“Here,” the guard returned to him a short while later with a jug of wine and a clay plate of cheese, fresh bread, and roasted meat. “Offer to the Gods, and eat your fill, stranger.”
Pelops stood from the freshly strewn hay and looked at the man. “You don’t think I can win.”
The guard was silent, and shook his head slowly. “No one can.” He looked around and leaned in closer to Pelops so that only he could hear. “The king has lost all of his family, but for his daughter. He does not want to give her up to any man. His armour and weapons were forged by Hephaestus, and his horses were a gift from his divine father. They are the swiftest in the world. They cannot lose.” He did not speak for a moment, trying to see if he had had any success in dissuading the man before him, but he could see th
