LI Percy

The camp hosts a jubilant Feast of Fortuna with Romans, Amazons, Lares, and fauns celebrating light casualties and renewed alliances. Banners hang beside the restored eagle standard as food magically flies in. Percy mingles, fends off Kinzie’s flirtation, and learns Hylla has secured her Amazon throne by twice defeating Otrera.

Reyna welcomes the Amazons and credits Percy, then removes Percy’s probatio plate. Octavian theatrically declares good omens and brands Percy with SPQR and a trident, while Reyna gives him the praetor’s cloak and medal. Percy circulates, embarrassed but pleased as Hazel and Frank are hailed as Rome’s saviors; talk begins of restoring Frank’s ancestor’s honor.

With the legion off-duty, Percy visits Terminus at the Pomerian Line, where Julia distributes party hats. In the forum’s festive glow and a rainbow from Iris, Percy lets Hazel and Frank wander off together. He returns to camp, sees Mrs. O’Leary and Hannibal playing, and, unwilling to occupy Jason’s house, chooses the Fifth Cohort barracks.

As Percy sleeps, he dreams of Juno at the Little Tiber. Furious over his stolen eight months, he confronts her. Juno insists the timing was essential: Jason’s team freed her, the Romans needed Percy now, and the Argo II has been prepared. She says Percy’s loyalty will unite the Seven and both camps.

Juno outlines the larger war: Jupiter refuses to seek demigod aid again, so Percy must prove the demigods by sailing to the ancient lands and closing the Doors of Death to counter Gaea and the giants. She warns that the person closest to Percy will cause the most trouble and hints at a difficult task awaiting Annabeth in Rome. Percy angrily lashes out with water as the dream ends in darkness.