1 Achilles

CHAPTER 1 Achilles When our story begins, the Trojan War had been going on for almost ten years. Many battles had been fought, and many men had died. Soldiers and generals from both sides were exhausted. The Achaean men wanted to go home, but they were loyal to King Agamemnon. If he said they should continue fighting, that was what they would do. Agamemnon and his men had captured many Trojans after an important battle. These people were soldiers and women from a nearby town. The Achaeans planned to sell

these Trojans as slaves. One of the prisoners was the daughter of Apollo's priest, Chryses. Chryses begged the Achaeans to free his daughter. He promised them riches in return. "I will give you more riches than you would make by selling my daughter as a slave," he said. The Achaean soldiers thought this was a good deal. King Agamemnon did not. He would not give Chryses's daughter back no matter how big the fortune was. In fact, he decided to keep the young woman as his slave rather than sell her. "Do you think you can control the will of a king? I will not be swayed by your promise of money," Agamemnon told Chryses. "No one, especially a Trojan priest, tells me what I should or should not do!" He laughed at the priest and waved his arm in the air. "Leave now, old man," Agamemnon shouted. "If I see you again, it will mean the end for you

and your daughter!" The priest Chryses was terrified. He returned to his ship and set sail for home. The priest prayed to the god Apollo. "Hear me, Apollo! God of the silver bow! You know that I have prayed to you for years. I have built you temples and offered sacrifices to you. Please listen to my prayer now. Claim revenge upon the Achaeans for what they have done to my daughter and me. Send your arrows in place of my tears!" Apollo heard the old priest's prayer. He protected those who honored him with temples and songs. Apollo strode down from Mount Olympus with his bow and arrows slung over his shoulders. The arrows clanged as the god shook with rage. Apollo dropped to a knee and let an arrow fly near the Achaean ships. A terrifying clash rang out from the great silver bow. Then he shot arrow after arrow at the Achaean ships.

The men were not expecting this attack. They were unprepared for such force. Apollo's arrows rained over their camps night and day with no end in sight. Apollo punished all of Agamemnon's men. Men were dying because Agamemnon had rejected Apollo's priest's pleas. Apollo's arrows rained down on the Achaeans for nine days. Many men fell. On the tenth day, Achilles spoke to the Achaeans. "King Agamemnon, I fear we are close to defeat," said Achilles. "The war is almost lost. If we can escape our deaths—which might be hard while Apollo rages against us—we should sail home." The soldiers around Achilles all agreed. "First, though," Achilles continued, "we need to find out why the god Apollo rages against us. We must set it right." The wisest of the prophets rose. He was

able to see the past, present, and future. The prophet stood beside Achilles and spoke to him. "Achilles," he said. "I can explain Apollo's anger. I will tell you everything. But you must promise me something first. Swear that you will defend me with all your heart and all your strength. Someone will be angry when I speak the truth. He is a powerful man. He is a king. Think about this carefully, Achilles. Will you stand by me?" Achilles reassured the prophet. "Be brave! Speak your mind. I swear by Zeus, no one will lay a hand on you while I am alive." The prophet spoke out bravely. "Beware! Apollo is enraged because King Agamemnon refused to free Chryses's daughter. Apollo will continue to bring us pain until we return the girl to her father. Only then will Apollo forgive us." The prophet sat down. Agamemnon rose. His eyes were afire with

anger. He faced the prophet and gave him a deadly look. "Prophet of misery! It is my fault Apollo has turned against us?! All because I refused to give back the girl? Fine! I will give her back if that will stop Apollo's anger and save my people. But I shall not suffer for this. If I must lose my prize, then I must have another." Achilles answered him quickly. "Agamemnon, how can you receive a prize now? We have no treasure. And we cannot take from the good soldiers who fight for us. Return the girl and we will find a prize for you later. When we destroy Troy, you will receive many prizes." "Achilles," Agamemnon said. "Are you trying to trick me? You will keep your prize, but must I lose mine? You asked the prophet for an answer. I cannot help it if you do not like my response. I will give back Chryses's daughter to him. And then you will hand