Worth the Struggle

Chapter 3: Shocking Stories

The room stayed silent as he spoke. He was uncomfortable, but not hesitant. He didn't pause to complain or make excuses against telling us, or get an attitude towards anyone who interrupted him, neither did he try to stall and waste time. He was just honest. Telling his story to help us in the hope of being accepted, what more could we ask of him. It was all I'd asked, so if they don't accept him then I'll willingly go with him.

He told us about Kronos' plan to attack the camp via an entrance to the Labyrinth under the forest by Zeus' fist. Luke had found it back before he'd left to join Kronos, and they were working on a deal with Dedalus for Ariadne's string. Annabeth explained to me how that meant they'd be able to navigate the maze and successfully launch an attack against us, and if they had the element of surprise it would have been catastrophic. I knew the legend but explaining things to me was her way of preparing, so I didn't interrupt her. I just watched Luke speak.

He told us that him leaving created a setback. Dedalus was speaking with him, so negotiations would be on pause. Kronos had prepared Luke as his vessel, so he'd need to prepare another before he could rise. And that I'd suggested that without him some of the others would run. Kronos was weak, and at the disadvantage of us knowing his plans and him not knowing any of our plans. He ratted out his spy, Silena Beauregard. She looked around in shock and fear, but he insisted he was to blame for manipulating her. Then he blackmailed her into remaining his spy.

"What about Chris? Did you cause what happened to him too?" Clarisse glared.

Luke just looked down, which everyone took as confirmation. Clarisse sneered like a beast as she reached for her sword, and I gripped mine to spring to his defence, but Dyonisis turned her's into a grapevine. It was clear that he saw the benefits of keeping Luke around.

"I have experience with madness, after that display, I suppose if I don't help that boy in the basement then Luke's stay at camp will be rather short. And as I remember, he was a terrific swordsman and adequate trainer. He will be of use."

Clarisse backed down, and I noticed Luke was watching me. He was just searching me for something, but I had no idea what he was doing. I let go of the hilt of my sword. He looked back at the table. Chiron asked how Luke was prepared as a vessel. He confessed to taking on the 'curse of Achilles'. I didn't understand what that meant, but the one time I wanted Annabeth to explain something she was too busy gaping. Chiron started yammering about the risk of what Luke had done, who merely shrugged that it had worked and he'd lied to Kronos about his weakness. He admitted Kronos might know anyway, but as far as he knew it was safe. Clarisse asked where his weak point was, but he didn't answer.

"So you're nearly invincible with advanced abilities in combat but only one weakness and you won't tell us where? That doesn't seem suspicious."

"After you just tried to threaten him with your sword, even you can't be so dim as to realise why he doesn't trust any of us with information like that." I glared.

She looked like she was about to launch into an argument with me, but Dyonisis stepped in to agree with 'Pricy Johnson'. Luke released the fact that Dedalus had told him that the sight of a clear-visioned mortal was just as good as the string. Chiron insinuated that Luke was suggesting people go into the maze, but he shrugged. He suggested bargaining with Dedalus to prevent the other side from getting the string would be useful.

"It could be a quest," Annabeth pondered. "Three people go down with one of those mortals to find Dedalus, he won't give Kronos the string, and camp will be safe."

"I doubt you have a clear-sighted mortal hanging around camp." Luke frowned, "and there are exits down there you want nothing to do with."

Dyonisis asked for information on monsters and allies that could be swayed. Luke tried to help, supplying as many names as he could. The two that stuck out to me was the Hekatonkheire trapped in Alcatraz by a Kampe and Mr Geryon at the Triple G Ranch. I wasn't the only one. Mr D asked for Luke's expertise on the subjects, that if he created three quests for Dedalus, Geryon and the Hekatonkheire, who Luke would send on them.

Luke thought, clearly drawing lines in his head. "I'd suggest Annabeth take Dedalus, he's civilised enough to be gentle to family, but I wouldn't know who she should take. Grover maybe, he'd look after her. Percy's brother Tyson should go to Alcatraz, Cyclopses and Hekatonkheires are like brothers. Clarisse would fit there as well, she as aggressive as the Kampe so they'd stand a better chance. Another strong fighter too. Mr Geryon is a sneaky bastard, I'd handle him myself and with the help of Percy and Lee."

Mr D shared a look with Chiron. He was obviously contemplating the groups he was presented with. He questioned sending a saytr underground but didn't object if they were both comfortable. And he agreed with everything else Luke said. Clarisse chose another Arse kid to fight with her and Tyson. Annabeth wanted me to go with her, but I was sure Luke wanted me on the ranch for a reason. She asked Silena to go with her, and the groups were set.

"I will send a message to dear Hephaestus, see if he can produce something to navigate the Labyrinth to Alcatraz and...where is the ranch?"

"Texas."

Mr D left the room to make that call. I leaned against the wall and thought about what Luke had said about clear-sighted mortals. That would have to mean mortals who could see through the Mist, could see monsters as they truly were. Like my mum had with the minotaur a few years back, or that girl from the Hoover Dam. I brought this up to the group and some looked thoughtful. Luke suggested Annabeth go with my mother, and we should look for the girl if we could.

"The particulars shouldn't be sorted now. The quests won't be set for a while. The particulars need to be set before you can set specifics in your groups. Tyson isn't even here yet. Relax children."

Mr D agreed as he re-entered, with the assurance that Hephaestus would see what he could do but gave no guarantees. Clear-sighted mortals, it needed to be. Mr D said that would be camp organised, and once those things were set the quests could go ahead. He sent us all to bed, saying the excitement of quests wasn't an excuse to be up after curfew.

I pointed out a bunk for Luke to stay in, but he seemed suddenly shifty. I tried to calm him, thinking it was nerves about waking up to the other campers. But it wasn't that, it was his fear of Kronos sending him nightmares to torture him. I could understand, my dreams were terrible sometimes too, even without being sent by a Titan lord. I promised to wake him if I heard Luke scream out in the night. He laughed, asking if I'd let him curl up in bed with me like his mum. I blushed but shrugged. I wouldn't back out if he was teasing me. I'd take it, and ignore his efforts to make me uncomfortable. But he just smiled and brushed my cheeks with his fingertips before curling up in his bed. That was weird right, not just to me?