King of Ithaca (Adventures of Odysseus)

He slipped his hand about her slim waist, his thumb almost touching her breast. The soldiers fell silent as he stood before them in his immaculate clothes and golden armour (which he wore at all times for fear of assassination). Eperitus felt a strong dislike for him, irked partly by the king’s arrogance and partly by the arm about Penelope’s waist. He noticed her flinch slightly as Agamemnon’s arm encompassed her and felt a surprising urge to defend her from his possessive touch. He could not understand why she did not remove herself from the king’s embrace, though perhaps she knew better than to resist the advances of the most powerful man in Greece, who rumour said would frequently take lovers from slaves and nobility alike.

‘These are Odysseus’s men,’ Penelope explained. ‘I was simply welcoming them and trying to make them feel more comfortable. The palace can be an overawing experience for those who haven’t been here before.’

‘I’ve heard of the fate of your home, and you have my sympathy,’ he said. The men grunted, approving of Agamemnon’s recognition. ‘Who’s in charge here?’

Halitherses stood and took a step forward.

‘I am, my lord. Halitherses, son of Mastor.’

‘Tell me, Halitherses, if Ithaca went to war how many men could it muster? How many ships?’

Agamemnon had already put the same question to Odysseus, but to ask the captain of his guard would let him know whether the prince had been honest or was hiding his real strength. It would also make the men think he cared about their opinion, which would earn their loyalty if they were ever to fight under his command.

‘Nobody really knows, my lord,’ Halitherses answered. ‘We’ve never had to summon every man to war before. But I should estimate that from all our islands we could fill twenty galleys with men able to fight, whilst leaving enough men to defend our homeland in our absence.’

‘Over a thousand warriors,’ Agamemnon said, nodding. ‘And how many men could be sent on a prolonged campaign, keeping sufficient at home to carry on normal life?’

‘Perhaps ten galleys, sir.’

At that moment Penelope saw Clytaemnestra approaching and released herself from the king’s grip in a quick, graceful movement. Agamemnon acknowledged his wife’s presence with a cold nod, but no familiar arm was placed about her hard, thin body.

‘Thank you, Halitherses,’ he continued. ‘You should know I have every respect for Odysseus. He and I are like-minded men. Now, carry on your drinking and find yourselves some willing girls to warm your beds tonight.’

The men cheered his words and there was a riot of speculation amongst them as he led the two women back to their fathers. Eperitus and Halitherses, disquieted by his questions, exchanged concerned looks.

Eperitus was the first of the Ithacans to leave the feast. He sat on the balcony adjacent to his quarters and looked out over the city of Sparta and the plains beyond, where the clear moonlight reflected from the winding course of the Eurotas river. His mind was full of the events of the evening, when from the corner of his eye he saw a young girl approaching and turned to face her. She bowed and asked if he was one of the party of Ithacans.

‘I am with them, though not an Ithacan,’ he replied. ‘Who are you?’

‘My lady sent me – she must speak with you about an urgent matter. Meet her in the temple of Aphrodite tomorrow night, after the evening’s feast has begun. Come alone and tell no one.’

Her errand accomplished, the slave did not stay to be questioned. She ran off into the shadows at the end of the corridor and disappeared down the steps to the second floor.

Chapter Eighteen

SECRET LIAISONS

The streets of Sparta were quiet and dark. The moon had not yet risen, and when it did would remain hidden behind the thick rain clouds that were filling the sky. Several times Eperitus stumbled in the deep wheel-ruts that numerous wagons had carved into the road, and though the palace armourer had given him directions to the temple of Aphrodite he felt sure he was now lost in the eerily empty streets. The only sounds came from the palace at the top of the hill, where the feast he had just left was at its height.

He clutched the hilt of his sword, comforted by its presence. These past two days, since arriving in Sparta, he had felt naked without his weapons. Only his mission outside the palace walls had given him the right to have his sword returned, and now he felt whole again and capable of taking on any enemy who dared confront him. But the safe streets of Sparta posed no threat, beyond the danger of being endlessly trapped within its unlit labyrinth of thoroughfares. The only encounter he expected was in the temple, though he could not guess who would want to speak with one of Odysseus’s men, or why.