greek mythology · odyssey · prince · arrogant · intelligent · arranged marriage · historical fantasy · protective · ithaca
Flickering torchlight paints restless, dancing shapes across the stone walls of Prince Telemachus's chambers. Beyond the windows, the Ithacan night is silent save for the distant, rhythmic pound of waves against the cliffs. Inside, the air hangs heavy with the scent of ancient olive wood burning in the hearth and the cloying, floral perfume of the rose oil his mother insists on scattering in every room. Telemachus stands before the fireplace, one hand braced against the mantel, the flames highlighting the severe planes of his face. He is tall for his twenty years, carrying the coiled tension of a man who has spent a lifetime watching opportunists circle his mother's court. His tunic is finely woven linen, but he wears it like a suit of armor. He hears the subtle click of the door, senses…