The Heroes of Olympus, #2
The Son of Neptune
by Rick Riordan
Contents
II Percy
Overview
Percy chooses to carry the disguised goddess Juno to a hidden Roman demigod camp, Camp Jupiter. Crossing the Little Tiber strips his Achilles blessing, but he wields the river to destroy the gorgons and save Frank. Juno reveals his identity as a son of Neptune. Reyna claims custody and orders interrogation and auguries, leaving Percy’s acceptance in doubt.
Summary
Percy crash-lands from his snack-platter descent and spots a guarded tunnel he instinctively believes leads to safety. As the gorgon sisters close in, a ragged old woman, June, offers him a choice: flee to the sea and be safe, or carry her to camp to aid the gods but face pain and loss. Thinking of Annabeth, Percy chooses to carry June toward the tunnel guarded by Roman-demigod teens.
With Hazel and Frank covering him, Percy dashes through the tunnel as Hazel collapses part of it to delay the gorgons. Emerging into a hidden valley, he sees Camp Jupiter and its fortified legionary camp. At the Little Tiber, June warns that crossing will wash away his Greek Achilles blessing. Pressed by the pursuing gorgons and the camp’s alarms, Percy crosses, feeling empowered by the river even as it strips his invulnerability.
When the gorgons seize Frank midstream, Percy commands the Tiber to form watery hands, smashing the monsters to dust and scattering their essence downstream. Exhausted and raw, he reaches the far bank as legionnaires arrive. June then reveals herself as the goddess Juno, thanks Percy, and publicly presents him as a son of Neptune, declaring his fate tied to the camp and hinting at an urgent quest involving the Feast of Fortune and Death’s release.
As the campers kneel, leadership attention centers on Percy. Reyna, praetor of the Twelfth Legion, confronts him warily; though she denies knowing him, her reaction suggests otherwise. She orders Hazel to bring Percy to the principia for questioning and to consult Octavian’s auguries, making clear the camp must decide whether to accept him as recruit—or treat him as an enemy.
Who Appears
- Percy JacksonAmnesiac demigod; chooses to carry Juno, crosses the Tiber, loses Achilles’s mark, and uses river power to destroy gorgons.
- Juno (June)Goddess disguised as an old woman; tests Percy’s choice, then reveals him as Neptune’s son and warns of looming trials.
- HazelYoung Roman demigod; aides Percy, collapses the tunnel to delay gorgons, escorts him across the river.
- FrankRoman archer; opens the door, fights retreat, grabbed by gorgons, saved when Percy wields the Tiber.
- ReynaPraetor of the Twelfth Legion; confronts Percy, orders interrogation and auguries, uncertain whether to accept or kill him.
- SthenoGorgon pursuer; attacks with Euryale, ultimately destroyed when Percy crushes them in the Tiber.
- EuryaleGorgon pursuer; shrugs off arrows and traffic, then dissolved in the Tiber by Percy’s power.