"Loyalty won't last forever. He follows your word now but one day he won't. He is loyal to the crown who protects the people, not you. Your majesty," the voice in the shadows said. The king should not inform anyone about his plan this early.
"Alexander and I practically grew up like brothers. I trust him more than anyone in this palace and vice versa. He listens to my every word and trusts the decisions I made," Darius said, rolling back up the map he showed Alexander.
He knew he could trust Alexander with his commands. The guards all listened and followed the commands of their king.
"I've seen so many others like you make this mistake," they said, warning the king. The king should at least listen to this bit of advice given to him.
Darius paused his movement agitated by their constant worry. Who were they to tell him what to do? He was the king. "I am not like the others. If we talk about loyalty, you have none for me and likewise. You fools didn't know how to make use of others and their loyalty to you."
The person in the shadow remained silent.
"Don't question my actions again or I will personally kill you myself. Your job is to get me all the artifacts I need. Just do your damn job and shut up," he warned the person who didn't respond.
Darius had enough of them questioning him as if they were his master. Once Darius got what he wanted he'll kill them.
"I need whatever is in that forest. It will make me the most powerful king anyone has ever seen. Why kill a God when you could command one?" He questioned, thinking of how people would praise him.
Why did it take a king so long to realize it was better to control Gods rather than kill them? His ancestors had missed out on so many opportunities to do so. However, Darius would gladly take the title of the first king to have a God as his servant.
"King Darius, the man who captured Gods and used their power." He could imagine the storytelling of his victory for years to come after his death.
"Not everyone would love the idea of a king having a God around," the person spoke again. Did the king forget the previous kings had brainwashed the people to fear Gods? How would the villagers feel to suddenly see one by their king's side?
Darius turned to face them with no emotion on his face. "Those who don't love it will fear it. It's the same either way. They will bow down to me." Those who oppose him would die and he knew his people weren't foolish to go against his word.
The person in the shadows smiled hearing this news. A king who promised his people peace and safety would soon force them to bow down before him. Soon the villagers would see the true face of their king who they spoke all those praises. It will be a fun event to witness. To see the Harlow kingdom fall into complete chaos.
The next day, Artemis laid by the lake resting her hand in the cool water as she watched the sun shine bright in the sky. She envied the birds who flew around as they please not having a care in the world while she was stuck here. Wherever the birds desired to go they were able to reach it.
Day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, she was becoming even more bored. There was nothing to do here but listen to the stupid ancient tree.
Artemis slowly sat up pushing herself off the ground. What else could she do here in the forest? The last fun she had was when those thieves entered the forest but they had insulted her. If only the guards didn't show up she would have even more fun.
The only source of entertainment would be outside the forest, a place she had never gone to in many years. When was the last time she left the forest? She couldn't remember. She only had a small memory of the time before she was placed in the forest but that memory didn't even belong to her.
Artemis slowly forgot what it was like to be inside her temple. The memories from her past life were getting harder to remember. Those memories started to fade away the longer she remained in the forest.
"From boredom to being sad," she whispered, wishing something fun would happen.
Her time was slowly counting down to her recurring death date so why shouldn't she have some fun? And the best type of fun was in the villages. She knew there would be entertainment there.
No one would know who she was. Deep down she wanted to know what the humans were up to. How did they live their lives that they made such stupid wishes? She wanted to see the humans with her very own eyes.
Artemis made up her mind to leave the forest for one day. She got up off the ground and reached for a string to take off the coat she wore. The simple green dress she wore underneath would be fine. She did not want to stand out.
As she was about to turn away from the lake she heard a loud noise coming from the tree as if it was telling her not to leave. It was the first time Artemis had ever decided to exit the forest since the time she arrived.
"How many times must I tell you to leave me alone? I will burn you one day. We'll see how great you are then," She warned the tree. Great, that was how bored she was. She was talking to the tree again. "Why are you so upset? I'm bound to return against my will. Scared I'll leave you here all alone?"
Turning away from the lake she made her way into the forest. The lake was in the center of the forest, hiding the tree from the outside world. Entering the dark forest, Artemis walked a path only she knew to follow.
The forest had a way of getting people lost. It was the reason no one should enter as the forest had a mind of its own trapping people here. The villagers liked to believe it was a monster in the forest abducting the lost villagers but it was really just a tree.
Artemis had no idea how or why the tree trapped people in the forest as she had never commanded it to do such a thing. It had surprised her the first she saw a human being trapped in the forest.
It was their own fault anyway. Who runs into a spooky forest not knowing the dangers? Only fools did so. Artemis made no effort to save them. They threw their life away the moment they stepped foot deep into the forest. They took a gamble on each step they took in the forest and unfortunately for them they lost their life. A pity.
Humans should learn to be less curious. They wanted to know every single thing which happened around them. Why couldn't they just continue living their simple lives? It would make her life much easier. Especially if the kings would give up hunting her and others.
How was she the bad one when they were killing Gods because of power? They killed each other for power every day. Where she stood, she was the victim who didn't ask for this to happen to her. Once they left her alone, no harm would come to them. She might even start to do her duties as a Goddess. Artemis chuckled at her thought. That was a lie.
Nothing was going to make her change. She would rather die than be the Goddess she was expected to be. But maybe she should've taken the advice from an ancient tree.
Coming to the edge of the forest Artemis was hesitant at first. If someone were to know what she was, would she make it back to the forest without them following her?
Artemis didn't want to deal with any humans trying to enter the forest to hunt her down nor was she in the mood to have to fight anyone today, she just wanted some fun.
She took a step outside the forest and then another. It was either she left right now or returned to the lonely forest. The latter did not seem like the option she wanted.
Artemis began to slowly walk towards the town she knew connected all the villages to the palace. There she would have her day of entertainment.
As she got further and further away from the forest, the leaves of the tree in the forest all started to light up. It was the beginning of a long and painful journey for the Goddess of the night.