IX

Piper waits by an unconscious Jason, fearing his injury and whether he might forget her. Seeking guidance, she uses Katoptris and sees Romans in an uproar under Octavian, Reyna conflicted, and a series of unsettling images: golden-eyed Jason in battle, a Southern-belle figure by the sea, a bull-man rising from a river, twin giants lifting a bronze jar, and a drowning vision of Piper with Jason and Percy. She then sees a man in purple near a highway sign for Topeka holding out a goblet, suggesting help.

Jason wakes with his memories and affection for Piper intact. Leo and Hazel arrive with repair metal, Leo decked out from encounters with Narcissus and Nemesis. Annabeth, Percy, and Frank return covered in tar, reporting tar monsters. The ship lurches as Hazel admits they angered the lake’s nymphs; Percy goes topside to hold them off while others assist Leo. After frantic work, the Argo II lifts off and stabilizes.

With Coach Hedge at the helm, the seven share their first full meal together, the weight of the Prophecy of Seven heavy in the room. They agree they must put distance between themselves and Camp Jupiter. Piper guiltily wonders if they should try reasoning with the Romans, but Annabeth and Hazel argue it’s too dangerous, with Octavian driving Roman honor and retaliation.

They review ominous timelines—Nemesis’s warning that Nico has six days and that Rome may fall—and discuss Ella’s prophecy. Piper reports seeing twin giants. The group parses lines about the Mark of Athena and an “old wrong,” hinting at a Greek-Roman schism. Annabeth recalls Reyna mentioning a praetor legend linked to Athena; Jason grows evasive, deepening tension.

They consider “Giants’ bane” and the need for divine aid to defeat giants. With repairs still needed but Romans in pursuit, they decide to set down near a discreet city. Guided by Piper’s vision of a man near a Topeka sign, she proposes Kansas as their next stop.