(no subject)

[hippodamio]

Hektor's war against the pirates began in autumn, as the weather was beginning to turn bad. It's widely expected that it'll last for the better part of a year, if not more. There's much territory to cover, and many small holds to purge. And there is the winter itself; while the last few battles have been successful and the greatest hold in these lands was wrested from its master, the weather has gone from bad to worse, and now the men of Troy and their allies are waiting out the latest Hellespont storm in that self-same hold and the shelters in its vicinity.

There are fairer places to spend a winter, and then again, there are fouler. This place must surely have been built long ago by giants, or Titans themselves, to have been situated so well and held out so long. Hektor would not mind keeping it as part of Troy's claim on these lands, were it not that his hearth-friends of Dardania lie in the way. They'll owe his city a great debt when he's turned it over to them, he knows full well. For that alone, it will be worth it.

For now he passes through the halls, looking into this room and that, assessing what might be done with the place; and as he opens one door, the sound on the other side is nothing like what ought by rights to be there. He stops a while, and stares.

Presently he turns and goes in search of two of his men. "Find the madman and bring him to me," he says. "And then leave us both; there is a thing he must be shown."

Comments

[there-is-a-me.livejournal.com]

Soon enough Kou'te-bpe is shown to Hektor's presence. He is easy to find, on all nights but those of the full moon, as he polishes his trophies alone. Captured armor is laid out to begin piecing together armor more appropriate to hunting culture.

When he comes, he comes with pack in hand. It would not be the first time that he has been summoned and sent out again with no warning.

[hippodamio]

"Thank you," says Hektor to his men, and they bow with fists on brows before withdrawing. "Kou'te-bpe. Do you remember what you said to me, when you and your lady first came to my father's halls in Troy? Why you had come?"

[there-is-a-me.livejournal.com]

"We need to get home." Kou'te-bpe says in return, "If for no other reason than the diet here is so full of meat that it makes my wolf harder to chain."

[hippodamio]

Hektor nods. "I don't think," he says, "that there will be much more trouble with that for you. Come, see."

He turns, and opens the door to what by rights ought to be an empty room. Only a handspan, but that should be enough for the foreigner to see and hear what lies beyond.

[there-is-a-me.livejournal.com]

Rhene isn't here. Neither is Ace. This shouldn't be as hard a choice as it is, the difference between looking into the light where light should not be and walking back into the darkness of a bronze-age hold. His family is there, in Milliways. His pack, and he has been so lonely.

But he's got responsibilities here, as well. The foreigner is silent, and thinking.

[hippodamio]

"I would send back to Troy for Rhene, but I don't know how long this will be here," says Hektor quietly, sensing the man's reluctance. "It's seldom wise to spurn such things when they appear. That ends in favor being withdrawn completely, even if you mean only to put it off a while."

[there-is-a-me.livejournal.com]

"I know." he says, eyes conflicted and dark, "I know. And I can not stay the whole of my life. Take care of her, Hektor. Take care of her, assure her that I love her, and if either of us find a way I will bring her home."

Once made, the choice is easy, "If she loves, if she comes to you and tells you she has found a man to love as woman loves man, call me dead and her a widow. Let our wedding be her shield as long as she wants it. And if either of you need me, bring me back. I will come if you call."

[hippodamio]

Hektor nods; he expected as much. "I will," he promises. "For all of those things. Though you must also do a thing for me, when you see me again. I knew you would be coming only because you yourself told me, when I was very much younger. See to it that I have that warning when next we meet."

[there-is-a-me.livejournal.com]

"I will tell you." Kou'te-bpe says, "I will. If it is to be done, it should be done now." Before he loses his nerves and turns back to the simpler world of fighting, killing, and hunting weak things.

[hippodamio]

"Go then," says Hektor, "and may your God of no name watch over you and all your people."

He pushes the door the rest of the way open, and stands aside.

[there-is-a-me.livejournal.com]

He pauses only briefly to give the younger man a quick embrace, then strides through the door without looking back.

[hippodamio]

Hektor allows the door to close, then opens it again; there is nothing but a store-room there. With a sigh, he turns away.

It will be some time before he can come up with a good enough story to tell the men of where the foreigner has gone.