The Feast of Fortuna had nothing to do with tuna, which was fine with Percy.
Campers, Amazons and Lares crowded the mess hall for a lavish dinner. Even the fauns were invited, since they'd helped out by bandaging the wounded after the battle. Wind nymphs zipped around the room, delivering orders of pizza, burgers, steaks, salads, Chinese food, and burritos, all flying at terminal velocity.
Despite the exhausting battle, everyone was in good spirits. Casualties had been light, and the few campers who'd previously died and come back to life, like Gwen, hadn't been taken to the Underworld. Maybe Thanatos had turned a blind eye. Or maybe Pluto had given those folks a pass, like he had for Hazel. Whatever the case, nobody complained.
Colorful Amazon and Roman banners hung side-by-side from the rafters. The restored golden eagle stood proudly behind the praetor's table, and the walls were decorated with cornucopias — magical horns of plenty that spilled out recycling waterfalls of fruit, chocolate, and fresh-baked cookies.
The cohorts mingled freely with the Amazons, jumping from couch to couch as they pleased, and for once the soldiers of the Fifth were welcome everywhere. Percy changed seats so many times, he lost track of his dinner.
There was a lot of flirting and arm-wrestling — which seemed to be the same thing for the Amazons. At one point Percy was cornered by Kinzie, the Amazon who'd disarmed him in Seattle. He had to explain that he already had a girlfriend. Fortunately Kinzie took it well. She told him what had
happened after they'd left Seattle — how Hylla had defeated her challenger Otrera in two consecutive duels to the death, so that the Amazons were now calling their queen Hylla Twice-Kill.
"Otrera stayed dead the second time," Kinzie said, batting her eyes. "We have you to thank for that. If you ever need a new girlfriend. ..well, I think you'd look great in an iron collar and an orange jumpsuit."
Percy couldn't tell if she was kidding or not. He politely thanked her and changed seats.
Once everyone had eaten and the plates stopped flying, Reyna made a short speech. She formally welcomed the Amazons, thanking them for their help. Then she hugged her sister and everybody applauded.
Reyna raised her hands for quiet. "My sister and I haven't always seen eye to eye — "
"That's an understatement," Daria muttered next to Percy, but she was smiling.
"She joined the Amazons," Reyna continued. "I joined Camp Jupiter. But looking around this room, I think we both made good choices. Strangely, our destinies were made possible by the hero you all just raised to praetor on the battlefield — Percy Jackson."
More cheering. The sisters raised their glasses to Percy and beckoned him forward.
Everybody asked for a speech, but Percy didn't know what to say. He protested that he really wasn't the best person for praetor, but the campers drowned him out with applause. Reyna took away his probatio neck plate. Octavian shot him a dirty look, then turned to the crowd and smiled like this was all his idea. He ripped open a teddy bear and pronounced good omens for the coming year — Fortuna would bless them. He passed his hand over Percy's arm and shouted: "Percy Jackson, son of Neptune, first year of service!"
The Roman symbols burned onto Percy's arm: a trident, SPQR, and a single stripe. It felt like someone was pressing a hot iron into his skin, but Percy managed not to scream.
Octavian embraced him and whispered, "I hope it hurt."
Then Reyna gave him an eagle medal and purple cloak, symbols of the praetor. "You earned these, Percy."
Queen Hylla pounded him on the back. "And I've decided not to kill you."
"Urn, thanks," Percy said.
He made his way around the mess hall one more time, because all the campers wanted him at their table. Vitellius the Lar followed, stumbling over his shimmering purple toga and readjusting his sword, telling everyone how he'd predicted Percy's rise to greatness.
"I demanded he join the Fifth Cohort!" the ghost said proudly. "Spotted his talent right away!"
Don the faun popped up in a nurse's hat, a stack of cookies in each hand. "Man, congrats and stuff! Awesome! Hey, do you have any spare change?"
All the attention embarrassed Percy, but he was happy to see how well Hazel and Frank were being treated. Everyone called them the saviors of Rome, and they deserved it. There was even talk about reinstating Frank's great-grandfather, Shen Lun, to the legion's roll of honor. Apparently he hadn't caused the 1 906 earthquake after all.
Daria was chatting with Micheal Kahale; and when was she not really? It looked like they were playfully bickering about something as their other friends contributed to the conversation. She glanced up, grinning at Reyna before returning to wacking Micheal with a spoon.
Percy sat for a while with Tyson and Ella, who were honored guests at Dakota's table. Tyson kept calling for peanut-butter sandwiches, eating them as fast as the nymphs could deliver. Ella perched at his shoulder on top of the couch and nibbled furiously on cinnamon rolls.
"Cinnamon rolls are good for harpies," she said. "June twenty-fourth is a good day. Roy Disney's birthday, and Fortuna's Feast, and Independence Day for Zanzibar. And Tyson."
She glanced at Tyson, then blushed and looked away.
After dinner, the entire legion got the night off. Percy and his friends drifted down to the city, which wasn't quite recovered from the battle, but the fires were out, most of the debris had been swept up, and the citizens were determined to celebrate.
At the Pomerian Line, the statue of Terminus wore a paper party hat.
"Welcome, praetor!" he said. "You need any giants' faces smashed while you're in town, just let me know."
"Thanks, Terminus," Percy said. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Yes, good. Your praetor's cape is an inch too low on the left. There — that's better. Where is my assistant? Julia!"
The little girl ran out from behind the pedestal. She was wearing a green dress tonight, and her hair was still in pigtails. When she smiled, Percy saw that her front teeth were starting to come in. She held up a box full of party hats.
Percy tried to decline, but Julia gave him the big adoring eyes.
"Ah, sure," he said. "I'll take the blue crown."
She offered Daria a gold pirate hat. "I'm gonna be Percy Jackson when I grow up," she told Daria solemnly.
Daria smiled and ruffled her hair. "That's a good thing to be, Julia."
"Although," Frank said, picking out a hat shaped like a polar bear's head, "Frank Zhang would be good too."
"Frank!" Hazel said, wearing her jeweled crown.
They put on their hats and continued to the forum, which was lit up with multicolored lanterns. The fountains glowed purple. The coffee shops were doing a brisk business, and street musicians filled the air with the sounds of guitar, lyre, panpipes, and armpit noises. (Percy didn't get that last one. Maybe it was an old Roman musical tradition.)
The goddess Iris must've been in a party mood too. As Percy and his friends strolled past the damaged Senate House, a dazzling rainbow appeared in the night sky. Unfortunately the goddess sent another blessing, too — a gentle rain of gluten-free R.O.F.L. cupcake simulations, which Percy figured would either make cleaning up harder, or rebuilding easier. The cupcakes would make great bricks.
For a while, Percy wandered the streets with Daria, Hazel, and Frank, who kept brushing shoulders.
Finally, he said, "I'm a little tired, guys. You go ahead." Daria agreed.
Hazel and Frank protested, but Percy could tell they wanted some time alone.
As he headed back to camp, he saw Mrs. O'Leary playing with Hannibal in the Field of Mars. Finally, she'd found a playmate she could roughhouse with. They frolicked around, slamming into each other, breaking fortifications, and generally having an excellent time.
Daria gazed around probably thinking about the same things he was. Percy didn't want to ruin the mood, but he knew he had to ask. "Daria," they stopped at the fort gates, across from the valley. "Who is your mother?"
She bit her lip, staring at the eastern horizon as if the ship were about to arrive any second. "I don't know. I think it could be Ceres."
"Demeter can't control metal." He pointed out. "Plus, didn't the grain spirits serve her? She wouldn't attack her own daughter."
She grimaced when he said that, as if she had been physically hurt. "I've been looking into it. There's a possibility Ops could be my mother," she searched his expression. "You would know her as Rhea-Saturn's wife."
"Isn't Kronos's wife evil?"
Daria stared at him, "She's the one who saved Jupiter, Turtle Brain."
Right. "Turtle Brain?"
She shrugged, walking with him to the Via Principalis. Reyna had told her to show him to the second praetor's house, Jason Grace's house. "You deserved it."
They reached the house, which was beautifully constructed. Daria pushed the door open, turning on the lights before making her way to the kitchen.
"You seem to know your way around," Percy commented as he took in the decor. As much as there were remnants of Jason's life here, Percy could tell that half the house was basically Daria's.
The girl in question blushed lightly as she got a glass of water, "Shut up."
Percy gasped mockingly, "Are you sleeping with the Praetor, Daria Jackson?"
This time she gave him the middle finger. "Shut up!"
He looked around, suddenly growing uncomfortable. Medals of Honor were hung on the wall next to pictures of Jason Grace's life. This was another man's house; not his. "I can't stay here."
Daria didn't look surprised. She nodded, setting down her glass before running a hand through her hair. "Let's go then."
Daria and Gaea needed to have a chat. She crawled underneath her covers, sleep came easy to her after the battle. She only wished her dreams were as peaceful.
Gaea stood there, in the same forest setting, in the same ivory white dress. She didn't seem to hear Daria, but the demigod wasn't about to approach her. She mustered up her strength, preparing to speak.
"My daughter," Gaea crooned. "The most powerful demigod to grace the earth."
Daria ignored her. "What do you want from me?" She demanded. "I don't understand how you can train me only to send forces to kill the people I care about."
"You are destined for greatness." The goddess said simply. "Don't you recall what the gods said? You will betray your friends, and then," she paused. "You will serve me."
Daria crossed her arms. "Why would I do that?"
Gaea turned and Daria stumbled backwards. Her once forest green eyes had been replaced with swirling black voids. The air grew frigid and Daria could feel her mother's powers take effect on the mood of the life around them. The once still and tall willow began to thrash angrily, the grass rustled with hidden monsters.
"I promise you this," Gaea's voice echoed. "Do my bidding and your friends will be spared." Her eyes glinted, "Betray me, my dearest, and I will kill them all."
"And if I joined you," Daria hesitated. "I would also help rule the world?"
"I will give you everything you've ever wanted," she promised.
Daria willed the earth into a frenzy. A dirt storm started destroying everything in its path, overturning heavy rocks and causing the howling wind to turn into a piercing shrill. "You have yourself a deal."
The next morning Daria and her friends ate breakfast early, then headed into the city before the senate was due to convene. She did her best not to think about her dream last night, but in moments of silence she could hear her mother's voice in her head. Gaea had assured her that she was done with her midnight training sessions. Daria wished it was that simple.
She knew that Gaea would visit again and again with her list of demands, waiting to be fulfilled by none other than her daughter. Side quests and betrayals, that was the future that Daria had signed up for; and in all honesty, she could see where Gaea was coming from. The gods had caused them nothing but pain for as long as Daria had been alive. She was just doing what she had to.
On the way to the senate 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 four of them — a parade around the city followed by a week of games and celebrations — but Daria 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. Daria 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 who passed them to Daria. "Like the Tooth Fairy visited."
The book was The Art of War by Sun Tzu. She 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 favorite book. Give it a read. P S.- I hope your friend Percy has learned some respect for me.
"Wow." Percy said as she handed back the book. "Maybe Mars is different from 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 Daria got the feeling Frank wasn't telling them everything. She wondered if Mars had said something about her cousin, and if she 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," Daria 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. Daria wondered if they'd started dating. She hoped so, but she 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?" Daria 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."
Daria glanced at the sunrise, hoping to see a warship descending from the sky. So far, nothing.
"We'll find your brother," Daria 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, Daria..." 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 eight, 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?"
"Friends who ride Arion together stay together," Daria grinned.
The tension broke. All four 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?"
"I'm not sure," Percy 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..."
Daria 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 and sister!" 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 armor 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, Daria realized the curly-haired kid looked familiar, but she didn't know from where.
"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 toward 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?" Daria asked. "You know that guy?"
Hazel looked like she'd seen a ghost."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..."
"What?" Daria asked. "A coincidence?" Demigods didn't have those.
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," Daria said. "Come on. We've got to warn them about the warship."
Thanks for reading! And thank you for all the hype lol, last chapter will be posted tomorrow!
-M