Thera waited for the pain, but none came as she trembled before the king her eyes shut tight, body rigid in preparation for the blade, as she let out a soft, hot breath. Slowly Thera opened up her eyes to see the sword plunged into the sand just between her knees, not deep inside her chest cavity. Thera realized this could only mean one thing.., that Vyakles, instead of plunging the deadly cyphos through her neck and heart for a quick, rather painless, death, had decided to take her life by strangulation, then Thera stared at his massive hands; which the king balled up into fists as he stared down at her, with such a crazed angry look, Thera did not know if Vyakles wanted to spit at her or punch her in the face.
Alas, Vyakles did neither, for he turned back to his men, as the women of Themiscyra gave a confused look of worry and uncertainty. "I am the King of Sparta!" he proclaimed once more "And I can not break one law, to uphold another!" his voice carried over the roar of the waves and the minds of the people for they had not expected this Warrior King to show mercy and pity. "Thera!" Vyakles shouted down at her, his voice loud as thunder in her ears, and she could feel the vibrations of his words through her entire naked body "You have stolen a Royal Ship, abducted fifteen of my of my soldiers, one, of which, Admiral Vasha, the highest ranking officer in my Imperial Navy, you have kidnapped eleven children of Spartan blood, you have broken thirteen treaties between our two nations, the punishment for such action is Death!" Vyakles paused for a brief moment gazing into Thera's bewildered eyes "However.., under these extenuating circumstances, you are also the mother of a Spartan Son, the Law of Lycurgus states you have seven years to raise him before he is to be given up in sacrifice to our Military. So, as ruler of my Nation, I will grant you a stay of execution, temporarily! You will return to Sparta with me! Thereafter, at such time as I have secured Therakles into the Agogi, then, and only then, will your legal matter be tried and dealt with, accordingly, in our court of Law."
Here another gasp issued up from the women behind Thera who whispered among themselves as their Queen stared up in awe at Vyakles who drew nearer to the Queen. However, Thera was so stunned by his ruling, she was shocked into silence all she could manage to do was to stare up at the king, all the color drained away from her face and she gave a dismayed look as if someone had just walked over her grave.
"However!" the indignant king continued "I shall not take your life this day, oh, Thera! However..," the king paused reaching out with his right hand grabbing her chin and squeezing it hard "You shall.., can.., and will be punished!"
"Vyakles.., I understand.., I wish to continue." Thera spoke in a voice as small as a bird, her words audible only to the king.
Vyakles let loose of his grip of her face reaching down pulling his sword from the sand in one swift motion then he turned shouting "Commander La Quint!" the leader of the expedition drew nearer to the king awaiting his instruction. "Escort these.., Themiscyrans aboard ship, present them to my physician, have them examined along with the others, signal the triremes, have the captains bring the warships ashore, then see to it that the men, children.., and women are all fed and cared for accordingly. We shall make camp here tonight." Vyakles said as he slapped his tall and brave Spartan warrior upon the back as he shook his hand. "Congratulations La Quint, after all these long years, you have located my son and saved the Spartan Throne for another generation! You shall be highly praised and promoted upon our safe return home." Vyakles gave a relieved happy smile for the first time, in a long time."For I intended to make you a General!"
"It is my pleasure and honor to serve you my King!" the look of relief and confidence both equally the same in the young commander's eyes.
"Oh and one more thing..," Vyakles said as his commander stood at attention "Inform Admiral Vasha that he, along with his men, have three days to reassemble my ship and sail back home to Sparta!"
"Yes King Vyakles I shall see your orders are carried out quickly and efficiently!" the commander said proudly.
"Good, this is good..," the triumphant King glanced over at Thera still kneeling before him then with a bemused look of delight he smiled and continued "as for me, I will take this 'rebel queen' off into the woods, I may be gone a while, for her corporal punishment might take some time." Vyakles laughed, along with his soldiers, but no joy came from the women of Themiscyra who watched in horror as their beloved queen was dragged away, pulled by hair up onto her feet with Vyakles pushing and shoving her in the back as he marched Thera up the trail, off into the deep dark woods, away from the beach.
Alas, Vyakles did neither, for he turned back to his men, as the women of Themiscyra gave a confused look of worry and uncertainty. "I am the King of Sparta!" he proclaimed once more "And I can not break one law, to uphold another!" his voice carried over the roar of the waves and the minds of the people for they had not expected this Warrior King to show mercy and pity. "Thera!" Vyakles shouted down at her, his voice loud as thunder in her ears, and she could feel the vibrations of his words through her entire naked body "You have stolen a Royal Ship, abducted fifteen of my of my soldiers, one, of which, Admiral Vasha, the highest ranking officer in my Imperial Navy, you have kidnapped eleven children of Spartan blood, you have broken thirteen treaties between our two nations, the punishment for such action is Death!" Vyakles paused for a brief moment gazing into Thera's bewildered eyes "However.., under these extenuating circumstances, you are also the mother of a Spartan Son, the Law of Lycurgus states you have seven years to raise him before he is to be given up in sacrifice to our Military. So, as ruler of my Nation, I will grant you a stay of execution, temporarily! You will return to Sparta with me! Thereafter, at such time as I have secured Therakles into the Agogi, then, and only then, will your legal matter be tried and dealt with, accordingly, in our court of Law."
Here another gasp issued up from the women behind Thera who whispered among themselves as their Queen stared up in awe at Vyakles who drew nearer to the Queen. However, Thera was so stunned by his ruling, she was shocked into silence all she could manage to do was to stare up at the king, all the color drained away from her face and she gave a dismayed look as if someone had just walked over her grave.
"However!" the indignant king continued "I shall not take your life this day, oh, Thera! However..," the king paused reaching out with his right hand grabbing her chin and squeezing it hard "You shall.., can.., and will be punished!"
"Vyakles.., I understand.., I wish to continue." Thera spoke in a voice as small as a bird, her words audible only to the king.
Vyakles let loose of his grip of her face reaching down pulling his sword from the sand in one swift motion then he turned shouting "Commander La Quint!" the leader of the expedition drew nearer to the king awaiting his instruction. "Escort these.., Themiscyrans aboard ship, present them to my physician, have them examined along with the others, signal the triremes, have the captains bring the warships ashore, then see to it that the men, children.., and women are all fed and cared for accordingly. We shall make camp here tonight." Vyakles said as he slapped his tall and brave Spartan warrior upon the back as he shook his hand. "Congratulations La Quint, after all these long years, you have located my son and saved the Spartan Throne for another generation! You shall be highly praised and promoted upon our safe return home." Vyakles gave a relieved happy smile for the first time, in a long time."For I intended to make you a General!"
"It is my pleasure and honor to serve you my King!" the look of relief and confidence both equally the same in the young commander's eyes.
"Oh and one more thing..," Vyakles said as his commander stood at attention "Inform Admiral Vasha that he, along with his men, have three days to reassemble my ship and sail back home to Sparta!"
"Yes King Vyakles I shall see your orders are carried out quickly and efficiently!" the commander said proudly.
"Good, this is good..," the triumphant King glanced over at Thera still kneeling before him then with a bemused look of delight he smiled and continued "as for me, I will take this 'rebel queen' off into the woods, I may be gone a while, for her corporal punishment might take some time." Vyakles laughed, along with his soldiers, but no joy came from the women of Themiscyra who watched in horror as their beloved queen was dragged away, pulled by hair up onto her feet with Vyakles pushing and shoving her in the back as he marched Thera up the trail, off into the deep dark woods, away from the beach.
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