It slipped from his hand as he returned it to Helen and although she tried to catch it, it fell upon a rock. When she picked it up, it left a spot of blood on her finger. "How strange this is. Stones don't bleed." She wiped it off, gave it a small scrape upon the citadel wall, and another drop of blood appeared.
Paris was equally astonished. "That can't truly be blood, it must just appear so. There must be some magic within the stone, but I don't sense any danger in it, do you?"
She wrapped it tightly in her fist, and no feeling of dread overcame her. "No, it has only a pleasing warmth."
He leaned down to kiss her. "If no one claims it, I'll have it made into a necklace for you. We'll call it your blood-stone necklace. It's a good omen from the gods showing they favor our love affair, and with a blood offering too," he laughed.
"It would be striking, but perhaps the stone is too delicate to wear."
"A gold setting will protect it." He took her hand, and they continued their walk, but the way the breeze tossed her curls was so enchanting, there was only one place he wished to go. He leaned down to whisper a beguiling invitation, and her enticing smile was the perfect reply. Every day he thanked Aphrodite for giving him such a passionate wife and thought himself the most blessed of men.
* * *
Cassandra darted around a corner when she saw Paris and Helen coming her way. It made her shake with terror to look at the deadly pair. She saw the black wings of death flapping above them, but her father saw only Helen's astonishing beauty. His guilt over condemning Paris to death had to weigh heavily upon him as well, and he saw only the young man's charm. Every day the ill-fated pair walked through Troy brought their beloved kingdom closer to its ultimate doom. Would no one believe her until the streets ran red with torrents of her people's blood?
Chapter 21
Mycenae
Palace of King Agamemnon
Agamemnon drew powerful allies to his cause with an inspiring reminder of the allegiance the men had sworn to Menelaus when they had courted Helen, and a promise of the great wealth of Troy and the oncoming trade with the Black Sea cities would bring. There would be the precious metals, gold and silver, tin and copper to make bronze, Chinese jade, cinnabar, and timber to build ships among many other wonderful items to trade, such as the gemstones lapis lazuli and garnets. He slanted each appeal with whatever the particular man craved, and as expected, greed alone brought the loyalty and commitment of troops and ships he'd sought.
Menelaus heard it all, but demanded one last try at diplomacy. "I'll take Odysseus, who is a wise counselor with me and sail to Troy. It's possible Helen has grown to regret leaving me and will choose to come home. If we fail, you'll have an even stronger argument for war than mere rampant greed. If we assault Troy, thousands of our good men will surely die."
"Not a ship of our army has set sail as yet," Agamemnon replied, "so there's time for you to conduct what is surely a fool's errand. But do you truly wish to risk bringing another bout of laughter to your name? You've lost Helen once, and for her to refuse you anew would severely damage what's left of your reputation."
"Pride means nothing to me without Helen." Menelaus clenched his fists at his sides. "Let others call me a cuckold, my only concern is my wife, my queen, and I intend to bring her home. Fight Troy for insulting Sparta in the first place if you need an excuse for war, but I want Helen safely home and in my bed where she belongs!"
Growing tired of their tedious argument, Agamemnon stroked his graying beard. "You are a king in your own right, so do as you please, but use your time in Troy to gain every insight you can possibly gather for our cause. Each gate is a weakness in their thick walls. Find others, my brother, and make our war work easier."
Menelaus tossed the last of his wine down his throat and strode away to find Odysseus and be on their way.
* * *
Menelaus fixed his eyes on the eastern horizon and said little to Odysseus on the voyage, but he was grateful for his company. By the time Troy came into view, he'd gone over what he wished to say a thousand times in his mind, but he'd decided to show strength with a brief demand rather than attempt to shame Alexandros into returning his wife
.
"If Priam again claims Alexandros and Helen haven't returned, we'll leave without calling him a liar," he told Odysseus, "but it will mean war with Troy."
"Agamemnon has made everyone eager for it," Odysseus replied. "Look at how the palace gleams on the hilltop. Priam must already see us approaching and know why we've come, but I doubt he'll meet us on the shore."
"No, he'll wait in his grand megaron on his ivory and gold throne. I don't mean to fail at this, but we'll not risk our lives in a foolish display with our swords either."
"Agreed. Helen may be tired of Alexandros and long to return home with us."
Menelaus looked at him askance. "That's doubtful, but Priam won't be anxious for war, and he has to know it's coming if she's not returned to me."
Odysseus nodded. "Indeed, he must, my friend."
* * *
Paris found Helen playing Hounds and Jackals in Hecuba's megaron in the women's quarters. "I must speak with you," he took her hand and urged her to her feet. "Forgive this intrusion, Mother, but Helen must come with me."
"Come back if there's time," Hecuba responded, and the young women with her were amused by what they mistook for a call to passion.
Paris hurried Helen to her bedchamber and closed the door behind them. "Menelaus has arrived with Odysseus demanding that you be returned to him. I kept out of sight to avoid inciting his rage, but I never thought he'd come after you when Sparta would be so badly outnumbered in an attack on Troy."