Defying Fate

Chapter 7 p3

Odysseus slumped back on the deck as the world jumped back into motion around him. "I'll have the ship's doctor—" Polites had been speaking. "Captain?" He noticed Odysseus' dazed look.

"Was it Athena? Did she have some advice for us?"

Odysseus allowed Polites to help him back up. "The gods aren't interested in helping us," he said through clenched teeth. "She just wanted to make sure I don't screw up again. I need to speak with Cassandra."

They went below, to find Cassandra sitting below a hammock that had been decorated with strips of colored cloth. She jumped to her feet as Odysseus and Polites made their way down.

"Cassandra," Odysseus said, reaching the bottom and letting go of Polites. "How did you get us off the island?"

Cassandra's smile froze on her face for just a moment, as some emotion Odysseus couldn't recognize clouded her eyes, then she was back. "I had a vision, and— I needed to make sure it didn't come true," she said, unhelpfully. "I convinced Eurylochus to let me find you."

Odysseus frowned. Something had happened while he had been unconscious, something that everyone was avoiding talking about. He shook his head. If it was important, it would come to light eventually, but not even Athena had spoken of the time. Perhaps it wasn't important.

Then he saw Asterion... walking through the passage toward them. The boy was not an infant any longer, but a toddler of almost two years old. He stepped across the deck on sturdy, but unsteady legs. Someone had fashioned him a small tunic of plain white cotton. He smiled up at Odysseus, grabbing at the hem of his tunic.

"Months... we lost months." Odysseus knelt down to the boy's level, helping both their balance before his legs gave out again. "How could I let this happen?"

"It's not all bad news, captain," Polites said. "The lotus-eaters said there's an island east of here where we can resupply. The people there are shepherds, and if we talk to their chief, they might give us some sheep and other food for our journey."