eisallowedtobehisdangerousarea.Didn’tyouknowthat?Go.Go.”Viowalkedquicklytothepacegate.Thewarriorsthatcamewiththechieftainwerebusyriggingupatallddertotakedownthehugepearlhangingfromthedome.Theenormouspearlwasradiatileluminouslight.Viowalkedtothebankoftheke,jumpedintothesmallboatandrowedtowardstheterwithhertwooars.

    AsViorowedtheboatwithhertwooars,shewasbroodingoverherretdream,whichseemedsodistindrealistiotatalltopsy-turvyandfulloffusedramblinglikedreamsusuallyare.

    “Coulditreallybemymotherappearingtomeinmydreamtotellmeofherunswervingandunmovabledesireforrevenge?”shethought.

    “Yes.Yes.Itmusthavebeenmymothertellingmefromtheblisteringfmesofhellofheruingyearning.SheinsistedforcefullythatKingDimitriwasnotmyfather.Thenwhoismynaturalfather?Ishouldhaveinquiredmorecloselyatthetime.Imustfindoutthetruthaboutmyparentage.WheIhaveace,Iwillcertainlypursuethisquestion.”Theboathadreachedtheteroftheke.Viostoppedrowingandgncedback.Themagnifitandgrandiosegoldpaceseemedmoreimposingandresplehaneveruhescarletraysofthesettingsun.Viomurmured,

    “Goodbye!GoodbyegoldpacethatIlovesodearly.OnedayIwillletyouseethelightofdayagain.”Shelookedarouheskiesaerseemedjoiogetherinaseaofred.Herangeroncemoreburstout.

    “Howlikethefmesofthefieryriverofhellthisis!OnedayIwillburndownKingDimitri’sKingdomandreduceittoscorchedearthtoavengemymother.”Onthehorizonappearedahugebckbirdthatcameflyingtowardsthegoldpace.Herflightwasslow.Herwingsfppedcalmlyaely,notstreakingbyandswoopingdownswiftlyassheusuallydoesbecauseherwoundhadhealed.WhensheflewoverVioaionlessboat,shecastasuspiciousghem,butasshehadotherthingsonhermind,sheflewon.Viooncemoretookupheroarsandrowedtowardsthewilderness.Whereelsecouldshego?Shecouldourntothedriedandwitheredtreeamongthebedoftulips.Thatwasherhome,hersweet.

    AsMedusaflewbatheotherendofthehorizon,hesharpeyessawmanysmallboatsingandgoingonthekebetweenKingDimitri’spadthegoldpaderthetall,protrudingmountainbehindthegoldpace,severalindigenousfurnaceswereatfullbst,asifbeingtriedouttoseeiftheywerereliable.Manynativeswerebusybuildingasmoothpathtothetopofthemountain.Otherswerecuttingdowntreesandslittiofirewoodtofeedthefurillotherssailedbadforthonsmallboats,transppreviouslysmeltedironingotstobemeltedinthefuroliquidiroivesweredividedintorotatingshifts.Thosewaitingtotaketheirturing,drinkingandtalkingwhilerestingonthegroundsoutsidethegoldpace.MedusakhenthatKingDimitrihaddecidedtohavetheprojectgoonanyway,regardlessofwhetherCyclopswouldhelp.HewouldhavemeltedironpouredontothegoldpacetosealitupforeverashehadpromisedZeus.Medusaflewdowninfrontofthepacegate,gedtohumanformandwalkedintothepacetoreporttoKingDimitriaboutheriationswithCyclops.

    15

    Thatafternoon,afterKingDimitriagreedtoMedusa’sproposalofrecruitingCyclopstohelpgildthegoldpace,sheflewintotheforestsandmountainslookingforhim.CyclopswassentbyKingDimitritoguardthegoldpace,butheonlywalkedbythereoccasionallyandlookedaroundtoseeifallwaswell.Therestofthetime,hespentroamingthemountainsandforests,seldomshowinghim

eisallowedtobehisdangerousarea.Didn’tyouknowthat?Go.Go.”Viowalkedquicklytothepacegate.Thewarriorsthatcamewiththechieftainwerebusyriggingupatallddertotakedownthehugepearlhangingfromthedome.Theenormouspearlwasradiatileluminouslight.Viowalkedtothebankoftheke,jumpedintothesmallboatandrowedtowardstheterwithhertwooars.

    AsViorowedtheboatwithhertwooars,shewasbroodingoverherretdream,whichseemedsodistindrealistiotatalltopsy-turvyandfulloffusedramblinglikedreamsusuallyare.

    “Coulditreallybemymotherappearingtomeinmydreamtotellmeofherunswervingandunmovabledesireforrevenge?”shethought.

    “Yes.Yes.Itmusthavebeenmymothertellingmefromtheblisteringfmesofhellofheruingyearning.SheinsistedforcefullythatKingDimitriwasnotmyfather.Thenwhoismynaturalfather?Ishouldhaveinquiredmorecloselyatthetime.Imustfindoutthetruthaboutmyparentage.WheIhaveace,Iwillcertainlypursuethisquestion.”Theboathadreachedtheteroftheke.Viostoppedrowingandgncedback.Themagnifitandgrandiosegoldpaceseemedmoreimposingandresplehaneveruhescarletraysofthesettingsun.Viomurmured,

    “Goodbye!GoodbyegoldpacethatIlovesodearly.OnedayIwillletyouseethelightofdayagain.”Shelookedarouheskiesaerseemedjoiogetherinaseaofred.Herangeroncemoreburstout.

    “Howlikethefmesofthefieryriverofhellthisis!OnedayIwillburndownKingDimitri’sKingdomandreduceittoscorchedearthtoavengemymother.”Onthehorizonappearedahugebckbirdthatcameflyingtowardsthegoldpace.Herflightwasslow.Herwingsfppedcalmlyaely,notstreakingbyandswoopingdownswiftlyassheusuallydoesbecauseherwoundhadhealed.WhensheflewoverVioaionlessboat,shecastasuspiciousghem,butasshehadotherthingsonhermind,sheflewon.Viooncemoretookupheroarsandrowedtowardsthewilderness.Whereelsecouldshego?Shecouldourntothedriedandwitheredtreeamongthebedoftulips.Thatwasherhome,hersweet.

    AsMedusaflewbatheotherendofthehorizon,hesharpeyessawmanysmallboatsingandgoingonthekebetweenKingDimitri’spadthegoldpaderthetall,protrudingmountainbehindthegoldpace,severalindigenousfurnaceswereatfullbst,asifbeingtriedouttoseeiftheywerereliable.Manynativeswerebusybuildingasmoothpathtothetopofthemountain.Otherswerecuttingdowntreesandslittiofirewoodtofeedthefurillotherssailedbadforthonsmallboats,transppreviouslysmeltedironingotstobemeltedinthefuroliquidiroivesweredividedintorotatingshifts.Thosewaitingtotaketheirturing,drinkingandtalkingwhilerestingonthegroundsoutsidethegoldpace.MedusakhenthatKingDimitrihaddecidedtohavetheprojectgoonanyway,regardlessofwhetherCyclopswouldhelp.HewouldhavemeltedironpouredontothegoldpacetosealitupforeverashehadpromisedZeus.Medusaflewdowninfrontofthepacegate,gedtohumanformandwalkedintothepacetoreporttoKingDimitriaboutheriationswithCyclops.

    15

    Thatafternoon,afterKingDimitriagreedtoMedusa’sproposalofrecruitingCyclopstohelpgildthegoldpace,sheflewintotheforestsandmountainslookingforhim.CyclopswassentbyKingDimitritoguardthegoldpace,butheonlywalkedbythereoccasionallyandlookedaroundtoseeifallwaswell.Therestofthetime,hespentroamingthemountainsandforests,seldomshowinghim