Chapter 1
The slight, elvenly built High Priestess of the Artemesium, in Ephesus, Greece, walked through the sacred Asphodel garden. The white flowers were nearly in bloom. The priestess hoped that the goddess would visit her again this year during the bloom. Artemis usually visited her at those times, when the flowers were in full bloom, and the fragrant smell was breaktaking. The priestess looked into the Cyprus grove, and smiled at the youngest priestess, who was playing with the next youngest priestess. Artemis allowed her youngest priestesses to frolic in the sacred garden, because she loved children, and though they were her servants, she loved them as her own children. The High Priestess had seen the motherly look in the goddess’s eyes.
Euthalia, the youngest, of five summers, and Kharis, of six summers, were sisters one year apart, so that made their bond closer. Their widowed father had sent them here, in a deep sadness, as he couldn’t care for them after their mother’s untimely death. She, as the girls had told her, had drowned on a boat on her way to her parent’s house in Crete. They were young enough, that they were not bothered by it too much. They still played joyously in the grove and gardens. Their innocence shining on their faces in the bright midday sunshine. The priestess wished she was the same. But her goddess loved her nonetheless, so it didn’t matter.
The girls noticed her walking through the lovingly tended asphodel garden, and Euthalia yelled to her.
“High Priestess Kyra, High Priestess Kyra! You should come play with us!”
Kyra laughed, “Sorry my little fawns, it is time for the midday meal, shall we go eat it? I hear Priestess Maia and Priestess Kore prepared fish and cheeses, with pasteli…”
Euthalia ran on her little legs as fast as she could to Kyra, with Kharis on her tail. The older girl looked over her shoulder, and looked back at Kyra. Kharis was the more quiet one of the sisters, and Kyra suspected she was closer to their mum.
When the girls arrived, Kyra picked up Kharis, and she grabbed Euthalia’s little hand in hers.
Though Euthalia was younger, she only allowed others to pick her up when she was asleep. Even then, you might end up with a black eye in the morning, when she moved in her sleep. She was always moving.
Kharis whispered in Kyra’s ear, “There was a strange man in the grove. He appeared to be watching you, High Priestess, Kyra. I didn’t tell Euthalia because I didn’t want to scare her. He didn’t make any moves towards us. Only towards you. He kept following you with his eyes, and getting closer little by little when I looked last, he’d disappeared.”
Kyra laughed nervously, and covered it up with a cough, “Don’t worry about it, little fawn. I am sure it was just a curious foreigner. He probably wants to help in the garden that’s all.”
By now Euthalia had run to the eating area, and was helping herself to a lot of food.
Kharis shook her head, and said aloud, “No. He looked like a mean guy.”
“Dear Kharis, we cannot judge people by their looks.”
“But, High Priestess, he had a scary feel to him, too.”
“I understand, dear, but are you sure he was bad? You thought I was bad at first, too.”
“I-I am not sure.” The little girl looked confused.
“Well, let’s put this aside, for now, then.”
“Al-alright.” She shook her head, as though to clear her thoughts.
“Let’s get some food in our bellies, then, Kharis.”
The Hunter crept into the garden, as the High Priestess of his old enemy left his view. She was a beauty. More beautiful than the goddess she worshipped. He’d once loved that goddess. But then he was killed. And her brother was at fault.
Apollo had sent a giant scorpion to kill the Hunter, and it had succeeded. The goddess soon forgot him, after his trip to the underworld, in death. And now, the Hunter was here for revenge. He wouldn’t let Artemis get away with forgetting him, and he would make Apollo regret it as well. Treading lighter than one might expect, for the tall man, he followed her distinct jasmine scent to her room.
