Shield Of Thunder Part 26

She caught the expression on Helikaon's face, and she felt as if her heart were being wrenched in two. She was standing with the two men she loved yet was to lose them both within moments. And she could not say a proper goodbye to either of them. Looking into Hektor's shadowed eyes, she felt the familiar stab of guilt that she could never love him as he deserved. And under Helikaon's intense blue gaze she hated herself for hurting him by choosing to stay with her son.

Her heart in pain, she turned her eyes toward the distant city hidden by the night. One thing was certain: There would be more grief for them all before the end.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.

MEN OF COURAGE.

When dawn arrived, the Xanthos Xanthos still was making her way back along the narrow Simoeis. Heliakon stood at the steering oar and watched for signs from Oniacus at the prow. The growing light behind them put the river ahead of the s.h.i.+p in deep shadow, and Oniacus was using a long notched pole to test the depth of the water. Progress was slow, and Helikaon had long since given up on his first idea of attacking the Mykene fleet before sunrise. still was making her way back along the narrow Simoeis. Heliakon stood at the steering oar and watched for signs from Oniacus at the prow. The growing light behind them put the river ahead of the s.h.i.+p in deep shadow, and Oniacus was using a long notched pole to test the depth of the water. Progress was slow, and Helikaon had long since given up on his first idea of attacking the Mykene fleet before sunrise.

He tried to keep his mind on plans for the battle ahead, but his thoughts kept straying back to Andromache. The moment he first had glimpsed her so long before on that ill-starred night at Bad Luck Bay, his heart had been ensnared. Until then he always had told friends that he would marry for love alone. Until then, though, he had had no idea what love was. And arrogantly, he had believed the choice of marriage always would be his. He never had dreamed he would fall helplessly in love with someone who was unavailable, already betrothed to his closest friend. The G.o.ds watch for such arrogance with glee, he thought.

In many ways these last hundred days had been the happiest of his life. The Xanthos Xanthos was his true home, the one place where he could find total contentment. To share it with the woman he loved had been a pearl beyond price. There had been times that winter, as they sailed from island to island in fair weather or foul, as he watched Andromache sitting at the prow gazing at the sea, walking like a flame-haired G.o.ddess among the oarsmen handing out waterskins, or crouched by the mast holding on tightly as the s.h.i.+p plowed through rough seas, when he had thought he could never be happier. She was his north star, the fixed point around which his world turned. For as long as his heart beat, or hers, he believed they would share a destiny. was his true home, the one place where he could find total contentment. To share it with the woman he loved had been a pearl beyond price. There had been times that winter, as they sailed from island to island in fair weather or foul, as he watched Andromache sitting at the prow gazing at the sea, walking like a flame-haired G.o.ddess among the oarsmen handing out waterskins, or crouched by the mast holding on tightly as the s.h.i.+p plowed through rough seas, when he had thought he could never be happier. She was his north star, the fixed point around which his world turned. For as long as his heart beat, or hers, he believed they would share a destiny.

He had not expected to lose her so suddenly that night, to watch her walk away beside one of the donkey carts into the darkness on a perilous journey to the beleaguered city. She had made her choice and decided to stay with Hektor's son. She had not looked back. He had not expected her to.

As the sun rose, a beam of light speared through the mist and lit up the s.h.i.+ps of the Trojan fleet waiting where the river Simoeis opened out into the bay. They lay as if becalmed in the pale morning, sails furled, the rowers resting on their oars, waiting for action. We are fighting the greatest war the world has ever seen, Helikaon thought, and our likely future is death and ruin, and you are thinking about the woman you love instead of making battle plans. If this is what love can do to a man, perhaps you were better off without it.

He smiled to himself. I do not believe that, he thought.

He handed the steering oar to the helmsman and strode to join Oniacus on the central deck. "Gather the captains of the Trojan s.h.i.+ps," he told him. "We have much to discuss."

"I will ask them to join us, Golden One," Oniacus replied. He turned away, then came back hesitantly. "It is rumored," he said, "that some of the the Mykene s.h.i.+ps now have their own fire hurlers."

Helikaon laughed. "Good news at last!" he said.

Oniacus looked mystified. "They will have no battle experience and little practice, Oniacus," Helikaon explained. "We know how dangerous the nephthar nephthar b.a.l.l.s are, and we treat them with great respect. In the heat of battle the Mykene will likely do more damage to themselves than to our vessels. This is welcome tidings. Just wait and see, my friend." b.a.l.l.s are, and we treat them with great respect. In the heat of battle the Mykene will likely do more damage to themselves than to our vessels. This is welcome tidings. Just wait and see, my friend."

It took a while for the captains of the eighteen Trojan s.h.i.+ps to gather. The smaller s.h.i.+ps eased in toward the Xanthos Xanthos until their masters could climb on board, sometimes crossing over several adjacent s.h.i.+ps to get there. As he looked at the ma.s.s of vessels lying together and b.u.mping gently against one another, a new plan formed in Helikaon's mind. until their masters could climb on board, sometimes crossing over several adjacent s.h.i.+ps to get there. As he looked at the ma.s.s of vessels lying together and b.u.mping gently against one another, a new plan formed in Helikaon's mind.

Finally, all the s.h.i.+ps' masters were mustered on the central deck of the Xanthos. Xanthos. Helikaon knew them all, and he felt a thrill of pride. They were all men of courage and skilled seamen. They had been frustrated by confinement in the bay for many days. Each was eager for action, but the most impatient was Chromis the Carian, master of the Helikaon knew them all, and he felt a thrill of pride. They were all men of courage and skilled seamen. They had been frustrated by confinement in the bay for many days. Each was eager for action, but the most impatient was Chromis the Carian, master of the Artemisia, Artemisia, one of the fastest s.h.i.+ps in the Trojan fleet, though the smallest. Chromis, a red-faced burly man, stood at the front of the group, hands on hips. one of the fastest s.h.i.+ps in the Trojan fleet, though the smallest. Chromis, a red-faced burly man, stood at the front of the group, hands on hips.

"We are nineteen," Helikaon said, looking around. "Do we have an accurate report on the number of Menados' s.h.i.+ps?"

"More than fifty," Chromis said. "Until today half of those were patrolling the coast down to the Bay of Herakles. The arrival of the Xanthos Xanthos has caused Menados to order them all to the h.e.l.lespont. We are heavily outnumbered. But he will expect you to make a run for it soon, lord." has caused Menados to order them all to the h.e.l.lespont. We are heavily outnumbered. But he will expect you to make a run for it soon, lord."

"What Menados expects is a vital part of my plan," Helikaon said thoughtfully. "Which of your s.h.i.+ps have fire hurlers?" he asked.

"The Naiad Naiad and the and the s.h.i.+eld of Ilos, s.h.i.+eld of Ilos," replied a young dark-eyed man with a heavy limp.

"And what experience do you have of using them, Akamas?"

"None in battle, lord. But my men on the s.h.i.+eld s.h.i.+eld and the crew of the and the crew of the Naiad Naiad have spent many long days throwing empty clay b.a.l.l.s at targets. There was little else to do in the bay," Akamas added ruefully. "Our crews became quite expert at hurling them at the other s.h.i.+ps." Most of the masters smiled, and there was some laughter. have spent many long days throwing empty clay b.a.l.l.s at targets. There was little else to do in the bay," Akamas added ruefully. "Our crews became quite expert at hurling them at the other s.h.i.+ps." Most of the masters smiled, and there was some laughter.

"Have any of you seen a s.h.i.+p aflame with nephthar nephthar?" Helikaon asked, his face hardening, his voice cold.

They all shook their heads. Helikaon nodded. "I thought not. You must understand, and all your crews must understand, that once a nephthar nephthar ball hits a s.h.i.+p and breaks, that s.h.i.+p is doomed, as if it already sat at the bottom of the Great Green. Do not wait for the fire arrows. All the crew must abandon s.h.i.+p without hesitation. Is this clear?" He looked around at them all, his violet blue eyes studying them one by one, until they all had nodded. ball hits a s.h.i.+p and breaks, that s.h.i.+p is doomed, as if it already sat at the bottom of the Great Green. Do not wait for the fire arrows. All the crew must abandon s.h.i.+p without hesitation. Is this clear?" He looked around at them all, his violet blue eyes studying them one by one, until they all had nodded.

"Very good. And although I respect what you say, Akamas, I will put some of my own crewmen with battle experience on board the Naiad Naiad and the and the s.h.i.+eld of Ilos s.h.i.+eld of Ilos to advise and help with the to advise and help with the nephthar. nephthar. Do not feel slighted. Be in no doubt we have a mighty confrontation ahead. We need to allocate our skills where they are most needed. And we have extra crewmen from the Do not feel slighted. Be in no doubt we have a mighty confrontation ahead. We need to allocate our skills where they are most needed. And we have extra crewmen from the Boreas Boreas to fill the gaps in any of your vessels' rowing benches." to fill the gaps in any of your vessels' rowing benches."

"The Artemisia Artemisia may have no fire hurlers, Golden One," Chromis said impatiently, "but she has greater speed than some of these bigger s.h.i.+ps. We can lead the Mykene a merry dance if you so order." may have no fire hurlers, Golden One," Chromis said impatiently, "but she has greater speed than some of these bigger s.h.i.+ps. We can lead the Mykene a merry dance if you so order."

"Speed can be vital," Helikaon replied, "but usually running away from a battle, not toward it."

The other captains laughed, and Chromis flushed, fearing he was being made a fool of.

"I am not mocking you, Chromis," Heliakon said. "I have a part for the Artemisia Artemisia to play, and it is an essential one. You will need all your s.h.i.+p's speed and agility." to play, and it is an essential one. You will need all your s.h.i.+p's speed and agility."

Chromis grinned and looked around him, proud to be chosen. "So when do we attack them, Golden One?" he asked. "The sooner our s.h.i.+ps can slip out into the Great Green, the sooner we can start to fight back, hit the enemy at the Bay of Herakles."

"We will not attack," Helikaon told him. "We will wait for the Mykene to attack us."

Chromos snorted. "But how can we be sure of that? They've been content to keep us trapped in the bay like...like crabs in a net."

"You yourself pointed out that much changed when the Xanthos Xanthos arrived," Helikaon said. arrived," Helikaon said.

He looked around at the Trojan captains. "We must have patience," he said. "Something the Mykene do not have. They are an impetuous and aggressive people. We must use that against them.

"And my plan is not just to slip past Menados, then make a run for it. I plan to destroy his entire fleet."

The day pa.s.sed with bone-aching slowness on the waters of the h.e.l.lespont, and when the sun slid down the sky, there was still no sign that the Xanthos Xanthos and the Trojan s.h.i.+ps were planning to break out of the bay. Menados forced himself to stop pacing the deck of the and the Trojan s.h.i.+ps were planning to break out of the bay. Menados forced himself to stop pacing the deck of the Alektruon. Alektruon. He sat in his captain's chair, the picture of calm a.s.surance. Inside his head, though, he was seething with anger at the cunning Helikaon and with his need to sail into the bay and smash the He sat in his captain's chair, the picture of calm a.s.surance. Inside his head, though, he was seething with anger at the cunning Helikaon and with his need to sail into the bay and smash the Xanthos Xanthos into small shards. His captains had wanted to follow the hated galley in, but Menados had refused to chase after it in the dark. into small shards. His captains had wanted to follow the hated galley in, but Menados had refused to chase after it in the dark.

All of his fifty-five remaining s.h.i.+ps were now at sea, either gathered off the entrance to the h.e.l.lespont or patrolling the strait. The oarsmen were tired, and he ordered that they work in s.h.i.+fts, with half the men rowing at a time. It always had been difficult to find rowers. Any man who could afford a soldier's armor and weapons would rather fight in the field than endure the hot fetid conditions on the rowing benches. Some of the s.h.i.+ps' masters used slave labor. But chained slaves were unlikely to work as hard as free men, and the Alektruon Alektruon was rowed entirely by Mykene warriors who were proud to be on the finest s.h.i.+p in all the Mykene fleets. was rowed entirely by Mykene warriors who were proud to be on the finest s.h.i.+p in all the Mykene fleets.

As the light started to fail on the second day, there was a shout from one of the vessels closest to the Cape of Tides. A craft had been spotted trying to break the blockade. Menados, excitement rising in his chest, ordered the Alektruon Alektruon and the four nearest s.h.i.+ps to intercept her. Block her course, he ordered, but do not engage yet. and the four nearest s.h.i.+ps to intercept her. Block her course, he ordered, but do not engage yet.

Peering into the gloom, he soon could see her for himself. It was not the Xanthos Xanthos but a smaller s.h.i.+p with a dark sail sporting a white full moon. She sped along the line of the coast, perilously close to the rocks of the cape, risking the use of her sail to gain more speed. but a smaller s.h.i.+p with a dark sail sporting a white full moon. She sped along the line of the coast, perilously close to the rocks of the cape, risking the use of her sail to gain more speed.

"Not the Xanthos, Xanthos," said his sister's son, disappointment in his voice. "But maybe they are using a small s.h.i.+p to sneak the royal family out of Troy."

"That would require a very small vessel indeed," Menados said drily. And, he thought, Priam would never leave the city or his treasury.

The small s.h.i.+p skipped across the waves, closer to the approaching Mykene galleys. Then, suddenly, her sail was furled, the rowers took over, and within heartbeats they had turned the vessel fully around and she was powering back toward the bay.

"Do not follow!" the admiral ordered, and the signal was pa.s.sed quickly from s.h.i.+p to s.h.i.+p. The Mykene vessels pulled slowly away, reluctantly, Menados thought.

What is Helikaon up to? he wondered. Was it what it seemed? One s.h.i.+p making a run for it? Or another fire s.h.i.+p? No, Helikaon would not use that trick twice. He paced up and down the deck again, his officers watching him anxiously.

Finally he came to a conclusion. If Helikaon were to sneak past him again, two nights in a row, he and his officers would face a slow and agonizing death at Agamemnon's hands. He could not afford to let even one vessel out of the bay. It was another moonlit night, so he had to a.s.sume they would try again.

"There will be no rest for our crews!" he told his officers. "Tonight all our s.h.i.+ps will patrol!"

Helikaon was awake before dawn, when the light was just a pink glow in the east. He had slept deeply. The previous night he had put two s.h.i.+ps out at the mouth of the bay to act as night watchmen. The rest of the crews got a good night's sleep and were fresh for the coming day.

He saw a Trojan galley gliding toward them from the cape, where its captain had picked up reports on the Mykene fleet from the watchers stationed there.

"They patrolled all night!" its master shouted up to Helikaon gleefully. "Their rowers will all be as tired as dogs!"

Oniacus grinned at his lord. "Tired crews and tired commanders," he said.

Helikaon nodded. "And tired men make poor decisions," he answered. "It is time for the Artemisia Artemisia to lure them in." to lure them in."

For a second time he watched Chromis' vessel head off gamely toward the Mykene fleet. He was impressed by the skills of the captain and his men. Chromis may be a blowhard, he thought, but he is right to be proud of his s.h.i.+p and its crew. May Poseidon keep her safe.

The crew of the Xanthos Xanthos was busy preparing for battle. The clay b.a.l.l.s full of was busy preparing for battle. The clay b.a.l.l.s full of nephthar, nephthar, each as big as a man's head, were being transferred carefully from the hold to straw-lined baskets beside the fire hurlers. The hurlers were being checked and greased. The specially prepared arrows and braziers were kept at the central deck, far away from the each as big as a man's head, were being transferred carefully from the hold to straw-lined baskets beside the fire hurlers. The hurlers were being checked and greased. The specially prepared arrows and braziers were kept at the central deck, far away from the nephthar. nephthar. Each crewman donned a leather breastplate and took up his sword and bow and a quiver of arrows. Food was pa.s.sed around to break their night fast: corn bread and cheese. Each crewman donned a leather breastplate and took up his sword and bow and a quiver of arrows. Food was pa.s.sed around to break their night fast: corn bread and cheese.

As the light grew stronger, Helikaon ordered his small fleet to form up in two lines abreast facing north, well back from the mouth of the bay. The Xanthos Xanthos was front and center. The was front and center. The Sword of Ilos Sword of Ilos and the and the Naiad, Naiad, with their fire hurlers, he placed near each end of the front line. The two s.h.i.+ps that had watched all night were tucked in at the back in a position of comparative safety. with their fire hurlers, he placed near each end of the front line. The two s.h.i.+ps that had watched all night were tucked in at the back in a position of comparative safety.

Helikaon strapped on his bronze breastplate and sheathed the two leaf-bladed swords in scabbards on his back. He placed his full-face helm within reach. To his second in command he said, "You are steersman today, Oniacus. Are you clear on our strategy?"

"Yes, Golden One," Oniacus replied. He hesitated. "We have never lost a sea battle yet," he added, concern in his eyes. "And I will follow your strategy without question, as always. Yet we are already trapped in this bay, like a mouse in a jug, and it seems your plan now is to lure a cat into the jug."

Helikaon laughed, and his merriment rippled out across the water, making other men smile, easing the tension.

"It is true we are trapped here," he answered, "but the mouse is safe only in his jug. We are seriously outnumbered, Oniacus. We cannot afford to engage the Mykene in the open sea. We would be sunk, or burned, or captured, every last s.h.i.+p. So we must lure the Mykene into the bay, where we have all the advantages. They have been at sea for weeks. They are bored and frustrated, and now they are tired, too. Each Mykene captain wants the honor of sinking or capturing the Xanthos. Xanthos. Especially Menados. I let him live, remember. He is unlikely to forgive me for that." Especially Menados. I let him live, remember. He is unlikely to forgive me for that."

Oniacus scratched his curly hair. "Then let's hope they take the bait of the Artemisia. Artemisia."

Helikaon shrugged. "They will or they won't. If they don't, they will attack before this day is much older. They are Mykene. They won't be able to resist it."

It seemed a long wait, but eventually the gallant Artemisia Artemisia appeared in the distance, rounding the cape, propelled by the northerly breeze. Helikaon watched Chromis' s.h.i.+p glide down the center of the bay toward them. It was clear she had been attacked. There were arrows stuck in her planks. The s.h.i.+p drew up beside the appeared in the distance, rounding the cape, propelled by the northerly breeze. Helikaon watched Chromis' s.h.i.+p glide down the center of the bay toward them. It was clear she had been attacked. There were arrows stuck in her planks. The s.h.i.+p drew up beside the Xanthos, Xanthos, and Helikaon looked down. There were injured men, but none appeared badly hurt. and Helikaon looked down. There were injured men, but none appeared badly hurt.

"We had a close call, Golden One," the burly Chromis called up to him, "but I fear they have not taken the bait."

"Take your place, Chromis," Helikaon said. He gazed north, in the direction of the h.e.l.lespont. "It appears you are wrong."

Around the headland appeared the Mykene fleet, dozens of s.h.i.+ps rowing in regimented order. As the crews in the Bay of Troy watched, the enemy vessels formed up into an attack formation. Helikaon smiled as he saw that the front line was twelve s.h.i.+ps wide. The vessels were well s.p.a.ced, with plenty of room for the oars.

"Twelve abreast," Oniacus said, grinning. "Just as you predicted."

"Menados is not a seaman," Helikaon explained. "He is one of Agamemnon's Followers. He was promoted to command a fleet after his successes in the field. So he does not know the Bay of Troy. Neither, it appears, do his captains."

The rivers Simoeis and Scamander entered the Bay of Troy at the east and the south, bringing a cargo of silt from higher lands. As the years pa.s.sed, the waters were getting shallower, and hidden mud banks had formed on all sides of the bay. Captains who knew those waters took a careful course down the center of the bay to avoid the mud banks on either side.

The mouth of the bay was wide, but it quickly narrowed. No more than eight s.h.i.+ps could travel the bay abreast. Menados' twelve would be funneled into the central channel, where, Helikaon hoped, they would foul their oars and lose their attack formation. If the attacking s.h.i.+ps started to swing and show their beams, the Xanthos Xanthos could use her ram. could use her ram.

Ramming was a difficult maneuver to pull off effectively. Only a highly skilled crew and a captain with brilliant judgment and timing could count on success. At the moment of impact the ramming s.h.i.+p had to be traveling at just the right speed-too slow and the enemy could back water out of range, too fast and the ram could get embedded so deeply into the target's hull that it would be stuck there, leaving the attacker vulnerable to attacks from other s.h.i.+ps.

Khalkeus had equipped the Xanthos Xanthos with a blunt-ended ram shod with bronze that drove through the sea just below the waterline. The purpose of this was not to penetrate the opponent's hull but to deliver such a blow that it loosened all the planks around where it landed. with a blunt-ended ram shod with bronze that drove through the sea just below the waterline. The purpose of this was not to penetrate the opponent's hull but to deliver such a blow that it loosened all the planks around where it landed.

"What are we waiting for?" asked one of the oarsmen in a loud whisper to Oniacus.

The morning was wearing on and the sun climbing high, yet neither fleet had made a move.

Helikaon heard him and told him, "We are waiting for the Scythe." To Oniacus he added, "Today the north wind is our friend. Perhaps Menados thinks it is his, but he would be wrong."

The stiff northerly that whistled through the city of Troy most days of the year was as predictable as sunrise. A light wind in the morning would build up as the sun reached its height. After noon the Scythe could cut through to the bone; then it would die away again as night fell.

Helikaon looked up at the city of Troy standing high above him off the starboard beam. The golden walls shone serenely in the sunlight, and from the bay it was impossible to tell that a war was going on beneath them. He could see movement in the lower town, dust rising, and he could hear distant shouts, but they sounded like the placid mewing of seabirds from that distance. The only indication of the war was the smoke from two funeral pyres, one to the west of the city and one to the south, on the plain of the Scamander.

He turned his gaze back to the enemy fleet and at last felt the wind cutting hard against his face. Helikaon raised his sword, the steersmen ran to their stations, and he shouted, "Oars at four!"

The rowers pulled into their oars with a will, and the Xanthos Xanthos leaped forward, the Trojan s.h.i.+ps keeping pace. Out in the mouth of the bay the Mykene s.h.i.+ps saw the challenge and attacked. leaped forward, the Trojan s.h.i.+ps keeping pace. Out in the mouth of the bay the Mykene s.h.i.+ps saw the challenge and attacked.

Once the enemy oarsmen had built up momentum and the two fleets were racing toward each other, Helikaon raised both arms in the air and brought them down sharply. "Reverse oars," he cried. The powerful rowers leaned on their oars to back water. The Trojan fleet slowed sharply, as if their commander were afraid of contact. Seeing that, the Mykene s.h.i.+ps powered on, tempted farther into the bay. For a while they maintained a perfect attack formation.

Then, as Helikaon watched with narrowed eyes, the s.h.i.+ps at each end of the front line hit shallow water and lost their rhythm, veering into the vessels beside them, their tired rowers fouling their oars. Ignorant of this, the front line kept pressing forward into the narrowing channel. Helikaon gave the order to attack again, and once more the Trojan fleet sped forward. At last the officers on the Alektruon Alektruon realized that the s.h.i.+ps at each end of their line were floundering helplessly, oars locked, in shallow water. The order was given to slow down, but by then the second and third lines of s.h.i.+ps, rowing hard to get in on the action and pushed by the Scythe, were unable to stop. The fast-moving galleys started ramming the back of their own attack line. realized that the s.h.i.+ps at each end of their line were floundering helplessly, oars locked, in shallow water. The order was given to slow down, but by then the second and third lines of s.h.i.+ps, rowing hard to get in on the action and pushed by the Scythe, were unable to stop. The fast-moving galleys started ramming the back of their own attack line.

Helikaon saw a s.h.i.+p in the second line collide with the stern of the Alektruon, Alektruon, making her start to turn. The making her start to turn. The Xanthos Xanthos had the Mykene flags.h.i.+p's beam in her sights. "Ramming speed!" he shouted. had the Mykene flags.h.i.+p's beam in her sights. "Ramming speed!" he shouted.

The Alektruon Alektruon still was moving forward, her prow drifting helplessly to starboard, and the still was moving forward, her prow drifting helplessly to starboard, and the Xanthos Xanthos was at full speed when the Golden s.h.i.+p hit her. Only heartbeats before the impact Helikaon yelled, "Reverse oars!" Again the disciplined rowers started to back water. was at full speed when the Golden s.h.i.+p hit her. Only heartbeats before the impact Helikaon yelled, "Reverse oars!" Again the disciplined rowers started to back water.

The two s.h.i.+ps came together with a sound like a thunderbolt from Zeus. The Xanthos Xanthos. .h.i.t her target just behind the prow, shuddered from stem to stern, then pulled away. On both s.h.i.+ps warriors were waiting on the foredeck with ropes and grappling hooks, swords and s.h.i.+elds, at the ready. But many were thrown from their feet by the impact, and as the hit her target just behind the prow, shuddered from stem to stern, then pulled away. On both s.h.i.+ps warriors were waiting on the foredeck with ropes and grappling hooks, swords and s.h.i.+elds, at the ready. But many were thrown from their feet by the impact, and as the Xanthos Xanthos backed away, there was clear water between the s.h.i.+ps before men from either side could jump across. Helikaon felt a cold thrill of triumph. He knew the backed away, there was clear water between the s.h.i.+ps before men from either side could jump across. Helikaon felt a cold thrill of triumph. He knew the Alektruon Alektruon was doomed. At the moment of collision he had felt the fatal give in the other s.h.i.+p as planks below the waterline caved in. was doomed. At the moment of collision he had felt the fatal give in the other s.h.i.+p as planks below the waterline caved in.

Panic erupted aboard the Mykene vessels. Their once-proud flags.h.i.+p started listing to port, and s.h.i.+ps on both sides of the fleet were foundering in shallow water and thick mud. There were angry shouts and curses as panicking crews blamed one another for their plight. Then, as Helikaon had predicted they would, they let fly with the fire hurlers.

He ordered his fleet to back off as fast as possible. Some of the flying clay b.a.l.l.s flopped into the water near the Trojan s.h.i.+ps, but none of the enemy's fire hurlers had the height and range of those on the Xanthos. Xanthos. Helikaon instructed the crewmen who manned his fire hurlers to stand ready. Helikaon instructed the crewmen who manned his fire hurlers to stand ready.

But they were not needed.

As the Trojan and Dardanian crews watched, two of the nephthar nephthar b.a.l.l.s loosed by Mykene galleys. .h.i.t other vessels of their fleet. Helikaon quickly ordered his archers to aim their fire arrows at the two s.h.i.+ps that had been hit. Both targets went up in a b.a.l.l.s loosed by Mykene galleys. .h.i.t other vessels of their fleet. Helikaon quickly ordered his archers to aim their fire arrows at the two s.h.i.+ps that had been hit. Both targets went up in a whoosh whoosh of flame. The s.h.i.+ps' hulls had been caulked with pitch, and the fires spread across the fleet with sickening speed. Crewmen dived and jumped into the waters of the bay, some to founder waist-deep in sticky mud. of flame. The s.h.i.+ps' hulls had been caulked with pitch, and the fires spread across the fleet with sickening speed. Crewmen dived and jumped into the waters of the bay, some to founder waist-deep in sticky mud.

Before long the whole Mykene fleet was in flames as the fire reached nephthar nephthar b.a.l.l.s on other s.h.i.+ps and the braziers on listing craft turned over. Crewmen stuck in the center of the melee of flaming s.h.i.+ps died screaming. More died as they swam into range of the Trojans' arrows. Others swam and waded to the sh.o.r.e of the Cape of Tides, where they were killed by the Trojan soldiers holding the headland. A few made it to the eastern beach of the bay, to their own armies. b.a.l.l.s on other s.h.i.+ps and the braziers on listing craft turned over. Crewmen stuck in the center of the melee of flaming s.h.i.+ps died screaming. More died as they swam into range of the Trojans' arrows. Others swam and waded to the sh.o.r.e of the Cape of Tides, where they were killed by the Trojan soldiers holding the headland. A few made it to the eastern beach of the bay, to their own armies.

From the distance came the faint sound of cheering, and Helikaon looked to the walls of Troy, where crowds had gathered to watch the destruction of the enemy fleet. He ordered two of his s.h.i.+ps to pick up survivors for questioning, then strode back down the Xanthos Xanthos to the aft deck. to the aft deck.

Oniacus shook his head in awe, his face pale. "They have lost more than fifty s.h.i.+ps and hundreds of men, and we have just three crewmen with arrow wounds," he said, scarcely believing what had happened.

He gazed at Helikaon. "Many Mykene s.h.i.+ps are crewed by slaves chained to their oars. What a hideous death."

Helikaon knew he was remembering the events at Blue Owl Bay, when Oniacus had argued against such a death for the Mykene pirates.

"I would not have wished this death on slaves," he responded. "War makes brutes of us all. This is no victory to be proud of. These Mykene and their slaves were condemned to death by ignorance, arrogance, and impatience."

"Alektruon is a cursed name," Oniacus said. is a cursed name," Oniacus said.

Helikaon nodded. "That is true. Agamemnon is unlikely to anger Poseidon by building another one. We have only one problem now."

"Yes, lord?"

"We must get out of the bay before Agamemnon has time to dispatch another fleet from Imbros or the Bay of Herakles. And our way is blocked." Helikaon cursed. "Those s.h.i.+ps could go on burning until nightfall."

"Although nephthar nephthar burns fiercely, it burns quickly, we've found," Akamas, captain of the burns fiercely, it burns quickly, we've found," Akamas, captain of the s.h.i.+eld of Ilos, s.h.i.+eld of Ilos, called up to them. "Then you will find, Golden One, that the called up to them. "Then you will find, Golden One, that the s.h.i.+eld s.h.i.+eld and her sister s.h.i.+ps can go where the great and her sister s.h.i.+ps can go where the great Xanthos Xanthos cannot." cannot."