A Crown of Golden Leaves: A Percy Jackson Fanfiction

Capvt XXII: Only the Beginning

Capvt XXII: Only the Beginning

"WOULD you care to explain why you have summoned me, pater?" Percy asked after he had rapped on the door and his pater's slave had allowed him to enter. The emancipated man with thinning gray hair bowed as he entered. Percy tried not to look at him. He hated how his pater treated people he considered beneath him, and he worried his loathing would show on his face. Percy had learnt long ago that if his opinions were different from his pater's, he was likely to receive a cuff around his head.

He shook his head, banishing the thought, and pulled his white riding gloves a little higher. He wondered how long he would be detained. Jason had told him the legionaries had seen something strange in Tarentum. Then he said that he was going down there to see what was going on with his own eyes. The small fishing town was such a focal point in Roma that Percy wanted to go with him.

"Ah, Perseus," his pater said, not turning around. That was good, it meant he was in a good mood. "I know you are to make for Tarentum soon, so I will not detain you long." He paused, probably to allow the words to register in his head. Percy clenched his jaw so that he would not be tempted into snapping some snarky retort at him. He wasn't stupid. "Macedon has had suspicious activity. Their king, who is also called Perseus, keeps sending legions of soldiers across the lands. And yet, he has not tried to launch raids on the weaker kingdoms."

A sinking feeling began in the pit of his stomach as an inkling of where this conversation was going to go lurked in the back of his mind. His pater turned around and slowly arched an eyebrow, like he was expecting him to connect the dots. Percy gulped, trying to rid the dryness in his mouth as he remembered back three or four sunrises ago, when his pater mentioned something about Macedon. He had forgotten about it until now.

He wasn't joking about that?

"Do you need me to send a few spies over there?"

A slow smirk spread across his pater's face. "No. I have a better idea. The Macedonians celebrate the turning of the quarter just as we Romans do."

Percy frowned. "Are you saying that I should send a party of ambassadors over there?"

His pater looked frustrated, and Percy was almost positive he would have rolled his eyes if it was not improper etiquette for a Caesar to do so.

"Think, Perseus. Our peace treaties are almost due with the Macedonians, and what better time to renew them than at the turning of the quarter? Who would be better than an upcoming emperor of our mighty kingdom?"

It was only through years of practice that Percy was not gawping at his pater. Him? He was going to send him? But he hadn't been outside of Roma since before his matera died- Usually, Rachel or someone like Reyna or Jason went.

"Me?" he asked, pointing at himself just to make sure. His pater nodded.

"You, and the barbarian princess."

"Heir Apparent," he reminded him, irritated for Annabeth's behath. How many times would people insult her until they realized she could be one of the best rulers? That was, after she was no longer a hostage to her temper and knew how to read and write.

His pater waved his hand dismissively. "You and your wife will go to Macedonia and find out what the Macedonian generals are doing, while renewing the peace treaty. You can take Reyna with you, if that is your preference." He added the last part almost as an afterthought, and Percy tried not to look too overwhelmed or relieved. If anyone could pull off the impossible, it was Reyna. "Actually, while you're out there, stop by Athens. I believe your chart passes close to the Island on the way up so I'm sure it is not too much trouble."