They go out into the place where the demigod Aeneas had led the Greek slaughter, more than a year ago. Red flowers grow now where their comrades fell. All else is quiet.
Ophellios releases the string of his bow and a bird falls from the sky. It was only a small thing, but the arrow pierced neatly its heart; there will be enough meat for feasting later.
There is hunger in the camp.
He turns, looking to his lone companion. “How many have you caught, Lord Aetos?”
Not taking much notice, he gathers up what little he brought by way of supplies, and goes to set off. If the boy wants to say something, let him come out and say it.
Strapping on his armour now, Ophellios does not look at him.
“I have already offered explanation.” He responds curtly.
The boy’s ears are pink.
"No, you have offered girlish hinting and riddles, of which I tire easily, and you will state your thoughts plainly."
“That is the very thing.” He tugs sharply at a strap on his breastplate, fastening it tight. “Womanly. Girlish. You know our circumstance and yet you still seek to emasculate me. What do you believe the men at camp will think, what my soldiers will think, if they hear of last night’s episode?”
"If they respected you enough, you would not need to care what they would think."
“Good.”
And he will speak no more on the subject.
Ready to depart, now, they continue to tread forth towards the mountain range.
He is in rather a cheerful mood. He whistles.
"Remind me again, O Ophellios, what it was you asked me to keep secret, when you begged a boon of me?"
He affects not to hear him. "Was it not how, upon a glimpse of the Trojan forces, you yelped and hid behind a tree?"
"Ah! Forgive me! It was surely the way you collapsed in shivers at the first fall of rain, and indeed almost perished of the cold.'
"The way you sniffled like a babe and sucked on your fingers to keep them warm."
"Oh! I have it! You wished that I not tell any of the Achaeans how it was your first night away from camp, and you missed them so much you cried."
View Flat HTML
View Metadata
Search Post