Being a free man certainly did feel good. Athens celebrated the trial of Brother and me the day that we were acquitted, well not just our trial, but also the changing of the Furies. There were already talks to build shines to the faces of Mercy, Atonement, and Reconciliation. No such talks had ever occurred when they were Vengeance, Suffering, and Retribution.

I guess the Shine of Suffering just doesn’t have the same ring as the Shine of Mercy. The Representatives of the People of Athens asked us to stay the night so that they may send messengers to all the cities for people to know the good news. We agreed.

It was an interesting political system that the Athenians had, for their last king was the great hero Theseus who gave up his royal power to the people. Instead, the laws of the land and the highest stations were appointed by a direct vote of all citizens, and minor public offices were determined by lot. This means that all the citizens had to remain engaged in public life, though they seemed happy to do so. I had once asked an Athenian “And what about those that just want to mind their own business?”

He looked me straight in the eye and said “You have no business to be in Athens if all you mind is your own business.”

I do also seem to recall that women used to be able to vote in Athens, but that all changed when Poseidon and Athena contested on who should be the Patron of the great city. In typical Athenian fashion, they put it up to a vote. Instead of offering arguments on who should be held in the highest regard, the gods offered bribes.

With his mighty trident Poseidon slammed the ground, and out came a spring of fresh water. “Here is my gift,” Poseidon said, “your fields will be plentiful with water.” The people heard this, and decided it was good gift. But then Athena came, and with her divine power she made an olive tree from the spring. “Here, taste, the fruits of this tree.” The people tasted the olives, and decided it was a good gift.

Then when it came to the vote, all the men voted for Poseidon and all the women for Athena, for it seemed that identity politics was a greater force in a democracy than either reason or bribes. So it was that Athena became the Patron God of Athens since there was one more woman than men. In anguish and indignation, Poseidon sent a great tsunami to flood the Athenian fields. The city was starving; they needed to appease him but did not wish to anger Athena. Therefore, they did not change their Patron, but instead took the vote away from all women and constructed a shine to Poseidon on the cliffs of the Aegean. The Lord of the Oceans was appeased, and the fields of Athens are now fertile again.

When morning broke, brother and I bid farewell to the city officials. They had given us horses, supplies, and clothes. We rode out into the Athenian countryside. The sun was high, the flowers bloomed, and spring was firmly set.

“Excited about finally getting home?” Brother asked.

“Yeah, can’t wait to see my sister. I mean, our sister,” I smiled at him, “you?”

“I met our sister while sitting in her prison, she seemed nice enough. My parents though, I am not sure how they would feel about me,” he grimaced, and I cringed inside. I should not have brought that up.

“I still can’t believe that your father exiled you,” I say.

“You are one to speak,” he snorted, “your father killed your sister and your mother tried to kill you.”

“Right, how can I forget?”

“Sorry.”

“No, you are right. Our families are … complicated.”

“It hasn’t always been so.”

“No, and it can be that way again.”

“How?”

“We can start with us,” I say, “our relationship, it has never been complicated, right?”

“Umm, sure,” he says, hesitantly.

“What do you mean sure?”

“I mean, our relationship is totally not complicated, and has never been. You are my brother and I am yours. We will be by each other’s side in good times and bad, and that’s that.”

I felt that there is something he is not telling me, and all my old insecurities once again emerged. But I pushed them down. No, this is Pylades, brother Py. He has never left my side willingly, and has always come back for me. If he has something to tell, then there needs to be trust from me that he will tell it in his own time, at the right time.

We were greeted warmly when we arrived in Argos. My sister has received news out our acquittal by the gods, and had planned a great banquet to welcome us back.

“The rightful king of Argos, finally back,” she said as we embraced.

“Not so fast,” I say, as I explained that Py and I had to go and retrieve the symbol of Artemis from the Taurians.

“I have lost you twice before,” she said, “I do not think my heart can bear a third time.”

“I will not have to,” I say, “our mission is blessed by the gods.”

She smiles, though not really looking convinced, and we turn to lighter topics.

“Your friend…”

“Brother,” I corrected and she made a face.

“Whatever you wish to call him, is he with another?”

“No, I say. Do you wish to have him?”

“Yes,” she said, “from the little time I have spent with him, I found him to be a man who is as charming, loyal, and courageous as men can be.”

“I agree. He is indeed a blessing from the gods. I will ask him if he wishes to ask your hand when I next get the chance.”

The rest of the evening was filled with wine and food, and in that mirth I had forgotten to ask Electra’s question. The next morning, brother bid us farewell and left to see his parents. We wished that the fates be with him, and said that if things do not go well, he knows where he will always have a home.

A week later, brother returned, this time with an escort of soldiers.

“I presume things went well?” I asked.

“Yeah, father and mother never really believe there was much wrong in what I did. It was just that they were pious beyond the norm, and feared the gods for my breaking of divine law. Now that the gods themselves had forgiven us, they were happy to receive me. We had banquet thrown in celebration for five days, and they would also like to send their regards and message that they want to see you as well.”

We talked some more, and then went inside where I caught Py up with our plans.

“We have readied everything,” I say, “and was only waiting for your return so we can get the symbol, and get this whole thing over with.”

“I bet that you wanted to sail without me so that I would not be in this danger?”

“You are correct, but my sister persuaded me that you would be foolish enough to chase me anyway.”

“Smart woman,” he laughed, “you know that I’d never let you go into danger alone.”

“Speaking of her,” I continued, “she would like me to ask you to ask her if you can have her hand in marriage.”

“What?” Wine splurged out of Py’s nose. Without missing a beat one of the servants handed him a towel while another started to whip clean the floor.

“She likes you Py,” I say, “and the question is if you like her back.”

“I…” hesitated, “I feel like we should get to know each other more.”

“Sure, whatever,” I shrugged, “just remember that she is pretty and that she won’t be single forever.”

“I am not saying that she isn’t, just that now isn’t the best time.”

“Ok, so when we come back?”

“We will see.”

I didn’t press him.

Two days later, we sailed. Sister openly wept, and I was tempted as well. For all my talk of bravado, I knew that the journey and mission were perilous and that there was a chance that we may never see each other again.

The days at sea were uneventful. We did again see shore; a small cove of green, hidden by trees and bushes, was where our navigator brought us. Then we waited ‘till night.

“Stay on the ship and wait for us,” I told the crew, “we will not risk more lives than necessary for this endeavor that we brought upon ourselves.”

By the cover of darkness we infiltrated the city of the Taurians. The streets were empty as streets so often were in the night of rough towns. We found the main road, and it led up to a grand building, the tallest in the city. When we arrived there, I could see that it was finely decorated with gold. Accompanying the sight of that metal that men so often covet, was the smell of iron and blood.

“You think this is the place, Py?” I whispered.

“Yeah, I can smell the remnants of dried blood.”

“How do you want to do this?”

“Let’s get to the back of the temple, and scale the ivy-clad walls.”

And so that is what we did, though most unfortunately when we landed we found ourselves surrounded by temple guards, a full two dozen of them, emerging from the temple. There was no point in trying to fight so we threw down our swords and were ourselves thrown into cells.

“We are so fucked,” Py said.

I wanted to find comforting words, but there were none. That night there was much silence and not much talk, as we each came to terms with our fate.

When morning came, we were dragged out of the dim dungeon and escorted into the temple, brought before a most beautiful woman dressed in a robe of pure white, lined with golden sleeves. I assumed that she was the High Priestess of this bloodied temple. For some reason, her visage reminded me of sister. The barbarians said something, and we were left alone with her. Well, not really alone, for I saw that the soldiers loitered around, but they were out of earshot.

“Are you two brothers?” she asked, speaking perfect Greek.

“Yes, in all but blood,” I say.

“What are your names?”

“Why ask that of a man about to die?”

“Will you at least tell me what your city is?”

“I come from Argos, that city once so prosperous.”

“The king of it was certainly prosperous,” she said, “his name was Agamemnon and…”

“I know not much about him,” I say, abruptly. “Let us end this talk.”

“No – no, tell me of him,” she said pleadingly. I relented.

“Dead, his own wife killed him. Ask me no more.” It hurt me to talk about this.

“One more thing,” she begged, “is she – the wife – alive?”

“No, her own son killed her.”

We three looked at each other in silence.

“The act, it was just,” the priestess whispered, “just – yet evil, horrible.” She seemed to try to collect herself, then came another question.

“In the city, do they ever speak of the daughter who was sacrificed?”

“Only as one speaks of dead,” I say.

Her expression changed, I observed. Her face now looking eager, alert.

“I have a plan thought of a plan to help both you and me,” she said, and after shooting a pitiful look at brother, added “only you and me. Would you be willing to carry a letter to my friends in Argos if I can save you?”

I looked at brother. His face was determined. He was ready to die in my place.

“No, not I,” I say, “but my friend will. He came here only for my sake. Give him your letter and leave me to my death.”

“So be it,” she said, “wait while I fetch the letter.” She hurried away, leaving me alone with Py.

“I will not leave you here to die alone,” he said, “All will call me a coward if I do so. No. I love you,” He paused, “and I fear what man may say.”

“The things that man may say be damned,” I say, “I give my sister to you to protect. Electra wishes to be your wife, you cannot abandon her, especially when she will be greeted with the news of her brother’s death.”

“Orestes, there is something I must tell you,” he reached for my hand and held it. He has never called me by my full name in more than ten years.

“I, I…” he seemed to choke on his words.

“Easy brother,” I say, “if you do not wish to marry her it’s fine, but just be there for her. I will love you dearly always.”

“I love you too.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t,” he said, voice intense, “I have loved you for a long time Ere, both as a brother but also…also as how a husband may love a wife.”

Oh?

Oh!

Oh no.

Guilt entered my heart, because even though I loved Py more than anyone else in this world, I cannot love him the way he wants. I do not want to hurt him, especially at the end; But nor can I lie to him, for we had made a promise of truth to each other all those years ago.

I leaned in, he looked frightened. I embraced him, and whispered “I am sorry, Py. I love you more than anyone else in this world, but I cannot love you the way you want. Or for that matter, love anyone in that way. It is simply who I am, I hope that you can come to accept that.”

“I do not understand it,” he said, voice quiet, “but I will always accept you for who you are. My back will never be turned to you.”

“But what I do understand,” I chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood, “is that you can do both man and woman.” He nodded.

“So please,” I say, “take care of my Electra. She holds the highest place in my heart after you.”

“Alright,” he said, wiping away tears for we were both crying now, “I shall ask her hand in marriage when I return to Greece, and if she consents, I shall be her’s forever. I can swear…”

“There is no need,” I say, “you words are to me as good as Apollo’s truths.”

Then we heard footsteps approaching and struggled to make ourselves presentable. The priestess came with a letter in hand. “I will persuade the King,” she said, “he will let my messenger go, I am sure. But first…” she turned to brother, “I will tell you what’s in this letter so that even if through some mischance you lose your belongings, you will still be able to carry this message in your memory and bear it to my friends.”

“A wise move,” brother said, “and to whom am I to bear it?”

“To Orestes,” she said, “the son of Agamemnon.” Then she looked away, in thought.

“You must say to him,” she continued, “that she who was sacrificed at Aulis sends this message. She is not dead. Say to him, ‘brother, bring me back home. Free me from this murderous priesthood, this barbarous land.’ Mark well, young man, the name is Orestes. Promise me that you will remember it and deliver the message.”

My heart felt as if it will explode, so many emotions gathered there, and so many questions to. There were sightings or Artemis, but all had thought that the goddess had brought my sister to heaven, not that she was still alive!

Py smiled, took the letter and turned to me. “Yes, I will remember the name,” he said, “but it will not take me long to deliver your message. Orestes, here is a letter. I bring it from your sister.”

“And I accept it,” I say, my hands and voice shaking, “with a happiness words can never describe.”