Sapphic Voices Fantasy
THE AMAZONS OF FLETALIN VALLEY
Part Two
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-
BATTLE FATIGUE
BOOK ONE: Part Two
A week after our departure from the valley we came upon the vast mountains of Niamlin, towering above us, leering
from the sky, and capped with snow.
We made camp in a thick underbrush, by the foot hills watching for several days before setting out to tame the
slopes. None of us were experienced climbers, and even the fleetest of us were soon tired. Bryseis pressed on,
determined to take the Niam dogs by surprise and stealing their gold.
After a day of climbing the soldiers were exhausted, and the cold began to bite at them through the thick furs
we had brought along. The night following the first day I curled up tight and dreamed of my fiancée, while
Aean and Gwain despite the bitter chill made a fierce frolic under their combined sleeping furs.
I was awakened before dawn by Bryseis bidding me to see the sun rise over the jagged rocks.
"A beautiful sight eh Grafeal?" she asked as the morning blessed the new day with her rosy fingers, through
which bled brilliant shafts of light that illuminated the snow.
"I would say so" I answered, we both sat upon a large rock facing East.
"You could not see such a sight from behind a palace wall-this is my dream dark sister, to see all of what
the world has to offer, to make it my own" she turned to me, "Can you not agree with anyone wanting such
a thing?"
"My people believe that the world belongs to no one, not even the Gods-only that we use her resources for
our own prosperity, and that we must be kind-"
"Primitive talk" she interrupted, "Silly things they make up so women will stay in their place,
all the while men take and take-that is what my mother the great Lycia always said of religion"
"Perhaps so" I say quietly.
Bryseis sighs impatiently, "How am I to see anything locked behind a palace wall? How am I to have the world
I want with a nagging queen, and ignorant people who only want to live their lives simply and with no glory?"
"Then you should speak to them as passionately as you speak now" I say, "Go to the people-"
"How could I ever convince them to think as I do?" Bryseis asked, she seemed very much like a girl then,
trying to figure a way to win friends to vote her leader of some silly game.
"I should have victories" she brightens, "They want to be impressed, they want a celebration-something
to celebrate-to be proud of. They also need to know. How big and horrid the world of man is. How indecent and depraved.
How protected they are, and who protects them"
Bryseis jumped from her rock and paced, really on to some new idea,
"We must have this victory and return with fanfare and stories, and they shall not turn without seeing or
hearing something about me, about my army-perhaps banners- and plays, and a poem-story"
I only sit watching her wondering what this brain storm will bring about once we return to Fletalin.
The soldiers have gathered themselves, and we are ready to press on.
This day is no easier than the last, and towards the end it seems we have happened upon a bit of luck, in a frozen,
endless yawn we find a great cave in the rock. There is a marker, a rock painted with lines. There are carts tied
with ropes and forgotten tools and torches.
"It must lead to the mines" Bryseis deduces, and we are lead on into the caves.
"Amazing" Gwain steals next to me once we are inside, "We are inside a mountain"
"What a happy thing to report to the court" Aean whistles, "That I have made love inside of a mountain"
They laugh, and I along with them-but a great rumble interrupts us, the day behind us is turned to black, as the
cave is cluttered with a tumbled of rock.
Nervously torches are lit, and in the panic I hear Bryseis calling out to, I pass through the crowd of soldiers
for her orders. As I do a great wind rushes past me, and several screams ring out in the semi-darkness. As the
torches begin to glow bright, I see a stream of blood before me. A great rock was rigged on a rope, so when it
was tripped the rock would swing out crushing all in its path.
Two women have been killed, the first soldier I do not know well, but the second is Zul, the young hooligan.
"What is this?" Bryseis yells, "The Niam dogs have traps"
"Perhaps many more" I say surveying the damage done.
"This whole cave is a trap" Gwain says, "That rock slid was no coincidence I feel"
"We are doomed" Aean gasps.
"No, there are only two fallen" Bryseis perks, "We must be wary of more traps until we find our
way out"
"And if there is no way?" Aean asks, "Perhaps that was the meaning, to trap us in here to be killed
by traps, or starved if we live long enough to"
"None of this" Bryseis collars her, "Aean this darkness, and any Niam traps are no match for any
of us-perhaps you will succumb, but not I, and not any one who is a true Fletalin warrior"
The soldiers agreed,
Aean looked sick as she was let loose, Gwain comforted her, and after saying an invocation to the Goddess; we pressed
on.
........................................................................................................................
Minestra rode through the city dressed as a warrior would, in a tunic, her hair tied back; flanked by her own army,
a battalion of medical scholars and others trained as nurse. The blight had come on soon after Bryseis left on
her fool’s errand, a crippling disease that turned strong women in mewling kittens. It smothered the lungs with
such a phlegm that they were drowned in their sleep. Red blotches patched these afflicted women, vessels seeping
blood to the under-surface of their skin. So many had died so quickly, adding to the panic, women turned their
sick ones into the street, they refused to leave their homes.
There was no one to help dispose of the dead, but the dying.
They reached the sick house over crowded with women and babies, who sat out in the street since there was no room.
Two well women were pulling at a girl named Pharae who helped out, she was a peasant and did not have much of an
education, but she was passionate about finding a cure, and learned quickly.
She had figured out a way to loosen the phlegm in the sick women’s lungs, by steaming a herb and having all the
women breath in the steams, then take turns lying on their backs while their chests were pounded by another.
"What is happening here?" Minestra demanded of the women.
They bowed immediately letting go of the girl who turned to face her.
"We have come for our daughter, Your Grace" the stoutest of them said, "We fear that she will too
become sick"
"Mother I can’t leave now" the girl had been beautiful when she first arrived to help, now her eyes were
sunken from lack of sleep or either the blight, her cheeks sallow.
"Please" the smaller woman begged the girl, "You will surely catch the plague here of all places"
"I must help keep these people alive for as long as I can until a cure is found, then it will not matter if
I catch the blight-"
"And how close are they to that?" the stout woman grew angry and grabbed one of the scholars by the collar,
"Not so much-"
The small woman and girl were on her in an instant.
"Mysaeus" the small woman said "There is no reason for violence"
The stout woman shrugged her off dropping the scholar, "I do not know how you feel Liber, but I will not let
my daughter die like this"
She grabbed the girl and slung her over her shoulder, the girl screaming and fighting.
"Please drop her" Minestra pleaded running alongside the woman, "She has helped so much, she indeed
has prolonged the lives of many"
"And I must make sure that I prolong hers" Mysaeus turned to her.
The girl gave a strangled scream, coughed, and spat a clod of blood streaked phlegm.
Liber gave a cry of grief as Myseaus set Pharae on the ground.
"You stupid girl" she sobbed, "Now see, you are sick-"
Pharae began to sob in turn, "I will not die Mother" she cried,
"I will not"
Myseaus pulled her daughter close as Liber hugged them both.
"I have to go" she told her mothers, her face suddenly very brave.
"The people here need me...when we find a cure I will come back to you" she kissed them both and walked
away to the sick house, glancing at her mothers sobbing in the street only once before entering the realm of death.
Minestra took her hand, "You are a very brave girl, once this is over you shall be a member of my court, as
will your Mothers"
The girl gave a small nod and began to fetch water for the sick women.
Minestra helped the scholars begin to steam the roots, they began with pots, gathering women around them with blankets
over their heads to trap the mist. Then Pharae thought of a great stove to fill the entire sick house with steam.
Minestra ordered forgers to make several of the great furnaces that filled the hospital with a dizzying mist. The
scholars were trying new ideas for cures on different women, studying their volumes through the night, and testing
their theories during the day.
Minestra spent the day pounding the red blotched chests of peasant women, and returned to the castle that evening,
leaving young Pharae and the ones well enough move to run the steamers and pound into the night.
Minestra offered the girl rest in the castle, but she refused.
The panic had long reached the court turning the cheerful place into a castle of ghosts who moved coldly and silently,
their soldiers gone, their people sick.
Vestia only dared to wander as she pleased, she looked as wan as ever, and spent nights in the towers keeping watch
for any signs of the soldiers return. That evening she paced the hall, coming to Minestra for news of the blight.
"Has a cure been found?" she asked.
"We do not know" Minestra told her.
"Come" Vestia surveyed her cousin’s countenance, "I have a hot supper and bath waiting for you"
Minestra too grateful to be surprised went to her royal chambers to find just that.
"I am ashamed to say that I need some solace tonight" Vestia said as Minestra sank into her hot bath.
"You should not feel so" Minestra said.
"I am so scared for us" Vestia said.
"As am I" Minestra sighed, "I almost wish that Bryseis was here. I know that a blight is one thing
she can not fight off with her army...still"
"I understand, it has been too long since their departure, two months with no word worries me" Vestia
said, they were silent, "I believe I will follow you to the hospital from now on"
"I am happy of that" Minestra said, "Please though, do not bring any silly magic props and charms-"
"Why not?" Vestia asked outraged.
"Science will wage this war against the blight, we do not need idle-"
"What do you think science was born of?" Vestia asked.
"I know very well where science was born of, it is reason, instead of saying the products of magic is of will
or spirits" Minestra scoffed.
"Grafeal is as superstitious as they come " Vestia argued "-And Roe believes in sorcery"
"Soldiers" Minestra scoffed again, "Roe is not what I thought her to be-"
"Because she will not put up with your courting of scholars in her absence, and Bryseis" Vestia interrupted.
"What use can I have for a warrior who does not want to fight?" Minestra asks.
"What do you expect of her?" Vestia asks, "She is everything you thought of her before the start
of all these events. Now, I of all people have her heart"
"Why take her heart if you feel you do not deserve it?" Minestra asked, she began to bath herself.
"No one has ever wanted mine, or acted like they wanted mine, and she is kinder and gentler than any person
in this realm, scholar, soldier, peasant or priestess...what burns me is that I know she will be back in your arms
the first chance she gets. Bryseis will have both your heads-"
"For the sake of my people, I will wed Bryseis, for then on I will have only her" Minestra said, rinsing
herself of suds and soap, then standing.
Vestia fetched a robe and wrapped her.
"Can you of all women claim to be faithful to such a bull as Bryseis?"
Vestia gave a sly smile, "She is wonderful ‘tween the sheets, still not at all like Roe"
"That is true" Minestra whispered stifling a smile, "Still Bryseis will already be suspicious of
me, I will do nothing to invoke her anger, or harm Roe"
Vestia sighed, "Cousin, what of your own happiness?"
"My own happiness will be to stop all of this silly warring and do something to better Fletalin, to educate
our people...I want no radical revolution, I have learned from my mother’s mistake that revolution is not the way,
if she had started a gradual change things would be quite different today"
"There would still be no sorcerers" Vestia said, offering a plate of bread and cheese to her.
........................................................................................................................
After a week will still found ourselves shut up in that cave, wandering forward, all the while the Niam traps snared
us like rabbits. Over fifty women were slaughtered in that one week, and Bryseis had nearly gone mad.
"I do not know who to fear more" Gwain confided in me, "And my poor love Aean, she too is barely
holding together"
The torches had gone out days before and we learned to sense each other through touch, and sound. Each time I stood
next to Aean I could feel shivers wracking her body, sometimes she refused to move, usually after another trap
was sprung.
When she became like this Gwain would promise to marry her once they returned home, and promised that she could
wear a white gown and a garland, and ribbons if she wanted to.
"There will be a huge feast my love" Gwain was telling her, "All in honor of our union"
Bryseis called for us, me and Gwain who left her beloved in the hands of another.
"Those Niam dogs will not have us" The commander ranted, I felt her hand grip my shoulder firmly, "There
must be a way out of this hell"
"If it is hell then there can be no way out" Gwain said.
"That has to be that fool Gwain" Bryseis said, The women are already half mad from the darkness, and
the death, she means to help them along into lunacy"
Gwain was gone then, and the two of us stood together, the footsteps of shuffling soldiers about us.
"I am loosing them Grafean" she said, "I would fear a mutiny, but they cannot see me" at this
she gave a mad cackle.
The shuffling all around us grew into a stampede that nearly masked a rumbling that had become lethally familiar
to us.
"Another trap" Bryseis pulled me back.
I shook her off and ran towards the clamor,
"Bring light" I called, "Bring light"
The last of our torches were lit and shined into our latest tragedy, a trail of blood ran from another rock fall,
in it on her bent knees was Gwain, squinting heavily from the light her hands folded over the top of her head.
"My love" she murmured, "My precious Aean"
I noticed then the sun, it’s shine burning my eyes though I recognized it as being one of a fading day. It caused
Gwain to mourn with her eyes shut, while the rest of us gladly suffered as we stared up high at the gaping hole
in the wall of the cave.
........................................................................................................................
"Your grace" one of the peasants called as Minestra and the scholars rode on the hospital, "The
girl Pharae has fallen ill"
"No" Minestra muttered, she jumped off her horse before it could stop, she stumbled and the peasant helped
her straight.
Vestia sighed, she had grown to admire the brilliant peasant girl who helped at the hospital. The girl had figured
a way to steam a certain herb which let out vapors that loosened the horrid diseased phlegm.
As they went into the steamy hospital, the sick were like ghosts in the white smoke.
Vestia did not seem to be disturbed, her hair glowed through clouds, blood fallen in milk.
They went to where Pharae was fallen, frightfully calm.
Minestra took her hand, "Do not worry, Pharae, we will surely find a cure"
Pharae said nothing, she was quite ill.
"Look it’s the witch" the girl finally said looking up into Vestisa’s eyes, the look of death was there,
making the queen’s cousin wince.
"Not quite" Vestia replied, not perturbed.
The girl laughed then coughed and spat into a cloth, "Roe Grafean has chosen nicely"
Minestra sighed, "Have you been listening to peasant gossip?"
The girl laughed dryly, "I heard this from Roe’s own lips. She thought I was a foolish girl, not such a fool
that I could not see into her heart"
Vestia stepped back.
"Poor thing" Minestra said, then turned to Vestia, "They say batty things sometimes, when the illness
gets very bad"
"Batty am I now?" Pharae asked, "So very batty that I know why the sickness spreads so?"
"How?" Minestra asked.
"The city’s well system" Pharae shook her head, "It is so silly we should have figured it long ago...so
many used the wells to gather water, they dump their waste-"
"Goddess, what shall we do?" Minestra asked.
"I am a country girl" Pharae said, "You will have to figure it yourself"
"Rest" Minestra told her, "I will tell your parents-"
"Tell them nothing" Pharae said, "Tell them that I give them my love, I am too busy today to see
them, say I am in good spirits and bringing hope to the sick people here. Tell them that I apologize for not being
able to graze the cows and that I send them my love too...act as if I am not sick at all"
Minestra nodded, "I will, you rest"
The girl nodded and lay back onto her cot.
Minestra walked a few paces then paused to clear an itch in her throat, a strange substance, she opened her mouth
and spat. In the gloom she could not see, but she knew, that the horrid blight was beginning to lay claim on her.
........................................................................................................................
The next day near the time we had discovered the hole, an entire day after the death of poor Aean; I stood before
it swinging a sword bent into a hook around my head.
"It needs to go out and catch onto something" Bryseis said, "A nook in the rock perhaps"
"It’s as high above us as the top of the palace wall would be" I say still swinging.
"This is our only hope" Bryseis said.
I let go of the hook and it fell short of even the edge of the hole.
"Try again Grafean" Bryseis moaned.
I swung again and the bent sword flew somewhere into the darkness, the knot had not been secured.
As the women fetched around in the darkness for it, Bryseis clutched my arm.
"My dark sister, if anyone can pitch that contraption out of here, it is you"
I nodded, the sword was tied to the rope, and to the rope was tied cloaks, furs and any other thing that could
be strung together.
My third try sent the hook soaring out of the hole, catching on to something sturdy.
The soldiers cheered as I tested my weight and began to scale the wall. Our number had lessened since we were first
shut inside the cave, but I was sure we were too many to each climb the make shift rope.
I felt the many fabrics and furs grow taunt under me and I was degraded several inches. I quickly scrambled higher,
but found myself sinking fast, the edge of the hole began to darken a bit as small pebbles began to rain on me.
I gripped the rope tight as more rocks fell, each sheet heavier than the next.
Below the commander called for me in alarm. I began to climb down the rope resisting the blows of rock that battered
me against the wall. I felt my grip loosen and too fell like a stone to the floor of the cave.
........................................................................................................................
Their farm seemed a desolate place that particular winter a dead place in a dying country. Liber paused from bringing
in the wash to see it all, it had been days since she had laid eyes on anyone but Myseaus, before the blight there
had always been passing neighbors to call to-and without Pharae a drab air had taken over
"Hello" a called suddenly and she started, then looked up to see Roe.
"Oh, Goddess, Roe Grafean" Liber fell into her arms sobbing.
"Gentle, Liber" she was puzzled knowing the worst had happened, "Tell me what is the matter"
She sobbed not able to speak.
Myseaus appeared, once a hearty woman she was as haggard as a beggar.
"There is a blight here" she said, "Already many women have been carried off to death, if that were
not bad enough the black hands seized our Pharae"
"No" Roe spat, "She is not dead!"
Liber in her arms still only sobbed shaking the both of them.
Myseaus hung her head.
"My friends" Roe’s voice caught in her throat nearly, "Surely-"
"She was buried last week" Myseaus said, "They wanted to burn her as they do the other corpses,
but not my Pharae. If only she had stayed home instead of playing healer in town"
Roe clutched Liber and cried myself for the beautiful, wise girl.
"The queen was on our side, she understood, she and the scholars have been trying to find a cure all of this
time"
"The queen?" Roe asked.
"She risks her very life to help the sick" Myseaus said, "She is even more spirited than her mother"
"She is not sick?’ Roe asked.
"We have not been into town to hear from her, news does not travel as well as usual" Myseaus said.
"My friends, I tell you now your gentle Pharae has not died in vain"
"The deeds are done, if she had died to save the world I would still call it vain" Liber said going into
the arms of her lover.
They watched as the brave soldier galloped towards the hospital seeing all the devastation that blight had left
in it’s stead.
........................................................................................................................
The hospital haunted by the sick and the newly returned soldiers gaunt from their journey, driving people inside,
some of them were bricking the top of a well. Minestra stood weakly with the aid of a crutch, dressed in blood
stained finery.
Bryseis was before her on horseback her hand extended.
Minestra refused her, "I will not run and hide, I am as sick as the peasants here, do you mean to quarantine
me too?"
"Whatever it takes"
"What is happening here?" Roe asked appearing from the crowd gathered in the street.
Minestra watched her, just as wan as the other soldiers looked, and a little stooped over on her mount.
"Surely you now know of the blight that has taken residence during our absence"
Bryseis asked.
"Aye" she said.
"Now I have come to take action, I am holding all these people to this hospital so they cannot infect others.
All those who I find out are sick will be brought here. The wells are being shut."
"And what of the cure?" Minestra asked.
"There is no cure as far as I am concerned" Bryseis growled.
"There is a cure?" Roe asked.
"Silence" Bryseis yelled , "Get to a post"
"I will call a meeting" the queen said, "Then we shall decide"
"There will be no meeting only action" Bryseis dismounted, seizing Minestra by the wrist.
"I am still queen" Minestra ripped herself from Bryseis’ grip with surprising strength,
"We will all meet at the castle-"
"The castle-" Bryseis muttered, "Fine if a meeting is what you want, you’ll have it, until then
the sick stay here"
Minestra nodded.
"Grafean" Bryseis turned to Roe, "Ride ahead to the castle, prepare the court" the she lowered
her voice "And a proper sick room along with some physicians for the queen"
Grafean did as she was told casting a worried glance back at her queen.
....................................................................................................................
The court was deserted as Roe ran the halls announcing the return of the soldiers and Bryseis and the meeting.
Vestia almost did not believe that her love had returned, limping painfully, but alive.
Roe paused out of breath from heralding; Vestia had not known her to become fatigued so fast.
"Roe" Vestia called, and ran into my embrace.
"Gentle Vestia" Roe savored her presence, "It is good to find you well"
"Awful things have happened" she said.
"I know" Roe answered in tears struggling to catch her breath.
"Are you hurt?" she asked.
"It is only my age catching up with me" Roe jested breathlessly
.
"No, you are hurt" she put her hands to the soldier’s bruised ribs, "You have been struck a mighty
blow"
"It did not kill me or lame me"
"Only a happy median" she sighed, "Surely you must not go on any more crusades, you must retire"
Roe shook her head, "Then who will fulfill the prophecy of the great Hazure?" she kissed her fiancée
softly "Let us speak of this another time, Vestia"
"No" she insisted "Tell me what happened-"
"Not now" she tried to pull away from her.
"Was it so terrible?" she asked her eyes wide.
Roe nodded, "There will be much more grief, for we did not conquer the Niamlin mines, they nearly took us
all " a sob caught her and Vestia drew her into the garden, where they sat.
"Roe, please, tell me what has hurt you so"
"Bryseis" she gasped, "She’s a fool; we went into the mountains ready to fight, in truth we knew
nothing of the passes and caves, and the traps set by the Niamlin men"
"Dark hideous things, it was days before we saw the light again, then women kept getting snapped up in traps,
we only figured then that it was a Niam trick to trap enemies down there, starve them, or get them killed in one
of their awful snares. I can remember the great rush of air and then the screams of soldiers in pain, one was even
snapped up right next to me, and young Zul, she was killed, and dear Aean she was killed. Now I come here, to my
home and find more dead"
"How were you hurt?" Vestia asked.
"We found a way out, but there was a tumble of heavy rock, I was nearly crushed, but by the hair on my head
I was spared, still I was trapped for hours.
The fool Bryseis would not rest until I was freed, she kept me talking to her as she urged the other women on,
tore her own fingers trying to dig me out. I fear that she really can love, but does not know how to, perhaps I
thought, perhaps she has seen the error of her ways and wants to change. I was just as much a fool as she, now
she wants to quarantine all the women, to just let them die.
The only reason she has called this meeting is to trick Minestra into coming to the castle"
Vestia put her arm ‘round her, "You see. Now you believe, soon my love it will be time to act, to show Bryseis
Grafeal that you are her master and you shall be the master of all Fletalin"
"First things first" Vestia said "You must win the people, save them from this blight, the scholars
know the cure, but it is outside of this realm, sold in the Niamlin market"
"I will go with or without the blessing of Bryseis"
........................................................................................................................
Minestra sat flanked by two of her scholars, just weak enough to sit up, her wits just as feeble as her body.
"As I have said before" Bryseis continued, "All sick will report to the hospital where they will
stay"
"You have no right to hand out death sentences, to these innocent women" Minestra told Bryseis.
"I have every right if they stand to eventually kill all of Fletalin with their dreadful blight" Bryseis
said.
Roe was next to her, brown hands balled up into fists, Vestia stroked her fore arm trying to calm her. Minestra
noticed how beautiful they looked together, very noble and very much in love.
"I have say in this realm and no one will be locked away as a prisoner, for nothing but deeds of evil against
Fletalin, you should be put away right now for trying to break such a rule" Minestra told Bryseis angering
her.
"You are surely delirious from fever, no one talks to me that way" Bryseis was truly angered.
"I will talk" the queen answered, "I will tell what is on everyone’s mind right now. Where are half
of our soldiers? Are they in the Niam mountains, dead?"
Bryseis stood pounding her fist on the table startling Roe and Vestia;
"They died honorable deaths-"
"They died fighting for shiny rocks, miles from their home and people, there can be no honor in that"
Minestra stood too with the aid of her scholars.
"How dare you?" Bryseis Grafeal asked, "How dare you question what I lead my soldiers to?"
"I do more than dare" Minestra said, "I challenge you to send some of them out to fetch the cure
for the blight, to prove to me that they can do something for their land"
Bryseis walked towards her, "I have to prove nothing to no being but the Goddess"
"You of all are pious, Grafeal?" she asked, "Then surely this is a holy mission, to save these children
of the Goddess"
"I barely have any soldiers to spare for anything, let alone another crusade" Bryseis retorted, "Maybe
one, and of their own volition"
Minestra turned to the soldiers, "Which of you brave ones are willing to go on a quest to save your people"
"I shall" a young soldier stood, "I have returned to find my family dead-"
Bryseis’ glower stopped her cold,
"You lost your reasoning. Bah. Does anyone have a better cause for going on such a journey"
There was shift in the room as Roe stood carefully, she had been wounded, Minestra could see, but still she stood,
leaving her red headed lover to look up at her with reverence.
"My dark sister" Bryseis sounded as if she had been betrayed, "Surely you do not mean to get yourself
killed after meeting with death just weeks ago"
"There should be nothing for me to fear, the cure is quite far from Niamlin, I look like a Terralin, I shall
pose as a merchant buying wares, then be on my way"
Roe explained.
"Surely" Bryseis said, "Surely you do not want to leave the comforts of the castle, the arms of
your lover, I hardly believe she can stand another of your departures"
"She has seen the terror of the blight" Roe said, "She has insisted that even if I am by her side,
my lady cannot be happy until everyone is well again, neither can I"
"Then, noble lovers; you shall go Grafean my sister...you have been most loyal to me and I will allow this
mission" Bryseis said, "To be carried out at your leisure"
"I shall go immediately" Roe stood and bowed to the queen then took Lady Vestia’s hand.
Minestra watched them go, she did not notice Bryseis walk to her.
"Come" she said, "You will rest here in the castle until Roe returns"
"I must go back to the hospital-" she began.
"It will only be a matter of days before the cure arrives" Bryseis said, "You will not live those
days if you are on your feet constantly...then I will rule Fletalin"
Minestra stood on uneasy feet, "I am in no mood for politics, Bryseis"
"Neither am I" Bryseis revealed, "I am weary, just as you are"
The Queen allowed herself to be drawn to her quarters as Lady Vestia and Roe came upon their own.
........................................................................................................................
Weary; we lay for a moment in silence.
Lady Vestia then dressed my bruised ribs in strips of linen plastered with a lemony salve.
"Do you believe in magic?" she asked.
"I am curious of it, since you have shown me some" I said.
"Then would you believe that if in a spot of trouble I could help you hastily from this very room?" she
asked.
"That is hard to believe" I told her.
"Have my circlet" she said talking the silver band from her arm, there was an almondine of amethyst there.
I laughed a little remembering the stories I had heard of almond shaped jewels and amazons, what they represented.
So not to seem as though I ridiculed Vestia’s idea, I put the circlet aside.
"I missed your own sweet almondine" I jested and found it beneath Vestia’s gown and kissed it until she
purred.
"Return to me soon" she said, "I am impatient to spend the rest of my life at the whims of you lips"
I agreed that I would and left her, Voelia had a cart prepared for me, and the clothes of a merchant, including
a hat of coarse fur.
I redressed and met my farewell party, Bryseis, Voelia and Gwain; who kissed my cheek, and promised that she would
come after me if I did not return soon.
I told them good-bye and they wished me luck, Bryseis was drunk and nearly maudlin. I left them forcing myself
not to glance back at the land I had come to love.
...........................................................................................................
It took a day for me to ride out to the merchant’s road, I had a big brown tow horse and cart, and fell into the
line of travelers going to and fro.
I passed many travelers, merchants as I was supposed to be, and several whole families whose little ones waved,
smiling at me. There lones ones too, scoundrels, thugs waiting for the chance to rob a merchant or a family. As
I approached
Niamlin there were knights on patrol bearing the land’s insignia on the breast. I found a back road hoping to come
across a village. My search was for a certain root, Fletalin’s name for it was philadendrum, but I could not use
the language for fear of being found out.
Vestia had drawn up a picture of the root so that I could show it. I realized that I may have forgotten it and
began to check my person. A sudden sound caused me to look behind me, there was nothing, still I knew someone was
following me. I stopped my horse and dismounted.
There were men in the woods, most likely robbers.
I drew my sword and waited, listening as their leader made up his mind if I was I was formidable. I turned and
remounted, never letting my guard down, I rode on the men following me not at stealthy as they though.
I let them figure I had only thought I heard a natural sound of the woods, and had forgotten.
They were planning to ambush me, I could hear them dividing, there were nine of them, four to my right, three to
my left, two behind me. I kept my horse at a steady pace and went about my way, until they decided to attack.
I leapt from my horse and drew my sword, driving it backwards into the heart of one coward, I then turned to the
side and belted his cohort in the nose with the heel of my hand. I turned to my right barreling into four men,
falling two. I broke into a run noting my surroundings as I ran.
They followed, I had only killed one, and I reminded myself to be careful of the remaining six. I jumped into a
tree and waited for four of them to pass, then jumped for the two who lagged.
I killed one, and the other came for me, yelling for his comrades.
Our swords locked, he was stronger, I was more clever, I stomped his foot and pushed him backwards pinning him
to the ground with my sword and taking up his for the last four.
They were thugs as I predicted, having not been trained they were all brawn.
Having slain them all I went to the last;
"Don’t kill me" he begged.
"I will not, unless you attempt more harm on me" I told him, "Worthless robber, killing innocent
merchants for their purses"
"We are not killers" he told me, "Only slavers, the dark ones like yourself have come to fetch a
good price in Niam markets. We capture any strays we can find"
I ripped my sword from him, causing him to moan pitifully.
Taking his sword I ran back to my horse, and rode on to a village reminding myself to be careful. I could not turn
back even if Terralin were being captured as slaves.
The village was a small and the market place was so, still I found what I was looking for. I saw no slaves in the
place and figured that the thug was lying or only the rich owned slaves.
My cart full I turned back towards Fletalin, taking a night to rest in the woods.
I woke up at dusk to shouts, men and whips.
I sat up on my bed of bowers, and heard the language of Terralin, ones screaming prayers of deliverance. I dressed
quickly and found the sources to be a train of slavers and slaves being driven to Niamlin.
I followed them the morning not sure what I would do, most of the thirty slavers looked to be soldiers. Surely
I could not battle them.
Around noon the party stopped; the soldiers rounding the captured ones into a great pack, like cattle, daring them
to stray.
I watched them from afar, watching them, my people; men, children, women- old fathers, and old mothers-stolen from
their homeland.
They were frightened and if I began to attack the soldiers alone, I was unsure if I would have any aid from them.
I made a circle around the party- and came upon a large rock, where I was sure I could get a good vantage.
Minding my wound, I halfway scaled the rock, when I was violently yanked and pulled to the ground. I drew my sword,
while leaping to my feet and found that my attacker a Terralin girl dressed like a warrior-with a sword.
If I had not moved from her blow, explaining in a hushed tone in the language of Terralin, she would have surely
killed me, for she was ready that day to battle.
I dropped my sword and showed my hands to prove I meant no harm.
She disarmed me and told me to stand.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Roe Prictkal" I told her using the surname I had not used in years.
"Prictkal?" She asked, "As in the second Providence?"
I nodded.
"I am from there and I have never seen you among the Prictkal clan"
She drew her sword "Tell the truth, dog"
"I am of Fletalin now" I explained, "My mother is Rhaviel, my father was a warrior, Drulel; my brother
is a farmer named Chea-"
She stood back and let me stand, "I am Hara, of the Krictol clan"
Hara was named after my favorite river in Terralin, right outside of my Providence. We Terralin women are strong,
but few of us ever become warriors, and so I was curious of this girl-she could be no older than Pharae.
Hara had the typical Terralin features, brown skin, dark hair and narrow eyes, we are usually stout women, still
there are a few of us who come out dainty-the ones who are prized by noblemen, they are no use as farm women.
Hara was as such, but well muscled, I could tell that she was very fleet footed.
She inspected me, then asked;
"Why are you so far from Fletalin?"
"I was on business, when I saw those line of people-"
"You should have kept going" she said, "Soon there will be a blood bath, I will slay all the dogs
who have taken my people "
"You, alone?" I asked.
"I have broken such lines before" she said "And saved dozens"
"How old are you?" I asked.
"Old enough" she answered, "I have no time to argue with you stranger, go on your way"
"I mean to help" I said.
She stopped and sized me, "You are a soldier. It is a shame our men do not let women fight"
"The amazons are different, we have a large-"
"I know the stories" she stopped me with her hand, "Personally I do not fight for any land, but
Terralin, if the men will not have me in their army, I will do their job better than them, all alone"
She wore a large quiver on her back filled with arrows, I noticed, and realized she must have learned to become
an excellent marksman.
"I must strike now" she said distractedly, "They will not rest much longer-"
she gave an arrogant grin, "You may stay to watch if you please"
"I will, thank you" I answered curtly, she scaled the rock quickly-she amazed me not yet a woman and
taking on thirty men. She was still alive and that spoke a lot of her.
She stood poised in the rock and began to launch perfectly aimed arrows, the first two wounded a man through the
leg, and a horse’s flank.
Below the men drew their swords and scanned the forest, Hara launched more arrows and in the next five minutes
killed ten of the soldiers.
The last of them, grabbed up children and women as shields, fighting off the men who refused to let them.
Hara’s next arrow wounded a child through the arm.
"No" I yelled in our language, "You’ll kill them all"
"I need no voice of reason" she growled and launched another arrow barely hitting one of the Niam soldiers
in the neck, squirting blood onto his shield , a screaming woman.
I scaled the rock and removed Hara’s quiver, spilling all the arrows.
"Bitch" she yelled, "What side are you on?"
"The side of those innocent people-"
She scoffed, "You know nothing; sometimes when I attack parties the soldiers began to kill the hostages in
frustration-the death of a few is better than not putting up a fight"
I ran from her, slinging her quiver into the woods, she was on my heels.
I reached the screaming people, clearing some foliage roaring, the soldiers roared in return and attacked.
Hara helped me, out of the boldness of youth, and I discovered what she already knew; she was not a fighter, not
face to face, she was swift, and cunning, not very strong, not against men.
When the cowards that I had not slain, fled, the people of Terralin cheered and clasped my hands.
"Are you mad?" she asked, "Those men were great in number. Did you expect to slay them all?"
"I am no stranger to slaying men" I told her.
"Yes, oh great warrior of Fletalin; the have made you as crazy as they are"
"We must get going" I said, "Before those men return with reinforcements"
"This way" Hara directed the people east.
"East?" I asked, "That is going deeper into Niamlin country"
"There is lush wilderness there, I take that trail, it has led many people to safety" Hara grew angry,
"I do this, I do not need you to disagree with my route, these people are already burdened in their hearts"
I halted.
"Go on about your business amazon" she spat, "I do not need you to lead these people"
Angry I turned, deciding that the world was suddenly full of arrogant and brilliant youngsters; the future would
certainly be a strange one.
I went to my cart, it was true, I was no longer of Terralin, years had passed since I had last set foot on her,
and in my heart, I had not paid homage to the gods in nearly that time.
I found my cart and mounted my horse, hungry from my day I reached into my saddle bag for food, while rummaging
I found Vestia’s circlet. I marveled at how small it was barely a bracelet on my wrist. I would have to get home
to her quickly, I tucked the almondine in my clothes and continued to look for the rest of the dried meat and fruit
I had packed.
A blow to my chest sent me to the ground, jarring the ache back to my bruised ribs. As I writhed in pain another
blow caught me on the back, I rolled over as men shackled my arms and legs. I roared startling them at least.
"That is the one" a familiar voice said, I looked up to see the thug I had spared,
"The slave woman who fights like an amazon"
There were several soldiers, "Could be....I don’t recall her" one said.
"I remember the leader" the other in a raunchy tone, "If only I could tame that beautiful blonde
beast"
They laughed.
"This one is strange though, traveling alone, in a territory where her people are taken captive-" the
thief said, "All sorts of women go to Fletalin and become amazons-"
"Quiet" the first soldier laughed, "She is only a slave stealer, we have searched for this one months"
"Slave stealer?" the thug asked.
"She liberates them, the Terralin bitch" the second soldier commented.
"Then she will fetch me a handsome price" the thug said, "Much more than an amazon would"
The soldiers laughed and tossed him a small purse, the thug shook it-
"A slave stealer is far more than this" he shouted.
The soldiers laughed, "Can we help if you tell us you want to sell a chicken and show us a cow?" the
second one said, then to me, "On your feet"
I sat on the ground, and received a kick for disobedience.
"She does not understand" the first soldier grabbed my chains and urged me up.
"She understands" the thug told them, "She has watched every word you have spoken...she spoke to
me...she’ll show you stupid soldiers up"
The second soldier drew his sword and chased the thug away.
"Come on, heifer" the first soldier pulled me forward, the second bringing up the rear.
"What about her cart?" he asked.
"What need do we for Xanadendrum roots and a furry nag?" the other asked,
"We’ll get handsome Niam horses with the money from this brown slut"
They laughed once more, and I would have killed them if not chained.
We traveled the entire night, and did not stop for sleep as I had hoped, they kept a close eye on me not wanting
to jeopardize their bounty.
By morning we arrived at the great city of Niam, the mountains where Fletalin warriors lay dead, ghosts behind
the great tower of the royal castle.
The first thing I saw when entering was a great shrine being built to the king and his royal wife and daughter.
The girl’s image was finished and what a fine one it
was, I noticed. All the labor was being done by my brothers and sisters of Terralin, captured and sold away from
their home.
They looked on at me in sadness as I was brought in bound by chains, I turned away from them in shame. I was led
to the Niam town square where the people of Terralin were sold in groups.
The soldiers, cocky as they led in me, bragged to their friends that they had caught the slave liberator.
Their friends laughed at them immediately.
"She does not look it, only a big wash woman"
The second soldier spoke up, "She just slaughtered five men"
"If so who wants a fighter to work in their house hold?" the auctioneer said
"The authorities are offering a reward, we just wanted to see if any of you wanted to buy and tame her. She
looks as if she can carry a donkey’s load" one of the soldiers said.
"I doubt it" the auctioneer said, "The slave women are strong, not as much as the men, and much
too spirited, they require a lot of breaking"
"Soldiers should stay so and not try to do the work of slavers" a man said impatiently.
"Move on" the auctioneer told them, "I have many valid customers with decent slaves to sell"
"It is no matter" one soldier told the other, as we walked away from the auction block.
"The authorities will be happy to pay us"
As it turned out the authorities were not interested in me either.
"We already have the slave liberator" the judge told the soldiers.
"No we have her here" the soldiers insisted.
"No we caught her and the slaves she stole" the judge assured them.
"You lie" one of the soldiers told him.
"Bring out the girl" the judge told one of the guards standing outside of the prison.
"You’re just going to have to sell her as a slave" the judge told them as we waited.
"No one wants her, the older women are too dangerous" one of the soldiers said,
"She watches everything, I imagine she is very crafty, a menace in some way"
The guard brought out Hara in a short garment of coarse fabric, her feet were bare and muddy, ankles and wrists
shackled as mine.
The second soldier grinned, "She hardly looks a warrior, just a girl" he went to touch Hara’s breast
but she struck him in the temple with her chains.
He cursed and drew his sword, the guard quickly struck Hara behind the leg driving her to the ground, and went
after the soldier.
"I meant to tell you to be wary" the judge said, laughing "She’s quick, and mean"
"She needs a good lesson" the soldier checked his head.
"And the man rich enough to teach it will be lucky indeed" the judge grinned, "This warrior virgin
will fetch a high price"
"Virgin?" the soldiers asked.
"We have a physician examine her. Of course after she is spoiled in that way she’ll be put to death"
the judge said, "She’s much too dangerous for anything more"
I could not hold myself any longer, I grabbed the bleeding soldier between my arms and choked him with my chains.
His friends drew, but I dropped him and kept his sword.
I fought with the other soldier and wounded his thigh, I threw the sword to Hara and took his. With our backs together
we fought the guards that quickly surrounded us. As I had noted before Hara was not much of fighter, and was quickly
lashed into submission by a whip-master.
I slay him and before I could turn my back I was set upon.
I gave up, deciding to live and fight another day.
I was separated from Hara and chained in a cell after being beaten halfway to death. I lay there in some kind of
filth, entertained by a stupor, dreams of my love and her lemony salve and linen. I remembered the almondine and
pulled it from inside of my clothes.
I was in such a peril that I needed more than a sorceress but a Goddess.
I lay there the night I tried to keep my wits about me, not sink into despair. I had promised to bring back the
cure, and make love to my lady once again.
Shortly after dusk there was a commotion at my cell, I looked up to see a hooded figure being escorted by the guards.
"Fix her up for interrogation by the king and his men" the guard said.
"The king?" the figure asked, a woman, her voice so familiar, I sat up.
"They believe she is not of Terralin, but an amazon" the guard said, "To think those Fletalin cows
have been stealing our slaves is enough to make me personally want to kill them..no matter how beautiful the legends
say they are"
"Is she so dangerous?" the figure asked.
"Yeah" the guard opened the door, "You’ll have a dangerous job with her, Healer...if she is of Terralin
then she’ll slit your throat, if she is an amazon you may be pretty enough to turn her fancy"
The healer stepped in, "Hello...?"
I moved slightly.
The healer startled and stopped, the guards laughed.
"Roe" the healer whispered, so only I could hear, "My love it’s me-"
She stole quickly to my side and bent, "Hi, I’m here to help you" she said in a shaky voice, "I’m
here to help"
"Vestia" I whispered, "How...?"
"Don’t worry, I’m safe in my chambers, this is a different form of me" she put her hand to my face, "They’ve
hurt you, the brutes"
"Vestia?" I asked.
"What is it my love" she began to rummage through a pouch of healing implements and herbs.
"I believe in magic" I said.
"Stop" she stifled a laugh, "You’ll have them figure me out"
She patched me up all the while explaining her plan, she was leaving a potion on the floor next to me, it would
make me sleep so I would appear dead, when my alleged body was discovered, I would be carted out and then we would
flee the city.
"And the girl?" I asked.
"What girl?" she asked.
"I understand we cannot save everyone, but the girl, she will be put to death too. I can’t let that be"
I told her, "Is there a chance you could save her?"
"Roe, it would be a risk for the both of us, only I can revive you or you surely will die" she told me.
"I will take it" I said.
"Is this girl so important?" she asked, "That you would not only risk your life but mine, perhaps
you have picked up more than Bryseis’ name"
"No my love" I explained, "She is a very brave Terralin girl, the men will rape her, if they already
have not"
Vestia hung her head, "Describe her, and when you wake she will be there with me"
"You are truly my love" I told her.
"And you are mine" she smiled, "Now I’ll go and think up a plan for your girl"
"Go safely" I told her.
Then I was alone with the potion, I walked my cell glowering at the guards like a caged animal.
"She is well" one of them said, "That healer is good"
"We will have to call her back to check on the prisoners regularly" another sneered.
I drank the potion and fell into a drowse
........................................................................................................................
When I woke again the stars were far above me, and even closer was my love.
"Stop the wagon" she said and it stopped.
"Roe, sit up my dear, I may need you to fight"
I sat up, I was in the cart, surrounded by the healing herbs, Hara had mounted the horse and was driving us through
the forest. She looked on at me with concern, and I told her in our language to keep driving. She gave a holler
and we were moving.
I looked behind us and saw torches, men on our backs.
"We may need to drop the cart" Hara said.
"No" I told her, then looked around for Vestia.
"The ghost woman is gone again?" she asked.
"She is not a ghost, she’s my wife to be" I explained.
Hara did not turn, "There’s a river up ahead, should I cross or follow it?"
"Turn now" I told her, "We’ll do neither"
"We’ll make ourselves lost"
"Better lost than dead" I told her.
"I agree" she turned and we went into the trees, "I can use that pass no more"
"I’ll help you find another" I told her.
"Of course" she called, "I can barely see anything"
"The horse can, let her lead the way" I told her.
She did so and we lost the men in the woods.
Morning came and we switched positions, "You have piloted us from danger"
I told her cheerily.
She grinned sleepily, "So where do you believe we are?"
I turned to the direction of Fletalin, "Days from home"
"Terralin or Fletalin?" she asked.
"Fletalin" I said.
"Then we will part here" she leapt from the wagon.
I stopped and dismounted, "Hara, come back"
"My home is Terralin, I am not a traitor" she said.
"Why would you say traitor? Fletalin and Terralin have never fought" I told her.
"Anything that is not Terralin is against Terralin"
"The same Terralin that does not want you in their army?" I asked, "The kind that values you only
for your beauty and frame, not for your wits and skills. I know how it is especially for dainty girls like yourself"
She sat on the ground and shook her head, "They wanted to marry me off to the chief’s son, I was to be part
of his ever-growing collection of wives. I can out run, ride, hunt, and wit him..."
I pulled her to her feet, "No matter what you do they will never understand, no matter how many slaves you
rescue"
"I know that" she told, "I have a different motive than I used to have, now I only want to help
people"
"That is a noble cause" I told her, "For years we have tried to defeat Niamlin, to no avail, one
day we will though and there must be someone with us there to speak up for the people of Terralin"
"As I told you before, I work alone" she told me, "I need no fair weaklings to aid me..."
I let go of her.
"I thank you and your wife, but dying in the name of freedom would have been an honor for me" she said,
"Still it is good to live and help others"
"Stupid girl" I yelled, "You only succeeded in getting them captured and enslaved..."
"I was always successful until you showed up, dog" she spat, "I have not abandoned my people"
"You only serve yourself" I told her, "Half way a coward deep down. If you don’t come with me you’ll
only one day serve a man as not even his wife, but his whore and footstool"
She snarled and drew her sword.
"Drop it" I called to her.
She ran at me so swiftly I barely had time to draw, our swords locked, but I was
much stronger. I pushed her back and onto her ass, she quickly stood on her arms and kicked me in the ribs.
Winded I backed into a tree dropping my sword, Hara was on me her blade at my throat.
She laughed, "I did not tell you before, but back at home they talk of you, they say you were a great fighter
that there was no place for you....there will be one for me-I will make one"
I ran at her avoiding her sword as I tackled her to the ground knocking the air from her. I pinned her shoulders.
"Don’t you know I tried the same?" I asked, "Did they not tell you of how I joined a band of men
trying to defeat the local bandits? How we were captured and almost killed if I had not escaped and fought those
bandits myself. It was the first time I battled that way, nineteen years ago it was; something came over me and
before I knew it all eight men were dead or mortally wounded at my feet"
I gave Hara a shake, "Those men were so jealous of my victory they did not allow me to travel home with them,
they only beat and raped me. They did not figure that I would live, but I did. I lived a month in the woods blind
and mad with rage, I came home and slay them all. They had told everyone I was killed by the robbers, the exact
thing that happens to women who try and fight....the liars. One of them was the father of a child I had later.
I left it there with my family and began to wander until I came to Fletalin"
"You’re a liar" she called to me, "They said you wanted nothing to do with a child, there is no
room for being a warrior and a mother they told me you said so"
I said nothing only stared at her.
"You should have given a second thought to your lust if you did not want a child...I suspect you do not have
to worry about that anymore" she yelled.
"Hara" I could only say then pulling her to her feet "You are not of the Krictol clan are you?"
She turned away from me, but I grabbed her face and inspected it. My mother Rhiavel was a small woman, that uncharacteristic
trait of Terralin women. My father was too poor to have more than one wife, and would have had to been rich to
have my mother. She fell in love with him and refused to be sold off to any man.
I was as big as her by the time of my twelfth year.
Looking upon Hara’s face I saw her, "You are the spitting image of Rhiavel, my mother. I don’t know why I
never saw it. I never thought I had a girl...I did not look"
Hara stepped, "So you admit it"
"Gods, I never thought I would ever make something so beautiful" I ignored her anger and touched her
once more.
"Stop it" she fought me, I only grabbed her and crushed her to my bosom.
"My very own daughter"
She struggled, "I am none of yours, dog"
"No wonder you are so fierce" I set her in front of me and walked around her, "You are much swifter
than I have ever been, but not as strong as me, or as smart"
She scoffed, "I am as smart as grandfather, he was a great warrior"
"And not smart as a dog" I laughed, "And a drunk"
"How dare you?" she asked.
"He must have died before you could notice" I said.
"He lives"
"Then you must be blind" I laughed.
She laughed, "Well he is a drunk, but it is rude to say"
"Who taught you to fight?" I asked.
"I paid a boy learning to be a soldier in the village, after his lessons he would teach me all he knew. He
got older and figured it was ridiculous to teach me and more proper to try and marry me"
I laughed, "I could teach you better, even put you in the army"
"Fletalin’s army" she made a face.
"Come back with me" I said.
"No" she refused.
"Are you not curious of your own mother?" I asked.
"No" she told me.
"You are" I teased, "And also of the workings of Fletalin, you are too stubborn to admit it"
"Did you not ever wonder about me?" she asked.
I hung my head, "Rarely, I never thought I would be faced with Terralin again. I made a new life, and what
a wonderful one it is. I was hurt after what happened to me, I wanted to forget"
"So you left me" she spat, "Now you want me to come along with you like a little pet"
"I want to make up for leaving you" I told her, "I want to show you a better life"
She paused seeming to weigh the possibilities, "I would like to rest for a week or so, I need new weapons
and a swift horse and I would like to meet this wife of yours who helped save my life"
"How about a moon?" I asked.
"If I can stomach it" she answered and climbed into the wagon, "What are the roots for?"
"To cure a blight" I said.
Not knowing the language of Fletalin, I explained about the sickness since there is nothing like it in Terralin.
I also explained the ways a Fletalin, my friends Liber and Myseaus, and Bryseis.
"I do not think I will like that Bryseis person" Hara said.
I laughed and began to teach her some of the words of the Fletalin language.
........................................................................................................................
Mysaeus answered the door and gave a cry, latching on to me, it had been several hours since dusk.
"Liber, Liber she has returned"
Her wife appeared, "Did you bring the cure?"
"Yes I have" I told her.
"Then why do you dally?" Mysaeus asked.
"I need to ask a favor of you" I told them.
"Anything for you, Roe" Liber said.
I turned and pulled in Hara, "This is my daughter" I told them.
Liber gasped, "You never told us you had a daughter"
"To tell the truth neither did I" I said to her.
"She is beautiful" Myseaus said, "Roe...such a beauty"
I told Hara what they thought of her and she smiled shyly.
"Bring her in" Liber exclaimed, "She must be exhausted, not to mention starved"
she took Hara by the arm.
"I need her to stay here until I return" I told her.
"Then she shall" Myseaus nodded not taking her eyes from Hara, "She is so much like my Pharae..."
"I am sorry" I told her.
Myseaus shook her head, "Go deliver the cure, Roe, your fair one shall be fine here"
I called to Hara who’s interest was captured by a bowl of steaming soup.
"I’ll be back in the morning"
Hara nodded and I left.
I galloped to the castle and was met by Bryseis on her horse, by the light of the lantern I had borrowed from Myseus
she looked haggard.
"Give me herbs for the queen" she said out of breath.
I dismounted and filled her saddle bag, after which she embraced me,
"I knew you would not fail"
"And let you down my commander?" I asked to which she answered with a hearty laugh and rode off.
"Go to the sick house" she told me, "I have already sent the scholars"
I entered the city and was met by the scholars who congratulated me by clasping my travel weary hands as they unloaded
the herbs to make into an elixir.
There giving directions was Vestia who had a great pot set boiling in the middle of the street. The sick who could
walk were directed in a line while the scholars set up a brigade of cups passing elixir along to those who lay
too weak to move.
I helped with all of this, though my bones urged me to quit.
By dawn I sent word to the house of Myseaus that all was fine and to hold on to Hara for a while longer.
Vestia and I went back to the castle to rest which I could not do, my body complained for comfort and I complained
to Vestia.
"You’ll be the death of me" she complained, but I knew that she was glad to see me. She fetched her lemony
salve and linen strips to wrap my sore parts.
Finally free of aches I looked on adoringly as my love slept, until a drowse claimed me. I awoke to knocks on the
chamber door, it was Bryseis her old self again dressed splendidly and playful.
"Roe the queen and I have ordered a banquet tonight, she is feeling well and would like to see you" she
announced, "In your very honor, and your dear fiancée and to tell everyone of our engagement"
"I congratulate you, Bryseis" I said and nearly bowed.
She stopped me, "No none of that my friend" she smiled, "You are my equal now, and once the queen
and I are married we shall conquer the world together"
"The world?" I asked.
"Yes, Niamlin, then on from there" she exclaimed.
"Has the queen agreed to this?" I asked.
Bryseis frowned, "No but I will keep her very busy. Why do you question? Do you not want to rule the world?"
"There will be much to celebrate tonight then" I grinned.
She clapped my back, "There will my sister"
I returned to the chamber where Vestia was up, she had heard Bryseis’ plans.
"She’s mad" she said, "That is the only explanation for one who wants to try and conquer the world...she
must be stopped my love and soon"
She kissed me, the first we had shared since my return.
I told Vestia of Hara.
"I knew there was something familiar about that girl" she grinned.
"I should not have brought her here" I said, "She is something for Bryseis to weaken me with"
"She is a warrior is she not?" Vestia asked.
"Somewhat" I answered.
"She can fight by your side" Vestia told me, "Another person you can fully trust besides me"
"I can’t allow her to be hurt or killed" I said to Vestia.
"This is only about you and Bryseis, do not be frightened of her my love. She has soldiers, but you have their
heart, they are just waiting for someone brave and strong to take over"
"I do not know"
She caught my face in her hands, "This is fate my dear, she does not wait for long, and if ignored she will
smite you"
I kissed her and told her she gave me much strength.
"Darling" she kissed me in return, "You are your own strength"
........................................................................................................................
"Myseaus" Liber called, "Do not let her hurt herself with that silly mare"
Myseaus laughed as she helped Hara onto the horse, "This girl was more likely born riding horses, her mother
is Roe Grafean..."
Liber stepped from the porch as the girl led the horse around the barn, it trotted gracefully for her.
Then she yelled her into a gallop.
"Hara" Myseaus called as the girl sped away.
She turned and smiled mischievously.
"She’ll most likely kill herself" Liber worried, "Go fetch her, Myseaus"
Myseaus grumbled and mounted the second mare, "I wonder how I am to fetch one going so quickly"
........................................................................................................................
Hara hoped that all Fletalin horses were as swift, it was only a farm horse she was on and still it flew across
the plain.
She came to a road and galloped across to another field, startling a tall blonde on a horse who was going at a
leisurely pace. Hara crossed the road again since the other field had crops in it, she had gotten in trouble back
home too many times for trampling crops.
The blonde had kicked her horse faster and was fast gaining Hara who slowed, the golden haired one could certainly
have a race if she wanted.
She caught up to Hara, slowing too until she gave a whoop and sent the country mare flying once again.
The blonde was just as skilled and quickly over took Hara, she smiled at the wild brown girl truly enjoying the
pursuit.
Annoyed Hara urged her horse faster, the blonde kept pace and grabbed her arm, calling for the horse to slow. Hara
struggled with her and when the horses slowed she shoved the woman off her horse, lost balance and too fell rolling
to avoid the hooves.
............................................................................................................
Myseaus caught up with them and recognized the other rider as Bryseis Grafean, and her heart nearly stopped when
both lost their steeds and fell to the ground.
She quickly dismounted and bowed as they got to their feet;
"Commander Bryseis, I thank you"
Bryseis caught the girl by the arm, "Who is this strange girl?"
"Hara is her name" Myseaus said.
The girl kicked Bryseis in the shin but the commander did not let go, she only turned Hara to face her.
"You little cow, do not struggle with me" Bryseis yelled, "I am the commander here-"
"She does not understand" Myseaus explained, "She is foreign"
"Who has brought her here, do you know?" Bryseis asked.
"Yes, Roe Grafean brought her, she is her daughter"
"Don’t jest me woman" Bryseis shouted.
"I do not" Myseaus bowed, "She did not have time to explain but I suppose they were reunited during
her excursion"
Bryseis grinned, "What a pretty thing she is, it’s astounding, I thought my eyes were playing me for a fool"
Hara continued to struggle and Bryseis let her go and flipped her cape.
"A most interesting development"
...........................................................................................................
I did not know how but Bryseis had found my daughter before I had a chance to.
I meant to fetch her before I met the queen before the banquet to present her.
Liber told me they had gone riding so I trotted out to the field on my horse to find Hara with Myseaus and the
commander who grinned the way a cat does at a wounded bird.
"Roe is this girl really yours?" Bryseis asked as I rode up, and dismounted.
Hara ran to me, she had been truly scared and I was angrily anxious to know if Bryseis had tried to get at her
as she does with all girls.
"Yes, she is my daughter" I said, as Hara inspected me in my finery I almost felt ashamed of it. "It
is a very long story"
"She’s fierce" Bryseis said and I knew she was thinking of a different aspect of my daughter.
I agreed to Hara’s fierceness.
"No matter" Bryseis said, "You have earned the right not to bow to me, she has not...she has only
made matters worse by wounding my shin, and sullying my garments"
"She wants you to bow to her" I told Hara in our language.
"Do you want me to?" the girl asked.
"No" I answered.
"Then I shall obey my mother" Hara smiled.
I spoke to Bryseis, "She is not used to our customs and I have taken no time to explain"
"Fine then" the commander said, mounting her horse "There will be more than enough time for politeness
tonight at the banquet"
"I do not think she is ready for such a thing" I said to Bryseis.
"It has been declared that all members of the court shall appear, Roe, and your daughter is a member"
she insisted, "I shall expect her there tonight"
"Very well commander" I said.
Bryseis rode away.
"Hara" I said, "See what trouble you have started..."
"I have done nothing, she is no goddess, I will fall her on her ass" my daughter replied.
"Bryseis is not the type you want to insult" I sighed, "You do not understand, now she will not
rest until she has you"
Hara laughed harshly, "I belong to no one, not even you if I don’t feel it"
"I am sorry, Roe" Myseaus told me, "I let her on the mare and before I knew it she was off"
"Don’t worry my friend, she’s a scamp" I replied.
Hara went to the mare and petted her.
"She’ll fit in well tonight then" Myseaus commented.
By the time we reached her house there were several servants from the court.
"Lady Vestia has sent them" Liber told us, "For the young Hara"
I informed my daughter of this and she stopped in her tracks, "What for?"
"To clean you up my dear" I told her.
"I am clean" Hara exclaimed, "I refuse to dress like you mother"
"You cannot attend a royal banquet unless you are" I told her.
"Then I want a cape" she told me, "Like the one Bryseis has"
............................................................................................................
We galloped ahead of Vestia’s servants, Hara several feet in front of me. Vestia had sent her an embroidered green
tunic, she looked like a page playing soldier.
Her hair had been washed and brushed with some kind of oil so it shined like a cache of black jewels.
I was very proud of her beauty and fierceness, and I could not wait to show her to the queen.
Vestia greeted us with hugs.
Hara told me to tell Vestia that she was very honored to meet her.
"As it is for me to finally meet you" Vestia took a small step back to inspect us, "Now what a fine
family I’m marrying into"
On our way to the castle I had explained that I was ranked under Bryseis in the army, and that Vestia was cousin
to the queen. My daughter seemed very impressed by the little power I had, I wanted her to be proud to thrive here.
We all went to see the queen who was still relatively weak but on her feet. Vestia gave her some kind of herb upon
greeting.
"And who is this?" Minestra asked taking Hara’s hands after the girl gave a most elegant bow.
"She is my long lost daughter, Hara" I told her.
"Daughter?" Minestra asked, "I am shocked, I never thought-"
"Roe surprised us all with Hara" Vestia said, "She is a pleasant one though"
I translated all this to Hara who smiled shyly.
Vestia and Hara left to leave us to talk, I found old memories returning of making love to Minestra during the
short moments we had alone, how very pleasurable though quick they had been.
"I am thinking the very same thing" the queen put her hand to my face, "Roe"
"Minestra" I breathed and gathered her in my arms, burying my face in her throat. I was filled with such
a fire for her I was out of my head, we passed through the halls of her chambers still locked in each other’s arms,
to her bed.
I kissed her so that I took her breath.
"Roe, we mustn’t" she said, "You mean to marry Vestia"
As if it were my fault we could not make love.
"As you plan to marry Bryseis" I stood and smoothed my clothes.
"Then we must put an end to this" she told me.
"We shall" I answered.
"Do you love her?" Minestra asked, "Vestia"
"I do" I told her.
"I do not love Bryseis, only my queendom"
"Why would you trust her of all?" I asked, "She’s a scoundrel, a greedy diabolical liar"
"Such words" Minestra worried, "I fear they are all true"
"They are" I told her, "She is not the one to help rule"
"She already does" Minestra said, "She has an entire army, I only have scholars"
She had given up long ago, she was going to give it all to Bryseis.
"For what?" I asked, "What can she possibly offer you in exchange for your surrender"
"I get few spoils in this war" Minestra told me, "Trade with other countries, an system of education,
a certain amount of funds each year to support all that I can with it"
I shook my head, "This is not good Minestra"
"What do you know?" she asked, "You are not a queen, half your people are not dead of a blight"
"No" I shook my head, "It is still not right"
"Then do something about it, Roe" she took my arm, and I looked into her eyes, she was asking me then
and there to go against Bryseis, "We do not wed until midsummer...please...you are my love always, Roe, I
beg of you to stop her"
............................................................................................................
The dinner was a splendid affair with all of the court, Bryseis made my daughter her game that evening. I wanted
to kill the yellow bitch for all the wrong she had done; poor Minestra, the dead women in the Niam mountains, for
the realm of Fletalin, for my daughter.
While I talked with the queen Vestia had taught Hara to do a little dancing, and once there was some wine in her
she danced with all the soldiers and ladies who were all in love with her.
Upon meeting Bryseis, Hara bowed so gracefully I wanted to laugh, especially at the stupefied look on the commander’s
face. Through the evening I caught their eyes meeting, which I did not like. Hara was using her beauty to vex Bryseis,
only fueling any desires she had.
The dancing broke and Commander Bryseis honored me and Vestia and of course my lovely daughter. I bowed to the
crowd and told them it was only my honor as a soldier of Fletalin and a servant of our queen.
"Long live the queen" I toasted her.
Everyone agreed and the dancing commenced.
"Mother" Hara who was at my left said, "Shall I dance with Commander Bryseis?"
"You are much too young for wiles my dear, please leave that to the women"
I told her, and she only grew annoyed.
"Are you afraid that I will provoke a fight between the two of you?" she asked.
She left promptly with Gwain who gladly promised to keep an eye on her.
"What was that all about?" Vestia at my right asked.
"Hara does not understand the desires of Bryseis the conniving bitch" I told her.
"Your mind has been troubled all night" Vestia touched my temple, "Shall we walk"
"Let’s" I replied.
"It is about your talk with the queen isn’t it?" she asked.
"Yes it is" I answered, "She begged me to somehow stop her marriage to Bryseis"
"She is right" Vestia said.
"I will most likely get us all exiled or hanged" I sighed.
"Who went out and risked their life to get the healing herb?" Vestia asked, "Who is more brave and
noble than anyone here?"
"That does not make me immortal" I told her, we sat on a stone bench.
"I believe that you will and make a fine leader" she kissed me, "Now you need rest, and to strengthen
your alliances"
"My only allies are you and Hara" I said "And not even she likes me much"
"She wants you to be more than you are" Vestia told me, "She knows you can rule this realm, and
Bryseis, not serve her"
"What about you my beloved ally ?" I kissed her, "What may I do to strengthen my ties with you?"
She grinned and that told me all she wanted.
I stood and pulled her to a well bowered stone bench, where I beheld her in the ivy shadowed moonlight.
"Back in Niam I saw the king building huge likenesses of his family" I said, "I will build you one"
She laughed "Only Goddesses have shrines"
"Oh stop fishing for compliments" I bit her playfully.
"Oh I am not a goddess?" she asked.
"Of course" I said as she sat up and untied the back of her gown.
I kissed her naked belly, then breasts and neck.
I made love to her there in the bowers and we only left because the stone was to cold and forbidding to allow us
to sleep.
........................................................................................................................
Hara went looking for her mother, Bryseis followed.
The girl had nearly wandered to the garden before Bryseis stopped her by calling her name. She turned and gave
that look of bravado that drove Bryseis mad.
As she approached the girl could not keep her eyes from one of Bryseis’ many jeweled swords.
She unsheathed it, "Pretty no?"
The girl handled the sword like her mother.
"So you know how to use it" Bryseis commented, walking close to the girl but only nearly walked into
the point of the golden sword.
Bryseis laughed, "I know you understand me when I say that I shall have you girl"
The girl grinned and shook her head, Bryseis by passed the point of the sword and grabbed the girl gently, caressed
her.
"Has anyone ever kissed you before my pretty little Hara?" she asked "I can tell, no matter how
resilient a girl acts, I can tell how really innocent she is, and you are quite innocent my dear"
Bryseis moved closer and kissed her.
"Hmmm a virgin" Bryseis said, there was a clink as the tip of the sword hit the ground. Hara’s eyes were
closed.
"You keep that my dear" Bryseis closed her hand over the girl’s smaller one that held the sword. She
kissed Hara’s cheek and left her.
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