A week passed at sea and with good wind Ulysses was
standing up top and saw Ithaca not far away, “home
already,” Virgil said and Ulysses nodded. “Seemed like
it took us longer to leave,” he said and Ulysses chuckled at
him. “When you think about it, it did take us longer to
leave; we were sneaking around,” Ulysses said and Virgil
nodded. An hour later they were walking off of the ship with their
bags in hand and when they hit the ground there was a carriage
waiting for them. “My lord,” the guard who opened the
door to carriage said as Ulysses approached and the guard bowed his
head. Ulysses put his things in the back of the carriage as did
Virgil and then they got into the carriage. Horses waited for the
guards who were instructed not to let them out of their sights.
Word had already been sent up to the palace of their arrival, so in
the ten minutes that it took for them to reach the palace, Julian,
Marguerite and Lucius and Virgil’s mother, Marina, were
waiting for them.

 

 

When they got out of the carriage they looked up at
their parents then at each other, “are you ready?”
Ulysses asked, “I think we can take the guards and run for
it,” Virgil said and Ulysses grinned at his friend. They
walked up the stairs until Ulysses was looking into his
father’s eyes where he saw anger but also a great deal of
relief. Julian stepped down and looked into his son’s eyes
before hugged him and Ulysses closed his eyes and returned his
father’s hug. “I could kill you Virgil,” Lucius
said as he hugged his son then pulled him back and before Lucius
could say anything his wife stepped up and hugged her son.
“Let me have a look at you. Are you alright? Are you
hurt?” Marina asked and Virgil grinned a tolerant grin at his
mother, “I’m fine mom, I’m fine,” he said
and Lucius looked at him. “You’re gonna be far from
fine when your mother and I get through with you,” Lucius
said to his son and Virgil groaned.

 

 

“My lord with your leave,” Lucius said
to Julian who nodded and watched as he walked away dragging Virgil
with him. Marguerite walked down to Ulysses and looked at him
before she slapped him, “ow,” he said, the slap having
really stung. Marguerite cried as she pulled her son into her arms
and Ulysses hugged her back, “I’m okay mom,
really,” he said and she just cried harder and he continued
to hold her. “Come, we’ll talk in my office,”
Julian said as he gently pulled his wife away while looking at his
son and Ulysses looked at him. “Well I have to get my
things,” he said, “leave them, the servants will see to
them,” Julian said and Ulysses nodded and walked into the
palace followed by his mother and father. Once in the palace the
doors were closed behind them and all three of them walked in
silence to Julian’s office. Once there they walked in and the
door was closed. “Sit down Ulysses,” Julian said and
Ulysses looked at his father then sat down in the char; Marguerite
walked up to Julian so that she was standing next to him.