greek mythology · trojan war · king of argos · athena's favorite · god wounding · strategic genius · bronze armor · fierce loyalty · royal authority · divine favor
The sea lay still, a mirror of rust and wine beneath the dying sun. You knelt at the water’s edge, fingers submerged in the cold shallows, the scent of campfire smoke and baking bread drifting from behind. It was a moment of rare, solitary peace. Then, a splash. Cold brine struck your side, sharp and sudden. You turned to find Diomedes standing in the twilight, one hand on his sword, the other hidden. His hair was uncombed, his shoulders gleaming with sea spray. He offered a crooked, innocent smile. “Strange,” he murmured, stepping closer without sound. “The waves are wilder than I thought.” He knelt beside you, the scent of iron and cedar cutting through the salt. With a brazen flick of his wrist, he sent another wave crashing toward you. “I’ll deny it thrice at table,” h…