The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus, #3)

by Rick Riordan

“I try not to think,” Leo admitted. “It interferes with being nuts.

If anybody could keep a guy like that under control, it was Annabeth.

“If we know each other from that other camp, it’s a wonder I haven’t already turned you into a dolphin.” “It was discussed,” Percy assured him. “I think you were just too lazy to do it.”

“Boys,” Annabeth interrupted, “I’m sure you both would’ve been wonderful at killing each other. But right now, you need some rest.”

“And I don’t want you to be Roman. I want you to be Piper.

“Hercules, huh?” Percy frowned. “That guy was like the Starbucks of Ancient Greece. Everywhere you turn—there he is.”

Percy: “Hey, how’s it going?” Annabeth: “Uh, no thanks.” Percy: “Okay…have you eaten anything today?” Annabeth: “I think Leo is on duty. Ask him.” Percy: “So, my hair is on fire.” Annabeth: “Okay. In a while.”

Not forgiving himself for mistakes was one of Percy’s biggest talents.

“The god’s chosen beverage. Tremble before the horror of Diet Coke!”

When he and Annabeth started dating, his mother had drummed it into his head: It’s good manners to walk your date to the door. If that was true, it had to be good manners to walk her to the start of her epic solo death quest.

Intelligence…like Athena’s favorite hero, Odysseus. He’d won the Trojan War with cleverness, not strength. He had overcome all sorts of monsters and hardships with his quick wits. That’s what Athena valued. Wisdom’s daughter walks alone. That didn’t mean just without other people, Annabeth realized. It meant without any special powers.

PERCY WAS TIRED OF WATER. If he said that aloud, he would probably get kicked out of Poseidon’s Junior Sea Scouts, but he didn’t care.