"Jackson! Stop swooning and get down here!" An irritated voice yelled up at him.

Percy stood at the top of the mast looking out to sea. Athena's ship was slightly ahead of them. She actually had several ships, but Queen Athena and Annabeth would be in the biggest of the fleet. There was a strong wind at their backs, and the sail billowed full. But someone else also occupied Percy's mind. They were approaching the group of islands that Percy had spent some time on. Percy couldn't help but wonder about Calypso.

"Now!" Captain Hedge bellowed.

Captain Hedge had sort of taken Percy under his wing and was teaching him the ins and outs of sailing. He was a fierce and strict captain. He took no nonsense from anyone, even Poseidon. He had noticed that Poseidon looked a lot more content at sea. He wasn't sure if it was because Amphitrite wasn't here or if he just liked the ocean. He grabbed one of the ropes that held the sail, and using a piece of cloth, he slid down the rope and landed safely on the deck of the boat.

"You're going to wear out the cloth or your hand if you keep doing that." He barked. "Now tie off the rope." He ordered.

"Yes, sir." Percy did as Captain Hedge instructed and tied off the rope exactly how Hedge had shown him earlier.

"Not bad. It could be tighter." Captain Hedge never really gave a compliment or praise, but over the last few days Percy could tell when he approved of his crew's work. Percy's curiosity about the ship had gotten on the Captain's nerves. He told Percy, "If you're going to be up here then be of some use." Percy was more than happy to pitch in and help. Not only did he find it fascinating, but it helped to take his mind off of things. In just a few short days he had learned several knots and the terminology of the boat. The army took turns rowing the boat. A steady drum set the rhythm. But now that there was a strong wind at their backs, the men had a respite, letting them rest.

"Enemy ships ahead!" A sailor called out. Captain Hedge ran to the bow of the ship, with Percy right behind him. Far in the distance he could barely make out the ships.

"At our current rate, we'll be on them in the hour."

"You think we'll catch them?" Percy asked.

Captain Hedge gave Percy a look. "Oh we'll catch them. They're headed right for us."

"But Nico . . ."

"Has probably already reached his destination if not almost there. No, this is the invading armies." Captain Hedge said grimly.

Percy's mouth went dry. It was going to be a battle on the sea.

"Notify the rowers." Captain Hedge ordered a sailor.

"Yes, sir." He crisply saluted and went below.

Percy saw other ships live with activity, as they prepared for battle. The oarsmen would be arming themselves, as marines were gearing up and coiling grappling hooks. Archers tested their bows, and checked their supply of arrows. Percy couldn't help but think about Tyson, rowing on the lowest deck. Percy checked the surrounding ships and noticed that Athen's ships were falling back. "What are the Athenians doing?" Percy wondered aloud.

Hedge followed Percy's line of sight and grunted, "They'll engage as soon as the rest of us have. They always attack by flanking the enemy. Making them fight on two fronts."

"Clever." Percy said admirably. "What's our tactic?"

"Ram 'em, board 'em, and destroy them." Captain Hedge said with a glint of glee. He actually looked like he looked forward to this.

Percy kept his hand on his sword, watching the ships get ever closer. Frank and Hazel stood on either side of him with the rest of the available men that were not rowing behind him. The beat of the drums was beginning to speed up. He could see the ships quite clearly now. "Archers, arm yourselves!" Captain Hedge ordered.

The archers notched their arrows into their bows and kept it at the ready. The ships were swiftly approaching each other. Percy looked to the left in time to see a Thesean ship launch a flaming ball of fire. It hit an enemy ship perfectly, causing all sorts of mayhem. "One ship down, thirteen to go." Hedge grunted. Percy looked to his right to see the Spartans, ready to board with a thirst to fight. Beyond them were the Olympians, Ephyrans, Thebeians, and the Corinthians. Percy could see the men on the enemy ship, a bunch of unkept and rugged looking men. He wondered if they came from the pit.

"Time for you to join your father, your highness." Captain Hedge ordered, "Archers ready!" The archers aimed their bows at the sky.

"But I'm fighting, too." Percy protested.

"Aim! Hedge ordered, then turned to Percy, "You're the prince. I'm not losing you on my watch. My ship, my orders." Captain Hedge made the issue final.

"Your highness." Hazel said tentatively as she motioned down a path that had been cleared for him. Percy reluctantly moved toward the back of the ship.

Captain Hedge kept his eyes on the approaching enemy ship. "Fire!" He yelled.

The archers let their arrows fly. They watched as they rained down on the enemy soldiers.

"Incoming!" Hedge yelled.

Everyone raised their shields over their heads as arrows came raining down on them.

"Archers, fire at will, and move to high ground." Hedge ordered. "Faster beat." He ordered the oarsmen.

The drum began beating at twice its tempo, as the ship raced through the waters. The ships were almost on top of them.

"Oars in! Brace for impact!"

The two ships collided at an incredible rate. Grappling hooks were thrown from both sides securing the ships together. The soldiers fought off any soldiers coming on board and fought to get onboard the enemy ship. It was pure chaos. The sound of battle could be heard all across the sea. The front line was like an impasse. Neither soldier was getting anywhere. Arrows were raining down everywhere. Percy didn't see how this was going to get them anywhere. Frank and Hazel had taken forward positions in front of Percy. Without even thinking about it, Percy undid the nearest rope and took a running start and swung himself across to the other ship. He landed just behind the other forces. Some soldiers, noticing his arrival, yelped in surprise. Others turn to attack him, which he quickly dispatched of. He began attacking the force from behind. At first he had taken the majority by surprise, but they soon turned to face him, and before he knew it he was surrounded on an enemy's ship. Suddenly, a body came flying out of nowhere and landed on several soldiers. It was Frank, and he was looking a little disoriented but determined as he struggled to stand up.

"Nice landing." Percy commented as Frank got up. Together, they were able to cover each other's backs and fight the circling enemy. It felt like forever, but between the soldiers boarding and them fighting from on board, the ship fell into their hands.

Hedge stalked over to Percy. "Nice fighting. Now, get back on the ship." He barked.

Percy reluctantly did as he was asked. Once back on the boat he surveyed how the others were doing. Athens' ships looked like they had already taken out theirs, The Spartans seemed to be having a bit too much fun. When he turned to see how the Thesean's ships were doing, he found two ships ganging up on their forward ship. Their other two ships had fallen back.

"Captain Hedge!" Percy called out. "We need to hurry, and help the Theseans!"

Captain Hedge looked to where he was pointing. "Double time! Light it and get back to the ship."

The soldiers ran back toward the ship. As soon as all were on board, they freed their hooks and pushed off. Smoke began billowing out of the oar holes in the trireme.

"Oars out! Row!" The drum beat came back to life as Hedge gave orders. Percy kept his sword at the ready.

"I'm not going to be able to keep you out of the fighting, will I?" Poseidon eyed him.

Percy didn't know how to answer that. They were about a hundred yards from them when the Thesean's ship suddenly exploded, taking out the other two ships that had been attacking it as well. Everyone stared at the burning wreckage in stunned silence.

"Sailors in the water!" A sailor called out.

Hedge jumped into action calling out orders. "Full stop! Get those ropes in the water!"

The other Theseans ships were also helping to get men out of the water. The men in the water would grab onto the oars until they were able to pull them out one by one.

"Hail, Atlantians!" A large man, who Percy realized with a start was King Hephaestus, called out to them from one of the Thesean's ships.

"Hail Thesean!" Poseidon called back.

"Is Prince Leo on board?!" He called.

Poseidon looked at the men they had brought on board. "Prince Leo. Has anyone seen Prince Leo?"

"He was on the other side of the ship when it blew." One sailor reported.

Poseidon turned back to King Hephaestus. "He's not here. He might be on the other side of the ship."

"This is why princes don't fight." Captain Hedge mumbled just loud enough for Percy to hear.

Percy gritted his teeth.

They rowed around the ships looking for any sign of the prince. Percy barely knew him, but he still worried. He eyed the islands in the distance.

"Now is not the time for that." Poseidon guessed what he was thinking.

Percy blushed. "I'm not, I wasn't. I was just wondering if he got to an island."

Zeus's ship rowed close by with Zeus at the head. "What's the hold up? We're in pursuit of the escaping ships." Zeus called out.

"We're looking for Prince Leo." Poseidon called back.

Zeus scowled as if this caused him an inconvenience. "We're going ahead. You've got one day."

"One day?" Percy said incredulously, as he watched Zeus's boat pull away. "One day for what?"

"One day to admit that he is dead." Poseidon said grimly.