However, the preparations for the feast would take a few more hours, so it was Lacuna and Lucia Vega met with the King of Sparta and Thera, who joyously introduced them to her twin children, whom the two had not seen since they were babes in their mother's arms. Lacuna and Lucia Vega marveled at how intelligent and strong the two wee small children were, whom delighted in recalling their first riding lesson from earlier in the morning. Now here Lacuna and Lucia Vega made a grand presentation of gifts and tributes of honor sent by Queen Odessa to the court of the Crimson King, as Odessa like to refer to Vyakles, whose nations colors were that of crimson and scarlet, the color of blood.
"Here we have four, fine stallions from the Royal Stables of Themiscyra to add to you breeding population of your own stables." Lucia Vega said "With Katarina, Captain of Queen Odessa's Elite Guard, and her warriors." she said as Katarina entered in front of her women who led in the equine beasts into the Great Hall for all to see.
"Captain Katarina! You honor us with your presence!" Queen Thera spoke in a loud, strong voice "I fought with your sister in battle many times! She was the bravest, most honorable woman I have ever had the pleasure of fighting next to in times of war! Come, embrace me now, so I that I may demonstrate to you the love and affection I hold in my heart for you and your family."
Katarina gazed over at the woman she knew from years ago, the former Queen and Champion of her Nation, still radiantly beautiful, as though the the hands of time had never touched her face, Thera was the image of magnificence, an ageless vision, her eyes of fiery emeralds, a cascade of copper golden tresses, attired in a sea-green silken gown, crown of golden leaves and laurels, she was in a word.., Resplendent. "Thera." Katarina said in a soft voice barely audible for she herself was overwhelmed in the jubilant Queen's presence. Katarina shook herself from the rapturous spell of Thera, for she had a job to do, so Katarina cleared her throat and said in a clear rich voice that did Thera's heart good to hear "Oh Thera, Queen of Sparta! My mistress, Odessa, Queen of all Themiscyra, bids you hail from across the waters, and sends out a small treasure, from her palace, to add to your trove." Captain Katarina said as she approached the throne where Thera welcomed her into the arms of the Queen, and Katarina lingered there a moment for her Rebel Queen smelled of jasmine and lilacs, her flesh was warm, her breasts softly pressed against her chest so close Katarina could feel the heart of the Queen beating rhythmically with her own.
"Of all the treasures the Great Queen Odessa has sent to me! Let it be known that you women gathered her to me, from far across the deep blue see, are the finest treasure the World has ever seen!" Thera said smiling going over to all the women in the Elite Guard embracing them tightly sweetly kissing them upon the cheek.
So the gifts were brought out: 327 large clay pots of rare lavender and acacia honey, and a bounty of cosmetics for the Queen and her ladies; which was: 100 jars of skin balm made of rose petals, myrtle flowers, olive oil and beeswax, an ancient Themiscyran recipe that helps protect the skin from the wind and elements, 300 bottles of kohl, made from charred almonds mixed with almond oil, this protects the eyes from the glare of the sun, and 1000 vials of perfume made of olive oil and frankincense the rarest of all incense on earth. Along with two, seven-week old tiger cubs, one for each of the twins of the King and Queen, this pleased Thera and her children greatly, but Vyakles was none too pleased by the gift of the so called 'tamed' wild beasts. All this, the delighted, Thera took into her possession then she said, as the new horses were being led out of the Great Hall "Come let us go out into the fresh night air and sit together." she invited the small diplomatic party out to the courtyard where King Vyakles, Admiral Vasha, General La Quint, along with Iona, Scotia, Kayla, Amarra, Ia, Johanna, Katara, La Scoffa, and Jessa, together with their husbands, all went out sitting at the long table under the trees, as the storm clouds parted revealing the bright and shining stars over head, where they were served cool water and red wine.
"Now.., before we seek our pleasure at tonight's feast, let us discus the business of our two Great Nations." Vyakles said as he looked over at Captain Katarina, who appeared very uncomfortable, shifting in her seat. "Tell me, what news do you bring of your Queen?"
Here Vyakles had hoped for an answer from the blond, blue-eyed, Captain Katarina, but it was Lucia Vega who spoke up "Life for our people has not been easy..," Lucia Vega said pausing with a sigh.
"Oh aye." Lacuna said shaking her head "The last harvest, our vast crops of wheat were all destroyed, an endless gray mist came up from the sea, infecting all our fields with ergot, a black fungus. The crop was utterly useless, not fit for woman nor beast." Lacuna shook her head.
"So then the agriculturists planted corn, sent by the pharaoh in Egypt, along with thousands of plants of cotton. The cotton did well in the heat.., but the drought took out our entire crop yield of corn. Then our orchards of limes and lemons were befouled by beetle boring insects..." Lucia Vega said throwing up her hands "Not to mention Sunder, that ruthless bastard King of Thrace! Oh the amount of war he has made against our beleaguered Nation."
Here Thera sat listening along with her women and indeed their hearts did sink and they felt the dread tales take over them and they themselves were quite shaken "Truly. We, as a nation, feel the gods have conspired against us, forcing our people to suffer beneath the scorn of all things made, both living and dead." Lacuna added.
Here Katarina became very uneasy for she did not feel it was appropriate to discuss the misfortune of her nation, even though it was the truth "However," Katarina said interrupting "Our walls still stand! We have not.., EVER, been defeated in battle. We, our Nation, struggles, yes.., however.. we still have our allies, and that is why we are here." Katarina said then she felt a rush of blood to her stomach then a strange look came into her eyes as she went pale, she felt, for sure, as if she were about to vomit up the sweet wine she had just imbibed.
"Captain?" Thera said with much concern "You look quite discomforted."
"Forgive me please..," Katarina said holding her hand to her belly "My ladies, and I, are not accustomed to traveling by sea. It would appear the journey has gotten the better of me."
"Come we shall provide you with rest." Thera said as she stood up "Jessa, my physician shall escort you to one of the rooms here in the palace and tend to your needs." said the gracious Queen as Jessa arose to see if she could assist poor Katarina with her malady.
"No.., thank you, but I.., and my guards, shall retire to our camp, just outside the city." Katarina said as she gave a signal to her women to stand.
"Nonsense! You are welcome here, in my home, you shall be the honored guests of King Vyakles."
"Forgive me.., but we have orders from Odessa to camp outside of the city.., and we only obey, OUR Queen." Katarina said with a pretentious bow.
"Very well." Thera said a bit insulted but nonetheless she smiled and said "When you feel able, come and join the party later."
Vyakles watched as the Themiscyran Elite Guard departed then he gave an disapproving look to his wife saying plainly "I do not like that one."
Here Lacuna laughed and told them all gathered at the table "You must forgive our Katarina, for her life is wholly embittered by the fact that she is barren, unable to bring forth any daughters, or sons for that matter.., She is a skilled warrior, but save that one fact, Katarina is, virtually, of no use to our nation." Lacuna informed the shocked group, shocked that Lacuna would speak so freely with her tongue. "So let us not allow her miserable attitude spoil all of our fun." she smiled giving her lover Admiral Vasha a squeeze of the knee under the table as she continued to drink.
"Here we have four, fine stallions from the Royal Stables of Themiscyra to add to you breeding population of your own stables." Lucia Vega said "With Katarina, Captain of Queen Odessa's Elite Guard, and her warriors." she said as Katarina entered in front of her women who led in the equine beasts into the Great Hall for all to see.
"Captain Katarina! You honor us with your presence!" Queen Thera spoke in a loud, strong voice "I fought with your sister in battle many times! She was the bravest, most honorable woman I have ever had the pleasure of fighting next to in times of war! Come, embrace me now, so I that I may demonstrate to you the love and affection I hold in my heart for you and your family."
Katarina gazed over at the woman she knew from years ago, the former Queen and Champion of her Nation, still radiantly beautiful, as though the the hands of time had never touched her face, Thera was the image of magnificence, an ageless vision, her eyes of fiery emeralds, a cascade of copper golden tresses, attired in a sea-green silken gown, crown of golden leaves and laurels, she was in a word.., Resplendent. "Thera." Katarina said in a soft voice barely audible for she herself was overwhelmed in the jubilant Queen's presence. Katarina shook herself from the rapturous spell of Thera, for she had a job to do, so Katarina cleared her throat and said in a clear rich voice that did Thera's heart good to hear "Oh Thera, Queen of Sparta! My mistress, Odessa, Queen of all Themiscyra, bids you hail from across the waters, and sends out a small treasure, from her palace, to add to your trove." Captain Katarina said as she approached the throne where Thera welcomed her into the arms of the Queen, and Katarina lingered there a moment for her Rebel Queen smelled of jasmine and lilacs, her flesh was warm, her breasts softly pressed against her chest so close Katarina could feel the heart of the Queen beating rhythmically with her own.
"Of all the treasures the Great Queen Odessa has sent to me! Let it be known that you women gathered her to me, from far across the deep blue see, are the finest treasure the World has ever seen!" Thera said smiling going over to all the women in the Elite Guard embracing them tightly sweetly kissing them upon the cheek.
So the gifts were brought out: 327 large clay pots of rare lavender and acacia honey, and a bounty of cosmetics for the Queen and her ladies; which was: 100 jars of skin balm made of rose petals, myrtle flowers, olive oil and beeswax, an ancient Themiscyran recipe that helps protect the skin from the wind and elements, 300 bottles of kohl, made from charred almonds mixed with almond oil, this protects the eyes from the glare of the sun, and 1000 vials of perfume made of olive oil and frankincense the rarest of all incense on earth. Along with two, seven-week old tiger cubs, one for each of the twins of the King and Queen, this pleased Thera and her children greatly, but Vyakles was none too pleased by the gift of the so called 'tamed' wild beasts. All this, the delighted, Thera took into her possession then she said, as the new horses were being led out of the Great Hall "Come let us go out into the fresh night air and sit together." she invited the small diplomatic party out to the courtyard where King Vyakles, Admiral Vasha, General La Quint, along with Iona, Scotia, Kayla, Amarra, Ia, Johanna, Katara, La Scoffa, and Jessa, together with their husbands, all went out sitting at the long table under the trees, as the storm clouds parted revealing the bright and shining stars over head, where they were served cool water and red wine.
"Now.., before we seek our pleasure at tonight's feast, let us discus the business of our two Great Nations." Vyakles said as he looked over at Captain Katarina, who appeared very uncomfortable, shifting in her seat. "Tell me, what news do you bring of your Queen?"
Here Vyakles had hoped for an answer from the blond, blue-eyed, Captain Katarina, but it was Lucia Vega who spoke up "Life for our people has not been easy..," Lucia Vega said pausing with a sigh.
"Oh aye." Lacuna said shaking her head "The last harvest, our vast crops of wheat were all destroyed, an endless gray mist came up from the sea, infecting all our fields with ergot, a black fungus. The crop was utterly useless, not fit for woman nor beast." Lacuna shook her head.
"So then the agriculturists planted corn, sent by the pharaoh in Egypt, along with thousands of plants of cotton. The cotton did well in the heat.., but the drought took out our entire crop yield of corn. Then our orchards of limes and lemons were befouled by beetle boring insects..." Lucia Vega said throwing up her hands "Not to mention Sunder, that ruthless bastard King of Thrace! Oh the amount of war he has made against our beleaguered Nation."
Here Thera sat listening along with her women and indeed their hearts did sink and they felt the dread tales take over them and they themselves were quite shaken "Truly. We, as a nation, feel the gods have conspired against us, forcing our people to suffer beneath the scorn of all things made, both living and dead." Lacuna added.
Here Katarina became very uneasy for she did not feel it was appropriate to discuss the misfortune of her nation, even though it was the truth "However," Katarina said interrupting "Our walls still stand! We have not.., EVER, been defeated in battle. We, our Nation, struggles, yes.., however.. we still have our allies, and that is why we are here." Katarina said then she felt a rush of blood to her stomach then a strange look came into her eyes as she went pale, she felt, for sure, as if she were about to vomit up the sweet wine she had just imbibed.
"Captain?" Thera said with much concern "You look quite discomforted."
"Forgive me please..," Katarina said holding her hand to her belly "My ladies, and I, are not accustomed to traveling by sea. It would appear the journey has gotten the better of me."
"Come we shall provide you with rest." Thera said as she stood up "Jessa, my physician shall escort you to one of the rooms here in the palace and tend to your needs." said the gracious Queen as Jessa arose to see if she could assist poor Katarina with her malady.
"No.., thank you, but I.., and my guards, shall retire to our camp, just outside the city." Katarina said as she gave a signal to her women to stand.
"Nonsense! You are welcome here, in my home, you shall be the honored guests of King Vyakles."
"Forgive me.., but we have orders from Odessa to camp outside of the city.., and we only obey, OUR Queen." Katarina said with a pretentious bow.
"Very well." Thera said a bit insulted but nonetheless she smiled and said "When you feel able, come and join the party later."
Vyakles watched as the Themiscyran Elite Guard departed then he gave an disapproving look to his wife saying plainly "I do not like that one."
Here Lacuna laughed and told them all gathered at the table "You must forgive our Katarina, for her life is wholly embittered by the fact that she is barren, unable to bring forth any daughters, or sons for that matter.., She is a skilled warrior, but save that one fact, Katarina is, virtually, of no use to our nation." Lacuna informed the shocked group, shocked that Lacuna would speak so freely with her tongue. "So let us not allow her miserable attitude spoil all of our fun." she smiled giving her lover Admiral Vasha a squeeze of the knee under the table as she continued to drink.
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