Percy, Annabeth, and Grover explain their investigation to Iris at the farmers’ market. Iris listens carefully, reacts with sympathy to Ganymede’s missing chalice, and denies any desire to hurt or embarrass Ganymede, whom Iris views as another victim of Zeus’s selfishness.

Annabeth flatters Iris and asks for guidance about who might resent Ganymede enough to steal the chalice. Iris says she has a possible lead but must investigate discreetly, and she insists that the information must be earned. Iris also reveals the urgent deadline: in fifteen days, Zeus will hold the Epulum Minerva, a feast for Athena, and if the chalice is still missing then, Ganymede’s failure will become public and likely fatal.

As payment for Iris’s help, Iris produces her old kerykeion, a herald’s staff made of Dodonan oak with a Celestial bronze serpent-shaped headpiece. Iris explains that she once used the staff to create rainbows while serving as the gods’ herald, but the staff is now filthy after years of neglect and bitterness over losing that role to Hermes.

Iris orders the trio to clean the staff in the River Elisson, whose magical waters can cleanse almost anything. Grover knows the river’s reputation and warns that monsters, including Furies and horned serpents, bathe there. Iris confirms that the serpents will try to kill them but forbids the trio from harming any creatures, because Iris wants the quest completed cruelty-free.

After Iris dismisses them, Percy carries the grimy staff away while Annabeth complains about the cruelty-free restriction. Grover adds another problem: the original River Elisson in Greece no longer exists, and its mythical version is hidden. Annabeth decides they need directions from a powerful water spirit, leading Percy to reluctantly agree to ask his Nereid guidance counselor on Monday.