Chapter One: The Bard

Chapter Two: The Mountain

Chapter Three: The Cave

Chapter Four: The Prophesy

Homer found himself under a tree, at the mouth of a different cave and understood his prayer had been granted.  He rose to his feet stiffly and called out into the cave, “Oenone, nymph of this mountain, I have a word for you from the gods.”

Only echoes answered him, but he waited.

And then, after a while, came a voice.

“Old one, I am the one called Oenone.  Not easily do strangers find my name or my home.  I remind you of the judgment that finds them that claim the gift of prophesy in falsehood.  If you speak lies, I warn you to leave before Apollo strike you down.  If you speak truth, speak on.  I listen.”

“Nymph, I bear a message from the gods in sooth.  I see you are discerning and will not blunt my words.  A man you will meet on this mountain, a youthful shepherd—in his hands lies the fate of many.  I have spoken a prophesy to him as well, warning him to wisdom, but if he fails, only you can turn the tide that will follow in his wake.  This man is the one you will love and marry, but when faced with a tempting choice, he may desert you for another and bring war to Ilium and woe to all the houses of this land and others beyond its shores.  If he betray you, I count on your wisdom, or your jealousy, to keep him from forsaking you, even if union in death be the only way.  I warn you that if you do not stop him, you will be his doom in the end, for your love will turn to rage and reap its reward.”

“Let your gift of prophesy test the truth of what I say.  Weigh my words, and I beg you, make a wiser choice than your beloved if he fails a second time.  Let him die yours, let him alone die, not the city below and the children of Achaea and Ilium.  For pity or for jealousy, keep him from this end.  Let him never be more than a nameless shepherd to whom belonged the heart of a faithful nymph.”

No response came from within the cave as Homer waited.  He stooped by the tree to sit down again, and when he raised his head to look out on the mountainside, darkness had reclaimed his eyes, and he knew he had returned, even before he caught the sound of waves on the beach.