Free The Dolphin Rider by Bernard Evslin

said Mercury. “Neptune’s anger against you does not please all of us, you know. We gods have our moods but we must keep things in balance. Now listen closely… you must do exactly as I say…”
    Mercury snapped his fingers and a flower appeared. It was white and very sweet-smelling, with a black and yellow root. He gave it to Ulysses.
    â€œThis flower is magical,” said Mercury. “So long as you carry it, Circe’s drugs will not work on you. Now go to the castle. She will greet you and feed you. You will eat the food, but it will not harm you. Then you must threaten to kill her. She will plead with you, and then try to enchant you with her voice, her face, her manner. You will not be able to resist them. No man can — nor any god either. And there is no counterspell that will work against her beauty.”
    â€œWhat chance do I have then?” said Ulysses.
    â€œThe chance you give yourself. If you want to see your home again, and rescue your men from the sty, you must resist her long enough to make her swear the great oath of the immortals. She must swear that she will not do you any harm as long as you are her guest. That is all I can do. The rest is up to you. Farewell.”
    The golden youth disappeared like a ray of sunlight. Ulysses shook his head, wondering whether he had really seen the god, or only imagined him. When he saw that he was still holding the curious flower, he knew that Mercury had indeed been there. So he marched on toward the castle, through the pack of lions and wolves, who leaped about him. They looked at him with their great intelligent eyes, trying to warn him in their snarling growling way. He stroked their heads as he passed among them, and went on into the castle.
    And here he found Circe sitting at her loom, weaving and singing. She wore a white tunic and a flame-colored scarf, and was as beautiful as the dawn. She stood up and greeted him.
    â€œWelcome, stranger.”
    â€œThank you, beautiful lady.”
    â€œNo. Thank you . I live here alone and seldom see anyone. I almost never have guests. So you are most welcome, great warrior. I know that you have seen battle and adventure, and have tales to tell.”
    Circe’s servants drew Ulysses a warm, perfumed bath and gave him clean garments to wear. When he came back, Circe gave him a red bowl full of the same food she had given his men. Its fragrance was intoxicating. Ulysses wanted to plunge his face into the bowl and grub up the food like a pig. But he held the flower tightly, and kept control of himself. He ate slowly, and did not quite finish the food.
    â€œDelicious,” he said.
    â€œWill you not finish?” she asked.
    â€œI am not quite as hungry as I thought,” Ulysses replied.
    Circe turned her back to him as she poured the wine, and he knew she was putting a powder in it. He smiled to himself, then drank of the wine, and said, “Delicious. Your own grapes?”
    â€œYou look weary, stranger,” she said. “Sit and talk with me.”
    â€œGladly,” said Ulysses. “We have much to talk about, you and I. I’m something of a farmer myself. I raise cattle on my own little island of Ithaca, where I’m king. Won’t you show me your livestock?”
    â€œLivestock? I keep no cattle here.”
    â€œDon’t you? I thought I heard pigs squealing out there. I must have been mistaken.”
    â€œYes,” said Circe. “Badly mistaken.”
    â€œBut you do have interesting animals. I was amazed by the wolves and lions outside your gates. They run in a pack like dogs — very friendly for such savage beasts.”
    â€œI taught them to be friendly,” said Circe. “I’m friendly myself, and I like all the members of my household to share my good will.”
    â€œThey have remarkable eyes,” said Ulysses. “So big and sad and clever. You know, they looked to me like … human eyes.”
    â€œDid