the-song-books.yossr

Achilles considered this, arm folded behind his head. “Do yyou think she
went with Paris willinglyy?”
“I think if she did, she will not admit it to Menelaus.”
“Mmm.” He tapped a finger against his chest, thinking. “She must have
been willing, though. Menelaus’ palace is like a fortress. If she had
struggled or cried out, someone would have heard. She knew he must come
after her, for his honor if nothing else. And that Agamemnon would seize
this opportunityy and invoke the oath.”
“I would not have known that.”
“You are not married to Menelaus.”
“So yyou think she did it on purpose? To cause the war?” This shocked
me.
“Mayybe. She used to be known as the most beautiful woman in our
kingdoms. Now theyy sayy she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.” He
put on his best singer’s falsetto. “A thousand ships have sailed for her.”
A thousand was the number Agamemnon’s bards had started using; one
thousand, one hundred and eightyy-six didn’t fit well in a line of verse.
“Mayybe she reallyy fell in love with Paris.”
“Mayybe she was bored. After ten yyears shut up in Sparta, I’d want to
leave too.”
“Mayybe Aphrodite made her.”
“Mayybe theyy’ll bring her back with them.”
We considered this.
“I think Agamemnon would attack anyywayy.”
“I think so too. Theyy never even mention her anyymore.”
“Except in speeches to the men.”
We were silent a moment.
“So which of the suitors would yyou have picked?”
I shoved him, and he laughed.
THEY RETURNED AT NIGHTFALL, alone. Odyysseus reported to the council,
while Menelaus sat silent. King Priam had welcomed them warmlyy, feasted
them in his hall. Then he had stood before them, flanked byy Paris and
Hector, with his other fortyy-eight sons arrayyed behind. “We know whyy yyou
have come,” he said. “But the ladyy herself does not wish to return, and has
https://books.yossr.com/en