Medea would snap each of these men in two, break these walls and burn all that will burn. Another king. Grown somehow in limitless number all across the world. In each new place, some new tyrant, and why no other form of rule?

She will be made anything today, slave or whore or friend of the king, with slaves beneath her. She will be killed or whipped or bathed and dressed and honored with a feast, all at the whim of one man she has never met, and she has no say over what will happen to her children.

Long shadow of the mountain above, that rocky head. No accident the king is approached in this direction. Weight and presence and fear. All that Jason refuses to learn.

Guards close now. Through a narrow entrance opens a large courtyard and, beyond that, massive stones for the throne room. Somewhere inside this other king, same as Pelias.

They step through shadow, find a realm lit from above, four pillars and open center to the roof, raised hearth. Flat slab larger than the hearth of Pelias. Sacrificial stone, and she imagines her sons placed on that altar.

Jason, Kreon calls. Son of my friend Aeson.

Appearing from shadow in a great robe of gold, embracing Jason. Closing his eyes in pleasure. Guards on every side.

Graybeard king welcoming home what could be a lost son. How did Pelias let you go? he asks. I heard he kept you as a slave, and you wear the clothing of a slave.

Pelias is dead, Jason says.

I killed him, Medea says. I am Jason’s barbarian wife, covered in blood. Jason’s words. Iolcus was his, and he left it to Acastus. The tyrant Pelias, false king, was killed by his own daughters, cut up into a stew.

Kreon drops his arms from around Jason. What do you bring here?

Medea.

Is Acastus behind you with his army?

No.

And Pelias butchered by his own daughters?

Yes.

But how?

They cut up an old ram, and Medea made a lamb appear.

Peisidike made a lamb appear.

Medea bent the world and made the daughters of Pelias see strangely. They cut up their own father with axes and believed he could be made young.

Medea, Kreon says. You cut your own brother into pieces.

Yes.

You are not welcome here, Medea. You may stay with your sons because Jason is welcome. But you will not speak to my daughter. You will not be alone with her. And you will not walk at night. If my guards find you at night anywhere but your own bed, you will be killed.

Coward-king, Medea says. Afraid of the dark.

Take her away before I kill the wife of Jason, Kreon tells his guards.

Be careful not to sleep, Medea says as guards take her arms. Touch my sons and I boil you alive. Another king in a stew.

Medea! Jason yells. Kreon welcomes us into his home.