Chapter Eight

All who would be sent into the Labyrinth were kept in one large cell. Gann saw Theseus eyeing him, in the Athenian prince Gann saw an impulsive and violent individual: a combination for a hero to turn into a villain later in life.

That night, Ariadne entered the cell. She was carrying a ball of thread. As they spoke, Theseus was given the ball of thread and Gann was left to wonder what was going on.

The next day, Theseus asked to enter the Labyrinth first. Gann was left sighing. He wished to kill the Minotaur as well. If Theseus did kill the Minotaur what would happen to them then? Would an enraged Minos kill them all?

And then there was Deucalion and Europa's approaching marriage. That espousal would not take place. He'd make sure of that.

Time passed and then Theseus and Ariadne returned from the Labyrinth. "It is done." Said the former. "The Minotaur is dead. We are leaving for Athens."

"Gladly will I go with you to Athens, Theseus." Said Miletus.

"Not I." said Gann. "I must rescue Europa from her marriage to Deucalion."

"That peasant girl?" asked Ariadne. "Let my brother marry her. Either he disgraces my family by marrying one beneath his station or you disgrace yourself for you. Either way, one of you will be disgraced."

"I cannot leave her to face a fate worse than death." Countered Gann. "I..." He went silent and swallowed nervously. "Miletus, free the chamberlain before you leave and bring him to Athens with you."

"I will." Said Miletus.

"I will go with you, Miletus." Said Theseus. "I need to get my sword from the guards. As for you, barbaric foreigner, Will you defeat Deucalion unarmed?"

"Armed or unarmed I will defeat Deucalion and rescue Europa." Said Gann. "You claim you have killed the Minotaur. Did you need a weapon?"

"It was one against one." Stated Theseus. "You might be outnumbered. Will you break the neck of every guard Deucalion sends against you?"

"On second thought I will go with you, lad." Said Miletus. "I want to see Minos' face when I tell him that the Minotaur is dead. We can free the chamberlain on the way."

"When I get to our ship we will all sail from Crete." Commented Theseus. "We will leave whether you are on board or not."

"Yours isn't the only ship that has ever come to Crete, Theseus." Returned Gann. "It is a major trade center. There are ships a plenty."

"Then we part ways after I get my sword, foreigner." Said Theseus.

And indeed they did. After freeing the chamberlain and retrieving Theseus' sword, Theseus and the chamberlain went to the Athenian ship. If it seems like Theseus' role in this story was short, dear reader, then you must know that it wasn't. Gann has his story just as Theseus has his and both had many adventures. Ariadne went with Theseus and so she too exits this story. Whether or not she reached Athens cannot be said for it is not Theseus' story being told but Gann's, their individual stories merely overlapped.

As soon as they parted ways, Miletus looked at Gann and said: "I sure hope you are capable of defeating Deucalion. I've seen him fight. He is like a lion when he fights."

Gann only smiled. That was good. He had killed a lion once.