Glyn Iliffe - King of Ithaca (Adventures of Odysseus)

‘That’s what I think of traitors,’ he spat. ‘Tell Eupeithes that Laertes will remain king of Ithaca, and if anyone is to replace him it will be Odysseus, the only man who can claim that right.’

Polybus scrambled out of the pool, helped by his friends. He was incandescent with rage and in a deft movement whipped out a dagger from beneath his tunic.

He lunged with the weapon, but Eperitus brought his shield round and knocked him to one side. Quickly stepping back, he pulled the sword from his belt and faced Polybus’s six companions, who held daggers of their own. In the same moment he was joined by Odysseus and the rest of the guard, spears and shields at the ready.

Now they were seventeen fully-armed men against Polybus’s seven, carrying only daggers. It did not take them long to see the futility of the situation.

‘There’ll be no bloodshed here, Polybus,’ Odysseus said, his voice as calm and commanding as ever. ‘Not if I can prevent it. So put your toys away and go about your business.’

They had no choice but to do as they were ordered, but as they slunk off Polybus could not resist turning and having the final word.

‘We’ll settle this matter another time, you bronze-haired buffoon, when the odds are more equal. And as for you,’ he said, spitting on the ground at Eperitus’s feet, ‘I pray to all the gods that you and I will meet again. Then I’ll teach you to respect your betters before I send you scuttling off to Hades.’

‘I’ve been waiting a long time to see that arrogant swine made a fool of,’ Antiphus said, slapping Eperitus on the back with a laugh as they watched the group of youths retreat up the road to the town. ‘He docked my bow fingers when I was a boy, after he and his father caught me hunting on their land. I’m indebted to you for the show, Eperitus.’

‘We all are,’ Halitherses agreed. ‘But he’ll want his revenge. We haven’t seen the last of him yet.’

‘I’m more concerned that he knows we’re going to Sparta,’ Odysseus added with a frown. ‘He says he worked it out for himself, but I think someone in the palace has told Eupeithes. A traitor – maybe someone within the Kerosia itself.’

‘There’s nothing we can do about that now, Odysseus,’ said Damastor, appearing at his side. ‘The council has decided this is the only way to save Ithaca from rebellion, so we’d better go and pray that the gods protect our homes and families until we return.’

A short time later they passed over the wooded ridge and headed down to the small harbour where the galley was bobbing gently on the waves. Mentor was there to meet them and Odysseus immediately took him to one side. Eperitus did not hear what was said, but assumed that the prince was warning Mentor of the possibility of a traitor. Mentor nodded and set off up the beach, but as he passed Eperitus in the file he stopped.

‘I’m left behind to nursemaid the king while you get the privilege of escorting Odysseus to Sparta. Well, at least you won’t be hanging around in the palace, because . . .’ He drew closer and lowered his voice. ‘Because I don’t trust you. We don’t know you or your family, so if anyone is spying for Eupeithes it’s a foreigner like you. And I’ve told Odysseus as much, so you won’t catch him off his guard either.’

‘I’m no traitor,’ Eperitus spat, but Mentor was already striding down the slope to the bay.

book

TWO

Chapter Nine

IN THE LAND OF THE WOLFMEN

The north wind was full in the galley’s sail and drove the vessel irresistibly forward across the waves. It ploughed great furrows into the sea and made the going particularly rough, though it was not enough to hamper the speed with which the gods had blessed them after their late start. Eperitus stood at the prow of the ship, fighting for breath in the teeth of the gale. The Peloponnese flanked him on the left, its mountains silhouetted blue in the afternoon haze, whilst beneath his feet he could hear the waves slapping against the thin planking of the hull.

Sensing a presence, he turned to see Odysseus standing at his shoulder. The prince’s arms were behind his back and his gaze was fixed firmly ahead. It was the same look that he wore when at the helm, observing the wave caps for the best currents and watching the distant clouds for warnings of a change in the weather, whilst keeping an eye on the shoreline for safe anchorages along the way. He looked as strong as a bull, his burly frame unfazed by the blustering wind that had been tearing the air from Eperitus’s lungs. One could almost believe there was no wind, were it not for his narrowed eyes, the flapping of his red hair and the billowing of his great black cloak.

‘You know, Eperitus,’ he said, his smooth voice perfectly audible in the wind, ‘I wish I wasn’t here. Not very heroic, really, am I? Not for a prince of his people.’

‘What do you mean?’ Eperitus asked.

‘I mean that to be great a man must leave his home and family and go out into the wider world, seeking to carve a name for himself in the ranks of his enemies.’

‘I suppose it’s hard to win fame by staying at home.’

‘But that’s exactly what I’d rather do,’ Odysseus sighed. ‘Part of me dreams about slaying monsters, sacking cities, ravishing beautiful maidens and coming home laden with gold. What man doesn’t? And yet in my heart I could wish for nothing more than sharing meat and wine with friends in the great hall at home, talking about the local girls, the harvest and fishing. The closest I like coming to adventure is listening to a good story around a blazing fire.’

Eperitus envied Odysseus his contentment in such things, but never having experienced a true sense of happiness in his own home he could not understand it. All he wanted was to see the world and write his name into one of the tales that Odysseus liked to hear beside the hearth.

‘So why leave Ithaca?’ he said.

‘For the same reason that you left Alybas, I assume,’ Odysseus replied. ‘To prove myself! To achieve something that will allow me to go home to my people and hold my head up high.’

‘That isn’t why I left Alybas,’ Eperitus muttered.

Odysseus seemed not to hear. ‘Of course, it’s unlikely Helen will choose me above her wealthier and more powerful suitors, and it’s probable Tyndareus has already chosen her a husband. Which makes me wonder what the idea is behind this gathering of kings and princes – it’s a lot of trouble to go to for nothing. But either way, I may be able to form friendships and alliances that will carry weight back home. That’s the real reason my father sent me on this journey. But tell me this, Eperitus: do you think the most beautiful woman in Greece might choose me for a husband?’

Eperitus considered the possibility, matching what he knew of Helen’s legendary beauty to the little he had learned about Odysseus. ‘You’re as likely to be chosen as any other suitor. You’re a prince, soon to become a king. You have wealth and power, and you’re a great warrior – any sensible woman would be out of her mind to reject you.’

A great shout followed by laughter came from the benches. Some of the escort were playing a game with marked ivory cubes, and their constant chattering and clamour had become a feature of the voyage. The game would shortly be broken up, though, as the sun was already dipping beyond the island of Zacynthos to the west and the helmsman would soon be seeking a convenient landfall.

‘The problem is that a woman as desirable as Helen can afford to pick and choose between suitors,’ Odysseus said thoughtfully. ‘Have you ever been to another palace outside of Alybas?’

‘Of course,’ Eperitus confirmed. ‘Your own.’

Odysseus laughed. ‘Well-travelled indeed, I see. And how does the palace at Ithaca compare to the one in your own city?’