Peter Mercier and the Hunters of Artemis

Chapter 12

"Try again, Lillian," Artemis ordered, the blade of her long spear tinged in blood at its sharp tip. "I know you can beat me."

"I'm trying," Lillian was out of breath, studying her bloodied arm. Her cloak had been ripped, bits of the grey undershirt peeking out beneath. Not wanting to use her injured arm, she switched the dagger into her bandaged hand. They'd been practicing for hours in the throne room, the rain pouring heavily outside with dull rolls of thunder to accompany it. "But you're too good."

"I'm taking it easy on you, child," her mother jeered, walking around Lillian to stand at the base of the stairs. Her throne glittered behind her. "Just do it. Disarm me. Get in close, but don't get hit. It's all in your footwork."

Lillian sighed, wiping the sweat from her forehead, a few drops of blood rubbing onto her skin in the process. "If this is what it takes to win," she gritted her teeth. "I'll do it."

"Not just win," Artemis started, swinging the spear at her. Lillian leaned back and then swiftly stepped forward, grabbing the shaft of the spear and breaking it over her knee. She got in close and raised the dagger to her mother's neck. The Elder Huntress smiled, and Lillian backed away cautiously, relaxing as Artemis threw down the spear. "But rule the Archipelago together."

Lillian furrowed her brow, lowering her dagger. "What do you mean?"

"Once we take New Berk," Her mother smiled slyly, leaning forward so the guards who'd stayed behind couldn't hear.  She put a hand to her crown of flowers, making sure they didn't fall off. "We finally complete our mission, Lillian."

"How? Merritt and Mercier aren't there. We aren't getting money from killing them, anyway." Lillian asked, her mother chuckling as she led her to the lit corner of the room. The table was singed and burnt, but the intricate map itself was untouched and almost looked new besides the yellow tinges at the edge. "I suppose I haven't told you," Artemis sighed. "Do you know who drew up this map, Lillian? Their seal is in the corner."

"Of course," she answered, walking around and finding the seal. A pegasus with a spear through the cutoff head. "Henrique the Arsonist. Romulus' predecessor. The one who had his throne before him."

"Correct," her mother replied, beaming proudly. "Your grandmother, Rhea, asked him to make a map a long time ago. To do that, he joined our ranks, traveling with her and helping her huntresses carry out bounties. Back then, it was more about asking around for people to kill instead of taking contracts. But even that's going to change, too."

"What do you mean?" Lillian asked, looking at her mother curiously, her smile unwavering. Artemis sighed, beckoning her daughter closer. "There are some things you must know about our organization before you become a master."

"What? A master?" she gasped. Artemis cocked her head. "You do want to rule alongside me, don't you?" she asked, her tone dead serious. "That's what you've always told me."

"Of course," Lillian didn't hesitate for her own sake, sweat beading on the back of her neck. Whether from nervousness or her training, she couldn't tell. "But what about Romulus?"

"I have no real power as long as that silver throne's empty," her mother pointed to the silver seat behind her, her face souring. "You need to fill that spot so I can ensure Romulus does what I need him to. I can't have him flying around, arguing with every decision I make like a petulant child. It takes the fun out of it."

"Does he know about this?" she looked to the door. "He's not here," Artemis reminded. "I'll tell him when he gets back. I'm hoping he'll be too tired to fight it. Now," she pointed to the map. "Anything, in particular, you notice here?"

"It's very... intricate," Lillian offered, scanning it. Her mother chuckled, swishing her red gown over her feet and gliding around the table to the opposite end. "All maps have a key. Can you find it?"

She shuffled towards a box in a corner, scribbles and small drawings within. Seeing red, triangular marks indicated hunters, she took a minute to comb through the canvas. "There are only fourteen hunters?" she guessed.

"Only?" Artemis scoffed, shaking her head playfully. "Not including me and your uncle, yes. But that isn't what I'm talking about. What," she pointed to a blank spot on the map, the largest of many smaller ones. "Do you think these indicate?"

She studied it more. "Uncharted territory?" she assumed. Artemis shrugged. "Sort of," she sighed. "This map is the only copy of Henrique's original. If you've noticed, the table's charred."

"And I've heard that story plenty of times," Lillian admitted. "But what does any of this have to do with controlling the Archipelago?"

"Dear," Artemis started, and Lillian calmed down. "New Berk is not on that map, among other things. It is the only major island with no hunters, and the only one we didn't know the location of until now. When we take it," she circled the area with her finger, her eyes darting across the map. "We will be unchallenged. After that, the hunters will travel back and kill all of the contract-happy chiefs we've secretly 'befriended' over the years. As a group, we can ensure each pair will rule, and we'll reap the rewards quite quickly."

"And that's possible? With only fourteen hunters?" Lillian asked, staring at her mother with a mix of awe and terror. "We've done far more with far less," Artemis replied. "After a few deathly raids in the dark, everyone will beg the shadows to come out and reign. It's better than not knowing who'll die next."

Lillian shook her head. "Why didn't you tell me this?" she asked. "Is that what Renna and Ashish-"

"Their positions will be filled by Romulus," Artemis dismissed, walking away. "Might as well give him the whole damn Northern Market. Maybe that'll be enough of a challenge for him. I didn't tell you because it wasn't in order yet. The hunters don't even know about it. We've been waiting to kill Merritt and Mercier so that nobody'll see us coming- as well as for my personal satisfaction knowing their bloodlines end. Now, everything works out."

"I see," Lillian gulped. "Then I think it's important I'm well-trained."

"Excellent thought, dear," Artemis smiled, taking the sword from a guard. They huffed, crossing their arms. The Eldest Huntress didn't seem to pay them any attention, holding the hilt towards her daughter. "Let's work on your two-handed combat. Then bows."

Lillian smiled hesitantly, trading the dagger. Her shoulder still stung as she took the sword. "Of course."