Athena & Odysseus

[Book 1 - Mount Parnassus]

Ancient Greece is a land of great fantasy with powerful gods and great heroes. From the sky and peaks of Mount Olympus to the city of Sparta to the south or Troy to the east, great stories can be found scattered all across the land. This story is about a boy who lives on an island under the nation of Cephallenia, the island of Ithaca. Ithaca is a small island far west of Mount Olympus, where the gods of the sky lived and watched over the Greeks.

The King of Cephallenia, King Laertes, is known to all of Ithaca. He is a respected king who has led Cephallenia through many challenges. The boy this story follows currently trains on King Laertes's lawn, wielding twin bronze-tipped doru and swinging them at wooden posts to practice his skills. He wields the spears with precision and focus as he'd practiced many times with them.

This boy is Odysseus, the son of King Laertes. Four years ago, when Odysseus was nine, his father pulled him aside and said, 'Odysseus, my time as King will soon end. My memories have begun to leave me at random. My son,' his voice grew weaker. 'Soon, you will become king. Much sooner than I had planned...' For the past four years, Odysseus had been preparing himself, training in weaponry, reading about other nations and diplomacy, and being taught by his mother how to show respect to others. He trained to be a king his father could approve of, a king good enough to allow his father to retire peacefully.

It is just past sunrise, and Odysseus trains with his spears, striking and stabbing the posts harshly before his name is called by his Nanny, "Odysseus!" His Nanny was a slave of his parents, one of the most loyal. She had been tasked with Odysseus's care since he was very young. At her call, Odysseus paused his training, keeping his dory from piercing the bark of the post. He then pointed their bronze-tipped ends to the ground and impaled the dirt.

Odysseus went inside and found his Nanny waiting for him, "Yes, Nanny?" "Your Father calls for you," Odysseus nodded, and Odysseus's Nanny led him through the palace halls to the main room. The halls were beautifully engraved and designed by Odysseus's grandfather, Autolycus. In the main room, just beyond the palace entrance, was a long table meant for entertaining meetings for the King.

Laertes sits upon his throne, the seat furthest from the doors, "Sit and eat, Odysseus." Odysseus obeys, moving and taking a seat while a slave brings his food. Odysseus quietly eats as his mother comes down from his parent's room and joins his father, sitting in the chair to Laertes' right. Her eyes nervously glance to Laertes, who sends her a reassuring smile.

Odysseus, observant as he is, recognized something was off with this dinner. "Odysseus," Odysseus looks up at his father across the table. "Odysseus, you are strong, clever, and cunning. You've proven yourself a man." Odysseus smiles at the praise, but within, he knows something is wrong. His father falters to speak again, "I believe it time for your reign as King to begin." Odysseus, who had still been eating, paused his movements.

"Before you become king, there is something you must do," Laertes's words knock Odysseus from his stupor. "A task you must complete, given to you by your grandfather," Laertes stands from his throne, turning down the hall. Odysseus rises from his seat and quickly follows. They come to a room where books, letters, and maps are kept. Laertes pulled a map, laid it across a table, and showed Odysseus all the cities and locations that Ithacan explorers had reached, those that survived the threats away from home.

Laertes points to a mountain, "The Mountain Parnassus, where your mother's people live. When your grandfather gifted you your name, Odysseus, he gave you the task of one day going to the mountain and retrieving an inheritance." Odysseus's eyes go directly to the expansive sea between Ithaca and Parnassus. "Today, you sail to meet your grandfather."

"There is a ship down by the docks ready for you. Prepare how you will," Odysseus tears his eyes from the map when his father speaks. Laertes then makes for the door, and Odysseus gives a prolonged nod to his father as a sign of respect. Odysseus follows out the door, bringing the map with him, and walks through the halls silently with his worry. He knew this day was coming but hated that it needed to. He chose to ignore his fears of leadership and honor his father's legacy by leading with confidence and pride.