Draft:Castaineira: Part One: The Argonauts Journey

The Argonauts’ ship, the Argo, cut through the choppy waters of the Aegean Sea. Driven by a strong and fierce man, Jason, the captain of the ship, stood on a box that was filled with treasured maps and said what every man wanted to say, “Land ahead!” although it was in the era of Before Christ, things have changed.                               The crew was happy. Their quest for the Golden Fleece had led them through the waters of the battling Aegean. And scary lands; Yaros. But no man was ready to prevent themselves from the land ahead; Thrace.                     The land of Thrace was as seemed in the distance, its rough mountains and dense forests casting long shadows across the sea. As the Argo approached the shore, the Argonauts could see the outline of an empty palace hidden at the top of a rocky tall hill (the mountain). This was the palace of King Phineas, a ruler cursed by the gods and plagued by monsters.                                                                                                                       The Argonauts had heard tales of Phineas’s kills. The king was tortured by the Harpies, monstrous creatures with the bodies of birds and the faces of women. These vile beings swooped down from the skies, snatching Phineas’s food and leaving him in a constant state of hunger. The king’s punishment had become a fast rumour, that was true, in the region, and many believed it to be a punishment for some great wrong he had committed.                                Jason and his team had wanted to quit; their boots sinking into the sandy soil of the Thracian coast. The air was thick with the smell of pine with their (Jason’s team’s) smell combined with the arrogant smell and the Harpies’ presence. Guided by the desperate pleas of locals who had sought the Argonauts’ help, they made their way up the winding path to the king’s palace.                                                                                                                                  The palace was a dark and sad place, built of dark stone and surrounded by a high, crenellated wall. The Argonauts were met by Phineas’s guards, who led them through a heavy wooden door into a grand hall. There, they sat on a high throne, which was King Phineas.                                                                                                      Phineas was a gaunt figure, his once-proud features now marred witnessed by the suffering. His eyes were sunken and narrow. Betrayed and tortured, he had encountered to his memories. He wore a tattered robe, and his skeletal frame seemed to shiver with the cold, both physical and emotional.                                                                          As the Argonauts approached, Phineas looked up, a flicker of hope in his weary eyes, “You must be the heroes who have come to free me from this curse,” he rasped.                                                                                                         “We are the Argonauts, led by Jason. We have heard of your suffering and come to help. Tell us, how can we help you get rid of these Harpies inside your brain?” said Jason.  “The Harpies come upon me without warning. They snatch my food, leaving me with nothing but scraps and hunger. I am bound to this place, cursed by the Cursing Gods. They are fast and cunning, and I know not how to drive them away,” Phineas told Jason answering his question while Jason was thinking of other people.                                                                                                         One of the Argonauts, the winged brothers Calais and Zetes got Jason back and told him “We want to talk to him,” whispered Zetes to Jason. “Go on,” said Jason. “We have experience with creatures of the air,” said Calais. “If these Harpies are as fast as you say, then we shall take to the skies to confront them,” Jason and Phineas’ were shocked by what he said.                                                  “Do you have wings?” said Phineas, with hope while trying to smile.                                                              “Yes,” said Zetes. Phineas then thought something and came to a conclusion. “We shall need your guidance to understand their patterns and timings,”                                                                                    Phineas led the Argonauts to a small courtyard where the remains of their meals lay beautiful, delicate and half-eaten. The ground was littered with scraps, and a foul odour spread in the air. Jason and his companions spread out, preparing for the confrontation.                                                                                     As dusk approached, the sky darkened, and the Harpies began their ritual of torture. With scared cries, the monstrous creatures appeared, their wings beating the air with a furious intensity. They were unnatural, with sharp claws and beady eyes, their faces twisted into killing and haunting expressions.                  Calais and Zetes took to the air with their powerful wings, cutting through the evening sky. The Harpies, sensing the approach of the Argonauts, circled and screamed the screech, their cries blading the night. The Argonauts on the ground watched with heavy breath as the aerial confrontation began.                                             The Harpies swooped down, and their wings went 10 metres longer, aiming for the scant remains of food. Calais and Zetes flew in swift, calculated patterns, intercepting the Harpies and driving them away. The creatures were relentless, but the brothers were ready to kill. With each pass, they came closer to driving the Harpies away.              Jason, who was keeping his eyes on Phineas, watched the battle with a mix of hope and dread. The king’s suffering was visible, and Jason could see how deeply the curse had affected him. As the fight in the skies continued, Jason resolved to help in any way he could.                                                                          The battle between the Harpies and the winged Argonauts raged on. The Harpies, despite their ferocity, were no match for the disciplined and skilled combatants. Calais and Zetes used their speed and agility to their advantage, pushing the Harpies back with relentless precision.                                               Finally, after what seemed like hours, the Harpies, exhausted and outnumbered, went into the darkening sky. Calais and Zetes landed gracefully on the ground, their faces set with determination. The courtyard, once a place of torture, was now silent, save for the distant cries of the retreating creatures.                              “You have freed me from my torture. I cannot express my thanks enough,” said Phinease, talking with a deep voice.   Jason put his hand on Phineas’s shoulder. “It was a difficult task, but one we were glad to undertake. You must now take care of yourself and rebuild the empire you own, and always should,” said Jason.                                                “I will. And as a token of my gratitude, I offer you my knowledge and resources. I will guide you on your journey and provide whatever assistance I can,” said Phineas.                                                                                                         The Argonauts accepted the king’s offer, knowing that their quest for the Golden Fleece was far from over. Phineas’s guidance proved invaluable as they continued their journey, and the once-cursed king became a loyal ally.                                 In time, the land of Thrace began to heal from the scars of the Harpies’ worseness, and Phineas’ palace became a place of hope rather than despair. The Argonauts, having completed their task, sailed on to new adventures, their hearts lighter knowing they had made a difference.                                                 The tale of their encounter with King Phineas and the Harpies became a story told with admiration and respect, a testament to the bravery and compassion of the Argonauts and the enduring strength of those they helped along the way.                                                                                                                                                     The End.