by Hilary Green
As the fight went on I glanced wildly around me. Would no one step in and stop it? I saw that neither would stop of his own free will until a broken limb or some other severe injury forced him to. But Lampadon sat impassive and Kerkios, though officially one of the umpires, had no real authority. The fighters were on the ground again now, the only sound their hard drawn breath and the occasional harsh grunt of pain. I saw Cresphontes trying to twist Alectryon’s leg and it seemed to me that at any moment his hip joint must give way, but with a huge effort he brought his other foot up under his opponent’s stomach and flung him off. Cresphontes flew backwards and his head hit the ground with an audible thud.
As they both staggered to their feet and closed again I leapt up, unable to sit passive any longer. As I did so Xouthos also jumped to his feet and seized my arm. I thought he meant to stop me and turned on him, but he cried out, ‘Stop them, Prince Alkmaion! They will listen to you!’
This was sufficient. I rushed into the centre of the ring and shouted, ‘Stop, both of you! Enough! You have done enough!’
They did not appear to hear me and continued grappling. I flung myself between them, catching a blow from Alectryon that made my ears sing, braced a hand on the chest of each and forced them apart, shouting, ‘Enough, I say! Will you stop? The honours are equal. You have both acquitted yourselves well. Let you, Cresphontes, give Alectryon the bull you promised and I will give you the bowl I offered as a prize. But let there be no more fighting.’
Alectryon’s eyes were glazed and I was not sure he had heard me even then but after a moment he nodded and said thickly, ‘It is well spoken. I agree.’
Cresphontes simply nodded and turned away. He would have fallen had not Xouthos been there to catch his arm and help him to the side of the arena. Dexeus rushed up to support Alectryon and I said, ‘Get him into the shade and make him lie down. Then get some water and bathe his face.’
As Dexeus helped his master away I looked round the assembly. I had taken it upon myself to stop the fight, over the heads of the umpires, and I could tell from the murmur of the crowd that some were not best pleased at my intervention. I raised my voice and shouted, ‘My friends, Prince Cresphontes and Count Alectryon have given us a wonderful show. Now they have both agreed to call it quits and each will take a prize. We have had a good afternoon’s sport and the honours are even.’ A Messenian voice shouted ‘Not quite!’ but I ignored it and went on, ‘Now, I will take it upon myself to promise you, on Count Alectryon’s behalf, that the bull he has won shall be slaughtered at once to provide a feast for all of us this evening. And I will provide the wine, so that we can drink to the friendship of our two peoples.’
The Messenians led the cheers, which warmed my heart, but the Dorians were not slow to follow. While they were still applauding I left the ring and hurried over to where Alectryon was lying in the shade of the building. Dexeus was bathing his face and Kerkios, whose years at sea had given him plenty of experience as a physician, was kneeling over him, carefully feeling his limbs. He opened his eyes as I came up and said, between swollen lips, ‘Well spoken, my prince.’
‘How is he, Kerkios?’ I asked and the captain looked up and gave me a reassuring smile.
‘Not as bad as he looks, praise be to Poseidon. There are no bones broken and when Dexeus gets all the blood washed off I don’t think there will be too much damage. But he won’t be much to look at for the next few days!’
Alectryon opened one eye again and looked at me. ‘Damn!’ he muttered thickly.
I put my hand on his shoulder. ‘Be quiet. You fought like a god. You don’t need to look like one. What can we do for him, Kerkios?’
‘Put a cold compress on that eye. Then make him as comfortable as possible and let him rest. He’ll do well enough in a little while.’
I looked across to the other side of the porch where Xouthos was kneeling by Cresphontes. No one else seemed to be taking much notice. I said, ‘Go and see how Cresphontes is, Kerkios. I don’t think they have a physician in the village and he may be in a worse state than Alectryon.’
Kerkios nodded and went over. Dexeus finished washing the blood off Alectryon’s face. As Kerkios had suggested, the damage was less than I had feared, though he had a split lip and one eye was almost closed. He had bound up his hair for the fight but it had come loose and I saw that the wisps of hair sticking to his neck and forehead were annoying him and sent Dexeus for a comb. Then I carefully unbound the thick braid, its brightness dulled with dust and oil and dried blood, and gently combed it into some sort of order.
When we had made him comfortable I went over to where Cresphontes lay. Kerkios met me on the way.
‘How is he?’
‘Not too bad. I think that last fall did him more harm than anything, when he cracked his head on the ground. It’s lucky for him you stopped them when you did. He’s been sick but he’s conscious. He’ll be all right.’
I went across and stooped over Cresphontes. He was pale and his eyes were closed. The sharp smell of vomit hung in the air and Xouthos was busy cleaning up. He looked at me and his eyes, instead of being hostile, were sad and frightened. I smiled and said, ‘Don’t worry. He will be all right. Kerkios says there is nothing seriously wrong.’
Xouthos said, ‘I have seen men die like this. My father fell from his horse when I was a child. He lay for a day and a night like this and then he died.’
I was about to reply when Cresphontes opened his eyes and muttered, ‘Quiet, little wolf. No one is going to die.’ I caught Xouthos’s eye and smiled again and then left them to themselves.
Alectryon seemed to be asleep so I left Dexeus to watch over him and went down to the river the wash the sweat and dust off my body. The water was cold and marvellously refreshing. I sluiced myself all over and then sat on a rock and began to scrape the oily dirt from my limbs with a bone strigil. I managed it quite well except for a patch in the middle of my back, which try as I might, I could not reach. A low giggle interrupted my efforts. I looked round and saw the girl who had waited on us the first night. She stood with her hand clapped over her mouth, obviously terrified at having drawn my attention.
It struck me that my contortions must have looked extremely funny, so I laughed and called out to her, ‘Well don’t stand there giggling. Come and scrape my back for me.’
She hesitated a moment, then hitched up her gown and waded out to me. I handed her the scraper and she took it with her eyes modestly cast down and scraped my back with great care.
I said, ‘What’s your name?’
‘Purwa, my lord.’
‘And you are a servant to Prince Cresphontes?’
She raised her eyes questioningly. ‘Servant?’
‘You work for him?’
‘Oh, yes.’
‘Who are your parents? Do they live in the village?’
‘My father is Lampadon.’
‘Lampadon! Then you are – cousin to the Prince!’
‘‘Yes, I suppose so.’
‘Then why are you so poorly dressed and treated like a slave?’
She looked at me again. ‘I do not understand. I am a woman. I do as a woman must. We must serve our men.’
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her of the state kept by the ladies of my father’s court, but I kept it back. She splashed my back with water and said timidly, ‘I have finished. Is there anything else you require?’
I looked at her again and saw that under the lank hair and the coarse dress there was a kind of beauty. Her eyes, when they met mine, were large and soft. Something stirred in me that had been quiescent since the night of the Spring Festival. I had thought that I could never desire a woman again but, after all, I was young and had no other outlet for my feelings. I kissed her before I thought of the implications of the act.
To my surprise she did not resist and her compliance gave an edge to my desire. But at that moment we heard the sound of woman’s voices approaching from the village. Purwa pulled away from me and
whispered, ‘I must not be seen with you. But I will wait for tonight on the bank just here – at moonrise.’
Before I could reply she slipped from my arms and splashed hastily back to the bank where the water pot she had come to fill stood waiting. A moment later three other girls came down the path and stopped, stifling their giggles at the sight of me, naked on my rock. With as much dignity as possible, under the circumstances, I waded down stream to where I had left my clothes, dressed, and returned to the village.
I found Alectryon sitting up and drinking wine mingled with water. I told him where I had been, but did not mention my encounter with Purwa. When I asked after Cresphontes I was told that he too was much recovered. Already preparations were under weigh for the feast and I sent some of the crew to bring up a couple of jars of wine from the ship. The men were ready for another night of drinking and dancing, but it was obvious that neither Alectryon nor Cresphontes were up to it. I was weary too and made no objection when Cresphontes suggested that we should dine quietly on our own in the megaron.
Rugs and sheepskins were spread around the hearth so that we could sprawl at our ease. The servants brought us bread and meat and I opened a flask of my father’s best wine. Dexeus filled our cups and went out to join the others, leaving the four of us to ourselves. Cresphontes lifted his cup and looked across the fire at Alectryon.
‘Count, you’re the best fighter I’ve met in my life. No one else has ever stood up to me like that. I admired you when we first met and I do so even more now. No hard feelings, I hope?’
Alectryon smiled, ‘None at all.’
‘Then,’ Cresphontes went on, ‘let us drink to noble adversaries and good friends. We have been the first, now let us be the second. I’m sure Xouthos will join me. Will you drink, Prince Alkmaion?’
‘Most willingly,’ I returned and the toast was duly drunk.
When we were toying with the last morsels Cresphontes said, ‘May I ask you one question?’ When we nodded he went on, ‘I am certain that the Prince of Pylos has not made this long voyage – together with his escorting ships – merely to pay a visit of courtesy to us. Is there some purpose in your visit that you have not yet disclosed? Or are you perhaps on your way to some other city with some embassy from the King your father? It must be a matter of some importance that sends the Prince himself voyaging over inhospitable seas.’
I answered, ‘Your second guess is the right one. We are indeed on a voyage to another land, and the matter is of importance. We go to the Holy Islands, where I must seek purification from the priestesses of the Great Queen.’
‘The Great Queen?’ he queried.
‘The Supreme Goddess. Surely you too worship Her?’
He shrugged. ‘She has Her altars here, but it would go hard with the temper of my people to worship a goddess above all other deities. Our God is Zeus the Thunderer, mighty lord of heaven.’
Alctryon said, ‘And ours is Poseidon, master of land and sea. But the Goddess is Mistress of birth and death. She holds all living things in Her hand and it is at his peril that any man slights Her.’
Cresphontes said, ‘And these Holy Islands, where are they?’
‘Across the sea, beyond the island of Corcyra, is another land whose shore runs south for three day’s sail. At its foot is another great island we call Sicania. It is rich in crops and flocks and men of my race have built cities there. The Holy Islands lie a little west from there.’
I saw Cresphontes’s amber eyes narrow with interest. ‘And when you have visited these islands, do you return to Pylos?’
‘If the Gods so will.’
‘Empty handed? Or are there settlements of people other than your own on that island so rich in crops and flocks you spoke of?’
I glanced at Alectryon. He said, ‘That remains to be seen. I trust we shall not return to Pylos with nothing to show for our exertions.’
My pulse skipped with excitement. I had hardly hoped to find him so ready for such an enterprise. Cresphontes teeth gleamed in the firelight as he said, ‘Bravely spoken, Count. Now, what do you say to this? Will you take Xouthos and me with you? Two more swords will not come amiss and you can rely on us to use them with a will. And as for booty, since you provide the ships and the men, we’ll be content to take a third of all we win. How about it?’
I looked at Alectryon again. It would be hard to refuse without offence and, to tell the truth, I was beginning to enjoy the company of this strange pair. Also, they would undoubtedly be useful when it came to a fight.
Alectryon nodded slightly and I said, ‘Very well, Cresphontes, it is agreed.’
‘Not quite,’ Alectryon put in. ‘Since, as you say, we provide the ship – ships – and the crew, you must be content with one quarter of the booty.’
I thought for a moment Cresphontes was going to argue but he appeared to think better of it and said, ‘Very well. It is settled then.’ He looked down at Xouthos and pulled his ear. ‘What do you say, little wolf? Does it please you?’
Xouthos’s grin and his gleaming eyes showed that it pleased him very well.
‘When do we sail?’ Cresphontes asked.
‘Tomorrow,’ Alectryon said. ‘Already we have delayed longer than we intended. Can you be ready by then?’
‘Certainly. By the time you have provisioned your ship we shall be ready.’
Xouthos yawned suddenly and Alectryon laughed and said, ‘I think we could all do with an early night.’
When Cresphontes and Xouthos had retired to their sleeping quarters there was an uncomfortable silence. I looked at Alectryon but he was gazing into the embers of the fire.
I said, ‘Shall we take our bedding outside?’
He looked up and answered quietly, ‘Do, if you prefer it. I’ll stay where I am. I’ve stiffened up, lying here, and to be honest I’m not sure I can raise the energy to move.’
I went over and knelt beside him. ‘Are you in pain? Can I do anything?’
His eyes met mine and he shook his head slowly. ‘I’ll be asleep in a moment.’
His eyelids were already drooping and I guessed he had drunk more wine than usual to dull the aches in his limbs. I laid his cloak over him to keep off the chill that would come later in the night and murmured ‘Sleep well, then.’ Then I retired to my own couch.
Outside the sounds of revelry slowly died away. Soon it would be moonrise. I thought of Purwa, waiting on the riverbank. My conscience told me I should not leave Alectryon tonight but then, I reassured myself, I should be back long before dawn. There was a knot in my belly that needed to be untied, and Purwa had the means to loosen it.
I waited until there had been no sound from outside for some time and then rose and reached for my clothes. At once Alectryon’s voice said drowsily, ‘Where are you off to this time?’
I stopped, for a moment angry and embarrassed. Then in spite of myself I laughed. I went over and crouched beside him.
‘Don’t you ever sleep? You’re like the watch dog in the stories – Argus of the hundred eyes.’
‘Need to be, with you to look after,’ he muttered.
‘Well, there’s no need to worry,’ I said firmly. ‘I’m not going exploring tonight – and there’s no guard on the door. There just happens to be a rather nice girl waiting for me on the riverbank.’
He lifted his head and gave me one of his long, inscrutable stares. Then he dropped back on his pillow with a grunt. I waited a moment, then got up and started for the door, saying, ‘I shan’t be long. Go to sleep.’
I was almost out of the room before he said, ‘Alkmaion! Be careful.’
Purwa was waiting as she had promised. As before, she accepted my caresses without resistance but she had none of the arts I had learned to expect with Eritha and after the first moment or two I found her passivity unexciting. I satisfied myself quickly and she made no attempt to cling to me when I wished her goodnight.
When I returned to the megaron Alectryon was asleep – or if he was not, he did not speak.
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Chapter 6.
Morning came too soon for me, but not apparently for Xouthos who roused us soon after first light. Cresphontes too seemed to have made an astoundingly rapid recovery and immediately set about preparing for the journey. It amazed me to see that one in his position could leave on such an expedition with no more formality than a brief conference with the village elders, which he conducted while we supervised the preparations for sailing.
Alectryon, on the other hand, had woken much the worse for wear. His face was swollen and discoloured and it was clear that movement pained him. He was unusually taciturn all morning, but I put that down to the fact that he was suffering.
Xouthos was like a young hound at the beginning of his first hunt, questing hither and thither, watching everything and getting under the sailors’ feet, but always returning after a few minutes to Cresphontes’s side. At length he came to a standstill by me and said abruptly, ‘What is beyond the island?’
I looked at him. ‘You have never been?’
He shook his head. ‘We are not seafarers. What is out there?’
‘Sea – and then more land.’
‘What land?’
‘I don’t know much about it myself, except what I have heard from men like Kerkios. It is rich land, they say.’
‘Are there men there?’
‘Yes.’
‘Men like us, or the strange creatures the stories speak of?’
‘Men like us, I suppose, although most of them speak strange languages. There are one or two cities of Achaeans. One was founded by men from my own city of Pylos, on their return from Troy. We shall call there.’
‘But are there monsters and giants, like in the stories?’
I laughed. ‘I don’t know, Xouthos. There may be, but you had better ask Kerkios when he’s not so busy. Although I’ve never heard him speak of monsters.’
