"And close to me?" I asked.

 

"Well, someone's got a big sense of his own importance." But she laced her

fingers through mine. I remembered what she'd told me in New York, about

building something permanent, and 1 thought — just maybe — we were off to a good

start.

 

The guard dragon Peleus curled contentedly around the pine tree underneath the

Golden Fleece and began to snore, blowing steam with every breath.

 

"You've been thinking about Rachel's prophecy?" I asked Annabeth.

 

She frowned. "How did you know?"

 

"Because I know you."

 

She bumped me with her shoulder. "Okay, so I have. Seven half-bloods shall

answer the call. I wonder who they'll be. We're going to have so many new faces

next summer."

 

"Yep," I agreed. "And all that stuff about the world falling in storm or fire."

 

She pursed her lips. "And foes at the Doors of Death. 1 don't know, Percy, but I

don't like it. I thought . . . well, maybe we'd get some peace for a change."