Odessa grabbed her stomach wiping the bitter bile off of her mouth as she went over to a cool fountain taking a long sip, splashing her face with water as her friends and attendants went to her aid "My Queen the heat has over come you, I pray you go inside to the shade." Lacuna said but Odessa just stood there with her head cast down looking into the water, her shoulders hunched, palms resting on the ledge of the fountain and she would not face them for she felt on the verge of a complete mental breakdown.
"Married?" Odessa said quietly to herself for her mind could not grasp the information it was receiving, it felt as almost as if her brain shut down temporarily, for she could hear the words coming from the mouth of the messenger with news from Sparta but the words were just sounds they had no meaning to Odessa presently for all she could focus on was the unexpected marriage of Thera and Vyakles.
This is what Queen Odessa was told, though to the her ears it was as if her messenger were speaking underwater. "To the Rightful Queen Odessa of Themiscyra, The Nation of Sparta, King Vyakles and Queen Thera bid you hail from across the sea. Our people congratulate you Odessa as the new ruling head of Themiscyra, may all the Nations bid you hail. We have heard of your current difficulties with drought and we have made sacrifices upon the altars of our gods and goddesses in your name with prayers for rain. Until that joyous day please accept our offer of Most Favored Trade Status to your Nation, for the care and benefit of your people. Long may you reign. In accordance with our felicitous greetings we offer up, as a token of love and affection, for your throne 2 ships full of provisions to aid you in this most difficult time. We do this as an offering of Peace between our Great Nations accordingly and with fidelity. Please send word of your future wishes with Admiral Vasha and General La Quint, whom I send to you for they are at your disposal. Use my men in any way you need, or deem necessary, to better help establish a peace between our Royal Houses. With the highest regard and honor for your Regal Throne, Queen Odessa long may you reign! With salutations of Love and Affection His and Her Royal Highness of Sparta, King Vyakles and Queen Thera." the messenger rolled the scroll back up and all stood in the noonday sun, beads of sweat dripping down their backs as they waited. A few minutes went by still Odessa did not move or make a reply.
"My Queen." Lucia Vega was the first to dare to speak "This is the Spartans message.., what shall be our answer? We humbly await your orders."
Odessa's mind whirled about with many thoughts and she felt the spark of anger rise up in her heart, for she had been betrayed by Thera, whom had abandoned Themiscyra forever. How could Odessa answer, what could she say, other than spew out all her rage like roaring volcano.
"Odessa.., my Queen?" Lacuna said reaching out to touch her shoulder to which Odessa flinched as if her friends fingers were made of flames.
"Lacuna.., Lucia..," Odessa spoke in a clear soft voice keeping her face from their gaze "Go down to the shore. Meet with the Admiral, obtain all the information you can on Thera and the women who fled with her. Find out all you can, for I am quite interested to know."
"Yes my Queen! We shall go at once." Lacuna said ecstatic with the knowledge she was about to encounter a man, and not on the field of battle where she was required to kill him.
"Wait!" Odessa said as she turned back around and cast her eyes upon them "First you must go to the baths to make yourself presentable, have the maids wash and comb your hair, wax the hair from your bodies, paint your lips, perfume your skin, prepare yourselves my ladies, go to them in your fine silk dresses, leave your weapons at home, for I wish for you to entertain these men, for the peace between our nations to grow. Oh.., bring out a dozen, or so, of our women with you also.., if they wish to go." Odessa smiled pleasantly and both the women were excited to know what she meant.
"May the gods praise your name our clever and noble Queen Odessa!" Lacuna smiled her eyes wide with the thought of future delights to be had.
"Go my ladies, make your country proud!" Odessa commanded thinking a bit of breeding might be a welcome relief from her tensions she, herself, might entertain. "Oh and one more thing!" Odessa shouted out after them "Set up camp for the Spartan men on the beach and DO NOT, under any circumstances ,let those men inside our gates! Now go and entertain yourself, for Thera has sent us provisions and breeding partners, we must make use of them all."
Odessa watched as Lacuna and Lucia Vega mounted their black horses and rode off towards the baths and she was left with her messengers, her scribes and her Councilor of War, Cheveria who spoke and said "This news changes everything Odessa! We can send out the document of the Royal Line of Succession, if Thera signs this then we can send word out to all the nations. They must, nay will, recognize your rule of authority. We do not need to sign any Peace Treaty with the King of Thrace."
"Mother!" Odessa shouted loudly, startling her "Whether Thera lives, or dies, we will never make peace with Thrace or it's King!" Odessa snapped back adding to her orders "I do not trust these Spartan men.., go, station 1000 extra guards upon the walls at the southern garrisons. And see to it the provisions Thera, and her husband, have sent to honor us are delivered up to the palace. I will sit with my ambassadors and scribes and set our next course of action. Now go, do as I command." Odessa said in a stern voice, then a strange look came into her eyes, and she peered up into the sky thinking of the man she loved and lost, King Philip of Macedon, and the son she left behind. Odessa had denied herself a husband and family for the Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor of a nation. A nation her beloved Thera, herself, had abandoned. Now Odessa felt a dark spirit curl up inside her heart, she began seething with the realization the sacrifice she made, meant nothing. For Queen Thera had run away and taken a husband, Vyakles, whom Odessa despised. Odessa felt a twinge of vengeance sprout up in her mind like a seed from some poisonous seed, for it was her belief Thera must be punished and made to suffer for her betrayal of her nation. Though Odessa knew deep in her heart that since Thera had made herself the wife of man she would be suffering under his love for the rest of her life. Though this thought was consoling it was not enough to keep her mind from wondering on ways to make Thera pay for what she had done. Odessa felt it was her duty as the new Queen to not let Thera get away with her treasonous act and treacherous crimes against Themiscyra. Odessa knew something must be done, but what could she come up with in her vindictive mind.
"Married?" Odessa said quietly to herself for her mind could not grasp the information it was receiving, it felt as almost as if her brain shut down temporarily, for she could hear the words coming from the mouth of the messenger with news from Sparta but the words were just sounds they had no meaning to Odessa presently for all she could focus on was the unexpected marriage of Thera and Vyakles.
This is what Queen Odessa was told, though to the her ears it was as if her messenger were speaking underwater. "To the Rightful Queen Odessa of Themiscyra, The Nation of Sparta, King Vyakles and Queen Thera bid you hail from across the sea. Our people congratulate you Odessa as the new ruling head of Themiscyra, may all the Nations bid you hail. We have heard of your current difficulties with drought and we have made sacrifices upon the altars of our gods and goddesses in your name with prayers for rain. Until that joyous day please accept our offer of Most Favored Trade Status to your Nation, for the care and benefit of your people. Long may you reign. In accordance with our felicitous greetings we offer up, as a token of love and affection, for your throne 2 ships full of provisions to aid you in this most difficult time. We do this as an offering of Peace between our Great Nations accordingly and with fidelity. Please send word of your future wishes with Admiral Vasha and General La Quint, whom I send to you for they are at your disposal. Use my men in any way you need, or deem necessary, to better help establish a peace between our Royal Houses. With the highest regard and honor for your Regal Throne, Queen Odessa long may you reign! With salutations of Love and Affection His and Her Royal Highness of Sparta, King Vyakles and Queen Thera." the messenger rolled the scroll back up and all stood in the noonday sun, beads of sweat dripping down their backs as they waited. A few minutes went by still Odessa did not move or make a reply.
"My Queen." Lucia Vega was the first to dare to speak "This is the Spartans message.., what shall be our answer? We humbly await your orders."
Odessa's mind whirled about with many thoughts and she felt the spark of anger rise up in her heart, for she had been betrayed by Thera, whom had abandoned Themiscyra forever. How could Odessa answer, what could she say, other than spew out all her rage like roaring volcano.
"Odessa.., my Queen?" Lacuna said reaching out to touch her shoulder to which Odessa flinched as if her friends fingers were made of flames.
"Lacuna.., Lucia..," Odessa spoke in a clear soft voice keeping her face from their gaze "Go down to the shore. Meet with the Admiral, obtain all the information you can on Thera and the women who fled with her. Find out all you can, for I am quite interested to know."
"Yes my Queen! We shall go at once." Lacuna said ecstatic with the knowledge she was about to encounter a man, and not on the field of battle where she was required to kill him.
"Wait!" Odessa said as she turned back around and cast her eyes upon them "First you must go to the baths to make yourself presentable, have the maids wash and comb your hair, wax the hair from your bodies, paint your lips, perfume your skin, prepare yourselves my ladies, go to them in your fine silk dresses, leave your weapons at home, for I wish for you to entertain these men, for the peace between our nations to grow. Oh.., bring out a dozen, or so, of our women with you also.., if they wish to go." Odessa smiled pleasantly and both the women were excited to know what she meant.
"May the gods praise your name our clever and noble Queen Odessa!" Lacuna smiled her eyes wide with the thought of future delights to be had.
"Go my ladies, make your country proud!" Odessa commanded thinking a bit of breeding might be a welcome relief from her tensions she, herself, might entertain. "Oh and one more thing!" Odessa shouted out after them "Set up camp for the Spartan men on the beach and DO NOT, under any circumstances ,let those men inside our gates! Now go and entertain yourself, for Thera has sent us provisions and breeding partners, we must make use of them all."
Odessa watched as Lacuna and Lucia Vega mounted their black horses and rode off towards the baths and she was left with her messengers, her scribes and her Councilor of War, Cheveria who spoke and said "This news changes everything Odessa! We can send out the document of the Royal Line of Succession, if Thera signs this then we can send word out to all the nations. They must, nay will, recognize your rule of authority. We do not need to sign any Peace Treaty with the King of Thrace."
"Mother!" Odessa shouted loudly, startling her "Whether Thera lives, or dies, we will never make peace with Thrace or it's King!" Odessa snapped back adding to her orders "I do not trust these Spartan men.., go, station 1000 extra guards upon the walls at the southern garrisons. And see to it the provisions Thera, and her husband, have sent to honor us are delivered up to the palace. I will sit with my ambassadors and scribes and set our next course of action. Now go, do as I command." Odessa said in a stern voice, then a strange look came into her eyes, and she peered up into the sky thinking of the man she loved and lost, King Philip of Macedon, and the son she left behind. Odessa had denied herself a husband and family for the Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor of a nation. A nation her beloved Thera, herself, had abandoned. Now Odessa felt a dark spirit curl up inside her heart, she began seething with the realization the sacrifice she made, meant nothing. For Queen Thera had run away and taken a husband, Vyakles, whom Odessa despised. Odessa felt a twinge of vengeance sprout up in her mind like a seed from some poisonous seed, for it was her belief Thera must be punished and made to suffer for her betrayal of her nation. Though Odessa knew deep in her heart that since Thera had made herself the wife of man she would be suffering under his love for the rest of her life. Though this thought was consoling it was not enough to keep her mind from wondering on ways to make Thera pay for what she had done. Odessa felt it was her duty as the new Queen to not let Thera get away with her treasonous act and treacherous crimes against Themiscyra. Odessa knew something must be done, but what could she come up with in her vindictive mind.
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