Last Chapter begins

     So it was the Spartans and Thera's avengers rested after the destruction and devastation. The dying fires of the Sacred Grove smoldering in ashes throughout the remainder of the day as the group ate and slept in the shade of Mt. Parnon, biding their time until twilight came. At this point the troops of 1000 men, along with their Generals, returned to Sparta, as ordered by King Vyakles, to go home and protect the city. However many of the soldiers wished they could go north with General La Quint, his 600 men and Scotia, Iona, Johanna, La Scoffa, Ia, Katara, Jessa, Amarra and Kayla to carry on with the killing and pursuit of Odessa and her women. But they were all loyal to Vyakles and always obeyed his orders for the greater good of Sparta.
     By the light of a harvest moon General La Quint and the brave men under his command, along with Thera's unified warriors, moved north towards Megara where they knew Odessa had made her encampment. The Greeks mission was to position themselves in a circle, about half a mile outside of Odessa's camp, where the barbarians slept soundly in their tents, unarmed and unaware of the Spartan Army's presence. Here Iona, Scotia, Johanna, Ia, La Scoffa, Katara, Jessa, Kayla and Amarra, all well versed and trained for night time raids, were to ride in, still dressed for battle, charging in atop their war horses, to try and fool Odessa and her troops into thinking they were part of Katarina's group, coming to join up with them. This brilliant act of deception served Thera's avengers well, for when they rode into the campsite, in the cover of darkness, those who were still awake sitting by the fire were completely taken off guard.
     "Katarina's troops approach!" came the voice of one of Odessa's warriors in a jubilant shout just before her heart was cut out by Scotia's swift sword. Here many of the women rose up from their sleep coming out of their little tents to greet them with smiles of great joy and delight. Yet this happiness quickly turned to total shock and horror as they witnessed the mounted riders wielding their weapons slashing and stabbing at all those who approached.
     In the melee of screams and confusion those Themiscyrans loyal to Odessa did their best to retrieve their own spears and swords, having no time during the surprise attack to dress themselves in armor, or prepare for this sudden unexpected battle. Those who tried to defend their lives did their best to fight off their attackers and did so bravely, but all those who remained, and did not runaway, fell to their deaths in pools of blood, shattered skulls and gore. So it came to pass 20, or so, fled on foot as fast as they could only to be cut to ribbons by the waiting Spartans. Here Odessa, realizing what was transpiring, grabbed Princess Sparta, taking up her sharpened cyphos and crescent shaped shield. With no time to stay and fight Odessa sliced open the back of her tent just as it was engulfed in fire by one of Amarra's flaming arrows. With the heat at her back nearly singeing her hair, Odessa managed to find her steed tied up to a tree, throwing Princess Sparta up on its back, she herself climb up wrapping her legs firmly, gripping the horses ribs with her strong thighs as she folded her arms around her captive holding the terrified little girl in her arms. Odessa grabbed the reins as the pair galloped off together at full speed heading to the northeast.
     "No!" Odessa shouted as she spied the line of Spartans, shields and spears raised ready to kill her, as her heart raced.
     "Yes!" Princess Sparta cried out her spirit lifted at the sight of her father's army "They have come to save me!"
     "Quiet!" Odessa commanded as her mind could not think what to do, should she charge through the lines and let her captive go, or make a stand and fight. Here in a seconds long decision Odessa turned her steed around and dismounted pulling her little captive off the skittish horses back, as the animal bolted away, Odessa lashed Princess Sparta's hands to a nearby oak tree. Then she turned, sword and shield in hand, giving up a silent prayer for protection to Artemis as she neared the line of men, whose dark eyes were hidden under their helmets. Odessa raised her shield, half naked with no armor, and lifted her cyphos knowing she was clearly outnumbered and surely would perish, but if she were to die this night it would not be without one hell of a fight.
     La Quint sent out 40 of his warriors to surround Odessa, but she was one of the best trained warriors the Themiscyran military had ever produced, strong, lithe, quick and deadly, yet she had never gone into battle without her armor. However she proved to be quite fierce and agile as she fought off the Spartan warriors as she used her shield to fend off the blows of their swords and spears, using all her great strength and her might striking out at the Greeks, slashing and stabbing, scarlet streams of blood spewing out warm and sticky on her arms, legs, and face when in a few minutes time those who opposed Odessa fell mortally wounded and dying, bleeding to death in the aftermath of the deadly force of her sharpened cyphos. Breathing rhythmically, her nostrils flaring, lungs burning, arms aching, she stood under the light of the moon drenched in blood and sweat with 40 dead Spartans at her feet. Odessa stared out at the hundreds of men, who all stared in awe, absolutely astonished at their comrades sudden demise and defeat. Here Odessa paused to catch her breath then La Quint shouted out across the corpse strewn field and said "Tonight YOU SHALL DIE ODESSA! YOU SHALL PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES!" La Quint cried out in loud clear voice "For you have murdered our Queen Thera and taken the life of the child growing inside her." now Princess Sparta did not know her mother was dead and her heart sank into grief as she began to weep.
     General La Quint's words came as a terrible shock, for Odessa knew she had killed Thera, but that was not her aim, and the fact that Thera was with child was a fact she knew not. This information was a shock to her system and in this split second 100 Spartans encircled the spurious Queen of Themiscyra, slashing and stabbing at her body, slicing open her muscles and smashing her bones, crushing her skull with their heavy shields, cutting her down in a gush of blood and gore and in an instant the conniving, maniacal Odessa fell dead and silent forever. Never would this warrior rise up again, her spirit vanquished to the lands of ghosts and winds, Odessa would fight no more.
     As the bloodthirsty warriors stood back with satisfaction, loudly cheering, they made way for General La Quint who unsheathed his sword where, in clear view of Princess Sparta, he raised his cyphos high, and with one short, sharp striking motion he cut off Odessa's head, severing it from her neck. This would prove to be an excellent trophy of war he would gladly present to his King. Here Princess Sparta gazed out in a daze, her eyes wide in stunned amazement and grief stricken sadness. She had never in her life seen such butchery but she still could not believe her dearest mother had been killed and was no longer living. So Princess Sparta cried out to La Quint "My mother..," she stammered "No longer is alive?"
     "My dearest little Sparta." La Quint raced to her letting her loose from her bondage, cradling the devastated, bewildered child in his strong arms "I am so sorry, but your mother, our Brave and Noble Queen.., is dead." La Quint spoke plainly "That is why we have pursued Odessa, we have killed her, and cut off her head." he paused pointing to the freshly butchered corpse "Look at her Sparta! In this world we live in.., for the crime of murder.., JUSTICE IS DEATH!"
     "JUSTICE IS DEATH!" the hundreds of her father's warriors gathered their shouted out with pride.
     "Your father, our Great King, has sent us to save you and bring you back to your home, where thousands of our people love you and miss you." La Quint tried to reassure her, but the little girl only collapsed in his arms, her tiny heart broken, tears pouring out from the very depths of her soul. "Fear not little one, we have come to set you free! You must be secure in the knowledge that your mother's life will NEVER be forgotten! Thera's memory shall live forever, and remain in our hearts for all eternity. She will be known and remembered as a glorious part of our nation's history." La Quint did his best to calm the princess' shattered feelings of loss, but his words could not fill the empty hole in her heart and the little girl, only five years old, could not stop crying. So he held her long into the night as Thera's warriors came, after their own successful and bloody fight, to give her comfort for the loss of her beloved mother's life.
   

End Chapter 16

     Pursued into a panicked, hasty retreat Katarina and her remaining 33 warriors made it through the mountain pass down into the lush green valley of Argolis managing to elude Queen Thera's riders and the Spartan army, who fell back in their pursuit for well they knew where Katarina and her troops were heading. Nearing exhaustion the defeated Themiscyrans clearly saw the Sacred Grove of Argos, a vast expanse of wilderness covered with pines, cypress and ancient oak trees, whose orange and red leaves were illuminated in the early morning autumn sun. The scent of the evergreens permeated the crisp air, yet the forest was eerily silent, save for the thunderous sounds of the their war horses hooves galloping across the soft soil of the pine straw covered forest floor. Maneuvering slowly now through the thick growth of towering trees the warriors, along with their horses, panted hard trying to catch their breath, there in the inner darkness of the oaks and pines where the sun could not shine through the canopy of trees. The women thought it strange that there came no scurrying of squirrels or deer and, in this bizarre silence, they heard no birds chirping or twittering among the forest leaves. All was deathly silent, as silent as tomb, there in the midst of the overgrowth where a small shallow stream flowed through the still woods.
     Here Katarina ordered her troops to dismount to take rest and the weary warriors were glad of it. As they all climbed down out of their saddles each found their arms and legs weak after hours of fighting and riding. Many were angered and confused after the perilous battle asking Katarina how the Spartans could have known exactly where they had been waiting, and why hundreds upon hundreds of the Greeks had turned out to fight able to devastate their ranks with their overwhelming force and might. For all these fearful questions their leader, Katarina, had no answers. So she did her best to quiet their minds of fear and doubt, telling them it was all over now, that they were safe, bidding them all to rest and wash their bloody bodies in the babbling stream and tend to their overworked horses; which they all quietly did sitting down eating green apples, the only food they could manage to bring. So it was, unknowing of the danger amassing all around them, slowly, silently the Spartan Army were busy surrounding the woods, Katarina and her warrior women did the best they could, calming their hearts and minds trying to relax on the soft bed of pine straw trying to rest and get a little sleep taking a brief respite hoping to have pleasant dreams to escape from the nightmare of reality.
     During the next hour the Spartans took their time maneuvering around the 40 hectares of the grove forming one solid line surrounding the forest with 1600 men, under General La Quint's command, and the 9 women who served to mete out Thera's revenge, who told the Spartans to give Katarina and her troops this time to rest. Then Lucia Vega and Lacuna proceeded with their task each standing to the east and west baring two torches in heir hands. Simultaneously they  touched the flames of fire to the oil soaked perimeter of the grove which they had prepared earlier that day. In a flash with a loud sound of a whoosh a furious fire took hold, engulfing the forest in raging flames and thick black smoke, then with their work done Lacuna and Lucia Vega turned away, walking back down to the coast where Admiral Vasha waited aboard his war ship, and never once did Thera's loyal friends turn to look back at the forest fire they did create that fateful day as the massive inferno raged.
     Awoken from their slumber Katarina and her warrior women heard the crackling of burning timber and smelled the acrid smoke billowing through the trees. Their horses, sensing the approaching danger, reared up breaking loose from their ropes in a terrified stampede, bolting away in every direction leaving the Themiscyrans totally alone and frightened. Here the Spartans ready themselves outside the fiery wall of flames, lifting their shields and swords ready to kill off any of the women who tried to escape. As the heat and choking smoke rose ever higher and closer to their location many of Katarina's warriors fled, chasing after their steeds, many were naked, some wearing only their white tunics they had worn under their armor. Now the horses were overwhelmed with terror and dozens turned back, en mass, when they discovered the fire was all around them and this caused many of the women to be knocked down, crushed under the hooves of their own horses, their broken, trampled bodies scattered upon the ground. Now some of the horses and women broke through the wall of flames, severely burned and suffering in immense pain, however they were greeted by the waiting Spartans who were more than delighted to strike at them and put them out of their misery.
     Screams and cries of horses and women being burned alive echoed throughout the forest as Katarina stood motionless in shock, her heart racing as her mind filled with fear, gripped by terror, and she knew she had only two choices, be burned by the fire or try to out run the flames. The tortured voices, coming from those who lay dying, their skin being scorched by the intense fire was the most horrible noise Katarina had ever heard. Then, those still alive, heard the loud cheers of the Spartan men rise up above the roar of the inferno with this Katarina knew all hope was lost.
     "What shall we do!?" came the calls of the 12 women who remained at their Captain's side. Yet Katarina had no reply, for she, herself, had feared death by fire more than anything else in her short life. So it was Katarina stood motionless, shocked into silence with no orders to give as thick black smoke with the intense heat and the sound of falling trees echoed through the forest to her ears and back again. The fire, moving at a ravenous pace, cornered Katarina, and the 12 women, who could feel the burning heat upon their cheeks. In a deathly panic Katarina watched in horror as she witnessed the soul crushing scene of her beloved sisters in battle plunging their swords deep into the earth, digging, clawing out holes in the ground, holes that were just large enough to place their heads as they all knelt down giving up their last and final prayers to Artemis as they each buried their faces down deep into the earth swallowing mouthfuls of black soil, suffocating themselves, committing a tragic act of mass suicide, rather than die in the flames.
     Katarina, now completely alone, stepped into the shallow stream, her mind reeling her heart racing, as the burning ring of fire slowly closed in all around her. She began shaking uncontrollably with no earthly way to escape, not knowing which would be better, to die by fire, or suffocate. Neither of these was an honorable way for a warrior to die. So Katarina unsheathed the dagger from its scabbard at her side as she knelt in the cool water alongside the corpses of the dead, sweat pouring from her skin, the thick bitter smoke filling her burning lungs as she tried to breathe. Katarina gazed up, offering an apology to her gods and goddesses she cried out in a loud clear voice "PLEASE FORGIVE ME!" her last act of violence she committed was against herself as she grasped the handle of the sharpened knife in her hand. With one swift and precise motion she plunged the blade deep into her chest, painfully slicing into her rib cage, piercing her heart; which ceased its furious beating. Katarina collapsed face down in the water, dead.
     Now all the pain of this world melted away, the panic and terror she had known faded into darkness and she was, at long last, cradled in the warmth of a deep abiding, eternal peace as the flames rose up consuming her body and the corpses of her faithful friends, never would these Themiscyrans ever rise up and fight again. Their life long held ideals of Unity, Loyalty, Respect and Honor died along with them that day. As the Spartans watched with a glorious joy in their hearts knowing that killing was never easy but there was much more work to be done as they stood under the autumn sun.

Chapter 16 continues

     Far off to the north east of Mt. Parnon Odessa and her weary band of blood soaked marauders made their way to their campsite just to the west of Megara. Here she dismounted her black war horse letting Princess Sparta out of the burlap sack, where she found the little girl terrified, thirsty and dripping with sweat, her hands still bound, the gag remained in her mouth.
     "Now." Odessa spoke, her eyes painted black, her long hair pulled back, dressed in full armor, looking ever so much like a demon sent from the depths of hell as she towered over Thera's child. "You have done well on this long, hard ride, but fear not little one, for you are but a child." Odessa smiled "My warriors are here to protect you and keep you safe. No harm shall come your way. We will give you food to eat and fresh water to drink while we rest here until tomorrow." Odessa explained as she untied the wet piece of cloth from Princess Sparta's mouth, letting her loose from the ties that bound her wrists, offering her a small cup of water, holding it up to her lips.
     Princess Sparta spoke not a word as she drank down the cool refreshing liquid offered to her by her captor. Then with a wild, fearful look in her green eyes she spun around on her heels and quickly tired to run, but Odessa reached out, snatching her back, grabbing a fistful of her long red hair, pulling little Sparta hard, nearly knocking her off of her feet. "There is no point in running away, for there is no escape." Odessa said with a look as severe as the grave.
     "LET ME GO!" the scared girl screamed "Why have you taken me from my family!? I want to go home!" Princess Sparta implored tears streaming down her cheeks.
     "We will take you to your new home presently." Odessa spoke calmly then peered down at the royal child then asked "Has your mother ever spoken of Themiscyra?"
     "No.., never." the frightened girl spoke truthfully, nor did Princess Sparta herself have any memories of her mother's former nation, for she had been taken away when she was just a babe.
     "Ah..," Odessa sighed sipping some of the water, towering over her "well, that is a shame, for one day soon, my little Princess, you shall be our leader and rule over our warrior nation, as our one true Queen." Princess Sparta gave a look of confusion mixed with disdain as Odessa continued "You must know, and be told the truth." Odessa paused "You are the last, in a long line, of Royal Themiscyran Queens, who have ruled over our beloved country, unopposed, for over 700 years and countless generations." Odessa then bent down coming eye to eye with the defiant child. "Your mother, Thera, was our Queen, and above all this., she was my friend. However, your mother chose to abandon her nation and her people, most selfishly, abdicating her throne to me." again Odessa paused letting this information wash over Princess Sparta's mind. "Though, I, myself, am not of a Royal Pedigree and have descended from no Royal Blood Line. But you are the last remaining daughter of the Royal House of Themiscyra. So we have come to reclaim you, for the future benefit, and welfare and stability of our beloved nation. So you will rest here with us a while, then, soon, you will find yourself living in your mother's, former, palace; which shall serve as your new home."
     "I would rather die than serve as your Queen!" Princess Sparta sneered a familiar look of hate in her eyes as she spat, like a pit-viper, into her captors face as the mass of warriors surrounding her only laughed.
     Wiping away the warm, wet saliva from off her cheek Odessa ordered her guards "Take her away to the safety of my tent, feed and clothe her, for I have plans to make!"
     Doing as they were told two of  the warriors escorted Princess Sparta out of Odessa's presence as one of her troops approached her with news "My Queen! We have re-grouped, but three of our women were taken as captives during our raid, surely they have already been killed off by our Spartan enemy." this information caused Odessa a bit of distress as she placed her hands on her hips, shaking her head as the warrior said "That leaves ninety seven of us that made it out alive and are present and accounted for. We stand ready to serve you still, after our long and dangerous ride."
     "May Zeus and Artemis be praised." Odessa said softly "We shall rest here all day and night until the dawn arises." she instructed them wiping her brow, shielding her eyes from the bright morning sun. "If Katarina has not returned with her troops to us, by then, we shall ride down to Argolis in their defense, and aid in their escape, should the Spartans have discovered their hiding place." Odessa informed her loyal warriors, dried blood streaking and staining their skin, caked in their long braids "Let us rest ourselves and our horses. Go now, we will wash away our enemies blood in the lake, then we shall eat and sleep and wait to see what tomorrow, and the Fates, shall bring."
     So it was the tired women warriors of Themiscyra unburdened their war horses from their heavy saddles and bridles, before stripping themselves of their weapons and armor, cooling their weary bodies, as they swam naked in the cold fresh waters of the mountain lake beside their small encampment. Where they told each other stories of their victorious night time raid, boasting and bragging of the number of dead bodies, and trail of devastation, they left in their wake, never ever knowing the utter destruction that would soon be coming their way.

Chapter 16 begins

     Katarina sat atop her war horse in the cold night just before dawn and she had a deep feeling of dread, for she knew something was terribly wrong. Odessa had said the Spartans would hurry to assemble their troops to give chase and pursue the invading group of Odessa's raiding party, yet hours had passed and still the Spartans had not come.
     "Where are they?" came a call from her warriors poised and ready to fight.
     "They will come." Katarina reassured them and still they waited, growing uneasy and impatient. However, they had no idea they had been betrayed, their plans given away by the three captured warriors, whose bits and pieces of their remains, the last remnants of their bodies, scattered and scavenged by the ravenous wolves.
     Then it came, a noise as loud as thunder, as they all heard the Spartan Army on the move, marching in a steady cadence that shook the Themiscyrans and the Earth. Katarina peered out in the pale-blue early morning light and she, along with her small band of infantry, cavalry and charioteers, were amazed and in awe to see a massive wave, column after column, of soldiers, spears and shields advancing towards them. There were hundreds, if not thousands, coming to destroy Odessa's women. Clearly they were outnumbered.
     "Ready yourselves my brave warriors! Hold the line!" came Katarina's battle cry. "Wait for my signal to retreat!"
     Then all the women noticed Thera's determined ladies, in full armor, in front of the Spartan Army, riding on horseback out to the field of battle. As the former Themiscyrans neared Katarina's position they clearly heard and recognized the voice of Scotia shout out "Odessa has killed Queen Thera! And she had murdered the child that was growing inside her royal person!" Scotia screamed with furious anger and rage. "Now you all have a decision to make! SURRENDER OR DIE!"
     This was the moment when this devastating information, in a split second, planted the seeds of shock and self-doubt and were sewn in their hearts, in a sudden flash fear crept into their minds. This was all the time it took for the fog of war to settle inside of Odessa's women. The two armies came silently close to one another as Katarina's warriors raised their shields, twelve deep, and began a forceful attack as thousands of pounds of flesh, bones and weapons smashed together with such a clash of impact that many of their spears snapped in half. The two armies pushing with their heavy shields at each other could now only use swords and daggers fighting in close combat. The men and women fought desperately, slashing skin, muscles and bones, the Spartans hacking their way through Katarina's army of women who fell dead in an ocean of blood and gore. Many who fought for Vyakles, side by side, though were themselves wounded, they fought back with valor and those of their hated enemy who were captured were quickly put to the sword, executed on the spot.
     Katarina's division was split in twain as the front line was engulfed by the vicious, blood-thirsty, vengeful Spartans, along with Scotia, Iona, Jessa, Johanna, Katara, Kayala, Amarra, Ia and La Scoffa, who themselves took no pleasure in killing their former compatriots. Katarina cried out loudly "RETREAT! RETREAT!"
     But the call came too late for the outnumbered infantry as the cavalry and charioteers withdrew in a panic, with what was left of the team of archers and frightened horses, their hearts pounding with fear and terror. They were beaten back by the might of the Spartan Army and quickly Katarina and her overwhelmed army fled the scene, fleeing as fast as they could up along the mountain pass. Here Thera's noble warrior women followed closely pursuing them through the thick growth of pine trees, for well they knew King Vyakles, and his Spartan warships, under Admiral Vasha's command, had already set sail for Themiscyra and Argolis  to the east, where General La Quint would be ready and waiting with 600 of the King's men, along with Lacuna and Lucia Vega who would themselves drench the soil of the Sacred Grove with olive oil ready to burn it, along with Katarina and what was left of her army, to the ground.