Phew.
Kaiser dragged himself out of the ice-cold river, breath fogging as he straightened. With a flick of his wrists, the water peeled away from his skin, blown off by an unseen current. His slightly muscular frame moved toward the riverbank, bare feet crunching against frost-hardened stone.
He stepped into the snow and looked up at the hunting lodge perched on the cliff above. His tongue clicked in mild annoyance.
"That's a long climb."
Grabbing his clothes, he started up the path as cold winds swept past him. He dressed as he walked, the air biting but familiar. It took nearly an hour to reach the top.
He was greeted by a woman leaning against the railing, grinning, a baseball bat resting on her shoulder. She wore full camping gear, snow crunching beneath her boots.
"Where are you off to now?" Kaiser asked.
She shrugged. "Somewhere."
He hummed. "Tempting. How about Tartarus?"
"Fuck you."
She flung a handful of snow at him. The wind caught it midair and scattered it harmlessly aside.
Kaiser raised an eyebrow. "You're a winter nymph. Why the fuck are you wearing a jacket?"
"Looks cool."
He didn't respond, simply walking past her and up the lodge steps.
"Just come back before Saturday," he said over his shoulder.
"Will try."
She ran off, kicking up snow as she disappeared into the trees.
Inside, Kaiser let the wind coating his body disperse, allowing warmth to seep back into his muscles. Cold didn't bother him much, but comfort was still comfort.
He flopped onto the couch and closed his eyes.
"Well," a voice said smoothly, "Kaiser sleeping soundly, are we?"
Kaiser was on his feet instantly, dagger in hand, before he saw her.
A woman sat in the armchair by the fireplace. Regal. Calm. Completely out of place in a sleeveless white dress.
He exhaled, straightened, and bowed.
"Lady Hera."
"Sit," she said. "And drop the dagger while you're at it."
Kaiser tossed it into the fireplace and sat.
Silence followed. He waited.
"I assume you've been adapting well over the past year," Hera said at last.
"Yes," Kaiser replied. "Though I lack common sense, by mortal standards."
Hera smiled faintly, eyes on the fire.
"Zeus and Poseidon nearly went to war," she said. Then she looked at him. "I require a reliable variable."
A sealed letter appeared in her hand.
"You will deliver this to Chiron. At the camp."
Kaiser didn't hesitate.
"Understood."
Hera didn't wait. Her form began to glow, light bleeding into the room.
Kaiser glanced down at the floor. Mellie was going to throw a fit if she had to clean his ashes off the lodge.
And then Hera was gone.
Kaiser cracked his neck as he stood and started gathering what he'd need.
Cash. Fake IDs. His sword. A few knives. Food. Sleeping bag. Spare clothes.
He moved efficiently, the routine familiar. He'd been waiting for this.
Once packed, he locked the door behind him and slipped the key under the mat. Habit, more than necessity.
As he stepped into the snow, a thought finally caught up to him.
"My lady," he muttered, glancing skyward, "a hint would've been useful."
No response.
Kaiser snapped a branch from a nearby tree, planted it upright, and let go.
It tipped and fell.
"West it is," he said.
Salt Lake City first. South out of the range, then west toward San Francisco.
Judging by the snow, it would take a few days just to trek out of the Wind River Range.
He started walking anyway.