by Hilary Green
He woke and staggered to his feet, grey-faced, to stare out across the sea. Then he looked at me and said, with a faint echo of his usual grin, ‘Pylos?’
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘You and Xouthos must be our guests for a day or two, since the God has brought us to my home first. Then we will sail on and see you safely back to your own village.’
He nodded slowly. ‘Your guests? Yes, that is good.’ And again he smiled to himself.
There were crowds on the beach already when we reached the shore. Someone with sharp eyes must have seen whose ship it was approaching. I stood on the after deck and pointed out places of interest to Cresphontes and Xouthos as we sailed in. We had tidied ourselves us as best we could and Alectryon had combed my tangled hair into some sort of order and clasped around my neck a golden necklace I had taken from the house of the chief. I was determined that, weary and salt splashed as we were, it should be obvious at once that we were returning in triumph.
As the ship grounded men leapt forward from the crowd to pull her up the beach. I could see people pointing curiously at Cresphontes and Xouthos and at the captives. I was the first to disembark, amid the salutations of the crowd, and knelt to lay my hand on the soil of my own land with a prayer of gratitude to the Mistress and to Poseidon. Then I turned to Cresphontes, who had followed me ashore, raising my voice so that those around me could hear and know that he came as my guest.
‘Welcome, Prince Cresphontes, to the land of Messenia. As heir to the throne of the Neleids, I bid you welcome to my father’s fair city of Pylos.’
As he thanked me the crowd parted and Damocles, the Governor of the Province, strode towards us. His greetings were scarcely delivered before a horse came at the canter into the crowd and Perimedes threw himself from its back and ran up to embrace me, crying, ‘Welcome home, Alkmaion! We have been watching for you, but we hardly expected you home today. How have you managed it? There was a terrible storm here last night, and yet …’
I cut him short, laughing. ‘The whole story later, Perimedes. Does my father know I am back?’
‘Yes. I was with him when the message came. He will be waiting for you.’
‘Good. Then ride back to him quickly, bear my greetings and tell him that I bring two guests with me. Hurry, we shall be hard on your heels!’
Perimedes leapt to his horse again and rode off. I turned to Kerkios and bade him see that the chests and the spoils from the raid were sent up to the palace and that he should then let his men go to their homes, adding that if they came to the palace next day I would see that they received the rewards I had promised. I also sent for a litter to carry Xouthos, who was still too weak to stand. Chariots were ready for the rest of us and we mounted into them and set off across the fertile plain towards the town.
In the courtyard of the palace the whole household was assembled. My father stood under the porch of the megaron with my uncles around him. To one side I could see Karpathia with the other ladies of the palace, but there was no time to look at her yet. I went up to my father and knelt before him. He raised me to my feet and kissed me and then held me by the shoulders and looked into my eyes. For once I was certain that he was pleased with me.
‘So, you are back safely. The Great Goddess and the Lord Poseidon have answered my prayers. And you do not come empty handed, or alone.’
‘Neither,’ I agreed, smiling. ‘Father, may I present Cresphontes, the son of Aristomachos and Prince of the Dorians?’
An audible gasp went up from those standing nearby. My Uncle Paion stifled an exclamation and I saw my other uncles, Echelaon and the younger Peisistratos exchange glances. My father’s eyes widened and then his face became the inscrutable mask I knew so well. The brightness went out of the day.
However, my father greeted Cresphontes courteously and immediately gave orders for a bed to be prepared for Xouthos and for his own physician to attend him. Meanwhile, I greeted my uncles with varying degrees of affection and embraced Melanthos and my other cousins. There was no sign of Antilochos, I noticed.
Finally I was free to greet Karpathia. I was saddened to see how the shadows that had been lifted from my spirit seemed still to hang over her. She was pale and thin and scarcely raised her eyes to mine. I took her hand and kissed her cheek, saying, ‘You see, my dear sister, the Goddess is no longer angry. Her commands are accomplished and She has sent me home with honour.’
She answered in a flat little voice, ‘I thank Her for it. Welcome home, Alkmaion.’
Cresphontes, meanwhile, was gazing about him wide-eyed, though I noticed that whenever he saw anyone watching him he assumed a casual air, as if such wonders as the palace with its colonnaded courtyard and frescoed walls were nothing strange to him. My father gave him into Melanthos’s charge, with instructions to see that he had everything he needed, and when he had gone bade us follow him into the megaron.
When he was seated and my uncles had ranged themselves around him he said, ‘Alkmaion, have you done wisely in bringing these Dorians here?’
I answered, ‘I think so, sir, although I will admit it was not originally my intention.’ I looked around the room and determined to give a good account of myself. ‘My voyage, as you know, took me to within a few hours sail of the land of the Dorians. So, remembering the report which Kerkios brought back from his last voyage, I decided to visit them myself and find out if there was any reason for anxiety.’ I hesitated a moment, wondering whether to embark on an account of my expedition to the Forbidden Valley, and then decided to keep it for my father’s ears alone. ‘Prince Cresphontes received us courteously and entertained us for two days with games and feasting. Then, learning the purpose of our voyage, he asked me to permit him and his young friend Xouthos to accompany us. It seemed to me good that there should be friendship between us, so I agreed. They proved noble companions and readily assisted us in the attack which won the spoils you have seen being brought up from the ship. It was in that fight that Xouthos was wounded. Even then, it was not my intention to bring them here but to leave them at their own village as we returned. However, yesterday we were caught by the storm, which I believe you also suffered, and by the mercy of Poseidon were blown to within sight of the city. It is thus that we returned with our companions still aboard.’ I had kept my eyes away from my father until now, but now I turned to him and his look emboldened me. ‘It still seems to me good that we should win their friendship and I therefore beg your majesty to give them hospitality.’
I ended and there was a silence. Then Melanthos’s father, Andropompous spoke.
‘It seems to me that Alkmaion speaks wisely. This may lead to an alliance with the Dorians that could one day be useful. I think he is to be congratulated.’
I think my father was waiting for someone else to speak before he showed his feelings, for now he smiled and said, ‘I think you are right, Andropompous. Let us then endeavour to make Prince Cresphontes and his friend as welcome as possible. Meanwhile, Alkmaion, and you Count Alectryon, accept our thanks for your efforts. And now, since I can see that a day and a night in such weather have left their marks upon you, you have my leave to retire. Wait upon me in my private apartments, both of you, when you have rested. I look forward to hearing an account of all your adventures.’
In my own apartments I found Mukala, my old nurse, torn between delight at my return and tight-lipped resentment of Andria, who sat in a corner of the room, her head drooping with weariness. It took me some minutes of teasing and cajoling to persuade the old woman that this girl presented no threat to her rule over my domestic affairs. I made her send for milk and honey cakes and persuaded Andria to eat, then said, ‘When she has eaten you are to show her where to bathe and let her rest. See to it that she has a comfortable bed in the women’s quarters and whatever else she needs. I want her to be happy here – and if she is not I shall blame you. Do you understand me?’
She glowered at me under her sparse grey eyebrows. ‘I understand, son of the King.’
I gave her a
hug and said, ‘No, you don’t. It’s not what you think at all. I just don’t want a miserable, sickly woman to attend on me. So you look after her. Promise me?’
She promised, unwillingly, and I let her lead me to my bath and make a fuss of me as she had done since I was a baby. I wallowed in the luxury of hot water and perfumed oil for some time, wolfed the various delicacies Mukala put before me and then dressed and went down to find my father and give a full account of my travels.
That night the megaron was thronged, with every member of the Royal kin and the Companions present. My father had clearly given orders that my return was to be celebrated in proper style and the carcass of a young ox turned slowly on the spit over the great central hearth.
When I entered the hall the first person to greet me was Antilochos, who came up and embraced me smoothly, saying, ‘My dear Alkmaion, welcome home. Forgive me for not being here when you arrived. I was up at my father’s estate and only heard the news an hour or so ago. I hear your voyage was a great success. My warmest congratulations.’
Melanthos was standing nearby and I saw him frown but there was no time to ask why as others crowded round to greet me. My father entered, bringing Cresphontes with him, and I saw the Dorian’s eyes widen at the sight of the Great Hall with its frescoed walls and painted plaster floor. They stretched still further at the tables decorated with precious metals and the plates and cups and mixing bowls of gold and bronze. Indeed, he was so busy devouring these lovely objects with his eyes that the tender slices of meat which the servants laid on his plate and the other tasty morsels he was offered went almost untouched for some time.
When the meal was over I asked my father’s leave to send for those things I had brought back from the voyage. This granted, I had the chests brought into the hall and presented to my father and uncles the gifts that had been entrusted to me by Persepolis of Ithaca. Then I displayed the fine bearskin I had won from Cresphontes, together with my share of the spoils from our attack on the Sicel town. All these were duly admired and no one was warmer in his praise than Antilochos, but his eyes burned all the while with envy. My Uncle Paion concealed his feelings better and once or twice I saw him cast warning looks at his son and gained the impression that they were not on the best of terms.
When the feasting was over and my father had retired and everyone was leaving, I found Alectryon at my shoulder. We had had little time to speak to each other since our arrival, though we had exchanged looks across the hall. Now, to my surprise, he knelt to me formally and kissed my hand.
‘Goodnight, prince.’
‘Where are you going?’ I asked, puzzled.
‘Home.’
‘Then I will come with you.’
He rose and shook his head. ‘Better not.’
‘Then stay with me here.’
Again he shook his head. ‘There are too many jealous looks and sly whispers around the court. I don’t want to add to them.’
‘But everyone knows – or guesses.’
‘Perhaps. But I’ve no wish to flaunt it in their faces and perhaps give your enemies arrows with which to attack you. Besides,’ his serious expression softened into a smile, ‘we both need a good night’s sleep. I’ll wait on you in the morning.’ Seeing my downcast looks he added, ‘Be patient. We shall soon be at sea again and able to follow our own inclinations.’
‘But for how long?’ my heavy heart enquired. However, I said nothing further and wished him goodnight with as good grace as I could muster.
I had assumed that we would spend only a day or two in Pylos before resuming our journey north but the surgeons insisted that Xouthos needed a longer period of rest for his wound to heal. In addition to this, my father had obviously decided not to be outdone in hospitality and had ordered a programme of hunts and visits for Cresphontes, to culminate on the seventh day in games which would involve athletes from all over the country. There would also be a mock naval battle between our ships in the bay. I think he wanted to impress on our visitor not only the wealth and culture of our society, but its military might as well.
My first action was to visit the sanctuary of the Mistress and make a thank offering for my safe return and then to fulfil the promise I had made to Poseidon. All the notables of the town assembled at the shrine of the God to see his priest sacrifice a black bull and a white ram, with offerings of oil perfumed with spices, on my behalf.
After this I was free to join Alectryon in showing Cresphontes around the town. We wandered past the magnificent houses of the Companions, visited the workshops of the weavers and dyers and unguent boilers, the potters and the metal workers, and then drove out through the richly cultivated plain that formed part of the Royal estate. Back at the palace he saw how tithes of wheat and barley and olive oil were collected at the tax office by the gate and rations of seed corn and other necessities distributed, while industrious scribes recorded the dealings on clay tablets. This last activity completely mystified him and I was hard put to it to explain how the intricate characters could be interpreted.
‘Can you do this?’ he demanded.
I confessed that as a boy I had laboured to learn the art at my father’s behest. He had insisted that no ruler could call himself worthy of the name unless he could keep a check on the accounts of his stewards, but I had to admit that I could not recall having written a word since.
One thing weighed on my mind during those days and that was the health of Karpathia. One afternoon we were returning from a visit to one of the Royal farms some distance from the town and I took the reins of my father’s chariot in order to speak privately to him.
‘Father, I am concerned about Karpathia. I had expected to find that she had recovered from – what happened. But she is so pale and silent that I am afraid for her.’
He sighed and said, ‘You are right to be worried. But you should not be surprised to see her like this. For you what happened was almost a disaster, but the Goddess’s anger having been averted you may feel yourself free of the consequences. But for Karpathia there is no escape. She was the High Priestess. That was her destiny. Now the Goddess has rejected her what purpose remains for her?’
The words sank heavily into my mind. I realised that I had never paused to consider my sister’s future. At length I said, ‘It seems hard that she should suffer most, innocent as she is of any intent to dishonour the Goddess.’
‘Hard indeed,’ he replied. ‘But so it is.’
I hesitated and then added, ‘Is there no possibility of marriage for her? She is, after all … untouched.’
He looked at me. ‘A rejected priestess? What happy outcome could a man expect from such a marriage?’ He paused, deep in thought, and added with a sigh, ‘We need not hope that any man of sufficient rank will come asking for her hand.’
‘Then what can we do for her?’
‘Little, I fear. She will no longer take part in the ordinary pleasures of life. A woman in such a position has little to live for.’
I stared at him, chilled by the flat acceptance in his voice. When we returned to the palace I sent a message to ask Karpathia to meet me in the olive groves surrounding the palace. When she came I began to understand my father’s despair. She responded to all my efforts to arouse her interest in the same flat little voice with which she had greeted me. I remembered the joyous, life-loving girl she had once been. There seemed little hope of ever re-awakening that spirit in her. We walked for a while and then I stopped and caught both her hands in mine.
‘Karpathia, can you not rouse yourself? Remember how we used to laugh together? Now you have not even a smile for me. What happened was not my fault. The Goddess has forgiven me. Will you not do the same?’
She stared down at the ground, her hands lifeless in my own. ‘I have forgiven you, Alkmaion, long ago. But my life belonged to the Goddess. Since she rejects it, of what use can it be to me?’
I left her with a heavy heart and went to seek Alectryon. It disturbed me that he had resolutely refused either t
o move into my rooms in the palace or to let me spend the nights at his house, but at least it would be some comfort to talk things over with him. I found him waiting for me in the courtyard. He saw immediately that I was distressed and asked the reason.
When I had told him he said, ‘Don’t give up hope for her. To us it seems a long time since that terrible night, because so much has happened. But really it is little more than a month, you know, and she has had nothing to distract her mind. In time she may recover.’
I sighed. ‘I hope so – but I doubt it.’
He said, ‘Are you dining with your father tonight?’
‘No.’ I answered, puzzled by the turn in the conversation. ‘He has said that he wants to dine alone with Cresphontes.’
‘So we are free to do as we like?’
I nodded, with a jolt at my heart.
‘Let’s go and see Pedasos.’
I looked at the sky. ‘It will be almost sunset by the time we reach the farm.’
He grinned at me. ‘You’ll just have to stay the night, then, won’t you.’
The following evening, back at the palace, I made my way to the field where the young men of the Companionhood were accustomed to assemble for exercise once the sun had lost some of its power. I was uncomfortably aware that after the last weeks my own state of fitness left a lot to be desired and I needed to make up for lost time. It was a pleasant grassy stretch of ground, shaded by a few large trees. There was a track where running feet had worn the ground bare and another patch where the javelins throwers stood, while the wrestlers sought in vain at this time of the year for a place where the grass grew lush enough to cushion their falls.
