Two

On Thursday, we had a sword-fighting lesson. Everyone from Cabin eleven was gathered in the arena, and I was the instructor.

I started them off with some simple stabbing and slashing, using straw-filled dummies wearing Greek armor.

Percy did well for a new camper. He understood what he was doing, and his reflexes were up to par. But there was the not-so-little problem about how none of the swords were well balanced enough for him. They were either too heavy, too light, or too long. We both agreed that none of them fit Percy, but that didn't stop me from fitting him up as best as I could.

Soon, we moved on, dueling in pairs, and I announced that I would be Percy's partner since he was new.

"Good luck," someone told Percy. "Luke's the best swordsman in the last three hundred years."

"Maybe he'll go easy on me," Percy said, and the corner of my mouth twitched.

The camper (who I had now identified as Alabaster Torrington, son of Hecate) snorted.

I taught him thrusts, blocks, and shield parries the hard way. We launched into sparring immediately, with me teaching him different tricks along the way.

"Keep your guard up, Percy," I'd say, then smack him in the ribs with the flat of my ribs. "No, not that far!" "Lunge!" "Now, back!"

When I started sweating heavily, I called for a break. Everyone swarmed the drinks cooler, and I poured ice water over my head in an attempt to make Percy do the same thing.

"Okay, everyone, listen up!" I ordered. "If Percy doesn't mind, I would like to give you all a quick demo."

Everyone gathered around Percy and me. I informed everyone that I would demonstrate a disarming technique: how to twist your enemy's blade with the flat of your sword, so he had no choice but to drop his weapon.

"This is difficult," I warned them. "I've had it used against me. No laughing at Percy, now. Most swordsmen have to work years to master this technique."

I demonstrated the move in slow motion. As expected, the sword clattered out of Percy's hand.

"Now, in real-time," I said after Percy had picked up his sword. "We keep sparring until one of us pulls it off. Ready, Percy?"

Percy nodded, and I lunged forward, making the first move. The water that Percy poured on himself seemed to work since he was able to keep my blade at bay very efficiently. He countered, then tried a thrust, but I deflected it and started pushing harder. I wouldn't change techniques on him (I wasn't that cruel), but I did my best to tire him out.

Then Percy performed the disarming maneuver.

There was a loud clang as my sword rattled against the floor. Suddenly, Percy's blade was an inch from my undefended chest.

Percy lowered his weapon. "Er, sorry."

For a moment, I stared at him in disbelief. Then, I grinned at him.

"Sorry?" I asked. "By the gods, Percy, why are you sorry? That was amazing! Show me that again!"

Percy protested. I had an inkling why. He thought he wouldn't be able to do it. But I insisted.

This time, there was no contest. It couldn't even be called a fight. The moment our swords connected, I sent Percy's sword sprawling onto the ground.

"Beginner's luck?" Connor asked after a while.

I wiped the sweat off my brow and eyed Percy. By now, I was absolutely sure that his dad was Poseidon. That didn't mean I had to like it.

"Maybe," I replied, knowing full well it wasn't beginner's luck. "But I wonder what Percy could do with a balanced sword..."

On Friday afternoon, I was at Thalia's Pine, resting after I went to the forest to fight some monsters.

"Hey, Thals." My voice cracked. I knew it was pointless, that Thalia wouldn't be able to hear me, but I still talked to her. Sometimes it felt ridiculous, but it felt comforting, in a way.

"We have a new camper," I continued. "Percy Jackson. He kind of reminds me of you. I mean, he has sea-green eyes and doesn't use sarcasm as a second language, but he still reminds me of you. He's a bit sarcastic. He has that powerful aura, too. He has everyone stumped on his godly parent, but I'm pretty sure it's Neptune. Um, Poseidon. I mean..." I chuckled and shook my head. "He drenched Clarisse in toilet water. I can't believe no one has guessed."

I fell silent for a moment before speaking up again.

"We have Capture the Flag tonight. Annabeth has a plan to reveal Percy's parentage. By tonight, the identity of Percy's dad should be out in the open."

I pressed my forehead to the bark. "I wish you were here. And I know I've said this before, but I wish I had dragged you with us. I really miss you."

I closed my eyes for a moment and reopened them. Then, I turned around and walked towards the Big House, where Annabeth was waiting for me.

"Luke," she said.

I smiled. "Annabeth. So. What's the plan?"

"Well, no one knows who his dad is," Annabeth explained, "so we're using Capture the Flag to our advantage. You're on my team."

I nodded. "So Percy is on our team as well."

"And you've got the numbers," she pointed out. "Well, I'm thinking that we could use Percy as bait."

"Because the Ares cabin will want revenge," I realized, putting the pieces together. "You want him on border patrol?"

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah. And while Ares is focused on Percy, you will go get the flag."

"Okay." I paused for a moment before adding, "Position Percy by the river."

"Why?" Annabeth asked.

"Water," I replied.

Annabeth gave me a look. "What do you mean by 'water?'"

"Well, there was the toilet incident," I said, "and Percy excels at canoeing."

Annabeth shook her head. "No, no, no. It can't be Poseidon."

"So, it can't be Poseidon, but it can be Zeus?" I asked. "I don't want for his dad to be Poseidon any more than you do, but- hold on, is this about Athena's rivalry with Poseidon?"

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah. I can't co-operate with him if his dad is Poseidon."

"Pro Iuppiter propter!" I sighed. "How does your parent's grudge affect you?"

Annabeth fell silent.

"Exactly," I said.

She huffed. "Fine. I'll put Percy by the river. And if he turns out to be a son of Poseidon, I'll act civil towards him."

I smiled. "That's all I'm asking for."

Later that night, after we all had dinner, it was time for Capture the Flag. When the plates were carried away, the horn was blown, and we all stood up.

Annabeth and two of her siblings ran into the pavilion with a gray silk banner, and everyone cheered. The flag was roughly ten feet long, and a barn owl above an olive tree was painted on it. On the other side, Clarisse and her siblings had a flag of the same size, but it was bloody red, with a spear dripping with blood and a boar's head painted on it.

Percy turned to look at me. "Those are the flags?" he yelled over the noise.

"Yeah." I suppressed a wince as the cheers grew louder.

"Ares and Athena always lead the teams?"

I shook my head. "Not always," I replied. "But, usually."

"So, if another cabin captures one, what do you do- repaint the flag?"

I snickered. "You'll see. First, we have to get one."

"Whose side are we on?"

I gave him a sly look. It would soon be time to see if the plan would work. If nothing went wrong, we'd get the flag, and Percy would be claimed. "We've made a temporary alliance with Athena. Tonight, we get the flag from Ares. And you are going to help."

Annabeth had also managed to make an alliance with Apollo. Apollo was the second biggest cabin. Apparently, Annabeth had bribed them with trading privileges. I felt like congratulating her. There was strength in numbers.

Everyone else was allied to Ares. They weren't too threatening- Hephaestus and Ares were the only serious threat.

Hephaestus was composed of big, burly kids- courtesy of working in the forge all day. Then there were Ares's kids: a dozen of mean, beefy kids. I doubted there was anyone like them on Earth. Maybe Mars's kids.

Chiron slammed his hoof onto the marble.

"Heroes!" he roared. "You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. All magic items are allowed. The banner must be prominently displayed and have no more than two guards. Prisoners may be disarmed but may not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. Arm yourselves!"

He opened his hands, and the tables were laid with equipment. There were helmets, bronze swords, spears, and oxhide shields that were coated in metal.

"Whoa," Percy exclaimed. "We're really supposed to use these?"

I looked at him weirdly. "Unless you want to get pulverized by your friends in Cabin five. Here- Chiron thought these would fit. You're on border patrol." I gave him his shield, armor, and sword.

I liked Capture the Flag. It was similar to Seige, but it didn't have fortresses. Or the fancy weapons. That was why I found Capture the Flag much easier.

From the table, I only took a set of armor. I was going to be sneaking around, and if I had to run, a shield would only slow me down, even if I had spent years marching in legionnaire armor.

"Blue team, forward!" Annabeth yelled.

I followed everyone into the forest, heading into our side.

When the horn blew in the distance, I took off, passing the boundary line. When I got past the boundary line, I hid in the foliage, watching Clarisse and four of her siblings charge towards Percy.

I heard some of the conversation between them (if you could call it a conversation). It consisted of Clarisse's orders to "cream the punk" and many insults.

I didn't stay to hear the rest. I motioned to a few of my cabinmates to start a distraction. Then, I unsheathed my gladius- a short, Imperial Gold blade with a large pommel.

I ran further into enemy territory. I could hear the racket that my cabinmates caused, along with the twangs of arrows. Apparently, the Apollo cabin had decided to help.

Then, I spotted the flag. I ran forward, doubling my speed. Dodging Castor and Pollux, who were guarding the flag, I snatched the flag and ran back to the other side.

I charged straight into the group of campers from Cabin five that my cabinmates and a few of Apollo's kids managed to distract. I quickly knocked most of them down, and Alabaster used the Mist to confuse the rest.

"Go past the boundary line," he told me, as some of the Hephestus kids ran over here. "I'll hold them off, and Cecil, Holly, and Laurel can cover you."

I nodded and sheathed my sword, starting to run again, but this time I held the flag up high.

I heard Clarisse yell, "A trick! It was a trick!" and she staggered towards me, but I had already crossed into friendly territory. Everyone gathered on the creek. The banner that I was holding gleamed and turned silver. The boar and spear were gradually replaced with a caduceus, Hermes's symbol.

The cheers were deafening. I felt like I would go deaf from the onslaught of sound. Suddenly, everyone on the blue team hoisted me up onto their shoulders and started carrying me around. Chiron galloped out of the forest and blew the horn.

The game was over. I had gotten the flag.

Then, I heard a low growl. I froze, and the smile melted off my face, but no one noticed. A few moments passed, and I heard a loud howl.

The cheering died quickly, and I swung myself off of Travis's shoulder. On the rocks, just above Percy and Annabeth, was a hellhound the size of a rhino. Its lava-red eyes stared straight at Percy, and it snarled, showing its fangs, which were about as sharp as a serrated knife.

"Stand ready!" Chiron yelled. "My bow!"

I drew my sword. A gladius wasn't really ideal for fighting a hellhound, but it could turn to a spear. That would be safer.

No one moved. I tensed, preparing to jump in if the hellhound decided to attack, but Annabeth yelled, "Run, Percy!"

She attempted to step in front of him, but she never got there. The hellhound's speed outmatched her significantly. It leaped over her and pushed Percy back, its claws shredding Percy's armor and drawing blood.

Then, I heard the sound of thwacking, as if a sheet of paper was being torn repeatedly and a cluster of arrows embedded themselves in the hellhound's throat. The hound went limp and then died.

I sheathed my sword and ran over, just behind Chiron. So much for helping.

"Di immortales!" Annabeth exclaimed. "That's a hellhound from the Fields of Punishment. They don't... they're not supposed to..."

"Someone summoned it," Chiron said gravely. "Someone inside the camp."

"It's all Percy's fault!" Clarisse yelled. "Percy summoned it!"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. First of all, Percy wouldn't have had the knowledge to summon a monster, and second of all, if he raised it, why would the hellhound attack him?

"Be quiet, child," Chiron ordered her.

We watched as the hellhound's body slowly dissolve into shadows.

"You're wounded," Annabeth informed Percy. "Quick, Percy, get in the water."

"I'm okay."

He wasn't. The remains of his armor were tinged red, and his shirt was soaked with his blood.

"No, you're not," Annabeth said. "Chiron, watch this."

Percy relented and stepped back into the creek. The rest of the campers came forward.

Almost immediately, the cuts started to heal and close up, and Percy became more energized. Above his head, a hologram of a green trident appeared.

A few campers gasped, and I gave Annabeth a look. "Told you," I mouthed.

She looked pained.

"Look, I- I don't know why," Percy stammered. "I'm sorry..."

Annabeth pointed at the trident. "Percy. Um..."

Percy glanced up, and he seemed to realize what was happening.

"Your father," Annabeth muttered. "This is really not good."

We all knelt, except for Chiron and Percy. Even Cabin five did, but they didn't seem too happy about it.

"My father?" Percy asked, completely baffled.

"Poseidon," Chiron announced. "Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God."