“I don’t suppose you’d tell us how they manage it-blocking demigod communications?” The Triumvirate likes to have certain advantages.” Lityerses’s laugh was like a file across metal. I hate it when the bad guys get to talk to each other and we can’t.” “Or a walkie-talkie, or whatever that is. If I tried to fire on him, our heads would be rolling on the pavement before I drew back my bowstring. In my dream, I’d seen how rapidly Lityerses could swing his sword. I held my bow sideways like an electric guitar, which was not proper shooting stance, and in my other hand, instead of an arrow that might have been useful, I held a package of frozen Tater Tots. “It was our pleasure.” I doubt I pulled off the self-assured, swashbuckling tone I was going for. Especially after you’ve made them look like fools.” “My men can be overenthusiastic when it comes to killing. “They’re here at the station,” he announced. He touched something on his ear-a Bluetooth device, perhaps. “Welcome.” The prefect’s smile might have seemed friendly, except for the crosshatching of scars on his face. His dark curly hair hung in tendrils over his red bandana, making it look as if a large spider were crouched on his head, ready to spring. A battered leather cuirass was strapped over his Cornhuskers shirt. Next to it on the station platform, under an ivy-covered canopy, Lityerses stood with his feet planted, his unsheathed sword resting over his shoulder like a hobo’s bindle. On the tracks sat a miniature train-a bright green steam engine with a line of open passenger cars. I allowed myself to hope that the train station might be clear. Behind us, more Germani were shouting, but they seemed to be heading toward the Skyline gates we’d just left. This sounded like a terrible way to keep oneself sane, but I let her lead the way. Once, I made one of Ogygia reproduced every square foot of that island. Then we ran together along the perimeter fence.Īt the next crossroads, Calypso said, “This way to the train.” I made a quick gesture to ward off evil, just in case Calypso was better than she realized. The other half is picking a superstitious mark. Half of magic is acting like it will work. The wounded Germanus yelped and hobbled away, leaving a trail of smeared red prints behind him.Ĭalypso offered me a hand and pulled me up. Her tone made it sound as if she were raising the worst daimons from Tartarus, though her words, in ancient Phoenician, were actually a recipe for making pancakes. Judging from the hatred in his eyes, he wanted revenge for the missile weapon that had ruined his left boot.Ĭalypso, undaunted, waved her arms and began to incant. The Germanus with the wounded foot hesitated. He glanced at me lying on the ground, then turned and fled, barreling past his friend. “Now it is your turn, fools!” She began making the same rude gestures toward the Germani. Through my half-lidded eyes, I watched Calypso turn on our enemies. Instead, I did as she asked: I gasped and collapsed. She made a series of hand gestures I recognized from ancient times-hexes and curses that no one had ever dared to make in my direction.
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