For a minute, I couldn't say anything. I couldn't stand still. The thought that anyone would try to hurt Coraline... Well, I wanted to hit something. I'd actually brought my sword with me -- it was in its scabbard on my back -- before I'd learned that Esther had, in fact, been killed. And, for a fraction of a second I'd been upset that I hadn't been the one to kill her.

Annabeth would have told me to cool it. Valkyrie would have reminded me I was letting emotions getting the better of me. But how could one not be emotional about this!

Abruptly, I turned and, stepping forward, I wrapped Coraline in a hug.