Between Lions and Men

10: that we may know it together

Briseis

I'm woken by a light shining into the tent, and a gentle rap on the wood by the flaps. I undo the ties, a knife in hand and lantern set on the floor beside me.

"Where are both of my biggest problems in this mortal sphere?" Major Ithaca, still fully dressed, saunters in.

"Don't do that, it's the middle of the night, I thought you were a murderer."

"I may be, just not of you. My problems? Disasters? The walking speaking occasionally thinking manifestations of head pain? Where are they? One is a bit taller than the other, darker, likes stabbing people with small knives. The other is smaller, fair haired, not at all smart, but very mean when put to it as well as fast, motivated largely by sex and food but occasionally shiny objects, definitely likes kissing the other one---,"

"Sergeant Menoetius and Captain Peleus left when you did, nearly an hour ago, they said to walk; they haven't returned," I wasn't going to cut him off as it isn't polite, but he was not at all going to quit talking anytime soon.

"Of course they did," he massages his temples, "I don't suppose they said where?"

"No, they left together, as is their custom."

"To do what?"

"What do you suppose they do when they're alone, Major Ithaca?" I ask, raising my eyebrows.

"Right. They're useless. As is their custom," he sighs, "All right. Guess you're all I've got then. Come along."

"What—what are we doing?" I ask, not all about to go anywhere with him.

"Take Peleus' clothes if you like, I'll not harm you, girl," he scoffs, "I'm on an errand from the gods to prevent the plague that's ravishing the camp and two pairs of eyes are better than one."

"My mother said the gods don't speak to us anymore, that they left because of the war," I say, taking Peleus' coat all the same. He left it lying there. I don't know what good it'll do me. I also don't know if I can deny the Major.

"I often wish your mother were right, but she is not. Come along, now," he snaps his fingers at me. I glare at him but obey. He's around so much I forget that the other girls and Captain Peleus assure me that he's quite mad and often speaks to himself.

"Where are we going?" I ask, taking Captain Peleus' pistol and strapping it around my waist. He left it, he often does, preferring a dagger if that. It's well known his bare hands are more than enough defense. Almost unnatural strength lies in his limbs. I've felt it when I've submitted willing to his arms, and he holds me just too tightly, as if unaware how much more he is than the common man. Once, he noticed bruises he himself had given me and inquired about them. I lied, saying I didn't remember. Maybe it's intentional. But I doubt it. So innocently he asked it, as though afraid someone had hurt me, when it was only him, in love.

"I don't know. That's the problem. That's why I'm bringing someone else. I often think better when I speak aloud, I find. My wife is the same, often we're having two different conversations at once," Major Ithaca says. I often think his wife does not exist. I hope for her sake I am right.

"All right, you think our camp has been cursed? Why? We should pack up and go home then, shouldn't you?" I said we. I really am going with them I suppose.

"No, this war amuses the gods."

"Oh you know that," I keep the sarcasm from my voice.

"Hmm yes, no, this isn't to do with war," he pauses, in the mud and moonlight, frowning generally at his own hands.

"Why don't you carry a weapon?" I ask, noticing he has no scabbard. He never does, nor holster, now that I think of it. Sometimes he'll walk about with a rifle but that's only if he's leaving camp.