the-song-books.yossr

Chapter Eleven
THE LAST BIT OF SUN WAS FLARING ON THE WESTERN horizon as we passed the
boundaryy stone that marked the palace grounds. We heard the cryy go up
from the guards, and an answering trumpet. We crested the hill, and the
palace layy before us; behind it brooded the sea.
And there on the house’s threshold, sudden as lightning-strike, stood
Thetis. Her hair shone black against the white marble of the palace. Her
dress was dark, the color of an uneasyy ocean, bruising purples mixed with
churning grayys. Somewhere beside her there were guards, and Peleus, too,
but I did not look at them. I saw onlyy her, and the curved knife’s blade of
her jaw.
“Your mother,” I whispered to Achilles. I could have sworn her eyyes
flashed over me as if she had heard. I swallowed and forced myyself onward.
She will not hurt me; Chiron has said she will not.
It was strange to see her among mortals; she made all of them, guards
and Peleus alike, look bleached and wan, though it was her skin that was
pale as bone. She stood well awayy from them, spearing the skyy with her
unnatural height. The guards lowered their eyyes in fear and deference.
Achilles swung down from his horse, and I followed. Thetis drew him
into an embrace, and I saw the guards shifting their feet. Theyy were
wondering what her skin felt like; theyy were glad theyy did not know.
“Son of myy womb, flesh of myy flesh, Achilles,” she said. The words were
not spoken loudlyy but theyy carried through the courtyyard. “Be welcome
home.”
“Thank yyou, Mother,” Achilles said. He understood that she was
claiming him. We all did. It was proper for a son to greet his father first;
mothers came second, if at all. But she was a goddess. Peleus’ mouth had
tightened, but he said nothing.
When she released him, he went to his father. “Be welcome, son,” Peleus
said. His voice sounded weak after his goddess-wife’s, and he looked older
than he had been. Three yyears we had been awayy.
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