Contents
XII
Overview
Leo outwits and captures the Kerkopes atop Bologna’s towers using improvised chemistry, reclaiming stolen gear. He and Jason recover a broken astrolabe of Odysseus and a mysterious book stolen from a minor god in Venice, with an address provided.
Choosing strategy over vengeance, Leo spares the dwarfs and dispatches them to New York to impede the Romans, buying time for the quest.
Summary
Leo chases the Kerkopes across Bologna to two leaning towers. Lacking his gear, he buys household supplies, improvises explosives and smoke, and bribes a caretaker with snacks to climb the tower. At the top, he confronts Akmon and Passalos, blinds and confuses them with a flash-bang and smoke, then hog-ties them and recovers the crew’s stolen items, including Piper’s dagger.
Jason arrives in a dramatic lightning-charged entrance, surprised to find Leo already victorious. While searching the hoard, Leo finds a damaged bronze astrolabe the dwarfs claim was made by Odysseus, and a leather-bound book stolen from a minor god in Venice. The dwarfs provide an address—La Casa Nera, Calle Frezzeria—but cannot pronounce the god’s name.
Weighing mercy against necessity, Leo refuses to send the dwarfs to Tartarus. Instead, he bargains: he will spare them and leave most treasure if they swear on the Styx to go to New York and harass the Romans, creating a delaying distraction. Akmon and Passalos eagerly agree as Leo pockets the astrolabe and the book, setting the team’s next destination: Venice.
Who Appears
- Leo ValdezChases and captures the Kerkopes with improvised explosives, recovers stolen items, finds key artifacts, and dispatches the dwarfs to New York.
- AkmonKerkopes dwarf wearing Leo’s tool belt; blinded, bound, reveals Venice address, and swears to harass Romans in New York.
- PassalosKerkopes dwarf; confirms Odysseus’s astrolabe, cannot pronounce the Venice god’s name, and agrees to Leo’s deal.
- Jason GraceArrives via lightning, returns Piper’s dagger, backs Leo’s interrogation, and witnesses Leo’s strategic bargain.