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false alarm on the delay tonight, my rambunctious friend from college has been partially tamed by his new girlfriend...but this is a good development for him
Of the options available to you, it seems that connecting with Palamedes represents the most cautious and therefore preferable approach – additionally, you deem it less likely that Odysseus would be eavesdropping during any such meeting between yourself and Palamedes Nauplides. You are hardly adept at palace intrigue, but Odysseus Laertides’ venomous hatred for Palamedes, scion of Nauplius, is both obvious and constant. Although, the paranoia that you have developed over the past several months makes you doubt everything – does Odysseus truly hate the reedy prince of Euboea, or is it merely a useful ruse for Odysseus to deploy? There is no deception too clever to put beyond the King of Ithaka, but you put the thought out of your head – this way madness lies.
Finding Palamedes is a trivial effort – he has a tendency to lie in his bunk, scribbling madly against his wax tablet, his papyrus scrolls, or both in quick succession. You approach him on the morning of the second day, as the Spartan galley passes the narrow strait between Tenedos and the Troad.
As you approach the man’s bunk, nestled cozily in the bow-side hold, Palamedes does not look up from his hide maps. Nonetheless, Palamedes calls out calmly, even as his gold-flecked eyes scan the leather rolls in his lap.
“I have been expecting you, Thessalian.”
You aren’t surprised by the pronouncement – the man is brilliant in his own right, and has no doubt deduced the rationale for your attempt at rapprochement. His thin beard and unimpressive physique do him a disservice – perhaps he is similar to Teukros, in his undervaluation. You clear your throat and speak:
“Prince Palamedes – I hope to converse with you regarding the Lelegian tem –“ Palamedes holds a slender hand up in warning, his eyes finally meeting your own. You hold your tongue, politely waiting for his reply. Rather than address your question, he instead clears his throat, and delivers a short sermon:
>cont
