The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus Book 4)

his eyes red-rimmed from sleeplessness or anger, a string of sacrificial stuffed animals around his waist. His augur’s white robe was draped over a purple T-shirt and cargo pants.
    In the centre of the line stood Reyna, her metal dogs Aurum and Argentum at her side. Upon seeing her, Jason felt an incredible pang of guilt. He’d let her believe they had a future together. He had never been in love with her, and he hadn’t led her on, exactly … but he also hadn’t shut her down.
    He’d disappeared, leaving her to run the camp on her own. (Okay, that hadn’t exactly been Jason’s idea, but still …) Then he had returned to Camp Jupiter with his new girlfriend Piper and a whole bunch of Greek friends in a warship. They’d fired on the Forum and run away, leaving Reyna with a war on her hands.
    In his dream she looked tired. Others might not notice, buthe’d worked with her long enough to recognize the weariness in her eyes, the tightness in her shoulders under the straps of her armour. Her dark hair was wet, like she’d taken a hasty shower.
    The Romans stared at the roof-access door as if they were waiting for someone.
    When the door opened, two people emerged. One was a faun – no, Jason thought – a
satyr
. He’d learned the difference at Camp Half-Blood, and Coach Hedge was always correcting him if he made that mistake. Roman fauns tended to hang around and beg and eat. Satyrs were more helpful, more engaged with demigod affairs. Jason didn’t think he’d seen this particular satyr before, but he was sure the guy was from the Greek side. No faun would look so purposeful walking up to an armed group of Romans in the middle of the night.
    He wore a green Nature Conservancy T-shirt with pictures of endangered whales and tigers and stuff. Nothing covered his shaggy legs and hooves. He had a bushy goatee, curly brown hair tucked into a Rasta-style cap and a set of reed pipes around his neck. His hands fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, but considering the way he studied the Romans, noting their positions and their weapons, Jason figured this satyr had been in combat before.
    At his side was a red-headed girl Jason recognized from Camp Half-Blood – their oracle, Rachel Elizabeth Dare. She had long frizzy hair, a plain white blouse and jeans covered with hand-drawn ink designs. She held a blue plastichairbrush that she tapped nervously against her thigh like a good luck talisman.
    Jason remembered her at the campfire, reciting lines of prophecy that sent Jason, Piper and Leo on their first quest together. She was a regular mortal teenager – not a demigod – but, for reasons Jason never understood, the spirit of Delphi had chosen her as its host.
    The real question: What was she doing with the Romans?
    She stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Reyna. ‘You got my message.’
    Octavian snorted. ‘That’s the only reason you made it this far alive,
Graecus
. I hope you’ve come to discuss surrender terms.’
    ‘Octavian …’ Reyna warned.
    ‘At least search them!’ Octavian protested.
    ‘No need,’ Reyna said, studying Rachel Dare. ‘Do you bring weapons?’
    Rachel shrugged. ‘I hit Kronos in the eye with this hairbrush once. Otherwise, no.’
    The Romans didn’t seem to know what to make of that. The mortal didn’t sound like she was kidding.
    ‘And your friend?’ Reyna nodded to the satyr. ‘I thought you were coming alone.’
    ‘This is Grover Underwood,’ Rachel said. ‘He’s a leader of the Council.’
    ‘What
council
?’ Octavian demanded.
    ‘Cloven Elders, man.’ Grover’s voice was high and reedy, as if he were terrified, but Jason suspected the satyr had moresteel than he let on. ‘Seriously, don’t you Romans have nature and trees and stuff? I’ve got some news you need to hear. Plus, I’m a card-carrying protector. I’m here to, you know, protect Rachel.’
    Reyna looked like she was trying not to smile. ‘But no weapons?’
    ‘Just the pipes.’ Grover’s expression became wistful. ‘Percy always said my cover of “Born to be Wild” should count as a dangerous weapon, but I don’t think it’s
that
bad.’
    Octavian sneered. ‘Another friend of Percy Jackson. That’s all
I
need to hear.’
    Reyna held up her hand for silence. Her gold and silver dogs sniffed the air, but they remained calm and attentive at her side.
    ‘So far, our guests speak the truth,’ Reyna said. ‘Be warned, Rachel and Grover, if you start to lie, this conversation will