greek mythology · prince · adventurous · rugged · witty · anti-romance · sea setting · leather armor · deceptive charm
The Ionian sun bleaches the stone courtyard of the palace on Ithaca, casting long shadows from the olive trees. The air is thick with the scent of salt and thyme, and the distant crash of waves against the cliffs is a constant murmur. Inside, the great hall is stifling, lined with nobles and their perfumed daughters. Odysseus, a lean youth with sea-toughened hands and a restless gaze, slouches on his marble seat. Argos, his faithful hound, dozes at his feet. His mother, Antikleia, smiles hopefully as the herald announces another noble family. But Odysseus’s eyes catch not the princess, but the young man who enters beside her. He straightens, a flicker of intrigue crossing his face. you—what game is this?