The Roman Avenger (Percy Jackson)

Chapter Six

Chapter 6

Reyna and I walked side by side through the side streets of San Francisco with our quest mates behind us. After we had walked about a mile away from camp Piper complained, "Why couldn't we have taken a car or something?"

Bobby muttered, "Lazy daughter of Venus we have about 100 miles to go, and if I have to hear you complain the whole way I will stab someone."

Jason and I both shot him dirty looks and he looked at us almost challenging us. I grinned and said, "You know Pipes, I don't know about cars, but I think I can make our journey go by a little faster."

Everyone stopped and looked at me expectantly. I got on my knees and felt the ground around me. First I did a loud whistle and then I stretched my senses for the animals in the underworld. I got a hold of two old tame race horses and summoned them from the ground. Mortis was the first to appear and he neighed loudly at the site of Reyna and I. Reyna rushed to him and began stroking his mane while the other two horses began to form in front of us. After about thirty seconds two new skeletons horses appeared. I smiled, "A perk of being the son of Pluto. I can call to service dead humans and animals. The blessing of Thanatos helps more with that part, but that's not the point. Jason and Piper take one, Reyna and I will take Mortis, which is my personal horse, and Bobby you can take the other horse."

Everyone of course except Bobby like the idea. He of course objected, "Why does Grace get to ride with the daughter of Venus?"

Jason shot him a dirty look and for a split second I thought Piper was going to ride with him to prevent a argument. Luckily a logical conclusion came to my mind, "Your a big guy Bobby. To much muscle and weight would weigh down the horse, Jason and Piper are a bit more subtly built. The horses can travel at normal speeds with the groups like this!"

Everyone but Bobby shot me a grateful look for my fast thinking. Bobby muttered something about finally finding a disadvantage to being so big and strong. I did my best not to chuckle at this and I mounted Mortis summoning a nice rabbit carcass for him to chow down on. I did this for all the horses while everyone mounted and became comfortable on their new steeds. Reyna mounted behind me and wrapped her arms gently around my stomach. I tried not to blush at this. Reyna and Mortis had met on several occasions, but generally I summoned her own horse to ride since she loved them so much.

We road only for about three hours when we made it to the base of Mount Tam. I groaned, "If we go in there today, were all going to be slaughtered due to the exhaustion. If we wait though we run the risk of being discovered and ambushed this is a lose lose situation."

We all dismounted our horses knowing we could get no further by that means. I sent the two horses back to peace and then gave Mortis a nice slap on the rear causing him to dart off to find some food. I looked at Bobby, "Praetor do you have any suggestions? I am open to anything at this point."

Bobby looked thoughtfully, "We could scale the mountain and enter the garden of Hespreides tonight. We would have to defeat Ladon, but we could at least rest up their for the night."

Jason shook his head, "My patron may be Juno, but dude she hates Heracles, if we go up there that dragon is going to try extra hard to kill you."

"Perhaps I can be of some assistance then."

We all whirled around to see a large man standing there. He was a giant and he radiated with a power similar to Jason's. Bobby bowed, "Father it is nice to see you again!"

Heracles looked at him with a light smile, "Bobby, I heard your prayers and came to help. Where that witch Juno is involved I usually go out of my way to spite her."