You'll Learn to Love Me (Leo Valdez x OC)

Chapter 57: Night of Peace

The crew scattered for cover, Laylana basically dragging Leo to the ground with her as they ducked behind the helm. Except for Piper, who stood frozen in place, gaping at the arrow that had almost pierced her nose the hard way.

"Piper, duck!" Jason whispered harshly.

But no other missiles rained down. Frank studied the angle of the bolt in the mast and pointed towards the top of the cliffs.

"Up there," he said. "Single shooter. See him?"

The sun was in her eyes, but Laylana could see the tiny figure at the top of the ledge, glistening with bronze armour. 

"Who the fuck is he?" Leo demanded. "Why is he firing at us?"

"Guys?" Piper's voice was thin and watery. "There's a note."

A parchment scroll was tied to the arrow shaft that was imbedded into the mainmast. Laylana watched in curiosity as Hazel got up and stormed over to the arrow, ripping the note off.

"Uh, Hazel?" Leo said. "You sure that's safe?"

Hazel read the note out loud. "First line: Stand and deliver."

"What does that mean?" Coach Hedge complained. "We are standing. Well, crouching, anyway. And if that guy is expecting a pizza delivery, forget it!"

"There's more," Hazel said. "This is a robbery. Send two of your party to the top of the cliff with all your valuables. No more than two. Leave the magic horse. No flying. No tricks. Just climb."

"Climb what?" Piper asked.

Nico and Laylana pointed in sync to the narrow steps carved into the cliff, leading to the top. "There."

Hazel cleared her throat and kept reading aloud: "I do mean all your valuables. Otherwise my turtle and I will destroy you. You have five minutes."

"Use the catapults!" cried Gleeson

"P.S." Hazel read, "don't even think about using your catapults."

"Shit!" he said. "This guy is good."

"Is the note signed?" Nico asked.

Hazel shook her head. Laylana herself hadn't heard any stories about a guy who robbed people with a giant turtle. But she was not ready to give up any of her valuables. Leo studied the cliff top and muttered under his breath. "That's not a good trajectory. Even if I could arm the catapult before that guy pincushioned us with arrows, I don't think I could make the shot. That's hundreds of feet, almost straight up."

"Yeah," Frank grumbled. "My bow is useless too. He's got a huge advantage, being above us like that. I couldn't reach him."

"I might be able to blind him with my shadows from here... but with how much sun is out right now..." Laylana squinted up at the guy. "He would realize what I was doing before I'm able to." 

"And, um..." Piper nudged the arrow that was stuck in the mast. "I have a feeling he's a good shot. I don't think he meant to hit me. But if he did..."

She didn't need to elaborate. Whoever that robber was, he could hit a target from hundreds of feet away. He could shoot them all before they could react. Laylana was not about to take that risk.

"I'll go," Hazel said.

Laylana's head snapped to Hazel, as did the others'. Gale scampered along the railing and jumped on her shoulder, ready to hitch a ride.

Frank gripped his bow. "Hazel –"

"No, listen," she said, "this robber wants valuables. I can go up there, summon gold, jewels, whatever he wants."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "If we pay him off, you think he'll actually let us go?"

"We don't have much choice," Laylana pointed out. "Between that guy and the turtle... Either way we're kind of SOL guys." 

Leave it to Laylana to be optimistic. Jason raised his hand. "I'll go too," he said. "The letter says two people. I'll take Hazel up there and watch her back. Besides, I don't like the look of those steps. If Hazel falls... well, I can use the winds to keep us both from coming down the hard way."

Arion whinnied.

"I have to, Arion," Hazel said. "Jason... yes. I think you're right. It's the best plan."