The next day, as the sun was at it's zenith in the clear blue sky, Odessa waited, and waited, sitting upon her throne in the great hall, surrounded by the gifts with which Thera had sent to honor Odessa. Whom had been waiting for Lacuna and Lucia Vega to return with news from their night with the Spartans. A cool wind blew in from the north and it was the first welcome relief from the heat in months, but the change in temperature did little to improve Queen Odessa's mood.
"Mother, if they do not return soon.., we shall go and collect them." Odessa said to Cheveria who was busy reading over the documents that were prepared to be sent back to Thera and her husband.
"Patience is a virtue." Cheveria reminded her daughter.
"Well I am not feeling very virtuous today.., what is taking so long?" Odessa sighed becoming more restless. Then they heard a commotion of voices and laughter coming from outside the palace doors which were thrown open to the two returning, sexually gratified, warriors/envoys of the Queen.
"My Queen! Lacuna and Lucia Vega have returned." came word from one of the queens attendant's.
"At last!" Odessa said as she leapt to her feet anxiously awaiting the information she had sent them to Admiral Vasha for.
Lucia Vega and Lacuna appeared before Odessa, dressed in their long white silken dresses; which were stained with red wine and semen, their long hair a matted mess, both appearing quite disheveled, great big smiles upon their faces, with glassy eyes and rosy cheeks. "My noble Queen! Forgive our appearance as we have only just awoken from our rest." Lucia Vega said immediately upon seeing the disapproving look of Odessa. "We had much information to obtain.., and, the hours.., escaped us."
"Information.., or Entertainment?" Odessa said with a little grin of bemusement.
"Both.., my Queen. For we saw the shadows of the evening light and the shadows of the morning sun, until the shadows and the light were one." Lacuna tried to explain in the intellectual way she was accustom to.
"I trust you both have returned happy, relaxed, and satisfied?" Odessa asked sitting herself upon her throne once again calmly, as she took her golden crown of stars and set it atop her head. Odessa, then, let out a deep sigh wishing she had gone down to the shore and taken Admiral Vasha for herself, though Odessa knew to do so was not in her best interest, nor would it be good for her plans.
"Satisfied with the company of the Spartan men, Yes, that is for certain! My Queen!" Lacuna said with a nod of her head, her eyes bright with the many memories of last night flashing wildly in her mind. Then a dire look over came her countenance then Lacuna said sadly "However, the news we learned from Admiral Vasha, and General La Quint, was most shocking."
"Tell me all, Lacuna, now, tell me what is the cause of your shock and dismay?" Odessa asked already fearing what Lacuna would say.
"Queen Odessa.., I regret to inform you, that, not only has Thera conscripted herself into marriage.., but so have ALL the ladies who defected with her."
A pale look swept over Odessa's face as all the blood drained away down into her stomach, and she felt nauseous once again. "All of them?" she said in a voice as soft as a little frightened bird.
"Aye." Lucia Vega replied as she read from a scroll she had been given by Vasha. "The marriages took place right before harvest time.., their Carnea... Thera's women married the Warriors of Sparta, whom they bore sons with, taking their breeding partners as their husbands.., until death do they part." Lucia Vega paused clearing her throat wiping a tear away from her eye " All the women made sacrifices upon the altars and took the vows.., Johanna wed Theodus, Katara married Temenos, La Scoffa wed Navos, Jessa married Venice, Scotia wed Anaias, Iona married Tyrinthus, Ia wed Kias, Amarra married Anaio and Kayla wed a naval officer named Kai. This letter proclaims, Legitimcy of Citizenship has been granted to all the former women of Themiscyra, in accordance with the Laws of Sparta and the will of the rightful King and Queen, Vyakles and Thera of Sparta"
Now at this time there were several servants, scribes and ambassadors sitting at the long tables and these women knew all of these said ladies well, they were stunned to silence, every last one of them, to find out now those who had fled with Thera had gone off, against Themiscyran Law, and wed, for marriage was a crime in their country for centuries. So Odessa looked out over the shocked faces of her people, she knew it was up to her speak up and say something, and so she did. "You see my ladies.., look around this room.., what do you see?" Odessa asked sitting amidst the bounty of goods heaped up in the great hall all around them. "Here." Odessa stood to her feet going over pointing out "What do you see?" no one answered "Here, Lacuna, we have, sent to us all the way from the 'gracious' Royal House of Sparta, thirty bolts of colorful rare silks from the far east, and here, fine Egyptian cotton and linens, or here one hundred amphora's of ouzo, bushels upon bushels of apples, grapes and cherries, and here we have, forty thousand talents of silver and gold." Odessa began to laugh with a strange look upon her face mixed with delight and disgust. "Surely you all see a roomful of riches heaped upon us..! Do you not?"
Here the warriors and scribes and servants, along with the emissaries and ambassadors, gathered there together all thought to say yes and agree with Odessa, but they were all too clever for that. "What do you see my Queen?" Lucia Vega inquired.
"You, my brave ladies, may all see this as wealth and goods for the glory of our nation, but NO! You would be wrong." Odessa paused for dramatic effect. "I tell you this. Look closely. What you are witnessing, my humbled ladies.., is the tangible, physical manifestation of Thera, and her women's, guilty conscience." Odessa dropped her head rubbing her temples as her headache returned with a vengeance, but she had enough strength to open her mouth and roar like a lion "Thera abandoned her nation! Her FIRST crime! Thera broke our breeding treaty agreement with Sparta! Her SECOND crime! Thera abducted the men and sons of Sparta! Her THIRD crime! Thera stole a cargo ship full of treasures bound for Sparta! Her FOURTH crime! And .., finally! Thera conscripted herself into marriage, her FIFTH crime! Thera has committed Treason against this nation! She and Katara, Kayla, Jessa, Ia, Iona, Scotia, Johanna, La Scoffa, and Amarra, are ALL GUILTY, and they know it! Thera, and her 'ladies', must feel so guilty about the crimes they have committed against Themiscyra, and her people, that I can, literally, weigh the guilt of her conscience in silver and gold." Odessa said taking a few of the gold coins in her hand and tossing them down onto the ground as if they were worth nothing. "So I ask you my brave, fierce creatures, what shall we do with these.., criminals? What shall be our message and answer, which path shall we choose?" here, again, no one answered for Odessa was Queen it was up to her to lead. So she went over to Lacuna and Lucia Vega smiling as she swept a few knotted strands of hair off of Lacuna's cheek. "I will tell you what we will do, FOR NOW.., I will use this guilty conscience of the Queen of Sparta's as an advantage for our nation. I shall send word back with Admiral Vasha, that we shall require more.., and more.., I will do so to bide my time and see what the future brings. For I have decided to send you both, Lacuna and Lucia Vega, to Sparta, with the men you acquainted yourselves with, fully, last night."
"Go to Sparta!?" Lucia Vega gasped in disbelief.
"Yes.., you will go as my envoys to the new queen, you shall entreat Thera on my behalf. She must sign all the copies of the Line of Succession, it is my.., OUR only hope of stability in the region. You must also bring me back information on the city and its dwelling places... So go home, get cleaned up, I have already had your horses and armaments sent down to the Admiral along with my instructions."
"We shall go in honor of you Odessa, but tell us, when do we leave?"
"You sail at sunset, so be ready for your adventure to Sparta. And Remember, you must return home by the trails through the mountains of Greece and Scythia, in three weeks time, with a map of Sparta and all the documents signed." Odessa said as she embraced Lacuna and Lucia Vega, who kept their true feelings on the matter buried deep within their hearts. "I shall see you off at dinner, now go and get ready.., before I change my mind."
"Mother, if they do not return soon.., we shall go and collect them." Odessa said to Cheveria who was busy reading over the documents that were prepared to be sent back to Thera and her husband.
"Patience is a virtue." Cheveria reminded her daughter.
"Well I am not feeling very virtuous today.., what is taking so long?" Odessa sighed becoming more restless. Then they heard a commotion of voices and laughter coming from outside the palace doors which were thrown open to the two returning, sexually gratified, warriors/envoys of the Queen.
"My Queen! Lacuna and Lucia Vega have returned." came word from one of the queens attendant's.
"At last!" Odessa said as she leapt to her feet anxiously awaiting the information she had sent them to Admiral Vasha for.
Lucia Vega and Lacuna appeared before Odessa, dressed in their long white silken dresses; which were stained with red wine and semen, their long hair a matted mess, both appearing quite disheveled, great big smiles upon their faces, with glassy eyes and rosy cheeks. "My noble Queen! Forgive our appearance as we have only just awoken from our rest." Lucia Vega said immediately upon seeing the disapproving look of Odessa. "We had much information to obtain.., and, the hours.., escaped us."
"Information.., or Entertainment?" Odessa said with a little grin of bemusement.
"Both.., my Queen. For we saw the shadows of the evening light and the shadows of the morning sun, until the shadows and the light were one." Lacuna tried to explain in the intellectual way she was accustom to.
"I trust you both have returned happy, relaxed, and satisfied?" Odessa asked sitting herself upon her throne once again calmly, as she took her golden crown of stars and set it atop her head. Odessa, then, let out a deep sigh wishing she had gone down to the shore and taken Admiral Vasha for herself, though Odessa knew to do so was not in her best interest, nor would it be good for her plans.
"Satisfied with the company of the Spartan men, Yes, that is for certain! My Queen!" Lacuna said with a nod of her head, her eyes bright with the many memories of last night flashing wildly in her mind. Then a dire look over came her countenance then Lacuna said sadly "However, the news we learned from Admiral Vasha, and General La Quint, was most shocking."
"Tell me all, Lacuna, now, tell me what is the cause of your shock and dismay?" Odessa asked already fearing what Lacuna would say.
"Queen Odessa.., I regret to inform you, that, not only has Thera conscripted herself into marriage.., but so have ALL the ladies who defected with her."
A pale look swept over Odessa's face as all the blood drained away down into her stomach, and she felt nauseous once again. "All of them?" she said in a voice as soft as a little frightened bird.
"Aye." Lucia Vega replied as she read from a scroll she had been given by Vasha. "The marriages took place right before harvest time.., their Carnea... Thera's women married the Warriors of Sparta, whom they bore sons with, taking their breeding partners as their husbands.., until death do they part." Lucia Vega paused clearing her throat wiping a tear away from her eye " All the women made sacrifices upon the altars and took the vows.., Johanna wed Theodus, Katara married Temenos, La Scoffa wed Navos, Jessa married Venice, Scotia wed Anaias, Iona married Tyrinthus, Ia wed Kias, Amarra married Anaio and Kayla wed a naval officer named Kai. This letter proclaims, Legitimcy of Citizenship has been granted to all the former women of Themiscyra, in accordance with the Laws of Sparta and the will of the rightful King and Queen, Vyakles and Thera of Sparta"
Now at this time there were several servants, scribes and ambassadors sitting at the long tables and these women knew all of these said ladies well, they were stunned to silence, every last one of them, to find out now those who had fled with Thera had gone off, against Themiscyran Law, and wed, for marriage was a crime in their country for centuries. So Odessa looked out over the shocked faces of her people, she knew it was up to her speak up and say something, and so she did. "You see my ladies.., look around this room.., what do you see?" Odessa asked sitting amidst the bounty of goods heaped up in the great hall all around them. "Here." Odessa stood to her feet going over pointing out "What do you see?" no one answered "Here, Lacuna, we have, sent to us all the way from the 'gracious' Royal House of Sparta, thirty bolts of colorful rare silks from the far east, and here, fine Egyptian cotton and linens, or here one hundred amphora's of ouzo, bushels upon bushels of apples, grapes and cherries, and here we have, forty thousand talents of silver and gold." Odessa began to laugh with a strange look upon her face mixed with delight and disgust. "Surely you all see a roomful of riches heaped upon us..! Do you not?"
Here the warriors and scribes and servants, along with the emissaries and ambassadors, gathered there together all thought to say yes and agree with Odessa, but they were all too clever for that. "What do you see my Queen?" Lucia Vega inquired.
"You, my brave ladies, may all see this as wealth and goods for the glory of our nation, but NO! You would be wrong." Odessa paused for dramatic effect. "I tell you this. Look closely. What you are witnessing, my humbled ladies.., is the tangible, physical manifestation of Thera, and her women's, guilty conscience." Odessa dropped her head rubbing her temples as her headache returned with a vengeance, but she had enough strength to open her mouth and roar like a lion "Thera abandoned her nation! Her FIRST crime! Thera broke our breeding treaty agreement with Sparta! Her SECOND crime! Thera abducted the men and sons of Sparta! Her THIRD crime! Thera stole a cargo ship full of treasures bound for Sparta! Her FOURTH crime! And .., finally! Thera conscripted herself into marriage, her FIFTH crime! Thera has committed Treason against this nation! She and Katara, Kayla, Jessa, Ia, Iona, Scotia, Johanna, La Scoffa, and Amarra, are ALL GUILTY, and they know it! Thera, and her 'ladies', must feel so guilty about the crimes they have committed against Themiscyra, and her people, that I can, literally, weigh the guilt of her conscience in silver and gold." Odessa said taking a few of the gold coins in her hand and tossing them down onto the ground as if they were worth nothing. "So I ask you my brave, fierce creatures, what shall we do with these.., criminals? What shall be our message and answer, which path shall we choose?" here, again, no one answered for Odessa was Queen it was up to her to lead. So she went over to Lacuna and Lucia Vega smiling as she swept a few knotted strands of hair off of Lacuna's cheek. "I will tell you what we will do, FOR NOW.., I will use this guilty conscience of the Queen of Sparta's as an advantage for our nation. I shall send word back with Admiral Vasha, that we shall require more.., and more.., I will do so to bide my time and see what the future brings. For I have decided to send you both, Lacuna and Lucia Vega, to Sparta, with the men you acquainted yourselves with, fully, last night."
"Go to Sparta!?" Lucia Vega gasped in disbelief.
"Yes.., you will go as my envoys to the new queen, you shall entreat Thera on my behalf. She must sign all the copies of the Line of Succession, it is my.., OUR only hope of stability in the region. You must also bring me back information on the city and its dwelling places... So go home, get cleaned up, I have already had your horses and armaments sent down to the Admiral along with my instructions."
"We shall go in honor of you Odessa, but tell us, when do we leave?"
"You sail at sunset, so be ready for your adventure to Sparta. And Remember, you must return home by the trails through the mountains of Greece and Scythia, in three weeks time, with a map of Sparta and all the documents signed." Odessa said as she embraced Lacuna and Lucia Vega, who kept their true feelings on the matter buried deep within their hearts. "I shall see you off at dinner, now go and get ready.., before I change my mind."
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