Argos (9 page)

To its credit, the other dog was
fast
. Together, we gained on the hare as it swerved in desperation before us. I could almost feel the breath of the animal next to me, so close were we. Suddenly, the other dog staggered slightly, its small foot tripped by a hidden crevice. It was the opportunity I needed. I lunged for the hare and tasted success when my jaws found its warm flesh.

I also tasted something else. Something unfamiliar. I gave it no further thought and buoyed by victory, sped back to my master. Almost immediately, however, I began to slow. My head filled with cloying mist. The strange taste was strong in my mouth. Next to me, the other dog had caught up and was attempting to rip my prize from my mouth. I would not let it. Could not let it.

Stubbornly, I stumbled toward my master. The other dog continued its attempts to worry the hare from my jaws but I would allow no one but Odysseus to have it. My jaw was set like a rock. I doubt whether the gods themselves could have opened it.

Doggedly, I staggered on. With the last of my strength,
consciousness fading fast, I fell at my master's feet and remembered no more.

The sounds of angry voices woke me. I felt drowsy, dizzy, and vaguely nauseous. It took me a few moments to realize where I was. The healer's quarters. I was lying on a bed normally reserved for patients with two legs.

Odysseus' new healer was standing over me, watching my recovery with interest. Behind him, Odysseus and Eumaeus were having a heated conversation.

“But they cheated, my lord,” said Eumaeus angrily. “Not only that, but they could have killed Argos. They must be punished for their sins.”

“What would you have me do?” retorted Odysseus, his voice rising further. “They have denied everything and protest their innocence vehemently. At first, they tried to say that Argos was exhausted by the race. Then, when I took the hare from Argos' jaws, I realized there was something smeared onto the coat of the hare. Meges has suggested that because one of my men provided the hare, we are to blame.”

“How convenient,” growled Eumaeus. “So they are blaming one of your men, then?”

“Yes,” said Odysseus. “They insist it must have been one of us who doused the hare in that strange substance.”

“What a pack of lies!” shouted a frustrated Eumaeus.

“Keep your voice down,” said Odysseus, regaining his poise. “It's not as simple as you think, Eumaeus. I have other things I need to consider.”

“Such as?”

“The alliance for one,” said Odysseus. “I am surrounded by enemies and need every ally I can find—even one like Meges. Ithaca is rich and powerful, making us a target for raiders and pirates. I can't fight all of them.”

“Yes, but you could start with Meges,” insisted Eumaeus. “Your army is greater than his. It will be one less pirate to deal with. If he had won the wager, he wouldn't have hesitated to do the same to you.”

“That would not sit well with the other kings,” said Odysseus. “In fact, it would no doubt make them nervous and they would ally themselves against me.”

“And what of the wager?”

“That too, is complicated,” said Odysseus wearily, running one calloused hand through his long hair. “It turns out that Meges hasn't got enough gold to pay his debt.”

“What sort of gambler makes a wager he can't pay?” sneered Eumaeus.

“A bad one,” said Odysseus drily. There was silence in the room for a moment and then both Odysseus and Eumaeus roared with laughter. I was pleased that the tension was broken. I liked Eumaeus and would not like to see him have a falling out with my master. “He will have to pay in installments,” continued Odysseus.

“It would almost seem like he never thought he could lose,” noted Eumaeus.

“Yes, that did occur to me.” Odysseus turned his attention to me and his face broke into a smile when he saw that I was awake. He rushed to my side and patted my head gently. “Well done, Argos,” he said. “Good dog. How is he, healer?” Odysseus asked.

“He will be fine,” said the man. “A little shaky on his feet for a few days, but will otherwise make a full recovery.”

“Just as well,” said Odysseus. “If he had died, then alliance or not, I would have the heads of Meges and his arrogant upstart of a son on a spike.”

“I confess I am a little confused though,” said the healer.

“How so?” said Odysseus.

“I don't know what did this. It is something I haven't seen before. A substance, probably from the east. In induces unconsciousness when inhaled in sufficient quantities but seems to be otherwise harmless. Here, smell this.” He picked up a cloth on a nearby table and gave it to Odysseus. My master took one hesitant sniff and rocked back on his heels in surprise.

“Powerful indeed,” said Odysseus.

“But wouldn't it have had the same effect on their dog?” asked Eumaeus.

“I did think of that,” confessed the healer. “I'm not really sure, but perhaps it is possible to acquire immunity to this substance by repeated exposure. Probably in small doses until the dog was able to tolerate it for a short time.”

“They did not count on Argos' strength,” said Odysseus proudly.

“They probably didn't think it would come to that,” said Eumaeus. “They were confident that Amycus would succeed in his plan to poison Argos last night.”

“With just enough poison to make Argos weak and sick without killing him,” mused Odysseus. “They planned carefully but not carefully enough. They forgot one important thing.”

“And that is?” asked Eumaeus.

“Argos is like me. Loyal and strong. And he does not like to lose.”

I
recovered quickly. As the healer had guessed, the substance was essentially harmless although I did suffer from lingering dizziness.

To reward my success, Odysseus ordered the kitchen staff to prepare me my favorite. With his characteristic dry sense of humor, Odysseus ensured that prime cuts of boar meat similar to the ones offered by Amycus were given to me. A number of juicy bones were also included. As much as I love boar meat, there is nothing like a good bone. I could spend hours breaking it apart to reach the sweet marrow contained within.

Normally, my meals were served at the rear of the palace kitchens. I knew I was spoiled. All the other dogs were fed in the kennels. This time, Odysseus himself brought the bowls, setting them down before me.

He crouched down and watched me eat in silence for moment. “Thank you, Argos,” he said simply. “You are the finest dog a master could ever hope to own. I never doubted you, even for a moment. I will not forget this. A king always pays his debts.” From behind his back, he brought forth a bronze studded leather collar and swiftly fastened it around my neck. Even though I could barely resist the urge to keep eating, I paused and looked up, hearing the emotion in my master's voice. I knew that this was a significant moment in our relationship. Odysseus' eyes were shining as he watched me. He smiled. If I could've smiled back, I would've done so. Instead I wagged my tail to express the happiness I felt.

He left me then to eat in peace, presumably to see his guests off who were understandably preparing to depart in some haste.

I continued to eat, as happy as I've ever been when I heard footsteps. Perhaps Odysseus had returned to keep me company. My nose was filled with the rich aroma of boar, giving me no hint of who it could be. I glanced up, curious as to why Odysseus had returned.

But it was not Odysseus. It was Elatus. The boy prince approached cautiously, a hesitant smile on his face and one hand concealed behind his back. I could sense his nervousness. I expected nothing but treachery but was confident that I was more than a match for him.

I lowered my face back into my bowl, crunching on a bone but not for one moment taking my eyes off the boy. I growled low in my throat, warning him not to approach any further.

“Argos,” he said. “The great dog of Odysseus. You're not so
great. You just got lucky. My dog should have won.” His tone was low and soothing but the words were delivered with a sneer. He was trying not to alarm me. He was up to something.

“You have cost my father and me a great deal and brought dishonor to our house,” he continued. He had no reason to suspect I understood everything he said. “This debt will cripple our kingdom and I owe it all to you. Here is your reward.”

He threw a small object toward me. It landed harmlessly at my feet and I stopped eating to examine it cautiously, sniffing it. It was a child's toy, a small dog carved from wood except it was no longer intact. Someone had broken its legs off.

For a moment, I was distracted, which in hindsight, had been Elatus' plan. He knew I would be wary around him and had acted accordingly. I sensed the blow coming but reacted far too slowly. I thought I would be prepared for anything that Elatus did but I had not considered the lingering effect of the poisonous hare. I was sluggish, overconfident, and paid the price of my arrogance.

The blow struck my head and stunned me for a moment. I looked up to see Elatus raising his club again. I was not about to give him a second chance. Snarling, I sprang at him, locking my jaws around his arm before the club could descend. I could smell shock and horror erupting from him in waves. Clearly, he had not expected me to survive the first blow, which should have shattered my skull.

He lost his grip on his club and began to scream. Against my better judgment and instinct, I let go. His arm was bleeding profusely where my teeth had punctured his skin. Elatus fell to the ground and continued to bleat.

“Don't,” he cried. “Please don't kill me.” Pathetic. I would've laughed if I'd been human. My head throbbed painfully and I sat down on my haunches to clear my head and consider my next move. I did contemplate running for it. Even Odysseus' favorite dog could not savage a prince without consequences. This would not end well.

Odysseus emerged from the rear of the palace, accompanied by a number of armed men, his eyes wide with alarm.

“Your dog attacked me,” cried Elatus. “Look what he has done to my arm.” Odysseus strode over to Elatus, considered him for a moment, and then turned his back on him. He crouched down next to me and took my face into his hands.

“Don't worry about your stupid dog!” screamed Elatus. “I'm injured. Send for your healer.”

“You'll live,” said Odysseus without turning. His careful inspection took in the bloody bruise rising from my skull and the discarded club lying on the ground.

Nodding to himself, Odysseus said, “I'll have you seen to immediately.”

“About time,” said Elatus.

“I wasn't talking to you,” said Odysseus.

Sometime later, Meges, Elatus, and several guards were ushered into the main hall. Odysseus sat on his throne, sending Meges a
clear message as to who ruled on Ithaca.

I sat at my master's heels. I considered this unwise but Odysseus had beckoned and I, ever obedient, had obeyed. Eumaeus stood to one side with strict instructions not to speak.