Artemis the Brave by Suzanne Williams, Joan Holub Page A

upward, toward Mount Olympus, she heard a dog bark. She looked down and saw that her three hounds were resting quietly in the chariot. So who . . . ?
    Then someone shouted, “Hold up!”
    Artemis would have known that voice anywhere. Orion. Even though she didn’t have a crush on him anymore, her heart betrayed her with a little thumpety-thump.



Stars
    A RTEMIS SWOOPED THE CHARIOT LOWER until it hovered a foot above the forest floor, just inches from Orion and Sirius. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. She sensed the tension in her friends. They were in a hurry, and no one seemed ready to forgive him quite yet. And why should they? She wouldn’t have thought he’d dare to show his face after taking off the way he had. But as always, Orion seemed oblivious to his effect on others.
    “I was trying to find you.”
    “Why?” asked Artemis in surprise.
    He shoved his hands in the pockets of his toga. “My play closed on opening night. They booed us off the stage. Can you imagine?”
    An uncharitable spurt of gladness rose in Artemis at the news of his failure. But she did feel kind of bad for him too. “Sorry to hear it,” she said.
    He shrugged. “Audiences are fickle.”
    Her golden-horned deer pawed the air restlessly. “Well, we’ve got to get back to school or we’ll be late,” Aphrodite said coldly. “Tonight’s opening night for The Arrow . Remember?”
    Orion nodded, looking eager. “Yes, that’s why I’m here. Can I get a ride the rest of the way? I want to talk to Principal Zeus before the curtain goes up tonight. To tell him I’m sorry I ran out on the play.”
    “A little late for that,” Athena muttered.
    “Better late than never,” Persephone quipped.
    Persephone was looking on the bright side, but Athena was right too, Artemis thought. Orion should have apologized before he’d ever left MOA. Still, since he was trying to do the right thing now, she was willing to help. “All right. Climb in.” Brightening, Orion picked up Sirius as she offered her hand. When he took it, she was delighted not to feel the spark of excitement she’d once felt for him.
    Orion squeezed into the chariot, and the other three girls scooted away from him, as if he might have cooties. Artemis grinned. Perhaps he did.
    “Hurry!” said Athena. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
    “Chariot, chariot, rise away! Take us up to MOA!” called Artemis. At her command the deer lifted off, and they all zoomed upward. Higher and still higher they went, gliding through the fluffy clouds that ringed the mountainside. Soon the gleaming marble columns of Mount Olympus Academy came into view. And just beyond the school was the amphitheater where The Arrow would be performed. It was a sellout crowd, with most of the seats already taken. Artemis could feel the excitement in the air. When they landed next to the stage, Athena dashed to the orchestra pit, while Aphrodite hurried backstage to the dressing rooms. Persephone went with her to help with her hair.
    “Good luck!” Artemis called after them. The deer dashed off, but her hounds were exhausted after their ordeal and stayed to nap in the chariot. Sirius stayed with them, and she decided to sit with them as well, watching as Orion went to speak with Principal Zeus. Zeus’s arms were so full of scrolls that he seemed to be juggling them. As he attempted to read his own scribbled notes on one, another would slip from his hands. He’d grab that one, then another would slip. A group of student actors and technicians surrounded him, all asking questions at the same time.
    Artemis’s eyes widened as Orion pushed through the crowd and tapped Zeus on his muscular shoulder. “Can I have a word, sir?” Though she was feeling pretty brave after her experience in the forest, even she wouldn’t have had the nerve to bother the principal just minutes before the show. Now was definitely not a good time.
    “CAN’T YOU SEE I’M BUSY?” Zeus thundered in