"How did we both end up on guard duty?" Percy asked. "When was the last time you've done this? He looked at her to no response.

His question seemed to go over her head. He looked for her eyes but she didn't meet his gaze.

Percy fidgeted with the pen in his hand, turning it over in his hand and flipping it on end. His posture was relaxed against the cool concrete entrance dug into the side of the hill. The sun was high in the sky with it's rays sparkling over the Pacific Ocean. They had a clear view of the California bay with a dense forest covering most of the valley with a narrow strip of beach meeting the water.

In contrast, his companion adjacent to him was rigid, the epitome of Roman behavior. She was fit in a gleaming set of imperial gold armor. As she shifted it slid silently against itself.

Finally she broke the silence looking over to her friend, "You know, you should really wear some armour, no matter how good you think you are."

He ran a hand through his hair laughing, "Ah c'mon Reyna you know me better than that. For this?" He gestured his hands around in a general manner.

"No," She conceded, cracking a small smile.

Percy rolled his eyes and went back to flipping his pen through his hand over and over again.

"Well even if we have to be out here, we get to enjoy this weather. I swear it was never this nice in New York."

Reyna ignored him and looked behind them into the dark tunnel. The lanterns on the wall flickered softly against creating long shadows.

"Ok, we should have some time."

Percy sat up, confusion splayed across his face. "For what exactly?"

Reyna frowned and looked over the rolling hills of California. "What do you know about the Greeks?"

Percy shifted uncomfortably, "Why do you ask?"

Reyna looked down on him, "Just so you know, this conversation begins and ends here. No one else will hear any of this. He nodded.

"What is the purpose of the Praetorship Percy?

"To lead the Legion and to serve Rome." Percy said automatically. It had been drilled into their heads often enough.

"Yes and no. It is my duty to lead the legion, especially in times of war. It is also my job to avoid war at all costs."

Percy rubbed the back of his neck, "Why are you telling-"

"I brought you out here because I wanted no chance of being overheard. Octavian wants to send out a quest to locate the Greeks. In short, he wants war."

Percy scoffed, "You can't be serious. He's not capable of anything close to that"

Reyna shook her head, "You underestimate him. He is more dangerous than you realize. He carries a great deal of influence and with that, ambition."

Percy shrugged, "I mean, thinking about it, no Roman has made contact with a Greek in centuries. Even if he did manage something, it's not like he knows where the Greeks are?"

Reyna gave a dry smile, "Not exactly. You know the story of Roanoke?"

"No idea, you know my education was not very complete."

Reyna continued on, "In 1585, the Roanoke colony was the first attempt at a permanent settlement in the Americas by Europe. They had to return the ships for supplies. When the English came back to the colony, it was completely wiped out. Do you know why?"

"Something the Romans and the Greeks did I'm assuming."

Reyna nodded, "Both the Romans and the Greeks fought each other there and as a result the entire civilian population was wiped out. My point is that everytime Romans and Greeks meet, there is mass amounts of killing and bloodshed. If he can locate them, Octavian wants to provoke an attack. This is something we must avoid.

Percy took off his helmet and placed it under his arm, "It's not like we have an idea of where to even look right? We've got as much luck picking a random point on the map."

Reyna turned her head away, "There has been discussion on that particular topic."

Percy's eyes narrowed, "What are you implying?"

Reyna pinched the bridge of her nose. "The location of the Greeks has been known for sometime."

"What?" Percy said. "We've known where they were the entire time?"

"The praetors know, as well as the senior leadership."

Percy closed his eyes in disbelief, shaking his head. "This goes against everything that the legion has taught us. How can we stand together if there are secrets within?

"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but it's been like this since the respective camps have been in America." Reyna informed him.

Percy took a step forward and pointed his finger at her, "This is wrong. Keeping information from the rest of the legion? What else do we not know? I mean do you see where this is a problem?

Reyna shook her head. "You may disagree with my methods, but this is how it is. I do what I do for the preservation of Rome. I believe it is for the best that it stays this way. It's taking everything to keep Octavian from shouting his head off to everyone about it."

"Do you think the rest of us can be trusted with this knowledge? I mean its like you expect us to march halfway across the country and start a war." Percy said incredulously.

"Yes, I do."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this from you. You're our leader Reyna. We all believe in you. I had no idea it was so one sided," Percy said bitterly.

"Look, I just want to know that I can count on you to have my back in case things go south." Reyna pleaded to him.

Percy gave a heavy sigh, "Yes...you can count on me. I'll always have your back."

Reyna nodded, "I'll even tell you-"

Percy put up his hand, "I don't even want to know."

Reyna put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. He shrugged it off and turned back towards the tunnel leaving Reyna alone with her thoughts.