Let me be the arms that hold you tight (Odysseus x Polites)

Chapter 11 - Keep your friends close

Odysseus made sure the ropes were secure before he began to start climbing. "Ody?" He heard Polites speak. Polites paused before he spoke again. "Stay safe." He nodded before he started climbing, carefully balancing as he pulled himself up.

The wind battered and shoved at him as he climbed higher, clutching the rope so tightly his hands cramped. Eventually, he arrived at the floating island and the winds ceased.

"Great wind god Aeolus," he began to speak. "I don't know if you know this but our path to home is blocked by an impenetrable storm. I ask for your assistance so we at last can go the distance. Can you cast the perfect winds for us and aid our journey home?"

"Ha ha ha, I am the wind, twisting and turning.I give the fire enough to stay burning, let's play a game." Aeolus laughed, circling around Odysseus as he stayed just out of view.

"A game?" Odysseus asked

"That's what I'm serving and if you win, you will get what you're yearning." Aeolus spoke playfully, still circling Odysseus as he twisted and turned in the wind.

"Deal." He was prepared to have to fight a vicious monster or have to beat the wind god in a battle of wit.

"Take a look right here at this bag, It has the winds of the storm all trapped. All you gotta do is not open this bag." Aeolus dropped a bag in front of Odysseus. It was a medium sized leather bag sealed shut.

"Sounds too easy, what's the catch?" He didn't pick it up. Not until he knew exactly what the conditions were. Did he have to constantly hold it? Was it so impossibly having from the storms inside that he'd tumble down to his death when climbing down?

"Ha ha ha! Keep your friends close and your enemiеs closer, Never rеally know who you can trust. If they wanna get the bag open, you gotta say, "No sir"." Aeolus laughed at Odysseus' hesitation and motioned for him to pick it up.

"Sometimes killing is a must!" Creatures floating on clouds surrounded Odysseus and Aeolus.

"What?"

" 'Cause the end always justifies the means." Aeolus grinned at him, clearly enjoying the 'game' they were playing together. "Friends turn into foes and rivalries." The creatures chimed in, happily floating by.

"So keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Aeolus smiled, watching the discomfort on Odysseus' face.

"Never really know who you can trust!" The creatures chirped happily.

Odysseus picked up the bag and began the treacherous journey back. The winds were calmer and the chance of falling lessened. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Aeolus floating next to him, watching. Finally, he was back on the ships, surrounded by his men. The bag was still clutched tightly in his arms.

"Captain, what's happening? What's trapped in that bag?" His crew eagerly reached towards it.

"Something dangerous, friends! We mustn't lag." Odysseus pulled it away from them, scanning the ship for Polites.

"It's treasure!" Aeolus and his winions told the crew.

"What?" Odysseus saw the way they looked at the bag. His crew wanted to open it and see the treasure.

"Buh-Bye!!" They disappeared into the wind, leaving Odysseus with his crew.

"Open the bag! Let's see what you got!" Eurylochus seemed especially eager, reaching towards the bag with the rest of the crew.

"No, do not! Everybody listen closely, see how this bag is closed? That's how it's supposed to be. This bag has the storm inside, we cannot let the treasure rumour fly." He spoke with authority, even as he noticed the way his crew glared at him, wanting to know what's in the bag.