The Heroes of Olympus, #5
The Blood of Olympus
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XXXVII
Overview
Reyna, Nico, and Coach Hedge arrive off Camp Half-Blood with the Athena Parthenos and witness Octavian’s siege engines poised to destroy the Greeks at dawn. Forced into a tense parley with Michael Kahale, they are nearly arrested—until a fake “Octavian” order lures everyone to disarm. Tyson and Ella spring the trap, disable Michael, and extract the trio, preserving the mission and exposing fractures in the Roman ranks.
Summary
Approaching Camp Half-Blood before dawn, Reyna spots six Roman onagers and a mass of auxilia surrounding Octavian’s legion, realizing the Greeks face annihilation at daybreak. She diverts the pegasi to land the Athena Parthenos on a nearby mortal yacht. Pegasus departs to protect his offspring but honors Reyna as “Horse Friend,” leaving other pegasi to assist.
Nico confirms only two sleeping mortals aboard and deepens their slumber. As Hedge urges haste to reach shore, Reyna notices an SPQR-marked speedboat approaching. Recognizing Michael Kahale with centurions Leila and Dakota, she decides to parley despite the risk.
Michael announces orders to arrest Reyna and seize the statue, claiming Octavian holds emergency powers and promising an onager strike that will spare Roman lives. Nico warns such slaughter would tear Olympus apart as Gaea rises. Under pressure, Dakota subtly signals reluctance while Leila avoids eye contact, revealing cracks in loyalty; still, Michael moves to carry out the arrest.
A voice from the waterline, claiming to be Octavian, orders everyone to disarm. Sensing something off but playing along, Reyna and Nico drop weapons as do the Romans. A massive silhouette boards—too large for Octavian—revealed as Tyson the Cyclops with Ella the harpy. Tyson knocks out Michael; Dakota and Leila back away, startled. Ella crows about Tyson’s strength, and Tyson embraces the trio, announcing their rescue, turning the failed arrest into an escape and preserving the delivery of the Athena Parthenos.
Who Appears
- Reyna Ramírez-ArellanoPraetor leading the Athena Parthenos delivery; assesses Roman siege, parley with Michael, honored by Pegasus as Horse Friend.
- Nico di AngeloAids landing, senses mortals aboard, deepens their sleep, challenges Michael’s orders, prepares to fight before the rescue.
- Coach Gleeson HedgeImpatient to reach his wife; attacks Michael but is overpowered; later rescued by Tyson.
- TysonCyclops who boards the yacht, knocks out Michael, and rescues Reyna’s team with a disarming ruse.
- EllaHarpy who accompanies Tyson; helps lure Romans into disarming and celebrates the rescue.
- Michael KahaleOctavian’s strong centurion; attempts to arrest Reyna and seize the statue before being knocked out.
- DakotaSon of Bacchus; present to back Michael but subtly signals reluctance during the standoff.
- LeilaDaughter of Ceres; accompanies Michael, uneasy about Octavian’s orders and avoids confrontation.
- PegasusLord of winged horses; helps land the statue, honors Reyna, then departs to protect his offspring.