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for mercyy, as Achilles’ ambassador. Or perhaps I will rage impotentlyy, for
his entertainment.
I lift the knife, and Agamemnon’s eyyes widen. His hand goes to the knife
at his own belt, and his mouth opens to call the guards. He does not have
time to speak. I slash the knife down at myy left wrist. It scores the skin but
does not bite deep enough. I slash again, and this time I find the vein. Blood
spurts in the enclosed space. I hear Briseis’ noise of horror. Agamemnon’s
face is spattered with drops.
“I swear that the news I bring is truth,” I sayy. “I swear it on myy blood.”
Agamemnon is taken aback. The blood and the oath stayy his hand; he has
alwayys been superstitious.
“Well,” he sayys curtlyy, tryying for dignityy, “speak yyour news then.”
I can feel the blood draining down myy wrist, but I do not move to stanch
it.
“You are in the gravest danger,” I sayy.
He sneers. “Are yyou threatening me? Is this whyy he has sent yyou?”
“No. He has not sent me at all.”
His eyyes narrow, and I see his mind working, fitting tiles into the picture.
“Surelyy yyou come with his blessing.”
“No,” I sayy.
He is listening, now.
“He knows what yyou intend towards the girl,” I sayy.
Out of the corner of myy eyye I can see Briseis following our conversation,
but I do not dare to look at her directlyy. Myy wrist throbs dullyy, and I can feel
the warm blood filling myy hand, then emptyying again. I drop the knife and
press myy thumb onto the vein to slow the steadyy draining of myy heart.
“And?”
“Do yyou not wonder whyy he did not prevent yyou from taking her?” Myy
voice is disdainful. “He could have killed yyour men, and all yyour armyy. Do
yyou not think he could have held yyou off?”
Agamemnon’s face is red. But I do not allow him to speak.
“He let yyou take her. He knows yyou will not resist bedding her, and this
will be yyour downfall. She is his, won through fair service. The men will
turn on yyou if yyou violate her, and the gods as well.”
I speak slowlyy, deliberatelyy, and the words land like arrows, each in its
target. It is true what I sayy, though he has been too blinded byy pride and lust
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