Umbra

Chapter 17

Everyone lost their minds.

Immediately, the Hephaestus campers began to ask questions, wondering who the other demigods were and how long it would take to build the boat. They wanted to know how it was being decided who got to go to Greece– Emilia wished shedidn't have to go, but the way things stood, it seemed she was one of the main ones about to sail for her doom.

"Heroes!" Chiron struck his hoof on the floor. "All the details are not clear yet, but Leo is correct. He will need your help to build the Argo II. It is perhaps the greatest project Cabin Nine has ever undertaken, even greater than the bronze dragon."

"It'll tak a year at least," guessed Nyssa. "Do we have that much time?"

"You have six months at most," said Chiron. "You should sail by summer solstice, when the gods' power is strongest. Besides, we evidently cannot trust the wind gods, and the summer ones are the least powerful and easiest to navigate. You dare not sail any later, or you may be too late to stop the giants. You must avoid ground travel, using only air and sea, so this vehicle is perfect. Jason being the son of the sky god..."

He trailed off, perhaps thinking of Percy. Jake Mason turned to Leo. "Well one thing's for sure. You are now senior counselor. This is the biggest honor the cabin has ever had. Anyone object?"

No one did. The Hephaestus kids smiled at Leo, no longer the hopeless group they'd been when Emilia first arrived at camp. "It's official then," said Jake. "You're the man."

Leo was speechless for a moment, then grinned ear to ear. "Well, if you guys elect me leader, you must be even crazier than I am. So let's build a spankin' hot war machine!"

As they waited for Annabeth and Rachel to arrive for the war council, Emilia got to thinking about what she would be doing for the next six months. She'd have to train harder than ever before, she'd have to test the limits of her powers, she'd have to figure out whether her mother had risen from out of Tartarus or not. Six months of peace, where she might get to meet her family, might get to learn to be a friend before she got shoved into another small space with four people that may or may not like her.

They were called into the same room that Emilia had first seen at Camp Half-Blood, where her fate had been decided. It was different now with so many new senior counselors. Clarisse from Ares, Will from Apollo, Travis Stoll from Hermes, Butch from Iris, Clovis from Hypnos, Lou Ellen from Hecate, Miranda Gardiner from Demeter.

And now she sat there with them. Leo was on her left, Piper on her right, and Jason had stood behind them until it came time to sit down. Rachel Dare, the oracle, sat next to Chiron at the head of the table. Thalia had not managed to make it, but Annabeth was there, wearing armor over her camp clothes. She didn't look relaxed, but she'd flashed Emilia a proud smile, which was just about the best thing Emilia had ever felt to date. It meant a lot to her to have proven to Annabeth that she had deserved the chance she fought to give her.

"Let's come to order," said Chiron. "Now, as you can see, Jason, Piper, Leo, and Emilia have returned successfully... more or less. Some of you have heard parts of their story, but I will let them fill you in.

They went through it again. Jason handled most of it, the others chiming in from time to time to fill up details. He happily praised all of them, even Emilia. He made sure to emphasize her contributions, as if to prove to anyone who still doubted her that she had been an extremely valuable member of their team. She'd never felt her face burn so much.

"So Hera was here," said Annabeth at last. "Talking to you."

Jason nodded. "Look, I'm not saying I trust her—"