The queen of the Amazons raised her weapon in the air. Polybotes raised his trident in the air with a wicked grin on his face. "Your 'legend' is finished." He sneered. He was signaling the Amazons to ally themselves to him. The Amazons remained motionless. They didn't attack. They didn't charge. The queen just continued to raise her weapon in the air. Could it be? Percy dared to hope and slowly raised his sword in the air, unbeknownst to Polybotes. As one, the Amazons suddenly roared and charged.
"You have lost!" Polybotes looked at him with disdain. "We have taken the city. The palace is only a matter of time. Give up, for here comes the final stone to your grave."
The Amazons, beyond the wall, raced toward the city like a ferocious beast. Percy was beginning to lose courage. How could they fight two armies when the walls had already been breached? Percy desperately searched for a solution as he watched their army join Polybotes. Suddenly, the Amazons began to attack the giants' forces.
Percy laughed; he couldn't help it.
Polybotes twirled back around to see what Percy was laughing about. "What?" He exclaimed in disbelief.
Percy couldn't believe his luck. He could just make out Hylla leading the charge. "Stay your weapons from the Amazons!" Percy yelled to Mac. "They are our allies!" He looked right at Polybotes as he said the last line. "Spread the word!"
Polybotes screwed up his face in anger. "You will not live another day!" He roared as he raised his trident.
Polybotes stabbed at Percy, but all he hit was wall, as Percy ducked last minute and rolled past him. He swung out as he popped back up, but he only managed to graze his armor. Polybotes freed his trident from the wall and turned to face Percy. He looked unhinged. Battle raged all around them as Polybotes studied him.
Percy twirled his sword and ready himself. "I suppose your tiny brain is trying to figure out what happened." Percy taunted. "You probably already figured out that I had been captured by the Amazons. Well, I made a deal with another leader, who it seems challenged the queen and won. And I don't think the new queen likes you very much."
Polybotes attacked swiftly, but erratically. Percy managed to block his trident with his sword, but Polybotes was determined to push it through him. Percy pushed against it with all his strength, desperate to keep it from so much as scratching him.
Polybotes suddenly used the rod of the trident to sweep Percy's legs out from under him. He landed hard on his back and Polybotes aimed at Percy's neck. In a desperate attempt, Percy managed to roll out of the way before the poisoned trident came down. Percy swung his sword out again, this time he managed to slice Polybotes' right achilles.
Polybotes roared in anger, as he turned to attack again, this time with a limp. He swung out violently. Percy raised his sword to ready himself for the blow, when a column of fire appeared between the two.
Percy looked to see where it had come from. Fear struck Percy at the sight of a livid Poseidon aiming his trident at them. "Don't touch my son!" Poseidon roared. "Now put your weapon down. Your army has been defeated."
Polybotes looked around at where the battle had been raging moments ago to see his men surrendering and throwing their weapons down. "No! Cowards!" He cursed them. He looked back at Percy with such venom, Percy could feel his hatred radiating off of him.
Polybotes swung his trident at Percy. While Percy went to meet the blow, Poseidon fired his trident at Polybotes. Percy raised an arm to shield his face as he watched the flames engulf Polybotes. Polybotes' trident never struck Percy's sword. When Poseidon stopped firing, Polybotes was nowhere to be seen.
"Spread out!" Poseidon ordered the nearby soldiers. "Find him!"
"Yes, your majesty." They declared as they ran off in different groups.
Blackjack trotted over with General Reyna close behind. "Your horse is a ruthless fighter." Reyna commented as she saluted him. Then she taunted, "You are in so much trouble."
Percy looked back at Poseidon to see him frowning at Percy. He remembered how scary looking he was when he was so angry. "Percy." Poseidon's stern voice called out.
Percy swallowed his fear and turned to face the wrath that was sure to come. "I know you're angry that I disobeyed you, but I . . ." Percy didn't get to finish as Poseidon grabbed him into a bear hug. "Are you still mad at me, because this hurts." Percy managed to croak out.
Poseidon finally released him. He didn't say anything, but he didn't need to. He thought he had lost Percy, which flooded Percy with guilt.
"Er, excuse me, your majesty, your highness. We have defeated the enemy with the help of the Amazons. Their queen approaches now." Mac announced.
Percy turned to see Hylla walking toward them. She looked fearless, but tense. Percy could only imagine the precarious position she had put herself in. He turned to Reyna and quickly instructed, "Perhaps the queen of the Amazons would feel more comfortable speaking with the highest ranking woman in the Atlantian army."
Rena gave him a quick glance before a small smile graced her lips as she went up to meet the approaching queen. "Queen Hylla of the Amazons. I am General Reyna of Atlantis. Would you like to go someplace private to discuss treaty terms?" Reyna said formally.
Hylla glanced ever so subtly at Percy before smiling at Reyna. "I would like that. I have a feeling that the queen of Atlantis will be indisposed as it is. We took the liberty of escorting your dead." She turned and gestured for the wagon Hazel Frank and Ella rode in to come forward. "I will let you mourn." With that she followed Reyna toward the palace, most likely to Reyna's office.
Percy turned back to Poseidon. Poseidon looked at the wagon with a grave and sorrowful look. "We found him dead, by Alcyoneus who had him propped up like a trophy. Alcyoneus wielded the trident as his trophy." Poseidon's grip on his trident tightened. "Sargent Hazel defeated him."
Poseidon looked at her with surprise.
"I had help." She replied back in a defensive tone as she poignantly glanced at Percy.
"Poseidon slowly made his way over to the side of the wagon and removed the cloth covering the face of Triton. He sighed heavily and replaced the covering. "This will be a terrible blow to Amphitrite. Will you help me break the news to her."
Frank and Ella got out of the wagon, and Hazel urged Arion forward. Percy and Poseidon walked somberly behind. The street was lined with battle worn soldiers looking on with reverence. The closer they got to the palace the more citizens there were, paying their respects.
Poseidon finally broke the silence and asked, "What happened?"
Percy wasn't sure where to begin: sneaking out of Atlantis, being captured by the Amazons, Phineas. But, looking at his somber face, there was only one thing Poseidon wanted to know right now. The rest could wait. "The giant Alcyoneus said that he killed Triton. He . . . " Percy thought about saving Poseidon the image of his son hanging beside Alcyoneus' throne as a trophy, but Poseidon motioned for him to continue. Percy took a steadying breath and continued, "Alcyoneus had him in a cage hanging beside his makeshift throne."
Percy watched as Poseidon clenched his jaw and closed his fist.
"Hazel delivered the final blow. Alcyoneus is dead."
"You have avenged your brother and given us closure. He had a warriors death; he will have a heroes burial."
"Alcyoneus spoke of hundreds of ships coming to attack Olympus. They still have Nico. Olympus needs to be warned."
Poseidon dazedly nodded his head in agreement. Get your fastest riders ready. I'll . . . I'll write up a plee."
The wagon came to a stop in front of the steps leading into the palace. Amphitrite appeared at the top of the stairs. She hurried down to greet her husband "I am told we have won, thanks to Perseus' arrival. I am glad you have returned. Poseidon was beside himself." She hesitated at Percy and Poseidon's somber look and asked, "What is it?"
Percy looked to Poseidon, but his eyes were red, and he looked choked up. Percy immediately spoke up to save Poseidon from speaking "We tracked Nico to an enemy encampment, where they were loading a ship. the giant, Alcyoneus, had . . .," Percy swallowed roughly. He struggled to find the right word to break the news softly. Amphitrite's green eyes bore into him. He realized that there was no easy way. He placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "We found Triton's body. He's dead."
Amphitrite stepped back shaking her head. "No." She barely whispered. Then her eyes turned to the wagon.
"Amphitrite!" Poseidon moved to stop her, but it was too late. She removed the covering from Triton's body, revealing his decaying corpse.
"No!" She screamed in horror and grief. "No! No!"
Poseidon embraced her as she collapsed to the ground. Percy covered the corpse back up again. Poseidon managed to guide Amphitrite back into the palace as she wailed inconsolably, leaving Percy and Hazel alone.
Percy looked around awkwardly, unsure of what to do next.
"I'll take him to Will." Hazel said quietly.
"Thank you." Percy said. She nodded once and urged Arion forward. "I'd like you to get ready to ride to Olympus."
"Me?" Hazel said with surprise, as she stopped Arion's progress.
"You've got the fastest horse. And no one else is going to ride it." Percy replied logically.
"I, I can't, your highness." Hazel looked down as though she were ashamed.
"Why not?" Percy asked, truly perplexed.
"I can't because Zeus won't listen to a female soldier like me. He barely acknowledged General Reyna during the battle of Orthys."
"Take Frank with you, then. But you're going." Percy turned to leave, paused, then turned back to Hazel. "While you're there, could you deliver something for me?"
"Of course, your highness." Hazel replied earnestly.