10 - Sorceress?

The scene was an odd one to behold. A small figure, hands bond securely behind her back, standing with obvious defiance before an assembled group of men. The men who were now staring with disbelief. As Niera's last words finally were absorbed an old man stepped forward from the throng, the clouded look in the eyes of his lined face giving him a far-away look. He was dressed in a robe the colour of purple, his white shaggy hair hanging well below his shoulders in thin strands. One thin gnarled arm held up a polished staff of wood. As the men's eyes now turned on him Niera heard a murmur, "Calchus..." The name was familiar, Niera was sure she'd heard it before but she couldn't place it and let it go by. Her angry look was now turning, without her realising it, into one of curiosity. Who was the old man? Stepping up to where he was only a yard from her Calchus looked at her. Niera couldn't explain the feeling but it was something like prickly dots poking all through her body, probing, pushing. Wincing from the odd feeling Niera pushed back, unaware that her mental effort was showing clearly on her physical frame. It seemed like hours, when in actuality it was only mere moments, before the lancing pain stopped and Calchus's eyes lowered. There was low murmuring from the men as Niera felt beads of sweat trickling slowly down her forehead and into her eyes. Annoyed that she couldn't raise her hands to wipe the perspiration away Niera felt her legs trembling with weakness. She needed food badly or she was afraid she wouldn't have the strength to stand but at the moment there was no way she was sitting down while all the rest of them stood, it was bad enough that when they'd come they had caught her sleeping. Still trying to puzzle out what had just happened and how the old man fit into it Niera looked up again, at Calchus, her gaze catching his with questioning clarity. She found nothing there, only hazed eyes that were rheumy with age. What had made her think... Niera shook her head quickly. All this business about foretelling and the lot was making her jumpy, that odd feeling was only a result of no sleep and no food, both of which she desperately needed. The man that had spoken before, the heavily-set muscled one, once again raised his voice. "What do you see Calchus? Is there truth in what Achilles tells us?"Niera almost sighed with relief, good! At least they trust the old man. He'll tell them I can't tell the rotten future. To Niera's utter dismay and abandon when Calchus spoke again it was nothing she wanted to hear.

"I can not see her. Not clearly. Something covers her, hides her, something powerful that resists me." Niera stared incredulously at the man. He's mad! That was the first thought that sprang into her mind followed directly by, They believe him! It was true. With odd looks and muttering whispers the men were regarding her with intense interest. "A sorceress..." The words met Niera's ears with grating force. With sudden vehemence and the air of one who amazed by the stupidity of another Niera spoke up, "A sorceress? Foretelling the future? Your all mad. Every one of you. And especially you." Niera gestured angrily at Calchus. "Power that resists you? The only power I've got is in these hands you've tied up." Feeling the strain of her words and feeling her eyes ready to droop with exhaustion Niera stumbled another step backwards, once again, annoyingly, knocking into Achilles. "Then who are you?" This was directed forcefully at her by the large man who's manner Niera was beginning to find very irritating. Opening her mouth to speak Niera's mind raced. What could she tell them? She didn't know enough to make up a plausible lie. They already knew she couldn't be a trojan, not with her way of talking and especially not with her mannerism. With a snap she shut her mouth a sigh escaping her. This was never going to end. With a self-satisfied smile the large man, who Niera was sure by now she heavily disliked, stepped forward, advancing. "You can't tell us who you are? Where you're from? Why not?" Niera's mouth set stubbornly, hoping they couldn't see the tremble in her body, the waning sense of alertness, too much more of this and... Niera's head jerked upwards, she would not faint again! Once was bad enough, twice... With a jarring shake Niera gathered her fumbling wits. "It's none of your business." She responded coldly. Niera saw the blow coming, saw all to clearly the back handed fist approaching, but in her bodily state she couldn't move fast enough. With a burst of strange light Niera felt impact and saw double, images blurring and fading with flickering white light in between.

An odd ringing noise accompanied the blow as blackness overcame the white edges of her vision. As Niera's body slumped backwards, back onto Achilles who held her prone frame steady, there was a silence. "High King. Perhaps you would wish not to win this war?" These words came casually from Achilles who was still supporting Niera. Agamemnon's face was clouded with anger as he stared darkly at the still face of Niera, a large red mark showing clearly on one cheek, blood now trickling down a gash caused by the heavy signet ring on his hand. Calchus was standing nearby, his old head shaking and fingers clutching his staff. Looking from Niera up to Achilles Agamemnon's face grew even blacker. "I do what I will Achilles." "It is obvious." Replied the former with absent tones. "Even to your own undoing. That girl is mine, no man has the right to touch her unless I say it. You will find, Agamemnon, that Achilles honour is held in high order, not to be crossed by any man." With another glare Agamemnon stepped back, back among the men who were now looking askance as if not wishing to witness the tenseness between the two leaders. Only one other besides Calchus was staring on with interest. If Niera had been conscious to overhear Achilles words concerning her, especially the bit concerning her status to him she would have gone mad with rage. As it was it was fortunate she was not conscious. As Agamemnon turned back Achilles lifted Niera. This time, with no fear from her struggling, his arm around her shoulders as one might carry a small child. As he made as though to leave Calchus once again spoke, "This is no ordinary girl Achilles. Mark that! Watch her well, do not leave her to her own self or you might find trouble. The gods have marked this one. And where the gods leave their mark expect much."

A short look was exchanged between the two before Achilles turned and striding with longs steps moved out of the meeting hall. As the rest of the leaders watched the warrior leave, one of them separated himself from the group, following Achilles hurriedly. "Achilles." At the sound of his name Achilles paused, knowing the voice. "Odysseus." He acknowledged waiting to continue his stride as the former caught up with him. The reddish hue of the stocky man's hair caught the firelight as he spoke, "It is like you. Finding a strange girl that even one as god-filled as Calchus can not determine." There was quiet for a moment before he went on, his rugged face becoming still. "What makes you say she can foretell? Few on this earth can." Achilles swung his head, his blue eyes meeting Odysseus's with gravity. "She knows things friend. In her sleep, she spoke all of our names. The names of our leaders, the Trojans, she spoke of burning, of victory. I cannot be certain for who but she knows things. The gods have marked her indeed. Do you notice her way of speaking. Even yet it has earned her a memento from Agamemnon." Achilles face hardened at the mention of the High King. "He oversteps himself." Odysseus gave a short chuckle. "I knew what was coming when I first heard her respond to him." As they neared the edge of the soldier's camp Odysseus veered away from Achilles path. "Till tomorrow Peleus's son." He said by way of leave, steps fading off into the night.