The Spirits of the Universe (PJO)

Chapter 35--We Make a Misunderstanding Worse

"The best option is to surrender," Mormolyce said. "The night isn't getting any younger."

"It doesn't matter how gifted your subordinates are!" I called. "It'll be weeks until we run out of energy!"

"Yeah!" Liam added. "Go ahead and attack us! We're not scared!"

Great! End said joyously. This is exactly how you're supposed to fight!

Mormolyce listened to him. One sharp order later, the Taraxippi charged at us as one. In the face of their determined expressions, it seemed almost ridiculous that there was a time when they looked almost reluctant to attack us. 

"You idiots," Aridne hissed. "Are we going to skip the peacemaking time just like that?"

"He attacked us first," I pointed out. "I don't think he's really looking to end this peacefully."

Aridne sighed. She grabbed us by the wrists and tugged us backward—but the Taraxippi were on us within a moment.

But thanks to Aridne, we were in an advantageous position. The door was right behind us, which meant we only had to worry about our front and sides. We quickly assembled into a triangle formation—Liam to the right, Aridne to the left, and me in the center.

Wait a second. That didn't seem right. "Why am I in the center?" I exclaimed to Aridne. "Shouldn't you take my place? You're the one with two swords!" 

Aridne gave me a tight smirk. "I thought you're supposed to be the strongest fighter in your world. This should be a piece of cake for you."

"But . . ." Before I could protest any further, we had to defend. The same man and woman went for me again—but this time, they were cool and collected. The shovel went for my eyes, while the rake whooshed toward my stomach. I'm not sure what happened to force their new coordination, but I wasn't going to hang around to ask.

I stepped back, batting away their attacks with my blade. My back hit the door—not good. I couldn't avoid the fight anymore. 

But I didn't have to.

In my haste to escape the battle, my feet had kicked up billows of hay, which floated through the air, blowing over my enemies. They widened their eyes in alarm—then they dropped their weapons and fled. Within moments, they had retreated more than twenty steps. 

There was a brief moment of silence. Then Aridne exclaimed, "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" I retorted. "I just took a step backward . . . the hay! They're allergic to it!"

It sounded unbelievable to me, too. But then Aridne and Liam kicked up their own clouds of hay, and not even a second later, we were alone with our thoughts. We were panting heavily. Our faces were slick with sweat—it was clear that our stamina was running low. 

Fortunately, it didn't look like the Taraxippi were going to attack anytime soon. They were scattered behind their boss, taking cover from out of our sight.

"Huh," Liam said. "Who knew that horse spirits would be scared of hay?"

"C'mon," I said. "They might attack soon. We need to be prepared."

Slowly, we gathered all the nearby hay. Liam and I rolled hay bales out of the stalls, while Aridne kicked the clumps of earth further forward. 

"ATTACK, YOU STUPID FERRETS!" Mormolyce roared. Spittle flew out of his mouth like a bunch of tiny, harmless—but disgusting—crossbow bolts. "THEY'RE NOT EVEN LOOKING THIS WAY!"

"B-but they're too powerful," one of the Taraxippi whimpered. He was clutching onto Mormolyce's arm in fright. 

I kind of understood why he looked completely terrified. By now, we'd had enough time to create a wall of hay. It was more makeshift than anything—only reaching to our waists—but to the Taraxippi, it probably looked unscalable. 

Mormolyce seemed to realize this, too. He growled in anger and shook off the Taraxippi, who was launched to the side and phased through the outside wall. He grabbed his mace. "Looks like I have to do everything myself." He charged.

"Looks like you need a second beating before you're ready to talk," I quipped.

"Percy!" Aridne hissed. "Less talking, more fighting—we've been here for long enough."

"Sorry."

But my words made Mormolyce stop in his tracks. "'Ready to talk?' What nonsense!"

I dropped my ready stance, equally confused. "Wait, what?"

"You waltz into my territory, wanting to kill me, and now you dare to try to negotiate with me . . ."

"Wait a minute," I tried.

". . . I wanted to release you after a beating," Mormolyce continued, too upset to listen to me, "But now I realize that won't suffice. I want to kill you—!"

"Hey!" I yelled, jolting the Titan out of his anger. "Hi. Sorry to interrupt you, but could we maybe step back for a second? That part about waltzing into your territory and wanting to kill you—I don't think that's accurate."

"Yeah!" Liam piped up. "We tried to talk. You're the one that attacked us first!"

"Nonsense," Mormolyce snarled. "I know the lies of thieves very well. You were trying to sabotage my competition, were you?"

"What competition?" Aridne asked, and I had to agree with her. None of what I'd seen in this city was ready to host any type of gathering.

Mormolyce looked at her as if she had a third eye. "Why, Mormolyce's Mighty Horse Marathon, of course! You haven't heard of it?"

What a name, End said.

"We're here for a proph—" I started. 

Then Aridne cut me off. "Of course! Who hasn't heard of your horse race? Indeed, we're here to take part in it!"

"Where are your horses, then?" Mormolyce asked suspiciously.

"You see, er, we weren't really able to bring our horses here through the Great Forest—there are a lot of obstacles and all. We were hoping you could provide us with some."

Mormolyce studied us with a furrowed brow. I tried not to tense up. Aridne was playing a dangerous game here. The uneasy feeling in my gut told me that, if we angered the Titan again, it would end differently than my previous battle. 

Then he relaxed and let out a booming laugh. "It seems as though I have mistakenly labeled my friends as foes. My apologies. You came at the perfect time! The competition's about to begin!"

He pushed past us and through the door, whistling happily. His mace was slung over his shoulder.

Liam and I looked at Aridne. "You better be taking us to somewhere safer than this."

"I don't know," Aridne said grimly. "But we don't have a choice."