Free Warriors in Bronze by George Shipway Page B

lower citadel. By evening all were accounted for in one way or another; and the Heroes of Argos, Mycenae and Tiryns gathered in the Hall to recover from their exertions and swallow food and wine. The occasion developed into a celebra­tory revel; lamps and torches were lighted and the feasting went on till late at night.
    Diomedes, the only witness to Plisthenes' killing besides Phylacus and myself, was not of course aware of his identity and tried to elicit a reason for the corpse's hurried disposal. 'Unlucky omens my foot!' he declared. 'Who cares when a brigand dies?' I was more than a little sozzled for the first time in my life - that agonized squealing sang in my ears like a threnody heard in dreams - and answered roughly. 'Do you question the Marshal's wisdom? You saw a robber get his deserts - that's all. So keep your mouth shut!'
    Diomedes looked at my eyes, and said no more. Thyestes hardly shared in the general merriment. His manner distrait, the sunken sea-green eyes wary as a wolf's, he ans­wered shortly Atreus' cheerful banter. His mind seemed else­where, brooding secret problems. Often I caught him shooting puzzled glance at the Marshal. Atreus refused to respect his brother's reserve, and persistently and boisterously engaged him in conversation. Finally he clapped Thyestes' shoulder.
    'What ails you, man ? I've rid you of an irksome pest! Aren't you glad to see me?'
    Thyestes answered tonelessly, 'Of course. I'm only sorry you have to go so soon. You leave at dawn?'
    'At dawn. An easy march to Mycenae, then a longish haul to Corinth the following day. We'll have to guard our villains carefully when the road goes through the mountains.' He sent the Warden of Tiryns a friendly smile. 'Those passes can be dangerous.'
    Thyestes, face inscrutable, traced with a fingertip the graving on his goblet: a winged and hawk-beaked griffin. 'So? You have a sufficient force to discourage intruders. Neither Goat- men nor cattle raiders ever attack strong warbands.'
    'True. But,' said Atreus genially, 'you'll hardly believe the things some idiots try. A lone bandit jumped our vanguard on the Argos road. Killed him at once, of course. Fellow must have been mad ! '
    Thyestes raised the goblet, drank deeply and set it down. 'Undoubtedly.' He scrubbed the back of a hand across his mouth. 'With your pardon, I must go. I have business to attend: arrangements for the transport accompanying you to Corinth.'
    Atreus watched him stride from the Hall. The smile had left his lips, his features hardened in ruthless lines and his eyes were cold and cruel.
    * * *
    The column left at sunrise. The pace was hampered by baggage carts and mules and the wives, concubines, relatives and slaves belonging to the Heraclids - a rabble that outnumbered the prisoners themselves. Thyestes had suggested selling the lot; they would fetch good prices in Nauplia's slave market. Atreus, remembering Eurystheus' strictures, reluctantly dissented. He confiscated their chariots, hounds and horses - a mediocre assortment - and divided them among the senior Heroes.
    We reached Mycenae in late afternoon and corralled our captives in the citadel for the night. After a weary march through mountains the following day - each Heraclid escorted by a vigilant spearman - we passed by Corinth and halted near to nightfall on a cliff-hung road that traverses the Isthmus. Atreus herded the Heraclids to the front. 'From here you're on your own,' he told Hyllus and Iolaus. 'Keep walking - and don't come back!'
    Hyllus' angry eyes glittered in the dark. 'Don't imagine, my lord, that you've seen the last of the Heraclids. We will return!'
    Atreus made a contemptuous noise, turned and remounted his chariot. 'To Corinth, Agamemnon, fast as you can make it in the dark.' I whipped the tired horses and drove very care­fully indeed: the road was carved in a cliff side, and a preci­pice fell like a wall to shoreline crags.
    Atreus roused himself from silent meditation. 'Hyllus is