“All in favor of not disintegrating them?” A few tentative hands went up—Demeter, Aphrodite. “Wait just a minute,” Ares growled. He pointed at Thalia and me. “These two are dangerous. It’d be much safer, while we’ve got them here—” “Ares,” Poseidon interrupted, “they are worthy heroes. We will not blast my son to bits.” “Nor my daughter,” Zeus grumbled. “She has done well.” Thalia blushed. She studied the floor. I knew how she felt. I’d hardly ever talked to my father, much less gotten a compliment.
