STILL HAZEL
If I thought telling my troops about the quest was hard, it's nothing compared to what Reyna and Frank were going through. After Reyna had made the announcement, Frank had described the quest to the Senators and the rest of the Legion. At first they listened and tried to understand why the goddess of magic, Hecate, had decided to appear at the Greek camp rather than at our camp. Only two of the demigods requested for this quest resided here at Camp Jupiter. It just made more sense to go to the Camp where the majority of the demigods were. Though once the news of the length of the quest had been shared, I thought we were going to have an old fashioned riot on our hands.
"Romans!" Reyna had finally succeeded in getting everyone's attention. "I understand that sending our Praetor and the Centurion leader of the Fifth Cohort on a quest of this length and nature is not generally the Roman way! I also understand that once they accepted the quest from the Lady Hecate that they could not refuse her! Now, I have carried the burden of Praetor long enough that I am able to shoulder the responsibilities that should be shared by two. I have done it before! However, I have chosen a centurion from among the ranks of the Third Cohort who, if you accept him, can be a temporary replacement for the hole that will be left in Praetor Zhang's absence. And if I am to understand correctly, Centurion Levesque has also chosen a legionnaire from within her ranks in the Fifth to do the same for her role."
She looked at me and I gave her a nod, "I have Praetor!"
"Centurion Levesque, who have you deemed worthy and capable to take your place while you are on this quest?"
"I have chosen Legionnaire Raines to replace me as Centurion of the Fifth Cohort. If it pleases the senate, I would bring him before you." The senators stood as one and called for me to bring him forward. I broke rank and turned to my Cohort. Some of the legionnaires I had known since I first arrived had somber faces, and a few had tears in their eyes. Brendon, however, had a look of subdued shock etched onto his face. I hadn't told them who I was choosing to be my replacement because I wanted to present him to the whole Legion at the same time. The older legionnaires in my Cohort gave me their slight nods of approval and I knew I had made the right decision.
"Legionnaire Raines, forward!" Brendon broke rank and came to stand at my side. Then I gave him a smile and he returned it with a small smile of his own.
"Centurion Levesque, who do you present to this Senate to replace you?" "I present, Legionnaire of the Fifth Cohort, member of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata, Brendon Raines as a worthy and capable replacement!" The Senators looked from me to Brendon and back and then spoke amongst themselves.
After a few minutes they turned back to the Legion and gave their verdict: "The Senate of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata accepts the Centurion of the Fifth Cohort's replacement. Centurion Raines, come forward!" Brendon looked at me and I gave a smile and nodded my encouragement. He let out a shaky breath and went the five feet to the small stage. After climbing the five steps and making his way to stand before the Senate, Reyna and Frank stepped forward and took their positions on either side of him.
"Kneel!" Brendon knelt and both Praetors placed a hand on either of his shoulders.
"The Senate of the Twelfth Legion recognizes you as Centurion Raines, Leader of the Fifth Cohort!" Brendon stood and turned with the Praetor's to face the Legion. "I, Praetor Ramirez-Arellano,"
"And I, Praetor Zhang,"
"Accept this Legionnaire,"
"In the place of Leader of the Fifth Cohort"
"To be a temporary replacement for the Centurion Levesque"
"While she completes the quest that the goddess Hecate has issued."
Upon finishing their joint acceptance of him as my replacement, a third stripe was burnt onto Brendon's arm as a sign that he would be respected as the Fifth Cohort's Centurion, but also as one who had completed three years of service to the Legion.
As one, the Praetors shouted, "Ave, Centurion Raines!"
And as one the Legion repeated, "Ave, Centurion Raines!"
Once the crowd had quieted down and Brendon was dismissed, Reyna once again addressed the Legion and the Senate.
"If it would please the Senate, I would like to present a candidate to temporarily replace Praetor Zhang while he completes the quest Hecate has lain before him." The Senate leaders conferred with one another until their decision was reached.
"Praetor, who would you present to this Senate as worthy to assist you in leading the Twelfth Legion while Praetor Zhang is completing this quest?"
"I would present member of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata, Leader of the Third Cohort, Centurion Prescott. He has not only been the leader of his Cohort longer than any Centurion present, but he has proven himself a loyal Roman and a leader amongst the legionnaires. In appointing him Praetor Temporalis I am certain that he would be an asset to New Rome."
The Senate once again turned away from the Legion and decided whether or not to accept Eric as Praetor Temporalis. I had served with Eric during the War games, and he was as loyal and worthy as Reyna had described. He was a son of Mercury, but he would rather die than betray New Rome (Sons and Daughters of Mercury were known troublemakers as their father was the god of tricksters and thieves.). Once the Senate reached their decision they turned back to the Legion and addressed Reyna.
"Praetor, bring forth the Centurion."
"Centurion Prescott, forward!" Eric broke rank and followed the same path that Brendon took as he approached the stage. He reached the top and saluted the Praetors. The Senate then addressed Frank.
"Praetor Zhang, do you approve of your comrade's choice to serve the Legion at her side whilst you are on this quest?"
"I approve of the choice Praetor Ramirez-Arellano has made. She is a loyal Roman and would not choose someone to serve with her if it would cause any harm to New Rome."
"We, the Senate of the Legion approve this Centurion to be named Praetor Temporalis until such a time when Praetor Zhang returns. Centurion, kneel!" Eric knelt where Brendon had been kneeling mere minutes before and just as before, Reyna and Frank stood on either side of him and placed one hand each on either of Eric's shoulders.
"The Senate of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata recognizes you, Centurion Prescott, as Praetor Temporalis, leader of the Twelfth Legion!"
He stood and the trio turned to face the Legion.
"I, Praetor Ramirez-Arellano,"
"And I, Praetor Zhang,"
"Accept this Centurion,"
"In the place of Praetor Temporalis"
"To be a temporary replacement for Praetor Zhang" "While I complete the quest that the goddess Hecate has issued."
As the Praetors finished their joint acceptance of him as the temporary Praetor, a seventh stripe was burnt onto Eric's arm as a sign that he would be respected as Praetor Temporalis, but also as one who had completed seven years of service to the Legion.
As one, the Praetors shouted, "Ave, Centurion Prescott!"
And as one the Legion repeated, "Ave, Centurion Prescott!"
FRANK
After all of the stress and excitement of winning over the Senate and promoting two of the Legion's finest Centurions to new ranks, I was ready to take a nap. But unfortunately for me, I was still Praetor until after lunch when I would leave with Hazel for the airport and join the rest of the demigods who would be taking the quest Hecate had given. She had offered to retrieve us from New Rome, but Hazel and I had convinced the goddess that we would be better off traveling like mortals. After waving to Hazel as she led her Cohort out of the Senate House, I turned back to Eric and offered my hand.
"Congrats on the promotion, Eric. I'm sure you'll be great. One word of caution though, just because Reyna appointed you doesn't mean she'll bend to anything you suggest. You have to be passionate about anything you bring to the table and be able to defend it to the last breath. She's tough as nails and respects people who will stand by their convictions." He smiled and dropped my hand.
"Thanks, Frank. I'm not even sure why she suggested I be chosen to replace you. There are several centurions who have been here almost the full ten years who would have been much better suited to the job."
"Eric, I think that's one of the reasons she picked you. You earned another stripe today. You've only got three more years before your service is up. I'll have returned and you can decide if you want to add five more years to your service, or choose to leave the Legion and take a stab at life in New Rome or try your hand at being Greek. You're also young. You'll turn seventeen next year. Most of the kids Lupa sends are a little older when they get to camp. You're one of the youngest to make it here in years. In three years you'll be twenty. That's a great age to have accomplished so much. Centurion before your first year is up, Praetor at sixteen, what else will you accomplish in the next three years?" He looked floored.
"You have really changed Frank. A year and a half ago I wouldn't have thought I'd ever have this kind of conversation with you. It will be an honor to serve in your place. But hurry back, I don't want to have this much power for too long." At first I wanted to be mad, but I realized it was a compliment as he continued speaking.
"I know Reyna would not have chosen you if you weren't ready. You'll be a great Praetor." We shared a smile and another handshake before Reyna came back over to us.
"I have no more desire to speak so formally. Let us adjourn to the Principia and talk there. Eric and I nodded and followed Reyna out of the Senate house and headed back to her office. It was going to be a long day.
STILL FRANK
"Hazel, are we crazy for doing this? I mean, we just gave up half of who we are. I love our Greek friends and I love travelling back and forth between camps on occasion, but we won't be coming back for three more years."
Hazel and I were waiting for the plane to take off and fly us to Reagan International from LAX. We could have left from a different airport but Hazel had wanted to ride Arion once more before leaving and possibly not getting to ride for three years. As she pondered my question she fiddled with her seat belt while simultaneously twirling a lock of her hair around one of her fingers.
"Frank, I love New Rome and I love our way of life there, but sometimes I wish I could have stayed with Nico at Camp Half-Blood." I was surprised and even a little hurt by her words.
"So, you're more than a little excited to be going. And what about me?" Hazel's eyes shot up and she was obviously holding back tears. As she spoke they began to fall freely from her eyes.
"Frank, no matter what, I would have gone with you. I know that it might seem like I'm belittling what you and I have, but know this: If it ever came down to being separated from you and falling into a trap or Hades forbid, even falling into Tartarus, I would choose being with you." She laughed a little, "It's not near as romantic knowing Percy did the same for Annabeth, but If it had been you falling, I would have gone with you." Well, that's about as good as an, 'I love you,' I have to give her that.
"Hazel, I'm sorry. It's just, even though I'm Praetor and I've grown out of my chubby Chinese-Canadian days, I'm getting ready to be thrust back into them and I just can't help but feel self conscious, again." Hazel chuckled and hit me playfully on the arm.
"Frank, you don't have anything to be worried about. No matter how you look, you will always be my Frank. Nothing about you appearance will change that." I let out a long breath and looked at her again.
"Hazel, I'm so lucky to have you." She smiled up at me and I wiped the tear streaks from her face. Suddenly, we heard a voice over the speakers, "This is the Captain, I'm sorry for the delay, but we are finally ready to take off. There's some turbulence right around this area so it'll be bumpy for the first few minutes. Please make sure your seat belts are fastened tightly. Thank you."
"Well, here we go. Back to Camp Half-Blood. I can't wait to see Hecate turn Leo into a 15-year-old version of himself. He's gonna be so upset." Hazel socked my shoulder but gave a small laugh as well,
"Yea, but I'll bet Will Solace as a 15 year old will be funnier. I can't wait to see Nico's reaction to it." We both laughed as the plane reached altitude and tried to relax. It was a long flight from California to New York.