Chapter 3 – A new acquaintance
"Please Hector, can't I come with you?" the ten year old girl begged him.
The prince shook his head. "I am sorry, but you can't. You know that your uncle doesn't want you running around in the streets."
"But I'll be good, I promise!"
"You are still too young for these sorts of rides, you'll have to wait," Hector told her gently and laughed as he saw a sulky look cross her face. "And don't give me those eyes, Briseis. It won't do you any good."
His young cousin pouted slightly, but she was a cheerful child and couldn't stay sullen for a long time. "Will you be back before nightfall?"
"I hope so," Hector told her. "But I really have to let my grey mare stretch out. She has been standing alone in the stables for too long by now."
Briseis nodded. "Well, be careful then. I hope Apollo will keep his hand over you."
"Thank you," he answered and couldn't help smiling at the girl's fascination with the gods. "Good bye then."
The stable boys had already prepared his horse and Hector inspected her critically. She looked well enough, but her voluminous belly told him that she had been given too much to eat. He would have to work hard to get her back into shape.
He sighed to himself as he led the mare towards the castle gates. The day was windy and the sand hit her in the eyes. She neighed worriedly and Hector had to calm her down. This was not the best weather to go for a ride in. Still, it felt very good to be outside the walls again.
These last few weeks, his father had piled his son with tasks and duties that had to be taken care of and he had barely been given a moment's rest. It was a part of the punishment, Hector knew it. And even though he missed his horses and his fighting lessons, he never complained.
He missed his brother. Paris had been gone for almost two weeks by now, but no one knew when he would return. Return in the company of... "Oh my gods," Hector mumbled to himself. "Help me..."
"What did you say, my lord?"
Hector stared at the mare, momentarily wondering if he had lost his mind. Then he realized that he had been addressed by a young woman who had been walking on the other side of the horse's neck.
"Nothing," he quickly tried to explain. "I was just talking to myself."
"Oh, well, if you say so, my lord," the girl said insecurely.
She was looking strangely at him and Hector realized that she was pondering whether or not she would consider him a raving madman. "I mean it," he said, slightly embarrassed. "I was just distracted. It was..."
He stopped as he realized that he recognized the girl. He didn't know where he had met her, but something about her eyes and face was distinctly familiar. Before he had been given time to ask her where he had seen her before, the girl's eyes rounded.
"Oh, it's you," she mumbled and quickly curtsied before him.
Then Hector realized that she was the girl from tavern who had saved Paris from the Spartans. "We met at Apollo's Lyre a few weeks ago, didn't we?" he asked her and the young woman nodded. Hector frowned. "I am sorry, but I don't think I ever caught your name."
"It's Lena, my lord," she answered politely. She was dressed in a modest blue dress with a black cloak over. She had pulled the hood up to cover herself from the storm, but a few strays of raven hair had released themselves and fell down into her sun kissed face.
"Lena," Hector said smiling. "Well, my name is..."
"Oh, I know who you are, my lord," the girl said, smiling shyly. "I knew that from the first moment I saw you at the tavern."
"Did you?" He was surprised. He certainly didn't boast with his title.
"Of course," the girl answered. "Everyone in Troy knows their prince by sight."
"Oh." Hector couldn't help feeling embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. "So what brings you to the castle if I may ask?"
A look of melancholia crossed the girl's face. "I came to ask if I could get an employment in the kitchens, but unfortunately they didn't need any more help."
"Have you been fired from Apollo's Lyre?" Hector asked, worried that her part in the brawl with the Spartans had gotten her into trouble.
Lena shook her head, smiling sadly. "No, my lord," she said. "But I am afraid the money I make in the tavern is not enough so I need another source of income. My..." She stopped, blushing slightly. "My... man does not seem to be able to keep his work no matter where he is engaged." She shrugged. "So I have more than one mouth to feed."
Hector nodded. He watched her closely and realized that she was looking very tired. The girl was probably working hard and whatever useless boy she was sharing her life with was no help to her. He felt sorry for her and tried to think of a way to help her.
"I shall talk to the head of the kitchen," he promised her. "I am sure we can find a place for you."
The girl's cheeks crimsoned slightly. "That's very kind of you, my lord," she said. "But I will not accept charity." Despite her apparent poverty, she spoke with great dignity.
"It's not charity," Hector protested. "I owe you this."
"You don't owe me anything, my lord," the girl insisted.
"Yes I do," Hector said firmly. "Don't you think I remember what you did for my brother? I am in your debt, just like I told you."
The girl looked embarrassed. "I really didn't do a lot for your brother," she said awkwardly.
Hector laughed. "You saved him from being cut open. I should think that counts for something. Please, let me give you this small sign of my appreciation," he said gently, taking care not to hurt her pride.
The girl couldn't help smiling. She shrugged. "I am grateful, my lord."
Hector nodded and surveyed her. "Are you going home?" he asked. She nodded. "Let me take you," he said impulsively.
"You don't have to trouble yourself," the girl said quickly.
"It is no trouble," Hector assured her. "You shouldn't be walking in this wind."
She looked hesitating. "I have a man, my lord," she said knowingly.
"Yes so you said," Hector nodded. "But that doesn't mean we can't be friends does it?"
His expression was playful and she couldn't hold back a laugh. "No I suppose not. Who wouldn't like to be your friend, my lord?"
The sparkle in her blue eyes made Hector feel dizzy and for a moment he couldn't speak. Then he swallowed and commanded himself not to make a fool out of himself. He lifted the girl into the saddle and mounted behind her. Together, they rode out from the palace and into the swarming streets of Troy.
Hector asked Lena to point out the way to him, which she gladly did. Hector was aware of the scent of her as she was pressed close to him and cleared his throat. "Have you lived here all of your life?"
She turned slightly and smiled. "No I haven't. I grew up outside the city, on the countryside. It was a small place close to the sea where the water is so pure you can use it as a mirror."
"And why did you come here?"
"Oh." Her smile died and she shrugged. "That was when I met Nikos. He took me with him to Troy. It's a splendid city, but sometimes it is hard to make a living."
Hector didn't know what to say and almost felt like he was supposed to excuse himself because he was a prince. That would be ridiculous. He just kept his silence for the rest of the ride until they reached her home. It was a small house placed in a narrow alley and quite worn.
He helped Lena dismount. She looked somewhat awkward. "Thank you for escorting me, my lord," she said. Then she glanced at her house. "I would like to invite you to the house, but Nikos... Well, I don't think he would appreciate it..." Her face was apologizing and uncomfortable.
"I understand," Hector assured her. "Let's just say our good byes here."
Her face was relieved. "Thank you my lord."
Before Hector could say anything else, there was a call from inside the house. "Lena, is that you?" A young man with dark hair and a shaggy beard came out through the door. He was an impressive sight, about Hector's height, but where the prince was slender, this man looked stocky and powerful.
He had been opening his mouth to say something to Lena, but stopped in surprise as he realized that she wasn't alone. He frowned slightly. "Who is this?" he asked glaring suspiciously.
"This is Hector, the Prince of Troy," Lena introduced. "He just took me home from the castle," she explained quickly. "The prince was kind enough to offer me some help to get an employment."
"Did he?" This did not seem to please the young man.
"This is Nikos who I told you about," Lena told Hector. He nodded a polite greeting at the man.
There was an uncomfortable silence. Lena looked worried and Hector realized that she probably feared that her man would come to the wrong conclusions. He didn't want to get her, nor himself into any trouble. "Well, I suppose I should go," he said, moving towards his horse.
"No, whatever for?" the young Nikos said abruptly. The suspicion had subsided and his face was lit up by a slow smile. "If the Prince of Troy has come by my humble house, he must at least stay for a cup of wine."
"Oh, well I hadn't really planned..."
"Nonsense, just come inside, my prince," Nikos offered, gesturing towards the door.
Hector gave in. Just a cup of wine. Then he would leave. He followed Nikos and Lena up the stairs and inside their small and narrow home. Nikos offered him a seat at a bench and settled down next to him. "Lena, get us some wine if you please," he said.
She didn't look too happy with the way things had developed, but nodded and headed for the kitchen. Nikos turned back to Hector who tried to make himself comfortable on the hard bench. "So, how do you know Lena?"
His tone of voice was curious and slightly hostile. Hector realized that he was jealous. "I don't," he admitted. "We just met a couple of weeks ago at Apollo's Lyre. She did my brother a great kindness."
"Really?" Nikos raised his eyebrows. "And now you are going to help her get a work inside the palace?" He sounded knowing and Hector realized that he was suspecting that he had other intentions as well.
"Yes, I am," he answered honestly. His eyes were steady; he had nothing to hide.
Nikos looked slightly embarrassed. "Forgive me, my lord. I didn't mean to offend you. It's just... Well, I guess a prince like you can do or take whatever he likes," he said grimly. "It's not much a man like me could do to stop it."
"There is no need for worry," Hector assured him. "I am just trying to repay Lena for what she did. Nothing more."
"Oh, well she has a good heart," Nikos said, seemingly relieved. "If you'll excuse me for a moment, my lord."
He left Hector and followed Lena into the kitchen. A moment later, they both returned, carrying cups of wine. Lena handed Hector a cup and he smiled politely. He watched her as she took her place on the other side of the table. He had been truthful when he spoke to her man about his intentions, but he still couldn't help but notice the fact that she was a very attractive young woman.
She was short, but very petite and rounded in the right areas. She had removed her cloak and her raven hair hung loosely against her back. Her eyes were in a rare violet colour, her lashes black and thick. Besides, there was something about the way she moved, a certain grace. He had to admit that she could be taken for one of the noblest ladies in his father's castle. It was a shame that she had given herself to such a...
He suddenly noticed that Nikos was staring at him with disapproval and managed to take his eyes off her. He silently scolded himself. He was going to be married in a few months. This wasn't the time to start thinking about some romantic entanglements. Especially not with a woman who belonged to someone else.
He cleared his throat. "Are you two married?" he asked the young couple.
They glanced at each other. "No yet, my lord," Lena answered. "Nikos has promised that we will as soon as he has made us some more money."
"I used to be with the city guard," Nikos informed him, cringing. "But my temper didn't fit them. Since then I have... well, I have been taking a work where I can find one."
Hector nodded politely. Lena looked at him closely. "Are you married my lord?" she asked him.
His cheeks crimsoned slightly. "Not yet. Just betrothed."
Hector finished his wine and decided that he had better go. It was getting late. Surprisingly enough, Nikos allowed Lena to follow him down to his horse that was bound in the alley. She looked nervous as they said good bye. "I must apologize for Nikos," she said. "I hope he didn't make you uncomfortable?"
"Not at all," Hector assured her, courteously. "I can see why he is concerned." He looked closer at her face and discovered a mark he hadn't noticed before on her chin. It looked like a bruise. He frowned. "Does he treat you well?" he asked her impulsively.
She locked taken aback and blushed as she realized what he was referring to. "He is not wicked, my lord," she said. "He... he is my man," she finished simply.
Hector nodded. "I understand. I just hope that he appreciates what he has got." He pressed Lena's hand lightly. "I'll let you know about the work."
"You are very kind, my lord," she said sincerely.
He bid her farewell and turned the horse. It was too late to go for a long ride by now, so he decided to go straight back to the castle instead. The city of Troy consisted of many swirling alleys and it was an easy thing to get lost. But Hector knew the town like his own pockets.
He didn't know when he suddenly started to feel dizzy. He tried to straighten up in the saddle, but it just seemed to get worse. His head felt heavy and his sight was blurry. He didn't seem to be able to control his own muscles anymore and he felt himself sliding down over the horse's side.
As he hit the ground, the truth hit his confused mind. "The wine, the wine..." He was lying on his stomach in a deserted, dark alley, unable to move when he suddenly heard the sound of laughter and loud voices around him.
"Well, this is a prey worth something," he heard a man saying. The voice was familiar.
It can't be, he tried to tell himself. She wouldn't... Then he received a hard blow in the back of his head and everything around him turned into darkness.