The Shadow Summoner | Book Three - PJO Universe

fifteen

NOT NICE HORSES

"Climb on," he said. "My boy is waiting."

"Your boy?" Ariana sneered.

He bared his marble-white teeth. "You know who I mean. Big C. Caligula. The New Sun who's gonna eat you for breakfast."

Ariana sank deeper into the sofa cushions. Her heart pounded. She had seen how fast Incitatus could move.

She didn't like their chances against him alone. Ariana would never be able to slash him with a sword before he kicked her face in.

This would have been an excellent time for a surge of godly strength, so Apollo could throw the horse out the window.

Alas, he remained frozen.

Nor could they expect any backup. Piper groaned, twitching her fingers. She looked half-conscious at best.

Crest whimpered and tried to curl into a ball to escape the bullying of the winged shoes.

Ariana rose from the couch, walking next to Apollo.

Apollo clenched his hands into fists, and forced himself to look Incitatus in the eye.

"I'm still the god Apollo," he warned. "I've faced two emperors already. I beat them both. Don't test me, horse."

Incitatus snorted. "Whatever, Lester. You're getting weaker. We've been keeping an eye on you. You've got hardly anything left. Now quit stalling."

"And how will you force me to come with you?" Apollo demanded. "You can't pick me up and throw me on your back. You have no hands! No opposable thumbs! That was your fatal mistake!"

"Yeah, well, I could just kick you in the face. Or." Incitatus nickered -a sound like someone calling their dog.

Wah-Wah and two of his guards slunk into the room. "You called, Lord Stallion?"

The horse grinned at them. "I don't need opposable thumbs when I've got servants. Granted, they're lame servants that I had to chew free from their own zip ties-"

"Lord Stallion," Wah-Wah protested. "It was the ukulele! We couldn't-"

Ariana would never complain about his bad ukulele skills again. Hell, she wouldn't complain if he elected it to the instrument she walked down the aisle to.

If she lived to see her own wedding, that is.

"Load 'em up," Incitatus ordered, "before you put me in a bad mood."

Wah-Wah and his helpers threw Piper across the horse's back. They forced Apollo and Ariana to climb up behind her, then they bound their hands once again -this time in front, at least, so they could better keep their balance.

Finally, they pulled Crest to his feet. They wrangled the physically abusive winged shoes back into their box, zip-tied Crest's hands, and force-marched him in front of their grim little parade.

They made their way up to the deck, Ariana ducking under every lintel, and retraced their path across the floating bridge of super-yachts.

Incitatus trotted along at an easy pace. Whenever they passed mercenaries or crew members, they knelt and lowered their heads.

Crest stumbled. The other pandai hauled him to his feet and prodded him along. Piper kept slipping off the stallion's back, but Ariana did her best to keep her in place.

Once she muttered, "Uhn-fu."

Which might have meant Thank you or Untie me or Why does my mouth taste like a horseshoe?