Four days later two hours before Odessa's departure, just before dawn was breaking, she called her warriors, all 200 of them, to council in the Great Hall of her Royal Palace. They found their Queen sitting upon the Royal Throne of Themiscyra dressed for battle, her sharpened sword at her side, wearing the golden crown of stars, with her councilors of War by her side as she spoke. "The gates are mine to open.., as the gates are mine close, many there be that hate us, and to those we are opposed. I summon you all here, to join together with me, for many their be that hate us, and to them we are opposed." Odessa stilled her mind and steeled her soul telling them "For as the tide stands against us this day.., I tell you this..," Queen Odessa took in a deep breath "That bastard! King Sunder of Thrace has placed our Nation under dire consequences through threat of war.., and my former lover, King Phillip of Macedon, father to my son, will provide us with no assistance in battle and has denied our nation all, and any, trading or breeding treaties, unless we provide a ruler with Royal Blood.., the Blood of Ethera, the Lineage of Aella. Yet I am your ruler, and sovereign monarch, purified by bloodshed in battle, scarred by war, but the men of this region will not respect my right, by Thera's own annunciation, to rule.., and they use this as an excuse to bombard our country with slings and arrows ere the Worlds War Trumpet blows, but I am first in battle.., against those whom we are so opposed. Now I summoned you all to council.., in the din of this troubled year.., for the sake of a sign you all shall see and my words of truth that you shall hear." Odessa looked out at the women dressed for leisurely pursuits all looking shocked by this unexpected news. "My warriors, Themiscyra's finest! I call upon you to bring forth that special skill you have for covert killing. For it seems the only way we can attain peace, with these foreign kings, is to have a monarch to rule over us with Royal Blood, so if they want an official, legitimate Queen sitting upon this Throne.., then we shall give them Royal Blood. We must take Queen Thera, and Princess Sparta, as our captives and return them here.., back home to Themiscyra where they belong."
"Thera, nor her traitorous ladies, they will NEVER comply! They would all rather see us die." Katarina spoke up as everyone watched and waited for Odessa to reply.
"Then we shall have her daughter, for all we need is the Lineage of Aella, the Ancient Royal Blood, it does not concern me whose body it flows through. So I tell you this.., you must all be prepared to kill off Thera, and her treacherous women, if need be. As long as Princess Sparta is taken alive, and returned UNHARMED, to this palace, then our mission shall be accomplished. She will be coronated as Queen Sparta and I will serve as her Regent's Council." Odessa said in a loud clear voice her pulse racing, eyes sharp and focused like hawk. No one spoke, nor did any of them question her, for they were loyal, obedient fighters who made their life's career in killing, striking in the dead of night on countless raiding campaigns. So these vicious killers remained silent standing still as stones in a garden waiting for their orders. "Now we shall go by sea, with the ships Prince Thane has provided to me. We shall make camp three miles outside of the city of Helos, on the southern coast, then we will make our way north following the river to the city; which we will attack in the dark of night, 100 will be under the command of Katarina, you shall lie in wait outside of Sparta, serving as the rear guard, as I, and the rest of my warriors, make our way out of the burning town." Odessa paused as she searched the many faces for any sign of doubt or fear, finding none whatsoever she roared "Remember our credo, my most dedicated ladies! Kill NO children! Slaughter all the rest!" here a cheer rose up from the blood thirsty killer's, who honestly had grown quite restless and bored, having not been required to make war, or go on murderous raids, or rampages, in such a very long time. So it was many held a special hatred in their heart for Thera and all those who followed her along that traitors path to freedom.
"When are we to leave, my Queen!?" came up a shout from the back of the crowded hall.
"Within the hour!" she informed them, then a murmur arose from the room and many looked confused. "Fear not, for I have already ordered your armaments, weapons and horses to be taken aboard the ships and safely placed in the cargo holds."
"Are we not to make offerings upon the altar of Artemis, as a sacrifice for her help and protection in our time of battle?" Katarina asked concerned they would offend their sacred goddess of war.
"We shall give up our offerings to our fathers Zeus, Poseidon and Hades." Odessa said with a serious look upon her face then she lifted up her eyes saying "Love and Death shall cease their strife. It shall be the bodies of the Etruscans which shall burn with their ships and they will serve as our great sacrifice of human life to the King of Olympus, Zeus, the King of the Sea, Poseidon and the King of the Underworld, Hades. For after we are safely ashore in Greece we will have a shocking surprise in store for those stupid men, who were so easily deceived. For no one must know of our presence in the Peloponnese, to keep our secret safe, we must destroy these foreigners, we can not let them get away, so we, in order to show great honor to our fathers.., we will sacrifice those foolish men to the gods and leave their remains to feed the creatures of the deep."
"Thera, nor her traitorous ladies, they will NEVER comply! They would all rather see us die." Katarina spoke up as everyone watched and waited for Odessa to reply.
"Then we shall have her daughter, for all we need is the Lineage of Aella, the Ancient Royal Blood, it does not concern me whose body it flows through. So I tell you this.., you must all be prepared to kill off Thera, and her treacherous women, if need be. As long as Princess Sparta is taken alive, and returned UNHARMED, to this palace, then our mission shall be accomplished. She will be coronated as Queen Sparta and I will serve as her Regent's Council." Odessa said in a loud clear voice her pulse racing, eyes sharp and focused like hawk. No one spoke, nor did any of them question her, for they were loyal, obedient fighters who made their life's career in killing, striking in the dead of night on countless raiding campaigns. So these vicious killers remained silent standing still as stones in a garden waiting for their orders. "Now we shall go by sea, with the ships Prince Thane has provided to me. We shall make camp three miles outside of the city of Helos, on the southern coast, then we will make our way north following the river to the city; which we will attack in the dark of night, 100 will be under the command of Katarina, you shall lie in wait outside of Sparta, serving as the rear guard, as I, and the rest of my warriors, make our way out of the burning town." Odessa paused as she searched the many faces for any sign of doubt or fear, finding none whatsoever she roared "Remember our credo, my most dedicated ladies! Kill NO children! Slaughter all the rest!" here a cheer rose up from the blood thirsty killer's, who honestly had grown quite restless and bored, having not been required to make war, or go on murderous raids, or rampages, in such a very long time. So it was many held a special hatred in their heart for Thera and all those who followed her along that traitors path to freedom.
"When are we to leave, my Queen!?" came up a shout from the back of the crowded hall.
"Within the hour!" she informed them, then a murmur arose from the room and many looked confused. "Fear not, for I have already ordered your armaments, weapons and horses to be taken aboard the ships and safely placed in the cargo holds."
"Are we not to make offerings upon the altar of Artemis, as a sacrifice for her help and protection in our time of battle?" Katarina asked concerned they would offend their sacred goddess of war.
"We shall give up our offerings to our fathers Zeus, Poseidon and Hades." Odessa said with a serious look upon her face then she lifted up her eyes saying "Love and Death shall cease their strife. It shall be the bodies of the Etruscans which shall burn with their ships and they will serve as our great sacrifice of human life to the King of Olympus, Zeus, the King of the Sea, Poseidon and the King of the Underworld, Hades. For after we are safely ashore in Greece we will have a shocking surprise in store for those stupid men, who were so easily deceived. For no one must know of our presence in the Peloponnese, to keep our secret safe, we must destroy these foreigners, we can not let them get away, so we, in order to show great honor to our fathers.., we will sacrifice those foolish men to the gods and leave their remains to feed the creatures of the deep."
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