"Lord Odysseus, would you like to play with me?" Beyond the suggestive question, Iphthime has a petteia dog in hand, and I accept her challenge. She's the first one in the halls.

Her brothers are out, hunting, but the servants are already preparing for the evening.

Nestor invited me too, but I had enough of that, after carrying the boar back to the drydocks.

But he wouldn't take no for an answer if it were for the festivities.

Ugh. I still have a lingering headache from the previous night.

Feast or not, I intend to stay sober this evening.

"You can start," I encourage the young princess with a smile. I search for her sister from the corner of my eye. Athena left as fast as she arrived. She even took Glauca with her.

What she said put a bug in my ears. I wanted to avoid Penelope and the fate surrounding her, and it was a solid plan, but only until I met her for the first time. She's the one fated for me.

It only took a glance to realize whether I'm from the future or the past.

Even if it costs an arm, I'd be willing to sacrifice.

The problem is, if I lose that arm, I'd lose her too.

"Does your sister have strong suitors?" It's insensitive to ask Iphthime about this, but I'm out of options. She frowns, pushing a dog a few steps forward, and I capture it in return.

We are playing in the same spot as we did with Penelope yesterday.

It's a different game when I'm sober, and I play against someone less dangerous than her.

She's already distracted too.

"What counts as strong, My Lord?" She stalls her answer but makes another rushed step.

That figurine is gone too, and I move my leader so she can't hope to retaliate.

How do I specify it better? Anyone who could cut my arm off. But that doesn't narrow it down.

All these princes and heroes spent their lives training with the sword and spear.

On my level, even a commoner could take me down.

Athena's plan to send me to the future for a good strategic education is a disadvantage here.

Iphthime's leader is in a corner.

"Well, anyone noteworthy. Princes who can use a sword or heroes good at wrestling." This reminds me of the legend of how my grandfather — or uncle? — Autolycus trained Heracles.

If only I spent more time with him training rather than getting myself knocked over by a boar.

But it's likely that my namesake used this opportunity and still lost, so why bother?

"Hmm. Some strong suitors of our cousin have shown interest in my sister." Her response still doesn't say much, so I end the game with a decisive move. "You won, My Lord."

She looks desperate to spend more time with me, and I need better answers. I hate to take advantage of her feelings for mine, but everything's fair in love and war.

"I got lucky, My Lady. Are you up for a rematch?" I ask with a wink and reorganize the board. She smiles, and I dial it back, letting her take the lead. "Did any suitors catch Penelope's eyes?"

She focuses on the game and gets excited when she sees a fake opening, shaking her head. That's good. I can appeal to Icarius that our feelings are mutual and give her daughter to me.

Hah, as if that would work. She's a princess with many powerful suitors to choose from.

I'll be a king soon, but Ithaca is a tiny kingdom, compared to what the others can offer.

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"What kind of alliances does your good father, Icarius look forward to?" I try to be casual, seeing how bold the young girl gets with her moves. I let her win, but snap at her sometimes.

I want her to feel smart and in the lead, but without thinking I'm that dumb or easy to beat.

She ponders and makes two terrible moves that I'm quick to exploit.

"My father wants us to have a good life. Alliances aren't that important to him, but he loves athletics and fast runners." She gives me a hint for free, so I let her take a figure from me.

"He serves Sparta's king, Tyndareus though. If he needed an alliance with someone, my father would consider his word." She continues getting excited when I show another opening.

That's what I thought. Icarius would demand too much for his daughter's hand.

Whether to prove myself with the sword as it happened to my namesake or to enter a footrace.

The latter isn't too scary, but my leg is still recovering, so I wouldn't stand a chance.

Can I convince Tyndareus somehow? By offering something he needs, a solution to a problem.

"Oh, I won." She yells and reorganizes the board again.

Her face is all red from blushing and excitement since I let her win only by a hair's breadth.

What problem does Tyndareus have?

Oh, he has a huge one, and her name is Helen.

In the Greek mythology, Helen's true father is Zeus himself. She's the most beautiful mortal in all Hellas, although seeing Penelope I doubt it.

Theseus, another Argonaut and former king of Athens even kidnapped her when she was a child. He wanted a demigod wife, but his rule ended before Helen came of age.

Her brothers rescued her, but this didn't solve the issue. Suitors all over the known world came to compete for her hand, threatening to kill each other or start huge wars.

"Your move, Lord Odysseus." The excited Iphthime reminds me. I see an opening and take out two of her dogs at once. She yelps, surprised. Crap. I wanted to let her win again.

Her brothers and more servants fill the halls now, but there's still no sign of Penelope. How long we've been playing? I got lost in planning again, but I finally have something.

If I show up among Helen's courtiers and sort their bickering out, Tyndareus will owe me a favor. Then I'll request Penelope's hand from him, and Icarius must accept.

No duels, no footrace. The ship will take a while to finish, which might keep me in Pylos, but the sailors know their job. Sparta is about two days from here on fast chariots.

I'd be back in a week, and Penelope would be mine. The prospect makes my heart race, and I forget about everything else. I beat poor Iphthime so bad that she's beet red now.

"That's no way to treat a poor girl, Prince of Ithaca." Even her brothers get mad. Crap, I wanted to let her win, but gave her a humiliating defeat instead. "Play against us, if you're so good."

"Lady Iphthime beat me earlier, so I wanted to respect her by playing to the best of my abilities. But I won't turn away other challengers either." With a grin, I reorganize the board.

Now that I have a plan I can take on the entire world. They only saw me play against their genius sister, but no Spartan prince could beat me in this game tonight.