Achilles grinned at his bested cousin, Patroclus.

His cousin glared at him. "You told me never to switch sword hands!"

"By the time you know how to do it, you won't be following my orders anymore." Suddenly, he stopped and cocked his head. He grinned. His foot curled around the wooden handle of one of the spears laying the ground. He flipped it into the air, grabbed it and hurled it.

Odysseus sighed as he looked at the spear stick out of the tree, mere inches from his head. He watched it quiver there for a minute and then ducked under it and came up the hill. He grinned at Achilles. "Your reputation for hospitality is fast becoming legend."

"I don't like that smile, my friend. It's the smile you smile when you want me to fight in another war." Achilles turned. "Patroclus, my cousin. Odysseus, king of Ithaca."

Odysseus turned to the young man. "Patroclus, son of Menoetius?"

Patroclus nodded. He was good looking, with golden skin, firm muscles and deep brown eyes.

Odysseus gripped his shoulder. "I knew your parents well. I miss them."

Patroclus only nodded.

Odysseus shot a glance at Achilles who shrugged. Odysseus stepped back. "Now you have this one watching over you, eh? Learning from Achilles himself. Every boy in Greece must be jealous." He turned to Achilles. "We need to talk."

Achilles leaned against the wall. "Tell me you're not here at Agamemnon's bidding."

Odysseus's hesitated. Just long enough. "I am not asking you to fight for him. I am asking you to fight for the Greeks."

"Why?" asked Achilles. "Are the Greeks tired of fighting each other?"

"For now."

"The Trojans never did anything to me.

"They insulted Greece."

"They insulted one Greek, a man who couldn't hold on to his wife. What business is that of mine?"

"Fight for me then," said Odysseus. "My wife will feel much better if she knows you're by my side. I would feel much better as well."

Achilles smiled. "I'm sure Penelope has few worries for you. She knows you're sly. Even if there is only one man standing after this war, she knew it'd be you."

"Is Ajax going to Troy?" asked Patroclus.

"So you've heard of Ajax," said Odysseus. "Yes, he's going."

"They say he can fell an oak tree with a single swing of his ax."

Odysseus grinned.

Achilles raised an eyebrow. "That's because trees don't swing back."

"Prince Hector of Troy. Is he as good a warrior as they say?" asked Patroclus.

"The best of all the Trojans. Some say he's better than all the Greeks, too."

"And what of his daughter?" asked Achilles.

"I've seen her before," said Odysseus.

Now he had Achilles attention. "Is she really as beautiful as they say?"

"Even more beautiful. She was rightly named."

"I hear she's as good a warrior as her Father."

Odysseus smiled. "She's better. I wouldn't want to have her sword at my throat."

Achilles made his way down to the seashore where he could see him mother there. She was walking along the shore in knee deep water, picked up shells. Her long black hair was streaked with gray.

"Mother."

Thetis turned and smiled at her son. "I thought I'd make you another seashell necklace."

"I haven't worn a seashell necklace since I was a boy."

Thetis looked at Achilles's bare neck. "Don't you like them anymore?"

Achilles smiled. He bent and picked up a good shell and handed it to his mother.

"Oh, that's a pretty one."

"They want me for another war," said Achilles.

Thetis bent and picked up a silvery shell.

"Are you listening?" demanded Achilles.

"Yes, my sweet. Another war," said Thetis.

"Against the Trojans."

"They say Evangelia of Troy is the most beautiful woman the gods ever touched."

"I've never seen her."

"I have," said Thetis. "I was awed."

"Patroclus want's to go."

"Patroclus has never seen war."

A seagull that soared above the sea saw the impressive sight.

A thousand ships sailed east, crowing the sea and churning the waves with their keels. The thousands of white sails where painted with all different signs and emblems of the various nationalities represented in the alliance. But there was one ship that was slightly out of formation. And its sail was bare. But what set it apart, was that it's sail was black, solid black. The only black sail in the whole fleet.

It was Achilles' ship.