Two armored figures look down from the tower to the burning city. "Brother, I have something to ask of you," the shorter of the two says to the other.
They city they look upon is Troy. The two figures are Odysseus, general of the Greek army, husband of Penelope, and Atticus, son of Hermes, half brother of Penelope, Odysseus brother-in-law.
"What do you need?" Atticus inquires of Odysseus.
"Its going to be a long and dangerous journey home, my friend," he says, not answering the question.
"It will be," Atticus agrees wondering where Odysseus is going with this.
"And some of us might not make it home."
"Ody, just get to the point, you and Athena always do this, this," he struggles to find the word, "This dance. You lead it in all sorts of places and it doesn't make sense."
"If I don't make it home, if I die along the way, you will be regent until Telemachus is ready to take the throne," he pulls an object out of his satchel. It's a small bronze coin with a boar on one side and the face of Medusa on the other. He holds it out to Atticus who doesn't accept it.
"Two things, firstly, you're not dying, I will make certain of that, and secondly, why me? Why not Eurylochus?"
"I know your a good leader. Your a good warrior, but your also a diplomat. And a damn good one too." Atticus accepts the coin, and Odysseus clasps him on the shoulder. "Now let's get do-" He's interrupted by the screech of an eagle, and a thunderclap overhead.
Suddenly, a flag of lightening strikes in front of them. They are blinded and Atticus can sense a god has come. When their sight returns it's obvious, even without the sensing that this is-
"Zeus," Atticus says with malice, "why are you here?"
"Respectless son of Hermes, be glad I am not here for you," the god of justice looks at Odysseus, who is kneeling. "King of Ithaca, there is something, or rather someone, you need to find before leaving behind the ashes of Troy."
"What is it, Your Majesty?" Odysseus asks. Atticus snorts a small laugh. Odysseus shoots him a glare, saying with his eyes, leave before you piss off the king of the gods.
"Alright, I am going to go check on my men." Atticus opens the hatch in the roof of the tower and begins climbing down the ladder. Once he leaves the tower he is approached by Polites, who says, "All scouts have survived, sir."
"Polites, we've known each too long for you to call me sir. But that's absolutely excellent news. Hopefully we'll be able to leave the war behind us," Atticus says.
The door to the tower creaks open behind them and Odysseus walks out. He turns to Polites, "My friend, please leave us."
"Okay. Do you want me to get the troops situated?" Polites inquires.
"Do as you please," Odysseus says absent mindedly.
Polites walks away, heading towards where the main gate of Troy stood. Atticus stares at Odysseus and asks, "General, what do you need? What did Zeus ask of you?"
"We have someone we need to kill," Odysseus says, walking towards the palace of Troy.
"One last act of violence to finish the war?" Atticus asks, following behind his commander.
"Something like that," Odysseus says, clarifying nothing at all, as he said into the palace and into the East Wing. He walks into a room and comes out holding an infant in his arms.
"Ody, who is that?" Atticus stares at the child, hoping that this is not the one Odysseus meant when he said they had someone to kill.
His suspicions are confirmed though when Odysseus says, "This is Astyanax, the son of Prince Hector. The one I must kill." Odysseus has a dangerous glint in his eye. He starts walking back towards the tower.
"Why must you kill him?" Atticus asks, following.
"If I don't, he will hunt me down." the Greek commander climbs the towers ladder, still holding the infantile prince of Troy.
"He's just an infant!" Atticus says climbing up behind his friend. "How could he do that?"
"Once he grows into a man, apparently he will learn of my part in the razing of his city, and will enact revenge upon me," Odysseus pushing open the trapdoor, climbing onto the roof.
"And Zeus told you this? That can't be good. Why does he want this child dead? The gods can't be trusted," Atticus tell his brother.
"Guard the trapdoor, my friend. Please." Odysseus turns, tears glinting in his eyes.
Atticus draws his daggers and faces the trapdoor. He feels the time crawl by and he knows that Odysseus is agonizing over this choice.
After what feels to be an eternity, Odysseus taps him on the shoulder. "It's done, brother," he says, tears rolling down his face.
Atticus opens the trapdoor and climbs down the ladder to the base of the tower. The two men walk out of the tower and see a small, crumpled, broken body. Odysseus lets out a strangled noise. When he hears this, Atticus steps in front of Odysseus, blocking his line of sight to the infant's corpse, and grabs the man's shoulders.
"My brother, you did what you had to do. If you hadn't done even more would suffer. Penelope, Telemachus, all of your subjects." Atticus stares Odysseus dead in the eyes. "Do you understand?"
Odysseus nods blankly. Atticus turns him away from the body. "Now, you are going to go and lead your men. You can't be like this in front of them. They need a leader."
"How do you go on like this, brother?" Odysseus asks.
"I have seen many of the cruelties of this world, cruelties caused by both god and man. I've hardened my heart. Now let's go."
And with that the two men go together towards their soldiers.
AN: Hello hello! I'm back! The full explanation is on my profile page. But now we have this. Epic the musical, but not a musical. And with a new character! Meet Atticus, son of Hermes! Half-brother of Penelope and godfather of Telemachus. The next chapter will probably come out the first week of the new year. See you then!