"What do you make of this boy?" Steiger asked Delaney quietly, so that Jason would not hear.
Delaney shrugged. "He's either a fool or the most complete innocent I've ever met. If that's what comes of Chiron's teaching, I'd hate to see his other pupils."
"Well, if there's any truth to the legend," Andre said, "we'll be meeting a lot more of them before too long. So far, things seem to be happening according to the story."
"Except for us," said Delaney.
"I'm not sure he even knows we're here," said Steiger, indicating Jason up ahead.
Jason marched ahead of them without a backward glance, supremely confident in his ability to lead. He was in excellent condition and he set a good pace, devoting his energies to walking and sparing no effort for idle conversation as they went. He seemed a remarkably self-contained young man. His bearing reflected his assumption that he was destined for greatness.
They arrived in Iolchos late in the afternoon and Jason made his way directly to the palace. At least, he must have assumed it was the palace because it was the largest building in the city, which was small in spite of the grandeur of its architecture. In fact, it turned out to be the Temple of Poseidon, but it served just as well because King Pelias was there, preparing to sacrifice a bull to the sea god. A crowd had gathered at the foot of the temple steps.
Jason ploughed through the crowd as if he were an icebreaker crashing through a frozen sea, shouting, "Make way for the true king!"
People stared in amazement at the presumptuous youth who dared to shout such words in the hearing of King Pelias, who turned frowning from the carcass of the bull, a bloody knife held in his hand. Soldiers immediately started down the steps to intercept Jason, but at that moment, the king's high priest saw he was wearing only one sandal and he held the soldiers back.
"Wait!"
"It's the man with one sandal!" said the captain of the guard. "The one the prophecy spoke of. Why not just kill him and have done with it?"
"No," the high priest said in a low voice. "How do we know that killing him will not somehow fulfill the prophecy? If, in killing him, we set in motion events which would lead to Pelias losing the throne, then he would indeed lose his kingdom to this stranger, though he be dead. The gods can be capricious in their whims. The conditions of the prophecy must be fulfilled without risking the throne."
"But how?" the captain asked. "It does not seem possible!"
"To a clever man, everything is possible," said the high priest. He turned to Jason. "Who dares profane the sacrifice?" he demanded as Jason started up the steps. "Who are you?"
"I am Jason, son of Aeson, rightful king of Iolchos. I have come to claim what is mine by birthright."
"Oh, brother," said Delaney. Beside him, standing at the foot of the stone steps leading up to the temple, a soldier groaned miserably.
"Oh, cruel gods," the soldier said, "that I should lose all for want of having stopped a foolish boy!"
"Lose all?" said Andre.
"Like as not my life as well," the soldier said, morosely. "Pelias heard a prophecy from the Oracle of Delphi that he would lose his kingdom to a man who came to him wearing but one sandal. I was charged to keep a supply of sandals ready to hand out at the palace entrance and to make certain no such man came into the presence of the king. Months spent with my eyes cast down, inspecting the feet of all who came to the palace seeking an audience with the king and now this wanton youth beards him at the temple! The gods must hate me!"
Pelias was staring intently at Jason, who returned his gaze confidently, as if daring him to deny his claim. "My brother, Aeson, is dead," said Pelias, "and his son with him."
"His son stands before you, very much alive," said Jason. "Look well on my face and tell me that you do not see my father."
Pelias seemed to consider. "Yes," he said at last, "there is a similarity, but that alone proves nothing. I could as easily find a dozen boys of the right age in this city who could make the same claim based upon a chance resemblance."
He smiled and gazed out at the crowd, the compassionate and understanding king taking great pains to be patient with a mad boy. When he spoke, his tone was condescending and more that a little ironic.
"You understand, surely, that as king I have great responsibilities. I must consider the welfare of the people. I cannot simply hand over my throne to the first man who comes along, claiming to be my poor dead brother's son. This is a delicate matter which requires some deliberation." He turned to speak with the high priest.
"I await your answer, Pelias!" Jason shouted after a moment, growing impatient.
"He will get his answer in a spear between his ribs," the soldier in charge of inspecting feet said. "And then, doubtless, I shall make the long journey to Hades with him."
"Perhaps," said Delaney, "you would be best served by making another long journey before the king has time to think about your fate."
"You offer sound advice, stranger," said the soldier. "My thanks. The wandering urge is suddenly upon me. I think I will depart at once."
As the soldier hastily pushed his way through the crowd, Pelias turned to Jason while the people waited expectantly to see how their king would deal with the impetuous youth.
"I have consulted with my high priest about the best way to deal with this matter," he said, speaking loudly enough for all to hear. "If, as you claim, you are truly my brother Aeson's son, then you are indeed the rightful king of Iolchos. But, on the other hand, if you are not my brother's son and I were to step down in your favor, then not only would I have acted foolishly, putting the fate of the people of Iolchos into the hands of an imposter, I will have angered the gods, as well. As king, I must do what is right and just, both for the sake of the people of Iolchos and to appease the gods."