Book 2
Book 2: Episode 6 – The Unbelievable Tale of the Cyclops
Kal, accompanied by Kalos and Aegeus, ventured into the woods to find the Cyclops. The emptiness of the wilderness was distressing and unnerving. The trio traveled for days, hungry and tired, and found a herd of sheep, kept with rough fencing; this had to be the Cyclop’s home.
“Kal, It seems no one is home, let us offer a sheep and then head back, perhaps we went the wrong way?” Kalos says, eager to leave.
“Don’t be such a coward! In my travels on the Argo, cyclops generally live in caves. See there?” Kal points to a rock, covering what would be an entrance. The trio took a sheep, and cut it up, and offered some for the Gods, they ate and took a much-needed break. The rock covering the side of the hill moved and out came a nasty, huge Cyclops. He stretched, taking in the morning air. He caught the scent of cooked meat and noticed it was not from any of his neighbors. He finds the resting heroes, bellies full of lamb. He roared in frustration, which woke them all up, drawing swords.
“Men? Here? I think I made it clear to the last one that there is no shield here!”
Kal spoke up, “We know, beast, we are here for your eye! As payment for the shield!”
The Cyclops looked puzzled, “Is it common for men to pay for shields with eyes? If that’s the case then use one of yours! You have more than I”
The three men look at each other. Aegeus is more disappointed than scared.
“Well, our eyes have no worth, versus yours which holds some value being taken from a monster. You see now?” Aegeus says, frustrated that he must reason with such an abomination.
The Cyclops continued to scratch his head, ever confused on the value of eyes. Meanwhile, Kal went into his cave and noticed an assortment of eye-looking carvings. Rocks detailed as eyes, increasing in quality. Kal takes one but was spotted by the Cyclops, who had Aegeus in hand and Kalos cutting his leg. The cyclops kicked Kalos to the side and were very protective of the rocks.
“Those are not for taking! I will crush your friend!” The cyclops roared.
“Hold on! What if instead, we took one of these? Such fine craftsmanship!” Kal claimed
The Cyclops was taken aback., as if he was flattered.
“A man who was skilled in sculpture had passed through, he did not taste as good as he made his crafts, but he showed me how to sculpt!” The Cyclops dropped Aegeus, who fell and groaned in pain, laying for a moment or two.
“Interesting! Well, what if we just took this one and called it a draw?” Kal and the Cyclops look at the fake eye, which despite its detail, still looked and felt like a stone.
“Does this eye have more or less value than yours?” The Cyclops asked.
Kal and Aegeus look to eachother. “Its a subjective thing monster, I do not expect you to understand beauty.” Aegeus replied plainly.
“I…can see beauty! ‘Ave you ever seen a perfectly roasted lamb? or a pile of rocks that even the Gods would look at!”
“I suppose not.”
“Well that is why you seek eyes and not the truer things in life, the overlooked as Man would say.”
The trio all nod in agreement, with the unexpected wisdom of a monster.
“Not a soul back home will believe us lord Kal.” Kalos said, tapping his shoulder while staring in awe at the wall of carved, intricate eyes.
“I do not expect them to.”
The trio leave, bellies full and their minds thoroughly benefiting from an enlightening experience of the Artist Cyclops.
Este grew restless, she awaited the return of Kal, hoping he hadn’t died like so many. She was still unsure of this man, but unable to shake the irresistible need to help him. She was visited by another servant, an older woman, who sees she’s distressed.
“What bothers you, child?”
Este responds, “I may be in love with a man I’ve only seen in dreams. But I cannot escape the King.”
The woman asks, “You aren’t married to him, you are a mistress.”
“My mother told me I am to marry him.” The servant gulps, unsure on what to add that could ease the woman’s strife.
Kal stops by the Acheans camp, far from the city. And finds Dionysos.
“I need a trick spell, lord of wine.”
Dionysos was already drinking some wine when Kal found him. He stopped and asked, “What for?”
“Can you make this rock look and feel like the eye of a fallen Cyclops?”
Dionysos examines the stone, all the detailing, and the work. And in a slow magical transition, the grey turns to a pale white, and the stone grows wet, smooth, and resembles an eye.
“Well, that is horrendous, I thank you!”
Dionysos goes back to his wine, watching a festival in his honor from the locals. “Perhaps stay for a glass Kal? You look terrible.”
‘I would but I must relish in what little time I have with Este.”
Dionysos sat up after a long sip from the glass. “You act like you’ll never see her again.”
“And I may not, this plan may not work.”
“The Fates made it so! you should rest easy.”
“The Fates haven’t been on my side for a long time, Wine God.” Kal says after a brief pause. Kal leaves, wet gooey eye in toe.
The night fell, and the star-crossed lovers met once again at the backend of the palace. Kal recounts his adventure.
Este asked, “I had worried, but I shouldn’t have doubted an Argonaut!”
Kal remembers his days with Jason, remembering being overshadowed by the greater heroes. “I wish this was as simple as those intrepid days aboard the Argos. Imagine if I had such a ship? All I have is a drunken old man and the ships of kings!”
The pair share a laugh, and a hug but hesitate on a kiss.
Kal asked, “Have you ever loved a man? Or did you realize the opposite?”
Este paused, “Unfortunately I am not given as much of a choice as a man, but I do wish I could love whatever man threw himself at me, perhaps it would be easier than-”
Este began to say something but stopped.
“What troubles you my lady?”
“I wish I could have joined you for more adventures, but I am to be married to that horrible man they call King.”
Kal, shocked, couldn’t find the words. “We cannot let that happen! It’s the Gods’ will that we be wed!” Kal kicked the wall, in frustration.
“It matters not what the will of the Gods is, what is your will, my Lord Kal?”
Kal stares at the wall, holding back the rage and frustration that is so typical for him.
“I am not a man who gives up so easily, Este, You will know my will, on the day the sun shines twice.”
Este asked, “What exactly does that mean, my lord?”
“I wish I knew,” Kal said, embracing her once again, hoping it won’t be the last.
Kalos and Kal return to the palace, where the False King has Este sat beside him.
“You survived? I’m surprised. Do you have the eye?”
Kal takes the eye, convincingly deceptive eye, and hands it to the False King.
“Well, This is certainly Cyclops’ eye. You killed one?”
“Yes, I knocked him down and sent my sword into his neck,” Kal responded.
The False King was surprised and angered that Kal managed the task, which he thought impossible.
“Why don’t you return to me tomorrow, I will have another task for you.” The False King said
Kal and Kalos left, Kal stayed behind once again to sneak a visit in for Este. The False King grew frustrated, and his madness grew. The sea beckoned him, the shore was always a place where the king didn’t feel constantly paranoid. The False King went down to the shore, the light of Helios fell towards the horizon, that was when Posiedon appeared before him, from a wave.
“Greetings, my son!”
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