The Son of the Hearth, Moon, Sun, Underworld, Spring and Marriage

ch.14

~Reyna~

After sending that new boy, Percy to that bear-killer, I wracked my brain hard to look for what was missing from my head. It was like that missing piece from a jigsaw puzzle.

I started pacing around my tent, which lead Aurum and Argentum barking nervously.

I finally settled down on my chair when I remembered that the missing puzzle piece never turns up by searching the whole house, but by calmly thinking, and waiting. It normally is stuck on the back of your foot.

My tent's flap opened and Percy, along with Hazel and Frank came in.

"Easy, guys," I told my truth seeking greyhounds.

They stopped growling, but kept eyeing Percy as though they were imagining him as a feast.

"They won't attack," I said, "unless you try to steal something, or unless I tell them to. That's Argentum and Aurum."

"Silver and Gold," Percy said. I wasn't even surprised. Many children of gods can speak Latin, or can roughly translate.

I set my dagger on the table. I still had the vague feeling I'd seen him before. His hair was black and windswept. He had the poise of a sword fighter, relaxed yet vigilant, as if ready to spring into action.

"We have met," I decided.

"I don't remember when. Please, if you can tell me anything-"

"First things first," I said. "I want to hear your story. What do you remember? How did you get here? And don't lie. My dogs don't like liars."

Argentum and Aurum snarled to emphasise the point.

Percy told his story, how he'd woken up at the ruined mansion in the woods of Sonoma. He described his time with Lupa and her pack, learning their language of gestures and expressions, learning to survive and fight.

Lupa had taught him about demigods, monsters, and gods. She'd explained that she was one of the guardian spirits of Ancient Rome. Demigods like Percy were still responsible for carrying on Roman traditions in modern times, fighting monsters, serving the gods, protecting mortals, and upholding the memory of the empire. She'd spent weeks training him, until he was as strong and tough and vicious as a wolf. When she was satisfied with his skills, she'd sent him south, telling him that if he survived the journey, he might find a new home and regain his memory.

None of it surprised me. In fact, I found it pretty ordinary, except for one thing.

"No memory at all?" I asked. "You still remember nothing?"

"Fuzzy bits and pieces." Percy glanced at the greyhounds. Somewhat scared.

I spun my dagger. "Most of what you're describing is normal for demigods. At a certain age, one way or another, we find our way to the Wolf House. We're tested and trained.

If Lupa thinks we're worthy, she sends us south to join the legion. But I've never heard of someone losing their memory. How did you find Camp Jupiter?"

Percy told me about the last three days, the gorgons who wouldn't die, the old lady who turned out to be a goddess, and finally meeting Hazel and Frank at the tunnel in the hill.

Hazel took the story from there. She described Percy as brave and heroic, which seemed to make him uncomfortable. All he'd done was carry a hippie lady.

I studied him. "You're old for a recruit. You're what, sixteen?"

"I think so," Percy said.

"If you spent that many years on your own, without training or help, you should be dead. A son of Neptune? You'd have a powerful aura that would attract all kinds of monsters."