Peter completed this piece during a Writers’ Workshop at Sum of Us. He drew on his detailed knowledge of ancient Greek and Roman history and mythology and has used a range of literary devices such as simile, personification and metaphor to enhance the narrative.
The Prince of Troy
We watched him leave his tent. His dazzling armour made by Hephaestus himself glowing in the scorching afternoon sun. Could he really do it? It would be such a great deed that would be remembered in the future forever. The look on his face was so menacing, even his own troops were petrified. He stood proudly on his golden chariot, as his black horses flexed their bulging muscles. We watched a man who has incredible talent in bearing a sword slit his cousin’s throat yesterday and he wanted cold, bitter revenge. He flicked his reins and rode off to the towering walls of the menacing city that we loath.
A wall of drift sand hit me as I rode my chariot to the city like the very lightning bolt of the God Zeus in full flight. The sand stung like a thousand bees were stinging me all at once. I desperately tried to shield my eyes from the sand with my arm just as I had tried to shield my cousin from the roar of battle.
The man stepped off his golden chariot, stuck his spear into the ground and drew his sword in frustration. He was as menacing as a wild boar. His horses, as black as the dusk, pounded their hooves in the sand in approval. He slowly advanced on the great doors of the city. I turned towards my father, the king, and he called me over to his throne.
‘We are not gods my son. We are born, we live, we die. But some men die early.’
‘What, what are you saying father?’
‘All I have to say is goodbye my son. My hopes and dreams follow you where ever you go. No father has ever had a better son.’
I halt at the towering doors of the city. Right at that moment a tall man walks out of the city gates. Under his bronze helmet I could see he was terrified of the fact that I was not going to show any mercy or sympathy for killing my cousin yesterday. I can visualize him as he falls to the ground in pain. I smile at the thought and lunge forward with a harsh shout.
We hear hoses galloping not far from our camp. It was our leader. The greatest hero of them all! But there was something tied to the back of his chariot. It was the naked bloodied body of a man.
It was the Prince of the City of Troy.