Gaze Quote by Esther M. Friesner

““Listen,” I said to my brothers. “You have to believe me, this can work. Befriend the other hunters. Tell them I’m not that Atalanta, just a girl with the same name. Make up some reason to explain why I slipped aboard this ship. Ask them to help you play a joke on all the crewmen who weren’t at Calydon.” “What joke?” Polydeuces asked. “Convincing them that I am that Atalanta.” I gave him my most disarming smile. “Why would they want to be part of such nonsense?” Castor demanded. “Because they have to be part of it. If this ‘nonsense’ succeeds, we can return home with no one aware that a Spartan royal princess was ever out of her proper place in the world,” I countered. “Besides, they’ll be glad to play along, just to keep themselves amused for a while. Iolaus and Milo will help you.” “Iolaus…” Castor repeated the name grimly. “He and I are going to have a few words about all this when the Argo returns. Or are you going to tell me that he had no idea who ‘Glaucus’ really was?” I snorted. “Or course not. He’s known me since Calydon, and he recognized me at once when we met in Iolkos. But you can’t blame him for bringing me along. I didn’t give him any choice.” I folded my arms and smiled. “A little snip like you forced a grown man, a proven hero like Iolaus, to do your bidding?” Castor said. He grimaced. “Unfortunately, I can almost believe it.” “Well? Will you do things my way, too?” My brothers exchanged an uncertain look. Polydeuces sighed. “I guess it’s better than the alternative.” “What alternative?” Castor asked.””

— Esther M. Friesner