The creak of the carriage woke Briseis from a dreamless sleep. Oppressive heat had long sent sweat beading over her entire body, her and every member of the party. Kegarta sat on the opposite bench fanning herself but it didn't appear to be doing her any good. Briseis rubbed her eyes before she was violently jostled from the bench.

"Ahh," Kegarta was thrown from her seat at the same time. The women ended up in a tangled heap on the floor. "Humph," Kegarta  said as the weight of her mistress pressed her into the hard wood. Kegarta's foot jammed into Briseis' ribs, knocking the breath out of her and blurring her vision.

"Ugh." Briseis pulled herself off her servant. "Are...are you alright?" Her side throbbed and she rubbed at it.

Kegarta pulled herself up. The girl had a bloodied nose and her eyes were quickly blackening. "I'm fine." The blood gushed from the poor girl's nose without sign of stopping and soaked the front of her dress. Kegarta's nose was flattened and it was obvious the girl was barely holding back tears.

The door to the carriage opened. "My Princess, are you well?" The soldier offered her his hand and Briseis took it.

"Perfectly well," she groaned as she stepped from the carriage. After he helped Kegarta from the carriage she asked, "what happened?"

"The ground collapsed under one of the carriage wheels." The soldier pointed to the broken wheel at the front of the carriage just behind the horse on the left. "We'll lose several days making a replacement."

"Just as well," Briseis said. "Kegarta come to the river, you need to get cleaned up."

"I feel dizzy," the girl said before collapsing.

"Kegarta!" Briseis rushed forward but she was too slow. Thankfully the guard caught her just before her head met the ground.

"She's breathing, Princess," the guard told her.

Briseis knelt by Kegarta and shook the girl's shoulder lightly. "Awaken."

"The injury may be serious, my Princess. Her nose is broken." The guard studied Kegarta's face and he seemed resigned to something.

"That's not a fatal injury," Briseis protested.

"Under the correct circumstances it can be. Bone fragments could have broken off her facial structure and lodged in her brain. I've seen it before. If that occurred the chances of survival..." he trailed off seeing the look on Briseis' face.

By now soldiers and attendants were gathering around them. Kegarta's breathing became weezey and labored.

"Do we have a physician," Briseis asked as panic rose in her spirit.

"We do," the guard said slowly, "but an injury such as this likely can't—"

"Get the physician!" She screamed as a group of guards came to look. "You," Briseis pointed to another group men standing around, "gather the best of the food, wine, spices, and half the gold of my dowry and set up an alter." 

The men hesitated. One stepped forward and gulped. "My Princess, your dowry is the property of your husband—"

"Do I look like I care what Mynes wants!" Briseis shrieked. "Are you my servants or aren't you?" A  parliament of owls began to flock around Briseis. They landed in the trees, around her feet, and on some of the carts. She was so angry none of the owls vision overtook her own. Some of the horses nickered nervously as the birds grew more numberous. They weren't the only ones who were nervous, the guards too eyed the birds with distrust. "Do as I commanded!" At her last word all the owls screeched as one.

That set the guards in motion. Briseis knelt next to Kegarta. The servant girl's breathing was getting more and more labored. The guard who helped them from the carriage was still at the Kegarta's side. He cradled her head and for a few moments Kegarta's breathing seemed to ease, but then it grew more labored than it'd been before. Kegarta's face seemed to pale and the pulse in her neck, visible to Briseis as she stood so close, stopped jutting in regular rhythm.

Another guard came running with a man who carried a worn leather satchel. She found it hard to hold her tongue as he assessed Kegarta. He shook his head, "There's nothing I can do."

Brisies nodded and went to help load the alter with the sacrificial goods. If man couldn't do anything to save Kegarta then only the gods could intervene. Briseis couldn't carry as much as the soldiers and soon found her arms growing weak and feeling as if they were on fire. In the heat the work seemed to take twice as long. Her guards stood back as she lit the ceremonial fire. Every owl bonded to Briseis, except those she'd given as gifts, stood around her. It struck her in that moment what an odd sight this made and Briseis had to hold back a humorless laugh. A young woman lighting a fire to plead to a goddess, surrounded by dozens upon dozens of small unblinking birds, while guards and attendants watched, no doubt anyone seeing this would think she'd lost her mind.

"Mother, hear my prayer. I offer you the best of everything I have in exchange for my servant girl's life. Athena, goddess, mother, master of war, hear me. I beg of you, hear me."

Nothing.

Briseis fell to her knees. Tears spilled from her eyes as she raised her hands to the sky. "Mother, I beg you! Heal my servant."

A brilliant flash lit the sky. Cries of alarm issued from all the guards and even some of her owls screeched. Briseis shielded her eyes until the glow began to dim. When she looked up, it wasn't her mother who stood on the opposite side of the alter. It was a man.

"Who are you, Lord? I mean no disrespect but I was calling for Athena."

"Athena is too busy to be bothered with the life of a mere servant girl." He walked up to the alter and examined the offerings. "I am Apollo, god of the sun, music and healing."

Briseis touched her head to the ground, the rattle of armor and shuffling told her the guards and attendants were doing the same. Her tears wet the grass causing it to stick to her face and it felt itchy, but she dared not raise her head. "My Lord Apollo, please accept the offerings before you and heal my servant girl. I beg of you, my Lord."

Briseis felt two of the god's fingers under her chin. With a gentle tug he pulled her head up until their eyes met.

"What is the life of this girl worth to you, daughter of Athena?"

Briseis swallowed. She was looking into the eyes of the god who raped and cursed Cassandra, a god who looked at her now with an expression of complete indifference. "If the offerings do not please you I can add more gold. I will build statues of you in Lyrnessus, I will build you a temple, I will bring you worshippers, I will become your high priestess, whatever you would ask of me, my Lord. I will do anything, please heal my servant." 

The god quirked an eyebrow. "Your offering is not acceptable." He removed his hand from her chin and went to lean against the alter.

Briseis fought to keep her jaw from dropping as she stood. "Why not?"

"As you are the daughter of a goddess, ancient laws prevent you from being a priestess of anyone but your sire. I have no need of worshipers in Lyrnessus. The city is dedicated to Ares anyway. Taking his worshippers would annoy him and as war is on the way, I have no wish to do so."

"What would you ask of me then?"

The god examined his nails before locking on her with a cold stare. "I want a favor."

"Name it."

The god smiled but it was a cruel smile. "You see, I have no need of anything at the moment but in the future that may not be the case. I will save your vassal in exchange for your services in the future, and should you refuse or fail, your girl will drop dead."

Briseis bit her lip. An open ended promise to a god was a dangerous thing. Briseis already was at the mercy of her mother in exchange for preforming a service, at least she already knew what Athena required of her. Kegarta's breath began to get slow and shallow in her ears. "You have my word. Whatever favor you ask of me will be done."

Apollo nodded and with a flash of golden light he was gone. When the world returned to its normal brightness, Briseis stood stunned and afraid. The alter was empty of all the goods they'd placed on it.

"My lady," Kegarta called to her weakly. "What's going on?"

Briseis turned. The soldiers were looking at her uneasily, still from their kneeling position. Kegarta was sitting up, there was no trace of blood on the girl and her blackened eyes were healed.

🦉

They saw the dust from the party approaching them before they could make out the flags. Overhead her large flock of owls flew, providing them with an artificial shade. Briseis ordered her owls to land. She was worried whoever was approaching would shoot at them. As one the owls dived and perched themselves on the many carts that carried her goods. They were moving at a faster pace now that Apollo had taken the offerings. Their arrival in Mynes' city would be sooner than expected by a week if they kept up this pace. 

It soon became clear the approaching strangers were part of a larger party than first thought. The banners flying from the many bearers flapped too much in the wind to be made out. Though the identity of the party could only be guessed at, one thing was clear, whoever that party belonged to was royal. After some quick thinking, Briseis believed she knew exactly who had to be approaching them.

Briseis rode her mare again today instead of riding in the carriage. She felt she probably wouldn't ride in that carriage ever again. Kegarta refused to be in it as well, so when Briseis spurred her mare on to meet the head of the other party, Kegarta was right behind her. Four guards went with them while the rest of Briseis' procession halted their progress.

At the head of the new party was an old guard. "Greetings stranger. I am Princess Briseis of Pedasus."

The old guard nodded, it seemed he had worked out who she was as well. "Greetings Princess. I am Jarvi, head of Princess Asnti's guard and that of her son Prince Thane."

"I would speak to this Princess Asnti. Kegarta prepare a lunch." At her words Jarvi nodded to a man behind him. The man got off his horse and walked toward a carriage that was several yards behind the main guards.  

Soon a woman no older than Briseis appeared accompanied by the guard. She was shorter than Briseis and seemed to possess a timid nature. Asnti's posture was slumped and she kept her hands folded in front of her. Her hair was the color of hay. Briseis couldn't make out any facial features of the girl because Asnti kept her face to the ground.

"I am Princess Asnti. I am pleased to make your acquaintance Princess Briseis."

Briseis dismounted. "Why do you keep your head lowered?" The girl flinched and her guards sucked in uneasy breaths. "My question was rude. Forgive me, Princess Asnti."

Asnti nodded but didn't speak. Briseis did a quick assessment of her and the woman's guards but none were looking at her. The silence was already awkward but thankfully Kegarta returned. "Your meal is ready, my Princess."

"Very good. Please follow me Princess Asnti."

The girl nodded and one of her guards followed. As they approached the table, Briseis wondered if for some reason Asnti couldn't speak freely surrounded by these guards who claimed to be her loyal servants. But if Briseis didn't have any attendants of her own then it was reasonable to ask Asnti to send hers away as well.

"Kegarta, please stand back with the rest of our party. I want to speak alone with someone of my station." The girl nodded and quickly followed orders. "I ask you excuse your own guard as well, Princess Asnti."

"I am to stay by her highness' side at all times," the young guard protested.

"It's fine Jaxi." Asnti dismissed him with a wave of her hand. Jaxi did as ordered but he wasn't happy about it if his heavy footfalls were anything to go by.

"I apologize for the meager spread," Briseis said, "there was an unfortunate incident that robbed us of many of our stores."

"I am grateful for your kindness," but she made in move to eat.

Briseis took it upon herself to pour the wine and make each of them a plate. Asnti sat silent with her head down and posture slumped and stiff. She set the plate of fruit, cheese, and meat before the other woman but even as Briseis began to partake, Asnti seemed...frozen.

"I wish to hear about your life in Lyrnessus. I am to wed Mynes upon my arrival."

The girl nodded. "High Prince Mynes is a tall and attractive man. He commands one of the best forces the Troad has to offer and his kingdom is very rich," Asnti said with the air of a rehearsed speech.

"Look at me," Briseis said in a soft voice.

Asnti gulped audibly but slowly she lifted her face. Briseis couldn't contain her shock, she gasped, her eyes widened, she nearly dropped her goblet which caused wine to spill down her arm and splatter on her dress. "My lady who did this to you? Was it Mynes? Is the man a monster?"

Asnti's lips quivered and the girl burst into tears. Jaxi ran forward, hand on his sword which caused several of her own guards to run toward them. The men drew their weapons and stood over them.

"It's fine Jaxi. Go back to your place."

"My Princess, if this woman is cruel to you we need not stay."

"Jaxi go back," Asnti ordered in a stronger voice though she was still crying. Jaxi sheathed his weapon and Briseis' men did the same.

"You as well," Briseis told her men. Once everyone was gone Asnti lowered her hands.

The girl was still distraught but she gathered herself. The left side of Asnti's face was marred by a brand. A brand in the shape of a tree. The right side of her face had slashes running diagonal across her check. The brand, as well as many of the slashes, were old but some of those slashes were clearly fresh. In fact one looked to have been made perhaps only days ago.

"It wasn't Mynes...but-but-his High Princess Umna. Mynes allows her to run the harem. She is cruel especially to the newer girls. She has them all branded with her personal sigil after their first night with Mynes. Those who are defiant get even worse punishments. She is a monster."

"And Mynes does nothing about this?"

Asnti shook her head. "He cares not. He encourages competition among his concubines. When my son was chosen to be the heir for Pedasus, I pleaded with Mynes to be allowed to go with him. He is only a babe of a few weeks. Mynes couldn't have cared less as I am not a princess of a kingdom, but a wealthy merchant's daughter. Umna was displeased I didn't ask her permission first and she opened up my face yet again. She is horrible, Briseis."

"I see," Briseis gripped the table cloth to keep her hand from flying to the left side of her face.

"I will pray to the god Apollo for your protection, Princess Briseis. I am escaping a nightmare but you are walking into one from which few escape."

"I thank you for your concern but I won't have you pray to Apollo for my protection."

"Who shall I pray to then? What god do you worship? You will need some protection."

"Pray not. I can handle this situation myself." Briseis said it with confidence though she didn't know how to make those words true.

Asnti looked at her with pity.