“I guessed his name was Face of Horror. I wondered how long it had taken his mom to think of that. Bob? No. Sam? No. How about Face of Horror?”

“Leo scratched his head. “Well I dunno about Enchiladas—”“Enceladus,” Piper corrected.“Whatever. But Old Potty Face mentioned another name. Porpoise Fear, or something?”“Porphyrion?” Piper asked. ”He was the giant king, I think.”

“Julius told me how much you’d grown, but I couldn’t believe it. Carter, I bet you’re shaving—”“Mom.”“—and dating girls—”“Mom!” Have you ever noticed how parents can go from the most wonderful people in the world to totally embarrassing in three seconds?”

“I uncapped the blade, flung open the door, and found myself face-to-face with a black pegasus.Whoa, boss! Its voice spoke in my mind as it clopped away from the sword blade. I don't wanna be a horse-ke-bob!”

“Apollo?” I guessed…He put a finger to his lips. “I’m incognito. Call me Fred.”A god named Fred?”

“Fascinating," he said. "Such maneuverability! How does the wingspan compensate for the weight of the horse's body, I wonder?"Blackjack cocked his head. Whaaaat?”

“I left him in his wheelchair, staring sadly into the fireplace. I wondered how many times he’d sat here, waiting for heroes that never came back.”