HELEN: The Wine Dark Sea

"More wine will not make me feel any the less abused. Theseus may rescue a hundred women, but as long as he holds me captive, I see no reason to praise his name."

"You're such a silly child. The King of Athens may do as he pleases, and while he's sure to grow bored with your tantrums, your beauty alone will keep you alive."

A servant stood in the shadows, ready to fetch whatever his mistress wished, but Helen considered the meal over. "I want to return to my

chamber."

"You'll leave when I say you may." Aethra ate another bite of fish and took a long sip of her wine. "Your mother should have taught you silence is a woman's greatest asset. No man can bear a woman who refuses to acknowledge his presence. He'll exhaust himself to win her favor. On the other hand, he'll promptly flee a young woman with your vicious tongue."

"Which is exactly what I want!" Helen cried. "I've no use for the man, king or no king."

"Then you'll have a very unhappy life with my son. You cannot escape him, so you would be wise to learn how to enthrall him with your beauty."

"If he were my slave, I'd sell him to the dreaded mines." She suffered in silence as Aethra continued to offer advice on how to manipulate men to do her bidding. Apparently a woman's beauty was wasted if it wasn't used to control men. When the tedious meal was over at last, she nearly ran back to her chamber and welcomed the warmth from the fire glowing on the brazier.

She paced the small room and fought to recall her mother's half-heeded advice. A woman was to bathe daily, more often if she cared to, and her hair was always to be well groomed with a glorious healthy shine. Her clothing was to be beautifully woven and sewn and worn with pride. Pride was a favorite word of her mother's. A woman should draw herself up into a straight proud posture, while her steps and gestures must always be graceful. She should eat her meals slowly with dainty bites, rather than gulp down her food like a harried servant.

Throughout their days, Leda had provided a running commentary on deportment and a profusion of advice on how to run an efficient household. As for manipulating men, if her mother were even aware of such a skill, she hadn't discussed it. Or, perhaps she had thought it too soon to offer such intimate instruction. Whatever her mother's reason, Helen thought it wrong to practice silly wiles on a man when a straightforward request, or outright demand, would be so much simpler and much more to her liking.

Clytemnestra had mastered their mother's teachings on feminine perfection, undoubtedly making Agamemnon a deliriously happy man. The only king she'd accept would be an extraordinary horseman who was slow to speak. She fell into a restless sleep hoping this would be the last night she would have to spend under Theseus's distasteful protection. If the bastard had actually ventured into the Underworld, she hoped Hades would imprison him there forever.

Chapter 9

Castor, Pollux and their men waited unseen as fishermen brought their early morning catch to the fortress. Once the door in the tall gates had opened, they shoved the startled fishermen aside and stormed in ahead of them. Catching the few warriors there unprepared for battle, they unleashed their mission with flashing spear blades and with a brutal vengeance easily gained control of the stronghold.

Castor grabbed the arm of a serving girl cowering in a corner and yelled, "Where's Helen? Take me to her, and you'll come to no harm."

The sobbing girl dried her eyes on her sleeve and led him up the stone stairway to his sister's chamber and then darted away. Castor thrust open the door and after a momentary fright, Helen recognized him and leaped into his arms.

"I knew you'd come!" She hugged him tightly. "I heard yells and screams and knew it had to be you."

"We weren't the ones screaming." He laughed and smoothed her hair. She'd hurriedly dressed in her over-sized clothing, but she'd never been prettier. "Let's not waste any time in leaving. Have you anything to bring?"

She had no desire to keep the clothing other than what she wore and squeezed the tiny fabric warrior in her hand in grateful relief for her newfound freedom. It would be the only souvenir she'd need. An idea too good to ignore came to her, and she seized upon it. "I'd like to take Theseus's mother, Aethra, with us. She's a veritable fount of knowledge and mother will find a place for her."

His slow smile spread into a rakish grin. "Take his mother? What a splendid idea, Sister." He took her hand. "Let's find her."

"I know the way to her chamber." She skipped as she pulled him along. Shouts could still be heard coming from the floor below, but they were harsh instructions to the cowering servants rather than challenges to Theseus's vanquished warriors.

Aethra faced the door as they entered. She may have had to dress hurriedly, but she projected a queen's elegant dignity. Castor gave a mock bow. "My lady, you're coming with us. Gather your belongings; we mean to leave before the sun is high."

"I've no wish to accept your brash invitation."

He looked at her askance. "Did you wish to come here, Helen?"

"No, absolutely not, but I was kidnapped rather than invited. You're coming with us, Aethra. Now what do you wish to bring?"

"I refuse to go." She was too small to object, and when Castor swept her up into his arms, her tiny fists beat ineffectually on his chest.

"You mustn't be so reluctant to accept the hospitality of a princess of Sparta, my lady," he remarked with a low chuckle. "Pack whatever you believe she might need, Helen, and I'll have one of the men carry the chest to the ship."

"I'll hurry." Helen searched the carved chests to find Aethra's clothing. There was a small clay jar, a pyxis, used to hold perfumes and cosmetics. She wrapped it in one of Aethra's skirts and added it to the chest. Another small chest was filled with gold jewelry, and she carried that herself. She recognized the man who came to take Aethra's belongings, but he glanced away, and she wondered if he thought meeting her gaze would be disrespectful, or if no longer a virgin, she had lost her appeal. Aethra hadn't thought it a problem, but now she wondered.

Pollux waited at the foot of the staircase, and she hugged him tightly. "You are the best of brothers. I knew you'd rescue me."

He blushed deeply. "We should have arrived sooner."

"No, you arrived after Theseus had departed with his men, and that made your surprise attack so much easier."