A Parting Gift

My heart pounded as I bounded towards my docked ship, waiting just off the coast of the island. The heat of a recently exploded round on my back, and the wind of an arrow rushing just beside my cheek, was enough to keep my stride quick and light.

Despite my status I will admit my physical fitness was not the same as my crew. While I was no slouch, my biggest muscle was that of my mind… and my back side. However, it was that same thick wobbly ass that caused my stride to be slightly slower than that of my crew.

“Captain?” I heard one of them say as they passed me, their eyes widening. It was Harmocydes, one of the final men I had selected to be brought on this voyage. He held a hand out to me to me, ready to aid me on this final life threatening trek to our ship, but I only slapped it away.

“Get to the ship and tell the men to be ready to sail as soon as all of our remaining forces make it on board.” I bark, which causes the man to hesitate. Yet he nods and continues his rush forward to the boat.

I was not far, yet I would not consider myself necessarily within range either. My heart was racing, the adrenaline of the situation made my vision blurry. And right before I was about to touch the more watery sands of the tide-induced beach I heard my name one more time, as a hand clasped my shoulder roughly.

“Odysseia!” He screamed as he forced me to turn around with a small yelp. Without hesitation my free hand reached for my blade and pushed it against the neck of my assaulter… who only looked at me with a smile.

“We have to stop meeting like this.” Maron teased as I met his gaze. I removed my blade from his throat with a scoff and rolled my eyes, but before I could turn back to my ship his grip tightened on my shoulder once more, holding me in my place.

“I wish to give you this.” He says as he pushes the bottle into my hands, his smile only growing to that of a mischievous smirk. “The wine that turned such a stoic captain into a silly little slut.” He teased, his voice deep, breathy, and smooth as he attempted to make me swoon once more…

Though with the butt of my sword I pushed against his stomach, forcing the man to collapse onto the ground. Through the groans of pain he still laughed, looking up at me with that same devilish smirk.

“Think of me as you drink it, Captain.” He teased, his eyes glinting with a shine that looked… non human. “I know for sure I will be thinking of that thick bouncing ass anytime I lie in that bed for the rest of my life. I may be a priest of Apollo, but even I can praise Aphrodite when her deeds are done so well.”

I roll my eyes at his words and scoff, before turning around once more. “Goodbye, Maron.” I growl out as I begin to run back to the ship, now more acutely aware of a particular set of eyes staring at my ass, as the feel of my thick bouncing cheeks becomes more and more ludicrous with every long stride.

My stride did not break again until I was on the ship. My small interaction with the priest caused me to be the last to board. However, as soon as I did, the crew had prepared to disembark. The last we could hear of the screams began to turn nearly into echoes in the wind as we pushed away from shore and into the waters.

Eurylochus approached me with a raised eyebrow, staring down at the wine that now laced my hip. “A local man gave you a gift like that?” He asks, a small teasing smirk on his face. “Would hate for the wife to find out about that, yeah?” He teases, before I give him a quick slug to the shoulder.

“This will become very useful in the near future, my friend.” I say with a small smile. “Be prepared. Something tells me our journey is far from over.”