Chapter 11 begins So it was on the morrow Katarina and the Elite Guard were summoned from their little encampment outside of the city before the King and Queen of Sparta. With dawn's early light filling the dark corners of the Great Hall Katarina and her women were surprised to see Johanna, Katara, Jessa, Scotia, Iona, La Scoffa, Ia, Kayla, and Amarra standing on either side of them as they approached the thrones of Vyakles and Thera, who sat gazing down upon the proceedings looking like two golden, noble lions at their seat of power and authority. Now it seemed strange for Katarina to find Lacuna and Lucia Vega standing to the right of the Queen up on the dais and each had a look of distress the likes of which Kataraina had never seen but soon she would come to know the truth.
"Queen Thera, King Vyakles..," Katrina said with a slight bow of respect "to what do we owe this honor of being called before you, upon this.., our last day here in your country?"
"You all have been called here on a matter of great importance." Thera paused as her pulse quickened her mouth felt as dry as the sands of the Saharan desert for well she knew this would not go down well. "It has been brought to our attention that Lacuna and Lucia Vega are now.., with child." Thera paused to let this information settle over the buds of Katarina's mind.
Here Katarina only let out a sigh shaking her head as she said "Well.., I suppose that is to be expected as they have spent all their days and nights together with your Spartan men.., who are rumored to be as fertile as the Crescent Valley." Katarina laughed along with Vyakles then added "Then we shall depart early, I promise you, Lacuna.., Lucia.., that I shall ensure your journey is as comfortable for you, and your unborn, we will have you all, safe and sound back in Themiscyra in five days ride."
Lacuna gave up a serious look to her countenance and she looked down at Katarina stating plainly "We will not be returning home, with you."
Confused Katarina asked "Well, if not with us.., then with who?"
"No, no one, we will not be going home, now, or ever." Lucia Vega said trying to make the situation a little bit clearer.
"What is this?" Katarina said her face and chest turning a scarlet shade of red. "I do not understand. You must return for you both have been so ordered by your Queen!"
"We will live here in Sparta and serve our ONE TRUE Queen.., Queen Thera!" Lacuna said loudly with great pride in her voice which did Thera's heart good to hear, but the Captain of the Elite Guards heart filled up with malice.
"Your ONE TRUE QUEEN, Odessa, awaits your return! What you speak of is blasphemy!" Katarina began fuming in front of King Vyakles and those gathered together in his court. "What of your Unity? Your Loyalty? Your Respect? Your Honor!? NO! This will not do! What of the legions of troops under your command!? Lacuna you are the Captain of Cavalry, what of your Regiments!? Lucia Vega, what of your Infantry, your vast divisions? How can you abandon our war machine?"
"We have our second in command, let them lead the troops into war! I will fight no more! I will put down my sword and be a warrior NO MORE! I will be a MOTHER, to this child growing inside of me. I will be a wife and mother.., nothing more!" Lucia Vega shouted at Katarina who stood before the throne of Sparta with a look of uncertain disbelief mixed with rage.
"WIFE?!" Katarina spit out the word like it was poison in her mouth "You intended to take a husband in marriage?"
"Yes." the two defiant women replied in unison and it was here that Katarina now noticed Admiral Vasha and General La Quint standing to the left of the King, who sat there with his dark eyes fixed upon Katarina like a sharp-eyed hawk eyeing its prey.
"You see what you have done Thera!" Katarina turned focusing her venomous anger on the Queen "By your actions they have learned from your behavior.., as you have betrayed your former nation, so too they.., Thera! So too they! Now I must return to MY QUEEN and proclaim before all the people that you! Lacuna! Lucia Vega! You will be bringing a great shame upon our nation! If you both choose to remain here in Sparta and marry your.., men, take your lovers as your husbands..,, then I tell you this.., the Peace between our Nations can NOT exist!" Katarina glared up at the women then took two steps towards them as she stood upon the dais herself, coming eye to eye with the two traitorous women telling them "You both have filled my heart and mind with furious anger this very morning, and I can only imagine the hatred and rage that will spew forth from Odessa like lava pouring down a mountain when she hears the news!. You disgust me with your behavior and your actions! This is a mistake! You shall come to regret this someday!"
"Hold your tongue Katarina! Lest I be forced to rip it out!" Lucia Vega shouted vehemently.
"If you two were not with child at this moment in time.., I would love to smash your face in!" Katarina spit back her reply like a viper.
"That is ENOUGH!" King Vyakles yelled as he stood from his throne going over to Katarina with a voice as loud as thunder "You come into my court and threaten my citizens! You had best believe I will not abide by your verbal tirade! This is my court! This is my Kingdom! This is Sparta! These women will have their freedom! You shall not castigate them any further with the words of your mouth! So you! Katarina! Captain of the Elite Guard! Go! Gather your things, remove yourself from my country! GO BACK to your Queen!" Vyakles said trying to catch his breath so engulfed in indignation was he. "And you had better be quick about your departure before I turn my mind from Peace to War between our two Nations!" Vyakles gave Katarina a look as cruel as the grave, his heart racing his blood pulsing through his veins, his dark eyes set upon Katarina's face.
"I will gladly take my leave from this den of iniquity!" Katarina shouted back at the King. "I will tell my most honorable Queen Odessa all that has transpired here this day, but you had better best believe me when I tell you Vyakles.., Thera.., for you have betrayed Odessa once again.., there WILL be a price to pay someday." Katarina gave Lacuna and Lucia Vega one more last look of contemptuous disdain then Captain Katarina and the Elite Guard stormed out of the Great Hall in an even greater hurry to return to Themiscyra just as fast as they could ride.
"Queen Thera, King Vyakles..," Katrina said with a slight bow of respect "to what do we owe this honor of being called before you, upon this.., our last day here in your country?"
"You all have been called here on a matter of great importance." Thera paused as her pulse quickened her mouth felt as dry as the sands of the Saharan desert for well she knew this would not go down well. "It has been brought to our attention that Lacuna and Lucia Vega are now.., with child." Thera paused to let this information settle over the buds of Katarina's mind.
Here Katarina only let out a sigh shaking her head as she said "Well.., I suppose that is to be expected as they have spent all their days and nights together with your Spartan men.., who are rumored to be as fertile as the Crescent Valley." Katarina laughed along with Vyakles then added "Then we shall depart early, I promise you, Lacuna.., Lucia.., that I shall ensure your journey is as comfortable for you, and your unborn, we will have you all, safe and sound back in Themiscyra in five days ride."
Lacuna gave up a serious look to her countenance and she looked down at Katarina stating plainly "We will not be returning home, with you."
Confused Katarina asked "Well, if not with us.., then with who?"
"No, no one, we will not be going home, now, or ever." Lucia Vega said trying to make the situation a little bit clearer.
"What is this?" Katarina said her face and chest turning a scarlet shade of red. "I do not understand. You must return for you both have been so ordered by your Queen!"
"We will live here in Sparta and serve our ONE TRUE Queen.., Queen Thera!" Lacuna said loudly with great pride in her voice which did Thera's heart good to hear, but the Captain of the Elite Guards heart filled up with malice.
"Your ONE TRUE QUEEN, Odessa, awaits your return! What you speak of is blasphemy!" Katarina began fuming in front of King Vyakles and those gathered together in his court. "What of your Unity? Your Loyalty? Your Respect? Your Honor!? NO! This will not do! What of the legions of troops under your command!? Lacuna you are the Captain of Cavalry, what of your Regiments!? Lucia Vega, what of your Infantry, your vast divisions? How can you abandon our war machine?"
"We have our second in command, let them lead the troops into war! I will fight no more! I will put down my sword and be a warrior NO MORE! I will be a MOTHER, to this child growing inside of me. I will be a wife and mother.., nothing more!" Lucia Vega shouted at Katarina who stood before the throne of Sparta with a look of uncertain disbelief mixed with rage.
"WIFE?!" Katarina spit out the word like it was poison in her mouth "You intended to take a husband in marriage?"
"Yes." the two defiant women replied in unison and it was here that Katarina now noticed Admiral Vasha and General La Quint standing to the left of the King, who sat there with his dark eyes fixed upon Katarina like a sharp-eyed hawk eyeing its prey.
"You see what you have done Thera!" Katarina turned focusing her venomous anger on the Queen "By your actions they have learned from your behavior.., as you have betrayed your former nation, so too they.., Thera! So too they! Now I must return to MY QUEEN and proclaim before all the people that you! Lacuna! Lucia Vega! You will be bringing a great shame upon our nation! If you both choose to remain here in Sparta and marry your.., men, take your lovers as your husbands..,, then I tell you this.., the Peace between our Nations can NOT exist!" Katarina glared up at the women then took two steps towards them as she stood upon the dais herself, coming eye to eye with the two traitorous women telling them "You both have filled my heart and mind with furious anger this very morning, and I can only imagine the hatred and rage that will spew forth from Odessa like lava pouring down a mountain when she hears the news!. You disgust me with your behavior and your actions! This is a mistake! You shall come to regret this someday!"
"Hold your tongue Katarina! Lest I be forced to rip it out!" Lucia Vega shouted vehemently.
"If you two were not with child at this moment in time.., I would love to smash your face in!" Katarina spit back her reply like a viper.
"That is ENOUGH!" King Vyakles yelled as he stood from his throne going over to Katarina with a voice as loud as thunder "You come into my court and threaten my citizens! You had best believe I will not abide by your verbal tirade! This is my court! This is my Kingdom! This is Sparta! These women will have their freedom! You shall not castigate them any further with the words of your mouth! So you! Katarina! Captain of the Elite Guard! Go! Gather your things, remove yourself from my country! GO BACK to your Queen!" Vyakles said trying to catch his breath so engulfed in indignation was he. "And you had better be quick about your departure before I turn my mind from Peace to War between our two Nations!" Vyakles gave Katarina a look as cruel as the grave, his heart racing his blood pulsing through his veins, his dark eyes set upon Katarina's face.
"I will gladly take my leave from this den of iniquity!" Katarina shouted back at the King. "I will tell my most honorable Queen Odessa all that has transpired here this day, but you had better best believe me when I tell you Vyakles.., Thera.., for you have betrayed Odessa once again.., there WILL be a price to pay someday." Katarina gave Lacuna and Lucia Vega one more last look of contemptuous disdain then Captain Katarina and the Elite Guard stormed out of the Great Hall in an even greater hurry to return to Themiscyra just as fast as they could ride.
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