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"Why would you want a slave when your wife is such a beautiful woman?" Paris asked, clearly astonished.
"Her question exactly," Menelaus confided. "It happened after a feast. I'd had too much wine, and when the slave gave birth to a pair of red-haired boys, the secret was impossible to keep. I've sent the girl and the twins to live in my brother Agamemnon's palace, so Helen will not be reminded of their existence, but she's still been slow to forgive me."
Paris sucked in a deep breath. He'd not expected the woman Aphrodite had promised him to already be another man's wife, and it confused him completely. But if Menelaus had betrayed Helen's trust, and sired twins with a slave, then perhaps she'd be eager to leave him.
"Do you and Helen have children?"
"A daughter, Hermione, who is nearly as beautiful as her mother. I miss them dearly."
Paris kept his thoughts to himself as they continued on their way. He'd dreamed the woman who was meant to be his would instantly recognize him as well, but he'd not imagined she might be already wed to another and have a child. If Helen were the one, why would Aphrodite complicate his life so entirely? Yet even with this nagging worry, thoughts of Helen were impossible to suppress. He rolled her name silently on his tongue, and smiled as he drew her into his heart.
* * *
Paris had asked nothing of King Priam, and he hoped this one request would be granted. "I'm eager to learn all the world holds and want to visit the famed Achaean Palaces. If I had a ship, I could sail along with Menelaus and return home when I'm ready. I'll speak of your wisdom and generosity with everyone I meet and bring awe and respect to Troy. There might also be new trading opportunities to develop."
Impressed by his newfound son's sincerity, Priam was inclined to be generous. "Phereclus has built many fine ships, and I'll provision one for you and provide men to sail her. As a prince of Troy, you should have an escort of several royal ships on your journey. I wish I could travel with the ease of youth, but alas, the throne of Troy cannot be left empty."
Paris remained to listen to his father's advice to be circumspect in all he did while away, but in his mind, he was already gone. "It will always be my hope to make you proud," he insisted as he bid him a good day.
He watched his ship being readied, and with gentle suggestions had a figurehead carved of Aphrodite. He left frequent floral tributes at Aphrodite's temple and prayed she would bless his voyage.
Going home to tell his parents of his plans would only worry them, so he chose to wait until he returned, and impress them with the most beautiful woman in the world at his side. Then he would have a real story to tell. He gave Oenone only a brief thought. He couldn't tell her the real reason for the voyage, and he couldn't bear to lie to his once dear friend.
* * *
Cassandra heard of Paris's plan to sail abroad. She gazed out a lofty palace window and was overcome by a vision of roiling storm clouds colliding on the horizon. Terrified, she rushed to find Helenus. "Paris mustn't go!" she warned. She rent her black locks of hair and screamed, "How can we stop him?"
Hoping to calm her, Helenus rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. "Once Paris was allowed to live, all may have already been lost. Father has given his consent, and we can't stop him now no matter what we do."
"But we must try!" Cassandra begged. "You see it too, don't you, Helenus? Paris's foolishness will cause Troy's doom! Come with me to Father."
He took her hand. "I'll go, but don't expect to be believed."
King Priam dismissed his advisers as his children approached him on the terrace. As Helenus had predicted, he listened to Cassandra's fears, but promptly dismissed them. "The terror you foresee will never come to pass. Troy is too strong to be defeated by whomever Paris might unintentionally insult in Achaea. Let your worries go. I long to see you carefree and happy once again."
Cassandra bit her lip rather than cry out, but each time she caught a glimpse of Paris, a horrid sense of doom rolled through her, and she couldn't pretend not to be sick clear to her soul.
* * *
A feast was planned before Menelaus departed for Sparta, and while Paris was equally eager to go, he admitted only to a desire to see other lands. Men had volunteered for his crew, and they were a sturdy lot who would also serve as his guards. Kastros was among them, but Orthis had never loved the sea and preferred to remain in Troy. Experienced crews would sail the remainder of his small fleet, and each day he grew more eager to go.
Hecuba had gathered gifts for Paris to present to Menelaus and his queen. There was a finely made short sword with an engraving of a lion hunt along its blade for Menelaus. Exquisitely crafted gold bracelets were wrapped in soft, woven wool, and she'd also included a beautifully decorated pyxis holding perfume made from the roses in her own garden for his queen. The gifts were placed in an ivory inlaid wooden chest that was remarkable in itself. He thanked her for her generosity, taking care not to smile too widely.
"We must always be generous," she stressed. "It brings not only admiration, but a true respect for the wonders of Troy."
"I understand." He kissed her cheek and carried the chest to his bedchamber to await loading before dawn. His life had changed so radically in the last few months, and he dared not imagine how greatly it would continue to change if Helen preferred him to Menelaus. With Aphrodite's blessing, Helen might fall in love with him at first glance. From what he'd come to believe about Menelaus, however, he was too proud a man to let his wife go. For the moment, he rested all his concerns at Aphrodite's feet and concentrated only on impressing Helen.
* * *
King Priam produced a heavy box of gold for Paris to give Menelaus once he'd reached Sparta. "I've gathered clothing for you as well. You must present yourself as Prince Alexandros, and never mention ever herding cattle. The Spartans are proud aristocrats and with such knowledge, I doubt they'd show you the proper respect."
Paris draped the leopard skin cape over his shoulder and liked the weight of it. Agelaus had taught him to keep a close watch so lions didn't take any of their cattle, but he'd never seen a leopard. The skin was soft, smooth and beyond beauty. "Thank you. I'd like to hunt for a leopard someday. They must be magnificent animals."
"Indeed they are, but a menace to both our people and herds. My best advice for your trip is to listen more than you speak, and listen carefully. A bit of information you gather in Sparta may later come to have great meaning for us."
Paris rolled the hide between his arms and held it to his chest. "I understand a fool never stops talking, while the wise man speaks only when he has a good reason."
King Priam smiled. "Precisely. I trust the men going with you to remain loyal, but you must be firm with them. Don't allow them to waste their time or yours. They should run to do the bidding of a prince of Troy."
