Lord of the Silver Bow t-1 Read online

  A powerful warrior moved alongside him, his hair so blond it appeared white in the lamplight. ‘He spoke of a great horse, lord. The sails of Helikaon’s ships are all painted with the symbol of a rearing black horse.’

  Agamemnon remained silent. Helikaon was kin to Priam, the king of Troy, and Agamemnon had a treaty of alliance with Troy, and with most of the trading kingdoms on the eastern coast. While maintaining these treaties he also financed pirate raids by Mykene galleys, looting the towns of his allies and capturing trade ships and cargoes of copper, tin, lead, alabaster or gold. Each one of the galleys tithed him their takings. The plunder allowed him to equip his armies, and bestow favours on his generals and soldiers. Publicly, though, he denounced the pirates and threatened them with death, so he could not openly declare Helikaon an enemy of Mykene. Troy was a rich and powerful kingdom, and that trade alone brought in large profits, paid in copper and tin, without which bronze armour and weapons could not be made.

  War with the Trojans was coming, but he was not yet ready to make an enemy of their king.

  The fumes from the Prophecy Fire were less noxious now, and Agamemnon felt his head clearing. The priest’s words had been massively reassuring. He would have a son, and the name of Agamemnon would echo through the ages.

  Yet the old man had also spoken about seeds of doom, and he could not ignore the warning.

  He looked the blond man in the eyes. ‘Let it be known, Kolanos, that twice a man’s weight in gold awaits whoever kills Helikaon.’

  ‘Every pirate ship on the Great Green will hunt him down for such a reward,’

  said Kolanos. ‘By your leave, my king, I will also take my three galleys in search of him. However, it will not be easy to draw him out. He is a cunning fighter, and cool in battle.’

  ‘Then you will make him less cool, my Breaker of Spirits,’ said Agamemnon. ‘Find those Helikaon loves, and kill them. He has family in Dardanos, a young brother he dotes upon. Begin with him. Let Helikaon know rage and despair. Then rip his life from him.’

  ‘I shall leave tomorrow, lord.’

  ‘Attack him on the open sea, Kolanos. If you find him on land, and the opportunity arises, have him stabbed, or throttled, or poisoned. I care not. But the trail of his death must not end at my hall. At sea do as you will. If you take him alive saw the head from his shoulders. Slowly. Ashore make his death swift and quiet. A private quarrel. You understand me?’

  ‘I do, my king.’

  ‘When last I heard Helikaon was in Kypros,’ said Agamemnon, ‘overseeing the building of a great ship. I am told it will be ready to sail by season’s end.

  Time enough for you to light a fire under his soul.’

  There was a strangled cry from behind them. Agamemnon swung round. The old priest had opened his eyes again. His upper body was trembling, his arms jerking spasmodically.

  ‘The Age of Heroes is passing!’ he shouted, his voice suddenly clear and strong. ‘The rivers are all of blood, the sky aflame! And look how men burn upon the Great Green!’ His dying eyes fixed on Agamemnon’s face. ‘The Horse! Beware the Great Horse!’ Blood spurted from his mouth, drenching his pale robes. His face contorted, his eyes wide with panic. Then another spasm shook him, and a last breath rattled from his throat.

  II

  The God of the Shrine

  i

  The Gods walk in times of storms. Little Phia knew this, for her mother had often told her stories of the immortals: how the spears of Ares, God of War, could be seen in the lightning, and how the hammer of Hephaistos caused the thunder. When the seas grew angry it meant Poseidon was swimming below the waves, or being drawn in his dolphin chariot across the Great Green. So the eight-year-old tried to quell her fears as she struggled up the muddy slope towards the shrine, her faded, threadbare tunic offering no protection from the shrieking winds and the driving rain lashing the coast of Kypros. Even her head was cold, for ten days earlier mother had cut away her golden hair in a bid to free her of the lice and fleas on her scalp. Even so Phia’s thin body was still covered in sores and bites. Most of them were just itchy, but the rat bite on her ankle remained swollen and sore, the scab constantly breaking and fresh blood flowing.

  But these were small matters, and did not concern the child as she pushed on towards the high shrine. When mother had taken sick yesterday Phia had run to the healer in the centre of town. Angrily he had told her to stand back from him. He did not visit those the gods had cursed with poverty, and had barely listened as she explained that mother would not rise from her bed, and that her body was hot, and she was in pain. ‘Go to a priest,’ he said.

  So Phia had run through the port to the Temple of Asklepios, and queued there with others seeking guidance and help. The waiting people all carried some kind of offering. Many had snakes in wicker pots, some had small dogs, others gifts of food or wine. When at last she was allowed through the high doors she was met by a young man who asked her what offering she brought. She tried to tell him about mother’s sickness, but he too ordered her away, and called out for the person next in line, an old man carrying a wooden cage in which two white doves were cooing. Phia didn’t know what to do, and had returned home. Mother was awake, and she was talking to someone Phia couldn’t see. Then she started crying. Phia began to cry too.

  The storm came at dusk, and Phia remembered that the gods walked in harsh weather. She decided to speak to them herself.

  The Shrine of Apollo, Lord of the Silver Bow, was close to the angry sky, and Phia thought the gods might hear her better if she climbed to it.

  She was shivering now as the night grew colder, and worried in case the wild dogs roaming the hills caught the scent of the blood on her ankle. She stumbled in the darkness. Her knee struck a rock and she cried out. When she was small, and hurt herself, she would run to mother, who would hug her and stroke away the pain. But that was when they lived in a bigger house, with a flower garden, and all the uncles had been rich and young. Now they were old and grubby, and they did not bring fine presents, but only a few copper rings. They no longer sat and laughed with mother. Mostly they did not talk at all. They would come in the night. Phia would be sent outside, and they would leave after a short time.

  Lately no uncles had come at all. There were no gifts, no rings, and little food.

  Phia climbed higher. On top of the cliff she saw the jagged stand of rocks that surrounded the shrine. Apollo’s Leap, it was called, because, as mother had said, the golden-haired God of the Sun had once rested there, before flying back into the sky to his chariot of fire.

  The child was almost at the end of her strength as she forced her way up the steep slope. Dizzy with fatigue, she stumbled into the rocks. Lightning lit the sky. Phia cried out, for the brilliant light suddenly illuminated a figure standing on the very edge of the high cliff, arms raised. Phia’s legs gave way, and she slumped to the ground. The clouds broke then, the moon shining through.

  The god lowered his arms and turned slowly, rain glistening on his naked upper body.

  Phia stared at him, eyes wide and frightened. Was it the Lord of the Silver Bow?

  Surely not, for this god’s hair was long and dark, and Apollo was said to have locks fashioned from golden sunlight. The face was striking and stern, the eyes pale and hard. Phia gazed at his ankles, hoping to see wings there, which would mean he was Hermes, messenger of the gods. Hermes was known to be friendly to mortals.

  But there were no wings.

  The god approached her and she saw that his eyes were a bright, startling blue.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.

  ‘Are you the God of War?’ she asked, her voice trembling.

  He smiled. ‘No, I am not the god of war.’

  A wave of relief swept over her. The mighty Ares would not have healed mother.

  He hated humans.

  ‘My mother is ill, and I have no offerings,’ she said. ‘But if you heal her, I will work and work and I will bring you many gifts. All my life.�
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  The god turned away then, and walked back through the rocks.

  ‘Please don’t leave!’ she cried. ‘Mother is sick!’

  He knelt down and lifted a heavy cloak from behind a rock, then, sitting beside her, he wrapped the garment round her shoulders. It was of the softest wool.

  ‘You came to the shrine seeking help for your mother?’ he said. ‘Has a healer visited her?’

  ‘He would not come,’ she told the god. ‘So I went to the temple, but I had no offerings. They sent me away.’

  ‘Come,’ he said, ‘take me to your mother.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She tried to rise. Her legs gave way and she fell awkwardly, mud splattering the expensive cloak. ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry,’ she said.

  ‘It matters not,’ he told her, then lifted her into his arms, and began the long walk back into the town.

  Somewhere during that walk Phia fell asleep, her head resting on the god’s shoulder. She only woke when she heard voices. The god was speaking to someone.

  Opening her eyes she saw a huge figure walking alongside the god. He was bald, but had a forked beard. As she opened her eyes the bearded one smiled at her.

  They were approaching the houses now, and the god asked her where she lived.

  Phia felt embarrassed, because these were nice houses, white-walled and red-roofed. She and mother lived in a shack on the wasteland beyond. The roof leaked, and there were holes in the thin wooden walls, through which rats found their way in. The floor was of dirt, and there were no windows.

  ‘I am feeling stronger now,’ she said, and the god put her down. Then she led the way home.

  As they went inside several rats scurried away from mother. The god knelt on the floor alongside her, and reached out to touch her brow. ‘She is alive,’ he said.

  ‘Carry her back to the house, Ox,’ he told his friend. ‘We’ll be there presently.’

  The god took Phia by the hand, and together they walked through the town and stopped at the house of the healer. ‘He is a very angry man,’ Phia warned, as the god hammered his fist on the wooden door.

  It was wrenched open and the healer loomed in the doorway. ‘What in Hades…?’

  he began. Then he saw the dark-haired god, and Phia saw his attitude change. He seemed to shrink. ‘I apologize, Lord,’ he said, bowing his head. ‘I did not know…’

  ‘Gather your herbs and medicines and come immediately to the house of Phaedra,’ said the god.

  ‘Of course. Immediately.’

  Then they began to walk again, this time up the long winding hill towards the homes of the rich. Phia’s strength began to fail again. The god lifted her. ‘We will get you some food,’ he said.

  When at last they reached their destination Phia gazed in wonder. It was a palace, a high wall surrounding a beautiful garden, and there were red pillars on either side of a great entrance. Inside they walked upon floors decorated with coloured stones, and there were wall paintings in vivid colours. ‘Is this your house?’ she asked.

  ‘No. I stay here when I am in Kypros,’ he answered.

  He carried Phia to a white-walled room at the rear of the house. There was a woman there, golden-haired and young, dressed in a robe of green, edged with gold thread. She was very beautiful. The god spoke to her, then introduced her as Phaedra. ‘Give the child something to eat,’ said the god. ‘I shall wait for the healer and see how the mother is faring.’

  Phaedra smiled at Phia and brought out some fresh bread and honey. After she had eaten Phia thanked the woman, and they sat in silence for a while. Phia did not know what to say. The woman poured herself a goblet of wine, to which she added water. ‘Are you a goddess?’ asked Phia.

  ‘Some men have told me that I am,’ replied Phaedra, with a wide smile.

  ‘Is this your house?’

  ‘Yes. Do you like it?’

  ‘It is very big.’

  ‘Indeed it is.’

  Phia leaned forward and said in a low voice, ‘I do not know which god he is. I went to the shrine and saw him. Is he the Lord of the Silver Bow?’

  ‘He is a lord of many things,’ said Phaedra. ‘Would you like some more bread?’

  ‘Yes, thank you.’

  Phaedra told her to help herself, then fetched a pitcher of cool milk, and filled a cup. Phia drank it. The taste was sublime. ‘So,’ said Phaedra, ‘your mother was ill and you went to the shrine for help. It is very high up there, and treacherous. And there are packs of wild dogs.’

  Phia did not know how to respond, so she sat silently.

  ‘That was very brave of you,’ said Phaedra. ‘Your mother is lucky to have you.

  What happened to your hair?’

  ‘Mother cut it. I have fleas.’ Again, she felt shame.

  ‘Tonight I will have a bath prepared for you. And we will find some ointments for those bites and scratches on your arms.’

  The god returned then. He had changed his clothes and was wearing a white, knee-length tunic edged with silver thread, his long black hair pulled back from his face and tied in a ponytail. ‘Your mother is very weak,’ he said, ‘but she is sleeping now. The healer will come every day until she is well. You may both stay here for as long as you wish. Phaedra will find work for your mother. Does that answer your prayers, Phia?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ said the girl. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘She was wondering if you are Apollo,’ said Phaedra, with a smile.

  He knelt alongside Phia and she looked into his brilliant blue eyes. ‘My name is Helikaon,’ he said, ‘and I am not a god. Are you disappointed?’

  ‘No,’ replied Phia, though she was.

  Helikaon rose then, and spoke to Phaedra. ‘There are merchants coming. I will be with them for a while.’

  ‘You still intend to sail for Troy tomorrow?’

  ‘I must. I promised Hektor I would be at the wedding.’

  ‘It is the storm season, Helikaon, and almost a month at sea. That could prove a costly promise.’

  He leaned in and kissed her, then walked from the room.

  Phaedra sat down with Phia. ‘Do not be too disappointed, little one,’ said Phaedra. ‘He is a god, really. He just doesn’t know it.’

  ii

  Later, with the child bathed and in bed, Phaedra stood under the portico roof, watching the lightning. The wind was fresh and cool, gusting over the garden, filling the air with the scent of jasmine from the trees against the western wall. She was tired now and strangely melancholy. This was Helikaon’s last night in Kypros. The season was almost over and he would be sailing his new ship hundreds of miles to Troy, and then north to Dardania for the winter. Phaedra had been anticipating a night of passion and warmth, the hardness of his body, the taste of his lips upon hers. Instead he had returned to the house with the half-starved, flea-bitten child of the toothless whore Ox had carried in earlier.

  At first Phaedra had been angry, but now she was merely unsettled.

  Sheltered from the rain Phaedra closed her eyes and pictured the child, her shaven head covered by bites, her face thin and pinched, her eyes huge and frightened. The little girl was asleep now, in the room next to her mother’s.

  Phaedra had felt the urge to hug her, to draw her close and kiss her cheek. She had wanted to take away the pain and the fear from those large, blue eyes. Yet she had not. She had merely drawn back the coverlet to allow the skinny girl to clamber into the wide bed, and lay her head back on the soft bolster. ‘Sleep well, Phia. You will be safe here.’

  ‘Are you his wife?’

  ‘No. He is one of my Gift-givers. I am like your mother – one of Aphrodite’s Maidens.’

  ‘There are no Gift-givers now,’ said Phia, sleepily.

  ‘Go to sleep.’

  Of course there were no Gift-givers, thought Phaedra. The mother was ugly and thin, and old before her time.

  As you are getting old, she thought. Though blessed with a youthful appearance Phaedra was approaching thirty-five. Soon her Gift-givers too
would fall away.

  Anger touched her. Who cares if they do? I have wealth now.

  And yet the sense of melancholy remained.

  In the eighteen years since she had become a Follower of Aphrodite Phaedra had been pregnant nine times. On each occasion she had visited the Temple of Asklepios and swallowed bitter herbs to end the pregnancies. The last time had been five years ago. She had delayed for a month, torn between the desire to increase her wealth and the growing need to be a mother. ‘Next time,’ she had told herself. ‘Next time I will bear the child.’

  Only there had been no next time, and now she found herself dreaming of children crying in the dark, calling out to her. She would run around blindly trying to find them, and wake in a cold sweat. The tears would come then, and her sobs would echo the emptiness of her life.

  ‘My life is not empty,’ she told herself. ‘I have a palace and servants, and wealth enough to live out my life without the need of men.’

  Yet was it true, she wondered?

  Her mood had been fragile all day, and she had felt close to tears when Helikaon said he was going up to the Shrine of Apollo. She had walked there with him once, a year ago now, and had watched as he stood on the very edge of the cliff, arms raised, eyes closed.

  ‘Why did you do that?’ she had asked him. ‘The cliff could give way. You could fall and be dashed on the rocks.’

  ‘Perhaps that is why,’ he had answered.

  Phaedra had been mystified by the answer. It made no sense. But then so much of Helikaon defied logic. She always struggled to understand the mysteries of the man. When he was with her there was never a hint of the violence men whispered of. No harshness, no cruelty, no anger. In fact he rarely carried a weapon when in Kypros, although she had seen the three bronze swords, the white-crested helm, the breastplate and the greaves he wore in battle. They were packed in a chest in the upper bedroom he used when on the island.

  Packed in a chest. Like his emotions, she thought. In the five years she had known him Phaedra had never come close to the man within. She wondered if anyone did.