Epic The. . . Book Odysseus x OC

The Horse and The Infant

I gazed around my chamber, the walls adorned with countless sketches and drawings, each one a testament to the passage of time. It seemed I had almost exhausted every inch of available space. Drawing had become a daily ritual for me, a solitary pursuit in the confines of my tower. No one had ever set foot in this place except for the maid who delivered my meals, though she never uttered a word to me.

With a sigh, I resigned myself to the familiar solitude when suddenly, a creak shattered the silence. I whirled around to find two men standing at the threshold of my open door.

"Who are you?" I demanded, attempting to muster bravery despite the tremor of fear in my voice. This intrusion was unprecedented; not even my parents or the brother I had never met had crossed this threshold.

"Fear not, princess, we mean you no harm," the man on the left assured me.

"Then what business do you have here?" I retorted, my voice betraying my unease.

"We've come to fetch you. You're to accompany us," the man on the right stated matter-of-factly.

"But I don't even know who you are!"

"We hail from the kingdom of Ithaca."

"Ah, the kingdom with which we're at war. I think I'll pass. I have no desire to be held captive by another realm. Good day."

"You have two options: you can come willingly, or we'll have to ensure your compliance," the right-hand man warned sternly, his gaze unwavering.

"Very well, but if you confine me to a tower or any other room, I will-"

"Just come along." With a firm grip, the man seized my arm and led me out of the tower. I gasped in awe; it was my first time setting foot outside. One man walked ahead, while the other trailed behind as we descended a long staircase. At last, we emerged onto a verdant expanse of grass. I marveled at the sight.

"What, have you never seen grass before?" the man behind me remarked.

"No," I replied curtly, while the man in front chuckled. We continued our journey along a dimly lit path away from the palace. As we reached their camp, I was struck by the vividness of everything—the sky, the grass, the people, the sun. It was disorienting to witness the vibrant world beyond the castle walls where I had spent my entire life.

"You truly haven't seen grass before?" the man who had led me asked incredulously.

"No, there were no windows in the tower."

"I assumed you would have ventured out at some point," he remarked. I shook my head, reaching down to feel the grass beneath my fingertips. It was soft and alive, a sensation I had never experienced.

"I'm Polites," the man introduced himself.

"Pleasure to meet you, I'm Cassia." I turned my gaze back to the castle, now engulfed in flames.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" I asked, bewildered.

"For destroying your home, for kidnapping you, and also, for Odysseus killing your brother."

"Oh," was all I could manage. The news hit me like a blow, and I struggled to comprehend it. 

"Don't be. I despised that place, and as for my brother, I never knew him."

"You never met him?" Polites seemed taken aback.

"No, you and your companion are the only people I've ever spoken to."

"That's...remarkable." As soldiers began to return and the castle burned in the distance, I realized that my world was changing in ways I could never have imagined.

I stood there, feeling a strange mix of emotions as I watched the familiar fortress of my upbringing crumble before my eyes. The flames licked at the stone walls, devouring everything in their path, yet I couldn't summon an ounce of sorrow for the destruction.'

"It's strange, isn't it?" Polites remarked, his voice tinged with regret. "To see your home in ruins, and yet feel nothing but relief."

I nodded silently, my gaze fixed on the chaos unfolding before us. For so long, that towering fortress had been my prison, a place of isolation and loneliness. Now, as I stood amidst the wreckage, I couldn't help but feel a sense of liberation.

"Come," Polites said gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. "We must go. It's not safe here."

With one last lingering glance at the smoldering ruins, I tore my gaze away and followed Polites and his companion through the bustling camp. Everywhere I looked, there were soldiers preparing for battle, their faces hardened with determination.

As we walked, I couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider, a mere pawn caught in the midst of a larger conflict. Yet, despite the uncertainty that lay ahead, there was a flicker of hope stirring within me. For the first time in my life, I was free.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the camp, I found myself drawn to the vibrant colors of the sky. It was a sight I had never witnessed before, and in that moment, I felt a glimmer of optimism for the journey that lay ahead.

"Are you ready, Cassia?" Polites asked, his voice breaking through my reverie.

I nodded, a newfound sense of determination coursing through my veins. "Yes," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me. "I'm ready."