Rick Riordan
The Last Olympian - 05
resolved. She hasn't spoken for three days."
"It's been wonderful," Travis Stoll said wistfully.
"What issue?" I asked.
Clarisse turned to Chiron. "You're in charge, right? Does my cabin get what we want or not?"
Chiron shuffled his hooves. "My dear, as I've already explained, Michael is correct. Apollo's
cabin has the best claim. Besides, we have more important matters—"
"Sure," Clarisse snapped. "Always more important matters than what Ares needs. We're just
supposed to show up and light when you need us, and not complain!"
"That would be nice," Connor Stoll muttered.
Clarisse gripped her knife. "Maybe I should ask Mr. D—"
"As you know," Chiron interrupted, his tone slightly angry now, "our director, Dionysus, is
busy with the war. He can't be bothered with this."
"I see," Clarisse said. "And the senior counselors? Are any of you going to side with me?"
Nobody was smiling now. None of them met Clarisse's eyes.
"Fine." Clarisse turned to Silena. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get into this when you've just lost
. . . Anyway, I apologize. To you. Nobody else."
Silena didn't seem to register her words.
Clarisse threw her knife on the Ping-Pong table. "All of you can fight this war without Ares.
Until I get satisfaction, no one in my cabin is lifting a finger to help. Have fun dying."
The counselors were all too stunned to say anything as Clarisse stormed out of the room.
Finally Michael Yew said, "Good riddance."
"Are you kidding?" Katie Gardner protested. "This is a disaster!"
"She can't be serious," Travis said. "Can she?"
Chiron sighed. "Her pride has been wounded. She'll calm down eventually." But he didn't
sound convinced.
I wanted to ask what the heck Clarisse was so mad about, but I looked at Annabeth and she
mouthed the words I'll tell you later.
"Now," Chiron continued, "if you please, counselors. Percy has brought something I think
you should hear. Percy—the Great Prophecy."
Annabeth handed me the parchment. It felt dry and old, and my fingers fumbled with the
string. I uncurled the paper, trying not to rip it, and began to read:
"A half-blood of the eldest dogs . . ."
"Er, Percy?" Annabeth interrupted. "That's gods. Not dogs."
"Oh, right," I said. Being dyslexic is one mark of a demigod, but sometimes I really hate it.
The more nervous I am, the worse my reading gets. "A half~blood of the eldest gods . . . shall reach
sixteen against all odds . . ."
I hesitated, staring at the next lines. A cold feeling started m my fingers as if the paper was
freezing.
"And see the world in endless sleep,
The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap."
Suddenly Riptide seemed heavier in my pocket. A cursed blade? Chiron once told me
Riptide had brought many people sorrow. Was it possible my own sword could get me killed? And
how could the world fall into endless sleep, unless that meant death?
"Percy," Chiron urged. "Read the rest."
My mouth felt like it was full of sand, but I spoke the last two lines.
"A single choice shall. . . shall end his days.
Olympus to per—pursue—"
"Preserve," Annabeth said gently. "It means to save."
"I know what it means," I grumbled. "Olympus to preserve or raze."
The room was silent. Finally Connor Stoll said, "Raise is good, isn't it?"
"Not raise," Silena said. Her voice was hollow, but I was startled to hear her speak at all. "R-
a-z-e means destroy."
"Obliterate," Annabeth said. "Annihilate. Turn to rubble."
"Got it." My heart felt like lead. "Thanks."
Everybody was looking at me—with concern, or pity, or maybe a little fear.
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