Back from the semi-hiatus. For a bit. My holidays perdure and thus there's more time to write, and less to post online, some cruel irony, that is. I hope you've enjoyed your winter break, or that you're enjoying your summer holidays :)

Also that you like the chapter, interesting stuff finally begins.

PJO belongs to Uncle Rick.

Percy spotted the first hint of trouble early on the fourth morning henceforward the night he took the Prince and Duchess in. He hoped his uncle would offer a longer period of peace, but apparently, either his dignity or Jason meant too much to him.

There was a tiny shape in the horizon behind them. At first, Percy thought it might've been a blur of his own tired vision. He kept an eye on it, nevertheless, and as soon as his lieutenant appeared on the helm, he asked.

"It does look like something, Captain," Luke admitted. "Although, I wouldn't be sure it's a ship."

"We'll let them catch up only enough so we'll know for sure it is the King's Navy," Percy commanded. "The second you catch the flag design you order full speed and call me back up here."

Luke nodded; Percy caught a shadow of doubt cross his marred face.

"No need to worry, we're the fastest ship in these oceans."

"We'll have to dock eventually," Luke stared at him. "Is it wise to let them come too close?"

Percy shrugged, "What's life without a little adventure?"

The captain took upon himself the sacrificial task of teaching the Duchess.

It appeared to him as if she'd become even worse during the night. Luke had promised the day before that the Duchess now knew the basic stance. Well she plain didn't.

Several snarky remarks later, and after a lot of Percy's reserve patience had been wasted, he realised it was all a big pointless act. She knew she was doing this wrong, and just wouldn't take to his suggestions.

That pissed him off.

"Is this funny to you, love?" he snapped. She frowned at the diminutive nickname.

"I thought you liked this as a game, Captain" she replied swiftly. "'We could do with a little running from the royals', were your words exactly."

Percy tried to think rationally. This girl wouldn't budge because of threats or brute force -which he wouldn't willingly use on crew members, even if dealing with unlikeable ones-.

"Do as you wish," he said at last. "But remember that now you're one of us, and whenever your pal the king finds us, he'll judge you for it."

"His Majesty knows me," she huffed. "He will treat me like he always has."

"No, love," Percy smiled. "Last time we met, he blatantly ignored his own daughter and tried to capture us all. His own blood, we're talking about here, so he'll never spare you a second glance, and when I'm proved right, you'll regret being rubbish at this."

"It's not the same," she murmured. But she stopped boycotting her sword-fighting class.

Not half an hour after he'd left the Duchess Percy was ambushed by Jason on the way out of his cabin.

"Do excuse me," said the prince. "But there is a little uncertainty above deck."

"The ship's close enough to see the flag?"

Jason nodded, "Please don't underestimate my father."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Percy grumbled. "Tell the Lieutenant that I'm coming."

"He ordered us to go quicker. Said it was what he'd been told by you."

"Yes."

"Do you think there is absolutely no chance of avoiding armed confrontation?"

"Have you met your father?" Percy asked heavily.

Jason shrugged. For a second, Percy tried to imagine what it would've been to know you were in an armed group against your own dad. Jason had to be struggling with many things, pacifying King Zeus was something many had dreamt of but seldom had been managed.

"Is it not worse to face a legitimate navy while armed?" the prince asked.

"Look," Percy tried to sound as sympathetic as possible. "I can't risk the safety of the whole crew over the hope that your father will accept peaceful terms."

Jason nodded with just but a small hesitancy, "I just... hoped," he admitted bashfully.

Percy really hoped it wouldn't come to a confrontation this soon. He needed a plan, and more time for his cousin and the Duchess to get used to him and his crew. The way things were at the moment, he had no idea which team Jason would play for.

As for the Duchess, she'd stab them whenever the chance raised. His little pseudo threat about King Zeus showing her no mercy wasn't a complete lie but wasn't honest either. Percy was sure Zeus would spare the girl a second chance, especially since it was quite probable a match had been arranged between her mother and the king for the betrothal of Jason and Annabeth. If that were the case, the Duchess would soon enough realise she wasn't in any danger with the royals and would probably act on it.

On deck, he took the wheel from Luke and asked him to tell the men to arm themselves as inconspicuously as possible. The Blackjack was unbeatable in speed, and there were only two vessels following them, but the navy could've set a trap on them.

It was a leap of faith to hope for a quiet passage. But the crew could handle the canons quick enough if things went horribly wrong, thus he insisted on the crew showing as few weapons as possible. Being overrun by ammo would do them no favours. It would only give Percy's uncle an excuse, were the king to shoot someone unprovoked.

As the sun was setting down, Percy began to relax. The kingdom ships couldn't be seen anymore. They were nearing some scattered green islands, with rocky cliffs instead of beaches.

"Now we know they're after us, huh?" said the last voice the captain would've expected.

"Yes, love. Exactly," he replied. Turning around he faced his least favourite crew member.

The Duchess smiled smugly, "I've been thinking about your encouraging comment this afternoon."

Percy took in a deep breath. This girl came to bloat about his paraphrasing, how inadequately superficial at a time like this. She couldn't possibly be that happy about the potential endangering of the crew. Sure she despised him in particular, but she wanted everyone dead?

"In the heat of the argument I let a little detail slip," she admitted. "They think we have been kidnapped!"

"If I recall correctly you chose joining rather than being 'kidnapped'," he remarked.

"Well then, I will be blatantly honest," she exclaimed heavily. "I will retell my tale of how my curiosity got the best of me. And how terrified I was of the mistreating prisoners suffer in ships such as this."

"And I'll appeal that whichever the reason, law must abide to everyone the same," Percy grinned. "You joined willingly, be it the consequence of curiosity, fear, or plain idealism. Therefore by the law ridging on King Zeus' kingdom, your penalty is death by hanging."

He shrugged as if to say, 'Terrible business, really.'

She huffed indignantly. She was about to retort something aggravating, Percy was sure, when he heard the very much known sound of a canon whistling through the air.

"Down!" he yelled, pushing the Duchess onto the ground with him. The projectile punched a hole in a railing behind him. Turning to the right he saw a vessel advancing through the canal made between two small islands.

"What was...?"

But the blonde's question was subdued by his rapid shooting of orders.

"Grab your weapons! Man the canons!" he screamed. "We're under attack!"