Shortly thereafter, two tents were erected along the seashore, three massive, roaring bonfires were lit in the soft sand of the beach, the smell of roasting lamb wafting on the salt scented breeze. In the larger of the two tents the Royal House of Sparta sat with honored foreign guests gathered together with all the Themiscyran women and their Spartan husbands. Torches lit up the loud chamber as Queen Thera and King Vyakles spoke with Lucia Vega and Lacuna, whom were joined by their lovers, General La Quint and Admiral Vasha. Katarina and the four members of the Elite Guard sat quietly eating the lavish meal drinking the potent red wine, though in her heart of hearts Katarina was not too impressed with the spread, but she said none of this as she was distracted from the topic of discussion by the loud music and singing coming from the other tent nearby, located a few steps away from the King's royal party.
Now, when Katarina inquired, she had been informed that this tent was set up for a drinking party, which only single men are allowed to attend. Here a group of talented women, called the Hetairai, would entertain the King's warriors with music, song, naked dancing and acts of sex. Katarina had never heard of Hetairai, nor had she heard of such so called 'drinking parties', they have a different name for these sort of women in Sparta, but they were prostitutes just the same; and, according to the King and his leaders in war, these women and these parties were vital to morale of his single warriors, and a welcome relief from the scars and traumas of battle. Though Katarina was disgusted by the very idea, she said nothing of it only listening as Thera spoke.
"We shall sign the Act of Succession, whereby our Kingdom and this Royal Spartan Throne shall, forever, recognize the legitimacy of Queen Odessa to rule over all of Themiscyra." she said in a loud clear voice and those at the long table quieted themselves as she continued. "We shall send forth our emissaries to all the Nations in the region and see if we cannot persuade the Kings of Thrace, Dardina, Macedon, Thebes, Athens and Ionia to sign the document as well." a cheer rose up from all the women and Thera was met with smiles by all those around her, for this was most welcome news indeed.
As the group continued with their many, varied topics of discussion, Katarina became bored and so she began to notice the many servants tending to the King and Queen along with their many guests. So she asked a young girl, who could not have been more than sixteen, whom had been pouring out another cup of wine for the King's honored guests "Tell me, how long have you been in service to the Spartans?"
The young, dark eyed girl gave a strange look as if speaking were forbidden, but she slowly said in a whisper "Nearly ten years."
Katarina was stunned by her answer but she said nothing only bowing her head slightly thanking her for the wine and the information. Then she waited a moment before turning to La Quint asking him "Tell me?" she paused leaning a little closer to him "In my country.., we take no prisoners in war, I was wondering if your military is the same?"
"On occasion we will take prisoners." La Quint said wiping his mouth with his hand.
"For what purpose?"
"Why, we bring them back to our city to serve our households, work the fields and such. This is quite necessary, as all the men in Sparta have taken up the sole profession of war. When we are not fighting, we are in constant training to keep our war machine in proper working order." he replied in a friendly tone.
"Katarina!" Thera shouted over the table, interrupting her discourse with the handsome General. "While you are here in Sparta.., will you, and your ladies, be seeking a breeding partner? Or shall you wait for next season, come springtime?"
Katarina turned bright red, her eyes wide, as she almost choked on her wine "NO!" she said loudly as she cleared her throat then spoke again "I have my orders. I, along with the members of the Elite Guard, have been sent here on an important mission of diplomacy.., we have been forbidden, by OUR Queen, to fornicate, or procreate, on this journey. Though we thank you for concern." Katarina replied feeling embarrassed then she added "However, Captain Lacuna and Captain Lucia Vega are free to do as they please, as you can plainly see." she smiled giving the women a little wink of her eye. Then she turned back to the General asking him a bit more "Now, La Quint, this young wine bearer states she has been in service to your nation since she was a small child? Could this be true?"
"Our Helots usually are of a young age, having their lives been spared in times of siege." he explained.
"Helots..?" she appeared confused.
"We could not run this city without their hard work and loyal service." Admiral Vasha joined in.
"Are they.., these Helots.., are they paid any wages?"
"No.., only room and board." La Quint answered. "Oh and medical care."
"These men and women.., are they ever allowed to leave?" here the men shook their heads no in unison.
"You should understand this.., Captain Katarina.., our workers are treated well and protected, as citizens, equally under our Laws." La Quint tried to better explain.
"So they are taken from their homes.., in times of war.., never paid for their years of toil and trouble, and are not allowed to leave their captivity?" Katarina reiterated then she said plainly " So they are SLAVES!" Katarina exclaimed.
Now here Vyakles had turned his attention to their conversation and he spoke to Katarina "No. No." Vyakles rolled his eyes "They are helots. NOT SLAVES!"
"King Vyakles, you will forgive my saying so.., but a slave by any other name.., is STILL a slave." Katarina said but did not hold her tongue there, adding further "These men and women are not allowed to come and go as they please, they do not, under your law, have the right to live free." here she sighed having made her point, then pushed her half empty plate away from her, saying she no longer had an appetite, Katarina excused herself from the table, and the presence of the King and Queen, whom were none too pleased by her choice of words, nor her ungracious attitude. "With that, I shall bid you all a goodnight, and take my leave."
As Katarina turned to head back to her small encampment she heard the strains of strange music and moans coming from the second tent. A curious Katarina went to the side of the structure peeking her head through a small slit, whereupon she spied an all out orgy of men and women enjoined as if one, in a writhing mass of sweaty arms and legs entwined together in a sea of lust and desire. This to Katarina, whom had NEVER seen such a salaciously obscene display, was appalling. However she was frozen in place, just observing, standing there for a moment, or two, longer, her eyes wide, jaw dropped open, as she beheld the most shocking scene of wantonness she had ever seen in her life.
"Wait until Odessa hears about this." she whispered to herself.
Now, when Katarina inquired, she had been informed that this tent was set up for a drinking party, which only single men are allowed to attend. Here a group of talented women, called the Hetairai, would entertain the King's warriors with music, song, naked dancing and acts of sex. Katarina had never heard of Hetairai, nor had she heard of such so called 'drinking parties', they have a different name for these sort of women in Sparta, but they were prostitutes just the same; and, according to the King and his leaders in war, these women and these parties were vital to morale of his single warriors, and a welcome relief from the scars and traumas of battle. Though Katarina was disgusted by the very idea, she said nothing of it only listening as Thera spoke.
"We shall sign the Act of Succession, whereby our Kingdom and this Royal Spartan Throne shall, forever, recognize the legitimacy of Queen Odessa to rule over all of Themiscyra." she said in a loud clear voice and those at the long table quieted themselves as she continued. "We shall send forth our emissaries to all the Nations in the region and see if we cannot persuade the Kings of Thrace, Dardina, Macedon, Thebes, Athens and Ionia to sign the document as well." a cheer rose up from all the women and Thera was met with smiles by all those around her, for this was most welcome news indeed.
As the group continued with their many, varied topics of discussion, Katarina became bored and so she began to notice the many servants tending to the King and Queen along with their many guests. So she asked a young girl, who could not have been more than sixteen, whom had been pouring out another cup of wine for the King's honored guests "Tell me, how long have you been in service to the Spartans?"
The young, dark eyed girl gave a strange look as if speaking were forbidden, but she slowly said in a whisper "Nearly ten years."
Katarina was stunned by her answer but she said nothing only bowing her head slightly thanking her for the wine and the information. Then she waited a moment before turning to La Quint asking him "Tell me?" she paused leaning a little closer to him "In my country.., we take no prisoners in war, I was wondering if your military is the same?"
"On occasion we will take prisoners." La Quint said wiping his mouth with his hand.
"For what purpose?"
"Why, we bring them back to our city to serve our households, work the fields and such. This is quite necessary, as all the men in Sparta have taken up the sole profession of war. When we are not fighting, we are in constant training to keep our war machine in proper working order." he replied in a friendly tone.
"Katarina!" Thera shouted over the table, interrupting her discourse with the handsome General. "While you are here in Sparta.., will you, and your ladies, be seeking a breeding partner? Or shall you wait for next season, come springtime?"
Katarina turned bright red, her eyes wide, as she almost choked on her wine "NO!" she said loudly as she cleared her throat then spoke again "I have my orders. I, along with the members of the Elite Guard, have been sent here on an important mission of diplomacy.., we have been forbidden, by OUR Queen, to fornicate, or procreate, on this journey. Though we thank you for concern." Katarina replied feeling embarrassed then she added "However, Captain Lacuna and Captain Lucia Vega are free to do as they please, as you can plainly see." she smiled giving the women a little wink of her eye. Then she turned back to the General asking him a bit more "Now, La Quint, this young wine bearer states she has been in service to your nation since she was a small child? Could this be true?"
"Our Helots usually are of a young age, having their lives been spared in times of siege." he explained.
"Helots..?" she appeared confused.
"We could not run this city without their hard work and loyal service." Admiral Vasha joined in.
"Are they.., these Helots.., are they paid any wages?"
"No.., only room and board." La Quint answered. "Oh and medical care."
"These men and women.., are they ever allowed to leave?" here the men shook their heads no in unison.
"You should understand this.., Captain Katarina.., our workers are treated well and protected, as citizens, equally under our Laws." La Quint tried to better explain.
"So they are taken from their homes.., in times of war.., never paid for their years of toil and trouble, and are not allowed to leave their captivity?" Katarina reiterated then she said plainly " So they are SLAVES!" Katarina exclaimed.
Now here Vyakles had turned his attention to their conversation and he spoke to Katarina "No. No." Vyakles rolled his eyes "They are helots. NOT SLAVES!"
"King Vyakles, you will forgive my saying so.., but a slave by any other name.., is STILL a slave." Katarina said but did not hold her tongue there, adding further "These men and women are not allowed to come and go as they please, they do not, under your law, have the right to live free." here she sighed having made her point, then pushed her half empty plate away from her, saying she no longer had an appetite, Katarina excused herself from the table, and the presence of the King and Queen, whom were none too pleased by her choice of words, nor her ungracious attitude. "With that, I shall bid you all a goodnight, and take my leave."
As Katarina turned to head back to her small encampment she heard the strains of strange music and moans coming from the second tent. A curious Katarina went to the side of the structure peeking her head through a small slit, whereupon she spied an all out orgy of men and women enjoined as if one, in a writhing mass of sweaty arms and legs entwined together in a sea of lust and desire. This to Katarina, whom had NEVER seen such a salaciously obscene display, was appalling. However she was frozen in place, just observing, standing there for a moment, or two, longer, her eyes wide, jaw dropped open, as she beheld the most shocking scene of wantonness she had ever seen in her life.
"Wait until Odessa hears about this." she whispered to herself.
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