Page 33 of The Court of the Dead
“She is fierce against her opponents,” confirmed Asterion.
Arielle kept her eyes still fixed on Hazel. “Also…I apologize for my hurtful comments, Praetor Levesque.”
“Thank you,” Hazel said. “And no pressure, but if you ever want to talk, I’m here.”
Arielle looked stunned, like she wasn’t sure how to process that offer. “I— Yes. That would be appreciated.”
Nico squeezed his sister’s hand, prouder than ever to be related to Hazel.
“Well,” he said, trying to keep the conversation moving, “what about anyone else? Any skills or powers that you feel like sharing?”
Quinoa hopped off his hydroponic bed, his leafy wings fluttering. He hiked up his burlap diaper and waddled over.
“Obviously, I’m a terror on the battlefield too,” he said in his gravelly voice. “But really, I wanna work with kids.”
“What?” cried Orcus, horrified. “Why would anyone want to work with children?”
Quinoa bared his fangs at the griffin, demonstrating just how cute and cuddly he would be with little ones. “You joking? Kids love me. We see eye to eye.”
Nico couldn’t argue with that. In fact, the grain spirit would’ve had to look up to most toddlers.
Will’s mouth twisted in confusion. “That’s— I mean…would you teach or—?”
“ ’Course!” Quinoa said. “I don’t want to criticize, but you mortals are absolutefertilizerwhen it comes to gardening. Adults just don’t wanna hear it. You gotta start with the younger generation, teach ’em to respect the earth and whatnot. That’s why you guys call it nursery school and kinder-garden, right?”
Nico was pretty sure that’s not whykindergartenwas called kindergarten, but he also didn’t want to get punched in the face by a pseudo-grain.
“Sounds great.” He looked at Hazel for support.
“Um, yes,” she said half-heartedly. “We do have primary school for the families in New Rome. I could ask.”
“RAWK!”Orcus let loose a nervous fart. “If that makes you happy, Quinoa. Me, I never want to be reminded of the young. Not wanting to have children is why I got exiled in the first place!”
“Wait, is that a bad thing among griffins?” Will asked.
“It is sacrilegious!” Orcus said, his voice rising in pitch. “We griffins are expected to have as many hatchlings as possible to further our bloodline.” He shook his head and made a gagging sound. “The idea makes mesick! Sentencing others to this…this small, flatulent existence? I would rather do anything else than have children.”
“Oh, Orcus…” Asterion said in his deep, comforting voice, but the griffin’s next fart made it clear he did not want to be consoled on this subject.
“Well…” Hazel said into the awkward silence, “maybe you could help with camp surveillance. You’re pretty great at flying, right?”
Orcus immediately perked up. “Flying? Iloveflying!”
And with that, the griffin launched into the air. He looped around the rafters, dive-bombed Arielle, who shrieked in outrage, and then made a surprisingly delicate landing on Hazel’s shoulder, where he perched like a black-and-white cat parrot.
Nico offered him a wide smile. “You’refast!”
Orcus preened. “I’m the fastest, boy!”
“Surveillance it is!” Hazel said excitedly. “I think you’d be a wonderful addition to the team.”
“I like the sound of that,” said Orcus.
Asterion smiled. “This conversation has been an excellent start. Now, Hazel, what will be the nature of our training with the Second Cohort?”
“Filing documents?” Johan said hopefully.
“Gardening?” asked Quinoa.
