Free The Oracle of Delphi (Greek Myth Fantasy Series) by Elizabeth Rose Page B

find your hospitality to my liking, that is why I grin,” he answered, knowing it wasn’t wise to displease them.
    “Our hospitality is at your command,” Yrjo told them. “I insist you stay the night.”
    “No, that’s not necessary.” Perseus didn’t continue, seeing the way everyone stopped to stare at him.
    “I am rather tired from my journey,” Andromeda admitted. “We would be happy to stay the night.”
    He caught her eye and shook his head slightly. Her eyebrows dipped once, then she replaced her scowl with a smile and turned toward Yrjo.
    “Perseus comes seeking an answer,” she told him.
    “Really,” said Yrjo, rubbing his short, wiry beard between his fingers. “And what might that be?”
    “I seek the knowledge of where to find the Gorgons,” Perseus told him.
    “The Gorgons?” the goat-man asked with interest. “And why would you want to know such a thing?”
    “He looks for the one called Medusa,” Andromeda added.
    “Aye, I know her well,” stated Yrjo. “She once came often to Dodona.”
    “I hear she once was a beautiful young woman.” Perseus leaned his elbows on the table as he spoke. “A curse from the gods befell her, if I am not mistaken.”
    “’Twas from the goddess of wisdom, Athena, that her curse came,” the satyr explained. “Medusa made love in Athena’s temple to the god of all the sea, Poseidon. When Athena found what they were doing in her temple, she turned Medusa into a Gorgon - the horrid creatures with scales, and snakes making up their hair. And if that was not punishment enough, should Medusa even think to look at a man again, he would turn instantly to stone.”
    “How unfortunate,” remarked Perseus taking another mouthful of food. “Now tell me, where can I find her?”
    “Why do you wish to find her?” Yrjo studied him curiously.
    “I need to bring her head back to King Polydectes in order to save the life of my mother, Danaë.”
    “Danaë,” the satyr repeated. “Her story is well known around these parts. You must be the demi-god child of Zeus himself.”
    “That I am,” he said, becoming impatient. “Now can you help me or not?”
    The satyr looked as if he would agree, until Andromeda thought to interfere.
    “If you do not help Perseus, we will understand. After all, he has refused to help me slay the sea serpent which is consuming my village.”
    The music stopped once again; the residents of Dodona closed in around him. The satyr stood on his chair, fists on his hips as he met Perseus eye to eye.
    “You dare ask for our help when you have refused to help the princess?”
    “No. That is not true,” answered Perseus, watching their eyes glowing brighter. “I said if I had time after I had completed my task, I would be happy to help her.”
    “ If ,” Andromeda stressed.
    It looked as if a fight were about to break out with Perseus as their target.
    “You will help her or we will not give you your answer.” The satyr looked even nastier when he was mad.
    Perseus shoved back his chair, sending it skidding across the ground where it fell on its side. He drew his sword, but none of the people seemed to fear him.
    “I think it is time to go, Princess,” he said, motioning for her to walk around the table. She stayed seated and just watched.
    “It is not wise to anger them,” she said. “Just agree to help me and everything will be fine.”
    “If this is your idea of a game, I don’t find it amusing at all.”
    The residents each picked up a vase, an urn or other piece of crockery. They hit the vessels with their eating knives and the vases all started to hum and sing louder and louder. Hearing the deafening noise, Perseus dropped his sword and covered his ears before he went mad. The noise did not seem to bother Andromeda or any of the others, and Perseus felt as if the sound attack had been directed toward him alone.
    “All right,” he shouted, still clasping his hands over his ears. “All right, I’ll slay the sea