Previously:

"Did you give him what for, Percy?" Thalia asked excitedly. "What'd you tell him? Did you tell him where he could stick his-"

"Yes, yes, Thals, calm down," I chuckled. "We start heading back as soon as Wolvis and Cartha are done so get ready."

Not long after I said that, the captain called for us and led the way on his horse.

"I hope the Ulthric guy opens his mouth again," Thalia said, bouncing as we started off. "Every time he does it's really rude and I want an excuse to stick my arrow up his-"

"Thalia!"

Hey everyone! This is the first official chapter I have written since I have been back from my mission. Any others before were all written before I left so I had some going while I was gone.

Let's get to it, shall we?

"Ho there!" Four heads turned toward the man that was the captain of the company. His name was Edric and he was pointing at them from atop his horse. "Have an end to your dawdling, Stronghammer and Perseus' 'army'-" you could almost feel the sarcasm in those words "-lest I change my mind about you and leave you to stand guard with the archers!"

Roman dusted his hands on his leggings and rose from the kneeling position he was in. He was a burly man with an overgrown beard and hard eyes. Eyes that have seen far too much. "Yes, sir! As you wish, sir!" The dislike he had for the captain only detectable to the three that followed his example in standing from the earth.

"As good as he is in commanding men, he's a terrible people person," one of them commented. It was a man named Charles Beckendorf, son of Hephaestus. He was a large man that wore unique armor. It stood out from the other men in the Varden for it's high quality and color, black and gold. It had feathers in these colors all over it in a decorative but dangerous looking fashion.

"Not at all like Percy is as a commander," another, Selina Baerugard, daughter of Aphrodite agreed. She had dark hair and wore the same black armor with golden accents. The bird-like attributes of it made her look exotic. "Quite the opposite in fact. Instead of boosting morale, it weakens it and discourages creativity."

Roran glanced over at them. "My thoughts exactly," he muttered. "I can't help but wonder why Nasuada put me under him."

"Maybe it's a test," the third in black and gold said. Ethan Nakamura, son of Nemesis. He had a patch over his left eye and sleak black hair. "It could be something to see if you have potential to be a leader. Can you work with a guy like him?"

The bearded man huffed as he climbed on top the horse he received from his cousin at his wedding not too long ago. "If I must." He rode to the front of the column of 250 men. Not including the three in the black and gold armor. A small force but with the aid of Percy's old friends, they had the advantage to any foe.

Their mission was simple; stop the Empire's forces as they attempted to destroy resources like crops that would aid in the invasion by the Varden. The number of soldiers they were targeting now were close to 700. The odds would not be good if they didn't have the elite from Chaos' best warriors with them.

"What's the plan?" Beckendorf asked as they watched Roran side up to a man named Carn on his dappled mare. The demigods were on foot like a few other people in the company, those who did not bring horses with them into the Varden.

"For what?" Ethan questioned. "We are not in charge of this mission."

"So?" Beckendorf shrugged.

"I think you have been spending too much time with Percy's dad." Ethan shook his head. "We can't just take over a mission led by someone else's army because the leader is not capable of being a good leader. That would be like me telling you how to blacksmith."

"I did not say anything about taking over," Beckendorf pointed out.

"Then what were you suggesting?" Ethan demanded, putting his hands on his hips. He gave the larger man a sharp look. Any other man would have been intimidated but they were old friends. His friend just smirked.

"You were putting words in my mouth," Beckendorf stated, turning away. "I can't believe you."

"By the gods," Ethan cursed exasperatedly. "Do tell me what you meant to be saying then."

"Edric needs to be more humble," Beckendorf said. "We should fix that."

"Charles," Ethan said, dropping his head in his hands. "That is not our place, we are guests here."

"I am sure Nasuada would appreciate it actually," the blacksmith said with a smile. "Maybe even thank us."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"Charlie has a point, Ethan," Selina spoke up now. Said son of Nemesis threw his hands up and turned away. "Can you imagine Percy conversing with him?"

They watched as the man they were conspiring against yelled at a soldier for not walking in a perfect line behind the man he was supposed to be following. They shuddered. Despite being apart from said Primordial for centuries, they were not ignorant to Percy's opinion on stuck up people in power.

"Ok, fine," Ethan sighed. "I assume you have an idea?"

- - -

"This is a terrible idea!" Ethan tried to be quiet, really. But this once he was too astonished to even try.

"What?" Beckendorf asked. His face the picture of innocence. He adjusted his grip on the sword he wielded in anticipation of the fight coming their way.

"Not you," Ethan assured. "Him." He jabbed the tip of his own short sword in the captain's direction. The plan he had them following was suicide in Ethan's opinion. He'd had Roran take his group along with Selina around the back of the town to flank the group of soldiers in a village they were attacking. Edric had themselves going straight in. They were to meet in the middle. Good plan in theory. But there wasn't enough of the Varden for it to work. They were out numbered by at least three to one. While the odds weren't impossible, it didn't support the plan Edric was going through.

"But yes, your idea is terrible too," Ethan finished.

"How? We're saving more lives this way," Beckendorf countered.

"We won't be following orders," Ethan pointed out.

". . ."

"Okay, you're right, we're not technically under Nasuada and therefore him but how do you think this'll look for Percy?"

". . ."

"Okay, fine! Never mind!" Ethan huffed, crossing his arms over his chest in resignation.

"Oi! Quit your yapping and fight!" They apparently hadn't noticed the battle raging around them.

Waisting no more time, they jumped into the fray. The two of them were fully capable of eradicating the entire 700 soldiers (with the help of Selina of course) but none of the Varden knew that. Currently, they were focused on any soldiers that had grouped on their comrades. Making it easier for their team to stay alive. Their plan was to only fight to save the lives of the Varden. Except for Edric's. They didn't try with him too much. It's like they were half hoping he would die in this battle.

It took a bit of their time, considering the numbers of the enemy but no matter how many lives they saved, there were four soldiers that would gang up on one Varden warrior. Their numbers still decreased at an alarming rate.

It was just when things started looking beyond desperate when they saw him. Roran came charging on his white stead with some of his forces. He didn't wear any shining armor but it was as close as they could get. He didn't come from the expected direction though. Like any of them were going to complain when his horse went about trampling the enemy beneath his hooves and bashing people's head in with his hammer. It was a welcome relief.

"To me!" He shouted as he drew nearer to Edric and the others. Surprisingly alive. "To me!"

Arrows appeared out of no where, taking out many of the soldiers they fought.

"Charles!" Ethan was grinning widly as he pointed to the surrounding rooftops.

The man that Beckendorf was fighting sprouted an arrow from his head. The son of Hephaestus looked where Ethan pointed to see a fearless daughter of Aphrodite standing atop one of the houses with several other men. Firing arrows in deadly volleys. Beckendorf had never seen a more beautiful sight.

Roran and his warriors surrounded the group with Edric and the two immortal demigods. "Back! To the houses!" They ran to the nearest house, unfortunately loosing three more along the way.

The captain slumped against the wall, gasping for breath. Ethan and Beckendorf took guard by the corner of the house at the end of the ally. The others were too exhausted to keep going right that moment.

"Your intervention is most timely and welcoming, Stronghammer, but why do I see you here and not riding out from among the soldiers as I expected?"

What's was that about not anyone complaining? Yeah, forget that.

Roran explained that their path had been suicide because of the amount of soldiers expecting them and would have put their mission in jeopardy. So he did something else, putting archers on top of the houses. Doing so in order to save people in the Varden and help them win...In not so many words.

Edric's face grew darker and darker as Roran kept talking. He didn't chastise him for not obeying orders but he said, "Have those men come down at once. They have succeeded in breaking the soldiers' discipline. Now we must rely upon honest blade work to dispose of them."

"There are too few of us left to attack the soldiers directly!" Roran protested. Ethan and Beckendorf shared a dark look. "They out number us better than three to one!"

"Then we shall make up in valor what we lack in numbers!" Edric bellowed. "I was told you had courage, Stronghammer but obviously rumor is mistaken and you are as timid as a frightened rabbit. Now do as your told and do not question me again!"

"Oh, shut up!"

The two arguing men looked over in surprise at the end of the ally. Ethan was glaring at Edric as best he could with one eye. "You're just upset you didn't think of it first and Roran's saved more lives!" He said. "He's got more courage in his little finger than you do in your entire body. But besides that fact, he's smarter. His ideas are better than yours by a thousand but that's not the point." He stepped away from his post and took out a dagger with a green sheen on it's blade from a sheath on his arm. He pointed it at Edric threateningly. "The point is you are too prideful to listen to those you are fighting with for ideas other than your own! The glory in winning lessens as more and more people die. If Roran had followed though with your plan, we'd all have died!"

"Get your friend under control, Beckendorf." Edric growled. "Or I'd have to go to Perseus."

"Percy would agree," the quiet giant said.

Edric ignored him, he must have known they were right about something even if he didn't agree and was never going to admit it. He pointed to one of Roran's warriors. "You there, lend me your stead." Edric pulled himself onto the saddle and said, "Half of you on horse, follow me; I go to reinforce Sand. Everyone else, remain with Roran."

"I swear, the arrogance of that man," Ethan grumbled as they watched him ride off. He turned to Roan expectantly, putting away the dagger now that his opportunity to stab the man was gone.

After a few moments where Roran glanced over the men left behind, he said, "You have heard what Edric said. I disagree. If we do as he wishes, all of us will end up piled in a cairn before sunset. We can still win this battle but not by marching to our own deaths! What we lack in numbers, we can make up with cunning. You know how I came to join the Varden. You know I have fought and defeated the Empire before and in just a village! This I can do, I swear to you. But I cannot do it alone. Will you follow me? Think carefully. I will claim responsibility for ignoring Edric's orders but he and Nasuada may still punish everyone who is involved."

"Then they would be fools," growled the magician in their company. Carn moved forward to stand by Roran. "Would they prefer that we die here? No, I think not. You may count on me, Roran."

The rest of the men squared their shoulders at Carn's declaration. They all decided to cast their lot with him. Ethan was smiling, which looked more than a little sinister and caused Roran to shudder.

"Aye," a man that came with Roran said. "You may count on us as well, Stronghammer."

"And us," Beckendorf said for the both of them unnecessarily.

"Then follow me!" The bearded man shouted. He reached down to pull Carn up behind him on his horse and led them to where he left the archers. They were still firing arrows at the soldiers.

They dashed behind homes, large arrows fired from crossbows buzzing by, narrowly missing many of them. Some found their way buried in their shields.

"This is gonna be great," Ethan said giddily to Beckendorf.

He only looked at the smaller man, and amused look in his eyes but he nodded in agreement. His small friend found strange joy in disobeying orders, especially when it involved killing something. It rivaled Percy's tendency to the same sometimes.

- - -

"I'm so telling Percy," a grumbling voice came from a figure stopping after the company of the Varden now down to only 114. Their numbers dropped by nearly half in that one battle. The figure was Ethan and he was grudgingly moving along on foot with Roran and his fellow demigods.

Roran was on foot because his horse had gained significant wounds that wouldn't allow a rider until he was healed. He would be fine, as would Roran. The man himself was wounded as well. He hadn't focused too much on protecting himself as he fought, only in killing as many as he could. And what a number he achieved! Nearly 200 all himself. Many of the others would congratulate him and were all astounded at the news. The three demigods were also impressed, considering he hadn't had any combat training before leaving Carvahall.

"And what's Percy going to do?" Selina challenged.

"Kill him?" Ethan said hopefully. "He is not fit to lead so maybe at least a demotion?"

"Only Nasuada can do that," Roran grunted. "Percy is technically not a part of the Varden."

"Either way," Selina said. "No matter what, we are going to make sure he takes the fall for this because it's more than just ridiculous. 'Honest blade work,'" she spat. "The soldiers of this 'Empire' don't care about that, do they?"

"Can I be the one to tell Percy?"

"Yes, Ethan," Selina sighed.