Coming Soon!! 12/13/14 BLOOD FOR SPARTA by: M.C.McNeel. Part #3 of my Epic Greek Tragedy. The fate of Thera's children will be revealed. CHILDRENOFTHERA.BLOGSPOT.COM Much Love From Texas! M.C.McNeel
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Monday, September 23, 2013
Last Chapter THE END!!!!!!!!!!
Vyakles and 6000 of his warriors prepared to come up out from the underground cavern and bring a cloud of death and destruction upon the women of Themiscyra like a plague of locusts. Devouring life with the might of their swords and spears holding the blood lust of revenge burning inside them, dawn signaled the King's Navy to unleash hell-fire upon the walls and gates of the ancient nation.
Twenty Four warships, the 'fire-ships' as they were called, honed in on the northern beaches of the Black Sea. the warrior women could not believe what they were witnessing for nothing like what they beheld had ever been seen by the the Themiscyrans who stared down from their citadels in shock and awe in utter disbelief. For each of these specialized vessels had, constructed at their bows, huge towers some 30 feet high. These were made of wood and completely covered with the hides of hundreds of slaughtered cattle; which were continuously dowsed with buckets of sea water, so as not to catch fire. Inside there were many platforms with flaps for openings, here the Greeks began a steady barrage as they tossed out small, grapefruit sized, clay balls filed with tallow and olive oil, using leather slings to propel the 'Greek Fire' a great distance, whereupon they smashed hard against the base of the towering walls and massive wooden and iron gates, soaking all with gallons upon gallons of the highly flammable liquid. This process went on for the next hour under the gray and cloudy skies as the archers, all along the watchtowers, sent 1000's upon 1000's of flaming arrows raining down upon the fire towers and the hulls of the ships, but the clever Greeks were well protected and lost not a single man.
Then, upon the instructions from the Admirals aboard the warships, the signals were sent to unleash a new barrage of the clay pots; which had little cotton wicks and these were lit before being slung out. Now, as these round balls of hard clay smashed open an explosive fire erupted when these 'ancient grenades' came into contact with the tallow and oil, bursting into a massive wall of flames, in a flash an unquenchable inferno began to rage. The Themiscyran's fell into a panic of chaos, for they had no way to come out of the Western and Southern gates to defend their territory and fight the invading Spartan Nation. Soon the huge stones began to fracture and crack under the intense heat and the gates were now a wall of searing flames. This 'Greek Fire' was a terribly destructive thing, that they, themselves, had never heard of, nor seen, so the Themiscyrans could not have prepared, nor planned, a way to stop this diabolical battle tactic.
"We must go the the gates to the North and the East and re-route our attack!" Cheveria cried out to her some 20,000 troops "We must fight the men of these ships upon the beaches and soak the sands with their hated blood!"
However, by this time, King Vyakles and his well armed and well trained warriors had already cut a path of death and destruction upon all they encountered. The blood bath began at the Temples of Artemis and Apollo, where they captured and executed all the acolytes and priestesses, young and old. Then they marched to the 'steria' the military training academy where they surrounded the compound like a pack of savage wolves. They were met with little resistance from the young warriors inside ranging in age from 10 to 18, for these young soldiers were no match for the battle harden Spartans. 2000 bodies of the dead littered the land as King Vyakles and his blood drenched Army turned and headed East towards the capital city, burning the crops of corn and wheat, along with the vast orchards, as they went. Here they were set upon by massive ferocious tigers, who leapt out of the fields of burning grasses, but these creatures proved to be no match for the spears of these men who had the strength of lions coursing through their veins, and the Greeks thought it a new and awesome challenge to kill off such wild and fearsome beasts who lashed out with most powerful claws and the sharpest of teeth.
Now as Cheveria and her numerous troops crested the hill that overlooked the Themiscyran plain, they saw, to their own horror, their land was burning and the bodies of the dead women, both young and old, were scattered about the blood stained ground. Then, off in the distance, the warrior women of Themiscyra spotted the invading enemy. "SPARTANS!" came the cries from the Captains whose soldiers eyes grew wide as their hearts raced with this terrible surprise.
"But how have they entered!?"
"From which gate have they thereby come!?" these and more questions came to the Queen's Commander's ears, and so it was Chevria had no answers, but she had to come up with a plan of swift action. Now, though her body was old, her mind was as sharp as her sword as years of successful military strategies filled her thoughts. So came her orders for battle. Thus she arrayed 10,000 of her infantry in an L formation, keeping 2000 back to her left in a chevron formation to prevent lagging from the left wing of the infantry who were prepared to fight with all their force and might and kill off a foreign army, for the first time on their own soil.
Here the Spartans noticed the massive group of Themiscyrans up upon the hill overlooking the large open plain; which would now serve as their Field of Battle. Vyakles gave a confident smile knowing his Naval troops would soon come pouring in through the ashes of the walls and gates to the West and to the South and 3000 of his men would sneak up behind these fighting women, of which the Themiscyran Army and her Captains knew not. "SPARTANS! PREPARE TO FIGHT!" Vyakles screamed out to his troops "Hold the line, leave none of these women alive!"
Thus came the orders of Cheveria, she ordered her infantry arrayed in an L formation, some fifty shields deep 500 wide, opposite the area occupied by their enemies left wing; which was only sixteen shields deep and 400 men wide. The Queens Commander ordered the right wing to charge, leaving her center and left wing to stay, momentarily, out of action. Then she ordered her Cavalry and Charioteers with her skilled Archers to maneuver towards the flanks of the Spartans. Here 3000 men turned and this first conflict ended swiftly as the Greeks overtook the women upon their horses, amidst the screams and sounds of shields and swords of the front lines clashing together smashing bones and faces, the Spartans struck down the many steeds with spears, dragging down their riders to the ground, then in close combat the Cavalry and Charioteers, along with all the Archers, whose arrows could not penetrate the Spartans armor and shields, were soundly defeated, all lay dead as the men stabbed at their hearts and stomachs their own armor doing little to protect them, though the women fought bravely and killed off a hundred or so of the Kings men they were no match for the irresistible force and brutality of the Spartans.
Here leaving the dead and dying Vyakles turned his men back to the front line fighting, whereupon he rejoined his infantry, who pushed and slashed their way through the Themiscyran lines with unstoppable violence and strength. Then, as it slowly began to rain, the Spartans and Themiscyrans fought hard from all sides, the women tried their best to close in around the men, now in a V formation, with burning lungs, aching muscles, their minds solely focused on fighting, as they tried to catch their breath, their hearts furiously racing, but the Spartans, though outnumbered, were faster, stronger and proved to be just too fierce to war against. These Greek warriors they were they most formidable army the Themiscyrans, in their history of war, had ever faced. Soon the Themiscyran division were split apart as the defensive line of the beleaguered infantry was pushed back during the brutal, bloody attack as the Spartans slashed through flesh and bone cutting a clear path to victory. As they stabbed through the bodies of the fierce women, slicing through muscles, tendons, skulls and bones leaving 1000's of bodies of the screaming and dying, drowning in a sea of their own blood and gore.
Now off to the West and South the warships all came up together safely upon the beach as the Greeks, armed and ready for battle, poured through the breach, as the old stone walls had collapsed and the gates were now but smoldering ashes. Those women left upon the hill in the chevron formation watched as their infantry was being decimated waited for the order to attack, they were stunned when the Queen's Commander, Cheveria, shouted as she turned her back and yelled out "ABOUT FACE!" for here they all were horrified to see some 3000 Spartans advancing up the hill directly behind them led by 40 of the King of Sparta's finest Generals who reveled in the battle, marching upon the remaining Themiscyrans whom the Spartans then hacked to pieces. Though the women fought bravely, they were nearing utter defeat when King Vyakles rushed through the center of the constant hand to hand combat as the shrill sound of screams and clashing swords rang across the land, as the fighters from both sides fell all around him. Vyakles continued on unabated trampling over the broken and bleeding bodies under his feet. Expertly wielding his sword Vyakles cut through the horde advancing up the hill with his men and General La Quint close at hand as they set upon the Queen's Commander, Cheveria, who was dressed in her daughter, Odessa's, golden armor. In the chaos and confusion of battle she had been separated from her army and King Vyakles took this opportunity to swiftly approach, sword in hand, as the skirmish was coming to a violent and bloody end. With General La Quint fighting just behind him VYakles eyed the old woman and said to her in a loud clear voice "SURRENDER OR DIE!"
Cheveria paused as her heart sank into sadness for well she knew the day was lost as the chill of the wind and rain wrapped around her, sweat pouring from her fevered brow. Then she cried out "NEVER!" as she adjusted her helmet, taking up her shield and raising her sword she charged forward, here Vyakles took out the head of Odessa and tossed it at her feet. When Cheveria saw this grotesque sight of what was left her child she was frozen for a moment in the shock and horror of her grief. This split second was all the time the great King of Sparta needed as he ran up on her stabbing her in the neck with his deadly cyphos. Vyakles paused to catch his breath as he delighted in watching the life force fade in the old woman's eyes as streams of scarlet pored forth from the wound in a steady flow. As she fell to the ground King Vyakles turned around and in a roar as loud as lion he shouted down across the hill and corpse strewn field "Women of Themiscyra! YOUR LEADER IS DEAD!" breathing hard, fresh blood staining his face, the muscles of the King's arms and legs cramping up in pain he declared "LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS!"
Now, though the Spartans had clearly won the battle, the Themiscyran's were not trained to surrender, so the few hundred left, still able to fight, would not lay down their weapons and give up their lives to be executed by the Greeks so they stood their ground and fought to the death, until each of them fell, their blood seeping out mixing with the blood of their sisters which stained the wet soil until the shouts and screams of the women could be heard no more. Silence washed over the corpse strewn field as vultures began circling overhead waiting to feast on the flesh of the dead. "Now let us go together and march upon the Capital! My brave and vicious Spartans!" Vyakles ordered his army now 8000 strong, for they had more women warriors to kill. "We shall march upon the city and burn it to the ground!" Vyakles smiled at his men "We shall meet at the Palace, where the treasures of this nation can be found!"
With this fresh victory the Spartan Army marched forth together through the rainy weather descending upon the capital city of Themiscyra, where many of the women warriors gathered to protect their last remaining territory but, yet again, the better trained warriors of Sparta moved with an irresistible force of strength and might slaughtering the citizens both young and old. When the youngest of those saw the death and destruction moving against them the little girls all fled in terror trying to find someplace where they could hide together. As the slaughter of these women took place each building was set ablaze smoke and fire rising ever higher through the chaos in the streets. Within the hour Vyakles and his Army had served up the Themiscyran's their final defeat. The King took much delight and pleasure from entering the now abandoned palace where his wife, Queen Thera, many years ago would lay awake at night in her royal bed thinking of Vyakles.
King Vyakles entered the Great Hall where he came upon the empty throne, save for the golden crown of stars waiting for the Queen of Themiscyra to return, but return she would not. Vyakles stood motionless before throne, a thousands thoughts and the images of the battle still fresh in his mind, slowly he reached out picking up the crown, whereupon he set his bronze helmet down in it's place upon the throne. He held the former regal crown of his wife in his hands and spoke to the object saying "I will bring you to my daughter, Queen Thera's child, as a trophy and prize for her to wear for the rest of her life." here a bit of peace settled into the King's troubled heart, his mind now satisfied with the death and destruction his army had wrought against this once formidable nation.
"My King!" came a call from General La Quint "We have opened up the Western Gate, Admiral Vasha and his men have come to carry away the spoils of war; which we have located in the Treasury in a large chamber beneath the Palace floors..," La Quint paused giving a look joy mixed with sadness.
"What is it General! You looked bewildered." Vyakles said not liking the look in his eyes.
"Come and see for yourself."
"Very well." Vyakles followed 20 of his soldiers down a small stone stairway into the treasury, whereupon, hidden among the hordes of silver, gold and exquisitely made vases and jewelry, the Spartans discovered some 800 little girls under the age of 5, all crying, cowering and terrified, pleading for their lives.
Now the Greeks, like most of the civilizations at this time, obeyed their code of war; which was to kill off all the inhabitants of the cities they conquered. These acts of complete slaughter was simply a rule that they all lived by, and normally the King would have ordered his men to draw their swords and destroy all the little girls, but when he looked into the eyes of the horrified children, something profoundly changed deep in his heart and mind, it was something his wife had instilled in him the day they came face to face upon the shore of the Island of Hera, and that was MERCY and PITY. For he had seen this same look of fear in Queen Thera's bright green eyes when he threatened to execute her for her crimes against him, and he knew now he could not order the taking of these innocent children's lives. Thera's love and affection had left a deep impact on the Warrior King's soul, and so it was the King of Sparta thought of his own daughter at this time. So out of his love for Thera and Sparta.., he decided to let them go. "Hold your swords!" came his order as Vyakles peered into the tear stained eyes of the little girl kneeling before him. So it was he ignored his ingrained military training saying "General La Quint!" he gazed over at his men "Stand down!"
"Yes my King!"
"In loving memory of my beloved wife.., I have chosen to spare these young ones lives." he said in rich clear voice that did the little girls hearts good to hear. "My orders are as follows..," he paused extending his hand to the child crying before him "Take these poor frightened lasses, the last of the Themiscyrans, by way of one of my ships. Sail them safely to Scythia. Tell the King there, what we have done.., here. Send word throughout the region.., tell them all.., the Nation of Themiscyra is.., NO MORE!"
THE END
Twenty Four warships, the 'fire-ships' as they were called, honed in on the northern beaches of the Black Sea. the warrior women could not believe what they were witnessing for nothing like what they beheld had ever been seen by the the Themiscyrans who stared down from their citadels in shock and awe in utter disbelief. For each of these specialized vessels had, constructed at their bows, huge towers some 30 feet high. These were made of wood and completely covered with the hides of hundreds of slaughtered cattle; which were continuously dowsed with buckets of sea water, so as not to catch fire. Inside there were many platforms with flaps for openings, here the Greeks began a steady barrage as they tossed out small, grapefruit sized, clay balls filed with tallow and olive oil, using leather slings to propel the 'Greek Fire' a great distance, whereupon they smashed hard against the base of the towering walls and massive wooden and iron gates, soaking all with gallons upon gallons of the highly flammable liquid. This process went on for the next hour under the gray and cloudy skies as the archers, all along the watchtowers, sent 1000's upon 1000's of flaming arrows raining down upon the fire towers and the hulls of the ships, but the clever Greeks were well protected and lost not a single man.
Then, upon the instructions from the Admirals aboard the warships, the signals were sent to unleash a new barrage of the clay pots; which had little cotton wicks and these were lit before being slung out. Now, as these round balls of hard clay smashed open an explosive fire erupted when these 'ancient grenades' came into contact with the tallow and oil, bursting into a massive wall of flames, in a flash an unquenchable inferno began to rage. The Themiscyran's fell into a panic of chaos, for they had no way to come out of the Western and Southern gates to defend their territory and fight the invading Spartan Nation. Soon the huge stones began to fracture and crack under the intense heat and the gates were now a wall of searing flames. This 'Greek Fire' was a terribly destructive thing, that they, themselves, had never heard of, nor seen, so the Themiscyrans could not have prepared, nor planned, a way to stop this diabolical battle tactic.
"We must go the the gates to the North and the East and re-route our attack!" Cheveria cried out to her some 20,000 troops "We must fight the men of these ships upon the beaches and soak the sands with their hated blood!"
However, by this time, King Vyakles and his well armed and well trained warriors had already cut a path of death and destruction upon all they encountered. The blood bath began at the Temples of Artemis and Apollo, where they captured and executed all the acolytes and priestesses, young and old. Then they marched to the 'steria' the military training academy where they surrounded the compound like a pack of savage wolves. They were met with little resistance from the young warriors inside ranging in age from 10 to 18, for these young soldiers were no match for the battle harden Spartans. 2000 bodies of the dead littered the land as King Vyakles and his blood drenched Army turned and headed East towards the capital city, burning the crops of corn and wheat, along with the vast orchards, as they went. Here they were set upon by massive ferocious tigers, who leapt out of the fields of burning grasses, but these creatures proved to be no match for the spears of these men who had the strength of lions coursing through their veins, and the Greeks thought it a new and awesome challenge to kill off such wild and fearsome beasts who lashed out with most powerful claws and the sharpest of teeth.
Now as Cheveria and her numerous troops crested the hill that overlooked the Themiscyran plain, they saw, to their own horror, their land was burning and the bodies of the dead women, both young and old, were scattered about the blood stained ground. Then, off in the distance, the warrior women of Themiscyra spotted the invading enemy. "SPARTANS!" came the cries from the Captains whose soldiers eyes grew wide as their hearts raced with this terrible surprise.
"But how have they entered!?"
"From which gate have they thereby come!?" these and more questions came to the Queen's Commander's ears, and so it was Chevria had no answers, but she had to come up with a plan of swift action. Now, though her body was old, her mind was as sharp as her sword as years of successful military strategies filled her thoughts. So came her orders for battle. Thus she arrayed 10,000 of her infantry in an L formation, keeping 2000 back to her left in a chevron formation to prevent lagging from the left wing of the infantry who were prepared to fight with all their force and might and kill off a foreign army, for the first time on their own soil.
Here the Spartans noticed the massive group of Themiscyrans up upon the hill overlooking the large open plain; which would now serve as their Field of Battle. Vyakles gave a confident smile knowing his Naval troops would soon come pouring in through the ashes of the walls and gates to the West and to the South and 3000 of his men would sneak up behind these fighting women, of which the Themiscyran Army and her Captains knew not. "SPARTANS! PREPARE TO FIGHT!" Vyakles screamed out to his troops "Hold the line, leave none of these women alive!"
Thus came the orders of Cheveria, she ordered her infantry arrayed in an L formation, some fifty shields deep 500 wide, opposite the area occupied by their enemies left wing; which was only sixteen shields deep and 400 men wide. The Queens Commander ordered the right wing to charge, leaving her center and left wing to stay, momentarily, out of action. Then she ordered her Cavalry and Charioteers with her skilled Archers to maneuver towards the flanks of the Spartans. Here 3000 men turned and this first conflict ended swiftly as the Greeks overtook the women upon their horses, amidst the screams and sounds of shields and swords of the front lines clashing together smashing bones and faces, the Spartans struck down the many steeds with spears, dragging down their riders to the ground, then in close combat the Cavalry and Charioteers, along with all the Archers, whose arrows could not penetrate the Spartans armor and shields, were soundly defeated, all lay dead as the men stabbed at their hearts and stomachs their own armor doing little to protect them, though the women fought bravely and killed off a hundred or so of the Kings men they were no match for the irresistible force and brutality of the Spartans.
Here leaving the dead and dying Vyakles turned his men back to the front line fighting, whereupon he rejoined his infantry, who pushed and slashed their way through the Themiscyran lines with unstoppable violence and strength. Then, as it slowly began to rain, the Spartans and Themiscyrans fought hard from all sides, the women tried their best to close in around the men, now in a V formation, with burning lungs, aching muscles, their minds solely focused on fighting, as they tried to catch their breath, their hearts furiously racing, but the Spartans, though outnumbered, were faster, stronger and proved to be just too fierce to war against. These Greek warriors they were they most formidable army the Themiscyrans, in their history of war, had ever faced. Soon the Themiscyran division were split apart as the defensive line of the beleaguered infantry was pushed back during the brutal, bloody attack as the Spartans slashed through flesh and bone cutting a clear path to victory. As they stabbed through the bodies of the fierce women, slicing through muscles, tendons, skulls and bones leaving 1000's of bodies of the screaming and dying, drowning in a sea of their own blood and gore.
Now off to the West and South the warships all came up together safely upon the beach as the Greeks, armed and ready for battle, poured through the breach, as the old stone walls had collapsed and the gates were now but smoldering ashes. Those women left upon the hill in the chevron formation watched as their infantry was being decimated waited for the order to attack, they were stunned when the Queen's Commander, Cheveria, shouted as she turned her back and yelled out "ABOUT FACE!" for here they all were horrified to see some 3000 Spartans advancing up the hill directly behind them led by 40 of the King of Sparta's finest Generals who reveled in the battle, marching upon the remaining Themiscyrans whom the Spartans then hacked to pieces. Though the women fought bravely, they were nearing utter defeat when King Vyakles rushed through the center of the constant hand to hand combat as the shrill sound of screams and clashing swords rang across the land, as the fighters from both sides fell all around him. Vyakles continued on unabated trampling over the broken and bleeding bodies under his feet. Expertly wielding his sword Vyakles cut through the horde advancing up the hill with his men and General La Quint close at hand as they set upon the Queen's Commander, Cheveria, who was dressed in her daughter, Odessa's, golden armor. In the chaos and confusion of battle she had been separated from her army and King Vyakles took this opportunity to swiftly approach, sword in hand, as the skirmish was coming to a violent and bloody end. With General La Quint fighting just behind him VYakles eyed the old woman and said to her in a loud clear voice "SURRENDER OR DIE!"
Cheveria paused as her heart sank into sadness for well she knew the day was lost as the chill of the wind and rain wrapped around her, sweat pouring from her fevered brow. Then she cried out "NEVER!" as she adjusted her helmet, taking up her shield and raising her sword she charged forward, here Vyakles took out the head of Odessa and tossed it at her feet. When Cheveria saw this grotesque sight of what was left her child she was frozen for a moment in the shock and horror of her grief. This split second was all the time the great King of Sparta needed as he ran up on her stabbing her in the neck with his deadly cyphos. Vyakles paused to catch his breath as he delighted in watching the life force fade in the old woman's eyes as streams of scarlet pored forth from the wound in a steady flow. As she fell to the ground King Vyakles turned around and in a roar as loud as lion he shouted down across the hill and corpse strewn field "Women of Themiscyra! YOUR LEADER IS DEAD!" breathing hard, fresh blood staining his face, the muscles of the King's arms and legs cramping up in pain he declared "LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS!"
Now, though the Spartans had clearly won the battle, the Themiscyran's were not trained to surrender, so the few hundred left, still able to fight, would not lay down their weapons and give up their lives to be executed by the Greeks so they stood their ground and fought to the death, until each of them fell, their blood seeping out mixing with the blood of their sisters which stained the wet soil until the shouts and screams of the women could be heard no more. Silence washed over the corpse strewn field as vultures began circling overhead waiting to feast on the flesh of the dead. "Now let us go together and march upon the Capital! My brave and vicious Spartans!" Vyakles ordered his army now 8000 strong, for they had more women warriors to kill. "We shall march upon the city and burn it to the ground!" Vyakles smiled at his men "We shall meet at the Palace, where the treasures of this nation can be found!"
With this fresh victory the Spartan Army marched forth together through the rainy weather descending upon the capital city of Themiscyra, where many of the women warriors gathered to protect their last remaining territory but, yet again, the better trained warriors of Sparta moved with an irresistible force of strength and might slaughtering the citizens both young and old. When the youngest of those saw the death and destruction moving against them the little girls all fled in terror trying to find someplace where they could hide together. As the slaughter of these women took place each building was set ablaze smoke and fire rising ever higher through the chaos in the streets. Within the hour Vyakles and his Army had served up the Themiscyran's their final defeat. The King took much delight and pleasure from entering the now abandoned palace where his wife, Queen Thera, many years ago would lay awake at night in her royal bed thinking of Vyakles.
King Vyakles entered the Great Hall where he came upon the empty throne, save for the golden crown of stars waiting for the Queen of Themiscyra to return, but return she would not. Vyakles stood motionless before throne, a thousands thoughts and the images of the battle still fresh in his mind, slowly he reached out picking up the crown, whereupon he set his bronze helmet down in it's place upon the throne. He held the former regal crown of his wife in his hands and spoke to the object saying "I will bring you to my daughter, Queen Thera's child, as a trophy and prize for her to wear for the rest of her life." here a bit of peace settled into the King's troubled heart, his mind now satisfied with the death and destruction his army had wrought against this once formidable nation.
"My King!" came a call from General La Quint "We have opened up the Western Gate, Admiral Vasha and his men have come to carry away the spoils of war; which we have located in the Treasury in a large chamber beneath the Palace floors..," La Quint paused giving a look joy mixed with sadness.
"What is it General! You looked bewildered." Vyakles said not liking the look in his eyes.
"Come and see for yourself."
"Very well." Vyakles followed 20 of his soldiers down a small stone stairway into the treasury, whereupon, hidden among the hordes of silver, gold and exquisitely made vases and jewelry, the Spartans discovered some 800 little girls under the age of 5, all crying, cowering and terrified, pleading for their lives.
Now the Greeks, like most of the civilizations at this time, obeyed their code of war; which was to kill off all the inhabitants of the cities they conquered. These acts of complete slaughter was simply a rule that they all lived by, and normally the King would have ordered his men to draw their swords and destroy all the little girls, but when he looked into the eyes of the horrified children, something profoundly changed deep in his heart and mind, it was something his wife had instilled in him the day they came face to face upon the shore of the Island of Hera, and that was MERCY and PITY. For he had seen this same look of fear in Queen Thera's bright green eyes when he threatened to execute her for her crimes against him, and he knew now he could not order the taking of these innocent children's lives. Thera's love and affection had left a deep impact on the Warrior King's soul, and so it was the King of Sparta thought of his own daughter at this time. So out of his love for Thera and Sparta.., he decided to let them go. "Hold your swords!" came his order as Vyakles peered into the tear stained eyes of the little girl kneeling before him. So it was he ignored his ingrained military training saying "General La Quint!" he gazed over at his men "Stand down!"
"Yes my King!"
"In loving memory of my beloved wife.., I have chosen to spare these young ones lives." he said in rich clear voice that did the little girls hearts good to hear. "My orders are as follows..," he paused extending his hand to the child crying before him "Take these poor frightened lasses, the last of the Themiscyrans, by way of one of my ships. Sail them safely to Scythia. Tell the King there, what we have done.., here. Send word throughout the region.., tell them all.., the Nation of Themiscyra is.., NO MORE!"
THE END
Monday, September 9, 2013
More Last Chapter
MORE LAST CHAPTER Now, just before the sun rose up that grey and cloudy morning, 60 of the Spartan war ships sailed from the cold cove heading east to join up with the King, and his eager, bloodthirsty troops. When the Themiscyrans saw that nearly half of the Greek Armada had departed the warrior women and their captains of war felt a bit of relief thinking the Spartans changed their minds, or their invasionary tactics, but still the Themiscyrans knew these men could not be trusted, so they remained in a heightened state of awareness not knowing just when, or where, the attack would come.
Here Lucia Vega and Lacuna led King Vyakles and 6000 of his armed warriors to the land a few miles to the east of the walled fortress, unbeknownst to Cheveria, or her troops, that their former compatriots were about to give up the secret; which would ultimately lead to the utter destruction of Themiscyra and all her inhabitants. This area, the Greeks marched slowly through, was called the 'Field of Bones' by the women warriors, for it had been stacked up, over the centuries, with the skeletonized remains of their vanquished enemies long since defeated in battle. Severed heads, the skulls of thousands of their foes, swung low in nets hanging from the branches of the towering birch trees surrounding the silent and gruesome landscape swarming with green flies and black vultures picking through the corpses for fresh, dead flesh. The putrid stench of death permeated the air as the Spartans gazed in horror as they walked down a narrow path that lay between the stack of headless corpses: which came up to their knees. The path was narrow, only large enough for the men to walk two by two, and just large enough to bring a team of horses and chariots through. A long line of well armed men with their swords, shields and spears followed Lacuna and Lucia Vega along with their noble King, marching like a line of ants towards down a path of certain destruction. As they slowly, in silence, walked together in the predawn darkness the Greeks stared out in disbelief with shock and awe running like ice through their veins, for never had they ever seen such a gruesome display of broken bones and shattered skulls. For this place was specifically created to serve as a visual deterrent set up by the Themiscyrans to discourage any would-be intruders or armies to stay away.
"There." Lucia Vega pointed to a large group of boulders in the very center of this open-air graveyard. Here she instructed the strong men to roll back a large rock some 16 feet high and it took twenty men using their great strength to move the massive heavy stone to the side where they uncovered the secret that was hidden behind. For the rock formation concealed the opening of a large underground cave where Lacuna and Lucia Vega, bearing torches went in. "This tunnel continues some 16 miles and leads to the western city of Colchise, where you can make your way in, unnoticed, before the sun arises." Lucia Vega explained handing her brightly burning torch over to the King. Now this underground corridor had been hand cut from the rock and earth centuries before, the secret passage was excavated as a quick route for the Themiscyran troops, so the warrior women could come out in times of war undetected without having to open up the gates. This served as a clever way to out strategize their enemies by sneaking up behind them and attacking their flanks during times of siege warfare; which the Themiscyrans had been subjected to many times before in the past. So it was the Themiscyran Military would suddenly appear in formation, as if by magic, like spirits from the netherworld they would come, from out of nowhere attacking their foes raining down deadly blows from their swords and arrows. Those of their enemies who had managed to escape the fight would recall the terrible battles telling gruesome stories to their children, in frightened voices, all about the 'Ghost Army of Death' as they were referred to throughout the years, but now the ancient secret had been given up, and this once cleverly hidden tunnel would serve the Themiscyrans enemy in their own crushing defeat. Never had this secret been divulged by anyone, however, Lacuna and Lucia Vega felt, after the tragedy of what Odessa had done, they owed it to their beloved Queen Thera to be the ones to lead her vengeful King and loyal husband. Out of their deep Love, Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor, Lacuna and Lucia Vega felt they had no other choice.
"When you come to the surface you will find the Temples of Apollo and Artemis to the left and to the right, the acolytes and priestess will be unarmed and easy to kill.., for they do not really know how to fight." Lacuna said with a sigh and a nod of her head.
"To the south of the lake," Lucia Vega spoke up "you will come across the military training academy, there you should find little resistance, as the majority of the troops will be assemble along the western and southern gates preparing for the Spartan Naval invasion. The capitol city of Themiscyra along with the Royal Palace are a few more miles down the road to the east." here Lucia Vega paused drawing a diagram in the cold wet earth with her finger "To the north and south of the road are vast fields and orchards, here you must beware of tigers, for they are trained to sniff out the scent of men, they will stalk you from the tall grasses; which keep them unseen, and well hidden. You can only kill them with swift stabs of your spears directly into their hearts.., for a wounded tiger will not fall, and will only become more fierce with sharpened tooth and claw."
"Then there are the daughters of Themiscyra; of whom you should not be deceived, for though they are small in stature they have been brought up in the brutal military, and are as well trained as they are deadly, wielding swords and bows and arrows. Any girls under the age of ten will not be skilled in any sort of defense, they will most likely run away at the sight of you and your well armed men," Lacuna paused knowing full well the Greeks battle tactics were the same as the nations of the Hittites, Assyrians, Israelites, Phoenicians and Egyptians, in that all the living, adults and children would be slaughtered. "But we understand what you must do, and we will not judge you for the blood that you must shed, however young, or innocent those girls might be." Lacuna sighed realizing for the first time that she was now more Greek in her thinking then she ever thought she would be. For she had given herself to this new nation and had sworn allegiance by marriage, so that now the rules of war of Themiscyra no longer applied to her or Lucia Vega in their new lives. Yet they carried on anyway safe in the knowledge that they would not be killing any children themselves, however, by divulging the secret of breaching the walled fortress, they would still have the blood of innocent young girls on their hands. Killing is never easy, but the work of destroying the nation of Themisycra still had to be done.
"Vyakles," Lucia Vega stared over at her King telling him "your army will have the advantage of surprise, for the warrior women will not be expecting, nor anticipating, any attack from inside their own lands. Your troops shall have the upper hand." here she paused looking past the long rows of men then, turning her gaze back to Vyakles she said "I pray you good luck and protection from the gods and goddesses on your mission, and I hope that you fare well in the destruction of this nation.., until we meet again." then Lucia Vega approached her husband, General La Quint, with a great pain in her heart, the depth of which she herself had not felt since she watched in horror as her dearest friend, Queen Thera, died in the arms Vyakles, Lucia Vega lifted her eyes and said "My brave and noble husband, my one true love, I pray to Zeus you come back to me with your shield.., or upon it." a saying Spartan women had been telling their men for hundreds of years, then she sealed her words with a soft sweet kiss.
"We shall meet again my wife, my bride. Fear you not, for I shall live to hear the happy laughter of our newborn child." General La Quint smiled rubbing his beloveds belly as he kissed Lucia Vega goodbye.
Lucia Vega handed her torch over to her husband to help light the way down the long dark passage as she and Lacuna held hands and walked away. They, whom had betrayed their former nation, did not look back as the long column of soldiers went down into the depths of the Earth with their torches aflame, their King leading the way. Both returned to the shore where Admiral Vasha was waiting aboard his ship and when his own wife, Lacuna, rejoined him he held her tight feeling the furious beating within her breast and he kissed her on the lips and said "You have served the Spartan Nation well. Let your heart and mind not be trouble by what shall transpire, for we are here to avenge our murdered Queen. Of this, I know, that Thera would be pleased."
However it is not right that one human being should suppose what would be seen as good and right, or just, by another, especially the heart and mind of a Queen, for Thera herself would weep an ocean of bitter tears if she were alive to witness the unjustified conflict and down fall of her former sovereign nation. Yet now, lie she there, back in Sparta, steps from her Royal Palace, in her dark and dreary tomb, cradled in her crib of Death, her spirit let loose from the flesh, her broken body unable to raise up her voice against the whirlwind of total annihilation that would soon descend upon her homeland, wrought by the hands of her own husband, who in his grief and revenge believed he was doing her spirit honor. Yet their is no honor in the killing of innocent children, who have no knowledge, nor strength to defend themselves against the tyranny of vengeful men. Oh but if the word of Thera could stand up against the world this black and dismal day.., but now lie she in her tomb with no one to heed her command, for there can be no council from the grave.
Here Lucia Vega and Lacuna led King Vyakles and 6000 of his armed warriors to the land a few miles to the east of the walled fortress, unbeknownst to Cheveria, or her troops, that their former compatriots were about to give up the secret; which would ultimately lead to the utter destruction of Themiscyra and all her inhabitants. This area, the Greeks marched slowly through, was called the 'Field of Bones' by the women warriors, for it had been stacked up, over the centuries, with the skeletonized remains of their vanquished enemies long since defeated in battle. Severed heads, the skulls of thousands of their foes, swung low in nets hanging from the branches of the towering birch trees surrounding the silent and gruesome landscape swarming with green flies and black vultures picking through the corpses for fresh, dead flesh. The putrid stench of death permeated the air as the Spartans gazed in horror as they walked down a narrow path that lay between the stack of headless corpses: which came up to their knees. The path was narrow, only large enough for the men to walk two by two, and just large enough to bring a team of horses and chariots through. A long line of well armed men with their swords, shields and spears followed Lacuna and Lucia Vega along with their noble King, marching like a line of ants towards down a path of certain destruction. As they slowly, in silence, walked together in the predawn darkness the Greeks stared out in disbelief with shock and awe running like ice through their veins, for never had they ever seen such a gruesome display of broken bones and shattered skulls. For this place was specifically created to serve as a visual deterrent set up by the Themiscyrans to discourage any would-be intruders or armies to stay away.
"There." Lucia Vega pointed to a large group of boulders in the very center of this open-air graveyard. Here she instructed the strong men to roll back a large rock some 16 feet high and it took twenty men using their great strength to move the massive heavy stone to the side where they uncovered the secret that was hidden behind. For the rock formation concealed the opening of a large underground cave where Lacuna and Lucia Vega, bearing torches went in. "This tunnel continues some 16 miles and leads to the western city of Colchise, where you can make your way in, unnoticed, before the sun arises." Lucia Vega explained handing her brightly burning torch over to the King. Now this underground corridor had been hand cut from the rock and earth centuries before, the secret passage was excavated as a quick route for the Themiscyran troops, so the warrior women could come out in times of war undetected without having to open up the gates. This served as a clever way to out strategize their enemies by sneaking up behind them and attacking their flanks during times of siege warfare; which the Themiscyrans had been subjected to many times before in the past. So it was the Themiscyran Military would suddenly appear in formation, as if by magic, like spirits from the netherworld they would come, from out of nowhere attacking their foes raining down deadly blows from their swords and arrows. Those of their enemies who had managed to escape the fight would recall the terrible battles telling gruesome stories to their children, in frightened voices, all about the 'Ghost Army of Death' as they were referred to throughout the years, but now the ancient secret had been given up, and this once cleverly hidden tunnel would serve the Themiscyrans enemy in their own crushing defeat. Never had this secret been divulged by anyone, however, Lacuna and Lucia Vega felt, after the tragedy of what Odessa had done, they owed it to their beloved Queen Thera to be the ones to lead her vengeful King and loyal husband. Out of their deep Love, Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor, Lacuna and Lucia Vega felt they had no other choice.
"When you come to the surface you will find the Temples of Apollo and Artemis to the left and to the right, the acolytes and priestess will be unarmed and easy to kill.., for they do not really know how to fight." Lacuna said with a sigh and a nod of her head.
"To the south of the lake," Lucia Vega spoke up "you will come across the military training academy, there you should find little resistance, as the majority of the troops will be assemble along the western and southern gates preparing for the Spartan Naval invasion. The capitol city of Themiscyra along with the Royal Palace are a few more miles down the road to the east." here Lucia Vega paused drawing a diagram in the cold wet earth with her finger "To the north and south of the road are vast fields and orchards, here you must beware of tigers, for they are trained to sniff out the scent of men, they will stalk you from the tall grasses; which keep them unseen, and well hidden. You can only kill them with swift stabs of your spears directly into their hearts.., for a wounded tiger will not fall, and will only become more fierce with sharpened tooth and claw."
"Then there are the daughters of Themiscyra; of whom you should not be deceived, for though they are small in stature they have been brought up in the brutal military, and are as well trained as they are deadly, wielding swords and bows and arrows. Any girls under the age of ten will not be skilled in any sort of defense, they will most likely run away at the sight of you and your well armed men," Lacuna paused knowing full well the Greeks battle tactics were the same as the nations of the Hittites, Assyrians, Israelites, Phoenicians and Egyptians, in that all the living, adults and children would be slaughtered. "But we understand what you must do, and we will not judge you for the blood that you must shed, however young, or innocent those girls might be." Lacuna sighed realizing for the first time that she was now more Greek in her thinking then she ever thought she would be. For she had given herself to this new nation and had sworn allegiance by marriage, so that now the rules of war of Themiscyra no longer applied to her or Lucia Vega in their new lives. Yet they carried on anyway safe in the knowledge that they would not be killing any children themselves, however, by divulging the secret of breaching the walled fortress, they would still have the blood of innocent young girls on their hands. Killing is never easy, but the work of destroying the nation of Themisycra still had to be done.
"Vyakles," Lucia Vega stared over at her King telling him "your army will have the advantage of surprise, for the warrior women will not be expecting, nor anticipating, any attack from inside their own lands. Your troops shall have the upper hand." here she paused looking past the long rows of men then, turning her gaze back to Vyakles she said "I pray you good luck and protection from the gods and goddesses on your mission, and I hope that you fare well in the destruction of this nation.., until we meet again." then Lucia Vega approached her husband, General La Quint, with a great pain in her heart, the depth of which she herself had not felt since she watched in horror as her dearest friend, Queen Thera, died in the arms Vyakles, Lucia Vega lifted her eyes and said "My brave and noble husband, my one true love, I pray to Zeus you come back to me with your shield.., or upon it." a saying Spartan women had been telling their men for hundreds of years, then she sealed her words with a soft sweet kiss.
"We shall meet again my wife, my bride. Fear you not, for I shall live to hear the happy laughter of our newborn child." General La Quint smiled rubbing his beloveds belly as he kissed Lucia Vega goodbye.
Lucia Vega handed her torch over to her husband to help light the way down the long dark passage as she and Lacuna held hands and walked away. They, whom had betrayed their former nation, did not look back as the long column of soldiers went down into the depths of the Earth with their torches aflame, their King leading the way. Both returned to the shore where Admiral Vasha was waiting aboard his ship and when his own wife, Lacuna, rejoined him he held her tight feeling the furious beating within her breast and he kissed her on the lips and said "You have served the Spartan Nation well. Let your heart and mind not be trouble by what shall transpire, for we are here to avenge our murdered Queen. Of this, I know, that Thera would be pleased."
However it is not right that one human being should suppose what would be seen as good and right, or just, by another, especially the heart and mind of a Queen, for Thera herself would weep an ocean of bitter tears if she were alive to witness the unjustified conflict and down fall of her former sovereign nation. Yet now, lie she there, back in Sparta, steps from her Royal Palace, in her dark and dreary tomb, cradled in her crib of Death, her spirit let loose from the flesh, her broken body unable to raise up her voice against the whirlwind of total annihilation that would soon descend upon her homeland, wrought by the hands of her own husband, who in his grief and revenge believed he was doing her spirit honor. Yet their is no honor in the killing of innocent children, who have no knowledge, nor strength to defend themselves against the tyranny of vengeful men. Oh but if the word of Thera could stand up against the world this black and dismal day.., but now lie she in her tomb with no one to heed her command, for there can be no council from the grave.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Last Chapter continues
Three days later, after Odessa was buried alongside the 40 Greeks she had slaughtered, Princess Sparta was safe at home with Amarra, Kayla, Jessa, Scotia, Iona, Ia, Johanna, Katara and La Scoffa, who had escorted the brokenhearted child safely back to the Royal Palace, where they each vowed to raise Thera's daughter and care for her as if they were her own mother. Admiral Vasha sailed with his three war ships and the 560 Spartan warriors under General La Quint's command. Lucia Vega and Lacuna delighted in removing Odessa's severed head from the goatskin pouch filled with ouzo; which served to preserve the macabre trophy of war. All were proud of the destruction they had accomplished in Argolis and they were looking forward to meeting up with King Vyakles and bring him the good news of his daughters rescue, along with the head of the murderous, spurious Queen of Themiscyra.
On the far eastern shores of the Black Sea, Vyakles had tried to rest aboard his ship but his dreams were all haunted by the memory of his dead wife. So while he waited anxiously for Admiral Vasha's arrival he could be found pacing back and forth upon the decks of his trireme scanning the sandy beach for any sign of Themiscyran scouts. Now far of to the west 100 war ships sailed into view in the cove and the guards all along the watch towers were in awe of the Greek Armada anchored about a mile off the coast, just out of reach of their deadly arrows. Word of the massive Spartan presence was sent quickly to the Queen's Commander, War Councilor Cheveria, who ruled in her daughter Odessa's absence. She herself was shocked by the information, knowing deep in her heart her daughter, Odessa, must have surely failed her mission and was, most likely, dead. With a deep well of pain and bitterness in her stomach Chevria called upon the strength of her ancestors to fill her with courage, for she was a seasoned veteran of hundreds of victorious battles so she called her captains to council and they hurried to muster some 20,000 troops to ready themselves for war. The phalanx, light infantry, cavalry, charioteers, and skilled archers moved to assemble behind the western and southern gates, completely unaware of the presence of King Vyakles and his war ships far off the the east. Cheveria assumed the Spartans would land on the shore in an attempt to breech the walls, at which time she would order the gates to be opened an unleash a brutal onslaught of her well trained, battle hardened warriors, but until such a time as the Spartans made their move the Themiscyrans would just have to wait. However Cheveria and her captains of war had no knowledge that Lacuna and Lucia Vega were sailing ever closer to betray their former nation and give up the secret to breaching the ancient and impregnable walls of the fortress Nation of Themiscyra. So it was, the women warriors stood guard upon the miles of walls, nervous in their citadels, waiting for any sign of movement from the Greek ships and they were made more anxious as the day progressed into night and no movement came as the sun went down that cloudy and rainy day.
In the wee hours of that moonless night Admiral Vasha's ships came into view pulling up alongside the King of Sparta's vessel. In a moment of sheer pleasure the distraught King's heart was lifted as he boarded Admiral Vasha's trireme and he was overcome with joy when he was informed of his daughter's rescue and the complete slaughter of Odessa and her women. Now when General La Quint presented Vyakles with the severed head of Odessa the King became ecstatic and Lacuna and Lucia Vega noticed a few tears of happiness roll down his cheek so pleased was he. Holding the dead head, drained of life and light, Vyakles held it up by the blood soaked braids and smiled whispering face to face "Justice is Death for you Odessa, no more will you rise up against my nation or my family, no longer shall you fight." here he turned and gazed at General La Quint with a smile upon his face. "You have served myself, and Queen Thera, well, by killing this woman who in a cowardice act of brutality murdered my wife. You all, working together, with the violence of your hands, have brought a great satisfaction to my troubled heart. Such loyalty has made your King very proud." Vyakles congratulated his men then he placed Odessa's head on the end of a spear lifting it high above him for all aboard the ships and those camped upon the shore to see. "The murderer Odessa is dead!" here a cheer rose up from his hundreds of men gathered there. Then he took the macabre trophy of war placing it back in the goatskin pouch slinging it over his shoulder, for he would carry it out into battle as a talisman. Then he took in deep sigh of relief as he went over to Lacuna and Lucia Vega embracing them close to his broad chest, kissing them both upon the cheek. "Our Queen would be proud of your actions, as proud as I am pleased."
"We shall prove our faith and loyalty to you and your family by more than word of mouth." Lucia Vega whispered in the great King's ear allowing the happiness she felt to melt away a little of the bitterness of her heart.
Here Vyakles returned his attention to his army of men standing on the beach yelling out loudly above the roar of the crashing waves "Spartans!" he shouted his teeth glistening like fangs "We are a warring people! We through the centuries have learned that killing is never easy! But there is work to be done, this nation of Themiscyra must! Nay! THEY WILL BE ANNIHILATED! We shall.., to honor our most beloved Queen Thera, we will subject this barbarian nation to the force and might of our armed aggression! We shall put all of Themiscyra's inhabitants to the sword and destroy them all with fire. The utter destruction of this civilization is our first priority!" again a thunderous cheer rose up from all the King's men as Vyakles smiled with fiery rage burning in his dark eyes gazing off to the west, where the guards along the eastern gate were completely unaware of his presence for they were too distracted by the threat of the Greek warships out to the south and west. "Let us eat and rest ourselves this cold autumn evening and, before dawn arises, we shall go out and wage our bloody, violent war against the Themiscyrans! We, together, will wipe this race of warrior women from off the face of the Earth! We shall blot out this civilization from the records of history forever! We shall destroy them all, so no one living, or those yet to be born, will ever no that these women even existed!"
On the far eastern shores of the Black Sea, Vyakles had tried to rest aboard his ship but his dreams were all haunted by the memory of his dead wife. So while he waited anxiously for Admiral Vasha's arrival he could be found pacing back and forth upon the decks of his trireme scanning the sandy beach for any sign of Themiscyran scouts. Now far of to the west 100 war ships sailed into view in the cove and the guards all along the watch towers were in awe of the Greek Armada anchored about a mile off the coast, just out of reach of their deadly arrows. Word of the massive Spartan presence was sent quickly to the Queen's Commander, War Councilor Cheveria, who ruled in her daughter Odessa's absence. She herself was shocked by the information, knowing deep in her heart her daughter, Odessa, must have surely failed her mission and was, most likely, dead. With a deep well of pain and bitterness in her stomach Chevria called upon the strength of her ancestors to fill her with courage, for she was a seasoned veteran of hundreds of victorious battles so she called her captains to council and they hurried to muster some 20,000 troops to ready themselves for war. The phalanx, light infantry, cavalry, charioteers, and skilled archers moved to assemble behind the western and southern gates, completely unaware of the presence of King Vyakles and his war ships far off the the east. Cheveria assumed the Spartans would land on the shore in an attempt to breech the walls, at which time she would order the gates to be opened an unleash a brutal onslaught of her well trained, battle hardened warriors, but until such a time as the Spartans made their move the Themiscyrans would just have to wait. However Cheveria and her captains of war had no knowledge that Lacuna and Lucia Vega were sailing ever closer to betray their former nation and give up the secret to breaching the ancient and impregnable walls of the fortress Nation of Themiscyra. So it was, the women warriors stood guard upon the miles of walls, nervous in their citadels, waiting for any sign of movement from the Greek ships and they were made more anxious as the day progressed into night and no movement came as the sun went down that cloudy and rainy day.
In the wee hours of that moonless night Admiral Vasha's ships came into view pulling up alongside the King of Sparta's vessel. In a moment of sheer pleasure the distraught King's heart was lifted as he boarded Admiral Vasha's trireme and he was overcome with joy when he was informed of his daughter's rescue and the complete slaughter of Odessa and her women. Now when General La Quint presented Vyakles with the severed head of Odessa the King became ecstatic and Lacuna and Lucia Vega noticed a few tears of happiness roll down his cheek so pleased was he. Holding the dead head, drained of life and light, Vyakles held it up by the blood soaked braids and smiled whispering face to face "Justice is Death for you Odessa, no more will you rise up against my nation or my family, no longer shall you fight." here he turned and gazed at General La Quint with a smile upon his face. "You have served myself, and Queen Thera, well, by killing this woman who in a cowardice act of brutality murdered my wife. You all, working together, with the violence of your hands, have brought a great satisfaction to my troubled heart. Such loyalty has made your King very proud." Vyakles congratulated his men then he placed Odessa's head on the end of a spear lifting it high above him for all aboard the ships and those camped upon the shore to see. "The murderer Odessa is dead!" here a cheer rose up from his hundreds of men gathered there. Then he took the macabre trophy of war placing it back in the goatskin pouch slinging it over his shoulder, for he would carry it out into battle as a talisman. Then he took in deep sigh of relief as he went over to Lacuna and Lucia Vega embracing them close to his broad chest, kissing them both upon the cheek. "Our Queen would be proud of your actions, as proud as I am pleased."
"We shall prove our faith and loyalty to you and your family by more than word of mouth." Lucia Vega whispered in the great King's ear allowing the happiness she felt to melt away a little of the bitterness of her heart.
Here Vyakles returned his attention to his army of men standing on the beach yelling out loudly above the roar of the crashing waves "Spartans!" he shouted his teeth glistening like fangs "We are a warring people! We through the centuries have learned that killing is never easy! But there is work to be done, this nation of Themiscyra must! Nay! THEY WILL BE ANNIHILATED! We shall.., to honor our most beloved Queen Thera, we will subject this barbarian nation to the force and might of our armed aggression! We shall put all of Themiscyra's inhabitants to the sword and destroy them all with fire. The utter destruction of this civilization is our first priority!" again a thunderous cheer rose up from all the King's men as Vyakles smiled with fiery rage burning in his dark eyes gazing off to the west, where the guards along the eastern gate were completely unaware of his presence for they were too distracted by the threat of the Greek warships out to the south and west. "Let us eat and rest ourselves this cold autumn evening and, before dawn arises, we shall go out and wage our bloody, violent war against the Themiscyrans! We, together, will wipe this race of warrior women from off the face of the Earth! We shall blot out this civilization from the records of history forever! We shall destroy them all, so no one living, or those yet to be born, will ever no that these women even existed!"
Monday, August 26, 2013
Last Chapter begins
So it was the Spartans and Thera's avengers rested after the destruction and devastation. The dying fires of the Sacred Grove smoldering in ashes throughout the remainder of the day as the group ate and slept in the shade of Mt. Parnon, biding their time until twilight came. At this point the troops of 1000 men, along with their Generals, returned to Sparta, as ordered by King Vyakles, to go home and protect the city. However many of the soldiers wished they could go north with General La Quint, his 600 men and Scotia, Iona, Johanna, La Scoffa, Ia, Katara, Jessa, Amarra and Kayla to carry on with the killing and pursuit of Odessa and her women. But they were all loyal to Vyakles and always obeyed his orders for the greater good of Sparta.
By the light of a harvest moon General La Quint and the brave men under his command, along with Thera's unified warriors, moved north towards Megara where they knew Odessa had made her encampment. The Greeks mission was to position themselves in a circle, about half a mile outside of Odessa's camp, where the barbarians slept soundly in their tents, unarmed and unaware of the Spartan Army's presence. Here Iona, Scotia, Johanna, Ia, La Scoffa, Katara, Jessa, Kayla and Amarra, all well versed and trained for night time raids, were to ride in, still dressed for battle, charging in atop their war horses, to try and fool Odessa and her troops into thinking they were part of Katarina's group, coming to join up with them. This brilliant act of deception served Thera's avengers well, for when they rode into the campsite, in the cover of darkness, those who were still awake sitting by the fire were completely taken off guard.
"Katarina's troops approach!" came the voice of one of Odessa's warriors in a jubilant shout just before her heart was cut out by Scotia's swift sword. Here many of the women rose up from their sleep coming out of their little tents to greet them with smiles of great joy and delight. Yet this happiness quickly turned to total shock and horror as they witnessed the mounted riders wielding their weapons slashing and stabbing at all those who approached.
In the melee of screams and confusion those Themiscyrans loyal to Odessa did their best to retrieve their own spears and swords, having no time during the surprise attack to dress themselves in armor, or prepare for this sudden unexpected battle. Those who tried to defend their lives did their best to fight off their attackers and did so bravely, but all those who remained, and did not runaway, fell to their deaths in pools of blood, shattered skulls and gore. So it came to pass 20, or so, fled on foot as fast as they could only to be cut to ribbons by the waiting Spartans. Here Odessa, realizing what was transpiring, grabbed Princess Sparta, taking up her sharpened cyphos and crescent shaped shield. With no time to stay and fight Odessa sliced open the back of her tent just as it was engulfed in fire by one of Amarra's flaming arrows. With the heat at her back nearly singeing her hair, Odessa managed to find her steed tied up to a tree, throwing Princess Sparta up on its back, she herself climb up wrapping her legs firmly, gripping the horses ribs with her strong thighs as she folded her arms around her captive holding the terrified little girl in her arms. Odessa grabbed the reins as the pair galloped off together at full speed heading to the northeast.
"No!" Odessa shouted as she spied the line of Spartans, shields and spears raised ready to kill her, as her heart raced.
"Yes!" Princess Sparta cried out her spirit lifted at the sight of her father's army "They have come to save me!"
"Quiet!" Odessa commanded as her mind could not think what to do, should she charge through the lines and let her captive go, or make a stand and fight. Here in a seconds long decision Odessa turned her steed around and dismounted pulling her little captive off the skittish horses back, as the animal bolted away, Odessa lashed Princess Sparta's hands to a nearby oak tree. Then she turned, sword and shield in hand, giving up a silent prayer for protection to Artemis as she neared the line of men, whose dark eyes were hidden under their helmets. Odessa raised her shield, half naked with no armor, and lifted her cyphos knowing she was clearly outnumbered and surely would perish, but if she were to die this night it would not be without one hell of a fight.
La Quint sent out 40 of his warriors to surround Odessa, but she was one of the best trained warriors the Themiscyran military had ever produced, strong, lithe, quick and deadly, yet she had never gone into battle without her armor. However she proved to be quite fierce and agile as she fought off the Spartan warriors as she used her shield to fend off the blows of their swords and spears, using all her great strength and her might striking out at the Greeks, slashing and stabbing, scarlet streams of blood spewing out warm and sticky on her arms, legs, and face when in a few minutes time those who opposed Odessa fell mortally wounded and dying, bleeding to death in the aftermath of the deadly force of her sharpened cyphos. Breathing rhythmically, her nostrils flaring, lungs burning, arms aching, she stood under the light of the moon drenched in blood and sweat with 40 dead Spartans at her feet. Odessa stared out at the hundreds of men, who all stared in awe, absolutely astonished at their comrades sudden demise and defeat. Here Odessa paused to catch her breath then La Quint shouted out across the corpse strewn field and said "Tonight YOU SHALL DIE ODESSA! YOU SHALL PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES!" La Quint cried out in loud clear voice "For you have murdered our Queen Thera and taken the life of the child growing inside her." now Princess Sparta did not know her mother was dead and her heart sank into grief as she began to weep.
General La Quint's words came as a terrible shock, for Odessa knew she had killed Thera, but that was not her aim, and the fact that Thera was with child was a fact she knew not. This information was a shock to her system and in this split second 100 Spartans encircled the spurious Queen of Themiscyra, slashing and stabbing at her body, slicing open her muscles and smashing her bones, crushing her skull with their heavy shields, cutting her down in a gush of blood and gore and in an instant the conniving, maniacal Odessa fell dead and silent forever. Never would this warrior rise up again, her spirit vanquished to the lands of ghosts and winds, Odessa would fight no more.
As the bloodthirsty warriors stood back with satisfaction, loudly cheering, they made way for General La Quint who unsheathed his sword where, in clear view of Princess Sparta, he raised his cyphos high, and with one short, sharp striking motion he cut off Odessa's head, severing it from her neck. This would prove to be an excellent trophy of war he would gladly present to his King. Here Princess Sparta gazed out in a daze, her eyes wide in stunned amazement and grief stricken sadness. She had never in her life seen such butchery but she still could not believe her dearest mother had been killed and was no longer living. So Princess Sparta cried out to La Quint "My mother..," she stammered "No longer is alive?"
"My dearest little Sparta." La Quint raced to her letting her loose from her bondage, cradling the devastated, bewildered child in his strong arms "I am so sorry, but your mother, our Brave and Noble Queen.., is dead." La Quint spoke plainly "That is why we have pursued Odessa, we have killed her, and cut off her head." he paused pointing to the freshly butchered corpse "Look at her Sparta! In this world we live in.., for the crime of murder.., JUSTICE IS DEATH!"
"JUSTICE IS DEATH!" the hundreds of her father's warriors gathered their shouted out with pride.
"Your father, our Great King, has sent us to save you and bring you back to your home, where thousands of our people love you and miss you." La Quint tried to reassure her, but the little girl only collapsed in his arms, her tiny heart broken, tears pouring out from the very depths of her soul. "Fear not little one, we have come to set you free! You must be secure in the knowledge that your mother's life will NEVER be forgotten! Thera's memory shall live forever, and remain in our hearts for all eternity. She will be known and remembered as a glorious part of our nation's history." La Quint did his best to calm the princess' shattered feelings of loss, but his words could not fill the empty hole in her heart and the little girl, only five years old, could not stop crying. So he held her long into the night as Thera's warriors came, after their own successful and bloody fight, to give her comfort for the loss of her beloved mother's life.
By the light of a harvest moon General La Quint and the brave men under his command, along with Thera's unified warriors, moved north towards Megara where they knew Odessa had made her encampment. The Greeks mission was to position themselves in a circle, about half a mile outside of Odessa's camp, where the barbarians slept soundly in their tents, unarmed and unaware of the Spartan Army's presence. Here Iona, Scotia, Johanna, Ia, La Scoffa, Katara, Jessa, Kayla and Amarra, all well versed and trained for night time raids, were to ride in, still dressed for battle, charging in atop their war horses, to try and fool Odessa and her troops into thinking they were part of Katarina's group, coming to join up with them. This brilliant act of deception served Thera's avengers well, for when they rode into the campsite, in the cover of darkness, those who were still awake sitting by the fire were completely taken off guard.
"Katarina's troops approach!" came the voice of one of Odessa's warriors in a jubilant shout just before her heart was cut out by Scotia's swift sword. Here many of the women rose up from their sleep coming out of their little tents to greet them with smiles of great joy and delight. Yet this happiness quickly turned to total shock and horror as they witnessed the mounted riders wielding their weapons slashing and stabbing at all those who approached.
In the melee of screams and confusion those Themiscyrans loyal to Odessa did their best to retrieve their own spears and swords, having no time during the surprise attack to dress themselves in armor, or prepare for this sudden unexpected battle. Those who tried to defend their lives did their best to fight off their attackers and did so bravely, but all those who remained, and did not runaway, fell to their deaths in pools of blood, shattered skulls and gore. So it came to pass 20, or so, fled on foot as fast as they could only to be cut to ribbons by the waiting Spartans. Here Odessa, realizing what was transpiring, grabbed Princess Sparta, taking up her sharpened cyphos and crescent shaped shield. With no time to stay and fight Odessa sliced open the back of her tent just as it was engulfed in fire by one of Amarra's flaming arrows. With the heat at her back nearly singeing her hair, Odessa managed to find her steed tied up to a tree, throwing Princess Sparta up on its back, she herself climb up wrapping her legs firmly, gripping the horses ribs with her strong thighs as she folded her arms around her captive holding the terrified little girl in her arms. Odessa grabbed the reins as the pair galloped off together at full speed heading to the northeast.
"No!" Odessa shouted as she spied the line of Spartans, shields and spears raised ready to kill her, as her heart raced.
"Yes!" Princess Sparta cried out her spirit lifted at the sight of her father's army "They have come to save me!"
"Quiet!" Odessa commanded as her mind could not think what to do, should she charge through the lines and let her captive go, or make a stand and fight. Here in a seconds long decision Odessa turned her steed around and dismounted pulling her little captive off the skittish horses back, as the animal bolted away, Odessa lashed Princess Sparta's hands to a nearby oak tree. Then she turned, sword and shield in hand, giving up a silent prayer for protection to Artemis as she neared the line of men, whose dark eyes were hidden under their helmets. Odessa raised her shield, half naked with no armor, and lifted her cyphos knowing she was clearly outnumbered and surely would perish, but if she were to die this night it would not be without one hell of a fight.
La Quint sent out 40 of his warriors to surround Odessa, but she was one of the best trained warriors the Themiscyran military had ever produced, strong, lithe, quick and deadly, yet she had never gone into battle without her armor. However she proved to be quite fierce and agile as she fought off the Spartan warriors as she used her shield to fend off the blows of their swords and spears, using all her great strength and her might striking out at the Greeks, slashing and stabbing, scarlet streams of blood spewing out warm and sticky on her arms, legs, and face when in a few minutes time those who opposed Odessa fell mortally wounded and dying, bleeding to death in the aftermath of the deadly force of her sharpened cyphos. Breathing rhythmically, her nostrils flaring, lungs burning, arms aching, she stood under the light of the moon drenched in blood and sweat with 40 dead Spartans at her feet. Odessa stared out at the hundreds of men, who all stared in awe, absolutely astonished at their comrades sudden demise and defeat. Here Odessa paused to catch her breath then La Quint shouted out across the corpse strewn field and said "Tonight YOU SHALL DIE ODESSA! YOU SHALL PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES!" La Quint cried out in loud clear voice "For you have murdered our Queen Thera and taken the life of the child growing inside her." now Princess Sparta did not know her mother was dead and her heart sank into grief as she began to weep.
General La Quint's words came as a terrible shock, for Odessa knew she had killed Thera, but that was not her aim, and the fact that Thera was with child was a fact she knew not. This information was a shock to her system and in this split second 100 Spartans encircled the spurious Queen of Themiscyra, slashing and stabbing at her body, slicing open her muscles and smashing her bones, crushing her skull with their heavy shields, cutting her down in a gush of blood and gore and in an instant the conniving, maniacal Odessa fell dead and silent forever. Never would this warrior rise up again, her spirit vanquished to the lands of ghosts and winds, Odessa would fight no more.
As the bloodthirsty warriors stood back with satisfaction, loudly cheering, they made way for General La Quint who unsheathed his sword where, in clear view of Princess Sparta, he raised his cyphos high, and with one short, sharp striking motion he cut off Odessa's head, severing it from her neck. This would prove to be an excellent trophy of war he would gladly present to his King. Here Princess Sparta gazed out in a daze, her eyes wide in stunned amazement and grief stricken sadness. She had never in her life seen such butchery but she still could not believe her dearest mother had been killed and was no longer living. So Princess Sparta cried out to La Quint "My mother..," she stammered "No longer is alive?"
"My dearest little Sparta." La Quint raced to her letting her loose from her bondage, cradling the devastated, bewildered child in his strong arms "I am so sorry, but your mother, our Brave and Noble Queen.., is dead." La Quint spoke plainly "That is why we have pursued Odessa, we have killed her, and cut off her head." he paused pointing to the freshly butchered corpse "Look at her Sparta! In this world we live in.., for the crime of murder.., JUSTICE IS DEATH!"
"JUSTICE IS DEATH!" the hundreds of her father's warriors gathered their shouted out with pride.
"Your father, our Great King, has sent us to save you and bring you back to your home, where thousands of our people love you and miss you." La Quint tried to reassure her, but the little girl only collapsed in his arms, her tiny heart broken, tears pouring out from the very depths of her soul. "Fear not little one, we have come to set you free! You must be secure in the knowledge that your mother's life will NEVER be forgotten! Thera's memory shall live forever, and remain in our hearts for all eternity. She will be known and remembered as a glorious part of our nation's history." La Quint did his best to calm the princess' shattered feelings of loss, but his words could not fill the empty hole in her heart and the little girl, only five years old, could not stop crying. So he held her long into the night as Thera's warriors came, after their own successful and bloody fight, to give her comfort for the loss of her beloved mother's life.
Monday, August 19, 2013
End Chapter 16
Pursued into a panicked, hasty retreat Katarina and her remaining 33 warriors made it through the mountain pass down into the lush green valley of Argolis managing to elude Queen Thera's riders and the Spartan army, who fell back in their pursuit for well they knew where Katarina and her troops were heading. Nearing exhaustion the defeated Themiscyrans clearly saw the Sacred Grove of Argos, a vast expanse of wilderness covered with pines, cypress and ancient oak trees, whose orange and red leaves were illuminated in the early morning autumn sun. The scent of the evergreens permeated the crisp air, yet the forest was eerily silent, save for the thunderous sounds of the their war horses hooves galloping across the soft soil of the pine straw covered forest floor. Maneuvering slowly now through the thick growth of towering trees the warriors, along with their horses, panted hard trying to catch their breath, there in the inner darkness of the oaks and pines where the sun could not shine through the canopy of trees. The women thought it strange that there came no scurrying of squirrels or deer and, in this bizarre silence, they heard no birds chirping or twittering among the forest leaves. All was deathly silent, as silent as tomb, there in the midst of the overgrowth where a small shallow stream flowed through the still woods.
Here Katarina ordered her troops to dismount to take rest and the weary warriors were glad of it. As they all climbed down out of their saddles each found their arms and legs weak after hours of fighting and riding. Many were angered and confused after the perilous battle asking Katarina how the Spartans could have known exactly where they had been waiting, and why hundreds upon hundreds of the Greeks had turned out to fight able to devastate their ranks with their overwhelming force and might. For all these fearful questions their leader, Katarina, had no answers. So she did her best to quiet their minds of fear and doubt, telling them it was all over now, that they were safe, bidding them all to rest and wash their bloody bodies in the babbling stream and tend to their overworked horses; which they all quietly did sitting down eating green apples, the only food they could manage to bring. So it was, unknowing of the danger amassing all around them, slowly, silently the Spartan Army were busy surrounding the woods, Katarina and her warrior women did the best they could, calming their hearts and minds trying to relax on the soft bed of pine straw trying to rest and get a little sleep taking a brief respite hoping to have pleasant dreams to escape from the nightmare of reality.
During the next hour the Spartans took their time maneuvering around the 40 hectares of the grove forming one solid line surrounding the forest with 1600 men, under General La Quint's command, and the 9 women who served to mete out Thera's revenge, who told the Spartans to give Katarina and her troops this time to rest. Then Lucia Vega and Lacuna proceeded with their task each standing to the east and west baring two torches in heir hands. Simultaneously they touched the flames of fire to the oil soaked perimeter of the grove which they had prepared earlier that day. In a flash with a loud sound of a whoosh a furious fire took hold, engulfing the forest in raging flames and thick black smoke, then with their work done Lacuna and Lucia Vega turned away, walking back down to the coast where Admiral Vasha waited aboard his war ship, and never once did Thera's loyal friends turn to look back at the forest fire they did create that fateful day as the massive inferno raged.
Awoken from their slumber Katarina and her warrior women heard the crackling of burning timber and smelled the acrid smoke billowing through the trees. Their horses, sensing the approaching danger, reared up breaking loose from their ropes in a terrified stampede, bolting away in every direction leaving the Themiscyrans totally alone and frightened. Here the Spartans ready themselves outside the fiery wall of flames, lifting their shields and swords ready to kill off any of the women who tried to escape. As the heat and choking smoke rose ever higher and closer to their location many of Katarina's warriors fled, chasing after their steeds, many were naked, some wearing only their white tunics they had worn under their armor. Now the horses were overwhelmed with terror and dozens turned back, en mass, when they discovered the fire was all around them and this caused many of the women to be knocked down, crushed under the hooves of their own horses, their broken, trampled bodies scattered upon the ground. Now some of the horses and women broke through the wall of flames, severely burned and suffering in immense pain, however they were greeted by the waiting Spartans who were more than delighted to strike at them and put them out of their misery.
Screams and cries of horses and women being burned alive echoed throughout the forest as Katarina stood motionless in shock, her heart racing as her mind filled with fear, gripped by terror, and she knew she had only two choices, be burned by the fire or try to out run the flames. The tortured voices, coming from those who lay dying, their skin being scorched by the intense fire was the most horrible noise Katarina had ever heard. Then, those still alive, heard the loud cheers of the Spartan men rise up above the roar of the inferno with this Katarina knew all hope was lost.
"What shall we do!?" came the calls of the 12 women who remained at their Captain's side. Yet Katarina had no reply, for she, herself, had feared death by fire more than anything else in her short life. So it was Katarina stood motionless, shocked into silence with no orders to give as thick black smoke with the intense heat and the sound of falling trees echoed through the forest to her ears and back again. The fire, moving at a ravenous pace, cornered Katarina, and the 12 women, who could feel the burning heat upon their cheeks. In a deathly panic Katarina watched in horror as she witnessed the soul crushing scene of her beloved sisters in battle plunging their swords deep into the earth, digging, clawing out holes in the ground, holes that were just large enough to place their heads as they all knelt down giving up their last and final prayers to Artemis as they each buried their faces down deep into the earth swallowing mouthfuls of black soil, suffocating themselves, committing a tragic act of mass suicide, rather than die in the flames.
Katarina, now completely alone, stepped into the shallow stream, her mind reeling her heart racing, as the burning ring of fire slowly closed in all around her. She began shaking uncontrollably with no earthly way to escape, not knowing which would be better, to die by fire, or suffocate. Neither of these was an honorable way for a warrior to die. So Katarina unsheathed the dagger from its scabbard at her side as she knelt in the cool water alongside the corpses of the dead, sweat pouring from her skin, the thick bitter smoke filling her burning lungs as she tried to breathe. Katarina gazed up, offering an apology to her gods and goddesses she cried out in a loud clear voice "PLEASE FORGIVE ME!" her last act of violence she committed was against herself as she grasped the handle of the sharpened knife in her hand. With one swift and precise motion she plunged the blade deep into her chest, painfully slicing into her rib cage, piercing her heart; which ceased its furious beating. Katarina collapsed face down in the water, dead.
Now all the pain of this world melted away, the panic and terror she had known faded into darkness and she was, at long last, cradled in the warmth of a deep abiding, eternal peace as the flames rose up consuming her body and the corpses of her faithful friends, never would these Themiscyrans ever rise up and fight again. Their life long held ideals of Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor died along with them that day. As the Spartans watched with a glorious joy in their hearts knowing that killing was never easy but there was much more work to be done as they stood under the autumn sun.
Here Katarina ordered her troops to dismount to take rest and the weary warriors were glad of it. As they all climbed down out of their saddles each found their arms and legs weak after hours of fighting and riding. Many were angered and confused after the perilous battle asking Katarina how the Spartans could have known exactly where they had been waiting, and why hundreds upon hundreds of the Greeks had turned out to fight able to devastate their ranks with their overwhelming force and might. For all these fearful questions their leader, Katarina, had no answers. So she did her best to quiet their minds of fear and doubt, telling them it was all over now, that they were safe, bidding them all to rest and wash their bloody bodies in the babbling stream and tend to their overworked horses; which they all quietly did sitting down eating green apples, the only food they could manage to bring. So it was, unknowing of the danger amassing all around them, slowly, silently the Spartan Army were busy surrounding the woods, Katarina and her warrior women did the best they could, calming their hearts and minds trying to relax on the soft bed of pine straw trying to rest and get a little sleep taking a brief respite hoping to have pleasant dreams to escape from the nightmare of reality.
During the next hour the Spartans took their time maneuvering around the 40 hectares of the grove forming one solid line surrounding the forest with 1600 men, under General La Quint's command, and the 9 women who served to mete out Thera's revenge, who told the Spartans to give Katarina and her troops this time to rest. Then Lucia Vega and Lacuna proceeded with their task each standing to the east and west baring two torches in heir hands. Simultaneously they touched the flames of fire to the oil soaked perimeter of the grove which they had prepared earlier that day. In a flash with a loud sound of a whoosh a furious fire took hold, engulfing the forest in raging flames and thick black smoke, then with their work done Lacuna and Lucia Vega turned away, walking back down to the coast where Admiral Vasha waited aboard his war ship, and never once did Thera's loyal friends turn to look back at the forest fire they did create that fateful day as the massive inferno raged.
Awoken from their slumber Katarina and her warrior women heard the crackling of burning timber and smelled the acrid smoke billowing through the trees. Their horses, sensing the approaching danger, reared up breaking loose from their ropes in a terrified stampede, bolting away in every direction leaving the Themiscyrans totally alone and frightened. Here the Spartans ready themselves outside the fiery wall of flames, lifting their shields and swords ready to kill off any of the women who tried to escape. As the heat and choking smoke rose ever higher and closer to their location many of Katarina's warriors fled, chasing after their steeds, many were naked, some wearing only their white tunics they had worn under their armor. Now the horses were overwhelmed with terror and dozens turned back, en mass, when they discovered the fire was all around them and this caused many of the women to be knocked down, crushed under the hooves of their own horses, their broken, trampled bodies scattered upon the ground. Now some of the horses and women broke through the wall of flames, severely burned and suffering in immense pain, however they were greeted by the waiting Spartans who were more than delighted to strike at them and put them out of their misery.
Screams and cries of horses and women being burned alive echoed throughout the forest as Katarina stood motionless in shock, her heart racing as her mind filled with fear, gripped by terror, and she knew she had only two choices, be burned by the fire or try to out run the flames. The tortured voices, coming from those who lay dying, their skin being scorched by the intense fire was the most horrible noise Katarina had ever heard. Then, those still alive, heard the loud cheers of the Spartan men rise up above the roar of the inferno with this Katarina knew all hope was lost.
"What shall we do!?" came the calls of the 12 women who remained at their Captain's side. Yet Katarina had no reply, for she, herself, had feared death by fire more than anything else in her short life. So it was Katarina stood motionless, shocked into silence with no orders to give as thick black smoke with the intense heat and the sound of falling trees echoed through the forest to her ears and back again. The fire, moving at a ravenous pace, cornered Katarina, and the 12 women, who could feel the burning heat upon their cheeks. In a deathly panic Katarina watched in horror as she witnessed the soul crushing scene of her beloved sisters in battle plunging their swords deep into the earth, digging, clawing out holes in the ground, holes that were just large enough to place their heads as they all knelt down giving up their last and final prayers to Artemis as they each buried their faces down deep into the earth swallowing mouthfuls of black soil, suffocating themselves, committing a tragic act of mass suicide, rather than die in the flames.
Katarina, now completely alone, stepped into the shallow stream, her mind reeling her heart racing, as the burning ring of fire slowly closed in all around her. She began shaking uncontrollably with no earthly way to escape, not knowing which would be better, to die by fire, or suffocate. Neither of these was an honorable way for a warrior to die. So Katarina unsheathed the dagger from its scabbard at her side as she knelt in the cool water alongside the corpses of the dead, sweat pouring from her skin, the thick bitter smoke filling her burning lungs as she tried to breathe. Katarina gazed up, offering an apology to her gods and goddesses she cried out in a loud clear voice "PLEASE FORGIVE ME!" her last act of violence she committed was against herself as she grasped the handle of the sharpened knife in her hand. With one swift and precise motion she plunged the blade deep into her chest, painfully slicing into her rib cage, piercing her heart; which ceased its furious beating. Katarina collapsed face down in the water, dead.
Now all the pain of this world melted away, the panic and terror she had known faded into darkness and she was, at long last, cradled in the warmth of a deep abiding, eternal peace as the flames rose up consuming her body and the corpses of her faithful friends, never would these Themiscyrans ever rise up and fight again. Their life long held ideals of Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor died along with them that day. As the Spartans watched with a glorious joy in their hearts knowing that killing was never easy but there was much more work to be done as they stood under the autumn sun.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Chapter 16 continues
Far off to the north east of Mt. Parnon Odessa and her weary band of blood soaked marauders made their way to their campsite just to the west of Megara. Here she dismounted her black war horse letting Princess Sparta out of the burlap sack, where she found the little girl terrified, thirsty and dripping with sweat, her hands still bound, the gag remained in her mouth.
"Now." Odessa spoke, her eyes painted black, her long hair pulled back, dressed in full armor, looking ever so much like a demon sent from the depths of hell as she towered over Thera's child. "You have done well on this long, hard ride, but fear not little one, for you are but a child." Odessa smiled "My warriors are here to protect you and keep you safe. No harm shall come your way. We will give you food to eat and fresh water to drink while we rest here until tomorrow." Odessa explained as she untied the wet piece of cloth from Princess Sparta's mouth, letting her loose from the ties that bound her wrists, offering her a small cup of water, holding it up to her lips.
Princess Sparta spoke not a word as she drank down the cool refreshing liquid offered to her by her captor. Then with a wild, fearful look in her green eyes she spun around on her heels and quickly tired to run, but Odessa reached out, snatching her back, grabbing a fistful of her long red hair, pulling little Sparta hard, nearly knocking her off of her feet. "There is no point in running away, for there is no escape." Odessa said with a look as severe as the grave.
"LET ME GO!" the scared girl screamed "Why have you taken me from my family!? I want to go home!" Princess Sparta implored tears streaming down her cheeks.
"We will take you to your new home presently." Odessa spoke calmly then peered down at the royal child then asked "Has your mother ever spoken of Themiscyra?"
"No.., never." the frightened girl spoke truthfully, nor did Princess Sparta herself have any memories of her mother's former nation, for she had been taken away when she was just a babe.
"Ah..," Odessa sighed sipping some of the water, towering over her "well, that is a shame, for one day soon, my little Princess, you shall be our leader and rule over our warrior nation, as our one true Queen." Princess Sparta gave a look of confusion mixed with disdain as Odessa continued "You must know, and be told the truth." Odessa paused "You are the last, in a long line, of Royal Themiscyran Queens, who have ruled over our beloved country, unopposed, for over 700 years and countless generations." Odessa then bent down coming eye to eye with the defiant child. "Your mother, Thera, was our Queen, and above all this., she was my friend. However, your mother chose to abandon her nation and her people, most selfishly, abdicating her throne to me." again Odessa paused letting this information wash over Princess Sparta's mind. "Though, I, myself, am not of a Royal Pedigree and have descended from no Royal Blood Line. But you are the last remaining daughter of the Royal House of Themiscyra. So we have come to reclaim you, for the future benefit, and welfare and stability of our beloved nation. So you will rest here with us a while, then, soon, you will find yourself living in your mother's, former, palace; which shall serve as your new home."
"I would rather die than serve as your Queen!" Princess Sparta sneered a familiar look of hate in her eyes as she spat, like a pit-viper, into her captors face as the mass of warriors surrounding her only laughed.
Wiping away the warm, wet saliva from off her cheek Odessa ordered her guards "Take her away to the safety of my tent, feed and clothe her, for I have plans to make!"
Doing as they were told two of the warriors escorted Princess Sparta out of Odessa's presence as one of her troops approached her with news "My Queen! We have re-grouped, but three of our women were taken as captives during our raid, surely they have already been killed off by our Spartan enemy." this information caused Odessa a bit of distress as she placed her hands on her hips, shaking her head as the warrior said "That leaves ninety seven of us that made it out alive and are present and accounted for. We stand ready to serve you still, after our long and dangerous ride."
"May Zeus and Artemis be praised." Odessa said softly "We shall rest here all day and night until the dawn arises." she instructed them wiping her brow, shielding her eyes from the bright morning sun. "If Katarina has not returned with her troops to us, by then, we shall ride down to Argolis in their defense, and aid in their escape, should the Spartans have discovered their hiding place." Odessa informed her loyal warriors, dried blood streaking and staining their skin, caked in their long braids "Let us rest ourselves and our horses. Go now, we will wash away our enemies blood in the lake, then we shall eat and sleep and wait to see what tomorrow, and the Fates, shall bring."
So it was the tired women warriors of Themiscyra unburdened their war horses from their heavy saddles and bridles, before stripping themselves of their weapons and armor, cooling their weary bodies, as they swam naked in the cold fresh waters of the mountain lake beside their small encampment. Where they told each other stories of their victorious night time raid, boasting and bragging of the number of dead bodies, and trail of devastation, they left in their wake, never ever knowing the utter destruction that would soon be coming their way.
"Now." Odessa spoke, her eyes painted black, her long hair pulled back, dressed in full armor, looking ever so much like a demon sent from the depths of hell as she towered over Thera's child. "You have done well on this long, hard ride, but fear not little one, for you are but a child." Odessa smiled "My warriors are here to protect you and keep you safe. No harm shall come your way. We will give you food to eat and fresh water to drink while we rest here until tomorrow." Odessa explained as she untied the wet piece of cloth from Princess Sparta's mouth, letting her loose from the ties that bound her wrists, offering her a small cup of water, holding it up to her lips.
Princess Sparta spoke not a word as she drank down the cool refreshing liquid offered to her by her captor. Then with a wild, fearful look in her green eyes she spun around on her heels and quickly tired to run, but Odessa reached out, snatching her back, grabbing a fistful of her long red hair, pulling little Sparta hard, nearly knocking her off of her feet. "There is no point in running away, for there is no escape." Odessa said with a look as severe as the grave.
"LET ME GO!" the scared girl screamed "Why have you taken me from my family!? I want to go home!" Princess Sparta implored tears streaming down her cheeks.
"We will take you to your new home presently." Odessa spoke calmly then peered down at the royal child then asked "Has your mother ever spoken of Themiscyra?"
"No.., never." the frightened girl spoke truthfully, nor did Princess Sparta herself have any memories of her mother's former nation, for she had been taken away when she was just a babe.
"Ah..," Odessa sighed sipping some of the water, towering over her "well, that is a shame, for one day soon, my little Princess, you shall be our leader and rule over our warrior nation, as our one true Queen." Princess Sparta gave a look of confusion mixed with disdain as Odessa continued "You must know, and be told the truth." Odessa paused "You are the last, in a long line, of Royal Themiscyran Queens, who have ruled over our beloved country, unopposed, for over 700 years and countless generations." Odessa then bent down coming eye to eye with the defiant child. "Your mother, Thera, was our Queen, and above all this., she was my friend. However, your mother chose to abandon her nation and her people, most selfishly, abdicating her throne to me." again Odessa paused letting this information wash over Princess Sparta's mind. "Though, I, myself, am not of a Royal Pedigree and have descended from no Royal Blood Line. But you are the last remaining daughter of the Royal House of Themiscyra. So we have come to reclaim you, for the future benefit, and welfare and stability of our beloved nation. So you will rest here with us a while, then, soon, you will find yourself living in your mother's, former, palace; which shall serve as your new home."
"I would rather die than serve as your Queen!" Princess Sparta sneered a familiar look of hate in her eyes as she spat, like a pit-viper, into her captors face as the mass of warriors surrounding her only laughed.
Wiping away the warm, wet saliva from off her cheek Odessa ordered her guards "Take her away to the safety of my tent, feed and clothe her, for I have plans to make!"
Doing as they were told two of the warriors escorted Princess Sparta out of Odessa's presence as one of her troops approached her with news "My Queen! We have re-grouped, but three of our women were taken as captives during our raid, surely they have already been killed off by our Spartan enemy." this information caused Odessa a bit of distress as she placed her hands on her hips, shaking her head as the warrior said "That leaves ninety seven of us that made it out alive and are present and accounted for. We stand ready to serve you still, after our long and dangerous ride."
"May Zeus and Artemis be praised." Odessa said softly "We shall rest here all day and night until the dawn arises." she instructed them wiping her brow, shielding her eyes from the bright morning sun. "If Katarina has not returned with her troops to us, by then, we shall ride down to Argolis in their defense, and aid in their escape, should the Spartans have discovered their hiding place." Odessa informed her loyal warriors, dried blood streaking and staining their skin, caked in their long braids "Let us rest ourselves and our horses. Go now, we will wash away our enemies blood in the lake, then we shall eat and sleep and wait to see what tomorrow, and the Fates, shall bring."
So it was the tired women warriors of Themiscyra unburdened their war horses from their heavy saddles and bridles, before stripping themselves of their weapons and armor, cooling their weary bodies, as they swam naked in the cold fresh waters of the mountain lake beside their small encampment. Where they told each other stories of their victorious night time raid, boasting and bragging of the number of dead bodies, and trail of devastation, they left in their wake, never ever knowing the utter destruction that would soon be coming their way.
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