Sapphic Voices Fantasy
THE AMAZONS OF FLETALIN VALLEY
Part Four
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.
The Daughters of Tyta Andromaka
BOOK ONE: Part Four
Romula-the general, driven by power, wants to rule Aislin’s army.
Willa-the scamp, scholar and political advisor, very clever for her age.
Little Bo (Bosedae)- the one whose gonna die-admirer of her sister and aspires to be like her, follows any orders
given.
Livinya-the lady wants to be royalty.
Four sisters in Aislan who have built their warrior mother up to be empress while she is away. They have heard
of the ways of Fletalin and are impressed, Willa especially by the marriage of women for she is in love with the
princess of Aislin and has learned every bit of Fletalin culture through the alliance. Mother is not impressed
and gives her votes over to the evil Prince who is given the title then takes Livinya for his wife, mother gladly
gives her. The other sisters are angered and refuse to give their sister over, in a skirmish Tyta kills Bo. The
prince exiles Romula, orders Willa to marry and Liv to be his bride. The sisters refuse. In the night Liv gives
herself over only to be raped and sent away.
Tyta gives her daughters over to Roe, a jar containing their birth cord wrapped in different colored silk and so
Roe returns home with three daughters for her new queen.
Weird creatures terrorize Fletalin, the Andromaka sister’s first Fletalin adventure.
(in the walls of Aislan, allies of Fletalin)
The people of Aislan lined the bricked roads waving long slim flags bright blue and hard yellow. Children were
the crowns of their fathers, raised high to see the passing parade.
Leading the army of men were the three generals of the Aislan military, one of them was Tyta Andromaka, gray now,
she was once a young woman who went to war disguised as her own lame brother and proved to be a warrior so fierce
that it was forgiven when she was discovered to be a woman.
She waved to the people, with a great smile on her face, unlike the male generals who wore staunch faces. They
were marching to the Aislan palace set high on a hill top surrounded by a high gate of green stone gilded and capped
with gold. Once to the gate the army filed in through the scarlet building called the hall of harmony, and through
a blue passage called the hall of sanctity and finally to the main palace-the hall of honor, only visited by military,
holy advisors and of course the royal family of Aislan who dwelled there.
Jade bells were struck and all within the palace stopped and bowed to the returning army, triumphant in their return.
They were met by the prince of Aislan, and the generals paused to see him dressed in black silk robes, a high black
crown upon his head.
They kneeled.
"Returning army, I am glad to see you-and I have grave news. The Emperor is dead"
he told them, a young boy, not old enough to fight if he were a soldier. He was slender his raven black hair tied
into a tail.
The general dropped their swords and stood; Tyta spoke.
"I am saddened by the death of the Emperor, yet gladly lay my sword at the foot of you, prince of Aislan,
and fight on behalf of your sovereignty"
He smiled slightly, "Proud Tyta Amdromaka, I inform that I simply cannot be crowned. There will be an election,
for the royal council is divided, it seems I am challenged"
"Still" Tyta told him, "I pledge my allegiance to you"
"I am glad" the prince returned, "Now army you are dismissed, visit your families. Return tomorrow
and discoverer your new Emperor"
Tyta left the palace, her heart heavy, the Emperor had lived his life, and made good will with his power. His son
though was young, headstrong as youth tends to be, and easily angered.
She rode to her country estate that she and her husband Bosed had cultured into a beautiful vineyard, their fruits
producing wine enjoyed by Aislan, and four beautiful daughters strong and fierce.
Three of them met her at the gates of her estate with kisses and embraces, there was Willa, a clever girl who dabbled
in all academies her favorite being politics and foolish dreaming of all sorts. Livinya was the most beautiful,
and the most obedient, her sisters called her "little mother" because she nurtured and cared for them
all, making sure they ate, were clean and well mended and behaved properly, reporting any indiscretions to Tyta.
The last of them was little Bosedae, who wished to be a soldier like her older sister Romula, a prodigy in the
arts of war and who lagged behind at the palace with the other soldiers. Bosedae immediately asked;
"What of Romula?"
Tyta told her.
"She should return soon" the little one said, as they entered the house
"I do want to hear what stories she will tell"
"You will soon enough" Tyta laughed and stopped cold when she saw what hung above her mantle, a painting
of two maids, naked and pale.
"What is this?" she inquired.
"It is from Fletalin mother" Willa spoke up, "They are quite refined in the arts"
"And what of the portrait of my mother?" Tyta asked.
The girls were silent.
"What of it?" Tita demanded.
"I struck it down" Bosedae said.
"What?" Tyta asked, "Struck it down"
"With my sword" the little one said, she was thirteen, but still managed to dress as a soldier getting
her older sisters to pilfer for her. She wore a heavy leather dress tied with yellow sashes and heavy boots much
to big for her, and an even bigger sword at her side.
"It was an accident" Livinya a solemn sixteen spoke up, "She was pretending to strike the prince"
Willa laughed foolishly and quickly covered her mouth, she was twenty and still found plenty of mischief.
Tyta fumed, "I am pleased to know that you have so much fun in my leave, fighting for your freedom and striking
at the prince who will be your new Emperor"
Willa was very serious then, "Perhaps, yet he does not have to come here seeking a wife"
Livinya blush and struck at her, "Quiet fool"
Tyta removed the picture of the frolicking maids and passed it to Willa.
"The Amazons have a very interesting culture mother, it seems they have no use for men, and an Empress rules
over them" Willa babbled.
"Like Aislan had in primitive times" Tyta said.
"They are far from primitive" Willa continued.
"No men" Tyta snorted "They will soon die out"
"Women from neighboring countries orphan their girls at the gates of Fletalin, just so they may have a life
equal to that of men"
Tyta waved her away, "If you are finished educating me on the ways of those lunatic amazons than I shall go
and rest"
"Until dinner?" Livinya asked.
"I will take my dinner in my room" Tyta answered wearily.
"We have a guest" Livinya said.
"Who?" Tyta asked.
"An Amazon" Bosedae burst.
Tyta sighed, "An amazon"
"Roe, the commander of their army" Willa informed, "This was the idea of Romula"
At the oldest of the Andromaka sisters entered, she was taller than the rest, stronger, and more cunning, just
as clever as Willa, as beautiful as Livinya.
"What is this I hear of an Amazon visiting?" Tyta asked.
"She is an awesome woman, mother, and her culture-" Romula began and Tyta stopped her.
"I have heard of their culture and I do not like it" she turned to Willa, "There is only one land
that reigns in supreme and that is Aislan, hopefully those Amazon dolts may see and join us"
"Hopefully some of us Aislan women will learn of them" Romula replied.
"I know what this is" Tyta exclaimed, "You Romula believe you can rule an empire and an army, and
you Willa cannot get past the childish love that girls share before they know what is right"
Willa hung her head.
"Let her alone mother" Romula took her mother’s arm.
Tyta stepped from her daughters, "I am ashamed to have such foolish daughters" at that she retreated
up the stairs.
Livinya and little Bo comforted Willa.
"That went well" Romula sighed and sat on a wooden chair, Aislan furniture being plain yet comfortable.
"She will not take the challenge to the prince" Livinya worried.
"Then you have succeeded?" Romula asked Willa.
"I have" Willa answered simply.
Romula stood and embraced her sister happily, "Then do not fret"
"She will still hold to those traditions, it may as well be the prince" Willa replied bitterly during
her mother’s absence she had campaigned to make her Empress, and gained the support of half the senate.
"Sister, you must look past your love of the princess, and to our mother as ruler of Aislan, Empress not Emperor"
Romula insisted.
"It has been ages since a prince’s right was challenged, the opposers were put to death" Willa answered.
"Yet you have support for mother?" Romula asked.
"I have" Willa said, "Only because I love the princess-"
"And not your mother or your sisters or your father only two years dead?" Romula asked.
"Of course I do" Willa answered.
"And do you not love Aislan?" Little Bo asked, caught up in the moment.
"I do" Willa answered.
Livinya hugged her neck, "Perhaps the Commander of Fletalin will fall in love with you and take you away to
her land"
They laughed including Willa.
"And what of our guest?" Romula asked.
Livinya grinned, "She should arrive shortly, perhaps she will make mother see that a woman can rule a land"
............................................................................................................
Roe the commander of the Fletalin army proved to be an excellent dinner guest.
She was impressed by the Andromaka’s, and even Tyta who sullenly joined them.
Her mood lightened to be able to talk with Roe of the shared hardships of being in a man’s army.
"I only hope to make an easy way for my daughters" Tyta revealed, "It seems I have made the way
too paved and pretty"
Roe smiled at the girls who sat at the end of the table,
"From my dealings with my own daughter, I have learned that they will eventually do as they will and will
unwittingly break their mother’s heart"
Tyta nodded, she had a bit a rice wine, more than usual
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