Daughter of Pluto | Wattys2017

XIII

IF THE ENTRY HALL HAD BEEN COLD, the throne room was like a meat locker.

Mist hung in the air. Aimee felt fine, but her breath steamed. Along the walls, purple tapestries showed scenes of snowy forests, barren mountains, and glaciers. High above, ribbons of colored light—the aurora borealis—pulsed along the ceiling. A layer of snow covered the floor, so Aimee had to step carefully. All around the room stood life-size ice sculpture warriors—some in Greek armor, some medieval, some in modern camouflage—all frozen in various attack positions, swords raised, guns locked and loaded.

At least Aimee thought they were sculptures. Then she tried to step between two Greek spearmen, and they moved with surprising speed, their joints cracking and spraying ice crystals as they crossed their javelins to block Aimee's path.

From the far end of the hall, a man's voice rang out in a language that sounded like French. The room was so long and misty, Aimee couldn't see the other end; but whatever the man said, the ice guards uncrossed their javelins.

"It's fine," Khione said. "My father has ordered them not to kill you just yet."

"Super," Jason said getting a little closer to Aimee who was starting to adjust her brain to French.

Zethes prodded him in the back with his sword. "Keep moving, Jason Junior."

"Please don't call me that."

"My father is not a patient man," Zethes warned, "and the beautiful Piper, sadly, is losing her magic hairdo very fast. Later, perhaps, I can lend her something from my wide assortment of hair products."

"Thanks," Piper grumbled.Aimee smiled slightly as Zethes had forgotten of her presence all together.

They kept walking, and the mist parted to reveal a man on an ice throne. He was sturdily built, dressed in a stylish white suit that seemed woven from snow, with dark purple wings that spread out to either side. His long hair and shaggy beard were encrusted with icicles, so Jason couldn't tell if his hair was gray or just white with frost. His arched eyebrows made him look angry, but his eyes twinkled more warmly than his daughter's—as if he might have a sense of humor buried somewhere under that permafrost. Aimee really hoped so.

"Bienvenu," the king said. "Je suis Boreas le Roi. Et vous?"

"Welcome,I am the King Boreas.And you?" Aimee translated for Jason through the mind link. Jason nodded slightly but didn't make any move of answering King Boreas.

Khione the snow goddess was about to speak, but Piper stepped forward and curtsied.

"Votre Majesté," she said, " je suis Piper McLean. Et c'est Jason, fils de Zeus."

"Your Majesty,I'm Piper McLean. And this is Jason, son of Zeus." Aimee translated again for Jason.

The king smiled with pleasant surprise. "Vous parlez français? Très bien!"

The King looked at Aimee who realized that she hadn't been introduced. She curtsied a bit.

"Bonjour, votre Majesty.Je suis Aimee Di Angelo, fille des enfers,"Aimee said. King Boreas nodded,she had called herself the girl from hell so she knew that he would put her as a daughter of Hades.

"Piper, you speak French?" Jason asked. Piper frowned. "No. Why?" "You just spoke French." Piper blinked at Aimee,probably wondering why she could speak French too. "I did?" The king said something else, and Piper nodded. "Oui,Votre Majesté."

The king laughed and clapped his hands, obviously delighted. He said a few more sentences then swept his hand toward his daughter as if shooing her away.

Khione looked miffed. "The king says—"

"He says I'm a daughter of Aphrodite," Piper interrupted, "so naturally I can speak French, which is the language of love. I had no idea. His Majesty says Khione won't have to translate now."

Behind them, Zethes snorted, and Khione shot him a murderous look. She bowed stiffly to her father and took a step back.

The king sized up Jason, and Jason decided it would be a good idea to bow. "Your Majesty, I'm Jason Grace. Thank you for, um, not killing us. May I ask ... why does a Greek god speak French?"

Piper had another exchange with the king.

"He speaks the language of his host country," Piper translated. "He says all gods do this. Most Greek gods speak English, as they now reside in the United States, but Boreas was never welcomed in their realm. His domain was always far to the north. These days he likes Quebec, so he speaks French."

The king said something else, and Piper turned pale.Aimee got a bit defensive,her hand finding its way to Jason's arm.

"The king says ..." She faltered. "He says—"

"Oh, allow me," Khione said. "My father says he has orders to kill you. Did I not mention that earlier?"

Jason tensed. The king was still smiling amiably, like he'd just delivered great news.

"Kill us?" Jason said. "Why?"

"Because," the king said, in heavily accented English, "my lord Aeolus has commanded it."

Boreas rose. He stepped down from his throne and furled his wings against his back. As he approached, Khione and Zethes bowed. Jason and Piper followed their example.Boreas smiled at Aimee who had continued to stand,bowing her head slightly in respect.