The Shadow Summoner | Book Three - PJO Universe

nine

APOLLO HAS A BREAKDOWN

Before Britomartis would give them their "reward," she insisted on a briefing from Josephine and Emmie, who had spent all day, with Leo's help, preparing the Waystation for a siege.

"This guy's good." Josephine punched Leo's arm affectionately. "The things he knows about Archimedes spheres...really impressive."

"Spheres?" Meg asked.

"Yeah," Leo said. "They're these round things."

"Shut up." Meg went back to inhaling carbohydrates.

"We reset all the crossbow turrets," Jo continued. "Primed the catapults. Closed all exits and put Waystation on twenty-four-hour-surveillance mode. If anyone tries to get in, we'll know."

"They will try." Britomartis promised. "It's only a matter of time."

Apollo raised his hand. "And, uh, Festus?" Ariana hoped the wistfulness in his voice was not too obvious.

Emmie shook her head. "I scouted the statehouse grounds late last night, and again this morning. Nothing. The blemmyae must have taken your bronze suitcase to the palace."

Leo clicked his tongue. "I bet Lityerses has it. When I get my hands on that crust-sucking Cornhusker—"

"Which brings us to the point," Ariana interrupted abruptly. "How do we find the palace?"

Britomartis slid her feet off the table.

She sat forward. "The main gates to the emperor's palace are under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument."

Josephine grunted. "Should've known."

"Why?" Apollo asked. "What is that?"

Josephine rolled her eyes. "A huge decorated column thing in the middle of a plaza, a few blocks north of here. Just the kind of ostentatious, over-the-top edifice you'd expect the emperor to have for his entrance."

"It's the biggest monument in the city," Emmie added.

"I suppose the palace is heavily guarded?" Apollo said.

Britomartis laughed. "Even by my standards, the monument is a death trap. Machine gun turrets. Lasers. Monsters. Attempting the front door without an invitation would have dire consequences."

Meg swallowed a chunk of bread, somehow managing not to choke. "The emperor would let us in."

"Well, true," Britomartis agreed. "He'd love for you and Apollo to knock on his front door and give yourselves up. But I only mention the main entrance because you should avoid it at all costs.
If you want to get inside the palace without being apprehended and tortured to death, there's another possibility."

Leo bit a cheese slice into the shape of a smile. He held it up to his mouth.

"Leo is happy when he's not being tortured to death."

Meg snorted. A gob of bread shot out of her right nostril, but she didn't have the decency to look embarrassed.

Ariana could tell Leo and Meg were not going to be healthy influences on each other.

"Then, to get inside," said the goddess, "you must use the waterworks."

"The plumbing system." Apollo guessed.

Ariana gasped dramatically. "What gave you that idea?"

"In my vision of the emperor's throne room, I saw open trenches of flowing water. You know how to access them?" Britomartis winked at Apollo. "You're not still afraid of water, I hope?"