Chapter 8: Mycenae II
Posted: August 25, 2021
A/N: Thank you for all the follows, favourites and reviews. Please enjoy!
"I have been told you are the fallen Weapon's Masters daughter."
Agamemnon's voice bellowed throughout his ornate throne room. His voice reverberated against the walls, ushering delight to the King's own ears.
He picked-up the sword previously laid on the table in the centre of the room, the blade was recently polished to perfection. Copper and steel intertwined to form the blade. When the sunlight reflected against the two-toned metal, Mycenae's infamous ceiling mural caught the effect, as if shattered glass sparkled everywhere. Aphrodite form had never shone so handsomely.
"I am, King Agamemnon," in response, the girl bowed in the custom fashion, her glimmering ringlets almost reaching the floor right before she rose again. Before her hazel eyes bore into his own, the girl stared towards the ceiling, seemingly mesmerized by the throne room's infamous mural.
"It is my utmost pleasure to be in your presence."
"Ah, impeccable Greek. None would expect an exotic flower to speak with such a perfect accent, as if you were born here."
Kojo interjected, "Your grace, as I mentioned to Nestor, Zarina was birthed and bred in Greece." he smiled, his teeth an unnatural white, "Her father, Mutambo, encountered his unfortunate and early demise, but she lives on, carrying his torch-"
Agamemnon waved his hand and the towering Asante man ceased mid sentence.
"Do not be shy, girl! Come and certify if the sword I hold was indeed crafted by your late father."
Zarina stepped forward distractedly, still staring at the mural up above, her footsteps echoing against the intricate marble floor. Agamemnon offered the sword to her and she leaned forward to take the hilt, eyes still on the ceiling. Finally, she pulled her gaze from the mural and she raised the sword eye level and squinted at the edge of the blade.
Agamemnon inspected the alleged daughter of Mutamba while she in turn inspected the sword in entirety and the ceiling mural. She was not what he was expecting. Truthfully, he did not know what to expect. She was shorter than he would have imagined and less muscular.
What did catch Agamemnon by surprise was her striking beauty. Even competing with that of his brother's wife, the Queen of Sparta. Where Helen was a classic Grecian beauty, the daughter Mutumba contrasted and had a gleaming golden brown complexion. She personified the goddess of love. It exuded from her being even if she was dressed so plainly. Agamemnon glanced above at his ceiling, mimicking the girl's odd behaviour. Aphrodite's coquettish expression mocked him from above and yet the resemblance to the girl was remarkable. Could the rumors be true?
"King Agamemnon, I can certify that my father crafted this sword." She returned the sword to him. "Crafted this about six years ago, proved by the markings on the hilt. It was gifted to King Eurypylus of Thessaly."
Agamemnon's eyes widened, mouth agape. Fraud she was not. He had only accepted the sword from the Thessalonian King weeks ago, after Achilles incapacitated the Thessalonian warrior, chosen by the former defeated King.
"My dear, do you recall all of your fathers creations?" Agamemnon inspected the hilt of the sword himself, searching for the said markings. He found none. Peculiar.
"My name is Zarina," she looked intently at him. "And no, I do not recall all his creations, but I am able to identify any weapon forged by his hands."
"Magnificent," Agamemnon overlooked the girl's earlier correction and clapped his hands together, "Kojo has advised me of your quest for adventure and warfare." Agamemnon handed off the sword to a nearby page. He would have his own blacksmith search for the alleged markings on the hilt. "However, given the fact that you are not a man, I cannot offer you any formal ranks within my army."
"I fight alone." The response came like a jab.
Taken aback, but not to be bested, Agamemnon cleared his throat, " Which works with my proposal. Be my secret weapon."
"Secret weapon?" the girl's eyes flared, "And why should I be kept a secret?"
"Now now, Zarina, what we spoke about, let's not jump to conclusions, hear out the gracious King, I'm confident his offer will be enticing to your ears." Kojo smiled at Zarina pointedly, walking up behind her, grazing his hands against her shoulder in a familiar manner, the motion was fleeting yet effective. The girl inhaled and curtseyed again. It seemed that the Asante man had influence over her.
'King Agamemnon, I would like to hear more." her voice strained but calmer.
Kojo was continuing to prove his worth. Maybe Agamemnon would reconsider the Asante man's initial proposal if the girl lived up to expectation.
"As Greece's secret weapon," Agamemnon clarified, "We will make use of your startling beauty as a distraction to the men you are meant to assassinate. Which should be an easy feat for you, for I have been told you are quite vicious when given a weapon."
"She is even more vicious with her bare hands," Kojo added, eyes proud like a father.
The King let out a deep guffaw and clapped his hands together once again.
"Kojo my boy, excellent job in finding this fair and deadly maiden."
Zarina's hazel eyes gleamed in response."What exactly would I be signing up for?"
"My dear-," he paused, expecting another name correction from the impudent beauty before him, but he watched as Kojo exchanged another glance with her, she remained silent and turned her gaze back to him, Agamemnon smiled with satisfaction, Kojo seemed to have some type of influence over the girl, "I offer you private quarters, a wardrobe account, staff to wait on you hand and foot, a prized steed-".
Zarina abruptly raised her hand "King Agamemnon, your private quarters do not impress me, I have my own full estate, a wardrobe account is nice, but I have all my robes hand sewn in Troy," Agamemnon flinched, "And although I look forward to your staff serving me whilst gossiping about my copper toned skin behind closed quarters, what exactly are you offering me that I do not already have?"
Agamemnon's eyes flashed, his patience evaporating. Such gall from a female with no royal standing. No woman or man would ever dare speak to him, King Agamemnon in such a manner.
"My dear King, please forgive Zarina, Pythians tend to be more outspoken and direct compared to your more refined kingdoms."
Kojo glared in Zarina's direction, she seemed indifferent but yet she offered another curtsey, this time lower, her short robes almost grazing the marble laden floors. A silent penance.
Agamemnon cleared his throat, "Of course," He walked closer to Zarina and offered his hand. She took it, her hand was cool and soft, but her grip was firm. She allowed him to help her up from her curtsy.
"My dear, what I offer you is something your inheritance cannot provide. You may have an estate, a full staff and all the amenities you require. But you do not have access to be part of a larger cause. I can facilitate that. You do not have a sense of belonging, Grecians will look upon you as outsiders. Your exotic beauty is intoxicating, yet is your biggest curse. You will always be an outsider in these lands, even if you were birthed and bred here."
It seemed the counsel he offered began to chip away at the invisible fortress surrounding the girl, for she regarded Agamemnon with a faint look of respect, and yet again, glanced up at that damned mural on the ceiling.
Agamemnon motioned to Kojo, he walked towards them and clasped the girls hands within his own.
"Zarina, the King is offering you a sense of belonging, placement and purpose. Be Greece's secret weapon, be the turning tide in a long fought upcoming battle. The glories of war are far beyond riches and gold."
Agamemnon caught a sparkle in the girl's eye. Aha, victory. Material items were not her weakness like most mortal men, it was much deeper. Belonging.
"Unleash your fury at my behest daughter of Mutamba and you shall forever have a seat in my kingdom."
"Send emissaries in the morning." Agamemnon commanded.
Nesor hesitated, "One last thing," his eyes narrowed, "We need Achilles and his Myrmidons."
Agamemnon shook his head, "Achilles can't be controlled, He's as likely to fight us as the Trojans".
Nestor opened his mouth to rebuttal, but was interrupted by the echoing footsteps of an intruder.
"If you need to control Achilles, may I offer a solution?" Kojo sauntered in, an air of quiet arrogance surrounding his expression.
Nestor raised an eyebrow in amusement. Agamemnon's temper was already ignited, Kojo had better watch his words.
"Please enlighten us."
"It's simple, Zarina."
Agamemnon and Nestor exchanged a look of confusion before staring back at Kojo.
"We agreed to use the girl as a bloody assassin," Agamemnon pinched his nostril, eyes closed, "What good would it do us to have her kill Achilles?"
Kojo's eyes danced in mischief, so unlike the 'eager to please' Asante they had met in the throne room earlier. "You misunderstand, King of Kings, we use Zarina to control Achilles."
"How do you control a man who fights for no flag, with no loyalty and no fealty to me? The King of Kings as you say?" the King's hands shook with fury.
Nestor remained calm amidst Agamemnon's growing rage. He already understood as soon as Kojo uttered his first words upon entering "He's in love with the girl, isn't he?"
Kojo sneered in agreement.
King Agamemnon rushed towards Kojo, his earlier rage dissipated. He placed his hands on the taller man's shoulders, shaking him roughly, "Is what you say true boy?"
"Yes my King."
King Agamemnon let out a cry of victory, "Nestor, send word to Odysseus, he is the only one that can convince that brute Achilles."
"Right away my King," Nestor left the torch-lit chamber room.
"Sit down my boy," King Agamemnon poured Kojo a cup of ale and slid it towards him, droplets of ale danced out of the overfilled brass cup. The King could be generous when feeling triumphant.
"How deep is it? Would he kill for the girl? Sacrifice himself for her?"
"Very deep. Bordering on volatile. And yes, from what I observed he has the full capacity to kill anyone or thing standing in his way of being with her."
"How the Gods favour me," Agamemnon's shoulders shook with boyish laughter, "I gained a new assassin and she just happens to be the love of Achilles' life."
"My King, there is a matter I wish to discuss," Kojo sipped on the ale, too sweet. He missed the strong burn of Asante spirits. "Since I have graciously offered Zarina to your majesty, she in fact presents herself as a double edged sword." Kojo placed the sickly sweet wine on the table."One side assassin, the other a controlling mechanism to Achilles heart. In addition to your wise counsel and your previous generosity of resources when I carried out my original mission, I would like to request an additional favour." the King motioned for Kojo to continue.
"Once I return back to Asante, I will require additional manpower to forcefully take the throne from my father. Even though I have annihilated all competition to the throne, the people of Asante may revolt. I will need five thousand of your strongest men with accompanying ships to strengthen the coup d'etat."
"Ten thousand."
"My King?"
"Ten thousand soldiers."
"My King!" Kojo leapt from his seat and bowed graciously to the King.
"On one condition" the King poured himself another cup of the sweet ale. "You must wait until I have successfully taken over Troy and have complete control over the Aegean."
"Certainly. You are beyond gracious my King."
"Save the niceties for when I hold court," Agamemnon held up his hand, eyelids starting to droop. The ale was taking effect. "You know this means that you will have to wait to kill the girl? Wait until I no longer have use for Achilles and then you can do with her as you see fit."
Kojo rose to his feet once more and regarded the King, "I have waited almost a decade to kill my last standing bastard brother Mutambo. I can wait a while longer before I execute his daughter."
"And you are certain you have taken care of all your royal brothers and sisters?"
Kojo only nodded in response. His mind raced with each and every murderous assassination over the past decade. The victims, his siblings, none the wiser to his treachery.
"Yes, and my niece will be the obstacle."
A/N: Dun dun dun. This was a really hard chapter to write and revise. Thanks for your patience! Next couple chapters should feature our two favourite Phithian soldiers. And maybe the chapter after that, we can hear from a fiesty Trojan.
Stay tuned, and kindly review. Stay safe!