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FOR THE first time in her life, Laurie slept like a damn log. She could hardly remember Annabeth leading her to a couch inside the house before she slumped over in exhaustion, still feeling like a half-dead entity as she slipped into a coma-like sleep.
She'd been the first to fall asleep and the last to wake up, and only then did she because Grover shook her into consciousness.
After everyone was up and oriented, they walked down to the cowherd and said their goodbyes.
Percy invited Nico to join them for the remainder of their quest, though he looked like just climbing from the steps to the house was a great feat in itself.
As expected, the pale and red-eyed boy declined with a far-off gaze, explaining how he needed to time to think. It was a horrible look for someone so young, and an even more horrible situation.
He was still stuck on the fact that Bianca had come out of the Underworld for Percy and not him, which was evident as he threw a scowl their direction and trudged back inside.
"I'm worried about him," Annabeth said. "If he starts talking to Minos's ghost again—"
"He'll be alright," Eurytion promised. "The boy can stay here and gather his thoughts as long as he wants. He'll be safe, I promise."
"What about you?" Asked Percy.
"Things are gonna be run a little differently around this ranch," He said, scratching Orthus underneath both chins. "No more sacred cattle meat. I'm thinking about soybean patties. And I'm gonna befriend those flesh-eating horses. Might just sign up for the next rodeo."
The mere idea made Percy's skin crawl, but he nodded nonetheless. "Well, good luck."
"Yep," Eurytion shrugged. "I reckon you'll be looking for Daedalus's workshop now?"
At the mention of the name, Annabeth's eyes lit up. "Can you help us?"
The cowherd studied the fields and avoided eye contact, giving the idea that he hadn't the kindest of records with the topic. "Don't know where it is, but Hephaestus probably would."
"That's what Hera said," Annabeth agreed. "But how do we find Hephaestus?"
Eurytion plucked a silver chain from underneath his collar, revealing a smooth, silver disk hanging onto it. The disk had a thumbprint-like depression in the centre. He handed it to Annabeth.
