7)

'Princess Andromache.'

She sighed. Apparently Agamemnon was awake now. That meant hell would start again.

She slowly turned around to face her "master". He was sitting on the bed, a strange smile on his face. He disgusted and scared her. He was just a horrible person, Andromache couldn't understand the Gods had favored him over Priam and Hector.

'You are a beautiful woman, your husband ever told you that?' She could just stop herself from laughing scornful. Of course Hector had told her this!

'You will bare me wonderful children,' he continued. Now she felt like throwing up. The thought of his hands on her….

'At least if you can. You never had a baby, have you?' He was so wrong about that. Andromache was glad he didn't know her secret. Astyanax, her baby, was safe. One of her handmaidens had taken him from the palace to her home. There he wouldn't be completely safe either, it was very likely the Greeks would kill all boys after they had slept off their hangover, but an ordinary house was much safer than the royal palace.

Agamemnon got up from the bed and straightened his clothes. 'I have to go my dear,' he told her. 'Have a nice day.'

Yeah right!

'Have you seen the star?'

All the important Greek men were present in the great hall of the palace of Troy. And among them were many that had seen the star falling from the sky, and saw it as a sign of the Gods they were pleased with the Greek victory. Odysseus was not so sure. It was a sign of Zeus, of course, but he thought the meaning was not that clear.

'Brothers!' Agamemnon made his entrance, obviously in an exceptional good mood. 'Why is everyone gathered here?'

'We are celebrating the Gods,' Menelaus answered his brother. 'Because the mighty Zeus honored us with a sign.'

'Yes,' Nestor agreed. 'He sent a star from the sky.'

Agamemnon's smile widened. Odysseus realized he was up to something. And that would most likely be an unpleasant surprise. 'Have the interpreters already established the message?'

Kalchas, the master interpreter, stepped forward. 'Zeus has granted us a victory, and will grant us many more.'

'Good,' King Agamemnon showed his approval. 'The mighty Zeus not only gave us a sign in the form of a star, he also showed me a vision. He showed us, celebrating victory in the great halls of the palace of the Hittites!'

It was dead silent, all were engulfed in surprise, fear and excitement. Nobody now doubted the Gods had granted them victory over the Hittites, the mighty horsemen who never had been defeated by any Greek power!

Nobody but Odysseus. And Odysseus knew they were doomed now.

Briseis felt like she was held in her place by an invisible force. She wanted to move away from Achilles, but she couldn't. At the same time she wanted to touch Achilles, but she couldn't do that either. Because of her irresolution, she was stuck.

Achilles moved in, slowly and smiling. His intention was obvious, Briseis' feeling about it was not. She was torn by fear and desire.

'Achilles!'

Achilles stopped and spit out some real bad insults to the Gods. Briseis had never seen a more disrespectful person in her life. First he decapitated a statue before the temple of Apollo, and now he insulted the Gods. If he didn't have it coming already, Apollo, who strikes from afar, would now certainly punish the Greek warrior.

'Achilles!'

'Yeah, I'm coming,' she heard Achilles mumble. 'It better be good Patroclus.'

'Achilles!'

Patroclus watched his cousin come out of his tent; only half clothed and with a look on his face that most certainly had meant death to any other messenger. He had clearly been interrupted, Patroclus wondered if it was this girl he had taken with him last night.

'What is the matter Patroclus?'

'I just heard Agamemnon has planned a raid against the Hittites!'

To Patroclus' amazement, Achilles' reaction was not one of delight. Patroclus didn't understand why; didn't another war mean more glory?

Achilles disappeared in his tent to return only moments later, fully dressed and with his sword in place. 'Let's visit the King of fools.'

Patroclus didn't understand the whole problem, but knew better than to object.

They came only moments after Achilles had left. Briseis could hear them argue with the Myrmidons, who wouldn't let them into the tent of their master that easily. But Briseis realized the soldiers would enter quickly, they had a strong position because their orders came from King Agamemnon himself.

Briseis looked over her shoulder, at Hector, and knew she had to find a way to hide him from the Mycenaean soldiers. But how?

Not stopped by any guards, Achilles marched into the palace, on his way to find Agamemnon. Attacking the Hittites! The idea alone! The King of Mycenae had gone insane, it was a typical case of extreme megalomania. This was how empires fell, by the hands of incompetent leaders.

He violently pushed the door open, which made the gathered kings look up in surprise. Odysseus rose to make him stop, but Achilles succeeded in avoiding him.

'What is the matter, great Achilles, annoyed you were not called upon for council?'

Achilles halted in front of the king. 'You shall not go to Hatti! '

'That decision is not up to you, Achilles, but to Kings! And last time I checked you weren't one.' Agamemnon turned to the door, and pointed it out to Achilles. 'And that brings me to another matter.'

Achilles looked at what Agamemnon was pointing at, and grew even more angry than he had already been. Briseis was held by two guards, who didn't handle her too nice. She struggled to break free, but this attempt was futile.

'You took her without my consent,' the King continued imperturbable.

'I can't help it you were so drunk you can't remember,' Achilles retorted. 'But you did give your consent.'

Achilles and Agamemnon faced each other in a standoff, letting the tension grow. 'You can't have the girl,' Agamemnon was the first to speak. 'I have already promised her to someone else.'

'I don't care!'

'You can't have her,' Agamemnon repeated.

'Than I won't fight.'

'What makes you think I need you!' Agamemnon turned to the other kings now to convince them of his point. 'The Hittites are weakened from a war with the Assyrians, and we can reach them in weeks! We don't need Achilles to win this war.'

'You forget the Trojans,' Achilles spoke. 'Assuming we looked everywhere, they still have Hector and Paris. They will be eager to attack you in the hills, which is their territory!' Achilles now turned to the other kings. 'You are already discussing the next war while you haven't even won the first yet!'

'You're bluffing,' Menelaus spoke in support of his brother, and the other kings nodded in agreement. Only Odysseus seemed skeptical, but Achilles was only able to detect this because they went back a long time.

It was true though, he was bluffing about the attack of the Trojans, but Achilles knew he could make it happen. Because he had Hector, and he could release this man on the Greeks anytime he pleased. 'Very soon, you will all wish you had listened to me!' Achilles turned to Agamemnon, who watched back with a satisfied grin on his face. Achilles drew his sword and pointed it horizontally at the King of kings, which quickly made that arrogant grin disappear. 'Before my time is done, I will look down on your corpse and smile!'

He left the throne room and made his way back to his tent. He was about to enter his temporary home, but was stopped by his cousin Patroclus, who appeared to be very angry with him. Achilles knew Patroclus would want to fight alongside the Greeks. Apparently he had already heard what happened.

'You'll let Greeks die for this woman!'

Oh yeah, he knew. Achilles didn't answer though, but, followed by his cousin, entered his tent.

Hector found himself in the same position he was the last time he could remember; sprawled out on animal skins in the back of Achilles' tent. The only difference was he was covered with all kinds of things; covers, clothes and even fruits. Hector thought it was odd, it looked like someone had tried to hide him. Maybe Achilles had some visitors who shouldn't know about him.

He pushed all the items away and carefully tried to sit up, and was actually pretty surprised he was able to do this. His stomach and back still hurt badly, but he could sit. Now he could inspect his wounds for the first time. His diagnose was he had been stabbed through and through with a spear. The wounds looked surprisingly good, there was no sign of a serious infection. The bandage was very professional, Hector had to conclude Achilles was a good doctor.

Speaking of Achilles, were was he? Certainly not here. He got onto his feet, and was again surprised, this time by the fact his feet could hold him. And then, by the worst timing possible, the flap of the tent was removed and two men entered:

Achilles and Patroclus.