A/N: Sorry about the long time between updates. Fanfiction wouldn't let me edit this story. But it's working now and here's the next chapter...
Robin was just checking up on Baios the helmsman when he ran into Odysseus. Quite literally into him, and Robin was seized with such an intense cold that he went rigid and almost fainted. Odysseus stepped back, looked like he wanted to catch the boy's shoulders as though to steady him, and then thought better of it.
"We're making good time," the ghost said instead. "Your witch friend's summoning of the winds - "
"He's not a witch," Robin said, shivering convulsively and rubbing his arms.
"Fine," Odysseus said. "The point is, we're going much faster than before. Are we still heading the right way?"
"Of course," Robin said. And they were. He could feel it.
"You know, this entire thing reminds me of a quest I went on with Diomedes," Odysseus recalled. He smiled but it was humorless. "To steal the famed Palladium from Troy. Of course - "
"What did you say?" Robin demanded.
"The Palladium," Odysseus repeated. "Diomedes and I stole it."
Robin's mouth dropped open and he stood there for a moment, still as a deer who's heard a twig crack in the forest. Then he turned and bounded away.
"Nasim! Andy! We had it wrong!" he called.
"What? Had what wrong?" Andy demanded.
"It is not a statue of Artemis, it cannot be!" Robin said.
"Why not?" Nasim frowned. "I thought this had happened before..."
"Exactly!" Robin said. "And the goddess of the hunt would never let it happen again. No, we're looking for the Palladium."
"... Sounds like the name of a movie theater," Andy said.
"No, it's a chemical element," Nasim said. "Atomic number 46."
"No!" Robin insisted, shaking his head. "It's not. It is a statue of Pallas."
"Athena?" Nasim asked. "We're looking for a statue of Athena?"
"No, the Palladium was erected in honor of Pallas, the beloved friend of Athena," Robin explained. "Set within the walls of Troy, the city could not be taken unless the Palladium was brought outside of the city. Odysseus and Diomedes stole it with bloodied hands - "
"That's not true!" Odysseus had followed Robin and he looked furious. "I would never defame the goddess's statue!"
"But that still doesn't say why it's the Palladium we're looking for," Andy said over Odysseus's voice, which she couldn't hear.
"The Palladium was never returned to Athena," Robin explained. "It was taken by Diomedes to Greece, and then given to Aeneas the Roman - "
"I though Aeneas was a Trojan," Nasim said.
"Yes, originally," Robin consented. "The important thing is that it somehow managed to find its way to Rome. And from Rome to Constantinople... do you not see? It has been passed from city to city, protecting each one, never returning home. Furthermore, we know Artemis would never have kidnapped a maiden as ransom for her statue. No, this entire plot it too strategic, it reeks of Athena."
"Are you insulting my patron?" Odysseus growled, unsheathing his sword. Robin cast one glance at it then ignored the ghost king.
"Yes, that makes sense," Nasim said and Andy was nodding thoughtfully. Robin could have sworn her eyes darted to the place Odysseus was standing, but then she looked away quickly.
"Robin, what's wrong with your hand?" she demanded suddenly. Robin stared at her for a moment, utterly bemused.
"I cut it on one of my arrows. Accidentally," he said.
"Robin, you're a terrible liar," Andy told him.
"Thank you," he said. She continued to look at him expectantly.
"I'm not happy about striking open waters," he said instead. "Nasim is right. We should land soon. The trireme isn't supposed to be out in the water more than a few days at a time and it's been nearly a week."
"Don't even think you can change the subject so easily," Andy warned, snatching his hand and ripping the bandages off.
The cut had healed, but there would probably always be an arrow-shaped scar there - in which case, Robin would never retrieve the eagle-arrow. Now, with the sun low in the sky, the ridged scar cast a feather shaped shadow across the back of his hand.
Nasim whistled and Andy looked furious. "Robin! What happened?"
"It doesn't matter," he lied again. "Will fixed it."
"You'll have that the rest of your life," Nasim said sympathetically.
"Yes, I am aware," sighed Robin, miserable. Andy frowned at him; her eyes flickered once more towards where Odysseus stood (who, by the way, did not look at all remorseful) and then let go of Robin's hand. He stooped to collect the bandages and looked at them blankly.
"What's wrong?" Odysseus asked.
"What's wrong?" Nasim asked, not aware he was repeating the ghost.
"I said it first," Odysseus fumed.
"It is nothing," Robin said, shaking his head. "Only... with Artemis, you knew that Oenone was safe. But Athena... you never know what she'll plan."
Nasim placed a hand on Robin's shoulder and Andy nodded. But Odysseus looked somber and silent: he knew better than anyone who the grey-eyed goddess could be. He was the mortal who had most resembled the fierce goddess.
Robin wandered over to the stern. He stood there, his eyes closed and enjoying the wind on his face. Without opening his eyes, he knew that Odysseys had joined him.
"What would you have done?" Robin asked.
"I don't - "
"You know the flashing-eyed one better than anyone," Robin interrupted. "So if you wanted your statue retrieved and decided the best way to do it was to - " He'd been about to say kidnapped, then decided against it. " - capture a girl and rely on her one friend who is still alive to come and find her... what would you do?"
"I'd keep her safe," Odysseus said softly. "I'd treat her with respect and place her among guards I trusted. The grey-eyed one sees you as an ally, son of Calliope. She would not do anything to compromise your trust."
"She already has," Robin whispered, a tear tracing its way down his cheek.
The ghost was quiet for a moment. "You should put ashore at the Fort of Lauderdale," he instructed. "There you will find a god who can help you, if you earn his trust."
"I thought all the gods were on Olympus, or in the Underworld," Robin said, eyes flashing open.
"This one... doesn't prefer living on Olympus," Odysseus said. "He's not too fond of Olympians."
"Oh, good," Robin said, his mouth twisting.
"Careful, son of Calliope," Odysseus chuckled. "Or you'll turn into me." He gave another ghostly chuckle and vanished. Robin shuddered; he wasn't sure if Odysseus meant that Robin would become sarcastic, twisted, or any of Odysseus's other less favorable qualities, or if he would end up dead. Possibly both, though Robin would have preferred the latter.