"You idiot, you all have those." Artemis ground out, to the muted snorts and chuckles from the assembled men.
"Sorry! I use a javelin… javelins." The boy stated, blushing a fiery red.
...
Artemis could see why. He had the long arms to heave the weapon as far as possible. But that wasn't the important part of why she chose him.
"Very well," Artemis began, addressing the entire force, "Theseus looks like a stick, however, during your run, I watched him help and encourage dozens of you, some from other groups, who were falling behind. Therefore, from this point forward, Theseus will be one of the leaders of javelin training."
Before any could respond, Artemis did the exact same to nine other individuals who she had seen being leaders in the impossible run. There was groaning, and jeering as certain individuals were called up, but at the end, Artemis had ten boys chosen, who stood in a line in front of the mass of Macedonians.
"Now," Artemis shouted, noticing the failing light in the sky. Torches from the camp were more useful to her than the alit clouds in the sky. She had to finish quickly, "Tomorrow, whatever happens, you will all run the same course you did today, after camp has been settled. Only this time, you will do five loops with your group. This can be done at any point, but you must complete it, and do it quickly. The ten I have selected will be doing advanced training with me."
"That's not fair!" A boy shouted out immediately.
Artemis craned her head, but was unable to find the source, "Yes, well, they are doing ten loops, would you like to join them?"
The blissfulness of silence greeted her question.
"I will be teaching your 'leaders' the finer points of ranged fighting, in javelins, slings, bows, and close quarters combat. They will pass on what they've learned to you." Artemis continued, sensing the skepticism around her. "this process will rotate daily, and I assure you, sometime soon I will help you all personally. Now get some rest, you'll need it for tomorrow."
Artemis was surprised that there were no more lingering questions, as the boys filed out in a mob to the gateway. The watching guards and officers parted ways for them. She watched them go, standing immobile as the last finally entered camp, and finally letting out a deep sigh. Her legs felt wobbly, and her voice felt like a frog had crawled down her throat, and was trying to make a home there.
Training hunters was a friendly familiar activity. But this was different. Nine hundred compared to thirty-four. And her thirty-four were dedicated young maidens whom she loved like children and sisters. The Macedonian boys weren't her hunters. They were untrustworthy, presumptuous, and vulgar.
'Only some.' She amended quickly. The few she had picked out seemed like decent boys. But that judgment would come in time.
"Already diving into the training, I see?" a familiar voice called out from the gateway.
Artemis knew who it was, even before the man stepped out of the ever-increasing shadows of the gateway.
"Perseus." Artemis responded flatly. A mix of anger and relief flooded her senses. She would have to sperate those later, "Enjoy your brooding on a mountain?"
He gave an amused grin in reply, scratching his short beard. Artemis was about to follow up with another barbed quip, before Perseus began to speak.
"I'm sorry."
It wasn't the surprise of the statement that ground her mind to a halt… it was the sincerity of it.
She could only wait, like a poised cat ready to bolt or lunge, as she sought a continued explanation.
"And I mean it, this time. I'll admit that I am a bit hot-headed at times, and my sarcasm can get out of control. Granted, you really didn't have to punch me in the gut earlier, but looking back on it… I understand your reasoning. I promised you your own tent, then I sprung the idea of sharing a tent on you, with Pericles as a witness. Not my finest moment." Perseus rubbed the back of his head, his green eyes dancing this way and that, "Although, I was truthful about my wife. She was meant to accompany me. Of course, you couldn't have known that. And reacted accordingly. In fact, with hindsight, I think I would have been skeptical if a maiden goddess didn't react in a similar manner when she learned that she would be sleeping in the same tent with a man."
"You could have told me outright in Alexander's tent?" Artemis carefully pointed out. Her anger was gone, as she studied the young Macedonian in the torchlight. He had a purple cloak on, along with his tight leather chest piece and faded tunic. It was just them, even the officers had disappeared from the wall. And from what she could tell, the wall guards were gone from their posts for the moment.
Perseus waved her comment off, "I know Alexander. He's my King, and an astoundingly good military leader, but he has a sense of humor like no other. Even with his knowledge of who… of you, he would've remorselessly provoked the both of us."
"But that's besides the point. It has been a wild two days, and earlier I had to tell myself it was all real. When that hit me, I knew that I had to get things straight with you. I pledge myself, to the best of my abilities, to assist you in getting through this expedition alive and unscathed."
An instinctive retort of self-reliance was immediately poised and ready on her lips, but she stopped herself. There was a hint of… gratuity in her stomach, that pooled flowed slowly within her.
"You are asking for a fresh start between us then." Artemis reasoned before easily concluding the matter in her mind, "I wish for that as well. You are an interesting man Perseus." Their prior conversation earlier in the day played out before her. She recalled that he really had no reason to be sorry, yet here he was, recognizing her outburst of anger.
"I try to be." He replied jokingly, before turning more to a more objective tone, "I have also found that the tales about you are true. My officer Alcibiades was howling in my ear when I came back from the nearby hills about your audacity for disrespect. But then I saw you single handedly kill a drakon and get my men started in their training. I'd say you are the interesting one Cleoxene.
A small part of her had a confusing disappointment at being called Cleoxene, but she shook it off, "I believe you owe me a small favor. I will retire to… our tent. You, however, will go fetch something for me."
Perseus, reached forwards, and Artemis responded in kind, grasping his toned forearm, "What would you have of me?" Perseus asked lightly.
Artemis palmed the sack of drachmas that had rested on her waist since her visit to the blacksmith. She saw no need to subject herself to going back to that establishment.
"Give this to the blacksmith just down that row," Artemis pointed behind him, "And pick up my hunting knives for me. Now, I bid you goodnight Perseus. I am exhausted." She strode past him, ignoring the protesting muscles in her legs.
"Wait, where did you get these from… and how did you… you know what, never mind. I'll just go do that." Perseus awkwardly cut himself off.
She turned back to him, and he bowed, before pivoting himself towards one of the guardhouses, where he exchanged words with the guards there. Half a dozen soldiers strode out and took up positions on the gate. Another two men slowly closed the solid oak doors themselves, which shut out the darkness with a loud thud as they closed.
It was settled, and Artemis walked back through the torch lit strip of dirt, pondering her recent conversation with Perseus. No matter how genuine he was, she hoped that the tent had a thick divider.
...
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