XXVII

Hazel and Jason climb a rail-less cliff stair while Gale the weasel urges them on. Hazel wrestles with fear, doubts about mastering the Mist, and uncertainty about Jason’s motives. Jason offers steady confidence in her potential, but Hazel worries about the prophecy and Jason’s role as a stormbringer.

At the top, a masked bandit materializes: Sciron, boasting of his marksmanship and giant turtle. He instantly proves his leverage, grazing Jason with a bullet and putting a shot through the Argo II’s deck, showing he can kill them and their friends at will.

Sciron demands all valuables, including the Athena Parthenos. To protect the ship, Hazel conjures a mound of ancient coins and gems from the ground. She tries to reason that Gaea is using Sciron and will destroy the world, convincing him to let them keep the statue, but he insists on a “show of respect.”

Sciron removes his boots and orders them to wash his reeking feet. The smell and setup trigger Hazel’s memory of the Theseus tale: Sciron kicks victims off the cliff to be eaten by his turtle. She pulls Jason aside, explaining that fighting or flying will likely get them both shot.

Remembering Pluto’s guidance about belief and perception, Hazel forms a desperate plan. She tells Jason they must let Sciron think he has won and outlines her strategy as Gale watches, preparing to turn Sciron’s own ritual against him.