The Belial Warrior (The Belial Series Book 9)

by R. D. Brady

  Chapter 34

  As soon as the treasure was loaded and everyone was aboard, Paris ordered them to set sail. But instead of setting a course directly for Troy, he sent them east. Grudgingly, Helen had to admit it was a smart move. Her brothers would undeniably take off after them as soon as they learned of her absence.

  “A wise move, Prince,” she said when the captain moved out of earshot.

  Paris turned to her with a smug look on his face. “You’ll find your husband and brothers are no match for my intellect.”

  Helen had to bite her tongue to keep from responding.

  Paris waved his hand at her. “My men will escort you to your cabin. I’m sure you’ll be much more comfortable there for the entire trip.”

  Adorna spluttered next to her. “Why, I never! How dare—”

  Helen gripped Adorna’s arm, silencing her. “Yes. A sea journey can be quite taxing.”

  Helen quietly followed the guards to her room. When the guards opened the door with a smirk, she braced herself. Stepping in, she looked around with a sigh.

  A small bunk was bolted to one wall. A rough wooden table with two chairs sat in the center of the room. Three of her trunks had been tossed in the corner. One had cracked open, and its contents were spilled across the floor.

  Helen blew out a breath, saying nothing. Adorna was less restrained. She whirled around to face the guards. “This is unacceptable. You tell Prince Paris—”

  “Be quiet, woman,” one of the guards snapped. “Or I’ll show you what happens to mouthy women in Troy.”

  Helen was across the room in a second. A kick to the groin made the man double over. She grabbed him by his hair yanked him back, and twisted his arm behind his back. “And if you ever speak to her that way again I will break your bones one by one and show you what we woman of Sparta do to disrespectful men.” For emphasis she snapped the bone in his pinkie.

  The man let out a howl. The other guard, who had momentarily been shocked into paralysis, now stepped forward. But Helen narrowed her eyes and twisted the wrist of the guard she held. “Try something. Please.”

  “No, no,” yelled the man in Helen’s grip. “Step back.”

  The other guard did so, though he did not stop glaring at Helen.

  “Now apologize,” Helen ordered.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

  “Not to me, you idiot. To her.”

  “I’m sorry, madam.”

  Helen shoved the man toward the door. “Now get out.”

  Cradling his hand, he backed away. The other guard stood where he was, his eyes locked on Helen.

  Helen arched an eyebrow. “You wish to tangle as well?”

  He didn’t respond, but the first guard grabbed his companion and pulled him from the room.

  Helen turned to find Adorna smiling at her. “Now that’s the Helen I know.”

  Helen’s own smile dimmed. “We should get this place cleaned up.”

  “Helen, what is going on? Why are you going along with this?”

  Helen just shook her head. “I’m in love, Adorna. The happiest I have ever been.”

  Adorna brushed past Helen toward the bed and yanked the blanket from the bunk. “And I’m the daughter of a Sphinx.”

  Helen watched dust mites and rat droppings fly into the air. She couldn’t help but feel jealous of the blanket, as it was now rid of the filth that had set up camp upon it.

  Because it looked like the dung surrounding Helen would be here for a while.

  Chapter 35

  As Pollux pushed open the heavy wooden doors to the citadel, he was surprised that Helen and Hermione weren’t waiting for them. Helen’s boys raced past him, chasing one another. They’d been cooped up in the ship for days, and now they were letting that energy out. Gods help them all.

  Pollux smiled as Darius approached. “Darius, where is the lady of the house? I have brought back her unruly sons.”

  Darius darted a glance at the boys, who were already running for the kitchen. “She—she is not here.”

  “Oh? Is she in the stables?” On the way in, Pollux had run into one of the stable boys, who’d told him a new foal had been born while he was away. He’d debated stopping there first, but the boys had been hungry.

  “No. She—I don’t know how to say this.”

  Warning bells went off in Pollux's head. “Just spit it out, man.”

  “She’s gone to Troy with Paris.”

  Pollux frowned. “Troy? Why?”

  “She says she’s in love.”

  “With Troy?”

  “No, sir, with Paris.”

  Pollux just stared at Darius, trying to figure out what the hell the man was talking about. “Paris? The son of Priam? The strutting peacock?”

  Darius nodded.

  “And Helen left with him?”

  Darius nodded again.

  “That makes no sense.”

  “She said she was in love with Paris and she was going to live with him in Troy. And she ordered us to load half the treasury onto his ships.”

  Pollux's eyes grew wide. “The treasury?”

  Darius nodded, swallowing noticeably. “She ordered us, sir.”

  Castor came through the door behind Pollux. “Hey, what’s—” He stopped short, looking between Darius and Castor. “What’s going on here?”

  “Our sister has apparently run away with Paris of Troy, whom she claims to love.”

  Castor laughed. “Right. If you’re going to try to fool me, at least make it somewhat believable. Say Achilles or Odysseus or even a good-looking horse. Not Paris.” He looked at his brother. “You are kidding, right?”

  “No.” Pollux turned back to Darius. “What about Hermione?”

  “The queen sent her to the mountain house.”

  “Did she leave a note?” Pollux asked.

  “No, sir. She just told me to send you all her love.”

  Pollux wasn’t sure what to say or ask. Truth was, he didn’t even know what to think. He’d seen the second son of Priam a year ago at a festival at Rhodes. It was the first and only time he had laid eyes on the prince, and he had not been impressed. The boy had been more concerned with chasing every skirt in town than any matters of state. And he had not a single battle scar to show for his years. Castor wasn’t even sure the boy could grow a full beard yet. His sister would no more fall for him than she would a tree.

  “This makes no sense,” Pollux said. “When is Menelaus due home?”

  “Not for a few days.”

  “Does he know?” Castor asked.

  Darius shook his head. “I did not think it was my place to inform him.”

  “Did Helen leave him a note? Or one for their children?” Pollux asked.

  Again Darius shook his head.

  Castor looked at Pollux. “What the hell is going on?”

  Pollux shook his head, equally bewildered. "I have no idea."

  Chapter 36

  The Aegean Sea

  Over the next few days, Helen spent almost all of her time in her cabin with Adorna. The guards stayed outside the door, and any time she tried to leave the cabin they dogged her steps, one in front and one behind. She decided she’d rather stay in the cabin than deal with their claustrophobic presence.

  Five days into the trip, a storm hit. Thunder crashed, and the sea rolled. Adorna weaved her way across the cabin to Helen after tidying up their dinner. “The gods are angry tonight.”

  Helen just nodded rocking with the violent movement of the sea. She pictured the waves outside, crashing and bursting against one another. Helen knew storms like this could easily damage if not destroy a ship, and she wasn’t sure if she should pray they were spared or that they were hit.

  Had she done the right thing? Was there any way she could have kept the children safe and not gone with Paris? She had gone over and over it in her mind, but in her heart she knew there was no other option. The assassin, or assassins, could be anyone, anywhere—guarding the children, working in the kit
chens, the yard. There were dozens of people in and out of her home each day. She could have released every last person from her employment, and she had considered it; but if Paris had found people to infiltrate her home once, he could do so again. She couldn’t risk it.

  Helen startled when another burst of thunder roared through the sky. Adorna sat down next to her, gently turned Helen’s chin, and looked her in the eyes. “I think it’s time you told me what’s going on.”

  Helen shook her head and looked toward the door.

  Adorna spoke in a low voice. “They cannot hear a thing above this storm. And I have watched you since we left—you are not eating. You are not moving. You just sit here. You are not in love with Paris. Even if you were, you would never turn your back on your family, on Sparta. So tell me, what is going on?”

  Helen knew that if she was to survive, she would need one person who knew the truth—one person who could help her keep up this charade. She didn’t know how she was going to convince anyone that she loved that snake in human skin. But she did not want to endanger Adorna. “I can’t say.”

  Adorna put her lips together and crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s holding something over you. What is it?”

  Helen turned away.

  “You sent Hermione away shortly after they arrived. You didn’t want her around them.”

  The mention of Hermione tugged at Helen’s heart. Her daughter would think she had abandoned her and her brothers. Hermione would think her mother did not care. A tear slipped past her lashes, and she took a shuttering breath.

  “The children—you’re doing this for the children. That bastard. Did he threaten them? I will kill him with my own—”

  Helen grabbed Adorna’s arm. “No. You can say nothing. As far as the world knows, I am a woman in love. And as long as I stay a woman in love, the children are safe.”

  “Oh, my child.” Adorna pulled Helen into her arms.

  Helen let herself release some of the emotions she had been holding back—some of the fear and stress of the last few days. But soon she pushed herself out of Adorna’s arms. “Enough of that. I must stay strong for them.”

  Adorna wiped at her own eyes. “And I will stay strong for you as well. What can I do for you?”

  Helen gripped her hand. “Just stay by my side. And help me when I start to falter.”

  “You will not falter. There is no stronger woman in the world. And Troy has no idea what it’s in for.”

  Helen did not feel strong. She felt tired and scared and powerless—emotions she had no experience with and no interest in getting to know better. Outside the storm raged, and part of Helen wished the ship might be lost to the seas. Maybe then her children would be safe.

  Adorna pushed Helen down into the bed. “Get some sleep. Tonight, let yourself feel the loss and the anger. And tomorrow, when this storm outside has passed, you will think of what to do.”

  Helen lay down, and Adorna pulled the blankets over her. “And if I don’t?”

  Adorna's voice held no doubt. “You will. You are Helen of Sparta. The blood of warriors runs through your veins. Paris is only a Trojan. He is no match for you.”

  Helen reached for Adorna’s hand and gripped it tight. “I am glad you are here.”

  “I am too. Now sleep, my queen. For tomorrow you begin to fight.”

  Chapter 37

  Mycenae, Greece

  The gates to the citadel at Mycenae were thrown open as Agamemnon raced his horse toward them. The two giant lions carved into the gates roared silently at his arrival. He loved the beasts, and he knew he was a lion made human. Powerful, fearless, and to be feared.

  He leapt off his horse, flicking the reins toward a waiting servant without a word. He strode up the stone steps, his guards opening the doors as he swept through into the large hall. A giant atrium stood in the middle, with three levels of rooms ringing it and a glass dome allowing the sun to light up the house. Acquisitions from his many travels, as well as gifts from his visitors, lined the walls. Agamemnon liked people to see how far his reach extended.

  He glanced at his first servant, Cergen. “Where is Menelaus?”

  “In your study sir.” Cergen scurried alongside, trying to keep up with Agamemnon’s long stride despite the painful limp he’d had since childhood.

  “Are food and drink waiting?”

  “Yes, sir. I had them brought in as soon as I was notified of your approach.”

  “Good. See that no one disturbs us.”

  “Yes, sir.” Cergen hustled forward to open the door to the study ahead of Agamemnon, then closed it behind him.

  Menelaus turned from the window with a smile. “You look like you have ridden hard, brother.”

  Agamemnon poured himself a goblet of wine and drank quickly before speaking. “There is much happening.”

  He studied his brother. Agamemnon had sworn all his people to secrecy to make sure he was the one who delivered the news. He had wanted to see for himself how his brother reacted. He knew his brother loved his wife. And by some miracle, it appeared that Helen loved him in return. Agamemnon would not have called that twist of fate in a million years.

  Menelaus took a strawberry from the tray and took a bite. “So what is this news that has you rushing here?”

  “There is troubling news from Sparta, brother. You need to prepare yourself.”

  Menelaus’s whole body went rigid. “Has there been an attack? What of Helen and the children?”

  “There is no attack. Your children are fine.”

  “And Helen?”

  “She is… alive.”

  Menelaus frowned. “Why do you say it like that?”

  “There is no easy way to say it, so I will say it plainly. Helen has left you for the prince of Troy.”

  “For Hector?”

  “No. Paris.”

  Menelaus just stared. “He’s a boy.”

  “Even so, she says she loves him, and she has left with him.”

  Menelaus shook his head and took a step back. “No. Helen would never run. If she wanted to be with someone else, she would face me and tell me. Scurrying away to Troy? Leaving Sparta? Sparta is hers by right. She could claim the throne and oust me. No, something is at work here.” Menelaus turned for the door.

  “Wait.”

  “I must go.”

  Agamemnon hurried after him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Even if Helen has been taken against her will, Troy will not merely hand her over. You will have to fight to get her back.”

  “Then I will fight.”

  “But not alone. All the families of Greece agreed that when Helen chose her mate, the rest of us would stand by that man and no one would be allowed to interfere. They swore to protect your union. We need to call on that promise and have them stand with us against Troy. Once the Trojans see our overwhelming numbers, they will back down.”

  Menelaus nodded slowly. “Yes. You are right.”

  “I will see that it is done. You go to Troy. Gather your soldiers. And we will fall on Troy like a wave and destroy everything in our wake. As your older brother, I will lead the men and make Troy pay for this grave insult.”

  Menelaus met Agamemnon’s gaze. “Thank you, brother.”

  Agamemnon clasped him to his chest for a moment. “Of course. There is nothing I want more than to see Helen returned to you.”

  Menelaus gave Agamemnon a nod and strode down the hall.

  Agamemnon watched him go before turning to Cergen. “Contact all the families of Greece. We go to war.”

  “Yes, sir. Right away, sir,” Cergen said, before scurrying down the hall.

  Agamemnon closed the door and headed back for the tray of food. He looked at the options before picking up the whole tray, taking a seat on his reclining chair, and balancing the tray on his stomach. He gnawed on a piece of chicken as his mind whirled through plans.

  Then he smiled. Well, this should be fun.

  Chapter 38

  The Aegean Sea

&nbs
p; The storm passed during the night, but not before it had done its damage. The sail had been ripped and the tall mast broken. Adorna brought the news to Helen when she returned with breakfast.

  Helen helped Adorna set up the table. “Will we be able to make Troy?”

  Adorna shook her head. “No. In fact, the storm pushed us far off course. We are stopping at the island of Pharos for repairs.”

  Helen’s head snapped up, and her eyes widened.

  Adorna spoke carefully. “I’ve never been to Pharos. I hear it’s beautiful.”

  “I have heard the same thing,” Helen said, an idea forming in the back of her mind.

  A quick knock sounded at the cabin door before it flew open. Two of Paris’s guards walked in, followed by Paris and two more guards. Yet another two guards waited in the hall. Helen shook her head. If she wanted to hurt Paris, his guards would not be able to stop her. But a part of her took no small satisfaction in the fact that he needed so many guards to make him feel safe in her presence. And even with all the guards, he stood well away from Helen.

  Paris waved his hand at Adorna. “Leave us.”

  Adorna glanced at Helen, who nodded. “It’s all right.”

  Adorna bowed to Paris before taking her leave.

  Paris waited until the door closed behind Adorna before he spoke.

  “We will be making port in Pharos. I have sent a ship ahead to tell them of our arrival. They know you are with me and that you are my consort.”

  Helen flinched at the word, as well as at the idea of her name being associated with Paris’s.

  Paris noted her reaction. “And you will play your part. Or do I need to remind you what is at stake?”

  Helen narrowed her eyes. “I am well aware.”

  “Then your performance had better be more convincing than it was in Sparta.” He stepped forward. “Perhaps we should practice.”

  Helen smiled. “Perhaps you would like to limp for the rest of your days.”