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My wide eyes look at Artemis who gives me a reassuring nod.
With that, I take a nice swing. The fabric tears away like butter with a butter knife. As the silk falls to the ground, I swipe at the limp fabric.
Yet again, the knife tears cleanly through it.
The merchant was right. This thing was sharp and downright deadly.
“Perfect.” The Moon Goddess grins. “We’ll take it.”
Tossing several bags of drachmae his way, I try to not think of how much Artemis has spent on me today but a bit of me feels guilty.
“Are you ready to head back to the castle?” My friend asks.
“Sure.” I pause at the sight of a toga clasp. It's a bright gold saucer with flowers stamped into the background and a diamond lyre inlaid as the center focal point. My heart clenches. This pin reminds me of the time I was gardening, and Apollo was playing his lyre while I worked. “Actually, can I get this too? I want to give it to Apollo.” Sheepishly, I look up at her.
Artemis nods enthusiastically. Throwing yet more bags at the vendor. So many that I chose to ignore it to keep me at ease with my mind.
The vendor packs each piece in a velvet pouch. Taking great care in their storage. He gushes over each one, telling us about how they were each handmade locally.
After which, we make our way to the palace gates. Sure enough, they were as close as Artemis had said they were.
From a distance, we see the gates buzzing full of commotion. Guards are running all around, checking everyone coming and going heavy. The lines looked huge. “What’s going on up there?”
Artemis shrugs. “Not sure. Maybe Apollo is holding court today? Who knows with that man. But all I know is we aren’t waiting in line. We live here and we aren't waiting.”
Skeptically, I watch her. Not willing to talk back to this goddess. She seems innocent enough, but my gut tells me that she’s not one to cross. Especially when she’s on a mission. Cutting through the long line, I duck the gate following on her heels, the guards watching us with wide eyes. With faces pale. Like they’re seeing two shades. One put his hand out in front of Artemis. Blocking our path.
Darkness covers our immediate area. Even though it’s midafternoon.
In a swift motion, she drew an arrow aiming it between his eyebrows. “I swear to Gaia, if you don’t move your hand, I'll turn you into a goat.”
“Yeah, and not like a cute pygmy goat. An ugly one,” I smiled over to Artemis proudly.
She half laughs and half grimaces before adding, “Yeah. What she said.”
The guard looks between the two of us. Back and forth like he was not sure what to make of us before he released us. Probably not willing to risk the wrath of the Moon Goddess. Allowing us to enter the palace. I expect her to tuck away her weapon, but she holds it idly, resting at waist.
Ever confident, Artemis treks up the path. I'm nearly sprinting to keep up with her. I ask, “What’s gotten into you?”
“I have a bad feeling. The guards. They haven’t acted like this since… Well Persephone’s disappearance. Then before that… When Zeus was dethroned.” Gravely she explained. “Just stay by my side. We need to find Apollo, Athena, or Ov. Once we’ve assessed the danger, you're free to go.”
“Get your dagger out now.” She instructs me.
Pulling out my purchases, I clasp the dagger between my fingers.
Artemis tosses her bags at the nearest guard. Ordering them to drop off the bags in her room. As we enter the palace, Artemis prowls slowly. Like a cat ready to pounce. “This dagger feels large enough to be a sword.
Sure, immortals seem to be able to shift their size based on what suits them at that moment, but for the most part, Apollo, Artemis, Ov, and Athena all are over seven feet tall.
With a snap of her fingers, the dagger shrinks down to the appropriate size. “Thank you,” I reply meekly.
A lot of good that would do me. Sure, I use it while hunting to put a creature out of its misery, but this isn’t the same. Unless of course my experience with mincing mint would be transferable.
“Right now, I still hope you won’t need to use it,” she whispers. “Half of sword play is posturing. look like you know what you’re doing.”
I laugh gravely. Not because it was funny, but because the tension was so thick in this castle that I could cut it with my dagger.
Artemis nearly floats down the hallways, past rooms and corridors. Blitzing past the staff who are rushing around us. Finding a staff member she questions in a commanding tone, “Apollo?”
