invisible string | f. zhang

ii. breaking a heel & declaring war

Frank laughs, "Yeah, well, it's harder than it sounds. We have to get past those scorpions and water cannons on the walls, fight through the inside of the fortress, find the banners, and defeat the guards, all while protecting our own banners and troops from capture. And our cohort is in competition with the other two attacking cohorts. We sort of work together, but not really. The cohort that captures the banners gets all the glory."

"So why are we practicing this, anyway?" Percy asks, "Do you guys spend a lot of time laying siege to fortified cities?"

"Teamwork," Hazel answers, "Quick thinking. Tactics. Battle skills. You'd be surprised what you can learn in the war games."

"Like who will stab you in the back," Frank tells him.

"Especially that," Hazel and Maribelle agree.

They march to the center of the Field of Mars and formed ranks. The Third and Fourth Cohorts assemble as far as possible from the Fifth, and Maribelle knows she should head over to her own Cohort. But she doesn't want to.

Frank props his pilum against his shield and checked Percy's armor.

"You did it right," Frank says as he looks over Percy's armor. Maribelle looks up from where she was adjusting her own, "Percy, you must've done war games before."

"I don't know. Maybe."

"We can use real weapons, right?" Percy asks.

"Yeah," Frank agrees, "For sure. I've just never seen a sword like that."

"What if I hurt somebody?"

"We heal them," Frank says, "Or try to. The legion medics are pretty good with ambrosia and nectar, and unicorn draught."

"No one dies," Maribelle reassures him.

Hazel shrugs, "Well, not usually. And if they do — "

Frank imitates the voice of Vitellius: "They're wimps! Backin my day, we died all the time, and we liked it!"

Hazel and Maribelle both laugh, "Just stay with us, Percy. Chances are we'll get the worst duty and get eliminated early. They'll throw us at the walls first to soften up the defenses. Then the Third and Fourth Cohorts will march in and get the honors, if they can even breach the fort."

Horns blew. Dakota and Gwen walk back from the officers' conference, looking grim.

Maribelle looks over Frank's own armor, he was known for messing it up. She reaches up to adjust one of the straps of his breastplate. She quickly peaks up at him to see his face turning a quiet shade of red.

Maribelle smirks to herself.

"All right, here's the plan!" Dakota takes a quick swig of Kool-Aid, "They're throwing us at the walls first to soften up the defenses."

The whole cohort groans.

"I know, I know," Gwen says, "But maybe this time we'll have some luck! First line with Dakota; lock shields and advance in turtle formation to the main gates. Try to stay in one piece. Draw their fire. Second line — " Gwen turns to Frank's row without much enthusiasm, but then she notices Maribelle, "Belle! Back to your own Cohort! You seventeen, from Bobby over, take charge of the elephant and the scaling ladders. Try a flanking attack on the western wall. Maybe we can spread the defenders too thin. Frank, Hazel, Percy . . . well, just do whatever. Show Percy the ropes. Try to keep him alive. If anybody gets over the wall first, I'll make sure you get the Mural Crown. Victory for the Fifth!"