My father coughed into his fist. “I know you think your punishment was harsh, Apollo.” I did not answer. I tried my best to keep my expression polite and neutral. “But you must understand,” Zeus continued, “only you could have overthrown Python. Only you could have freed the Oracles. And you did it, as I expected. The suffering, the pain along the way…regrettable, but necessary. You have done me proud.” Interesting how he put that: I had done him proud. I had been useful in making him look good. My heart did not melt. I did not feel that this was a warm-and-fuzzy reconciliation with my father.
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