Hi!
I'm trying to update at least once a week. It's working, so far.
This is a part of the two missing hours in Chapter 5.
I had to edit a few minute details in Chapters 4 and 5 (Peace in A Warship I and II) to fit this in.
Thank you for the review, SapphireShadowgirl.
And thank you too General E for following this story.
I just read Mark of Athena. I'm not done yet, because of all the school work I have and the other projects I'm in the middle of, but I can safely say that Mark of Athena, or any of the books to come, never happened/will happen.
Two hours before…
"And what of the prophecy of the seven? You can't just ignore it!"
Octavian was furious. It was a welcome change for me, actually. In the few hours since I'd first seen him, he struck me as a brooding loner who hated everyone's guts. Even stuffed toys'.
Reyna had decided to call a meeting between herself, the chosen seven, Annabeth, Percy, Piper, Jason, me, and these two other kids from Camp Jupiter called Hazel and Frank, Octavian, Lupa and Chiron.
"The prophecy will be fulfilled no matter what, right?" Percy asked.
Lupa nodded, making me cringe. The she-wolf freaked the heck out of me. "That is our understanding."
"Then won't it not matter if we go to Hogwarts or not?"
Hazel nodded, still looking at me curiously, like she was trying to figure something out. She freaked me out, too. "For all we know, the quest has something to do with that place."
Jason nodded. "Besides., it can't be a coincidence that we have a prophecy and that trouble is brewing elsewhere."
Lupa's eyes sparkled. "What say you, Preator?"
Everyone, including Percy and Jason, turned to look at Reyna.
"I—It—" Reyna struggled to find words. Even though I barely knew her, I could tell that being tongue-tied wasn't really on her daily schedule. Taking a deep breath, she started again.
"I agree with Lupa. And yet, you must understand. It is not in Rome's nature to work with anyone—"
"Then don't!" Nico stood up and slammed his palms on the table, his dark eyes glittering. The guy had been on the edge ever since we'd left Camp Half-Blood. "Why don't you just stay here, in your cozy little camp, while one of the safest places in the wizarding community is being attacked! Maybe you'll rethi8nk your choices when mug—mortals start dying by the hundreds." He made to leave, but Hazel who was kind of like his sister, grabbed his arm.
Their eyes met for a moment, and Nico shook his arm loose.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, some of us actually want to help other magical folk." With that, he stalked were all silent for a while.
"The son of Hades has a point," Lupa commented, breaking the silence.
Reyna thought this over. "What do you think Chiron?"
That was when I realized that Chiron hadn't spoken yet. "It is not my place to say, as I hold no authority in this camp, but I agree with Lupa," he smiled that rare smile of his that showed years of wisdom and knowledge. "If I were you, daughter of Bellona, I would consult with my fellow Preators."
Reyna turned to Percy and Jason.
Percy nodded. "They need our help," he said.
"I believe it best," Jason said. I almost forgot how formal he could be.
"Very well," Reyna said, if not a bit begrudgingly. "Camp Jupiter will join forces with the others."
Reyna turned to me. "How many more people can fit on the Argo II?"
I was not expecting this. "Well, there's a lot of spacew, but no beds. I guess we could use hammocks or sleeping bags and stuff."
"And how many would fit, with sleeping bags?"
I did a quick mental computation. "Around five—no, six hundred more people."
"The ship has that much space?" Annabeth was incredulous.
"There are seven floors."
"Why would you build a warship that big, meant for only seven people?" Octavian asked, suspicious.
"It was Festus's idea."
"Festus?" Frank asked.
"The head mast," Piper supplied.
"I see," Octavian said. "Your head mast told you."
"Look, Pot. Your stuffed toys tell you the future, don't they? At least I didn't have to mutilate Festus."
A few people snickered. Even Lupa, Chiron, and Reyna seemed to smile a little. Octavian looked the most attractive. He was sputtering, and his mouth was opening and closing by itself.
"Close your mouth, Octavian. You wouldn't want to swallow flies, would you?"
His usually pale face turned purplish-red, and it resembled a shrivelled prune.
Reyna rose. "I will call an assembly. Six hundred more warriors will be ready before three o'clock. Are you sure you have enough rations?"
Six hundred warriors? Ready before three pm? These Romans were crazy. They couldn't possibly assemble six hundred warriors in an hour. Could they?
But I nodded anyway. "Yup. Rations, we got. But the sleeping bags—"
"Will be provided for," Reyna said simply. "Just make sure there is enough space in your vessel."
Vessel. Oh boy. "Yes, ma'am."
Just to clarify, it is Leo POV.
Till next week (hopefully),
~SkellyVal
