Percy's POV:
As soon as the game was declared over I heard a faint scream. I knew then that someone has betrayed the legion. My guess would be Octavian. The good thing for me was that Annabeth and Thalia were close by to me so I wasn't overly worried and filled with destructive vengeance, though I'm still feeling vengeful at the moment.
Though there was no indication the other legionaries heard the yelp of pain.
It was a minute or so before medics shouted, "MAKE WAY". We parted and I could tell from the blood loss alone she was already dead. The centurion of the fifth had a pilum sticking though her gut and blood pouring out like a river.
"Stop" I said, "she's already dead"
"You can't" one of the medics started, while the other medic took a pulse and shook her head.
"All we can do now is remove the pilum and figure out who betrayed the legion. Who killed an officer of the legion" I stated. Reyna didn't look happy but accepted the loss of an officer.
"Remove the pilum. Hand it to me so we can see who killed Centurion Gwen" Reyna ordered. When the medics refused to move Frank went and removed the pilum carefully, keeping it intact.
He presented the pilum to Reyna, who took it. But before she could give a witness to arrest a bright flash was casted over the fields of Mars. Great just what I need a God arriving. At least it will be a Roman god, probably Mars, considering our location and other factors.
Many legionaries started to bow, Annabeth, Thalia and myself refused. "You three do not bow to me" he questioned.
"No hard feelings about our spar 5 or so years ago" I questioned
Mars got a sudden look of realization, as if he remembered us all the sudden. "What are you three doing here" he asked
"Thalia wanted to see her brother" I stated
"Ahh praetor Grace. Good soldier that one is. Very honorable"
"Oh stand up legionaries" Mars said, "I come with news from Olympus now that the traitor exposed themself"
"Traitor" Reyna questioned
"Oh wait I came a bit early. read the pilum" Mars ordered. I turned to see that Octavian was frozen in place. Now if that is Mars' work or just fear keeping him still well we may never know.
" CHT I LEGIO" Reyna started but stopped..."CHT I LEGIO SRC... Senior Centurion first cohort of the legion." she said with an emotionally quiet voice. "Detain Octavian for lord Mars" she ordered.
"You can't be serious praetor. I would never do such actions against another centurion" Octavian protested
"It is your weapon is it not" Reyna asked, showing the legion the writing on the pilum.
"It was Jackson he took it when he"
"I did not use nor take your pilum" I countered, "it was left on your body when you were knocked out and it was still there after Frank and I left with the standards of the first and second. Lord Mars will be able to tell if your weapon was stolen by another or if you are the true culprit" I stated
Mars for once looked happy, "the pilum" he ordered and it was passed over to him. For a moment the pilum glowed red. "The pilum has only been used by its owner" he declared. "Olympus will not be fooled by his silver tongue. He will be tried there due to the circumstances"
"What circumstances"Reyna asked. Perfectly timed with Gwen rising from the dead and her gut wound magically healing.
"Those circumstances" Mars stated pointing at Gwen. "Death has been captured. Pluto is doing his best to keep the barrier together but he's god of the dead not death there's only so much he can do."
"So a quest shall be issued to free him" A legionary asked
"Yes yes. Uhh where was I oh yes go north to alaska. Find death. Free him before the feast fortuna and you all will have a chance of victory against the army marching its way here" he declared
"Who shall take up this quest" I asked, knowing he has somebody in mind.
"I knew I forgot something. Mother told me not to but I did. Oh well. Uhh Frank my boy" Mars said, claiming his son. "My son shall lead the quest. He can take one other with him as Jackson has to go as well" Mars declared. "Oh and uhh here" Mars said tossing Frank a grenade which turned into a spear with a dragon tooth.
"Gotta learn something other than bows son. Tooth has three charges use them wisely" he stated. He was about to leave but thunder shook the fields.
"Oh ok fine" Mars stated
"Perseus, Thalia, and Annabeth step forward" Mars ordered, "father has decreed you three are to get your years for service to Olympus"
"Milord" Reyna said, "that's not"
"Normal yes" Mars stated, "but father wants everyone to know and recognize his daughter and her...close friends for the service they have already done in the name of Olympus" Mars said.
The next moment I felt a burning sensation on my arm. I'm guessing Thalia and Annabeth felt the same, but I was to busy focusing on not making a sound about the pain.
Why may this hurt me when I'm immune to fire you ask and how would it work. Well that's because a god is doing it. That's why I feel the burning sensation.
"Consider that payback for the zap you gave me" Mars said looking at me.
"Now I must be going with the traitor" Mars stated, and flashed off taking Octavian with him.
I looked down at my arm knowing the general standard of how this symbolism is done. Thankfully Mars took me as his nephew and not his cousin. Beneath and to the left of the crescent moon and bow and arrow of my mother, was Milady's symbol of the eternal flame about half the size as mothers. To the right of that was a collection of symbols: My father Neptune's, Jupiter's, Apollo's, Mars's, and Lupa's symbol all in a collaboration with my father's in the center with Jupiter above, Apollo and Mars to the sides, and Lupa below.
When in the name of ever did Mars bless me and does mom know because she'll probably flip if she doesn't.
Anyways beneath that was the normal SPQR and 17 lines. Why seventeen I do not know. Unless Mars started counting years of service in relation to my first monster kill. Because that would give me 12 years and then a line for each of the prophecies. Which I don't think I should get that many. I have more lines than I am old.
I looked at Thalia and Annabeth's arms seeing that Annabeth had milady's symbol and to the bottom right a crossed out Athenian owl and the bottom left the symbols of Mars and Jupiter. And she has 14 bars for service. My guess is since she was seven and one for each of the quest. Thalia had her father's symbols and mars symbol to the bottom right and she had 14 bars as well.
Our new burnt on tattoos were getting a lot of attention. "Dismissed we will have a senate meeting tomorrow" Reyna declared looking at us wearily as were many of the other campers.
"Well at least the pillow pet murderer is gone" Thalia said. Annabeth let a tear slide in memory of her St. Bernard pillow pet. I don't even know why we were so attached to them.
"Yeah" Annabeth and I said.
We went back with our cohort to be bombarded with questions and how do I have more service bars than I am old.
That was a lengthy explanation that included my theory on the matter. Which is the only thing that would make sense. Though the whole symbol of Mars none of us could answer. Even I don't know that one.
