Page 66 of Crown of Serpents

By now, the moon had risen, illuminating the harbour in a silvery glow, as they snuck back onto the Queen Cassiopeia, feet silent against the wooden gangway. If his Kleos had kept his word, the crew would now be awaiting them on deck — all except Linus and his three remaining epetae. Kleos had assured him they would be occupied in a local brothel, spending the money he had unfortunately lost to them in a game just this evening.

Perseus took a deep breath, straightening his back, before stepping onto the galley’s deck. Medusa stuck close to his side, her sharp nails glinting in the moonlight as she assessed thegathered men. They had agreed that he would address the crew with his request, but Perseus was glad she had accompanied him. Her presence calmed his nerves as the crew looked at him expectantly. They greeted them, Kleos grinning at him, Aetos clasping his shoulder as welcome, and Andromeda flinging her arms around Medusa’s neck, but the men’s eyes remained wary. Perseus was unsure how much Kleos had revealed about why they had gathered.

“Good evening, men! I trust you have enjoyed your stay on Rhodos?” Perseus spoke, his voice unwavering despite the flutter in his chest.

The men cheered, some raising a mug they had brought from whichever bar Kleos had dragged them from.

“I’m glad you are well rested, for I have another quest for you. This one won’t be in the name of a king or queen. Polydectes did not decree it, so I will not order you to follow me. Instead, after having sailed through the storms of the Aegean Sea, after besting Cetus together, Iaskyou to sail with me once more.”

The crew had fallen silent, the weight of their stare almost unbearable.

“We have set sail on this dangerous mission to find and hunt Medusa because I could not pay the tithe King Polydectes demanded. I know I am not alone with this.”

He glanced toward Orestes, who nodded silently, his expression grim.

“I led a simple life on Seriphos, working as a fisherman to make a living, struggling every year to come up with the large sum our ruler demanded. Yet, every year, I paid the tithe in full. However, this year, my mother and I got robbed just weeks before the tithe was due. We did everything we could to come up with the sixty drachmae before the tithe, starving, working day and night, but it wasn’t enough. Polydectes did not care. He demanded that my mother become his mistress as compensation for our debt — or that I slay the legendary creature Medusa and bring him her head.”

His gaze flickered toward Medusa, who stood proud next to him, though the twitch of her mouth gave away her disgust. He resented this part of their story too, ashamed of what he hadalmost done to her — even to save Danae.

“As you might have guessed, I refuse to obey Polydectes’s command. I will not kill Medusa, the brave woman who has saved our lives in Joppa.”

None of the men uttered a word of protest, each hanging on Perseus’s lips as he spoke. It was an odd — yet thrilling — sensation to command their attention.

“It would not be just to kill Medusa, just to settle my debt to a greedy king.” A crooked grin painted his lips as he glanced at Medusa. “Plus, I’m not sure if I could even take her on — even if I wanted to.”

Medusa returned his smile, and a few sailors chuckled.

Perseus shook his head, his voice serious once more. “Killing Medusa will not solve the problem, neither for me nor any of us. King Polydectes has exploited the honest citizens of Seriphos for too long. Each year, he demands a horrendous amount from us … and for what? To hire expensive architects for his pride projects, throw lavish feasts for his friends, and pay for a standing army thrice the size he will ever need to defend Seriphos from invaders. These are not the deeds of a king but a tyrant. So, I ask you, as the brave men that I have gotten to know these past weeks, to come with me and free Seriphos, our home, from Polydectes’s tyranny.”

Perseus words echoed across the deck, the breeze carrying them out into the harbour. His hands shook slightly, but his eyes were brimming with determination as he waited for the crew’s response. The silence stretched between them, the atmosphere charged with electric tension.

Finally, Orestes spoke, narrowing his rich brown eyes, “What you ask of us is treason.”

Some of the sailors muttered in agreement. A low, threatening hiss sounded from Medusa’s throat, but Perseus did not contradict the old man’s assessment. He was fully aware of what he was asking of this crew. He was asking them to risk their lives invading the heavily guarded palace of Seriphos and murdering Polydectes.

He gently nudged Medusa’s arm, reassuring her, before admitting, “Yes. I ask you to betray the current ruler but for thesake of our people. We cannot continue to bow to a king who exploits us for his own gain.”

The men grumbled their agreement, too many of them having struggled to pay their tithe.

Yet, Atticus asked in an accusatory tone, thick brows converging atop his crooked nose in a frown, “So, you intend to usurp the throne? What makes you a better king?”

“I do not want to claim the throne for myself,” Perseus responded truthfully, bearing the weight of the old man’s stare.

Medusa’s head whirled toward him, her eyes full of confusion. Athena had made him vow to claim the throne in Zeus’s name. But Perseus had chosen his words carefully as he had kneeled before the goddess.I solemnly swear to defeat Polydectes and free Seriphos from its tyrannical rule in exchange for Medusa’s life.

It would not be right, he told himself.

However, deep down, Perseus knew that what really kept him from claiming the throne of Seriphos was his deep-rooted fear of whom — or what — he might become. What would he do with such power? The same dread spread through his body whenever he lost control of the lightning crackling in his blood in moments of fury.

He kept his back straight, withstanding the questioning gazes of his crew. “There is another man with the right to the throne. Polydectes seized power from his older brother, Dictys, when he was weakened by grief after losing both his wife and unborn child. It was Dictys who had inherited the crown from his father. He is a benevolent and generous man. He took me in and raised me as his own when my mother and I stranded on the shore of Seriphos. Not only is he the rightful king, but he would also be a fair one.”

Atticus did not look convinced, but Aetos grumbled in agreement. Some others nodded hesitantly. It was not enough. He needed their full support and loyalty for the dangerous mission ahead. Perseus’s palms grew slick with sweat.

“If you put your trust in me,” Perseus continued, his voice gaining strength with each word, “I will see that our home is freed from Polydectes’s tyrannical rule. We will build a kingdomwhere the ruler nourishes the well-being of his citizens rather than exploiting the hard-working people of Seriphos. But to do this, I need all of you. We have to work together.” He let his gaze pass over them, looking directly into their eyes. “Now, who is with me?”

Perseus’s heart thundered in his chest. It was all or nothing now. Either he had convinced this crew to join his cause — to save his mother and home simultaneously — or he had just outed himself as a traitor, conspiring to usurp the throne. An offence punishable by death.

Kleos stepped forward instantly, his broad hand over his heart. “You have my support.”

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