invisible string | f. zhang

viii. trust

Kinzie grunts, "Otrera's agents, spreading their lies."

"What?" Frank asks.

"It's him," Hazel murmurs.

Maribelle looks over at her confused.

"Him, who?" Percy asks.

"Ah, yes. Beautiful, isn't he?" Kinzie asks.

Maribelle glances at Hazel and tries to follow her line of sight. In a cage was a horse, a stallion with a honey-colored coat and a black mane.

"Is he . . ." Hazel begins, "Is he for sale?"

The guards all laugh.

"That's Arion," Kinzie says, "He's a royal treasure of the Amazons—to be claimed only by our most courageous warrior, if you believe the prophecy."

"Prophecy?" Hazel asks.

Kinzie's expression became pained, "Never mind. But no, he's not for sale."

"Then why is he in a cage?"

Kinzie grimaces, "Because . . . he is difficult."

The horse slams his head against the cage door.

"Just asking," Hazel brushes it off, "Let's see the queen."

As they approach, Hylla snaps, "Enough!"

The arguing Amazons shut up immediately.

Kinzie shoves them closer to the throne, "My queen, these demigods— "

The queen shoots to her feet, "You!"

For a minute, Maribelle thought maybe Hylla had heard what she had done to Reyna and was going to attack her. But then, she notices she was looking right at Percy.

"Clipboard," Percy says, "Spa. Pirates."

It made no sense to Maribelle, but the queen seemed to understand. She steps down from her dais of bestsellers and draws a dagger from her belt.

"You were incredibly foolish to come here," She glares, "You destroyed my home. You made my sister and me exiles and prisoners."

"Percy," Frank says uneasily, "What's the scary woman with the dagger talking about?"

"Circe's Island," Percy says, "I just remembered. The gorgon's blood—maybe it's starting to heal my mind. TheSea of Monsters. Hylla . . . she welcomed us at the docks, took us to see her boss. Hylla worked for the sorceress."

Hylla bares her perfect white teeth, "Are you telling me you've had amnesia? You know, I might actually believe you. Why else would you be stupid enough to come here?"

"We've come in peace," Hazel insists, "What did Percy do?"

"Peace?" The queen raises her eyebrows at Hazel, "What did he do? This male destroyed Circe's school of magic!"

"Circe turned me into a guinea pig!" Percy protests.

"No excuses!" Hylla says, "Circe was a wise and generous employer. I had room and board, a good health plan, dental, pet leopards, free potions—everything! And this demigod with his friend, the one with braids—"

"Annabeth." Percy says, "That's right. I was there with Annabeth."

"You released our captives—Blackbeard and his pirates." She turns to Maribelle and Hazel, "Have you ever been kidnapped by pirates? It isn't fun. They burned our spa to the ground. My sister and I were their prisoners for months. Fortunately we were daughters of Bellona. We learned to fight quickly. If we hadn't . . ." She shudders, "Well, the pirates learned to respect us. Eventually we made our way to California where we—where my sister and I parted ways."

Hylla steps toward Percy until they were nose-to-nose. She runs her dagger under his chin, "Of course, I survived and prospered. I have risen to be queen of the Amazons. So perhaps I should thank you."

"You're welcome," Percy says.

The queen digs her knife in a little deeper, "Never mind. I think I'll kill you."

"Wait!" Maribelle says, "Reyna sent us! Your sister! Look at the ring on his necklace."

Hylla frowns, she looks Maribelle up and down. Then, she points the knife to Maribelle, "And what do you know of Reyna, traitor?"

Maribelle's eyes grow wide. Of course Hylla would know. She didn't even know Reyna had a sister until now.

"I —"

Hylla glares and Maribelle stops. Hylla turns to Hazel,
"Explain this. Quickly."

Hazel did her best to describe Camp Jupiter. She told the Amazons about Reyna being their praetor, and the army of monsters that was marching south. She told them about their quest to free Thanatos in Alaska.

"So we need your help," Hazel finishes, "Reyna needs your help."

Hylla grips Percy's leather cord and yanks it off his neck—beads, ring, probatio tablet and all, "Reyna . . . that foolish girl— "

"Well!" The older woman who had entered the room while Hazel was talking exclaims, "Romans need our help?" She laughs. The Amazons join in.

"How many times did we battle the Romans in my day?" She asks, "How many times have they killed our sisters in battle? When I was queen—"

"Otrera," Hylla interrupts, "You are here as a guest. You are not queen anymore."

The older woman spreads her hands and made a mocking bow, "As you say—at least, until tonight. But I speak the truth, Queen Hylla. I've been brought back by the Earth Mother herself! I bring tidings of a new war. Why should Amazons follow Jupiter, that foolish king of Olympus, when we can follow a queen ? When I take command—"

"If you take command," Hylla says, "But for now, I am queen. My word is law."

"I see." Otrera looks at the assembled Amazons, who were standing very still, "Have we become so weak that we listen to male demigods? Will you spare the life of this son of Neptune, even though he once destroyed your home? Perhaps you'll let him destroy your newhome, too!"

The Amazons look back and forth between Hylla and Otrera.

"I will pass judgment," Hylla says in an icy tone, "Once I have all the facts. That is how I rule—by reason, not fear. First, I will talk with this one." She jabs a finger towards Hazel, "It is my duty to hear out a female warrior before I sentence her or her allies to death. That is the Amazon way. Or have your years in the Underworld muddled your memory, Otrera?"

The older woman sneers, but she didn't try to argue.

Hylla turns to Kinzie, "Take these males to the holding cells. Take the traitor too. The rest of you, leave us."

Otrera raises her hand to the crowd, "As our queen commands. But any of you who would like to hear more about Gaea, and our glorious future with her, come with me!"

About half the Amazons follow her out of the room.

Kinzie snorts with disgust, then she and her guards haul Maribelle, Percy and Frank away.

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