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Baltic's
Book
The Voyages of Jason, part 2
Interlude
When
nearly all wine was consumed and Hercules was about to leave Iolcus,
Balticos mentioned his life in Stymphalia and current problems with
this city... and asked Hercules for help. "I want Agapenor to understand
that I am and always was acting as his friend!"
"Well,
boy, that wine of yours sure was some sort, and I enjoyed teasing
that doggie... but I have some other work now." Hercules said. "You
know what? Start some rumors about Stymphalian birds, exaggerate
a lot - and make sure king Eurystheus of Mycenae hears it. As I
know him, he will fall for it and send me there. But now, I must
leave. Eurystheus wants me to kill some lynx that steals lambs in
Nemea... someone told him it is a lion with iron-hard skin." Hercules
grinned, winked and emptied his cup.
Chapter
2
For
some mysterious reason, taxes weren't collected until many years
later, so Iolcus developed only slowly. Woodcutting was still the
main source of income, especially when Lemnos started to buy more
wood. Production of fleece wasn't high, because of comparatively
small meadow area near the city - but it was enough to develop one
block of houses to tenements and fulfill all requests; there were
even some surplusses that could be exported. Allies were very helpful,
and Balticos was careful to repay them their help with gifts and
always dispatched the requested goods promptly.
Dionysus
came with another quest - he needed to retrieve the Horn of Amalthea.
Theseus was the man who was able to do it. Balticos built a Hero
hall for him in the best place near palace, surrounded it with wall
and beautified the neighborhood with parks and a monument. Allies
supplied wine and marble - part as a gift, part on request, the
rest had to be imported. Just as Theseus was on his way to the city,
Artemis unleashed her pet on the city. Great boar appeared in the
woods, started to attack shepherds and sheep, and destroyed wheat
farms. Theseus sent him packing as soon as he arrived, and then
started off to bring the Horn of Amalthea.
Relations
with Stymphalus were more and more friendly, and although they requested
tribute for the first time, Balticos was sure that everything will
be OK soon.
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