More Chapter 11 Refreshed and cleansed, after her long journey, Katarina went out through the western gate a few hours before the sun went down over the north shore, where Queen Odessa was holding court in her Royal tent. Here Katarina noticed two massive ships, their hulls resting on the sands of the long beach, not only were they remarkable in size but she had never seen ships with two masts, one in the center and the other at the front of the vessels, this second mast gave the Etruscan ships great speed upon the water and were, at the time, the fastest sailing vessels upon the mighty oceans. There on the decks of the ships a few of the crew members were busy escorting a dozen or so Themiscryan warriors around, showing off for the ladies, a few of whom smiled and waved down at Katarina, who steadied her nerves as she approached the Royal tent as two of her Elite Guard stood at the entrance, they bid her hail and let her pass announcing to the Queen, and her honored guests "Queen Odessa, Captain Katarina has returned from her mission and wishes to see you."
"Enter my Captain, come rest yourself among us, tell us of your journey." Odessa spoke with elation in her voice with the joy of light in her eyes. The large space was filled with long couches where the Etruscan males and Themiscyran females reclined together with one another eating figs and dates, drinking Etruscan wine. The room was dimly lit, the air smokey and cool with a pungent aroma Katarina was not accustomed to, for Prince Thane enjoyed lighting up little golden blond cubes of hashish from North Africa allowing it to smolder up like incense, for he and his men found the effects of the potent stuff very calmative on their bodies and minds.
Katarina beheld Odessa arrayed in gifts of exquisite gold jewelry from the Prince "My Queen! I bid you hail! May the gods be praised I have returned home safely once more to find you as radiant and beautiful as Aphrodite herself." Katarina said as she went over to Odessa kneeling before her.
"Arise my faithful servant and give your loving Queen a kiss." Odessa said happy to see the face of her friend and loyal subject. With a soft little kiss on the mouth Odessa embraced Katarina, who let out a deep sigh of relief feeling safe, cared for and loved in the arms of her treasured Queen. "You must sit and drink the wine which Prince Thane has brought all the way here from across the raging seas. I tell you Katarina it is, by far, the best wine I have ever tasted." A cup was poured out for her to taste by one of Odessa's maidens and Katarina felt the warmth of the red liquid on her tongue tasting of cherry bark and oak, with flora notes of jasmine, lavender and honey. Surely the Etruscan's were mere mortals but they made wine fit for the gods of Olympus. "Now you must be careful not to drink too much, for it is as delicious, as it is potent. Just like you, Prince Thane!" Odessa said with a little laugh and a wink of her eye over at Prince Thane who stared up at the ravishing Queen as he was thinking about her naked skin. "Gentleman, my handsome Prince Thane.., may I present to you all gathered here," she said to the six men and her ladies, whom Katarina knew well "My Captain of the Elite Guard, Katarina, newly returned from Greece.., bearing good news.., I trust." Odessa smiled and waited for her to respond, but Katarina only stood there in silence.
Then, after a brief moment of rapid heartbeats and sweaty palms, Katarina spoke "My Queen.., all is well with the Peace Accord between our Great Nation and Sparta, King Vyakles and Queen Thera bid you greetings of Love and Salutations." Katarina paused then said "I have just come from your palace where I have turned over all the documents, and maps, you have requested to your Diplomatic Corps, Councilor Cheveria met with me and suggested I come out to relax here among you, and your most gracious guests, to de-stress my mind and body after my long, arduous journey."
"Excellent news Captain, well done, well done." Odessa congratulated her on her mission accomplished. "And what of my other Captains.., Lacuna and Lucia Vega.., shall they come out and relax with us, as well?"
Katarina remained calm not wanting to let on to the Etruscan's that something was terribly wrong, so she began to cough loudly, telling Odessa the acrid smoke hurt her lungs and burned her eyes, a lie, "May we go outside for a bit of fresh air?" I will tell you all, out there. For it is difficult to breathe in this atmosphere."
"Very well, I too feel a bit lighted headed but that, I can assure you, has been caused by my sweet Prince Thane." Odessa turned and gave the dark-eyed, half naked, foreign man a long passionate kiss, her lips red and wet, sweet with wine and honey.
"I shall wait right here for you my stunning Odessa, thinking in my mind of all the things I will do to you tonight, when you are lying next to me in your bed." he smiled with all the confidence of a man who has scaled the highest mountain, for he and Odessa had already become very well acquainted and the Etruscan Prince wanted more of her mouth and soft skin.
"Enter my Captain, come rest yourself among us, tell us of your journey." Odessa spoke with elation in her voice with the joy of light in her eyes. The large space was filled with long couches where the Etruscan males and Themiscyran females reclined together with one another eating figs and dates, drinking Etruscan wine. The room was dimly lit, the air smokey and cool with a pungent aroma Katarina was not accustomed to, for Prince Thane enjoyed lighting up little golden blond cubes of hashish from North Africa allowing it to smolder up like incense, for he and his men found the effects of the potent stuff very calmative on their bodies and minds.
Katarina beheld Odessa arrayed in gifts of exquisite gold jewelry from the Prince "My Queen! I bid you hail! May the gods be praised I have returned home safely once more to find you as radiant and beautiful as Aphrodite herself." Katarina said as she went over to Odessa kneeling before her.
"Arise my faithful servant and give your loving Queen a kiss." Odessa said happy to see the face of her friend and loyal subject. With a soft little kiss on the mouth Odessa embraced Katarina, who let out a deep sigh of relief feeling safe, cared for and loved in the arms of her treasured Queen. "You must sit and drink the wine which Prince Thane has brought all the way here from across the raging seas. I tell you Katarina it is, by far, the best wine I have ever tasted." A cup was poured out for her to taste by one of Odessa's maidens and Katarina felt the warmth of the red liquid on her tongue tasting of cherry bark and oak, with flora notes of jasmine, lavender and honey. Surely the Etruscan's were mere mortals but they made wine fit for the gods of Olympus. "Now you must be careful not to drink too much, for it is as delicious, as it is potent. Just like you, Prince Thane!" Odessa said with a little laugh and a wink of her eye over at Prince Thane who stared up at the ravishing Queen as he was thinking about her naked skin. "Gentleman, my handsome Prince Thane.., may I present to you all gathered here," she said to the six men and her ladies, whom Katarina knew well "My Captain of the Elite Guard, Katarina, newly returned from Greece.., bearing good news.., I trust." Odessa smiled and waited for her to respond, but Katarina only stood there in silence.
Then, after a brief moment of rapid heartbeats and sweaty palms, Katarina spoke "My Queen.., all is well with the Peace Accord between our Great Nation and Sparta, King Vyakles and Queen Thera bid you greetings of Love and Salutations." Katarina paused then said "I have just come from your palace where I have turned over all the documents, and maps, you have requested to your Diplomatic Corps, Councilor Cheveria met with me and suggested I come out to relax here among you, and your most gracious guests, to de-stress my mind and body after my long, arduous journey."
"Excellent news Captain, well done, well done." Odessa congratulated her on her mission accomplished. "And what of my other Captains.., Lacuna and Lucia Vega.., shall they come out and relax with us, as well?"
Katarina remained calm not wanting to let on to the Etruscan's that something was terribly wrong, so she began to cough loudly, telling Odessa the acrid smoke hurt her lungs and burned her eyes, a lie, "May we go outside for a bit of fresh air?" I will tell you all, out there. For it is difficult to breathe in this atmosphere."
"Very well, I too feel a bit lighted headed but that, I can assure you, has been caused by my sweet Prince Thane." Odessa turned and gave the dark-eyed, half naked, foreign man a long passionate kiss, her lips red and wet, sweet with wine and honey.
"I shall wait right here for you my stunning Odessa, thinking in my mind of all the things I will do to you tonight, when you are lying next to me in your bed." he smiled with all the confidence of a man who has scaled the highest mountain, for he and Odessa had already become very well acquainted and the Etruscan Prince wanted more of her mouth and soft skin.
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