Horses of Fire

1

Andromache

The boy is lost.

And so is his mother. I can tell with one glance.

With a warrior this young, there is only ever one reason for such a clean spear wound. A neat hole right between the shoulder blades. Slowly, I roll the stiff corpse back onto the stone slab until he lies face up, eyes unblinking. Across the room, I meet his mother's raw, wild gaze. Her hands fidget anxiously.

There is no hiding what I've seen. She knows that I know.

The primal wail that follows is like no sound I've heard, and yet I've listened to a million variations of the same tune. Every mother's cry of lament is her own. As unrepeatable as each new life she carries. Only this woman's groans speak of a secret.

A song of betrayal. Of cowardice. Shame.

I take a step back from the washing slab, letting the wet cloth in my hand hit the floor with a soppy splat.

"Please, Harsa Andromache. I beg you."

The mother throws herself at my feet, arms wrapped around my calves. She thrusts the rag back into my hand, closing my fingers before returning unceremoniously to her seat at the other end of the slab. There she presses her tear-stained cheeks against the soldier's feet. The part of him farthest from the light that once filled her boy's eyes.

For that is what he is. A boy. Large for his age but younger than a soldier should be. I may not have sons, but I have washed enough of them to know what fifteen summers looks like. This child is at least a year shy of the minimum age for serving in Troy's army. Not that most captains care to check so long as he can carry his shield upright.

"He wanted to follow his father and brothers. For Prince Hector. He was . . . too strong . . . I, I couldn't stop him." The woman's explanation unravels into sobs. "I've given a husband and two sons for Troy already. Will you deprive me of my youngest even in the afterlife?"

My throat tightens. I open my hand. The flax-colored cloth is now pink in most places, a

A. D. Rhine is the pseudonym of Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson. The authors are united by their military “brat” upbringing, childhood friendship spanning two decades, and love of classical literature. Ashlee holds graduate degrees in Medieval History from the University of St. Andrews and Theological Studies (with an emphasis in the Ethics of War and Peace) from Duke University. Danielle holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University. Their adult debut Horses of Fire is the book they have always dreamt of writing together.

Praise for Horses of Fire
"Feminist re-tellings of Greek myth are having a moment, but Horses of Fire is destined to stand out, spinning a fresh take on classic themes with mesmerizing energy. AD Rhine crafts a distinctive trio of heroines: Prince Hector's wife Andromache, less demure queen-in-waiting and more embattled Amazon; Rhea, an enslaved horse-girl seeking to carve herself a new life in Andromache's household; and war-prize Helen, despising both the battles fought in her name and the vicious prince who brought her to Troy. Lovers of the classics and lovers of fierce female characters alike will rejoice!" Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye
 
Narrated by the fierce women of Troy, Horses of Fire is epic in scope and intricately vivid in the details. Reminding us why myths are timeless and sacred guides, A. D. Rhine brings the ancient world to vibrant life while expertly planting us firmly in history. With lyrical language and spellbinding details, this is a re-imagining that captivates and enchants. I felt every pound of the horse s hooves, heard every whispered desire, tasted the dust of the land, and fell in love with all four complicated women. You ll never see the old stories the same way again. Horses of Fire is an immersive and sensory experience of page-turning adventure. Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author
 
"The Trojan War is a much-storied saga of brave men, of treachery, and loss. Not since Euripides have the Trojan women been so celebrated in all their sacrifice and courage, as they fight for their children, their parents, and their right to be recognized as the warriors they are. In Horses of Fire, A.D. Rhine has written a novel of substance that you won t soon forget." Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean
 
One of those singular books that pulls readers into a completely immersive world with a