The Oracles of Troy (The Adventures of Odysseus)

‘So, are you going to tell me why you’re dressed as a soldier? Especially as a Greek, your despised enemies.’

‘Omeros’s idea, after Agamemnon’s men started searching the ships for plunder and captured Trojans.’

‘On what grounds?’ Eperitus asked, a hint of anger in his voice.

‘For fair redistribution,’ she replied, raising her eyebrows questioningly. ‘I wanted to dress as a slave, but Omeros said they were even taking women who’d been with the army for years, unless they could prove otherwise.’

Eperitus laughed. ‘Now, I understand. They shaved their beards so that you wouldn’t stand out. See how much they love you already?’

‘Me? Not me, Eperitus – you! They love you as much as they do their own king. It’s clear from the way they talk about you both – and fret about you when you’re not here. They protected me because I’m your woman, not for any gallant notions of defending an escapee from Troy.’

He gave a dismissive shrug to hide his embarrassment and turned away to look at the still-burning city with its columns of black smoke driven at angles by the westerly wind.

‘Did you go after your father?’ she asked, cautiously.

‘Yes.’

She put her arm about his waist and kissed his shoulder. ‘I knew you wouldn’t listen to me.’

‘You’re wrong.’

‘Oh? Then did he escape?’

‘He’s dead. He took his own life. Right up until I entered his house last night, I’d always thought I would be the one to kill him. Then it all changed. The gods had other plans, I suppose. It’s strange, but now he’s gone I wish he hadn’t died in such an ignoble way. For all his wicked, misguided ambitions, he was a great warrior – the greatest I’ve ever had to fight. The only satisfaction I take from the whole thing is that I didn’t have to kill him myself.’

‘I’m glad you didn’t.’

He kissed her forehead.

‘It’s strange, though. I should be happy that he’s dead, but instead I just feel … empty. Now the war’s over and he’s gone, I’m not sure what lies ahead any more. For the first time since he exiled me from Alybas and gave me a purpose in life, my future’s suddenly uncertain again.’

‘So like a man,’ Astynome smiled, shaking her head. ‘You spend years not knowing whether today’s going to be your last one on earth, then the moment the danger’s removed and your life is safe again you feel lost, as if your whole reason for existence has been taken away. Well, it hasn’t. You have me and together we will make a home on Ithaca and populate half the island with our children. That’ll keep you occupied!’

He laughed and brushed his fingertips over the small but distinct cleft in her chin, admiring the beauty that layers of smoke and dirt could not hide.

‘It sounds like a good way to stay busy. And perhaps,’ he whispered, with a glance towards the rest of the crew, sitting on the benches and chatting, ‘we’ll be able to make a start before the fleet sails.’

He kissed her and raised a hand to touch her breast, only to find the hardened leather of her borrowed cuirass. She laughed, her mouth so close he could feel the brush of her breath on his lips. Then her smile faded and she pulled back, looking down at his chest and frowning.

‘But your need for vengeance hasn’t been satisfied yet, has it? Your father’s dead, but –’

‘But Agamemnon still lives,’ he finished. ‘I know.’

‘So what will you do?’

‘It’s hard for a warrior to accept injustice, especially when done to someone he loves. What would you do if a man murdered your daughter?’

‘I’m a woman, not a warrior. I would weep for the child, and eventually I would start again. You must do the same, Eperitus. You know you cannot face Agamemnon – if you do you will die – but if you swallow your hatred for him then you can have another daughter with me. Reclaim the life he took from you; don’t let him prevent you from being a father a second time. And then be the parent your own father was not. Don’t you see you have the power to destroy everything, or to make everything right again?’

Her words had a feminine logic, full of hope and the desire to renew and nurture life. Eperitus sighed.

‘Even if I had a chance to kill Agamemnon, I couldn’t take it,’ he said, turning to lean his forearms on the bow rail and look again at the ruins of Troy. ‘I swore to Clytaemnestra I would not, so I have to be satisfied that she will repay him for his crimes. And yet I wish I could just do something.’