Between Lions and Men

23: when the gods had now called you to meet your doom

Menoetius

It was the last time he would send me to the war council for him. Well, he didn't even send me. He refused to go and told me to tell them he was refusing to go. And so I went.

My thoughts were mostly on Briseis. She had the knife—but what good would that do her? I doubted if she would tell them she was with child. She didn't tell Peleus, he would have been more infuriated, surely, if she had. And he would have spoken to me, and he has not. So he does not know. But will she tell them? I doubt it, but would it make them go gentler on her? I don't know that either. We do need to get her back. I don't know how yet; I'm not the planner.

"Ah, thank you for joining us here today sexual companion to the person who was invited. We are here to discuss strategies,  as we already know they are marching on us today, I have a few I would personally like to bring up because they would work. First off, does anyone know what a pignatte is?" Major Ithaca is leaning against a wall covered in his own handwriting, holding a piece of chalk in each hand and looking pleased with himself. He is also somewhat covered in chalk and does not look like he's slept since he got knocked on the head.

"Don't listen to him, Menoetius, he's making up words once more to belittle us," Aias says, to me, as I enter.

"I have only ten times made up words to belittle your intelligence and that was only when I thought you had any," Major Ithaca says.

"We have no time---Colonel Mycenae has seized Briseis, Captain Peleus' girl," I say, quickly, my tongue heavy as I speak the news.

"Why?" Aias asks.

"Oh gods above, all right, I'll work on that second, for now we are coming under attack the forces are already moving out, we need to discuss a strategy so that when the Colonel's arrive we are ready to move---where's Captain Peleus?" Major Ithaca asks.

"He's not coming---that is the point I am trying to make—he's refusing to fight or go to battle at all until she's returned," I sigh.

"Is he aware that we are actually under attack?" Major Ithaca asks.

"Yes,  that's why he's doing it—he's furious at the Colonel, she's not just a war prize, he does love the girl," perhaps more than me. He's risking his own honor by not going to battle today, all for her sake. I doubt if he'd do the same if hers and my places were switched. I thought he could lose her, I was wrong. He'd told me he'd marry her if he could. I don't know why I didn't see it then.

"That's absolutely ridiculous," Major Ithaca says.

"Don't you try to get out of this war on a weekly basis?" Diomedes, one of the other commanders, says, not amused.

"Not when we're under attack--- Menoetius stay here. I'll have a word with him, nobody touch my writings," Major Ithaca says. As Aias and two others including myself automatically move to alter what he's written.

"Don't bother---Menoetius you're the only one whose opinion he cares for, can't you reason with him?" Nestor asks, from his chair in the corner.

"He says he'll do nothing until the girl is returned---can we not just have the girl returned?" I sigh, "I'm concerned for her as well, and she did not even wish to go."

"There is no time," Aias points out, "I'll lead the attack myself."

"Our forces aren't going to come with you then, it's not just the Captain," I caution. "They won't march without him."

"I'll have a word with both of them then join you," Major Ithaca, who finds most any excuse he can to avoid battle, says, "If you can drive them back on your own then we shall not need Peleus and his men."

I nod, a lump in my throat as I know it not to be true. I don't know if I want it to be true either. Will he really let them  go through the whole battle without him? All for her? Has he finally outgrown me? He has hasn't he? He wants her now. He has outgrown me. That was bound to happen, wasn't it? He was always the star, I the satellite, lucky enough to get trapped in his orbit in this cold universe.

"Oh, you're coming with me," Major Ithaca takes my arm.

"They might need me in the tents," I say, awoken from my thoughts.

"Well, I need you in Captain Peleus' tent."

"I don't know why you suppose he's in his tent."

"Gods above this boy."

We find him, surprisingly enough, in his actual tent. He has obtained a violin, and is playing it rather cheerfully, which is a definite sign  of trouble. He is never merry to others when his actually merry, it's disguising rage.

"You must fight," Major Ithaca for the first time is concise.

"No."

"Would you sooner see our men die for the sake of one girl?" the old man, Phoenix, says. He's from our court and trained us both in battle. "Boy, I held you in my arms when you were a child, when you were small you would not go to your games till I had carried you upon my back. You have fought alongside these men for many  long years. Are you truly like to let us all die for the sake of this woman?"

"Yes," shrugging, lightly, with mock cheerfulness. He looks at me as though daring me to take their side. I do not.

"Even if she were in danger, she is one girl, you understand what this city means, what this war means? Use your temper man, but to save your people not for inaction," Major Ithaca says.

"I'm taking my men home in two days time when the storms pass," he says, tipping his strong chin out at them, as though ready for a punch, or resisting throwing one. "I'd suggest you do the same."

"It would be suicide."

"It would be better than this. I spoke with my mother this morning, she agrees. I shall remain here," he says. And then the matter is closed. We all well know he will not go against his mother's wishes, and by asking her he's asked clearance from all the gods. "Long ago she told me that if I went to war, they would sing my name for centuries to come. And that if I refrained I would have a long life, but be lost to time. As a boy I always thought the former was the clear goal; I now know that that was because I had nothing to fill my life with. I think have finally realized I do. I care no longer for glory, rather I long for home which is still within my grasp. I will not lose it. I came too close---and I shall not. I will not go to war today. The girl must be returned. And I will sail home."

"You cannot," or the matter isn't closed. Major Ithaca knows no defeat.

"I can and shall. Tell me would you not do the same for your own wife?"

"That girl is not your wife," Major Ithaca says, flatly.

"That  does not mean my feelings for her don't run as deep as yours. It is your and our Colonel's folly to gamble on my bloodlust and not my love."

"I did assume they went hand in hand, strike him down, challenge him, as you like, I'll help you, but do it after the battle---they march towards our ships," Major Ithaca says.

"That sounds like something you would do well to stop," he glances at me as though waiting for me to disagree. Does he want me to tell him to go? I will not. I will be the last one to speak against his love. I love the girl as well though I would not risk all of our men for her. Clearly he would. She means more to him than I can understand.

"I'll be in the medical tents," I say, finally, there will be many wounded.

He nods to me, that he is not angry for me for it. I find I don't care. My face is burning and I don't even know why.