My heart beat fast when we were called to the judges’ rooms. I’d seen enough of them for one day, and despite my bravado didn’t want to be challenged to anything else by them.
The guys couldn't hide their nerves about the letter from Odin. Did the judges have news about my brother? Or does the letter state the other gods have changed their mind about allowing me into the Trials?
When we discovered the reason why we were called to the judges’ rooms, my friends weren’t impressed. Thanks to Dion’s famous parties, we’ve been forced into extra training to prove our commitment is to the Trials and not to hedonism.
I sit on the small hill and shield my eyes as I look across the valley. We’re several miles from the Academy, amongst the outdoor peace. Despite the circumstances, I’m the happiest I’ve been for days. I run my fingers through the grass and soak in the scent and sounds around me.
The boys don’t share my happiness.
Thor lies beside me, head on his pack, and stares at the sky, though judging by the look on his face, I doubt he’s admiring the sun. Triton stands a few feet away, turning the map and himself in circles as he attempts to locate where we are. “I don’t understand why I’m forced to take part. I rarely attend your stupid parties.”
Dion’s face sours. “I’d like to know who ratted on me. Everybody likes my parties; those who don’t normally keep their mouths shut.”
“Probably some girl whose ass you dumped,” says Thor to the sky. “Or some other guys. Don’t think they didn’t notice your obvious interest in Artemis. There’s no way that didn’t ruffle feathers.”
“Hey!” I cry. “Don’t blame this on me.”
“Don’t worry, his vitriol is aimed squarely at me,” Dion says. “And what was with all that bullshit they gave about how my parties are affecting our performance in class? Okay, give us a detention, but sending us out into the wilds for an extra ’challenge’ isn’t fair.”
I snicker. “It’s hardly the wilds. We’re only a few miles from the nearest town.”
“Yeah apart from that.” Thor points upwards at the gathering gray clouds. “I know a storm when I see one coming. We should keep going.”
Dion continues, “And the fact it’s just us in trouble! Eros and the other champions were at the last party.”
“Will you stop whining?” snaps Loki. “There’s nothing we can do apart from get this day over with.”
I haul myself to my feet. “He’s right. So, which way?”
We’ve spent half a day traipsing around the countryside following clues through the local countryside to locate five checkpoints. The first two were easy enough—we quickly found and solved the puzzles to find the coordinates for the next point. With three to go, the guys brightened, hoping the enforced extra training would be over quickly.
Instead, we’re lost and attempting to find the third and are a long way from the Academy.
Loki and Triton look at each other. “The river,” says Loki. “Right?”
Triton scratches his head. “I don’t know anymore. I’m not a great map reader.”
“If we need to go west, this way.” I point at where the sun lowers in the sky.
Dion flops beside me. “Where exactly did we go wrong?”
I shrug.
“Loki?” he asks.
Loki stands a few feet away, looking down the valley. A river runs below, visible between gaps in the trees. How fast does the water flow? Loki says we need to cross, but I’m unsure that’s a good idea. Triton swears that would be heading in the wrong direction and I agree. My sense of direction is good; I can judge where I am from the sun’s position and shadows’ angles, even which way the moss grows on trees.
But Loki is convinced the third waypoint is across there.
Loki pulls on his bottom lip, lost in thought; when he doesn’t respond, Dion throws a stick at his head. “What?” he snaps.
Dion huffs. “Can you and Triton just agree which way to go back to the Academy? I think we can safely say we failed.”
“Fine. I’ll take charge.” Thor stands and snatches the map from Triton. “We skirted the hills behind, crossing the river is the easiest way. I think we have two hours until sunset. Let’s go.”
LOKI
Our ‘happy’ band continue on the way, and we slide on the grass as we head toward the river bank. I don’t understand why we’ve been forced to do this extracurricular crap, either. Dion’s parties are well-known, have been for years, why punish us now? Adding Artemis is twice as unfair since she’s only attended one. She hasn’t even started lessons yet.
I’m suspicious.
But nothing new there.
I hang back with Artemis, who, despite my thoughts, seems the happiest of our group. Her hair shines brighter in the sun, as do her eyes, and my stomach flips the way it always does when she smiles at me.
“You seem quiet again, Loki,” she says and shifts her pack. “Did the others upset you?”
“Why do you ask that?”
“I don’t know. There’s a tension. I always thought it was just you and your brother, but today I feel it with them all.”
Sticks crunch under our feet as we continue our descent. “Oh, they probably think I’ve caused the situation.”
Her eyes widen. “Why? You were the best at solving the puzzles.”
“Exactly.” I purse my lips. “Nobody has spoken about this yet, but I suspect they think I lied to send us off course.”
Artemis pauses. “Why? That’s unfair.”
“I deserve their suspicion; it’s my reputation. I can’t resist a bit of trickery now and again. Although I don’t understand what they think I’ll gain from causing us to walk around in circles for two hours.”
I look down and watch my feet instead as I keep moving. I’m right, but sometimes their distrust hurts. I once played tricks on them weekly, but since we grew up, I stopped doing this as often. Nowadays, I tend to save them for my own gain. Crap behavior, I know, but when you’re on the edge, pushing to the center is hard.
Artemis reaches out and I look down in surprise when her small hand wraps around mine. “Well, I don’t believe you caused this situation.”
I barely hear her words, because her hands are softer than I imagined. There are calluses on her fingers from her weapon of choice, but she’s warm and her face reflects a genuine concern.
“I’m with you. People don’t trust me,” she says.
“Outsiders, huh?” I smile. “We need to stick together.”
Artemis doesn’t reply for a moment as we continue hand in hand. I shiver as the cool wind sweeps in, bringing more clouds across the valley.
“No, I think we should try harder not to be outsiders, Loki.”
“Easy for you to say, you’ve not put up with people treating you like this for years.”
“But now, and the future, is what matters.”
I rub my thumb across her hand. “I guess.”
She pauses and reaches out to cup my cheek, a confusing gesture. “We will probably always be the trickster and the madwoman, but they’ll see the usefulness of that.”
“You’re not a madwoman.”
“I’ve heard the name calling. But you know what? I don’t care, because at least this way I know who my friends are and who I can trust.” She drops her hand and nods. “Together, we show even outsiders are needed.”
I catch sight of Thor a few feet away, watching us, and his eyes drop to where Artemis holds my hand. I recognize the expression—I’ve seen the deep-browed annoyance when I’ve spoken to girls he wants for himself many times. Thor pisses me off; he often interferes when I spend time with a girl, as if he needs to prove that all goddesses would rather have him. I don’t know what makes him so insecure, because he’s not short of attention.
So, when she kisses my cheek, I just about turn and laugh at him. See, Thor? I already have a connection to Artemis because we’re outsiders. I swear Artemis would rather spend time with the guy who makes her laugh and not the one who marches around like he’s the boss of us all.