Warriors in Bronze (35 page)

'I shall, sire.' 'If Thyestes still refuses to return you have my authority, then, to offer him joint rule of Mycenae.'

My jaw dropped. 'You will share —' I met Atreus' look, and stopped. 'Very well, sire.'

'That is all. You'll leave for Elis immediately.'

I summoned my courage and said, 'What
do
you mean to do with Thyestes?
^’

The faintest hint of a smile touched Atreus' lips, a smile that shivered ice-barbs on my spine. 'I shall make him endure, living, the tortures I have suffered at his hands.'

* * *

I detailed a powerful escort for our journey across Arcadia: twenty chariots and three hundred spears guarded a train of mules and ox-carts carrying baggage, provisions and a profusion of valuables intended as gifts for Thyestes. Arcadians are rough mountain folk, inimical to strangers, living in tribal villages clinging to the slopes. Gelon says they descend from Achaea's earliest people, aboriginals who held the land before the Goat­men. Besides these primitive savages, Goatmen and Dorians infest the heights and descend to harry travellers. Men journey­ing in Arcadia keep swords loosely scabbarded.

Despite the need for incessant vigilance, despite stony rutted trackways and barely fordable streams the march was not un­pleasant. Fresh greenery mantled hillsides, flowers speckled the valleys in a gorgeous rolling tapestry splashed yellow and red and blue. I sent chariots ahead to Elis to announce our peaceful advent: Elians were touchy about armed parties from Arcadia and I had no desire to meet a pugnacious warband.

King Augeas received us as hospitably as his infirmities permitted - at this time most of Achaea's rulers seemed dod­dery old men - provided a hutted camp for drovers, spearmen and grooms, and quarters in the citadel for Heroes and Com­panions. After greeting Menelaus and myself, and learning the purpose of our visit, Augeas sent a chamberlain to fetch Thyestes, and tottered to his apartments. We saw him no more until we took our leave.

It was easy to see in Elis how young ambitious nobles, chafing under a senile king who refused to die, could easily become a fertile bed for the seed of mutinous plots.

I displayed two ox-carts' loads of gifts in tempting array on the floor of a room the chamberlain provided. Clad in kilt and sandals. Thyestes swaggered in accompanied by two Heroes and a boy about nine years old - Tantalus, his youngest and favour­ite son. Sunken eyes surveyed us bleakly.

'King Augeas bids me meet you. I defer to my host's com­mands. I'd rather foregather with swineherds than talk to Atreus' lackeys. Say what you have to say quickly, and return to your master's midden.'

It was not a promising start. Moreover Thyestes' very ap­pearance made gooseflesh pimple my skin. Even today his memory recalls a cringing fear from childhood days fuelled by the loathing my ordeal in Aerope's room engendered. Time had grizzled a stiff brown beard, deeper hollows and harsher planes chiselled the weathered-oak face. I could almost smell the evil he exuded.

I indicated the gifts on the floor. 'King Atreus sends these for your pleasure, my lord, and hopes for a reconciliation. It is not becoming, he says, for brothers to live at enmity.'

Thyestes' foot sent a beaker clattering. 'Damned rubbish! I have treasure enough for my needs. Why this sudden gen­erosity ? Atreus wouldn't part with a wooden platter unless he expected a lucrative return. What does the blaggard want?'

I repeated the offer I had learned by rote, varying never a word. Thyestes listened in mounting surprise and, at the end, remained silent for several moments. Absently he unsheathed the dagger at his belt, examined the blade unseeingly, returned it to the sheath and tapped it home. He said abruptly, 'What has caused my brother's astonishing change of heart?'

This was outside my brief. 'The realm is expanding, my lord,' I improvised. 'Mycenaeans are settling in islands overseas; trade is flourishing; and I believe the king is contemplating conquests in Achaea. It's a heavy burden for a man to carry alone. He needs your help to lighten the load.'

'Very plausible - if one could believe a word the trickster says. He promises an amnesty and guarantees my life. Will you answer for that with your head?
^’

'I will, my lord.'

'And I’ Menelaus murmured.

Then,' Thyestes snapped, 'one of you stays in Elis as hostage for my safety.'

I strove to conceal confusion. 'I regret we have not King Atreus' permission. I must obey his orders faithfully - they were detailed and precise. He made no mention of hostages, ourselves or any other.'

'Of course,' Thyestes jeered. 'So he extends no solid safe­guards, and expects me to take him on trust. He must think me a monstrous fool! Atreus can eat his gifts, the estates he offers, his promises - and I hope they choke him!' He swung on his heel and stamped to the door, scattering tripods, cups and flagons as he went.

'Wait, my lord!' I cleared my throat and said incisively, That is not all. Provided you come to Mycenae the king is ready to cede you half his realm in equal rule.'

Thyestes turned in the doorway and rested a hand on the jamb. He gave me a meditative look. Cunning and calculation glinted in hard green eyes. 'So. An offer of kingship. Rather more generous than these trashy gifts. It gives a different slant to the whole affair.' He draped an arm affectionately round Tantalus' shoulders, and crooked a finger at his taciturn brace of Heroes. 'You witness Agamemnon's words, my lords, and you, young fellow? I am entitled, on reaching Mycenae, to share Atreus' kingdom. Repeat the contract, Agamemnon.'

I did so, loathing every word, certain I perjured myself. Atreus, of all people, was not the man to yield a tittle of his power to anyone on earth, least of all to a brother he hated from the bottom of his heart. The king was set on vengeance for Aerope, some horrible requital whose nature I could not fathom - for I fully believed his promise to spare the seducer's life. I almost, against all reason, blurted a warning to stay securely in Elis.

I kept my mouth shut, and disaster flowed undammed.

'In that case,' Thyestes said, 'I'll consider the matter and give you an answer by morning. Come, my lords. Tantalus, dear boy, it's time you went to bed.'

They left the room. Perspiration damped my temples. Menelaus met my look, and wordlessly rolled his eyes.

At dawn Thyestes, with Tantalus in his chariot, an entourage of Heroes, Companions and squires driving behind, headed the

column marching for Mycenae.

* * *

Atreus accorded Thyestes the ceremonial grandeur befitting a reigning monarch. Taking his palace Heroes and four hundred spearmen splendidly accoutred, he drove out to meet him. The brothers dismounted and embraced. Atreus looked brisk and cheerful. For one optimistic moment I almost dared to hope that the king had changed his mind.

Nobody, unfortunately, had remembered to tell Pelopia. While crossing the Great Court attended by ladies she met her husband and Thyestes and a boisterous party of Heroes emer­ging from the stairway. I thought she was going to swoon. She put hand over mouth and staggered, gave an inarticulate moan and ran from the Court as fast as her skirts would allow. Thyestes watched her going; a malevolent little smile quivered on his lips. The king, surprised and anxious, hastened into the portico after his queen.

When he returned Thyestes inquired easily, 'Who is the handsome lady who has been suddenly taken ill?'

'My wife Pelopia,' said Atreus shortly, 'Thesprotus of Sicyon's daughter. Heat and sun-glare have brought on a painful migraine.'

'Ah, yes - I heard of your marriage. Although I stayed in Sicyon I never,' Thyestes lied, 'had the pleasure of meeting your lady. You have a child, I hear.'

'A two-year-old son: Aegisthus.'

'An uncommon name.' Thyestes' eyes were hooded, his countenance inscrutable. 'Aegisthus. I must remember.'

Pelopia eased an impossible situation by pleading severe sickness and confining herself to her room throughout Thyestes' stay. The scoundrel thoroughly enjoyed his secret joke: he inquired solicitously after the queen's health and regretted he had failed to make her acquaintance. I could have stuck my dagger in his throat. Though most of the palace Heroes were equally aware of Pelopia's bizarre predicament none dared whisper a hint to Atreus, who maintained a serene composure and seemed entirely indifferent to the queen's continued ab­sence from the banqueting and ceremonies. Atreus royally entertained his brother day after day. Hunt­ing parties went to the hills, bagged many a lion and boar. On the Field of War Atreus organized games and competitions: foot and chariot races, boxing and wrestling matches, javelin and archery contests. A banquet every afternoon, and long evenings in the Hall lingering over wine and listening to bardic caterwauling. Never before, in my memory, had Mycenae seen festivities so prolonged.

I shared in all these diversions and, when the boy was not engaged in squiring Thyestes, acted host to Tantalus: a pleasant enough lad, a thought dim-witted. Thyestes plainly doted on his son - a viper, I suppose, can love his brood - and was for ever stroking his hair and holding his hand. A nauseating spectacle, when you remember the way he abandoned his daughter Pelopia.

I hardly recognized Atreus. His manner had reverted to the debonair carefree habit which prevailed before he discovered Aerope's adultery. Watching him at a feast graciously trans­ferring choice morsels from his platter to Thyestes' I was persuaded he had genuinely forgiven his brother. I said so in an undertone to Menelaus. That hard-headed individual pronged mutton into his mouth and mumbled, 'Don't you believe it. The Lady knows what Atreus is at - but I'd hate to be in Thyestes' place.'

As the days went by Thyestes became impatient. The king showed no inclination to ratify the agreement which had persuaded him to enter Mycenae's gates. Atreus stayed deaf to blatant hints, suggested another hunt - 'a really enormous boar, Thyestes, ravages Midea's crops' - a trip to Nauplia to inspect galleys recently launched; anything rather than formal restora­tion of forfeited estates and announcement to the Council that he and Thyestes shared Mycenae's rule. Finally, while chatting beside the hearth in the Hall, Thyestes' patience snapped and he loweringly demanded the king discharge his oath.

Atreus kicked a glowing log, and laughed. 'Why, certainly, dear brother. I merely await Mycenae's greatest day, the anni­versary of Perseus' foundation. Tomorrow as ever is. Surely it is proper your accession to the throne should fall on such a glori­ous occasion? A most exceptional feast shall celebrate the event and I'll make the announcement after, provided you are willing.'

'I am,' said Thyestes tersely.

* *
*

Alabaster lamps and pitchpine torches flared in Mycenae's Hall and dimmed the afternoon sunlight that lanced clerestory windows. On a blazing hearth fire cooks turned spits and basted joints of beef and mutton and pork. Carvers sawed and sliced; servants scurried to tables and handed laden platters; squires poured wine from hammered gold flagons. At the widening circles of tables two hundred noble gentlemen ate and drank, talked loudly between mouthfuls, wagged hunks of meat on dagger points to emphasize an argument. Twenty sheep, twenty boars and fifteen barley-fed oxen had been slaughtered by Atreus' command; baskets of wheaten bread reposed on three-legged tables running on golden castors - only the palace's finest furniture decorated a banquet in Perseus' honour. Fleeces washed to snowy whiteness draped low couch­like seats; torchlight flashed a myriad gems from gold and crystal drinking cups, from gold and silver platters. The din of voices roared like rollers beating rocks; the heat from lights and fire beaded sweat on naked midriffs. A pungent smell of scented oil, roast meat and warm humanity thickened the smoke-hazed air.

Twin dog-headed dragons glared from the wall behind King Atreus' throne. Despite the heat he wore a gold-threaded scarlet tunic, a silver fillet bound his hair, his beard was trimmed to a point and curled. He seemed in uproarious spirits, laughing and cracking jests, repeatedly beckoning squires to fill Thyestes' goblet. In Pelopia's absence my table and chair were placed on Atreus' left: as Master of the Ships and royal heir I ranked next the king in the palace hierarchy.

Beside me Menelaus sent Atreus worried looks.

I was not altogether happy myself. Apart from the king's behaviour, so foreign to his usual grim reserve, I considered it odd that spearmen and armoured Heroes lined the walls at sword-length intervals. All weapons save the dagger used for eating were sternly forbidden at meals in the Hall: gentlemen warmed by wine were apt to become quarrelsome. Over the years I had attended many anniversary banquets; never before had forty weaponed warriors sentinelled the feast.

An unimportant point perhaps; but for indefinable reasons I felt nervously on edge.