“He boarded the enemy ship and made quite the ruckus. He dropped their anchor, knocked out their helmsman, and repositioned a cannon to fire inside their belly. His proverbial sandals are made of wings; he moves faster than the wind.” I paused to make sure she was still with me. She didn’t look three sheets to the wind yet, so I added, “I think The Black Hollow won’t be following us or any other ship for quite some time. And if another adversary closes in, Smitter will take care of it faster. Now that you know the lengths to which we can go, you’ll keep the crew’s morale high.”

Lou inhaled and exhaled audibly. “Well, he’ll be handy on our journey then.”

“Yes, he will.”

Lou walked to her desk with her drink and sat. She tapped her lower lip. “What are his powers exactly? I know he’s the messenger of the gods, he’s the swiftest being alive, and he’s fond of trickery.”

“He’s also the protector of thieves, merchants, and travelers. It’s why Apollo tasked him with assisting me. And he’s my uncle.”

Lou’s lips parted. “Your father?”

“Apollo.” I sat on the trunk at the end of her bed. A good distance away in case she felt smothered with information but close enough to get to her if she collapsed again.

She rubbed her brow. “You are Apollo’s son?”

I nodded.

The vein in Lou’s throat tightened and bulged far enough to strum a tune on. She stared at me, really stared, examining my feet, legs, waist, hands, chest, and neck. She paused at my lips for the briefest moment until our eyes connected. “And what can you do?”

I straightened. I valued my powers, but by her glare, I believed she thought they were a personal betrayal. “I have many abilities. Some from my mother. Some my father.”

“What are they?” She bit out, anger still written in every aspect.

“I have Apollo’s strength and ability to heal not only myself but others. It’s one of the reasons my crew is so loyal. They don’t know who I am, but they know what I can do and that I protect them.”

“And what about from your mother, Calliope?”

I swallowed, knowing this answer might be harder for her to understand and accept. “I have the power of song and music from my mother.”

Lou hunched her upper body like a lioness readying to pounce.

I held up my finger. “Not like the sirens. I have no bloodthirst, and I’m not as powerful as them. I have no underwater abilities. Although being raised in the siren community, I am an excellent swimmer and can hold my breath longer than most. My song has limitations. I can’t use it against the sirens to force them to my command, but I can incapacitate their powers in lower numbers.”