Sacrifice

Chapter I: “Propositions”

The governor was in Agamemnon’s tent, making his proposition to the Mycenaean king. He was willing to surrender Syria to Greece in exchange for military support and he also offered his help introytroying Troy, since most of the Syrians knew those lands very well. Agamemnon was looking over some maps, considering the proposition while the Governor was at his side, trying to talk the king into accepting, once and for all his offer.

Both men were standing with their backs turned to the entrance of the tent so neither of them noticed when a woman entered the tent and started walking slowly towards them, as not to make herself heard.

By the way she was dressed she was definitely royalty. She wore a golden-brown dress with golden seams and over it, from under her breasts dow down to her waist, a light, protective armor made out of small, rectangular, golden plates. On her head she wore a golden, warrior-like helmet fit for a ruler, while over her shoulders fell a long brown cape that reached the ground.

As she approached the two men she removed her right hand from under the cape to reveal the sword she was carrying. When she was close enough to her target she raised the heavy sword, grabbed it with both hands in order to have a firmer grip over it and then, gathering all her strength, she swung it from left to right. A whizzing was heard through the air and the governor’s head landed on top of the maps Agamemnon was studying, blood spreading over them.

The king turned in shock to look at the woman who was standing in front of him, hng ang a bloodstained sword in her right hand. For a moment he was too confused and amazed to speak and simply stared at her, while she stared back at him with a faint smirk on her lips and a victorious look in her eyes.

“If my father saw it best to banish me from home, I could do nothing but respect his decision but now that he is dead, as his only heir I alone am fit to take the throne.”

Agamemnon was still amazed and couldn’t find the right words, so she continued.

“The governor’s proposition still stands because, unfortunately, there is no other way of saving my country. So, what do you say?”

“You are the daughter of king Inarus?” Agamemnon finally spoke, still gazing at the woman in shock. “I have heard the stories but …… “

“Yes, I am familiar with those stories, made up by people who idle all their life instead of attending to their families and to their country.”

“Made up. Obviously, made up,” he repeated, starring absent mindedly at her for a few seconds.

The Syrian princess did not like the lustful way in which the king was looking at her and she was having second thoughts about making a deal with this man but, just as she had told him earlier, there was no other way.

“Do you agree then, my lord?” she asked again, seeming a bit irritated by his delay in answering.

“What is your name princess?”

“Enehy.”

“Princess Enehy, I must admit I have never before met a woman quite like you.”

“Maybe because none of the women you have met grew up in the middle of the dessert, in the company of thieves and assassins.”

“So you are a warrior princess then?” Agamemnon asked on an amused and slightly mocking tone, while sitting down on his throne. “I am sorry, but I would have never imagined such a conduct coming from a woman. Usually they run in fear and hide when there is a war going on,” he almost laughed while he spoke, which was beginning to irritate Enehy. “Did you not feel any compassion at all when cutting this man’s head off?”

“Why should I feel anything for this traitor who proclaimed himself king while being well aware of my existence and my rights as heir?”

“It isn’t quite a pretty site, is it?” Agamemnon asked the princess after noticing the disgusted look she gave the decapitated corpse lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

“Guards!” he yelled and two men rushed inside the tent, along with two other foreign soldiers who had accompanied the governor. All four men stared in shock at the corpse and the Syrian soldiers were the first to draw out their swords.

“Stay those swords men. I have killed this traitorous scum. Now get him out of my sight and throw his body into the sea.”

“But he deserves a proper funeral,” one of the Syrians spoke.

“This worm deserves nothing. You serve me now and you had better do as I say before I have you beheaded for disobedience.”

“Yes my queen,” the man responded after which the two Syrians proceeded to take the corpse and head out of the tent. “Wait!” the princess commanded just as the two were heading towards the exit. She approached the lifeless corpse which was being carried between the two soldiers, pulled a piece of the man’s robes and used it to wipe the blood from her sword. “You may go now.” Agamemnon’s guards also exited the tent at his command and the king and queen remained once again alone.

“You definitely are like no woman I have ever met,” the king spoke again after he had intriguingly watched her conduct which he believed to be so unusual for a woman.

But Enehy had no time or desire to listen to his impressions and compliments so she quickly cut him off, not caring if she was being rude or defiant.

“About my proposition, do you accept it or not?”

“Why in such a hurry queen of Syria? I would really enjoy to have you as a guest at supper tonight.”

“I thank you for your invitation king of Mycenaea but the journey back home is very long and Syria is in desperate need of a ruler. Please give me an answer so that I may return home.”

Agamemnon’s expression turned more serious and he really started to consider the offering. Syria was of a great importance in that part of the world because it was traversed by commercial roads that connected together the Mediterranean shores, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Arabia and Central Asia. If he would control this piece of land then he would have access to almost all the known territories of that part of the world. The king considered once again in his mind the advantages and the possible disadvantages of accepting the proposition and realized he had absolutely nothing to loose. He stood up from the throne and approached her ready to tell her that he accepts the offer when something else crossed his mind. Regarding the beautiful Syrian queen as he walked towards her he thought that he could very well take advantage of the situation and obtain some personal profit as well.

“I will accept your proposition on one condition,” the king spoke with a smirk on his face that Enehy did not like at all.

“What condition?” she asked a bit nervous.

“I want you to become my queen.”

Hearing this made her heart stop and her eyes widen in shock, but she quickly pulled herself together and responded.

“But my lord, you already have a queen in Greece.”

“And now I also have one in Syria,” the king came closer, gently took her left hand in his and kissed it.

“Not yet you don’t,” she confronted him feeling more courageous than ever, not knowing herself where this feeling came from.
But he didn’t seem to be very impressed; still holding her hand in his, he brought his hand up to her cheek and ran his fingers over her soft skin.

“Be as it may, I am still the one who has most to gain. I will only accept your offer if you accept mine. And even if you don’t I can still seize your land at any time I want and as for you, queen Enehy, I could have you right here, right now. It is not often that a man meets a woman as beautiful as yourself.”

This time she was the one who was not very impressed and spoke to him with the same courage as before and a bit of arrogance.

“My dear king, you seem to be forgetting that I still hold a sword in my hand and just as I cut off the governor’s head I could very well cut off yours.”

Once again Agamemnon did not take her words seriously. There was not a trace of anger in his expression, his voice or his movements; instead, he was smiling cheerfully and Enehy was the one who got angry at the thought that he regarded her as a spoiled, foolish girl, who had no idea what she was sayi
“
“Even if you could, you would not kill me because you need me to save your precious country. Now it is my turn to ask you princess, do you accept my offer or not?”

She bowed her head and after a short period of silence she spoke, the words barely escaping her mouth.

“I shall honor any of your requests as long as you honor mine.”

“Wonderful!” Agamemnooke oke with a triumphant look on his face as if it was natural for the Syrian queen to yield before him. “When I am done with Troy, I shall travel to Syria and we will be married there.”

“As you wish, my king.”

The king was now even more close to her, looking straight into her dark eyes and Enehy thought that in any moment he might take her in his arms and kiss her. She was relieved however to see him letting go of her hand and taking a few steps back looking behind her, towards the entrance of the tent.
She turned as well to look at the man who had just entered. He was tall, with long black hair, tied up in a braid and bronzed skin, dressed in warrior clothes. Recognizing the man, she turned towards Agamemnon with a smile on her lips.

“It was part of our agreement that we offer you our support in your war against the Trojans. This is Arokh. He is as famous among the Syrians as Achilles is among the Greeks.”

“Is he now? And what is it that you know about Achilles? Did the stories about his might reached that part of the world as well?” the king asked on an obvious arrogant tone.

“I may not know much about your great hero but I do know very well mine and even if he could not defeat Achilles, he would not be defeated by him either.”

“We shall see.”

“Then I leave him to serve under your command,” she said bowing in front of Agamemnon and turning towards the exit.

“I am eagerly awaiting our next encounter, my queen,” the king spoke while going back to his throne.

“As am I, my king,” Enehy responded, forcing a sweet smile on her lips, which quickly disappeared the minute she turned her gaze from him and exited the tent.