The Heroes of Olympus, #5
The Blood of Olympus
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XXXVIII
Overview
Tyson and Ella rescue Reyna’s group and flip Dakota and Leila to her side. Reyna splits the team: Hedge is escorted to camp, while Nico joins the Romans to sabotage the onagers and delay Octavian. Reyna prepares to fly the Athena Parthenos at sunrise, but a sudden attacker wounds Blackjack and plants a timed explosive.
Summary
Tyson lands on the ship and neutralizes the threat, prompting Reyna to stop him from harming Dakota and Leila. The Romans hastily claim they intended to help overthrow Michael. Reyna accepts their help, confirms the mission to deliver the Athena Parthenos as a peace offering, and hears that the legion is divided and the auxilia are unreliable.
Coach Hedge anxiously asks after Mellie. Reyna assigns Tyson and Ella to escort Hedge safely to Camp Half-Blood via Rainbow the hippocampus, to warn the Greeks that she will fly the statue to Half-Blood Hill at sunrise and to hold their fire. Concerned about the Roman onagers, Reyna orders Nico to accompany Dakota and Leila to sow dissent and sabotage the siege engines.
They agree to spare and transport the unconscious Michael. Nico reassures Reyna before departing. Left alone with the pegasi and the veiled Athena Parthenos, Reyna wrestles with guilt over leaving her legion to Octavian, recalls her family’s harsh code, and prays to Bellona for strength as dawn approaches.
Hope turns to terror when a large humanoid sprints across the water toward the ship. An arrow strikes Blackjack, dropping the pegasus, and a second arrow thunks into the deck bearing a digital timer counting down from five minutes, forcing Reyna into an immediate crisis as her sunrise plan is imperiled.
Who Appears
- Reyna Ramírez-ArellanoPraetor leading the Athena Parthenos mission; organizes allies, assigns tasks, and prepares a sunrise delivery.
- TysonYoung Cyclops who rescues the group, agrees to escort Coach Hedge to camp via Rainbow.
- Nico di AngeloSon of Hades; joins Dakota and Leila to delay the legion and sabotage the onagers.
- DakotaRoman centurion who defects to Reyna’s plan and helps stir dissent in the legion.
- LeilaRoman officer who switches sides, backs Reyna’s authority, and helps with the sabotage plan.
- Coach Gleeson HedgeSatyr anxious about Mellie; sent with Tyson and Ella to warn the Greeks at camp.
- EllaHarpy with encyclopedic recall; accompanies Tyson and provides precise sunrise timing.
- BlackjackPegasus aiding Reyna; comforts her, then is shot by the attacker’s arrow.
- Michael KahaleUnconscious Roman demigod; spared and to be transported without restraints.
- Unknown attackerLarge humanoid running over water; shoots Blackjack and plants a timed explosive.