-21-
The last embers of a burning fire collapsed, their glow slowly fading as the first pink rays of the rising sun crept over the eastern horizon.
Agamemnon shifted his gaze from where he had been staring sightlessly, his thoughts preoccupied and troubled. A noise had attracted his attention, from the gray fog that thinly surrounded the camp a tall shape strode.
A nod of greeting was all that was needed between the two as the newly arrived man seated himself opposite of the King.
"Ajax."
"High Lord, I have some news. The eastern part of the camp is astir. Some trouble with Achilles and his men, apparently the slave escaped."
A slow smile grew on the older man's face as he listened to the rugged warriors words.
"Escaped hmm?" He noted softly, his tone musing. He did not like this girl that Achilles had drudged up from nowhere. He did not like to be dependent on another for direction and counsel. Agamemnon made his own decisions. As far as he was concerned this was some new path of Achilles to usurp his leadership. The girl had escaped though... This was news, no doubt the warrior would be eager to retain his precious slave. Thoughts formulating quickly the Achean King, forgetting the presence of the man next to him, summoned his guard.
"Assemble some score of men, lightly armed. Quickly!"
Ajax watched his leader carefully, trying to grasp at his purpose.
"My lord?" He questioned after a moment of such silence.
"Achilles will want his slave back, he needs her... Seeress indeed! So then... I will find his slave for him, perhaps before him. Then by all rights she is mine, I can do what I will." Agamemnon paused, his girth shaking in a pleased chuckle.
"Achilles will by no means by pleased." Warned Ajax cautiously, firmly caught on to what the King was purposing.
"Achilles will have no other option but to abide by what the fates have planned." Snapped Agamemnon, his good mood fading somewhat.
Several miles away a small figure pulled herself from the ground. Feeling a dull ache in the pit of her stomach, an ache that grew as she moved. She was lost, she had realised that almost the moment she had woken. In last night's panic she had not marked from what direction she'd entered the forest, she didn't know which way to turn. Taking her chances as it moving was preferred to standing she trotted off northwards, hoping by pure luck that she was moving away from the Greek Camp.
The baying of hounds filled Achilles ears as he paused, his eyes narrowing on a crushed trail of undergrowth that was the beginning of the forest ahead of him. Surely she had entered here, he was gaining. Adreline pushing him on he raced forward, his men silent as wraiths behind him. There would be but one end to this night's hunt.