So it came to pass a few days later, back in Sparta, Queen Thera awoke from a fitful dream that morning her belly churning, feeling as sick as dog that has just been poisoned. King Vyakles was roused from his peaceful sleep by the sounds of his dear wife vomiting up the contents of her stomach out of the window. "Thera..," Vyakles rolled over facing her "You must let me call the physician Caderios, or at least inform Jessa of your sickness. For I worry you have an ailment and I have grown very concerned over the state of your health, 'lo these many days." he said lovingly in a voice that was sweet and kind.
"Oh Vyakles..," Thera paused wiping her mouth "There is nothing wrong with me." she replied looking into his dark, caring eyes as she went over to a little table where one of her attendants had placed a cool jug of goats milk mixed with ginger. Thera paused taking a long sip of the white liquid as it soothed her burning throat and aching belly "You must know.., my beloved.., I believe your fruitful seed has sprouted in my fertile womb."
Here the King of Sparta's eyes widened, as his mouth dropped open, then in a flash he leapt up out of his marital bed, then with a proud and satisfied look upon his face Vyakles embraced is wife tightly giving her a cherished kiss upon the cheek declaring "Oh happy day! The gods and goddesses have smiled upon us once again!" the expectant father exclaimed "We must send out word of our joy throughout the kingdom at once!"
"No!" Thera responded defiantly "No my love.., let us wait to make sure and see if my blood cycle comes again before we confirm the life growing inside me. For it could prove to be bad luck and we should not tempt the Fates, lest they join forces and conspire against us." Thera said as she rested her head upon his strong shoulders.
"Agreed, my dearest Thera, we shall wait a little while longer and keep this our blessed and sacred secret." the ecstatic couple held each other in love and comfort thinking of their future together. However, little did they know, the Fates had already hatched their terrible plot against the King and Queen of Sparta, for 40 miles, to the south, Odessa and her sea-weary raiding party, along with the oh so helpful and trusting Etruscans, were busy with the task of setting up their temporary encampment on the shores of the Peloponnese at the mouth of the river Eurotas.
"Come Prince Thane!" Odessa called out to him as he paced about the deck of his ship up on the beach "Let us prepare a feast in your honor, and join with me in one more night of celebration.., as a token of my affection and appreciation to you, and your hospitable crew, as a reward for transporting us here safely and swiftly upon your fine sailing vessels across the magnificent blue Aegean." she smiled with a sparkle in her eyes "I promise we shall have a memorable time." so the foreign prince came down from his massive ship never ever knowing what murderous plans Queen Odessa had in her evil mind for himself, and his men.
"Oh Vyakles..," Thera paused wiping her mouth "There is nothing wrong with me." she replied looking into his dark, caring eyes as she went over to a little table where one of her attendants had placed a cool jug of goats milk mixed with ginger. Thera paused taking a long sip of the white liquid as it soothed her burning throat and aching belly "You must know.., my beloved.., I believe your fruitful seed has sprouted in my fertile womb."
Here the King of Sparta's eyes widened, as his mouth dropped open, then in a flash he leapt up out of his marital bed, then with a proud and satisfied look upon his face Vyakles embraced is wife tightly giving her a cherished kiss upon the cheek declaring "Oh happy day! The gods and goddesses have smiled upon us once again!" the expectant father exclaimed "We must send out word of our joy throughout the kingdom at once!"
"No!" Thera responded defiantly "No my love.., let us wait to make sure and see if my blood cycle comes again before we confirm the life growing inside me. For it could prove to be bad luck and we should not tempt the Fates, lest they join forces and conspire against us." Thera said as she rested her head upon his strong shoulders.
"Agreed, my dearest Thera, we shall wait a little while longer and keep this our blessed and sacred secret." the ecstatic couple held each other in love and comfort thinking of their future together. However, little did they know, the Fates had already hatched their terrible plot against the King and Queen of Sparta, for 40 miles, to the south, Odessa and her sea-weary raiding party, along with the oh so helpful and trusting Etruscans, were busy with the task of setting up their temporary encampment on the shores of the Peloponnese at the mouth of the river Eurotas.
"Come Prince Thane!" Odessa called out to him as he paced about the deck of his ship up on the beach "Let us prepare a feast in your honor, and join with me in one more night of celebration.., as a token of my affection and appreciation to you, and your hospitable crew, as a reward for transporting us here safely and swiftly upon your fine sailing vessels across the magnificent blue Aegean." she smiled with a sparkle in her eyes "I promise we shall have a memorable time." so the foreign prince came down from his massive ship never ever knowing what murderous plans Queen Odessa had in her evil mind for himself, and his men.
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