Percy's days became a blur. He settled comfortably into a routine: working with Castellan, doing his chores, weapons training, formation training, and nightly training with Wise Girl, as he had taken to calling her. Before he knew it, five months had past. They had had several close calls of getting caught by others, but no one ever suspected. Percy had yet to best her, coming close every time, but never succeeding. There were occasions where Wise Girl wouldn't show up. She never gave reasons as to why, but Percy didn't need an explanation. It didn't take a genius to figure it out. The evenings she missed, there was always some important occasion taking place at the palace.

There was one time where Percy was delivering the laundry near the castle. He was focused on his task when he heard a distinct feminine voice call out, "You there, boy. Wohoo, boy." Percy looked around, but didn't see anyone. "Up here." Percy looked up and saw three girls in long dresses with their hair done up in curls on a balcony overlooking the city. "Hi." said a girl with dark black hair.

"Uh, hi?" Percy awkwardly responded.

"Could you possibly tell me what time it is?" She grinned. There was nothing friendly about her smile. A girl with brown curls giggled behind her hands, another with blond curls smiled indulgently at the black haired girl.

"Uh, almost noon." Percy said warily.

"Yes, it would make a very fine moon." She replied.

The black haired girl and the brown haired girl burst into laughter. The blond blushed violently. It was only then that he realized that the blond was Wise Girl. He barely recognized her all done up like a real royal lady. He did a double take before hefting the laundry again and moving on. She didn't comment on the exchange later that night, but she didn't quite meet his eyes either. Percy had thought the exchange embarrassing, but nothing to get distracted about. He knew nothing could come of their relationship. Royals and commons didn't mix. But whenever he walked by that way, he couldn't help but glace up at the balcony.

They were approaching the spring solstice, the time when the High King Zeus visited all the kingdoms. Athens was in a flurry of excitement as the city got ready for the visit. The Athenian army was drilling nonstop, so they would be at their best when the king arrived. Evidently, a full demonstration of the armies might was expected. Castellan would accept nothing less than perfect and drilled them mercilessly. He yelled at Percy for missing one button being button on his uniform, missing some steps in the drill, and holding his sword wrong.

Percy had never seen such a big deal for someone's arrival. In Thebes, the most he had ever been involved in the kings arrival was standing in the street with his parents as High King Zeus rode by. He never understood why they stood out on the street, as Zeus never paid them the least bit of notice. Not that he blamed him. Even in their best clothes, they were nothing compared to Zeus and Hera in their pristine clothes in a white carriage trimmed in gold with the procession of servants and soldiers. But here, everyone scrubbed every inch of the streets, houses, walls, street lamps, everything. When the big day arrived, Percy had his bunk and Castellan's bunker completely scrubbed clean and nice and tidy.

On the big day, Percy stood in his back row in the plaza of the palace. It had been made perfectly clear that if anyone messed up, they would be punished. No one moved a muscle. Percy could see the carriage pull up through the gates of the palace. The entire royal family was lined up on the steps. Percy noticed Wise Girl standing perfectly still as though she were a soldier herself, except she was in an elegant white dress. Zeus's elegant carriage rolled into the plaza and pulled to a stop at the steps. Zeus got out of the carriage, then helped his wife. The royals exchanged greetings and then went inside. The entire time, no one moved, no one acknowledged them, and Percy fully expected that they would be out in the sun, never moving, the rest of the day. What felt like an hour later, Percy heard voices in one of the upper balconies and out of the corner of his eye he saw the royals overlooking the Athenian army. The call was sent out and Percy readied himself.

"Ready! Present arms!"

Percy withdrew his sword in sync with the rest of the army and held it in front of him in the first fighting stance. They then continued with the drill showing fighting stances, turning sharply to the right, left or about face. By the end, Percy couldn't help but be proud of himself. He hadn't missed one call. The royals went back inside, and the army marched in straight lines back to their barracks.

Percy was just about to change out of his formal clothes, when Castellan entered. "Rookies," he called, "you're needed in the palace as extra help. Report to Leneus!" The barrack groaned, but everyone kept their formals on and reported at the palace.

Leneus was a short round man with beard that ended in a point. "It's about time you showed up! You're late! Well, don't just stand there, grab the luggage and head up. Grover will show you the way." He motioned toward a skinny, awkward boy with curly hair. Percy turned to a giant boxed wagon filled with trunks. They went to work. Percy was on his forth load, wondering what exactly what could be in so many trunks. Percy had barely enough belongings that would maybe fill up half of one of these trunks. Percy and Grover unloaded the last trunk into the huge suite. Percy was just stretching his back when a voice called out, "Put that trunk at the end of the bed."

Percy looked up and saw Zeus, the Zeus. Percy and Grover did as directed. Grover bowed low right after, Percy followed suite. "Is there anything else we can do to assist you, my lord?" Grover asked.

"Lay the contents of the trunk on the bed." He called as he lay on a chair. This irked Percy. Technically, this wasn't Percy's job, but he helped Grover anyway. The contents of the trunk were not clothes. It was a strange assortments of metal. Tyson would have loved it. But Percy just took out each strange metal piece and laid it on the bed. He felt a jolt run through his body when he picked up a long metal rod. He almost dropped it, but managed to keep it in his hand before he place it on the bed. Once they were done, Zeus excused them.

Grover led Percy out of the maze of the palace. "Thanks for your help." Grover offered a hand.

Percy dutifully took it. "No problem."

"Maybe I'll see you around."

"Um, maybe." Percy called as he left.

Percy was kept busy the rest of the day following Castellan around, helping him with everything he needed. Castellan would be competing in the arena for King Zeus the following day. It was to be a friendly demonstration of the armies best men fighting against Zeus's best men. It was quickly turning into an all out competition. The bookies were quick to get their books filled with bets on who would win the match. Castellan was favored to win by two to ten. Percy thought that Castellan had a good chance of winning, but had no desire to gamble on it.

Percy was to be in charge of Castellan's armor, weapons and any other needs, and was getting everything in order when he came in. Lieutenant Castellan was still dressed in his formals.

"Just finishing up, sir." Percy snapped to attention as you do when a superior enters.

"Fine, fine." Castellan murmured as he lay on his bunk. "As you were." Percy rubbed the last of the polish off the shield before him, when Castellan eyed him. "You've been a really good squire. You have definitely lived up to your word as a hard worker."

"Thank you, sir." Percy stood attention.

"Just come from the palace. Those royals are a backstabbing bunch."

Percy didn't say anything.

"I forgot, you had to help out at the palace. Did everything go okay?"

"Fine, sir."

"What did they have you do?"

"Just take their luggage up to their rooms."

"Really? Was there a lot."

Percy chuckled. "More than an armies worth."

Castellan chuckled. "I'll bet. Nothing but formal balls and garden party's planned this week. They were probably stuffed full of dresses for Queen Hera."

"Not all. Zeus asked me and this other guy to unpack one. It was filled with the strangest things. Just a bunch of metal objects. One of them shocked me."

"Really? What did it look like?"

"Just a rod."

"You don't say?" Castellan looked thoughtful. "Well, I think I'll go get a drink to loosen up my nerves. And if you don't have any other chores, I'm sure your brother would love to see you."

"Thank you, sir." Percy saluted as Castellan left.