The Heroes of Olympus, #2
The Son of Neptune
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XLIX Percy
Overview
Racing back from Alaska, Percy’s memories fully return as they reach a besieged Camp Jupiter. With Arion exhausted, Percy summons help: Tyson, Ella, and Mrs. O’Leary arrive. Learning Annabeth’s ship is days away, Percy improvises—arming Tyson with Roman markers and preparing Mrs. O’Leary to pull the chariot—setting up their counterattack.
Summary
After a four-hour dash over the Pacific on Arion, Percy’s full memory returns—his life at Camp Half-Blood, friends, and Annabeth—along with anger at Juno for stealing eight months. He recalls the Prophecy of Seven and understands Juno’s goal: unite Greek and Roman demigods and the gods to defeat the giants.
They arrive above the Caldecott Tunnel and see Camp Jupiter under assault. The legion’s lines are fragmenting as Earthborn, shades, wild centaurs, Cyclopes with a siege tower, and the giant Polybotes batter the city. Reyna duels from the air, Lares hold back shades, and devastation spreads across the forum.
Arion collapses from exhaustion, and Hazel despairs. Percy insists they can still help by delivering the recovered eagle and weapons. Lupa is absent, and Percy interprets this as a test of Roman self-reliance: the legion must prove itself without the wolves.
Seeking aid, Percy whistles and summons Mrs. O’Leary, who arrives carrying Tyson and Ella. Percy and Tyson reunite, and Ella shyly credits Tyson with protecting her. Asked about Greek reinforcements, Tyson explains Leo’s ship won’t be ready for one to two days—time they don’t have.
Pressed to act, Percy outlines the battlefield and tasks. Concerned the legion might mistake Tyson for an enemy, Hazel outfits him with a Roman helmet and SPQR banner. Ella refuses to stay behind and insists on accompanying Tyson. With Arion spent, Percy turns to Mrs. O’Leary to pull the chariot, setting their immediate push to deliver the eagle and arm the legion.
Who Appears
- Percy JacksonRegains full memory, assesses Camp Jupiter’s crisis, summons allies, and organizes a plan to deliver the eagle and weapons.
- TysonPercy’s Cyclops brother; arrives with Ella on Mrs. O’Leary; agrees to fight and dons Roman identifiers.
- Hazel LevesqueWorries over Arion’s exhaustion and the battle; outfits Tyson with a helmet and SPQR banner.
- Frank ZhangAssesses the battlefield, frets over Tyson’s safety, and supports Percy’s improvised plan.
- Mrs. O’LearyMassive hellhound; arrives with Tyson and Ella; is asked to pull the chariot into battle.
- EllaHarpy rescued by Tyson; insists on accompanying him despite the danger.
- ArionSuperfast horse who carries them from Alaska; collapses from exhaustion upon arrival.
- ReynaRoman praetor seen battling from the air to distract Polybotes during the siege.
- PolybotesGiant leading the assault on Camp Jupiter; occupies Reyna amid widespread destruction.