“The temple looks much better now,” Asterion continued. “I hope you will consider my offer to make a hand-knitted cloth for the altar.”
Frank studied the bull-man’s cardigan. “I’m sure that would be…colorful.”
“And in that spirit of cooperation,” said Asterion, “I have another proposal to make. I believe there are many ways we mythics can contribute to Camp Jupiter, but these can only be discovered by working side by side. I propose that tomorrow the mythics begin training with your demigods.”
Frank picked at a spot of dirt on his purple jersey. Nico had the feeling that the praetor was suppressing the urge to scream into his shirt. “Training. With the demigods?”
“Is that such an offensive idea, son of Mars?”
“No,” said Frank quickly. “I just think we have to be very careful about what we’re doing here.”
Asterion made a rumbling noise deep in his throat—like amm-hmmof assent, though it came out more likehmm-moo. “We agree on that, Praetor Zhang. I am not trying to rush this process.” He paused. “If I may be honest…we are nervous. We have never done anything like this. On the other hand, we can only learn how to benefit one another if we work together. Like today, and the altar cloth.”
“Right,” Frank said. “Like the altar cloth.”
Hazel put her hand on Frank’s. “We’ll discuss your generous offer, Asterion,” she said. “As it happens, Nico and Will were just about to tell ustheiridea about how they can help.”
“Oh, yes?” said another voice, right next to Nico.
The hairs rose on the back of his neck. Nico nearly bolted upright. Then he realized it was just Semele.
“I’m sorry, Nico di Angelo,” said the eidolon. “I did not mean to startle you. I have not yet figured out how to announce my presence in a way that doesn’t terrify you mortals.”
“It’s fine,” said Nico, forcing himself to relax his shoulders. “Um…so anyway, we were thinking….”
He gave Will aHelp me outlook.
“We’d like to train with the legion for a few days,” Will said. “Get to know everyone, learn your routines. You know, see for ourselves what’s been going on.”
Frank set down his fork and peered at Will skeptically. “Are you sure you’re ready for life at Camp Jupiter?”
“Of course,” Will said. “I’m a counselor at Camp Half-Blood, you know.”
Hazel chuckled to herself. “As if that’s anything like legion training.”
“Oh, come on,” Will said. “It can’t be that bad! Right, Nico?”
Nico examined a cobweb on the ceiling. “What was that? I didn’t hear you.”
“Not you, too,” Will said, feigning defeat. “Look, it’s like Asterion said. The best way we can help is to work side by side with you. Build some trust. Maybe we can be an example of how demigods and mythics can coexist.”
Frank nodded. “That’s all fine. I’m just afraid if you’re not used to military discipline, you’re not going to last long.”
Will rolled his eyes. “We’ll fit right in. And I promise I won’t complain about Camp Jupiter at all.”
“I’m not even going to shake on it,” said Frank. “That’s how certain I am that you’re gonna regret that statement.”
“It’s an admirable idea,” Hazel said to Will. “How about this? You two can bunk in the guest barracks. In the morning, you can train with the Fifth Cohort. We’ll see how it goes. How does that sound, Frank?”
Her question sounded pointed, likeWork with me here.
“Sure,” Frank said. “Then, if Will and Nico are still up for it, in the afternoon they can do some training with the mythics, like Asterion suggested.”
His tone made it clear he doubted Nico and Will would last until the afternoon.
“Excellent!” Asterion stood, setting Sadness on the dinner table. “Thank you, Praetors. And now we should return to our own quarters before sunset. I have noted that we tend to make your legionnaires more nervous after dark. Come, Semele!”
Nico couldn’t tell whether Semele followed Asterion, but the other mythics rose and filed out of the mess hall, their progress followed by the eyes of half the legion.
