"You will have to do more than that to catch me brother!" Achilles laughed as he rolled under a sword swing that was skillfully aimed at his neck.
"Think again brother, you underestimate me!" The raven haired youth replied as he feinted a thrust towards Achilles' chest causing Achilles to lean backward. While Achilles was off balance, the raven haired youth kicked his feet out from under him, causing Achilles to fall unceremoniously into a heap on the ground.
"I believe that makes us even." The youth said with a goofy grin.
"Just a few more seconds and I would have had you Perseus I swear it by the gods" Thunder rumbled in the distance and the two brothers shook their heads at the reply to the oath. Achilles stuck his arm out so Perseus could pull him up.
"That is what you always say, and yet, here you lay." Perseus clasps the outstretched arm, only to be pulled down to the ground and pinned under Achilles.
"I told you I would've had you. Just a few more seconds" Achilles smirked as he watched his brother squirm under his iron grip.
This went on for a little while longer before a strong, feminine voice rang across the arena. "What are you two doing?"
At this, the boys quickly stood and brushed themselves off. Looking a little sheepish, Achilles started to speak.
"Mother, we were jus—."
"I don't want to hear it Achilles, you two get cleaned up and come inside. You are being sent on your first mission." Thetis turned and walked out of the arena quickly and gracefully.
"I didn't think mom would be this worked up over our first mission, she has been having us train since we were old enough to lift twigs, I would think she would have a little more confidence in us." Perseus said picking his sword off the ground and sheathing it.
"She is our mother Percy, she will always be worried about us. You remember that time we got lost in the woods for a night? She had the army mobilizing by the time we came crawling in the next morning ready to go search for us." Hearing this, Percy laughed at the memory.
"You're not wrong brother, let's get going before she comes back to drag us by our ears like she did last time."
Achilles shivered at the thought and quickly hurried out of the arena and towards the barracks to get cleaned up.
The next day, Percy, Achilles, and eight other soldiers sailed towards the Persian coast to gather information about their naval movements.
"Commander Perseus, Commander Achilles, Persian trireme on the horizon, she's heading straight for us!" The soldier on sentry duty called out.
"Alright, time for a little action, wouldn't you agree Perseus?" Achilles said pulling on his shield.
"Hold on a second, the ships flag, they fly under the flag of truce." Perseus stated. "Put up out white flag and keep heading towards them. We will find out what they want."
It took roughly an hour before the two ships met but when they finally did, they realized that the Persian ship was severely under crewed and was lower in the water than it should be. Which meant the ship was either taking on water or they were carrying a lot of cargo.
"I will go and find out what they want. Achilles, stay here and be ready to leave quickly. I'm not sure what they want and that's always a bad sign with Persians." Percy said before he went to lower the row boat to make the journey towards the Persian ship.
"Let me come with you, if something happens I need to be there to back you up" Achilles pleaded with his brother.
"If something happens I need you to lead our soldiers back. We can't risk both of us Achilles. And besides, the ship is almost empty, I'm pretty sure I can handle a couple of Persian lackeys."
Percy climbed onto the row boat and started to row towards the other ship which floated ominously roughly four-hundred yards away.
ACHILLES' POV
I watched Percy row away but the feeling in my gut that something was about to happen made me nervous. I pushed my nerves aside and started to organize the ship, just incase we need to make a quick get away like Percy had suggested.
After a few minutes, I turn and look out and see Percy pull his boat up alongside the Persian trireme. The feeling I had earlier increased ten-fold and I was about to yell at Percy to get away but it was too late. I had wondered why the ship looked so heavy and why there were so few crew members. Then it hit me. The ship was full of explosives. Right as Percy rowed up next to the ship, the ship was engulfed in a massive ball of fire.
There's no way he could have survived.
