“You're pretty smug, Lord Ares, for a guy who runs from Cupid statues.”

“Everybody was patting Nico on the back, complimenting him on his fighting. Even the Ares kids thought he was pretty cool. Hey, show up with an army of undead warriors to save the day, and suddenly you're everybody's best friend.”

“You stood up to the dragon so Beckendorf would have his chance to jump - now that was brave.""Or pretty stupid.""Percy, you're a brave guy," she said. "Just take the compliment. I swear, is it so hard?”

“Cabin Fifteen does that to everyone," Annabeth warned. "If you ask me, this place is even more dangerous than the Ares cabin. At least with Ares, you can learn where the land mines are.""Land mines?”

“Thalia blushed. "Hi, Lord Apollo."Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half sister. Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back. I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time—”

“Percy?" Annabeth gripped his arm."Oh, bad," he muttered. "Bad. Bad." He looked across the table at Frank and Hazel. "You guys remember Polybotes?""The giant who invaded Camp Jupiter," Hazel said. "The anti-Poseidon you whacked in the head with a Terminus statue. Yes, I think I remember”

“Wait just a minute," Ares growled. He pointed at Thalia and me. "These two are dangerous. It'd be much safer, while we've got them here—""Ares," Poseidon interrupted, "they are worthy heroes. We will not blast my son to bits.""Nor my daughter," Zeus grumbled. "She has done well.”