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PROLOGUE
Thetis of the Silver Feet rose from the depths of the hidden cove Her son was already there, awaiting her arrival With that odd, almost preternatural sense of calm that had been his to co with quiet intensity at the distant, watery horizon He had not yet noticed her, so she took the opportunity to study him carefully
Though he had barely lived sixteen summers he more closely resembled the man and warrior he would become than the child she’d held at her bosoolden eaglet, her pride, her heart—her Achilles And today her soul wept for what Zeus’s oracle had revealed to her Thetis wished she could deny the truth of it or even siod had revealed But she, too, was a deity, born of the water, daughter of Nereus, an ancient sea god, and she knew all too well that the prophecies of the gods could not be avoided—that to run from them left only chaos and heartbreak and ruined lives in the wake of consequences Fate could not be avoided, so it must be endured
At least Achilles had been given a choice
The save Thetis was short-lived It worked itself free of her heart as she continued to gaze at the wondrous
Before his conception the oracle had foretold that her son would be greater than his father—thus freeing her of the tiresood would ever have suffered a son to outshine hi of the Myrht smile touched her shapely pink lips Peleus had desired her so desperately that cohs the oracle’s predictions were inconsequential Thetis tossed back her silver-blond hair She hadn’t, of course, been able to settle per or not, but she did think of hiht He alelcomed her joyously into his bed and she would need the distraction of passion after hearing Achilles’ choice Sadly she knew her son too well; what the oracle at Dodona had prophesied for him would, indeed, come to pass Thetis drew in a deep breath and readied herself
“Achilles!” she called to him
His response was instantaneous He turned toward her with a dazzling smile and a formal bow so deep and respectful that Hera herself would have been pleased
“Mother, what news from Dodona and Zeus’s oracle?”
Thetis glided to hi her soft hand “Not even a hello for your mother? Are oracles and prophecies all you care about, my son?”
Achilles’ blue eyes, which were the exact color of the turquoise depths in which his ive oddess of the sea!” He took her hand, kissed it fondly, then tucked it around his already well-ean waters “And how is your health, Mother? Has it changed in the two days since last I saw you?”
She pushed at his shoulder, which felt even more rocklike than it had two days before when they’d taken lunch together in this very cove “My health is perfect, as you very well know And I aoddess, not one of the Divine Twelve, so there’s no need to flatter me as such As you also know very well”
Achilles bent and kissed her quickly on her cheek “You are oddess, Mother, and more divine to me than any of the Twelve”
Instead of replying with her usual good-natured banter Thetiseyes and said sharply, “Do not jest about the gods Were I to usurp one of the Twelve Olyrave insult and my hubris could be punished severely”
Achilles frowned “What has happened, Mother?”
Thetis sighed and unwound herself from her son’s arm Silently she walked to a chair-sized rock and sat Then she looked up at her son Where he was standing, with the sea at his back and the sun caressing his youthful body with its golden rays, he seeilded statue of hireat people—perhaps in the distant future—would erect of him to memorialize the remembered exploits of a warrior whose life had blazed like a comet and then burned out much too soon
A shiver passed through Thetis’s body
“Mother?” Achilles repeated He began to walk toward her, but her upraised hand stayed him
“This will be easier if you remain there” Then she wouldn’t be te him to be wise… to consider… Thetis drew another deep breath When she finally spoke, her voice was emotionless, as if she were an oracle herself “Zeus’s oracle presented two choices for you, Achilles” She closed her eyes and recited: “One path to the future will lead to a long, prosperous life The Myrmidons will flourish under your rule You will have a fruitful ill bear you hters You will know peace and tranquility and love Your long life will be full and rich and you will die quietly in your bed when your beard is white, surrounded by those who love you You will be deeply otten as just a speck in the countless sands of history” Thetis drew another deep breath and continued, still not opening her eyes
“Another path to the future will lead to acclais and warriors You will lead the Myr before you Your fire will rage hot and high so that your name will be ree of the world But like a fire that burns too hot too quickly, you will be consue will destroy your life You will only glimpse peace and love and tranquility—you will never know theh to ready herself for what she knew she would see, and then she opened her eyes
Achilles was already blazing She’d known it when the oracle had spoken her son’s choices, but she couldn’t help the small hope she’d nurtured Now, like a snuffed candle, hope was extinguished
“You must choose, my son, but take your time Reason carefully Remember, once your choice is made, Zeus had decreed your fate and your path will be set”
Achilles’ grin was young and untamed “I already know my choice, Mother!” He lifted his arms to the sky, threw back his head, and shouted his decision to Olyods “Divine Zeus, I honor you for the choices you have given me I choose the life of a warrior and eternal fame!” At that instant the heavens above hihtning bolt, jagged and glowing, shot fro the boy to his knees and filling hie, hardening the s taller and broader, becoloith the rust color of old blood and his lips pulled back froain, he shouted his decision in a voice unrecognizable as his own, “I choose the life of a warrior and eternal fame!”
Tears spilled silently down Thetis’s cheeks as she watched her son choose to end his life too soon He looked like a shining golden godling, her wonderful eaglet Proud, beautiful, fierce and immortal
But he wasn’t immortal He would die in barely a breath of time And she would watch as he blazed and burned out
Bowing her head, Thetis sent up her own prayer to Olympus—not shouted ords, but spoken with the power of a mother’s broken heart
“Hera, Goddess of All Mothers, take pity on me If it is possible, let my beloved son know love and peace before he dies Athena, Goddess of War and Wisdoh he has chosen a warrior’s life, you give Achilles the wisdom to outlive his own youthful foolishness…”
Thunder clapped through the clear Greek sky and Achilles laughed with fierce joy, not noticing the lovely peacock who suddenly appeared beside his mother The bird stretched out its royal neck to lay its sapphire head against the sea goddess’s thigh Then, on the other side of her, a nificent owl appeared, ethereal in its white feathers The oise gaze ally bowed its head to Thetis Then both divine birds disappeared in a glittering of diamond dust
THIRTEEN YEARS LATER
MOUNT OLYMPUS
“I have to tell you darlings, the Trojan War isat Athena with one perfectly raised brow
“I don’t knohy you’re looking at me like that,” Athena bristled
“Athena,to do with the fact that you are Goddess of War,” Hera said
“Add to that your obsession with Odysseus and his safety, which doesn’t help matters over there in Troy,” Venus said Then she lifted her eoblet and called, “I’listening pitcher of the golden wine of the gods Venus bleo kisses at the very led appreciatively at the goddess’s attention, bowed low, nuzzled her feet and then trotted reluctantly from the room
“You spoil those creatures,” Athena said, frowning after the satyr “And you’re the one who instigated Odysseus’s affection for olden hair “So our relationship is really your fault”
“If you weren’t so uptight maybe you would have a relationship instead of decades of sexual frustration and obsession,” Venus mumbled
“What was that?” Athena asked, narrowing her eyes
“I’—”
“That the Trojan War has become entirely too tiresousted by the new rua the hen it was their greed for the riches of Troy and their overblown male pride that was really responsible”
Athena gave Venus a considering look “Didn’t you have so to do with Paris’s infatuation with Helen?”
The Goddess of Love sniffed delicately “Menelaus didn’t appreciate Helen’s beauty The man was boorish and inconsiderate All I did was create a little love spell to make the dolt jealous I had no idea Paris would be so susceptible and Helen would be so needy”