Percy, Frank, Hazel and the rest of the Fifth Cohort walked out of camp towards the war games. The Fifth Cohort formed two lines behind their centurions, Dakota and Gwen. They marched north, skirting the edges of the city, and headed to the Field of Mars—the largest, flattest part of the valley. The grass was cropped short by all the unicorns, bulls, and homeless fauns that grazed here. The earth was pitted with explosion craters and scored with trenches from past games. At the north end of the field stood their target. The engineers had built a stone fortress with an iron portcullis, guard towers, scorpion ballistae, water cannons, and no doubt many other nasty surprises for the defenders to use.
"They did a good job today," Hazel noted. "That's bad for us."
"Wait, you're telling me that fortress was built today?"
Hazel grinned. "Legionnaires are trained to build. If we had to, we could break down the entire camp and rebuild somewhere else. Take maybe three or four days, but we could do it."
"Let's not," Percy said. "So, you attack a different fort every night?"
"Not every night," Frank said. "We have different training exercises, sometimes deathball—um, which is like paintball, except with. . . you know, poison, and acid, and fireballs. Sometimes we do chariots a the Circus Maximus and gladiator competitions at the Coliseum, most times its war games."
Hazel pointed at the fort. "Somewhere inside, the First and Second Cohorts are keeping their banners. Our job is to get inside and capture them without getting slaughtered. We do that, we win."
Percy's eyes lit up. "Like capture-the-flag. I think I like capture-the-flag." Percy stumbled, trying to keep time with the left-right rhythm. "So why are we practicing this anyway? Do you guys spend a lot of time laying siege to fortified cities?"
"Teamwork," Hazel said. "Quick thinking, tactics, battle skills. You'd be surprised at what you can learn in the war games."
"Like who'll stab you in the back," Frank grimaced.
"Especially that," Hazel agreed.
They marched to the center of the Field of Mars and formed ranks. The Third and Fourth Cohorts assembled as far as possible from the Fifth. The Centurions for the attacking side gathered for a conference. In the sky above them, Reyna circled on her Pegasus, Skippy, ready to play referee. Half a dozen giant eagles flew in formation behind her—prepared for ambulance airlift duty if necessary.
Frank propped his pilum against his shield and checked Percy's armor. Every strap was correct. Every piece of armor was properly adjusted.
"You did it right," he said in amazement. "Percy, you must've done war games before."
"I don't know. Maybe. It felt natural putting it on."
"Just stay with us, Percy," Hazel said. "Chances are we'll get the worst duty and get eliminated early. They'll throw us at the walls first to soften up the defenses. Then the Third and Fourth Cohorts will march in and get the honors, if they can even breach the fort."
Horns blew. Dakota and Gwen walked back from the officers' conference, looking grim. "All right, here's the plan!" Dakota took a quick swig of Kool-Aid from his travel flask. "They're throwing us at the walls first to soften up the defenses."
The whole Cohort groaned.
"I know, I know. But maybe this time we'll have some luck!" Gwen said. She gave Percy a meaningful look before looking at the rest of the Cohort. "First line with Dakota. Lock shields and advance in turtle formation to the main gates. Try to stay in one piece. Draw their fire-" Gwen turned to Frank's row without much enthusiasm. "You seventeen from Bobby over, take charge of the elephant and scaling ladders. Try flanking attacks on the western wall. Maybe we can spread the defenders too thin. Frank, Hazel, Percy. . . Well, just do whatever. Show Percy the ropes. Try to keep him alive."
She turned back to the whole Cohort. "If anybody gets over the wall first, I'll make sure you get the Mural Crown. Victory for the Fifth!"
The Cohort half-heartedly cheered and broke ranks.
Percy scowled, "Do whatever?"
"Yeah," Hazel sighed. "Big vote of confidence"
"What's the Mural Crown?" He asked.
"Military medal," Frank answered. "Little bronze badge shaped like a laurel wreath. You'll notice nobody from the Fifth is wearing one since we're usually either burning or drowning."
"Well," Percy said, making sure he had his pilum, shield and gladius. "Let's change that today."
The Third and Fourth Cohorts stood back and watched as the Fifth got ready to attack. Ready for their normal entertainment before they too were beaten by the First and Second Cohort's defenders. Percy, Hazel, and Frank were sneaking towards the eastern wall of the fort, the only place the rest of the Fifth wouldn't be attacking. "That's where the defense will be the weakest," Frank said. "They'll never take three kids seriously. I think we can sneak up pretty close before they see us."
"Sneak up how?" Percy asked.
"You're a child of the storm-bringer. Any chance you can bring the storm?"
Percy looked unsure. "I don't know. I can try though." Percy crouched and closed his eyes.
Almost immediately the wind picked up, rain started to pour, and lightning illuminated the sky. Thunder shook the ground. Octavian's little show at Jupiter's Temple was outclassed by the son of Neptune. The defenders were preoccupied by the storm because the scorpions' fires were doused. Defenders scattered in confusion; some were knocked off the side of the fort. The rescue eagles weren't even in the sky to save them. Quite a few defenders took hard blows from the fall.
Percy opened his eyes again, "grab hands! No getting lost on this field trip," he shouted over the storm. They trudged forward through the storm. They made it to the eastern wall with no trouble, with the visibility being almost zero. The storm lessened to just rain and strong winds. It allowed the eagles to take to the sky again, and Reyna to do her refereeing duties.
"Okay, Frank, we're here. What now?" Percy asked.
Frank was still shocked by the display of power. "Uh, um—here." He took out an arrow. The iron tip was shaped like the nose cone of a rocket. An ultra-thin gold rope trailed from the fletching. "It's called a hydra arrow." He aimed and fired. When it reached the top, the metal point fractured into a dozen lines that lashed out and wrapped around anything they could find—parts of the wall, a scorpion, and defending campers.
"Go!" Frank said.
Percy grinned. "You first, Frank. This is your party."
Frank hesitated. Then he slung his bow on his back and began to climb. Hazel was next, she grabbed onto the rope and ascended.
Rather than waiting to climb the rope, Percy met them at the top of the wall, having made the distance in a single leap. He landed next to Frank who'd just swept a couple defenders off their feet with his pilum, and Hazel who just reached the top. He gave her a brief nod before going to work.
From Reyna's point of view, to say Percy fought like a demon was an understatement. He whirled through the defenders' ranks in a completely unorthodox style, rolling under their feet, slashing with his gladius instead of stabbing like a Roman would, whacking campers with the flat end of his blade, and generally causing a mass panic. He used his shield as a weapon, slamming it into defenders creating both space and damage.
Seeing his strength in person wouldn't have been enough to make anyone believe her. He rolled past the stab of a pilum and drove his elbow into the center of a defenders' shield, crumpling it. An imperial gold shield—bent in half by an elbow. The show of strength was herculean to say the least.
His gladius in one and hand and shield in the next he weaved through the remaining defenders until he reached the doors of the center of the base. Frank and Hazel were already at the door, waiting for Percy to finish up.
Two defenders remained, not smart enough to attack together. The first stabbed at his midsection, which Percy blocked and proceeded to slam his shield into the defenders' head where he crumpled. The second defender was launched through the doors that lead to the interior of the fort by a boot to the chest from Percy.
"Percy, there is no godly way you just did any of that without training," Hazel said.
Percy just shrugged, holding his arm out towards the now opened interior doors of the fort. "After you, guys. I'm going to catch my breath."
Frank and Hazel strode straight into the room, the guards gone after being drawn out by the storm before. They grabbed the banners and marched out of the keep, Percy at their side. The Fifth cohort formed ranks around them, and together they paraded out of the fort, past stunned enemies and lines of equally mystified allies.
Slowly the Third and Fourth Cohort joined the Fifth, from where they had been sat watching, and celebrated with them.
Percy slept like a medusa victim—which is to say, like a rock.
He hadn't crashed in a safe, comfortable bed since. . . well, he couldn't even remember. Despite his insane day and the million thoughts running through his head, his body took over and said: You will sleep now.
Line Break
As tired as Percy was from the previous two weeks running towards Camp Jupiter; then yesterday's draining show of power. Percy still woke up before anyone else. An internal alarm had gone off in his head, unable to go back to sleep.
He got up silently. Everyone else in the barracks fast asleep, the sound of snoring permeated the darkened room. He donned his new purple shirt and some shorts.
Percy stepped outside to a dark morning, dew on the grass, and a couple hours until sunrise. Perfect weather for a run—as well as being a perfect time to clear his head for the first time in weeks.
Percy ran down the Via Praetoria and into New Rome. In the beginning he passed by rows of shops, advertising food, armor, gladiator equipment, weapons, coffee, and toga rentals. A chariot dealership had a big advertisement out front: Caesar XLS W/Antilock Brakes, No Denarii down!
At one of the corners of the crossroads stood the Principia, two guards still standing guard. Guess no one gets to see Reyna without them knowing. It seemed the Lares were early risers too. Some stood outside the armory, polishing ethereal swords. At the stables, a big glowing red dude with the head of a wolf guarded the unicorns.
Percy continued into the residential section; streets packed with large marble buildings with red tile roofs. This is where the retirees and other residents of New Rome lived. It was an incredible feat that they were able to protect and support this number of people as teenagers.
Still with time before sunrise, Percy finished his run at the arena.
There were dummies in the back, and practice swords and spears on racks to the side. His cohort may have been looked down on now, but it didn't have to stay that way.
Percy used a spear this time, it felt much more natural than the gladius he had been using. The spear was incredible compared to the pilum they were forced to lug. He trained for close to an hour, before running back to his barrack in time for Legionnaire training.
Hazel wasn't kidding. He was trained on how to build a fort, early in the morning—after a casual workout with the rest of the fifth cohort.
Later was lunch, Hazel and Frank sat with Percy together again—alone.
"Hey," Frank spoke, "heard through the grape vine that you were sprinting through the city this morning."
"Sprinting?"
"Yea, we heard you were running like someone's life depended on it," Hazel said.
"No, I just woke up and decided to explore the city a little. Get to know my new home some more. Besides," Percy smirked, "It was a light run. I can run much faster than that."
Hazel chuckled, "Alright, showoff. So Frank, you ready to receive the Mural Crown?"
Frank blushed, "It was nothing, really."
"Stop that, your plan got us over the wall, and the Fifth's first win in months."
"Yea, man." Percy agreed. "Don't play yourself down, that was a good plan. You're a real leader."
"Thanks guys. Think we can keep the wins coming?"
"Yeah," Hazel said, "If Percy keeps fighting the same way. You must've had training, Percy. Nobody untrained can fight that way. How can you run so fast anyway?"
"As I've stated numerous times— I don't know. Can't remember." Percy rubbed his neck. "So, what're we thinking? Marines, Olympic athlete, trained by Batman?" Percy suggested.
"Jedi Master," Frank added.
Hazel laughed, "Mailman on the run from a pack of dogs." They all joined in on the laughter.
Lunch finished and they continued training. That night, Gwen presented Frank with the Mural Crown.
And for the next month that's how things went. Percy, Hazel and Frank became inseparable. Percy continued his morning routine of exercising alone, before the cooldown with the Fifth. Slowly but surely, Percy started to regain the muscle he had lost.
Line Break
Percy was up, readying for his morning run. All was normal. No one else was up as usual. He'd run this route so often that he could think about other things, his body on autopilot.
He passed by the shops. As usual the Lares still gave him dirty looks when he passed by. But it seemed they had finally accepted that he'd be at camp to stay, since they stopped shouting insults at him.
He passed by the Principia at the corner, he couldn't get the idea that it resembled a bank out of his head. The guards stood out front, the big purple SPQR banner hung above them. It confused Percy as to why the guards were there all the time, even if Reyna wasn't there. Maybe they were guarding something.
He pressed on until he felt a presence at his side. Looking over, he was surprised to see Reyna running next to him. What a coincidence. He could tell she was pushing to stay with him, so he slowed down, and that was when he got a good look at her.
As usual she had her glossy black hair in a single braid. She wore the normal white athletic shoes—the same ones the rest of the legion received; Percy included. She wore a black tank top and short black shorts. She looked good. Percy had switched to just normal black shorts and the regular white shoes. The weather has started to warm up a little too, so he'd been going shirtless for a little while now.
They kept a good pace, faster than what the Fifth did when he trained with them. Reyna didn't address him, just ran. That didn't bother him, it was a comfortable silence, it allowed him to revert back to the same train of thought as ususal.
His biggest worry was what Juno had said to him. He was exiled from where he'd originally come from. Is that why he lost his memory— taken so he wouldn't remember his origins or go back. He didn't think he was a terrible person, so what could he have done to be exiled, who even exiles people anymore, if he'd done something illegal shouldn't he have gone to jail or something to that extent? Erasing his memory seems over the top.
Why is it so hard to get some answers?
Percy blinked; unknowingly he'd pushed his run back up a few notches. He slowed to a stop and turned around. Reyna was a hundred yards behind him.
Percy smiled sheepishly when she finally caught up—she put her hands on her knees as she hunched over catching her breath. "Gods, Percy," she said in between breaths. "How fast were you running?"
"Shit, sorry, I got in my own head a little." He sat down. They were just outside the arena now. Reyna followed and sat next to him.
"Is it anything you want to talk about?"
Was there anything he wanted to talk about? Sure.
With the Praetor of the legion—someone who has the power to kick him out if things went bad, and she knew about his exile. Maybe not such a good idea.
"Just the usual. Fed up that I can't remember anything before the Wolf House." He untied and retied his shoes tighter. "I didn't think anyone else was up this early."
Reyna flushed red. She's normally up a little later than this, but the rumors that Percy trained before legionnaire training had gotten her attention. So, for the past week she'd been talking herself into joining him.
"Of course, I'm up this early. Can't have a legionnaire showing me up. Especially one who's on probatio." She jabbed Percy in the ribs. "Besides, I had to see for myself if the rumors were true."
"And which rumors about me did you have to check up on?" He smirked.
"Apparently, you're very fast which—as I just witnessed, is completely true. Which makes you much faster than the Mercury kids; if you weren't so good at fighting, you'd make a great runner for the legion." She paused.
If she says this wrong, then she might scare him away. Jason's been gone for close to two months now. Hundreds of search party hours and not a trace. She never had anything with him romantically, at least not yet. Normally, praetors work together closely, it's not unusual for praetors to become romantically involved.
"Look, Percy." she continued. "I wanted to talk to you about something."
Oh, fuck. Did she know?
"Alright," he nodded and stood up. "It's almost time for training, walk and talk?" She grabbed his offered hand and stood up too.
They started their walk back. More people were up and about at this hour, retired legionnaires, Lares, and shopkeepers. It was odd for them to see Reyna out so early, especially with someone. Since Jason had gone missing, she was barely seen unless she needed to be.
It was last month—the day Percy had shown up, and the same day that the Fifth had won their first game since their streak started. That was when she started to get a little better.
"Look, Percy, I don't have much time left. This camp doesn't have much time left. If Octavian keeps pushing and pestering for new elections. . ." She looked at him. "I can't say no for much longer. The Feast of Fortuna is the latest I can push back until."
Percy was growing a little self-conscious. He wasn't expecting to be out for this long without a shirt. Being with Reyna was drawing a lot of attention their way.
"And you think Octavian will win?" Percy asked.
"He will. When Octavian gets talking—"
"He's a talker. You're a warrior. Put him in front of the senate and he becomes the powerful one."
"Exactly. If Jason comes back there'll be no need for a vote. Octavian won't have the opportunity to win."
They were almost at the Fifths barracks.
"Percy," She stopped him. "If Jason doesn't come back in time, I'm going to need a partner in power—and I'd prefer someone like Jason. A warrior as you put it. Not a schemer."
She waited. Percy realized she was sending him an invitation.
His throat went dry. "Oh. You mean. Oh."
"I may not understand where you come from, Percy. But I believe the gods sent you here for a reason. You're a warrior, I've seen it firsthand. All I ask is that you work with me for the future."
"I'll help you, Reyna," He promised. "In any way I can. But I'm new here. You have a lot of good people who know this camp and its people better than I do. Most of the people here don't even like me. Even if I said yes, I'm not sure I could win. Like you said, I'm still on probatio, not even a full member of the legion."
"Well, we have until the end of June to change the camp's opinion of you," she said. "Think about it, Percy. Together you and I could expand the power of Rome. The war against Saturn is over. We're in a time of peace." Percy rubbed his neck. "Look, if Jason comes back—good fine. You've got a good relationship with the legion. If he doesn't, I'd prefer to work with you. No one else could feasibly win against Octavian, you're new here, he's got no dirt on you yet, keep it that way. . . Just think about it, Percy." She started to walk away. Looking over her shoulder she muttered, "You'd find me a very helpful. . . friend." And then she was gone.
The horn sounded, signaling everyone to wake up.
She said the last part like it could have several meanings, and he could pick which one.
She had a lot of faith in someone she didn't even know. Should he tell her about what Juno said. Or hope that it never comes up. What if Octavian were to find out. That was a difficult thing to think about.