After a brief conversation with Elpis, the temple keeper pointed Thalia towards a couple of young women who were frequent visitor's to Lady Artemis' temple and her statue at the Pantheon, and the Huntress wasted no time in having another brief conversation with them.
Within five minutes, four women were standing at different entrances of the massive temple and pointing out at the open forest and roads, screaming about hellhounds and giant snakes.
Elpis only smiled in amusement and lead the demigods away, slipping past the suddenly very distracted crowd and down a back road, away from the main town.
"Thank the gods that's over." Piper muttered, glancing back at the temple as the noise of the crowd disappeared into the trees.
"You're welcome, I am a genius." Thalia nodded happily, ignoring the eye rolls she got.
"More like Artemis has some good followers." Annabeth snarked at her friend with a smirk.
Elpis smiled, seeming to find the teens fascinating and funny all at once. "There is an inn back here," He told them, "About a mile up this road. It is run by several lovely young ladies who are all very devoted to Lady Artemis and her Hunters, and very few chose to stay there because of the rather reserved and humble nature of it. Most choose not to journey out here so far, opting to stay in the inns in the city, but you've asked for some peace and I believe you can find it here."
"Well, Annabeth did just say Artemis had the best followers." Thalia said matter-of-factly, and no one commented for fear of being electrocuted.
Annabeth was the only one brave enough to stick her tongue out, which Thalia promptly returned. "That wasn't exactly what I meant," The daughter of Athena sighed, but Thalia just shrugged like it made no difference to her.
"Hear that Stolls? Humble and reserved…! Meaning, save your pranks for town. I'm sure everyone in Athens would be thrilled to be pranked by you, so leave this place alone, ok?" Percy told the brothers firmly, who looked dejected for all of three seconds before realizing they had an entire city practically begging to be pranked… literally.
"Humble and reserved… You'll fit right in, right Kelp Head?" Thalia taunted her cousin, who blushed slightly before pointedly pretending not to hear her.
They joked around as they walked, and soon enough the inn came into view. It was a low system of buildings, built into a steeper portion of the mountainside, white washed until it was gleaming blindingly in the afternoon sunlight and small chimneys smoking with the smells of fire and fresh bread. There was little sound but the birds and the rustling of the trees and ivy leaves as it grew wild over the stark white walls, and little activity but the lazily curling smoke and gentle fluttering of sky blue and silver curtains hanging in the open window blocks of each little hut and long low building.
"Woah," Frank breathed.
"It's beautiful," Rachel sighed.
"Not what I was expecting when I thought of relaxing, but maybe I should've been." Jason noted calmly.
"Do you like it then?" Elpis said happily.
"Like it? I couldn't imagine anything more perfect," Piper said earnestly, and he flushed in happiness.
Travis sighed dramatically. "It may be blasphemy to say this, but I don't think we could prank this place. It's so…"
"Serene." Connor supplied for his brother, watching the mini-village bask peacefully under the lazy golden afternoon light.
"Glad to hear it." Hazel nodded.
"Come! You must meet the sisters! They will be overjoyed to see you, and I'm sure they will make you a fine dinner in celebration. Come!" Elpis lead them to one of the houses and knocked gently on the door.
After a moment or two and the sound of pattering footsteps walking quickly to the door, a young woman maybe only seventeen or eighteen opened the door. She had chocolate brown hair braided down her back and wore a simply sleeveless white summer dress, not unlike Elpis' outfit save in white and accented by two silver bracelets on her wrists. She had kind, mild green-gray eyes, that were really brought out by the drops of silver paint on her cheeks, just below her eyes.
"Elpis!" She said in pleasant surprise. "It's been too long since you've visited! And you have you brought? Travelers to Athens?" She asked curiously, scanning the teens behind him.
"Adorian, what a sight you are, as beautiful as ever!" Elpis bowed slightly to her. "And I'm happy to say this is more than just a visit—these are not just travelers, but true children of Athens!" He said excitedly, gesturing to the demigods and motioning them to come closer as he beckoned the girl to come out of the doorway to meet them. "I believe you will be most intrigued to meet this brave young woman…" Elpis nodded to Thalia, who stepped forward eagerly upon seeing the obvious signs this girl was an admirer of Artemis.
"Thalia Grace," She greeted confidently with a little bow too, copying Elpis. The girl nodded politely back.
"Thalia, this is Adorian, she and her sisters and aunts keep this Inn for the name of Artemis. They are even skilled hunters by trade." Elpis introduced.
"Really?" Thalia noted, looking fascinated.
Adorian blushed. "Oh, he boasts." She dismissed it. "We hunt in the name of Artemis, to sustain ourselves and our guests, and keep the name of maidens in her honor, but we are no more skilled hunters than we need to be for sustenance. And please, most call me Ada." She bowed her head.
Thalia grinned.
"It's great to meet you Ada, I'd love to hear more about this lifestyle thing you've got going on… My Lady is undoubtedly pleased by your work here, I know I personally am over the mood about it…"
"Your Lady?" Ada asked with a politely quizzical look and a slight tilt of her head.
"She is a demigod, Adorian," Elpis said with wide, meaningful eyes.
"And the Lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis." Thalia nodded with a wicked grin.
Ada blinked.
Then fainted.
