Dorieus became indignant. “Keep your mouth closed, physician, since you know nothing about warfare. No one can vanquish the Scythians because they wander with their herds from place to place. They have no true kingdom, and a victory of the Scythians would not bring honor to a soldier. I myself understand well the idea of world conquest. The Greeks who have become mercenaries in the forces of the Persian ruler have perhaps chosen the best lot. But my fate ordained otherwise and I must look to my inheritance while there is yet time.”
He grew silent, bit his lip, and studied Dionysius moodily. “I respect you at sea,” he said finally, “for in matters maritime there is none shrewder than you. But I was born to fight on land and so am troubled with things that are happening at home. The fate of Greece hangs in the balance. Should not this Western Greece strengthen itself while time permits? The first task would be to free Segesta and all Eryx and sweep the Carthaginian bridgeheads in Sicily into the sea.”
“Your plan is a good one, Spartan,” said Dionysius soothingly, “but many others have already attempted it. The bones of Phocaeans are rotting in Segesta’s fields, and you no doubt had the opportunity during your pilgrimage to pay homage to your late father’s spirit in the same region.” He scratched his head. “But why are we wasting time on trifles? Our task is to sail speedily to Massilia and there found a new colony to vex the Carthaginians.”
Dorieus lost all patience. “You may sail to Hades for all I care! I have heard so much talk about Massilia that my head aches!”
“It is that oarstroke you received at Lade,” nodded Dionysius sympathetically.
“Swordstroke, by Herakles!” corrected Dorieus angrily. “And do not tempt me to violate the laws of hospitality by killing you on the spot. I have no intention of sailing to Massilia, but will take possession of Segesta and Eryx to which I have a legal right as a descendant of Herakles. For that I shall need your ships and men, Dionysius, and our treasure. The venture looks promising, for my wife’s sons by her second husband are already preparing for a revolt in Segesta, and with Tanakil’s wealth we will buy allies from among the Siccani who dwell in the forest.”
He warmed to his story. “The conquest of Segesta will not even be difficult, for the nobles are interested only in breeding hunting dogs, and pay professional athletes to compete in their stead. Mount Eryx may be unconquerable, but I have a woman-” He stopped, glanced at me, flushed and corrected himself. “We have a woman, a priestess of Aphrodite, who is familiar with the subterranean passages of Eryx. With her aid we can seize the temple and its votive offerings.”
Now it was my turn to spring to my feet and demand, in a voice quivering with rage, “How and when have you had time to devise such schemes with Arsinoe behind my back? Why hasn’t she breathed one word to me?”
Dorieus averted his eyes. “Presumably you have other matters to discuss,” he said lamely. “We did not wish to disturb you. Arsinoe is quite willing to think for you, too.”
Mikon blinked, shook his head and asked, “Forgive me, but who is Arsinoe?”
“The woman whom you believe to be Aura is not Aura but a priestess of Aphrodite whom I abducted from Eryx,” I explained. “She merely assumed the guise of Aura to enable us to escape without detection.” When Mikon hid his face in his hands I continued encouragingly, “Don’t you remember that Aura died because of your unwarranted curiosity? You yourself heaped the white poplar into a funeral pyre and anointed her body.”
Mikon suddenly raised his head. His eyes began to shine and he cried gleefully, “So it was true, the goddess be thanked! And I thought that it was just the wine. Blessed be Aura’s bones!” In sheer joy he leaped from the couch and began to skip around the table, laughing and clapping his hands. “No wonder I was skeptical when I saw how Aura had changed, but I thought that it was the goddess’s doing. Now I know why I have lately experienced such rapture in her embrace.”
As the full significance of his words came over me my jaw dropped. Then my fingers curled to clutch his throat.
But Dorieus was faster. Face purple with anger, he shattered a drinking cup and roared, “You wretched charlatan! Have you dared to touch Arsinoe?” He would have pounced on Mikon but my cry arrested him.
“Mikon’s error is understandable,” I said slowly, my fingers twitching, “but why are you so anxious to defend Arsinoe’s chastity and honor? And once again, when have you enticed her to conspire with you about Eryx?”
Dorieus cleared his throat. “In no way have I enticed her, Turms, that I swear in the name of the goddess. It’s merely that Mikon’s vulgar talk about such a sensitive and noble woman distresses me.”
I wanted to scream, weep and break clay bowls, but Dorieus said hastily, “Control yourself, Turms. Why speak of such matters in the presence of a stranger?”
He glanced at Dionysius, who retorted, “I listened with curiosity to your political plans, but in all honesty I admit to even greater curiosity about the woman who has aroused such emotions in three so gifted men.
Hardly had he spoken than Arsinoe entered, followed by Tanakil in her finest garments and jewelry which jangled and clattered as she walked. Arsinoe in contrast was simply clothed, even more simply than I would have wished, for she wore only a sheer gown fastened at one shoulder with a large gold brooch. The result was revealing rather than concealing. She had combed her golden hair upward in the manner of the goddess and fastened it with jewels that she had stolen from the temple. Between her breasts was suspended, like an evil eye, the large moonstone I had given her. The golden Etruscan chain on which it hung was not my gift, since I had forgotten all about the matter during our busy days in Himera.
“Dionysius, mighty warrior of the sea,” she said in greeting. “I am happy indeed to see you after having heard so much about your exploits and, in all confidence, also about the treasures which you have stored in the vaults of the tyrant Krinippos.”
Dionysius looked her up and down, then cursed. “Are you mad, the three of you, or has a rabid dog bitten you, that you should reveal our secrets to a woman?”
Arsinoe bowed her head humbly. “I am but a weak woman,” she conceded, “but believe me, fair Dionysius, the deepest secrets of men are safer in my heart than are your treasures in the vaults of the greedy Krinippos.” She smiled, a new, wistful smile that I had never seen before.
Dionysius rubbed his eyes and shook his massive head. “The only thing which my slave mother could teach me was not to trust sailors. I myself have learned that no woman’s word is to be trusted. But when you look at me with those sad eyes, you priestess, I am overcome by a great temptation to believe that you among all women might be an exception.”
“Arsinoe,” I cried, “I forbid you to look at any man in that manner!”
But I might as well have spoken to a wall. Arsinoe did not even notice me, but seated herself lightly on the edge of Dionysius’ couch. Tanakil brought forth another pitcher of wine and Arsinoe offered Dionysius a goblet filled to the brim.
Absently he splashed the first drop on the floor and said, “I no longer remember just what I said, but your words amazed me. Strong I have been called by both men and women, but no one has yet dared call me fair, not even my own mother. Why did you use that word?”
Arsinoe rested her chin in her palm and with tilted head studied Dionysius. “Do not distract me with your glances, man of the sea, for you make me blush. Perhaps it isn’t proper for a woman to speak in this manner to a man, but when I entered and saw you there with those massive gold rings in your ears I was overcome with trembling. It was as though I saw a terrifyingly big and beautiful black-bearded god.” Rapturously, she continued, “Manly beauty is so rare. So rare and so dissimilar. Some may admire a slender youth-I, never. No, give me a man with limbs hard as logs, a curly beard from which a woman may hang with her full weight, and eyes bigger than those of the fairest ox. Ah, Dionysius,” she breathed, “I respect your fame, but most of all I admire you because you are the fairest man I have ever seen.” She raised her hand and touched the golden ring in his ear with slender fingers.