Medusa Isn't So Bad

Apollo may have a point

After searching for this fabled ship with the flag of the sun's rays, I started to think we were tricked by that old merchant. So I did what any young hero with no common sense would do. I bought some wine and pretended to be drunk, whining about how I had dreams of fighting the greatest sea captain there is. 

"Where is Captain Tinus?" I cried. "Why doesn't he come out and face me?" 

Constance tried to keep a straight face beside me, but she laughed a little. "What on earth are you doing?" 

"Trying to get our ride. What do you think?" 

"You're bothering every sea captain from here to the end of the port! Don't you hear them grumbling?"

Yeah. That was the point. I needed Tinus to show up so we could have him take us to Circe, but I also needed a way to lock him in. If we asked him privately and he refused it would be impossible to convince him. But males have this annoying pride thing where if challenged before other males they just have to agree. 

"Tinus!" I cried. "Oh, come out come out, mighty Tinus!" 

"What embecelle roars my name so loudly?"

I stumbled around, dropping my cup and barely catching it as if surprised. "So it's you! The legendary Captain Tinus!" 

Turning around I found our would be guide to Circe, and was taken a back. Apollo said our captain would be a long time descendant, but he could have been Apollo's mirror image. He was a handsome youth with golden hair and hazel eyes. He wore a tunic of cream white and gladitor sandles. On his hip an embroidred pouch and a small dagger with a bejeweled hilt. He could have been a prince! Why would he choose to be a captain?

"What?" He teased at my silence. "Are you all talk? I thought you wanted to have a brawl with the best sea captain there is?" 

I wiped at my lips with the back of my hand and jabbed a finger at him. "I'll fight you on one condition!" 

He gapped at me. "You challanged me! How dare you put a condition on it?" 

"Are you afraid sea captain?" 

His nostrils flared and he glanced at the sailors from all around now watching us. He smiled tightly, holding back his rage. "What is your condition?" 

"If I b-beat you," I hiccuped. "You will take us to the isle of Circe!" 

"You must be a drunken fool. No sane man would dare trespass there!" 

I scratched at my head. "Aye. No sane man would. But I lost my sanity long ago. So I ask you, sea captain. Will you accept my challange?" 

He snorted. "You've said what you get out of this. What do I get for winning?" 

The idiot actually looked at Constance, and my stomach sunk. I had no doubt I could defeat this simple mortal. But I still didn't like betting on her. He tried to get a better look at her from where her hair covered her face and she shyly lowered her head. 

"Such a pretty girl." He mused, reaching out. I stepped before Constance and smirked. Athena was kind enough to put a glamour on my hood in case I had to reveal myself, but It came with a time limit. It only worked during the day. It was for that reason I hadn't used it. But now I pushed back my hood and grinned from ear to ear. I had no idea what I looked like, I just knew it was not monstrous. 

"You do me an honor, Captain," I told him. "Me ma always said I had the face of an angel!" 

We had a growing audience now, and his fellow crew man chuckled as they gathered, Tinus looked at me, stunned. His hazel eyes were intrigued and he was quiet in thought, but he soon scowled. "You're mother must have been blind. I was addressing your lovely companion."