PREYNA MOMENTS
• Everyone was staring at him. Only the old lady June looked unfazed
“Well, that was a lovely trip,” she said. “Thank you, Percy Jackson, for
bringing me to Camp Jupiter.”
One of the girls made a choking sound. “Percy…Jackson?”
She sounded as if she recognized his name. Percy focused on her,
hoping to see a familiar face.
She was obviously a leader. She wore a regal purple cloak over her
armor. Her chest was decorated with medals. She must have been about
Percy’s age, with dark, piercing eyes and long black hair. Percy didn’t
recognize her, but the girl stared at him as if she’d seen him in her
nightmares.
June laughed with delight. “Oh, yes. You’ll have such fun together!”
• The girl hesitated. “I am Reyna, praetor of the Twelfth Legion. And…
no, I don’t know you.”
That last part was a lie. Percy could tell from her eyes.
• Reyna set her dagger on the table.Percy had the vague feeling he’d
seen her before. Her hair was black and glossy as volcanic rock, woven in
a single braid down her back. She had the poise of a sword fighter—
relaxed yet vigilant, as if ready to spring into action at any moment. The
worry lines around her eyes made her look older than she probably was.
“We have met,” he decided. “I don’t remember when. Please, if you
can tell me anything—”
• “If you spent that many years on your own, without training or help, you
should be dead. A son of Neptune? You’d have a powerful aura that would
attract all kinds of monsters.”
“Yeah,” Percy said. “I’ve been told that I smell.”
Reyna almost cracked a smile, which gave Percy hope. Maybe she
was human after all.
• “Frank.” Reyna looked troubled. “That’s enough with the armor. Go find
Hazel.Get Percy Jackson down here. He’s been up there too long. I don’t
want Octavian…” She hesitated. “Just get Percy down here.”
• “Foes bear arms to the Doors of Death,” Reyna said. “That’s the
Prophecy of Seven…” She looked at Percy, and for just a moment he
could see how scared she was. She did a good job of hiding it, but Percy
wondered if she’d had nightmares about Gaea too—if she’d seen visions
of what would happen when the camp was invaded by monsters that
couldn’t be killed.
• Percy looked at his teammates. “We go to Alaska as fast as
possible...”
“And we improvise,” Hazel said.
“A lot,” Frank added.
Reyna studied them. She looked like she was mentally writing her own
obituary. (this one I picked only because its funny)
• “I (Octavian) only followed you because Reyna charged me with a
message. She wants you to report to the principia without your—ah—two
lackeys, here. Reyna will meet you there after the senate adjourns. She’d like a private word with you before you leave on your quest.”
“What about?” Percy said.
“I’m sure I don’t know.” Octavian smiled wickedly. “The last person she
had a private talk with was Jason Grace. And that was the last time I ever
saw him. Good luck and good bye, Percy Jackson.”
• “It’s not you.” Reyna scowled. “I hate senate meetings. When Octavian
gets talking…”
Percy nodded. “You’re a warrior. Octavian is a talker. Put him in front
of the senate, and suddenly he becomes the powerful one.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re smarter than you look.”
“Gee, thanks….”
• Reyna looked at her forearm. “Of course. It seems so long ago. I
suppose you wouldn’t recall me even if you had your memory. I was just a
little girl—one attendant among so many at the spa. But you spoke with my sister, just before you and that other one, Annabeth, destroyed our home.”
• “I believe you’re sincere,” she said. “But not everyone at camp does.
Octavian thinks you’re a spy. He thinks you were sent here by Gaea to find
our weaknesses and distract us. He believes the old legends about the
Greeks.”
• “I believe you came from somewhere,” she said. “You’re important,
and dangerous. Two gods have taken a special interest in you since you
arrived, so I can’t believe you’d work against Olympus…or Rome.” She
shrugged. “Of course, I could be wrong. Perhaps the gods sent you here to
test my judgment. But I think…I think you were sent here to make up for the loss of Jason.”
• “The way you talk about him…” Percy said. “Were you two a couple?”
Reyna’s eyes bored into him—like the eyes of a hungry wolf. Percy
had seen enough hungry wolves to know.
“We might have been,” Reyna said, “given time. Praetors work closely
together. It’s common for them to become romantically involved. But Jason
was only praetor for a few months before he disappeared. Ever since then,
Octavian has been pestering me, agitating for new elections. I’ve resisted.
I need a partner in power—but I’d prefer someone like Jason. A warrior,
not a schemer.”
She waited. Percy realized she was sending him a silent invitation.
• “I believe the gods sent you to help me,” Reyna said. “I don’t understand where you come from, any more than I understood it four years ago. But I think your arrival is some sort of repayment. You destroyed my home once. Now you’ve been sent to save my home. I don’t hold a grudge against you for the past, Percy. My sister hates you still, it’s true, but Fate brought me here to Camp Jupiter. I’ve done well. All I ask is that you work with me for the future. I intend to save this camp.”
• “The point is, Percy, you are the real power on this quest. You are a
seasoned veteran. I’ve seen what you can do. A son of Neptune wouldn’t
be my first choice, but if you return successfully from this mission, the
legion might be saved. The praetorship will be yours for the taking.
Together, you and I could expand the power of Rome. We could raise an
army and find the Doors of Death, crush Gaea’s forces once and for all.
You would find me a very helpful…friend.”
She said that word like it could have several meanings, and he could
pick which one.
• Percy was afraid he’d make her mad. Instead she just raised her
eyebrows.
“A man who turns down power?” she said. “That’s not very Roman of
you. Just think about it. In four days, I have to make a choice. If we are to
fight off an invasion, we must have two strong praetors. I’d prefer you, but if
you fail on your quest, or don’t come back, or refuse my offer…Well, I’ll
work with Octavian. I mean to save this camp, Percy Jackson. Things are
worse than you realize.”
• Reyna slid the silver ring across the table. “I can’t give you much help,
but your journey will take you close to Seattle. I’m asking you for a favor,
which may also help you. Find my sister Hylla.”
• “She might send help?” Percy asked.
Reyna didn’t answer, but Percy could see the desperation in her eyes.
She was terrified, grasping for anything that could save her camp. No
wonder she wanted Percy’s help. She was the only praetor. The defense of
the camp rested on her shoulders alone.[\b]
Percy took the ring.
• Percy slipped the ring onto his leather necklace with his beads and his probatio tablet. [b]“Wish me luck.”
“Fight well, Percy Jackson,” Reyna said. “And thank you.”
• He could tell the audience was over. Reyna was having trouble holding
herself together, keeping up the image of the confident commander. She
needed some time by herself.
“Still, I’m sorry,” Percy said. “If I hurt you, I’m sorry.”
Reyna gazed at him for a long time, as if trying to translate his words.
“An apology? Not very Roman at all, Percy Jackson. You’d make an
interesting praetor. I hope you’ll think about my offer.”
• Shadows moved across the hills, and Percy
imagined the face of Gaea getting closer and closer.
Work with me for the future, Reyna had said. I intend to save this
camp. Looking down at the valley, Percy understood why she cared so much.
Even though he was new to Camp Jupiter, he felt a fierce desire to protect
this place.
• Percy showed them the silver ring on his necklace. “Reyna has a sister
here. She asked me to find her and show her this.”……………..
“That would make sense,” Hazel said. “If Reyna’s sister is also a
daughter of Bellona, I can see why she’d join the Amazons. But…is it safe
for us to be here?”
“We have to try,” Percy said. “I promised Reyna…”
• Then Reyna noticed the Fifth Cohort marching to their aid with the
eagle. She was so stunned, the giant almost swatted her out of the air, but
Scipio dodged. Reyna locked eyes with Percy and gave him a huge smile.
“Romans!” Her voice boomed across the fields. “Rally to the eagle!”
• Reyna wheeled her pegasus toward Percy. Her eyes gleamed. Her
expression said: I could hug you right now. She shouted, “Romans!
Advance!”
• The Romans began to chant, “Percy! Percy!”
They mobbed him. Before he knew it, they were raising him on a
shield. The cry changed to, “Praetor! Praetor!”
Among the chanters was Reyna herself, who held up her hand and
grasped Percy’s in congratulation.
• “She joined the Amazons,” Reyna continued. “I joined Camp Jupiter.
But looking around this room, I think we both made good choices.
Strangely, our destinies were made possible by the hero you all just raised
to praetor on the battlefield—Percy Jackson.”
More cheering. The sisters raised their glasses to Percy and
beckoned him forward.
• Reyna took away his probatio neck plate……………
Then Reyna gave him an eagle medal and purple cloak, symbols of
the praetor. “You earned these, Percy.”
• Percy and Reyna occupied matching praetors’ chairs on the dais,
which made Percy self-conscious. It wasn’t easy looking dignified wearing
a bed sheet and a purple cape.
• “……….I fought Kronos myself.”
Reyna backed up, almost tripping over her toga. “You… what?” (lol!)
• All eyes turned toward Reyna.
“Hold your fire,” Reyna said. “But have the legion stand ready. Percy
Jackson is your duly chosen praetor. We will trust his word—unless we are
given clear reason not to. Senators, let us adjourn to the forum and meet
our…new friends.”
• Reyna stood at Percy’s shoulder.
“I support you, Percy,” she said. “I trust your judgment. But for all our
sakes, I hope we can keep the peace between our campers and your
Greek friends.”
• Everyone was staring at him. Only the old lady June looked unfazed
“Well, that was a lovely trip,” she said. “Thank you, Percy Jackson, for
bringing me to Camp Jupiter.”
One of the girls made a choking sound. “Percy…Jackson?”
She sounded as if she recognized his name. Percy focused on her,
hoping to see a familiar face.
She was obviously a leader. She wore a regal purple cloak over her
armor. Her chest was decorated with medals. She must have been about
Percy’s age, with dark, piercing eyes and long black hair. Percy didn’t
recognize her, but the girl stared at him as if she’d seen him in her
nightmares.
June laughed with delight. “Oh, yes. You’ll have such fun together!”
• The girl hesitated. “I am Reyna, praetor of the Twelfth Legion. And…
no, I don’t know you.”
That last part was a lie. Percy could tell from her eyes.
• Reyna set her dagger on the table.Percy had the vague feeling he’d
seen her before. Her hair was black and glossy as volcanic rock, woven in
a single braid down her back. She had the poise of a sword fighter—
relaxed yet vigilant, as if ready to spring into action at any moment. The
worry lines around her eyes made her look older than she probably was.
“We have met,” he decided. “I don’t remember when. Please, if you
can tell me anything—”
• “If you spent that many years on your own, without training or help, you
should be dead. A son of Neptune? You’d have a powerful aura that would
attract all kinds of monsters.”
“Yeah,” Percy said. “I’ve been told that I smell.”
Reyna almost cracked a smile, which gave Percy hope. Maybe she
was human after all.
• “Frank.” Reyna looked troubled. “That’s enough with the armor. Go find
Hazel.Get Percy Jackson down here. He’s been up there too long. I don’t
want Octavian…” She hesitated. “Just get Percy down here.”
• “Foes bear arms to the Doors of Death,” Reyna said. “That’s the
Prophecy of Seven…” She looked at Percy, and for just a moment he
could see how scared she was. She did a good job of hiding it, but Percy
wondered if she’d had nightmares about Gaea too—if she’d seen visions
of what would happen when the camp was invaded by monsters that
couldn’t be killed.
• Percy looked at his teammates. “We go to Alaska as fast as
possible...”
“And we improvise,” Hazel said.
“A lot,” Frank added.
Reyna studied them. She looked like she was mentally writing her own
obituary. (this one I picked only because its funny)
• “I (Octavian) only followed you because Reyna charged me with a
message. She wants you to report to the principia without your—ah—two
lackeys, here. Reyna will meet you there after the senate adjourns. She’d like a private word with you before you leave on your quest.”
“What about?” Percy said.
“I’m sure I don’t know.” Octavian smiled wickedly. “The last person she
had a private talk with was Jason Grace. And that was the last time I ever
saw him. Good luck and good bye, Percy Jackson.”
• “It’s not you.” Reyna scowled. “I hate senate meetings. When Octavian
gets talking…”
Percy nodded. “You’re a warrior. Octavian is a talker. Put him in front
of the senate, and suddenly he becomes the powerful one.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re smarter than you look.”
“Gee, thanks….”
• Reyna looked at her forearm. “Of course. It seems so long ago. I
suppose you wouldn’t recall me even if you had your memory. I was just a
little girl—one attendant among so many at the spa. But you spoke with my sister, just before you and that other one, Annabeth, destroyed our home.”
• “I believe you’re sincere,” she said. “But not everyone at camp does.
Octavian thinks you’re a spy. He thinks you were sent here by Gaea to find
our weaknesses and distract us. He believes the old legends about the
Greeks.”
• “I believe you came from somewhere,” she said. “You’re important,
and dangerous. Two gods have taken a special interest in you since you
arrived, so I can’t believe you’d work against Olympus…or Rome.” She
shrugged. “Of course, I could be wrong. Perhaps the gods sent you here to
test my judgment. But I think…I think you were sent here to make up for the loss of Jason.”
• “The way you talk about him…” Percy said. “Were you two a couple?”
Reyna’s eyes bored into him—like the eyes of a hungry wolf. Percy
had seen enough hungry wolves to know.
“We might have been,” Reyna said, “given time. Praetors work closely
together. It’s common for them to become romantically involved. But Jason
was only praetor for a few months before he disappeared. Ever since then,
Octavian has been pestering me, agitating for new elections. I’ve resisted.
I need a partner in power—but I’d prefer someone like Jason. A warrior,
not a schemer.”
She waited. Percy realized she was sending him a silent invitation.
• “I believe the gods sent you to help me,” Reyna said. “I don’t understand where you come from, any more than I understood it four years ago. But I think your arrival is some sort of repayment. You destroyed my home once. Now you’ve been sent to save my home. I don’t hold a grudge against you for the past, Percy. My sister hates you still, it’s true, but Fate brought me here to Camp Jupiter. I’ve done well. All I ask is that you work with me for the future. I intend to save this camp.”
• “The point is, Percy, you are the real power on this quest. You are a
seasoned veteran. I’ve seen what you can do. A son of Neptune wouldn’t
be my first choice, but if you return successfully from this mission, the
legion might be saved. The praetorship will be yours for the taking.
Together, you and I could expand the power of Rome. We could raise an
army and find the Doors of Death, crush Gaea’s forces once and for all.
You would find me a very helpful…friend.”
She said that word like it could have several meanings, and he could
pick which one.
• Percy was afraid he’d make her mad. Instead she just raised her
eyebrows.
“A man who turns down power?” she said. “That’s not very Roman of
you. Just think about it. In four days, I have to make a choice. If we are to
fight off an invasion, we must have two strong praetors. I’d prefer you, but if
you fail on your quest, or don’t come back, or refuse my offer…Well, I’ll
work with Octavian. I mean to save this camp, Percy Jackson. Things are
worse than you realize.”
• Reyna slid the silver ring across the table. “I can’t give you much help,
but your journey will take you close to Seattle. I’m asking you for a favor,
which may also help you. Find my sister Hylla.”
• “She might send help?” Percy asked.
Reyna didn’t answer, but Percy could see the desperation in her eyes.
She was terrified, grasping for anything that could save her camp. No
wonder she wanted Percy’s help. She was the only praetor. The defense of
the camp rested on her shoulders alone.[\b]
Percy took the ring.
• Percy slipped the ring onto his leather necklace with his beads and his probatio tablet. [b]“Wish me luck.”
“Fight well, Percy Jackson,” Reyna said. “And thank you.”
• He could tell the audience was over. Reyna was having trouble holding
herself together, keeping up the image of the confident commander. She
needed some time by herself.
“Still, I’m sorry,” Percy said. “If I hurt you, I’m sorry.”
Reyna gazed at him for a long time, as if trying to translate his words.
“An apology? Not very Roman at all, Percy Jackson. You’d make an
interesting praetor. I hope you’ll think about my offer.”
• Shadows moved across the hills, and Percy
imagined the face of Gaea getting closer and closer.
Work with me for the future, Reyna had said. I intend to save this
camp. Looking down at the valley, Percy understood why she cared so much.
Even though he was new to Camp Jupiter, he felt a fierce desire to protect
this place.
• Percy showed them the silver ring on his necklace. “Reyna has a sister
here. She asked me to find her and show her this.”……………..
“That would make sense,” Hazel said. “If Reyna’s sister is also a
daughter of Bellona, I can see why she’d join the Amazons. But…is it safe
for us to be here?”
“We have to try,” Percy said. “I promised Reyna…”
• Then Reyna noticed the Fifth Cohort marching to their aid with the
eagle. She was so stunned, the giant almost swatted her out of the air, but
Scipio dodged. Reyna locked eyes with Percy and gave him a huge smile.
“Romans!” Her voice boomed across the fields. “Rally to the eagle!”
• Reyna wheeled her pegasus toward Percy. Her eyes gleamed. Her
expression said: I could hug you right now. She shouted, “Romans!
Advance!”
• The Romans began to chant, “Percy! Percy!”
They mobbed him. Before he knew it, they were raising him on a
shield. The cry changed to, “Praetor! Praetor!”
Among the chanters was Reyna herself, who held up her hand and
grasped Percy’s in congratulation.
• “She joined the Amazons,” Reyna continued. “I joined Camp Jupiter.
But looking around this room, I think we both made good choices.
Strangely, our destinies were made possible by the hero you all just raised
to praetor on the battlefield—Percy Jackson.”
More cheering. The sisters raised their glasses to Percy and
beckoned him forward.
• Reyna took away his probatio neck plate……………
Then Reyna gave him an eagle medal and purple cloak, symbols of
the praetor. “You earned these, Percy.”
• Percy and Reyna occupied matching praetors’ chairs on the dais,
which made Percy self-conscious. It wasn’t easy looking dignified wearing
a bed sheet and a purple cape.
• “……….I fought Kronos myself.”
Reyna backed up, almost tripping over her toga. “You… what?” (lol!)
• All eyes turned toward Reyna.
“Hold your fire,” Reyna said. “But have the legion stand ready. Percy
Jackson is your duly chosen praetor. We will trust his word—unless we are
given clear reason not to. Senators, let us adjourn to the forum and meet
our…new friends.”
• Reyna stood at Percy’s shoulder.
“I support you, Percy,” she said. “I trust your judgment. But for all our
sakes, I hope we can keep the peace between our campers and your
Greek friends.”