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VI
Saturnalia night

"Did he have to come with us?" Jason asked Olivia as they made their way toward Temple hill.

They were walking at a moderate pace while the sun climbed higher above them. There were fewer clouds in the sky, but for some reason the day seemed duller. The inhabitants of New Rome were going about their daily activities, but they looked guarded and uneasy. There were fewer children about, making the streets less lively.

"He is an augur in training," Olivia said. "He has to come with me to see how it's done."

"I get that, but the training could have started next week, tomorrow even, not right now."

"Hey, quit talking about me like I'm not here," Octavian quipped irritably.

"You guys don't like each other much, do you?" Olivia remarked.

"I don't associate myself with fifth cohort losers." The skinny kid smirked at Jason arrogantly.

"Well, this fifth cohort loser wiped the arena with your butt," Jason said.

"That doesn't count. I had sand in my eyes."

"Keep telling yourself that."

Octavian grumbled incoherently and they walked on.

"Is everything ready for tonight, cousin," he asked Olivia.

The augur's blond ponytail whipped slightly in the wind as her face visibly darkened.

"Yes. I'll start sacrificing at noon until sun down. After that the feast will begin."

Jason felt an involuntarily shudder creep up his spine. This was going to be the first Feast of Saturn he would miss since he arrived at camp. Inwardly he was glad, the feast was a pretty depressing event. It was like attending a funeral. His own funeral.

"I'll help you with that," Octavian said. "After all, I need to start learning how anyway."

Olivia nodded but didn't say a word. Jason knew she was secretly glad she wasn't going to do it alone. They soon reached the crooked stone path that led past the crazy assortment of tiny altars and massive domed vaults. Statues of gods seemed to follow Jason with their eyes as he followed the augur and Octavian up the hill. Jason didn't spend much time on Temple hill. In fact, the last time he had been there was two years ago, before his last quest. Everything seemed as it was, but somehow the monuments were less imposing. Today was not a day for the gods.

As they passed the red crypt that was the temple of Mars Ultor, a kid ran past them screaming, a trail of smoke behind him.

"Are his pants on fire?" Jason asked.

"Yes," Olivia answered simply. "That's what you get when you lie to the gods. I hope you take heed, Jason."

If he wasn't so anxious about the quest, Jason would have laughed. But as the flaming kid reached the bottom of the hill, still screaming, he felt his stomach clench into a tight knot of worry. It was hard to believe in auguries, but he had learned firsthand that they were eerily accurate.

They passed the tool shed that was Neptune's temple. It always amazed Jason that such an unimpressive building was built in honor of the powerful sea god who almost certainly wanted him dead. He imagined the tough life a half-blood child of Neptune would live, constantly disliked by the legion. It would be worse than his life, that was for sure.

"Why do you speak so old fashioned?" he asked Olivia, hoping to distract himself. "It's like you attended elementary school in Middle Earth."

The question caught Olivia unawares.

"It's because, well, I'm the augur. I have to sound wise and mystical. Besides, I have to make people take me seriously, you know. Romans tend to look down upon women."

"We do not!" Octavian exclaimed in outrage. "Those were the old Romans. We no longer do that."

It was true. Nowadays the women were equal to men in New Rome. The legion was balanced, and girls could become praetor now. There were even female senators, something that would have been frowned upon two thousand years ago."

"I don't know why the old Romans did that," Olivia said. "Considering the greatest heroes were girls. I mean, look at Cleopatra, Cynisca, Queen Camilla."

Jason knew better than to argue. This was not a argument he would win. Even Octavian held his opinions, for the look Olivia was giving him said, carefully now or I'll get the gods to vaporize you.

Finally they reached the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. Clouds hung low above the white domed roof of the temple, a fallout from previous auguries. Jason tried his best not to look at the prophecies that were inscribed onto the floor, but they seemed to be whispering to him, tempting him with secrets from the future. He forced his eyes away and continued forward where Olivia and Octavian stood, by the altar in the middle of the room. The augur removed a pink my little pony stuffed animal from a backpack that was leaning against the altar. Overhead the clouds darkened and swirled, and thunder boomed loudly. There was of course no red lightning that usually accompanied the thunder. Olivia muttered a prayer in Latin and gutted the pink toy. White stuffing spilled onto the altar and the augur busied herself with it while Octavian observed. While she read the entrails, Jason lifted his eyes to the giant statue of Jupiter. The golden statue's purple toga fluttered in the wind while its eyes looked down on him ominously. For a second Jason felt as if his father was there, watching him through the statue just like Mars had looked through Octavian last night. And for once he found himself thinking about what he would say to him. He of course came up with nothing.

His gaze shifted to the lightning bolt the statue had in his giant hand. It was jagged, just like a sculpted representation of lightning should be. He wondered if that was how the master bolt, the weapon he was going on a quest to find, looked like.

The clouds receded and the thunder ceased.

"I have read your augury, Jason," Olivia told him. "And this is what it says. You must leave on your quest immediately, and head east. You must travel on the Roads, or else you will fail."

"Yeah, I'll travel on roads, I don't plan on flying."

"Not roads, you idiot," Octavian said. "THE Roads. The Roman Roads."

"Yes, the Roman Roads," Olivia explained to a confused Jason. "The last remnants of empire. They crisscross the whole country, and on them you will find figures from Roman legends, and the lightning thief." She removed a folded scroll from her pack and handed it to him. "Take this. It's a map of the Roads." She waited for the information to sink in before she continued. "Beware of the chicken man-"

"The chicken man?" Jason clearly thought she was kidding.

"Yes," she said, irritated that he had interrupted her. "Remember that looks can be deceiving. Stay away from the sea, or its wrath will consume you. Seek sanctuary in war, and return home before its too late."

Jason took a moment to let the words sink in. He hadn't known about the Roads, but then again he hardly left camp. On his last quest they had flown on eagles, two of which they had lost...

He cleared his head. Frankly, the chicken man sounded a little ridiculous. Would he play an important part in his quest? Some of Olivia's words made little sense. How would he find sanctuary in war? One usually found sanctuary from war. These questions plagued his mind as he left Olivia and Octavian at the temple and went to prepare for his quest.

He found Gwen and Dakota lounging on identical hammocks in a fifth cohort barracks porch.

"Hey Jason, how's it going?" Dakota said. "How was the senate meeting?"

Jason told them about the meeting, including how he chose the two of them to be his companions.

"Quest mates," Gwen started warily. "That's..."

"Great," Dakota finished. "Of course we'll go with you, man."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Gwen looked wary, guarded even.

"What happened to glass-half-full Gwen?" Dakota said.

"What's the matter, Gwen?" Jason asked. "Don't you want to go on a quest with us?"

"It's not that," she explained. "I want to go with you guys. I just that...oh, its hard to explain."

"Try us."

"You see-"

"Hey guys!" A wheezing Roger came running up to them.

"Roger. What's up, little buddy," Dakota said.

The timid boy took some time to catch his breath.

"I heard you got a quest," he finally said. "I...here." He took out a multi colored clump from his pants pocket. "Take these."

Jason picked a green band from the clump.

"Friendship bracelets," he said incredulously. "Thanks, Roger, but-"

"Oh, no no! These are shields, legion issue. I know carrying those glorified refrigerator doors can be quite a drag. I just got them from the armory. Actually, I..."

"It's okay, Roger, you can tell us. Gus sent you to give them to us," Dakota assumed.

"Well, I...yeah," he finally admitted, though he didn't look sure. "Anyway, just press on the golden eagle in the middle and the bracelet will change into a shield."

Jason examined his bracelet closely. On it the words fourth of July fireworks '05 were etched in gold around the green band. Sure enough, there was an eagle on it as well. He pressed on it experimentally, and the band morphed into a shiny golden rectangular shield that promptly fell out of his hands.

"These are the last ones we have, so don't lose them," Roger insisted.

Jason inspected the shield. He found another eagle icon which he pressed, and the shield morphed back into the green band.

"Thanks, man," he told Roger, pulling the bracelet onto his wrist to secure it.

The plump boy beamed, and left them with their new gifts. Dakota twirled his bracelet between his fingers and turned to Gwen.

"Come on, Gwen. You have to come with us, we'll be so lost without you. Besides, our good friend Roger just gave us these neat bracelet-shield thingies. You have to come now. You know, for Roger."

Jason almost laughed. Gwen wouldn't possibly say no now, she was too nice. It was amazing how well Dakota knew her, to be able to play that card.

"Alright," she finally agreed, although she seemed unusually reluctant.
Jason wondered if she was hiding something.

It took them about some time to fully pack for their quest. In his backpack Jason included a few winter clothes, a pouch full of golden denarii, a thermos of nectar (he had to the infirmary for it) and a bag of ambrosia squares. It was late afternoon when they dragged an old chariot to the stables. The unicorns were grazing in the grassy land around the stables. Arcturius, the big red glowing wolf-headed dude who looked after the unicorns, stood in front of the stables, his arms folded. They explained their quest to him, and he harnessed a brown unicorn for of them without a word. Unicorns were used mainly for medicinal purposes, but since they were to travel over land the other forms of magical transport wouldn't suffice. The chariot was surprisingly spacious and could fit all three of them as well as their packs and weapons.

Unfortunately for Jason, they had pass by the center of camp to reach the Decumanian gate. Almost the whole legion was about, and they were all eyeing him.

"Why are they looking at me like that?" Jason asked his friends.

"Well," Dakota started uncertainly. "The second cohort has been spreading rumors that the monsters on the bridge were actually sent by Neptune, to kill you."

"So basically they blame me for the attack." Jason could feel the bitterness building within him.

"Sort of. This is actually something Neptune would do," Gwen said.

Jason wanted to be angry at Gwen, but he knew she was right. Ever since he was claimed, he had been in constant danger, all because his father had broken the oath. Now his fellow legionnaires felt he was endangering them as well. If this was how the legion felt, then he was glad he was leaving at that moment.

"But it's not Neptune who sent the monsters," he said. He told them about his dream with the two dracaenae on the bridge."

"Who's the Crooked One?" Dakota asked.

They were now surging though Caldecott tunnel. Gwen gave a little squeak when she heard the name. Was it possible she knew who the Crooked One was?

"I have no idea," Jason said. "But he sounds like somebody we shouldn't mess with."

The doors to the outside world were opened by two grouchy looking legionnaires.

"Ten denarii says they won't make it back," one of them said to the other.

"That's not a fair bet," the other replied. "Of course they won't make it."

On that positive note they were speeding down the highway. It was way colder out here than at camp, and Jason was glad he had worn extra layers. Luckily, the chariot was magically cold-proof so they didn't freeze to death.

"So where are we going, quest leader," Dakota asked him.

"I'm not sure yet." He told them everything Olivia had said to him during his augury. He unfurled the map and gazed at it intensely. He almost choked on his own breath. The map shifted and expanded before his eyes. It zoomed in to Berkeley and the surrounding areas. There were many roads labeled in Latin, some superposed over already existing highways, some cutting trails into forests and hills. Ordinary towns were marked by black dots, while others had bright red dots. The nearest red dot aside from New Rome (which was marked by a red square, indicating a capital) was Bishop, and a couple of Latin marked roads led to the town. He showed the map to his friends.

"I heard legends about the place," he told them. "There's a guy, a Roman guy, who has all sorts of information. Maybe he could help us."

"When you say guy, do you mean monster, ghost, immortal..."

"You'll see," Jason said.

"It's a good place to start," Gwen agreed.

As they drove further into the mortal world, the Mist became stronger. Jason found himself sitting in the passenger seat of a sedan that was driving itself. Somehow their their unicorn drawn chariot had been made to look like a modern car. The sun had set, and a chilly evening breeze ruffled through the car, reminding Jason that it was only a trick in the Mist. Dakota and Gwen sat behind him, making small talk while the sky darkened. The Mist seat was quite comfortable, and Jason found himself feeling drowsy. Within a few minutes he was asleep.

He dreamed he was on a beach. Somehow he knew it was not in California. There was a storm on the beach. The sea churned and rose, fierce waves crashing against the rough sand. Overhead, storm clouds boiled and thunder boomed. Lightning flashed. Jason spotted two figures on the beach. It was a horse and an eagle, and they were fighting to the death. The horse reared on its hind legs and kicked at the eagle. The eagle attacked the horse's head with its talons. Each time one of the animals landed a blow, lightning flashed and thunder boomed. Jason didn't know why they were fighting, but he found himself wishing with all his heart that they would stop. Somehow, if these creatures continued fighting it would destroy the world.

Then a voice from underneath the earth spoke.

"Son of Jupiter," it said. It sounded ancient and evil, like a knife scraping against rock. "Look at them."

The horse and eagle still fought, and the storm still surged.

"Soon they will fight, and I will rise."

"Who are you?" Jason asked feebly.

The voice laughed cruelly.

"I'm hurt, Jason Grace," it said in mock pain. "Six years you have paid homage to me, and you can't even recall my name."

As the voice said his name, he felt a chill down his spine. Like a knife was scraping against his back. In an instant Jason recognized who it was.

"Saturn," he muttered.

"Very good, grandson."

"How are you here? You are supposed to be imprisoned in Tartarus for all eternity."

"I admit, the prison your father condemned me to was strong. But I grew stronger. You Romans fed me for millenia with your feasts. They are fueling my power as we speak. Once again I have influence over the surface world. But I still need you, grandson."

"You're crazy."

"Join me, Jason Grace. Your father has neglected you, left you to the mercy of his vengeful wife. The Olympian Council wants you dead. Join me and take revenge on Jupiter and the all of Olympus. I offer you the world to rule. All you have to do is find the master bolt and bring it to me."

"Never!"

"Then let this quest be a lesson to you. The Olympians care about nothing but themselves. Not even for their own children. Before the year ends, you will bring the bolt to me."

Saturn laughed evilly, and the whole scene dissolved.

A/N: Finally, the quest is underway. Special guest appearance by none other than the evil dude himself, Saturn. Also, Gwen seems to be hiding something. What could it be? Stay tuned!