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The food is sumptuous – unforgettable! – and you put away tremendous amounts of spiced and roasted meat, vegetables, grains – all dishes prepared extravagantly. The attendees are joyous, and you see even solemn Ajax chuckling at Odysseus’ antics. Turning around, you see that the tent hall is quite full - hundreds of white-robed priests and devotees of Leto's twins are present as well. The dinner is halfway over before you see that Menestheus is at the far end of the table, seated between Anios' sons - you had hardly noticed him, as he seems to be making an effort to keep a low profile, speaking in hushed tones with Thasos and Mykonos.
When the feasting has slowed and the dinner attendees have put away their desire for eating and drinking, Menelaus rises, cheeks reddened by wine, standing at the far right of the table, and is given leave by King Anios to address the guests:
“Friends – companions – after consultation with King Anios and augury conducted this morning, we will avoid the treacherous waters of Ikaria, and instead pass over Naxos and Donousa towards Lebinthos. We will not be stopping there, if at all possible, since we do not know the disposition of these kings. From there, we must row north when Boreas’ rests his Meltemi, through the Calydnians, before we come to Samos. It will be a journey of weeks to sail north along the Troad, before we come to Troy, but the gods have revealed to Anios that this method is assured to bring us to Ilion intact.”
You quickly do the math – your party has made excellent time so far, but Menelaus has chosen the slower and safer route to Troy, adding several days to the journey. With luck, you may reach Troy by mid-summer, but much depends on catching southerly breezes when Boreas’s arid breath is absent. The voyage could certainly extend into late summer or even autumn, especially if your party is detained along the way or is trapped by poor sailing conditions. The return voyage, thankfully, is likely to be much swifter, with Boreas at your back.
Anios, speaking once more, requests that the competitors in tomorrow's Lesser Delia arise to announce themselves - your entire party stands, of course, as well as his sons, and Menestheus as well. All told, there are twelve competitors* - and you each hail the feast attendees in turn, so that the crowds may know you.
The dinner ends somewhat abruptly - King Anios closing the meal:
"Competitors! Sanctify thyselves for the initiation of the Lesser Delia and consider how you might best please Apollo Μουσηγετης! Take the evening to prepare your mind and body!"
Filing out of the tent, you are immediately approached by a pair of Apollonian disciplines - they firmly guide you back to your own tent, where they subject you to a ritual purification of laurel smoke and oils. Sleep comes to you quite easily...
*Nikandros, Castor, Pollux, Teukros, Ajax, Menelaus, Odysseus, Palamedes, Thasos, Mykonos, Andros, Menestheus.
