Fall of Kings by David; Stella Gemmell Read Free Book Online Page B

the city watch. Some
of the areas of the lower town were known to be dangerous, and a moonstruck
child like this one could find herself in peril. But even as the thought
occurred, he saw her vanish into a dark alley and out of his sight.
    With a shake of his head the big Egypteian walked on toward the palace of
Helikaon.

 
 

CHAPTER THREE
THE AMBER GODDESS
     
     
    Early-morning sunshine bathed the streets of Troy as Helikaon left the House
of Stone Horses and strolled through the town. The business of the day was
beginning: Merchants were setting up their stalls in the marketplaces, and
servants and slaves were carrying bundles of cloth or produce wrapped in dry
reeds. The varied sounds of the city washed over Helikaon as he walked: hammers
beating on metal from the Street of Armorers, the braying of donkeys, the
clucking of hens, the yelping of dogs, and the cries of the gather-men competing
to draw crowds to their stalls.
    It felt strange to be back in Troy. The war seemed far away now, the death of
Halysia a dark nightmare, unreal and bizarre.
    He had awakened that morning to a soft, warm body beside him. In the instant
before full consciousness asserted itself he had thought to open his eyes and
gaze down at Halysia. Instead it had been Dex, his thumb in his mouth, his head
resting on his father’s shoulder. Helikaon had stroked the fair hair back from
the boy’s brow. Dex’s eyes had opened, and then the child had fallen asleep
again.
    Easing himself from the bed, Helikaon rose and dressed. He chose a white
tunic embroidered with gold thread and a wide belt embossed with gold leaf. He
felt uncomfortable in such finery, but it was fitting for his meeting with
Priam. Lastly he took a scabbarded dagger and tucked it into his belt. It was
unlikely that assassins would be on the streets of Troy but not impossible.
    In happier days Helikaon had walked those streets in the company of Hektor or
his brothers Antiphones and Agathon. Those had been the days of innocence, when
the future had promised wonders. It was here on these streets, ten years
earlier, where he and Hektor had argued about the merits and drawbacks of
marrying for love alone.
    “Why would you want to?” Hektor had asked. “All the actions of a prince must
strengthen the realm. Therefore, a wife should bring a handsome dowry, land, or
promises of alliance with her father’s kingdom. A prince can find love wherever
he wishes thereafter.”
    “I do not agree,” Helikaon had replied on that far-off day. “Odysseus loves
his wife and is happy. You should see them together, Hektor. You would change
your views in a heartbeat. Odysseus says that life without Penelope would be
like a land without sunshine. I want a wife who brings me happiness like that.”
    “I hope you find her, my friend,” Hektor had said.
    And he had. He had found the woman of his dreams.
    How ironic, then, he thought, that it should have been Hektor who had married
her.
    He paused to examine some Egypteian jewelry on display and immediately was
accosted by an elderly merchant, a slender dark-skinned man with henna-dyed hair
and beard.
    “You won’t find better, sir. Not anywhere in the city.” The man lifted a
heavy brooch of amber decorated with gold wire. “Sixteen silver rings, sir. A
real bargain.”
    “In Egypte last season,” Helikaon commented, “sixteen silver rings would buy
a sack of these baubles.”
    “Perhaps, sir,” the man replied, his dark eyes narrowing. “But since there is
now no trade with Egypte, who knows what price amber is fetching?”
    “Wise words,” Helikaon agreed, casting his gaze around the marketplace.
“There are fewer stalls than I recall from my last visit.”
    “A few have left,” the merchant agreed. “More will follow, I think. My
brother packed up his wares as soon as the fortification ditch was dug. Too
early, I said. But he always was timid. Now they say there’s going to be a wall
to protect the