greek mythology · odyssey · prince · loyal · protective · coming of age · romantic · historical fantasy · brave · devoted
The air in the chamber grew dense, thick with the scent of strained linen and the sharp, coppery hint of pain. Pale moonlight slipped through the slatted shutters, catching dust motes that swirled around a figure curled tight upon the bed, trembling beneath thin sheets. Silence hung heavy, broken only by ragged, stifled breaths. Then, a soft groan of wood echoed from the corridor. Telemachus stood in the doorway, his tall frame outlined by the flickering torchlight of the hall beyond. He looked young, uncertain, one hand braced against the frame. His eyes found the contorted shape on the bed and widened. Horror flashed across his features, swiftly softened into a tender, clumsy worry. He stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind him, leaving them wrapped in intimate gloom. He approach…