“Now what I want to know is what happened when you found Bryony, Leo,” said Will.“Did you just say your sister sent me, pack up everything and come with me this moment?”“More or less.”“And she came away with you?”“More or less.” Leo tossed Bryony a mischievous look. “Although there might have beenlaudanum, drugging, and a midnight abduction involved.”“Now that’s a much better story,” said Matthew. “I would pay to read that one.”“And for his knavery, Leo lost one of his—more important parts,” said Bryony.“No!” Matthew and Will shouted in unison.“Bryony!” Callista squeaked.“Kidney,” Leo cried. “It was just a kidney. A man can live a perfectly vigorous life withone kidney.”“You can call it a kidney if you want,” said Bryony.”

“Did thetwo of you marry again? Please tell me yes. If he is my brother-in-law again, he is less likelyto kill me for what I did.”Bryony looked at her a moment, then leaned in and whispered in her ear. “He won’t killyou. He just wants you committed to an asylum.”

“Dear Bryony,There are many things I wish I had time to tell you, so I will say just this: These past few days have been some of the best days of my life. Because of you.My fervent hope is that you are safe and well as you read this letter. That you will have all the happiness I wish I could have shared with you. And that you will remember me not as a failed husband, but one who was still trying, til the very end.Yours always,Leo”

“We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in.""Yes!" Leo pumped his fist.* * * * *Jason gazed up at the dragon and shook his head in amazement. "Leo, what have you done?""Found a ride!" Leo beamed. "You said I could go on the quest if I got you a ride. Well, I got you a class-A metallic flying bad boy! Festus can take us anywhere!”

“You're alive!" Percy said to the others. "The giants said you were captured. What happened?" Leo shrugged. "Oh, just another brilliant plan by Leo Valdez. You'd be amazed what you can do with an Archimedes sphere, a girl who can sense stuff underground, and a weasel." "I was the weasel," Frank said glumly.”

“Leo. Jason said, you're wierd. Yeah, you tell me that a lot. Leo grinned. But if you don't remember me, that means I can reuse all my old jokes. Come on!”