“We expect our payment, one way or another,” the pirate said, lazily wiping his bloodied blade on the body of a suitor. He then nodded to the pile of Penelope’s gifts. “That’ll do nicely.”
“Thatbelongs to my wife,” Odysseus said.
“I don’t think she’ll mind,” the pirate chuckled. “Come on now. Let’s not make this difficult. I’m sure you don’t want to die before you’re reunited with your lovely little wife. She’s been waiting sovery longto see you.”
Odysseus stiffened, dignity and self-preservation waging war across his crimson-stained face. He eyed the pirates surrounding him, all still armed. These men were nothing like the pampered suitors, spoiled nobles who were better at wielding a wine cup than a blade. No, these were trained killers, men to whom death was an old friend.
And this was not a battle the king of Ithaca could win.
I felt my heart jump into my mouth, pulsing wildly against my tongue as we awaited Odysseus’s reply. Slowly, the king of Ithaca turned to look at his son, his scowl fading into a sigh.
“Make it quick,” he muttered to the pirate.
“It’ll be as if we were never here.”
Odysseus glowered at the man, hands flexing at his sides. “Youwerenever here. You never stepped foot in my palace. Your ship never tainted Ithaca’s waters. Understood?”
I could hear the smile in the pirate’s voice as he echoed, “Understood.”
While he sauntered away, Odysseus turned and pointed at my brother.
“Bring him here.”
Eumaeus obediently dragged Melanthius to Odysseus’s feet, forcing him down onto his knees. Odysseus surveyed my brother for along moment, the whites of his eyes stark against all that blood.
“I remember you,” he said, the words soft with something almost like nostalgia. “The goatherd who came from Sparta.”
My brother said nothing. Beyond him, the pirates were hauling their treasure away, indifferent to the rest of us.
Odysseus continued his pacing, but when his foot struck a corpse, he froze. He stared down at the mangled body before him with a horrified sort of fascination, and I noticed his hands had begun trembling. He balled them quickly into fists, turning away as he snapped at my brother, “I need time to think what to do with you.”
“Just kill me like the rest of them,” Melanthius whispered to the ground.
No.I stepped forward, but Eumaeus blocked my path.
“He has brought this upon himself,” he murmured to me, almost apologetically. “This is the will of the gods, Melantho. You must let it be.”
“Fuck your gods,” I snarled.
“You wish to die like them?” Odysseus asked Melanthius, motioning to the corpses stacked around us. “You do not deserve their death. They were vile creatures, yes, but they were not indebted to me. They saw an opportunity and they took it, abused it. For that, I took their lives. Butyou, slave—I took you into my home, into my family. I gave you shelter and food. I gave you good, honest work. I treated you with respect, and this…thisis how you repay me? You conspire with my enemies beneath my own roof?”
“I only—”
“I did not give you permission to speak!” Odysseus roared, spittle flying from his lips, veins throbbing at his temples. “This is my house. This is my home.”
Melanthius let his head hang.
“Andyou.” Odysseus turned his blistering glare to me. “Did you think I had forgotten our deal? I warned you of the consequences.”
“Please.” Melanthius threw himself forward, clutching Odysseus’s ankles. “Punish me. I’m guilty. I helped the suitors. I brought them theweapons to kill your son. It’s true. But my sister is innocent. She tried to stop me. I swear it on the river Styx. Do what you must with me, but please let her go. I beg you.”
“It’s true, Father.” Telemachus stepped forward, voice loud yet trembling. “Melantho is a good woman. I can attest to that. She is innocent.”
“Innocent,” Odysseus spat, his glare still fixed on me. “Tell me, was it your innocence that had you whispering secrets to the suitors while you spread your legs for them? Oh yes, Eurycleia has informed me about your liaisons.”
I felt the rage sear through me.That old, evil witch…
“It’s not true, Father!” Telemachus protested. “Melantho would never ally herself with their kind. Tell him, Melantho. Tell him it isn’t true.”
