The Heroes of Olympus, #5
The Blood of Olympus
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XXX
Overview
Bryce Lawrence, a descendant of Orcus, ambushes Reyna, Nico, and Coach Hedge, unleashing spartoi in redcoat uniforms to seize Reyna and disarm Hedge. Nico, weakened by shadow travel, cannot command the dead and begins to fade. Bryce threatens torture and reveals Octavian’s war plans, but Reyna’s resolve steadies Nico, triggering his explosive rage.
Summary
Coach Hedge bursts into a clearing with supposed good news, only to find a lone Roman: Bryce Lawrence. Reyna identifies him as Octavian’s latest enforcer. Bryce boasts of tracking Nico by his Underworld scent and claims descent from Orcus, the god of broken oaths and punishment. He declares Reyna under arrest for treason and patricide.
When Hedge advances, Bryce triggers a cairn, summoning spartoi—skeletal British redcoats bound by Orcus for breaking their promise of quarter. The skeletons restrain Hedge and overwhelm Aurum and Argentum, then seize Reyna. Nico’s sword passes harmlessly through the spartoi, and his attempt to command them fails; Orcus’s claim overrides his power.
Bryce taunts Nico’s weakness and warns that another shadow-jump will destroy him. He threatens Hedge with experimentation and pain, and menaces Reyna with his pilum while boasting that Octavian has bent laws, spent legion funds, and prepared war machines for the August first assault on Camp Half-Blood.
Nico begins to fade, his hands turning transparent, but Reyna meets his gaze and lends him strength, telling him to do what he must. Bryce cuts Reyna’s face and mocks her “secret,” savoring the idea of a brutal execution. Reyna’s courage anchors Nico to the mortal world. His fury peaks at Bryce’s cruelty, and Nico’s rage explodes.
Who Appears
- Nico di AngeloWeakened by shadow travel; unable to command Orcus-bound spartoi; steadied by Reyna’s resolve; rage erupts at Bryce’s cruelty.
- Reyna Ramírez-ArellanoIdentified by Bryce for arrest; seized by redcoat spartoi; encourages Nico; cut and taunted about her secret; shows unwavering courage.
- Bryce LawrenceOctavian’s enforcer, descendant of Orcus; commands redcoat spartoi; arrests Reyna, threatens Hedge; reveals Octavian’s war preparations.
- Coach HedgeCharges to help but is captured by spartoi; threatened with torture; protests being called a faun.
- Aurum and ArgentumReyna’s mechanical dogs; initially attack the spartoi but are overpowered and restrained.
- Spartoi (redcoat soldiers)Undead British soldiers bound by Orcus; swarm from a cairn to capture Reyna and restrain Hedge.