𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫. ── 𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞

𝐱𝐢𝐢. 𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬

IF THE ENTRY HALL HAD BEEN COLD, the throne room was like a meat locker.

Mist hung in the air. Jason shivered, and his breath steamed. Along the walls, purple tapestries showed scenes of snowy forests, barren mountains, and glaciers. High above, ribbons of colored light—the aurora borealis—pulsed along the ceiling. A layer of snow covered the floor, so Jason had to step carefully. All around the room stood life-size ice sculpture warriors—some in Greek armor, some medieval, some in modern camouflage—all frozen in various attack positions, swords raised, guns locked and loaded.

At least Jason thought they were sculptures. Then he tried to step between two Greek spearmen, and they moved with surprising speed, their joints cracking and spraying ice crystals as they crossed their javelins to block Jason's path.

From the far end of the hall, a man's voice rang out in a language that sounded like French. The room was so long and misty, Jason couldn't see the other end; but whatever the man said, the ice guards uncrossed their javelins.

"It's fine," Khione said. "My father has ordered them not to kill you just yet."

"Super," Jason said.

Zethes prodded him in the back with his sword. "Keep moving, Jason Junior."

"Please don't call me that."

"My father is not a patient man," Zethes warned, "and the beautiful Piper, sadly, is losing her magic hairdo very fast. Later, perhaps, I can lend her something from my wide assortment of hair products."

"No thanks." Piper grumbled.

They kept walking, and the mist parted to reveal a man on an ice throne. He was sturdily built, dressed in a stylish white suit that seemed woven from snow, with dark purple wings that spread out to either side. His long hair and shaggy beard were encrusted with icicles, so Jason couldn't tell if his hair was gray or just white with frost. His arched eyebrows made him look angry, but his eyes twinkled more warmly than his daughter's—as if he might have a sense of humor buried somewhere under that permafrost. Jason hoped so.

"Bienvenu," the king said. ―Je suis Boreas le Roi. Et vous?"

Khione the snow goddess was about to speak, but Piper and Aella stepped forward and curtsied.

"Votre Majesté," she said, "Je suis Aella O'Connor, fille de Hermes. Elle est Piper, fille de Aphrodite. Et c'est Jason, fils de Zeus." 

(fun fact, I actually speak french!)

The king smiled with pleasant surprise. "Vous parlez français? Très bien!"

Piper whispered something in Aella's ear. Aella squealed and said, "C'est tres bien, Piper! Je veux une conversation sans les garçons!" 

(this is really good, Piper! I wanted a conversation without the boys!"

"Piper and Aella, you guys speak French?" Jason asked. Piper frowned. "No. Why?" 

At the same time, Aella nodded. "Yeah, children of Hermes can speak all languages. Anyway, Piper, that was some really good French. You just spoke it!"

Piper blinked. "I did?" The king said something else, and Piper nodded."Oui, votre Majesté."

The king laughed and clapped his hands, obviously delighted. He said a few more sentences then swept his hand toward his daughter as if shooing her away.

Khione looked miffed. "The king says—"

"He says I'm a daughter of Aphrodite," Piper interrupted, "so naturally I can speak French, which is the language of love. I had no idea. Now, since Aella and I are the dream team, His Majesty says Khione won't have to translate now."