The escape went off without a hitch. They were free and clear of the city of Olympus without anyone seeing them, since the guards were too occupied with some drunken soldiers. Percy didn't mind leaving Olympus. He was quite glad to be out of the city. No it was the place they were headed to, that worried Percy. Tyson wasn't taking the news too well either. Of all the places they had to be headed to, Thebes was the last place on earth Percy wanted to see.
Once they had made camp for the night, Percy voiced his concerns. "This is a bad idea. We should avoid Thebes and just continue south." Percy hoped he could convince Annabeth.
"Then we would starve in the wilderness. We need supplies, and it would be rude to turn down King Hermes's hospitality."
"Nothing good happens in Thebes."
"Listen to Percy." Tyson rocked back and forth while staring at the fire, clearly upset.
Annabeth eyed him worriedly for a moment, then set her jaw and said, "We'll be fine. You'll see. Get some rest. We're leaving early."
Thebes was a day and a half's ride straight south from Olympus. The closer they got, the more upset Tyson got and the more jumpy Percy got. Every bush, the wind moving the sand, and shadow, held potential threats. Percy had given up trying to convince Annabeth of the folly of her plan. He had thought about having Tyson travel around the city without them, but outside the city held just as many threats as within did. No it was best they stayed together. Percy hoped his helmet and cloak would cover his face. Tyson was equally pulling frantically on his hood to make sure it was covering his face. Percy half expected for them to be attacked the moment they entered the city, but nothing happened. Annabeth had the gaul to smirk at Percy. Still Percy did not take his hand off of his sword. The streets became familiar as they headed toward Hermes palace. Memories washed over Percy with each passing street. Tyson had stopped all motions and held perfectly still as though waiting for the worst. Percy put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Stay close, we'll get out of this." Tyson gave a slight nod.
At last they reached the palace. Percy's hand on his sword tightened around it. There at the top of the steps stood a man as big as a bear. He smiled widely as they dismounted and descended the stairs to greet them. "Greetings, Princess Annabeth. This is an unexpected surprise."
"You are Hermes's vizier, I presume." Annabeth formally addressed him.
"Agrius, at your service." He bowed deeply.
"I have a note from King Hermes giving you instructions." Annabeth handed him the note.
Agrius took the parchment offered him, opened it and began musing it's contents. "I am commanded to give you rest and supplies." He read. "You're on the hunt for the villain Castellan." He eyed her at this.
Warning bells went off in Percy's head. He wished he could stop Annabeth's response.
"As much as I wish we were, we are not, we have a more important mission at the moment."
"I see." Agrius responded. And Percy really thought he did see. "Please follow me." Annabeth followed him up the stairs with Percy and Tyson following.
Tyson took Percy's instructions a little too literally when he fell into step beside Percy with his shoulder up against his. As soon as they entered the palace, Tyson began to chant, softly at first, so only Percy could hear him, "Left your dead. Left your dead." The moment Agrius took a left turn, Tyson screamed at the top of his lungs, "Left your dead."
A lot of things happened at once. As soon as they turned the corner, the were suddenly surrounded by soldiers. Tyson with all his screaming charged immediately. Percy was right behind Tyson, sword drawn. Annabeth tried to demand answers from Agrius, "What is the meaning of this?"
Agrius smiled casually, "Hermes only wanted you delayed, giving time for other options, but I have different orders, especially regarding you."
At this Annabeth drew her hidden dagger and joined in Percy and Tyson's fight.
"I told you this was a bad Idea." Percy yelled as he parried a sword and stabbed his opponent in the gut.
"Not now." Annabeth gritted her teeth as she slit a soldiers throat.
Percy and Annabeth found themselves fighting back to back. Tyson was on a rampage. He had grabbed a torch as his weapon and used it with deadly force, smashing it over every head that came close. "We've got to get out of here." Percy yelled as he watched more and more soldiers coming down the hallway. Tyson saw them and ran screaming toward them. "Tyson!" Percy screamed after him.
"Percy, look here!" Annabeth called.
Percy drew his attention away from Tyson for just a moment to see Annabeth pull back a tarp and reveal a set of steps behind it. "Were does it go?" Percy asked.
"I don't know, but it's our only escape."
"But Tyson." Percy looked back down the hallway. Tyson and the soldiers were gone. "No!" Percy went to go after him.
"Percy!" Annabeth grabbed him by the arm. Percy glared at her. "We have to go."
He knew she was right. The sound of more soldiers coming was enough to convince Percy. They flew down the steps behind the tarp. They ran blindly for some time until they came out in what Percy recognized the servants barracks. Percy had been here once and knew where to go. He grabbed Annabeth's hand and ran down the street, checking corners before running down the next street. Thebes is a maze, unless you know where you are going. Percy ran down his childhood paths straight to the little shack he knew so well. As soon as they entered it, Percy noticed the dust and the ransacked bins. Didn't take him long, I bet, Percy thought.
"What are we doing here?" Annabeth sounded out of breath and slightly afraid.
Percy didn't answer. He didn't dare speak. Not in this place. Percy quickly moved some items around with a practiced hand. Sugar, flour, eggs and yeast. He then bent and opened up a door in the floor, just like at the cooks. He immediately descended and lit the candles, right where they left them. By the time they were all lit, Annabeth had reached the bottom of the steps. Percy rushed past her and shut the door. He stood on the make shift ladder for some time. He couldn't tell if he was just trying to catch his breath or deal with being back in this place.
"Percy, I'm sorry." Annabeth started.
"Not now." Percy growled. He felt like he was ready to burst.
"Where are we? How did you know this was here?" Annabeth asked.
Percy came down the steps and sat on the bottom rung. He took off his helmet and ran his fingers through his hair.
"You lived in Thebes." Annabeth guessed.
Percy clenched his fist, just to keep them from shaking.
"You and Tyson." She continued. "Tyson's rhyme, your reluctance to come here. This is where you lived."
Percy didn't like how perceptive she was. He wanted out of there and he wanted out of there now. He began scrounging around the room. He found a pack and began filling it with whatever supplies he could find. He paused when he found a bag filled with chocolate sweets, but grabbed it and threw it in anyway. All the while, Annabeth watched his every move. Once Percy knew he had all the supplies he could find, his hand reached for the last item. It paused just above an old box, no bigger than his hand. "Percy." Annabeth stood right behind him. Her breath tickled the hairs on his neck. "Talk to me. What is this place?"
Percy's hand shook. "My mother's sweet shop." He gently opened the box. Inside were some coins, jewelry, and other odds and ends that she had treasured. But what they had both treasured above all was the pile of papers with his mother's handwriting neatly upon it. Percy shut the box quickly and grabbed it off the shelf. Immediately, a shelf on the other side of the room trembled and slid neatly open. Annabeth's mouth opened and then shut quickly. Percy led the way out, quickly lighting a torch. Annabeth silently followed. Once on the other side, Percy threw a lever and the door slid shut.
They walked silently through the tunnel for some time until Annabeth said suddenly, "You once said that if someone is doing something illegal that they would have an escape route."
Percy stopped so suddenly, that Annabeth almost ran into him. He turned to look at her, his anger palpable on his face. "The only illegal thing my mother ever did was plot to leave her abusive husband."
"Why didn't she?" She replied.
Percy turned and continued up the tunnel. He didn't want her to see the tears that were threatening to burst. "She was waiting for her son to be old enough to defend her." It was a terrible excuse. Percy knew it was. But he also knew that it was the truth. He wouldn't have been able to legally take charge of his mother until he was sixteen. Without him taking charge of her, they would have been branded traitors and been stoned.
"Where is she? What happened?" He heard her voice tremble.
Percy paused for just a moment as visions of that terrible night washed over him. He pushed past it and spat out bitterly, "What do you think?"
Annabeth, gratefully, was quiet the rest of their trip through the tunnels. Percy just focused on putting one foot in front of the other, not thinking. Percy recognized the stretch of tunnel that he and Tyson escaped through. He followed the same path and soon they were climbing out of a hole in the ground outside the city walls. He helped Annabeth climb out. "How are we going to get there. We've lost our horses." Annabeth wasn't looking at all like her usual confident self.
Percy smirked. "When in Thebes, do as they do." Annabeth raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "It is, after all, the City of Thieves."