Athena & Odysseus

[Book 3 - Gift of Iphitus}

Odysseus remembers the scent of the open sea from his first trip to meet Autolycus. He has missed it. It's a calming scent. He is out on a diplomatic mission. It has been two years since his crowning. In his time as king, Odysseus quickly gained a reputation. Athena was responsible. She'd gone from kingdom to kingdom, giving hints to keep their eyes on Ithaca and its new King.

Odysseus looks up at the mast of his ship and sees Athena perched on the custom crow's nest made for her. When he went on diplomatic missions to various places, Odysseus noticed that Athena would accompany him as an owl. So he'd made her a custom crow's nest on his ship to land on.

Odysseus is eternally grateful for her aid. He knows that without her, his rule would have been a pale, pathetic imitation of his father's. Athena's guidance had made Odysseus's reign his own and made him a respectable king. He turns back to the sea, far in the distance, their destination is in sight.

Athena watches Odysseus from high on her nest before recognizing his contemplating gaze. She then extends her wings and soars down, keeping pace with the swift ship and gracefully landing on the railing beside Odysseus. "What troubles you?" Odysseus has gotten used to Athena speaking to his mind. It had been odd initially, but he's grown accustomed to it. "Do you believe he did it?" Athena knows he is speaking on the news that led them to embark from Ithaca.

"I know little of Autolycus, but his reputation would suggest he might," Odysseus leans on the railing and sighs. "The notorious thief Autolycus..." Odysseus pushes off the railing and begins to walk down the ship's length. Athena flies and follows Odysseus. Odysseus goes down to the treasure they'd loaded on the ship, grabs one of the three small bags, and begins to count the gold within.

"You are worried," Odysseus is startled to hear Athena's voice outside his head. He turns to see Athena standing in her true form. "I have much to worry about," Odysseus jokes and continues to count the gold.

"You have no need to-." "So you have said, but this is my grandfather. I will not allow his mistakes to affect my reign, not when you have helped so much to get it to good standing." Athena is shocked that he knows of her influence but smiles slightly at the boy. Athena walks forward, kneels beside Odysseus, grabs a different bag, and begins to help him count the gold.

~

The quick black ship docks on the island of Messenians. Odysseus walks off the swift ship, bringing along his trusted friend, Perimedes. Odysseus leads Perimedes to the nearest town, and Athena follows the boys in her owl form. Athena flies over the village, keeping the boys in sight, and lands when Odysseus stops to command Perimedes to look around for anyone asking about Autolycus.

The boys split off, and Athena follows Odysseus. Odysseus searches the village before he comes across a boy around the same age as him holding a poster with an illustration of Autolycus. Odysseus approaches the boy, and Athena lands atop a nearby building. "Excuse me, are you looking for that man?" Odysseus points at the poster. Yes! Have you seen him?" Odysseus nods, "I just saw him!"

"Can you lead me to him?" "Yes, I saw him with a herd of cattle just on the outskirts of the town." Odysseus points toward the way he'd come. The boy smiles and looks around for a few moments. He is here with someone, but he didn't find them. "Okay, lead the way," Odysseus nods, turns from the boy, and leads him to the outskirts of the village.

Once out of the village, the boy looks around, confused. "Where is the thief?" "Apologies for the deception, but I believed this discussion would be best done privately." The boy quickly responds, putting the bow over his shoulder in his hands with an arrow on its string. "Who are you?" the boy asks with gritted teeth, angered that he'd been deceived.