Bellerophon and Pegasus is a Tale from The Alexander Series: Greek myths retold for children who want to be trusted by stories.

This is the story of a young man sent into danger by a sealed message, a monster no ordinary horse can reach, and the winged creature who changes the road into sky.

Bellerophon came to the palace with dust on his sandals, a good horse under him, and no idea that a sealed message can be sharper than a spear.

The palace stood on a hill above the road. Its gates were bronze. Its floors were polished stone. Its servants moved softly through the halls, as if loud footsteps might disturb something sleeping in the walls.

Bellerophon noticed this at once.

This is not always a good sign.

In a happy house, people may laugh, quarrel, call from one room to another, drop a bowl, and let a door close with an honest bang.

In a dangerous house, even the cups seem careful.

Bellerophon had come as a guest. He was young, strong, and not yet wise enough to distrust every smile offered by a king.

The king’s name was Proetus. He received Bellerophon kindly. He gave him food. He gave him wine. He gave him a place by the hearth.

Then, after the proper number of polite words had been spoken, he gave him a message.

It was written on a folded tablet and sealed tight.

“Carry this to King Iobates,” said Proetus. “He is my wife’s father, and a good friend to this house. You must not open it on the road.”

Bellerophon took the tablet.

He did not know what it said.

That was the point of sealing it.

He did not know that inside, in neat royal words, one king had written to another:

Kill the man who carries this.

That is the sort of sentence a coward writes when he wants murder to arrive looking like paperwork.

From there, the tale moves toward the Chimaera: a creature of fire, wrongness, and impossible danger. Bellerophon soon discovers that courage on foot will not be enough. He does not need a better spear.

He needs a different road.

That road is Pegasus.

But Pegasus is not a pet, not a prize, and not a harmless fantasy creature. He is wonder with wings — and wonder has rules. Before Bellerophon can face the monster below, he must learn how to approach the creature above: with patience, restraint, and a golden bridle given by Athena.

The full tale follows Bellerophon from palace danger to winged wonder, from the Chimaera’s fire to the harder danger that comes after victory: the moment when a hero begins to mistake being lifted for being above everyone.

Continue reading: Bellerophon and Pegasus at The Alexander Series on Substack.