"My true father?" Briseis asked when Kegarta left them.

"Yes, you know I speak the truth. You're not the first scion of the gods I've met. Perhaps because they carry divine blood they are able to hear my prophecies and believe. I helped steer a young woman, a daughter of Zeus, down the correct path and provided an old man, a son of Ares, the means to reunite with his own son. I have contact with too few who can hear me."

"What do you know about my father?" Briseis asked.

"The day of black sun I had a vision of your false father killing your true father in order to take you as his own. Briseus killed his brother because of the curse of infertility on your house and took you. Your true father rests at the bottom of the ocean," Cassandra said casually while pouring herself more wine.

It was as if the ice falling outside found its way into Briseis' blood. Cassandra had just told her what the priest had written. Could the two be working together to pull some joke on her? No, they couldn't. If the Princess of Troy had gone to that temple which was so far from her kingdom it wouldn't be kept quiet. It couldn't be kept quiet. And Cassandra's tale did differ in one key point from Lagus'. Cassandra claimed Briseis was the daughter of her uncle, while Lagus claimed she wasn't of the royal bloodline at all. But both agreed she wasn't Briseus' daughter. If they were in it together somehow wouldn't their stories match to the last detail?

Briseis couldn't deny a curse of infertility was not only on her, but seemed to be shared with her father, and even Vhasti as none of her affairs produced children either. He'd married Vhasti fifteen years before Briseis' birth and never once sired a child with Vhasti or anyone else. If he had, that child would have been elevated to the throne regardless of being illegitimate just as she had been.

If this curse was on the whole line, then why would her uncle have been able to sire a child? There could be no more waiting. In the morning she would have to confront her father and get the truth. She'd wanted to wait until they were back home, but she had to know. The best she could do to avoid scandal was make sure they were alone when she demanded answers, as she expected the discussion would get heated quickly.

    "If what you're claiming is true, how would my uncle be able to sire children?"

    Cassandra shrugged. "I don't know but I know what I've spoken is true."

And there was one more question Briseis wanted answered. "Do you know who my mother is?"

Cassandra shook her head in answer before taking a full pitcher for herself. "No. I will leave you Princess of Pedasus. Be prepared for the man with golden hair, a black shield and the ferocity of a lion is coming for you. The man you see in your dreams is Achilles, Prince of Phthia, and he has been promised you and he will take what's his. You will be wife to the greatest warrior who ever lived, this is your destiny." And with that being said, Cassandra took her leave.

🦉

Briseis didn't get the chance to talk to her father at all. Between helping Andromache and planning for Paris' grand return there was no time. While seeing to the preparations, she couldn't help but wonder if Cassandra's words were really true. Even though a part of her believed the princess prophetess another part of her was hoping she was wrong.

Surely she couldn't be right always. Paris would return with his aunt and not a stolen bride. There would be no war and Troy wouldn't fall. If this war Cassandra predicted really would last ten years then not only Troy would be devastated. All villages, cities, and kingdoms in the Troad would be at risk. Even though Pedasus was far from Troy, fighting might reach even there as the Greeks would need to stockpile resources for those they brought couldn't last ten years. Not even half that, so the destruction of enemies and conscription of farmers by the Greeks would take place fast.

Adding to Briseis' turmoil, Cassandra was soon known to be missing. Briseis wished to speak with her more but no one knew where she was. If she was so certain that war was coming would she run? Who wouldn't run if they were convinced their home would burn and she'd be taken as a slave? It would be easier to leave now rather than wait for the enemies you were sure would soon be at your gates.

Needing answers, Briseis sent her owls to look for her. It was a week and a half before they got back to her. Cassandra had indeed fled. The princess hadn't taken much on her journey from what Briseis could see, only the bare minimum of food, water, and only a single horse. Her wild red hair flowed freely behind Cassandra as she pushed one of her father's famous horses to the brink. She would ride hard and then rest the horse for two days before starting over.

Briseis kept her mouth shut, hoping that the woman would flee far enough to get some peace. As the days turned into two weeks since Princess Cassandra was last seen in court, more suspicion grew. Priam and Hecuba had no choice but to send search parties. Apparently it wasn't abnormal for Cassandra to disappear for a few days but being gone this long was unusual. It was also the first time to their knowledge Cassandra had fled the city.

Nearly a month passed before they dragged her back in the dead of night. Briseis witnessed a sulking Cassandra being brought through the halls toward her father's chambers. Cassandra was sobbing and screaming that their doom would arrive on the shores in three days.

Briseis didn't know how Cassandra would be punished but she hoped it wouldn't be too harsh.

🦉

"Briseis, could you put a cool cloth on my head?" Andromache asked. The babe was late and nothing the midwives did could convince the child to come out.

Briseis did her best to ease the woman's discomfort. Her stomach was large and the babe was unusually still when it had been active not long before. The midwives assured them that wasn't always a bad thing and happened a lot. Briseis watched the midwives exchange worries glances behind Andromache.

In the heat of the day, the bells began to ring. It was the signal the entire city had been waiting for. Prince Paris' ship had been spotted.

"Go, go," Andromache urged her. "You must get ready for the presentation. Call my maids, they will help me get ready."

Briseis nodded and rushed out to the balcony. The purple and blue sails of all Trojan vessels could be seen in the distance. Briseis didn't want to face the wrath of Vhasti for being late so she ran through the halls. There were so many royal visitors to the city in anticipation of this event she hardly stood out as she rushed. They would have two hours at most before the ship docked, and maybe another hour before the procession got to the palace. Three hours might seem like a long time, but Briseis had to not just get ready, but ensure all the duties Andromache was responsible for went smoothly.

🦉

"You've done very well, my dear," Hecuba praised Briseis as the servants laid out the food according to Briseis' careful orders. The sitting arrangements in the main hall, which would host the visiting royal families, had also been arranged by Briseis. Due to her involvement with the preparations, Hecuba had degreed Briseis and her family would be given the seats of honor beside King Priam. This was a highly coveted position that Pedasus, as the poorest kingdom in the Troad, couldn't even dream of.

Vhasti's delight at this was almost too great to be put into words. It was the first time Briseis had ever seen the woman happy. She even let Briseis wear some of her beloved jewelry. There was nothing Vhasti treasured more than her jewelry with the exception perhaps of her wardrobe.

They were the second to last people to enter the dining hall, Briseis in the middle with her parents on either side of her. The Trojan royal family would enter after them. Briseis made a stunning picture with her dark hair in elaborate braids, green and blue jewels glittering all over her body, and a soft blue–green gown that fluttered with every step. Her bright shining eyes were whispered about as she walked by. Most people never saw scions of the gods, so her glowing yellow eyes were a bit of a shock, especially since Briseis had been with Andromache or the servants for most of this stay.

Briseis wished this ceremony would be over quickly so she could confront her father. Paris and his procession should arrive in twenty minutes, and a light meal would be served for the guests in that time. After that there would be speeches, praises for Paris and welcoming declarations for Praim's lost sister Hesione finally coming home.

Briseis wondered how Hesione would feel seeing the brother that didn't fight to keep her from being forcibly wed to a Greek prince, one she'd never met before seeing him waiting for her at the alter, just to ensure peace between the Greeks and Trojans. Hesione had given that prince many children, one of which was rumored to be a giant warrior, Ajax. Briseis wondered if he would accompany his mother. She would be interested to see a giant. The Trojan ruling family were the tallest people she'd ever seen, even the shortest member Cassandra dwarfed her, but Hesione's son Ajax was said to be even taller.

Speaking of Cassandra, she was at the dinner looking like she wished she could sink into her chair, or perhaps drown herself with the wine as her consumption of it seemed to have doubled since they last spoke. Trumpets sounded and the hall quieted as the prince was at the gates of the palace. They waited in companionable silence. The rapid footsteps of soldiers could soon be heard outside the twin wooden doors of the dining hall.

"Alexander, the Prince of Troy!" a herald shouted. All the guests not at the king's table stood. The Lost Prince Paris, also called Alexander, was just as tall as his brother Hector. Though Hector tended to look stern, Paris had the expression of a man that didn't take much seriously. His walk was prideful, not unlike that of boys' who'd been handed their first sword and rubbed it in the younger ones' faces. He was in his early forties and yet still held himself with the manner of an arrogant child.

"Father, mother, family, and esteemed guests, I have returned to you with tidings of great joy!" There was a round of applause from the guests and family.

"Where is Hesione?" Priam asked eagerly.

"My dear aunt declined your invitation to return, but rest assured father, she is happy and in great comfort. No, my King and father, the tidings I have to share are personal and I hope you will all be as joyful in this as I have been. I present to you treasures from Sparta." On his last word a flurry of servants began to usher in gold, silver, fine cloth and other treasure in such quantities that could have ransomed a kingdom. There was much oohing and awing as the crowd wondered how the prince could have possibly attained such wealth short of war.

"A very handsome gift, my son," Priam said as his brows knit together. "Just what sort of deal have you struck with Menelaus, King of Sparta? I hope we can fulfill our end of this agreement."

Paris laughed and smiled as he took a goblet of wine a servant offered him. "That is the best part, my father. These are given freely as it was not Menelaus but Sparta's Queen that has so enriched us."

Priam looked pleasantly surprised. "How generous of Queen Helen! What does she ask we do for her in return?"

Paris drained his glass and gestured for another. "That is the best part. Helen asks for nothing but your love and the love of Troy. She has come here as my wife."

Some people choked on their wine, others gasped, and many like Priam and Briseis, sat in stunned silence.

"HAHAHAHA!" However there was one person that broke down in hysterical laughter, and that was Cassandra. Hecuba quickly calmed her daughter down by shoving another pitcher of wine in her hands, and had Cassandra escorted from the hall by guards.

King Priam stood. "What sort of jape is this? Helen of Sparta is married to another man. A king who still lives unless you're saying Menelaus has died."

Paris shook his head. "No, my father, Menelaus lives. Helen stole away with me in the dead of night to escape her husband and loveless marriage. She loves me and I love her. I present to you, our family, and honored guests, my wife, Helen of Troy."

A woman appeared in the doorway. Her hair was golden, her stature straight, her clothing expensive yet shockingly, scandalously minimal, her face wore a haughty expression and whispers of her beauty began to flood the crowd. There was no doubt she was the most beautiful woman Briseis had ever seen. Her beauty was of no concern to Briseis though. She was far more interested in the woman's two glowing eyes. A daughter of Zeus indeed as Cassandra had claimed.

Cassandra was right. War was coming to Troy and since she had been right about that, her other claims couldn't be doubted. Briseis' father, or rather the man she'd called father, had killed his brother who was her true father, just to have an heir for Pedasus.