The journey from Opus to Pythia was short, compared to other travels I have taken in life. It was two, three days by sea, depending on how well the winds and waters cooperated with each other and how well our crew cooperated with them, us, and each other.

Heading to Opus had been quicker than coming back. The triremes' eyes had been visible on the way there: their protection (and more likely my mother's or my aunts' interventions) had calmed the waves, ensuring a smoother trip.

Going back was the opposite experience. The eyes were most sunken beneath the waves, their protection nonexistent. My aunts and cousins had not regaled us as they had previously. The choppy water constantly slapped against the ships. The skies had been cloudy, and storms were nearby.

All of that did not matter to me since I was partially of the ocean. Mother's nature made its way into me. I could tolerate and even enjoy the mighty wrath of the sea.

That is what I had told Patroclus after he vomited the second time. Unfortunately, he had immense nausea from the moment we were offshore. By my recollection, we had one or two days more before we saw home.

I stood in silence, massaging his back. It hurt me to see him suffer. Father noticed Patroclus's discontent and motioned the crew to stop.

"Take a rest! Let Pythia's newfound son adjust to the water!"

The rowers gladfully ceased rowing and started to eat, drink, and fraternize. They were their own social group. The soldiers avoided them, the craftsmen avoided the soldiers, and the animals and gifts we took back from Opus stood in silence.

Well, one of them was not silent.

"I pray to the gods above that, once I land on shore, I will never be on a boat again. What did I do to deserve this agony?" Patroclus muttered, leaning back over the side to vomit again.

I held his newly braided hair back. He had reached the point where there was no semblance of food at all left. The dark yellow excretions were absorbed by the wine dark sea.

Patroclus slumped down onto the deck and started to shiver. I could not bear it.

"Father, what did you do to calm me when I was like this?" I asked.

"Hmm…I never really was able to, since your mother or one of the servants usually took you from me prior to me getting involved…. Yet…" Father mused to me. "Patroclus, go into the lower decks and get to the darkest and coolest area you can. Perhaps being hidden from Helios will help. It often helped me when I was sick on the Argo. Darkness and coolness work best."

Patroclus woozily stood up and attempted to bow.

"Yes, sir…thank you, Your Majesty."

He fell. I started to help him, but Father came over and picked him up.

"I was serious a few days ago. Do not ever say that title again. You are a son to me now. Achilles, get the hatch."

I opened it up, and Father carried Patroclus down beneath the deck.

I turned back to the men. They all stopped talking and looked at me. I wondered if they wanted me to rouse them or order them. I had no idea what they wanted me to do or say.

There was a brief silence. I turned to go under deck when someone said,

"Let…let us know how he adjusts, please, Prince?"

I turned around.

"What?"

"Please, Prince. Keep us informed. He…he…introduced himself and asked me about my wife's pregnancy. I had no idea how he knew she was expecting a child, but he congratulated us." One spoke.

The others started speaking up. In the short day or so, despite his constant sickness, Patroclus went around and introduced himself to and spoke to every crewmember. I had seen the beginnings of that when we left. What now amazed me was, from his short interaction with each of the crew, he had somehow bonded with each and every one of them.

"Prince Patroclus told me about the origin of the Myrmidons. I always wondered about my family's history."

"Prince Patroclus listened to me complain about my mother-in-law and offered advice on how to avoid her."

"He smiled at my jokes…which were not funny at all, but at least he enjoyed them!"

Patroclus empathized immediately with each of them. I had not noticed this. I did not even see this happen. I stood surprised and took a breath. They were still waiting for an answer.

"I will keep you all abreast of his health."

I reopened the hatch and descended below.

"There, rest. Rest. We will be back home soon."

I found Father tucking Patroclus into a makeshift bed, using his cloaks as sheets. Patroclus shivered and closed his eyes. Father also put a wet cloth over Patroclus's face.

Father arose, saw me, pointed to the other side of the deck, and led me there. He sat against the inside of the hull and motioned to sit down.

"So, how is he doing?" I asked him, sitting to match him.

"Well, my son, I am grateful that despite Pythia having a harbor and access to the sea, there are multiple land routes to other areas. I do not think he will ever want to be on a boat again. It is a promising idea to keep him down here for the rest of the voyage. We have another day or so. I do not think he will miss the ocean view." Father chuckled.

"Good…good to hear." I hesitated. "Father, I have a question. How…how hard is to empathize and communicate with your subjects? Did it take you long to learn how to do so?"

Father sighed.

"It is easier for some rulers to recognize the duties of their titles. Sometimes the skills come prior to coronation, sometimes the skills never come. It is a sign of a good king to know their subjects, and a sign of a great king to understand them. Why do you ask?"

I glanced back over to Patroclus. Father followed my gaze.

"As you were bringing him down here, the men expressed concern about him. Apparently before he got sick, he had gone around to everyone on the ship and bonded with each of them. Pregnancies, bad senses of humor, familial disputes, he…he was able to be the Prince I yearn to be. I cannot remember the names of those who moved this ship. I could not rouse them to action just now. How can I be a good or great ruler when I cannot do with years of knowledge that he did in a day?"

It was my turn for Father to pat my back.

"Achilles, it will come to you. You are so young. I do not intend to cede the throne before my due time. You will learn how to orate and how to understand personalities. You did very well with Menoetius and his…irregularities."

Father phrased "being an asshole" tactfully, highlighting my point.

"You even brought me around to see the good in our patient over there. Do not count yourself out yet. Especially since I do not think you will ever have a sibling. I definitely do not plan to count you out. One. See, you are still here."

I rolled my eyes. Father had a horrible sense of humor.

"Go back up on deck and just…just ask. See what happens. Even an awkward first conversation can lead into something else deeper and more satisfying."

Father got up.

"To be kind to others, you have to be kind to yourself. Actually, I need to go on deck and talk to the crew about rations and pay when we return. Stay here with our patient until I get back, and then you can go practice."

Father climbed onto deck and went out of sight and earshot.

I went to Patroclus. I still felt him shivering but it was weaker now. He had fallen asleep.

Father had a point about awkward first conversations leading to something deeper. I thought about the stable and me hearing the crying boy. The boy I cannot now live without, the one suffering right before me.

"Patroclus, you were the first real risk I ever took. And for you, I will always risk it all."

I sat next to him, waiting for him to wake up. His face while sleeping was the most peaceful thing I had ever seen. I closed my eyes to rest as well.

"Shit!"

I awoke suddenly and jerked up. Patroclus was on the ground, but not in his bed.

"Are you okay?"

He jolted and turned.

"Sorry I woke you. I had to relieve myself and coming back, I tripped. Really, really dark down here."

"Well, there's not a lot of light. How are you feeling?"

"Better, especially since it feels like we anchored for the night. Not a lot of movement."

I looked out the oar slot nearest me. The skies were clear, and the stars were shining.

"Do you want to go back to sleep, Achilles? I slept so much today, so I can stay up a bit if you would like." Patroclus asked sheepishly, still thinking that I would not say yes.

"For you, I would stay up until Dawn's chariot rears above the horizon…but not that long. Just a few minutes. Let me get some water first." I yawned.

I arose and went up to the deck. Most of the men were sleeping under the cloudless sky. I did not see Father, but I was not worried. The stars gave enough light so I could see where the fresh water supply was. I took one of the satchels.

I saw one of the men wake up. His beard was rugged, and he was familiar to me, but I did not remember his name.

"Sir?"

"Yes, Prince Achilles?" His eyes were dark, but the stars made them shine.

"Earlier today, some of the men asked for an update about Patroclus. Tell them that he is doing better, especially now we stopped for the night."

"I certainly will do that."

There was an instant of silence.

"Do you want some water?"

"Sure. Thank you, Prince Achilles."

I gave him the satchel, and he drank a bit.

"I…I forgot what your name is. I'm not thinking clearly, I apologize!" I felt my heart sink in horror on the awkwardness to come.

"Given the past few days and that it is the middle of the night, it is not surprising for anyone to not think clearly. Also, the light is not the best. It's Phoenix. Remember? I played with you a lot as a baby. Well, you would not remember being the baby."

My eyes opened wide. Yes, I did remember Phoenix. I remember being a small child and seeing him approach. I remember being excited to see and hug him. So that told me that I had more good experiences with him, even though I did not remember. As I reminisced, Phoenix returned the satchel to me.

"Of course, Phoenix. My apologies once again. And you're right. The stars are bright, but the light is still diminished. Have a good night."

"You too, Prince Achilles."

I descended below deck and went back to Patroclus. I gave him the satchel and he drank.

"Patroclus…how did you know all their names?"

"What do you mean?" Patroclus had finished drinking and lay back down on his bed pad.

"I just spoke to Phoenix, and it took me forever to remember him. But the other men earlier, they said you knew their names and their life stories. How?"

Patroclus mused. "I'm…I'm good at remembering details and making connections. Like Phoenix? I associate his beard being bushy, and he hid in the bushes with your father on the hunt for the Caledonian boar. Father mentioned he could not go, since his father just died. Your father also killed his host and father-in-law Eurytion by accident while throwing a spear at the boar. Connections like that is how I remember things."

He waved his hand. "Well, it is nothing special, I just am good at understanding people too. I will help you learn things about the crew and others. Thank you for the water."

He turned over and said, "Good night, Achilles."

I stared agape: he truly was the smartest person I knew. Wait…. Father-in-law? Grandfather's name is Nereus.

"Patroclus?"

"Yes?"

"Was Father was married before Mother?"

"What do you mean? He never told you? His first wife Antigone committed suicide because he was going to marry another woman."

I was shocked. I did not know this.

"No…no he did not."

Patroclus turned to me and sat up. He started shaking, mumbling "I shouldn't have said that" and "I'm going to get beaten" over and over again.

I jumped over to calm him down. I hugged him.

"It is okay, do not worry, my friend. You did nothing wrong. I will follow up with him about this when we are back home."

I laid down with him on the cloaks, hugging him. He started to cry.

"You did nothing wrong."

I pulled one cloak over us.

"Good night, my friend. Let us sleep and forget this stressful moment."

He stopped breathing quickly and started to calm under my embrace.

You never can do anything wrong, I thought. You are perfection.