Evangelia's eyes picked out the tall form of Achilles as he strode quickly toward the other end of the beach. She watched him for a moment.
She raised her arm and let it fall wordlessly.
Large balls of brush and dry wood soaked in oil where dragged to the top of the hill.
Suddenly the dune top was bristling with archers. Half of them lit arrows with fire and fired them so they landed in neat rows along the front of the tents. Others picked off stray men.
Evangelia waved her arm.
The balls where pushed down the dune top, picking up speed as they went. They rolled right through the still burning arrows and burst into flames. Confusion and screaming broke loose as the burning balls crashed into tents.
Achilles whirled at the first sound of the screams and stared in disbelief at the large balls of fire rolling down the hill. He ducked into the shadows and searched the dune tops. Then he saw her.
She was sitting there, on top of her horse, tall and regal. She was cloaked in black and the hood almost covered her eyes but he could see the glint of them in the firelight. It was as if she was staring straight at him.
Achilles turned and ran along the tide line. He made it to the top of the dune and looked around.
"You are brave to come after me alone."
Achilles whirled and saw Evangelia sitting on her horse not ten feet away. She was regarding him coolly.
He said nothing just looked at her. She looked coldly beautiful, sitting there on her black stallion, cloaked in black, with her hair shinning ghostlike in the moonlight. She had pushed her hood back and now the fire reflecting in their blue depths. "What was it that Agamemnon said to you that made you so angry?"
Achilles didn't answer. If indeed Bresis was her cousin, he did not want to give her the sad news…
"What's in this war for you, Achilles? A long living name?" asked Evangelia.
"Yes. I am here for the glory and the glory only," said Achilles. "And for you, Princess of Troy? What is this war to you?"
"My land. My family," said Evangelia. She looked at him for a long moment and suddenly her eyes filled with tears. "It's a terrible thing we do, Achilles. I kill for freedom and you kill for glory."
"Yours is a much better cause."
"There should never be a cause for taking life." Her eyes seemed to come alive as she spoke. "True, I can take life. But can I give life. Can I do that? I should not be so quick to deal out death but…" She turned her horse. "We'll meet again, Achilles."
"When?" Achilles stared into her eyes. He knew then that he would never kill this girl. She was…she was something to him. He did not know what yet. But he would find out.
Evangelia turned and smiled. "Soon. Very soon."
"Achilles!"
Achilles turned and saw his captain, Markos coming up the hill toward him.
"Achilles, they…"
"Took Briseis," said Achilles as he came slowly down the dune. "I know. Where's Patroclus?"
"They knocked him unconscious. He's sleeping off a headache."
Achilles stood there for a long moment with Evangelia's words ringing in his ears. Perhaps…he could prove himself. "Tell the men we don't fight tomorrow. We're standing down. They can sleep as late as they want."
Evangelia went down the hall, unfastening her cloak and throwing her hood back. Suddenly, she saw a black shadow at the other end and stopped.
Her Father, Hector burst into the courtyard and grabbed the shadow.
Evangelia stepped into the garden and started to go to him but then she heard the sobs.
Hector threw back the hood. "Helen!"
Helen burst into tears and buried her face in Hector's chest.
Hector sighed.
"I saw them burning," cried Helen. "I saw them from my room. They're burning because of me."
"Where are you going?' asked Hector gently.
"Down to the beach. I'll go back to Menelaus. I can't take anymore of this.""Anymore of what?" asked Hector. "Helen, if you think this war is your fault, think that no more. Agamemnon was waiting for an excuse to come to Troy. And all you did was give it to him. I find no fault in you," he said gently. "War from him would have come for Troy sooner or later."
"They all hate me here," said Helen. "What good am I to anyone here? I have brought nothing but trouble since the moment I entered those gates."
"No…"
"Yes, Hector, I did. Your daughter won't even look at Paris anymore. I have turned her against him."
"That is between him and her," said Hector.
Helen shook her head sadly. "No Hector. It's no use."
"You are good for someone here," said Hector desperately. He knew that if she went down to the beach, Paris would follow and be dead by dawn. "Paris. He needs you. especially tonight of all nights."
Helen looked at him. "Why tonight?"
Hector hesitated. Then spoke gently, "Paris will fight Meneluas tomorrow."
Evangelia clasped her hand over her mouth to keep her gasp of shock being heard.
Helen gasped and gripped Hector's arms with an almost painful grasp. "No! You can't let him."
"I can't stop him, Helen. I already tried." Hector gently removed her hands and wiped her tears away. "Go to him. He needs you desperately tonight."
Slowly Helen nodded and turned to go back inside. She stopped and looked at Hector. "Thank you, Hector. You are a Prince of Troy."
Evangelia turned and ran.
She slammed the door to her room and flattened her back against it.
"Evangelia." Priam was sitting out on the balcony. "Come," he said. "Come out here with me."
Evangelia dropped her cloak to the floor and went out on the balcony with her Grandfather. "Is it true?"
"Is what true?"
"About Paris."
"Yes," said Priam. "Tomorrow when Agamemnon and Menelaus come to our gates, Paris will ride out and challenge Menelaus."
"Menelaus will kill him," said Evangelia.
"You will sit up on the balcony with me tomorrow?" asked Priam.
"No," said Evangelia. "My place…"
"Just for the parlay."
Evangelia nodded. "Very well."
"Perhaps it would cause Paris' heart rest if you went to him." Priam stood. And went quietly to the door. "But then again, it is your choice."
Evangelia sat out on her balcony for a long time that night. Her thoughts did not rest long on what would come tomorrow. But they where on Achilles.