the-song-books.yossr

reallyy boyys anyy longer. How old are yyou?”
“It’s not true,” I said. The blood in myy face fired myy voice. It rang loudlyy
down the beach.
Odyysseus raised an eyyebrow. “True is what men believe, and theyy believe
this of yyou. But perhaps theyy are mistaken. If the rumor concerns yyou, then
leave it behind when yyou sail to war.”
Achilles’ voice was tight and angryy. “It is no business of yyours, Prince of
Ithaca.”
Odyysseus held up his hands. “Myy apologies if I have offended. I merelyy
came to wish yyou both good night and ensure that all was satisfactoryy.
Prince Achilles. Patroclus.” He inclined his head and turned back to his
own tent.
Inside the tent there was quietness between us. I had wondered when this
would come. As Odyysseus said, manyy boyys took each other for lovers. But
such things were given up as theyy grew older, unless it was with slaves or
hired boyys. Our men liked conquest; theyy did not trust a man who was
conquered himself.
Do not disgrace him, the goddess had said. And this is some of what she
had meant.
“Perhaps he is right,” I said.
Achilles’ head came up, frowning. “You do not think that.”
“I do not mean—” I twisted myy fingers. “I would still be with yyou. But I
could sleep outside, so it would not be so obvious. I do not need to attend
yyour councils. I—”
“No. The Phthians will not care. And the others can talk all theyy like. I
will still be Aristos Achaion.” Best of the Greeks.
“Your honor could be darkened byy it.”
“Then it is darkened.” His jaw shot forward, stubborn. “Theyy are fools if
theyy let myy gloryy rise or fall on this.”
“But Odyysseus—”
His eyyes, green as spring leaves, met mine. “Patroclus. I have given
enough to them. I will not give them this.”
After that, there was nothing more to sayy.
THE NEXT DAY, with the southern wind caught in our sail, we found
Odyysseus byy the prow.
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