Episode 111. supremacy (1)
“How comfortable was it when playing long term?”
Agamemnon moves a piece from the left end of the board to the right end to block Menelaus’ attack.
“In this way, you can see clearly both other people’s land and my land, and the soldiers of other people and my soldiers.”
“so···”
Menelaus moves one pawn at the end of the long go. Agamemnon clicks his tongue when he sees the place where his general was eaten, as if he missed that trivial word for a moment.
“… Just because you’re good at playing organs doesn’t mean you’re good at using soldiers. In a real war, each other hides each other’s hand. Sometimes one person has more words than the other.
And… you are the one who knows that very well.”
Agamemnon, who laughed joyfully at Menelaus’ surprise attack and declared surrender, put both the chess pieces and the board to one side of the table and leaned forward to look at his brother.
“Well done, Menelaus. How do you see the number I threw this time?”
As always, the older brother asks a question and the younger one answers.
The conversation between Agamemnon and Menelaus was originally like that. A long time ago.
Menelaus spoke without thinking for a long time, as he did when he was playing chess earlier.
“Tongue, you were wise. Because he quickly grasped the situation in Troy and moved Iphigenia’s wife from the second son to the third.”
Menelaus murmured as he looked at the chess board that had been put away for a moment.
“…the world is invisible like a war on a chessboard. So you always have to be vigilant.”
A disaster was about to happen.
What could be more disrespectful than asking a prince who is in the middle of a wedding, or a prince whose wedding is over?
It would be fortunate if he didn’t get kicked out of the door, let alone buy Troia’s trust.
Agamemnon skillfully got through a great crisis. Like a skilled captain escaping a storm.
“Yeah, but…”
It was not Agamemnon who spoke first this time. Sensing that fact, Agamemnon’s eyebrows furrowed.
The roles of questioner and answerer were reversed.
A trembling voice, it can be seen that Menelaus is anxious as he speaks too.
“…Isn’t Iphigenia your older brother’s favorite child?”
“I could give up my arm and my eye for that child.”
“By the way, I wonder if it would be all right to use Iphigenia as bait in this matter…”
Agamemnon taps the table lightly with his finger in silence. Menelaus, knowing that it was his brother’s body language to express displeasure indirectly, kept his mouth shut.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Agamemnon’s answer was ambiguous. What, how, has not been decided?
But Menelaus did not bother to inquire further.
Instead, I lowered my gaze from my brother’s hardened face for a moment and looked at that checkerboard.
If the world was a place where you could see through it transparently, like the war on the chess board.
If it were fair, if people and people could open up everything to each other and compete.
Just like I just beat my older brother…
As he cleared his mind of disturbing thoughts that had briefly popped into his head, Menelaus looked up and met his brother’s eyes.
The blue sky was reflected in his eyes.
And also the flock of crows flying far to the east where Troia is.
***
The banquet had to go on even if it rained, snowed, or even when the person to marry knocked on the door.
It wasn’t because people of this era were crazy hedonists.
It’s because this banquet is a kind of sacrifice to the gods.
Even at the beginning of the banquet, Nana Priam praises Zeus by raising the cup full of the sacred drink, and even before it is over and dispersed, the fat, bones, and hides of the slaughtered animals are gathered and offered as a burnt offering.
Therefore, it is blasphemous to stop without reason a banquet announcing the sacred union of two people in front of the gods.
so.
“…welcome the hands from Mycenae. I will prepare boiling water, a towel and a change of clothes, so please give Troy the right to welcome you.”
Priam welcomed the sudden arrival of the Mycenaeans, but did not stop the banquet.
I only avoided the confusion for a while by asking them to ablution and ablution.
However, the atmosphere in the banquet hall had already changed.
Of course, everyone here seemed to quickly return to their original state as if nothing had happened, smiling and relaxing as they were deep-skinned politicians, chatting casually with other guests around them.
But even a little, a little bit of attention would tell.
“…Paris, the air has changed.”
That’s why Hector whispered this one word to me and left.
Hector soon erased his serious expression and started talking happily about hunting with the chieftains on the Black Sea side. Therefore, worry became my own.
especially···
“Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon. Meet the Lord of Antandros. and···”
This kind of entertainment was also my share.
Iphigenia looked at Oinone for a moment, not knowing what to say. Oinone rolled her eyes for a moment before replying cheerfully.
“I’m Kevren’s daughter.”
“Ah, it’s an honor to meet Kevren’s daughter, Oinone.
I really congratulate you two on your marriage.”
A little awkward attitude.
Awkward eyes alternately looking at me and Ino.
regret…? or regret?
When I look at my face, it seems that such emotions come out, but I don’t know what the reason is.
Anyway, it was hard to deal with for a long time because of the awkwardness I couldn’t figure out the reason. I led her to where the other Mycenaeans were seated and immediately returned to her seat and sat down.
“Whoa, whoa…”
“Is something strange?”
“···huh.”
After removing Iphigenia, I feel like I can breathe properly. Ino seemed to be in a similar mood, so she stretched lightly so as not to be noticed by others.
oh my god. That Iphigenia came to my wedding.
Agamemnon’s daughter to marry my brother.
It was hard to come to my senses, but I managed to hold on to the leaking soul and looked around the gorgeous banquet hall again.
The glances towards me and Priam increased little by little.
And in particular, the gaze toward Deiphobos increased openly, and traffic jams were on the verge of happening on one side because of the men and women who were queuing up to talk to Deiphobus.
···Not good.
This wedding is the groundwork to make myself known.
It was to appease my allies who were anxious about Antandros’ progress, and personally, to get to know those who would become our allies in the future.
But Agamemnon threw a marriage story like this.
It is also such a radical work that Iphigenia herself is delivered to our doorstep.
then···
What do the people gathered here think when they see this?
***
“The King of Kings (Ϝάναξ).”
Audios, who leads the Halizones, dared to say the word. Covering his mouth with his long cloak, he whispered to his colleagues nearby.
“It looks like the Trojan sage is dreaming of becoming the King of Kings.”
Speaking of the sage of Troy, of course it refers to Priam of the ash tree spear who raised the fallen kingdom with his bare hands.
“It seems that we were initially worried about Prince Paris, but this is…”
“Obviously more serious.”
Audios’ colleagues, including Epistrophes, each nodded and glanced at Priam sitting on the throne, close to Paris from afar.
Priam, as always, smiles softly at the guests, revealing his firm and noble character, but who could have known that a dark desire was burning beneath him!
The worst that they thought when they first heard the news of Antandros was insignificant.
I thought that Paris, a prince with a cunning tongue, was planning a rebellion in the provinces, blinding the eyes and ears of King Priam, who was old and decrepit, and thinking of taking over the kingdom entirely.
Of course, that could be seen as a bad enough situation.
However, when I looked around for a few days after coming, I saw that Prince Paris was often tired of this golden opportunity to secretly collude with key figures from neighboring countries, but did not show any scheming.
The rumored ‘richest person’ and ‘one who received the grace of steel’ were not particularly visible. Of course, there was no sense of deceit as a traitor.
However, he was in fact normal.
Behind all this division, the sage Priam’s insidious ambition slumbered.
Priam pretended to be surprised at the visit of the Mycenaeans, but no fools were present to be fooled by the smoke.
Some madman would send his daughter across pirate-infested waters in the first place, for an engagement that had never taken place?
It is obvious that elaborate work has been carried out behind the scenes from before.
“Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, recently saw him in Achaia to the west and boasted that he was the king of kings?”
“Even from Priam’s point of view, it’s worth being greedy. If that kind of wealth came into your hands…”
also.
Priam, who produced steel and raised soldiers without Hattusha’s secret, using his second son, who grew up humble on the street, as a puppet, was plotting a marriage alliance with Agamemnon, now the ruler of the west!
All of them feel a sense of resentment at Troia’s meticulous and terrifying plan.
As they scooped the drink from the pot and ladle to quench their burning thirst, they began to wonder if the drink contained poison.
And these suspicions were not confined to the men of the Halizones.
On this day, in the midst of whispers, the king of Troy got a new nickname, ‘Priam the insidious’, and the lord of Antandros was also given the name ‘Paris, the secret right hand of darkness’, as if it had been given by a hormone-infested middle school student.
I don’t know if they liked it or not.
***
In any case, the long banquet in Troy came to an end with the announcement of the bride and groom.
But it wasn’t even halfway through until the wedding was properly over.
Now, the Trojan royal family, the elves, the families of the bride and groom, and all the guests who were present to bless them boarded a boat headed for Antandros.
Originally, these hundreds would have to form huge ranks and march to Antandros for several weeks.
However, as the menace of the enraged mermaids has become as dangerous as the accident on board, this wedding march has been replaced by a brief voyage.
Dozens of great ships moved south along the coast of Troas, which lay under Troy’s influence.
The marble-colored cities shining like pearls over the blue sea served as guideposts for them.
And by the time the boats turned in unison as the peninsula’s western shore veered sharply eastward, the wedding guests realized that they were only a short distance away.
“That city we passed by earlier in the morning is called Assos.”
“Is it? What did the sailors say?”
“They say they’ll arrive soon. Isn’t it already early evening?”
In front of them, the sea, which went from red to deep purple, swayed like a living creature.
Sarpedon, the king of the Lycians, who had been assigned a whole ship as he had brought numerous entourage, waited for the moment when the sailors’ signs faded away.
And finally, after confirming that only seabirds were left to eavesdrop, he quietly spoke to his friend and cousin Glaucus.
“…this will surely lead to war.”
“Hattusha wouldn’t stay still if he knew what Troia was doing.”
“And it’s obvious that you already know. Trying to attract Agamemnon in such a situation? Aren’t they really thinking about doing it?”
Sarpedon, brushing his hair wet with the salty sea breeze, gazed at the black galleys the Trojans rode in the distance, and then again to the northeast.
A location where Hattusha might be.
“Of course, Hattusha’s rule is shaking, but if we concentrate our efforts, we can step on at least one Troia, but something like this…”
“Do you think there is a corner that believes in something, Sarpedon?”
“I don’t know. If you only believe in the faithless Achaeans across the sea…”
it’s a loser
There are vast seas and numerous islands between them and Troia, but there is a military-vassal relationship that has lasted hundreds of years between Hattusa and Troia.
Even if Troy and Priam push for a war, it is another matter whether the allied cities under them will obey.
“…we have to decide our own way. Will you turn away or stand by someone from Troia or Hattusha?”
“And if you get into a fight, you’ll most likely be on the winning side.”
Glaucus thought as he watched Sarpedon’s face frown.
The Lycian king made a decision.
“…Damn it, I really don’t want to pay taxes to the Hattushas.
I hope Troia wins. It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.”
“We are landing soon! Everyone, get ready!!”
The sailor who was staring at the whitish horizon and the horizon from the front shouts. Looking closely, it seemed that the Trojans were already pulling their ships ashore.
After a while, your stomach slows down and you feel your body slowly leaning forward. Soon, with a thud, the boats lean on the sand.
And while the slaves worked hard, dozens of attendants came out from Antandros to entertain the distinguished guests.
The representative of the attendant was a cheerful young man, and as soon as Paris approached, he bowed lightly and showed signs of welcome.
“Anoitus! How about Antandros?”
“My lord, I have finished all preparations I can! All the toys you mentioned have been moved to the palace.”
“Okay, great. By the way, the time is already just before sunset, can we welcome guests?”
“It is just the right time. Why don’t you show ‘that’ to your guests?”
“…Ah, that’s not a bad idea. Then try it once.”
At Anoitus’ words, Paris laughs and pats the servant on the shoulder. Anoitus soon came to the meeting place where the monarchs of various countries were gathered and paid respectful greetings.
“My name is Anoitus, the son of Cassius, who temporarily serves as chancellor in Antandros. Please, follow me this way.”
Paris, Oenone, and the other Trojan royals follow the powerful step, and the others start to walk leisurely after them.
It was almost night in the city, but Antandros was not quiet.
“excuse me! The monarch is coming!!”
“trumpet! Sound the trumpet!!”
Passing through the double-layered wall, a loud wind instrument reverberates, and citizens wandering along the roadside gather and cheer.
Citizens who had been sitting in the square, in the market, and in their respective homes jumped out excitedly onto the boulevards and made the city noisy with shouts.
Among the citizens, soldiers apparently hired by Paris were handing out baskets of flower petals to the citizens. Colorful petals flew between the reddish sunset and the cool moon.
But those who are welcomed in this way are kings, rulers. They are more accustomed to receiving hospitality and service than anyone else.
It’s a city that seems to be quite prosperous, but doesn’t seem to be anything special. Guests soon adapt to the landscape of Antandros and to the hustle and bustle.
And, the procession stops at some point.
Unusually, a river flows through the city, and a black cloud rises nearby.
In front of him, he could see a marble building decorated here and there with dark red cloth and gold leaf. As soon as everyone sees it, they realize that it is a temple.
In front of the temple stood a huge stone statue of Hephaestus. Gilding all over the body, standing with a hammer raised with dignity, the other hand resting the sword on the anvil and aiming.
Paris, Lord of Antandros, who stood at the head of the ranks, ascended the temple’s high steps alone, then turned around and looked down at the guests.
“The distinguished guests have gathered here! To celebrate the marriage of me, the ruler of this city, and Oinone, the daughter of Kevren, the nymph of Mount Ida!”
Sarpedon silently watches what the young prince is about to say.
If you’re not an idiot, he’ll know too. That his wedding was no longer important.
For example, isn’t everyone here glancing at Iphigenia, who is half-stuck in this crowd and nervous?
‘No matter what they try to show, the hearts of the kings are hardened. A prince’s greetings…’
“I would like to show you the great pride of this city! Anoitus! What time is it now!!”
“If we divide the day into 24 parts, as Paris-sama specified, it will be almost 6:00.”
“good. If so, the sound of drumming…”
-ridge.
The sound of tapping the taut leather came like Paris’ confidence. He gently scans the crowd, briefly facing Sarpedon face to face. A face armed with Sarpedon’s suspicion and indifference.
And, suddenly, a smile that has never been seen rises on the lips of the prince. Sarpedon infers the feelings of the prince, who has always been humble.
pride? No, rather than that… A sense of superiority?
“Look, noble kings! It is a vessel dedicated to Hephaestus, who protects this city!”
Paris shouts.
and with a cry.
-bang!!!!!!
the sky cries
The god of stone, wood, and gold swings his hammer, and the bronze anvil collides with it.
-bang!
-bang!
-bang!
…
“This, this was a rumor…”
“I thought I was a toy too! At best, I thought it was a small statue of a god, about the size of a person’s waist…”
Mumbling takes place.
Then, hearing the sound of the gates closing in the distance, Sarpedon turns back to the prince.
Prince Paris came down from the steps of the temple as if nothing had happened and chatted happily with his bride.
As if there was nothing like that mysterious harmony of divine beings.
Sarpedon involuntarily looked down toward the floor.
Each of the cobblestones that were tightly packed in this road that was exceptionally easy to walk on.
. . Have I seen anything like this anywhere else?