Riddles in the Dark, Part 2

“Great, now we have a rhyming automaton to contend with,” Jackboot noted.

“It’s the last part of the clue,” Farsight deduced. “The path is laid hidden in Achelous’ test...”

“Achelous,” Sam repeated.

Sam’s mind recalled a sermon from a priestess of Zeus back during one of his Saturday temple visits. There had been one about Hercules and how the hero battled Achelous for the hand of fair Deianira.

“Hercules cut off one of Achelous’s horns, transforming it into the first cornucopia. And Achelous has never forgiven him for this affront or the fact that Hercules stole his bride from him.” The priestess told her tale in that low-pitched narrator’s voice that made everything seem so mysterious and spooky. “Beware, children…the gods have long memories and they never forget a slight.”

Sam’s gaze drifted back to the horned man’s head. “He’s missing a horn... I think this is a statue of Achelous.”

“So, we just need to pass your test?” Thunder asked.