The Heroes of Olympus, #1
The Lost Hero
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XX JASON
Overview
In Boreas’s court, Piper’s Aphrodite-born French and Jason’s claim of Hera’s quest spare the heroes from execution. Boreas, shifting to his Roman form upon seeing Jason’s marks, hints at Hera’s perilous plan and directs them to Chicago to seize the storm spirits and then seek Aeolus.
Khione becomes a declared enemy, and the team departs amid warnings of a greater, unnamed threat.
Summary
Jason and Piper are escorted into Boreas’s icy throne room, surrounded by frozen warrior statues. Piper unexpectedly speaks fluent French through her Aphrodite heritage, impressing Boreas, but Khione announces Aeolus has ordered all demigods killed. Boreas agrees to hear them out before passing judgment.
Boreas explains Aeolus’s bitterness after Typhon’s defeat released rogue storm spirits again, blaming demigods. Khione taunts Jason, prompting an involuntary spark that throws her back. Jason asserts they serve Hera and demands release, gaining Boreas’s interest. Piper recounts their quest and asks for guidance to find the storm spirits and Hera.
Boreas admits knowing where the venti and their captive are but warns opposing their mistress is madness. At sight of Jason’s tattoo, he transforms into Aquilon, his Roman aspect, recognizing Jason as tied to Rome and hinting Hera’s dangerous plan will set demigods against each other. He refuses full explanation but decides to let them go.
Boreas directs them to Chicago to capture the storm spirits; only Aeolus can reveal Hera’s prison. He pointedly distinguishes the winds’ mistress from Hera’s jailer and suggests the truth would make them beg for freezing. Khione protests but is overruled; Zethes is ordered to escort them out safely.
Rejoining Leo and Festus, the group receives parting warnings: treacherous winds and a worse, unnamed threat. Khione vows to make Jason a statue; Jason retorts, further angering her. With no clearer answers but a destination, the trio departs for Chicago to confront the winds’ mistress.
Who Appears
- Jason GraceProves his link to Hera’s quest, shocks Khione with lightning, reveals Roman marks, prompts Boreas to shift to Aquilon.
- Boreas (Aquilon)North Wind who must kill demigods by Aeolus’s order; hears them out, reveals Chicago lead, shifts to Roman form.
- Piper McLeanSpeaks French via Aphrodite heritage, persuasively recounts their quest, argues for guidance, resists Khione’s hostility.
- KhioneGoddess of snow; antagonistic, demands their deaths, is shocked by Jason’s spark, vows revenge after being overruled.
- ZethesBoreas’s son; alternates between menace and courtesy, escorts them out, warns of worse threats ahead.
- Cal (Calais)Boreas’s son; terse ally, befriends Leo, echoes warnings, mentions hockey and pizza.
- Leo ValdezRejoins the group with Festus; briefly smitten with Khione; prepares to depart for Chicago.
- FestusBronze dragon; defrosts himself with fire, ready to fly the team toward Chicago.