Conquer

~2~

Photo by Simon Migaj on Unsplash 

"Soldiers! Assemble!" General Hedge calls.

I look at him tiredly, a painful tightening in my shoulders drawing my attention. I throw my bag to the side and join the line of men. They all stink, and I refrain from plugging my nose.

The atmosphere is moist, the sky is a dark grey, and the grass hollow and stiff.

The co-general comes beside General Hedge, and he meets everyone's eyes. His sea-green eyes come in contact with mine and my breath hitches in my throat. Can he see through my act?

After lingering a little longer, they leave me, and I breathe out. I take a moment to take him in. His messy raven black hair sticks out everywhere. His body is lean and muscular.

"Fredrick Chase!" General Hedge calls. His eyes scan the crowd.

Panic fills me, and I call out in the best manly voice I can muster, "He is not here. I am his almost son-in-law."

General Hedge's eyes flicker to me, "Annabeth Chase is not married to anyone. She was disowned."

Gulping, I answer, "Not yet, sir. I got Mr. Chase's blessing today before I left."

General Hedge's eyes light up, "Well, isn't that perfect. I am happy he is not here; he would not have survived another war."

I gulp at the thought of my family back at home. My walls begin to slip, but I hold them. I would rather die than have stayed there, even if that meant death for a family who disowned me.

Soon he moves on and I shake myself out of it. If I am going to do this, I need to make sure I'm not an idiot. Analyzing the camp, I see thousands of tents are lined up, and we are the 50th group to be called.

They literally go through everyone, name by name. It's nearly midnight and my legs threaten to give out.

The sea-green eyes boy, who looks the same age as I, 18, steps up. "You may go get some rest, soldiers. Tomorrow afternoon is when training starts. I will be expecting you awake by then. I will expect you bright and early. My name is Percy Jackson, by the way. You will address me as Percy, I don't do formal."

His eyes once again find mine. Blinking, I look away.

We all leave, heading to a cluster of tents, I set up my tent on the outskirts. Throughout my walk there, I hear barks of laughter and tired snores. When I arrive at my safe haven, a tiny dragon stands in front of my tent talking to what looks like...a cricket?

"Wh...what," I stammer, pulling out my sword. How tired am I?

The tiny dragon turns, its red body shining in the moonlight. "Ah, you're here! I am Zimmer and this," he gestures to the cricket in the cage, "is Peep."

Not quite sure how to take this, I ask the first question on my mind. "Why are you here?"

Zimmer's eyes brighten, "I am here to help you. With this dangerous quest of yours. Come in, it's late."

"You can't be serious."

"Oh, honey, I am. You're a mess, let's go," he says curtly.

I follow him into my tent and light a candle. I set down my bag with a thump, the ache in my shoulders worsening. Next to Zimmer is a stack of books. "What are those for?"

Zimmer slides them over to me and I realize they are tactical and strategy books for fighting. "If you're going to attempt to fit in, you need to learn quickly. But look at those later, rest is equally important. You will read these in the morning before your first session."