𝒊𝒊𝒊. 𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒

𝒙𝒗𝒊𝒊.

Flying was bad enough for a son of Poseidon, but flying straight up to Zeus's palace, with thunder and lightning swirling around it, was even worse. 

They circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. Percy had only been there once before, traveling by elevator up to the secret six hundredth floor of the Empire State Building. This time, if it was possible, Olympus amazed him even more. 

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from blood red to indigo. Apparently no one ever slept on Olympus. The twisting streets were full of demigods and nature spirits and minor godlings bustling about, riding chariots or sedan chairs carried by Cyclopes. Winter didn't seem to exist here. They caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things they couldn't name. Music drifted up from many windows, the soft sounds of lyres and reed pipes. 

Towering at the peak of the mountain was the greatest palace of all, the glowing white hall of the gods. 

The pegasi set them down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. Noelle squeezed Annabeth's shoulder before moving to stand next to Percy. Before they could even think to knock, the gates opened by themselves. 

Good luck, boss, Blackjack said. 

"Yeah." Percy didn't know why, but he had a sense of doom. He'd never seen all the gods together. He knew any one of them could blast him to dust, and a few of them would like to. 

Hey, if ya don't come back, can I have your cabin for my stable? 

Percy looked at the pegasus. 

Just a thought, he said. Sorry. 

Blackjack and his friends flew off, leaving Thalia, Annabeth, Noelle, and Percy alone. For a minute they stood there regarding the palace, the way they'd stood together in front of Westover Hall, what seemed like a million years ago. 

Noelle grabbed Percy's hand, and then, side by side, they walked into the throne room.

Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. The ceiling above glittered with constellations—even the newest one, Zoë the Huntress, making her way across the heavens with her bow drawn. 

All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about fifteen feet tall, and suddenly, with a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings looking at them at once, facing monsters seemed like a picnic. 

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said, her gaze lingering a bit longer on Noelle as she greeted the demigods.

"Mooo!" 

That's when they noticed Bessie and Grover. 

A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire. Bessie was swimming happily around, swishing his serpent tail and poking his head out the sides and bottom of the sphere. He seemed to be enjoying the novelty of swimming in a magic bubble. Grover was kneeling at Zeus's throne, as if he'd just been giving a report, but when he saw his friends, he cried, "You made it!" 

He started to run toward them, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, and looked for permission. 

"Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn't really paying attention to Grover. The lord of the sky was staring intently at Thalia. 

Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor. Bessie splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.