𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 [Jason Grace]

15

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞, 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲, Hazel and Frank ate break fast early. They all sat together despite Dante being of a different cohort. As Praetor, Percy could just excuse it. 

Dante wanted to tell them about turning seventeen, but he just couldn't get the words out. For far too long he had kept to himself. Now, opening up was hard.

They headed into the city before the senate was due to convene.

When they got to the forum, they sat by the fountains and watched the sun come up. The citizens were already busy sweeping up cupcake simulations, confetti, and party hats from last night's celebration. The engineer corps was working on a new arch that would commemorate the victory over Polybotes.

Dante told them what he had heard talk about a formal triumph for the three of them— a parade around the city followed by a week of games and celebrations— but he knew they'd never get the chance. They didn't have time.

Percy told them about his dream of Juno, how she had appeared and told him about the exchange between his camp and this one.

The whole concept of a Greek camp was foreign to Dante, it sounded preposterous. But it also explained a lot.

Hazel frowned. "The gods were busy last night. Show him, Frank."

Frank reached into his coat pocket. He produced a thin paperback book and a note on red stationery.

"These were on my pillow this morning." He passed them to Percy. "Like the Tooth Fairy visited."

The book was The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Dante had heard of it, but never read it himself. He could also guess who sent it. The letter read: Good job, kid. A real man's best weapon is his mind. This was your mom's favorite book. Give it a read. P.S.— I hope your friend Percy has learned some respect for me.

"Wow." Percy handed back the book. "Maybe Mars is different than Ares. I don't think Ares can read."

"One of these days you're going to get struck by lightning," Dante shook his head.

"Been there, done that."

Frank flipped through the pages. "There's a lot in here about sacrifice, knowing the cost of war. Back in Vancouver, Mars told me I'd have to put my duty ahead of my life or the entire war would go sideways. I thought he meant freeing Thanatos, but now... I don't know. I'm still alive, so maybe the worst is yet to come."

He glanced nervously at them, and Dante got the feeling Frank wasn't telling them everything.

"You risked your life," Percy said. "You were willing to burn up to save the quest. Mars can't expect more than that."

"Maybe," Frank said doubtfully.

Hazel squeezed Frank's hand.

They seemed more comfortable around each other this morning, not quite as nervous and awkward. Dante wondered if they'd started dating. He hoped so. He'd ask Hazel later.

"Hazel, how about you?" Percy asked. "Any word from Pluto?"

She looked down. Several diamonds popped out of the ground at her feet. "No," she admitted. "In a way, I think he sent a message through Thanatos. My name wasn't on that list of escaped souls. It should have been."

"You think your dad is giving you a pass?" Dante asked. Hazel's return from the Underworld was also something that seemed entirely impossible to him. But the week had been crazy enough as it was.