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Authors: Katharine Beutner
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suitor.
Admetus lifted his chin. “To earn your goodwill and request your approval to marry your daughter Alcestis, Uncle.”
“Then your mission has already failed,” Pelias said. “I have been hunting with my men all day. I want a wash and a meal and my wife. When I return to my home, I do not expect to find suitors lying in wait for me or for my daughter. This behavior is an insult to her virtue and a waste of my time. I will not brook it.”
A cold prickle swept over my skin. An insult to my virtue? Admetus could have been a god, could have been a rival lord, and I had greeted him without fear. I’d shown him hospitality and care. I’d been a good host without being a bad woman, but Pelias didn’t see. The head maid tugged at my wrist, nodding toward the kitchens, her eyes darting back toward my father. I began to edge away, but Pelias held out a hand and I froze, mural still. “You stay, girl. You’ve done nothing wrong. You have greeted our guests and made them welcome?”
“Yes, Father,” I murmured. Admetus was watching me. I felt his eyes on my face, warmer than the touch of the sun.
“You,” Pelias said, turning to Admetus, “king of Pherae, you should not have come here. Alone with my daughter while I was not at home. Unheard of! I grant you a night in my home, but you will leave in the morning at first light.”
“My lord,” Admetus said, and even I could see how difficult those words were for him. “I was never alone with your daughter. The servants of your house observed us at every moment, both men and women, and your daughter acted with perfect propriety.”
“You do not suggest that a child of mine would act in any other way.” Pelias folded his arms over his chest. He was at least half a head taller than the king of Pherae, half again as broad through the shoulders.
“No,” Admetus said, stumbling over his words. “No, of course not. She is an honor to your house and behaves exactly as a woman should. That is why I wish to marry her, my lord. I will not leave until I have your answer.”
“Have it? You’ve already had it. The answer is no, and you shall leave when I say.”
“King Pelias—”
“Quiet,” Pelias thundered. “Before I take your impudence as an insult rather than an annoyance. You are a king, Admetus, and I honor you. You are also my guest. You will eat well, you will drink, you will have blankets and couches, and you will cease your talk of marrying my daughter.”
Admetus took an involuntary step back, looked from Pelias to me and back again. I watched him from beneath my lowered eyelashes and held my breath. Go, I thought. Go in the morning and do not come back. Then I thought: Come back, and take me away. The idea ran down my spine, crackling like a spark, flaring to life in my belly. I wished he had taken me before my father had returned, taken me when he had the chance, for now I would never be alone with him again.
I began to see what Pisidice had meant, why my father watched me so carefully now. Pelias was right. I was not to be trusted.
“Sir,” Admetus said, “I will not cease. I seek her for my wife, and my desire shall not change. But I shall talk of it no more now, not until you agree to hear my case.”
Pelias heaved a sigh and settled into his throne. “I will never agree to hear your case, Admetus. It displeases me. See to your men; my servants will assist you.”
The young king closed his mouth with a snap. “I shall,” he said, sketching a bow with sudden vicious energy. “I thank you for your hospitality, lord, lady.” He turned before Pelias could respond and went out of the hall.
I waited for the shouting to begin, but Pelias gave me a tired look and waved a hand toward the stairs. “Up with you,” he said, glancing back toward the entry hall. “Take food to the queen. Don’t come down until Admetus and his men have gone.”
“You’re not angry?” I whispered.
“Have you done anything that should anger me?” He
Admetus lifted his chin. “To earn your goodwill and request your approval to marry your daughter Alcestis, Uncle.”
“Then your mission has already failed,” Pelias said. “I have been hunting with my men all day. I want a wash and a meal and my wife. When I return to my home, I do not expect to find suitors lying in wait for me or for my daughter. This behavior is an insult to her virtue and a waste of my time. I will not brook it.”
A cold prickle swept over my skin. An insult to my virtue? Admetus could have been a god, could have been a rival lord, and I had greeted him without fear. I’d shown him hospitality and care. I’d been a good host without being a bad woman, but Pelias didn’t see. The head maid tugged at my wrist, nodding toward the kitchens, her eyes darting back toward my father. I began to edge away, but Pelias held out a hand and I froze, mural still. “You stay, girl. You’ve done nothing wrong. You have greeted our guests and made them welcome?”
“Yes, Father,” I murmured. Admetus was watching me. I felt his eyes on my face, warmer than the touch of the sun.
“You,” Pelias said, turning to Admetus, “king of Pherae, you should not have come here. Alone with my daughter while I was not at home. Unheard of! I grant you a night in my home, but you will leave in the morning at first light.”
“My lord,” Admetus said, and even I could see how difficult those words were for him. “I was never alone with your daughter. The servants of your house observed us at every moment, both men and women, and your daughter acted with perfect propriety.”
“You do not suggest that a child of mine would act in any other way.” Pelias folded his arms over his chest. He was at least half a head taller than the king of Pherae, half again as broad through the shoulders.
“No,” Admetus said, stumbling over his words. “No, of course not. She is an honor to your house and behaves exactly as a woman should. That is why I wish to marry her, my lord. I will not leave until I have your answer.”
“Have it? You’ve already had it. The answer is no, and you shall leave when I say.”
“King Pelias—”
“Quiet,” Pelias thundered. “Before I take your impudence as an insult rather than an annoyance. You are a king, Admetus, and I honor you. You are also my guest. You will eat well, you will drink, you will have blankets and couches, and you will cease your talk of marrying my daughter.”
Admetus took an involuntary step back, looked from Pelias to me and back again. I watched him from beneath my lowered eyelashes and held my breath. Go, I thought. Go in the morning and do not come back. Then I thought: Come back, and take me away. The idea ran down my spine, crackling like a spark, flaring to life in my belly. I wished he had taken me before my father had returned, taken me when he had the chance, for now I would never be alone with him again.
I began to see what Pisidice had meant, why my father watched me so carefully now. Pelias was right. I was not to be trusted.
“Sir,” Admetus said, “I will not cease. I seek her for my wife, and my desire shall not change. But I shall talk of it no more now, not until you agree to hear my case.”
Pelias heaved a sigh and settled into his throne. “I will never agree to hear your case, Admetus. It displeases me. See to your men; my servants will assist you.”
The young king closed his mouth with a snap. “I shall,” he said, sketching a bow with sudden vicious energy. “I thank you for your hospitality, lord, lady.” He turned before Pelias could respond and went out of the hall.
I waited for the shouting to begin, but Pelias gave me a tired look and waved a hand toward the stairs. “Up with you,” he said, glancing back toward the entry hall. “Take food to the queen. Don’t come down until Admetus and his men have gone.”
“You’re not angry?” I whispered.
“Have you done anything that should anger me?” He
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