The Brass Island and the Bag of Winds

King Aeolus’s point of view:

After all the long days of living on this deserted island, I had never once thought I would see the day that many people set foot here, not even warriors. This island seemed to be distant ground for ships and no man’s land for the weary travelers. No one wanted to venture here, for, to them, there was nothing here worth traveling for.

To my amazement, as I peered out the stained glass window at my usual waking hour, there seemed to be some sort of object floating atop the sea. My yawns turned to chuckles, for I thought my eyes were playing tricks upon me. I did not tell anyone of my discovery, because I did not want anyone getting too excited, for if I had mistaken my sighting, I would have been looked upon as a fool.

I skipped all the way down the vine-covered corridor until I reached the edge of the building. As I looked over the edge, there stood a man covered in sand and soaking wet hair. He looked harmless, so I sent the wirework basket down to his side so he could make his way up to me. When the basket finally reached the stranger’s side, I signaled for him to come up to where I was. After getting acquainted with the sea-goer, I invited him and his crew to come join me for dinner, for I knew the rules of hospitality, and I was more than willing to follow them, for I had very few guests in my lifetime.

The captain finally introduced himself as Odysseus. When I heard this, my memory jogged through all the stories I had heard of this mighty warrior. Was this really the Odysseus everyone was speaking of? In search of answers, I engulfed Captain Odysseus in a swarm of questions. I wanted to know the major and minor details of his travels. I wanted nothing to pass me by.

Odysseus wanted to repay me for my hospitality, but I had to explain to him that my family and I never leave our island. The wonders of the world are not traveled by us, and the outside world only comes here on rare occasion. I have even married my daughters and sons so that they never have to leave home.

After my long conversation with Odysseus, I wanted to give him a present, so I led him through the corridors and entered through a room whose door was locked by a golden key. The present was a bag of winds, in which Odysseus could use to get home, only if he used it right. I had hope in Odysseus to use the bag correctly, but I had little hope in his crew. I wished Odysseus good luck, and as he sailed away, I prayed to the gods that he would make it all right.

Author: Justine