The Heroes of Olympus, #2
The Son of Neptune
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XXIV Frank
Overview
Cornered by basilisks, Frank plants his spear’s dragon-tooth tip and summons a gray skeletal warrior that annihilates the snakes, proving Mars’s gift and its peril. Percy and Hazel arrive after the fight. Frank, uneasy about the undead ally and his father’s expectations, resolves to continue to Phineas in Portland.
Summary
Alone and surrounded by basilisks, Frank recalls a tale of planting dragon’s teeth and drives his spear tip into the ground. The dragon tooth breaks off, and from the earth rises a gray skeletal warrior that obeys Frank’s command to kill the snakes.
The warrior strangles, burns through, and decapitates the basilisks, even using its own rib as a weapon, then scatters their ashes to slow regeneration. As its poison-eaten limbs crumble and its flaming head gutters, the warrior salutes and sinks back into the ground. Frank dubs it “Gray,” noticing a new tooth regrowing on the spear and recalling Mars’s warning of three charges.
Percy and Hazel arrive, weapons ready, having heard from Iris that Frank faced the basilisks. Hazel senses recent death; Percy is impressed, assuming Frank defeated the monsters. Frank, wary of the undead minion’s malevolence and collateral danger, withholds the details.
Remembering Mars’s push to develop his mother’s talents and use the spear only for breathing room, Frank feels pressure but refocuses on the quest. He tells Percy and Hazel they must reach Portland to see the blind seer Phineas, and the trio prepares to move on.
Who Appears
- Frank ZhangCornered by basilisks, plants his spear’s dragon tooth to summon a gray skeletal warrior; names it Gray and hides this from friends.
- GrayUndead skeletal warrior raised from a planted dragon tooth; obeys Frank’s commands and destroys the basilisks before crumbling away.
- Percy JacksonArrives after the fight with Hazel; impressed and concerned; ready to continue toward Phineas in Portland.
- Hazel LevesqueSenses death at the scene; supports Frank and prepares to continue to see Phineas.
- BasilisksThree fire-breathing snakes that ambush Frank; are annihilated by the summoned skeleton.