Chapter 89: Back on shore

(Percy POV)

At the docks Sam told us she had to leave. Not that she wanted to miss the end of the world but her grandparents would kill her.

Magnus stared at the sword in his hand. The sword hummed in his hand and I had the idea Magnus had no idea how to wield it. He held it like he was about to prick some trash from the street with it.

"I think you should use the mist to hide it." I told Magnus, "Besides, carrying a sword is kind of...clumsy."

Magnus frowned, "How do I change my sword into something else?"

"Ask it."

Magnus stared at the blade, "Could you please turn into something more useful."

For a second nothing happened, though the sword almost fell out of Magnus' hand. Then it turned into a rune stone on a gold chain. The small white stone was emblazoned with a black symbol. The "F" rune from Frey.

"Wow, that actually worked." Magnus said with awe, he fastened the chain around his neck and I saw the stone was magnetically connected to the chain.

Magnus pulled of the stone and it turned into a long sword again.

I hoped that Glamour was a bit different from the mist, otherwise Magnus was walking around with a sword on his neck.

By the time we reached Copley Square it was fully dark outside.

We sat on the front steps of the library, on both her sides.

To either side of me, a bronze lady statue reclined on a marble throne. I remembered that one symbolized Art and the other Science, but to me they both looked ready for recess. They leaned on their armrests, metal shawls covering their heads, glancing in my direction like, Tough week, huh?

Magnus was fiddling with his rune stone, taking it of and put it on.

I summoned a Cheeseburger and began to ate it. Then I realized I hadn't eaten anything today except a piece of ambrosia.

A few minutes later Hearth and Blitz appeared on top of the statues.

Hearth almost dropped of it but managed to grab the lady's neck, Blitz wasn't that lucky and fell on the stones, "Ai!" he cried out.

"You guys are back!" Magnus cried out and hurried towards them.

"Yes, luckily." Blitz said as he got to his feet. Hearth gently jumped of the statue and signed, Brought the boss back to the cave.

"Alright!" I said, "We got the sword."

We got new orders from the boss Hearth signed, and he shuddered after that, as to show us he didn't like the orders.

"Well?" I asked.

"We need replace the rope of Fenrir." Blitzen said grim, "Gleipnir, the rope that chains Fenrir, needs to be replaced. According to the boss it will snap very soon."

"Like, I don't know. 7 days." I suggested.

Yes, We need to find a replacement cord and find the Island where Fenrir is trapped Hearth signed clearly not wanting to do that.

"So how do we replace the rope? And how do find the location of the island?" Magnus asked.

"I think I know how we can get a replacement. As for the island." Blitz said grim, "I have no idea."

"The usual stuff." I said.

As Blitz said that, he yawned, which was not weird considering how long he stayed up today.

We made camp in the library doorway, Blitz pulled four down sleeping bags out of his duffel, along with a fresh change of clothes for me and some sandwiches, which I ate too fast to taste. Hearth collapsed in his bag and immediately began snoring.

Blitzen stroked his beard. He'd dispensed with the anti-sun gear and was now wearing an eggplant-purple three-piecethree-piece suit with a mauve shirt and a green carnation in the lapel.

Magnus pulled off the pendant and set the sword between us, its light making Blitz's face glitter like a vein of copper in the dark.

"Breathtaking," he murmured. "Bone steel … or something even more exotic."

"Bone steel … T.J. in Valhalla mentioned that," Magnus murmured while he swung sumarbrander like it was a laser sword.

"What is Bone steel actually?" I asked.

"To make steel, iron is smelted with carbon. Most swordsmiths use coal, but you can also use bones – the bones of enemies, or monsters, or ancestors."

'Chaos is Riptide outdated in the Norse Pantheon?'

'Nah, the fact that you carry the weapon and are my champion is enough,' Chaos laughed, 'Even Frostsilver is better than bone steel.'

"Cool." I said.

"Forged correctly," Blitz said, "bone steel can cut down supernatural creatures, even giants and gods. Of course, you have to quench the blade in blood to harden it, preferably the blood of whatever type of creature you want the sword to be most lethal against."

"So is my sword made of Bone steel?" Magnus asked, "Because I don't know if I feel comfortable with a sword drained with blood."

"'I don't know," Blitz admitted. "The sword of Frey is Vanir work, which is a mystery to me. It might be closer to Hearth's elf magic."

I glanced at Hearth, "You said Hearth knew a lot of magic. I'm not criticizing. I've just never seen him cast any."

Blitz set his hand protectively next to Hearth's feet. "Magic drains him. He's careful about using it. Also, his family …"

He took a deep breath. "Modern elves don't approve of magic. His parents shamed Hearthstone pretty badly. It still makes him self-conscious about casting magic in front of others. Hearthstone wasn't the son his parents wanted, between the magic and the, you know …"

"That's some bullshit." I said, "I mean he should be proud of it."

"'Elves." Blitz shrugged. "They have a low tolerance for anything that isn't perfect – music, art, appearances. Their own children."

I shuddered, I really wanted to go to Alfheim and visit parents and tell them the truth but I knew I could not solve personal problems.

"That's messed up!" Magnus cried out.

"We should catch some sleep." I told Magnus, "Got a lot of stuff to do tomorrow."

I closed my eyes and prepared for a good night rest.

Oh, boy was I wrong.

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