Artemis and Pym followed Ajax deeper into the Great Wood. The path grew more faint as they went, soon becoming little more than a game trail. At times it seemed their guide would disappear, but they soon realized his garb allowed him to blend with his surroundings. If not for the fact that he was moving, he would have been impossible to see. Pym leaned over to Artemis and nudged her, “Is it just me,” he said, “or do you think the Tree That Walks Like a Man is trying to get us lost?” Artemis grinned at him, “I think it’s just you,” she said, “but I’m happy to see you joking again.” “Yes, well,” Pym smiled back, “if I don’t do it, you’ll have to, and we both know I’m the funny one.” Artemis laughed. Pym turned serious, “You know,” he said, “I don’t think I properly thanked you for all you did yesterday.” “You’re my friend,” Artemis replied, “friends do that sort of thing for one another, right?” “Only the best of them,” Pym told her. Then, looking even more serious, “I won’t ever forget this, Artemis.” “Hey,” she told him, “you’re helping me rescue Kael. I’d consider us even at this point.” “That reminds me,” Pym’s face lightened a bit, “I remember some of the dreams we shared last night. I understand now just how much Kael means to you, and I can promise you I’ll do whatever it takes to bring him back. Besides,” a sly grin spread across his face, “he is awfully handsome.” “He’s also mine,” Artemis said, punching the young speedster in the arm, “so keep your hands to yourself.” “Well,” Pym teased, “you know what they say: ‘anything goes at the spring fires’.” Artemis laughed again, “Pym, if you can find a moment at the spring fires where I don’t have some part of Kael between my legs, you’re welcome to try your luck.” Pym joined her laughter, and they fell into an easy silence. “Hey,” Artemis finally said, “you haven’t tried to speed off once since we left the farm.” “I would if I thought there was the slightest chance I wouldn’t become completely lost,” Pym answered, “This isn’t the Westwall jungle, you know. I hear this forest borders the Wild Lands in some places.” “Indeed it does,” Ajax said, suddenly appearing beside them, “though our path will not take us there this day.” Pym nearly jumped out of his skin, “Gah!” he yelped, “are all of the Hunt as sneaky as you?” Ajax rolled his eyes, “With the amount of noise you two are making, a drunken golem could sneak up on you.” “Can a golem even get drunk?” Pym asked. “It was not meant to be taken-” Ajax looked between Artemis and Pym, who both tried to stifle giggles, “Ah,” he said, “you were being facetious.” “It’s hard to find a time when Pym is not being facetious, Ajax,” Artemis consoled the Huntsman, “it’s just his way.” “Mm.” “So,” Artemis changed the subject, elbowing Pym in the ribs, “where exactly are the Sisters? Is it far to go yet before we reach them?” Ajax nodded, “Oh yes. This is but the outskirts of the Great Wood. The Sisters live in its heart, many days travel from here. Worry not, however,” he assured them, “the Wood shall supply us with food and shelter as we have need.” All told, the journey through the Wood took roughly a week. During their travels, Pym learned much from Ajax about their surroundings, and the Wood’s many inhabitants. By week’s end, Pym was catching their dinner, and had become quite adept at finding or constructing temporary shelter. Artemis, who had spent time with the Hunt in her youth, found many of the old skills quickly returned to her. “So, how did this all get here?” Pym asked one night, “And what makes the Wood so special that it can resist axe and saw and even fire?” “Well,” Ajax began, “first you must understand that natural fire will burn the Wood. At times, a fire in the right place can keep a forest healthy. It is malicious and willfully destructive fire that finds no purchase on this timber. As to its origins,” he settled back against the fallen tree he was resting on, “that is something of a tale.” “The Great Wood was planted eons ago,” he said, “in the footsteps of the mightiest of all the dryads. His name was Druid, and by means I will not go into here, he was blessed by Luna to become greater than all his fellows.” And so Ajax spun his tale of ancient days: days when humans were little more than apes, and the four Sacred Lines of Amorlia had only just begun. He told of how Druid left Faerie for the world of mortals, and of his long walk across the land. Everywhere he stepped, the Great Wood grew up around him, until he finally took his rest, deep in the heart of his new forest. “He sits there still, waiting for the return of his true love,” Ajax finished the story as the last embers of the fire dwindled, casting his face in a deep orange glow. Artemis pondered the story, but Pym was full of questions. “His true love? Who was his true love?” “Of that,” Ajax said, “I can speak no further.” He lay down on the ground, cloak wrapped around him, and closed his eyes. “Why not?” Pym wanted to know. “It is not my place to tell.” “Why not?” There was no answer. “Ajax?” Pym asked, “Why is it not your place? Ajax?” The Huntsman’s continued silence suggested that Ajax had fallen asleep. A quick glance told Pym the same about Artemis. With a grumbling curse, Pym lay down on his own patch of ground and tried to join them. The next day they traveled from dawn to dusk, stopping only when absolutely necessary. When pressed on his need for such haste, Ajax informed them that they would reach the Sisters that night. “Mother Moon rises tonight,” he told them, “It is vital you meet with the Sisters under Luna’s maternal glow.” “Why?” Artemis asked. “With the moon at her fullest, the Sisters will have powers unavailable to them during the Maiden and Crone phases,” Ajax explained, “While those phases have their advantages, it is the gifts of the Mother you need most on this quest.” “Oh.” They came upon the clearing at twilight, the sky above a deepening purple, the stars just beginning their nightly dance. Below the sky, fireflies mirrored the dance of the stars as they flitted and twinkled about the clearing. At the center of this open space was a stone circle that formed a ring around a pool of dark water. The pool was calm, and held a vision of the starry sky on its surface. In its center was reflected the moon, her full aspect shining a brilliant radiance upon the the stones of the circle. “Here I must leave you, Artemis, Princess of Vega,” Ajax said with a deep bow. Turning to Pym, he said, “And you must leave her too. This is a place of great mystery, and no man may set foot here.” “I set foot where I please,” Pym said, crossing his arms over his chest, “and my place is with Artemis.” “It’s okay, Pym,” Artemis said, her voice little more than a whisper, “I’ll be safe here.” “How do you know?” “I just do.” Pym looked at her. By the moon’s light, her face had the look of purest marble. Her blue triple-moon mark stood in stark contrast to her pale face, and Pym could have sworn it was glowing slightly. She looked at him, and the stars danced in her eyes, I’ll be okay, Pym, she thought, really. Pym nodded and followed Ajax back into the dense forest. Once alone, Artemis made her way to the circle. She stood at the edge of the pool, lost in the reflection of the moon. “Welcome Artemis,” a voice said from behind her, “to the Yoni Luna.” Artemis turned as five women dressed in black emerged from a small cave that came up out of the ground. The cave mouth sat among the stones and was part of the circle. Artemis assumed it led to a much larger cavern deep underground. “It does,” one of the women said. A deep hood obscured most of her face, so that only the lower half was visible. She and the others took up positions around the pool inside the circle. Artemis looked from one to the other and waited. “I am Sister Raya,” the first woman said before introducing the others in a clockwise progression around the circle, “This is Sister Kaatene, Sister Tan, Sister Terine and Sister Karma.” The Sisters bowed to Artemis, and Sister Tan spoke, “I am certain there are many questions you have in need of answers,” she said, “and we shall do our best to answer as many as we can.” “But there is much we must also do to prepare you,” Sister Karma said, “for the actions you will take once those answers are revealed.” “So be ready, Artemis Vega,” Sister Terine said, “for a time of great change is upon you.” “A time of rebirth,” Sister Kaatene explained, “and a time to finally take your first steps toward your true destiny.” The women stepped forward as one, com
ing closer to Artemis, who seemed as one entranced. They chanted to her in unison. “So speak one, so speak us all. So speak the Sisters of Luna!”
A Blessing for the Princess
Sister Kaatene slid the sword of Nazeas from Artemis’ belt, plunging it into the ground at the edge of the pool directly opposite the cave opening. Sister Raya removed the princess’ bracers while Sister Tan unbuckled her leather vest. Sister Karma lifted the jeweled crown from Artemis’ brow, while Sister Terine unlaced her gown. The five Sisters then slid the gown off of Artemis, and assisted the young woman in removing her boots. They hummed a strange tune in a minor-key harmony while doing so, and did not speak until Artemis stood naked before them, her clothes folded in a neat pile by her sword. She stood with her back to the pool, the Sisters arrayed about her in an arc. Sister Karma spoke first, “You have come to us as a human woman, last of the Sacred Line of Vega, heir to the usurped throne of your Land.” “But it will take more than that to succeed in the task you face,” Sister Terine declared. “So you must become more,” Sister Kaatene told her. “As an infant, you were blessed by the Priests of Solar.” Sister Raya said. “I was,” Some part of Artemis screamed at her to be wary, that she was leaving herself vulnerable. But that part of her was small, and easily ignored. Far from feeling threatened, Artemis felt as safe as when she was a little girl, held close in her father’s strong arms. “You bear the ancient sword of the philosopher king Nazeas, and with it, the blessings of his followers,” Sister Tan said. “I do.” Sister Tan nodded, explaining, “There is one last blessing you must receive, and of all three blessings, this will be the most important.” “You will enter the pool,” Sister Karma said. “You shall exit the cave,” Sister Terine told her. “And in between,” explained Sister Kaatene, “become what you are.” “Let us begin,” the Sisters proclaimed in unison. They gathered around the princess, anointing her with oil. They began with the top of her head... “We anoint the crown, to open your mind to Luna’s light.” Then her forehead... “We anoint the third eye, so you may see all that is unseen.” Oil was applied to her throat... “We anoint your voice, that all may hear you and listen.” To the center of her chest... “We anoint your heart, so you may feel Luna’s love.” To her belly... “We anoint your womb, so you may know the power of creation.” And finally, between her legs. “We anoint your sex, so you may find strength in your passion.” They stepped back from her, joining hands. “Blessed be to Artemis,” they chanted, “Princess of Vega, savior of Amorlia, Sister of Luna!” Artemis felt a powerful energy course through her, connecting her to both earth and sky. She could not move, she could not speak and all she could see was light. Behind her, a woman made entirely of water emerged from the pool. She reached out to the enraptured princess and wrapped glistening arms around her. A watery hand covered Artemis’ mouth, and the two vanished beneath the surface of the pool. What is happening? Artemis asked, still not afraid. For all that she was submerged in water, she had no trouble breathing. Liquid thoughts entered her mind, We are traveling, moving between realities, from the realm of mortals, to that of the Otherworld. Are you one of the Faer Folk? I am a nyad, the water-woman told her, a Water Spirit. A great current swept Artemis into its flow, and when it stopped, she found herself on the shores of a mighty river, but one she had never seen before. Above her, all the stars of the night sky were concentrated into a brilliant pathway that stretched from one horizon to the other and seemed a reflection of the river. The nyad sat atop the flowing water, heedless of its flow. Another approaches, she thought to Artemis, and She has waited long to finally meet you. Farewell, Artemis Vega. I wish you good fortune. Thank you, Artemis answered. She would have said more, but the Water Spirit had vanished, becoming one with the river. Artemis turned, and saw a woman walking toward her. Dressed in a flowing gown made at once of fire, air, water and earth, she had long black hair that seemed sprinkled with glittering stars. She was the most beautiful woman Artemis had ever seen, and the young princess felt compelled to kneel. “No no no,” the woman said in a voice made of music, “please rise. Of all who live, you must never kneel to me. Though it was from my own womb that the universe was birthed, you must always stand proud before me.” She reached down and gently brought Artemis to her feet, cupping the other woman’s cheek in her hand. “I am the Goddess Luna,” she said, “I am known as the Bride of Solar and the Lady of the Moon.” She looked into the eyes of the awestruck princess and smiled. “I am your mother.”
Family
Artemis stood on the shore of a celestial river, fists clenched, trying to come to terms with the fact that she’d just punched a goddess in the face. “Well,” Luna remarked, rubbing her jaw, “I hadn’t expected an abundance of affection, but that was a little much, don’t you think?” Artemis remembered why she’d punched her mother in the first place, and did it again. This time her fist hit solid air, breaking three of her knuckles. “aaaAAAAHGH!” she yelled, cradling her hand. “I gave you one, Artemis,” Luna shook her head, “Don’t push your luck.” “Damn it!” Artemis hunched over her hand. “Language.” “Shut UP!” The serenity granted by the Sisters was gone, “You broke my hand! Do you know how much that HURTS?!” “Then heal it.” “Grrrgh,” Artemis growled, “not one of my powers.” She did use her telepathy on herself, however, to muffle the signals transmitted by her pain centers. It was a stop-gap measure, but she’d be able to ignore the pain for a while. She tried to keep her hand steady, and suddenly regretted not having any clothes. “Your... powers,” her mother drawled, “Of course.” “What?” “You’ll see,” Luna said, “when it happens, you’ll understand what I’m getting at. But for now, there are things you need to know, and gifts I need to give you.” “Yes,” Artemis stood straighter, gritting her teeth as a bit of pain got through her shield, “Kael. I was told the Sisters would answer my questions, but I presume they were going to have you do it.” “Not entirely,” Luna demurred, “My part, at least for now, is to give you the gifts I’ve promised and to share some information. The Sisters will tell you what to do with all of it, and help you on the next leg of your journey.” “Where is that?” “Faery.” “I thought this was Faery.” Luna shook her head, “This place is not Faery. This place is... somewhere else.” She held out her hand, and a robe appeared in it for Artemis. It was long and black, like the ones worn by the Sisters. “Which brings us to your first gift. Before I give it to you, put this on.” Artemis took the robe, “Why?” “You’ll thank me later.” Artemis shrugged and wrapped the robe tight around herself. “Okay,” she said, “what’s my first-” “Artemis?” A voice she shouldn’t be hearing came from behind her. She turned. “Father?” Anders Vega walked up the beach to Artemis, smiling, and hugged her. She hugged him back, tears running down her face and along her wide smile. They held each other like that for a moment, then stepped back. “How..?” “You’re in the realm of the gods, Artemis,” her father explained, “This is the Summerland.” “Where noble souls go to await their next life?” Artemis looked around, then at her father. “And you’re here?” “Oh that is lovely,” Anders rolled his eyes, “Cheek. You’re getting cheeky now,” he sighed dramatically, “Even in death I get no respect from my offspring,” his eyes were drawn to Artemis’ hand, which was beginning to swell, “What did you do to your hand?!” Artemis blushed, “Oh, you know, it’s nothing. I just... um, punched,” she inclined her head toward Luna, “um, you know, her.” “Why?” “It’s what I always promised myself I’d do, if I ever met my mother.” “Again, why?” Artemis was silent a moment. Then, looking up at Anders, “I know you were sad sometimes,” she said, “I would see you at night, just staring out the window and sighing. When I asked people about it, they would just smile and say your heart had been broken. It was years before it finally occurred to me that the woman who had broken it was my mother.” “So you decided you’d punch her in the face if you ever met her?” Artemis grinned sheepishly, “It seemed the best course when I first considered it,” she admitted, “and havi
ng her in front of me, knowing what she was, all she could do, her absence made me even angrier. So...” “Artemis,” Anders came and hugged his daughter again. Then he stood back and laughed, shaking his head, “that was very foolish. Sweet,” he smiled warmly at her, “but foolish.” Luna came to stand by him, and he smiled at her too, “There’s a reason your mother couldn’t visit, and it has to do with Kael, and where he is, and what you need to do to save him.” “Tell me!” Artemis said eagerly. “Well,” it was her father’s turn to look sheepish now, “It’s a bit of a story, but you just need to know a part of it. “ He cleared his throat, “It began, as all such things begin, with nothing.” “And into this nothing came the Spark. And the Spark became two. And She looked upon Him, and He upon Her, and They coupled. And so it was that love entered Creation before the universe did. Bathed in the Spark, She loved Him and He Her, for an infinite moment. And when They parted, She swelled with new Life. Her luminous belly continued to grow until She could stand no more of it and birthed the Universe. They looked upon Their creation in awe. Gases swirled and spun off galaxies that grew solar systems within themselves. “From the remnants of stellar formation and handfuls of Spark, They crafted the First World, that would one day be called Faerie, and peopled it with beings of pure Spark so that They might never be lonely. And the creatures of Faerie offered up prayers of thanks to the two Deities, whom they called Solar and Luna. And so it was that forever after, She would be known as Luna and He as Solar.” Anders drank from the goblet of water Luna handed him before continuing, “They walked the shining hills and shimmering woods of Faerie and were pleased. They did couple again, this time bringing forth two daughters. The first born, a quiet sullen child of void and shadow, they named Umbra. Her sister was a fair babe that glowed with radiant brilliance, named Aura. She was the light of her Father’s eyes, and she softened an already benevolent Aspect. “That same Aspect turned harsh and unforgiving when Aura’s light was forever extinguished. No one could understand how the young godling had died, but then none had looked to Umbra, who seemed all the more cheerful - if such a term could be applied to her - since the untimely death of her twin.” His eyes darkened as he looked at Artemis, “And so was balance undone and evil unleashed upon Creation.” Luna looked sad, “Umbra’s mischief caused so many problems,” she said, “Death, destruction, misery and pain; these are the fruits of Umbra’s labors.” “And lies, deceit, trickery and seduction are her tools,” Anders finished, “Much of the current trouble facing Amorlia is of Umbra’s making. Ancient plots and old schemes still bearing their rotted fruit after all these many years.” “But, according to legend,” Artemis said, “Umbra committed some great sin and was imprisoned in the Underworld.” “That she was,” Luna nodded, “Since ages long past, Umbra has been sealed away from the worlds of mortals and Faeries, trapped in a land of broken souls guarded by six Hells. But now,” she said, her face haunted, “she has a plan for getting out. And I am afraid it is all my fault.” “How so?” Luna sighed. “When Umbra was imprisoned, eons ago, a pact was struck between her, myself and her father. Her imprisonment would be absolute, with no chance of escape or release, so long as we too eschewed the living world. We could answer prayers, of course, but we could no longer act directly in the world of mortals.” “So, what happened?” Artemis asked. Luna smiled over at Anders, “I fell in love,” she said. “While we could not influence events directly, we could still watch them unfold,” she explained, “and watching your father during the last war, seeing the kind of man he was, it stirred feelings in me I’d not felt for millennia.” She shook her head, “I knew I shouldn’t have done it,” she said softly, “but even gods can fall victim to their own desires.” Artemis held up her hand, “I don’t know that I need to hear the word ‘desire’ used in reference to my father,” she shuddered, “ever.” “Call it what you will,” Luna said, “I needed to be with him. And a few years after the war ended, I found my chance.” “My mother had just recently died,” Anders picked up the story, “I had been working hard to rebuild our Land, which had suffered terribly in the war. It happened that my ascension to the Monarchy coincided with the start of spring. It was decided that my coronation would happen on the night of the first spring fires. As a symbol of my devotion to the Land and its people, I would lay with a Lunite priestess, taking the part of Solar to symbolize the creation of the universe, and the rebirth of the Land Vega.” Artemis put up her hand again, “I also, for future reference, do not need to hear talk of you ‘laying’ with anyone, Father.” “At any rate,” Luna interrupted, “part of the ritual involved calling me down into the body of the priestess. I just... took it one step further and came to Amorlia myself.” She smiled at her daughter, “I will spare you the details and will simply say that by the end of the evening I was pregnant with you. The pregnancy did not last long,” she explained, “I bore the entire universe in far less time than it takes a mortal woman to bear one child, so you were not exactly difficult. Once you were born, I knew I could not raise you here. Being of a mortal man, your place was with your father. I had the nyads deliver you to the Sisters, who left you at the gate to your father’s palace. The rest you know,” she finished. Then, reaching out to Artemis, she said, “But I never stopped missing you, or your father.” Artemis was quiet as she processed all she’d been told. Then, she told her mother, “I’m sorry I hit you.” Luna smiled, “I’m sorry you broke your hand. Here,” she held her hands out, and Artemis placed the broken one in them. Luna kissed the swollen knuckles, and within moments Artemis’ hand was whole and unmarred. “Thank you,” Artemis said, wiggling her fingers. Luna simply smiled. “So how has Umbra taken advantage of what happened between you two?” Artemis asked. “Though I did not blatantly break the covenant I agreed to, I did set a precedent for involvement in mortal affairs. Umbra sought to exploit this, and I believe she has finally found a way.” “What?” “A machine,” Luna explained, “built by the foul demon smiths of the sixth Hell and traded to her for empty promises. Umbra believes it will pierce the veil between the Underworld and your world, allowing her to roam free once again.” “Then what does she need Kael for?” Artemis was confused, “She already has this machine.” “But all machines need fuel,” Luna told her, “and this particular machine needs a noble soul of great power to make it run.” Artemis put her hand to her mouth, “Kael.” She looked frantically about, “How much time do we have? It can’t be long, I have to go now, I can’t-” Luna reached out and touched Artemis’ mark, and almost immediately the young princess felt a great calm envelop her, “Peace, daughter,” Luna said, “there is still time, though it grows short. I have one more gift to give you, then you must return to the world above. There the Sisters will guide you on the remainder of your journey.” Artemis nodded. Luna approached and pulled Artemis into her arms. She kissed her daughter’s mark and it flared blue. Artemis staggered back, clutching her head. “There are thoughts and feelings and even senses no mortal has ever known that are now yours,” Luna said, “They will subside, until you can learn to use them properly. Once again, the Sisters will show you the way.” She smiled down at her daughter, “You are of divine heritage, Artemis Vega. It is time now for you to embrace it.” Then Luna turned again to Anders, “I must leave now,” she said, “Please escort our daughter home.” “I would be happy to,” Anders replied. They shared a brief kiss, and then Luna was gone. Artemis sat on the ground, rubbing her head, “Oh my,” she said. “I had no idea who she was until I arrived here,” Anders said, helping her to stand, “or I would have told you. Are you okay?” “I will be,” Artemis said. She stood, eyes closed, for a few moments before opening them again. “Okay. Let’s go.” They walked a while and talked of the events since his death. She told him of her adventures with Pym, and the conquest of Vega. She looked up at him, guilty. “I am sorry, Father,” she said. “For what?” “I failed you. I failed our people. Vega is in vassalage to a psychotic murderer and I could do nothing to stop it.” She looked away from
him. He smiled. “Well,” he said, “from what I can see, you’re doing plenty to get it back. Artemis,” he forced her to look at him, “I am very proud of you. I always have been. Don’t ever forget that.” She nodded, tears in her eyes. “We’re here, aren’t we,” she said as they approached a cave. “Yes. You’ll come out the other end in the circle of the Yoni Luna.” “Right,” Artemis sighed. She hugged her father close, “I miss you so much, Daddy,” she whispered. “And I you, sweetheart,” he replied, “Always.” They made their final goodbyes and Artemis walked toward the cave. Pausing near the entrance, she turned back, “Oh!” she called out, “Tell her ‘thank you’! For this!” She indicated the robe she was wearing. Anders nodded and waved, then walked back toward the Summerland. Artemis turned back to the cave mouth and began her journey home. A rough hand shoved her backward as soon as she entered the cave. She looked up from where she’d fallen and saw... herself. Only, the other Artemis had hair the color of pitch and a green tinge to her skin. Her mark was a sickly blood red, and two eyes of blackest obsidian glared out from it. The other Artemis laughed, barring the princess from continuing her journey. “Oh no, little girl,” she cackled, her voice a rough parody of Artemis, “you didn’t think it would be as easy as that, did you?”
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