Troy 01 - Lord of the Silver Bow Read Online Free

“We’ll be there presently.”
    The god took Phia by the hand, and together they walked through the town and stopped at the house of the healer.
    “He is a very angry man,” Phia warned as the god hammered his fist on the wooden door.
    It was wrenched open, and the healer loomed in the doorway. “What in Hades . . . ?” he began. Then he saw the dark-haired god, and Phia saw his attitude change. He seemed to shrink. “I apologize, lord,” he said, bowing his head. “I did not know . . .”
    “Gather your herbs and medicines and come immediately to the house of Phaedra,” said the god.
    “Of course. Immediately.”
    Then they began to walk again, this time up the long winding hill toward the homes of the rich. Phia’s strength began to fail again.
    The god lifted her. “We will get you some food,” he said.
    When at last they reached their destination Phia gazed in wonder. It was a palace with a high wall surrounding a beautiful garden, and there were red pillars on either side of a great entrance. Inside they walked upon floors decorated with colored stones, and there were wall paintings in vivid colors. “Is this your house?” she asked.
    “No. I stay here when I am in Kypros,” he answered.
    He carried Phia to a white-walled room at the rear of the house. There was a woman there, golden-haired and young, dressed in a robe of green edged with gold thread. She was very beautiful.
    The god spoke to her, then introduced her as Phaedra. “Give the child something to eat,” he said. “I shall wait for the healer and see how the mother is faring.”
    Phaedra smiled at Phia and brought out some fresh bread and honey. After she had eaten, Phia thanked the woman, and they sat in silence for a while. Phia did not know what to say. The woman poured herself a goblet of wine, to which she added water.
    “Are you a goddess?” Phia asked.
    “Some men have told me that I am,” Phaedra replied with a wide smile.
    “Is this your house?”
    “Yes. Do you like it?”
    “It is very big.”
    “Indeed it is.”
    Phia leaned forward and said in a low voice, “I do not know which god he is. I went to the shrine and saw him. Is he the Lord of the Silver Bow?”
    “He is a lord of many things,” said Phaedra. “Would you like some more bread?”
    “Yes, thank you.”
    Phaedra told her to help herself, then fetched a pitcher of cool milk and filled a cup. Phia drank it. The taste was sublime.
    “So,” said Phaedra, “your mother was ill and you went to the shrine for help. It is very high up there and treacherous. And there are packs of wild dogs.”
    Phia did not know how to respond, and so she sat silently.
    “That was very brave of you,” said Phaedra. “Your mother is lucky to have you. What happened to your hair?”
    “Mother cut it. I have fleas.” Again she felt shame.
    “Tonight I will have a bath prepared for you. And we will find some ointments for those bites and scratches on your arms.”
    The god returned then. He had changed his clothes and was wearing a white knee-length tunic edged with silver thread, his long black hair pulled back from his face and tied in a ponytail. “Your mother is very weak,” he said, “but she is sleeping now. The healer will come every day until she is well. You may both stay here for as long as you wish. Phaedra will find work for your mother. Does that answer your prayers, Phia?”
    “Oh, yes,” said the girl. “Thank you.”
    “She was wondering if you were Apollo,” Phaedra said with a smile.
    He knelt alongside Phia, and she looked into his brilliant blue eyes. “My name is Helikaon,” he said, “and I am not a god. Are you disappointed?”
    “No,” Phia replied, though she was.
    Helikaon rose and spoke to Phaedra. “There are merchants coming. I will be with them for a while.”
    “You still intend to sail for Troy tomorrow?”
    “I must. I promised Hektor I would be at the wedding.”
    “It is the storm season, Helikaon, and almost a month at