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―<strong>The</strong> storm giant, Typhon,‖ Boreas explained. ―<strong>The</strong> first time the gods defeated him, eons ago, he did not<br />
die quietly. His death released a host of storm spirits—wild winds that answered to no one. It was Aeolus‘s job<br />
to track them all down and imprison them in his fortress. <strong>The</strong> other gods—they did not help. <strong>The</strong>y did not even<br />
apologize for the inconvenience. It took Aeolus centuries to track down all the storm spirits, and naturally this<br />
irritated him. <strong>The</strong>n, last summer, Typhon was defeated again—‖<br />
―And his death released another wave of venti,‖ Jason guessed. ―Which made Aeolus even angrier.‖<br />
“C‘est vrai,” Boreas agreed.<br />
―But, Your Majesty,‖ Piper said, ―the gods had no choice but to battle Typhon. He was going to destroy<br />
Olympus! Besides, why punish demigods for that?‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> king shrugged. ―Aeolus cannot take out his anger on the gods. <strong>The</strong>y are his bosses, and very<br />
powerful. So he gets even with the demigods who helped them in the war. He issued orders to us: demigods<br />
who come to us for aid are no longer to be tolerated. We are to crush your little mortal faces.‖<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was an uncomfortable silence.<br />
―That sounds … extreme,‖ Jason ventured. ―But you‘re not going to crush our faces yet, right? You‘re<br />
going to listen to us first, ‘cause once you hear about our quest—‖<br />
―Yes, yes,‖ the king agreed. ―You see, Aeolus also said that a son of Zeus might seek my aid, and if this<br />
happened, I should listen to you before destroying you, as you might—how did he put it?—make all our lives<br />
very interesting. I am only obligated to listen, however. After that, I am free to pass judgment as I see fit. But<br />
I will listen first. Khione wishes this also. It may be that we will not kill you.‖<br />
Jason felt like he could almost breathe again. ―Great. Thanks.‖<br />
―Do not thank me.‖ Boreas smiled. ―<strong>The</strong>re are many ways you could make our lives interesting.<br />
Sometimes we keep demigods for our amusement, as you can see.‖<br />
He gestured around the room to the various ice statues.<br />
Piper made a strangled noise. ―You mean—they‘re all demigods? Frozen demigods? <strong>The</strong>y‘re alive?‖<br />
―An interesting question,‖ Boreas conceded, as if it had never occurred to him before. ―<strong>The</strong>y do not move<br />
unless they are obeying my orders. <strong>The</strong> rest of the time, they are merely frozen. Unless they were to melt, I<br />
suppose, which would be very messy.‖<br />
Khione stepped behind Jason and put her cold fingers on his neck. ―My father gives me such lovely<br />
presents,‖ she murmured in his ear. ―Join our court. Perhaps I‘ll let your friends go.‖<br />
―What?‖ Zethes broke in. ―If Khione gets this one, then I deserve the girl. Khione always gets more<br />
presents!‖<br />
―Now, children,‖ Boreas said sternly. ―Our guests will think you are spoiled! Besides, you moved too fast.<br />
We have not even heard the demigod‘s story yet. <strong>The</strong>n we will decide what to do with them. Please, Jason<br />
Grace, entertain us.‖<br />
Jason felt his brain shutting down. He didn‘t look at Piper for fear he‘d completely lose it. He‘d gotten them<br />
into this, and now they were going die—or worse, they‘d be amusements for Boreas‘s children and end up<br />
frozen forever in this throne room, slowly corroding from freezer burn.<br />
Khione purred and stroked his neck. Jason didn‘t plan it, but electricity sparked along his skin. <strong>The</strong>re was<br />
loud pop, and Khione flew backward, skidding across the floor.<br />
Zethes laughed. ―That is good! I‘m glad you did that, even though I have to kill you now.‖<br />
For a moment, Khione was too stunned to react. <strong>The</strong>n the air around her began to swirl with a microblizzard.<br />
―You dare—‖<br />
―Stop,‖ Jason ordered, with as much force as he could muster. ―You‘re not going to kill us. And you‘re not<br />
going to keep us. We‘re on a quest for the queen of the gods herself, so unless you want Hera busting down<br />
your doors, you‘re going to let us go.‖<br />
He sounded a lot more confident than he felt, but it got their attention. Khione‘s blizzard swirled to a stop.<br />
Zethes lowered his sword. <strong>The</strong>y both looked uncertainly at their father.<br />
―Hmm,‖ Boreas said. His eyes twinkled, but Jason couldn‘t tell if it was with anger or amusement. ―A son<br />
of Zeus, favored by Hera? This is definitely a first. Tell us your story.‖<br />
Jason would‘ve botched it right there. He hadn‘t been expecting to get the chance to talk, and now that he<br />
could, his voice abandoned him.<br />
Piper saved him. ―Your Majesty.‖ She curtsied again with incredible poise, considering her life was on the<br />
line. She told Boreas the whole story, from the Grand Canyon to the prophecy, much better and faster than<br />
Jason could have.<br />
―All we ask for is guidance,‖ Piper concluded. ―<strong>The</strong>se storm spirits attacked us, and they‘re working for<br />
some evil mistress. If we find them, maybe we can find Hera.‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> king stroked the icicles in his beard. Out the windows, night had fallen, and the only light came from<br />
the aurora borealis overhead, washing everything in red and blue.<br />
―I know of these storm spirits,‖ Boreas said. ―I know where they are kept, and of the prisoner they took.‖<br />
―You mean Coach Hedge?‖ Jason asked. ―He‘s alive?‖
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