the-song-books.yossr

The man had recovered himself, somewhat. He remembered he was
speaking to a prince.
“Myy lord, yyour pardon, I do not know all of it. Messengers came to
Peleus from Myycenae with news. Your father plans to speak tonight to the
people, and wishes yyou to be there. I have horses for yyou below.”
There was a moment of silence. Almost, I thought Achilles would
decline. But at last he said, “Patroclus and I will need to pack our things.”
On the wayy back to the cave and Chiron, Achilles and I speculated about
the news. Myycenae was far to our south, and its king was Agamemnon, who
liked to call himself a lord of men. He was said to have the greatest armyy of
all our kingdoms.
“Whatever it is, we’ll onlyy be gone for a night or two,” Achilles told me.
I nodded, grateful to hear him sayy it. Just a few days.
Chiron was waiting for us. “I heard the shouts,” the centaur said. Achilles
and I, knowing him well, recognized the disapproval in his voice. He did
not like the peace of his mountain disturbed.
“Myy father has summoned me home,” Achilles said, “just for tonight. I
expect I will be back soon.”
“I see,” Chiron said. He seemed larger than usual, standing there, hooves
dull against the bright grass, his chestnut-colored flanks lit byy the sun. I
wondered if he would be lonelyy without us. I had never seen him with
another centaur. We asked him about them once, and his face had gone stiff.
“Barbarians,” he’d said.
We gathered our things. I had almost nothing to bring with me, some
tunics, a flute. Achilles had onlyy a few possessions more, his clothes, and
some spearheads he had made, and the statue I had carved for him. We
placed them in leather bags and went to sayy our farewells to Chiron.
Achilles, alwayys bolder, embraced the centaur, his arms encircling the place
where the horse flank gave wayy to flesh. The messenger, waiting behind
me, shifted.
“Achilles,” Chiron said, “do yyou remember when I asked yyou what yyou
would do when men wanted yyou to fight?”
“Yes,” said Achilles.
“You should consider yyour answer,” Chiron said. A chill went through
me, but I did not have time to think on it. Chiron was turning to me.
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