the_blood_of_olympus_-_rick_riordan

the case?’
Michael sighed heavily. His heart didn’t seem to be in his task. ‘I have orders to arrest you and
hold you for trial.’
‘On whose authority?’
‘You know whose –’
‘On what charges?’
‘Listen, Reyna –’ Michael rubbed his palm across his forehead, like it might wipe away his
headache – ‘I don’t like this any more than you do. But I have my orders.’
‘Illegal orders.’
‘It’s too late for argument. Octavian has assumed emergency powers. The legion is behind him.’
‘Is that true?’ She looked pointedly at Dakota and Leila.
Leila wouldn’t meet her eyes. Dakota winked like he was trying to convey a message, but it was
hard to tell with him. He might’ve been twitching simply from too much sugary Kool-Aid.
‘We’re at war,’ Michael said. ‘We have to pull together. Dakota and Leila have not been the most
enthusiastic supporters. Octavian gave them this one last chance to prove themselves. If they help me
bring you in – preferably alive, but dead if necessary – then they keep their rank and prove their
loyalty.’
‘To Octavian,’ Reyna noted. ‘Not the legion.’
Michael spread his hands, which were only slightly smaller than baseball mitts. ‘You can’t blame
the officers for falling into line. Octavian has a plan to win, and it’s a good plan. At dawn those
onagers will destroy the Greek camp without a single loss of Roman life. The gods should be healed.’
Nico stepped in. ‘You’d wipe out half the demigods in the world, half the gods’ legacy, to heal
them? You’ll tear apart Olympus before Gaia even wakes up. And she is waking, Centurion.’
Michael scowled. ‘Ambassador of Pluto, son of Hades … whatever you call yourself, you’ve been
named an enemy spy. I’ve got orders to take you in for execution.’
‘You can try,’ Nico said coldly.
The face-off was so absurd it should have been humorous. Nico was several years younger, half a
foot shorter and fifty pounds lighter. But Michael didn’t make a move. The veins in his neck pulsed.
Dakota coughed. ‘Um, Reyna … just come with us peacefully. Please. We can work this out.’ He
was definitely winking at her.
‘All right, enough talk.’ Coach Hedge sized up Michael Kahale. ‘Let me take this joker down. I’ve
handled bigger.’
Michael smirked at that. ‘I’m sure you’re a brave faun, but –’
‘Satyr!’
Coach Hedge leaped at the centurion. He brought his baseball bat down with full force, but
Michael simply caught it and yanked it away from the coach. Michael broke the bat over his knee.
Then he pushed the coach back, though Reyna could tell Michael wasn’t trying to hurt him.
‘That’s it!’ Hedge growled. ‘Now I’m really mad!’
‘Coach,’ Reyna warned, ‘Michael is very strong. You’d need to be an ogre or a –’
From somewhere off the port side, down at the waterline, a voice yelled, ‘Kahale! What’s taking