Chapter 11—King Theseus’s Court

When Michael and Lysander arrived at the fortress, preparations for a feast were
underway. Tethered before an altar was a plump lamb; nearby a fire crackled in a metal
crock. Bronze and silver goblets and platters of fruit and goats’ cheese were laid out on a
wooden table that ran along one wall. In the centre of the courtyard, a lithe Nubian dancing
troupe were warming up to the strains of merry percussion. Their athletic, ebony bodies
gleamed in the firelight.
‘Athena, protector of Athens and victorious one, we offer for you that you should send us
your valour in the coming months,’ Theseus raised his strong arms heavenwards and his
voice rang out around the courtyard. The lamb made no sound as Theseus dedicated it to the
goddess. At first, Michael was disgusted by the sacrifice, but the animal was soon stilled.
Theseus set about dividing the body, leaving the forequarter for the goddess and inspecting
the entrails for ill omens before throwing them to the dogs. Nothing was wasted. He called
Michael and Lysander to help take the meat to the spit. A girl ran forward with a jug filled
with olive oil and herbs, which she rubbed into the meat before Lysander placed it on a spit.
Michael could hear Hippolyta talking to a man she called Demetrius. He was a stocky young
man with a serious, kindly look. The Nubians finished their acrobatics and a bard took over,
plucking the strings of his lyre to begin his tale. Michael was too busy listening intently to
Demetrius’s conversation with Hippolyta to pay him much attention.
‘I do not wish to darken the happy event of your wedding, Lady,’ Demetrius sounded
grave, ‘but I have news from the Hellespont. We sent a runner for word from Theseus’s
friend Pirithoos. There are more of them. The Samartians and Scythians are massing with the
Amazons; they increase daily in number. They are winning over the minds of smaller tribes,
hungry for the spoils of war. I have spoken to Theseus about sending to Delphi for the oracle.
We shall leave tomorrow. Mikali and Lysander will accompany us.’
Upon hearing his name, Michael turned to watch as well as eavesdrop. Hippolyta’s
beautiful face was taut with worry. Seeing him staring, Demetrius shouted, ‘Mikali, tonight
we feast, but stain not your lips, which are meant for Arianne’s kisses, with wine,’ he winked
and smiled broadly. ‘We have a journey tomorrow to the sanctuary of Apollo for the oracle.’
Michael nodded seriously.
‘Do not look so stern, brother. The man who drinks the least wine entertains the most
girls.’ Demetrius laughed.
The bard began to recount the tale of Theseus winning Hippolyta from the shrine of
Artemis on Maiden Crag. On hearing how he had challenged Hippolyta to a duel, seeking the
Amazon Queen as his reward, Theseus smiled. He had won, of course, thanks to his
knowledge of wrestling, but nevertheless the bard, seeking favour, was embroidering the tale
by comparing Theseus to the gods.
Nearby, a pretty, brunette girl jiggled a silver-haired boy on her lap and cast her eyes
downwards as Lysander flirted with her. Lysander gestured to the child, who was feeding
scraps of offal to a deerhound, ‘Our King’s boy grows so tall he will soon tower above his
father, like the Rock does above Athens. It is a good thing he will never see the bull court,
where height is a disadvantage.’
Theseus, on hearing, laughed. ‘Lysander, you offend me. Did you not notice that when the
bards sing I am the tallest man in all Greece—they urge even my love the Amazon not to
recognise me. Besides, the Cretan bull court is no more!’ Theseus’s expression seemed
caught between happiness and regret. The bull court had been a cruel life, but also a proud
one. The King’s recollection passed and he smiled once more. ‘Bull leaping is in his blood.
He was caught of late teaching two noble-gotten children to vault on calves,’ the King
boasted before answering more seriously, ‘Hippolytus, tell Mikali how you came to be
missing three nights ago.’
The child raised his fair head and answered with the slight lisp of childhood, ‘I climthed
the bathlements to speak with the Lady Artemis in the stars.’
‘Fearless! He climbed right to the top. He’ll prove as reckless but valiant as his father no
doubt,’ added Lysander.
‘Bravo!’ Michael ruffled the boy’s hair, although the child pulled his head away shyly.
‘Don’t encourage him,’ scolded Hermia, the brunette girl. ‘His mother was worried sick,
and it had the court in whispers. It is not fitting for a boy to worship Artemis the virgin.’ The
girl emphasised the last word and slapped playfully at Lysander’s hand. He took her hand and
kissed it, saying, ‘At your wish, beautiful Hermia. I will not recall it, if that should make you
smile again.’
Michael noticed that Demetrius was watching the flirtation with flashing eyes and a
clenched jaw. The child, Hippolytus, slid off Hermia’s lap and ran to Theseus, who swung
him high in the air.

The feasting and dancing carried on late into the night. Although the other lords drank
freely and sang war ballads ever more loudly, Michael, Demetrius and Lysander, after they
had eaten their fill of spiced lamb, retired early.
‘Which was the lady Arianne?’ Michael asked Demetrius.
Demetrius laughed. ‘Have you lost your mind? Do you think her father would let his
daughter be ravished before time by a bull-leaping guardsmen like yourself? She is noble
born, Mikali. Look only upon on those who sweep the streets and bring your bread until your
wedding day comes. It is only since the Lady Hippolyta has come that other women grace the
courts at all, and even then they are mostly bull-leapers wives, and Hermia and Helena who
are nursemaids for the King’s son.’
Michael heard pain tug at Demetrius’s voice at the mention of Hermia, but Demetrius
continued quickly. ‘Lysander tells me that you have not left flowers at Arianne’s door for
some days now?’
‘Demetrius, I don’t even remember her, now I should be expected to know where she
lives? Do not tell the others, but I remember nothing—not even Athens itself. I don’t
understand why I am here.’
Demetrius looked at Michael quizzically. ‘Theseus told me you had taken a fall in the
hunt. But you still remember nothing? Not even the love god Eros’s sharp arrows can make
you conjure Arianne’s face?’
‘Nothing!’ Michael shook his head.
‘Ah, good luck to you. Perhaps you are lucky to forget a woman. Nothing could make me
forget Hermia.’ A wounded expression crept into his eyes. ‘She is my betrothed you know,
but of late she flirts with Lysander. It is all I can do to hide my jealousy in front of them.’
Demetrius’s eyes grew distant, but he continued, ‘Tomorrow we go to Delphi. Perhaps you
shall ask the priestess what is the source of your amnesia over Arianne? Sleep well, friend.’

It was an early start the next day. Michael yawned and stretched his taut muscles, enjoying
the feel of them rippling beneath his short tunic. Demetrius had woken him early with the
sound of stone scraping on metal as he sharpened weapons. He and Lysander were now
checking the horses, loading them with provisions for the journey. Michael was helping them
pack the saddlebags with wineskins, weapons, food and water.
‘Here’, Demetrius handed Michael a short sword with a handle of smooth jade,
‘Ares forbid you should need to use it, but the journey is long and the roads are rough.’
Michael took the sword; it was heavy in his hands. He lunged forward in mock attack,
bringing the shining blade crashing down in a straight splice, and leaving him marvelling at
the strength of his arms.
‘Do not caper, Mikali. That is a serious sword for serious sport. I sharpened it myself this
morning.’
‘Yes, I heard. You woke me.’ Michael joked.
‘And not before time either. He would not rise until Helios’s chariot was halfway in the
heavens,’ added Lysander, lunging forward, also in mock combat, to poke Michael in the
ribs.
‘It is good that we set off in high spirits, lads, let us hope we return likewise,’ interrupted
Theseus, who was checking the horses again.
Hippolyta came to see them off with her son, Hippolytus, riding high on her tall shoulders.
As they approached, the child wriggled to be set down and Hippolyta lifted him down easily.
The child ran immediately to the horses, which snuffled lovingly at his outstretched hands.
Theseus took Hippolyta in his arms. ‘Send word to Pirithoos if you should be in need of
help. We shall ride hard to be back in four days, my love, and then you and I shall be wed. I
shall think of you when I lie underneath the stars with these three!’ Theseus motioned
towards Michael and the others before taking the Amazon’s face in his hands and kissing her
passionately.
‘And I when I see our empty bed. Dreams of you will fill these four nights as the full
moon will fill the sky on the night of our wedding. May Apollo smile on you, my King, for
you are born of one of his sister Artemis’s priestesses, and—although I have long since left
her sanctuary—you are beloved of another of them.’
Turning to look at Michael, Demetrius and Lysander, she added, ‘You have my brave
guards. They are as good as ten men and trained by the best.’ She smiled at Theseus, who had
trained them. Beneath her calm smile, tension lurked.
‘Hippolyta, I wooed you in war, but I will wed you in peace. Make merry here in Athens
while I am away. It may be long before we are free to revel again.’
Hippolyta hugged him. ‘Do not linger, Theseus. I am already anxious for news and for
your next kiss.’
‘And here it is,’ Theseus smiled, and kissed her again.
Michael looked away and wondered what Arianne looked like.