The Heroes of Olympus, #3
The Mark of Athena
by Rick Riordan
Contents
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Overview
The Argo II lands near Topeka. Piper leads Percy and Jason to a prophesied mile marker, where they meet Bacchus, who reveals his role in the first Giant War and advises them to seek Phorcys in Atlanta. After warning of a trap, he vanishes. Gaea manifests, possesses Percy and Jason, and forces Piper to face them as they charge to kill each other.
Summary
After a restless night, Piper wakes as the Argo II lands in a Kansas sunflower field for repairs. The crew splits duties: Leo and Annabeth stay to fix the ship and weapons with Coach Hedge, while Frank and Hazel scout for threats. Piper, following her vision of a mile marker and a man in purple, leads Percy and Jason to investigate.
On the road, Jason summons the storm-horse Tempest while Percy calls the black pegasus Blackjack, and they ride to mile marker 32. There, Bacchus appears, Roman aspect of Dionysus, complaining of a planned meeting with Ceres about a “plant war.” Percy’s Greek memories aggravate the god’s split nature until Piper calms him with respectful speech.
Bacchus boasts of killing the twin giants Ephialtes and Otis with his thyrsus in the first Giant War. Piper connects this to their prophecy and her visions, concluding those twin giants plan to destroy Rome and that a god’s aid is required. Bacchus refuses tribute-free help but offers advice: seek Gaea’s son Phorcys in Atlanta—“the salt water”—for insight on Gaea and the twins, and warns the area may be a trap.
As noon nears, Bacchus abruptly departs. Instantly, Gaea’s presence grips the fields; sunflowers and wheat tilt menacingly as her voice demands two snacks: the blood of a female demigod and a male. She orders Piper to choose which hero will die with her. Jason’s eyes turn gold and Percy speaks in a hollow voice as both become possessed.
Compelled by Gaea, Percy and Jason wheel their mounts and charge each other with drawn blades, while Piper stands between them, realizing the trap has sprung and that her refusal to choose may doom them all.
Who Appears
- Piper McLeanLeads vision-driven mission to mile marker; charmspeaks Bacchus; deduces twin giants’ threat; faces Gaea’s trap as Percy and Jason are possessed.
- Percy JacksonSummons Blackjack; antagonizes Bacchus unintentionally; becomes possessed by Gaea, turning on Jason under her command.
- Jason GraceSummons Tempest; respectfully addresses Bacchus; eyes turn gold as Gaea possesses him to duel Percy.
- Bacchus (Dionysus)Roman wine god; recalls slaying twin giants; refuses tribute-free aid; advises seeking Phorcys in Atlanta; warns of a trap and vanishes.
- GaeaEarth goddess; manifests through fields, demands demigod blood, and possesses Percy and Jason to force Piper’s deadly choice.
- Leo ValdezStays aboard to repair the Argo II; shares tension with Frank and Hazel; grateful for Piper’s support after Roman attack.
- Annabeth ChaseAssists Leo with engineering repairs; parting reassurances with Percy highlight their bond.
- Frank ZhangPlans to scout as a bird; bristles at Leo; coordinates with Hazel to watch for Roman eagles.
- Hazel LevesqueWarns about hostile grain spirits; summons Arion to scout with Frank; shares unspoken tension with Leo.
- Coach HedgeEnforces curfew loudly; works on repairing the ship’s crossbows after landing.
- BlackjackPercy’s black pegasus; carries Percy to the mile marker and senses Bacchus and Gaea’s unrest.
- TempestJason’s storm spirit steed; speeds the trio to the site; startles when Bacchus appears.