Soldier of Troy

The Baker's Son

Perseus groaned as the sun's rays pierced through his eyelids, interrupting his sleep. He sat up, rubbing his eyes and squinting against the harsh glare. As he glanced around, his gaze fell upon a letter lying beside him. He grabbed it and read it once, but the words didn't quite register in his sleepy mind. Upon reading it again, he suddenly felt a jolt of anxiety shoot through him. The King had invited him to a meeting, at noon.

Perseus peered outside the opening of his tent and saw that the sun was already halfway down the sky. Perseus quickly got up from his cot. He didn't want to keep the king waiting, especially if it concerned the safety of Troy.

As Perseus dressed hastily, his mind raced with the possibilities of what the meeting could entail. Was he to be granted a gift? If so, what could it possibly be? With each passing moment, his anticipation grew stronger. Perseus took a deep breath to calm his nerves, grabbed his sword, and prepared himself for whatever lay ahead.

Exiting the tent, Perseus strode purposefully down the streets of Troy. The majestic royal palace was always visible, a constant reminder of the Trojan Royal Family's power. The city bustled with activity around him, but Perseus remained focused on his mission. He couldn't afford to be distracted now.

As he neared the palace gates, he straightened his posture and tried to look as presentable as possible. This was the king he was meeting with, after all. Perseus couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness creeping in, even though he knew he had done his duty well during the rescue of Prince Hector.

However, he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand. He had to present himself well in front of the king. Perseus took a deep breath to calm himself and approached the guards standing at the gate. With a respectful nod, he informed them of his invitation and was granted entry into the palace.

As he walked through the corridors of the palace, Perseus marveled at the opulence of the decorations and furnishings. It was evident that the royal family was incredibly powerful and wealthy, they had the city of Troy under their control after all.

He had been given directions by the guards at the entrance but the grandeur of the palace had seemingly distracted him.

As Perseus turned a corner, he found himself face-to-face with a young woman around his age, with dark eyes and long brown hair cascading down her back. It took him a moment to realize that he was in the presence of Princess Polyxena, the daughter of King Priam.

Perseus quickly bowed his head in respect. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I was just on my way to meet with the king. I seem to have gotten lost in the opulence of this palace."

Princess Polyxena raised an eyebrow at his admission "You wouldn't happen to be Perseus would you?" 

As Perseus bowed his head in respect, he couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise that the princess knew his name. "Yes, Your Highness. I am Perseus. Is there something you need from me?"

Polyxena smiled slightly. "No, nothing urgent. I've just heard about your recent heroics in rescuing my brother, Prince Hector. I wanted to thank you personally for your bravery and skill."

Perseus felt a flush of pride at the princess's words. "Thank you, Your Highness. It was my duty to protect the prince."

"But not everyone can do what you did," Polyxena said with a nod. "You have my gratitude."

Perseus bowed his head once again, his heart swelling with gratitude. "You honor me," he said, before pausing for a moment. "Forgive me for interrupting your day, Princess. I was just on my way to meet with the king. I seem to have gotten lost in the opulence of this palace."