King of Ithaca (Adventures of Odysseus)

‘You know both already,’ Odysseus replied as he walked down the hill and along the low causeway that led to the farm. Eumaeus gasped and fell to his knees with tears of happiness in his eyes. The others followed his example, murmuring Odysseus’s name to each other in disbelief.

‘You’ve returned, my lord!’ Eumaeus said. ‘May the gods bless this day, and may you forgive us our lack of welcome, but terrible things have happened since you left. Eupeithes took advantage of your absence to overthrow Laertes and put himself on the throne, then Polytherses replaced him and now rules with a fist of bronze. Any show of open disloyalty is punished with death. And we’ve had no news of you, my lord, though we’ve prayed every day for your return.’

Odysseus took his slave by the hand and lifted him to his feet, signalling for the others to rise also. ‘I’ve heard about Eupeithes – Mentor escaped and found us in the Peloponnese. But I didn’t know about Polytherses. It’s a traitor’s reward to be betrayed, and Eupeithes knows all about that now, but I fear Polytherses will prove a more difficult opponent if I’m to win back Ithaca.’

Eumaeus nodded. ‘It’s true. Mentor will have told you about the Taphians, no doubt, but he couldn’t have known there are a full hundred garrisoned here now. It’ll be a difficult task, unless you’ve brought an army with you.’

As he said the words he looked up with a sudden glimmer of hope in his eye, but Odysseus shook his head.

‘We have forty Spartans on loan from King Tyndareus – they’re resting on the other side of the ridge – but there are fewer than sixty of us all told. What about Taphians on the other islands?’

‘Zacynthos, Samos and Dulichium are ruled by those who supported the rebellion. If there are ever any signs of trouble Polytherses sends a shipload of Taphians over for a day or two until things are quiet again, but mostly they remain here. Polytherses is no fool; he has always feared you’d one day come to claim your inheritance, so concentrates his forces here for your return.’

‘And my family?’ Odysseus finally asked, though this was the question that had been burning at the forefront of his mind all the time.

‘Your mother and sister are kept at the palace, whilst Laertes is a prisoner in the former home of Eupeithes, under the guard of Koronos. Eupeithes was much too afraid to have him killed, but the rumour from the palace is that the new king intends to execute him.’

‘Then we’ve arrived just in time,’ Odysseus declared with a determined look. ‘Tell me, are you or your men taking any of these pigs up to the city today?’

‘Yes, two of us were planning to go at noon.’

‘Good. Now listen to me, I want you to question the most loyal men in the city. Tell them I’ve returned and find out who’s prepared to fight with me against Polytherses. Those who are must be ready to join us at any time. Find one who’ll let you stay with him overnight, so when I call on you you can gather a force as quickly as possible. And be prepared – I may need you sooner than you expect.’

‘I’ll see to it, my lord,’ Eumaeus said.

Half a dozen swine were killed and the carcasses dressed for roasting, whilst Antiphus was sent to bring the rest of their party to the farm. By the time they had arrived and had eaten it was mid-morning, so Eumaeus and the other swineherds hurriedly gathered together a dozen pigs to drive down to the city. They whistled for their dogs and with their long staves began to shepherd the pigs into a group, ready to move. As they were taking their leave, Odysseus put his hands on Eumaeus’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes.

‘Penelope and her slave will stay here,’ he said. ‘I’m leaving a couple of her uncle’s men to protect her, but if we don’t return you must see they get a ship back to the mainland. Do you understand?’

Eumaeus was about to answer when he caught a quelling glance from his master’s new bride. She had been talking with Actoris, but on overhearing the words of her husband she walked over and stood before him.

‘You’ve misjudged me, Odysseus, if you think I’ll allow myself to be left in the care of others. If you go then I will follow.’

‘A battle is no place for a woman,’ her husband replied, his voice even but commanding. ‘If we’re defeated the Taphians will show no mercy to their prisoners. For a woman, death would be a blessing compared to what they’ll do to you. No, I must believe you’re safe, Penelope, and know that if I die you’ll be taken back to your home.’

She met his stern look with defiance, her royal breeding there for all to see. ‘Ithaca is my home now,’ she said. ‘I live here or I die here. I’ll not go back to Sparta to spend the rest of my days in widow’s rags. My place is to be at your side and share your fate, whatever that may be.’