For some reason, she didn't mind his gaze on her. Although that may have been because she knew with certainly that he didn't leer at her with a disgusting degree of lust in his eyes.
...
Artemis threw her bow over her shoulder, slinging it in position with her quiver, and began walking along the forming column of men and donkeys. They were surprisingly quiet, and most wore some sort of dark cloth over their heads. None had their weapons drawn. As she neared the front, she heard a low voice to her left, from the outer side of the column.
"Gods… you think she'd be willing to guide me somewhere dark and secluded?" A chorus of chuckles met the question.
She froze in her tracks. Leering was something entirely infuriating, but this atrocity had to be answered. She unshouldered her bow and pivoted, seeing the slight, leering man who had uttered his last innuendo. He carried a walking stick like Perseus, and had leaned over to watch her as she passed.
A couple of the scouts around him shifted uneasily, but he didn't seem to be fazed. That fact made her internally smile. Had he known who she was, he would have been quaking in his boots. Without hesitation, Artemis drew an arrow, drew the bowstring back in a fluid movement, and released: all in the blink of an eye.
There were yells and a dull THUD, as the arrow found its target. Artemis had already pivoted back and began walking towards the head of the column again. Behind her, there was a splutter of muted laughter.
Perseus eyed her seriously, his hand on the hilt of his sword. She knew he was serious. She smiled at him, looking up towards the freshly appearing stars. Still looking, she found her marks, "Oh don't worry, I only shot his walking stick. I can't promise anything if I hear another lewd comment."
Perseus's only reply was a snort of amusement.
Artemis stretched nimbly, arching her back, delighting in the pops she heard, that set her back into a comfortable rest, "We set out after that towards the Cilician Gate. It was a rather dull affair. But I was as good as a navigator as I am today. We made it to the Cilician Gate by midmorning, at a swift forced march pace. We covered 45 miles, and at the end of our journey, we merged with the secondary Macedonian army, under Parmenion."
Victoria leaned forward from her cozy position from laying against Elizabeth, "If Parmenion led a secondary force at the Cilician Gates, then where was Alexander?"
Artemis nodded briefly, "He was at Gordion, or so we thought. I crested the final ridge between us and Parmenion to find that Perseus was wrong…"
Every step sent a throbbing jolt of pain through her body. Her knees quaked as she climbed up the rocky ridge. It was steep, and the only blessing she had was that it was light out. Climbing this in the dark would have been a nightmare. The ridge itself was only as tall as a young pine tree. Perseus was right behind her, and she tried not to think about the view she was giving him. Although, knowing him, he hadn't even glanced, so she spared him from several rocks that could have easily found their way down on top of him. A sheer low wall was her last obstacle, and she quickly scrambled over it, panting heavily as her legs cried out from overuse. On her knees, Artemis felt an urge to retch come, and then pass. She spit into the dry rock face, already thinking of the water at was back at the head of the column.
Perseus finally joined her, and she was happy to see he had as much difficulty in scaling the low sheer rock wall as she did.
"Oh gods, remind me to never appoint you as a guide again," Perseus moaned, struggling to his feet.
Artemis looked at him, feeling an unwarranted smile etch itself into her features. They hadn't talked at all until they had reached this rocky ridge, until she had suggested climbing it to get a vantage point. The foothill path had led them out of the way of the clear path to the Cilician Gates, but now, finding that narrow entrance was a bit difficult from the ground.
Artemis forced her smile down, and replied steadily, "Stamina is important Perseus, I am not surprised you lack it."
He chuckled at that, "I heard you panting in the last couple of miles too my Lady, you can't fool me. Although I will say, I was about to call for a fourth rest stop." He walked over to her, offering a hand.
"I wouldn't have allowed it." Artemis disregarded the outstretched hand. Planting her right leg forward, she rose to a standing position, keeping any discomfort off her face. She wouldn't show weakness, especially not in front of Perseus.
It ended up not mattering as he had turned to look over the jagged peaks and expansive mountainous terrain that lay before them. However, nestled off to the right, was a large valley floor, filled with bright white tents, and soldiers that milled about. Off to the side of the valley floor was a large tent, with the Macedonian Sun emblazed above the flaps. That tent could only belong to one person.
"The Cilician Gates… but you said Parmenion occupied them… isn't that…"
Perseus laughed aloud, "ALEXANDER!" he roared, raising his hands, waving them wildly. Below, there was a chorus of shouts and questions, and many of the men in the valley turned towards the sound of Perseus's voice, carried through the rocky valleys. After only a couple of seconds, a figure burst from the large tent. Clad in a white tunic, with ornate bronze armor and a leopard pelt draped over his shoulders.
Even with the distance, Artemis saw Alexander's stance, and he raised a clenched fist. They had arrived at the Cilician Gates.
Maneuvering down the ridge, and leading the column to a passable point over the ridges that surrounded the mountain pass was challenging, but by early afternoon, Artemis sat on a flat rock, surrounded by soldiers and civilians alike, all hustling one way or another. He legs throbbed in earnest, and she drank from a cool water skin, gingerly massaging any kinks she found in her legs. She had the fortune of also resting in shadows, as the command tent she was next to conveniently blocked the slow setting sun.
The guards by the tent still eyed her warily, but she was fine with that. It was much better to be a threat then a prize to be won. She was approving that the ill-mannered 'Royal Scouts' did not extent to Alexander's personal guard. Perseus had entered the tent with Alexander not long ago, and Artemis could only guess what they were discussing. At first, she had been certain that Perseus was going to reveal her identity to the entire Macedonian army, or even just forget about her. She didn't really mind being left alone, to trail this… campaign until it's end. However, Perseus had helped her immensely so far, and it wasn't the greatest thought that she was in his debt. Before, she had helped him, but now, he had paid that favor in full, and then some as well.
Her fingers were busy at work, absentmindly plucking her bowstring to a little tune. Perseus continued to alter her perceptions of men. Granted, he alone couldn't speak for all his fellow men, but she had given up classifying him off her usual standards. He was kind, thoughtful, devoted, and trustworthy… she liked him, if she was being honest with herself. He was young, bold, and obnoxious at times, but never rude. She imagined him in 20 years, and her mind granted her a surprising image of a wise father, carrying a boy on his shoulders. The thought sent a bolt of joy through her, before she could suppress the image. Her domains were still hers, and try as she might, that image was seared in the back of her mind, the image of a boy yet to be born.
That thought sent a spasm to her hands, which twanged her bowstring out of her little tune's rhythm.
No. She couldn't like him. He was just a means to an end. A tool. He was merely…decent… with some ordinary morals. Nothing more. He had no children, he was not a father, and provoked her at the slightest chance he got. She ticked these thoughts off the top of her head, finding these easy flaws. He was a young man, whose ambitions would ultimately get the better of his short uneventful life. Perseus was mortal, who she found to be tolerable, in her quest to restore her place at Olympus.
Approaching footsteps gave her a great reprieve from dealing with those very unwanted thoughts.
Only it was Perseus who had come, which sent that maddening image back to the forefront f her mind. Behind him, other figures were walking swiftly away from the command tent. Artemis recognized some of them, including the heavily bearded man that Perseus had knocked unconscious.
"Kleitos?" She asked, gestured with one end of her bow towards the rapidly disappearing man.
Perseus shrugged in response, "He was one of Philip II's most trusted generals. Alexander has kept him along. Although we have our differences, I will admit his is a capable commander. Now come on, let's go milady. The war council is out, and I think you should meet Alexander."
Artemis raised her eyebrows, "I thought you were helping me? Now we are telling everyone who I am?" There was a lethal venom in her tone, almost challenging Perseus to make a misstep.
"Not everyone. Trust me, let's go."
...
Don't forget to leave a review for the story
...
if you want to support me or just to read ahead of the public release, you can join my p@treon :
p atreon/Moonhorse