15)
Briseis slowly opened the door to the hallway. As expected, two soldiers were on guard. They didn't seem to be too alert though, they probably didn't expect problems from some women. The men were playing some game with stones Briseis was unfamiliar with; it might be a typical Greek game.
She swallowed, not really certain the thing she was about to do would really work. She really hoped it would, because she would now put herself into a vulnerable position.
'Hey?'
The soldiers looked up, surprised by the sudden appearance of one of the women they were supposed to guard. The looked at her questioningly.
Briseis stepped into the hallway, revealing herself more to the men. She had taken off her cloak, so a fair amount of skin was visible now. This made the two men look, which was exactly her purpose. She hoped this would convince them.
'We are extremely bored. Could you join us, make it more fun here?'
The soldiers looked at each other. 'We're supposed to guard you Lady, not entertain you.'
'Well, that guarding of you means nothing,' Briseis said as nonchalant as she could. 'I just could have walked away without you noticing.'
The soldiers faced each other again to see what the other was thinking. Eventually one of them grinned and got up. 'Why not Rochus?'
But Rochus apparently was scared of the possible consequences, because he shook his head. 'No, but you go ahead.'
The other man smiled again and did what Briseis had hoped for, he entered the room. Briseis smiled at Rochus before closing the door behind them.
The Greek looked at Helen and Andromache, which gave Briseis the opportunity to inspect the weaponry of the soldier. He had what they had hoped for: a knife. He was carrying it on his back under his belt.
'Hello,' Helen greeted their "guest". She had a beautiful smile on her face, which no doubt would make the soldier fall for her. Briseis did not know how Helen could do this under these circumstances. 'Why don't you sit with us?'
Of course the soldier complied immediately. Briseis sat down next to him, but because he was facing Helen she in fact sat behind him. This was exactly the point. Helen began chitchat with him, thereby taking his attention from what was she about to do.
When Helen touched the man by wrapping her arm around his waist, Briseis slowly relieved him of his knife. The soldier was completely focused on Helen, the most beautiful woman that would ever touch him in his whole life, so he didn't notice. Briseis hid her loot under a pillow and signaled to Helen she now could try to free herself from the Greek.
'Hey boy,' Helen said smoothly. 'I think one of the kings might show up soon. It is getting evening you know.'
The soldier groaned in protest, but let go off her. 'It was nice talking to you.'
Helen smiled and, to Briseis' utter shock, kissed him on the cheek. 'Goodbye.'
The soldier reluctantly left the room. Briseis looked at Helen, a victorious smile on her face. Even Andromache smiled a little. Step one was completed. But they all knew step two would be a lot more dangerous.
The five of them watched Hector carefully cut the meat into six equal portions. According to customs none of them would speak before they had their share of the food. Odysseus was served first because he was the most respected guest, and subsequently Achilles, Patroclus, Paris, Aeneas and finally Hector himself got their share.
It would be the first but also the last meeting with the six of them present. Odysseus would return to Troy so Agamemnon would not get suspicious and Achilles also had business to attend to with his own Myrmidons. So now was the time to make the final arrangements for the battle they were about to engage in.
Paris looked around at his five companions. He wished the actual meeting would begin, but none of them was about to speak until they had finished their meal. And Paris was not the one to speak first, Hector or Odysseus should speak first because they were King, or in Hector's case would be King.
'There are a few arrangements that have to be made,' Odysseus began. 'The most important issue is the timing.'
Hector nodded thoughtfully. 'We could transport the horse this night, and then use it tomorrow.'
'It will give me the time to return to troy and Achilles to his army,' Odysseus agreed.
'I want to come with the Trojans in the horse,' Achilles spoke. It almost sounded like the demand of a child, but the serious matter was not childish at all.
Paris didn't understand why Achilles would want to do this. He had nothing to gain and it was risky. Paris looked at his brother and noticed he felt the same way. 'Can't you just go to Troy to be there?'
Achilles shook his head. 'No. Agamemnon would get suspicious.'
'And if he doesn't, I would,' Odysseus supported Achilles' claim.
Hector faced Achilles critically. 'You are very eager for someone who has nothing to gain.'
Achilles smiled almost evilly. 'Afraid I won't fight hard enough?'
'No, your basic fighting skills are on an acceptable level,' Hector answered coolly. Paris didn't miss Hector's faint smile.
Apparently Achilles didn't either, because he smiled. 'I guess that means I'm accepted?'
Hector nodded. 'Let's fight alongside for a change.'
'It would be an honor.'
'Lords, you have to see this!'
Odysseus was the only person in the room who had any idea of what the excited soldier was talking about. The other kings just wondered what was so important the soldier had the nerve to disturb them.
'Well, I suggest we have a look,' Agamemnon spoke as if he had just invented the wheel. He led the way, followed by all Greek kings.
The Trojans had come closer to Troy than Odysseus had expected. He could only admire how they had employed their knowledge of the terrain. He now noticed a small valley between the dunes he hadn't seen before.
'What is that?'
Odysseus thought of Hector, Paris and Achilles, who were now trapped inside the horse and had to be very quiet. This with about forty other men, inside a structure that was fully exposed to the heat of the sun. Odysseus didn't envy them.
'What's the problem? It's just a pile of wood!' Menelaus tried to make an unconcerned impression, but Odysseus did not buy it. To his amusement he sensed the Spartan's fear of the unknown.
'I think it is a sacrifice to the Gods,' Odysseus gave his "opinion".
'Then we should take it into the city,' Nestor suggested. Odysseus had hoped someone would suggest it, so he didn't have to propose it himself.
'No,' Menelaus objected. 'We should burn it!'
Odysseus could kill himself for not considering this possibility. He could not let this happen! 'I agree with Nestor,' he quickly protested. 'If this is a Trojan sacrifice, the only reason it is here is they can't reach the temple inside the city. If we take it there, we might gain the respect of Apollo again.'
'You think we lost it then?' He had hit a sensitive spot: religion. Good.
'Well, this must have cost them a lot of effort to build, so it is a powerful sacrifice.'
Agamemnon had not said anything, but had followed the discussion carefully. His discussion was abrupt, but it couldn't be challenged. 'We take it inside the walls of Troy.'
