Pegasus and the Origins of Olympus Read Online Free PDF Page A

at the temple, Stella hadn’t been aware that her parents had moved away. Finally her mother’s voice called her from her reverie.
    ‘Stella, come over here. See what else has been found.’
    Her parents and George were standing away from the temple and closer to the edge of the cliff. She saw the fresh break in the solid rock and knew if she dared to approach the steep edge, she would see the broken pieces far below.
    Where the rock face had broken away, a pit had opened. There, with the rain pouring down, her anger at her parents fled. Stella could see the sharp corner of what looked like a large golden box poking out of a sheet of solid rock.
    ‘How did they do it?’ her father was asking. ‘Look at the sides. That box is embedded in solid rock. How did they get that thing in there?’
    George shrugged. ‘I have no idea. But I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.’

4
    Preparations were well under way for the permanent portal to Xanadu. When Emily and Pegasus arrived in the artifact chamber, they stood back, watching the activity. Jupiter and his brothers were supervising the construction of an archway that would keep the direct Solar Stream access to Xanadu open.
    Chiron was chatting with other centaurs and handing out instructions for the investigations of the Temple of Xanadu.
    Emily saw her father walking with Diana, carefully inspecting items retrieved from the jungle world. Joel, Paelen and Chrysaor were at another table going through the artifacts and trying to guess their use.
    ‘Em, are you all right?’ Her father put down a strangely-shaped object when he noticed her. ‘You left here so quickly, I couldn’t find you.’
    ‘I know, but I had to get away. I went to speak with Tom.’
    ‘Did it help?’
    Emily nodded. She looked back to where Jupiter was supervising the final stone in the archway. ‘But I’m still a bit freaked out by everything.’
    ‘Me too, hon,’ he said. ‘But Emily, whatever we discover, it doesn’t change a thing. Maybe part of you does come from the Xan. But no matter what, we’ll get through this together, just like we always have.’
    Those were the best words in the world to her. ‘You bet we will,’ she said gratefully as she put her arms around him.
    Never one to be too sentimental, Diana cleared her throat loudly. ‘Emily, now that you are feeling better, would you take a look at some of these artifacts?’
    ‘Hey Emily,’ Paelen called. He was putting an odd-shaped leathery garment on his head. ‘I think this is a hat. How do I look?’
    Emily took one look at Paelen with his silly, crooked grin and the ridiculous makeshift hat and she burst out laughing. She walked over and pulled down the brim. ‘That’s better. Now I’m sure the water nymphs will love you in that!’
    Emily pulled the hat down further on Paelen’s head. But as she clung to the item, sudden flashes shot across her mind. She gripped the brim tighter and closed her eyes.
    Emily stopped laughing. She pulled the hat from Paelen’s head and walked over to one of the tables where she placed it upside down. Emily waved her hand over the top. Moments later, it filled with fresh, sweet ambrosia cakes.
    ‘Ambrosia cakes, my favourite!’ Paelen cried as he reached into the hat for a cake and stuffed it whole in to his mouth. ‘Delicious! Thank you, Emily,’ he said, spraying crumbs all over her.
    ‘Wow!’ Joel said. ‘How’d you do that?’
    ‘I don’t know.’ Emily looked at the odd hat. ‘But when I touched it, I knew it could produce food.’
    She poured the ambrosia cakes on the table and inspected the hat. The inside was clean, with no trace of the sticky Olympian food. She carried it over to Pegasus.
    ‘What would you like most, Pegs?’
    Pegasus touched the hat-like thing and then nickered. Emily put it back on the table and waved her hand over it. Like before, it filled with food. This time, it was the stallion’s favourite, chocolate ice cream with bits of sugary