Chapter 3- The Meeting

Artemis rode Rainshine hard all night through the harsh cold that bit at their skin and eyes. He wanted to be well out of the city by morning to avoid being followed. If Micka had taken the trouble to move to the woods, it must be for good reason, and Artemis did not intend to be the one to defeat this purpose. For any other man, it would have been impossible to navigate the city in the black of night but for Artemis the complete cover of the night was satisfying. Stopping only very occasionally to recheck and adjust his bearings, they were free of the stifling grips of the city in good time; well before the sun had even begun to rise.

When the sun’s rays finally caught up with them, Artemis and his horse were waiting on the edge of the thick pine forest. Even with their immaculate skills, in the complete darkness of the night it was foolish for anyone to attempt to travel through unfamiliar forest without the guidance of the sun's light. The golden sunlight illuminated a small trail that had been trampled into the dirt by many hooves and feet. Artemis steered Rainshine into the forest but he did not take the trail for risk of being seen. Instead they stayed just within sight of the track and continued into the forest, always trying to minimize the tracks they left.

Birds sung in the lofty branches of the pines and the sunlight was filtered through the layers of the trees until it was only dappled on the ground. Pine needles also littered the forest floor, making it so that the sound of hoof upon ground was muffled. This all would have been rather beautiful if it wasn’t for the fact that Artemis had no idea of where he was and only had the sun to lead him to the east.

As the day flitted by, it became harder to determine directions as the sun sank further into the depths of the trees. Hunger gripped Artemis, making his stomach ache. He spurred Rainshine into a canter, keen to quicken the journey. He decided to risk the ready-made path as his own trail was proving more and more difficult to follow. Even the main path had been reduced to a thin patch of dirt barely wide enough to be traversed by a horse however, it would lead him to his destination sooner and surer than any other way he could think of.

The trees had been so dense that the sun had begun to disappear before it was even midday. All of a sudden, Artemis was blinded by light as they emerged in a clearing. Here tall green grass grew and when Artemis dismounted it tickled his knees. But now its brilliance illuminated a field of dandelions and other vegetation that stretched at least a mile long and wide. Though still in the valley, they were so deep in the forest that the high walls of it could not be seen.

Something rustled behind him. Artemis spun around; sword drawn, and found himself face to face with a deer whose soft brown eyes seemed deep and doleful and whose antlers resembled nothing but short stumps. Behind it stood several others. The deer sidestepped around Artemis and its herd followed their leader and waded out to the centre of the field where they grazed peacefully. Rainshine followed them after Artemis’ command and hastily stowed away some grass as they made their way to the far side of the field. The whole expanse of land clear from trees was alive with the chattering of squirrels, buzzing of bees and butting of deer horns. A gentle breeze rustled through the tall grass. Artemis, who had been focused on the rhythmic pattern of his horse's steady walk, fleetingly glanced up. There, at the edge of the forest, stood a female figure, not even one hundred metres away, long black strands of hair slightly obscuring her face as it moved with the wind. Artemis pulled Rainshine to a sharp halt.

Artemis was unsure what to do. Warily he dismounted and slowly edged towards the woman, leading Rainshine over as well. When he was about one meter away Artemis stopped and gathered his black travelling cloak more tightly around himself. He then looked the woman up and down, all the time, calculating. She offered no objection and patiently waited for him to complete his assessment. A sly grin flitted across her lips.

“Are you done yet?” she asked in a politely interested voice, “Have I passed your test?”

When no reply came she continued, “Come, and we will talk of your concerns in a more comfortable and appropriate place.” Artemis glared at her fiercely but this did not unnerve her. On the contrary, she smirked, amused. “Yes, I know you have not come all this way to see how I am in my old age.” A thin chestnut horse stepped to Micka’s side. She chuckled and mounted her horse, beckoning for Artemis to follow.

Artemis didn’t budge.

Micka fixed her deep blue eyes upon him. They penetrated through him. Artemis had the oddest inkling that he was being probed. After what seemed like an age, Micka drew a long breath and finally said, “I can not apologise for what has been already done-”

Artemis drew a breath, about to speak but was silenced with a wave of her hand.

“But nor can I discuss it here for I daren’t ignore the rumours that spies of the king lurk in this forest.”

Artemis’ expression remained stone hard.

“Besides, it shall be dark in less than an hour and it is needless to say that it isn’t desirable to be wandering in amongst these dark trees at the dead of night.”

It was this, more than anything else, that made Artemis relent and follow Micka to her house.

On this side of the forest, the trees were much closer together and if there even was a path, it was all but lost in the thick underbrush. What Artemis had at first thought to be a very thin horse of ill health he now realised that it was built perfectly for navigating this terrain. Its thin legs allowed it to nimbly leap over the fallen logs that littered the forest floor and to weave through the thick vegetation. His own horse did not do this so easily. His muscle bulk made the passage between the trees difficult and near impossible but his determination proved him well and in less than an hour they were standing in front of Micka’s house.

Micka beckoned Artemis inside and they left the horses picketed outside to a post. She perched herself behind a table that stood in the central room. The walls were bare and nothing that was not essential was present in the house. Artemis sat at the opposite end of the table. Micka stared at him, over long, thin steepled fingers.

Finally she said, “What you feared; it has occurred.”

Artemis’ response was a sharp intake of breath. And then he said, “Tell me everything.”