Vyakles strutted along behind Thera, feeling as proud as a conquering hero returning home from a glorious battle, as he took Thera by the wrists, restraining them tightly behind her back so she cold not run away as they made their way through the dense, deep forest of junipers, cypress, poplar and chestnut trees, the noonday sun illuminating the canopy of leaves in all shades of bright green. Vyakles heard the chirping of thrushes and swallows echoing through the woods on this ancient island of myth and legend, where the king had never been, nor seen. He remembered the ghost stories his grandmother used to tell of the Island of Hera, just north of Crete, where her children built a magnificent temple to her, but when her children discovered gold up in the mountain they selfishly, through their own greed and avarice ways, took the gold and sold it to all who would come and give up their money for it. Their mother angered, and incensed, by her children's lust for power and wealth set her mind against her beloved offspring. So Hera sent a race of half-men, half-animal beings she created, calling them Troglodytes, to live in the caves and guard the gold for all eternity. However her disobedient children hunted down every last one of the hairy, inhuman beasts. Enraged further Hera sent a massive earthquake to destroy the temple built by her unfaithful followers, destroying all of her offspring, Hera annihilated them, completely. When the rubble and blood settled Hera sent her mighty gryphon's to guard the mountain and secure the gold forever. Vyakles could not believe Thera had chosen this, of all places, to hide, but the king knew her to be as clever, as she was crafty, and Vyakles realized as he marched the disgraced, naked queen through the haunted forest this was the utmost perfect place for her to hide her party, here the king felt so stupid for not looking here first.
Thera stumbled through the thick undergrowth of ferns and wild orchids as the sweat began to drip out of every pore seeping, with a painful stinging sensation, into her long, bloody scratches gouged into her body, courtesy of the king "Vyakles, please, wait, give me a moment to breathe." she implored her words coming in quick panicked gasps as her heart raced in the heat of the day and the face of the king's rage.
"Lead me to fresh water woman! And be quick about it!" Vyakles commanded her as he knocked her down to the soft moss covered earth.
"There is a clear mountain stream a little bit further to the east." she said as she rested for a moment on her knees.
"Show me!" Vyakles shouted in indignation grabbing her savagely, once again, by her long golden-red hair forcing her back up to her feet.
"Let go of me! Allow me one iota of dignity! For I was once a Queen!" Thera barked back like a rabid dog, and here Vyakles thought she might jump up and bite him.
Vyakles, in a snap decision, pushed Thera in the chest, just to see if she would push back and put a fight, for the king had the sudden overwhelming urge to punch her in the face, even though that went against all his better judgement. Thera, with the force of the king's jolting thrust to her upper body, collapsed back nearly falling, but she was able to catch herself by grabbing hold of fallen fir tree. She gave him a sudden look of shock and awe when she felt the weight of his furious gaze upon her. Her natural inclination was to go over and give a swift quick to his testicles, but Thera knew the sole proof of strength, lies in a commanding will, so she willed herself not to kill him with her bare hands. The betrayed king came closer pushing her again knocking her down, commanding her to fight. Thera fell back twisting her left knee and ankle but she felt no pain as the warrior blood in her surged forth like water pouring down a mountain.
"Get up and fight!" Vyakles screamed as he reached up and pulled off his helmet throwing it down in front of her nearly smashing her right foot in the process.
"NO!" Thera exclaimed as she tried to get back up to her feet "You are the father of my children! I will not put a fight!"
As Thera stood up once again, Vyakles strode over getting face to face with her and Vyakles said "You are the mother of MY children and you will do as I command you!" he said with a severe look and a hard slap across her cheek "You will fight me!"
"Never!" the former queen snapped back adding "I will never raise my hands, nor will I ever bare arms against you! You are the father of OUR children and you should NOT abuse me!" now here is when the clever mind of our crafty queen began to work against Vyakles. "Besides..," Thera said rubbing her red, swollen cheek. "How fair of a fight would it be? A well armed, armour clad king, versus a naked woman with no weapons! Come on Vyakles would you have any satisfaction in that, in all honesty?"
Vyakles gave a grievous glare as he said removing his sword and sheathe "Very well Thera, I will remove my armaments.., fair is fair." the great king said as he stripped bare in front of Thera who could not help but stare, as Vyakles played right into Thera's hand.
Thera stumbled through the thick undergrowth of ferns and wild orchids as the sweat began to drip out of every pore seeping, with a painful stinging sensation, into her long, bloody scratches gouged into her body, courtesy of the king "Vyakles, please, wait, give me a moment to breathe." she implored her words coming in quick panicked gasps as her heart raced in the heat of the day and the face of the king's rage.
"Lead me to fresh water woman! And be quick about it!" Vyakles commanded her as he knocked her down to the soft moss covered earth.
"There is a clear mountain stream a little bit further to the east." she said as she rested for a moment on her knees.
"Show me!" Vyakles shouted in indignation grabbing her savagely, once again, by her long golden-red hair forcing her back up to her feet.
"Let go of me! Allow me one iota of dignity! For I was once a Queen!" Thera barked back like a rabid dog, and here Vyakles thought she might jump up and bite him.
Vyakles, in a snap decision, pushed Thera in the chest, just to see if she would push back and put a fight, for the king had the sudden overwhelming urge to punch her in the face, even though that went against all his better judgement. Thera, with the force of the king's jolting thrust to her upper body, collapsed back nearly falling, but she was able to catch herself by grabbing hold of fallen fir tree. She gave him a sudden look of shock and awe when she felt the weight of his furious gaze upon her. Her natural inclination was to go over and give a swift quick to his testicles, but Thera knew the sole proof of strength, lies in a commanding will, so she willed herself not to kill him with her bare hands. The betrayed king came closer pushing her again knocking her down, commanding her to fight. Thera fell back twisting her left knee and ankle but she felt no pain as the warrior blood in her surged forth like water pouring down a mountain.
"Get up and fight!" Vyakles screamed as he reached up and pulled off his helmet throwing it down in front of her nearly smashing her right foot in the process.
"NO!" Thera exclaimed as she tried to get back up to her feet "You are the father of my children! I will not put a fight!"
As Thera stood up once again, Vyakles strode over getting face to face with her and Vyakles said "You are the mother of MY children and you will do as I command you!" he said with a severe look and a hard slap across her cheek "You will fight me!"
"Never!" the former queen snapped back adding "I will never raise my hands, nor will I ever bare arms against you! You are the father of OUR children and you should NOT abuse me!" now here is when the clever mind of our crafty queen began to work against Vyakles. "Besides..," Thera said rubbing her red, swollen cheek. "How fair of a fight would it be? A well armed, armour clad king, versus a naked woman with no weapons! Come on Vyakles would you have any satisfaction in that, in all honesty?"
Vyakles gave a grievous glare as he said removing his sword and sheathe "Very well Thera, I will remove my armaments.., fair is fair." the great king said as he stripped bare in front of Thera who could not help but stare, as Vyakles played right into Thera's hand.
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