Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Nor do I own any of the Greek myths that make it up. I don't even own the names of the other Hesperids. In short, I own almost nothing in this story, besides the sword, Forgotten (it is forged later) and the smith. Oh, and though this chapter is slightly boring, it is very important for my plot. Don't just skim it. Actually read it!
By the way, Zoë has been traveling for almost two months now, but I didn't think that you would enjoy me going on for several chapters about her riding and walking virtually without stopping.
I stood at the top of a hill, looking down at Athens. After several attacks, many long weeks of riding, a lame horse, then another week of walking, I had reached Greece.
Athens was a beautiful city. No doubt about it. But I had no time to admire the view. I was busy, finding the forges, noting the temples, memorizing street patterns, and locating the bathhouse.
As soon as I did that, I walked through the gates of the city, entering Athena's domain. I knew that few monsters would make it into the city. The guards saw through Mist, and walls enclosed the entire of the city. They were slippery stone, impossible to climb. Only flying creatures could get in, and they would be filled with bolts from the lethal crossbows the city guard carried.
The first stop I made was at the clothing shop, where I purchased a new white chiton to replace my battered and torn one from my time as a Hesperid. The woman at the counter seemed reluctant to sell to someone as ragged-looking as me, but she changed her mind when I pulled out my sack stuffed with silver drachma.
Next stop was the bathhouse, where I got rid of every bit of dirt and grime, then cleaned out wounds from the dracaena and the hellhound.
Suddenly I noticed that the water around me healed many small scratches and cuts. Wonderingly, I stared at it, then I hesitantly pointed, and a mini-wave formed, sweeping forward. I smiled grimly. Aegle had missed some of my power of the sea given to me by Pleione.
Next I visited some of the food vendors. I had not eaten in days, and wolfed down the bread and cheese faster that Ladon gobbled lamb's meat. I pang of sorrow shot through me as I remembered the dragon I had loved and fed by hand.
Then I purchased a room in an inn, and collapsed into it. I was asleep within minutes. And for the first time since my exile, I slept without dreams.
When I woke up, it was mid-afternoon. I had slept through the night and most of today. But I needed to get up. There were things I needed to do. I got up, paid for my room, and left.
I walked aimlessly along the streets of Athens, knowing what I wanted, and somehow, I was drawn to it. I guess it was my power as a Hesperid. Or maybe a god had shown favor and guided me. Whatever the reason, I found myself standing at an auction, looking up as the auctioneer reached into a bag and pulled out a chunk of metal. He held it up, and I saw it glowing, not in the sun, but of its own power. I knew that I had to have it.
"Some variation of steel, found by the local smith," called the auctioneer. "He will be paid the sum of money from its sale. He also accepts work at the forge for payment."
"A hundred silver drachma," I called instantly. There were sounds of surprise from the crowd. They thought it was just a curious piece of metal. They were wrong.
"Hundred and twenty," called an elderly man.
"Hundred and thirty," a teenage boy put in.
"Hundred and fifty," I retorted, glaring at them both.
The crowd was confused. Why would a piece of steel sell for so much? Who would want it for such a price?
The old man subsided, but the boy didn't. "Hundred seventy-five," he countered.
"Two hundred silver drachma," I replied, wondering who this boy was. Or was he a boy? Could a monster have gotten into Athens?
"Two-fifty!"
"Two hundred seventy!"
"Two-seventy-five!"
"Two hundred ninety!" If it went above three hundred I would pay with work, and hope the boy wouldn't waste his time.
"Three hundred drachma," he called out, smiling confidently.
I looked at him calmly, and then looked at the smith, who had a shocked look on his face. No wonder, if a piece of metal he found would sell for so much!
"Do you even know what that is, Zoë Nightshade?" the boy mocked.
I froze. No one would know my name. And…
I closed my eyes, then opened them and focused on him. He was mortal, but then how would he know me? Then I realized.
"So my father is paying humans to come after me," I said, staring him down.
He grinned, showing white teeth that were slightly pointed. "Of course," he replied. "Your daddy is quite mad at you, you know. He sent me to kill you."
Suddenly a bow was in his hands, and an arrow leapt towards me with incredible speed. No human could have reacted in time. But though I might be mortal, with only traces of my power, I was most definitely not human. I leapt aside, and the arrow buried itself in the wall behind me. Most of the crowd scattered, screaming.
I stalked toward him, reaching into my pocket and pulling out the tooth that had saved me so many times. "Yes, I know what that is," I said jerking my head towards the steel. "Do you know what this is?" I held up the faintly glowing green fang, turning it so it caught the light.
His face paled slightly. "Not…"
"Yes," I said. "It is." Then I lunged. Battle instincts took over. I saw the auctioneer dive behind a crate, bellowing for the guards. The smith shook off his shock and snatched up a sword that he had been going to sell at the auction. But he was far too slow to stop the assassin.
A professional glint shone in his eyes as he rolled aside and fired again. I snatched the arrow in my bare hand as it flew towards me, and, although I caught it, it knocked me a bit off balance.
He would have killed me then and there, without a second thought, but he had to dodge the crossbow bolts that several guards were raining down on him. One caught him in the shoulder, and, with an inhuman snarl, he spun and fired several arrows. Three guards went down, arrows in their throats. One more had been hit in the side, and the last had caught it on his shield.
Regaining my feet, I lunged again, stabbing at his neck, but he pulled out a dagger and knocked the blow aside. He charged, and hit me with the point of his shoulders, throwing me violently to the ground. Stars winked in front of my eyes as my head slammed into the road, but that was the least of my worries.
Too fast for me to react, he spun the dagger, then began the downward plunge. I closed my eyes, waiting for death. There was a muffled thump, followed by a heavy weight crashing over me. I opened my eyes to see the assassin's dead body across my face. Pushing him off, I saw something sticking in the back of his neck. A crossbow bolt. The entire episode had taken less than fifteen seconds
I looked up, my face filled with gratitude, at the guard who had avoided the arrow. He nodded briefly, then picked up his wounded comrade, then carried him off, presumably to the doctor. I knew that Hippocrates was in town, so he would probably live.
I turned back to the smith. "Three hundred silver drachma and a month of working in the forge." I repeated. He blinked, and then realized what I was talking about. "Sold," he said weakly. And I received the piece of steel that had cost three men their lives. A piece of celestial steel.
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Sa Rart