Read Online Fall of Kings by David; Stella Gemmell - Free Book Online Page B

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anger in his voice. “She had no idea the girl had left Thera until she turned up
at my farm. I will not allow anyone to punish my wife for something she
did not do.”
    “Yes, yes,” Priam snapped impatiently. “However, the High Priestess does not
seek to punish her. She asks that Andromache bring the renegade’s bones to
Thera. Andromache is, after all, the reason the girl fled the isle. I have
agreed that Andromache should travel to Thera with the bones of Kalliope to make
this act of contrition. Kassandra was due to go to Thera in the spring, anyway.
Now my two daughters will go together.”
    Hektor’s anger flared. “This is insane! Andromache cannot go. This is just a
ploy of Agamemnon’s. He has tried to have Andromache killed before. We all know
the High Priestess is his blood kin. Now, with her help, he seeks to lure
Andromache onto the Great Green. By the spring Agamemnon’s fleets will once more
control the sea routes. It is a trap.”
    Priam stared at his son coldly. “Of course it could be a trap!” he
snapped. “But I cannot refuse. If I do, I risk Troy being cursed by Thera. Such
a curse will strengthen our enemies and likely cause our allies to think twice
about coming to our aid. But as ever, we will outthink them. We will not wait
for spring. Andromache and Kassandra will sail for Thera on the Xanthos. Tomorrow.”
    For a moment there was silence. Priam looked at his son and saw that all
color had drained from his face.
    “No,” Hektor said. “This I will not allow.”
    The reaction surprised Priam. Hektor was a fine strategist and a man who
understood that risks were necessary in war. Priam switched his gaze to
Andromache, expecting her to speak up. She always had an opinion. Instead she
sat very quietly, eyes downcast. Then Aeneas spoke.
    “It is a clever plan,” he said, “but I must agree with Hektor. The risks are
very great. Sailing to Thera in winter, when the days are short, will mean
sailing in darkness in treacherous weather. It will also bring us close to the
pirate havens.”
    “The risks are high,” Priam agreed. “But look at what we face. Our enemies
outnumber us; our trade routes have been blocked. In the spring the Mykene may
come to our shores in the thousands. Then we will need the Xanthos and
all the allies we can muster. With the blessings of Thera we can hold those
allies steady. You think I want to expose Andromache and Kassandra to the perils
of the winter sea? I do not. But I see no other choice.”
    “Then I will go, too,” Hektor stated.
    “What?” Priam stormed. “Now, that would be nonsense and you know it.
If word got out that you were on the Great Green in a single ship, every
Mykene war fleet would be mobilized. No. I have already promised King Ektion
that you and the Trojan Horse will ride south to Little Thebe. Enemy armies are
ravaging his lands. They need to be crushed or at the least forced back.”
Stepping in, he patted Hektor’s shoulder. “Have faith, my son,” he said. “Aeneas
is a fine sailor, and I trust him to master the perils of the sea.”
    “It is not the sea…” Hektor began. His words tailed away, and with a shake of
his head, he walked out onto the balcony.
    Thirsty now, Priam called out to Polydorus. The door opened, and the young
soldier entered. “Fetch wine!” the king ordered.
    “Yes, lord, but you said—”
    “Never mind what I said!”
     
    Hektor stood out on the balcony, taking deep drafts of air into his chest.
Then he returned to the Amber Room. Pausing before Priam, he said, “As the king
orders, so shall it be.”
    With that he turned toward Helikaon, who rose from his seat. Hektor gazed
upon his old friend and felt a deep sadness sweep over him. This was the man his
wife loved, whose son she had borne. Forcing a smile, he said, “Take care,
Helikaon. And bring Andromache safely home.”
    Helikaon said nothing, and Hektor understood. No promises could be made, for
the Great