Some three weeks later not much had gone well for Odessa, and when asked by her attendants how they might be able to help her state of mind Odessa was unable to put into words how deep her despair was pulling her down. Though she felt keenly enough, as within her own body and soul, the doom which now hung over her head. Within her rooms of the royal palace Queen Odessa would walk up and down the floor and weep, or sit in the window and look out over the city wringing her hands in her lap, or lie in her lonely bed at night and cry bitterly. For she knew, as well as all the rulers of the surrounding nations, she had no right by the gods and no authority under the heavens to rule. Though appointed by the true Queen of Themiscyra Thera, there was not a drop of royal blood in her body however, Odessa's warriors and citizens accepted her just the same, and all showed much Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor to her in many ways. Many times Odessa found herself wishing she had the power and prestige Thera had attained, for oft times Odessa could remember how, when Thera entered into into a room, in a quiet way, she owned and commanded it. For Thera had all the beauty of Aphrodite and the sheer strength of will and mind of Artemis. So Odessa remembered how all the warriors, generals and emissaries of all the nations would lift their eyes to gaze upon Thera's face as radiant as the sun.
"You must eat something." Cheveria said placing a small plate of dates and honey next to Odessa who sat gazing out the window lost in thoughts of better days. "Come at least listen to what Lacuna has to tell you." Odessa's mother's instructed.
"Lacuna.., forgive my rudeness, I must find something to help me, to keep my mind from wandering.., where it will go." Odessa said turning her attention to the room where Lacuna and Lucia Vega had come with word from the Etruscans. "Pray, what news do you have to impart this oppressively hot summer day?"
"My Queen, you must not apologize to me, for I suffer the same grief as you." the crimson haired, blue-eyed Lacuna said kindly "For I know not how high hangs the stars, and I know not how wide the heavens .., but I do know how deep your troubles are." Lacuna gave a pleasant smile to her distraught Queen telling her "Fear not, for the Etruscan ships have left the cove headed back west.., here are the terms of the agreement." Lacuna said handing over the trade treaty, her blue eyes fixed upon Odessa who was looking more and more weak and sallow, as the despondent Queeen had taken no exercise nor had she eaten properly for weeks, the end result taking a toll on Odessa's youth and vitality.
Odessa looked over the document seeing it was all signed and lawful according to the agreement but Odessa felt sick to her stomach knowing she must give up 600 pounds of pepper and 1000 pounds of saffron; which were worth more in their weight than gold. But give it up she must for in exchange Themiscyra and her desperate people would receive in return: 100 head of cattle, 50 horses, 3 heards of merino sheep and 40 goats, 10 cargo ships of grain, wheat, and rye, 2000 saplings of cherry, apple, apricot, olive and lemon trees and 300 vats of wine. Plus the opportunity to enact a breeding campaign in Etrusca for the coming spring. "Yes, this is all correct..," she sighed wondering if the Etruscans got the better end of deal, but this is what was best for the greater good so she tried to smile and continued "Now when will the supplies arrive?"
"A fortnight, then we will hand over the pepper and saffron. I can say our fortune seems to be turning for the better." Lacuna smiled with a flash in her bright blue eyes.
"What are you so happy about?" Odessa asked with a severe look of disapproval.
"Why the thought of our future breeding campaign in the west with those handsome, brave men, the Etruscans! I tell you this it has been far too long since I have lain with a man." she said the thought of being alone, naked in the arms of one of those dark eyed men brought forth a blush to Lacuna's cheeks as scarlet as a cherry. Here the women all laughed together with knowing thoughts and a smile, a nudge and wink. Why even the old battle axe Cheveria laughed with amusement.
"Yes!" Lucia Vega, the taller and stronger of all the women added "Yes it has been so long, perhaps I will require three men to bed me for the night.., or the week!"
"Aye, you two are nothing but trouble!" Odessa said and it felt good to laugh and feel the rush of blood to her face.
"Aye my Queen.., but we are only trouble for the men of this world!" here more merry sounds could be heard coming from the Queens private bedchamber then there came a sudden knock at the door.
Cheveria went to the door and seeing one of the messengers standing next to three scribes she opened the door and the young girls entered. "Yes? What message do you have for us today?"
"My Queen! Word comes from the King of Thrace, Sunder." here a hush fell over the once merry bunch as the women all felt their pulse quicken, for they were waiting for a Declaration of War, at the very least, the messenger read aloud. "King Sunder, of Thrace, by his most gracious wisdom and mercy has decided to make a Declaration of.., Peace, with the Nation of Themiscyra."
"What?" came a confused sigh of relief from Lacuna and Lucia Vega, but the Queen did not appear relieved, if anything she looked more nervous than ever before. This was because Odessa was, at heart, a soldier raised to understand only war, peace was not an easy ideal for her mind to explore.
"What is this you speak of.., Peace?" Odessa said standing to her feet.
"There is only one condition under the treaty." the young girl spoke reading over the parchment.
"What is this? I knew it! Some trickery! What, pray tell ,is this certain term of the agreement?" Odessa scoffed folding her arms across her chest in angered disbelief.
"King Sunder will declare peace between our nations, and open up the trade routes once again, if we agree to send our blacksmiths to his kingdom and teach them the secret to out crucible steel."
Odessa let out a laugh "You are joking! Give up the secrets to the strength of our weapons! Well, that bastard! Why does he not just ask us to slit our own throats!" Odessa balked at the very idea.
Now the mood in the room changed the women became visibly concerned and nervous, for peace in the region was required for survival, however they could never disclose any information that would better arm their enemies. "No! Never!" all the women shared in consensus.
"Damn that King! Though.., he is clever, to try to force us into peace when our backs are up against the wall with this drought and famine! Give up our secret! Never! Our weapons have made the difference in warfare in this region for over 700 years! Our nation has stood victorious in 1000's of battles. These walls of this nation shall never fall! For our blades are made like our will! Strong, but flexible, able to bend without breaking! Their weapons are INFERIOR! For their swords are made like the bones of an old man! Weak and brittle, easily broken!" a hearty cheer arose from the small group gathered there for Odessa's words filled their mighty hearts with pride. "We must never give up the secret!" the Queen pounded her fist twice on the old oak table for emphasis. "To do so would be to give our advantage away to our enemy on the field of battle and our great nation would surely perish from the earth." now just as Queen Odessa's words had settled into the minds, and hearts, of the women gathered together there the sound of a horse, and rider at full gallop, came through the window followed by shouts coming up from the road to the palace from the south.
"My Queen! My Queen!" came the anxious voice of the rider.
Odessa looked out and with an excitement she had not felt in a long time she rushed out of her bedchamber down the marble stairs, followed by everyone, as she ran through the great hall to the massive wood door; which she threw open. The rider coming at full speed brought her horse to dead stop in a dust cloud as she, out of breath, face red from the sun, lips parched burned by the wind, trying to catch her breath, the rider lifted up her dark eyes and said in gasps for air "Spartan ships! In the cove."
"War ships?" Odessa said and all those gathered their felt the blood drain away from their faces as a deep sinking feeling overcame them all.
"No..," deep breath "Cargo ships.., Admiral Vasha has returned with news from the King and Queen of Sparta." the messenger said holding out a scroll to Odessa.
Queen Odessa felt the pit in her stomach turn like a nest of vipers and she asked confused "Queen..? But Keeva died years ago."
"Aye.., Vyakles has remarried and taken a new Queen as his bride." the sunburned rider said happily with excited eyes.
"Who is his new wife?" Odessa said with words uncertain her heart and mind racing.
"It is none other than our Thera! She is still alive!" a gasp befell, and silenced, all those gathered there then a great chorus of cheers of relief let loose from the women's former place of grief. Odessa felt a great weight lift up off her shoulders, mentally, however physically the news was like getting struck by a lightning bolt, she could not shake the shock and so she turned away from her overjoyed ladies and proceeded to vomit up the contents of her stomach all over the steps leading up to her palace.
"You must eat something." Cheveria said placing a small plate of dates and honey next to Odessa who sat gazing out the window lost in thoughts of better days. "Come at least listen to what Lacuna has to tell you." Odessa's mother's instructed.
"Lacuna.., forgive my rudeness, I must find something to help me, to keep my mind from wandering.., where it will go." Odessa said turning her attention to the room where Lacuna and Lucia Vega had come with word from the Etruscans. "Pray, what news do you have to impart this oppressively hot summer day?"
"My Queen, you must not apologize to me, for I suffer the same grief as you." the crimson haired, blue-eyed Lacuna said kindly "For I know not how high hangs the stars, and I know not how wide the heavens .., but I do know how deep your troubles are." Lacuna gave a pleasant smile to her distraught Queen telling her "Fear not, for the Etruscan ships have left the cove headed back west.., here are the terms of the agreement." Lacuna said handing over the trade treaty, her blue eyes fixed upon Odessa who was looking more and more weak and sallow, as the despondent Queeen had taken no exercise nor had she eaten properly for weeks, the end result taking a toll on Odessa's youth and vitality.
Odessa looked over the document seeing it was all signed and lawful according to the agreement but Odessa felt sick to her stomach knowing she must give up 600 pounds of pepper and 1000 pounds of saffron; which were worth more in their weight than gold. But give it up she must for in exchange Themiscyra and her desperate people would receive in return: 100 head of cattle, 50 horses, 3 heards of merino sheep and 40 goats, 10 cargo ships of grain, wheat, and rye, 2000 saplings of cherry, apple, apricot, olive and lemon trees and 300 vats of wine. Plus the opportunity to enact a breeding campaign in Etrusca for the coming spring. "Yes, this is all correct..," she sighed wondering if the Etruscans got the better end of deal, but this is what was best for the greater good so she tried to smile and continued "Now when will the supplies arrive?"
"A fortnight, then we will hand over the pepper and saffron. I can say our fortune seems to be turning for the better." Lacuna smiled with a flash in her bright blue eyes.
"What are you so happy about?" Odessa asked with a severe look of disapproval.
"Why the thought of our future breeding campaign in the west with those handsome, brave men, the Etruscans! I tell you this it has been far too long since I have lain with a man." she said the thought of being alone, naked in the arms of one of those dark eyed men brought forth a blush to Lacuna's cheeks as scarlet as a cherry. Here the women all laughed together with knowing thoughts and a smile, a nudge and wink. Why even the old battle axe Cheveria laughed with amusement.
"Yes!" Lucia Vega, the taller and stronger of all the women added "Yes it has been so long, perhaps I will require three men to bed me for the night.., or the week!"
"Aye, you two are nothing but trouble!" Odessa said and it felt good to laugh and feel the rush of blood to her face.
"Aye my Queen.., but we are only trouble for the men of this world!" here more merry sounds could be heard coming from the Queens private bedchamber then there came a sudden knock at the door.
Cheveria went to the door and seeing one of the messengers standing next to three scribes she opened the door and the young girls entered. "Yes? What message do you have for us today?"
"My Queen! Word comes from the King of Thrace, Sunder." here a hush fell over the once merry bunch as the women all felt their pulse quicken, for they were waiting for a Declaration of War, at the very least, the messenger read aloud. "King Sunder, of Thrace, by his most gracious wisdom and mercy has decided to make a Declaration of.., Peace, with the Nation of Themiscyra."
"What?" came a confused sigh of relief from Lacuna and Lucia Vega, but the Queen did not appear relieved, if anything she looked more nervous than ever before. This was because Odessa was, at heart, a soldier raised to understand only war, peace was not an easy ideal for her mind to explore.
"What is this you speak of.., Peace?" Odessa said standing to her feet.
"There is only one condition under the treaty." the young girl spoke reading over the parchment.
"What is this? I knew it! Some trickery! What, pray tell ,is this certain term of the agreement?" Odessa scoffed folding her arms across her chest in angered disbelief.
"King Sunder will declare peace between our nations, and open up the trade routes once again, if we agree to send our blacksmiths to his kingdom and teach them the secret to out crucible steel."
Odessa let out a laugh "You are joking! Give up the secrets to the strength of our weapons! Well, that bastard! Why does he not just ask us to slit our own throats!" Odessa balked at the very idea.
Now the mood in the room changed the women became visibly concerned and nervous, for peace in the region was required for survival, however they could never disclose any information that would better arm their enemies. "No! Never!" all the women shared in consensus.
"Damn that King! Though.., he is clever, to try to force us into peace when our backs are up against the wall with this drought and famine! Give up our secret! Never! Our weapons have made the difference in warfare in this region for over 700 years! Our nation has stood victorious in 1000's of battles. These walls of this nation shall never fall! For our blades are made like our will! Strong, but flexible, able to bend without breaking! Their weapons are INFERIOR! For their swords are made like the bones of an old man! Weak and brittle, easily broken!" a hearty cheer arose from the small group gathered there for Odessa's words filled their mighty hearts with pride. "We must never give up the secret!" the Queen pounded her fist twice on the old oak table for emphasis. "To do so would be to give our advantage away to our enemy on the field of battle and our great nation would surely perish from the earth." now just as Queen Odessa's words had settled into the minds, and hearts, of the women gathered together there the sound of a horse, and rider at full gallop, came through the window followed by shouts coming up from the road to the palace from the south.
"My Queen! My Queen!" came the anxious voice of the rider.
Odessa looked out and with an excitement she had not felt in a long time she rushed out of her bedchamber down the marble stairs, followed by everyone, as she ran through the great hall to the massive wood door; which she threw open. The rider coming at full speed brought her horse to dead stop in a dust cloud as she, out of breath, face red from the sun, lips parched burned by the wind, trying to catch her breath, the rider lifted up her dark eyes and said in gasps for air "Spartan ships! In the cove."
"War ships?" Odessa said and all those gathered their felt the blood drain away from their faces as a deep sinking feeling overcame them all.
"No..," deep breath "Cargo ships.., Admiral Vasha has returned with news from the King and Queen of Sparta." the messenger said holding out a scroll to Odessa.
Queen Odessa felt the pit in her stomach turn like a nest of vipers and she asked confused "Queen..? But Keeva died years ago."
"Aye.., Vyakles has remarried and taken a new Queen as his bride." the sunburned rider said happily with excited eyes.
"Who is his new wife?" Odessa said with words uncertain her heart and mind racing.
"It is none other than our Thera! She is still alive!" a gasp befell, and silenced, all those gathered there then a great chorus of cheers of relief let loose from the women's former place of grief. Odessa felt a great weight lift up off her shoulders, mentally, however physically the news was like getting struck by a lightning bolt, she could not shake the shock and so she turned away from her overjoyed ladies and proceeded to vomit up the contents of her stomach all over the steps leading up to her palace.
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