The Herald
Katherine's POV
Hard work is the key to success but the one thing you require to work hard is patience. So indirectly patience becomes the single most important thing in life. A demigod's life is all about being patient. We have to be patient while learning how to fight, patient while practicing and more often than not we have to be patient during our missions, to wait for the opportune moment to strike.
Right now as I stood outside the doors of the council chambers my patience was waning. Normally I wouldn't be so anxious to present a report to the council however today there was too much on my mind and I'm not afraid of admitting that the attack on Nico has instilled fear into me. Why 'fear' you may ask?
Well for the sole reason that some external force was powerful enough to put one of the strongest demigods known to Olympus on a death bed or at least come very close to putting him on one. With every passing moment my anxiety mounted, the uncertainty of the future had me worried.
I stood there lost in my thoughts when the doors to the council chambers opened before me. From within walked out a tall proud woman who over the years I had come to hate, Erida Psyche, Daughter of Discordia.
"Well, well, well ...The Council's Loudmouth" she sneered at me. Her eyebrows arched and her hand on the helm of her sword. She looked at me in such a way as if she was disgusted by my mere presence. How I hated her? She was the only person who got to me and I the hell don't know why.
"Herald... The Council's Herald" I corrected her emphasising on each and every word, looking her right in the eye.
Her lips curved into an upward smile, "whatever" She said running a hand through her hair as if she was bored, She then looked at me pouting her cherry red lips, "Don't annoy the council, will you. " She said threateningly.
I glared at her. Since when did I get on the Council's nerves, I questioned myself but as soon as the thought crept into my mind. I felt like beating myself, how could I let her get to me and that too twice in a day. I internally scolded myself but I kept my expressions neutral, not to give anything away to her.
With one last disapproving look at me she walked out, her head held high with the pride she had rightfully earned over the years and that's one thing I must give to her I admitted grudgingly.
I heard her footsteps echo as she climbed down the flight of stairs and I stood rooted to the spot till the sound of her footsteps completely faded away.
As the last of the echo of her footsteps faded away into the silence, I drew a deep breath.
With my head held high and my mind clear of all my extraneous thoughts, I walked through the double bronze doors and into the wide circular council hall with a crystal dome illuminating the entire chamber with the light from the sun.
Not that I hadn't been in the council chambers before but every time that I was summoned here the beauty of the room left me enthralled. The way the light through the crystal room illuminated the intricate panelling on the walls of the room, the hangings and banner behind the thrones of the seated council, carrying their symbol of power. It was my dream to have a seat on the council in the future, but I knew it wasn't to be.
Erida was right; I was just a Herald and held no importance in the hierarchy of the Sentinels. I was a nobody...
"Katherine Howell" said a loud and clear voice from my left.
I internally cursed myself. I had forgotten to bow before the council and without wasting another thought I went down on one knee, my head bowed in obedience.
"Rise Katherine." said a woman in a clear cold voice. She was the last person on the council whose voice I wished to hear at the moment but I had to obey her never the less and in swift mood I rose to full attention, my hands behind my back.
Before me sat the leaders of the Council of the Sentinels, The Council at any given time consisted of eight permanent members. It so happened all the permanent members were veterans and heroes of the second Titanomachy and the Gigantomachy.
The council was led by Perceus Jackson, Son of Poseidon and Thalia Grace, Daughter of Zeus and sat at the head of the council. On Perceus' other adjacent side sat Jason Grace, Son of Jupiter and to Thalia's left was an empty seat which belonged to Nico, Son of Hades.
The other four permanent seats were filled by Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena and Chief Strategist of the Sentinels and Fort Olympus. To her Right sat Frank Zhang, Son of Mars and Field Martial/Praetor of the Fifth Legion which now constituted only of legacies.
To their opposite sat Hazel Levesque, Daughter of Pluto and Chief Diplomat between the Olympian nations and last but the fiercest of them all, the one to whom the crystal clear, cold voice belonged too, Reyna, Daughter of Belladonna and Field Martial of the Cohorts here at Fort Olympus. Her hounds Aurum and Argentium sat at her heels, waiting for a command.
"We believe you have a Report to submit, regarding Councillor DiAngelo." She asked in the same cold voice sending shivers down my spine. I nodded softly and then turned my attention to Percy and Thalia; both of who I knew were most worried but didn't show even a tiny sliver of it, wearing a perfect facade of nonchalant about the entire matter but I knew they had their ears open for the smallest bit of information.
With one deep breath I began my report on the earlier events of the day, "I was on my way to the council chambers to inform the arrival of Alec Blackwood and the reinstatement of his command over the Dealers of the Death when the conch horn was sounded." I said in one breath, I had their attention as all of them were looking directly at me reserving their questions for the end.
The way they showed no reaction on the mention of Alec's arrival I took it for granted that they already knew about it but if they knew why didn't they inform me. I decided to keep my thoughts and queries aside and concentrate on my report and so I continued, "As soon as I heard the conch horn I ran to the parapets to prepare for the defence of the fort however when I reached there I like many others saw no danger except a broken tree on the edge of the tree line that separates the Fort grounds from the forest."
Once again I stopped waiting for permission to continue. I looked at Thalia directly who just nodded at me, giving me permission to continue until questioned and so I did, "With no sense of immediate danger. I joined the investigative patrol that constituted of members from Dealers of Death and the Masked Messiah as they were the only ones on the spot there." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Councillor Clarisse La Rue, A burly Daughter of Ares taking down notes, no doubt making sure to assign more people to guard duty.
"When we reached there we saw Councillor Nico lying on the ground with multiple wounds all over his body and a large gash on his abdomen as if someone had slashed him open. We checked his pulse and as soon as we confirmed that he was still alive we took him o the infirmary to be treated where he is now recuperating from his injuries. The Healers say that he'll be fine by tomorrow." I finished my report now waiting to be bombarded by questions.
The councillors seemed deep in thought, it was possible that the details of the event had left them perplexed but then it was their duty to lead us and help us in clearing our vision.
"Do any of you know who or what attacked Nico?" Asked Annabeth, from her expressions I could tell that she was going through a million thoughts in her head.
"No." I said but then on a later though I added, "We did feel a presence though."
"What kind of presence?" Thalia cut in rising from her seat, her brilliant blue eyes staring right down at me.
A shiver ran down my spine. What was I supposed to say? A presence that felt stronger than a God.
"What kind of presence?" Thalia repeated her question, her voice an octave higher and dangerous.
"That of a god" I said but I'm pretty sure to them it sounded like mumbling.
"Louder" Reyna said angrily.
I gathered my wits about me and with a single deep breath, "Something more powerful than an Olympian God." I said, emphasising on each and every word.
The last of my words were followed by a pin drop silence and those moments of silence were the most awkward that I have ever been in. I knew I had finally screwed up and it was too late to apologise now, I should have kept my thoughts to myself.
What I thought and had deduced was something that the Council wasn't interested in. The dealt in facts and as of now I had no proof of what I had just said. The council was surely going to terminate my services after this and I'd have to spend the rest of my years either living in New Rome, Londinium or Themiscyra.
I should apologise, probably they would grant me pardon this ... "You are excused Katherine. We have much to discuss and will summon you if need be, dismissed." Percy said blankly before I could even think about apologising but I knew better than to disobey the Council more than once in a day.
I curtsied before the council before I turned my back towards them. The double doors closing behind me as I walked out of the chamber leaving the council to think upon my report and come to a conclusion probably even make an observation or draw an inference.
I had no idea how they worked but then again they were meant to lead us. Lost in my thoughts I started my descent down the tower thinking that they would figure something out.
Percy's POV
I sat there at the head of the council with other members of the council looking at me expectantly, "What?" I asked them surprised.
Jason sniggered, "In case you have forgotten, you lead this council therefore it is your right to preset your case first." He said with his lips curved upwards in a slight smirk.
I couldn't help but laugh at the thought and a smile quickly niche its way on my face as well.
"Order", Thalia said from beside me in a tone of authority. She still hadn't taken her seat and was now standing at the centre of the chamber glaring at Jason and I. We quickly straightened ourselves in our seats giving her our full attention even though we were ready to burst out laughing.
"Does anyone have any thoughts to share?" She said, indirectly asking each and every one of us to put our thoughts forward and I had no idea what to say. The entire scenario had left me completely perplexed.
It was very peculiar of any godly being to attack a demigod. Not that it was unheard of but who'd risk attacking the son of Hades. Even Hera would think twice because she knew Zeus won't be enough to protect her from her brother's wrath but then if it was a God then who...
"Could the Titans have risen again?" asked Jake Mason, Son of Hephaestus and Engineer-in –Chief of Fort Olympus.
"Highly unlikely" said Annabeth in her mellow voice lined with conviction.
"I believe Jake isn't wrong. After all the Titans are known to regenerate quickly and in the last war not all of them were imprisoned. Maybe one of them escaped and has regained their power." Leo cut in, coming to the defence of his half-brother.
Annabeth didn't even bother to answer. Unlike Athena, Annabeth after once stating a point never repeated it and didn't believe in unnecessarily debating on it. To her it was waste of energy.
"I agree with Annabeth." Said Reyna and Annabeth silently acknowledged Reyna's support. Reyna nodded and then continued, "Most of the Titans are too cowardly to act on their own, without Kronos and Hyperion that wouldn't dare to attack."
With those words; the entire council now blew into a full scale debate cum discussion.
I'd have to give it to Reyna and Annabeth, they were right.
The only Titans capable of leading an attack were Kronos and Hyperion.
There was a time when Lapetus too would have been a cause for concern but in recent times he was busy figuring his way out of the underworld, his memories washed clean in the waters of the Lethe.
I leant back into my chair, trying to think of something that fit but as far as I knew no one except Gaea or the Titans held the power to being down Nico. A god wouldn't dare to and a monster simply couldn't.
This thing had to be an out worldly monstrosity to attack Nico Di Angelo and get away as well. No, there was more to it that met the eye and we'd have to get to the end of this before we are too late.
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