Achilles

Years Before 

Dinner with his extended family was happy but awkward. Urchin was a fantastic cook though there wasn't as much to go around as Achilles was used too. Their home was modest but comfortable. Urchin, Rell and their children were pleasant people and happy to see Patroclus again and to meet their distant cousin Achilles.

Achilles was fascinated with Urchin and Rell being god spawns just as he was. All their children but one seemed to have inherited a portion of power from their godly sides. The boy without the shining eyes of his parents and siblings was Acimus, the youngest child just seven years old. He was the only one that looked a lot like Patroclus and Achilles himself.

"That's a handsome weapon," Urchin said as she eyed Achilles' trident which was propped against the wall. "Unusual for combat though. May I?"

"Of course," Achilles gestured for her to take up the weapon.

She almost didn't wait for permission. Her children were busy cleaning up the meal, Patroclus and Rell went outside to discuss something, which left them alone.

Urchin tested the weight of the trident in her hand, expertly twirled it and threw it in the air before catching it with just three fingers. She threw the weapon behind her back and caught it in her opposite hand. "Well balanced," she stated. "I bet you have a problem with grip though, when you thrust forward your hand slips doesn't it?"

"How did you know that?" Achilles had never seen a woman handle a weapon like this.

"I'm a daughter of Hephaestus, the god of the forge. I worked as a blacksmith before Rell and I moved here." Urchin ran one finger down the length of the tines. "These tines won't last long, the metal is too thin."

"Could you make me a better one?" Achilles was excited by the prospect.

Urchin gave the boy a side eye. "In the past I could have but I no longer have a forge." Urchin's voice was sad.

"What happened to your forge?"

Urchin leaned the weapon against the wall and sighed. "It's a long story and not a happy one."

Achilles settled on the chair, eagerly waiting.

"For most of my life I've worked as a blacksmith, first in my grandfather's shop which I took over when he died. That's how Rell and I met. He brought my grandfather high quality metal to work with. Rell is a son of Hades, he has the ability to sense metals in the earth and bring them to the surface."

"If I had that power I'd be out finding gold," Achilles said almost without thinking.

Urchin smiled. "He used to do that when he was younger but it often led to him being mugged. Rell isn't a warrior by nature despite have being a demigod. He got tired of being beaten up nearly every week. Rell has a certain air about him that others sense which he gets from his father. It's the sensation that death is near and it sets people on edge. For that reason he was outcast from the other villagers."

"I don't feel that when I'm near him," Achilles said.

"Nor do I. The aura of the god of death has no effect on ones such as us." Loud laughter came from outside, it was Rell and Patroclus.

"Patroclus doesn't seem ill at ease around your husband," Achilles looked out the window and saw the two men passing a wineskin back and forth while they lay in the grass.

"Patroclus has known Rell for most of his life. My brother is so used to the aura around Rell it no longer has an effect on him."

Though it was obvious Achilles tried to phrase his next statement carefully. "You and Patroclus have the same mother but not the same father."

"This is true. Our mother never talked much about how she met my father. It made her sad since having me out of wedlock brought shame upon her family. She refused to throw me away and so her family cast her out. I grew up a poor bastard in the same village where my closest relations feasted every night in comfort. Until she met Patroclus' father who married her and saved us from poverty, he was a good man."

"Why didn't your father do anything about it? My mother would never have let me be treated like that."

Urchin raised an eyebrow. "You are unique among demigods, Achilles. In fact, as far as I know, you are the only demigod to be raised by their godly parent or to be from a union of marriage between mortal and divine. For most of us, we are raised by our human parent and have little to no contact with our divine sires, and the bonds of marriage never unite our parents."

Achilles had never thought about it like that before. Urchin wasn't the first demigod he'd met but Helen and her brothers had never spoken about their origins like this. Even with that being the case Achilles realized this should have been obvious to him. He knew the stories of Heracles, Perseus, Theseus and so many other demigods who'd distinguished themselves enough to be remembered in story and song. None of whom were raised by their godly parent as he.

"I..." Achilles felt guilt having been recognized by his mother in a special way while the woman before him had not been by her father.

"Truths such as those aren't always obvious when you're the exception. There is no shame in it." The children began to come back into the home after washing the dishes in the river nearby. "Come with me, Achilles. We will finish talking outside." 

Urchin lead him down by the riverside. Achilles remembered the last time he'd been on this river with Helen and repressed a shudder. No doubt at this very moment in Sparta Helen was making someone miserable, her recently discovered powers a new torture to those who had suffered under her regular cruelties.

A cool breeze blew off the river as they sat on the banks. The frogs sung a happy chorus and the occasional fish jumped from the water only to land back in with a bigger splash. Achilles thought he saw a few water spirits zoom by but it happened so fast it could have been a trick of his eyes.

"You chose to settle in a beautiful place," Achilles told Urchin.

"Yes, of all the places I've lived this is by far my favorite. To get back to my tale, Rell and I married young but our newly wed bliss didn't last long. Our village was invaded by barbarians from the north. Very few of us escaped but those that survived didn't want to rebuild. We moved to the next village with our new baby and I opened my own forge. For a time it was successful but I wasn't the only blacksmith in town. Once everyone realized my work was the best in town the others lost business. The other blacksmiths demanded I leave town."

"Did you?"

"Yes but under protest. They burnt down my forge and home. None of us were hurt but the damage was done. We tried again in another village but the past repeated itself. After we were run out last time, about seven years ago, I decided my life's passion wasn't worth it. Now we farm and occasionally Rell sells gold when times are thin."

Achilles first thought was the story wasn't very long at all. He saw the look on Urchin's face and managed to rein in his tongue. "I'm sorry."

"Life doesn't always turn out the way we wished."

🦉

Urchin shook Achilles awake a few days later at dawn. "What?"

"Come with me," Urchin threw a rough tunic at him. "We don't have much time."

Achilles grabbed his sandals and hopped after Urchin trying to get his sandals on as she hurried out the door. Urchin picked up a bulging pack sitting just outside the door with a grunt.

"Grab the other pack," she told him.

Achilles strapped on the second heavy pack and followed after his older cousin. They passed Patroclus sleeping on the wagon and walked toward the hill in the distance.

"What's going on, Urchin?"

"The blacksmith has died. His forge is unmanned, at least for the next couple weeks. Word has been sent to his son but he lives far away, in Knossos. With any luck I can do it in time."

"You're going to make a trident!"

Urchin smiled. "Hopefully without getting run out of town. We're lucky this man was so antisocial he chose to live three miles outside of town. We shouldn't be discovered as long as nobody comes to check on his property."

"You said his son lives far away. Who else might drop by?"

"Well, anyone he owed money too. They might try to loot the place before his son arrives. Gurst was a good blacksmith but a horrible gambler. If we're caught using the old man's property the town council may demand I take up his work to clear his debts. For that reason we need to be careful. I don't want to be pressed to pay another man's debt."

"Can they do that?" It didn't sound very fair to Achilles or legal.

"They could. The town council isn't exactly fair here and many of the people Gurst likely owed money too sit on it."

Achilles thought about the risks. "Maybe we should go get Patroclus. We could use some backup if looters show up."

Urchin shook her head. "No, since I'm leaving Rell for quite some time he'll need help looking after the kids."

"We're not going back until you're finished?"

"We can't. The kids might blab if they knew and forging is a hands on practice so we'll need to be there at all times. I hope you're a quick study. For this project I'll need a capable assistant."

"You can count on me," Achilles smiled. "What's in the bag?"

"Metals. I asked Rell to pull up as much precious metal as he could spare for this. It'll make a fantastic weapon. Rell discovered a new ore stronger than iron or bronze. I've never worked with it before but I want to make this trident a work worthy of the forges of my father."

"Have you ever met Hephaestus?"

"I did once and he gave me this." Urchin reached into her cloak and brought out a hammer. Achilles couldn't tell what the hammer was made of but it looked brand new. It was also very plain for a gift from the gods. The shell which hung from Achilles' neck was a simple gift but colorful and pretty. "On my fifteenth birthday he appeared to me at dawn and said he wished to bless me. It never wears down and I've used it for every project I've worked on since. I want to create something that would make him proud."

Achilles tried to imagine what his life would be like if his mother was so incredibly absent from it. Thetis was such a large part of his life his mind couldn't process life without her. "Do you love your father?"

Urchin gave him a side eye. "He is my father and worthy of my admiration. Hephaestus gave me gifts which no mortal could have otherwise. I respect him."

Respect wasn't the same as love but Achilles didn't say so. Urchin replaced the hammer in her cloak and they walked on in silence. A fog had rolled in as a heavy rain fell from the heavens. They walked by the river that had begun to swell and run rapidly.

"It's not far now," Urchin promised him. They were both soaked and growing more and more miserable trudging through the deepening mud.

Thankfully, what Urchin said was true. They walked by a fresh grave and into the house. Achilles swore the fog above the grave took on the shape of an old grouchy looking man as he walked by, but the boy blinked and the apparition was gone.

"Thank the gods," Urchin said as they entered the home. A fresh stack of dry wood sat in the corner. Urchin set about making a fire while Achilles unpacked. "Once we get warm we'll need to examine the condition of the forge. Hopefully it's decent."

🦁

The next few weeks were utterly exhausting. The was so much to forging Achilles never imagined. He slept hard but never seemed to get enough of it. Urchin had him stoking the fire almost constantly to keep it at a certain temperature and making sure the work space was clean. It was so hot inside the forge rivers of sweat poured from them both. On their breaks it seemed like they each drank four jugs of water before going back in.

Most of their diet was now fish from river, but very couple days Rell appeared to bring them bread, fruit, more ore, and news from the town. Urchin's absence was starting to be noticed in town but Rell told everyone it was because her brother was visiting she wanted to spend more time with him.

About two weeks into their stay Achilles asked about Urchin's youngest child Acimus. "Why doesn't he have shining eyes like the rest of your children?"

Urchin hesitated. "Patroclus didn't tell you," it was a statement not a question.

"Tell me what?"

"I'm not sure I should say anything if Patroclus hasn't."

As was his way, Achilles couldn't let it go. He pestered Urchin about it until she broke and related some of the story. Her youngest child wasn't her's or Rell's, he was Patroclus' but the boy didn't know. Achilles regretted his pestering once he found out. He didn't ask Urchin about it anymore, but he knew he'd need to hear the truth from Patroclus once they were together again.

"This is it," Urchin said during their fourth week. "This will be the final firing. Are you ready to do what I asked?"

Achilles nodded and showed her the knife at his belt. In order to give the weapon special qualities Urchin wanted to bind it to Achilles using the boy's blood. She would recite a spell while hammering the metal and cleansing it of all impurities for a final time. Achilles stood over the molten metal and sliced open his hand. Once Urchin told him it was enough Achilles bandaged his hand and took up stoking the fire once again.

They went outside to wait for a few minutes and look at the moon. They hadn't been disturbed by looters which was good. But they were running time. During his last visit Rell told them the council had received a message from the son of the blacksmith; he was on his way to see about his father's property and coming by boat. He'd be there fast and they needed to have the forge cleaned before the man arrived and discovered them.

"I'm sorry about pestering you about the boy," Achilles told her.

Urchin shrugged. "I remember what it was like to be young and curious. Come on, it's time to finish."

Hours later Urchin was cooling the trident. She'd added a circular stopper to the shaft, this would stop Achilles hand from slipping up the shaft when he thrust the weapon and give him something to push against. Urchin made the weapon half a head taller than he currently was, and she explained the spell she'd cast on it would make the weapon extend to fit his height as he continued to grow. Not only that but when he threw the weapon, it would always return to his hand once he willed it.

It was hard for Achilles to believe but Urchin pulled him outside and had the boy test the weapon. She was tense as if she wasn't sure the weapon would do what she claimed. Achilles threw the trident as hard and he could. While it was still sailing through the air Achilles focused on how much he wanted the weapon back in his hand. The trident began to sail through the air in reverse and returned to him.

"YES!" Urchin jumped with her fist clenched. "I did it. That spell never worked on anything I made before."

"It's magnificent, thank you, cousin. I want you to come back to Phthia with me and Patroclus. You can take up the forge again in my father's palace and Patroclus can get to know his son better."

Urchin hesitated. "I don't know, Achilles. I'd have to talk to Rell about it. We promised the children we wouldn't move again."

Four days later Achilles and Urchin returned to her home. The children were happy to have their mother back and an exhausted Rell and Patroclus looked just as pleased. A week after that Urchin and Rell sold their property. Together the distant family members left the village under the black sun and headed for home.