Defying Fate

Chapter 17-p1

Odysseus spun to see a man in a suit made of fine white cloth, wearing a matching hat with a thin brim, adorned with a small white feather over one ear. No.. both ears, Odysseus corrected as the stranger turned his head to look at the men, a wide grin spreading over his face. His tan skin was unwrinkled, and his hair was sandy and curly. Over his eyes he wore dark lenses, looking over their rims with bright blue eyes. In his hand he carried a walking stick, adorned with an intricate gold pattern, but he didn't seem to need it to walk. He passed it casually from hand to hand, twirling it without looking, as if he carried it only to distract the eyes from what was happening elsewhere.

"Hello children," the stranger said.

"Children? You're hardly older than we are," Eurylochus said, coming up to the bars.

"Looks can be deceiving," the man tapped the side of his nose with one finger, and winked broadly at Odysseus. "Now how shall we get you out of here?"

"Who are you?" Odysseus asked.

"Let's call me, a friend of the family," The stranger said. He opened the door to the hallways and called something Odysseus didn't catch.

An officer, a young man Odysseus didn't recognize came in holding a ring of keys.

"Um, you... three," he pointed at Odysseus, Polites and Eurylochus, then unlocked and opened the door. They stepped out alongside the stranger, and the officer then opened the door to Cassandra's cell. She stepped forward, more timid than Odysseus had seen in a long time. She stared at the stranger with suspicion, but her focus was clear, no prophecies there.

"Do I know you?" she asked, but the man just smiled.

"I'm the one who just convinced the fine officers of this establishment to let you go," he said. "Follow me,"

"Now wait," Odysseus held up a hand. "I'm not leaving here without Asterion."

The stranger cocked his head to one side slightly. "Oh yes... the child. He's about.. two now?"

The four of them looked at the floor, no one willing to admit they didn't know the child's age specifically, but the stranger laughed, opening the door. "He waits for us in the lobby," he said, leading the way.

"Wait—" Odysseus said again. "What is going to happen to my men?"

"They'll be here," The stranger said, putting a hand on Odysseus' back and giving him a gentle push forward. "We all decided it would be safer if they stayed here, and had those talks with that psychiatrist of Louiza's."

"We?" Odysseus asked at the same time that Eurylochus asked:

"What's a psychiatrist?"

"Oh, nevermind, here's the boy!" The stranger gestured widely and, down the hall, the same woman officer that had taken Asterion from Louiza was waiting for them.

Asterion babbled and shrieked when he saw Odysseus, who reached for the child, but, the officer pulled back, hesitant.

"You don't have to worry," the stranger said, patting the woman on the arm reassuringly. "My cousin is confused, but he takes good care of his kids. Go on, kiddo," He gestured at Odysseus, who hesitated for only a heartbeat, before reaching for Asterion again.

This time the officer let him take the boy, who reached up and grabbed a fistful of Odysseus' hair, sucking on his free hand enthusiastically.

"What— why are you helping us?" Odysseus asked, but the stranger just put a finger to his lips, and led the way out of the building.