‘A man who tells his child he loathes him,’ said Attalus, his voice trembling, ‘isn’t worth rat’s piss. So why care whether he would have been proud or not?’
Sheathing his dagger he threw aside the whittled wood and rose to his feet. ‘I’m tired. I’ll rest now.’
Helikaon remained where he was as the slim sailor returned to the fortress.
Not worth rat’s piss.
The simple truth of the words cut through years of hidden anguish. The weight of regret suddenly lifted. Anchises had never been a father to him, had cared nothing for him. He was cold-hearted, and manipulative, and had spent years tormenting a lost and lonely child. Attalus was right.
And the dark shadow of Anchises melted from his mind like mist in the sunlight.
XXVI
Aphrodite’s Leap
i
That autumn and winter in Dardania were the worst in living memory. Fierce storms lashed the coastline. Swollen rivers burst their banks, bringing down bridges. Several low-lying villages were washed away in the floods. Into this chaos came bands of outlaws and rogue mercenary groups, preying on the populace. Helikaon travelled the land leading troops to hunt them down. Three battles were i fought before midwinter. Two were indecisive, the mercenaries escaping into the mountains. The third saw a mercenary force of some seven hundred men routed.
Helikaon had the leaders executed, the hundred or so survivors sold into slavery.
Messengers from Troy brought no good news. Hektor was still missing, even though the brief war between the Hittite empire and Egypte was over. The last anyone had seen of the Trojan prince he had been facing impossible odds, with no escape route. Helikaon did not believe Hektor was dead. The man was vibrant with life.
If a mountain fell on him he would burrow his way out. If the sea rose over him, he would emerge riding a dolphin.
Hektor was invincible.
Even so, as the weeks went by, a gnawing worry gripped him.
What if the inconceivable proved to be true?
Priam was hated by most of his sons, and many of his followers. If he was toppled civil war would follow. All alliances would be voided. The war would inevitably spread to encompass all the lands of the eastern coastline, as Priam’s warring sons forged new alliances. Trade would suffer, the flow of wealth drying up. Merchants, farmers, traders, cattle breeders would see their profits tumble. Without markets for their goods they would release workers. More and more people would find themselves without the means to buy food. This in turn would lead to unrest, and the swelling of outlaw bands. Agamemnon and the Mykene would be jubilant. How much more simple their plans would become if the armies of the east tore into each other in a great bloodletting.
As the first cold winds of winter blew in from the north, Helikaon was back at the fortress of Dardanos. The queen, Halysia, had recovered from her physical wounds, but rarely ventured out into the public eye. Helikaon tried to draw her in to the running of the realm, but she refused. ‘Everyone knows what was done to me,’ she said. ‘I see it in their eyes.’
‘The people love you, Halysia. And so they should. You are a caring queen. The works of evil men have not changed that.’
‘Everything has changed,’ she said. ‘The sun no longer shines for me.’
He had left her then, for he had no words to pierce the walls of her sorrow.
That afternoon Pausanius came to him, telling him a Mykene ambassador had arrived from Troy.
‘You want me to send him away?’ The old general looked nervous.
‘Why would I do that?’
‘He may have learned of the attack on Pithros.’
‘I am sure that he has.’
‘You do not fear war with the Mykene?’
‘Bring him to me, Pausanius, and then remain, but say nothing.’
The ambassador was a slender, red-headed man, who introduced himself as Erekos.
He entered the megaron and offered no bow.
‘Greetings, King Helikaon. I hope I find you well.’
‘Indeed you do, Erekos. How may we assist you?’
‘We have received disturbing news, king, from the island of Pithros. A ship beached there recently and found hundreds of corpses. All the houses were empty and plundered, and most of the women and children removed.’
‘Consider it my gift to King Agamemnon.’
‘Your gift? The island of Pithros is Mykene land.’
‘Indeed it is, and so it remains,’ said Helikaon. ‘It had also become a pirate haven, and from its bays their galleys attacked merchant vessels, or raided coastal settlements. You will know that my own fortress was attacked, and my brother slain.’ Helikaon paused and watched the man. Erekos looked away.
‘Yes, the news of the… atrocity… reached us. Appalling. But you had no right to bring troops to a Mykene island, without first seeking the permission of Agamemnon King.’
‘Not so, Erekos. My father, Anchises, forged a treaty with King Atreus. In it both nations pledged to support the other against pirates and raiders. What greater support could I offer the son of Atreus, than to expel pirates from a Mykene island, and to make the Great Green safer for Mykene trading ships?’
Erekos stood silently, his face pale. ‘You wish me to convey to my king that you invaded Mykene lands as a gift to him?’
‘What else could it be but a gift?’ asked Helikaon. ‘Two hundred dead pirates and an island returned to Mykene rule. And you can assure your king that come the spring my fleet will continue to hunt pirates and kill them wherever they find them.’
‘You will not again invade Mykene lands, King Helikaon.’
‘Mykene lands?’ responded Helikaon, feigning surprise. ‘By the gods, have pirates conquered even more Mykene territory? This is grim news.’
‘No territory has been conquered,’ replied Erekos, his voice becoming shrill. He took a deep, calming breath. ‘What I am saying, King Helikaon, is that the Mykene will deal with any pirates who might seek to hide on Mykene lands.’
‘Ah, I see,’ said Helikaon, nodding. ‘It is a question of martial pride. I understand that, and would wish to cause King Agamemnon no embarrassment. He has suffered so much of late. It must be galling for him.’
‘Galling? I do not understand.’
‘Two of his Followers turning rogue. First Alektruon, who I understand was a favourite of the king. Then Kolanos becoming a pirate. Oh – and I almost forgot – then there is Argurios, who I understand has been declared a traitor and an outlaw. And now to discover that pirates had overrun a Mykene island…’
Helikaon shook his head, adopting an expression of sympathy. ‘It will make him wonder what disasters are yet to befall him. However, you can assure the king of my friendship. Now, will you stay and dine with us, Erekos?’
‘No, King Helikaon – though I thank you for your courtesy. I must return to Troy. There are matters there that need my attention.’
After Erekos had left Pausanius stepped forward, a wide smile on his face. ‘I enjoyed that, my king. It was all I could do not to laugh out loud.’
