A Challenge

Telemacha stormed into the hoard of men, roaring out of her mother’s chamber and scanned the room for her target. When she saw him her rage only grew more. He was surrounded by his friends, and though she could not hear the words the way he was miming particular actions made it very clear just what he was talking about.

Telemacha growled as she pulled a sword off of the wall and banged the blade against a metal shield, sending a roaring CLANG across the dining hall as she got everyone else's attention.

“Antinous!” She screamed as she stepped off the steps and into the crowd. The men parted like a school of fish as she approached her target. Some laughed, some even teased, both most stared down at the young princess in a mixture of awe and trepidation. The look of fire in her eye was enough to silence them, all as they were reminded once more of someone they once knew.

“She looks like Odysseia…” One man said, the final word that silenced the room.

Silenced all but one, that is.

“The Little Wolf finally bites back!” Antinous chuckled as he stepped forward, confronting Telemacha in the middle of the room with that same knowing smile he had when he left her mother’s chamber. “What’s a matter, pup? Did watching Mommy get some dick put you in heat?”

Telemacha didn’t move, and her demeanor didn’t break. All she did was push Antinous back with the butt of her sword, sending him stumbling on his feet for a second with a laugh.

“I challenge you, Antinous.” She finally breaks her silence as she steps forward once more. “A duel, here and now. Winner becomes ruler of Ithaca.” Her words cold, calculated, as if she had Athena herself whispering in her ear. “And when I win, not only will you and all of these men leave this palace, but you will also be banished from the kingdom.”

Antinous’s smirk never broke. Instead it seemed to only grow as a low chuckle escaped his lips, meeting the brave woman in the middle of the crowd, staring down at her like one would a child throwing a tantrum.

“I accept your challenge, and your terms.” He says, causing Telemacha to grow a smirk of her own, before Antinous raised a finger. “If, I may add a condition of my own. When I win, and trust me, I will win, not only will I claim the throne, and your mother. But both her, and you, will dutifully live as my Queens, and will service me however I see fit.”

That broke her. The confidence once splattered across Telemacha’s face was broken as a deep breath hit her chest. Her heart sank and her shoulders slumped… only for her to grab her sword firm, clenching tightly, as she let out a small huff.

“Deal.”