the second chapter of the mark of athena

The Roman demigods in the forum had coalesced into an angry mob. If weapons had been allowed in the city, Annabeth’s friends would have already been dead. Fistfights were breaking out.Īnnabeth had a horrible feeling this might be the last time Reyna and she ever acted in agreement, but together they ran down the hill. “Perhaps you were not aware of this treachery, but someone must pay.”ĭown in the forum, chaos was spreading. “You’re telling the truth,” Reyna judged. They snarled at Annabeth but paced uncertainly, as if reluctant to attack. The metal dogs ran to their mistress’s side. “Gods, no.” A wave of nausea almost made Annabeth’s knees buckle. Its port ballista fired a massive spear wreathed in Greek fire, which sailed straight through the broken dome of the Senate House and exploded inside, lighting up the building like a jack-o’-lantern. “You’ve betrayed our trust.”Īs soon as she said it, the Argo II launched a second volley. “It isn’t the giants.” Reyna’s eyes seethed with rage. “Giants?” Annabeth reached for her dagger, which of course wasn’t there. She turned in time to see an explosion blast a new crater in the forum. Light flashed in the corner of Annabeth’s eye. And the legend centers on Athena-”Ī shrill sound pierced the air. Until this old score is finally settled, so the legend goes, Romans and Greeks will never be at peace. If it’s true, it may explain why our two groups of demigods have never been able to work together. “There is an old legend that the praetors of Camp Jupiter have passed down through the centuries. Much later, when I became praetor of Camp Jupiter, I began to suspect.” “At the time, I had no idea what he was talking about. “Did this demigod-did he explain his quest?” She thought about the strange nightmares she’d been having lately.

She remembered her mother’s scathing words. She’d never heard that prophecy, but her mother had charged her with following the Mark of Athena and as she thought about the coin in her pocket, a horrible suspicion began taking root in her mind. “Not-not the way Ella said them.” Annabeth’s voice was weak. But you say that you’ve never heard them before today?”

“He kept muttering about wisdom’s child, the Mark of Athena, and the giants’ bane standing pale and gold. “Yes,” Reyna said, seeing her discomfort. Read a sample here (PDF).Annabeth grabbed the railing to keep her balance. Note: The paperback edition features a new short story, The Staff of Serapis. Narrated by four different demigods, The Mark of Athena is an unforgettable journey across land and sea to Rome, where important discoveries, surprising sacrifices, and unspeakable horrors await.

What if he’s now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side. What more does Athena want from her?Īnnabeth’s biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find-and close- the Doors of Death. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena.

Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.Īnd that’s only one of her worries. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo’s fantastical creation doesn’t appear friendly. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. Just when she’s about to be reunited with Percy-after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera-it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war.

The second chapter of the mark of athena