Eurystheus was nine and thirty twelvemonths old. A bearded man without moustache, he was an individual of both Achaean and Aithiopian descent, clad in a tunic with a band of cloth about his forehead, a cloak hanging from his shoulders, some sort of guards from the knees down and a pair of sandals.
Staring at Art and his lynx Niall, the King of Argolis inquired: "What man is this? I can tell from his attire that he might not be an Achaean, but looks can be deceiving. I heard him speak our tongue, but even foreign traders know our language. What is your ascendency, stranger? What are your customs?"
"I am a Gael, sir." Replied Art. "Art is my appellation and as a Gael, I am a descendant of Goidel Glas, who was both the Egyptian princess Scota and fathered by the Scythian prince Nel. My customs are my own."
Stroking his beard, Eurystheus stared at Art with critical eyes as if the Young Gael was no more alive than the clothes that he wore. Finally, he inquired: "Any Achaean blood in you?""
"No, sir."
"Aithiopian?"
"No, sir."
Once more staring critically, Eurystheus took a seat upon his throne and said: "I will have you know, Art, that my grandfather did not do anything as my kinsman Heracles had. A madness had taken him, that is all."
"Madness?" Art took a small step backwards. "Had Perseus shown any cases of madness? Had anyone in your family shown any madness?"
Understanding and patient with his young guest, Eurystheus answered: "There is no history of madness in my family, my boy."
A thought then coming to his mind, Art wondered how much was accurate. Heracles had slain his three sons and two of his nephews, but who was to say that he had not been drugged and that they had not been attempting to kill him? What if it was all in self-defence and in truth, Heracles was performing these labours to regain his honour?
Or what if someone else had killed his sons and nephews? What if someone had drugged Heracles and then killed his sons and nephews to pin the blame on him?
Staring at Eurystheus, Art inquired: "What do you know about the madness that took Heracles, Eurystheus?"
Almost immediately, the Argive King stood up, fire in his eyes and his shoulders raised. Taking a moment to compose himself, Eurystheus sat back and down and uttered: "No, my boy. I can't say I do. What brings you here to Argolis?"
"I was advised that Achaea might be a better place for my wanderings. I was told Libya was no place for me and I suppose that is correct." Swallowing, Art then uttered: "I would like to apologize for how I spoke of your grandfather, sir."
"No need for it, you are a foreigner and know not our ways." Stated Eurystheus. Then turning his attention to Timaeus, he then inquired: "And who is this stranger to my court?"
"Timaeus, Majesty!" exclaimed the Toothless Achaean. "A Corinthian by birth who came here hoping to meet Heracles."
A look of annoyance appearing upon the countenance of the Argive Monarch, Art wondered if there was something about Heracles that Eurystheus did not like. What reason did he have to not like his kinsman?
Turning his attention to Pandion, Eurystheus said: "Everyone else is dismissed. Pandion and I have matters to discuss."
Exiting the throne room, Art turned to Thebe and inquired: "Is there any suspicion towards Eurystheus on the subject of the madness that caused Heracles to kill his sons and nephews?"
Shaking her head, the Athenian Girl answered: "Eurystheus is just a coward who is in the shadow of his greater kinsman. He may rule Argolis, but it is Heracles the people celebrate."
"Celebrated everywhere." Added Timaeus, walking alongside the Young Gael and the Athenian Girl. "He slew the Lernean Hydra, captured the Erymanthian Boar, chased away the Stymphalian Birds, captured the Cretan Bull, there is no hero in all of Achaea greater than Heracles! He has surpassed his great-grandfather and paternal half-brother Perseus!"
Looking up at the tower that Perseus had been born in, Art wondered if in time Heracles would be surpassed by a great-grandson who was also his paternal half-brother as well. Life was strange, so such a thing may have come to pass.
From the corner of his eye, the Young Gael noticed Thebe freeze in her tracks. Turning his head to look at her, he saw an unhappy expression upon her face. Following her gaze, he saw she was looking upon a young man their age with tanned skin, black hair, green eyes and a fairly athletic build. He was wearing a white kilt and nothing else. No headband, no sandals… There were other such young men dressed in such a manner, some boxing, some wrestling.
"Who is that?" inquired Art.
"Argus, Son of Eurystheus, but not the son of his wife Antimache." Thebe answered. Upon noticing Art's raising of his right eyebrow, she added: "By a slave that has been nurse to his children."
Somewhat agog by this information, Art asked: "How does Antimache feel about his existence?"
"She is tolerant of him." Thebe answered. "Though I am not. I do not care for him as a suitor."
While Thebe walked on, Art felt Timaeus' hand upon his shoulder. Looking at the Corinthian, he saw Timaeus raise his cane and gesture at yonder son of Eurystheus, saying: "If Aphrodite has chosen for you two to be together, my lad, I dare say you might have a rival… Presuming, she hasn't chosen for Argus to be whom Thebe ends up with, in which case you will have been the rival."
"What are you talking about, Timaeus?" asked Art.
"I saw how your eyes lit up, Art." Timaeus answered. "But the sad fact of life is that she might not be for you. Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and Hera is the Goddess of Marriage, unless the two of them are in agreement you might not have a future with her and if they are, then you still might not have a future with Thebe."
"Are you speaking from experience, Timaeus?"
"I am just warning you, lad."
Looking to Niall, Art asked the lynx: "What do you think?" The lynx merely stared back up at him, giving no answer, not a meow or any other vocalization.
Following after Thebe, Art noticed Argus look at him, hate in his emerald eyes. Wherefore? What reason did the Son of Eurystheus have to abominate him? They did not even know each other. Was it possible that Argus abominated all the world? If so, then it certainly was reasonable for him to stare at the Young Gael with hate.