by Hilary Green
‘You should be in bed.’
‘I know,’ I mumbled. ‘But that bed’s too narrow. There isn’t room for both of us.’
I heard a sharp expulsion of breath that could have been the beginning of a laugh, or of a sob, but I was too tired to open my eyes. I was dimly aware of Neritos and Thaleus half carrying me out to the waiting litter, and then nothing more until the following morning.
I woke feeling stronger, though my wound still throbbed abominably. When Neritos came with my breakfast he said, ‘My lord, I have been thinking.’
‘I thought you looked tired,’ I commented.
He grinned at me. ‘You’re feeling better.’
I grinned back and reflected that there was some compensation for my helpless state. The barrier that my royal position had placed between us had been removed, at least temporarily. It is very difficult to maintain the dignity of sacred kingship when you need help with even the most basic of bodily functions.
‘What were you thinking?’ I prompted.
‘Would it not be possible to bring the count here to the palace? He could be cared for just as well and it would save you having to be jounced about in a litter in order to visit him.’
‘That’s an excellent idea,’ I agreed. ‘But I can see two difficulties. Firstly, is there a room for him? I’m loathe to ask any favours of Tisamenos at the moment.’
‘That’s not a problem,’ he said. ‘He can have my bed. I don’t mind sleeping on the floor.’
‘That’s generous of you,’ I said with a smile, ‘but the second point is more important. Can he be moved without coming to harm?’
‘We could ask the physician when he comes to see you.’
I put the question to the King’s physician while he was examining my wound. He shot me a look from under heavy eyebrows.
‘If it will stop you from trying to walk on this leg, my lord, I think it would be an excellent idea. The wound has started to open up again. It will not heal unless you rest it completely. I will consult with the doctors attending the count and see if he can be moved.’
The physician had just left when Neritos came in to say that Peisistratos was outside and asking if he might wait on me.
‘I could tell him to come back tomorrow,’ he suggested protectively.
‘No, send him in. I want to know what’s going on.’
Peisistratos came and knelt by the side of the bed and kissed my hand.
I said, ‘What news, Peisistratos? What is happening in the city?’
He lifted his shoulders. ‘There are all sorts of rumours, my lord, but no one has any definite information. The King keeps Antilochos confined in the palace. He is not a prisoner, exactly, but he is closely watched. No one knows the fate of the other conspirators.’
‘And what is the feeling towards the rest of us? Do people think we were all involved?’
He looked sombre. ‘It is true, my lord, that we are no longer as welcome as we once were. It is not surprising, I suppose. When we first came here the Myceneans were sorry for us. They expected to be able to defeat the Dorians and send us back to Pylos as their ever-grateful friends. Now they find it is not so easy. They blame us for the Dorian attack last summer, though I think that would have happened whether we were here or not. The Dorians can never feel secure as long as Mycenae stands. But the Myceneans have lost men and property and they don’t want to be embroiled in another campaign. Meanwhile here we are, living in their houses, eating their food and making love to their women. And then one of us – at least – is embroiled in an attempt to overthrow the king. No wonder they want to be rid of us.’
‘That fool Antilochos!’ I exclaimed bitterly.
‘Let us hope,’ said Peisistratos, ‘ that King Tisamenos is persuaded by his protestations of innocence. Or at the very least that he is convinced that none of the rest of us were involved.’
After Peisistratos had left I was suddenly aware of movements and voices in the room next door and I realised that Alectryon had been brought from the temple. I waited until the noises ceased and then called Neritos to help me up.
‘But you have to rest your leg!’ he exclaimed, exasperation overcoming the habit of deference. ‘You heard what the doctor said.’
‘It’s only a few steps,’ I protested.
‘Then Thaleus and I will carry you, if you insist,’ he said firmly. He called Thaleus from the next room and they made a chair for me of their crossed hands and in this rather undignified manner I was transported to Alectryon’s bedside. Neritos settled me with my leg supported on a stool and then withdrew. Alectryon’s skin looked almost transparent and there were dark shadows under his eyes but when he greeted me his voice sounded stronger than the day before.
I said, ‘You are improving. I am thankful to see it.’
‘Slowly,’ he answered. ‘But I heard what Neritos said. Your wound will not heal unless you rest.’
‘Well, I am resting.’ I indicated my extended leg. ‘See?’
There was a pause. I would gladly have avoided the next few minutes but I knew that I had to speak before someone else let slip what I had to tell him.
I said, ‘Yesterday we spoke of how we were both trying to save Myrtilis. The Gods have not willed it so. She is dead, my dear.’
He asked, far more calmly than I had expected, ‘By her own hand?’
‘Yes.’
He nodded slowly. ‘I had assumed so. She told me that she was bound by such terrible oaths that only death could release her. I persuaded her that if we could escape we might find some shrine where she could be released from them, but when I failed to return to her she would have had no other way out.’
I said slowly, thinking out the implications for the first time, ‘If you had managed to escape, you would have left Mycenae – secretly?’
His eyes dwelt on my face. ‘Yes. Now you see to what extent I have broken faith with you.’
We were silent for a long time. Then I said, ‘That is all past now. Our future here is uncertain, thanks to Antilochos. I shall need your help and advice more than ever.’
He moistened dry lips with his tongue and said, ‘What service I can perform is yours – as long as you need me.’
I reached for his right hand, which lay across his chest, but it did not respond to my touch. Then he took my hand awkwardly with his left. I felt a sudden lurch of dread in my stomach.
‘Your arm?’
He said gently, as if trying to break the blow for my sake, ‘The doctors say I may regain some use of it when the wound is healed.’
I bent my head and closed my eyes against the tears. After a long time I whispered, ‘Truly, I bear the anger of the Goddess like a blight wherever I go, and I destroy all those who befriend me.’ He began to protest but I cut him short, raising my burning eyes to his. ‘It is so, Alectryon! Even when I have thought myself fortunate it has been a mockery. It was I who brought Cresphontes to Pylos, so he could see how rich and easy a prey it was. My father died because the Goddess forsook us in the hour of battle. Now I have brought rebellion and misfortune on Mycenae, upon Tisamenos who befriended me and upon Penthilos. And lastly, with my own hand, I have robbed you of the use of your right arm. I am accursed!’
He reached up weakly to my shoulder. ‘No, no. You must not think that. What has happened to me I have brought upon myself. The rest is all part of a general disaster that has fallen upon all of us. You are not responsible.’
I held his hand against my cheek and said wearily, ‘You used to laugh at me for living in the world the bards tell of. Now I see that the world of the heroes is gone forever and the Gods turn their faces from us lesser mortals.’
‘I do not believe that,’ he murmured. ‘We are not different from our forefathers. The Goddess promised you forgiveness. She would not lie to you. Take courage. We may yet see Pylos again and if not – well, wherever our fate leads us, we shall follow the road together.’
The days that followed brought a strange sense of peace. My
wound began to heal and Alectryon grew stronger. As his wound mended also, I persuaded him to try to use his arm. At first he could do no more than flex his fingers and I think he would have given up the effort if I had not insisted, but little by little the movement increased. I spent long periods massaging his arm and encouraging him to exercise the muscles and once he began to see that there was hope he worked at it until the sweat stood out on his brow.
Each morning Peisistratos and my remaining Companions waited on me with what news or gossip they had been able to glean, which was precious little. Apart from that Alectryon and I entertained each other through the tedious hours. Most of the time we talked idly, not of the present situation or of our prospects for the future, but mostly of past events in Pylos or during our travels. I had to work hard to win the first smile from him but as the days passed his spirits began to revive. I cannot recall which of us made the first joke, but I remember the delight of that first moment of shared laughter. In later times I was to look back on those days with gratitude.
At length a message came from Tisamenos. If I was strong enough, he desired my attendance in his private apartments.
I was forced to send for a litter, for I still could not stand for more than a short time, but I insisted on being set down outside the door of the audience chamber and limped into Tisamenos’s presence supported only by a stout stick which Neritos had found for me. I was prepared for a cold reception, but he greeted me with kindness and was solicitous for my well-being. However, Cometes stood beside him and his expression was less encouraging.
When I was seated Tisamenos began in tones of gentle regret, ‘My dear Alkmaion, I cannot tell you how it grieves me that this shadow should have come between us. I regret even more that you should have suffered a wound fighting on my behalf. I trust you are making a good recovery?’
I told him I was well enough. I was on edge and his smooth courtesy did not reassure me. He went on, ‘This whole affair is most unfortunate, and the worst part of it is that we cannot be sure exactly who was implicated or to what extent. We do not know how far the rot has spread in the army, for one thing. And the woman Erigone’s close connection with – people close to me – has to be taken into consideration.’
‘My lord, you will never find a more loyal supporter than Penthilos,’ I said firmly.
He smiled faintly. ‘Penthilos is your sister’s husband. You are bound, of course, to defend him.’
‘He is also your brother,’ I remarked.
‘Half brother,’ Cometes put in quickly.
‘Whatever his family history,’ I returned, ‘I am convinced of his loyal support for the King. Did he not come to your aid in the fight against Erigone’s forces?’
‘When he knew that the plot was discovered he had nothing to gain and everything to lose by holding back,’ Cometes commented.
‘He could have thrown in his forces on the opposite side,’ I pointed out.
‘The army would never have obeyed such an order,’ Tisamenos said quickly. I saw that he was determined to retain his conviction that the rebellion was the work of a few isolated conspirators. To prove that Penthilos was not one of them would be almost impossible.
Tisamenos went on, ‘There is also the question of exactly how far your cousin, Antilochos, was involved. He maintains that he knew nothing of the plot. What is your opinion?’
I hesitated. In my own mind I was certain that Antilochos had been a willing party to the conspiracy, although unaware of Erigone’s real intentions. But there was nothing to be gained from admitting that. I said, ‘I have not had the opportunity to speak to him since the discovery, as you know, my lord. I cannot give an opinion.’
Tisamenos went on, ‘It will be difficult to prove his guilt, or his innocence. Also, I have no desire to cause a breach between the Houses of Atreus and Neleus. If I were to be convinced of his guilt I should have no choice but to sentence him to death and that, though you might admit the justice of my action, would be bound to cause ill-feeling between us.’
I said, ‘If you will put him in my custody, my lord, I will see to it that he never has the opportunity to cause trouble again.’
‘I feel sure that I can rely on your promise for that,’ Tisamenos said. Then he sighed, ‘But I fear the solution to the problem is not as simple as that. I am forced to consider the fact that there is a strong feeling among my people that the Pylians have brought us bad luck. Therefore I determined to enquire of the Goddess what is Her will in the matter. I have sent messengers to the Pythia at Delphi and have been awaiting their return. They arrived back yesterday with the Goddess’s decree.’
‘Which is?’
‘I am instructed to shed no blood other than Mycenean blood, but the oracle confirms my fears. The coming of the Pylians has brought the anger of the Goddess upon us. Therefore you must leave Mycenae and seek refuge elsewhere.’
I gazed at him in silence. In all my worst imaginings I had not expected this.
‘And the expedition against the Dorians?’
‘In the present situation I dare not risk sending my best forces away from the city to embark on a costly and probably lengthy campaign.’
In the silence that followed I caught a smirk of triumph on Cometes’s lips. I said heavily, ‘And where do you suggest we go?’
Tisamenos looked relieved. I think he had expected an angry outburst. ‘That of course is entirely for you to decide. Naturally I will give you any assistance in my power and I shall not require you to leave until your wound is fully healed and you have found some other friendly city willing to take you and your followers in.’
I rose painfully to my feet.
‘If that is your decision, my lord, then of course I must abide by it. I thank you for your – temporary – hospitality. I hope that my efforts on your behalf in revealing the plot, and in the fight in which I got this wound, will in some measure repay my debt to you. Have I your permission to retire?’
Tisamenos gave his consent with as much cordiality as if I had been paying a normal courtesy visit. He even ordered Cometes to accompany me to my litter. As I was about to leave I remembered a final point.
‘You will place Antilochos under my jurisdiction?’
‘Naturally. I will have him sent to you at once.’
Back in my room Alectryon was sitting by the window in the first pale rays of spring sunshine. Neritos helped me to a seat opposite him and they both looked at me enquiringly.
‘Bad news,’ Alectryon commented.
I told them what Tisamenos had said. Neritos voiced all our feelings with a few choice oaths, some of which called into question the honour of the King’s mother.
I said wearily, ‘He is not a bad man, Neritos, but he is weak. In spite of the great power of Mycenae, he is afraid.’
‘It is a poor thing when a man in his position cannot distinguish between friends and enemies,’ Alectryon commented. ‘But we are in no position to argue.’
I put my head in my hands. This, on top of days of pain and weakness, was almost too much to bear. ‘Where can we go, Alectryon? Who will have us now?’
‘We shall find friends somewhere,’ he said consolingly. ‘Melanthos is already in Athens. Perhaps he can speak for us to the king. Or there is Crete.’
‘But how can I go to any friendly city if I carry the curse of the Goddess?’ I cried.
He leaned forward. ‘Listen to me. We all know that oracles can be interpreted to suit the wish of the worshipper – if he is powerful or wealthy enough. Tisamenos must know of your earlier misfortune. This gives him the perfect excuse to be rid of us.’
I stared at him. ‘You are suggesting that the Pythia lies?’
‘I am suggesting that the Pythia’s words may have been open to interpretation – and the priests at the shrine know where their best advantage lies. Do not give too much credence to what they say.’
A servant appeared at the door to say that Antilochos was outside. I sent word for him to wait and let him kick his h
eels until Neritos had tidied the room and settled me with my back to the window. I was glad that I had dressed formally for my audience with Tisamenos but I made Neritos bring out the gold circlet which my father had given me and set in on my head. Alectryon withdrew to the next room and I told Neritos to send Antilochos in and then fetch my Companions Aikotas and Hoplomenos.
He had lost weight during his confinement and the old affectation of easy charm had disappeared, leaving only a bitter pride. I kept him standing in front of me. Once I would have savoured this moment, but not any more. I looked at him for a long moment and at the end of it all I could find to say, with a terrible weariness, was, ‘You fool, Antilochos!’
His head jerked up and he said, ‘My lord is pleased to abuse me. I have done nothing to warrant it.'
I sighed. ‘Do not try to convince me of your innocence, Antilochos. I know you too well. Besides, I heard with my own ears Erigone declare that you had married her daughter because you hoped to rule in Mycenae. Do you know what they intended to do with you if the plot succeeded?’
I saw his eyes narrow. ‘Do with me? What could they do against the king?’
‘You were to be king only as consort to Myrtilis. The power was to be vested in the queen, and you must know that the queen would have been utterly ruled by her mother.’
I saw his nostrils flare as he absorbed this shock, but he gave a short, dismissive laugh.
‘Just supposing that I had any part in this – which I deny – if I had been made king do you imagine I would have been ruled by my mother-in-law?’
‘It would not have been left long in your hands. They wanted you only to reconcile the people to a change of rule. After that you had one function only – to give Myrtilis a child. Then you were to be disposed of.’
He glared at me. ‘Who has told you all this?’
‘I heard it spoken by Erigone herself on the night I discovered the plot. You have to thank me for your life, Antilochos. If I had not had you watched and informed Tisamenos of what was going on you would have shared the same fate as a rogue bull, allowed to perform your natural function – and then butchered. And if you doubt it, consider this. How many times were you drugged into unconsciousness without suspecting anything? Any of those cups could have contained a deadly poison.’