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Chapter Text

Spring, 1998

Tay had two friends and he liked it that way. It was a good number.

There was Bryce, of course. He was a bit older and a lot bigger.

Sometimes Bryce liked to climb trees and Tay liked to watch him.

Sometimes Bryce chased birds and Tay would shout out which bird Bryce should chase next.

Sometimes Bryce would steal treats from the café while Tay distracted the staff.

Today, Bryce was smashing fruits with a stick he had found. Tay had watched some ants crawl around one of the fruit pieces for a while, but this game wasn’t that interesting. Bryce didn’t care which fruits Tay liked to eat (most of them were just yuck!). So instead, Tay decided to play with his other friend.

Caesar was a very pretty yellow stuffed bunny that he had gotten for his birthday a year ago. It had a shining sun embroidered on its belly. And, if Tay were honest, he liked Caesar a lot more than Bryce. If he didn’t have to play with Bryce, he would probably have left the other boy alone.

It was just the two of them, you see. Tay and Bryce were the only kids their age in all of New Rome. There were older kids, of course. And the legionaries too. But the older kids didn’t play with Tay and the legionaries lived at Camp Jupiter.

Tay set the bunny down on an old tree stump and started to circle around him. He had seen his father do so many times, talking about interesting things that Tay didn’t really understand. But his father always said it was the best way to think about ‘such things’.

It was not long before Bryce noticed Tay wasn’t watching him, though.

“Tay!”

Tay ignored him. He continued his discussions with Caesar. He talked about the movie had seen a little while ago. Matilda. It was called. “You know, I’m going to make things fly around a room one day, I think.”

As he made another circle, Bryce stepped in front of him. “What are you doing?”

“Talking.”

“Only crazy people talk to themselves.”

“My pater talks to himself all the time.”

“Everyone knows your pater is crazy.”

“He isn’t!” Tay was very impressed by his father and refused to listen to any word otherwise. “You take that back.”

“Then I’d be a big liar.” Bryce reached down and snatched Caesar from the stump. He waved it in front of Tay. In a sing-song way, he said, “Your pater is crazy.”

Tay tried to grab the bunny, but Bryce held Caesar high above his head, far out of Tay’s reach. “Give it back!”

“Not until you say your pater is crazy.”

“I won’t. Now, give it back.”

“Nope, nope, nope.” Bryce pulled away, dancing around with the bunny now.

“Stop, you’ll get him dirty.”

“Make me.”

Tay charged after Bryce, but the bigger boy jumped out of the way every time. Frustrated, Tay saw the stick Bryce had been using. He grabbed it. “Give it back!”

Bryce glared at the stick. “You hit me, and the bunny dies.”

Tay didn’t care. He launched himself at Bryce, swinging the stick as hard as he could. Bryce tried to get away, but he slipped on some mud. The stick slammed into his head full force. He shouted out.

But Bryce wasn’t hurt for long. He grabbed the stick and threw it with all his might. Then he turned to Tay and held up the bunny. He grabbed Caesar’s head and ripped it off. His eyes… his eyes had turned from a luminesant black to a sickly green, Tay realised. But, as he watched Bryce drop Caesar into the mud, he didn’t care.

“See, he’s dead now.” Bryce said. “Bye, bye Caesar!”

Tay screamed. He charged at Bryce. This time he was able to grab Bryce’s shirt. They struggled and Bryce had him pinned in the mud quickly enough. Tay might have lost the fight in seconds, except Bryce kept slipping on the mud.

“Stultus!” Tay shouted.

Bryce roared. He punched Tay in the nose. Tay scratched at Bryce’s eyes in reply.

Bryce called out his own insult. “Demens!”

“Sceleste,” Tay said. He didn’t know what it meant, and he didn’t know if he said it right, but it didn’t matter. Bryce heard it and it make his face go red.

But before Bryce could hit Tay again, someone called out, “Stop!”

Tay looked towards the voice. He thought it might have been an older kid. But the blonde boy running overlooked Tay’s age. Maybe younger.

The boy wore a purple t-shirt that was way to big for him and his patterned socks didn’t match. They looked uncomfortable too – the kind that rubbed. His brilliant blonde hair stuck out wildly. He called out again, “Stop!”

But Bryce wasn’t in the mood to listen to a random kid. He punched Tay in the gut and pinned him to the ground, this time leaning his arm against Tay’s neck. It was this point that Tay normally cried out for mercy. This was a game they played as much as any other. But Bryce had killed Caesar. Tay knew enough about his namesake, Augustus, to know had to avenge Caesar death. He kicked wildly and landed a couple blows. But Bryce didn’t move his arm.

“I said, stop!” the blonde boy cried as he slammed into Bryce. Tay immediately gasped for air as Bryce’s weight moved off him. Bryce and the new kid wrestled each other. Despite being small, blondie held his own.

Then Bryce bite him in the ear. Hard.

Boy gasped in pain. He pulled back but… but that wasn’t all. The kid started to cry, and a whirlwind rushed out of him. Tay managed to keep his footing, but Bryce was sent flying. He landed on the ground in a heap and when he got up, he had a look of fear in his eyes. Tay had never seen Bryce scared before.

A moment later, Bryce bolted. He ran towards the street, darting out of sight in seconds.

Tay slowly turned to the boy. The winds still swirled around him, though Tay was far enough away that he only felt a small breeze.

“Ah… are you okay? You want me to get an adult?”

Tay really hoped he would say no. Tay hated dealing with adults almost as much as he hated dealing with big kids.

The kid wrapped his arms around himself. He seems to pull the winds in towards him. Then they were gone. Tay stepped over to him slowly. “Are you okay?”

The kid nodded. “Who was that boy?”

“Bryce. He’s my friend.”

“Didn’t seem like it me. What happened?”

Tay remembered the reason why he and Bryce had been brawling. He turned and found Caesar in the mud. He showed blondie the remains.

“He killed Caesar.”

“Oh, poor Caesar.”

“Yeah…” Tay said. “I’m Tay, by the way. Who are you?”

“My name is Jason.”

“Oh,” Tay said. He recognised that name. “Iason. My mater talked about you. You’re the son of Iupiter, right? Why are you here, don’t you live at the camp?”

“Yeah. But I’m exploring. They’re doing war games right now.”

“You’ve seen war games?”

Jason shook his head. “I’m supposed to say inside. It’s dangerous.”

“I can’t wait to fight in the war games. They’re so cool.”  

“Do you want to go watch?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think I’m supposed to be your friend. My mater called you a problem.”

“Why am I a problem?”

“I don’t know.”

“Oh. But… They said I should make friends with everyone in the legion. So I should make friends with you.”

“I’m not in the legion. I’m five.”

“Well, I’m four.”

“Four? You’re big for four.”

“You’re small for five. But that’s okay, because I’m the son of Jupiter, so I’ll protect you.” He beamed with pride. “You and I are friends now.”

“Oh. Okay.” Tay looked over to where Bryce had run off to. He knew his parents would rather he be friends with Bryce. Their families were good friends. For generations, apparently.

Tay looked over at the boy. And he decided Jason seemed a lot nicer than Bryce. “Do you know where we can watch the war games without anyone seeing?”

Chapter Text

Summer, 2000

For two years, Tay rarely saw Bryce outside of family occasions. As long as Jason was around, Bryce didn’t bother him. And Tay was glad for it. Jason’s games were far more interesting and a lot of the time he let Tay decide what to do.

They roamed around the main street of New Rome, listening to the Lars tells their stories or make silly jokes. They read books Tay had taken from his family’s library, seated in the shade of a tree. They hunted for frogs and bugs on the banks of the Little Tiber.

It was just such a hunting day. Summer. Humid and hot. Tay carried one of his newest books open and read as they walked. He didn’t understand a lot of the words, of course, but there were certain sections that were separated out. This one was about something called the Sibylline Books.

“Seven half-bloods shall answer the call. To storm or fire, the world must fall. Ooh. Spooky.”

“Yeah,” Jason said, leading into Tay’s shoulder and reading it for himself. He finished reading the words, “An oath to keep with a final…b-breath | and foes bear arms to the Doors of Death… what’s the Doors of Death?”

“I don’t know. Wait, I think it says here…”

“Shh!” Jason said.

Tay turned to him, surprised by Jason’s interruption. Then he followed Jason’s gaze and saw, on the other side of the river, Bryce.

Bryce Lawrence. Resident menace. Tay knew Bryce had taken in with a few of the older kids and hung around the weapon stores. He wasn’t surprised to see Bryce holding an imperial gold knife.

Bryce had managed to get his sweater ripped and muddy. Grass clung to his elbows. He looked up from the water and stared at them.

There was a long moment between that moment and when Jason stepped towards Bryce. “Hey!” he said.

Tay stared at Jason. He had left Bryce behind, and he didn’t want to rekindle any relationship he had with his old friend. He had managed to sew up Caesar’s neck and after much begging to let him keep the toy, his mother had sent Caesar to a cleaner, and Tay never wanted to go through that again. He didn’t need more friends.

Two was enough. It was a good number.

But Tay didn’t say anything, and Jason didn’t read his mind. The son of Jupiter forded across the shallows of the river. “We came to look for bugs. What about you?”

“Naiads.”

“Really? Have you seen any?”

“Not yet. But I made this lure.” He pulled out from the water a weird collection of shiny bits and pieces, all wrapped up within a netting. “Mermaids like shiny things.”

Tay had to say something then. “Mermaids and naiads are different things.”

Bryce glared at Tay from across the river. “No one asked you.”

“Why don’t we look for naiads together? The three of us. They’re probably further up the river.”

Tay wasn’t so sure. But then Bryce called over to him. “Are you going to run away, scaredy-cat? Oooh, so scared. You promised you would be my friend forever and then you run away. Are you going to run away again?”

“No!” Tay said. He didn’t want to look like a weakling in front of Jason. And he also didn’t want Bryce to report him to their parents.

He climbed down the riverbank and found a place where he could jump across a few rocks to get across. He didn’t want the book and bunny (now in his backpack) to get wet.

“You know…” Bryce said as Tay arrived. “If we climb to the top of the High Bridge, we should be able to see a longer way. Then we’ll be able to find the naiads easy.”

The trip to the High Bridge was actually excellent. Mission in hand and destination acquired they forged through tall grasses. They even spotted a faun washing his shirt in the river and they carefully snuck around. Bryce led the way, using his knife to cut through the thicker bits of under bush. It was a fabulous adventure.

“It’s like we’re heroes,” Tay said.

“That’s because we are heroes!” Bryce said. “Aren’t we, son of Jupiter? Shouldn’t you be at the front? You’re supposed to be our bold, heralded leader.”

Jason had taken up the rear, his gaze on something off in the distance. He did that sometimes. Apparently, it was a half-blood thing, they… got distracted easily.

“Do you hear anything?” Tay asked.

Jason turned back to them and shook his head, “It’s nothing. Just thought I saw a naiad.”

“Won’t see anything around here,” Bryce said. “I’ve already searched it.”

They forged on again until they got to the base of one of the High Bridge’s columns. High Bridge was the largest crossing for the river – its floor many times taller than Tay. He had never realised just how far it was until now, standing underneath it.  

Bryce was suggesting they climb up the columns so it would be like a real adventure.

“Ah…” Jason began. “Maybe shouldn’t go around.”

“Come on. I get Tay, but you can’t be a scaredy cat, Jason. Don’t you have wind powers? If one of us falls, you can fly down and catch us. Right?”

“Ah… maybe?”

“Alright, then. It’s decided. Let’s go!”

Climbing up the old walls wasn’t actually that hard. The concrete had come away in most places, reveals thin and easily grabbable bricks. Jason led the way up, followed by Bryce. Tay chose to go last. He knew he would be slowest up. Jason had his winds. Bryce climbed all the time. But Tay… well, Tay fell over while just walking around sometimes.

As he hesitated, he saw Bryce look over his shoulder. Scaredy-cat, Bryce’s expression seemed to say. Tay steeled himself and grabbed a hold of the wall.

Soon enough they neared the top of the High Bridge. Jason leaped over the sides and onto the bridge itself. He helped Tay climb over and, suddenly, they were all

They walked along the High Bridge, eyes out for naiads, they realised that none of them knew what naiads were supposed to look like.

“What about over there!” Bryce said finally. He pointed over towards the entrance of the camp, where their world met the mortal world. Jason and Tay rushed over and peered towards where Bryce had been pointing. Bryce might have been tall enough to see over the sides, but both Jason and Tay had to climb to and balance on the walls to see.

Then. Between one moment and the next, Tay went from looking as hard as he could out in the distance to falling.

He didn’t understand it at first. But pretty quickly his body realised it was falling – and the water of the river below was coming very quickly. Tay heard Jason’s voice.

He tried to reach out. Tried to grab Jason’s outstretched hand as the winds spun around him. But it was too late. He hit the water.

Everything went black.

And… out of the black came a light. It felt like a setting sun… or a rising one… it was very bright either way. He felt a warm hand touch his forehead.

Then he woke.

Coughing. In pain. Water was everywhere… but it also wasn’t. He looked around panicked and found himself nowhere never the riverbank. He was in a room with lots of bandages, and bottles, and other… medicine things.

A person stepped through a doorway, “You’re awake. That’s great!”

She looked young for a legionary. Maybe… twelve?

Following after her were Bryce and Jason. They looked glad to see Tay. But before they could talk, Tay heard the sound of a trumpet. He’d never been this close to the trumpets, and he decided at that moment, he never wanted to be again. It was wretched sound.

And after it, sauntering into the room, was one of the camp’s praetors. “What’s this, Jackie? I had a report about an injury.”

“These kids came, one of them has a broken arm and all of them are a bit shaken. Looks like they fell off the High Bridge.” The girl, Jackie, looked at Tay. “You’re you got off with just a broken arm. It looked a lot worse when I first saw you come in.”

“Jason saved me,” Tay coughed out. He remembered the winds. Even if Jason didn’t catch him, Tay didn’t doubt they softened the impact.

“What were you doing playing around on a bridge?” the praetor said. There was an argument, but Tay only half-caught it. His gaze kept travelling to the healer. He didn’t really know why. There was just something… something about her. Not wrong. Not strange or curious. Not even good. But it bothered him and the longer he looked, the worse he felt.

A hot pain started in his stomach and spread through his body. When it reached his eyes, he could have sworn he saw the flash of an imperial gold weapon cut across his vision. He groaned, burying his head in his hands to try to keep the images out. But they came for him still. Clearer now.

But before he could understand any of it, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Jackie. She had a vial of liquid in her hand. “Drink this. It’ll make it better.”

Tay didn’t ask his usual questions about what was in it. He didn’t even look at the liquid inside. Anything to stop the pain. He drank it all in one gulp. It rolled down his throat like a syrup. Jackie pushed him back into the bed and said, “You should try to sleep.”

The blackness hit him again moments later.

When he woke, it took him a couple seconds to remember what had happened. He freaked out when he realised, he wasn’t in his bed. Night had fallen. It was gloomy inside the infirmary.

He found Caesar next him. Both he and the bunny were no longer soaking wet, and he was glad to find his companion with him. He sat up slowly. His arm was in a splint.

He wondered where everyone went. The shadows of the night swirled around him. He slipped out of the cot determined to find the light switch. After the day he had, he didn’t want to spend a moment longer in the dark.

He tucked Caesar into his sling and padded across the room. He ran his free hand along the cot, then the floor. As his hand reached the wall near where he remembered a door, he heard a ripping sound.

No… he thought.

He scrambled for the light then, more hurried than he had been. And when he found it – the worst thing lay before him.

His repairs on Caesar’s neck had caught on against something and now half his stuffing was spread across the floor. Yet that wasn’t what sacred him the most.

He… he understood the stuffing. It said something.

He ran from the room, gasping for breath. He ran through the front of the infirmary and down into the main street of the camp. There was a few lantern lights around but there was no one outside. The moon stared down at him and he suddenly felt very small, and very afraid. He wanted Caesar. Caesar was strong. And Caesar was back inside.

He crept into the infirmary. Step by indecisive step. As he opened the door, he read the stuffing again. This time, making some sense of the… words? He couldn’t say why he understood the floating bits of fibre. But he did. They cried out at him, demanding his attention. Apollo’s lineage beware your false pledge.

He didn’t know what that meant. But he did know he was a descendant of Apollo on his mother’s side. She was very pretty, and she said it was because of him. He knew she wouldn’t be happy that he was so scared. No child of hers cried about the dark. He reached down and picked up Caesar’s body. More stuffing tumbled out, but no more messages came.

“Ita… ita, yes, ma’am.”

Tay heard the Jackie’s voice coming from outside. He turned, realising the door was still open. Jackie was with a woman. Not just any woman. Tay’s mother: Tatiana Varus. She was very tall. Thin. And pretty.

But Tay recognised that expression. He knew that plastered smile and he knew he was in deep trouble. She only ever smiled when she was mad.

“Mater,” Tay said, quickly searching for an excuse. An excuse to be awake this time of night. An excuse for his broken arm. An excuse… well, it didn’t matter, because he wasn’t good at making up excuses on the spot.

“Octavian,” she said. She closed the space between them. “You’re awake. I heard you took a fall. What were you doing? You know I had a meeting today! Why weren’t you at home.”

She shook her head as she took in the mess on the floor, “Look at this! This is Caesar’s head? You really shouldn’t be playing with that toy anymore. You’re too old for it. I ought to have gotten rid of it the first time it broke.”

“No,” Tay said. “Please! I like Caesar.”

“And what is this, then? You figured you’d take off his head to match your broken arm?”

“It came off. I didn’t mean it. And… it’s weird.”

“What is?”

“That!” he pointed. “Can’t you see? It has… words.”

She looked genuinely concerned at that point. She turned to Jackie. “I thought you said he was fine but for the arm.”

“I… I gave him a unicorn elixir. My instincts told me that would be enough.”

“Perhaps you need more training, child of Apollo.”

Jackie glanced between them. Then she said, “What do you mean by words? Did you spell out something?”

“You can’t see them? They say: Apollo’s lin-lineage beware your false pledge.”

Tay have never seen his mother shocked before. She was utterly unflappable in his mind. The world could have been ending and she would simply pour a glass of wine and sigh. But she stared at him now, mouth agape.

“What did you just say?”

“The words!” Tay said, feeling more than a little distressed. Why were she so surprised? Could they not see them?

Then his mother smirked. “My son has been blessed. A replacement for our late augur.”  

Jackie stared at her, “I didn’t know he died.”

“As good as. Swanning off and leaving his commitments to New Rome just to gamble on horse racing. Honestly. What a disgrace. My son will be much better.”

“He’s just a kid!”

Tatiana shook her head, “It doesn’t matter.”

“So what? He’s the augur now?”

“Haruspex.”

“What?”

“That’s…” Tatiana sighed and waved her hand. “It doesn’t matter. Octavian, my son, you can read the future in the remains of … creatures … that is an incredible blessing. We will offer a sacrifice to Apollo come the dawn.”

“He really should rest,” Jackie said.

“Enough,” Tatiana said, dismissing Jackie’s words with a wave of her hand. She reached out and pulled Tay to his feet. Her eyes were shining with joy. “Oh, my son. You are going to make our family great again.”  

Chapter Text

November, 2000

Summer turned into fall. And at the far end of it, came Tay’s birthday. The house filled with people from the town. The atrium was decked out with tables and triclinium. Tay knew most of the people – the shopkeepers, his schoolteacher, legionaries, and more. He didn’t invite any of them, of course. When his mother asked who his friends were, Tay admitted he only had two: Bryce and Jason. And, if he had been honest, they were the only people he actually wanted to see.

He hugged Caesar tight as he brushed passed the guests. He wanted to find Jason and Bryce quickly. Too many people wanted to talk to him today. To wish him ‘happy birthday’ or, in Latin, ‘natalis laetus’.

Technically, Tay was born later in the month, but they always celebrated on the first day of November, on the calends.

He found Bryce first, who hung around his pater. Mr Lawrence was a scary man; Tay had always thought so. He was one of the tallest people at the party and while he wasn’t the widest, his muscles had this weird coil to them, like a snake moments from striking. It didn’t help that every inch of visible skin was covered in tattoos that moved. Burning flames. Eyes that blinked and watched.

Tay didn’t get too close. He tried to meet Bryce’s gaze but when he did, Bryce only shook his head. He wouldn’t be able to come play.

So instead, Tay pulled back into the crowd and searched for Jason. The son of Jupiter was not hard to find. But he was hard to get close too.

A dozen people had gathered around Jason out in the front gardens. Someone, it seems, had dressed Jason up in the uniform of a legionary, down to the standard issue shoes. He did look very cool, Tay had to admit. But it seemed like it would be hard to fly with armour on. He and Jason had been training Jason’s wind skills since Tay’s fall. Tay had been studying the old books in the library – the one’s he understood – trying to get ideas on how Jason could use his powers better. They still hadn’t worked out lightning yet, but Tay thought they would soon.

When Jason spotted Tay through the crowd, his eyes lit up. “Thank you everyone, but I need to go now.”

He slipped passed the praetor who had come as his babysitting, beat the legs of the gathered adults, and over to Tay’s side. He grabbed Tay’s hand and pulled him along, into the house. Around the corner, he stopped, grinning, “Hey. Happy birthday.”

“Th-thanks,” Tay said. They were at the edge of the atrium now, at the base of the stairs that led to the upper floor. “Do you… want to go hide in my room?”

Before Jason could reply, Tay’s mother passed the small hall they were in and spotted him. She locked eyes on Jason for a moment, not looking entirely pleased to see them together. Then she reached out her and patted Tay’s head. “There you are. Come, Octavian. You are needed.”

Tay offered Jason a sad glance but followed his mother back out into the party. Aurae passed around the edge of party, refilling empty glasses with wine. Birthdays were traditional days, so almost everyone was dressed in togas and stolas. Tay wore a tunic, since he was just a kid. He almost wished he was wearing a legionary uniform like Jason, but then he realised he would probably attract more attention that he wanted.

They circled the pool at the centre of the atrium and came to a marble bench. Tay spotted his father there, looking impassive always. Tay’s mother lifted him up and set him on the marble bench and called out, “Everyone!”

The crowd turned. It was one thing Tatiana did with the most exceptional skill; she always drew a crowd. She spoke with a melodious charm, regardless of the language. “Today, my son turns eight. And I thank you all for joining us in our home to celebrate.”

She paused and the spectators clapped. Though Tay really didn’t understand why.

Quietly, she said, “Octavian, thank them for their presents.”

Tay had yet to see any presents, but he did what he was told. Despite the fact that everyone was watching, he didn’t from that he was anymore put off than usual. In fact, there was a bit of excitement fluttering in his stomach. At least in this case, he knew what he was supposed to say. “Gratias uobis ago! Thank you, everyone!”

His mother nodded. He only had the one line it seemed.

She turned instead to Tay’s father, Nicholas. He sighed, seemingly bored by the entire proceedings. He picked up a wooden box and held it out to Tay. He did smile, though it was the same kind of awkward smile Tay had been trying to stop using.

“Natalis laetus, mi fili.” Happy birthday, my son.

“Benigne, pater,” Tay said, though he didn’t mean it. Thanks, dad. He had thought he was getting a book as a present, it was what he asked for. A book about Roman heroes and myths. But the box was too small for that.

He glanced over at his mother who was looking at him very expectantly. He grimaced and opened up the box. Instead was a knife. A pretty knife. Which stuck Tay as being a bit foolish. Who would make a weapon pretty? Why?

Tatiana held up his hand, so that everyone could see the knife. “This year, the great Apollo blessed my family. Octavian received the gift of prophecy. I know, let’s have a reading, shall we?”

She revealed from the folds of her stola a stuff cat. She passed it over to Octavian. “You know what to do.”

Octavian stared at her, not reaching for the toy. “Ah… do I have to?”

He hadn’t read any prophecies since the first time. And that had freaked him out enough as is. She smiled at him, and he knew there would be no arguing. He took the cat in his other hand. More nervous now, he turned to everyone.

He heard the muttering then.

She can’t be serious, one person was saying. He’s just a kid.

No one is going to believe it, another said.

Ridiculous, came another.

Hesitantly, he cut into the cat’s belly. Stuffing streamed out and onto the floor. Almost immediately, words started to form. Or… at least, he could understand them. He frowned.

Crowned by wind and lightning

A child of the skies ascends

The fallen king’s power tightening

A choice of hatred or amends

Will decide how the story ends.

“What does it say?” his mother whispered.

“Ah…” he read off the words to her, quietly.

She nodded, then she turned to the crowd, “It’s seems to be rather vague. But we can agree prophecies love their to be vague.”

Tay wondered how much of that was the truth. What about Jason, Tay wanted to say. Before he could though, Tay felt his father pick him up. “You did well, Tashka.”

As, his mother directed the party on to the next activity. Tay overheard more whispered.

The Vari are getting desperate.

It’s a hoax, I guarantee it.

When normal people wouldn’t show their face. The Vari throw a party.

“Come on,” Tay’s father said, pushing him away from the pool. “We’ll get the cat all fixed up.”

They walked out of the atrium and into the family library. Nicholas, Tay’s father, sighed when he closed the door. “I hate parties.”

“Mater says they’re fun.”

“She does.” Nicholas nodded. “Did you have a name for the cat?”

“I can keep it?” Tay asked as his father pulled out a needle and thread. Nicholas nodded again. “Do I have to keep the knife?”

“You don’t like it?”

“I don’t need a knife. I want a book.”

Nicholas raised an eyebrow and turned to the rows and rows of books in the library. “Another one?”

“These are yours. Mater says not to come in here when you are around.”

“Does she? Well, that’s very silly. I think you’re old enough to use the library without help. You just have to be quiet.”

Tay’s eyes lit up. That was the best news he had heard all day. “Truly? Really? You mean it?”

“Of course. I make it my policy not to lie to people. Though it does get me in trouble.” He put the thread between his teeth and snapped it. He passed the now repaired – if a little deflated – cat back to Tay.

“I’ll name you Liber.” Book. They sat in silence for a while. Just listening the party outside. “Papa?”

“Yes?”

“Do people hate us?”

“What makes you think that?”

“I just heard things. About the Vari.”

Nicholas sighed, “Well, before you were born, back when your mother and I served in the legion, your uncle… her brother… well, he was very successful. He earned the rank of praetor. And he believed his destiny called to him. He organised an expedition to Alaska. And, well, it go so well.”

“Oh… Uncle Mikhail?”

Nicholas nodded.

“Is that why we don’t display his mask?”

“Yes.”

A knock came at the door. Nicholas frowned, “Hello?”

The door opened and Bryce stepped inside. “Sorry, sir. But Mrs Varus is saying she needs you both.”

“Thank you, Briculus,” he said, using a name that only adults used for Bryce. It was the Latin version of Bryce’s name, Bricius, plus a nickname ending. Like “y” in English.

The next hour or so of the party was spent sacrificing to the gods. They started with the Lares of the house – Marcus and Natalya, the founders of clan Vari. The husband-and-wife spirits thanked them for the blessings. Tay’s mother conducted this ritual.

After that, they summoned the family genus, who took the form a small snake – though Tay had heard that it could become massive if the house was ever threatened. Tay’s father offered it a chicken. The snake swallowed it and silvered off, looking very satisfied.

Next, came the sacrifice to Juno, in her form as protectress of the home. They thanked her for protecting Tay for the last year, allowing him to live. For Juno, they killed a white lamb.

Then, they paid homage to each of the familial gods. The one’s the family were descended from. Janus, Venus, Minerva, Mercury, and – finally - Apollo. Tatiana especially thanked Apollo, speaking again about how happy they were for Tay to have been given the gift of prophecy.

It was only then that it started to dawn on Tay that the gift was in someway special. Many children of the gods had gifts. Jason was an example of that. And it was not uncommon for legacies born within the city to be bestowed certain talents. But he recalled then that he had not heard of anyone else being able to read the future.

His mother made it sound very exciting – but the thought just made him feel lonely. He remembered how everyone had whispered when he read out the prophecy earlier. They couldn’t see it. So, could they really believe it?

Once all the sacrifices had been made, the feast began. Certain sections of the meats had been burned for the gods to consume, but the rest were for the guests. Every element of the animals were cooked in the kitchens and brought out hot and steaming.

Tay didn’t eat much. He caught Jason’s eye from across the room. They nodded in unison and made a quick escape. Tay opened the door at the back of the atrium that led to the private gardens and Jason slipped through the gap. Tay waved to Bryce, who glanced at his father. Mr Lawrence was deep in discussion with a senator, so Bryce hurried over. Tay closed the door behind him.

At last, they were alone. He turned to his friends. “So, do you want to play a game?”

They played hide-and-seek for a bit. The garden had a lot of good places. And since no one was supposed to be back there during the party it was dark – which added to the mystery. It was lucky too, because at one point, Tay’s mother came looking for him. Bryce lied, saying he hadn’t seen Tay, and Tatiana left.

Jason used his wind powers to hide up in the big tree, which bewildered Bryce for a bit, but eventually Tay spotted him. “Up there!”

Jason laughed so hard at Bryce’s reaction that he actually fell out of the branches. He caught himself with his magic before he could hit the ground, buoying himself. He came to sit on the grass and smiled up at them. “Does this mean I win?”

“No way!” Bryce said. “Another round!”

They didn’t get another round, because at that moment, Bryce’s father found him.

“Bricius!” Mr Lawrence shouted across the garden. “We’re leaving.”

Bryce made a face. He waved good-bye and ran off. Tay didn’t see Bryce for three days after that.

Chapter Text

May, 2001

The house was a mess. And it was always noisy. Antonia finally come home from the hostipal for the last time. Only now, with her living at the house full time, Tavian realised just how loud she was. His baby sister had the lungs of a legacy of Apollo - that was fro sure. She screamed, and cried, and he hated it with a passion like no other. But then she would smile and laugh – and he would forget.

He held her in his arms sometimes and she would play with the bunny Tavian had gotten for her. It was like his own Caesar, yellow and bright. She liked to chew on the ears. It was those moments where he was really happy to have a sister. She had the same grey eyes as Tavian’s father, but on her they looked so cute, so large, and adorable.

So that was why, when they look her away and the house became silent again, Tavian felt like a huge part of his heart had been carved out and sent to the hospital with her. He hugged his teddies but found it wasn’t the same.

He tried reading. It helped. It drowned out the bad thoughts – the fears that Antonia would never come back. The hollow silence of the house. The hurt in his chest.

He daydreamed about going on an adventure to find the Sibylline Books. The legends around the books stole his heart. The books had prophecies from thousands of years ago and some of them hadn’t even been solved yet.

He longed to get his hands on at least a piece of the books. Prophecies were like puzzles, but bigger and better, and they were real. You could change things if you understand a prophecy.

And Tavian really wanted to change things.

In the year since he had been blessed by Apollo, he had started to learn the signs of a prophecy waiting to be told. It started with prickling in his skin. If there was a target, they felt off to him. Sometimes he would get a bad taste in his mouth. Other times, there would be a hot pain in his stomach made him want to throw up.

Some nights, he had imagined cutting open his own stomach just to let the pain drain away. His parents bought him more stuffed animals – but that only helped somewhat. He read the prophecy but then it’s words and the faces of the stuffed toys had to butchered haunted his dreams instead.

The words in the stuffing always scared him.

Warnings. So maybe warnings.

He wished he was like the seers in the books he read. They were so wise. They knew what they were doing.

He also wished he was reading about the Sibylline books at that moment. Instead, he had stupid maths homework.

He heard a tap against his window. Then it came again. He turned and saw Bryce, leaning against the wall, his face halfway visible beyond the window. And he looked like he was in a lot of pain.

Tavian rushed over. He lifted it the glass. Then he saw the blood. All over the grass, and the walls. Bryce wasn’t wearing a shirt or a sweater. Just a sheet around him. It was stained red already.

“You know how to sew things, right?” Bryce said through gritted teeth.

Tavian nodded. Bryce looked like he could barely stand.

Tavian rushed across the small room and grabbed the sewing kit his father had given him. When he turned back, he saw Bryce trying to climb into his room.

“Wait,” he said. Bryce seemed to listen.

Tavian clambered out the window and lead Bryce around the side of the house. Bryce tried to pull his shirt and whispered, “No one sees.”

“No one sees,” Tavian agreed. “But we need to clean it.”

Bryce shook his head. "I know how to fight infection."

“What?”

"It's the only power I have. Now fix me!”

Tavian didn’t know if he believed Bryce about the infection thing, but he knew if Bryce wanted to keep things a secret – the baths at the back of the house (next to the secluded garden) were where to keep it. He half carried his friend to the baths. Water rushed down mini falls and multiple rooms marked the different temperatures. It was all very dramatic. It was the only part of the house his mother kept maintained at all times.

No one could ever hear what was coming from the baths.

It did its job. The sound of running water dampened Bryce’s tears as Tavian did his best to sew up the long, blistering lash marks down Bryce’s back. Ten in all… Tavian almost threw up twice.

But finally, it was done.

Tavian pulled back, setting the bloody needle down. "I… I never want to do that again.”

Bryce said nothing, only groaned.

Tavian stood, “I’ll be back.” He went to his room and found a spare shirt that he thought might fit Bryce, then he hurried down the steps.

Bryce said nothing as Tavian handed him the shirt.

Tavian stared at him. “How did this happen?"

"I broke a glass."

"What?"

"Doesn't matter."

Tavian realised then that Bryce didn't get the lashes from some monster or a praetor. Of course, he hadn’t. Not even legionaries got lashes that bad. And Bryce hadn’t joined the legion yet. "Bryce…do you want to say here?"

"What?" Bryce turned to face him then, looking confused.

"Here. My house. With Antonia sick, my parents aren't here most of the time. I'm sure I could hide you."

Bryce eyes went hard. He shook his head, clenching his teeth in pain as he did. "I'm not a coward. I'm not going to hide here just because it hurts a bit."

Tavian thought it probably hurt a lot. But he didn't say that. "Okay."

"So you're alone here."

"My pater is the library."

"So he doesn't… like, bother you?"

"No… sometimes he does projects. I’m not allowed to talk to him when he’s doing a project. And sometimes he doesn’t like to talk. But he’s nice when he does. He shows me books and helps me read.”

"I wish my pater was like that. Mine is always looking for me to do the wrong thing so he can punish me."

“Oh… that’s… that’s not good.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll kill him one day and that’ll be that.”

Tavian knew killing people was bad, but after that afternoon… he wondered if there were exceptions to that rule.

Chapter Text

Summer, 2001

A dry breeze flung shop banners into the street. The sun shone high and bright. And the three boys snacked on icy gelato. They boys – Jason, Bryce, and Tavian – had climbed up onto one of the large trees besides the lake where they could watch the off-duty legionaries attempt to canoe.

With no canoes at the camp, the legionaries had crafted their own. Only, it seemed, their training in building walls and catapults hadn’t helped them craft a viable boat. They would push out into the water, only for the canoe to take in water. One time, in a desperate attempt to save the vessel, they managed to make the entire thing capsize. The boys thought that was particularly hilarious, laughing their heads off and getting dirty looks from the legionaries.

“Is that...?” Jason leaned forward, looking in the other direction, “Ida!”

He called out an unfamiliar name and an unfamiliar girl turned around. She spotted Jason through the leaves and waved.

“Who’s that?” Tavian asked Bryce.

Bryce just shrugged. “Bit young to be a new legionary.”

Tavian thought that would be that, but the girl called Ida decided to walk over to their tree. She smiled up at them. “Jason! It’s good to meet you again.”

Jason turned to them. “Bryce, Tavi, this is Ida. She’s a legacy. Her family just moved back to New Rome as her sister can join the legion.”

Ida started climbing up the tree. Jason shifted over, making space for her on the branch. Tavian had to move as well, pressing closer into the leaves. He felt the branch bowing a little under their weight.

Ida glanced between him and Jason, “Is he your brother?”

Jason laughed, “No. We get sometimes. Tavian is a legacy like you. Same with Bryce.”

“Oh,” Ida said. “That’s cool. I’m a legacy of Luna.”

“Orcus,” Bryce said with a wicked grin.

“Who?”

Jason waved his hands, “Don’t worry about it. Bryce is a good guy. Tavi is a legacy of Apollo, by the way. You probably heard of Apollo.”

Tavian got a better look at her now. She wore butterfly hairclips attached to her braids. Her clothes were bright and colourful. With her print shirts and platform shoes. Tavian couldn’t help but think she looked very cool. And realised that in his Romanesque clothes he probably didn’t look very cool at all. Seeing the way Jason grinned at Ida, Tavian realised for the first time that that bothered him.

“So,” Ida said. “What are you doing up here?”

“Eating ice cream,” Jason said.

At the same time, Bryce replied, “Idiot watching.”

Ida smirked and said, “Who’s the idiots? And can I have some ice cream?”

Bryce pointed out the legionaries on the lake, who were now trying to dislodge their canoe from the bottom of the lake with very limited success.

“It’s their fault for going into the water,” Bryce remarked. “Water is bad luck for us Romans.”

“Definitely not our specialty,” Ida agreed.

“Do you have a specialty?” Jason asked.

“Hm? You mean like weapons? Not really, but I do like artillery. I’m probably going to join the engineers.”

“Really?” Tavian asked, he hadn’t expected that from the girl. Still, she made joining the engineers really cool.

“Yep. Besides, my sister – Mabel – is the martial artist. I don’t plan to be like her at all.”

They all nodded though Tavian noticed Jason got a sad look on his face. In all the years Tavian had known Jason, he had never spotted missing his family. Sometimes he would mention his older sister, though Jason only had the vaguest memories of her, and get a sad look on his face. It happened a lot more now that Antonia had been born. He never visited Tavian’s house when Antonia was there.

“Do you know what Cohort you’ll join?” Bryce asked.

“Not sure… my sister joined the Second though. I hope I don’t have to join the same one as her, it is my Mama’s old Cohort.”

“Well, if you do, you’ll be with me. I’ve been talking with the centurions, and they want me to join them.”

“Nice,” Ida said. And with that, it was as if she had been their friend for years. They talked about joining the legion, about training with different weapons, about wargames, and about who their favourite heroes were.

As they did, Tavian found himself…lost. He didn’t really want to join the legion. It was far enough away for him and Jason that he mostly just kept it out of his thought. He didn’t like the idea of moving into the barracks, of being surrounded by people he didn’t know. He didn’t like the idea of anything changing at all.

“So…” Ida said, cocking her head and looking at Tavian. “Why do you have a toy rabbit?”

Tavian stared at her. He didn’t have answer for that – not one that a super cool person like Ida would accept. “Well… ah…” Caesar is my friend. That wasn’t going to fly.

“Tavi can see the future,” Jason explain. “When he looks at the entrails of teddy bears.”

Ida’s frowned, “Really? That seems weird.”

Bryce added the helpful, “More creepy than weird.”

“Well, that’s…” Tavian trailed off.

Ida smiled then, “If you can see the future, can you see my future?”

“Not… not today.” In truth, he just didn’t want to injure Caesar. The bunny had so many scars already.

Ida crossed her arms. “You’re just making things up. I can tell. Only babies carry stuffed toys around.”

Jason started to protest but Ida shook her head.

“I don’t care what the reason is.”

Tavian bit his tongue, feeling his anger rise. What did she know about it anyway? She didn’t belong here. She wasn’t their friend.

Before he could say as much though, Bryce piped up, “She’s got a point, Tavian. You should leave the bunny behind.”

Tavian couldn’t believe the betrayal. He felt his anger dissipate into worry and confusion. “I… I… I’m not a baby! You’re babies. You don’t even know what Cohort you’re joining.”

“You do?” Bryce asked, looking more than a little surprised.

Tavian nodded, throwing up as much bravado as he could manage. “Yeah. The First Cohort!  And I’m just you wait. I’m going to be praetor one day.”

“Then I’m going to be praetor as well,” Jason said.

Bryce snorted, turning his attention to Jason, “Since when?”

“It’s my destiny,” Jason said very matter-of-factly. “I’m the son of Jupiter. I’m going to become praetor and I’ll led this camp into greatness.”

“We can do it together,” Tavian said, jumping at the chance. Praetors together – that sounded awesome. Far better than what Tavian had previously imagined joining the legion would be lie.

“And where do I fit in this little dreams you two have going?” Bryce asked.

Jason hesitated, not seeming to have an answer.

But Tavian had a feeling Bryce would be very good at one thing, “You’ll be in charge of keeping discipline within our legion.”

“Yes!” Bryce said, punching the sky.

“And Ida will be our aquilifer,” Jason said. “After we get the eagle back.”

Ida shrugged, “I think I’d rather be just an engineer.”

Jason grinned. “Engineer Ida and Discipline Officer Bryce, I look forward to serving with you.”

“Well,” Ida said. “You best not both fall in love with me, then. If you’re both going to be praetors. I don’t want to start a war or anything.”

Bryce glared at her, “I’m here too!”

Ida flickered her braid over her shoulder, “Yes, but you’re already in love with me.”

Bryce’s mouth hung open – he said nothing in protest.

Chapter Text

November, 2002

The library was the quietest room of the house, despite being next to the dining hall. The maze of bookshelves and containers turned back on each other in a way that confused most guests but gave Tavian a strong sense of comfort and privacy.

Quietly, he walked the corridors, picking out various books on mythology. He had recently started learning Ancient Greek so he could read some of the rarer volumes his father kept (though he hadn’t told his father that, both his parents had informed them those books were off limits).

Tavian paused as he passed his father’s study. It was a corner of the library with three desks overflowing with papers and notes, diagrams and dioramas, and thousands of calculations. A few years ago there used to plans for military uniforms but that had all been moved into a box. Right now his father had decided to design rockets. Tavian wasn’t 100% sure who bought the rockets, but his father rarely talked about anything else.

“Shouldn’t you be packing?”

Tavian turned to see his father leaning looking over the end of the bookshelves, his arm leading against the back of his swivel chair. Tavian cursed himself for interrupting his father’s studies. He had promised to be quiet while in the library.  

“I am,” Tavian said. “I want to bring some books.”

“You… you shouldn’t need them.”

“Why not?”

“Lupa doesn’t… never mind, pack the books. Just make they are the one’s I’ve copied.”

Tavian nodded. He was the last of his friends to hear the call for the Wolf House. It had happened the day of his tenth birthday party.  

His father leaned back into his chair. “Have I ever told you about my time in the legion?”

“Mater has.”

“Ah. That makes sense. She’s better at stories than I am.”

 Tavian’s gaze went to the ten bars along his father’s arm and the swooping owl above them. “Does it hurt? Does it hurt when you get the tattoos?”

"Of course it hurts,” he said, pulling his sleeves back down to cover the owl. “Every meaningful in life hurts."

“Pater?”

“Yes?”

“Can I join the Second Cohort? Bryce already joined, and I don’t know anyone in the First.”

“Aren’t you friends with the son of Jupiter? He’ll be in the First, right? Children of Jupiter are rare. The cohorts will be clambering to get a hold of him. It’d be surprised if it doesn’t get messy. Which means he’ll end up in the First. Like you.”

“But–”

“What does your mater say?”

“That I have to honour the ancestors. That I have to join the First.”

“Well, your mater is right.”

“You weren’t in the First.”

“Octavian,” his expression went hard. “You are getting distracted. Go pack your things.”

Tavian wanted to argue the point, but his father turned back to his project – he seemed to be designing a rocket ship – and knew it was lost cause at that point.

He stepped out into the atrium. At the entrance, on one side, hung the family masks. These were likenesses of his ancestors based directly off their corpses (yeah – they didn’t mention that to their American guests). Across the way were altars to their family gods.

He knew they were weird for holding onto the old traditions. Most people had replaced the masks with photos or painting generations ago. But the Vari were sticklers sometimes.

Of course, probably Tavian’s most relevant ancestor had no mask. His uncle, Mikhail Varus, had been elected praetor fifteen years before. Then he had marched much of the legion north and been completely defeated. No one ever spoke his name – but ever since Tavian had gained the gift of prophecy his mother had been taking about ‘restoring the family’s honour’. Which was to say – he was going to need to become praetor and win a glorious battle just to make up for his uncle’s mistake.

Preferably, he would regain the legion’s eagle in the process.

He sighed. “I could still do that from the Second.”

Chapter Text

Everything was different at the Wolf House.

The journey to the House was a solo one by tradition, which meant Tavian spent several days trying to navigate public transport – not to mention the mortal world.

He would never admit it to anyone, but he got lost more than once. The pull he felt towards the Wolf House was strong, yes, but the confusion of a train station was even stronger. He tried to hope on a bus next, but the sound of its engine growling pierced his ears and he jumped off at the next stop. 

He learned quickly to avoid the cities. They were loud and messy and nothing like he had imagined looking out car windows.

He wanted to call his mater a hundred times, but he knew she wouldn’t come find him. Either he returned ready for the legion – or he didn’t return at all.

Tavian wished Jason had come with him, but Jason had already done his time with Lupa when he was just a toddler.

Occasionally, Tavian would see a wolf out of the corner of his eye. But mostly he just walked along open roads as he made his way north. Walking was the easiest, he decided on the fifth day. People didn’t ask him awkward questions.

He would also never admit he cried.

He cried a hundred times.

At night, under scratchy sheets, listening to a fan constantly spinning chick… chick… chick… And all the while he felt the tugging of Lupa’s call.

He would never admit he collapsed.

Twice. Once on the side of the road. His chest hurt worse than it ever had. He could hardly feel his feet after hours of waking. He didn’t wake until house later.

Even after he woke, there was no forcing himself to his feet, he knew. He just… lay there, feeling useless. Feeling weak.

He cried about that too.

At last, on the fifth day, he finally saw the signs that told him he had arrived. A string of wineries backed onto the Wolf House property. Having found them, he searched for a nexus of Mist, and walked into a small, wooded area. The land rose up into a hill.

As he crested the hill, he found the Wolf House before him. The house was a massive structure of old wood. He wasn’t the only demigod to have found their way to the house. Ida had left a week before Tavian, and she was still there when he arrived. He spotted her among the other demigods down in the valley. They were watched by a pack of wolves, the most notable was the wolf towering over them at seven feet tall.

She turned as he stepped through the gates. Tavian had no doubts in his mind that was Lupa. She stalked over to him, and he didn’t dare step any further. She sniffed the air around him. A legacy… of Apollo.

It almost sounded like a question, so Tavian nodded.

He knew he had to impress her, but all he could was resist turning around and running. Her grey-red fur glimmered slightly in the sunlight. Her sharp eyes bore into him, as if seeing into his soul.

"I will train you, but I worn you weak-cub, you may not survive the process."

Tavian nodded again. The word ‘weak’ echoed through him. But he had made it here – and Lupa was willing to accept him. He held onto that. “I know.”

"Come."

There were six demigods out in the field. They carried no weapons. Some of them didn’t even have shoes. Tavian tried to catch Ida’s gaze, but she didn’t look his way – focused on Lupa.

"We have another pup."

One of the kids muffled a laugh.

Lupa bared her teeth at him. He shut up quickly. But Tavian couldn’t help noticing the smiles on the others faces. He felt like that should be important. He hoped it meant they were happy to have a new face.

Or maybe they just smelled his fear.

He forced a smile, remembering the hours he had practiced in the reflections of windows.

Lupa sent them forging for firewood after that. Tavian knew what firewood was supposed to look like, but he had never actually looked for it before. He followed behind the others, hoping they had a better idea than him.

As they crossed into the woods, the kid who had laughed before turned around. He had a strong Southern accent that Tavian almost couldn’t decipher. “You got a name?”

“Tavian.”

"Fabian?" he asked.

"Tavian."

"Weird name"

"Is it?"

"Yeah. Duh.”

“What’s your name?”

“Allen.”

“That’s a weird name.”

“No, it isn’t.”

They stared at each other for a while. Then Allen snorted and walked off.

Tavian moved to follow, but Allen swung around, “Don’t follow us... Dave.”

My name isn’t ‘Dave’, he wanted to shout. But he didn’t.

Allen nodded. The other kids went off with Allen, leaving Tavian by himself, feeling awkward and unsure in the middle of the woods.

He bit his lip and pulled out his iPod. He pulled on his headphones and wondered off in the opposite direction. He didn’t know how long he walked, listening to Nelly Furtado’s Turn off the Light on repeat, but eventually the sun went down. He had stowed a selection of good firewood in his backpack, but he didn’t want to go back to the House.

Eventually, he decided he had to, so he wondered back into the field and towards the House. He noticed a fire in the centre of the field and a large tent that hadn’t been there earlier.

He realised at that moment that they wouldn’t be sleeping inside the house. It was winter and with the sun going down it was getting cold. It didn’t snow in these parts of the state, not usually, but that didn’t stop the winter biting at his nose.

As he approached, he saw Lupa moving towards the tent. The demigods Tavian had seem earlier hurried out of the tent. They each held something out to her. It seemed some of them had collected food as well.  

All but Ida seemed to win her approval. Ida moved off quickly, headed back into the forest despite the fading sunlight. Well, she was a legacy of the moon Titan, Luna, so she probably didn’t mind the dark.

Tavian hurried after her. “Hey, ah… Ida? I… I have some firewood.”

Ida turned around, looking more annoyed than Tavian anticipated, “Why are you talking to me?”

“S…sorry?”

“Look, I only hung out with because you were friends with Jason. Now, I’m going to start in the legion, I want to start off properly. So I don’t know you, got it?”

“But you do know me.”

“Ugh!” she said, throwing up her hands. “At least tell me you didn’t tell bring that stupid bunny with you.”

Tavian didn’t reply.

“Gods,” she said. “Seriously, don’t talk to me.”

She forged off into the woods and Tavian didn’t go after her. He had hoped that she could help him meet the others. Especially since his attempts to talk to Allen had gone badly.

"You did not come back." He heard Lupa’s voice and turned. She really was huge.

“I’m hear now.”

"You did not help build the den; thus, you will not sleep within it. Do you understand?"

Tavian stared at her. “I’m assuming the food they all brought is dinner. I didn’t find any, so… I don’t eat?”

"Yes."

“Oh… okay.”

Lupa did not move away like he expected.

"There are places you can sleep if you can find them. The forest proves for you tonight."

Tavian nodded. “I understand.”

Lupa moved off, returning to the Wolf House. Tavian watched her go. Right. A place to sleep. He was hungry, but he could deal with that. He couldn’t deal with the cold.

He found a large tree whose foundation soil had shifted a little. There was a small burrow within. He collected a large stick, in case there was an animal living inside. It wasn’t an animal.

The snake with iridescent scales shot out the burrow as soon as he approached. He recognised it as a scitalis, especially with its half-shed skin. As the snake quickly slithered towards him, Tavian smelt burning and realised the snake’s old skin was literally crackling with fire. Definitely a scitalis.

He acted more on instinct than anything. The snake was on him in seconds and his stick was slamming into its head just as fast. Scitalis were monsters, not the scary ones of myths of course, but they could only be slain by imperial gold.

His stick hit its head as it tried to look up at him. The toughest part of fighting a scitalis, Tavian remembered, was their eyes. If you looked them in the eye, you would be frozen in fear for a few seconds. The few seconds it would take for the snake to kill you.

Having avoided that fate, he swept the stick along the snake, scooping up its body. Then he swung as hard as he could, sending the snake flying through the trees. He would only a brief moment to get ready for its second assault.

I should have expected monsters, Tavian thought to himself. This was the Wolf House, after all. He thought about what he had on him and decided if he couldn’t kill the snake, he would have to capture it. He dashed over to the tree and clambered up as quickly as he could. It was a good tree for climbing, with lost of branches and grooves.

Then he pulled out his sewing kit and created a small lasso with his stick. The snake was already returning. It seemed to have lost most of its old scales now, the new layer almost sparkled. Tavian took a deep breathe.

Then he jumped down.

He almost landed on the monster. And he managed to avoid falling over with the impact. The snake turned back towards him, but before it could strike at him, he flung the lasso over its head and twisted. The lasso tightened around it, half-choking the beast. Then he grabbed its tail and forced it to look away.

He stood there, arm out, gripping his makeshift weapon. His breathes came out in rapid succession, filling his lungs with cold air. The scitalis tried to coil up, tried to resist the hold, but that only made the thread around it’s neck tighten. Tavian didn’t know how long that threat would hold out, so he walked back over to the tree and slammed the snake’s head into the trunk until it fell asleep. Then he bound the scitalis up again, as best he could, and hung the monster onto the branch above.

Content the scitalis wasn’t going to escape (they weren’t known for being particularly smart monsters), he crawled into the burrow. He had to widened it, of course, but it was dry and not nearly as cold. He forced himself to swallow his tablets. Then he pulled out all his jumpers and jackets, crawled up into a ball, and tried his best to sleep.

Of course, the visions came instead. A marching army. A black throne. And blood… blood everywhere.

He woke, shocked out of the vision. He wasn’t sure if it was the vision or something else. He crawled out of the burrow and saw one of the wolves through the murky darkness. It watched him as if waiting.

He crawled out of the burrow. He felt the familiar drag of his muscles and wished he had managed a full night sleep.

He followed the wolf as it led him back to the clearing. The six demigods from before were burning the tent from last night. Soon it would be little more than ashes.

They all turned as Tavian arrived. They seemed surprised to see him. And Tavian realised they hadn’t expected him to return. Either they thought that he would run away, or he would die in the cold. It was the first time Tavian truly realised just how weak he appeared to other people. He was thin, and small, and clumsy. He knew that. But it was different seeing it in their eyes.

Before anyone said anything though, Lupa appeared from the house and padded into the clearing. She regarded each of them before saying, “Today, we hunt.”

A quite determination cut across those gathered, even the wolves seemed to tense. Tavian didn’t know what to expect. He didn’t feel up to fighting. He had hardly eaten, and his sleep had been less than ideal. But he followed on behind the others as Lupa lead them into the woods. Soon enough they reached the entrance to a cave… except this cave felt weird.

Tavian felt the familiar tinging in his skin and the twist of his stomach. A prophecy dwelt within this cave. He wanted to turn back, but Lupa continued with hesitation. He opened his mouth to speak, but he feared that doing so would mean he would fail her test. He was probably already on thin ice as it was, so didn’t want to upset her.

They stepped into the cave and for a while it appeared to be natural in formation, but around the time Lupa sent the message, “Do not lose sight of me or my wolves,” the materials changed. Tavian noticed the thin bricks under striped wallpaper. Roman bricks… is this a necropolis? Is this where the demigods who fail the tests end up?

He never got answer because before long Lupa made a turn at one of the intersections and they were walking down a far more modern hallway. At first, Tavian thought they had come into of the winery’s cellars, but he soon smelt salt air and frowned. They had barely been travelling for ten minutes, but they had made it to the bay? The Wolf House wasn’t that close!

It wasn’t the bay they were going to, however. Instead, just before the entrance (which – it Tavian defence was definitely a cellar). He could have sworn he heard the clatter of plates above their heads. It reminded him that he hadn’t had breakfast or dinner.

Lupa crouched low, “New pup, you will watch today.”

Tavian nodded, thankful. He didn’t have the energy to fight – but as much as he wanted to collapse right there, he knew better than to disobey Lupa. One of the wolves brought a bag over to Lupa and set it on the ground before her.

“Select a weapon,” Lupa said, as she revealed the contents of the bag. “We will hunt today then we will train. Then, you will return the weapon you chose. If you steal it, you will die. If you understand, select.”

The others quickly grabbed their weapons, it seemed they all knew who got what. Tavian hung back; did he get one?

Lupa regarded him, “Do you not understand, pup?”

Tavian rushed forward then and grabbed the final weapon – a small knife. Each of the blades were made of imperial gold, a rarity even at Camp Jupiter. He stepped back, cradling the blade in his hand. It was heavier than his ritual blade. He felt like he could kill something with this.

Stefan (Lupa called him) was the first up. He was quiet as he opened the door into the rest of the restaurant. They entered into a food storage room. As a team everyone split up and checked the area. “For mortals,” Lupa explained. “Our prey is near.”

Quickly enough, at the far end of the cellar, they found a massive nest up in the rafters. While they had been searching, Tavian did spare a glance to the stores of fruits and stowed away a few apples in his bag. They would keep him going at least.

The demigods fanned out, weapons raised, while Lupa and the wolves hung back. Then, as one, they launched forward. What appeared from the nest had dark black feathers, red talons, and a golden beak. Tavian recognised it – “A strix.”

Deadly, he knew. Far deadlier than a scitalis. The gaze of that snake paralysed its victim for a couple moments at most, a strix’s venom caused a paralysis that would not break without intervention.

He lifted up his blade, thankful he was just watching today.

The fight was furious as the six others tried to cut down the monster. It was massive – as big as Lupa. It screamed at them for attacking it. And Tavian wonders for a moment why they had come to the strix’s nest. That was… until he saw the arm still caught within its talons. It wasn’t just using the restaurant’s storage room to sleep and eat the produce.

Allen put the strix in a hold for a moment, before losing control. The massive bird tried to fly away, back towards the tunnels, but Stefan moved to stop it. He had chosen a crossbow – but that did him little good. Stefan was dead, half his neck missing, before Tavian realised what was happening.

Stefan was dead and the bird was getting away. He ran down the other corridor, pulling out the stick he had found. It wasn’t something holy or special – but Tavian knew the stories on how to ward off strixes. He reached the tunnel door before the strix (a massive bird does not move quickly in confined spaces it seems). He pointed his knife towards it and started running the stick along the door frame.

He feared his plan wouldn’t work as the strix’s golden eyes turned towards him. He began to read out the chapter on strix he had memorised, in Latin, hoping it would sound like an incantation to the stupid bird. He hoped they were stupid. He couldn’t remember either way.

Strixes are monsters of ill omen. They feed on the young and the weak…

The bird hesitated. Then it squawked. Not in anger. But it fear. It believed that even if it attacked Tavian, it would be unable to pass through the doorway. That it’s best chance of escape was now blocked.

It’s head swivelled around a full 180 degrees.

Octavian heard Lupa shout, “Don’t attack!” in his head, but he hadn’t been planning on it. The other five attack the bird and this time made short work of it. Allen made the final, killing blow, and the strix crumbled into dust.

Lupa sent approval through the group. The looks of relief that washed over each of the demigods in turn told Tavian she was speaking to each of them individually. Finally, as told the others to go get Stefan’s body. Then she looked at Tavian. Is she going to punish me?

“You recognised the strix and used further knowledge to combat it. That is good. Information saves lives more often than not.”

“Didn’t save Stefan.”

“Stefan was weak.”

They carried Stefan’s body back into the tunnels and eventually came back to the Wolf House. They burned Stefan’s body out on the clearing, then brought the ashes and bones back down into the catacombs. They found an empty box and poured it inside. A couple of the demigods offered words of goodbye.

Then they went back to the clearing, not another word spoken. Stefan was the first-person Tavian had ever seen die – but he would not be the last.

Lupa had them train with the weapons for the next hour, until Tavian was so exhausted, he wondered if he would be able to walk back to his burrow. She ordered them to go collect firewood, much as she had the previous day.

It felt like so much longer.

Tavian went off into the forest with the others, but he didn’t collect any firewood. He made his way to his shelter. He ate the apples he had stolen and fell asleep.

He woke hours later.

It was dark. The moon hung above the woods, almost full; it bathed the trees in silvery light. Enough to see by. Feeling more awake, Tavian decided he would need to find his own food. He crawled out of his burrow and found a second stick. He knocked out the scitalis again, then he unbound it from where it hung and instead tied it around the stick.

It’s face pointed away from Tavian. Now he could paralyse his target with one weapon, then hit them with the other. He felt a lot more confident he could actually manage that with the scitalis, since he didn’t think he could catch anything otherwise.  

He managed to find a bird’s nest up in the trees. The plan ran it’s course. He spooked it, paralysed it, then killed it. He shoved the bird into his bag and made his way to the clearing.

The others had fallen a sleep in their new tent and the wolves had all gone inside the house. The only person still awake was Ida. She sat by the dead fire, keeping warm by the coals. Tavian wasn’t the sneakiest person by any means, but the plan that worked on the bird worked on Ida too.

He spooked her, paralysed her, then he whacked her in the head. She went down with a grunt. He shoved a bunch of the hot coals into his back (wearing gloves, obviously). He noticed some of their left-over food and a few of their cooking tools and grabbed those as well. By the time he was done, Ida was already stirring, groaning about a “little thief”.

Tavian gave her the finger, “That’s for not talking to me, excetra.”

He hurried off, back into the forest, before he heard the shouts of the others. They were not happy about him taking their one cooking pan. He smirked as he slid into the shadows. They were marching off in the wrong direction.

Chapter Text

February 2003

Tavian wanted to return to Camp Jupiter quickly, because he knew Jason planned to join the legion come the end of January. But the calends of February came and went, and Tavian was still at the Wolf House. It wasn’t all bad. Over the weeks he had built up his burrow. He had learned how to make traps from one of the wolves, so he didn’t need to waste energy hunting. When his supplements ran long, he and another wolf went into town and swiped more. It turned out, Lupa saw stealing only as a problem if you got caught.

The goddess herself visited on occasion. She never said anything. It was normally at night, when he was sleeping, but he always woke before she got close. She circled his camp, then nodded. So Tavian assumed he was passing her tests.

At first, Tavian had hated the hunts, but soon enough he had come to like it. He recognised many of the monsters they tracked down, and even started working with Lupa to find more. The other demigods rarely listened to his advice. Which annoyed him more than anything else, since they were all talented enough to win anyway.

Someone else arrived during those weeks, a girl named Sasha. Unlike Tavian, Allen took her in under his wing quickly. She was a quick study too. That was, until that hunting session against an achlis (giant elk like monsters), where she got herself stabbed by an antler. They tried to heal her, Lupa even brought out the nectar, but the girl died two days later.

Tavian hadn’t even been there. One day Sasha had been in the tent, suffering, the next she was gone.

What Tavian never got used to was the training drills. The others disliked him, obviously. They called him “thief” and liked to ignore pleas of mercy. He got better at avoiding their attacks, but that didn’t change the fact he was slower, and clumsier, and generally less talented than them. Even the weaker fighter was leagues ahead of Tavian in straight combat. He hated it. And not for the first time he wished he had been born with a body that let him train deep into the night. One he could force into getting better and stronger.

But no.

He dreamt on occasion. Dreams with visions stored within. They started to get worse as the winter wore down and spring brought the occasional flower out of the grass. That night the worst one thus far came. He saw a mound of earth writhe and wake, eyes opened and pierced into his soul. He felt such a deep and overwhelming dread. Then it was like his entire body was on fire.

He woke screaming. It wasn’t the first time. He clamped his hand over his mouth, but that didn’t stop the tears. He never used to cry after the dreams, but he knew the others heard his screams. They saw him as a weakling because of the screaming. Allen had told him as much. Tavian had thought about making a gag for himself multiple times to keep his unconscious self quite – but he could never get to sleep.

He heard the familiar shifting of grass and wiped away the tears. Lupa appeared from the woods. She was making it harder and harder for him to hear her approach, but he had learned what to listen for. It was just another aspect of her training. Another skill that would keep him alive.

She didn’t circle his camp like he expected instead she padded right up to him and sat. “You have one final test.”

Tavian nodded. He was determined to pass it. He wanted to get back to Jason and Bryce. Back to his friends. He would join the First Cohort and one day he would become the praetor.

“You must become one of the pack.”

“Sorry?” he thought he had heard wrong.

“You are a lone wolf right now. You do not share. You do not fight with the other pups. A lone wolf is not a figure to emulate. They are isolated, afraid of their own shadow. They cannot fight like a pack can. A lone wolf can only survive. A pack can thrive.”

“I have friends. I have a pack, back at Camp Jupiter. They,” he pointed towards the clearing, “hate me. I’m never going to be one of them.”

“Then you will never pass my tests.”

“What?”

“This is your final trial. If you cannot complete it within the month, you will run out of here. You will fail.”

He stared at her, not quiet believing.

“You should stop running from your gift. Learn to use it properly. You have little talent to speak of otherwise and will not fare well without it.”

“But…” he didn’t finish. Lupa regarded him. Then she turned and padded away, back to the Wolf House.

Tavian rolled back into his burrow. “Okay. Make friends. Final trial. That should be easy. Yeah, easy. People make new friends all the time.”

He didn’t talk to them the next day. Instead, he observed them. He watched them as best he could, trying to learn how their pack’s structure worked. Ida was Allen’s second, that much he was sure on. The other three were Monroe, Samantha, and Fatima, who’s relationship was harder to read.

Over the next few days he studied what they talked about: their opinions on TV shows Tavian had never heard of, what sports they used to play in Little League, who they thought their godly parent might be…

On the third day, he felt like he had the confidence to talk to Monroe. He was slightly older than Tavian, around twelve, with ashy black hair.

“Hi,” Tavian said.

Monroe looked at him, “What do you want?”

Needless to say, the conversation didn’t go well. Tavian stumbled over his words until Monroe told him to shut up.

The next day, Tavian tried Samantha, who ignored him.

He started following them around, sitting down with them, adding wood to the plain they made for their fire. He brought them a rabbit to eat and sat down with them. They didn’t kick him out, not with Lupa around, but they refused to speak to him. Several minutes in, he realised they weren’t looking at him either.

After dinner, Lupa and the wolves headed back to the house. The others stood, filing into the tent (which Tavian had brought supplies for them to build with). When he stood to join them, Allen stepped in front of him. He shoved Tavian back.

“What are you doing, thief?”

“I would like to be your friend.”

Allen laughed.

“I would like to make up, we can put our past behind us and be a pack.”

“I don’t want a weirdo in my pack.”

“I’m not a weirdo.”

“Yeah, you are.”

“How am I a weirdo?”

“’Cause you are, duh.”

“That doesn’t make any sense!”

“Not my problem. Now go off to your hole where you belong. And take that creepy snake with you.”

Tavian wanted to argue, but then Allen shoved him again. He fell this time. He saw Allen getting a kick ready and dashed away.

“And don’t come back!” Allen shouted as Tavian ran into the woods.

That night, Tavian hardly slept. A prophecy wanted out. And, more than that, he feared his own future. It would be impossible to make friends with those kids. They hated him. And he hated them for hating him. He pulled out Caesar from the special hiding spot and hugged the bunny tighter than ever.

The next day, after the training drills, he came back to find his burrow pulled apart. At first, he thought it was an animal, then he realised Caesar was gone. He ran back to the clearing, scitalis stick in hand.

Ida held up the yellow stuffed animal aloft. Tavian couldn’t hear what she was saying, it was clear it some thinking mocking. Allen laughed and took the bunny. As Tavian ran over, he heard Allen’s sentence finish with “fire”.

“Give it back!”

They all turned.

“Or what?” Allen barked back. “You want to be our friend, right?”

Tavian said nothing.

“We’ll be your friend,” Allen said. “You just have to be our errand boy.”

Tavian stared at him. “What kind of errands? We’re out in the woods here.”

“You’re a thief, you can steal stuff for us. Not from us.”

“Um… give me the bunny back and I will.”

“Hm…” Allen held out the bunny but as Tavian reached out to take it, Allen threw it back himself him.

Monroe caught it. He sniffed it and said, “Ew, it stinks.”

“Give it back and I’ll be damned errand boy!” Tavian shouted. Gods, he hated them. Why couldn’t they have just accepted him? Why couldn’t Ida just speak to him? He didn’t know where he went wrong and no one of them were willing to explain it.

“Aw, are you going to cry?” Allen said.

That was the final straw. Tavian punched Allen in the face, screaming as he did. He didn’t care if Lupa kicked him out. Not at that moment. Before Allen could fight back, he turned the scitalis’ eyes on Allen, who frozen. Tavian got a second punch in – breaking Allen’s nose – before the others tackled him.

They ripped the scitalis away. Luckily Lupa arrived before they could beat him too much. They leap away from him, and Tavian didn’t hesitate. He ran over to Monroe and ripped the bunny from his hand. He ignored Lupa’s growls as he ran back into the woods.

Lupa came to see him and this time he couldn’t hide his tears.

“You attacked the others.”

“They stole… whatever! I attacked them. I hate them.”

“Then you have failed.”

“You gave me a month. It’s only been a week.”

Lupa didn’t reply. She only watched him with her sharp eyes.

Tavian tried to think of a reply, but the sick feeling prophecies gave him were now turning into full on visions. They flashed before him. Blurry yet demanding his attention. He didn’t even know whose future he was seeing.

He fell to his knees, unable to stand. “I’m sorry, Lupa.”

“Your gift only pains you because you reject it.”

He shook his head, “I didn’t ask for it. I don’t want to know.”

“Hesitate on the battlefield and you will die.”

“Why do we have to fight?”

“Because if we don’t, there will be nowhere safe for demigods like you.”

“I’m not a demigod, I’m just a legacy.”

“You are here, are you not?”

Tavian stared at her, confused. She gave him a final look, “Come up with a plan or leave. It is your choice. Another failure and I will send you away myself.”

I am here, Tavian thought. It had been weeks since he had felt like he belonged at the Wolf House. He was just an outsider, a neighbour, an observer. He walked beside the others, but he wasn’t one of them.

But Lupa… she thought he was. She thought he could be, at least.

The three days, they were supposed to go hunting. It was the only day they were given really weapons. He cornered the wolf who carried the bag. “May I have the knife?”

The wolf regarded him. Tavian didn’t change his expression. He had practiced it in a pool of water. A tough visage. Uncompromising. Confident. Someone who didn’t cry or scream. It was all bravado, he knew. He feared the wolf would know. He feared the others would know.

But the wolf set down the back. Tavian took the knife and hid it.

Then he walked down to the clearing. They all looked at him strangely. Maybe they thought he had left – since he hadn’t join them for training, meals, or anything else. He offered them all a smile. He hoped it was creepy. He hoped it scared them.

If he couldn’t be their friend by being friendly – he would make them fear the consequences of rejecting him. He just had to work out a way to scare all five of them. After all, Lupa had only demanded that the pack accept him, not like him. He didn’t need to be liked. He didn’t like having a lot of friends anyway.

And he knew Lupa was right. He couldn’t be an outsider. He could be a lone wolf. He’s supposed to become a praetor one day.

They’re words couldn’t hurt him. They’re teasing meant nothing. He was above it. Above it. Above it. About it. He reminded himself as them elbowed each other.

He stopped just ahead of them. He pulled out Caesar. He looked at Ida, because she knew he could see the future, and plunged his blade into the bunny.

“You shall fight a battle

In hope of winning a war.

A choice made upon that hill

Will kill you or the one you adore.”

Then he looked at the others, each in turn. Another cut going through Caesar’s false fur. Listing out their fates.

Finally, he looked at Allen. He lobbed off Caesar’s head and poured the last of the stuffing onto the ground. The words made Tavian almost stop short. But he looked Allen in the eyes and said them anyway.

“Ancient powers influence your heart

And your death shall herald their upstart.

You shall be fall before you can hit your mark

And forever be trapped in the underworld’s dark.”

Tavian led Caesar fall to the ground and said, “Well, that’s unfortunate. I guess you die in battle for sure. I would say train harder, but that’s not how fate works.”

The kids just stared at him. And he saw the change in their eyes. It was obvious even for him. “So here’s the deal. I’m the boss today. I’m going to tell you what you do, and I guarantee you won’t die like Stefan or Sasha. And then you are going to tell Lupa you accept me into your pack. After that’s done, I’m leaving to join Camp Jupiter. If you never want to see me again, be sure not to join the First Cohort. Because that’s my Cohort, understood?”

“W-what was that?” Allen said.

“Your fate, idiot. I’m a legacy of Apollo. I can see the future. And in the future, you die, young and useless. Let’s just hope its not today. Now fall in line, Lupa is coming.”

The hunt went well. Tavian knew the monster. He knew its weaknesses. They slew it quickly and efficiently. No one died. No one was even injured.

And as they walked back through the tunnels, Ida spoke up and said, “Lupa. We accept Tavian as part of our pack.”

Lupa nodded. She looked Tavian in the eyes and said, “You are ready. One of my wolves will guide you to Camp Jupiter.”

“I know the way.”

“Then may pack your things and go.”

Tavian bowed his head, “Thank you for your training.”

Before he left, he shoved his few things into his backpack.

“I’m sorry,” Ida said, holding out the mangled body of Caesar. “Will you forgive me?”

Tavian took it, nodding. He didn’t want to speak with her.

He moved to go, but Ida caught his arm. “Please. That was a lie, right? I’m not… I’m really going to die in a war, right?”

He glared at him but accepted that she needed to know it was true. Otherwise, the rumours that his gift was a lie would only grow worse. “It’ll be you or someone else, Ida. So… fifty-fifty.”

“I don’t want to kill someone. You said someone I ‘adore’, who?”

Tavian met her gaze then, “Then you die, Ida. But at least you get to choose.”  

And he started his journey back to New Rome.

Chapter Text

March 2003

At had been over two months since Tavian had left New Rome, following the call of Lupa. He entertained the idea that he felt different, that he was stronger and faster and more confident. The thought dissolved a little as he approached the entrance. Two legionaries, dressed in their full uniforms, guarded the entrance tunnel.

Cars rushed back and forth. The major road did make access hard. But he eventually saw a break and sprinted across the road. The drivers sounded their horns, but he wasn’t run over. So that was a bonus. Still, he was breathing heavily, as he walked up to the legionaries.

One of them pulled off her helmet and said, “Oh, you’re back.”

This was Mabel, Ida’s older sister. They shared the same dark locks.

“I am.”

“How’s my sister?”

“She’ll be back soon, I think.”

“Oh, great,” Mabel rolled her eyes. “Well, come on in. You know the procedure.”

Tavian nodded and walked through the tunnel. Eventually, he stepped out in the sunlight again and found New Rome and it’s legion seemingly unchanged. It’s not like he expected some great catastrophe, but he found his muscles untense anyway. He was reminded of the fates he had read back at the Wolf House. Each one had been bad, like, really bad. Fighting, a war, and death.

Had he ever had a good vision? He didn’t remember one.

He wondered if that was normal. And he wished, for the first time, that old augur hadn’t left. He didn’t care about that gambling – though he knew never to do it himself – a bit of advice would have been so great. Just to know if death and demise was the standard, or if this was something he should be telling an adult about.

He crossed the main bridge and hesitated. He was tired. Exhausted, really. He needed a bath and a change of clothes. But… he needed to see his friends more. He had been so lonely at the Wolf House. And the last day had been the worst of it.

So he gripped the strap of his backpack harder and headed for Camp Jupiter. Arriving the middle of the day, the entire camp was busy. Each cohort was working on their own exercises or undertaking chores. A few people spared him a glance but for the most part, no one noticed him.

He walked about the via principalis since it’s gate was the closest entrance. The First and Second’s barracks were just passed the mess hall. So, with that in mind, he almost didn’t notice Jason walking in the other direction. But he did.  

He stopped and turned, about to call Jason over. Then he saw Jason was with two others. Kids. One looked about Tavian’s age, the other a year or so older. The younger one had curly black hair and blue eyes that didn’t quite line up. He was more than a little round, which seemed odd for a legionary, before Tavian noticed the probatio tablet. The older one had bright orange hair and a wide smile.

Tavian thought they were headed out of the camp (though he couldn’t image why, since there was very little in the direction) but then they turned. Headed to the Fifth’s barracks. He frowned and followed. A tour? Maybe for the new kid? But Tavian hadn’t seen this kid at the Wolf House so he couldn’t have been that new.

Before Tavian could say anything, Jason glanced over, and his eyes widened. “Tavi!”

Tavian grimaced. He hadn’t that nickname. Only two people in the world were allowed to call him that – Jason was lucky he was one of them. A huge grin spread across his face; Jason headed off. Expect, he brought the two others along with him.

Tavian gripped the strap of his bag harder, so hard he could feel his fingernails digging deep into his skin. He had forgotten about this step. Joining the legion meant meeting people. He forced a smile, trying to remind himself how happy he was to see Jason. Based on the fact that neither kid smiled back, he suspected he had failed to convey that feeling.

“Octavian, this is Gwen and Dakota. They’re legionaries of the Fifth.”

“Hi…” Tavian said, unsure what to do. Did he shake their hands like Americans? Was that weird? He glanced at Jason, hoping that Jason would just send them away. But then he remembered the lesson Lupa had taught him. He dropped the smile and put on a brave face inside. A face that said he wasn’t someone to be messed with. And he felt a little safer. “Call me Tavian.”

Dakota turned his head the opposite way to his slanting eyes. “Aren’t you cute? Are you Jason’s little brother?”

Tavian stared at him, “Little brother?”

“Ah, sorry. Just blonde hair, blue eyes…white.”

“Next time you think something’s cute, stultissime, you might want to get your eyes checked. And since you’ll need surgery, you might want to get them to fix your whole face.”

“Hey!” Gwen said. She stepped in front of Dakota and glared down at Tavian. “Say that again, I dare you.”

Tavian lifted up his chin and glared back at her. Before a fight could start for real, Jason threw his hands between them. “Woah, woah, woah. Gwen, I got this. Please?”

She didn’t seem like she planned to listen to Jason, but Dakota grabbed her arm and pulled away. As they moved off, Tavian overheard him saying something about letting Jason handle  it.

Once they had gone instead their barracks, Jason rounded on Tavian. “Why do you say that?”

Tavian shrugged, “He insulted me first. And besides, the idiot didn’t even know why I was saying.”  

“That doesn’t matter. They’re my friends.”

“Why are you friends with people in the Fifth?”

“Because I’m in the Fifth.”

The sky could have collapsed and that would have been less shocking. Tavian could have thought of a dozen reasons for the sky falling in – but he could think of none as to why Jason would join the Fifth. As to why Jason would abandon him.

“W…what?”

Jason rubbed the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed.

“Well, you know how I was finding hard to read? It wasn’t just because of my dyslexia. I’m also nearsighted. So, Gwen’s mum is an eye doctor and she got me prospection contacts for when I need them. Which got me talking to Gwen… and, well, she’s really nice and she told me a lot about the Fifth.”

“So you like her more than me?”

“What? No. Tavi. I have this plan. You should join the Fifth as well.”

“I don’t want to join the–”

“Wait, wait. Hear me out, please. I know everyone wants me to be this amazing son of Jupiter and all. But I figure… well, I don’t have to do that today, or even tomorrow. I want… I want to be normal for a couple years. And the people in the Fifth, they don’t look at me like I’m some superhero. I’m just a person. Just a kid.”

“But… you aren’t just a kid.”

“You’re not listening.”

“I am listening. I just don’t get it. You know the Fifth is the worst cohort, right?”

Jason crossed his arms over his chest. Clearly annoyed, he said, “Then we’ll make it the best – together. You said your mother wants you to win back the eagle, right? We can do that. Redeem the Fifth.”

Tavian stepped back, shaking his head. This wasn’t happening. This didn’t make any sense. “I… I can’t, Jay. I have to join the First. I don’t have a choice. The Fifth don’t want me.”

“You’re the new augur, of course they want you. Everyone will want you.”

“Well, I don’t want them. I don’t know them.”

“You know me.”

“Do I? You could have mentioned your big plan before! I’m not cool and charming like you, Jason. I don’t have big daddy sky god to have my back because I want to spend a couple years being ‘normal’.”

“Tay–”

“Don’t. You don’t get it. To be normal, you step down. To be normal, I have step up.”

“Tavi, you’re the new augur! You are literally walking into a position within the legion. You and I are the same. We can make this choice together.”

“But it’s not together.”

“I… I’m sorry. I wanted to wait for you. But I told everyone I’d join a cohort on the calends of February. And you weren’t back. I don’t break my promises.”

Tavian bit his lip. The fact that Jason didn’t break his promises was one of the things Tavian had always liked about him. He had believed he could trust Jason. He had been wrong.

“Who do you know in the First anyway?” Jason said.

“Um…” no one, that was who.

And Tavian thought about. He really did. He imagined joining the Fifth with Jason’s support; he might have been accepted. But then he imagined coming home to his mother, telling her that he had joined the weakest cohort.

No weaknesses. He had learned that long before his stay at the Wolf House.

He imagined telling the praetors that he didn’t want to be the new augur.

Your gift only pains you because you reject it. That was probably the most important lesson Lupa had give him.

He shook his head. “It was you who had the choice, Jason. Not me.”

He turned around and ran. He ran out of the camp and back towards New Rome. He didn’t want anyone to see the tears welling up in his eyes. He would make new friends in the First, he told himself. He would make them like him.

Back at home, he spent a few hours repairing Caesar. He added new stuffing. He made sure to do a perfect job. But Caesar would never be good again. That shining sun on his belly had been destroyed, mutilated. One of the ears was missing and Tavian would never find it.

He started to get Caesar back in his place on the bed, but it felt wrong. Caesar was his weakness. So he shoved the bunny into a box and closed the lid. Tavian was done relaying on the toy. Like he was done relaying on Jason.

He left his home and marched down to the legion. Ready to join the First and prove to everyone he was more than they ever bargained for.

Chapter Text

April 2003

That afternoon, between Tavian’s arrival and afternoon rollcall, both Allen and Ida had managed to arrive back. Tavian met their gazes as the trumpets sounded. All around them legionaries gathered up, centurions shouted orders, and it really didn’t seem all that orderly. But, like something was clicking into place, the chaos suddenly became straight lines, immaculate uniforms, and stiff expressions.

Tavian, Allen, and Ida stood in the middle of the road watched by the various legionaries. Then the praetors arrived: Angela Lu and Christopher Manning. Both were tall, with their long purple cloaks streaming behind them. Manning carried his helmet at his side and used the other hand to wave to his friends. He had a lot of friends.

Five hundred demigods saluted their praetors as the final signal sounded and the centurions turned, starting their rollcall.

“Newbies,” Lu said, waving her hand. “Gather up over there. Are you all familiar with the proceedings?”

Ida and Tavian nodded, but Allen – the most nervous by far – just stared at her. Lu sighed, “You…” she pointed at Tavian. “Varus, right? Explain it to him.”

Tavian wanted to object to the use of his last name, but Lu had around turned around and taken up her position beside Manning.

Between the calm lines of legionaries, fluttering the glowing purple shapes of their Lares. They acted differently to the Lares that hung around New Rome. There was a stoicism about them, though, no straight lines. Which was unfortunate since it ruined the overall symmetry of the legion.

“Colours!” Manning called. The standard-bearer stepped forward and held their poles high. Including the standard-bearer for the legion, the one who was supposed to hold the eagle. There was a ripple of embarrassment when it was presented. Or, failed to be presented, Tavian supposed.

He felt Ida elbow him a little. She whispered. “Why are people looking at us?”

Tavian followed her gaze and noticed several semi-familiar faces eyeing him. And it was him. He knew. The first Varus to join the legion since Michael managed to lose the eagle. He cursed his mother for keeping the name. Even shoving Volkov in front of it wasn’t good enough.

“We have three new demigods who wish to become legionaries today. But first, we will send an offering to Lupa for her help in culling the weak.”

Three rabbits were brought out and sacrificed. Several pieces were then burning in offering to Lupa. They were then taken to the kitchens for the aurae to cook. Whatever cohort the new legionary entered would get a rabbit.

With that done, Manning gave a speech about good order, good health, and something else that was ‘good’, but Tavian had zoned out. He got the impression that Manning made a lot of boring speeches. And decided, if he was going to make praetor, he would ensure his speeches were way better.

Finally, “First recruit, ah… Ida Starkey.”

She stepped forward.

“Have you brought with you your credentials?” Manning asked. “Or letters of reference?”

Ida took them from her pack. “Yes, sir!”

Manning nodded. “For those who wish to peruse…”

“They already have, sir,” Ida replied.

“Very good!” Manning said. “That saves us some time.”

Beside Tavian, Allen was biting his lip. He glanced at Tavian as if about to say something, but then he decided against it. He stared forward once more. Tavian guessed – correctly – that Allen had no letter of reference nor credentials. He rolled his eyes. If he had less pride, Tavian would have given Allen a few ideas of what to say (having your credentials on a piece of paper was the traditional way, but people did just bellow them out sometimes).

“The Second Cohort,” came the voice of a centurion from the Second, “wishes to offer a position within our cohort to Ida Starkey.”

That was the expected situation. Most of the discussions and deliberations about which Cohort one would join happened before the roll call. In Tavian’s and Ida’s case those discussions had happened months ago. But for children of gods, it was normally a couple hours before. Tavian glanced at Allen. He suspected Allen had missed that memo. That was the problem with having an ADHD ten-year-old guiding you around, she was bound to forget something.

Before it could all be over, however, someone else stepped up. Not a centurion. Jason Grace. “I would like to stand for Ida Starkey.”

Everyone turned then, they couldn’t take their eyes off him. Tavian refused to look. Because then he would remember that Jason had chosen the Fifth Cohort over him.

The centurion from the Fifth sighed and said, “The Fifth wishes to offer a position within our cohort to Ida Starkey.”

Praetor Lu nodded, “Very good. Does any other Cohort wish to make an offer?”

There was no further reply.

“Excellent. Ida Starkey, choose wisely.”

“I accept the offer of the Second,” she said.

If the Fifth could look more like defeated losers, they did. Several shoulders fell and Tavian saw – despite his best efforts – Dakota patting Jason Grace on the back.

Allen was called upon next. He admitted he had brought not credentials or letters of reference, “But!” he said rather dramatically. “I’m a damn good fighter. I have six years of martial arts training in karate and three in jiu jitsu. I’m a quick study. And I’ll… I’ll be a good addition to your team.”

The speech was met with mixed reviews, but eventually a centurion of the Third stepped forward. Tavian had heard their reputation for being a bunch of gym-junky knuckleheads, so it seemed the perfect place for a guy like Allen. With no other offers, Allen headed over.

Which just let Tavian. “Alright, last one. You are, um… Angie?”

“Octavian Varus,” Praetor Lu said.

“Volkov-Varus,” Tavian said.

Lu’s eyes narrowed. But she repeated, “Octavian Volkov-Varus, have you brought with you your credentials? Or letters of reference?”

“I’m the new augur,” he said, knowing that superseded any letter or credential. Lu didn't seemed impressed. But, likely, the senior centurion of the First stepped forward. 

“The First wishes to offer a position within our cohort.”

“I accept,” Tavian said. He didn’t need to hear if any other cohort wanted him, honestly, he doubted any would try to make an offer. Besides, he preferred the possibility that he could have been offered more places. It made him look cooler, more respected, than he actually was.

As he walked towards the ranks of the First, his gaze caught Jason’s. Grace was halfway out of line, as if he had planned to stand for Octavian just like he had soon for Ida. Tavian shook his head.

“Congratulations to the new legionaries,” Lu said. “You each stand on probatio. You will be given a tablet with your name and cohort. In one year’s time, or as soon as you complete an act of valour, you will become a full member of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata. Serve Rome, obey the rules of the legion, and defend the camp with honour. Senatus Populusque Romanus!”

They echoed it back. Each syllable like a thump of a drum.

“Centurions,” Manning said. “You and your troops have one hour for dinner. Then we will meet on the Field of Mars. Today is Siege. First, Second and Fourth you’ll be attacking with me. Third and Fifth, you’re on defence with Lu.”

He smiled at Lu, “I’d say good luck, but we both know I’m going to win.”

“I look forward to my fourth victory in a row,” Lu replied, smiling.

“We’ll see about that.”

The senior centurion showed Tavian to the First’s barracks. “I’m Sebastian by the way, but call me Seb, everyone else does.”

“Tavian.”

“Got it,” he said as he stepped inside the barracks. The oil lamps along the walls all lit up as they entered. “We’ve got two barracks at the moment, since we’ve one of the smaller cohorts. This is the guys' one. Ah…this will be your bunk.”

He walked over to a lower bunkbed at the far end of the room. There were no pillows or sheets, but Tavian imagined they could be provided at some point. If not, he’d borrow some from home. He would probably like his own sheets better.

“You’ll keep your uniform there,” he pointed at a hook attacked to the side of the bunk.

“Everything else goes under the bed, here,” he showed a chest on wheels that could be rolled in and out. “You’ll need to keep your space clean. We’re the First, when inspections come through, our barracks must be the best. You understand?”

“I like things clean.”

“Good. Beyond that, our cohort is a single body. We fight together, eat together, sleep together. Someone hurts you, they hurt all of us. But that comes with expectations. We are best because we train the hardest. The Second Cohort runs ten miles, we run eleven. Not only that we take on the most responsibility. We organise the feasts, the spectacles, the money. Nothing happens in this legion without us being involved.”

Tavian nodded, figuring it would be a bad time to mention his anaemia and the fact that he was supposed to avoid intense exercise. “I understand, sir.”

“Perfect. Let’s go and eat. I’ll introduce to you the rest of the cohort.”

The mess hall was massive. Dozens of aurae fluttered around the room carrying plates and cups to the tables. War banners hung from the beams, swaying back and forth from the wind spirits passing. Tavian was pleasantly surprised to see the campers dining Roman style, though more than a few were sharing their triclinium like it was just a long bench.

Seb led Tavian over to one of the tables near the main table. Tavian noticed that most of the kids had probatio tablets, though they weren’t all from the First Cohort. “This is Junia,” Seb said as a girl stood up to greet them.

She wore her purple Camp Jupiter shirt over a stripy long-sleeved top. Plus a long necklace with mismatched fish pendants and blue sequined jeans. Her hair was pulled back in a tight braid, with another little fish pendant to tie it off.

“Junia is another of our probationes. She’s almost done, though, so I think she’ll be able to show you the ropes for today.”

Tavian sat down with her and looked over the food on offer. No one of it seemed appealing, but, thankfully, the aurae were right on it. Eggs cooked atop an oyster. But with the vegetables in a separate dish. And then the sauces – roman mayonnaise and a type of fish sauce called garum – in little dipping pots (he hated the feeling the sauce on his fingers). It was the best reminder that home really wasn’t that far away.

Junia introduced herself as a daughter of Volturnus, the god of rivers. Long ago, he had been an Etruscan god, but like with many gods from other pantheons, he had been added to the roster of Roman Olympus. “Is that why you have all those fish?”

Junia gave him a look, “What’s it to you?”

Tavian frowned, back peddling, not 100% sure what he’d done to receive that response. “Ah… I think they’re… great.”

Junia made a face and looked away.

Tavian didn’t speak to anyone else.

Chapter Text

Praetor Manning lead them out onto the field.

He looked very impressive astride his horse, purple cape billowing, golden sword aloft as he gave them all another speech. This one was about glory and honour and victory. Knowing that Lu had bested him multiple times in a row gave the call for “ad victoriam!” a little silly. But the three cohorts cried it back.

Junia sighed beside Tavian and said, “You would think he would get bored of saying the same thing every week.”

“It’s the same speech?”

“Copy, paste, rearrange a few words.”

Tavian nodded, having no idea what Junia was saying but determined to make a better impression after the debacle at dinner.

Manning sent the probationes of the various cohorts down into the tunnels. Bryce found Tavian as they assembled around the closest tunnel entrance. Normally the entrances were just holes in the ground, but this one was massive, like a scar in the earth. Bryce leaned in and said, “Lu loves underground attacks. Last week, she tested out her giant mech scorpions on us. They have these crossbow stings, laced with poison.”

“Why is Manning sending us then?” Tavian said.

Bryce shrugged, “He probably thinks she won’t play the same trick twice.”

Seb, working as Manning’s second, handed them all lamps and assigned them to groups for the patrol. “If you see anything come back, don’t engage. There are never sections of the tunnel that someone unseal themselves, there are signs. Don’t ignore the signs. You’ll never come back.”

With that Tavian followed the others into the darkness and found himself directed down one of the various paths. He lost sight of the others quickly, which left only him and Bryce in the darkness.

They did indeed find some of the signs, mostly because Tavian had felt drawn in that direction. The sensation was familiar, and he didn’t know why until they reached the entrance. “It’s the same,” he said.

Bryce gave him a look, “What is?”

“You know the tunnels Lupa uses for the Wolf House. I think this connects up.”

“Seriously?”

“I’m sure of it. Something is going to happen in these tunnels.”

“Something?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s important for us. I think… that destiny belongs to someone else.”

“Weird.”

“Ita,” Tavian agreed. He wanted to investigate further, but he decided disobeying orders on his first day wasn’t the best move. “Let’s keep going.”

Not long after, they heard a large crash, more than a little splashing, and various Latin swear words. They exchanged glances, only seeing each other’s eyes in the lamplight.

“Enemies?” Tavian asked.

“Could be scorpion riders.”  

“Then we better investigate.”

They followed the sound until they reached a doorway. That, Tavian hadn’t expected. Bryce help push it over and they found themselves looking over a pool of water. It’s edges reflected the light of their lamps, offering no end. They couldn’t see the enemy. But they could definitely hear them.

A small walkway ran along the walls. They moved along them slowly, Tavian half-distracted by the design and the fact this was definitely not an old trench. Meanwhile, Bryce actually hunted for the legionaries.  

“I think it’s an old cistern,” he said just as Bryce called, “There!”

Off in the distance, Tavian spotted a beam of red light. And sure enough, two legionaries were trying to dislodge a scorpion from the water. It looked like they had managed to cave in a column and trapped the machine underneath. Now it was struggling in the water. They seemed to be trying to get it to shoot the rocks away, but that was guaranteed to not work.  

Tavian knew the orders were to report back – but if they left these two to their business, they would probably get their scorpion out. And it would be used to attack the cohorts. And, besides, the fallen column had given him an idea.

“Let’s fight them for it.”  

Bryce grinned over his shoulder, then started to strip off his heavy armour and pack. Tavian did the same, leaving onto his tunic and sandals.

As they prepared, Tavian quietly explained how he thought they should immobilise face off against the legionaries and dislodge the mech. He grilled Bryce for information about the scorpion. Most of which hasn’t useful. But it was better than not knowing.

Ready to go, they jumped in (feet first, since they didn’t know how deep it was) and the pool embraced them with cold, almost icy water. Their splash had alerted the other demigods that they were coming. But since the enemy was standing in the light, their vision wasn’t great.

Underneath the water, the two of the approached the other demigods without a sound. The legionaries weren’t far enough that Bryce and Tavian had to come up for breath – not before Bryce climbed onto the base of the fallen column. Emerging from the water, his pugio dagger in hand, he shouted, “Oi, losers! Over here!”

The two legionaries spun around from their positions aboard their scorpion. Unfortunately for them the column sat at the back of the scorpion – and it’s stinger did not have 360 degrees of swivel. One of the kids did try. He struggled with the controls, cursing at the scorpion, while his partner rushed at Bryce.

“Don’t mess with us right now, kid!” the partner shouted back. She carried her own sword but had seemingly lost her pilum at some point. She was still dressed in her armour. Which was good for the plan. In the dark, she didn’t see the trip rope Tavian and Bryce had set up as she rushed over at Bryce.

Head just above the water, Tavian yanked at the rope as she darted down the back of the scorpion. She gasped as she fell and tumbled into the water.

“Thanks!” Bryce called as he leap onto the scorpions back.

Tavian pulled himself as well. While Bryce ran at the second legionary, Tavian moved for the scorpion’s stinger. He pull the rope from the water and wrapped it around the stinger. He jumped back into the water, pulling the stinger up – pointing it towards the ceiling. Just as the water splashed around him, he could have sworn he heard a crossbow bolt hitting a stone wall. He swan underneath the scorpion and came out through one of the few holes in the ruddle the other legionaries had made. He tied the rope off as best he could.

The two legionaries had recovered from the surprise and now had Bryce flanked. It was the first time Tavian had seen Bryce fight, like, properly fight. It was… beautiful. In a cruel, vicious way. Bryce hit every weakness in their armour. He used the limited space to his advantage. When one of them got him in a choke hold, he almost bite their thumb off.

Tavian clambered back onto the scorpion’s back. At the base of the stinger, he could a compartment with the poison bolts. He grabbed one out and, from behind, stabbed the girl. She gasped. Not immediately taken down, the poison wasn’t that quick, she spun around to face him.

“You!”

He wondered if she recognised him or just meant it as an insult. English was funny like that. But he didn’t have time to think too hard. She swung her blade at his head. He dodged out of the way. Or, well, tried to. His feet might have gotten themselves a little tangled. But the result was the same. His head was far too low for her strike to hit.

Bryce came in, saving the day, with a hard strike to her helmet. She groaned and fell, unconscious. Tavian glanced over at the other boy, but he was down as well. Breathing heavily, and feeling more than a little dizzy, Tavian said, “Okay. Tie them up.”

“And you?”

“I’m going to sit here for a bit.”

“Fine,” Bryce said. He returned his dagger to his belt and tied up the two legionaries with his own rope.

“Wait,” Tavian said. Bryce raised his eyebrow. “Hit the other one with a poison bolt. I don’t want them waking up and telling everyone what we’re doing.”

“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing?”

“In a bit.”

Bryce did as he was told, probably because he liked the idea of poisoning an older kid. He left the two on the walkway from before, swimming them across one by one. By the time he was done, Tavian had already investigated the controls of the scorpion and disabled the stinger (for now). Then he unravelled his rope from underneath the scorpion.

He wasn’t entirely sure about this next step. But, at minimum, it would disable the scorpion for good. Bryce wrapped the rope around the column on the other side, then together they tied the end to the biggest rock they could find. Heaving hard, they pushed the rock into the water. The effect was immediate. The weight of the rock, combined with the force of the basic pulley, shifted the scorpion out of its trap. It did leave Tavian flat on his ass, but that didn’t matter.

The scorpion had survived. And now it was his.

Unfortunately, it turned out that the scorpion was not a good swimmer, only capable of floating. So they ended up towing it through the water, much like its previous masters. But one it was on the walkway – it was ready to go (minus the weird creaking sounds that came from it’s previous crushed legs).

They quickly collected their armour and equipment. Tavian could confirm one thing – heavy metal armour over soaking clothes wasn’t not a comfortable experience. Fortunately, the belly of the scorpion ran hot enough to act like a small heater.

“So,” Bryce said. “Back to base?”

“No.”

“No?”

“I have an idea.”

“You know we’re on probatio, right? We’re not supposed to have ideas.”

“I don’t plan on being on probatio for long.”

“What’s this idea?”

“You’ll like it. But first, I want to see if we can get close to the fort.”

“For observation?”

“For destruction.”

“Now you’re speaking my language.”

With a final kick in the head for one of the legionaries, Bryce climbed aboard, and they started down the tunnels, headed in the direction of the enemy fort. Bryce had been right about the mech – that scorpion could move. Even better, it had two red eyes that worked like torches, lighting the way for them.

Soon enough, Tavian found the waterways that fed the cistern. And the idea started to become a plan. Then thing about the Field of Mars is that it sat between two major water sources: the Little Tiber, and the spring which the aqueduct drew from. A hundred years ago, then entire field had probably been a swamp. Much like old Rome. It was clear, poking around this section, a large amount of engineering had been done to keep the field from flooding on a regular basis. And… provided the right encouragement a certain section of the field might just flood again.

Soon after they found the section that ran directly below a good half of the fort. Even better. He replaced his helmet with he had stolen from the Third Cohort member and tucked his probatio tablet under his shirt. “I’m going up to investigate. I want to make sure we bury the right wall.”

“I though we were flooding the place.”

“That’s step two,” he said as he stepped into the tunnel Praetor Lu had clearly used to launch her scorpions. She had wisely left a guard. What Tavian hadn’t expected was that guard to be Jason Grace himself.

It was a terrible waste of resources. Even at eight years old, Jason Grace was more powerful than half the demigods at the camp. Plus, since he could fly putting him underground was even more of a waste.

Is this your idea of being a normal person? Handicap yourself so much you’re basically useless?

“Halt,” Jason said as Tavian approached. “What happened? Why are you wet?”

Tavian saluted, then he did his best to disguise his voice, “Ran into some First legionaries.”  

Jason frowned and whispered, “Tay?”

“Dammit, you’re supposed to be here.”

“Did you just start today, why are you here?”

“I, ah…” Tavian grabbed Jason’s shirt and tugged him deeper into the tunnels. “I wanted to talk to you. Privately.”

“Oh. Right. Sure.”

Tavian did feel a twinge of guilt when Bryce appeared from the shadows behind Jason and slammed his pilum into Jason’s helmet. It wasn’t enough to drop Jason unconscious, but the kick to the balls that followed was.

Tavian sighed and apologised as they wrapped and bound Jason. They carried him back to the water way, far enough away they figured no one would find him. Then Tavian hurried back, while Bryce took up Jason’s position as the guard.

Praetor Lu was no where to be seen as Tavian entered the main tower, but several moments of the Fifth had been positioned around the central room. Tavian avoided it. He figured the less people who saw him the better. Stepping outside, he did his best to look like he knew where he was going, and, thankfully, no one asked him any questions.

Within a minute or saw, he had worked out where the rest of the First was positioned outside the walls. The fight was still very much in action, but Praetor Lu’s creations meant that pretty much no one was getting close. Pressurised water cannons went off, blowing back legionaries of the Second. Ballista fired at tortoise formations, sending the Fourth scattering.

Tavian didn’t want to overstay his welcome, so he hurried back to Bryce and the tunnels. “Alright, information gathered,” he said as they returned to where they had left Jason and the scorpion.

Jason had woken up by this point, but he could do little away from the sky and without his weapons. Tavian and Bryce climbed the scorpion. As they headed off, Tavian waved, “See you later, Grace. I hope you don’t regret joining the Fifth.”

They didn’t need to go very far before they were at their destination. “Alright, let’s blow this mech up.”

Any builder or engineer will tell you that making something is a lot harder than breaking it. The engine that ran the scorpion took a decent amount of pressure – true. It was a testament to Praetor Lu’s skills. But the engine still had a point of no return. And so did the walls of this part of the tunnels.

The explosion hit hard, and it was a good thing they were already running, because rocks and rubble started to follow immediately. They raced passed Jason, still struggling against his bonds, clearly stressed by the explosion. Moments after they had passed him, Tavian heard shouts. The enemy had come down to investigate – and had just found Jason.

Untying him would save them a couple seconds but it wouldn’t be much. “Bryce,” Tavian said, “led them away, let them capture you.”

“Got it.”

They split off.

He heard Bryce pretend to gasp in surprise, then he rounded a corner and heard no more of Bryce or the enemy. Back up at the cistern, Tavian twisted the breaks. All the water inside started to gush out, filling the waterways, tunnels, and old trenches. The entire area started to rumble under the pressure.

Tavian made his way to the surface just in time to see the water break down the already weakened underneath the walls. It collapsed, taking a good portion of the central fort with it. The Third and Fifth cohorts were panicking. None of them had planned for the ground underneath their feet to turn into mud and puddles.

Tavian dashed over to the First, who were now approaching the breech with caution. Just as he come close, he saw Junia break away from the group. She ran across the water as it was a clear running track, avoiding distressed legionaries, and raced inside the fort.

“Right,” Seb said. “Junia is on that. The rest of you – distract the Fifth. Don’t underestimate your enemy.”

Tavian ran up beside Seb. “Reporting back, sir.”  

“Weren’t you in the tunnels?”

“I was.”

Seb frowned, then waved at the destroyed walls, “You know any thing about this?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Right...We’ll discuss that later. In the meantime, say with me. Watch what I do.”

Seb’s lesson didn’t last long in the end. With the walls down, Praetor Lu and the Third distracted by the Second and the Fourth, the First were able to take up the Fifth in minutes. Meanwhile, agile-on-water Junia grabbed the flag inside. She rushed out of the tower, pursued by several members of the Fifth.

“That’s our piscula!” Seb shouted, calling Junia ‘little fish’. The rest of the First moved to fend off the pursuers. And Junia surfed out of the walls, flag streaming. The legionaries around her cheered. It was a glorious victory.

Then started the clean-up: collecting pila, mending injuries, fishing out legionaries out of the flooded tunnels. Tavian kept close to Seb, finding the way he spoke with his subordinates interesting – both friendly and commanding.

Finally, there was a break, and Seb turned to Tavian. “Remind me what your mission was?”

“Ah…” Tavian said, feeling like he was about to get lectured. “Patrol the tunnels.”

Seb sighed, “No, your other mission.”

It was only then that Tavian realised Seb was actually asking him to explain what he had done. “Right. Um. First step, recon the area. While I did that, I captured one of the scorpions. Once I knew where everything was, I exploded the scorpion beneath that wall,” he pointed.

“With the wall weakened, I flooded the field using the water from a nearby cistern. Since it’s not on any current maps, I believe the water has since fallen out of use. Potentially, it is older than New Rome and Camp Jupiter. It makes sense that the original legion would have moved to a place that already had Roman foundations. However, I don’t recall there being any recordings of such a place–”

“Ah, yes. Thank you, legionary. We’ll save the history lesson for another time.”

Tavian realised he had let his thoughts wondering a little too much and clamped his mouth shut. “Right. Of course, sir.”

“Okay. Great. I’m going to speak plainly. You ignored the praetor’s orders to do this, but you did help us win. I’m… honestly not sure Manning can win against Lu without a huge amount of luck. Which he only gets on auspicious days. So, I’m going to tell everyone it was my orders that had you doing all that. You won’t get punished and the First can lay credit for the victory.”

Tavian nodded vigorously. That was a lot better than being lectured or punished. Seb smiled, “I like you, kid. You’re going to be very useful in the future.”

Tavian beamed. It wasn’t often he was called useful, especially not by someone like Seb. “Thank you, sir!”

With the fighting over, and the sun setting, they marched back to Camp Jupiter. Seb claimed credit for the victory on behalf of the First as a whole. Later, back in the barracks, the other centurion of the First (Deborah) came in to tell him off. “Since when do you go about making plans without consulting me? We’re supposed to be a team, Sebastian.”

Seb leaned in and whispered some kind of explanation. Her eyes widened, then she shook her head. Eventually, she looked over her shoulder – directly at Tavian. She frowned, “Are we sure he’s a legacy of Apollo?”

Seb seemed to try to whisper his reply, but it was loud enough for Tavian and a good mix of the other boys to hear. “I think his dad is a child of Minerva.”  

That started some murmurs. Tavian looked around, confused. “So?”

Everyone gave him a wary look.

Tavian stood, stepping away from his bunk. “What? What’s so bad about that?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Seb said, eyeing Deborah. “You’re a legacy of Apollo. You wouldn’t be one of us if you weren’t the new augur.”

The First fell quiet. Deborah didn’t seem to agree but she wasn’t saying anything.

Tavian narrowed his eyes and as coldly as he could manage, he said, “Just tell me.”

The centurions both turned towards him. They didn’t seem to appreciate the tone. But before they could tell him to shut up, Zach from the bunk beside Tavian’s said, “Children of Minerva are bad luck. Their existence means Minerva breaks her oath.”

Tavian frowned. “But children of Minerva are born from an intellectual bond.”

“The gods are divine beings…” Seb explained. “Even if it isn’t physical, mentally sleeping with someone is just as bad. Especially when the result is a baby.”

Tavian frowned, “What do you mean by ‘sleeping with someone’?”

Neither Seb nor Deborah seemed to want to answer that question. A couple of the boys behind Tavian sniggered. And Tavian felt himself going red with embarrassment.

Seb gave him an apologetic smile. “You’ll find out when you’re older. For now,” he turned to the barracks, “it’s time for bed. We’re up at six tomorrow!”

There were a few groans, but they were silences with a look from Seb. Tavian started making his bed (the sheets, pyjamas, pillow, etc. had been delivered from his home while he had been gone). He saw a small note on the pile, sent from his mater, “I know you’ll do great”. He smiled as he rolled over and fell asleep.

The next morning, at six on the dot, Seb stepped out his quarters fully dressed and shocked them all awake with a loud clap. “I want you all up and ready in five.”

Chapter Text

May 2003

It was Antonia’s fourth birthday, and Tavian’s first day off. He had applied for furlough and found out that probatio tend not to get any. He managed to talk Seb into approving a half-day off, however, considering Tavian wasn’t going to be participating in the gladiator fights that had scheduled for wargames. Another thing probatio were not allowed to do.

Seb had explained both rules were there for the safety of the new members of the legion. Going out to the city or battling against more experienced legionaries almost guaranteed an injury. Tavian had held back the argument that he had literally survived the Wolf House and Lupa had definitely not cared about demigod safety. Instead he nodded and parroted, “Of course, sir.” Which got him a lot further with Seb. Seb really liked being called ‘sir’ – since everyone else in the cohort just called him, well, Seb.

Tavian carried a big teddy bear he had bought for her. They had gotten in delivered to Mercury’s Messages, New Rome’s closest things to a post office. It was a pretty gaudy kind of shop, with an eclectic mix of wares, but they did allow outside items to be brought through the barrier. Naturally, normal mortal means of transportation did not work as well.

He walked along the quiet street where his home sat on the hill known as the ‘Esquiline’. It was a little further away from the bustling forum of the Capitoline, which meant instead of shops, offices, and people the area was full of parks and wide leafy streets. Tavian hadn’t realised how much he missed this place – and how he had already started to see it as something ‘from his childhood’.

Seb had been true to his word when he said the First trained the hardest. They woke before anyone else, at six, then ran for an hour. Then spent another half-an-hour on training drills. Then a quick shower out the side of their barracks. Change of clothes. Breakfast roll call and inspections. A quick breakfast (involving a lot of coffee) at 8.30am.

From 9am, they spent two hours studying (in Latin, they were expected to be the best there too – the Third were the muscle-heads not them). Then it was time for the official training – each cohort did a different thing each day, on rotation.

2pm was cena (dinner) which was about the old time they got to relax. Then, it was off to wargames. Sometimes it was chariot races or gladiator fighting, which involved a lot of watching and cheering. The chariots races were fun to watch. Each cohort fielded a team of charioteers who raced around the Field of Mars. Each chariot was pimped the nines, of course. And most of the time the teams focused on blowing the other chariots up – so it wasn’t uncommon for only one chariot to actually finish the race.

Once the wargames finished at about 4pm, they officially had free time until 10pm. Most legionaries used the time to eat a small meal, go to the baths, hang out with friends. The First, however, did not believe in free time being ‘free’. Every minute had to be accounted for with a productive activity either ‘health’ (food and bathing) or ‘training’ (further study or drills).

Junia had summed it up with, “Fun is strictly forbidden. So I hope with like training.”

Exhausted at the end of the wargames, Tavian almost always opted for study. Though once a week or so Seb did drag him down to do drills. Mandatory, apparently.

Tavian passed Bryce’s house on his way home. He wasn’t entirely shocked to hear shouting. Bryce and Mr Lawrence never got along. And it had been getting worse since Bryce had joined the legion. Tavian didn’t really understand why, since Mr Lawrence had less opportunity to be annoyed by Bryce.

Then he heard the desperation in Bryce’s voice. And he rushed inside.

He entered the atrium just in time to see Mr Lawrence pushing his son into the impluvium. Bryce is drowning. Luckily, he was still moving and struggling. Tavian dropped the teddy bear in his hand and drew his ceremonial knife (technically not a weapon, right, Terminus?) and stabbed Mr Lawrence in the shoulder.

He hadn’t really even thought about it. Only he knew was that his friend was being hurt. And no one hurt his friends. The anger in his heart was the most intense it had ever been. This wasn’t some kids teasing him about teddy bears. Mr Lawrence was trying to murder his own son. Only then did he realise he was screaming.

Mr Lawrence turned and threw him off. He rounded on Tavian, releasing Bryce, and punched Tavian several times. He reached for the knife, but Tavian managed to keep it away from him.

Bryce climbed out of the pool and ran. And Tavian hoped he was headed for safety. A trial of his blood marked his path.

Lawrence kicked Tavian in the stomach and Tavian slammed into the wall behind him. He looked up, glaring at Lawrence, and found similar ire-filled eyes staring back at him.

There was a crash as Bryce cut down a hanging plant with what looked like a kitchen knife. He lifted it up. Tavian hadn’t wanted Bryce to come back – but since he seemed to have some kind of plan.

Tavian smirked, lining up a dozen insults to distract Lawrence. “I hope you’ve eaten an obol, Mr Lawrence. Though I can’t imagine Charon would accept payment from the likes of you.”

Lawrence’s eyes flashed, “Perite, Vare!”

He grabbed Tavian. Tavian tried to wiggle out of the grip but Lawrence was too strong. Luckily, that wasn’t the idea. Bryce pulled the rope over Lawrence’s neck, then twisted it at the back, creating a tight choke hold.

Lawrence kicked Tavian in the guts before moving his focus on Bryce. Tavian doubled over. Two kicks to the gut were two too many.

Bryce and his father faced off. They exchanged a few blows. Bryce managed to slice his father’s hand – but no one his attacks hit vitals. Lawrence punched his son’s face, then grabbed him and shoved him against the wall.

“I’ll teach you to defy me.”

Lawrence let go of Bryce with a final slam of his face against the wall and picked up the fallen rope. He snapped it like a whip. Bryce flinched.

Tavian stepped in front of Bryce. “You crossed the line.”

Tavian rushed in, with Bryce a step behind.

Tavian wasn’t nearly the fighter Bryce was and his knife failed to reach skin. Lawrence punched him again, this time in the temple. Tavian felt a wave of dizziness wash over him as he stumbled.

His anger runs cold now. I will kill you, he swore a silent oath, on the River Styx.

Bryce managed to land another hit, just grazing Lawrence’s throat. But then Lawrence grabbed his hand and slammed their heads together. Tavian heard Bryce’s nose break. But Bryce didn’t let go.

He wrapped his hands around his father’s throat. They become locked in a chocking contest. Lawrence kicked Bryce’s feet out from under him and shoved Bryce to the floor, pressing his knee deep into Bryce’s guts.

Shook off his dizziness as best he could and grabbed Lawrence’s tunic. He tried to pull Lawrence off Bryce, but he wasn’t strong enough. However, what he did have was a knife. So he swung underneath Lawrence’s bulk and stabbed him deep into the stomach. Pulling the blade back as if towards himself.

Then Tavian cut his knife through Lawrence’s centre, carving a smiling mouth of blood. Guts fell all over Bryce, then the floor as Bryce scrambled out of his father’s grip.

Tavian pulled back, letting go of Lawrence. But the man wasn’t dead yet. So rolled Lawrence over and cut his throat.

Tavian stood, breathing heavily. He knew Bryce was injured, but he couldn’t focus on it.

Blood stained the marble floor. Sections of intestines scattered throughout. But Tavian didn’t see Lawrence’s body, not at that moment. Instead, his gaze focused on… the entrails. Because they said something. He didn’t want to read it. He really didn’t. He could feel his body shaking with the effort to look away.

But that meant nothing. Not for this.

Half of the whole will not survive,

To blood or treachery, they lose their lives.

Time’s lost shadow throne

Restored upon blood-stained stone

 Stars and sky to fight to the last

War’s favoured child must holdfast

The lone wolf shall sacrifice the corps

A choice to define forevermore

It was the longest prophecy Tavian had ever been given and he suspected it was because had never sacrificed a human life before. The thought make him want to throw up.

“Benigne,” Bryce murmured. Thank you.

Only then did the anger that sustained Tavian flee. And he fell to his knees. He forced himself to speak. “It’s better than you becoming a patricide.”

“You shouldn’t have. I’m not… I’m not worthy. I don’t deserve it.”

He looked up, seeing Bryce cradling his broken nose. “You’re my friend.”

“I shouldn’t be. I’m sorry…” Bryce’s voice shook and it was hard to tell what he was saying through his broken nose. But Tavian listened anyway. “I tried to kill you, Tay. When we were kids. I pushed you off High Bridge. Even you’re not that clumsy. I’m sorry. I really am. And I know it’s not an excuse, but I was all messed. I was a kid and Orcus was in my head all the time. And… I’m just sorry. Will you forgive me?”

“I know, Bryce,” he said. He stood, finally able to pull his focus away from the entrails. He dipped his hands into the pool. He couldn’t stand having Lawrence’s blood on his hands a moment longer.

“Know what?”

“That it was you. I dreamt about it sometimes when I wasn’t having visions. It’s okay. I forgave you a long time ago. I wouldn’t have done this if I hadn’t.”

“How?”

“How?” Tavian said, confused by the question.

“How can you forgive me?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t die. No one was hurt. And… I’m not even sure I would have gotten my gift of prophecy if I hadn’t fallen off that bridge.”

“That wasn’t me, though.”

“It doesn’t matter now. We need to clean this up. I know where we can bury him – but we need to get him there somehow.”

Ever since his first day in the tunnels, Tavian had spent every opportunity he had to explore them. He missed dinner sometimes. And others he ignored the wargames to go wondering. It was wrong, he knew. Becoming a regular in the legion should have been priority number one, but the tunnels posed a question that he needed to answer.

The closest he had to one at that point was that it was probably the Labyrinth. There were a few stories of heroes getting lost in the tunnels, and several accounts of past legionaries who had made the connection between the tunnels near the Wolf House and the tunnels under the Field of Mars. Still, that answer felt… incomplete.

However, the endless dark corridors offered a great spot to entomb a dead man. Bryce stole a stroller from down the street. They threw a dark sheet over it and placed the giant teddy bear like a cherry on a cake – a distraction.

Then, together, they wheeled him down to one of the entrances that could be found within New Rome itself. Tavian was sure to tie some thread to the door and started his way. Most of the time, the Labyrinth behaved. It was possible that was just because he could feel its changes. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was his gift of prophecy again. Maybe it was something else.

Maybe it was Janus, god of transitions and his grandfather.

That thought almost disturbed him as much as the blood dripping from the stroller.

Eventually they stepped out of the Labyrinth and into a small room. There was regular tunnel through the far door, which was how Tavian had found it. It was creepy, with a big black stone at its centre. There were several alcoves in the room. They picked one at random and shoved the corpse inside. Then, in case anyone came to look, they covered it up with rubble and rocks.

“Should I…” Bryce bit his lip. Then he shook his head.

Tavian pointed at the stone block and said, “sit down.”

“Why?”

“You’re injured. I’ll try to patch you up so that the legion doesn’t ask question.”

“It’s fine,” Bryce said. “They… they expect…”

He didn’t finish. Whatever strength had held back the tears finally failed.

“I can’t believe it,” Bryce sobbed. “He’s gone.”

Bryce had always been bigger, scarier, than Tavian. His green eyes always sharp with ferocity. He liked to watch things in pain, the way they curled up and screamed. The military short cut did his intimidation factor a lot of favours as well.

But the illusion broke as tears welled. He stopped making sense after that point, though Tavian thought he was talking about his father.

Tavian realised he had never seen Bryce cry.

He didn’t know what to do. His parents always sent him off to his room to get a hold of himself away from them. Alone. But he didn’t think he should leave Bryce alone. He stepped close, recalling how people comforted each other in movies, and touched Bryce’s arm. “It’s okay, Bryce. I’m here.”

Bryce looked up, then down at the hand. Then up again. Eyes brimming with hope.

Tavian held out his other hand, wide, like… well, like a hug. Bryce stepped closer. He leaned down, pressing his face into Tavian’s shoulder.

“I’ll never abandon you, Bryce.”

“Do you swear it?”

“Yeah,” Tavian said, knowing what Bryce was asking him. An oath had to keep. An oath that would end in his own death if he broke it. “I swear it.”

They sat in the room for a long time. After a while, Bryce started to talk normally again. He used Latin, which Tavian realised he had missed. So many of the legionaries preferred English. They rarely ever spoke in the father tongue outside of classes.

“Bryce?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you still want Orcus’ gift? The one you mentioned before. What I mean is… are you still searching for someone to break an oath?”

Bryce shrugged.

“Is it worth it? The gift?”

“Is yours?”

Tavian frowned. He never thought about it. Not until today. “I didn’t get a choice.”

“Apollo didn’t ask?”

“He’s a god.”

“Right.”

“Still… what’s the gift? Do you know?”

“Necromancy. But… you’re right. Maybe I shouldn’t long for it. I’ve seen what your gift does to you.”

“Less so these days. Lupa taught me a lot.”

“If you say so.”

“I’m happy I have mine,” Tavian said. Now, separated from the horrors of earlier, he was determined to make the statement true. “I’m just wanted to know if you were still, you know, looking for someone to kill.”

“I guess… if I was going to kill anyone it was going to be my dad. But he wasn’t stupid enough to make any oaths. Not to me at least.”

“Oh.”

“I think though… I say you would be better off as a legacy of Minerva. You know you can tell them when you finish your probatio you don’t want lyre?”  

“Not happening,” that much he was sure about. “I’m already a Varus. Can you imagine what it would be like if I have an owl on my arm?”

“Try a skull.”

“Right… sorry.”

“I don’t care. I don’t like most of the people and I don’t want them to like me. You’re the one with the weird complex.”

“It’s not weird. How am I supposed to become praetor if people don’t like me? Gods, the First would probably kick me out if I refused to become the augur.”

“Then just don’t become praetor. And screw the First. They’re all stuffy and rude anyway. Praetors and your cohort. The lot!”

“No, they aren’t! And it doesn’t matter anyway. I have to become praetor and I have to become the augur. Besides, I want it. I don’t like being an outsider. And that’s what I would have been if you hadn’t done what you did. So, in a way, you helped me.”  

Bryce sighed. “Fine, fine. But word of advice.”

“What?” Tavian asked, standing, and brushing the dust off his tunic.

“Don’t get angry like that again. Praetors are supposed to be level-headed, you know, stuffy.”

“I had control.”

“You killed my dad.”

“You didn’t want me to?”

“That if that was the case, you would be dead too.”

Bryce stood as well and set an arm on Tavian’s shoulder. “Seriously, if you don’t want people to think you’re like your uncle, you better not let them see that.”

“I wasn’t…” he thought about the line of the prophecy he was almost certain referred to him. The one about killing a lot of people. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

“Great. Well, I’m feeling better now my pater is in the ground.”

Tavian nodded, “It’s my sister’s birthday. Do you want to come? We’ll have food.”

“Yeah, I’m hungry after that.”

Chapter Text

Feast of Fortuna 2003

It was that day that Tavian realised his family was broken.

His arm burned as the brand appeared on his forearm. He bit his lip, trying not to cry out. He couldn’t believe Jason had been getting this since he was three.

They burned in the lyre too. Symbol of Apollo.

He wanted to cry, could feel tears of pain welling inside his eyelids. But they, over Praetor Lu’s shoulder, he saw his mother. She was glared at him.

He forced his faced into something strong. Something solid.

Octavian Volkov-Varus did not wince at pain. So instead he buried it deep. He put it in the hollow place. The same place the emotions of Mr Lawrence’s death had gone.

Bryce had said his father had gone on a trip.

Later, when Mr Lawrence didn’t return, Tavian suggested a monster attack. The words had been accepted because no one liked Mr Lawrence. Tavian got the impression the adults had wanted him dead for years. Adults were like that. They smiled to your face, then laughed behind your back.

At least kids laughed at your face too.

Praetor Lu let her hands fall. “Welcome to the legion, Octavian.”

He saluted.

Then he turned, facing the shrine of Apollo.

Apollo did not have a temple, though he was a popular god. Votives and sacrifices surrounded the altar, several alcoves had been set up – though nothing that would block out the sun’s glory. And there was no roof. That would have crossed the line.

Romans liked those kids of lines, they liked rules, and Tavian did as well – to an extent. If he knew the rules, he could follow them. And at those times he could look normal. He could present the world a Tavian that had to practice how to smile, how to frown, how to do anything.

Apollo was not a Roman god. Not really.

They liked him and he was popular. But he was Greek. It’s why they didn’t change his name. It was why emperors like Nero, who had tried to make Apollo the most important god, had been so hated.

He wasn’t even their primary sun god. No, they left that to Sol Invictus. Or even Helius. Instead, Apollo was the god of “all things Greek”, even his most sacred temple remained in Greece. Delphi.

A place their old laws had forbidden anyone to go.

Tavian had yet to find out the reason for that law. But he was working on it. It didn’t make a lot of sense to him. He thought it had something to do with World War II, though they had kept out of it, since there had been plenty of European demigods back then.

Nonetheless, he stepped up to the altar and raised a stuffed turtle toy. He opened it with his knife. To the crowd he asked for the next years omens. But silently, he pleaded with Apollo to explain That Prophecy. He had found no record of it in the scraps of the Sibylline they had. But those prophecies and That One felt the same.

As the stuffed settled and he read the words, he knew he had received no answer. He turned to the crowd. Everyone important had come, apparently. Senators, governors, the praetors (both!), most of the centurions, and other citizens of New Rome. They all waited for him to say, “Good omens! Fortuna blesses this year.”

There was a cheer, though Tavian hadn’t don’t anything. Still, he hoped that Fortuna’s blessing meant That Prophecy wouldn’t happen soon. Maybe it wasn’t even about him, or anyone still alive. There were thousand-year-old prophecies in the Sibylline Books. What if he was just supposed to add this one to them?

As he searched the crowd, he found his mother again. She was nodding, baby Julia nestled in her arms. She really did manage to look like a proper Roman matron without ever acting like one. He frowned. Where was Tonya?

Just like at the party. Even on her own birthday, Tonya hadn’t been at the centre. The bigger the party, Tavian thought, the worse the problem.

She stepped forward, announcing that there would be food and refreshments at their house. A celebration for a year of good omens. She called Tavian over, but he shook his head, “I need to clean up. I don’t want to leave Apollo’s shrine messy.”

They all filed away, slowly. Crowds were always slow. They crawled and quibbled. Strong yet directionless. Like rivers.

He picked up the fluff, figuring he would repair this turtle like the others. Back at camp? He thought. The idea made him shudder. No, he would need to get it done before he returned. Imagine if they knew he could sew!

As he stepped away from the alcoves, he noticed Tonya sitting beneath a tree. His heart skipped a beat, because he thought she was ailing again.

Of the three siblings, Antonia had received the worst of their illness. Tavian could avoid visits to the doctor as long as he took his supplements and didn’t do anything crazy. Antonia was different. Without regular blood-transfusions, she would eventually die. “Sickly” was all their mother would say to people, and even that was a concession.

He hurried over. But as he neared, she looked up and smiled. “Fwata! I waited.”

Fwata was her attempt to say ‘frater’, brother in Latin. Just hearing it made him smile. Her skin was flush and now he was closer he could see no signs of her being sick. Thank the gods.

Tavian patted her head, “You’re so good.”

Her blonde hair had been done up in four little braids and twisted into a bun at the back of her head. He wondered who had done it. It can’t have been their mother.

“But shouldn’t you be with, mater?”

“Mama said ‘fine!’”

“Hm, right. Well, should we go home?”

She nodded and stood. Hand in hand, they wondered down Temple Hill and across the field to New Rome. They waved to Terminus as they passed. He told Tavian to get a haircut but was otherwise pretty calm.

“Good omens, Terminus,” Tavian said.

“Bah! Not for you if you don’t get that hair fixed. I’ll cut it myself if you just come…”

“Bye, Terminus,” Tavian called.

“Bye, Tem-nin-noos!” Tonya mimicked.

When they got home, the party was in full swing. Tavian felt Tonya squeeze his hand. He didn’t understand why, but then he saw where her gaze sat. It was their mother, telling a story to a good of enraptured spectators.

Aurae swirled around them. Music played. Wine flowed. With the evening approaching, bright lights illuminated large garlands overflowing with fruits and bright green leaves. It all covered up the peeling plaster. The cracks in the walls they never fixed. The house was like them. Shiny and perfect on the outside, decaying beneath.

It was Julia.

Not her. Obviously. She was just a baby.

It was what Julia meant.

His mother had been so happy to have another daughter. Now Tavian realised why. If the first daughter was deflective, just have another.

That was his mother. Tatiana Varus, daughter of Janus.

The thought disgusted him. But it also struck him with fear. A question came from that hollow part of him, the one he tried to ignore, asking, what if Julia had been a boy?

He knew the tension at the heart of his family had always existed.

At one point, maybe before he was born, his family had been broken. It could have been when Uncle Mikhail had marched the legion to Alaska.

Or maybe it was the poison in their blood. Their goal was to be perfect, to be strong and unbreakable. And they weren’t. They never could be.

It didn’t matter the reason.

Because they were broken. And Tavian knew no way to repair it. People weren’t like stuffed animals that could be sewn up again. But he decided to try away. He would reach for any thread that would give him the chance.

A knife had gone through their hearts, but they had survived.

Not like Mr Lawrence.

Tavian kneeled down next to Tonya and pulled her into a hug. He would be the first to admit it was awkward. His family were not the type to hug. To touch. But Tonya leaned in anyway. He stood, lifting her up. Whispering into her ear, he said, “Don’t mind her. You have me. You’ll always have me.”

She pressed her head into his shoulder and whispered back, “Me too, fwata. I’m strong. You’ll see.”

“We’re both strong, Tonya. Strong together.”  

Chapter Text

Fall, 2005

The summer of Tavian’s second year had come to an end and with it, regular wargames had been swapped out for longer classes. And, for the First, training drills.

They had been paired up for duels and it just Tavian’s luck to be partnered with Junia. She was a year older than him. And they both had managed to impress Seb enough that he often gave them jobs like ‘lead the warmup’ or ‘quiz everyone on Latin word conjugations’. Still, Junia was one of the only members of the First who would actually talk to him on the regular. Everyone else had decided it was weird.

Being the augur didn’t help. It just made him weirder.

Junia wasn’t weird. Well, she was. But was funny. And people liked funny.

But Tavian had been working on it. Sometimes he pretended to read people’s love fortunes (to mixed reception) and other times he brought tickets to the Colosseum or for the chariot races (they were even more insane than the ones hosted by Camp Jupiter). People were willing to hang out with him if he was paying.

No one of that helped with Junia.

They circled each other, sweaty from warmups. Tavian had led them today, and Junia seemed determined to best him in the duels. Tavian held his shield high. Junia was taller than him, which meant she was far more likely to go for his head than his legs.

He stepped back, giving her a false opening. She attacked without thought, seizing the advantage. They stabbed and lunged back and forth, their shields knocking against each other. Finally, Junia knocked him to his feet and pressed her sword into throat. “Vici!” I conquered!

“Check again,” Tavian said, he had his own blade stopped just before her gut, in a place where her armour would not protect her. She glared at him and pulled away.

“I hate ties.”

“We should ask Seb who won then.”

She shook her head, eyes on their centurion. “Don’t think we should bother him. He’s been distant.”

“Oh, yeah. I heard. His girlfriend is missing.”

Junia nodded, “Do you reckon she’s dead? Can you see it in that in your stuffing?”

“I… I don’t think I should look.”

“Well. Maybe you’re right. I hope she comes back soon. Seems like Seb is pretty useless without her.”

“I think that’s because the ADHD meds are late.”

“Ha, I forgot about that.”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

She punched his shoulder but because they could start bickering, the trumpets sounded. Training time was over – onto cleaning duties. They packed away their gear, the softened wood training blades, then their armour. Today, the junior members of the First were in charge of the baths. A perk of the First, for sure, was that they never had to deal with the latrines, or the kitchens, or the stables. Those jobs were for Cohorts with less things to bargain with. And when you’re Cohort did the budgets, you had all the bargaining chips.

Tavian returned his things as quickly as possible, pulling on a purple shirt, and rushed over to the baths. Annoyingly, Junia arrived first. She grinned at him, shoving a mop in his hand. “Better luck next time, lieutenant.”

They had agreed that whichever one of them go to the baths first lead the cleaning group. Tavian shrugged, “I didn’t want to do it today anyway.”

“Liar,” she said as she pushed open the door and waved him instead. “Well, get to it.”

Since he wasn’t going to be in charge, Tavian decides to find the quietest corner and occupy himself with own thoughts for a while. He hardly ever got the chance to do that. The barracks were always full of people, even the nights were noisy. He envied Seb for his private room and even if he hadn’t already decided he needed to become praetor – he would have been determined to become centurion just for that benefit alone.

The cleaning job was always made easier by Junia, daughter of Volturnus, who could manipulate any water she touched. She was their best swimmer too. The First had won every yearly swimming festival since she had arrived. It was one of the things that made Seb like her so much, she had said.

While she helped pump the water out of the baths and ordered the others to set about filling it with soap, Tavian mopped one of the corridors. The entire building was beautifully decorated. Colour and patterns ran everywhere. Statues of various water gods and some defensives ones lined the front room. This corridor was full of murals of old quests. Small groups of demigods rushing out to face monsters and villains, saving the world.

He daydreamed of a similar adventure, though he felt no drive to kill any monsters or save any worlds. What he really wanted to do was find the Sibylline Books. He had read everything there was about them, pouring over every footnote, possible mention, or rumour. He had combed through diaries and old Senate minutes. And while he had been able to distract himself with the tunnels (which he has tried to map and found impossible).

Expect, the tunnels gave him the idea of sneaking out and going on the adventure without anyone knowing. It was a daydream, he knew. If he left without approval, he would be up for desertion. Still – it almost killed him to know they were out there. A mystery for the ages. And… maybe the puzzle piece that would make That Prophecy make sense.

He finished the mopping and moved onto polishing the towels racks. When he was about halfway, he heard a found boom. From outside. He hadn’t heard that sound up close for a few years – but he could recognise it anywhere.

Jason had just called down lightning.

Tavian dropped the cloth in his hand and rushed out of the baths. Many of the first hot on his heels. Flying above the principia was Jason Grace, recently turned eleven. Winds swirled around him, but they were failing.

And standing on the roof of the principia was Allen. He raised a pilum, waiting for the winds to die. He had his eyes trained on Jason. A vicious grin rested on his face. “Die, son of Jupiter!” he cried and started to launch the javelin.

Only a mop hit his face first.

Taken off balance, Allen tripped and tumbled from the roof, just as Jason slammed into it. The son of Jupiter got up quickly, he was coated in sweat, and it was clear the lightning bolt had taken much of his energy. “Medic!” he called.

A bigger crowd was gathering.

Everyone was shocked. But none more so than Tavian. He had barely spoke to Allen in the two years they’ve been at Camp Jupiter. The First and Third tended not to run in the same circles.

But the words come to him anyway…

A ncient powers influence your heart

And your death shall herald their upstart.

You shall be fall before you can hit your mark

And forever be trapped in the underworld’s dark…

By the end, he realised everyone was looking at him. He gave him awkward smile at first, worried. Oh, I said that out loud. He forces his face into something more neutral.

Ida rushed out from her place in the gathered crowd. “But he isn’t dead! Medics, you can save him, right?”

But there was no saving him. His neck had snapped as landed. His breathing stopped. Allen… Tavian glanced at his forearm and noticed that Allen hadn’t even been claimed by his godly parent yet. The section above his two-year tattoos was blank. Allen, son of whoever, had made it only as far as thirteen.

At that moment, the praetors showed up. Neither, it seemed, had been at the principia. Alongside Lu was their newest leader. With Manning’s retirement a few months ago, De Leon had taken over. He hailed from the Second. And he was way stricter about the rules than Manning ever was and had made a big impression on the camp since he’s election.

“What’s all this?” Lu said, then she saw Allen’s body. Limp on the ground. Jackie, the medic, knelt beside him. She did not move. “What happened?”

Jason leaped from the roof, breaking his fall with a rush of wind. The crowd parted for him as he made his way to the praetor. He saluted.

Then started his report. Jason explained how Allen had tried to corner him. How they ended up fighting. And how Jason had tried to get Allen to back down – but ended up using a lightning bolt against Allen. Unfortunately, Allen had somehow managed to resist the lightning. Then, just as Allen seemed ready to take him out, a mop hit him in the face. And he tumbled to his death.

“That was Piscula,” Tavian says. When everyone looks at him weird, he points to Junia. “Junia, I mean.”

He looked at Jason, “She saved your life. You should be thankful that the First was nearby.”

Junia elbowed him but brightened up when Lu turned to her. “Well done, legionary.”

Jason just frowned in their direction, as if confused by something.

“What about that weird thing you said,” a legionary from Third said. Tavian thought his name might have been Hank. But he wasn’t sure. “It was like you knew it was going to die.”

Tavian hesitated, feeling everyone’s eyes on him again. He hadn’t meant to speak the prophecy. But now he was here, centre stage. And he had to think of something to say quickly. The truth. Yep, let’s start with the truth.

He nodded. And recited Allen’s prophecy again to the praetors, who hadn’t heard it. “Allen and I were at the Wolf House together. I gave him a reading back then.” Tavian decided not to mention he had used it to scare Allen and the others.  

De Leon frowned, “I don’t like the sound of that, ancient powers and death heralding their upstart.”

Lu raised her eyebrow, “And why haven’t I heard this prophecy before?”

“Ah… well, no one asked. I gave it to Allen; it was his fate.”

Tavian had been Seeing long enough to know that people tended not to want their future told to them. And they hated having it told to others. Even the good fates.

“And you’re reading at the Feast of Fortuna, what was that?” Lu pressed.

“Neutral omens.”

“Our son of Jupiter almost died,” she said. She marched up to him until she was towering over him. “Almost killed by a traitor.”

“But he didn’t die.”

“Someone did.”

“I can only see future, praetor. I cannot change it.”

She did not look happy about that. “And is there any other prophecies that you have hidden up your sleeve that you might want to reveal to the legion?”

Tavian saw Ida staring at him from behind Lu. She shook her head, urging him not to repeat her own future to the crowd. But she didn’t have to worry.

Tavian nodded. “There is… one that I’ve been meaning to tell everyone.”

“That would be?”

“Ah, well, it goes…”

Half of the whole will not survive,

To blood or treachery, they lose their lives.

Time’s lost shadow throne

Restored upon blood-stained stone

Stars and sky to fight to the last

War’s favoured child must holdfast

A choice to define forevermore.”

Silence. Until, De Leon said, “When did you See this?”

“Not long ago,” Tavian lied. He might have omitted his own line, but that didn’t mean the rest of it wasn’t damning. “I don’t know if it’s about us though. It might not be. There are prophecies in the Sibylline books that haven’t come true. They’re a thousand years old.”

Lu shook her head, “Right. Everyone back to your duties. We will handle it. Centurions, meet at the principia once you have all your legionaries back on task.”  

People started moving off, ushered by their centurions. Including Jason, but Lu called him back. “Grace, stay here. I want to debrief you further.”

Seb approached them, a dark look on his face, “I’ve organised Allen’s body to be taken away. But, praetors, look at this.”

He showed them the pilum Allen had been carrying. It was marked CHT VI LEGIO XII F. The Sixth Cohort? Tavian had only heard of it in relation to the old camp. A hundred years ago, the legion had had a Sixth Cohort, but it had been disbanded after the old camp’s destruction.

“Did he get it from the ruins?” De Leon asked. But no one had the answer.

*

Eventually, they all assembled for a meeting in the principia. It felt odd to be seated at the same table with all the leaders of the camp. De Leon was on one end, Lu on the other. They had searched Allen’s body, and then his bunk, and now the Third’s centurions presented a communication device they had found hidden behind Allen’s bunk.

Tavian was seated not to Seb. Across the table was the newly prompted, Gwendolyn, junior centurion of the Fifth. Her eyes widened when she saw the device. “That’s from the Mercurial Company.”

“The what?” the Third’s senior centurion asked.

“My dad – Mercury – he had a delivery business. Since he’s the god of trade. It’s called the Mercurial Company. That’s the receiver the drivers use to get orders and things. I don’t know why he had it though. And… can I have it?”

The centurion handed it over.

Gwendolyn looked over the device with a deep creased frown. She banged it against the table a couple times and said, “It’s not connected to the company. Which makes no sense, who was Allen talking to?”

No one knew the answer to that either.

Gwen set the device on the table, “I volunteer to lead a quest to find out  

Gwen set the device on the table, “I volunteer to lead a quest to find out who this device connects to – who convinced Allen to attack Jason. And, hopefully, why.”

There was more than a little grumbling from the other centurions.

But Gwen spoke over them, shaking her head, “Allen targeted Jason, a member of my cohort. It makes sense that this would a Fifth Cohort issue. I’m a daughter of Mercury and a centurion, which makes we qualified to lead this quest.”

“Unless the Third want to take responsibility for a traitor in their midst,” the other Fifth centurion, Nayland, said scathingly.

The bickering started in full then.

Lu let it simmer for a moment before standing. Everyone fell quiet. “We will bring your request to the Senate, Fifth Cohort. But we have another matter to investigate. Allen carried a pilum of the Sixth Cohort. The only place such weapons might exist is in the ruins of our old camp. And if ancient powers are rising, I also want to find more Imperial Gold that remains.”

“Agreed,” De Leon said. “But such a task is more than just a quest. To return to our old camp will require a full mission to call.”

“The First will head the mission,” Seb said, lacking the same humility as Gwen. Tavian was surprised at how determined Seb sounded. Then he remembered that Seb recently lost his girlfriend and with De Leon’s strict rules – there was no way he was getting furlough just to go look for her.

“We’re the most prepared to move out,” Seb continued. “Also, we have the augur. And Junia, one of ours as well, saved Jason’s life. We will handle it.”

Lu nodded. “I approve. De Leon?”

“The First should lead the mission.”

Tavian heard Nayland muttering about double standards. And Tavian couldn’t help but agree. He had been told the First were favoured, but he had never seen it so blatantly done so. Unlike the Fifth, no one questioned the First’s legitimacy to go on a mission.

“Excellent,” Lu said. “The details will be discussed tomorrow at the Senate. I’ll see you all there. Dismissed.”

Tavian stood to follow Seb out, but he felt a hand catch his arm.

“Hey, ah–”

Tavian turned to see Jason beside him. He glared at Jason. Cutting him off, he said, “Don’t talk to me.”

Jason closed his mouth. Whatever words he was going to say, dying on his lips.

“Bye,” Tavian said, brushing Jason off him. He crossed the room and hurried over to Junia’s side. To drive the point home he elbowed Junia playfully and said, “Good work with the mop, by the way.”

She grinned, “You couldn’t do better.”

“I could.”

“Why didn’t you then?”

“I didn’t have a mop. I’d finished that job. Guess I was just too fast.”

She rolled her eyes, “You keep believing that, Tavi.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Then don’t call me Piscula.”

“Never.”  

Chapter Text

They gathered for the mission on the Field of Mars. Praetor Lu had offered sacrifices to the gods: Jupiter, Mars, and Minerva at the aedes this morning. Now, they were ready to march. Seb formed them up in groups of ten, naming the decani of this mission. For Camp Jupiter, the rank of decani was only given out for cohort missions since it involved an entire cohort.

Because the First was a small cohort, with only about eighty legionaries, the Second had volunteered some of their own. Which is how Ida and Tavian ended up being under the command of Junia. She shot a grin towards Tavian when Seb made the announcement, beat you.

Earlier, the Senate had approved the mission – and the quest. Tavian glanced over his shoulder, spotting the three volunteers. Gwen had two legionaries with her: Jason and Dakota. All members of the Fifth. There had been no volunteers from the other Cohorts.

“And Tavian,” Seb said, “you’re Junia’s lieutenant.”

He saluted, “Yessir!”

Junia made a face and muttered, “Still your boss.”

With the duties assigned, Seb marched them over the bridge to the secondary tunnel, a bit further down from the main entrance. They left the trio from the Fifth to their own devices. Needless to say, they failed to convince the Senate to give them much in the way of support.

Once they reached the secondary gate, Seb tapped a statue, which opened its mouth and he pressed his forearm inside. “Sebastian Kora,” it said, it’s jaw unmoving, “Centurion of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata, First Cohort, departure approved.”

Sebastian removed his arm as the doors swung open. In groups of ten, they piled into the elevator. This was where it got weird. Let’s just say, it’s easier not to think about it – but the elevator didn’t go down. It went up.

They emerged into an underground garage which was full of SUVs, as well as some more unusual forms of transport. Tavian credited the mini-T-Rex to the children of Vulcan. Praetor Lu, a fellow child of Vulcan, gave them a lot of free time to make random things in the same of “progress and defence”.  

They piled into the SUVs, their packs on their laps since they had only been approved for ten cars. Tavian imagined with was probably the closest thing to going on a school camp or something. Like mortals did. Just had to ignore the various weapons and shields tied to the car rooves.

Since Junia wasn’t old enough to drive, Steve Lightfoot was in the driver seat, while she sat shotgun. Tavian didn’t know Lightfoot well, expect for that Lightfoot had managed to rebuild an old coffee machine the kitchens had thrown out. And failed to inform anyone but the First. Every morning, he pulled it out from his hiding spot and issued the cohort with an unlimited supply of caffeine. Definitely not legion approved. But who was going to tell?

They drove out onto Grizzly Peak Blvd and started the winding path down towards State Route 24. The trip wasn’t supposed to take very long. And the purpose of travelling in such large numbers was that monsters kept away. Not even a minotaur would go after a hundred demigods. So they were supposed to be good – safe, even.

The view from the Oakland Bay Bridge was spectacular that day. The rolling hills of distant Mount Tamalpais. The city of San Francisco quickly approaching them. A glimpse of the island their ancestors once called home.

Spectacular, until an arrow pierced one of the windows. It landed beside Ida. Quicker than Tavian could react, Ida grabbed the arrow, opened the car door, and flung it away. It exploded just outside the door.

BOOM!

The SUV slammed into the car beside them. They probably would have been fine, if not second exploding arrow that hit the side of the car.

BOOM!

The car flipped – and flew off the bridge. Tavian braced himself as the car slammed into the bay below. Water quickly filled the interior. They threw open the doors and swam out as quickly as possible. Tavian felt his pack behind; he would never be able to swim to the surface with that weighing him down. The rest of the team did their best to escape as well.

Then a small ball dropped into the water, Tavian could only just make it out through the murkiness. He felt a hand grab his arm, the water around him suddenly started to push him. He glanced over to see Junia hurling both him and Ida, controlling the water around them.

While he looked away, the bomb went off. Bubbles and debris slammed into them and it was likely because of Junia that they managed to avoid injury. She pulled them to the surface and they gasped for air.

From the surface they could see the rest of the cohort, still on the bridge, being attacked by archers on flying horses. “Who in Hades are they?” Ida demanded.

Tavian squinted, “I think… are those Scythians?”

Junia drove down into the water again, ignoring the battle above. She helped the rest of their ten up to the surface. The last to come was Lightfoot, unconscious. At that point, the rest o the legion had managed to drive off, getting out of the ambush point.

“What now?” Ida said, looking at Junia.

Junia stared at Ida, “Huh?”

“You’re the decanus.”

“Oh, faex.”

“Can you get us to the island?” Tavian asked. “Control the water there and we should be able to find something to help Lightfoot.”

“Right! Yeah. I can do that.” She held out her hand. “Everyone grab a hold.”

Junia compelled the water, carrying them off towards the island Camp Jupiter had once used as their home. That was, until the legacy of Neptune, Shen Lun had hit it with a monster earthquake.

A few minutes later, they walked out onto the shores of Alcatraz Island, half frozen and looked above the prison mortals had built atop their own home in their absence.

Chapter Text

A rocky cliff side offered them little place to climb onto the island. But they managed it with Junia’s help. Tavian rolled out onto the most comfortable place he could find and waited for his exhaustion to pass. Not that he was confident it would.

Meanwhile, their group’s medic, Diane, started trying to help out Lightfoot. Tavian envied the unicorn elixir she gave him, but he knew Lightfoot needed it more. After about ten minutes gathering themselves, they were all ready to make their way further up the island. Flowers bloomed all along the stone path, and more than a few tourists snapped pictures on the views.  

“Halt!” came a voice. They immediately pulled themselves into a group, though now of them had shields (those were at the bottom of the bay). Tavian searched for where the voice had come from, but he couldn’t pinpointed it. There were a couple large bushes, but he suspected it was something else entirely.

“Who goes there?” the voice asked. It sounded like a girl, maybe not much older than Tavian. But if a person could see them and was calling out ‘halt’, they were probably not a regular mortal. Which meant the supposedly deserted (of demigods) island definitely still had people on it.

And the team was really not ready for a fight.

Well, she didn’t attack us on sight.

Tavian pushed Junia’s weapon away enough for him to walk forward. “We’re members of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata, First Cohort, who are you?”

“Romans?” the girl said.

“Which you aren’t?”

“No,” she said.

At this point, Tavian saw Ida climbing up the garden cliffs, definitely looking to flank whoever had stopped them. He met her gaze and shook his head. Don’t attack.

“I’m…” the girl said. “I’m a druid.”

Druid? Tavian and Junia shared a wide-eyed gaze. But neither of them had an explanation for the other.

“Wow,” Tavian said, “I’ve never met a druid before.”

It was at that point the girl decided to make herself visible. It was as if the Mist itself unravelled from around her, like a coat she had shrugged off. Tavian had been right in guessing she was about his age. She wore a jean jacket and leggings. Tall black – riding? – boots finished the look.

“I’ve never met a Roman before,” she said, sounding more curious than afraid. “Why are you here?”

“We came to search the ruins of our old camp.”

“Oh,” she said. “Well, you’re welcome to – I think. But we have been remodelling. And there’s a lot of tourists around. And you’ll need approval from our leader.”

“Leader? How many of there are you?”

“Seven, including me. Come on, I’ll introduce you. If you’re lucky, she won’t kill you.”  

“Great,” Junia said.

“So are we following her?” Tavian asked.

“I don’t think we have a choice.”

Ida came up alongside them, whispering, “I didn’t bring any Stygian Iron, did you?”

Junia frowned and whispered back, “Stygian Iron?”

“It’s good for killing Celtics.”

“Fresh out,” Junia said.

Tavian nodded. He didn’t think anyone in the First Cohort had brought along Stygian Iron.

Ida sighed, “Let’s hope their leader isn’t a god, then. Druids tend to run with their gods’ reborn.”

“Reborn?” Tavian asked.

“They take mortal form to avoid detection,” Ida shook her head, “Aren’t you supposed to be the expert on myths?”

“Only if it’s relevant to the Sibylline books.”

Ida huffed. “Typical.”

“Forgive me for not knowing about obscure druidic mythology. I thought they were wiped out a thousand years ago. By us.”

Junia pushed them both forward, “Well, we don’t have any Stygian Iron, so we better not piss them off even more. Let’s go.”

They followed the druid up to a large outdoor space, covered in old concrete. It was circled by more gardens. Some ruins overlooked the space from a rocky outcrop. Tavian wasn’t familiar with the old set up, but he suspected this was what had been the Field of Mars. Though he noted it was a lot smaller than their current one.

The girl led them not to the obvious steps, but to the outcrop itself. She jumped over the fence, clearly expecting them to follow. It wasn’t so easy as she made it look – considering they were carrying Lightfoot around. But they managed it.

By then, she had drawn a line through the rock, then several more slashing it. Tavian didn’t recognise the script, but it definitely wasn’t Latin. Then the rock disappeared, replaced by a Romanesque entrance. Only the script at the top – once again – wasn’t Latin. “Is that Gallic?”

“Ogham,” she said. “It’s Irish.”

“You put Irish runes on our old buildings?”

She shrugged, “You weren’t using them.”

They entered what looked like an ancient basilica, with alcoves all only the walls. Expect the heroes depicted were damaged or completely gone. The marble floor was a mess. And roots pierced through the gaps. The entire place had a damp feel in the air.

They passed a doorway, and noticed the Roman letter (numeral?) I, which the girl ignored. “What’s that way?” Tavian asked.

“Corridors mostly, some old rooms. I think y’all used to use it as a barracks.”

And again, they passed more doorways. Two… Three… what remained of the old barracks. It felt strange to walk through this place. The crumbled columns. The smell. The remains of a history they had been forced to abandon. He had been told there was nothing left of the old camp. First the earthquake had ripped it apart. Large sections had been flooded. And then the mortals had gotten in and added building after building, using the old foundations as mounting points.

Eventually they got to the end. Light cascaded through a hole in the ceiling, bathing the remains of the statue of Jupiter. The druid edged around it, whispering, “sorry, sorry,” as she threw off his half-decayed toga to reveal a small door just under his ass.

“Okay, here we go.”  

They followed her through the door and stepped into a massive… greenhouse? Trees grew out from soil laden ground. Their leaves connected and combined above, forming a half-ceiling. Rose petals drifted and swirled around the room. And at the centre was a massive pool of water, almost like an impluvium, but it had a very different vibe. Wooden statues circled the room. It almost felt like the eyes were watching them as they entered.

Between the statues and trees, Tavian spotted three people wearing cloaks over their modern clothes. They stood as the team entered. One of them called out to the druid girl, raising her arm, “What is this? Who do you bring here?”

“Leader, these are Romans. They wish to speak with you.”

“Elantia,” the leader said. “Have I taught you nothing? Romans are not to be trusted!”

“I thought you said Germans weren’t be trusted.”

Germans? Tavian thought. He had heard nothing of a Germanic cohort – not in the US at least. And not since the Swedes decided to build an empire. Still. If the Celts still hung on, it made sense some Germanic gods had established themselves somewhere.

“Romans as well! No one can be trusted.”

“Will you at least talk with us?” Junia said. “You are standing on our territory. It’s the least you can do.”

“Hardly yours. The legion abandoned it years ago.”

“Elantia, was it?” Tavain said, stepping up to her. “Is there anything we can do to convince your leader we come in peace? You trusted us enough to bring us here.”

The leader answered him instead, “If you leave, I will accept that you mean no malice. Now, get off my island!”

She started towards them, stepping onto the water, and walking across it like it was solid ground. Her two friends followed her. The gap was closing quickly.

Junia bit her lip and Tavian could almost see her trying to decide if she should use her magic. Was this going to break out into a fight? No, they weren’t going to be strong enough to fight these druids.

Elantia held up her hand, “They’re just hear to search the ruins. That’s all.”

“You don’t know that, Elantia.”

“I know that you trusted me. Even though I’m the daughter of a Roman goddess.”

“Epona was a Gallic god first.”

Epona? Tavian recognised the goddess’ name. Obviously. She was a goddess of horses and cavalry. An important part of the legion, if an obscure one. He was pretty sure they had a small shrine to her on the Temple Hill.

“Please,” he said, “We mean no harm. They didn’t even know there were any Celts in the area. Think of us as ambassadors. We came to gain permission for the rest of our cohort to come ashore. But if you kill us or run us off, you’ll suffer the might of the entire legion.”

“Yes, well,” the leader said, narrowing her eyes. “Your kind never really had good control over the Mist.”

Tavian decided to ignore the insult.

“My name is Tavian, legacy of Apollo. This is Junia, daughter of Volturnus and our decanus for this mission. And helping us is Ida, legacy of Luna. The rest our team wait back in the basilica.”

The leader sighed, stepping back onto the ground. “Fine. I will hear you out.”

Junia crossed her arms, “Before we proceed, I have to ask: are you working with the Scythians? They attacked us earlier, unpromoted, mind you. I want to know who’s side you’re on.”

“Neither. We too have been attacked by the Scythians as well.”

“Then we should work together,” Junia said. “Yes, we have a lot of history of conflict. But we also have a long history of working together. Why else would a goddess like Epona be both one of yours and one of ours?”

“You are clearly not up to date.” She clicked her tongue. “That is so Roman, you write down words and claim them true because you wrote them. All they do is allow you to forget things you would rather not remember. We agreed to work with you many years ago. And you turned on us.”

Junia glanced at Tavian, then at Ida.

Whispering Ida said, “We worked with them back in the 1800s. They were auxiliaries. They were working with the legacy of Neptune, Shen Lun. So, we kicked them out.”   

Tavian widened his eyes, “You could have mentioned that instead of the Stygian Iron!”

“How was I supposed to know you needed to know that? They might not have even been the same druids. Celts never work in large groups.”

Ellie cleared her throat. The three of them pulled apart, turned back to the leader. Junia shoved Tavian forward and gave him a thumbs up.

“Okay… um, we’re sorry that happened,” Tavian said. “But that was a long time ago. And we’re different now.”

“You’re weaker, you mean. More desperate.”

“We aren’t weak.”

“Then why am I speaking with twelve-year-olds? You don’t even have a centurion with you.”

“He’s fighting the Scythians.”

“So you left your allies?”

“He sent us on ahead.”

“Why send your group? You three definitely aren’t informed of the situation. Are you even authorised to speak for your legion?”

“It was an impromptu… sending.”

“Impromptu? From Romans?” she scoffed. “I see. You fought. You lost. And you washed up on our island, thinking it was still yours. Now you’re flailing. Have I got that just about right? No, don’t answer that. It was rhetorical.”

“You don’t have to accept the rest of the cohort,” Junia said. “Just us. We came here to look for our old weapons. For the Sixth Cohort. That’s who we thought were going to be here.”

The leader frowned then, “I see…”

Tavian spoke again, “You said you had been fighting the Scythians. Well, so have we. We’re stronger together. And the people who were here when that explosion happen are all dead, gone. We can focus on the past or we can confront the present.”

“You speak too well. I don’t trust you. But you,” she pointed at Junia. “I definitely tend to trust an Etruscan over a Roman.”

“I’m…” she shrugged. Much like Epona being a Celtic goddess. Volturnus had been an Etruscan god prior to his integration into the Roman pantheon. Some gods knew how to pick the winning side. “Glad.”

“Elantia,” the leader said. “Help them dry off. We will discuss a potential ceasefire over food. I expect you three to obey the laws of hospitality while you are here. If you betray us, you’ll face more suffering than you can even imagine.”

“We won’t betray our word, ma’am,” Junia said.

Elantia – who insisted they call her Ellie – offered to give them a tour to the rest of the “hideout”. Except, as they stepped out into the basilica again, the icy water and general fatigue hit Tavian all at once. Between one step and the next, his balance went out the window and he felt himself falling. He hit the marble, jolted back into himself by the pain. His head spun and he could barely understand what everyone was saying.

“I didn’t do anything!” Ellie seemed to be saying.

Tavian looked up to see everyone pointing their weapons towards the daughter of Epona. “Woah, woah. It’s okay,” he said, not sure if he was speaking as clearly as would have liked. “It’s just the cold. I’m fine.”

He pulled himself to standing, using the wall as support. He gave them all a smile, “See?”

They all looked at him, confused. So far, Tavian had managed to hide his fainting spells pretty well. And those who did know… well, he had used the technique he’d picked up from Lupa and put the fear of Hades in them.

Ellie offered him a hand, “Come on, I’ll get you all towels. And if you need a change of clothes, we can get some from the gift shop. They normally have shirts.”

“I went to Alcatraz and all I got was this shirt?” Ida joked.

“I think there is one that says that,” Ellie said, smiling back.

They left the underground, following Ellie’s lead. And once more Ellie drew a line of runes. This time in what seemed like thin air. Then the Mist broke open and revealed a building. One that was definitely not of Roman design.

There was another druid instead who frowned at them.

“Guests,” Ellie explained. “Leader approved them.”

The druid sat back, nursing some looked like a coffee. “This world is really coming to something if we’re calling Romans ‘guests’ again.”

Ellie handed them towels and medical supplies. None of it was familiar to Tavian, but their medic seemed to be able to use them to heal Lightfoot. “Any unicorn elixir?” he asked their medic, Diane.

She shook her head, “I don’t they have any unicorns on hand.”

“Anything to help with dizziness?”

Diane glanced at him. She handed him what looked like a hard tack cracker. He ate it, despite the fact it tasted terrible (even worse than it looked), slowly softening it with his saliva.  

He looked over at the coffee-druid. “Do you have a name?”

“Tadhg,” which he pronounced like Teig.

“Is that Irish?”

“Yep.”  

“So,” Junia said, towel around her with a hot cup of instant noodles in her hands. “Have either of you seen any old Roman weapons around here? Or maybe one of us? His name was Allen, about this tall. Brown hair. Hazel eyes, they had some yellow in them.”

The two druids glanced at each other. Ellie shrugged and the other said, “No to both. If we found a cache of Imperial Gold around here, we probably would have sold it back to you. We don’t really use it.”

“Did you sell it to Allen?” Tavian asked.

“I don’t remember a kid like that,” Tadhg said. He looked more than a little annoyed by the questioning.   

Ellie clapped her hands together and said, “Do y’all want to meet my horse?”

Junia didn’t look keen to leave Tadhg and the chance for questioning, but Ida pulled her along. “We got no Iron remember?”

It seemed like Tadhg heard her because his eyes narrowed. He shifted slightly, revealing a sword hanging from his belt, previously hidden by his cloak.

They followed Ellie to another section of the building that looked and smelled like a stable. The stalls were extra wide, and Tavian realised why as Ellie opened up one of the doors and lead out a Pegasus.

“This is Peanut. Or, at least, that’s what I call him. He doesn’t really care about names.”

If horses could glare, Peanut did. His colouring was like that of peanut butter. Even his feathers had shimmering shades of orange, white, and brown. Still for all it majesty and for all Ellie’s compliments (which was she muttering to the pegasus as she walked him over), the winged horse seemed to have more in common with vicious monsters than regular horses. He bared its teeth at them and seemed only to decide not to attack because Ellie told him not to.

“Shush, shush. Silly, Peanut. These people are our friends.”

Ellie started telling them all about how pegasi differed him regular horses, and within a minute, Tavian was the only person who seemed to be paying attention. He approached the winged horse cautiously.

“Here, here. You see?” she grabbed his hand and set it upon the pegasus’ shoulder. “All that muscle right there.”

“I can’t say I know enough about normal horses to compare.”

“Oh, right.” She frowned, looking around she seemed to realise the others had zoned out. “Are y’all feeling warmer? We can head back.”

They returned to the tree room. Luckily, over the course of the meeting, they were able to convince the druid leader to work with them. Tavian even offered to her the building expertise of the First Cohort. Why live in a ruin? The legion would rebuild the complex for the druids. If they work together as allies, it pays for the allies to have the best defence possible. “You mentioned being attacked by the Scythians. Better defences will help, right?”

“I will accept this alliance, but only if you prove your friendship. Prove that Romans have changed. There is a stone that my druids have been looking for. However, it has proved hard to find.”

“What stone?”

“It is made of obsidian and magic. We are in need of it and have come to believe it is hidden somewhere in the Bay Area.”

Junia agreed to the mission.

“Excellent. Elantia will go with you. She will be there to watch and observe. If she gets even a hint of treachery, the alliance is off, and you will be our enemies once more. Do you understand?”

They all nodded. Ellie looked a little surprised that she was going on the mission, a stunned expression on her, back she recovered quickly and turned to them. “Oh, this is going to be so cool, y’all.”

With the deal made, the leader levelled them a look. “You may plan for your mission outside.”

The hint was obvious enough even Tavian picked it up. They marched out of the ruins trying to look as impressive and orderly as they could, still wrapped in their towels, half their equipment gone. Junia turned to Tavian, “So? Which way?”

He raised an eyebrow at her, “What?”

“Give us a reading. Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“Oh. Yeah, um. The teddy bear I brought it was in my bag… which is now at the bottom of the bay.”

He made a mental note to keep his stuffed animals attached to his belt in the future. It seemed, even when travelling with a hundred demigods, he was likely to lose anything that wasn’t strapped to him. At least he still had his knife.  

“So… we have to buy you another one? I don’t think I have any money.”

“I do,” he looked at Ellie. “Does the gift shop sell any stuffed animals?”

Ellie cocked her head to the side, “I don’t think so. Why?”

“So we can know where we need to go,” Junia said. “Tavian can read the future. Apparently.”

“I predicted Allen.”

“No one heard that prophecy until after it happened.”

“I did,” Ida said. “We were all at the Wolf House together.”

“Oh?” Junia said. “Really? I didn’t know that.”

Ida crossed her arms, “It’s legit. And it’s a good idea to use him, since we have him.”

“What are you going to do with it?” Ellie asked.

“Cut it open,” Tavian said.

Ellie bulked. “Huh. Well, I have a horse plushie. But I don’t want her cut open.”

“I can repair it later.”

Junia gave Tavian a look, but Ellie seemed to be satisfied with that answer. As they followed Ellie to her room, Diane brought up the issue of the First Cohort arriving on the island.

“What is Seb comes and attacks them? What about Lightfoot?”

Junia nodded, “You should stay with Lightfoot and the others. Ida and I will search for the stone.”

“I’m coming,” Tavian said.

“I’m the decanus. I decide who’s coming.”

“I’m the augur. I outrank you when it comes to deciding who does or doesn’t come on a quest.”

“It’s not a quest.”

“Less than ten people is a quest.”

“Not true.”

“Absolutely true. Read the rule book sometime, Piscula. You might learn something.”

“Why do you even want to come on the quest?”

Tavian shrugged. No sense in lying. “I want to make a name for myself. I’m not going to do that sitting on an island waiting for Seb to arrive.”

Junia rolled her eyes.

“You want me to read the omens or not?”

“Fine! You can come.”

“Thank you.”

The stuffing of Ellie’s toy horse said,

In the south lies the dais of shadow

The best path is through the garden aglow.

He stepped back, letting Junia know the answer.

She nodded, “Alright. We go south, looking for a glowing garden. Seems simple.”

Tavian hadn’t even realised Ellie had disappeared until he turned around and saw her leading Peanut around, dragging a large chariot around him. Ellie’s chariot was definitely a lot heftier than the ones at Camp Jupiter. Tavian wondered if it would even get affected by the Scythian’s exploding arrows. Cool, he thought.

“Y’all have a plan?” Ellie asked.

“Yeah,” Junia said. “Can we climb aboard?”

Ellie nodded. She swung up onto Peanut’s back, explaining that he was didn’t like when she rode from the chariot. “It’s a partnership.”

With the three of them aboard, Ellie looked over her shoulder and grinned, “Let’s go! South!”

Chapter Text

Ellie’s pegasus swept up the winds around them and they took off from the island. Tavian had tried to be prepared – but he still feel over. Ida raised her eyebrows at him, pretending to hide a giggle. Tavian glared at her as he pulled himself to his feet.

Tavian assumed they’d fly all the way south, they had no idea how far it would until the glowing gardens, but Ellie set them down on the other side of the water. They touched down at the carpark near a massive greenspace. To their back was Fort Mason. A few mortals walked past but didn’t pay them away mind.

“Why did we stop?” Tavian asked.

Ellie smiled, “I’m not skilled enough with Mist to fly over a city without drawing attention.”

“Want it just cover us up?”

She shook her head, “Mist is a curse for you. It’s a tool for us. We learn how to use and wield it, so it only conceals us when we wish it.”

“Mist isn’t a curse,” Tavian said. “It’s protection.”

Ellie frowned. “But it–”

“Back on task, guys,” Junia said. “We’re sitting ducks out here. Ellie, we can’t fly over. Can you disguise Peanut as a car?”

“I can. But I don’t have a driver’s license.”

“We’ll deal with that if we need to,” Junia said. Ellie nodded and weaving the Mist with her arms. Her comments bothered Tavian but Junia was right – they needed to stay on task. The air around them shifted and, for a second, Tavian saw the car they were supposedly sitting it. Then he blinked, and they were back in the chariot.

“Okay, ah…” Ellie pointed down the nearest street, “That way?”

“Looks like it goes south.”

“Wait,” Tavian said. They had been pointing down the busy street to the left. But the other one… “That signs says Octavia St. We have to go that way.”

Junia raised an eyebrow at him. Then looked over at the sign, “Oh my gods it does. Why don’t I have a street with my name on it? My name sake is a goddess!”

“It’s a good omen. Ellie, down Octavia St.”

Ida rolled her eyes, “More like a bad omen.”

Ellie smiled at little, looking between the two of them. “Are we putting it to a vote?”

“I vote the street that isn’t Octavia St,” Ida announced.

Octavian stuck his tongue out at her. She crossed her arms with a smirk.

“Not the time, guys! It doesn’t matter which way we go. They both go south. We might as well down Octavia St, considering it’s a good omen.”

Tavian gave her a sheepish look. But the matter had been resolved, so Ellie called out to Peanut. Tavian grabbed the sides of the chariot as it moved off again. Tavian managed to stay mostly standing this time, but that was probably because they weren’t flying. They joined the traffic on Octavia St, headed down the street full of terraced apartment blocks.

Everything being said, Tavian had forgotten just how… big the city was. He was glad it was daytime, so the lights of the traffic lights didn’t burn his eyes. But he still had to crouch down inside the chariot’s belly to escape some of the noise. And the streets just kept going… on and on… start, stop. People yelling. People talking on phone.

“What are you doing?” Ida asked.

Tavian glared at her and said, “Stay on task, secondary.”

Ida returned the glare then turned away in a huff. The Second Cohort liked to pretend they were as good as the First. But they weren’t. Occasionally, Seb had explained, the Second needs a reminder. And occasionally they’re just annoying. And they need reminding about that too.

The good news was ADHD demigods tended to get distracted easily. Because about a minute later, they reached a park – marking what seemed like the end of their road. Nothing was glowing.

Ida raised an eyebrow at him, “So much for that.”

Then the chariot shifted and launched itself onto one of the large paths of the park and crossed it quickly. The image of the car altered into a golf buddy then back into a car as they arrived on the other side.

“You Romans give up to easily!” she said.  

“Don’t forget who conquered who,” Ida shouted back.

Ellie shot back a dark look, “That was a very long time ago, friend. But I suggest you don’t mention it to the others.”

Ida had the grace to look sorry and Ellie shot her a smile. “I’m hungry. Are you hungry?”

“We need to find the stone,” Junia said.

“The legion doesn’t march well on an empty stomach,” Ida said, probably because she didn’t want to annoy their ally twice in two minutes. Then she cocked her head to the side a little. “Please, decanus?”

Junia glanced away, “Well, maybe a quick stop is reasonable… Ellie, do you want to pull over?”

Ellie parked the chariot and told Peanut to stay where he was – no exceptions. Peanut didn’t look particularly impressed by that order if a horse could look impressed. But Ellie seemed confident that her pegasus would be there when they got back.

After a good five minutes walking around, they agreed on Mexican. Which lead to Tavian realising he could have to pick food that he had never tried before – cause for some minor panic there, especially when he suddenly found himself at the counter. “Your order?”

“Ah… what she got,” he said, pointing his thumb at Junia next to him.

She made a face, “Don’t copy me.”

The teenaged part-timer sighed, “How are you paying today?”

Everyone looked at Junia. Expect for Junia, who looked at Tavian. “You have money, right?”

“You’re the leader!” he said.

Junia repeated her question.

Tavian sighed and fished out the small bag where he kept his money – which he did keep on his belt. The cash was soaked through, but the card was still good. He held it out to the staff member, how processed the payment.

Tavian flashed Junia a smirk, “And you didn’t want me to come.”

“I never said that.”

Fast food burritos in hand, they piled back into the chariot. Junia and Ida chatted away, having found a common interest in athletics. Also, apparently, Ida has decided against becoming an engineer and was now angling to join the Senate instead. Tavian didn’t really listen, as much as he didn’t like Junia he spent far too much time around her. And therefore knew way more about her than Ida.

Tavian took one bite of the burrito he had ordered and decided that was more than enough. He almost spit out but figured that would get him tossed from the chariot. So he shoved it into his pocket. If anyone had asked, he would have said he was saving it for later. But no one asked.

They returned to the road, only to find it ended not long after. Ellie looked over her shoulder, looking at Tavian, “Which way now?”

“Junia’s the leader,” Tavian said.  

“Just tell us, Tavi.”

“Alright, alright, Decanus Piscula,” he saluted sarcastically. He stood, looking over the rooves of the buildings. It was already sunset at that point, with the light fading fast. Eventually he spotted some birds.

“Ida, can you spook them?”

Ida gave him a look, but she did as instructed. She pressed her hands together and created what could only be described as a ball of moonlight. It was faint, probably because the moon had only just risen above the horizon, but it was there. She hurled it like a baseball together the birds on the roof. Hit by sudden, mostly harmless, light they squawked and flew away. Tavian whispered a quick prayer to Apollo and felt the message press itself into his mind.

He shook his head, trying to retain the thoughts but hating the feeling. Augury really didn’t come as naturally to him as haruspices. Still, he pointed in the direction the birds seemed to indicate. They turned left, managed to cross the street with a small flying manoeuvre, then they headed down a road dubbed Gough St.

He smirked at Junia again and said, “Seriously? What would you do without me?”

Junia rolled her eyes. It was at that point, the Scythians found them. Or, one Scythian to be exact.

BOOM!

The arrow hit the chariot and sent them flying – once again. Only this time, there was only four of them. Tavian slammed into the concrete, not reacting fast enough to throw his hands down underneath him. He skidded along the ground until he hit a wall. His head swam. He clawed his way to feet, feeling like the world was teetering around him. He really should have eaten his burrito.

“Peanut!” Ellie called.

Tavian blinked, turning around, and trying to make sense of what was going on. Ida and Junia were on their feet. Peanut suddenly disappeared.

He spotted a Scythian horse archer flying above them, already lining up another arrow. Are they all explosive? He had no idea. That was, unlike the archer let lose – and the arrow shifted into a massive net mid-air.

“To me!” Junia called. Ida was the only one to get into position. Ellie just frowned at her, confused. And Tavian took one step and fell to his knees. Ow.

The two of them formed a tiny shield wall as the net hit. It wrapped around them. But they both thrust out their blade and cut through the netting. It fell in a circle around them.

Ellie rushed to Tavian’s side. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” he said, too scared that if he shook his head he would faint. He gripped her shoulder, and they came to stand behind Ida and Junia.

“Got a plan, decanus?”

“Escape.”

“Ideas on how to do that?”

“Ida, can you distract her?”

Ida nodded. She sheathed her sword and used her now free hand to coalesce more moonlight. She throw it towards the archer as more arrows veered towards them. This time – thankfully – they were normal.

However, turns out they weren’t so normal after all. Ida’s managed to buy them enough to that they were about to run. Ellie tossed out a small figuration and called out the name “Peanut” like it was some kind of poke ball. And to Tavian’s amazement, Peanut reappeared before them, chariot, and all.

“What?”

Ellie didn’t bother with hiding them as they set off. They fly away from the Scythian, down the wide street – still headed south.

“Leader is going to kill me for this,” Ellie said as she cast another spell. The chariot’s Mist layer took the form of a helicopter.

They raced down the street. Pegasus versus pegasus, unfortunately theirs was carrying a massive chariot and three additional demigods. And none of them were archers.

Ida and Junia blocked arrow after arrow with their shields. They only started to realise what a bad idea that was when their shields started to smell of acid. “Faex!” Ida called as she dropped her shield. A hole now in her shield, with more quickly join her. Even the Imperial Gold holding it together wasn’t going to be strong enough.

“What do we do?” Ida asked.

“I don’t know! I don’t know!” Junia said.  

“Ellie!” Ida shouted, “Get us up higher!”

The chariot rose quickly, buffeted by the strong winds around Peanut’s wings. Ida raised her shield above her head and threw it at the archer. The acid ridden shield missed the archer, but it did manage to hit the wings of her pegasus.

“Yes!” Ida punched the sky. “Suck on that, Saka!”

With their problem solve – momentarily, they sped across the roofs in as opposite direction as they could manage. They were still headed somewhat south, so that was a bonus, but Tavian wondered if they would be able to see the glowing garden from so high up.

“Scythian!” Junia shouted, raising up their final shield. The arrow hit and Junia let go of the shield. It was the right call, a couple seconds later, just beneath them, the shield exploded.

Tavian spotted three more archers approaching them from various angles. The first one must have called in back up. He looked between them all, desperate, having no idea what to do. They had divided into this mess ignoring the dangers. And he was useless. Unable to help. Unable to do anything. All he had was his knife and scary prophecies that would not save them.

He felt tears start to well in his eyelids, stinging hot as he tried to fight them back. He would not cry in front of these people. He would not!

An arrow hit Ellie.

She gasped.

Junia leap out of the chariot, grabbing the reigns as she fell. Her hand took Ellie’s. Saved.

But not for long. Weight all on one side. Driver-less. The chariot teered and veered.

Peanut cried out, confused? Annoyed? Tavian couldn’t tell. But it didn’t matter. They were falling. Ellie called out to her horse, but it was gibberish to Tavian – and, it seemed, to Peanut.

Ida and Tavian grabbed at Junia’s arm, trying to drag her back onto the chariot. But Tavian wasn’t much help. And Ida, for all her strengths, wasn’t exactly buff. Tavian felt his balance almost go three times.

On the fourth – when they slammed into a section of trees – he dropped. And fell from the chariot. Luckily, it really wasn’t the far of a fall. Unlikely, it was straight into hard cement. He threw his arm out and it replied with a loud crack.

He screamed.

The pain run up his arm, into his chest, then his brain. He couldn’t think, couldn’t comprehend anything but the sickening, blinding pain.

At some point the others got down. They were talking, shouting maybe. One of them was trying to move him. The chariot and Peanut had disappeared again.

They were dragging him, dodging through the trees, then around cars and buildings.

“Ambrosia?” he heard Junia ask.

“Are you mad?” Ida replied. “You want to kill him?”

They run down an alley.

“There!” Ida shouted.

Tavian managed to open his eyes to see across the street. A large church. And beside it, over an old wall, something seemed to be glowing. “The garden?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Better be!” Junia shouted, pulling them out onto the street. They made it across to the island in the centre, then to the other side. Tavian looked over his shoulder, unable to spot any Scythians in the sky.

He didn’t think anything was wrong as he climb up the steps at the side of the building. Junia ‘unlocked’ the door with an expert smash of the back of her sword. The last to enter, Ellie turned to shut the door, but it slammed closed behind her without a touch.  

A tall, angry looking ghost grinned at them. His form was slightly see-through but there was no denying what he was wearing. That was legionary armour.

A Roman.

A dead one.

Lemur. Malevolent spirit.

“Out of frying the pan, into the fire,” Junia said.