Sapphic Voices Fantasy
THE AMAZONS OF FLETALIN VALLEY
Part One
The Amazons of Fletalin Valley is the story of a medieval-like civilization made up entirely of Women, with
it's own myths, and culture; including feudalism. The main character Roe is a brave knight commanded by a tyrant.
Roe is destined to become commander of the army, but is reluctant to challenge authority.
Invocation to the Web-Muse
‘Lo gentle Muse, come near, give me your consent, give me your blessings so that I may properly tend to the seeds
which you have planted in my fertile imagination, please allow me to turn your seedlings into saplings, then at
last a mighty tree budding with the sweet purple flowers, that will attract admirers from miles around. Muse, hear
me, I will have no dead end projects that fizzle out after much time and effort, no evil characters to haunt my
head when my work is done. Please do not allow me to become too obsessed, ignoring loved ones, and neglecting important
duties, i.e, proper nutrition and grooming.....
To my beloved Angie, hopefully one day I will be able to dedicate an actual book to you-my very own muse, who sings
my song, and knows my heart- because I whispered the lyrics and allowed it to be-
BOOK ONE
All the men paused when from the dazzling sun-light stepped a shinning hawk- helmed war Goddess, dressed in a leather,
hawk-crested breast plate, brown boots to her knees and a yellow tunic, a scarlet cape flew behind her.
Bewildered they did not know whether to worship her, provoke her, or let her be, though her being-evil or good
was a mystery to them. She was as tall as the tallest of them, her eyes were as clear as streaming water, her hair
the platinum of the east.
"Friend or foe?" one of them managed.
Her reply was a cry from her tanned throat and from the crashing foliage an army of women were born, their swords
drawn, their bows strung.
I was amongst them, roaring like a lioness, and in other ways appearing as a beast to the men we ambushed. I am
not of the valley, but the plains, far away- my skin is darker, the color of the earth as all my people of Terralin.
The myths say that we are people of the earth, we were the first to till the soil and coax forth the gifts of life,
to dig and coax forth the gifts of ore, and gem that lie dormant for all peoples. Our skin is the color of the
brown-red earth, our hair is as dark as the un-refined ore, our eyes as hard and shiny as the gems we mine.
Being of the earth is called primitive here in Fletalin, I am branded as a brute, capable only of carnage, war.
Naturally, they want me on their side, and so I fight for the realm Fletalin, where everyone is fair, but not so
fair as Commander Bryseis Grafeal. I am a man-killer, fearlessly filled with instincts that allow me to prowl like
the wind, everywhere at once, make my attack like the rain.
I stood as still as a tree once the attack is over;
"We can go home now" all the soldiers say, removing their helms, silken hair tumbles forth, they untie
their hard leather battle dressed, lift off their brazen breast plates engraved with the star of Fletalin.
I stand still with blood on my boots and tunic, all over my hands and sword, turning back to a human mind, noticing
the waste of
life. "Come now" says Bryseis smiling, "There will be much feasting and festivities at the palace,
perhaps we will even get you a woman"
She pats me hard and we all walk to the spring to wash the blood off, a messenger goes ahead to fetch servant girls.
They come as the water runs red with gore, bearing scented soaps and oils, and clean tunics.
They all flock around Bryseis as she bathes and talks with them, the girls dry her as she faces the west and the
setting sun. She kisses one, the one she has chosen for her bed, a brown haired girl who blushes and bows.
Bryseis laughs heartily and all the girls scatter to let her dress in another yellow tunic along with her leather
ceremonial kilt decorated with hawk feathers dyed red and a scarlet sash to lay on her shoulder and down across
her breast, it is embroidered in gold with the likeness of a hawk-her personal crest.
The rest of us dress in tunics and kilts, all are allowed to display their own crest in war with their shoulder
guards and with their arm and shin guards if they can afford to do so.
Though I am a soldier of second rank , I have nothing more than my badge to show my class. My own personal crest
is displayed in my shoulder guards, the flaps are embroidered with the designs of my homeland; the clouds and fading
sun symbol of Terralin..
In ceremony we are allowed our sashes and kilt sporrans that display our badges. I used Terralin cloth, my refusal
to let go of some of my original traditions further alienates me when we are not in battle.
I remount my horse, as the Commander does;
None among us are brave as Bryseis Grafeal, none as handsome, none as strong, all of these qualities I admire about
her, there is only one I dislike.
"Now to face that fat nagging cow the queen" she announces once she has dressed and crowned herself with
a band of gold in the shape of a hawk’s head at her brow, with wings that encircle her head.
Everyone laughs, the soldiers hate queen Minestra, they cannot wait until the day Bryseis makes good of her claim
on the queen, for marriage.
Once past the guard post we make haste to the palace, country peasants stop their work in the fields to watch.
It has been two years since we departed on our latest journey, Bryseis’ campaign to defeat our enemies in the mountain
country of Niamlin and I expected cheering from the people. Instead there is a sour note that lingers in the air.
Some soldiers wave, they cannot forget where they came from, others hold their heads up towards our destination,
as Bryseis who always peasants. I soon understand the grim faces of the women of Fletalin. I have never understood
politics, even in my own home land, but in the Amazon Valley the government is divided. War and other such matters
of diplomacy are handled by the army which is led by a commander.
Domestic matters are handled by the queen and her council of scholars. Bryseis has told me that as a child the
valley was torn apart by rebellion. Her mother, commander then made a move to make all matters of Fletalin her
charge, and she instilled her unfulfilled dream in her daughter to carry out.
As we approaching the palace I am awed by the beauty of it, there were never such sights in Terralin, no silver
gilded gated palaces, nestled in great valley cities. Surrounding the palace are high stone walls, and marked in
colored gems with the old Fletalin insignias of the green owl.
The palace herself seems to reach the clouds from her lone hilltop, at her four crowns one feels as though they
can look out onto the entire world. She-the palace is made from white sandstone, and is invisible in the snow,
and is like carved ivory in the summer and spring months.
The surrounding city welcomes us as the country did, the merchants at their carts of fruits, breads, and meats,
as well as weapons and baubles. The clerks peer at us from their shops wearily, and advocates stopped lecturing
their clients to watch. In the square the militia fires flaming arrows into a woodpile to start a bond fire, as
the priestesses set out offerings to the Goddess.
Before I set foot onto Fletalin for the first time I had heard many stories of great cities, of my new state I
had heard very little, only of amazons with no use for men, and then I am ashamed to admit, that I thought it all
a fantasy.
As we approached the palace the court rushed out to greet us, all the wives and lovers, dressed in the personal
crests of their soldiers, looked on in dread to see if theirs was lost in battle. There was then joyous relief
matched with tears as they were swept back into the arms of their loves.
I lay eyes on Queen Minestra, as calm as ever, cheeks just as red as she greeted Bryseis Grafeal, with a curt kiss,
her eyes filled with dread as they wandered past the fair Commander into the crowd of soldiers being reunited with
their loves, as they either looked on at each other jealously wondering of the passion shared with another during
their leave, or greedily trying to take in every mote of their lover’s countenance.
When our gaze met Minestra smiled, then her eyes wondering back to Bryseis, they linked arms and walked into the
hall, the others following. I stayed back, planning to go back down the hill and into the city, down to the fields,
there was a family there whom I was great friends with.
"Roe" Vestia appeared at my arm, she was Minestra’s red haired cousin, a slight woman who dealt in sorcery,
she was a known harlot, a once favorite of Bryseis.
"H’lo" I said to her.
She clasped my hand and bent to kiss it, I pulled it away quickly not wanting any dealings with her.
"I am like you dear Roe, I have no one to dine with, and tonight, I will still be alone" she informed.
"I find that unbelievable I answered.
She pouted as a small child would, "Your words are cruel-"
My attentions turned to a sobbing woman, who wore a gold circlet in the form of an asp around her arm, the soon
to be bride of a fallen warrior. A priestess was on hand to comfort her, empty words to the young woman, meaningless
words. I was suddenly very weary and allowed Vestia to tug me in any direction, her words of drinking and dancing
and love-making echoing in my head, just as empty and meaningless.
The dinning hall was a beautiful sight, the food was pilled high, glistening with sugars and spices, still I longed
for simple fair, in simple surroundings.
I sat with Vestia on my arm, barely eating anything, dividing my attentions between the flame haired woman and
the queen crowned with a dainty silver hawk like the Commander’s.
She looked bored, and I found myself wishing something would happen to make her smile, Bryseis Grafeal would have
not succeeded, she was telling stories to the court of our battles, ignoring Minestra.
I could never forget her, not for a minute, I was her eternal servant, her jester, concubine, hand maiden, all
in secret.
"Without my dark sister the war would not be as full of jest as it is" Bryseis bragged and motioned to
me across the table, "She killed half a dozen men today, drove down on them like a bull" she laughed,
"And once she shot a man down from a bushed hill top, and none of us knew he was there, the stealthy fellow"
"It is good to here the war is going so well" Minestra spoke of.
Bryseis sighed, "Of course"
"Now maybe we can go back to trading out surplus grain with Niamlin" Minestra said.
"Never" Bryseis said.
Outraged the Queen asked, "Why wouldn’t we go back to trading?"
"Because, those Niam dogs will never eat my bread, and rear another army" Bryseis answered, "If
we feed wolves scraps from our tables they will soon be sitting at them"
"The people depend on the money from surplus grain for their children’s tuition, the teachers are already
paid next to nothing" Minestra pounded her palm on the table and I decided she was most beautiful when outraged.
"Why educate peasants in the first place?" Bryseis asked, "What use does a farm girl for books?"
"Beast" Minestra accused and stood, "Please excuse me"
Bryseis grabbed her arm, "Wait for your escorts"
"I need no escorts" the Queen spat.
"Of course you do" Bryseis insisted and sent two soldiers off with her, then brow bent she returned to
her meal, she looked up at Vestra and I.
"My, are you two cozy tonight" she commented, then she pointed to Vestra.
"You. You know all the dealings of the castle, who has our queen been seeing nights in my absence?"
"I hardly think this is the time or place for such a discussion" Vestra answered boldly, "I hardly
think the Queen’s lovers are any business of yours since she has not promised herself to you"
Bryseis grew angry, "Thinking is an uncommonly nasty habit for a harlot to have"
"As it is for soldiers" Vestia retorted, standing and leaving the hall.
"These royal women are such babies" Bryseis exclaimed causing a great cheer from the soldiers, "Begin
the music, let us dance"
The musicians began to play and Bryseis took my hand, "I will dance with my dark sister first, only if she
is not angry with me for chasing away her prospects for love this evening"
I gripped her, for no soldier dishonors Bryseis Grafeal and we danced a wild peasant dance across the floor, until
she found her servant girl from the spring, and the two left me to sneak away to the stables for my horse.
I galloped through the night and the city to the farm house of Myseaus, a woman of forty who worked the land with
her wife Liber, and they were fortunate enough to have a daughter, a girl of seventeen Pherae. Unwanted girl-children
are brought to our bridge constantly, by all sorts of women who have heard of Fletalin and want a peaceful life
for their girls.
Peasants usually become the parents of these children, while women of status choose the children stolen during
raids.
Myseaus welcomed me, she was graying, her hands strong enough to be warrior’s, but were only used for tilling fields.
At the beginning of the season I helped her, for I was raised turning earth. Working side by side with anyone as
proud and strong as Myseaus was a privilege and I honored the woman graciously whenever I saw her.
I sat by the fire amongst them and drank a hearty soup, then smoked with Liber and Myseaus. Their daughter Pharae
was not the girl I remembered, in not even a year she had blossomed considerably. She blushed when I presented
her with a small silver chain and charm of a silver flower. For the beautiful Liber and Myseaus an ivory clock
for their mantel.
"Surely this is too fine for our house" the practical Myseaus said, but when she saw that Liber had fallen
in love with the finery she relented. "You honor us, Roe"
"As you honor me" I told them, and we continued to talk long into the night.
We retired late , them to their beds and me to the stables. I do not think even I understand why I so enjoy sleeping
amongst hay, I have the most refreshing sleep than in a bed, or even outside under the stars. Myseaus calls it
an eccentricity of mine.
As I lay a top a thick blanket stuffed with hay, and dozing, another body stole next to me, embracing me.
"Roe" Minestra whispered
"I turned to her, "I thought you would never come"
She laughed, and kissed me.
Another advantage of my friend’s stables was the immense privacy from the court, all of them gossips.
She sighed, "That fool Bryseis has me under armed guard"
"How did you escape them?"
"They were drunk, and also grumpy at having to leave the party-two of my ladies distracted them long enough
for me to escape"
It was my turn to laugh.
She sighed another sweet breath in my ear, "I have not slept peacefully in months"
"No?" I asked, "Why?"
"My dreams do not allow me" she said.
"Is there something that frightens you?" I asked.
"No" she answered.
"Then what?" I asked. "What do you dream of?"
"You. Touching me. Such a fire has started inside me, Roe, only you can quell it’
Then her lips were on my face, softly.
"I would have never returned were it not for my dreams" I began to undress her.
She made my hands still with her own, "You will all leave soon, Bryseis will have another scheme to take Niamlin-Why
not quit the army? You could take charge of the militia, and when Bryseis returns-"
I sit up, "Over throw her?"
"Yes" she holds her clothes to her middle, her breasts bare, "If there is anyone-"
I put a hand to her lips, "You don’t know what you ask"
"I do-"
"She has been kind to me"
"And she is evil"
"It would be betrayal-no matter"
Her palms were at either side of my face, "Am I not betrayed? I am no soldier, but I am defender of my country-she
will wage war until there is nothing left.
We have to stop her"
"The militia of pages and retired soldiers?" I ask, "Against the great Fletalin army? Bryseis would
have the ones not killed in war, hanged"
"She will not take my land- I thought you were noble enough to aid me, but you are like the soldiers, just
dogs of Bryseis, eagerly following her command-loyal to her, blind to her madness" she dresses and stands.
Her words leave me stunned, and I watch her leave my heart is stilled in my chest, refusing to beat until I stand
and follow.
I quickly catch up to her and seize her arm.
"You know that I love you Minestra-and I would gladly do anything you ask"
"Roe I have no use for your good intentions"
"And I have no use of you trying to rule me-holding your heart hostage unless I do as you command-Do you not
love me?"
"During these times I can love no one, no thing but Fletalin"
I dropped her arm, "I can love no thing or no one but you"
The truth. It hurt me more than a dozen men laying dead at my feet, and I had done it all for her. Including following
Bryseis.
She looked at me through the darkness of the night, eyes shinning;
"I must go" she said then, "Before I am missed-"
"What has happened in these two years that have hardened you?"
She shook her head, "Nothing but prosperity, Roe, two wonderful years without that yellow-bitch Bryseis, they
opened my eyes-now it will all end with her return, unless something is done"
Then she is gone from me, not a glance behind her as a swift horse carries her to the palace. One who I loved,
who has hardened her heart to me.
...............................................................................................................................................
I woke to heavy footsteps before me, I opened my eyes expecting to see Myseaus.
There was Commander Bryseis Grafeal in all her glory, helmed and high.
I received a stern kick in my side before I could sit up, I yelped and was instantly on my feet.
"Commander" I mutter and remember the queen.
Bryseis smiled, " Grafean. There is an uprising of peasants we must deal with"
She left the stables, and stood beyond lighting a pipe.
I dress, tempted to just grab my sword and cut her down as she stood.
But I would have sooner agreed with Minestra's plan to build an army against her.
I went out to find Grafeal mounted and ready to go.
She rode away fast, nearly everything is a competition between us, and I was glad to be match for such a champion.
Bryseis had given me her name, counted me as her dark sister. She jested that I was a punishment from the Goddess
for her arrogance, one who could match or beat her every skill.
Bryseis Grafeal was always the better rider, and I was made heavy by sleep,
I struggled to keep up, to her pleasure, as I questioned of the peasant uprising.
"They are burning the granary down" she told me.
"Why would they do such a thing?" I asked.
"Who knows why gentle cows sometimes charge?" Bryseis asked, "No one is dumb enough to know but
the cows, usually all they need is a strapping" she laughed, "It’s a happy coincidence that the strap
is made from their own hide"
She galloped ahead of me and through the open gates of town where amongst the proud buildings smoke rose like a
great black monster of many arms, reaching into the sky.
The towns people were gathered around the granary, beating holes into the great cylinder store, and the grain ran
out like scurrying beetles, where it was scooped up by the people, in buckets, and if one had no buckets, she used
a hat or even her hands to throw it into the fire, a stack of burning grain.
The soldiers waited, watching until Grafeal showed up and ordered the peasants to stop the burning.
They seemed to pay her no mind, only scooped up the fruits of their seasons of labor in the fields and threw it
into the fire.
Bryseis Grafeal dismounted her horse and grabbed up the nearest woman, who shuddered but otherwise appeared unafraid
of the commander.
"Stupid sow, you dare to protest the actions of the war council" Bryseis accused shaking the woman very
hard, then drawing back her hand to slap her.
"Commander Grafeal" a soldier called and pointed across the square, "There comes the queen"
Minestra came on fast riding a fat mare used to nothing more than trotting about for show. Both were disheveled,
having rushed from the castle without their usual decorations, no feathered mane, no silver crown or beaded bridled,
no velvet gown.
Bryseis discarded the woman who returned to scooping grain, and turned to me,
"Charge on them, sweep these warriors to drive the demons back and out of the square"
"And if they refuse?" I asked.
"Give them some blood and they shall move" she said, and went to receive the queen.
I turned my eyes to the peasants burning the grain, I could not draw my sword and attack, or sweep the army to
do so, these were not my enemy, these were my friends, easily they could have been Myseaus, her beautiful Liber,
or their fair Pharae.
"We should be moving on them now" a soldier said, they had heard the command given to me.
I turned to see that it was Zul, her crest was a Jay-bird, she was a young one of hot blood, she would have happily
hacked her sisters to pieces if it were the command of Bryseis.
"Hold back" I told her.
"They’ll burn down the city" she said, her horse fidgeted as she inched it close to me.
"Hold back" I told her.
"You blatantly disobey the Commander’s orders. You brown dog. Are you afraid of peasants?" she asked.
"I fear nothing but my own guilt if I hurt any of these defenseless women" I declared.
Zul turned to the soldiers, "I say we charge on them without the dark one"
They were silent on her.
"Who is with me?" she asked.
I searched the square for Bryseis and Minestra, they were close by, I saw them through the flames, having a heated
debate on the other side of the square.
"Do you want to charge on your own sisters?" I asked, "Those who toil the land? The ones you fight
to protect? You should run your own selves through, you have defended your land only to hurt her yourself"
"I say we do as Bryseis commands" Zul argued.
"I say hold back" I roared.
They held back, still unsure of what to do , then the crowd hushed, as they queen began to speak.
"Gentle women of Fletalin, I know you mean well, that all unused surplus must be given back to the Goddess
as an offering, since we are unable accept such gifts at this time. Still, must we burn it in the streets endangering
the lives of our people? Would it not be better to use the grain to give to the Goddess’s children, her deer who
perish in the winter, and her birds who thin so?" the queen pleaded and the women of Fletalin listened, their
reaction almost instantly of shame.
Minestra took a heavy breath as if she were very tired, her lids wavered, "Let us"
She began then paused, "Let us all gather the-"
The queen fell to her knees and fainted in the square, the women gathered around to see about her, blocking my
sight.
I dismounted and ran across the square, pushing past the women, I could hear the shouts of Bryseis Grafeal telling
them to clear a path.
"Here" she said lifting the weak queen onto my shoulder, "Use my horse to take her back to the castle"
she pulled her mare to me, "Watch her dark sister, allow her to see no one until I deal with the peasantry"
she said to me with a swift urgency, "Send the ones who were supposed to be watching her here to me"
Bryseis helped me seat the queen on the mare, and off we went back towards the castle. It was magic having Minestra
so close to me, smelling the scent of her hair as it flew carelessly in the breeze.
I forced the horse faster forcing myself to ignore Minestra and become lost in the rhythmic hoof beats.
...............................................................................................................................................
Aean and Gwain the ones who were on watch of the queen the night before, were perplexed to see me carrying in the
woman they were supposed to be guarding.
"The queen" Aean gasped, she was a soldier of second rank her personal crest was a fox, and she was just
as wily.
"Bryseis will have our tongues cut out and fed to the fowl" Gwain announced helping me with Minestra
into her chambers.
"The Commander wants to see you right away" I told them and was led back to the hallway by Gwain, a fanciful
fool with her head in the clouds, her crest was a mermaid brandishing a sword. She was said to have been as a child
stolen in a raid from a kingdom on the coast. Having heard the legends of women with fish tails for legs, she chose
the mythical creature. I figured it quite silly.
"It’s ridiculous" she declared, "A queen needs not be watched like a babe"
"Why the watch?" I asked.
"Gentle, Roe" Aean smiled, "You are indeed naïve to the goings on between Minestra and Bryseis"
"The Commander hired spies before we left for the last battles" Gwain told me,
"She has made it clear that no one is to touch the queen, and left her talking dogs to document all dealings
with Minestra"
I knew that Bryseis had laid claim on the queen, being the Commander she was an excellent candidate for a suitor.
Minestra refused her on several violent occasions, and as I learned from my comrades Aean and Gwain, on the last,
the night before the army left Bryseis had left the queen’s chambers and made a great ruckus in front of the entire
hall.
"She was furious" Gwain told me, "Her words were this: Minestra is mine, from this night on anyone
who makes love with her shall answer to me"
"Everyone took her serious, even though the claim was ridiculous, still I have heard that when we left our
queen who regularly has her choice of lovers amongst the scholars of the court was being avoided like a blight.
No one wanted to be alone with her more than very short time, for fear that Bryseis would find out"
I shuddered thinking of my poor queen, alone for two years (though we swore that I would have no such dealings
with soldiers and she with no members of the court) her bed cold, I was grateful though she had taken no lovers,
and at the same time hurt, I had no idea the queen took part in such a selection of women.
"Aye" said Aean misreading my thoughts, "Bryseis will surely have our tongues, who knows who the
queen could have been out with last night to have heard about the uprising"
My heart sank, more jealousies, I shook myself and wished my comrades luck and tried to comfort them.
They left reluctantly, and I entered the queens chambers, she sat up on a couch drinking water.
She sighed refreshed and reached her arms for me, hazel eyes shinning, full face smiling, black-brown curls tumbling
around
"Gentle, Roe, my true love"
Fletalin could have been damned by the Goddess if I entered those arms, and I still would have. Bryseis could have
my tongue, she could have taken my fingers too and I still would have found a way to pleasure my queen that morning,
her hair all a tangle, her heart beating like the hoof beats.
...............................................................................................................................................
The scholar kept her head bowed as Grafeal paced a circle around her, arm draped by her scarlet cape.
"You" Bryseis shouted suddenly, making everyone in the room start, "I left strict orders that no
one was to touch the queen, that she is mine, and if she ever hopes of ecstasy I will be the one to give it."
I swallowed guilt like stones, these stones tasted of the queen and I was sure she lingered on my fingers as I
had just hastily left her chambers when Grafeal called me.
"Do you have anything to say on your own behalf? You are a scholar aren’t you? Should you not spout something
eloquent in your behalf?"
"I-I" the scholar Loadice began, and could not go on.
I imagined how she and the queen could have ended up making love, Loadice’s specialty was the stars a favorite
subject of my queen. I imagined them having sugar liquor and laying under a night sky, Laodice explaining all she
knew, every word awing Minestra.
"She begged me" Laodice burst into a sob, "Begged me to touch her, she said there was no way you
would know it was me, there are dozens of other women here-"
"You thought you could trick me?" Bryseis laughed, she looked at me, then to Laodice, "My soldiers
want you punished...I will let them decided what to do...perhaps my dark sister has a plan?"
I was honored, the soldiers in the room cheered.
"Perhaps, we should duel" I suggested instantly.
Bryseis threw her head back and laughter, "Surely you who tear down men like weeds in your path do not mean
to fight this fat, weak scholar?"
I drew my sword to show that I meant to fight and handed it to Laodice, Bryseis gave me her own blade.
"Let the duel begin" she announced, turning in a swirl of scarlet.
My blade was much too heavy for the scholar, she barely lifted it off the floor.
I doubled the commander’s sword in a circle and brought it close to Laodice’s ear, if she had not made a swift
movement of her neck, her entire ear would have fallen to the floor, instead the blade nicked her.
The soldiers cheered.
The scholar fell on her ass and sobbed, cupping her ear, the Commander bent to the good side and told her;
"Back in my country those who commit adultery with the queen have the offending member cut off. Consider yourself
lucky to have your hand, and tongue, now out of my sight you dog"
The scholar scrambled on her knees to the door where she stopped and turned,
"She will never love you, yellow haired swine"
Laodice quickly opened the door and was gone.
Bryseis watched, evil brewing in her heart and head, she called upon an older soldier, Voelia one of her most trusted
soldiers and secretary.
"Make sure that the queen’s precious pet is shown out of the gates, blindfold her, we will see how she fairs
in a world of men, where her knowledge means nothing"
She smiled at me, "Very good show, Grafean. Very good"
Minestra entered the room that very minute, "What have you done, Bryseis?"
"I have done nothing" was her reply.
"Surely Laodice’s ear does not bleed on it’s own?" Minestra asked.
"I am a swine who knows nothing of why women bleed" Bryseis argued, "They do walk upright, which
poses all sorts of opportunities to injure themselves"
The soldiers laughed.
"I would like to talk to you alone" Minestra said, "Everyone out of here"
No one moved.
"They obey no command, but mine, Queen, these are not peasants or scholars who can be moved even by your pleading"
Bryseis told her.
"Send them out" Minestra commanded, "Or must you always play for your audience, even in our marriage
bed?"
Bryseis stopped cold, then motioned her hand to dismiss us, we left as ordered, I was more reluctant; Minestra
refused to look at me as I passed.
Aean and Gwain caught me at the end of the hall, they were merrily drunk and I scolded them.
"There is a secret celebration going on" Aean told me.
"Secret?" I asked.
"Yes" Gwain said, "It seems the queen was with Bryseis last night, the soldier who brought the news
of the uprising to Bryseis saw the queen bare armed on her belly, sleeping like a babe; she over heard the news
and made her way to the square"
Aean flushed, "Bryseis is very pleased, still worried though, the queen is obviously a terrible bed-fellow,
if you ask me she is much too prim and proper to be anyone’s lover, maybe scholars, but not soldiers"
I grinned at her joke, but not her meaning. I knew the queen quite differently, as a passionate lover.
"Come with us. Have some wine, Roe" Gwain smiled slyly, "There is so much love in the air, all should
partake in it"
Aean laughed rudely, "Speaking of claims, Gwain, you surely will face the wrath of Vestia if you bother her
own dark Roe" she wrapped her arms, "Do not worry my love, I lay my claim on you"
Gwain scoffed, "You are just as bad a lover as the queen"
Then they were off leaving me standing in the hall, I went to the armory to practice shooting. I told a paige near-by
to bring my bow and arrows, a large weapon by Fletalin standards, it had been made by Terralin men to shoot, and
I had always been as strong as the strongest.
The bow was my father’s, carved from Terralin wood, and originally strung with her fibers. The arrows were ones
I had carved myself, I once used stone points, not the Fletalin way of sharp metal. Now my ways were theirs, and
I do admit that metal was much better than stone.
The few others stood down as I entered, my archery was admired, and was always scrutinized by the other soldiers,
as I was better than even the great Grafeal.
"Your bow, Roe Grafean" the paige stood terribly close, smelling of exotic oils, her fingers jeweled.
I turned to see Vestia smiling at me.
"I hope the day finds you well" she said.
"It does" I answered stringing my bow.
"You have no reason to lie" she said her fingers brushing my neck, "I know of your bitterness"
I sent an arrow flying into the heart of a target.
"Good shot" she exclaimed clasping her hands, as I re-strung, "I do enjoy the look on your face
before you shoot, poised, determined, the strength in your arms, I see it tightening under your skin"
I shot again knocking the first arrow off it’s mark. I got another arrow.
"I wonder if you would hold me in the same way" she whispered, "Tight and quivering in your strong
arms. Would you look as determined and aplomb?"
My third arrow ended up in the grass behind the target, the soldiers laughed, amused at what caused my error.
"Drop that bow and take her" someone yelled.
"Go on, Roe Grafean, she won’t expect marriage, she’s a harlot" was another cry.
Vestia looked up stabbing at them with fury using her eyes, she then looked ashamed, "I only came to soothe
your heart, Roe Grafean, I do not care for power, I do not care if you are not the fair Commander of Fletalin"
I drew her by the arm away from the armory and to the garden, a beautiful place full of sweet flowers and berries.
At the fountain I turned to see Vestia crying, she drew away when I noticed.
"See, you have made me low in spirits. Me the happy harlot"
"Do not speak that way of yourself" I told her.
"It is true. I will never be considered a proper lady, but I have never had a suitor,
I am always ignored. I grew up in the house with the great Bryseis Grafeal, and the intelligent Minestra. There
are always lovers, not many wives"
I touched my hand to her face softly and she turned her face to kiss it.
I begin to sob, "She never loved me. I will not be her whore any longer, not when she marries Bryseis, not
ever-"
"I always knew that you would understand, Roe, you are more sensitive than this court of dogs" she sighed,
"How my spirit lifts to think of you, it scares me to think that I of all might actually love someone"
"How could you love me?" I asked.
"It is very easy with you, Roe, I heard of the way you refused to fight the peasants, you are a thousand times
more noble than Bryseis, she calls you a sister, she knows you are her equal, that you could rule this land, and
you will one day" she pulled close to my breast, lowered her lids and smiled relishing me.
I laugh through my tears, "I will"
"I am serious" she said, "Do you know of the legend of the return of the great Hazure, the owl of
the land"
I frowned, "I believe I have"
She laughed, "I have scryed something most interesting, my gentle Roe, and tonight I shall show you, if you
only allow me some time alone with you"
I was unsure, she kissed my face.
"I am your servant, gentle Roe, I want to help you know of your destiny so that you may know when exactly
to strike"
"Then tonight...when?" I asked.
"When the moon is directly over the castle, and shining in the court yard" she told me, she stood on
the tips of her toes and kissed me shyly as a virgin would, then left me without another word.
I returned to the armory where Bryseis Grafeal was organizing a hunting party, with the queen on her arm.
"Roe, back so soon from Vestia?" she asked.
"We merely talked" I said after giving the queen a proper bow, something the soldiers always neglected
to do, out of plain disrespect.
"The disciplined Roe" Bryseis announced, "Always so courteous to the ladies"
The soldiers laughed, I avoided Minestra’s eyes but still felt them burning me like fire.
"Please join us Roe Grafean, everyone does enjoy your shooting" the queen spoke.
"I am sorry my queen, I have not the heart for it" I told her, our gazes had to be forced from each other.
"Then let us take our leave" the queen told Bryseis who drew her off by the arm.
I turned my back as so not to see the two of them so close, I was hurt and angry that Minestra had not told me
of any plans to become engaged to the Commander. She had simply lay with me, and sent me on my way so not to arouse
the suspicions of Bryseis. Minestra was no more a virgin than her cousin, if I was her true love than she a court
full of them. I seriously began to doubt that my queen loved anyone but her dear Fletalin.
I rode to the home of Myseaus when I was sure the hunting party was far up the road. My friend was washing her
bloody hands and happily reported that she had just slaughtered an old hog for a feast amongst the peasantry in
honor of the grain burning.
"Such a matter is most dangerous in these new times of being so civil" Myseaus told me, "In the
old days all surplus that could not be sold was burned, I never remember there being so much. Thanks to the queen
we have had the greatest season yet, without that meddlin’ the Commander does"
I agreed.
"Liber saw her here this morning looking for you" she said, "Frightened her, she comes from far
south where the soldiers are even worse"
"Mother" Pharae called as she appeared from the side of the barn, "Are you done with that hog?"
"Aye" Myseaus answered her, waving stained hands "I saved some blood for you" she turned to
me, "I have never heard of a country girl with a weak stomach"
Pharae showed her distaste and greeted me almost quietly.
"Roe Grafean" she asked, "Why are you not out hunting with the others. I saw even the queen out
on the road today"
"I had not the heart for it" I told her.
"You are down today" she said, "What is the matter?"
"You would not understand" I told her.
"I certainly would understand" she said, "Is it about Bryseis?"
"In a way" I said.
"Explain" she said, "Or I shall kiss you with my mother watching"
I smiled, "Do you think you can just come and kiss me"
"Aye" she answered smiling.
"It seems I have no way" I told her, "I am a petty, jealous, dog of Bryseis"
"You are no dog of Bryseis. You are your own being"
"No, I hurt someone today, when she commanded me"
"This person was a guilty one?" Pharae asked.
"Only of a silly rule Bryseis made"
"Still they were guilty" Pharae said, "Rules are rules no matter how silly"
"You are much wiser in two years" I jested.
"I am no wiser" she laughed.
I smiled at her.
"Now gentle ladies, let’s off to the party" Myseaus said.
"Only after you change" Liber said, she appeared with a garland for her daughter’s head.
"Oh Mother not a garland" Pharae pouted as it was placed upon her head, "I hate parties"
"We have so few of them" Liber said to her, "And you love to dance"
I greeted the lovely Liber who kissed my cheek and enquired about the uprising.
"Everything went without one getting hurt, except the queen fainted" I told her.
"I heard of that" Liber said, "An awful thing, all the smoke took the breath from her"
"Now" Myseaus appeared in a fine violet tunic, "Surely we are ready"
"Join us" Pharae said to me.
"Surely a soldier would not be welcome-"
"Not a soldier, but a friend is always welcome" Mysaeus insisted.
I had no idea how welcome I was; I was quite well-known amongst the farmers of Fletalin. I was the soldier who
had rushed the queen back to the palace after her faint. They all knew me as the Commander’s dark sister, and all
night I heard of my strength and courage and gentleness.
"Is it true you shoot a bow two times wide, and three times as long as standard bows?" someone asked.
"Close to that" I had answered that and many other questions, as the women looked on in awe that awed
me.
The party was held under a great canopy, the dancing done around it, I had countless dance partners that night
including Mysaeus, Liber and a spry old woman, but Pharae found me and claimed me until midnight when I chanced
to look up at the moon and remember Vestia.
"I must go" I said to Pharae who refused to let me go.
"I thought you would sleep in our barn tonight" she said.
"I must stand sentry tonight" I lied, "In the west crown of the castle"
"What is there to stand for?" she asked.
"I suppose there is always something; a rule is a rule you said so yourself" I laughed to see the look
on her face as her own words ruined her plans.
She too laughed, "I shall have to learn that being a woman your words will most always come back to haunt
you"
She kissed my cheek, "Go on your sentry Grafean" and giving a tiny salute she returned to the party.
I rode fast to the gates and tried to confidently ask a group of soldiers the destination to Vestia’s chambers.
They made such a ruckus taunting me that I told them good night and went to find Vestia myself. I went to the hallway
parallel to Minestra’s chambers thinking that Vestia’s would be near, but there were so many doors I knew not which
one to knock. Where there ,were no torches I knew no one was, but still I picked one up and headed closer to the
darkness.
I heard a low melodious singing and expected to find haints, the faint voice grew louder and when I reached the
door from whence it came I opened it to find Vestia as pretty as a maid in her night gown, hair braided into a
red-gold rope.
She was lighting candles around a chair facing a tall mirror that stood on two black wrought iron feet fashioned
into claws.
"Roe Grafean" she padded across the room and took my hands into her own,
"Come inside, would you like wine?"
I was quite parched and said that I would, she sat me upon a sofa and brought too much wine in a wooden cup. I
drank as she watched me quietly as a bold bird would closely inspect a person. I handed her the cup and she slowly
drank the wine I had left. A flirtatious Fletalin tradition.
"You must take off your kilt and sandals" she told me, "Leave only your undergarment, sit over there"
she pointed to the chair circled by candles.
I did so as she busied herself in a large oak closet.
I sat before the mirror and made a face at myself as I waited, in the glass I saw Vestia quickly steal behind me.
I turned to see no one there.
"Roe" I heard her voice and turned, she stood before me with a fat brown wafer in her hand.
"I was a at a party earlier on and would not have eaten so much if I’d known you were a baker" I said.
She laughed, "I have never seen you in a silly mood, Roe, I rather enjoy it. This wafer has sleeping herbs
in it, not the kind that helps an old woman get to sleep, but a vision herb, so that I may show you"
"Vision herb" I said, and asked, "Will you eat one?"
"Are you afraid of a plant?" she asked, "I will not take one because I know how to bring on the
visions, it takes years to learn and we do not have the time"
She held out the wafer, "Trust me, Roe, I will let nothing happen to you"
Wary of touching the thing I ate it from her hand like some wild creature tamed, she laughed as I chewed the wafer
which was quite tasty reminding me of my girl hood in Terralin, and the celebrations we had, I used to be quite
fond of sweets and would gorge myself at the great tables.
"There" Vestia spoke directly into my ear, "Relax yourself, close your eyes"
I did so.
"What ever you are thinking of, hold it there and slowly black it out and think of an owl flying high in the
night, below a full moon"
I did so finding myself able to see the lone figure of the owl quite vividly.
"Imagine that you are that owl" she whispered , "Proud, strong, brown, mysterious, full over power"
"I cannot" I said, unable to picture myself as an owl.
"If you open your eyes, you’ll find it quite easy" she told me.
I opened my eyes and saw through the mirror the world quickly passing as if the view of an owl soaring, I saw the
ghostly flutter of wings.
"You are that owl, Roe" she whispered, "The great Hazure who made us who we are, who first chased
the men from the queendom, years ago.
The prophesy says, there will come the time of the hawk, then the great Hazure shall return, angered at her divided
people and she shall make right all that is wrong.
"She will come from the south as if from the mother earth herself, a warrior of the purest heart, to make
right all that is wrong"
I was silent, my voice then echoed through my head, "I am this Hazure?"
"You are" she answered, the owl was gone and there was nothing but darkness, and our voices ringing in
my head.
"Bryseis is evil" she told me, "No better than the men the surround us, she will sink our island
if the prophesy is not true"
I thought of the peasants in the square that Bryseis ordered me to trample upon, simple women like Myseaus, Liber
and Pharae, like my own mother.
"She will rape the very symbol of Fletalin, she plans to defile our queen, turn Minestra into her own slave...Is
that what you want to see Roe Hazure?"
No that was not what I wanted, not ever, and I would try all in my will to stop it.
"Your prophesy will come true, Vestia, I am Hazure, the great owl, I will make right all that is wrong"
.......................................................................................
I awoke expecting the arms of Minestra, and found the red head laying next to me, still asleep, the sun crawled
across me as if trying to find her face.
She stirred when I did and smiled at me,
"Good morning, Roe Hazure"
"Good morning, gentle Vestia"
She grinned, "No one has ever addressed me so"
I kissed her, and she bowed her head, then stood to fetch a basin and scented soap. Together we washed, and Vestia
anointed me with a sweet smelling oil that warmed my muscles and joints.
I received it all in a bliss, the oil, Vestia’s kisses, and promises of the future. I realized that I should have
always listened to her.
She left me, saying that there was a rap at the door.
I lay dozing, prying my eyes open as the queen appeared;
"Where is she?" Minestra asked, then gave a tiny gasp upon seeing me naked and oiled in Vestia’s bed.
"Whore" she turned to her cousin, "You have your talons on her and she is not yet cold from my arms"
"She is none of yours" Vestia told the queen, "She is none of mine, she is her own"
"What do you speak of?" Minestra asked, "Is this some silly game for you, Vestia?"
"This is no game" I told the queen, "Vestia shall be my wife, I will announce to the court my claim
for her, and if that claim is not challenged as it is the law, we shall be engaged"
There was a harsh laugh and Bryseis appeared, the enemy.
"My dark sister, you give me a turn" she laughed, "You two are certainly an unlikely match"
Vestia quickly handed me my under garment and I slipped it on.
"You must forgive the queen" Bryseis laughed and sighed, "She makes all the matches here her business,
surely you two must be given some chance, and I will give it"
Minestra cast her eyes away from me, I saw all that we once had broken.
"I shall announce it to the court right away" Bryseis took the arm of the queen,
"Come Minestra, you silly hare. Leave these lovers alone"
They departed and Vestia shut the door, and turned on her heels,
"Have you lost your mind?" she asked.
"No" I answered putting on my tunic, then my kilt.
"I believe you have" she said helping me with my sash, "Minestra is to be yours, you shall reunite
the queendom, how will you do that with a wife?"
"I shall" I said, "We do not need to be married to make compromises for the good of the queendom"
"I cannot marry you"
"I am the great Hazure" I jested, "I’ll have any woman I want"
She laughed, and scolded me, "Do not blaspheme"
I knelt in front of her, and she too knelt.
"No one shall ever call you a harlot again, or a whore, not in my presence, not in yours" I told her,
"I’ll rend them with my bare hands"
She kissed me.
"They do not bow to the queen but they will to you" I told her.
She kissed me once again, "I don’t deserve gifts from the Goddess, yet she has given me such a wonderful thing"
She helped me dress, bringing a dark green band, tying it around my head.
"The color of ancient Fletalin" she told me, "Before the violet of Minestra’s grandmother, before
the scarlet of Lycia and Bryseis"
I in turn helped her dress in a green gown, and was glad I was a soldier and not a lady, there was too much work
in being pretty and prim.
We were the gossip of the court, Vestia and I, we breakfasted out in the garden, on fruits and berries quite aware
of the stares and hushed voices.
I left Vestia soon, Bryseis sent Gwain to fetch me, we -all of the soldiers-were to meet in the great hall. The
Commander was there , behind her tacked a large map of the queendom and the surrounding areas behind her.
There was a greed in her heart which I had never seen, I knew she wanted another raid, I just did not know where.
"Gold" Bryseis exclaimed, "Caves and caves of gold; we shall capture the mountain people’s mines,
and have the men mine the gold for us"
Voelia spoke up, "What need do we have for gold?"
"Plenty of need" Bryseis told us, "The Niamlin dogs trade with gold to all of the countries, even
over the sea...without it they are nothing"
Everyone was silent.
"We shall destroy them slowly by taking away their gold, they will not suspect such a tactic"
The soldiers were silent, they were thinking of the several nights they had spent in the arms of their wives, and
lovers.
"What are you?" Bryseis asked, "Warriors or hens roosting?"
"I am a warrior" Zul spoke up.
Bryseis smiled, then turned to me.
"I am a warrior" I said.
"Once we have the Niamlin mines" Bryseis said, "We will have them, we will expand our queendom,
until the world is ours"
The soldiers cheered, they were all warriors.
"We ride at dawn" Bryseis announced, then turned to Voelia to prepare weapons and horses.
I wandered the castle looking for Vestia and found Minestra instead, chatting with her maids.
"The commander would like to see you" I interrupted.
"Then I shall excuse myself" she left the ladies and came with me.
"What has she promised you?" I asked.
"What care is it or yours?" she asked "You have your fiancée"
"What is one to do when their lover promises herself to another?"
She whirled on me, "Fight, Roe, you are expected to fight, not to give in"
She ran then back to the court yard and her ladies.
I watched her go, trying to convince myself that I was no coward, I just needed a simple life, but it seemed the
women here had other plans.
I found Vestia waiting for me at the stables, and I was pleased to see her.
She greeted me with a kiss and an embrace, neither of us said a word, the day had been full of too many words.
I lived most of my life in the world of men, scorned by them, because I was skilled in their habits. I never believed
I would have a lover, until I came to Fletalin and learned of their ways. I had no other woman but Minestra, and
never thought that making love to another would be so different.
Vestia was like visiting another country, her landscape was much unlike Minestra’s-which I explored like a raging
flood too long held back by a dam. Her legs circled me as I lay between then, her hands explored my back, her arms
pulled me closer. I forced myself to slow this frenzy, and was tender with Vestia, and that night I acquainted
myself with this new women, mapped out the curvy roads of her hips, and the sweet hills on her chest, the flat
plain of her belly, the sloping canyon of her parted thighs, and the hot channel between them.
She woke me hours before dawn to prepare for Bryseis’ trek, if she had not I would have over slept.
"Forgive me" she said when I was dressed with my helmet under my arm, "I cannot bear to see you
away"
A tear came to her eye and she turned, ashamed.
"I shall have to learn to be brave when you leave. I do not want to be as the other soldier’s wives, mourning
them as if they were dead-"
I walked around to face her, "I am the one who mourns, I will miss you"
She smiled and embraced me, "Until we meet again, Roe Hazure"
"Until we meet again, gentle Vestia"
My place was next to Bryseis, in the ranks, not a day before I would have given my own life to save hers, now I
saw her as she really was; a golden swine.
"I must apologize" Bryseis said as we rode, "The queen is very jealous of any affections her cousin
receives, she’d rather Vestia to be a lonely old maid, which she is the exact opposite of. You seemed to have tamed
her a bit though-"
I said nothing not wanting to invoke an argument from Bryseis, in truth I had tamed no one. I believe that gentleness
is received by gentleness with all but dogs. Lady Vestia was no dog.
"We have talked-" I began, but Gwain interrupted.
"You have talked between her legs" she laughed and Bryseis never in her life having turned a deaf ear
to a vulgar joke, laughed heartily.
I grew hot in the face but said nothing.
"Who has not had such a talk with Lady Vestia?" Zul asked, happy to be included in a discussion among
a senior rank.
"She’s not spoken of as the deflowerer because of her garden" Gwain said, "She’s the reason there
is so much love making in the court, once a virgin meets her, they become as insatiable as she"
"I always knew she would find someone special to her one day" Aean said sensing my anger, "And what
a noble choice she has found"
"Aye" Bryseis exclaimed, "That is my dark sister, killer of men, tamer of wild women"
I turned behind me, the city of Fletalin looked very small, the castle the high center of a flower. It would be
two moons before I returned to her, expecting the open arms of my fiancée, and my friends, but only to find
a dark cloud over my fair city, the dark cloud of blight.
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