Many thanks to Rosiegirl52 for the review, I'll see what I can work in relating to your idea. To all who may read, enjoy the fourth chapter, and please review.

Chapter 4: In Which I am Assigned a Quest

We walked quickly back up to the house, Grover and Percy quietly holding a conversation while I trailed a ways behind them. My one attempt at joining the conversation was met with stony silence, which was enough of a hint for me.

When we got up to the house, I saw Croesus standing on the porch, the apparently ever-present bow and arrows slung across his back, this time joined by his broadsword. No wonder the guy was so big if he lugged all that weaponry around on his back all the time.

Croesus nodded to the questioning look on Percy's face, but his look was overcast by shadow, and his mouth was set in grim lines. Percy tried to step past him and enter the house, but Croesus shook his head. "Chiron'll be out in a moment. He wanted to meet out here."

Percy shrugged as if adolescents told him what to do all the time, and then sat down next to a small card table. He motioned for me to do the same, and then looked to Grover. He, however, shook his head and mumbled something about needing to talk to something called the 'Council of Cloven Elders.' Percy nodded for Grover to go, and I slid into a chair next to Percy.

About a minute later, the door opened. I had to quickly stifle a shout of surprise, because what walked out the door was like nothing I had seen so far. From the waist down a white stallion, from the waste up an aging man with thinning silver hair and beard. I presumed to think that this was Chiron. He walked over to the table and nodded to Percy, then beckoned to Croesus, who also came over and sat down.

Percy leaned forward, and let out a stream of questions. "What did the gods say?" he asked hurriedly, "Why did they call you back to Olympus? Any news of Erik, or the going-ons of Camp Jupiter?"

Chiron held up a hand for silence, and the tide of questions ceased. He gave us the short version.

"The gods are worried about the growing tensions between their children." he began, his voice deep and powerful. "Both Lupa and myself were called to Olympus to speculate on nonviolent means of resolution."

I looked at Croesus and mouthed 'Who is Lupa?'

'Roman hero-trainer.' he mouthed back.

I nodded, and returned my attention to Chiron. "However," he went on, "I fear that with so few demigods left, in both camps, who remember the Giant War and the necessity of cooperation between the camps, this will not be easy to solve. Especially now that Jason is no longer with us, and you, Percy, are the only link between camps."

Percy's face saddened at this, and he nodded warily. "A son of the War-Cry has appeared as well." he said, nodding to me.

Chiron looked up sharply at that, his eyes clouding for a moment in what looked like desperate fear. He looked at me, his gaze intense and powerful. "Then all may already be lost..." he said.

I fidgeted nervously. I didn't like the idea that everybody here assumed that my arrival meant war. Percy noticed, and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "All is not lost, Chiron." he said firmly. "If we can find Erik and return him safely to Camp Jupiter, or at least prove that his disappearance had nothing to do with us, then Titus will be forced to accept that the Greeks are not traitors, and it may buy us enough time to find a more permanent resolution to this problem."

Chiron turned his gaze to Percy now, who held it steadily. At last Chiron gave a sigh. "Very well." he said. "Then a quest is in order." he turned back to me. "I know you just got here, child, but you must be one of the members. I do not pretend to like what your presence here may mean for the camps, but since you are here, then you must be a part of the peace offering, so that Titus and the Romans know that you do not herald a war. But what of the other members?"

"I'll go." Croesus said at once. I shot him a grateful look. Having someone like that watch my back could not be a bad thing.

"I will too." Percy added.

"No." Chiron said quickly. "This is not your fight, my friend, and I will need you here. We must prepare for the possibility of war, and try and find a way to get Titus to let you back into Camp Jupiter. Besides," he added jokingly, "Are you not getting a little old for quests?"

"They could use my experience." Percy countered, "And my influence would come in handy should they encounter any Romans, Hunters, or Amazons."

"No, old friend." Chiron said firmly. "You will stay here."

"Then who else will accompany these two?" Percy asked.

"I will." said a female voice. A girl stepped out of the doorway into the house, the same girl who had been with Croesus and Percy when I awoke.

"Lydia..." Croesus said warningly. She shot him an angry and defiant look.

"I'm going Croesus. You think you're the only one who deserves revenge? You think you're the only one whose life was destroyed by the daemons?"

Croesus winced, and Percy looked pointedly in the other direction. Chiron, on the other hand, nodded acquiescence. "Lydia will accompany you both." he said. "The oracle is not here, so you will have to manage without a prophecy, but I will give you al the deatails of Erik's last known location over dinner. However, for now, Croesus, Percy, take..." he trailed off, apparently realizing I had never given him my name.

"Sander." I said promptly, gesturing for Chiron to continue.

He nodded. "Take Sander down to the arena and see what he can do. Its rare that we have to send a demigod on a quest just after they arrive, but in this case we have no choice. You will have no opportunity for training, and for that I am sorry. Dinner is in an hour, try and finish by then."

With that, he turned around and trotted back into the house, beckoning for Lydia to follow him. Percy stood up slowly and stretched his arms over his head. "Lets see what you can do my friend." he said to me.

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