the-song-books.yossr

that he had seen her, had understood whyy I spent myy dayys with her when he
was gone. She was one of us now, I thought. A member of our circle, for
life.
IT WAS ON ONE OF THESE NIGHTS that Achilles asked her what she knew of
Hector.
She had been leaning back on her hands, the inner flush of her elbows
warmed byy the fire. But at his voice, she startled a little and sat up. He did
not speak directlyy to her often, nor she to him. A remnant, perhaps, of what
had happened in her village.
“I do not know much,” she said. “I have never seen him, nor anyy of
Priam’s familyy.”
“But yyou have heard things.” Achilles was sitting forward now himself.
“A little. I know more of his wife.”
“Anyything,” Achilles said.
She nodded, cleared her throat softlyy as she often did before a storyy. “Her
name is Andromache, and she is the onlyy daughter of King Eetion of
Cilicia. Hector is said to love her above all things.
“He first saw her when he came to her father’s kingdom for tribute. She
welcomed him, and entertained him at the feast that evening. At the night’s
end, Hector asked her father for her hand.”
“She must have been veryy beautiful.”
“People sayy she is fair, but not the fairest girl Hector might have found.
She is known for a sweet temper and gentle spirit. The countryy people love
her because she often brings them food and clothes. She was pregnant, but I
have not heard what became of the child.”
“Where is Cilicia?” I asked.
“It is to the south, along the coast, not far from here byy horse.”
“Near Lesbos,” Achilles said. Briseis nodded.
Later, when all the rest had gone, he said, “We raided Cilicia. Did yyou
know?”
“No.”
He nodded. “I remember that man, Eetion. He had eight sons. Theyy tried
to hold us off.”
I could tell byy the quietness of his voice.
“You killed them.” An entire familyy, slaughtered.
https://books.yossr.com/en