Trojan War Chapter 16

 

Judgment and Justification

 

16.

Paris was a brave man but he was not brash to rush into conflicts which he had not considered the outcome or its consequences to his well-being. Unlike the Spartans, he was cautious as a Trojan of Troy. The nation of Troy made up of a few Houses from the nobility and diplomats to the warmongers and the brash renegades.

Paris was the renegade for his birth but had stayed with King Priam. With the association of him with Ares, Paris was to become more of the diplomat then. He had met Ares after the prize bulls race and since then, Ares had him appointed as the breeder of his bulls.

“It’s an honor to be with me.” Ares had told Paris. “Value it and one day you may replace King Priam.”

Paris had acknowledged the association. He was to be elevated among the Trojans and was then invited to the feasts with the nobles. His fame was to be seen with Ares.

“There is a feast at Zeus Tower on the next moon. You are to come there.” Ares extended the call towards Paris. “Dress well for you will get to see the Goddess. If they liked you or one of them do so onto you, then you may be elevated to ranks.”

“Like you, Lord Ares.” Paris had asked.

“Paris, you are … not to be the same as mine. Remember that now and forever.” Ares had reprimanded Paris. “I am still the God, ranked with the almighty Zeus.”

Paris had remained quiet and then Ares gave out a loud laugh.

“I was pulling your leg, Paris. Yes, if you do wed a Goddess, you will rank with me.”

“Be there for the feast,” Ares told Paris. “I look forward to you being there.”

Paris had never been invited to a feast of that magnitude. Despite his birth later with King Priam, he was never treated as an equal. His feasts were with the bull breeders or the taverns with the harlots. It was a rare treat to be invited then for him.

How do you dress at such a feast, or what do you say there? Those were the questions in the mind of Paris's mind. He was unsure.

Paris thought of asking King Priam but the latter had told him to get away from Ares.

“Ares is a mad God. He used to wage war before the Games was created to replace it. Ares will corrupt your thoughts and he is a harbinger of bad events.” King Priam cautioned the other.

“I hear you, my King.” Paris had replied but in his mind was who was he to defy his King. Or to the Gods. Paris made up his mind and shied from King Priam.

Until then.

“I cautioned you before. Ares is mad. Now he will invite you to the feast with the Gods.” King Priam looked away in despair.

“Maybe I was wrong to tell you. You have never invited me to your feasts although I am your son.” Paris looked at King Priam. “Have you even for invited before?”

It was a challenge to King Priam.

“Leave me, Paris. I will not have anything to do with you.” King Priam had dejected Paris. The exchange of words was not theirs alone but heard by the others who had planted listening devices.

“Paris of Troy is given an invite to the feast of Gods.” The rumor mills through the channels from Archaeon to Cretan. Not many took an interest but some did.

“Paris must not go, He can be elevated to the ranks of God. It will be an insult to us all, the Archaeon. He is a herdsman to outrank us? This is outrageous.” Agamemnon was the Supreme Leader of the Army of Archaeon. His command included all three divisions in Archaeon. The warrior of Archaeon stood tall square shoulders and held a thick beard on his chin.

“Why are we concerned if he was to go there? It does not mean that he is to given the rank.” The one who replied was Ajax of Greece, another leader in the Archaeon Army. “He may be there as the herder of the bulls. Ares likes to show his prize bulls.”

“Nevertheless, Paris is there. His presence will be boosted by the Trojans and we will put to shame by that claim.” Agamemnon had said in agitation. “The pride of the Archaeon will be tarnished.”

“If it does matter, we will crush them as we once did.” Ajax had cut in. “Archaeon had declared war on Troy for generations, ever since we discovered interstellar travel. What is it to do the same?”

“Fool! Have you forgotten the treaty with the other worlds decided by the Olympians? We are obliged to adhere to it. We can only battle those who are not in the twelve worlds. The Frontier is our enemy now.” Agamemnon roared back. “And how have you fared with that? I heard we make a landing at Selva V but your army was fought to a standstill and then retreated when the Amazons arrived as reinforcement.”

“Me? In retreat? I am Ajax; stronger than dirt.” Ajax called upon his name given to him by the Archaeon for he was huge in the frame of his body and carried great strength. Many had claimed that he was the equal of Heracles who was spoken of great strength.

“And you are half Trojan by birth.” Agamemnon reminded him. “Your brother Teucer served the Trojan Army.”

“And yet I fought for Archaeon in wars.” Ajax reminded the other. “I am not a traitor to Troy but bound by oath to serve the Archaeon in one of the treaties agreed between the two worlds. I will fight for Troy should there be war with the Archaeon.”

“We have no wars, Ajax.” Agamemnon smiled. He was relieved that he had not to battle Ajax for both worlds were rivals then.

“Yes, there are none but should I fight for Troy, it has to be justly and not against my principle.”

“Let us hope that we will not come to that soon. I liked you, Ajax.”

“And so do me, my Archaeon friend.” Both men cheered at the declaration.

Heracles himself was at doubts to attend the feast. He was not the favorite of the Gods being the bastard son of Zeus. They have always found tasks that he was to complete and when he does it, they just added on more.

“I am not welcome at the feasts. Hera disliked me most.” Heracles told his other friend and also a God.

“Why do you care whether they do or not?” Dionysius replied before taking a sip of the wine to be served at the feast. He was placed in the management of the events then and it included the wine and food.

“This is … bad wine. Have it been replaced?” The God of feasts told his aide. “It tasted like bad Spartan steel.”

“Dionysius! Did you hear me?” Heracles looked at the other.

“And I did and replied to you. You do not like to come but who cares if you do or don’t.” Dionysius replied. “I would like you to come. Maybe this round, Zeus will wed you to one of the goddesses. Imagine yourself with Artemis; what a wonderful match?”

“Artemis does not value me as a companion. She is  …” Heracles was cut off by Dionysius.

“Handful or paws off? I don’t care for without you, the feast will be boring when none can match your drinking capacity. Do come, Heracles.”  Dionysius smiled. “Make Hera miserable for the rest of the day.”