I was utterly transformed, my strength magnified beyond anything I had shown before. To anyone else, I would have seemed like an entirely different being—a force of nature, unrecognizable and terrifying.
“You… are… who are you?” Thetis asked once again, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and curiosity as her wide, sea-green eyes bore into mine.
I met her gaze steadily. “I will explain everything in due time. For now, leave your daughter’s fate to me. I promise you this—I won’t let her die.”
Thetis hesitated, her concern etched deeply into her features. “But even with that strength of yours… how can you possibly hope to succeed?”
She wasn’t wrong to doubt me. Achilles, or rather Khillea as she had come to be known in this war, was no ordinary warrior. She was a demigoddess, born under the divine blessings of Hera, Athena, and Zeus himself. As an infant, her mother had plunged her into the infernal waters of the Styx, rendering her body invulnerable to nearly all harm. Nearly. That single word was my glimmer of hope.
Khillea had only one weakness, and though it was minuscule, it was all I needed. Still, it would take more than mere strategy to face her. I had to be at my peak—stronger, sharper, unrelenting. I silently prayed to Apollo to grant me my wish and restore me to my best form, for it was only then that I would stand a chance against Khillea.
“Trust me,” I said again, my voice firm. “Leave her to me.”
Thetis studied me intently, her expression flickering between doubt and hope. And then, to my surprise, she laughed—a melodic, heartfelt laugh that echoed through the air like the gentle lapping of waves on a serene shore.
“My daughter…” she murmured, her voice warm with affection and pride. “She truly chose the best man possible. I am overjoyed to see her in the hands of someone like you.”
Her words carried an unexpected weight, and I felt an unfamiliar pang in my chest. Yet, her gaze sharpened, her voice turning inquisitive. “Fine. I will entrust her to you. But how do you intend to face her? Greeks are forbidden from fighting each other. Surely you know this?”
A small smile tugged at my lips as I straightened. “I am not Greek,” I replied with calm assurance. “I fight under the name of Heiron, a mercenary for Troy.”
Thetis’s expression changed, her mind piecing together the truth of my words. “Heiron…” she murmured, recognition dawning. “The man who killed Ajax.”
I nodded solemnly. Her realization carried no judgment, only understanding.
“If your daughter returns to the battlefield, I will be there to meet her. I hope, however,” I paused, locking eyes with her, “you are not like Hera or Athena. You don’t strike me as someone obsessed with ensuring the Greeks’ victory at all costs.”
I asked just in case she wanted the greeks victory and at the same time her daughter’s safety, that would be impossible for me to accept since I was determined to give victory to Trojans.
Thetis laughed again, this time with a touch of relief. “You are right. I care little for the Greeks or their victory. My only wish is for my daughter to survive this cursed war. If the Trojans emerge victorious, so be it. All that matters to me is her safety.”
“Then we are aligned,” I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “But before I confront Khillea, I must first ensure that no one interferes when the time comes.”
Her brows furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Odysseus and Agamemnon,” I stated bluntly. “I will kill them.”
Thetis’s eyes widened, her shock momentarily rendering her speechless. But then, much to my surprise, she burst into laughter once more, the sound ringing with incredulity. “You are bold, I’ll give you that. But killing both of them? That will be no easy feat. Odysseus is one of Athena’s favored. She will never allow you to harm him even if she had to intervene herself. And Agamemnon…” Her voice trailed off, her expression darkening. “Agamemnon is blessed by Hera and far too much prudent to set foot on the battlefield unless absolutely necessary. He is the King of Greeks after all. He is the one watching usually.”
“Then I will force him to face me,” I replied without hesitation, my tone resolute.
“Oh? You have a plan in mind?” Thetis asked, her tone laced with curiosity as she leaned forward, her sea-green eyes glinting with intrigue.
I allowed myself a sly smile. “I am the one who stole Astynome from him, and I was the one who set his boats ablaze. Today, I intend to take Briseis as well. If he has even a shred of pride left, he’ll realize it was me and will have no choice but to face me.”
Thetis’s expression shifted, a thoughtful crease forming on her brow. “Indeed, that could work. Agamemnon is quick to anger, and his pride is as fragile as it is immense. However,” she paused, her gaze sharpening, “you may need more to fully draw him out.”
I tilted my head slightly, intrigued by the weight in her tone. “You have an idea?”
A sly smirk played across her lips, her beauty made even more striking by the expression. “Menelaus,” she said simply.
I frowned, piecing together her meaning. “Agamemnon’s brother?”
“The very one,” Thetis confirmed with a nod. “King of Sparta and Helen’s former husband. If Menelaus were to fall, Agamemnon would have no choice but to act. As the elder brother, his sense of familial duty and pride in his lineage would compel him to avenge Menelaus’s death. He would not stand idly by while his family’s name is tarnished.”
I nodded slowly, her words sinking in. The plan began to take shape in my mind, and the prospect of dismantling Agamemnon’s carefully constructed facade of dominance made my blood stir. “I see,” I said at last, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips. “That would leave him with no choice but to step onto the battlefield.”
“Exactly,” Thetis replied with a knowing smile.
The thought alone was intoxicating. To shatter Agamemnon’s pride and then force his hand by eliminating Menelaus—it would be a blow he could not recover from. My smirk widened, a mix of anticipation and determination coursing through me. “I’ll take care of it,” I declared with quiet confidence.
Thetis’s smile deepened, and without warning, she closed the distance between us. Her lips brushed against mine in a brief, feather-light kiss, catching me entirely off guard. I blinked, momentarily stunned, as she pulled back, her expression both tender and enigmatic.
“Since you’re going to such lengths to save my daughter,” she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth I hadn’t expected, “I will grant you any wish you desire. Name it.”
Any wish? The thought hung in the air, tantalizing yet oddly burdensome. At that moment, no grand ambition came to mind. Still, her offer presented an opportunity I couldn’t ignore. “For now,” I began, my tone measured, “I need your help with something more immediate. I need to slip inside Agamemnon’s tent to take Briseis away. But before I return to Troy, I intend to make him regret ever crossing me.”
Thetis’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she chuckled. “Interesting. In that case, take this,” she said, placing her hand gently on my head.
A sudden, tingling warmth spread through me, and I felt a surge of power awaken within. It was as if a veil of magic had descended over me, its presence faint yet undeniably potent.
“It’s a temporary Divine Magic,” Thetis explained, her voice laced with a quiet authority. “It will render you invisible for a short time. Even Agamemnon, with his divine blessing, won’t be able to sense you unless you draw too close. Use it wisely.”
“This is more than enough. Thanks,” I said sincerely.
It was rare to encounter a goddess who wasn’t at least partially selfish, especially so early in a meeting. Most divine beings had an air of entitlement that was hard to ignore, but Thetis was different. Her sincerity and calm demeanor set her apart, and I silently commended myself for trusting her.
She glanced at me, her expression thoughtful. “About my daughter being… a woman,” she began cautiously.
I raised a hand to stop her before she could finish. “You don’t need to explain,” I replied evenly. “At the same time, I’d appreciate it if you could keep my identity a secret from the Greek gods.”
Thetis’s lips curved into a faint smile, her oceanic eyes softening. “You have my word. I have no intention of returning to Olympus in its current fractured state. Besides, I am not particularly close to Hera or Athena.”
“That’s good to hear,” I said with a nod, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. The last thing I needed was for word of my presence to spread among the gods.
Thetis returned my nod, a flicker of understanding passing between us. With that, she raised her hand, and the world around us shifted. In a moment, we were back at the tent—though I suppose it was more accurate now to call it Khillea’s tent.
Inside, Khillea lounged in her bath, her radiant red hair cascading over her shoulders as she laughed at something Patroclus said. Her voice, light and carefree, echoed through the space, a stark contrast to the heavy weight of fate that hung over her.
No matter what, I wouldn’t let her die.
Her laughter faded as she noticed our return. A mischievous grin spread across her face as she turned toward us. “Oh, you’re back! Mother, I hope you didn’t bully Nathan.”
Thetis chuckled softly. “Not at all. We had a pleasant conversation, and I must say, Khillea, you’ve found yourself quite the gem of a man.”
Khillea’s grin widened, her eyes sparkling with pride. “Right? If you want, Mother, I can let you borrow him for a night. You’ll see for yourself how incredible he is in bed.”
My face heated, and I struggled to find an appropriate response. Was this… normal for Achaeans? If so, I was beginning to understand why their culture had its fair share of peculiarities.
Thetis sighed, shaking her head as if she’d long grown accustomed to her daughter’s antics. “What am I going to do with you?” she muttered, though there was no real anger in her tone. “I have no such plans… at least not for now.”
Not for now? The words sent a jolt of something through me, but I quickly pushed it aside.
Sensing the conversation heading down a precarious path, I cleared my throat. “I should be leaving now,” I said, hoping to extract myself before things spiraled further out of control.
Khillea’s grin faltered, and for a brief moment, a hint of sadness flickered in her eyes. “Already? So, you’re choosing to leave, then,” she said softly, her tone laced with a touch of disappointment.
I met her gaze, offering a faint smile. “We’ll see each other again,” I assured her. But not here—not in the safety of this tent. Our next meeting would be on the battlefield likely.
Without another word, I stepped outside. The cool evening air greeted me, carrying the faint scent of salt from the distant sea.
Time to steal Briseis.