The Heroes of Olympus, #3
The Mark of Athena
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XXXI
Overview
Percy tricks Chrysaor’s dolphin-men by invoking Dionysus, letting Frank scatter the crew and forcing Chrysaor overboard. The team sinks the pirate trireme as tribute to Bacchus and flies to Rome. Percy wrestles with self-doubt and dreams of Gaea’s threat. In Rome, the crew splits: Annabeth begins her solo Mark of Athena path while others prepare to rescue Nico.
Summary
Disarmed by Chrysaor, Percy recalls the pirates’ origin and their fear of Dionysus. He and Annabeth stage a bluff, claiming their “captain” is Mr. D, and Percy brandishes a Diet Coke from the ice chest. Hazel and Piper feign god-induced madness as Frank theatrically “turns into a crazy dolphin,” then shapeshifts for real, panicking the dolphin-men into fleeing overboard.
With the crew gone, the demigods surround Chrysaor. Frank becomes a grizzly bear, knocks off Chrysaor’s golden mask, and sends him into the sea. The group refuses the pirates’ treasure and, at Percy’s direction, opens the trireme’s flood valves. Using Piper’s cornucopia to blast Diet Coke and Leo’s drilled holes, they sink the ship as tribute to Bacchus, tossing in Chrysaor’s mask.
They fly toward Rome. Percy, humbled by the duel, lies awake confronting fears of inadequacy and his fatal flaw of loyalty, then dreams of Gaea destroying Camp Half-Blood and promising his fall, urging him to bring Annabeth. He wakes as the Argo II descends over a sunlit Rome.
The ship lands in a park near the Tomb of the Scipios. Awed by the city, the crew plans: Annabeth will follow the Mark of Athena; Percy will escort her to the Tiber and seek Tiberinus. Hazel, Frank, and Leo will search for Nico and any needed machinery. Jason and Piper guard the ship, aiming to regroup by three for the giants and Nico. Coach Hedge warns them to behave as Percy and Annabeth disembark.
Who Appears
- Percy JacksonOrchestrates the Dionysus bluff, rejects pirate treasure, offers Bacchus tribute, wrestles with self-doubt, dreams of Gaea, and escorts Annabeth to the Tiber.
- Annabeth ChaseBacks Percy’s bluff, frees captives, plans her solo Mark of Athena quest, insists on going alone after reaching the Tiber.
- Frank ZhangShapeshifts into dolphin and grizzly bear, panics the crew, knocks off Chrysaor’s mask, and joins Hazel and Leo to search for Nico.
- ChrysaorGolden-masked warrior who defeats Percy in single combat; loses his crew to the bluff and is knocked overboard.
- Piper McLeanFeigns madness to sell the ruse, uses the cornucopia to flood the trireme, stays with Jason to guard the ship and scry with Katoptris.
- Jason GraceRecovers from injuries, takes watch, helps plan rendezvous, remains to guard the Argo II with Piper.
- Leo ValdezRepairs, drills the pirate hull, pilots to Rome, and joins Hazel and Frank to locate Nico using mechanical skills.
- Hazel LevesqueFreed from bonds, senses immense treasure, helps plan, and leads the search party for Nico across Rome.
- Coach Gleeson HedgeSmashes pirate gear, helps guard duty, and comically warns Percy and Annabeth to ‘behave.’
- GaeaAppears in Percy’s nightmare, threatens Camp Half-Blood and vows Percy’s fall, urging him to bring Annabeth.