Defying Fate

Chapter 31

Odysseus didn't go back to sleep, but lay in the darkness, listening to his friends' breathing around him. The dream had rattled him. It was the first nightmare he'd had since coming to this world. He couldn't get the image of Polites' face, twisted in pain, as he was restrained by his own friends. Was it another vision? Was that what awaited them when they went back? It was too strange, too... wrong. Even the vision of fighting Eurylochus hadn't felt so... twisted up. He'd been back to normal, at least.


It was still dark when Athena knocked softly on the door. Odysseus sat up immediately, and she folded her arms.

"Odysseus, did you get any sleep?"

"I got enough," he muttered, shaking his friends awake gently. Eurylochus grumbled, but sat up, rubbing his eyes. Polites woke up and smiled at him. Odysseus felt his heart ache at the expression, though he couldn't figure why. Polites was alright. He would keep being alright.

"Time to go?" Polites asked, looking at Athena, who still stood in the doorway.

"Nearly," Athena replied. "Hephaestus has prepared something. He's waiting for us downstairs."

Odysseus was out of bed before the others had properly gained consciousness. He picked up the still sleeping Asterion and followed Athena down the stairs, the toddler's head on his shoulder.

Hephaestus was waiting in the kitchen, with a leather case in one hand. Hermes and Diomedes were both waiting there as Athena led the children into the room. Hermes looked more serious now than Odysseus had seen all week, and the reason for his mood was quickly apparent.

"These are not *toys,*" Hephaestus grumbled. "These are defensive devices for the mortals' protection. Though when I received my invitation I was under the impression I'd be providing tools and weapons for heroes, not *children*."

"Despite appearances, the three are capable warriors," Diomedes said, his arms folded across his chest. "Why they're children is another issue."

Hephaestus sniffed disdainfully and opened the case.

The case held several strange objects, all made of the same polished bronze-like material as Hephaestus' right leg and left hand.

Hephaestus pulled out one of the objects with a slight flourish, one of three disks, each on a leather strap. The disk had a small button on the outer edge.

"Give me your left arm, boy," Hephaestus held out his hand.

Odysseus looked at the bronze fingers, hesitating only a moment before he complied. Hephaestus yanked him forward with a jerk and he yelped involuntarily. Hephaestus ignored him and fastened the disc around his wrist, buckling the strap deftly and releasing him.
Odysseus took half a step backwards, and looked at the tiny device. It was delicately etched with whirls and lines, the rotations of the planets, and etched with stars.

"Press the button," the god ordered.

Odysseus did as he was told, and the disk exploded outward, becoming a lightweight, round shield, about a meter across. Another strap came out of nowhere and closed around his upper forearm, providing stability. Odysseus peaked over the edge, admiring the craftsmanship. The etchings had expanded as well, detailing a whole galaxy in lines and swirls.

"The shield fits neatly inside the watch, and can be deployed in less than a second," Hephaestus said, pride in his grumpy tone. "Press the button a second time and it collapses.

Odysseus did, and the shield contracted, just a fraction more slowly, and he watched as it folded down in slices until he was left with the small bronze disk he had begun with.