Lost in the Labyrinth Read Online Free PDF

sailed ofF to war. Oh!" she groaned aloud. "Why should a mother love her sons when they are so anxious to seek their own deaths? I cannot bear it."
    There was a silence, save for my mother's weeping. I prayed to the Lady that my parents would be kind to each other rather than inflict more pain. But no, my mother went on.
    "And now my Glaucus! It was the fault of that Bas, whom you chose to care for the child."
    "No, Pasiphae." My father's voice was cold. "This time it is you who bears the responsibility. The servant Bas shall be put to death, and the Athenian servants as well. But it was your monster who killed my son, and you cannot tell me otherwise."
    I drew a sharp breath.
    "Asterius is not a monster," said my mother. "He is my son just as Glaucus is my son. And he did not kill Glaucus."
    "Then where is Glaucus?"
    "In any of a hundred thousand places. Have you forgotten, Minos, the nature of the palace in which you live? He may yet be alive. Why do you not do something besides making up lies about Asterius? I know how you hate him, but you shall not deprive me of yet another son through your spite and jealousy. What have the seers to say? What hasPolyidus said? He is a great diviner. He found my dragonfly necklace when no one else could. What has he said?"
    I gathered up my courage to descend the stairs and speak. However angry it made my father, I must speak up for Asterius. I knew he had not harmed Glaucus.
    Before I could move, however, there came an interruption.
    "My lady! My queen! I came as quickly as I could!"
    There came a sound of labored breathing and the jingling and clanking of many gold ornaments. It sounded as though Polyidus had indeed run all the way.
    "My friend, Polyidus!" cried my mother. "You have come to tell me where to find my boy. You have come to return my son to me, safe and sound!"
    "I am sure I shall, my lady." said Polyidus, preening himself.
    My father's mouth twisted with distaste. He disliked Polyidus, I knew. I did not blame him. Polyidus
was
a great diviner, but I thought him a creeping, crawling slug of a man. So, I believe, did my mother in her heart, but at the moment she would have been gracious to anyone who could give her hope.
    "I must go and get my accouterments, my dear queen," Polyidus said. "The tools of my trade, you know. And then I assure you it will be but a few moments until we find the child, quite unharmed. Will you not repair to the throne room and wait for me there?"
    "No. Can't you—can't you just make do with what is here?" my mother said, abruptly moving out of the range of my sight. I descended a few steps to see that she had gone out into the courtyard. "Here is sand that you could use, or pebbles, or water," she said, gesturing about her. "I beg of you, hurry."
    "Well." This set Polyidus back on his heels. He liked to have a great deal of ritual and formality while he was working. "I don't know—"
    "The Goddess abides in me, as her priestess," my mother reminded him. "You may draw on her strength through me."
    As there was no help for it, Polyidus gave in. "As my queen commands," he said plaintively, following her outside into the open air.
    I crept down the stairs and joined a group of courtiers and servants who had gathered around to witness the divination. My mother and Polyidus stood by a pool of water with scarlet fish swimming in it. Polyidus was looking about himself, at a loss. "Now, I suppose I could—" he began doubtfully.
    My mother cried out.
    A large, golden honeybee had lighted on the first finger of her right hand.
    "It is a sign," Polyidus said quickly, before anyone else could give voice to the obvious. "They are holy creatures."
    At this, the bee flew away into the palace.
    "Follow her!" commanded Polyidus, as though we needed to be told.
    Down many halls we walked. As our queer procession moved forward, we gradually picked up more and more people in our train. Hushed, tense, we followed the honeybee, which paused here and there upon