Odessa and Katarina walked along the shore as the cold waves crashed hard against the sand. Katarina waited a moment as she watched the salt scented breeze lifting and spreading Odessa's long golden hair over her strong shoulders. "My Queen, thank you for coming out here with me, the fresh air will do us good." Katarina spoke brushing a strand of her own tresses out of her eyes. "I see you are enjoying the Prince's company, I pray the gods and goddesses will favor your union so that your relations may prove.., fruitful."
"Ah..," Odessa let out a sigh of great delight "The pleasure my lover brings me is like the stars of the heavens.., endless and breathtaking." Odessa smiled with such satisfaction it made it more difficult for Katarina to give her the bad news and wipe that pretty smile from off her face.
"Your Nation shall be greatly pleased, for you deserve the delight of happiness, by what ever means." here Katarina put her arm around Odessa and gave her a sweet soft kiss on the cheek. "I ask you to please remember this happiness you hold inside your heart, for I must impart terrible news of great tragedy." Katarina spoke plainly with a look in her eyes as serious as the grave.
"Pray tell, Katarina.., all is NOT well?" Odessa asked in a grievous tone as though she had been deceived. "Is this regarding our Peace Treaty?"
"Come," Katarina beckoned the Queen motioning to a small secluded cave to the left as they walked along the cove. "Let us away to the silence of the shade, away from ears to overhear my news." so the two went together to the darkness and solitude of the quiet cave. Odessa now had a pale look of dread sweeping away the golden peace of her face as the light of happiness began to fade.
"Tell me Katarina, now, tell me all of it, NOW!" Odessa shouted a sourness filling her stomach like a bitter poison.
"In regards to Lacuna and Lucia Vega..," Katarina paused as her eyes adjusted to the dimly lit space as the sun went down that day.
"What of them?" Odessa said her voice as tense as wire.
"They have refused to return to serve you.., for they have pledged their allegiance to Thera instead. Both women have also become impregnated by their lovers. But more tragic than this.., Lucia Vega plans to marry General La Quint, and Lacuna and Admiral Vasha plan to wed soon.., all of this treachery to our Nation sanctioned by the King and Queen of Sparta." now Katarina waited on baited breath for Odessa to react in anger, perhaps lashing out at her with disdainful words, or a slap, a kick or a punch in the face, for returning home without her two best friends. However, Katarina was astonished when Odessa only laughed and shook her head.
"I knew they would not return." Odessa said still shaking her head as the fire of rage began to glow in her angry eyes.
"How could you know?" Katarina asked incredulously.
"Oh Katarina..," she sighed disgusted "I have known Lacuna and Lucia Vega all of my life.., and I know, and have always known, the love they hold in their hearts for Thera has always been greater than any love, or loyalty, they could ever have for me." here Odessa became sad, as the truth of the matter finally had come to pass.
"Then why, my Queen? Why did you make us go?" Katarina went down on her knees on the verge of tears, holding Odessa's hands in hers. "Then why did you send me to Sparta with them? This makes no sense to me at all!" Katarina began weeping seeing Odessa, her trusted Queen, had sent her on a mission knowing she would fail.
"Arise Captain Katarina! Dry your eyes and calm your mind." Odessa smiled down at her squeezing her hands tightly "For you serve me well.., but.., you do not know me as well as you think." Odessa laughed with the light of gladness coming over her face "For this is all part of my plan."
Katarina stood to her feet wiped the tears of disappointment off her cheeks as she stared up at the Queen, in whom, by the way she looked and spoke just now, Katarina thought she saw a tiny spark of lunacy. "Plan.., whatever do you mean?"
"Now those two, along with the traitor Thera, have all betrayed me.., publicly! Now the Fates have provided for me this perfect opportunity to strike at the heart of Thera!" Odessa said in a hiss, like a viper, then with vengeance burning in her eyes like fire she told her "You, and I, shall assemble a troop of 200 of our finest assassins. We shall go into Sparta, like a thief in the night, and take back what is ours by right."
"Ah..," Odessa let out a sigh of great delight "The pleasure my lover brings me is like the stars of the heavens.., endless and breathtaking." Odessa smiled with such satisfaction it made it more difficult for Katarina to give her the bad news and wipe that pretty smile from off her face.
"Your Nation shall be greatly pleased, for you deserve the delight of happiness, by what ever means." here Katarina put her arm around Odessa and gave her a sweet soft kiss on the cheek. "I ask you to please remember this happiness you hold inside your heart, for I must impart terrible news of great tragedy." Katarina spoke plainly with a look in her eyes as serious as the grave.
"Pray tell, Katarina.., all is NOT well?" Odessa asked in a grievous tone as though she had been deceived. "Is this regarding our Peace Treaty?"
"Come," Katarina beckoned the Queen motioning to a small secluded cave to the left as they walked along the cove. "Let us away to the silence of the shade, away from ears to overhear my news." so the two went together to the darkness and solitude of the quiet cave. Odessa now had a pale look of dread sweeping away the golden peace of her face as the light of happiness began to fade.
"Tell me Katarina, now, tell me all of it, NOW!" Odessa shouted a sourness filling her stomach like a bitter poison.
"In regards to Lacuna and Lucia Vega..," Katarina paused as her eyes adjusted to the dimly lit space as the sun went down that day.
"What of them?" Odessa said her voice as tense as wire.
"They have refused to return to serve you.., for they have pledged their allegiance to Thera instead. Both women have also become impregnated by their lovers. But more tragic than this.., Lucia Vega plans to marry General La Quint, and Lacuna and Admiral Vasha plan to wed soon.., all of this treachery to our Nation sanctioned by the King and Queen of Sparta." now Katarina waited on baited breath for Odessa to react in anger, perhaps lashing out at her with disdainful words, or a slap, a kick or a punch in the face, for returning home without her two best friends. However, Katarina was astonished when Odessa only laughed and shook her head.
"I knew they would not return." Odessa said still shaking her head as the fire of rage began to glow in her angry eyes.
"How could you know?" Katarina asked incredulously.
"Oh Katarina..," she sighed disgusted "I have known Lacuna and Lucia Vega all of my life.., and I know, and have always known, the love they hold in their hearts for Thera has always been greater than any love, or loyalty, they could ever have for me." here Odessa became sad, as the truth of the matter finally had come to pass.
"Then why, my Queen? Why did you make us go?" Katarina went down on her knees on the verge of tears, holding Odessa's hands in hers. "Then why did you send me to Sparta with them? This makes no sense to me at all!" Katarina began weeping seeing Odessa, her trusted Queen, had sent her on a mission knowing she would fail.
"Arise Captain Katarina! Dry your eyes and calm your mind." Odessa smiled down at her squeezing her hands tightly "For you serve me well.., but.., you do not know me as well as you think." Odessa laughed with the light of gladness coming over her face "For this is all part of my plan."
Katarina stood to her feet wiped the tears of disappointment off her cheeks as she stared up at the Queen, in whom, by the way she looked and spoke just now, Katarina thought she saw a tiny spark of lunacy. "Plan.., whatever do you mean?"
"Now those two, along with the traitor Thera, have all betrayed me.., publicly! Now the Fates have provided for me this perfect opportunity to strike at the heart of Thera!" Odessa said in a hiss, like a viper, then with vengeance burning in her eyes like fire she told her "You, and I, shall assemble a troop of 200 of our finest assassins. We shall go into Sparta, like a thief in the night, and take back what is ours by right."
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