically cared about me and my well-being. Something that Apollo lacked. I could not say the same for the God of the sun. There were things that Calais was giving me right now that I only dreamed Apollo could give me, but he never did. It only furthered my cynicism about the relationship between my mentor and me. It really was superficial and a bond strictly based on lust.
I did notloveApollo. I was now more certain of that than ever before. But what was love? I felt like I was on the verge of knowing what it meant to me, yet I could not be so sure.
But this conversation with Calais was getting too deep. I had only met the man yesterday, after all. I needed to show some restraint as I did not want him to view me in this vulnerable light right now. So, I decided to change the subject of our conversation altogether.
“Tell me, what is the mission that is at stake here for you all? Jason elaborated onhowhe retrieved the Golden Fleece you all sought after, but he never explained thewhybehind it. There are still so many missing pieces for me,” I explained.
“Ah. Yes. He did not go into much detail with you last night, as there was so much to already tell and so short a time remaining in the night. But allow me to fill you in,” Calais stated as if he were a scholar of mine, ready to give me an educated lesson on a historical tale. “Thessaly is what Jason is after. He is heir to the entire kingdom. Bringing the Golden Fleece back home will allow Jason to secure the throne as king and take it away from his vicious uncle.”
“His vicious uncle?” I raised my brow, not familiar with the idea of family members despising one another. At least it was something I was not used to.
“Yes. You see, King Aeson, who was Jason’s father, used to rule over Iolcus and all of Thessaly. He had a jealous brother named Pelias who grew resentful over all that King Aeson had accomplished and the power he held. Eventually, Pelias assembled a team of rebellions to overthrow the king, and they were successful in doing so. Later, Aeson and his wife, Alcimede, gave birth to a boy. But the two were fearful that the now, King Pelias, would kill their son if he learned of the boy’s presence. Any threat to his throne, no matter how minor, King Pelias would surely dispose of.”
“And this baby boy was…” I paused, allowing Calais to answer and continue with the story.
“Yes. The boy was Jason. Alcimede knew the only choice she had was to conceal Jason’s whereabouts from King Pelias. So, she sent him off to the wise centaur, Chiron, with whom he was raised and educated by. As the years passed, Jason grew into a strong, robust man and he returned to the city of Iolcus in Thessaly, learning that he was the rightful heir to the kingdom. But King Pelias would offer him the throne on one condition, and that condition was to travel to Colchis to fetch the Golden Fleece.”
“What is so special about this Golden Fleece?” I asked.
“It is a rare item with a historical context. It belonged to the majestic creature Chrysomallos, a golden ram with wings that could fly. The enchanted animal was created by the Goddess, Hecate, herself. The magical winged ram was sent to the surface to save a prince and princess who faced great danger. He gathered them and took the sibling twins to Colchis, where they were welcomed with open arms. After Chrysomallos saved the children, it was sacrificed to Zeus as a gift, but its golden fleece was blessed by the King of the Gods and returned to the young prince that the ram saved, Phrixus. Offered as a token of gratitude, Phrixus gave the Golden Fleece to Aeetes, the King of Colchis, for having accepted him and his sister into their kingdom. The King kept the Golden Fleece in one of his gardens devoted to the God of War, Ares, to forever be watched and guarded by his sleepless pet dragon.”
“I see. So, Jason and you all have already claimed this Golden Fleece from Colchis and we are now returning to Iolcus with it, for Jason to succeed his uncle for the Thessalian throne?” I inquired, verifying that I was up to speed with where we were at in the midst of this journey.
“Correct. Our main obstacles are the island of the sirens and passing Crete to get to Iolcus. Otherwise, the remainder of our trip should hopefully remain calm,” Calais informed me.
“And the Golden Fleece? Where is it? It must be somewhere aboard this ship.”
Calais nodded. “Yes. It’s in a locked cabin, hanging on the wall. Would you like for me to show it to you?”
“Of course!” I exclaimed. I had to see this one-of-a-kind treasure that so many men risked their lives for. It had to be a spectacle. A sight to behold.
“All right. Then follow me.” Calais rose from his sedentary position and headed towards the middle of the boat. I trailed behind him, now able to fully see the arch that protruded from his back. It awkwardly moved with every step he took. What was he hiding underneath that sage tunic of his? It could not be a malformed back or anything like that. I meant to ask him about it soon, but needed to find a way to bring it up without sounding rude in the process.
We descended into the lower quarters of the boat, passing many of the sleeping cabins on board and towards a door at the very end of the hall. Calais held the door open for me, and I entered the room ahead of him. My mouth dropped at the sight of the draped fabric that was hung and sprawled out against the wall. It was unlike any natural piece of material I had ever seen before. I was beginning to understand how valuable this item was and why it meant so much to Jason and King Pelias.
