When Art arrived at Knossos, he looked well upon the palace that was capital to Crete. How long had it been since he had last been here? A month? Two months? Ever since being granted the Palace of Malia as a residence, he and Thebe had not come to Knossos often. They were perfectly happy in their own home, away from the Minotaur. Still, Minos would invite them to visit every now and again and of course, they would, for who could turn down an invitation from a monarch?
With Thebe's pregnancy, Art had travelled alone to Knossos the last time. It was almost like this time, only this this time he was meeting Argus.
In the throne room, Art waited with Minos seated upon his throne. The Cretan Monarch said nothing, not even asking how Thebe was. He just sat there, staring out at the entrance to his throne room.
Tapping his right foot, Art wondered what could have been taking Argus so long. One would think a king's son, even an illegitimate son, would know better than to keep someone waiting, especially when one of those people was his host and kinsman.
Sighing in annoyance, Minos turned his head in Art's direction and inquired: "How is Thebe?"
"She is well." Art answered.
"Has she given birth yet?"
"Oh, no, no, that is still a bit away."
"What will you name your child?"
"If they are a boy well shall name him 'Gann'. If they are a girl, we shall name her 'Meta'." Stated Art. Minos could only nod understandingly. A name of the father's people if it was a son, a name of the mother's if it was a daughter. It was a fair way to go about it.
When Argus finally did appear, the Son of Eurystheus glared at the Young Gael and asked: "Where is Thebe?"
"Elsewhere." Art replied. "As well as married to me and pregnant with my child."
More than a little angered, Argus asked: "What?" Looking to Minos, he inquired: "You allowed this? A barbarian and an Achaean woman, are you mad? That will not produce Achaean children! We Achaeans are the chosen, the elect! Our culture, our civilization, our men, all the best! How could you possibly have allowed a lesser man, a barbarian, to marry and impregnate an Achaean woman? You would have been better off killing her with the child still inside her!"
While Art tried to restrain his anger, Minos merely looked at Argus calmly and asked: "Do you still wish her for your wife?"
"I will not marry a woman who has betrayed her race!" Argus shouted. "I want to kill her!"
Art raised a fist, only for Minos to raise a hand. "What if I were to give you a wife from amongst my subjects, Argus? Would you then leave in peace?"
The Son of Eurystheus promptly answered with one word: "No."
Glaring at Argus, Art wondered whether or not he would be allowed to slay the Son of Eurystheus. True, hospitality was sacred, but surely even it must have had its limitations. Could one guest actually threaten the wife of another and get away with it? Art had his doubts, but things that were considered sacred were strange in what was allowed and what was not.
Still, a question of his mind caused the Young Gael to ask: "How did you discover that Thebe and I are here on Crete?"
Argus gave no answer. He merely made his exit from the throne room.
Beginning to tremble with fear, Art turned to look at Minos, who assured the Young Gael: "To my knowledge, Argus does not know where you and Thebe reside here on Crete."
"If someone informed him, he might." Stated Art. "Who here would benefit from informing him?"
"No one I know of." Commented Minos as he rose from his throne and began to make his exit before turning to face the Young Gael and asking: "Art, I have only just remembered that you and Thebe have been here for over a twelvemonth and have yet to meet the Athenian Daedalus. Would you like to?"
Athenian inventor? Foreign charlatan and child-killer! How Minos could grant such a man and his son Icarus asylum here was something Art simply could not understand. Still, perhaps meeting this famed inventor would prove enlightening.
"I would indeed, sir." Art replied.
Thus did the Young Gael follow the Cretan Monarch, but even as he followed Minos, Art's mind was elsewhere. Did Argus know that he and Thebe resided in the Palace of Malia? How did Argus even know that he and Thebe were on Crete? Who had told him? A spy of his father's? Someone here at Knossos? What if it wasn't even someone mortal? What if a god had told Argus? Wherefore? What deity would aid the Son of Eurystheus? How was Art to know? Answers were many, but what was the truth?
Alas, Art knew not. All that he did know was that Argus was here on Crete and a threat to his wife and unborn child.
What was he to do? Kill Argus first chance he got?