“Sorry,” Hazel said. “He’s eccentric, but he’s one of the oldest Lares. Been around since the legion was founded. ”
“He called the legion…Fulminata?” Percy said.
“‘Armed with Lightning,’” Hazel translated. “That’s our motto. The Twelfth Legion was around for the entire Roman Empire. When Rome fell, a lot of legions just disappeared. We went underground, acting on secret orders from Jupiter himself: stay alive, recruit demigods and their children, keep Rome going. We’ve been doing that ever since, moving around to wherever Roman influence was strongest. The last few centuries, we’ve been in America. ”
As bizarre as that sounded, Percy had no trouble believing it. In fact, it sounded familiar, like something he’d always known.
“And you’re in the Fifth Cohort,” he guessed, “which maybe isn’t the most popular?”
Hazel scowled. “Yeah. I joined up last September. ”
“So…just a few weeks before that guy Jason disappeared. ”
Percy knew he’d hit a sore spot. Hazel looked down. She was silent long enough to count every paving stone.
“Come on,” she said at last. “I’ll show you my favorite view. ”
They stopped outside the main gates. The fort was situated on the highest point in the valley, so they could see pretty much everything.
The road led down to the river and divided. One path led south across a bridge, up to the hill with all the temples. The other road led north into the city, a miniature version of Ancient Rome. Unlike the military camp, the city looked chaotic and colorful, with buildings crowded together at haphazard angles. Even from this far away, Percy could see people gathered in the plaza, shoppers milling around an open-air market, parents with kids playing in the parks.
“You’ve got families here?” he asked.
“In the city, absolutely,” Hazel said. “When you’re accepted into the legion, you do ten years of service. After that, you can muster out whenever you want. Most demigods go into the mortal world. But for some—well, it’s pretty dangerous out there. This valley is a sanctuary. You can go to college in the city, get married, have kids, retire when you get old. It’s the only safe place on earth for people like us. So yeah, a lot of veterans make their homes there, under the protection of the legion. ”
Adult demigods. Demigods who could live without fear, get married, raise a family. Percy couldn’t quite wrap his mind around that. It seemed too good to be true. “But if this valley is attacked?”
Hazel pursed her lips. “We have defenses. The borders are magical. But our strength isn’t what it used to be. Lately, the monster attacks have been increasing. What you said about the gor
gons not dying…we’ve noticed that too, with other monsters. ”
“Do you know what’s causing it?”
Hazel looked away. Percy could tell that she was holding something back—something she wasn’t supposed to say.
“It’s—it’s complicated,” she said. “My brother says Death isn’t—”
She was interrupted by an elephant.
Someone behind them shouted, “Make way!”
Hazel dragged Percy out of the road as a demigod rode past on a full-grown pachyderm covered in black Kevlar armor. The word elephant was printed on the side of his armor, which seemed a little obvious to Percy.
The elephant thundered down the road and turned north, heading toward a big open field where some fortifications were under construction.
Percy spit dust out of his mouth. “What the—?”
“Elephant,” Hazel explained.
“Yeah, I read the sign. Why do you have an elephant in a bulletproof vest?”
“War games tonight,” Hazel said. “That’s Hannibal. If we didn’t include him, he’d get upset. ”
“We can’t have that. ”
Hazel laughed. It was hard to believe she’d looked so moody a moment ago. Percy wondered what she’d been about to say. She had a brother. Yet she had claimed she’d be alone if the camp sorted her by her godly parent.
Percy couldn’t figure her out. She seemed nice and easy going, mature for somebody who couldn’t have been more than thirteen. But she also seemed to be hiding a deep sadness, like she felt guilty about something.
Hazel pointed south across the river. Dark clouds were gathering over Temple Hill. Red flashes of lightning washed the monuments in blood-colored light.
“Octavian is busy,” Hazel said. “We’d better get over there. ”
On the way, they passed some goat-legged guys hanging out on the side of the road.
“Hazel!” one of them cried.
He trotted over with a big grin on his face. He wore a faded Hawaiian shirt and nothing for pants except thick brown goat fur. His massive Afro jiggled. His eyes were hidden behind little round rainbow-tinted glasses. He held a cardboard sign that read: WILL WORK SING TALK go away for denarii.
“Hi, Don,” Hazel said. “Sorry, we don’t have time—”
“Oh, that’s cool! That’s cool!” Don trotted along with them. “Hey, this guy’s new!” He grinned at Percy. “Do you have three denarii for the bus? Because I left my wallet at home, and I’ve got to get to work, and—”
“Don,” Hazel chided. “Fauns don’t have wallets. Or jobs. Or homes. And we don’t have buses. ”
“Right,” he said cheerfully, “but do you have denarii?”
“Your name is Don the Faun?” Percy asked.
“Yeah. So?”
“Nothing. ” Percy tried to keep a straight face. “Why don’t fauns have jobs? Shouldn’t they work for the camp?”