Trials of Apollo 5

“I’M CONFUSED,” I SAID AS WE STUMBLED along in the dark
tunnels. “Are we still prisoners?”
Lu glanced at me, then at Meg. “Dense for a god, isn’t he?”
“You have no idea,” Meg grumbled.
“Do you work for Nero or not?” I demanded. “And how exactly…?”
I wagged my finger from Lu to Meg, silently asking, How do you know
each other? Or perhaps, Are you related since you’re equally annoying?
Then I caught the glint of their matching gold rings, one on each of their
middle fingers. I remembered the way Lu and Meg had fought, their four
blades slicing and stabbing in perfect synchronization. The obvious truth
smacked me in the face.
“You trained Meg,” I realized. “To be a dimachaerus.”
“And she’s kept her skills sharp.” Lu elbowed Meg affectionately. “I’m
pleased, Sapling.”
I had never seen Meg look so proud about anything.
She tackled her old trainer in a hug. “I knew you weren’t bad.”
“Hmm.” Lu didn’t seem to know what to do with the hug. She patted
Meg on the shoulder. “I’m plenty bad, Sapling. But I’m not going to let Nero
torture you anymore. Let’s keep moving.”