be given the chance to answer for all three of them. I noticed Paris smirk at Deiphobus.
Hector turned to face Antimachus. “I know you’ve trained the soldiers ready for war. We see it every day, when the archers stand guard on the towers and the walls. But King Menelaus does not want a war. We can settle this without bloodshed if we give his wife back. That is all it will take. The request is not unreasonable. As for your concern about Greeks returning for more? Well, unless my brother Paris makes a habit of stealing other men’s wives, they won’t need to make such a request again.”
“You are too trusting, Prince Hector,” Antimachus said. “The only thing Greeks respect is military strength and ruthlessness. Nothing else.”
Odysseus opened his arms. “That is not true. We are unarmed and come seeking a peaceful settlement, one based on compromise and trust. ”
“But you ask too much,” Antimachus snapped. “Lord Priam, I suggest we return the heads of these Greeks on a platter. Then Agamemnon will learn Troy cannot be intimidated and our people will know we are strong.”
Paris and Deiphobus turned the tips of their swords towards us. I crept closer to Odysseus.
“They come as envoys. We must not harm them,” Hector cried, moving in front of his brothers’ swords.
Priam stood up. “Antimachus, whilst your dedication to Troy is admirable, remember these Greeks are visitors to our city. One is a girl. Would you kill her too? Whatever we think of their plea, their death at our hands would be an outrage that would dishonour and curse Troy forever.” He turned to Paris. “My son, we welcomed Helen as your wife. The whole city rejoiced at her beauty and offered her a home. What is done cannot be undone. She calls me father and it is my duty to protect her. My people would expect no less from me. This is what the gods have sown and I must reap the harvest.”
My legs felt weak as Priam then looked upon Menelaus. “I respect your wish for peace and have sympathy with your situation. However, Helen has chosen Paris over you and Troy over Sparta. I suggest you accept this and return home to seek a new wife.”
Before Odysseus could stop him, Menelaus leapt onto the platform. Paris staggered backwards, dropping his sword. Odysseus scrambled after his friend and dragged him away. I was fixed to the spot, my heart beating wildly.
“There’s no need for you to take our visitors to the gates, Lord Antenor,” Priam said as he started to walk away. When he reached the far doorway, he turned to Antimachus. “You will be the one who escorts all three to the outer wall.”
“This will shame us!” Antenor cried.
I glimpsed Antimachus as he gave a satisfied nod to Paris, before Priam added, “But take care of the Greeks, Antimachus. I am holding you responsible for their welfare. If any harm befalls them on their journey, you will answer with your life.”
Chapter NINE
The Curse of Apollo
I noticed little of the return journey through Troy, not even the colours and scents that had overwhelmed me on our arrival. Avoiding eye contact with Menelaus, I concentrated on the broad back of the soldier marching in front of me and didn’t say a word.
“Hyppos will have the horses ready. We’ll be out of here soon,” Odysseus whispered, as we approached the lower wall.
The sentries opened the gates and we walked free, out onto the track that led to the Trojan plain and then onto the coast. The charioteers were leaning against the well, talking to two Trojan women. When they saw us, they sprinted to their horses and Hyppos drew up his chariot in front of me.
He held out a hand. “In here, Lady Neomene.”
Menelaus jumped in beside his charioteer and they raced away from Troy, the horses kicking up a dust cloud as they went. Glancing back for Odysseus, I saw him turn round to Antimachus.
“Tell me, have you family here in Troy?” he cried.
A flicker of surprise swept
Hector turned to face Antimachus. “I know you’ve trained the soldiers ready for war. We see it every day, when the archers stand guard on the towers and the walls. But King Menelaus does not want a war. We can settle this without bloodshed if we give his wife back. That is all it will take. The request is not unreasonable. As for your concern about Greeks returning for more? Well, unless my brother Paris makes a habit of stealing other men’s wives, they won’t need to make such a request again.”
“You are too trusting, Prince Hector,” Antimachus said. “The only thing Greeks respect is military strength and ruthlessness. Nothing else.”
Odysseus opened his arms. “That is not true. We are unarmed and come seeking a peaceful settlement, one based on compromise and trust. ”
“But you ask too much,” Antimachus snapped. “Lord Priam, I suggest we return the heads of these Greeks on a platter. Then Agamemnon will learn Troy cannot be intimidated and our people will know we are strong.”
Paris and Deiphobus turned the tips of their swords towards us. I crept closer to Odysseus.
“They come as envoys. We must not harm them,” Hector cried, moving in front of his brothers’ swords.
Priam stood up. “Antimachus, whilst your dedication to Troy is admirable, remember these Greeks are visitors to our city. One is a girl. Would you kill her too? Whatever we think of their plea, their death at our hands would be an outrage that would dishonour and curse Troy forever.” He turned to Paris. “My son, we welcomed Helen as your wife. The whole city rejoiced at her beauty and offered her a home. What is done cannot be undone. She calls me father and it is my duty to protect her. My people would expect no less from me. This is what the gods have sown and I must reap the harvest.”
My legs felt weak as Priam then looked upon Menelaus. “I respect your wish for peace and have sympathy with your situation. However, Helen has chosen Paris over you and Troy over Sparta. I suggest you accept this and return home to seek a new wife.”
Before Odysseus could stop him, Menelaus leapt onto the platform. Paris staggered backwards, dropping his sword. Odysseus scrambled after his friend and dragged him away. I was fixed to the spot, my heart beating wildly.
“There’s no need for you to take our visitors to the gates, Lord Antenor,” Priam said as he started to walk away. When he reached the far doorway, he turned to Antimachus. “You will be the one who escorts all three to the outer wall.”
“This will shame us!” Antenor cried.
I glimpsed Antimachus as he gave a satisfied nod to Paris, before Priam added, “But take care of the Greeks, Antimachus. I am holding you responsible for their welfare. If any harm befalls them on their journey, you will answer with your life.”
Chapter NINE
The Curse of Apollo
I noticed little of the return journey through Troy, not even the colours and scents that had overwhelmed me on our arrival. Avoiding eye contact with Menelaus, I concentrated on the broad back of the soldier marching in front of me and didn’t say a word.
“Hyppos will have the horses ready. We’ll be out of here soon,” Odysseus whispered, as we approached the lower wall.
The sentries opened the gates and we walked free, out onto the track that led to the Trojan plain and then onto the coast. The charioteers were leaning against the well, talking to two Trojan women. When they saw us, they sprinted to their horses and Hyppos drew up his chariot in front of me.
He held out a hand. “In here, Lady Neomene.”
Menelaus jumped in beside his charioteer and they raced away from Troy, the horses kicking up a dust cloud as they went. Glancing back for Odysseus, I saw him turn round to Antimachus.
“Tell me, have you family here in Troy?” he cried.
A flicker of surprise swept
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