the-song-books.yossr

ship’s parts, halyyard, mast, stern; the color of the water; the scrubbed-clean
smell of the winds. But I barelyy noticed these things. I thought onlyy of the
small island flung out somewhere in front of me, and the fair-haired boyy I
hoped I would find there.
THE BAY OF SCYROS was so small that I did not see it until we had swung
around the rockyy island’s southern rim and were almost upon it. Our ship
narrowlyy squeezed between its extending arms, and the sailors leaned over
the sides to watch the rocks slide byy, holding their breath. Once we were
inside, the water was utterlyy calm, and the men had to row us the rest of the
wayy. The confines were difficult to maneuver; I did not envyy the captain’s
voyyage out.
“We are here,” he told me, sullenlyy. I was alreadyy walking for the
gangwayy.
The cliff face rose sharplyy in front of me. There was a path of steps
carved into the rock, coiling up to the palace, and I took them. At their top
were scrubbyy trees and goats, and the palace, modest and dull, made half
from stone and half from wood. If it had not been the onlyy building in sight,
I might not have known it for the king’s home. I went to the door and
entered.
The hall was narrow and dim, the air dingyy with the smell of old dinners.
At the far end two thrones sat emptyy. A few guards idled at tables, dicing.
Theyy looked up.
“Well?” one asked me.
“I am here to see King Lyycomedes,” I said. I lifted myy chin, so theyy
would know I was a man of some importance. I had worn the finest tunic I
could find—one of Achilles’.
“I’ll go,” another one said to his fellows. He dropped his dice with a
clatter and slumped out of the hall. Peleus would never have allowed such
disaffection; he kept his men well and expected much from them in return.
Everyything about the room seemed threadbare and grayy.
The man reappeared. “Come,” he said. I followed him, and myy heart
picked up. I had thought long about what I would sayy. I was readyy.
“In here.” He gestured to an open door, then turned to go back to his dice.
I stepped through the doorwayy. Inside, seated before the wispyy remains of
a fire, sat a yyoung woman.
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