Poseidon shook his head. "It is bad enough I must send you into danger. Tyson is

too young. I must protect him."

 

"You should trust him," I said. "Not try to protect him."

 

Poseidon's eyes flared. I thought I'd gone too far, but then he looked down at

the mosaic and his shoulders sagged. On the tiles, the mermaid guy in the

crawfish chariot was coming closer to the palace.

 

"Oceanus approaches," my father said. "I must meet him in battle."

 

I'd never been scared for a god before, but I didn't see how my dad could face

this Titan and win.

 

"I will hold," Poseidon promised. "I will not give up my domain. Just tell me,

Percy, do you still have the birthday gift I gave you last summer?"

 

I nodded and pulled out my camp necklace. It had a bead for every su mm er I'd

been at Camp Half- Blood, but since last year I'd also kept a sand dollar on the

cord. My father had given it to me for my fifteenth birthday. He'd told me I

would know when to "spend it," but so far I hadn't figured out what he meant.

All I knew was that it didn't fit the vending machines in the school cafeteria.

 

"The time is coming," he promised. "With luck, I will see you for your birthday