The Son of Neptune - Chapter 52

THE NEXT MORNING, PERCY, HAZEL AND FRANK ate breakfast
early, then headed into the city before the senate was due
to convene. As Percy was a praetor now, he could go
pretty much wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
On the way, they passed the stables, where Tyson and
Mrs O’Leary were sleeping in. Tyson snored on a bed of
hay next to the unicorns, a blissful look on his face like he
was dreaming of ponies. Mrs O’Leary had rolled on her
back and covered her ears with her paws. On the stable
roof, Ella roosted in a pile of old Roman scrolls, her head
tucked under her wings.
When they got to the forum, they sat by the fountains
and watched the sun come up. The citizens were already
busy sweeping up cupcake simulations, confetti and party
hats from last night’s celebration. The engineer corps was
working on a new arch that would commemorate the
victory over Polybotes.
Hazel said she’d even heard talk of a formal triumph for
the three of them – a parade around the city followed by a
week of games and celebrations – but Percy knew they’d
never get the chance. They didn’t have time.
Percy told them about his dream of Juno.
Hazel frowned. ‘The gods were busy last night. Show
him, Frank.’
Frank reached into his coat pocket. Percy thought he
might bring out his piece of firewood, but instead he
produced a thin paperback book and a note on red
stationery.
‘These were on my pillow this morning.’ He passed
them to Percy. ‘Like the Tooth Fairy visited.’
The book was The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Percy had
never heard of it, but he could guess who sent it. The letter
read: Good job, kid. A real man’s best weapon is his mind.
This was your mom’s favourite book. Give it a read. P.S. –
I hope your friend Percy has learned some respect for
me.
‘Wow.’ Percy handed back the book. ‘Maybe Mars is
different than Ares. I don’t think Ares can read.’
Frank flipped through the pages. ‘There’s a lot in here
about sacrifice, knowing the cost of war. Back in
Vancouver, Mars told me I’d have to put my duty ahead of
my life or the entire war would go sideways. I thought he
meant freeing Thanatos, but now … I don’t know. I’m still
alive, so maybe the worst is yet to come.’
He glanced nervously at Percy, and Percy got the
feeling Frank wasn’t telling him everything. He wondered if
Mars had said something about him, but Percy wasn’t
sure he wanted to know.
Besides, Frank had already given enough. He had
watched his family home burn down. He’d lost his mother
and his grandmother.
‘You risked your life,’ Percy said. ‘You were willing to
burn up to save the quest. Mars can’t expect more than
that.’
‘Maybe,’ Frank said doubtfully.
Hazel squeezed Frank’s hand.
They seemed more comfortable around each other this
morning, not quite as nervous and awkward. Percy
wondered if they’d started dating. He hoped so, but he
decided it was better not to ask.
‘Hazel, how about you?’ Percy asked. ‘Any word from
Pluto?’
She looked down. Several diamonds popped out of the
ground at her feet. ‘No,’ she admitted. ‘In a way, I think he
sent a message through Thanatos. My name wasn’t on
that list of escaped souls. It should have been.’
‘You think your dad is giving you a pass?’ Percy asked.
Hazel shrugged. ‘Pluto can’t visit me or even talk to me
without acknowledging I’m alive. Then he’d have to
enforce the laws of death and have Thanatos bring me
back to the Underworld. I think my dad is turning a blind
eye. I think – I think he wants me to find Nico.’
Percy glanced at the sunrise, hoping to see a warship
descending from the sky. So far, nothing.
‘We’ll find your brother,’ Percy promised. ‘As soon as
the ship gets here, we’ll sail for Rome.’
Hazel and Frank exchanged uneasy looks, like they’d
already talked about this.
‘Percy …’ Frank said. ‘If you want us to come along,
we’re in. But are you sure? I mean … we know you’ve got
tons of friends at the other camp. And you could pick
anyone at Camp Jupiter now. If we’re not part of the seven,
we’d understand –’
‘Are you kidding?’ Percy said. ‘You think I’d leave my
team behind? After surviving Fleecy’s wheat germ,
running from cannibals and hiding under blue giant butts
in Alaska? Come on!’
The tension broke. All three of them started cracking
up, maybe a little too much, but it was a relief to be alive,
with the warm sun shining, and not worrying – at least for
the moment – about sinister faces appearing in the
shadows of the hills.
Hazel took a deep breath. ‘The prophecy Ella gave us –
about the child of wisdom, and the mark of Athena
burning through Rome … do you know what that’s about?’
Percy remembered his dream. Juno had warned that
Annabeth had a difficult job ahead of her, and that she’d
cause trouble for the quest. He couldn’t believe that, but
still … it worried him.
‘I’m not sure,’ he admitted. ‘I think there’s more to the
prophecy. Maybe Ella can remember the rest of it.’
Frank slipped his book into his pocket. ‘We need to
take her with us – I mean, for her own safety. If Octavian
finds out Ella has the Sibylline Books memorized …’
Percy shuddered. Octavian used prophecies to keep
his power at camp. Now that Percy had taken away his
chance at praetor, Octavian would be looking for other
ways to exert influence. If he got hold of Ella …
‘You’re right,’ Percy said. ‘We’ve got to protect her. I just
hope we can convince her –’
‘Percy!’ Tyson came running across the forum, Ella
fluttering behind him with a scroll in her talons. When they
reached the fountain, Ella dropped the scroll in Percy’s
lap.
‘Special delivery,’ she said. ‘From an aura. A wind spirit.
Yes, Ella got a special delivery.’
‘Good morning, brothers!’ Tyson had hay in his hair and
peanut butter in his teeth. ‘The scroll is from Leo. He is
funny and small.’
The scroll looked unremarkable, but when Percy
spread it across his lap, a video recording flickered on the
parchment. A kid in Greek armour grinned up at them. He
had an impish face, curly black hair and wild eyes, like
he’d just had several cups of coffee. He was sitting in a
dark room with timber walls like a ship’s cabin. Oil lamps
swung back and forth on the ceiling.
Hazel stifled a scream.
‘What?’ Frank asked. ‘What’s wrong?’
Slowly, Percy realized the curly-haired kid looked
familiar – and not just from his dreams. He’d seen that
face in an old photo.
‘Hey!’ said the guy in the video. ‘Greetings from your
friends at Camp Half-Blood, et cetera. This is Leo. I’m
the …’ He looked off screen and yelled: ‘What’s my title?
Am I like admiral, or captain, or –’
A girl’s voice yelled back, ‘Repair boy.’
‘Very funny, Piper,’ Leo grumbled. He turned back to
the parchment screen. ‘So yeah, I’m … ah … supreme
commander of the Argo II. Yeah, I like that! Anyway, we’re
gonna be sailing towards you in about, I dunno, an hour in
this big mother warship. We’d appreciate it if you’d not,
like, blow us out of the sky or anything. So okay! If you
could tell the Romans that. See you soon. Yours in
demigodishness, and all that. Peace out.’
The parchment turned blank.
‘It can’t be,’ Hazel said.
‘What?’ Frank asked. ‘You know that guy?’
Hazel looked like she’d seen a ghost. Percy understood
why. He remembered the photo in Hazel’s abandoned
house in Seward. The kid on the warship looked exactly
like Hazel’s old boyfriend.
‘It’s Sammy Valdez,’ she said. ‘But how … how –’
‘It can’t be,’ Percy said. ‘That guy’s name is Leo. And it’s
been seventy-something years. It has to be a …’
He wanted to say a coincidence, but he couldn’t make
himself believe that. Over the past few years he’d seen a
lot of things: destiny, prophecy, magic, monsters, fate. But
he’d never yet run across a coincidence.
They were interrupted by horns blowing in the distance.
The senators came marching into the forum with Reyna at
the lead.
‘It’s meeting time,’ Percy said. ‘Come on. We’ve got to
warn them about the warship.’
‘Why should we trust these Greeks?’ Octavian was saying.
He’d been pacing the senate floor for five minutes,
going on and on, trying to counter what Percy had told
them about Juno’s plan and the Prophecy of Seven.
The senate shifted restlessly, but most of them were too
afraid to interrupt Octavian while he was on a roll.
Meanwhile the sun climbed in the sky, shining through the
broken senate roof and giving Octavian a natural
spotlight.
The Senate House was packed. Queen Hylla, Frank
and Hazel sat in the front row with the senators. Veterans
and ghosts filled the back rows. Even Tyson and Ella had
been allowed to sit in the back. Tyson kept waving and
grinning at Percy.
Percy and Reyna occupied matching praetors’ chairs
on the dais, which made Percy self-conscious. It wasn’t
easy looking dignified wearing a bedsheet and a purple
cape.
‘The camp is safe,’ Octavian continued. ‘I’ll be the first to
congratulate our heroes for bringing back the legion’s
eagle and so much Imperial gold! Truly we have been
blessed with good fortune. But why do more? Why tempt
fate?’
‘I’m glad you asked.’ Percy stood, taking the question as
an opening.
Octavian stammered, ‘I wasn’t –’
‘– part of the quest,’ Percy said. ‘Yes, I know. And you’re
wise to let me explain, since I was.’
Some of the senators snickered. Octavian had no
choice but to sit down and try not to look embarrassed.
‘Gaia is waking,’ Percy said. ‘We’ve defeated two of her
giants, but that’s only the beginning. The real war will take
place in the old land of the gods. The quest will take us to
Rome, and eventually to Greece.’
An uneasy ripple spread through the senate.
‘I know, I know,’ Percy said. ‘You’ve always thought of the
Greeks as your enemies. And there’s a good reason for
that. I think the gods have kept our two camps apart
because whenever we meet we fight. But that can change.
It has to change if we’re to defeat Gaia. That’s what the
Prophecy of Seven means. Seven demigods, Greek and
Roman, will have to close the Doors of Death together.’
‘Ha!’ shouted a Lar from the back row. ‘The last time a
praetor tried to interpret the Prophecy of Seven, it was
Michael Varus, who lost our eagle in Alaska! Why should
we believe you now?’
Octavian smiled smugly. Some of his allies in the
senate began nodding and grumbling. Even some of the
veterans looked uncertain.
‘I carried Juno across the Tiber,’ Percy reminded them,
speaking as firmly as he could. ‘She told me that the
Prophecy of Seven is coming to pass. Mars also
appeared to you in person. Do you think two of your most
important gods would appear at camp if the situation
wasn’t serious?’
‘He’s right,’ Gwen said from the second row. ‘I, for one,
trust Percy’s word. Greek or not, he restored the honour of
the legion. You saw him on the battlefield last night.
Would anyone here say he is not a true hero of Rome?’
Nobody argued. A few nodded in agreement.
Reyna stood. Percy watched her anxiously. Her opinion
could change everything – for better or worse.
‘You claim this is a combined quest,’ she said. ‘You
claim Juno intends for us to work with this – this other
group, Camp Half-Blood. Yet the Greeks have been our
enemies for aeons. They are known for their deceptions.’
‘Maybe so,’ Percy said. ‘But enemies can become
friends. A week ago, would you have thought Romans and
Amazons would be fighting side by side?’
Queen Hylla laughed. ‘He’s got a point.’
‘The demigods of Camp Half-Blood have already been
working with Camp Jupiter,’ Percy said. ‘We just didn’t
realize it. During the Titan War last summer, while you
were attacking Mount Othrys, we were defending Mount
Olympus in Manhattan. I fought Kronos myself.’
Reyna backed up, almost tripping over her toga.
‘You … what?’
‘I know it’s hard to believe,’ Percy said. ‘But I think I’ve
earned your trust. I’m on your side. Hazel and Frank – I’m
sure they’re meant to go with me on this quest. The other
four are on their way from Camp Half-Blood right now.
One of them is Jason Grace, your old praetor.’
‘Oh, come on!’ Octavian shouted. ‘He’s making things
up, now.’
Reyna frowned. ‘It is a lot to believe. Jason is coming
back with a bunch of Greek demigods? You say they’re
going to appear in the sky in a heavily armed warship, but
we shouldn’t be worried.’
‘Yes.’ Percy looked over the rows of nervous, doubtful
spectators. ‘Just let them land. Hear them out. Jason will
back up everything I’m telling you. I swear it on my life.’
‘On your life?’ Octavian looked meaningfully at the
senate. ‘We will remember that, if this turns out to be a
trick.’
Right on cue, a messenger rushed into the Senate
House, gasping as if he’d run all the way from camp.
‘Praetors! I’m sorry to interrupt, but our scouts report –’
‘Ship!’ Tyson said happily, pointing at the hole in the
ceiling. ‘Yay!’
Sure enough, a Greek warship appeared out of the
clouds, about a half a mile away, descending towards the
Senate House. As it got closer, Percy could see bronze
shields glinting along the sides, billowing sails and a
familiar-looking figurehead shaped like a metal dragon.
On the tallest mast, a big white flag of truce snapped in
the wind.
The Argo II. It was the most incredible ship he’d ever
seen.
‘Praetors!’ the messenger cried. ‘What are your orders?’
Octavian shot to his feet. ‘You need to ask?’ His face
was red with rage. He was strangling his teddy bear. ‘The
omens are horrible! This is a trick, a deception. Beware
Greeks bearing gifts!’
He jabbed a finger at Percy. ‘His friends are attacking in
a warship. He has led them here. We must attack!’
‘No,’ Percy said firmly. ‘You all raised me as praetor for
a reason. I will fight to defend this camp with my life. But
these aren’t enemies. I say we stand ready, but do not
attack. Let them land. Let them speak. If it is a trick, then I
will fight with you, as I did last night. But it is not a trick.’
All eyes turned towards Reyna.
She studied the approaching warship. Her expression
hardened. If she vetoed Percy’s orders … well, he didn’t
know what would happen. Chaos and confusion, at the
very least. Most likely, the Romans would follow her lead.
She’d been their leader much longer than Percy.
‘Hold your fire,’ Reyna said. ‘But have the legion stand
ready. Percy Jackson is your duly chosen praetor. We will
trust his word – unless we are given clear reason not to.
Senators, let us adjourn to the forum and meet our … new
friends.’
The senators stampeded out of the auditorium –
whether from excitement or panic, Percy wasn’t sure.
Tyson ran after them, yelling, ‘Yay! Yay!’ with Ella
fluttering around his head.
Octavian gave Percy a disgusted look, then threw down
his teddy bear and followed the crowd.
Reyna stood at Percy’s shoulder.
‘I support you, Percy,’ she said. ‘I trust your judgement.
But, for all our sakes, I hope we can keep the peace
between our campers and your Greek friends.’
‘We will,’ he promised. ‘You’ll see.’
She glanced up at the warship. Her expression turned a
little wistful. ‘You say Jason is aboard … I hope that’s true.
I’ve missed him.’
She marched outside, leaving Percy alone with Hazel
and Frank.
‘They’re coming down right in the forum,’ Frank said
nervously. ‘Terminus is going to have a heart attack.’
‘Percy,’ Hazel said, ‘you swore on your life. Romans
take that seriously. If anything goes wrong, even by
accident, Octavian is going to kill you. You know that,
right?’
Percy smiled. He knew the stakes were high. He knew
this day could go horribly wrong. But he also knew that
Annabeth was on that ship. If things went right, this would
be the best day of his life.
He threw one arm round Hazel and one arm round
Frank.
‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let me introduce you to my other
family.’

Categories: The Son of Neptune