As always, these characters do not belong to me.
Chapter Three
"Are you quite sure you don't want to jump up?" Percy asked again.
"No, thank you," said Annabeth through gritted teeth.
Annabeth rose early and left before Percy woke, only to find him on her tail a league later, whistling happily on top of a beautiful black roan. She wasn't surprised, nor did she really think she would be rid of him, but she thought of it as a test, to see if he was committed to going with her. He never brought up the deception as he fell into step with her and didn't feel inclined to. Only to comment on her lack of equine resources.
"Next town we stop at, you're buying horse," he stated. "Why didn't you buy one beforehand? Do you know how long a journey to the north it is on foot?"
"Horses can be tracked," she said primly.
"So can people," Percy countered.
"And that's why you're so insistent on us travelling on the main road," Annabeth said derisively, making it clear she hated the idea.
"Sticking to the back roads and forests hasn't exactly worked well for you," he noted lightly.
Annabeth withheld her comment and stared angrily ahead of her. One of his other little insistences that irked her. She had wanted to head due north immediately, given the cult was on the same directory, but Percy rather forcefully made them head more eastward and stay in the closest town. His reasoning was sound, making Annabeth even more irritable and against the idea. She couldn't explain it, but everything about Percy set her teeth on edge.
"Do you have any preference for lunch?" he asked. She knew it was childish, but Annabeth ignored him, walking a bit quicker and refusing to glance in his direction. "Did you hear me?" He moved his horse forward to cut off her path, but she walked around him. "You aren't talking to me or something?" he called out, before swearing softly, urging his horse forward with a click of his tongue.
"Come on, everybody makes mistakes. You're only a fool if you don't learn from them," said Percy, leaning down to try and catch her eye. "Do you want me to apologise? Fine, I'm terribly sorry I offended you." He waited for a response, which she didn't give, causing him to scoff a laugh. "You can't give me the silent treatment the entire journey north, that's too far. I'll go stir-crazy. If you don't change your mind, I'll have to entertain myself." Annabeth remained stoic. "Okay … how about some singing? I've been told I can't carry a tune, but I think I sound pretty good myself. You sure you have nothing to say to that?"
True to his word when Annabeth continued her silent treatment, he cleared his throat, singing very off-key to the point of almost being purposeful.
"I once knew a man, who lived by the sea," he began, pausing to see if she would speak before continuing in a deep tone. "Never he spoke, til the clock struck three. Then he would weep, 'bout a woman he knows, with fair curls in her hair, and skin just like snow."
He sung the last word with a heavy, sombre note, causing his horse to shake his head, disgruntled. Percy exaggerated taking in a deep breath, ready to start another verse.
"Alright, stop," commanded Annabeth. She had to stifle her smile but was struggling. "Your singing is so terrible that even your horse hates it. What sort of a song is that?"
"Didn't you like the shanty? To be honest, I didn't think much of it either, but it was the first one to pop into my head," Percy admitted with a lopsided grin. "Give me another couple of leagues and I could probably remember one of the better ones."
"Been on many ships then?"
"Nah. Just spent a lot of time in the coastal taverns. Sailors are the most entertaining drunks."
Annabeth rolled her eyes, suppressing a smile. Percy had no such restrictions, grinning widely towards her, before glancing around, humming quietly what sounded like another shanty he remembered. She was glad he hummed it and didn't attempt to sing again. Eventually, Percy reached behind him to the packs his horse carried, rummaging until he pulled out an apple. The horse didn't seem perturbed by his owner's restlessness on his back, even when at one stage Percy was practically lying backwards to search for the apple. Taking a couple of bites before leaning forward to give it to the horse, Annabeth had to admire the control he had over his steed.
"I'm surprised," Percy began as the road entered a small clearing. He had been glancing at her on and off for the last five minutes. Annabeth could feel his stare but strangely didn't scold him for it. She narrowed her eyes when she met his curious gaze. "I thought you would've been more, inquisitive, about my accompanying you."
"You thought about it, and decided to assist me after all," said Annabeth with a shrug. "What's there to ask?"
"You're not at all curious, about me?" he asked, leaning towards her.
Annabeth took a step away. "Not really no." Yes, she was.
"I'm curious about you," he admitted. "Gotta know who you're travelling with and if you can trust them."
Annabeth gave a snort of laughter. "Yes, you do appear untrustworthy, especially since …"
They paused, glancing ahead to where the remnants of a skirmish had taken place. After a silent look at each other, they continued forward cautiously. Annabeth rested her hand casually on the hilt of her knife at her hip, her eyes scanning the turned over cart, the straps where horses had been fallen in the dirt. Percy clicked his tongue, causing his horse to stop once they were near the closest fallen body. He slid from his horse in one fluid motion, quite elegantly if she had to admit. He kept a vigil as Annabeth crouched down to inspect the body, a woman, before drifting to inspect the remnants of the cart.
It was a sad sight as Annabeth gently turned the woman onto the back. Her and the man lying some feet away had the same slashes and wounds, the woman gazing unseeingly up at the sky, the man's face in the dirt. With a sickening lurch, she noticed a pair of blood-stained child's sized shoes discarded near the cart and beside them, a still hand, the owner trapped under the cart where Percy was. A family, an innocent family, probably on their way to sell their goods in town, slain so heartlessly.
Annabeth pinched the bridge of her nose, opening her eyes with a sad sigh as she gazed down at the woman. A twinkle came from her neck, causing Annabeth to peel back her jacket to inspect the source. She pulled the necklace closer, the band coming free from her neck after already being broken. She ran her finger over the symbol at its heart.
"This is a religious mark," Annabeth called to Percy, lifting the necklace the victim wore when he faced her. She rose to her feet, inspecting the scene with a new set of eyes. "But this is a peaceful colony. They don't believe in violence. Hardly the ones to instigate or present as potential threats."
"Crime of opportunity then," Percy deduced. "Desperate people do desperate things."
"But they would've just given them what they wanted," Annabeth rebutted, coming to the cart. If it was full, then the contents had been taken. The odd vegetable lay strewn across the road, as well as strips of material. "Why kill them?"
Percy didn't answer straight away, instead walking off into the grass that surrounded the road. He crouched and then called her over. Moving into range, she noticed what he was pointing out with another body. Cut and bloodied, the wounds on his stomach were small and shallow, tentative, as if the killer didn't know what they were doing. His shirt had come lose at his shoulder, revealing his brand. Annabeth swore quietly, lifting her gaze to potential hiding spots.
"Barrowmen and their traps. They think they're deceptively clever," observed Percy. He casually rose to his feet, though he didn't move to draw his sword. Annabeth frowned at his casual stance, heading back onto the road which would be easier to move on. Percy followed, heading towards the cart as a shrill whistle rang across the field.
The brand represented a group of bandits who called themselves the Barrowmen. They prided themselves on making up rules to suit their own needs, but most were wary of them for their bursts of unpredictable rage. They cared little for their clothes and personal hygiene, only for their next fix of violence or burglary, often robbing one group and leaving the remnants for the following passers-by to stop, thereby becoming their next victims. Annabeth was glad her and Percy were their next targets. She needed to release her frustrations, and to make up for being captured the night before. She wasn't a liability and she needed to prove that she wasn't, if just for her own peace of mind.
The Barrowmen attacked them from both sides of the road. Annabeth faced them head on, engaging with the first to arrive, sweeping, ducking. She parried another, knocking aside a third and slicing the fourth who decided to charge at her directly. The bandits had some combative training but not as extensive as Annabeth. She dispatched her fourth bandit and glanced over towards Percy and nearly copped a knock from her surprise. Her next few opponents took longer to put down, due to the fact she had to keep an eye on Percy. Lucky that she did, for his sake anyway.
For reasons Annabeth could not comprehend, Percy was only attempting to subdue the bandits. He had grabbed a wooden staff from the cart, using that instead of his sword. He used it expertly, spinning and twirling it around him and was felling the opponents he came across but there was too many to be efficient. Those that he had subdued first, started to recover from their knocks. One such bandit waited until Percy was engaged with another before rising to his feet, swaying slightly but gaining his balance the more he remained upright, and his confidence. He grabbed a short sword on the ground, raising it to bring down on Percy's back.
Annabeth spun from an attack, punching him squarely in the nose, shattering it. This gave her enough time to pull a small knife from her belt she kept for emergencies, flinging it into Percy's assailant's direction before re-engaging with her own attacker. Judging by the grunt she heard, her knife had found its mark. She finished her attacker, took two steps before making a diving leap, landing beside her knife's mark, pulling it free before tossing it at another attacker about to overwhelm Percy. He turned just as they fell, staring first at Annabeth, then at the bandits, fallen amongst the other bodies. His expression was unreadable, but she thought she detected some underlying form of pity.
"Is this some kind of a joke to you?" Annabeth yelled at him. Her frustrations had finally boiled over. She ripped her knife from the body. "They're trying to kill us and you're just going to give them a little smack?"
"Oh, come on, Annie," replied Percy, not affected by her anger. "You can't possibly tell me that these bandits were a challenge."
"Don't call me 'Annie'," she seethed. "We have a job to do!"
"I understand that," he said, his voice losing a bit of its lightness. He frowned at her. "Are you seriously angry at me?"
"This isn't some stroll in the park!" she shouted at him. "What is it you think I'm doing here? I promised Luke I would get this done and ever since I've met you, it's gone from bad to worse."
"Hang on a sec!" Percy grabbed Annabeth's arm when she went to leave and she shrugged it off, almost snarling at him. "Please tell me what's brought this on? Because I used a staff instead of a sword? They're bandits, Annabeth. Not lethal soldiers or fighters. What happened here was awful, yes, but going around killing people for all the horrible things they do isn't always the answer. These men, after the beating they received at the hands of an unarmed man, will think twice before attacking another. I can guarantee that."
"Just answer this. Are you here to help me, or here to sabotage me because of your grudge against Luke?"
"Grudge?" Percy looked confused. "What are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter," she muttered. "I need some space." She started striding off, and this time, Percy let her. She grabbed her bag and the reins of his horse, leaping up into the saddle. She clicked him forward, pausing at Percy's side. "If you're serious about helping me, I'll meet you in the next town."
She left a confused Percy standing amongst the fallen, urging the horse into a canter. Once the adrenaline had died down, she slowed the horse to a walk. Taking some deep breaths, she led the horse to a small stream, pausing only to grab a drink before continuing towards the town. Her map suggested she would reach the town by late afternoon, giving her plenty of time to think.
She had overreacted. She had overreacted and she wasn't sure why. Maybe it was seeing the slaughter of an innocent family, one with ties to a pacifist group. Maybe it was some after effect of the concussion. She had wanted to prove her fighting prowess but that didn't stop the feeling of shame she felt from being captured. Her shame, the family, the bandits, they were only part of it.
It was Percy. Ever since meeting him in that underground fight ring, he had unnerved her. It wasn't anything in particular about him. His demeanour was calm, no creepy or murderous vibes. No leering, or advances towards her; not that she welcomed that sort of thing. He had stressed to her the dangers of Luke's request, but then decided to come regardless. The main reason, Annabeth knew, was that she had no idea who Percy was, and, secretly deep down, she wanted to.
With answers far and Annabeth not really wanting to search to find, the remaining journey passed without further incident. When the town came into view, nestled adjacent to the steadily flowing river, she was ready to have a drink and sleep; even in the hard bed that all small taverns seemed to house, almost as though it was a requirement. A farmer on the outskirts happily escorted her to such an establishment, the other farmers and residents of the town already winding down after a long day.
The bar called to Annabeth and after dropping off the farmer with some of his friends, she headed there. The ale may have tasted stale but that didn't stop Annabeth from downing half of it in one go, only to choke when she heard Percy's unmistakable boisterous jibe to her left. She swivelled, spotting him at the card table, laughing with another player who tossed some coins in the centre of the table. Spotting Annabeth, Percy excused himself, shaking hands with the players and meeting her at one of spare tables, signalling to a maid in the process.
"How?" she asked.
"Highway patrol," answered Percy. He was smiling at her surprise. "After a brief explanation of what I was doing there, they graciously gave me an escort. And arrested the breathing Barrowmen for questioning."
"I didn't see … never mind."
"Good news is I've won an extra horse so you can return mine and we can save some time. I ordered food for you as well," added Percy, giving the maid a thankful smile when she dropped two plates in front of them. She blushed and headed away, glancing over shoulder to him. He didn't appear to notice her interest, but Annabeth did, and it made her want to punch someone. Strange. "Figured you wouldn't be too far behind me. What kept you?"
"Enjoying the scenery," she muttered.
They ate their meal quietly, Percy taking a lot of interest in the comings and goings of the tavern. Annabeth had questions, plenty, just didn't know what to start with. Probably with an apology for the day. Pride prevented this and with Percy appearing quite content to let the situation lie, she was happy to temporarily forget the day and find that hard bed she had been longing for.
"Look, I uh …" Percy began after their meal was finished. He cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair. "I can understand why you got upset."
Annabeth changed the subject. "Why did you follow me? When we met, you were against this."
"Why do you think I have a grudge against Luke?"
"I asked first," said Annabeth childishly.
Percy smiled wryly. "It's a long way. I'm hoping I can change your mind."
"Good luck," snorted Annabeth. "Luke didn't say much about you," she admitted.
"Which led you to believe I had a grudge?" Percy raised an eyebrow. Annabeth shrugged, hoping she wasn't blushing. "Luke and I were close once, but once he took over the Elites, he made decisions that I didn't agree with. I realised then that it was time for me to explore, to find who I wanted to be. So, we parted ways and for the most part, we left each other alone."
"Was that before or after you failed to get the Crystal?"
Percy smiled, finishing his drink. He got to his feet. "After," he answered before wandering back towards the card table.
She watched him as he accepted another drink from the blushing barmaid, a friendly smile on his face as thanks. The barmaid stared after him for a few seconds before jumping when someone called out to her. Annabeth shook her head. He hid has pain well, Annabeth thought, watching him slap the back of the card dealer before taking his seat. But he hadn't faced his demons, that was obvious by his careful wording. How could she judge him, though? Wasn't she doing the exact same thing?
Not long afterwards, Annabeth went to bed early, unable to stand hearing Percy's boisterous behaviour at the card table. She went through Luke's notes, adding them to the maps she had carefully drawn in a notebook she had procured a long time ago, near bursting with extra pages. She combed through those pages, reminiscing on past adventures, recorded by her artistic mind until her eyes grew heavy and the hard bed was inviting her. And yet, even sleepy as she was, her mind just wouldn't shut off.
Frustrated, she left the bed, heading over to the small window, opening it to catch the soft tickle of a breeze. Her view was nothing spectacular, privy only to the inn's stable. Drunkards stumbled out into the street, a local curfew pushing them out into the night. Some had found refuge in the empty stables, others just in the street. A light bobbed into the stable, snagging her attention. It was Percy. Taking a drink from the cup in one hand, he placed the lantern down, moving towards his horse.
"Hey there boy," he said gently, coming to the horse's side. He stroked the neck, moving towards his face. He placed his forehead against the horse's, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. He looked at peace but what snagged her interest, was how extremely gentle and caring towards the animal he was. Annabeth watched as he stayed amongst them, displaying the same compassion to the other horses in the stable when they grew restless. Not completely understanding why, she continued to gaze down at the green-eyed ex-Elite fighter long into the night.
