Dion almost knocks the low table over as he stands. “I’ll go! Thor will probably frighten her. Look at the size of him. Artemis needs someone who can put her at ease. I’m a friendly face.”
Ordinarily, I’d be happy for somebody else to run Hati’s errands, but there’s no way I’m missing out on seeing Artemis first, even if it’s just to make Dion jealous. In truth, I need to know who she is and what she really knows, because I don’t believe Artemis really spent years away from civilized society. Zeus wouldn’t choose a competitor that badly qualified. Would he?
6
ARTEMIS
I lie on the soft grass and close my eyes, allowing the sun to bathe my cheeks. The Academy smells different to my home, but the earthy scent outside is more familiar than the unfamiliar scents trapped inside that building. The Academy is dark. Suffocating. This place swamps my senses and I can’t focus. I couldn’t stand being inside any longer and begged Themis to let me take some fresh air, surprised when she agreed. If I keep my eyes closed, I can pretend that the trickling fountain close by is the stream that flowed by my home every day of my life.
The home I’m unsure I’ll see again.
I hear whispered voices as people pass. I don’t need to see them to know how close they are, or what size. People aren’t much different to animals; the weight and sound of their steps tell me what I need to know about their size. My bow rests on the ground beside me, my fingers outstretched and almost touching.
Themis asked me to leave my bow inside with her, informing me nobody else carries weapons when not training or fighting. I smelled Themis’s worry in her faint, salty perspiration. Does she think the wild girl will rampage through the Academy and kill people? Avenge her brother’s death? I curl my fingers around the familiar wood. No. But I’ve never let the bow out of my sight, and today is not the day I start.
Two sets of footsteps approach closer than any in the last ten minutes and my muscles coil ready to defend myself, as they don’t stop advancing. Scrambling into a sitting position, I shield my eyes from the sun and squint up at my prospective opponents.
No, Artemis. The people here are not your enemies.
Two men. One man and a boy? The boy-like man reminds me of Hati in build—lithe and hiding a strength I can sense. I can’t see his features because the sun is behind him, but I think I can make out a smile. I switch my attention to the second man.
This man is no Hati. None on the boat looked like the mountainous god in front of me, because he couldn’t be anything else but a god.
“Hello, Artemis.” He speaks, voice lower than Hati’s or the other men. With his strange accent, my name sounds different, almost as if he’s making it his own.
My pulse quickens and I’m uneasy that this tall god disarms me and looks down from such a height. I hastily stand, clutching my bow, and eye him with suspicion.
“I’m Thor.” He holds out a broad hand, and as the plain shirt sleeve moves upwards I notice a black tattoo snaking around his wrist and lower arm. I stare but don’t take hold. My hand would fit into his twice over.
His appearance is as unusual as his voice, and I point at his hand. “You’re very pale. Are you unwell?”
The second man-boy chuckles and slaps Thor on the back. “I told you not all girls appreciate your strange Norse looks.”
The name finally registers. Thor. Odin’s son.
His unusual coloring spreads to his pale hair and eyes the color of the brightest summer skies. Is this how they all look? The men from the North? Thor’s full mouth tips into a smile at my scrutiny.
“I’ve heard your name in stories,” I say.
“Heroic stories?” His smile grows.
I look away to the man-boy, in case Thor thinks my interest is more than how unusual he looks.
“Dionysus.” He also offers me his hand. “But my friends call me Dion.”
I search my memory. “I haven’t heard your name.”
Thor’s laughter rumbles in his chest. “Not as infamous as you thought, little D.”
“Now you’ve met me, I’m sure you won’t forget me, Artemis.” He winks. “And not all of me is little, despite the nickname.”
“Perhaps I will, but he looks different to other gods and goddesses I’ve seen since I arrived.” I point at Thor but I keep my eyes on Dion, whose expression changes, and I realize my mistake when his mouth purses. Did I say something wrong?
Heat warms my skin more strongly than the sun, and I hate that I don’t know where I am or what they expect of me. But Thor is different. He looks like he could break a man in two and sweep a woman off her feet and over his shoulder.
Yet Dion—or Little D, as Thor calls him—he’s unique as well. This god is not a warrior, at least not the deadly kind. His body is a different sort of weapon. He’s confident with lank, taut arms and long legs. His eyes watch me carefully, like a mountain lion tracks his prey. I catch myself staring at his mouth, at the pink flesh of his lips. I suspect when he moves it’s not with thunder but with seductive ease.
A chill runs down my spine.
Underestimating Dion could be deadly. Thor, I’d see and hear coming. Dion could violate me in a dozen ways before I even realized he’d attacked.
“Well, my parties are legendary. You’ll have to come.”
I squint in the sun. Parties? Themis told me there’s a whole Academy dinner tonight that I need to prepare for. Is this what he means? I offer him a smile, and Dion’s perturbed look switches into a smile that creases the corners of his eyes. Warm and genuine, wiping away some of my stress in this situation.
“We were asked to introduce ourselves,” Thor says. “Now that we’ve got that settled, Themis would like us to escort you to your quarters, where you have a personal room. After that, you can join us for dinner.”
Dion nods in agreement.
I wait as Thor turns to walk away. Why are they sending gods to talk to me? Where are the other goddesses? “Do you and other gods live in the same quarters?”
“No. Our quarters are at the opposite end of the academy. Guys separate from girls. Well, officially anyway; I often visit them.” Dion winks.
My shoulders relax. I crave time alone; I need to get my head together in time for the dinner tonight. But even that worries me—dinner with gods is a world away from meals in the woods with Victoria. I feel another pang of loss when her face enters my mind, and I smile as I remember our conversation about men. What would she think of the two gods in front of me?
I pull my bow onto my shoulder. “Which way?”
Thor and Dion lead me away from the warm courtyard and into the cool Academy building. The tiled hallway echoes with voices from those passing in either direction, and I pull myself tall and keep my head tipped upright as I walk between the two men. Girls passing by sweep their gazes over us and I compare myself to them. Their clothes are expensive, cut from fine cloth, in colors and styles I’ve never seen before. Some wear long skirts, something I’ve never found practical. But I imagine they don’t run through the woods hunting.
I’m interested in their reactions to the gods walking with me. Many call hellos to Dion and he’s enthusiastic, calling everybody by name and impressing the girls by remembering each one personally. In contrast, girls don’t speak to Thor, although their eyes soften in his presence. The guys sidestep him entirely. Not surprisingly, some girls double-take as he walks by.
“Perhaps you should leave the bow in your room tonight?” I look up at Thor, who stares ahead as he walks. “As you can see, most people don’t carry weapons around the school.”
“Is it safe at the Academy?” I ask, running my thumb over the worn leather grip of my bow. The move is soothing.
“Yes,” he replies, slowing his pace. “I don’t feel the need to carry my hammer.”
“Yeah, probably because if you dropped your hammer it would go through the freaking floor.” Dion nudges him with an elbow. “Or break someone’s toes.”