The men had provided Percy with his own tent. It wasn't as large as the command tent, but large enough for Blackjack to hang out in, if he wished, but he didn't. Percy slept somewhat well, as well as one can when you're about to go to battle. While breakfast was being served in shifts, the camp was being taken down. Percy saw Annabeth getting her horse packed. She still had her armor on, but she had left the helmet off. He guessed that since she now knew that everyone already knew she was here, there was no point in trying to blend in.
It was late morning when they were finally able to go. Annabeth rode up front with Percy again. They didn't talk much. No one talked much as they continued their march toward Olympus. When the city finally came into view, they doubled their pace. Soon they were at Olympus' gate, which were now closed.
"That's odd." Annabeth commented, "I've never seen Olympus' gates closed before."
"It's war time. Makes sense. Prince Malcolm probably did the same thing, once Athena had left." Percy replied.
He motioned for the army to halt a few yards from the gate, while he and Annabeth rode up to it. The gates looked much bigger and formidable closed than Percy noticed before. "Should I knock?" Percy joked.
"State your business." A voice called out.
Percy looked up and saw a soldier leering down at him over the wall.
"Lieutenant Percy Jackson, reporting for duty." Percy called out.
"Great. That's just great. Your here to protect Olympus." The way he said it made it sound like some kind of joke.
"Yes, as ordered by Queen Athena." He replied back.
"Well, no one's stopping you. Defend Olympus from outside the walls."
Percy and Annabeth looked at each other. Both had a look of confusion and shock.
Annabeth looked back up at the soldier on the wall with a look of determination. "I am Princess Annabeth of Athens. I demand to know what is the meaning of this."
The soldiers tone changed slightly, "I'm sorry princess, but we are under orders from Zeus to not let any armies within the walls."
Annabeth grit her teeth and lowered her voice so that only Percy could hear. "That fool. He thinks Athena is going to try and take over Olympus."
"We don't have time for this." Percy murmured back.
"Perhaps you should meet up with your friends at the southern gate." The soldier called out.
Percy and Annabeth looked at each other. "Must be Artimus." Annabeth reasoned.
Percy nodded his head, but he was already looking at the defenses of the wall of Olympus. They rode back to the men. His next in command were waiting. "Otic and Layland, I want you to start digging a pit around the outside of this wall, going round each side." Percy ordered. Stephen do the same at the west entrance. Palo, you've got the east entrance. The rest follow us to the southern entrance."
Yes, sir." They chorused.
"Good idea." Annabeth commented, "Unless we have to end up attacking the city itself."
"Hopefully it won't come to that." Percy cringed at the idea.
They made their way around the city of Olympus toward the southern gate. Percy was surprised to see more than Artimus' hunters there. Princess Clarisse was hollaring a string of curses up at some soldier on the wall.
"Princess Clarisse?" Percy looked at her disbelievingly.
"Oh, now Prissy shows up. Tell them to let us in."
"We've already tried." Annabeth got off her horse and approached her. "Zues is being paranoid."
"Humph, well he ought to. We could easily take this place." Clarisse eyed the gate.
"That doesn't help matters." Artimus eyed the top of the wall.
"Annabeth, look at you!" Thalia exclaimed as she hugged her. "Not hiding anymore. Does your mother know?"
"Not at the moment." Annabeth fidgeted.
Percy also got off his horse. "The men are digging a pit around the wall, it will help with defenses."
"If we could get in." Clarisse yelled for emphasis.
"We have some other concerns." Nico's voice said out of nowhere, making everyone jump.
"Nico!" Percy said ecstatically.
"Where did you come from?" Clarisse eyed the surrounding area skeptically.
"Ephyra. How about you?" Nico deadpanned.
Clarisse narrowed her eyes.
"What other concerns?" Percy steered the conversation.
"The cities south of here are in Kronos' path to Olympus." Nico stated simply.
The impact of what Nico said had a somber effect on everyone. "We need a map." Percy declared.
"I've got one in my tent." Clarisse offered.
"Let's go." Percy said.
Clarisse led the way toward her tent on the outskirts of the city. It looked like she had been here for awhile. Once in the tent she ruffled through some papers until she found what she was looking for. She laid the map out on the table in the room. Everyone crowded around it. Olympus stood in the center of the map. To the south were the cities, Delphi, Naxos, Corinth, Thebes, and Theseum.
"That's a lot of cities to protect." Clarisse commented. "Are you certain that Kronos' army is coming?"
There was a tension in the room as the question hung in the air. Percy finally said, "I trust my source."
"Well, it would be helpful if we knew what we were up against."
"Kronos is bringing at least a hundred thousand." Nico supplied.
"And you know this because . . ." Artimus asked.
"Because I have my own sources." Nico glared back. Everyone accepted his explaination.
"How many did you bring with you?" Percy asked hopefully.
"Only my personal army of ten thousand. Dad wouldn't let me bring any more."
"So add that to what we brought and we have fourty thousand to cover five cities." Percy calculated.
"Actually," Nico cleared his throat. "Adding my thirty thousand, that would be seventy thousand men."
"You brought an army?" Clarisse looked around. "Where?"
Nico gave a sharp whistle and the entire field to the west looked as though men were rising from the earth.
Clarisse and Annabeth looked startled. Percy, having seen it before, looked at Nico and said, "You know, that looks really creepy."
"That's the point." Nico smiled.
"So seventy thousand men over five cities, whose armies have left to go fight Orthys."
"It's impossible." Annabeth announced. "Our best chance is to defend ourselves behind the walls of one city. If we spread out, we'll be slaughtered and Kronos will just take Olympus."
This pronouncement had a somber effect on the group. "What about the people?" Nico questioned. He looked to Percy. They all did.
Percy studied the map. "We'll bring them here." He announced.
"What? How?" Clarisse looked exceptionally puzzled.
"Artimus, Corinth is closest. Take your hunters there and evacuate the city of as many citizens as you can. "Clarisse you'll . . ."
"Take Delphi and Naxos. " Nico interrupted. "Percy and I will take Thebes and Theseus."
Everyone stared at Nico at his interruption.
"Wait a minute, I have the smaller army. Why do I have to take two cities?" Clarisse complained.
"You can have half of mine." Nico said nonchalantly.
"Nico, what is going on?" Percy asked.
"Trust me." Was all he would say.
Percy studied him for a moment with Nico staring back with a determined look. "Okay." Percy said slowly. "Evacuate the cities with as many as will willingly come. We know that some residences are for Kronos. So there is no point in forcing people. And do not engage the enemy at this point. Get in and get them out. Understand?"
Everyone nodded their affermation.
"I am going to leave part of Athen's army here to continue with the outer defense. Okay, we leave at dawn. Any questions?"
No one said anything, but still stared at him. "Dismissed?" Percy wavered under their gaze. It felt strange to have all of these royals looking at him as though they were under his command.
At his word, everyone left the tent to relay their orders and get ready for tomorrow. Percy followed Nico and pulled him aside. "Want to tell me what that was about?"
"There's something you need to see in Thebes."
"I'm not going anywhere near Thebes." Percy emphasized.
"It's just on the outskirts of the city." Nico pressed. "It's important."
Percy took a deep breath. "Do you have any idea how much trust I am putting in you, especially after . . ."
"I know." Nico rushed. He looked eager to not talk about his previous affiliation. "Trust me."
"Okay. I'm trusting you. But you are evacuating Thebes, got it?"
"Got it." Nico confirmed.
Percy left Nico to return to his men and get everything in order for tomorrow. He felt sick at the thought of once again headed anywhere near Thebes.