Elhwesta –I was inspired by Mulan when I wrote the initial chapters of this story.
Chapter 3
The next day, the temple of Zeus was crowded with people that Lucia and her mother had to weave between hordes of worshippers to reach the blind priestess who had the ability to foretell the future. The oracle was seated in a heavily covered tent, hidden from the eyes of the public.
Despite her protests, Lucia's mother insisted on seeing the oracle on this auspicious day.
Dressed in a pale blue robe and a veil to cover her short hair, Lucia stood stiffly in front of the tent. "Do I have to?" Lucia asked in dismay and received a firm nod from her mother. Her mother pressed some coins into her palm and gently nudged her inside.
"Go on," her mother said.
Dropping the coins into a basket, she knelt in front of the old priestess.
"Come here girl," the blind woman said, beckoning her closer.
Lucia was surprised that the priestess could tell she was a girl even before touching her. She allowed the oracle to place her wrinkled hands on her face and hands. "Hmmm…very unusual indeed," she murmured.
Lucia waited patiently as she traced the lines on her palms. "The path you have chosen is full of pain, terrible pain. Your life will be short," she said. Lucia bit her lower lip and looked away but the oracle reached out and cupped her cheek. "You're very brave, my child but it's not too late. Follow your heart and it will lead you to your destiny."
What does that mean?
Intrigued by the oracle's revelations, Lucia kept her words to heart and went away with her mother.
"What did she say?" her mother asked anxiously.
She gazed at her mother and took a deep breath – she looked so old and frail that if she knew the truth, it would kill her. Lucia struggled with her conscience as she contemplated her choices when the priestess' words came to her thoughts.
Follow your heart…
"The gods have given their blessing to my decision to become a warrior," Lucia finally said with a straight face.
Her mother gasped as she braced against the temple wall for support. "What? Are you sure?"
Looking away, she nodded. "It's time you told Medea that the wedding is off."
With a huge sigh, her mother walked home in silence. She felt horrible about lying to her mother. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I have to do this."
At home, Lucia quietly packed her dresses and took them away to be burned. It was late evening when she returned and found the person she least expected to see had turned up in front of her place. Captain Tyr looked different out of his armor – he seemed less intimidating in a simple cloak and tunic. Somehow, he had found where she was staying.
Had he been following her?
Swallowing nervously, she crept closer and overheard his conversation with her mother.
"Did you say that Lucanus has gone out with his friends?"
"Yes, my lord."
"I was hoping to have a word with him. Tomorrow, we'll be conducting a training session at the armory. It would be a pity if he missed it."
"I will inform him that you came by my lord."
"Thank you."
After Captain Tyr had left, she hurried back to her mother. "What happened?"
Her mother looked worried. "The captain wanted to see Lucanus. You have to be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Don't worry mother. It can't be that bad," she said with an assuring smile but in her heart, she didn't have a clue of what was about to happen.
The next morning, Lucia had carefully disguised herself by wearing many layers of clothes – it added bulk to her small stature. Bidding a hasty goodbye to her mother, she rode her horse to the armory. The men, young and old alike stood at the peripheral of the courtyard, awaiting instructions. Then one of Captain Tyr's commanders, Lysander rode into the center of the courtyard on his magnificent white horse.
"Listen up, you pathetic lot. This is not a summer camp. When we're out there facing the enemy, some of you may not return… And it's my job to make sure you come back alive!" he shouted.
The men cheered noisily.
"Follow me!" He reigned in his horse and galloped out of the courtyard. The men including Lucia followed him through the streets of Troy on foot, from tunnels to trenches on a grueling trail. They climbed the walls of Troy and ran along the narrow path circling the city. Many had stopped to gape at the horde of Greek ships that had lined the shore – a thousand of them and it was a sight to behold.
"Stop staring and get on with it, you lazy lot!" Lysander roared.
They continued to run and soon they passed alongside King Priam's palace. The path overlooked the royal gardens and just beyond the white-washed walls, Lucia saw a man in the courtyard with a sword – his movements swift and precise, honed by many years of discipline and training. She stopped for a closer look and realized the man was Prince Hector.
I wish I knew how to fight like that, she thought.
Realizing she was falling behind, she quickly dashed after the group.
%%%%%
The sun was shining mercilessly on the tired recruits as they trickled into the courtyard. Captain Tyr was already waiting for them.
"Form two lines facing each other. We shall be practicing with wooden staffs today," he commanded.
Lucia quietly followed instructions and found herself facing a fierce-looking opponent. He looked pleased that his opponent was a small 'man' – he growled intimidatingly at her.
"Begin!"
Taking a deep breath, she prepared to fight her larger opponent, guessing each parry and thrust accurately just as her brother had taught her. After a few rounds, she sensed that her opponent was getting tired and his steps were heavy. Taking advantage of his blunder, she whacked his shin with her staff followed by another thump on his head. The man fell to the ground groaning in pain. Pleased with herself, she looked up triumphantly at Captain Tyr hoping for some sign of approval but got none.
"I'm impressed. Would you fight me?"
Lucia whirled around in surprise. The rest of the men stopped their practice and stared at them.
"Your Highness." She quickly bowed to Prince Hector.
"Fight me," he repeated, holding out his staff. Lucia sensed the tension in the air as the men expected an answer from her.
Shaking her head, she replied, "I cannot."
"Why? Are you afraid of me?"
Lucia gulped nervously and held her head high looking defiantly at her prince. "You're not my enemy."
Suddenly, Prince Hector grabbed her sleeve and pulled her close, whispering conspiratorially to her. "You tell me that you want to avenge your cousin's death. What if I told you that I brought this war upon us? What if I told you that I was willing to sacrifice the lives of my men so that my brother could have his prize? Is that reason enough to fight me?"
She wrenched her arm away and fell back in shock. "That … that cannot be true."
"Fight me."
Had my brother been mistaken? That he had followed a traitor to his death?
Fuelled by anger, she picked up her staff and charged at the prince. Her movements seemed clumsy compared to the quickness of the prince. He ducked and parried her attacks effortlessly. He was the puppeteer pulling her strings in this flashy show of superiority. Increasingly frustrated, she made a last ditch attempt by lunging at her opponent. It was a mistake that had cost her.
The prince's staff struck her wrist, the pain shot up her arm and her staff fell in a clatter. Another jab on her back and she was on her knees. Lucia fought hard to keep the tears from her eyes as the pain seared through her body.
"Take my hand."
Humiliated and humbled, she looked up at the prince. She clasped Prince Hector's hand and staggered to her feet. He smiled and patted her shoulder.
"You need more practice if you wish to attain your goal," he said.
Lucia nodded, still dazed from the earlier repartee.
"What are you looking at? The show's over… go back to your homes now," Captain Tyr shouted and the men marched out of the courtyard.
Everyone was staring at Lucia, the 'boy' who dared answer Prince Hector's challenge. They seemed to regard her with newfound respect.
"Hey, you were very brave out there…"
"The last person didn't last half as long as you did."
She kept silent throughout the conversation, still deep in thought. As they passed the whore houses, the women whistled and called to them promising pleasure and gratification. Lucia squirmed at the attention but her fellow soldiers seemed to love it.
"Look at them! Ladies love a man in armor," one of them said.
"That's right. My woman admires my strength and battle scars!"
The rest laughed and pretended to bat their eyelashes and feigned a faint. Lucia couldn't help but smile at their silly antics.
"I like a woman with long golden hair and a pretty face!" one of them chipped in.
Another shook his head. "I don't care what she looks like…as long as she can cook."
"She'd better!" they echoed in unison.
"Later, my pretty ones!" They waved back to the women and went on their way.
"Lucanus! What about you? What kind of woman do you like?" The group stopped and stared at her.
"Uhm, I never really thought about it," she gave a vague answer.
The men laughed and slapped her back. "Ah – the pleasures of female company…You've much to learn boy."
As they passed the public baths, one of them said, "Lucanus, join us for a bath. You look like you need one!"
"Yes!" The others readily agreed.
Was this some kind of attempted male bonding? Her eyebrows shot up in alarm.
"No…no thanks. I'm not feeling well. I think I better get home," she stammered in embarrassment. The thought of seeing naked men in the same room made her want to retch. Lucia quickly sped off leaving a group of stunned compatriots in the middle of the street.
"What? Do we smell that bad?" one of them shouted and the rest laughed in jest.
Lucia flinched from the pain as her mother rubbed ointment on her bruises. "The prince shouldn't be so heavy handed…" she grumbled.
"Mother, he doesn't know I'm a girl and rightly I deserved it," she found herself defending him. "I don't expect any special treatment from him or from any other."
"Still…it won't do to have many injured soldiers out in the battlefield even before the battle starts," she shot back, obviously agitated.
Lucia hugged her mother. "All right, mother. I promise I'll be more careful next time."
"Philippa!" Someone outside was calling her mother.
She quickly opened the flap of her tent and found Medea and her son, Pollux at their doorstep. Her mother smiled and asked, "Yes, Medea. What brings you here at this hour?"
"Him," Medea answered with barely disguised anger, pointing to Lucia who was standing by her mother's side. "I demand to know the reason you rejected my marriage offer. My son tells me that this boy has been around your house a lot. Is he the reason Lucia doesn't want to marry my son?""
Her mother was taken aback by Medea's accusation. Lucia was angered that Pollux had been lurking around her place, spying on them. She took a bold step forward and said, "My name is Lucanus, cousin of Lucia and Marcus. What business is it of yours that I'm staying with my aunt?"
"Where is Lucia?" Pollux demanded; his face white with fury.
"Lucia has decided to become a priestess in the temple of Athena and devote herself to knowledge and study. Lucanus has nothing to do with her decision," her mother replied calmly.
"WHAT!"
Both Medea and Pollux were shocked. The temple of Athena was situated deep in the mountains and her priestesses vowed to a life of seclusion. Lucia was impressed by her mother's ingenuity. Silenced, Medea flounced out of the tent but Pollux was not satisfied with the answer as he stared daggers at Lucia. "We'll see about that."
When they were gone, Lucia leaped happily. "Mother, you're a genius!"
%%%%%
"Why the deliberate show? The boy was no match for you," Captain Tyr said as he escorted Hector back to the palace.
Hector smiled. "Keep an eye out for him. He will be a great warrior someday."
"Yes, Your Highness." The captain looked bewildered but he merely dismissed him.
"You may go now. I have to attend my father's council tonight."
Later that night, he saw the same lad in the courtyard, practicing his stances with a bronze sword. The boy was relentless, he thought.
Briefly gazing at his sleeping wife and child, Hector grabbed his cloak and went down to the courtyard.
As he approached the darkened courtyard, he recognized the boy immediately – Lucanus. But before he could show himself, another person had appeared so he decided to stay in the shadows and watch the event unfold.
"What do you want?" Lucanus demanded. He looked like he knew the stranger.
"A duel, Lucanus," challenged the pale stranger. "I don't believe a word your aunt had said. You've taken Lucia, stolen her from me. I demand satisfaction. Prepare to fight."
Lucanus laughed as if he was not afraid of this man. "I accept! But if I win this duel, you'll never show your face to my aunt and cousin again. If you win, I will leave Troy."
"You'll never see tomorrow!" Pollux spat with vengeance.
"We'll see about that."
Pollux charged at Lucanus with his sword whirling in the air ready to strike. Bronze swords clashed as the men parried and deflected each other's blows. Pollux grunted as he swung his sword at Lucanus who easily jumped aside and retaliated with deadly accuracy, wresting his opponent's sword from his hand and punching him in the jaw with his free hand. Pollux fell back, cursing loudly. It was clear that Lucanus was the more skilled warrior. He had his sword pointed at Pollux's throat before he could reach for his. "I could kill you now and end your miserable life."
Pollux was whimpering like a frightened rabbit in the face of a lion. "Please spare me!" he begged.
"Get out and don't let me see your face again!" Lucanus withdrew his sword.
Pollux scrambled to his feet and fled from the courtyard.
"I can see why your fair lady prefers you over that whiner," Hector said, stepping out of the shadows.
Lucanus stared at him in astonishment. "How did you…"
"I saw you from my window. You've been practicing on your own every night."
"I recall it was you, my prince who told me I needed more practice," Lucanus retorted, seemingly annoyed at the intrusion of privacy.
Hector became thoughtful. "Tell me something…you seem to have a death wish wanting to fight Achilles. Even I don't wish to fight him, if I can help it. I saw him throw a spear from a hundred yards and kill one of my captains on the spot."
"I'm not afraid." Lucanus' voice wavered but he straightened and put on a brave front.
"Then you are foolish."
"Marcus was like a brother to me and Achilles took away the only person I loved. If I kill Achilles, many Trojans will be saved from his sword and if not, I will die fighting for my country."
"It is obvious that I cannot deter you from your chosen path," Hector said with a sigh, turning away.
"Wait!" Lucanus hesitated a little. "The things you told me earlier today… I know you said it to provoke me to fight but still…I need to know that my cousin didn't die in vain."
Hector turned around and gazed into the boy's eyes. "He didn't die in vain."
TBC