“So, who’s gonna die today?” Athena asked her father as she eyed up the suitors. All of them looked pretty strong, but no one could pass her test. They all would die. It was just a matter of time.

“Would you try to sound positive?” Her father asked her. He gave her a fierce glare. She glared right back. She had learned from him.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Who is going to get brutally murdered in my trials as they fight for my hand?” She said this in her most innocent voice.

Her father glared at her again. “Who would like to compete today?” Her father called to the idiots, I mean suitors.

Three men stepped forward. The Prince of Caspia, Cadros, the King of Miona, Plater, and a… knight. Athena looked the knight up and down. How did _he_ plan on winning the competition? Royal blood couldn’t even win. How did he think he could?

This knight fascinated her. She liked his courage. He was either like all the other idiots or… different. It was delusional to hope that he was different. It was impossible. He was just cocky.

Then smirked at him. She wanted to see what he had in him. She wanted to see if he was as strong as he thought he was. “The knight.” She said. “The knight will compete.”

“What?” Prince Cadros said, offended. He was angry that she picked the knight.

“Stay in your place, Prince.” She called down to him. “If you’re so confident, then what does a lowly knight going before you matter?” She had him there.

The knight grinned back at her. It was deadly and dangerous. That made Athena’s stomach erupt in butterflies. Everything about him had an edge to it. Athena liked edge.

They began to prepare him for the competition. Athena was fascinated by him. She went down to talk to the knight before he went in.

He was getting in his armor when she entered his chambers. He was shirtless. She saw dark tan skin and strong muscles. She smirked.

“Do you really think you can pass my test?” She asked. She tossed a dagger in the air and caught it on the tips of her fingers.

He turned to see her. Black hair and striking black eyes. He appeared to be soulless. Interesting. “Do you really doubt me this much?” He countered.

“My test is designed to be impossible. No one can complete it without dying.” She was certain. She had designed it after all.

“Ever so confident.” He placed on the last pieces of his armor.

“You’re confident that you can complete it. After the first day, half the princes left. A few kings stayed. And so did you.”

He smirked at her. “Confidence has nothing to do with it.”

“Then how are you so certain you won’t die.”

He stood before her. “Because I know you, Athena. Your impossible is nothing compared to me.” Then he was gone.

In a second, Athena knew his name. She had seen him before. Odysseus. Not a knight. The King of Ithica.