“I don’t. It cost him his life.”
As she steps back and switches to banal comments about my look, I watch Fulla carefully. Is she uncomfortable with my words, or is it something more?
9
TRITON
With one eye on my book and another on the main door, I pretend not to notice as classmates spill into the great hall for dinner. After a day of segregated classes and training, meals are one of the few times gods and goddesses are encouraged to mingle. Interacting with the fairer sex isn’t my strong suit, I do much better with academics and research, but even I’m curious today with the arrival of the goddess Artemis. I’ve heard too many rumors about Apollo’s sister to be able to hide my curiosity. I’m intrigued to know how many are true. Plus, Dion as well as Thor seemed convinced she’ll be in our alliance for the Trials.
A female.
I fought back a laugh when they told me. I’m not sexist. I believe females can do as much as males, but the Trials are brutal and only the most qualified can survive, much less win. The woman has her work cut out for her if she thinks she has a chance, is all I think.
I turn to one of my friends for a bit of fact-checking. “Is it true Artemis killed a man for seeing her naked in the woods? That she’ll do anything to protect her virtue? Even slicing a man’s balls off and turning it into soup?”
Dion lounges in his dinner chair, looking strategically rumpled for the day. His tie is loosened and his hair messy. Every female that passes by gets the bright flash of a smile. My friend tells us he embraces all the finer things in the world, and that life should be lived to the fullest. Yeah, a life filled with parties and wine to help him embrace all those finer things and help them into his bed. To put it bluntly, Dion is a bit of a manwhore and I don’t agree with his behavior.
He sits forward and peers into the empty bowl in front of him. “I might skip the soup tonight, then.”
“I doubt the madwoman cooked your dinner, Dion.”
“She’s not a madwoman,” he says. Both he and Thor came back to the dormitory with news of her arrival. Both seemed impressed if not a little befuddled by her presence. “She’s not like other females,” was the only explanation Thor would give. “But she seems strong. Feisty.”
“You simply want to screw her,” I say to Dion.
“Obviously.” He flashes me a golden grin. “Give it a day or two and the girl will be eating out of my hand.”
With a sigh, I return to my book about the bio-chemistry of the surrounding ocean and how it’s changing due to climate. The waters here grow colder each year, pushing the sea life further south. This worries me, because if the species I’ve been studying relocate, this could cause big issues with my research.
I’m lost in thought when my chair jerks back as Dion kicks it.
“What?” I snap.
“Dude, I called your name three times.” He pops a piece of ice in his mouth. “I asked what you thought about Artemis?”
“I’ll wait to make my assessment of Apollo’s sister when I meet her. I only got a glimpse of her today and relying on outrageous gossip and rumor is no way to determine someone’s personality.” I push loose hair out of my face where sea salt has stuck strands to my forehead.
“Well you won’t have to wait long,” Dion says, hopping from his seat. “Artemis!”
The goddess herself walks in, and despite the rumors and the two decades spent in the wilderness, there’s no mistaking her beauty. She shares some of Apollo’s features—his chin and high cheekbones—but there’s a wildness in her eyes he never possessed. My eyes skim downward and I’m struck dumb when I take in her full appearance.
“What in Hades’ name is she wearing?” I see what looks like the fabric and make of traditional dinner wear, but she’s slashed the skirt below the knee and it hangs unevenly. The sleeves have been removed, revealing her toned, muscular arms as well as a few scars that could have been made by an animal. When she turns, I see the hilt of a sword tucked against her back.
Perhaps she is a madwoman after all.
My gaze does linger on her legs though, bare and long. Perfect. I look back up and find her staring at my staring. I return to my book, feeling the heat of embarrassment on my cheeks. Crap. I can’t believe I’ve been caught behaving like Dion; sizing her up like that.
“I don’t know,” Dion whispers, “But I’m sensing a new trend in goddess fashion for the spring. I’m all for shorter skirts.”
“Shut up. She’ll hear you.”
Thor and Loki arrive at the same time, the latter walking around the table to his usual seat next to Dion. I hope he hasn’t planned a ‘welcome’ for Artemis. Any bloody excuse for a party and access to wine and girls. Hopefully he’ll use his charms on her, not seductive tricks. The last thing we need is her distrust. Thor graciously points her in the direction of our table, to the seat that has been empty between me and Thor for weeks. Apollo’s seat. It’s painful to see her take his place.
I cross my arms and wait for Thor’s introduction, holding her look when she turns her eyes to mine. “And this is Triton, resident nerd and academic,” Thor says. “If you have trouble with your school work, go to him. He knows everything.”
“Especially about kraken and sirens,” Dion adds with a wink.
“Dion, I keep telling you—” I begin, annoyed.
“Sirens don’t exist,” he interrupts. “I know, but a man can dream, can’t he? A bevy of mermaids, half-naked, swimming in the water. Triton knows what I’m talking about. He has books full of pictures he loves to study. Don’t you?”
Asshole. They can call me a nerd if they like, but they’ll thank me when I figure out how we can win the Trials. I also need to talk to them about what I’ve found in my research into Apollo's death, but I think until I have more concrete information, I’ll stay quiet. Thor’s still raw and the topic leads to angry outbursts and accusations. An angry Thor isn't a pleasant one.
“Kraken?” Artemis asks. She looks me over, her eyes lingering on my arms. Thor and I were cut from the same mold, but opposites in coloring, my skin dark to his light. My hair’s black and wild like the sea; his is golden and tamed like the sun. We could both crush men with our bare hands; I just choose not to. “I’ve always thought they were a myth! Are they real?” Artemis asks.
“Of course they’re real.” I glance at the smirks of my allies. “They’re just shy.”
“Shy? Lurking and waiting to rip unsuspecting sailors to shreds, you mean!” says Dion.
“Well,” she says, poking her finger into my bicep, then looks me over. “With that wing-span I can see how you could be skilled in the water. And it takes brains to defeat a savvy opponent. I’m sure you’re handy in a fight against kraken, just like Thor would be.”
Thor laughs as he picks a roll out of the basket, with a knife he butters the bread and says, “I am a warrior. Triton...not so much. I’m bred to lead armies, dominate legions of men under the banner of my father, Odin.” He points to me. “Triton is faster in water than he is on the land. Although he’s clever with researching answers. He’s the one you want in your corner, if it’s that sort of challenge.”
She turns and gives me a small, amused smile, and says, “I see. Well, nice to meet you.”
That ends the longest conversation I’ve ever had with a girl.
Thankfully, conversation is halted by the arrival of food, large dishes set along the table. I reach for the serving fork and stab at a hen, but the one I’m aiming for vanishes, plucked from the plate by Artemis.
By hand.