Chapter 5 (Annabeth) The Quest

I hate Tantalus. That big, overgrown moron made Percy, Tyson and me do dishwashing duty and it was absolute torture. Tyron didn't seem to mind at all. He plunged his hands straight away. Percy talked to me throughout most of the time. He told me about a dream of his last night.

"If he's really found it…" I murmured.

"Grover said the same thing. It. What is it?"

"The Golden Fleece. Yes, the Golden Fleece." I added after seeing the incredulous look on his face. I continued. "The Fleece is said to be able to cure any sickness, disease and can strengthen nature and a lot of other things as well."

It took a few seconds for his kelp-filled brain to realise what I was trying to say.

"It could cure Thalia's tree."

I nodded. "But the problem is that the Fleece has been missing for centuries. Tons of heroes have gone searching for it but not luck."

"Grover's found it. I can just tell."

I recalled another part of his dream. "Percy, the Sea of Monsters. We have to go there."

"So?"

"The sea where a lot of heroes sailed. Jason and the Argonauts, Aeneas and the rest."

"The Mediterranean?"

I thought for a while. "No. I mean yes but no."

"Thanks. That was really helpful."

I kicked him in the leg. "Mortals have a name for it too."

"The Bermuda Triangle. The Devil's Triangle."

"Exactly."

"Then let's ask for a quest. Tantalus will say no but we'll just do it anyway." He sounded excited.

"Maybe…" I also was a bit hopeful. "We still have these dishes to do."

His shoulders slumped and we went back to work.

That night at the campfire, Percy stood up and asked for a quest.

"Sir."

Tantalus looked up from his useless attempts on trying to corner a marshmallow. His left eye twitched. "Our kitchen boy has something to say?"

Percy took a deep breath. "We have an idea to save the camp." I stood up as well in case the idiot said something wrong. Everyone was hooked because the fire glowed bright yellow.

Tantalus looked us. "And our kitchen girl as well! Where is our kitchen monster? My eye, I mean my eyes can't seem to find him." He narrowed his eyes and scanned the crowd. I wanted to punch the him in his ugly face. A few people laughed. Percy balled up his fists and started talking. I finished with what he said.

"The camp can be saved by the Golden Fleece." I could tell it was more persuasive when I said it.

"Nonsense. What is the rubbish? We don't need saving." Said Tantalus. Then he realised everyone was glaring at him. "Let's just say that our kitchen staff are right. Where is the Fleece anyway?"

Percy glared at him. "In the Sea of Monsters."

"And where is the Sea of Monsters? Do you even have any idea where you would look, stupid boy?"

Damnit. Percy, however, didn't look fazed.

"Yes, I would."

I stared at him. I leaned over to whisper to him. "You would?"

He nodded. "Thirty, thirty-one, seventy-five, twelve."

Tantalus laughed. "Thank you for sharing those meaningless numbers for us. I think that everyone here can count. Perhaps not the monster." He laughed again. This time, no one joined him.

Percy looked mad but he managed to keep his head cool. Perhaps that was another power of being a son of Poseidon. Filling your brain with water to keep you cooled down when you're angry. I think that's why Percy sometimes is very stupid. "They're sailing coordinates. I learned about them in social studies."

I was impressed. Percy can learn? "He's right. We need a quest!"

"Hang on." Tantalus began but was cut down by the campers cheering and chanting, "We need a quest! We need a quest!"

Tantalus tried again. "This isn't necessary."

"WE NEED A QUEST! WE NEED A QUEST!"

Tantalus slammed his hands on the table. "Fine! You brats want me to assign a quest?"

"DUH!"

Finally, Tantalus relented. "Alright, alright. I shall choose someone to retrieve the Fleece and bring it back to camp. If they survive, then huzzah. If they die, then it's your fault. Or you can blame it on our dishwashers." He added nastily.

He stood up. "The champion for this quest has shown unforgettable bravery. The defence of the camp, the chariot races. The Oracle of Delphi shall be consulted before they go on this quest. I'm going to even let them choose two partners."

He pointed at Clarisse. "YOU will be the champion." The fire flickered a dozen colours all at once. The Ares cabin screamed and cheered. Clarisse looked stunned but quickly covered it up.

"I accept the quest!" she announced. The Ares cabin got even louder after that. Everyone started protesting and before we knew it, everyone started to fight, throwing marshmallows at each other.

"ENOUGH!" Tantalus screamed. Everyone was silent. He began to tell a story but I was only half listening. I glanced at Percy. His expression was mutinous. He was silently shaking. It was scary. I thought he was going to blow up.

"What about you, Percy Jackson?" Tantalus had just sent Clarisse off to the Oracle. "Any suggestions from our dishwasher?"

Percy didn't say anything but I swore I heard him whisper, "You call us a dishwasher and Tyson a monster again and I will break your skinny neck, you old sot."

Apparently, Tantalus didn't hear him. He clapped his hands and shooed us away. I trudged over to Malcolm and the rest of my cabin and we trooped off back to the Athena cabin.