the-song-books.yossr

A rumble of outrage. Onlyy an Easterner would so dishonor the kindness
of his host. Everyyone knew how theyy dripped with perfume, were corrupt
from soft living. A real hero would have taken her outright, with the
strength of his sword.
“Agamemnon and Myycenae appeal to the men of Hellas to sail to the
kingdom of Priam for her rescue. Troyy is rich and will be easilyy taken, theyy
sayy. All who fight will come home wealthyy and renowned.”
This was well worded. Wealth and reputation were the things our people
had alwayys killed for.
“Theyy have asked me to send a delegation of men from Phthia, and I
have agreed.” He waited for the murmuring to settle before adding,
“Though I will not take anyy man who does not wish to go. And I will not
lead the armyy myyself.”
“Who will lead it?” someone shouted.
“That is not yyet determined,” Peleus said. But I saw his eyyes flicker to his
son.
No, I thought. Myy hand tightened on the edge of the chair. Not yet.
Across from me Thetis’ face was cool and still, her eyyes distant. She knew
this was coming, I realized. She wants him to go. Chiron and the rose cave
seemed impossiblyy far awayy; a childish idyyll. I understood, suddenlyy, the
weight of Chiron’s words: war was what the world would sayy Achilles was
born for. That his hands and swift feet were fashioned for this alone—the
cracking of Troyy’s mightyy walls. Theyy would throw him among thousands
of Trojan spears and watch with triumph as he stained his fair hands red.
Peleus gestured to Phoinix, his oldest friend, at one of the first tables.
“Lord Phoinix will note the names of all who wish to fight.”
There was a movement at the benches, as men started to rise. But Peleus
held up his hand.
“There is more.” He lifted a piece of linen, dark with dense markings.
“Before Helen’s betrothal to King Menelaus, she had manyy suitors. It seems
these suitors swore an oath to protect her, whosoever might win her hand.
Agamemnon and Menelaus now charge these men to fulfill their oath and
bring her back to her rightful husband.” He handed the linen sheet to the
herald.
I stared. An oath. In myy mind, the sudden image of a brazier, and the spill
of blood from a white goat. A rich hall, filled with towering men.
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