Chapter 33
Percy was still trying to figure out what to say as he walked down the hallway to his father's study. Part of him wanted to just burst in and demand he let Leo go, but that wouldn't work. Likely it would just make the king less inclined to give in. He needed to try and reason him into it, but unfortunately reasoning wasn't exactly Percy's strong suit. The best argument he had was Piper, that she was friends with him, that it would mean a lot to her if he was freed. Even knowing that though, he was still nervous. Like he had told Annabeth this probably wasn't going to work.
He knew waiting would just make it worse though, so he took a deep breath and turned the corner. The guards on duty were clearly surprised to see him, but Percy did his best not to let that hinder him as he walked up. Sounding as royal as he could "I need to speak with my father."
One glanced at the other, before shrugging and entering the room. For a few minutes, Percy was left with just the other guard, before the door was opened. Instead of walking out, the guard merely held it open for him, and taking another deep breath, Percy walked forward to enter.
Normally when he entered the room, Poseidon was working at his desk, not even watching as Percy did so. Now though, the king, while still sitting in at his desk, was facing the door. Percy just walked forward, taking his normal place near the center, back straight, but tilting his head to meet Poseidon's eyes. He waited for him to speak first, which happened just a moment later. "Well, I take it you didn't just come here to look at me."
"No sir," Percy agreed, still not sure how to do this, before taking a deep breath and as confidently as he could tried to just push forward "I'm sure you are aware Princess Piper's maid, Hazel, came with her from her kingdom?"
"I was informed someone accompanied her," Poseidon said, nodding and raising an eyebrow "Why are you telling me about her?"
Poseidon seemed to actually be paying attention and interested in what he was saying, which caught Percy off guard a bit, but he tried not to let that phase him. He needed to focus before he lost his nerve.
"She was making her way about the castle, which she has permission to do, with a friend of both her's and Piper's. They were stopped by some guards," Percy continued "At the end of the exchange, her friend was escorted away and as far as we are aware he is still being held in the dungeons."
"And I take it you would like the boy released?" Poseidon replied simply, waiting for Percy to confirm it.
"It would mean a lot to both Hazel and the princess if he were to be," Percy agreed, nodding a bit at that "Especially considering he didn't do anything to warrant being held in the first place."
To Percy's slight surprise, his father nodded, and pushed himself up simply asking "Are you going to tell me his name or am I just supposed to go let out every single person in the dungeon?"
That caught Percy once again off guard. Was he actually going to do it? "Leo Valdez. He is an apprentice to the blacksmiths here at the castle."
"And you said this happened yesterday?" Poseidon waited till Percy nodded, before walking over to another small table which was also covered in papers. As he shifted through the papers, Percy felt his heart rate quicken. This might actually be working. They might actually be able to get him out without having to break him out. For once in his life the easy way was actually going to work.
"I'm afraid releasing him is not going to be possible," Poseidon replied, lowering the paper he was reading "The guards found stolen objects in his bag, ones doubtlessly taken from the castle, which is considered an act of treason."
Percy's stomach dropped. Of course it wasn't going to be that easy. Things never went that easily for him. Trying not to let the disappointment show on his face he shook his head "They must have been mistaken. Hazel assures me that she was with him the whole time, and that there was no way he could have taken anything without her realizing."
"Then she wasn't paying close enough attention," Poseidon replied, shaking his head as well, and moving to hand Percy the paper "It's all there if you want to read it for yourself. Maybe she needs to be more careful about who she makes friends with. I'm sure given the circumstances and this information the princess will be more than understanding about the whole thing."
Percy didn't move to take the paper. Part of him wanted to argue with his father, but he knew it wouldn't work. This had nothing to do with Leo stealing things, which Percy was sure he hadn't done. No more then the weekend before had been about trespassing. There was no way Poseidon was going to just let Leo go, and really Percy had nothing he could use to force him to do so. Anger and frustration surged through him, but he did his best not to let it show. It wouldn't help. It would just let Poseidon know they were going to end up trying something else.
"I understand," Percy replied, nodding "Thank you for checking for me. I will let the princess know, and I'm sure she will understand as well."
"Very good," Poseidon said, though Percy got the feeling that wasn't really what he was thinking. The man was looking at him, but try as he might, Percy couldn't get a very good read on what the expression he was being given was "If there is nothing else, then I have work to get back to."
Percy didn't reply, just turned on his heel, and walked out of the room.
It wasn't until he he was three hallways away that Percy finally stopped, leaning against one of the walls and letting out a breath. Reaching up to run a hand through his hair he glanced down the hall, trying to figure out what to do. He had to tell Piper, obviously, but he didn't want to. It was what he had been expecting, and likely what she was expecting him to tell her, but that didn't mean he wanted to do it. But it would be easier to tell her if he already had a plan- or at least, the start of a plan.
Taking a deep breath, Percy nodded to himself, before turning to head away from Piper's room, and towards the library.