“Have you lost all sense of decorum on this wild island?” His face was growing red, his temper was beginning to flare. “You will show some respect to your father.”
“Hmm,” Her voice was cool, trailing on. It was her turn to step forward, standing between father and husband. “You will show some respect to me, Icarius.” He cut his eyes at her, browfurrowing. “You will not barge into my home and demand things of me, of my husband.”
Odysseus closed the distance, gently placing his hand on her back in solidarity. “If you have something to say, speak Spartan.” He said, voice washing over Penelope, rooting her.
“Not to you,” he sneered, glaring at Odysseus. “These words are just for Spartan blood.”
Her husband rolled his neck calmly, the crackle of his bones resounding in the hall. As they stood there, she could feel him seeking to calm himself. “No,” was all he said. There was no room for arguments.
“No?” Her father laughed. “You don’t speak for me, and if my daughter is as bullheaded as she appears, you must not speak for her either.”
“I would forfeit my voice this instant if I knew Odysseus would be my mouthpiece.” Penelope scoffed, willing herself to keep her eyes still. “He can, he does, and hemayspeak for me.”
“Where are you residing now, Father-in-law? My wife and I so missed seeing you on our latest trip to Sparta.” Like a wave crashing on the shore, the devilry that crept into her husband’s voice coursed through her, leaking into every fiber of her being.
“Don’t you dare speak to me about the altercation the two of you caused in my home.” His words might have sounded harsh, but Penelope could tell… he was cracking. “No daughter of mine would have ever been part of such a spectacle. Such a disrespect to the king and queen.”
“We agree on one thing,” Penelope mused, weaving her arm through her husband’s. “I am no daughter of yours.”
“You would let me leave without hearing what I have to say?”
“Of course not, Icarius.” She did not look at him. She looked up at her husband instead, who was returning the motion, smiling softly at her. “One of our staff will put you up for thenight. I will find you when I am ready to hear whatever you have brought to our shores.”
Odysseus leaned down, gently kissing her. Her lips turned upwards. He left no doubt - she washis. She belonged by his side. “Let us retire, wife.”
She hummed in agreement, turning her back on the Spartan behind them.
“Don’t wait too long, daughter. Hades is not known for his patience.”
46
ODYSSEUS STIFFENED BENEATH HER GRASP. “Keep walking,” she muttered under her breath. “Don’t let him win.” The man beside her radiated tension, his muscles tight.
“Penelope…” Even his words were clipped.
“I know, I heard him. Not here.” She kept her hand steady on him, forcing him to slow down, to stay calm.
When the door of the bedroom shut behind them, she felt him about to crumble. “Penelope…” this time, his voice was filled with an unnameable emotion.
“We are here, husband.” She took his hand in both of hers, squeezing gently. Tugging on his hand gently, she led him to their bed. As she sat, she searched his face, trying to decipher the expression that haunted him. “My love.” she ran her fingers through the curls of his greying beard. “Please breathe.”
“Hades has sent yourfatherhere with a message, wife.” His voice was strained, rough. “We cannot ignore him. The god of death takes his dues.” Even as the storm broke in his eyes, he relaxed against her hand, leaning into her touch.
“He will not break us, Odysseus. We have outwitted and outlasted gods before, and we were separated.” She smiled at him, hoping she was able to sound as calming as he neededher to be. “Together. We do this together. Whatever schemes, whatever plots, whatever turmoil,” with her free hand, she laced her fingers through his. “We do it together, husband.”
“He kills you, that’s the deal. That’s the scheme, queen. I do as he asks, or you suffer. Telemachus suffers.” Odysseus practically growled, his tone just as severe as his words.
Persephone had hinted, had gently nudged her in the direction of the god’s ask… but Penelope could only guess… could only wonder what Hades had demanded of her husband.
“When he visited you, after Sparta?” She whispered, “What did he ask of you?”
Odysseus released a breath, eyes closed. Her heart clenched as his face fell, as he pulled back from her. “I…” The old king shook his head, wringing his hands in his lap. “Penelope…” he whispered her name like an oath, a sacred word meant only for the two of them. “I’m not strong enough.”
She moved closer to him, refusing to allow him to create distance. “Let me be strong for us both then, husband.” Penelope brushed a lock of hair from his cheek, offering him a small smile, though his eyes were still closed.
He turned to face her now, but there was a spark in his eyes that he hadn’t seen before… a hunger that both warmed her insides, and constricted her breath. “Ody?” She lifted her hand, reaching for him.
He surged towards her, sending her backwards onto the bed with a single movement. His lips covered hers quickly, kissing her roughly. She gasped against him, pressing her hands into the steady planes of his chest.
