the_blood_of_olympus_-_rick_riordan

tallest landmark for miles around. In its new camouflage netting, it glittered silver like an extremely
flashy forty-foot-tall ghost.
Apparently, the Athena Parthenos had wanted them to visit a place with educational value, because
she’d landed right next to a historical marker that read MASSACRE OF BUFORD, on a gravel layby at the
intersection of Nowhere and Nothing.
Reyna’s tent sat in a grove of trees about thirty yards back from the road. Nearby lay a rectangular
cairn – hundreds of stones piled in the shape of an oversized grave with a granite obelisk for a
headstone. Scattered around it were faded wreathes and crushed bouquets of plastic flowers, which
made the place seem even sadder.
Aurum and Argentum were playing keep-away in the woods with one of the coach’s handballs.
Ever since getting repaired by the Amazons, the metal dogs had been frisky and full of energy – unlike
their owner.
Reyna sat cross-legged at the entrance of the tent, staring at the memorial obelisk. She hadn’t said
much since they fled San Juan two days ago. They’d also not encountered any monsters, which made
Nico uneasy. They’d had no further word from the Hunters or the Amazons. They didn’t know what
had happened to Hylla, or Thalia, or the giant Orion.
Nico didn’t like the Hunters of Artemis. Tragedy followed them as surely as their dogs and birds of
prey. His sister Bianca had died after joining the Hunters. Then Thalia Grace became their leader and
started recruiting even more young women to their cause, which grated on Nico – as if Bianca’s death
could be forgotten. As if she could be replaced.
When Nico had woken up at Barrachina and found the Hunters’ note about kidnapping Reyna, he’d
torn apart the courtyard in rage. He didn’t want the Hunters stealing another important person from
him.
Fortunately, he’d got Reyna back, but he didn’t like how brooding she had become. Every time he
tried to ask her about the incident on the Calle San Jose – those ghosts on the balcony, all staring at
her, whispering accusations – Reyna shut him down.
Nico knew something about ghosts. Letting them get inside your head was dangerous. He wanted to
help Reyna, but since his own strategy was to deal with his problems alone, spurning anyone who
tried to get close, he couldn’t exactly criticize Reyna for doing the same thing.
She glanced up as they approached. ‘I figured it out.’
‘What historical site this is?’ Hedge asked. ‘Good, ’cause it’s been driving me crazy.’
‘The Battle of Waxhaws,’ she said.
‘Ah, right …’ Hedge nodded sagely. ‘That was a vicious little smackdown.’
Nico tried to sense any restless spirits in the area, but he felt nothing. Unusual for a battleground.
‘Are you sure?’
‘In 1780,’ Reyna said. ‘The American Revolution. Most of the Colonial leaders were Greek
demigods. The British generals were Roman demigods.’
‘Because England was like Rome back then,’ Nico guessed. ‘A rising empire.’
Reyna picked up a crushed bouquet. ‘I think I know why we landed here. It’s my fault.’
‘Ah, come on,’ Hedge scoffed. ‘The Buford Zippy Mart isn’t anybody’s fault. Those things just