𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 • Heroes of Olympus

XI

Reyna

𝐑𝐄𝐘𝐍𝐀 wanted to pack up and return to New Rome. But more importantly, she wanted to chuck her armor into a river and never look at it again.

Truth was, after Charleston, most legionnaires were ready to head back and start rebuilding New Rome. Reyna didn't fault them for it. The fight with Polybotes' army was still too fresh. Nobody wanted another battle so soon, especially not with other demigods–Greek or not.

But Octavian was relentless. Despite Reyna’s clear lack of support, the augur still riled the legion up, spewing nonsense about making the Greeks pay for their insult. His complete ignorance about what such a war would cost them was so infuriating, Reyna had to bite her tongue to prevent herself from outright calling him out. Praetor or not, Reyna still didn't have the kind of influence Octavian did. Especially now, after everything that went down with Jason. So she had kept quiet back in Charleston, letting Octavian take charge while they waited for reinforcements to arrive.

“Are we absolutely sure this is wise?” Dakota now asked from the backseat of their SUV, where he was crushed between five other members of the Fifth cohort. Jason's cohort. Not for the first time, Reyna wondered why she had chosen to drive them of all people.

“Keep your wisdom to yourself,” Octavian snapped, turning around on the passenger seat. It seemed like having to sit in the car for nearly seven hours had soured his mood too. “This is a matter of Rome’s honor.”

You know nothing about honor, Reyna thought darkly.

“The Greeks fired on us,” Octavian continued. “And, if that wasn't enough, they made our legionnaires commit treason. Who knows what they must've done to Jason Grace over the months that made him head for the Mare Nostrum”

The last part was said with a sideways glance at Reyna, who chose to ignore it. Her hands were going numb from clutching the steering wheel so hard for so long, but she showed nothing. She wasn't going to let Octavian get the best of her.

Reyna tried not to think of Jason. Tried, and failed. Jason Grace had sunk his roots so deep into her and Camp Jupiter that it seemed impossible to be rid of him. Even now, almost an entire day after the incident, Charleston was still fresh on her mind. 

Jason had been standing on the ship's deck, back-to-back with Percy, arms raised and eyes closed as he called on the winds, churning it into a storm. The scene had been so powerful, it made the hairs on her neck stand up. She'd silently wished them the best of luck.

But then, Jason had opened his eyes and looked straight at Reyna. His arms moved, as if reaching out to her. Even from the distance, she could see the Roman brand on his forearm. Right then, for just a moment, Reyna wanted to follow Annabeth onto the ship.

Reyna sighed. Thinking about Charleston reminded her of the stupid armor in the boot. Reyna was proud to say she wasn't afraid of most things. But that armor with its pulsing and glowing, that scared her more than she would ever admit.

A part of her knew she couldn't hold back a prophecy; that one way or another, she had to follow the Mark of Athena. But the rest of her disagreed. The legion was all she had left. She couldn't throw that away for a quest that was sure to end in failure.

“Where are you going?” Octavian sat straighter as Reyna headed into the parking lot of a big-enough motel.

“Dinner and sleep for the night,” Reyna answered. “We have been driving for hours, Octavian. The legionnaires are human, not gods. We need to eat.”

Octavian looked scandalized. “Well, where on earth are we?”

“If the sign posts weren't lying, we are in Richmond.”