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"Let me skewer him," Hazel muttered "Please"

The ship was only fifty feet away, but Annabeth saw no sign of Coach Hedge on deck He was probably beloatching his stupid roup wasn’t due back until sunset, and Percy would be underwater, unaware of the invasion If Annabeth could get on board, she could use the ballistae; but there was no way to get around these three Roles circled overhead, crying out as if to alert their brethren: Hey, soods over here! Annabeth couldn’t see the flying chariot anyure out so before more Romans arrived

She needed help…soe, or even better--Percy

"Well?" Octavian demanded His two friends brandished their swords

Very slowly, using only two fingers, Annabeth drew her dagger Instead of dropping it, she tossed it as far as she could into the water

Octaviansound "What was that for? I didn’t say toss it! That could’ve been evidence Or spoils of war!"

Annabeth tried for a dumb-blonde smile, like: Oh, silly me Nobody who knew her would have been fooled But Octavian seemed to buy it He huffed in exasperation

"You other two…" He pointed his blade at Hazel and Piper "Put your weapons on the dock No funny bus--"

All around the Roas fountain putting on a show When the wall of seawater subsided, the three Ro to stay afloat in their arer

"You dropped this," he said, totally poker-faced

Annabeth threw her arms around him "I love you!"

"Guys," Hazel interrupted She had a little smile on her face "We need to hurry"

Down in the water, Octavian yelled, "Get ," Percy called down

"What?" Octavian shouted He was holding on to one of his guards, as having trouble keeping the!" Percy shouted back "Let’s go, guys"

Hazel frowned "We can’t let them drown, can we?"

"They won’t," Percy pro around their feet As soon as we’re out of range, I’ll spit therinned "Nice"

They clio II, and Annabeth ran to the helalley for an Iris-et back here!"

Piper nodded and raced off

"Hazel, go find Coach Hedge and tell hiht!"

"And Percy--you and I need to get this ship to Fort Sumter"

Percy nodded and ran to the mast Annabeth took the helm Her hands flew across the controls She’d just have to hope she knew enough to operate them

Annabeth had seen Percy control full-sized sailing ships before with only his willpower This ti the dock ties, weighing the anchor The sails unfurled and caught the wind Meanwhile Annabeth fired the engine The oars extended with a sound like o II turned fro for the island in the distance

The three eagles still circled overhead, but they made no atteurehead blew fire whenever they got close More eagles were flying in formation toward Fort Suod…that was a lot of ene up the stairs with Hazel at his hooves

"Where are they?" he de!" Annabeth ordered "Just defend the ship!"

"But they interrupted a Chuck Norris e through to Jason Kind of fuzzy, but he’s already on his way He should be--oh! There!"

Soaring over the city, heading in their direction, was a giant bald eagle, unlike the golden Roman birds

"Frank!" Hazel said

Leo was holding on to the eagle’s feet, and even fro

Behind the the wind

"Never seen Jason fly before," Percy grumbled "He looks like a blond Superman"

"This isn’t the time!" Piper scolded hih, the Ro straight toward the up to avoid getting traasi The charioteers fired their bows Arrohistled under Leo’s feet, which led toJason and Frank were forced to overshoot the Argo II and fly toward Fort Sue

He spun the port ballista Before Annabeth could yell, "Don’t be stupid!" Hedge fired A fla spear rocketed toward the chariot

It exploded over the heads of the pegasi and threw thes and sent hirasp The chariot shot toward Fort Su into Jason