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The western wing of the palace is lavishly decorated – everywhere, there are fine statues (the carven physiques and lifelike expressions catch your approving eye), there are tapestries from the East adorning the walls; braziers of incense are scattered through the thoroughfares, emitting redolent scents of myrrh, honey, and other spices that you cannot name. It makes for a strange juxtaposition – to be terrified in a place so beautiful. Pollux and Castor must be feeling as you do – they appear haggard from the night’s travails, their eyes are open too widely, their lips compressed to nervous lines. Teukros, still hanging onto Paris’ shoulder with your Lebinthian knife tip in Paris’ side, has the feverish and glassy-eyed expression of a man gripped by Dionysian illusion – perhaps he is struggling to believe that you truly hold Paris hostage in his own palace; in the palace of his uncle. On Paris’ other shoulder, Pollux has wrapped an arm around his side – to another, it might be a friendly gesture between friends, but you know that Pollux’s grip on Paris is iron.
Traffic amongst the halls is still very light – but beginning to increase, as night begins to transition to early morning. Your group walks briskly through the wing’s passageways, passing the apartments of Priam’s children, and gray-robed servants begin to appear from side entrances hidden in alcoves and trap-doors expertly hidden in the floor masonry.
Paris’ heels only barely touch the bright mosaics and plush carpets that dot the palace hallways, being carried mostly by Teukros and Pollux by his sides – here, you see a frieze of Heracles’ sack of the city, there, you see a floor mosaic depicting the purchase of Priam as a young man from Heracles, by Hesione, with a golden veil. Paris is muttering directions in Luwian to Teukros, and you get the sense that your destination is approaching swiftly. From within the palace walls, you cannot be sure how long you may have until dawn breaks, but time must be growing very short. You may have only minutes until the early-risers of Priam’s household exit their apartments and begin their day.
Your group turns to the right and enters the final hallway; a quarter-stade expanse where the apartments of Priam’s sons are located, with murals of the Olympians daubed brightly along both walls. Paris’ whispering is defeated – Teukros explains at the end of the hall, there are only two apartments facing one another – to the left, where Paris and Helen reside. To the right, where Hector, greatest warrior of Priam’s court and Paris' elder brother, resides. Your group enters a light jog - your goal and safety within reach, only thirty strides away!
And then a man exits the right-hand-side apartment, closing the broad doors behind him softly. The man hasn’t noticed you yet, as he fastens the door shut. Your team freezes –
<span class="mu-s">It is him.</span>
