The Heroes of Olympus, #3
The Mark of Athena
by Rick Riordan
Contents
VIII
Overview
Leo distracts Narcissus and his adoring nymphs with outrageous bravado while Hazel retrieves the Celestial bronze. When the nymph mob attacks, Arion arrives and carries Hazel and Leo to safety with the bronze.
Echo chooses to remain behind to help Narcissus, prompting Leo to reflect on loneliness and worth.
Summary
Leo prepares to distract Narcissus by adopting an over-the-top persona, complete with goggles, greased hair, and a mocked-up “HOT STUFF” tattoo. He loudly proclaims his own coolness, with Echo amplifying him, and begins insulting Narcissus to pull attention from the pond where the Celestial bronze lies.
The nymphs waver between outrage and amusement, and Narcissus finally looks away from his reflection. As Leo’s taunts escalate, Hazel covertly draws the bronze sheet from the sand. When Narcissus realizes his “mirror” is missing, he incites the nymphs to retrieve it and attack the demigods.
Leo and Hazel flee toward the beach with the heavy bronze, but the mob closes in. Echo boldly places herself between Leo and the attackers, while Hazel readies her sword. Arion bursts onto the scene, whipping up a blinding sandstorm that scatters the nymphs and buys time.
Hazel mounts Arion and pulls Leo up with the bronze. Echo refuses rescue, determined to stay and try to save Narcissus despite his vanity. As Arion speeds them toward the Argo II, Leo recalls Nemesis’s warning and recognizes Echo’s sacrifice, confronting his own feelings of invisibility and loneliness.
Who Appears
- Leo ValdezOrchestrates a bold distraction to insult Narcissus, helps carry the Celestial bronze, and reflects on loneliness and Echo’s sacrifice.
- Hazel LevesqueUses her power to retrieve the Celestial bronze and, with Arion, rescues Leo from the pursuing nymphs.
- EchoInvisible nymph who amplifies Leo’s ruse, bravely shields him, then stays behind to try to redeem Narcissus.
- NarcissusVain leader obsessed with his reflection; rallies nymphs to reclaim the bronze and attack the demigods.
- ArionSupernatural horse who arrives in a sandstorm and carries Hazel and Leo to safety.
- NymphsAdoring followers of Narcissus who form a hostile mob, briefly thwarted by Arion’s sandstorm.