Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
15
15
"This task is too dangerous even for the Hunters. You know where I must start my search.
You cannot go there with me."
"As… as you wish, my lady."
I will find this creature," Artemis vowed. "And I shall bring it back to Olympus by winter
solstice. It will be all the proof I need to convince the Council of the Gods of how much danger we
are in."
"You know what the monster is?" I asked.
Artemis gripped her bow. "Let us pray I am wrong."
"Can goddesses pray?" I asked, because I'd never really thought about that.
A flicker of a smile played across Artemis's lips. "Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small
task for you."
"Does it involve getting turned into a jackalope?"
"Sadly, no. I want you to escort the Hunters back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in
safety until I return."
"What?" Zoe' blurted out. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there—"
"Yes, I know," Artemis said. "But I'm sure Dionysus will not hold a grudge just because of a
little, ah, misunderstanding. It's your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides, I
hear they rebuilt the cabins you burned down."
Zoe muttered something about foolish campers.
"And now there is one last decision to make." Artemis turned to Bianca. "Have you made up
your mind, my girl?"
Bianca hesitated. "I'm still thinking about it."
"Wait," I said. "Thinking about what?"
"They… they've invited me to join the Hunt."
"What? But you can't! You have to come to Camp Half-Blood so Chiron can train you. It's the
only way you can learn to survive."
"It is not the only way for a girl," Zoe said.
I couldn't believe I was hearing this. "Bianca, camp is cool! It's got a pegasus stable and a
sword-fighting arena and… I mean, what do you get by joining the Hunters?"
"To begin with," Zoe said, "immortality."
I stared at her, then at Artemis. "She's kidding, right?"
"Zoe rarely kids about anything," Artemis said. "My Hunters follow me on my adventures.
They are my maidservants, my companions, my sisters-in-arms. Once they swear loyalty to me,
they are indeed immortal… unless they fall in battle, which is unlikely. Or break their oath."
"What oath?" I said.
"To foreswear romantic love forever," Artemis said. "To never grow up, never get married. To
be a maiden eternally."
"Like you?"
The goddess nodded.
I tried to imagine what she was saying. Being immortal. Hanging out with only middle-school
girls forever. I couldn't get my mind around it. "So you just go around the country recruiting half-
bloods—"
"Not just half-bloods," Zoe interrupted. "Lady Artemis does not discriminate by birth. All who
honor the goddess may join. Half-bloods, nymphs, mortals—"
"Which are you, then?"
Anger flashed in Zoe's eyes. "That is not thy concern, boy. The point is Bianca may join if
she wishes. It is her choice."
"Bianca, this is crazy," I said. "What about your brother? Nico can't be a Hunter."
"Certainly not," Artemis agreed. "He will go to camp. Unfortunately, that's the best boys can
do."
"Hey!" I protested.
"You can see him from time to time," Artemis assured Bianca. "But you will be free of
responsibility. He will have the camp counselors to take care of him. And you will have a new family.
Us."
"A new family," Bianca repeated dreamily. "Free of responsibility."