Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow

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Troy: The Lord of the Silver Bow is a 2005 historical fantasy novel by British fantasy writer David Gemmell, forming part of his Troy Series.

"Three lives will change the destiny of nations. Helikaon, the young prince of Dardania, haunted by a scarred and traumatic childhood. The priestess Andromache, whose fiery spirit and fierce Independence threatens the might of kings. And the legendary warrior Argurios, cloaked in loneliness and driven only by thoughts of revenge. In Troy they find a city torn apart by destructive rivalries - a maelstrom of jealousy, deceit and murderous treachery. And beyond its fabled walls blood-hungry enemies eye its riches and plot its downfall. It is a time of bravery and betrayal; a time of bloodshed and fear. A time for heroes. In Lord of the Silver Bow, the first in an epic trilogy, David Gemmell combines vivid characterization with a wealth of historical detail in a compelling, unputdownable novel of love and hatred, ambition and rivalry, peace and war. It narrates the events leading up to the battle of Troy." - The book's blurb

[edit] Plot summary

The book opened with the prologue. Gershom was an Egyptian prince on the run from his country, where his death sentence was declared. Clinging to a piece of driftwood, he was the sole survivor of the wrecked Mirion, a cargo galley that sunk in a storm due to being overloaded.

The main plot picked up with Agamemnon at the Cave of Wings, where a priest was sacrificed. Apparently, just before the priest died, he was able to communicate with Hades and was able to foretell events. He mentioned blood and the echoing of Agamemnon's name through the ages.

Meanwhile, in Kypros, Helikaon, the main protagonist and his second-in-command, the fifty-year old Hittite, Zidantas, were ready to set sail on the Xanthos, having recently escaped from an extremely skilled assassin. Onboard were a stalwart crew as Zidantas has a special ability for seeing the hearts of men. Helikaon declared that the Xanthos is short on manpower, even though enough men signed up to fill the quota twice over. Zidantas only picked men he knew would have fear, but would be brave and rise up in a calamity. Also aboard was the young boy Xander and two Mykene (Myceanean) passengers, Argurios and Glaukos. His new ship was treated with much scorn but survived a storm. It made its way to Blue Owl Bay, and along the Lykian (Lycian) coast, where the king Kygones ruled, rescued Gershom.

In Blue Owl Bay, the crew meets Odysseus and the crew of the Penelope. In front of a huge audience, Odysseus recited a mesmerising tale about a Cyclops, before ruminating with Helikaon and other Xanthos crew members about recent events.

During Odysseus' tale, a Mykene assassin under Kolanos attempted to take Helikaon's life. Helikaon killed him easily. It was about this time Helikaon first saw Andromache, who had wandered out of Kygones palace. She was heading to Troy. Helikaon later described Andromache to Odysseus as a goddess.

Later, Helikaon was invited to Kygones' palace for a feast. Argurios and Glaukos accompanied him. On a cliff trail, they were ambushed by Mykenes. Even though Argurios was a Mykene himself, he attacked the ambushers due to the "Law of the Road". After the feast, Kygones' bade farewell to Helikaon, having 'borrowed' his sword from him. On the way back Helikaon realised that Kygones was planning to have him killed. He borrowed the armour of a guard and slipped out unnoticed. On the beach his sandal became undone and he kicked it off, leaving him with one sandal.

Meanwhile, Odysseus chatted with Andromache and they formed a bond. Odysseus took Andromache to a seer who told her of three great loves of her life. He described the first as being 'tempestous as the Great Green' and he would be wearing one sandal. The second was like an Oak and will rise to her from the filth of pigs. The third was like the Moon and will come to her in great peril. Andromache later sees a guard on the beach with one sandal but decided to ignore him.

Helikaon found out that Kolanos had murdered Zidantas, brutally torturing him in the process. Furious, Helikaon engaged in battle with the three Mykene ships using his naptha throwing catapults. One ship was sunk and another was captured. Kolanos escaped on his command ship, with Helikaon unable to pursue him. Helikaon boarded the second with Gershom. A mysterious crewman called Attalus helped them and the Mykene surrendered soon afterwards. Helikaon tied them up, and, in full view of the bay, burned the vessel and all aboard it as a funeral boat for his murdered friend. He angrily told Kygones that all Dardanian trade vessels would avoid Blue Owl Bay and Odysseus did the same.

The characters arrived in Troy. Hektor was away fighting with the Hittites against the Egyptians at the Battle of Kadesh. They met the sons of Priam, the ones mentioned being Polites, the chancellor, Antiphones, the morbidly obese Master of Horse, Deiphobos, an arrogant prince who delighted in flattery and Agathon whom Xander described as a god and similar to Helikaon. He later asks for Andromache's hand in marriage. Her rejection led him to become furious at her. Xander, having been transferred from the Xanthos to the Penelope arrived with Andromache and Odysseus. He was taken ill soon after arrival and nearly died, and later confined to the Houses of Healing where he and the other characters met Machaon, a hardworking but arrogant physician. Andromache, her fiery spirit both impressing and irritating King Priam, later saved him from an assassination attempt. Helikaon and the Xanthos arrived in Troy too and Helikaon was by now deeply in love with Andromache.

Argurios had been instructed by Agamemnon to gather information on Troy's defences, sought the ambassador Erekos. But Erekos was apparently away in Miletus with Agamemnon. Argurios decided to inform Agamemnon of the foul deeds of Kolanos so that he would be punished. After finally meeting Erekos, Argurios was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt. He realised Agamemnon wanted him dead for reasons inexplicable as he had been loyal and faithful. During his recovery, he fell in love with Laodike, Priam's daughter and Andromache's friend, even as he struggled to return his former strength.

There was a pirate raid supported by the Mykene on Helikaon's capital in Dardanos. His half-brother was burned alive and hurled from a cliff. His mother, Halysia, was stabbed, raped and left for dead. Furious, Helikaon massacred those responsible. Later, it was revealed that Attalus was in fact a famous assassin named Karpophorus. Odysseus tricked him into killing Helikaon's father, because the man had ordered Helikaon's death himself. Now a second person had ordered Helikaon's death; King Agamemnon.

Agathon, son of Priam, joined Kolanos in a plot where Thrakian rebels and a special force of Mykene elites would storm through the city while the army was in the barracks, and kill Priam and all in the palace. Antiphones, who was also involved in the plot, realised that the city was in danger. He narrowly survived an attack to warn Helikaon of the danger.

Just in time, Priam agrees to allow Argurios, who by now was on friendlier terms with Helikaon and Troy, to a plan a defence of the palace. A handful for Royal Eagles, elite bodyguards of king Priam were the only fighting men available and they held the walls for a while before retreating into the megaron in the Palace. They defeated the Thrakian rebels but the Mykene soldiers breached the walls and attacked the handful of defenders.

Helikaon led the Royal Eagles on the sides of the megaron with Argurios leading the stronger men at the front. Deiphobos, having matured, led the less armoured archers. As the Mykene entered the megaron, Argurios and his eagles charged them with Helikaon and the eagles on the sides flanking the Mykene phalanx. Eventually they were forced to retreat to the stairs.

Argurios and Helikaon stood together, defending the stairway. They killed Mykene after Mykene who came up at them hoping to be the 'slayers of Argurios or Helikaon.' This diverted the Mykene from better strategies such as raising a ladder into the megaron. Kolanos at last shot Argurios with an arrow. The arrow went through a gap in Argurios' armour where there were two bronze discs missing. He died, as did Laodike who died from a spear wound. Just before they died, Laodike revealed the swan feather they had found meant they would be together always. With the swan's promise fulfilled, they die in each other's arms.

At the last moment, the previously thought dead Hektor arrived. The surviving Mykene were surrounded. Kolanos secretly offered Priam secret information to spare his life. When asked about his fellow Mykene he simply said to slaughter them. However, Priam remembered that Argurios was once one of these men, and to honour his memory, he let them go, telling them what Kolanos offered. His sole condition is that he would wish to hear Kolano's dying screams. Kolanos was hacked to death before the Mykene ship even left the harbour.

Helikaon returned home, and proposed to his late half brother's mother, Halysia. Halysia was overjoyed, but Attalus is still waiting to carry out his last mission.

[edit] Characters, ships

Helikaon is the main protagonist. He is a Dardanian coming from the region north of Troy. His father is Anchises. Priam is his uncle. He was visited by Odysseus when he was very young when he was known as Aeneas. A few that were close to him called him Helikaon, much to the annoyance of his father. He commented that he wanted to sail to the ends of the world. Odysseus agreed to visit him again but didn't intend on doing so. Losing his mother later on in his childhood, he became emotionally starved and never left his room, his father becoming increasingly cold towards him. Eventually, Odysseus did return but by then, Helikaon was already emotionally crippled. In order to bring back what Helikaon had been he pretends he is unable to swim and tells Aeneas that there is a hero in him and his name is "Helikaon" and that Helikaon and himself would be waiting at the bottom of a cliff. Odysseus leaps off the high cliff hoping that Aeneas would overcome his fears. Unsure whether he had succeeded or simply scared the youth, Odysseus waits while pretending to drown. Eventually Aeneas overcomes his fears and leaps down to drag Odysseus back onto the Penelope. Odysseus remarks to the crew: "Lads, this is Helikaon. He saved my life." Helikaon went on to establish a large trading fleet of 50 ships. He owns a palace in Kypros where he resides when he is staying there. He and Odysseus has remained close friends in a father-son relationship. They co-founded the settlement of Seven Hills probably in Italy where large amounts of Tin supply both with wealth. Helikaon married Halysia for the good of the kingdom, even though he is in love with Andromache. Helikaon has long black hair and 'brilliant blue eyes'. He often wears a simple tunic despite his status.

Andromache's name means strength of a man in the language of her kin, possibly Iberians that migrated to Thebe Under Plakos. Andromache's father is Ektion, a man who desires wealth above almost all else. Andromache has a birthmark on her head resembling a shield with thunder across it. According to a legend believed by many she is the Shield of Thunder who will bear the Eagle Child, who is never be defeated in battle and whos city will be eternal. She fell in love with Helikaon but was already betrothed. She is very proficient with the bow. Andromache has a 'fiery spirit' and does not take to being dominated by others. Andromache has red hair with green eyes. She prefers wearing green.

Argurios is a Mykene Follower, a high ranking man in the Mykene hierarchy. A great friend and loyal servant to Atreus, the late king of Mykene, he has fallen out of favour with Agamemnon who is disposing of many of his father's loyal followers. His entire life was of service to his king and he values loyalty, honor, courage and bravery very highly. Over his career he had gained much land and slaves although he usually leaves them to themselves. Tales of his bravery are told all over the Great Green, especially the Bridge of Partha which he had held against overwhelming odds. He loathed Helikaon as he had slain many Mykene, albeit, evil men. While accompanying Helikaon against his will in Blue Owl Bay, he attacks Mykene ambushers as he must follow the "Law of the Road", a Mykene custom where travellers are allies despite nationality. Attempts on his life were taken when he was in Troy and he finds out Agamemnon has ordered his death. While in recovery, his sympathies started to lie with Helikaon and Troy and falls in love with Laodike, one of Priam's daughters. In the end, he dies defending her and Troy from Mykene invaders. Laodike also died after the battle and they accompany each other on the dark road, along with many of the Mykene invaders who died and were in fact friends of Argurios. Argurious is not very tall but heavily muscled with many scars. There are no scars on his back. He has black hair with a jutting chisel beard.

Gershom is an Egypteian prince with a very direct and straightforward appraoch on life. His grandfather is the pharoah of Egypte and his brother is prince Rameses. He was to be executed for slaying two Royal Guards who were harassing a slave woman. He escaped to Cyprus where he toiled in the copper mines before joining the Mirion, getting shipwrecked and being recused by the Xanthos. He wielded the Club of Zidantas later on in the book and accompanies Helikaon wherever he goes acting as a friend and bodyguard. Gershom is somewhat dark skinned with a deep accented voice. He has a strong frame with deep set eyes and jutting eyebrows.

Xander is a twelve year old boy, whos father, Akamas was slain by Alektruon the Mykene Pirate. He leaves the country of Kyprus for Troy on the Xanthos and is transferred to the Penelope in Blue Owl Bay. When he arrives in Troy he falls ill and during his illness he is able to communicate with those who died. Zidantas tells him that he must think of life and return to Odysseus. He also tells him to tell his daughter, Thea, that he gave him great joy. Xander recovers and remains in the houses of healing for much of his time in Troy, learning the ways of healing from Machaon, the physician. He accompanies Andromache and Argurios while the warrior was recovering.

Zidantas/Ox is a close friend of Helikaon and his second in command. He wielded a club and was slain in Blue Owl bay. He is a Hittite with a bald head and a forked beard.

Oniacus became the second in command after Zidantas' death. He sees life in a different way then Gershom and they argue about it. Oniacus has brown curly hair.

Epeus was the steerman of the Xanthos. He was killed in the Battle of Blue Owl Bay by an arrow and was seen by Xander with Zidantas on the dark road.

Laodike is a shy reserved daughter of Priam. She befriends Andromache and later falls in love with Argurios. She is described as plain although Andromache disagrees.

Priam is the king of Troy. He is heavily built but is aging. He is notorious for womanizing and has over 50 sons. However, his character is one of honor, even though he delights in the humiliation of others.

Agathon is a son of Priam who tries to overthrow his father. He wished to marry Andromache but she spurned him.

Hekabe is the queen of Troy. She is very similar to Andromache. She is described as cruel and poisionous. However, her deeds are always for the good of Troy.

Attalus/Karpophorus is a legendary assassin, whos skills are second to none. He believes he was given his position by Hades and wields his subterfuge and twin daggers to great effect. He joins the crew of the Xanthos after a failed attempt on Helikaon's life in Kypros but so far is unable to find an opening in the man's cautiousness.

Machaon is the hardworking physician of the Houses of Healing. He is very arrogant.

Spyros is a ferryman and a midwife. He rows Helikaon out to the Xanthos in Kyprus while telling him about the deed of Helikaon, not knowing who his passenger is.

Kolanos is an evil Mykene follower appointed by the dark Agamemnon. He planned the expedition killed Helikaon half brother as well as Zidantas. He tried to betray his fellow Mykene but they turned on him, killing him.

Erekos is the Mykene ambassador in Troy.

[edit] Trivia

The bestselling author recently died of heart failure before he had finished the third novel in this trilogy (Troy: Fall of Kings). However his wife agreed to complete the book following the detailed outline that he left behind.