If not for the horses, Piper would’ve died.
Jason and Percy charged each other, but Tempest and Blackjack balked long enough for Piper to leap out of the way.
She rolled to the edge of the road and looked back, dazed and horrified, as the boys crossed swords, gold against bronze. Sparks flew. Their blades blurred—strike and parry—and the pavement trembled. The first exchange took only a second, but Piper couldn’t believe the speed of their sword fighting. The horses pulled away from each other—Tempest thundering in protest, Blackjack flapping his wings.

The Mark of Athena, Chapter XI