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Eurylochus sometimes wondered if Ody was alright in the head. Losing Polites had been really hard for everyone, especially for Ody and him, since they had been close friends from childhood. He wondered if his death had affected his decision making, too.
It had been a miracle that he had returned with the missing crew members that had wandered onto the woman's palace, who he now knew was Circe. Not only that, but they had returned with stocks of food to last for weeks, maybe enough to get back home. To be given this by a sorceress? His captain had performed the impossible. He refused to leave behind the men he considered as brothers, he was definitely a better person than Eurylochus himself could be.
However, what he had not been expecting was the woman he was currently speaking to amicably. Long, black hair tied in a braid, and eyes the colour of the ocean. His brows furrowed, spotting the weapon attached to her belt. An armed woman? What was she doing here, on Circe's island? Was she Trojan? For a moment, he reached for his great sword, thinking of her as a threat.
"Ah, Eurylochus! My brother, come and meet Lady Ismene!" Ody called warmly as he boarded the ship, placing down a barrel with food. The second-in-command let his hand fall limp to his side, walking over to the two slowly. The woman, Ismene, quickly tilted her upper body forward as a way to greet him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Eurylochus, correct?" she asked as she rose her head, her tone polite. Yet her expression was so... he didn't know how to explain it.
"...Yes. Nice to meet you, miss Ismene." he spoke, his tone hesitant. She seemed to understand his hesitance, thankfully, since she didn't press on the conversation or force him to speak. If anything, she seemed more awkward with conversations, because there was this awkward silence that passed the group for a moment before Ody decided to break it by turning to his second-in-command.
"We're going to set sail to the Underworld. Lady Ismene knows the way there." Eurylochus felt his eyes widen at his brother-in-law's words, seeing him walk past him with Ismene in tow to get the next barrels. He quickly followed after them, hurrying down the ramp and nearly tripping on his feet.
"Captain!" he called, quickly grabbing Ody's shoulder and pulling him to him "I apologize, but why in the Styx are we heading to the Underworld?!" he hissed quietly, not wanting the rest of the crew to hear him.
"Lady Circe told me about a prophet who resides there. He can help us." Ody explained, a small twinkle of hope in his eyes. Eurylochus blinked. A prophet. In the Underworld. That meant that man was dead. How in the name of Zeus can this dead prophet help them?
"Captain. With all due respect. Have you lost your mind?" Eurylochus deadpanned. Ody didn't take his question to heart, just letting out a soft laugh.
"Don't worry, brother. Lady Circe assured us that her daughter will take us through the safer route to the Underworld."
"Her daughter?!" Eurylochus whisper-yelled, eyes so wide he thought they were going to pop out of their sockets. The witch's daughter was going to take them to the Underworld?! Was his captain thinking this rationally?! Like, at all?! It's almost as if he was just formulating stupid ideas every five damn minutes that somehow worked!
Somehow, he felt like that was what Ody did. Just rush in and improvise and deal with the aftermath of the consequences.
"Ody, I plead that you think this through." he sighed, his brows furrowed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Do not fret brother. I'm sure that the prophet will help us get back home." Ody assured him, clamping a gentle hand on his shoulder and giving him a reassuring smile before walking away, as if wanting to wash away his worries. But yet he couldn't. Eurylochus still felt conflicted. He looked back, seeing Ody and Circe's daughter continuing their conversation. The second-in-command could only frown at this.
Ody needed sleep after the situation with the wind bag. Eurylochus knew, which is why he forced his brother-in-law to sleep as the night fell. Almost the entire crew had fallen asleep as well. Excluding the daughter of Circe. She was on the deck of the boat, swinging her blade against the air without any rest. Eurylochus has been watching her for a short period of time.
She's good with a blade, he noted. It's almost like she was born for it. She moved like a professional swordswoman, the way her swings were precise and calculated, prepared to fight. In a way, Eurylochus could see Ody there, swinging his own sword while training back when he was younger. How was she the daughter of Circe if she focused on her swordsmanship rather than her magic?
"You've been staring for a while." her voice broke him out of his thoughts. He blinked, seeing her stopping, staring right back at him. How long had she known he was there just watching? He remained silent, not looking at her.
"Your distrust for me is obvious." she continued, facing ahead once again "I do not blame you."
"My apologies, but considering we just had a less than delightful encounter with Lady Circe, I just don't want my brothers getting in harm's way again." Eurylochus spoke, his fingers curling around the skin of his arms. There was hidden guilt in his tone, but he hoped she wouldn't notice.
"I know. Please do understand that my mother only did it to protect the nymphs that live in Aeaea." she hummed. Eurylochus sighed. He really couldn't blame them. It was a way to protect themselves, a mother protecting her children. As much as he wanted to lash out, rightfully so if he may add, he couldn't.
"It is alright." he simply said. She took his words as she continued swinging her blade. Eurylochus' gaze drifted away to the sea, watching the waves collide gently against the wooden surface of the ship. He wondered if Poseidon would be aware of them traveling to the Underworld.
"I've gone to the Underworld many times." she admitted after some moments of silence. Eurylochus blinked, turning to her. She was sheathing her sword, the moonlight gleams reflecting off of it for a moment and giving light to the blue blade.
"You have?" he asked, taking a step forward. She nodded.
"There are people there that I... care for. Visiting them and knowing they are doing fine keeps me at ease." she said, turning to look at him "You all must have lost someone close to you, too. Your friend's soul will be there, but you cannot physically interact with souls as a mortal." she explained. Eurylochus felt his breath hitch. They'd... They'd see Polites again. He... He wasn’t sure if he was ready for that.
"I see..." he whispered "That place messes with your mind, though. Why do you visit it so much?" he asked. She didn’t answer, instead she gazed up at the horizon with a sorrowful smile and a dead look in her eyes. The look of someone who had faced death. He slowly walked up to her, looking at the night sky.
"It's a beautiful night. The sky is void of clouds." she commented.
"It is. The North Star is even visible from here." Eurylochus nodded. Shining down onto the boat, as if to guide them to the Underworld.
"Other cultures believe in a place in the sky, a place where the souls of the dead can go and rest." she continued, closing her eyes for a second "...Sometimes I wish to believe in a place like that." she added.
"A place like that to exist? It sounds like something out of a fantasy tale." Eurylochus huffed out, his forearms resting against the wood "...But I wonder what it would be like." he hummed.
"...A vast field." she suggested, making Eurylochus turn his head to her "A vast field with a diverse flora and fauna to enjoy, with no responsabilities or worries on your shoulders." she said, leaning against the wood. Eurylochus' brows furrowed. A vast field... Sounded nice.
"... Maybe a beach." he chimed, looking back up at the sky "Or an island's shore, where it's always warm for a dive, and where even at night it's perfect to stay at." he smiled, thinking of taking Ctimene to a place like that. She'd love it. Perhaps he could get her a shell necklace. As a way to apologize for being away from home for longer than he should have.
"That sounds like a lovely place." The swordwoman beside him said "Perhaps you and your brothers could go there one day. Relax, worry about nothing." her words drew out a dry, humourless laugh from his lips.
"If only it was so simple." he said, a hint of bitterness in his tone. She seemed to notice, but she didn’t comment on it.
"...I would have liked to have taken him to a shore like that. Perhaps he would have liked it." she hummed, her tone absentminded. Eurylochus took a deep breath of the salty air of the sea, relishing on the smell. He missed the smell of the sand, though. It was very characteristic of Ithaca. He and Ctimene, taking long walks and letting the silence fill the air, occassionally breaking said silence by talking about whatever came to mind...
He missed it. He missed his wife.
"You've lost someone too, huh?" he commented, hoping to not sound invasive. The swordswoman nodded, a look of longing and guilt on her eyes. She looked down at the water, her own reflection staring back, just slightly disfigured.
"I once had fallen in love with a mortal boy when I was younger." she began, Eurylochus leaning closer to listen "He had eyes the colour of an amethyst, vibrant and full of life, and hair a soft tinge of pink, like a peach. His spirit burned bright, like a flame, and he was there when I doubted myself." he listened, this boy peeking his curiosity. It was rare to see a mythological figure doubt their powers or their identity, but to hear a mortal helping them through it? Even more rare.
"He and I trained under the same man. I fell in love with him out of all of his students. Like a moth to a flame, I found myself drawn to him." she spoke, lifting her palm up slightly as a tiny flame appeared above it. Eurylochus stared at it. The flame was tiny, yet it burned bright and strong.
"But, like all candles, the flame eventually died out." she continued, closing her palm abruptly "His death was sudden. Neither I nor our mentor ever saw it coming. But he died as a hero, having saved many warriors. He was selfless, like that." she sighed. Eurylochus couldn't help but let out a laugh.
"He sounds like someone I know well." his mind drifted to Ody for a moment. This boy she knew and his captain sounded similar. But Eurylochus hoped that their tales did not end the same.
"Your brother?"
"How did you know?" the swordswoman let out a gentle chuckle at his sarcastic question. Another moment of silence washed up, with the two staring at the sky.
"We lost our friend first." he spoke this time, his chest tight with emotion "We... We followed what the Lotus Eaters told us. Wandered into a cave and encountered a cyclops. Poseidon's child." he looked down at the water, and for a moment, he saw a pair of piercing blue eyes staring back at him, something that made him flinch. Anger. Poseidon had been angry. Which was totally justified, they did attack his child. But he was okay with them killing him, for some morbid reason.
"We let the cyclops live after he had fallen unconscious. Blinded him, but we still let him live. We lost a few men there, and the only thing we could do was honour their memories and remember them. Ody- I mean-" he paused, clearing his throat out of embarrassment "Captain, he- he gave out his name to the Cyclops. And then, on the way home, we met Poseidon. He killed almost all of our remaining fleet. We're the only survivors of this tragedy." he skipped on the fact that his captain had met up with the god of the wind, and that Eurylochus had been the one to open the Wind Bag. He was the one who broke his captain's promise. He still couldn't muster the courage to tell him, though.
"Lord Poseidon is as prideful as his brother. I'm not surprised he attacked you after his child told on you." she said, her hair flowing with the rhythm of the air. It was then when Eurylochus saw a scar on her forehead, hidden beneath her thick, black bangs. It looked old, maybe about a few years give or take, yet it looked like it didn't heal properly. But... she was the daughter of a witch, right? Couldn't she heal herself? Or maybe it had to do with the fact that she chose a blade over magic?
"And he knows where we want to go." Eurylochus sighed, head lolled down "If Polites was here..."
"Is that the name of your friend?" she quizzed, tilting her head to the side as she looked at him. Eurylochus nodded, feeling a knot form in his throat.
"Y-Yes. He... He was a good man." he started "He believed in kindness over violence, even though he was drafted for the war. He took on the role of our medic and treated our injuries. A follower of the sun god, pacifist at heart." a sad smile settled on his face. The swordswoman reached a hand, placing it on his back.
"It's not easy." she spoke, her voice was a hushed whisper that only he could hear "The loss of people who you have formed a bond with, it's not easy. It takes you down dark places, sometimes make you wish for them to be in your place. For them to take decisions you wish you wouldn't have to take. Sometimes, they haunt your dreams, reaching for you and asking why you weren’t able to save them, why you didn't have the strength to save them." Eurylochus swallowed thickly at those words, shivers running down his spine. He couldn’t tell if it was because of the night breeze, or because of her words.
He never told Ody or anyone else this, because he didn't want them worrying over him. But, sometimes, he would see Polites in his dreams. He was smiling, the gesture was almost as warm as the sun itself. And then red liquid dripped down his face and head, the echoing noises of bones breaking reached his ears. But never once, did Polites' figure torment him. At least, not voluntarily. The only thing he would tell him was to relax, and to follow Ody.
And he could not follow those words.
"But letting yourself sink down into an abyss of sadness is not the way to go." she continued, her hand falling to her side again "You must continue forwards, chase after a goal, continue living. Because those people you lost still care for you." she told him. Eurylochus inhaled sharply, eyes widening as a gust of wind hit them again.
"A goal..." he whispered, looking down at his palms. A goal. There was a goal. Everyone in the crew had a goal. Get back home. Get back home to Ctimene. Get back home to their families. That was their goal. Poseidon, he may be a god. But he was just a stepping stone in their path. His body relaxed as he glanced at the swordswoman, seeing her looking ahead.
"Full speed ahead." he said.
"Full speed ahead." she nodded.
When Ody woke up and exited the captain's quarters, Eurylochus had been sleeping, sitting on the deck. His captain woke him up with gentle slaps to his face. And by gentle, that meant a slap to the cheek that was half of his brute force. "OW!" he hissed, clenching his jaw as he brought a hand to his face. He was sure there was going to be a mark there for the rest of the day.
"I tried shaking you up, brother. You weren’t budging." Ody spoke as he offered him a hand to get up. Eurylochus gave him a weak glare before he took it, pushing himself back to his feet. Just then, a cloth had slipped off of his shoulders, hovering down until it fell to the floor. The two men turned to look at it, confused.
A strange cloth that served as cover. The design had been split down the middle into two different halves: the right one was a carmine color, slightly dusty, and the left one had a strange pattern: geometrically shaped prints in different shades and colours: green, dark green, orange, and yellow. Eurylochus' brows furrowed. Had he seen this before? He swore he had.
"Ah, Lady Ismene, good morning." Ody greeted, snapping Eurylochus out of his thoughts. Ismene had come out from under the boat, walking up the stairs. She was standing oddly.
"First time sleeping on a boat?" Eurylochus asked, raising a brow with a small, teasing smile.
"I don't understand how you can actually sleep like that." she grumbled "Trees are much better..." Eurylochus chuckled at her answer.
"What did I miss?" Ody asked, confused.
"Do not worry about it." Ismene shrugged, leaving him more confused as she walked over to where the cloth had fallen "We have one more day until the full moon is set. I'd suggest to be prepared." she informed, picking it up and slipping it on. Ah, now Eurylochus understood where he had seen it before. The cloth was hers. He must have fallen asleep before she did, then. Or maybe she had woken up in the middle of the night and wandered? He had been sleeping on the deck, so she could have easily seen him.
"Thank you." he mouthed. She just nodded in response, a soft look in her eyes.
CursedStarlitTales Sat 22 Mar 2025 07:37PM UTC
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