Jason had to stand up and accept his destiny, just as he had done when he faced Porphyrion with his bare hands. Sure, it seemed impossible. He might die. But his friends were counting on him.

"And if I fail?" he asked.

"Great victory requires great risk," she admitted. "Fail, and there will be bloodshed like we have never seen. DemiG.o.ds will destroy one another. The giants will overrun Olympus. Gaea will wake, and the earth will shake off everything we have built over five millennia. It will be the end of us all."

"Great. Just great."

Someone pounded on the cabin doors.

Juno pulled her hood back over her face. Then she handed Jason the sheathed gladius. "Take this for the weapon you lost. We will speak again. Like it or not, Jason, I am your sponsor, and your link to Olympus. We need each other."

The G.o.ddess vanished as the doors creaked open, and Piper walked in.

"Annabeth and Rachel are here," she said. "Chiron has summoned the council."

THE COUNCIL WAS NOTHING LIKE Jason imagined. For one thing, it was in the Big House rec room, around a Ping-Pong table, and one of the satyrs was serving nachos and sodas. Somebody had brought Seymour the leopard head in from the living room and hung him on the wall. Every once in a while, a counselor would toss him a Snausage.

Jason looked around the room and tried to remember everyone's name. Thankfully, Leo and Piper were sitting next to him-it was their first meeting as senior counselors. Clarisse, leader of the Ares cabin, had her boots on the table, but n.o.body seemed to care. Clovis from Hypnos cabin was snoring in the corner while Butch from Iris cabin was seeing how many pencils he could fit in Clovis's nostrils. Travis Stoll from Hermes was holding a lighter under a Ping-Pong ball to see if it would burn, and Will Solace from Apollo was absently wrapping and unwrapping an Ace bandage around his wrist. The counselor from Hecate cabin, Lou Ellen something-or-other, was playing "got-your-nose" with Miranda Gardiner from Demeter, except that Lou Ellen really had magically disconnected Miranda's nose, and Miranda was trying to get it back.

Jason had hoped Thalia would show. She'd promised, after all-but she was nowhere to be seen. Chiron had told him not to worry about it. Thalia often got sidetracked fighting monsters or running quests for Artemis, and she would probably arrive soon. But still, Jason worried.

Rachel Dare, the oracle, sat next to Chiron at the head of the table. She was wearing her Clarion Academy school uniform dress, which seemed a bit odd, but she smiled at Jason.

Annabeth didn't look so relaxed. She wore armor over her camp clothes, with her knife at her side and her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. As soon as Jason walked in, she fixed him with an expectant look, as if she were trying to extract information out of him by sheer willpower.

"Let's come to order," Chiron said. "Lou Ellen, please give Miranda her nose back. Travis, if you'd kindly extinguish the flaming Ping-Pong ball, and Butch, I think twenty pencils is really too many for any human nostril. Thank you. Now, as you can see, Jason, Piper, and Leo have returned successfully... more or less. Some of you have heard parts of their story, but I will let them fill you in."

Everyone looked at Jason. He cleared his throat and began the story. Piper and Leo chimed in from time to time, filling in the details he forgot.

It only took a few minutes, but it seemed like longer with everyone watching him. The silence was heavy, and for so many ADHD demiG.o.ds to sit still listening for that long, Jason knew the story must have sounded pretty wild. He ended with Hera's visit right before the meeting.

"So Hera was here," Annabeth said. "Talking to you."

Jason nodded. "Look, I'm not saying I trust her-"

"That's smart," Annabeth said.

"-but she isn't making this up about another group of demiG.o.ds. That's where I came from."

"Romans." Clarisse tossed Seymour a Snausage. "You expect us to believe there's another camp with demiG.o.ds, but they follow the Roman forms of the G.o.ds. And we've never even heard of them."

Piper sat forward. "The G.o.ds have kept the two groups apart, because every time they see each other, they try to kill each other."

"I can respect that," Clarisse said. "Still, why haven't we ever run across each other on quests?"

"Oh, yes," Chiron said sadly. "You have, many times. It's always a tragedy, and always the G.o.ds do their best to wipe clean the memories of those involved. The rivalry goes all the way back to the Trojan War, Clarisse. The Greeks invaded Troy and burned it to the ground. The Trojan hero Aeneas escaped, and eventually made his way to Italy, where he founded the race that would someday become Rome. The Romans grew more and more powerful, worshipping the same G.o.ds but under different names, and with slightly different personalities."

"More warlike," Jason said. "More united. More about expansion, conquest, and discipline."

"Yuck," Travis put in.

Several of the others looked equally uncomfortable, though Clarisse shrugged like it sounded okay to her.

Annabeth twirled her knife on the table. "And the Romans hated the Greeks. They took revenge when they conquered the Greek isles, and made them part of the Roman Empire."

"Not exactly hated them," Jason said. "The Romans admired Greek culture, and were a little jealous. In return, the Greeks thought the Romans were barbarians, but they respected their military power. So during Roman times, demiG.o.ds started to divide-either Greek or Roman."

"And it's been that way ever since," Annabeth guessed. "But this is crazy. Chiron, where were the Romans during the t.i.tan War? Didn't they want to help?"

Chiron tugged at his beard. "They did help, Annabeth. While you and Percy were leading the battle to save Manhattan, who do think conquered Mount Othrys, the t.i.tans' base in California?"

"Hold on," Travis said. "You said Mount Othrys just crumbled when we beat Kronos."

"No," Jason said. He remembered flashes of the battle-a giant in starry armor and a helm mounted with ram's horns. He remembered his army of demiG.o.ds scaling Mount Tam, fighting through hordes of snake monsters. "It didn't just fall. We destroyed their palace. I defeated the t.i.tan Krios myself."

Annabeth's eyes were as stormy as a ventus. Jason could almost see her thoughts moving, putting the pieces together. "The Bay Area. We demiG.o.ds were always told to stay away from it because Mount Othrys was there. But that wasn't the only reason, was it? The Roman camp-it's got to be somewhere near San Francisco. I bet it was put there to keep watch on the t.i.tans' territory. Where is it?"

Chiron shifted in his wheelchair. "I cannot say. Honestly, even I have never been trusted with that information. My counterpart, Lupa, is not exactly the sharing type. Jason's memory, too, has been burned away."

"The camp's heavily veiled with magic," Jason said. "And heavily guarded. We could search for years and never find it."

Rachel Dare laced her fingers. Of all the people in the room, only she didn't seem nervous about the conversation. "But you'll try, won't you? You'll build Leo's boat, the Argo II. And before you make for Greece, you'll sail for the Roman camp. You'll need their help to confront the giants."

"Bad plan," Clarisse warned. "If those Romans see a warship coming, they'll a.s.sume we're attacking."

"You're probably right," Jason agreed. "But we have to try. I was sent here to learn about Camp Half-Blood, to try to convince you the two camps don't have to be enemies. A peace offering."

"Hmm," Rachel said. "Because Hera is convinced we need both camps to win the war with the giants. Seven heroes of Olympus-some Greek, some Roman."

Annabeth nodded. "Your Great Prophecy-what's the last line?"

"And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."

"Gaea has opened the Doors of Death," Annabeth said. "She's letting out the worst villains of the Underworld to fight us. Medea, Midas-there'll be more, I'm sure. Maybe the line means that the Roman and Greek demiG.o.ds will unite, and find the doors, and close them."

"Or it could mean they fight each other at the doors of death," Clarisse pointed out. "It doesn't say we'll cooperate."

There was silence as the campers let that happy thought sink in.

"I'm going," Annabeth said. "Jason, when you get this ship built, let me go with you."

"I was hoping you'd offer," Jason said. "You of all people -we'll need you."

"Wait." Leo frowned. "I mean that's cool with me and all. But why Annabeth of all people?"

Annabeth and Jason studied one another, and Jason knew she had put it together. She saw the dangerous truth.

"Hera said my coming here was an exchange of leaders," Jason said. "A way for the two camps to learn of each other's existence."

"Yeah?" Leo said. "So?"

"An exchange goes two ways," Jason said. "When I got here, my memory was wiped. I didn't know who I was or where I belonged. Fortunately, you guys took me in and I found a new home. I know you're not my enemy. The Roman camp-they're not so friendly. You prove your worth quickly, or you don't survive. They may not be so nice to him, and if they learn where he comes from, he's going to be in serious trouble."

"Him?" Leo said. "Who are you talking about?"

"My boyfriend," Annabeth said grimly. "He disappeared around the same time Jason appeared. If Jason came to Camp Half-Blood-"

"Exactly," Jason agreed. "Percy Jackson is at the other camp, and he probably doesn't even remember who he is."

G.o.ds in The Lost Hero.

Aeolus The Greek G.o.d of the winds. Roman form: Aeolus.

Aphrodite The Greek G.o.ddess of love and beauty. She was marred to Hephaestus, but she loved Ares, the G.o.d of war. Roman form: Venus Apollo The Greek G.o.d of the sun, prophecy, music, and healing; the son of Zeus, and the twin of Artemis. Roman form: Apollo Ares The Greek G.o.d of war; the son of Zeus and Hera, and half brother to Athena. Roman form: Mars Artemis The Greek G.o.ddess of the hunt and the moon; the daughter of Zeus and the twin of Apollo. Roman form: Diana Boreas The Greek G.o.d of the north wind, one of the four directional anemoi (wind G.o.ds); the G.o.d of winter; father of Khione. Roman form: Aquilon Demeter The Greek G.o.ddess of agriculture, a daughter of the t.i.tans Rhea and Kronos. Roman form: Ceres Dionysus The Greek G.o.d of wine; the son of Zeus. Roman form: Bacchus Gaea The Greek personification of Earth. Roman form: Terra.

Hades According to Greek mythology, ruler of the Underworld and G.o.d of the dead. Roman form: Pluto Hecate The Greek G.o.ddess of magic; the only child of the t.i.tans Perses and Asteria. Roman form: Trivia Hephaestus The Greek G.o.d of fire and crafts and of blacksmiths; the son of Zeus and Hera, and married to Aphrodite. Roman form: Vulcan Hera The Greek G.o.ddess of marriage; Zeus's wife and sister. Roman form: Juno.

Hermes The Greek G.o.d of travelers, communication, and thieves; son of Zeus. Roman form: Mercury Hypnos The Greek G.o.d of sleep; the (fatherless) son of Nyx (Night) and brother of Thanatos (Death). Roman form: Somnus Iris The Greek G.o.ddess of the rainbow, and a messenger of the G.o.ds; the daughter of Thaumas and Electra. Roman form: Iris Ja.n.u.s The Roman G.o.d of gates, doors, and doorways, as well as beginnings and endings.

Khione The Greek G.o.ddess of snow; daughter of Boreas Notus The Greek G.o.d of the south wind, one of the four directional anemoi (wind G.o.ds). Roman form: Favonius Ouranos The Greek personification of the sky. Roman form: Ura.n.u.s.

Pan The Greek G.o.d of the wild; the son of Hermes. Roman form: Faunus.

Pompona The Roman G.o.ddess of plenty.

Poseidon The Greek G.o.d of the sea; son of the t.i.tans Kronos and Rhea, and brother of Zeus and Hades. Roman form: Neptune Zeus The Greek G.o.d of the sky and king of the G.o.ds. Roman form: Jupiter.

Coming Fall 2011.

The Heroes of Olympus, Book Two.

THE SON OF NEPTUNE.

Praise for The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan:.

The Lightning Thief.

"Perfectly paced, with electrifying moments chasing each other like heartbeats."

-The New York Times Book Review The Sea of Monsters.

"In a feat worthy of his heroic subjects, Riordan crafts a sequel stronger than his compelling debut." -Publishers Weekly (starred review) The t.i.tan's Curse "All in all, a winner of Olympic proportions."

-School Library Journal.

The Battle of the Labyrinth.

"Look no further for the next Harry Potter; meet Percy Jackson, as legions of fans already have." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review) The Last Olympian "The hordes of young readers who have devoured Rick Riordan's books ... will no doubt gulp down this concluding volume as greedily as they would a plateful of ambrosia, or maybe pizza."

-The Wall Street Journal.

Praise for The Kane Chronicles Book 1: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan:.

"The first volume in the Kane Chronicles, this fantasy adventure delivers what fans loved about the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series: young protagonists with previously unsuspected magical powers, a riveting story marked by headlong adventure, a complex background rooted in ancient mythology, and wry, witty twenty-first-century narration."

-ALA Booklist (starred review).

"Riordan fans young and old will eat this new book up."

-The New York Times Book Review "Fans of the Riordan magic-equal parts danger, myth, and irreverence-will embrace this new series with open arms."

-Horn Book.

"This tale explodes into action from chapter one... Readers pining for Percy Jackson will find new heroes in Carter and Sadie Kane."

-Kirkus Reviews "Once again, Riordan masterfully meshes modern life with mythology and history, reinvigorating dusty artifacts such as the Rosetta stone and revitalizing ancient Egyptian story lines."

-The Los Angeles Times.

"A truly original take on Egyptian mythology ... A must-have book." -School Library Journal (starred review) "For anyone who was afraid he couldn't top his Percy Jackson series or his initial t.i.tle in the 39 Clues, fear no more. Riordan mined Greek myths for the lineage of his campers at Half-Blood. Now he drills into the depths of Egyptian history and lore for the page-turning Kane Chronicles. Riordan has a field day ... imparting Egyptian history as he weaves his spellbinding tale. Plenty of humor keeps things light... Readers will be clamoring for the next installment."

-Shelf Awareness.

About the Author.

Rick Riordan is the author of the New York Times #1 bestselling The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid, as well as all the books in the New York Times #1 best-selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series: The Lightning Thief; The Sea of Monsters; The t.i.tan's Curse; The Battle of the Labyrinth; and The Last Olympian. His previous novels for adults include the hugely popular Tres Navarre series, winner of the top three awards in the mystery genre. He lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife and two sons. To learn more about Rick, visit his Web site at www. rickriordan.com.