“More lies!” Stheneboea cried. “He tried to ravage me!”
“I did not,” Bellerophon answered plainly. “And I swear by Zeus Xenios and the goddess Athena that I was not near the queen last night, but for the banquet, and that I never even considered her proposal to overthrow you, King Proetus. The laws of Xenia go two ways, and I respect the ways of the Gods!” Now, he looked directly at the queen, and back to King Proetus. “Can the same be said of you?”
The king’s face reddened, his anger rising, but there was also doubt behind his tired eyes.
There were some whispers behind Bellerophon, and then Ampyx stepped forward to whisper something in the king’s ear.
The king scowled, his eyes looking for someone in the crowd behind Bellerophon, before he looked doubtfully at the accused. “Your assi
