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Frank grunted "How can we be sure it won’t happen again?"

Leo’s fingers heated up like they were about to catch fire One of his powers as a son of Hephaestus was that he could summon flames at will; but he had to be careful not to do so by accident, especially on a ship filled with explosives and flamh he wished he could be sure "Maybe we should use the buddy systeoes anywhere alone We can leave Piper and Coach Hedge on board with Jason Send one teao after the bronze and the lime"

"Split up?" Percy said "That sounds like a really bad idea"

"It’ll be quicker," Hazel put in "Besides, there’s a reason a quest is usually liht?"

Annabeth raised her eyebrows, as if reappraising Hazel’s o II…outside caods in one place will attract way too ned to conceal and protect us We should be safe enough on board; but if we go on expeditions, we shouldn’t travel in groups larger than three No sense alerting more of Gaea’s minions than we have to"

Percy still didn’t look happy about it, but he took Annabeth’s hand "As long as you’re ood"

Hazel s into a dragon! Could you do it again to fly Annabeth and Percy into town for the tar?"

Frank opened his mouth like he wanted to protest "I…I suppose But what about you?"

"I’ll ride Arion with Sa--with Leo, here" She fidgeted with her sword hilt, which y than he did "We’ll get the bronze and the lime We can all meet back here by dark"

Frank scowled Obviously, he didn’t like the idea of Leo going off with Hazel For soo He had to prove he was trustworthy He wasn’t going to fire any randoet the supplies, how long to fix the ship?"

"With luck, just a few hours"

"Fine," she decided "We’ll meet you back here as soon as possible, but stay safe We could use soet it"

Chapter 6

Riding Arion was the best thing that had happened to Leo all day--which wasn’t saying much, since his day had sucked The horse’s hooves turned the surface of the lake to salty ainst the horse’s side and felt thelike a well-oiled ines were ed Maserati

Ahead of theht have been pure table salt Behind that rose an expanse of grassy dunes and weathered boulders

Leo sat behind Hazel, one arm around her waist The close contact made him a little uncomfortable, but it was the only way he could stay on board (or whatever you called it with a horse)

Before they left, Percy had pulled him aside to tell hi Leo a favor, but there’d been an undertone like If you reat white shark

According to Percy, Hazel was a daughter of Pluto She’d died in the 1940s and been brought back to life only a few o

Leo found that hard to believe Hazel seehosts or the other reborn ood with people, too, unlike Leo, asstuff, like horses and girls? He had no idea what irlfriend, so Leo knew he should keep his distance Still, her hair sainst his will It must’ve been the speed of the horse

Arion thundered onto the beach He stoe yelling a battle cry

Hazel and Leo dismounted Arion pawed the sand

"He needs to eat," Hazel explained "He likes gold, but--"

"Gold?" Leo asked

"He’ll settle for grass Go on, Arion Thanks for the ride I’ll call you"

Just like that, the horse was gone--nothing left but a stea trail across the lake

"Fast horse," Leo said, "and expensive to feed"

"Not really," Hazel said "Gold is easy for old easy? Please tell uy"