The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan Page B

occurred to me that we’d reached the number five, and I wasn’t in the group. “Whoa, wait a sec,” I said. “I want to go too.”
    Thalia said nothing. Chiron was still studying me, his eyes sad.
    â€œOh,” Grover said, suddenly aware of the problem. “Whoa, yeah, I forgot! Percy has to go. I didn’t mean . . . I’ll stay. Percy should go in my place.”
    â€œHe cannot,” Zoë said. “He is a boy. I won’t have Hunters traveling with a boy.”
    â€œYou traveled here with me,” I reminded her.
    â€œThat was a short-term emergency, and it was ordered by the goddess. I will not go across country and fight many dangers in the company of a boy.”
    â€œWhat about Grover?” I demanded.
    Zoë shook her head. “He does not count. He’s a satyr. He is not technically a boy.”
    â€œHey!” Grover protested.
    â€œI have to go,” I said. “I need to be on this quest.”
    â€œWhy?” Zoë asked. “Because of thy friend Annabeth?”
    I felt myself blushing. I hated that everyone was looking at me. “No! I mean, partly. I just feel like I’m supposed to go!”
    Nobody rose to my defense. Mr. D looked bored, still reading his magazine. Silena, the Stoll brothers, and Beckendorf were staring at the table. Bianca gave me a look of pity.
    â€œNo,” Zoë said flatly. “I insist upon this. I will take a satyr if I must, but not a male hero.”
    Chiron sighed. “The quest is for Artemis. The Hunters should be allowed to approve their companions.”
    My ears were ringing as I sat down. I knew Grover and some of the others were looking at me sympathetically, but I couldn’t meet their eyes. I just sat there as Chiron concluded the council.
    â€œSo be it,” he said. “Thalia and Grover will accompany Zoë, Bianca, and Phoebe. You shall leave at first light. And may the gods”—he glanced at Dionysus—“present company included, we hope—be with you.”
    I didn’t show up for dinner that night, which was a mistake, because Chiron and Grover came looking for me.
    â€œPercy, I’m so sorry!” Grover said, sitting next to me on the bunk. “I didn’t know they’d—that you’d—Honest!”
    He started to sniffle, and I figured if I didn’t cheer him up he’d either start bawling or chewing up my mattress. He tends to eat household objects whenever he gets upset.
    â€œIt’s okay,” I lied. “Really. It’s fine.”
    Grover’s lower lip trembled. “I wasn’t even thinking . . . I was so focused on helping Artemis. But I promise, I’ll look everywhere for Annabeth. If I can find her, I will.”
    I nodded and tried to ignore the big crater that was opening in my chest.
    â€œGrover,” Chiron said, “perhaps you’d let me have a word with Percy?”
    â€œSure,” he sniffled.
    Chiron waited.
    â€œOh,” Grover said. “You mean alone. Sure, Chiron.” He looked at me miserably. “See? Nobody needs a goat.”
    He trotted out the door, blowing his nose on his sleeve.
    Chiron sighed and knelt on his horse legs. “Percy, I don’t pretend to understand prophecies.”
    â€œYeah,” I said. “Well, maybe that’s because they don’t make any sense.”
    Chiron gazed at the saltwater spring gurgling in the corner of the room. “Thalia would not have been my first choice to go on this quest. She’s too impetuous. She acts without thinking. She is too sure of herself.”
    â€œWould you have chosen me?”
    â€œFrankly, no,” he said. “You and Thalia are much alike.”
    â€œThanks a lot.”
    He smiled. “The difference is that you are less sure of yourself than Thalia. That could be good or bad. But one thing I can say: both of you together would be a dangerous thing.”
    â€œWe could