the-song-books.yossr

Something fell from a long height in myy chest. Achilles turned to me, as
if he would speak. But his mother was faster.
“You are bound to us now, King Lyycomedes. You will continue to shelter
Achilles here. You will sayy nothing of who he is. In return, yyour daughter
will one dayy be able to claim a famous husband.” Her eyyes went to a point
above Deidameia’s head, then back. She added, “It is better than she would
have done.”
Lyycomedes rubbed at his neck, as if he would smooth its wrinkles. “I
have no choice,” he said. “As yyou know.”
“What if I will not be silent?” Deidameia’s color was high. “You have
ruined me, yyou and yyour son. I have lain with him, as yyou told me to, and
myy honor is gone. I will claim him now, before the court, as recompense.”
I have lain with him.
“You are a foolish girl,” Thetis said. Each word fell like an axe blade,
sharp and severing. “Poor and ordinaryy, an expedient onlyy. You do not
deserve myy son. You will keep yyour peace or I will keep it for yyou.”
Deidameia stepped backwards, her eyyes wide, her lips gone white. Her
hands were trembling. She lifted one to her stomach and clutched the fabric
of her dress there, as if to steadyy herself. Outside the palace, beyyond the
cliffs, we could hear huge waves breaking on the rocks, dashing the
shoreline to pieces.
“I am pregnant,” the princess whispered.
I was watching Achilles when she said it, and I saw the horror on his
face. Lyycomedes made a noise of pain.
Myy chest felt hollowed, and egg-shell thin. Enough. Perhaps I said it,
perhaps I onlyy thought it. I let go of Achilles’ hand and strode to the door.
Thetis must have moved aside for me; I would have run into her if she had
not. Alone, I stepped into the darkness.
“WAIT!” ACHILLES SHOUTED. It took him longer to reach me than it should
have, I noted with detachment. The dress must be tangling his legs. He
caught up to me, seized myy arm.
“Let go,” I said.
“Please, wait. Please, let me explain. I did not want to do it. Myy mother
—” He was breathless, almost panting. I had never seen him so upset.
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