home. Its people are the most pigheaded, stupid, idle, yet doughty and lovable folk in the whole of Greece; they live at peace amongst themselves and I would freely give up my life to keep them that way. When I’m away from my island I think of it every moment, and when I’m there I think of nowhere else.’ He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, as if to acknowledge he had failed to do his home justice. ‘One day you will come and see for yourself. Then we can sit around a blazing fire with plenty of wine to hand, and I’ll ask you about Alybas and your own people, eh?’
Eperitus smiled lamely, hoping he would never have to reveal the shame that had led to his exile.
‘As for who I really am,’ Odysseus continued, ‘the Pythoness doesn’t lie. You can be assured of that.’
‘And Castor, son of Hylax, prince of Crete?’ Eperitus asked. ‘Who’s he?’
‘Castor is a disguise, made up when I left the shores of my home. You see, friend, for all its outward appearance of peace and simplicity, Ithaca is torn. Some of its nobles don’t agree with my father’s rule. They’re plotting to rebel, but lack the strength until they can persuade more of the people to choose them over their rightful ruler. As Laertes’s son and heir, they want me out of the way even more: if my father gave me the throne the island would have a young king again, and the nobles are afraid the people of Ithaca would then give their support to me. So when we first met I had to be sure you weren’t another assassin, sent by my father’s enemies to kill me.’
‘But would an enemy have helped save your life?’
‘Maybe not, if he could identify me. But Eupeithes, my father’s chief opponent, employs Taphian mercenaries to do his dirty work. These men aren’t from Ithaca and wouldn’t know me on sight, hence any assassin would have had to find out my name before he could kill me. That’s why I travel under the name of Castor.’
‘It’s difficult to think of you as anybody else now,’ Eperitus said. ‘But I believe you, Odysseus. Perhaps you’ll do me a service in return?’
‘Of course I will. It’s the very least I can do.’
Eperitus pointed back over his shoulder with his thumb, indicating the temple at the top of the slope. ‘The Pythoness said a friendship forged in battle would lead to glory.’
‘I heard her clearly. Then you also think ours is that friendship?’
‘Yes, I do. And I want the glory she spoke of, and a name that will outlive death. Indeed, the name of Eperitus is all I have left. So I want to join your men and sail back with you to Ithaca.’
‘You’re not likely to find much glory there.’ Odysseus laughed.
‘I trust in the priestess.’
‘Then can I rely on you to defend my father’s throne?’
‘I’ve sworn to fight for you and your causes,’ Eperitus reminded him. ‘And I’m no lover of usurpers.’
‘That’s settled then,’ Odysseus said, taking his hand to seal the agreement. ‘We’ll leave at dawn and you can join the palace guard. Return to camp and inform Halitherses – he’ll tell you your duties. I’ll join you later.’
‘Later? Where are you going at this time of night?’
‘To the camp, to see if anybody has any meat to sell. I haven’t eaten properly in a week.’ With that Odysseus turned about and retreated up the hill towards the dying glow of the fires.
Eperitus was about to go back and rejoin the others when he suddenly remembered the tall priest, Elatos. Had he not told Odysseus to meet him by the spring? So was the prince off to find the old priest, and had his story about buying food been just another deception? Eperitus realized then that honesty was not something that came easily to his perfidious new friend. But he was also interested in finding out what secrets the priest was keeping for Odysseus’s ears only, and planned to find out for himself.
In order to maintain his deception Odysseus had to go back up to the plateau and
Eperitus smiled lamely, hoping he would never have to reveal the shame that had led to his exile.
‘As for who I really am,’ Odysseus continued, ‘the Pythoness doesn’t lie. You can be assured of that.’
‘And Castor, son of Hylax, prince of Crete?’ Eperitus asked. ‘Who’s he?’
‘Castor is a disguise, made up when I left the shores of my home. You see, friend, for all its outward appearance of peace and simplicity, Ithaca is torn. Some of its nobles don’t agree with my father’s rule. They’re plotting to rebel, but lack the strength until they can persuade more of the people to choose them over their rightful ruler. As Laertes’s son and heir, they want me out of the way even more: if my father gave me the throne the island would have a young king again, and the nobles are afraid the people of Ithaca would then give their support to me. So when we first met I had to be sure you weren’t another assassin, sent by my father’s enemies to kill me.’
‘But would an enemy have helped save your life?’
‘Maybe not, if he could identify me. But Eupeithes, my father’s chief opponent, employs Taphian mercenaries to do his dirty work. These men aren’t from Ithaca and wouldn’t know me on sight, hence any assassin would have had to find out my name before he could kill me. That’s why I travel under the name of Castor.’
‘It’s difficult to think of you as anybody else now,’ Eperitus said. ‘But I believe you, Odysseus. Perhaps you’ll do me a service in return?’
‘Of course I will. It’s the very least I can do.’
Eperitus pointed back over his shoulder with his thumb, indicating the temple at the top of the slope. ‘The Pythoness said a friendship forged in battle would lead to glory.’
‘I heard her clearly. Then you also think ours is that friendship?’
‘Yes, I do. And I want the glory she spoke of, and a name that will outlive death. Indeed, the name of Eperitus is all I have left. So I want to join your men and sail back with you to Ithaca.’
‘You’re not likely to find much glory there.’ Odysseus laughed.
‘I trust in the priestess.’
‘Then can I rely on you to defend my father’s throne?’
‘I’ve sworn to fight for you and your causes,’ Eperitus reminded him. ‘And I’m no lover of usurpers.’
‘That’s settled then,’ Odysseus said, taking his hand to seal the agreement. ‘We’ll leave at dawn and you can join the palace guard. Return to camp and inform Halitherses – he’ll tell you your duties. I’ll join you later.’
‘Later? Where are you going at this time of night?’
‘To the camp, to see if anybody has any meat to sell. I haven’t eaten properly in a week.’ With that Odysseus turned about and retreated up the hill towards the dying glow of the fires.
Eperitus was about to go back and rejoin the others when he suddenly remembered the tall priest, Elatos. Had he not told Odysseus to meet him by the spring? So was the prince off to find the old priest, and had his story about buying food been just another deception? Eperitus realized then that honesty was not something that came easily to his perfidious new friend. But he was also interested in finding out what secrets the priest was keeping for Odysseus’s ears only, and planned to find out for himself.
In order to maintain his deception Odysseus had to go back up to the plateau and
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