But there were none. The general ran out into the courtyard. Kalliades paused in the doorway, wondering what the man was doing. Then he realized. Kolanos was trying to flee the palace before the enemy arrived. He was almost at the gates when Trojan soldiers appeared. Kolanos spun round and fled back to where Kalliades waited, pushing past him and into the palace. There he stood, eyes wide and staring, his face a mask of panic.
Kalliades’ loathing for the man swelled still further. Pulling away from the general he sprinted back to the mass of fighting men below the stairs. ‘Back!
Back!’ he yelled. ‘We are betrayed! Form a shield wall! Now!’
The first man he saw was Banokles. He had lost his helmet and his face was grey with pain. A sword blade had cut through his arm, and was jutting from his biceps.
‘Pull this damn thing out!’ he urged Kalliades.
Kalliades wrenched the blade clear. Banokles swore loudly. ‘Shield wall!’
shouted Kalliades once more, his voice carrying over the fighting. Years of harsh discipline cut through the battle lust and the Mykene began to stream back from the stairs.
Swinging his shield to his forearm, Kalliades moved with them. Trojan soldiers were pouring through the doors now, armed with spear and sword. Kolanos had retreated behind some twenty men with shields and spears, while other Mykene ran to join them, forming a tight wall round their wounded.
A group of seven warriors made a charge at the doors, seeking to block the entrance. Kalliades saw a huge, golden-haired Trojan enter, carrying two swords.
He was helmetless and wearing an ordinary breastplate. On either side of him were shield bearers, protecting his flanks. Kalliades expected to see the man swept aside by the Mykene charge. Instead he tore into the seven warriors, killing two and punching a third from his feet. There had been many shocks that night, but this stunned Kalliades. The Trojan did not fight like a man, but advanced like a tempest, invincible and unstoppable.
A great cheer went up from the people on the gallery, a sound rich and joyous.
Then they began to chant.
‘Hektor! Hektor! Hektor!’
Kalliades felt suddenly cold. He shivered as he watched the great Trojan hero charge into the warriors facing him.
A Mykene stabbed at Hektor with a spear, but he sidestepped the thrust and drove his sword through the attacker’s skull. The blade stuck fast. Two more Mykene rushed at him. A shield bearer blocked the charge of the first, but the Trojan met the second head on. As the Mykene opened his shield to stab out with his spear Hektor stepped inside and delivered a punch to the man’s helm. It rang like a bell, and the warrior was hurled from his feet. The remaining Mykene fell back to join the shield wall, as more and more Trojans swarmed into the megaron.
Kalliades killed a soldier, knocked another to the floor, then took up his place alongside Banokles.
The shield wall at last in place and bristling with spears, the Trojans fell back momentarily, pinning down the Mykene, but making no attack.
‘So that’s Hektor,’ said Banokles. ‘Always wondered if he was as good as the legends say. Big bastard, isn’t he?’
Kalliades did not reply. The Mykene were finished now. Fewer than fifty warriors were left. True they would take a few score more Trojans with them, but they could not fight their way out of this mess.
‘You think this could get any worse?’ asked Banokles.
Kalliades saw King Priam walk out into the megaron, flanked by Royal Eagles. The vile Helikaon was also with him. The king cried out Hektor’s name, and the giant walked over to him, embracing the older man. The moment was almost dream-like.
The Mykene were waiting to die, surrounded by a furious enemy. And yet two men were embracing and laughing. The Trojans continued to shout Hektor’s name.
The golden-haired warrior raised his arms, acknowledging their tribute, then swung back to stare with cold eyes at the surviving Mykene.
‘I don’t see Argurios,’ said Banokles. ‘That’s a small blessing. Wouldn’t want both him and the Man Killer against me.’
‘Kolanos shot him with an arrow.’
‘Damn! No way for a great man to go down.’
‘May Zeus hear that and curse Kolanos for it,’ replied Kalliades, in a low voice. ‘Maybe Argurios will wait for us on the dark road, and we’ll journey together.’
‘I’d like that,’ said Banokles.
The voice of Kolanos called out, ‘Priam King, may we speak under a truce?’
The king stepped back from his son, and stared hard at the general. Then he gestured him to come forward. Kolanos eased himself through the front rank and walked through the Trojan line.
‘If he can talk us out of this I’ll kiss the man,’ said Banokles.
‘Your lips would turn black,’ muttered Kalliades.
XXXVI
The King’s Wisdom
Helikaon watched the hated Mykene walk from the shield wall. His hand gripped his sword hilt more tightly, and he fought to control the rage swelling within him. This man had tortured Zidantas, murdered young Diomedes, and had now killed Argurios. Every instinct in Helikaon urged him to step out and slash his head from his shoulders.
Yet he had asked for a truce, and it had been granted. Honour demanded he should be allowed to speak. After that I will kill you, thought Helikaon.
Kolanos approached the king, and offered a bow. ‘Your men have fought well, Priam King,’ he said.
‘You have no time for idle chatter,’ replied the king. ‘Speak – and then return to your men and prepare to die.’
‘I will speak. A wise man knows when his luck is played out,’ answered Kolanos, keeping his voice low. ‘We can no longer win. The Fates were against us. We can, on the other hand, kill perhaps another hundred of you. I can prevent that. I can also offer my services to Troy, Priam King.’
Priam stood silently, observing the Mykene. ‘How can you prevent your men fighting?’ he asked at last. ‘They know they are doomed.’
‘I can tell them you have agreed to let them go – if they surrender their weapons. Once disarmed you can kill them at little cost to yourself.’
‘A noble act,’ said Priam, with a sneer.
‘They are – as you say – doomed anyway. At least this way no more Trojans will die.’
‘And you will live.’
‘Indeed. I can be of great use to you. I know all of Agamemnon’s plans for these eastern lands. I know where he intends to strike, and what kings he has won over to his cause. I know the names of all of Prince Agathon’s allies in Troy, whom he was to promote, and whom he was to draw into his inner circle.’
‘Valuable information indeed,’ said Priam.
‘Do I have your word that my life will be spared?’
‘You have my guarantee that not a single Trojan will raise a weapon against you.’
‘How about Dardanians?’ asked Kolanos, flicking a glance at Helikaon.
‘No-one who fights for me will harm you,’ promised Priam.
‘No!’ said Helikaon. ‘I will not be bound by this promise. The man is a snake, and deserves death.’
‘In my palace you will obey me, Aeneas,’ snapped Priam. ‘Your feud with Kolanos can wait. I’ll not lose a hundred more brave men for the sake of your vengeance.
Do I have your word on this – or do I need to have you restrained?’
Helikaon looked into Kolanos’ pale eyes, and saw him grin. It was too much to bear. His sword came up.
