A Thief Amongst Us!

The evening before the dance class, Kardia headed toward Samsara’s hut with the ruby dagger in her pouch. It had been days since Kardia talked to Sami. She wanted to know what else could be done to fix the nearly perfect weapon and to question about the resignation of Jadea. "I probably won’t get any answer, but its worth a shot," she said to herself as she made a beeline for the Teloan’s hut.

Kardia needed to finish her work, but her protesting stomach led her to the mess hall instead. Inside there were several athelfi, and she noticed Toria sitting with an unfamiliar woman. She would have loved to engage in conversation but she had only come to eat.

FOOD! Kardia thought to herself as Ryka slid a bowl of hot food her way. This was the first real meal she had had in days and nothing was going to get in her way. Kardia barely acknowledged her sisters, except for the times her eyes met theirs while they watched her downing her second bowl.

Kardia didn’t notice the woman who had been sitting with Toria come over. "Hungry?"

Kardia brought her head from out her bowl for a minute. She had reason to be eating fast – she needed to see Samsara.

"Chrysippe," the newcomer said, introducing herself.

"Kardia... Demerci Fenal Archila," Kardia replied with a mouth full of food.

"Would you like to join us? This is–"

"Toria," Kardia said before Chrysippe could finish.

"Kardia–" Toria responded as she got up from the table towards the door. Toria turned back to Kardia.

"It’s not ready," Kardia said answering the question she knew Toria was bound to ask.

"Tepae," the Dacian said. She left the mess hut moments later, muttering something about having something to do.

"Another bowl, please!" shouted Kardia. She hated being rude to Ryka, but she was hungry and she had many weapons to fix. And she figured that tarrying on getting Samsara her ruby dagger back was not a good idea either.

"That would make four bowls," Chrysippe said humorously, bringing up four fingers for show. A second later she brought it back down. She could tell Kardia didn’t find her joke funny.

"You look familiar." Kardia questioned Chrysippe, eyeing her instead of her food. Her spoon still made it to her mouth. She didn’t need her eyes to fill her stomach. "Have you ever traveled north of these lands?"

Chrysippe was ready with another one of her tales of deception. "I have traveled to a great many lands," she boasted.

"How about Sinope? Everyone stops in Sinope!"

"Maybe... perhaps." Chrysippe kept her eyes focused on Kardia. While the athelfis were talking, Chrysippe was stealing whatever the Demerci Archila carried.

Kardia stopped mid-fourth bowl. Her faced turned green and her eyes grew wide. "Excuse me!" Kardia yelled, holding her stomach as she ran out of the mess hall.

Hours later . . .

Kardia returned to her hut after visiting with the Keturah Archila, forgetting about the dagger that no longer hung at her waist. She carried some herbs that Cassia gave her to soothe her stomach

She slept long into the next morning. After eating so much food, she had become sick. The herbs had had little effect. Her sick stomach gave her a terrible nightmare and some unbearable heat flashes. Kardia awoke to the sound of something smashing to the ground inside her shop. She rushed to her shop to find Toria picking up the weapons that had just fallen to the floor.

"Kardia.... I was just looking for–"

"I said it wasn’t finished," Kardia said, still half asleep.

"I came to apologize for the other day in your shop and yesterday." And I need to get my scribe back.

"Apology accepted. Just leave the mess, I will clean it." Not the first thing I wanted to do this morning. "I needed to get up anyway."

Toria looked around, noticing that the ruby dagger was missing. She quickly took her scribe from the pile. She knew that Kardia had questioned Cassia about the knife, and at this time, it would bring gossip amongst the sisters. Quietly, Toria left the shop.

"Toria about that – talking to myself now, huh, Sobryn?" She turned to her pet eagle looking awkwardly at her. "I missed Valkyra’s announcement and Deirdre dance class." Kardia complained to Sobryn. "How am I supposed to know my sisters, if I can’t even get through all this work?" Kardia whined, looking at her owl and then the pile of weapons. Kardia pondered the question for a long time. "I NEED AN APPRENTICE!" Kardia said with glee, frightening the eagle.

Wow, this should be fairly easy, Deirdre thought. Some of the sisters had already broken out into dance after the new Latra finished her announcement.

"Sisters...Sisters!" Deirdre had to practically scream to get her soft voice to carry over the crowd. When she finally did get all the attention, Deirdre became a little timid and shy.

"Um, my name is Deirdre, for anyone who doesn’t know."

"Speak up!" shouted someone in the crowd.

"Deirdre! My name is Deirdre and I’m the dance instructor here in Themiscyra. This is our first class, so no one has to worry about catching up on any moves," she said to all the onlookers. She became painstakingly aware that half her students we older than she was.

"We are here to honor our old Latra and to celebrate our new Latra and our new Lyna. We should be ready in a week. I don’t want to start anything today, to give anyone who isn’t here today a chance to come tomorrow. Today we will focus on any questions you might have or any ideas you might like to share. So with that said, any questions?

"Yeah, I have one . . ."

Dance class had ended. Seri had not attended. She had other tasks to complete, and besides, felt certain that her current lack of ability would translate to her feet, as well.

But there was a prisoner now – two, rather – and she was good at prisoners. The one she herself had brought in was safely asleep in the med hut and could be dealt with later. The other had been brought by the watch and was secured. This was the first priority: she liked having the prison empty as much as possible, in case of emergencies.

She entered the small space, ducking a little to get through the doorway, and looked at the woman before her. One thing was obvious: she was Eastern. Her features bore the softened lines of those who lived beyond the farthest eastern mountains. She had obviously not been crying, and the guards had said she’d been remarkably calm and cooperative.

"We’ll start at the beginning," she stated without preamble. "Name."

The other responded, but in the musical stop-and-start form of an eastern tongue.

"Do you speak Greek?" Seri asked, more gently now. Shouting did little when a language barrier was involved. "Do you speak Amazon?"

This would help very little, since Seri herself didn’t speak Amazon anymore, but the word seemed to register. "Amazon," the prisoner echoed.

"I am Amazon." Seri pointed to herself. "Seriana. Amazon." Then she pointed to the other.

"Kiran," was the response.

"Kiran. Amazon?"

A shake of the head.

"Well, that’s a beginning." Seri crouched on her heels and looked over Kiran’s face. "Boy, you’re sure a long way from home. How’d you end up on this side of the mountains?"

She answered, but it was incomprehensible. Seri bowed her head a little to indulge her frustration. Jadea had been right. She needed her abilities, and whatever curses might come with them. She wanted to be able to communicate with this girl!

Slowly, she sat on the dirt floor of the prison, legs crossed. Her eyes were just barely open. She was going to try again.

"May I not blow anything up," she muttered. Then she remembered the feeling of being swept away, by Deinus, by power, like a river or a hurricane. She tried to imagine a torrent of something pouring through her, and somewhere in that torrent there would be a little thread that was the gift of tongues.

Slowly, she opened her mouth. "Are you alone?"

"Yes," came the slow response – everything seemed slow, under-waterish. "I am all alone."

"We are not going to hurt you."

Kiran answered, but it was gibberish again. Seri opened her eyes and let out her breath. "Good grief, I did it!"

The Eastern woman looked confused and inquired something, but the Watchmistress shook her head. "Sorry, it’s gone now. Are you hungry? I don’t know if there’s a meal right now but there’s bound to be some leftovers lying around."

Kiran didn’t understand, so Seri made gestures to indicate eating and got a nod in response. She got up, poked her head outside, and called for a member of her watch. One came quickly scurrying up.

"Take our guest to have a wash and a drink at the well, and then see if you can’t find her food and shelter. And a translator: she’s from the east."

"Yes, Watchmistress," came the immediate, and correct, answer.

"I’ll check on you in a bit," Seri told Kiran, even though she couldn’t understand. "I have other matters to attend to now." That said she headed through the purpling twilight to see if her own catch was awake yet.

Ryka was in the kitchen, dressing one of the first deer that Faela’s hunting party had brought in. She still couldn’t believe that Jadea was gone. She thought for a few minutes about how Queen Jadea had shown kindness toward her when she needed it the most. Days had already passed since the Queen had gone and Ryka intended on giving the new Queen and Regent a celebration dinner. Another day of preparation and she would make the announcement of the celebration for the next evening.

Faela had made another trip to the Mess Hut at the back deck where the kitchen carving tables are.

"Here is another deer, we took care of the skinning on this one," Faela said with a smile.

"Well I don’t blame you, I would have skinned this 10 point buck on the spot." Ryka said as she helped Faela lift the deer meat to the deck for cleaning.

"That is going to make some kind of trophy, did you get him with just one arrow?" Ryka asked as she had seen the antlers and skins.

"Yes, I tagged him from a tree," Faela boasted.

"Good work. It’s a far cry better yield than what we’ve been getting lately; two more like this one and you can forget about the others I asked for. These have an enormous amount of lean meat all the way around!" Ryka proclaimed.

Faela nodded standing proud and left to speak to the huntresses. She knew that Ryka would reward the hunting party with a private sampling of the meal to come when they had finished the hunt the following day.

Ryka heard someone in the mess hall and went to see who was there.

"Who is that you have there with you?" Ryka said to one of Seriana’s watch guards.

"Her named is Kiran, Seriana said to find her some food," the watch guard said timidly

"Go sit over by the kitchen at that table, I’ll be back in a minute." Ryka went to the kitchen and brought out some cheese, venison, bread, and tea. Then she left again only to return with two apples.

"She is from the East," the watch guard said

"Lue ci yan te jue?" Ryka tried to communicate in some of the Chin language she knew, but Kiran looked as puzzled as the watch guard did.

"Domo arigato," Ryka tried Japa also, no luck. She was puzzled, maybe Kou could figure out what kind of mixture of language Kiran was familiar with. Ryka gave up and told the watch guard and Kiran to stay for as long as they were eating. Then she went back to work. Kiran bowed her head and said:

"Thank you," Ryka turned back around and looked even more puzzled.

"You’re very welcome." Ryka turned, wiped her forehead and said, "I’m getting to old for this." She mumbled all the way to the back deck to finish cleaning and carving the deer meat up.

Faela found her hunters gathered at the watch hut.

"Archila Ve’kyna," one said, bowing her blonde head.

"Word travels fast," Faela said with a smile.

Another hunter with black hair and blue eyes smiled happily.

"Well, we’d best get ready. We have a week to get all the animals Ryka needs and many of you have language and dance classes to attend to," Faela said, checking her crossbow for any scratches. She only used the most cared-for weapons in her hunt.

"Nai, Archila Ve’kyna," the blonde said again, and the group of five nodded.

"Please, call me Faela. Leave the title for formal occasions," the Athelfi smiled and the group relaxed. She could note the marked release of air when they realized Faela would not be tough with them.

"How about after the midday meal tomorrow you meet me at the gate, bring whatever weapons or traps you use. I will see you girls tomorrow." Faela dismissed them and most walked off smiling happily. The one with the black hair and eyes stayed behind.

"Yes?" Faela asked. The girl looked like she had something she had to say to Faela.

"Plie hiv diko sas kalos lakat mou?" I hear you’re good at that. The girl said, using the Northern Amazon tongue and motioning toward Faela’s crossbow.

"I am, why?"

"Well, Venlusia has been too busy to teach me how to use it," the girl shrugged her shoulders. Perhaps it was frustration. It was apparent that she really wanted to learn this particular weapon.

"Tomorrow after our hunt, I’ll show you how to use it, tepae?" Faela asked reassuringly.

The koritsi nodded and walked off following the other hunters.

Faela smiled then remembered the rather hungry puppy that was running around her hut destroying anything it could get its sharp little teeth into.

"Jundee vie!" Stupid women, Faela said, cursing. She headed back to her hut.

After all the excitement of the last few days, Kou was actually relieved to have a bit of a breather. Making sure the language lessons weren’t taking place at the same time as the new dance lessons and Goddess knew what Faela was doing with the hunting. She still hadn’t shown up for class and Kou needed her to help guide her group.

Kou took a deep, cleansing breath as she walked across the camp to find Deoris. She’d had little time to congratulate her friend on her advancement to Lyna. Just think, Deo is Lyna! Kou knew that Deo would do well as she had always been the patient one when they were kiz. Always taking the time to see each point of view and find the best possible answer while the rest of them screamed and fought for their own rights.

Just as Kou was closing on Deoris’ hut, one of the Guards ran up to her. "Isandil Archila! You are needed in the mess hut! Seriana has found a traveler and we cannot understand what she is saying."

Kou sighed. She’d have to wait longer to give her congratulations to Deo. For now, she was needed, so she turned in her path and followed the Guard to the mess hut. "Do we know where she came from? I mean, have we tried any of our languages with her?" Kou asked the girl.

"Well, Seriana asked if she was Amazon and the girl said, ‘no’, but we couldn’t understand anything else. I did watch as Seriana went into a trance and said something the girl understood."

As they got to Ryka’s, Kou turned to the Guard, "Why don’t you stay out here so we don’t scare her too much?" She then entered to find a thin young girl munching on snack food with one of the guards.

Kou smiled at the girl and began to use different languages to pinpoint their guest’s origins.

Meanwhile, Faela sat on the wooden floor, trying to calm her newest addition.

"Look, you little monster, if you sat still, you’d get your dinner," Faela said, massive amounts of humor running through her voice.

The pup’s tail was going at a million miles an hour and he barked happily as Faela sat the bowl of mild and bread down on the floor. He rushed over to eat.

"Well, I guess that answers the question of whether or not you were hungry!" Faela smiled and stood back up, putting her hands on her hips. "Now I have to find you a name, little monster." She pet him along the dark line of fur that ran down his back. "Maybe something from my own tongue."

"If you keep talking to yourself, people are gonna think your crazy," Deirdre commented from the doorway.

Faela turned a smile to the young dancer. "Practice go well?" She asked, turning and heading to her room.

"Yeah, it went ok," Deirdre followed her and flopped onto Faela’s bed.

"Well that’s good to hear," the huntress said, removing her sword and crossbow and putting them carefully on the weapons rack.

"Yeah... hey, when you are gonna come? It would a lot easier for me to teach with you there," Deirdre said rolling onto her stomach to watch.

"I’ve told you: I’m just not a dancer."

"Yeah... yeah, you told me. I just wanted to see if you had a change of heart," Deirdre replied.

"Sorry, D, it’ll be a blizzard in Hades before you get me dancing!" Faela responded.

Deirdre didn’t know what the big deal about dancing was that turned Faela off. She didn’t feel it was hard or time-consuming or mind-boggling. For her, it was a great pastime and an opportunity to have fun and meet sisters. Isn’t that what Faela wants anyway, to meet her sisters? But Deirdre let the subject drop and moved on to another.

"Did you find a name for the little guy yet?" Deirdre asked referring to the puppy.

"No, not yet. I was just wondering about that when you came in. Any suggestions?"

"Actually, now that you ask, how about…"

Any thought that could have been going through Deirde’s head disappeared she suddenly collapsed on the floor.

"Deidre was wrong?" she heard Faela say but she was barely audible.

Deirdre felt herself being pulled into an incredible swirling darkness that seemed to have no end. But eventually it did end and when she finally awoke she was home.

Home not meaning her hut or even Themiscyra, but her real home. Deirdre awoke in quarters, in the castle, in Parthos!

"Thank all the gods on Olympus. Sweet Deirdre, oh my baby! I thought you would never recover from the illness" Deirdre’s mother exclaimed.

Ohhhhhh gods, what’s happened now? Deirdre thought to herself as she looked at the relieved faces of the Queen and the King – her mom and dad.

The four guards that accompanied the Latra carried torches to light the way across the Tribal Assembly Area. Valkyra was making her nightly rounds through the village, as was her custom if time permitted. However, she was used to walking alone. But, now that she was Queen, protocol and some of her closest friends required that an armed escort accompany her wherever she went, within limitations of course. Although she had the power to dismiss them, Valkyra tolerated their company. And, although this was the woman who slaughtered a large contingent of Caesar’s soldiers and did not need protection, Valkyra patiently endured their constant company.

"Scyreia, keep me posted as to how the two new women are doing," said the Latra. "I understand one is recovering in the Med Hut from near starvation and the other is in the mess hut with a guard. Is that correct?"

"Nai, my Queen," answered the guard.

Valkyra added, "I heard that Kou was sent for to find some way of communicating with the eastern woman."

"That is so, Latra."

"Well, keep me posted."

"I will give you reports as their conditions change," replied Scyreia.

As the five women continued on their rounds, they saw Latrina running toward Samsara’s hut where Latrina and Selena stayed. The Latra knew that something was wrong.

Little did she know that something else was wrong over in Faela and Deirdre’s hut. It was not to be a quiet night.

"Deirdre! Deirdre!" Faela screamed, holding the young girl in her lap and lightly slapping her face, trying desperately to wake her.

"Lothack, ma kanaz Deirdre!" Don’t do this, Deirdre!

Not knowing what to do, Faela lifted the girl onto her bed, carefully placing her head on the pillow. Deirdre was convulsing and thrashing about, but appeared safe enough. She tucked a blanket around her friend for good measure and safety and ran through the camp to the med hut.

"Cassia!" Faela yelled as she barged into the hut.

"What is it, Faela?" Cassia asked as she closed the door to a back room.

"Se nesi Deirdre! Something has happened to her. She just fell down and started to shake and I can’t get her to stop! Please, you have to do something!" Faela urged, her voice on the edge of hysteria.

"Let’s go," Cassia grabbed a bag full of herbs, motioned to a couple of apprentices, and followed Faela to her hut.

Elsewhere, the horses were tied to a tree as Soraya gave them some water. She kept looking at him from the corner of her eye, he was a strange man, she never met any one that was like him, and he was a very skilled tracker. She shook her head and told herself to stop thinking of him.

"Are you done with the water?"  Raven looked at Soraya with a sly look, which made her go a little week at the knees.

"Yea here."  She threw the waterskin at him.

He smiled and took a sip and went back to cleaning his blade. She could feel his eyes on her now and again. But she tried to ignore it and stay focused on finding Zia. She still didn’t trust Raven, she never trusted men; they always deceived her. Why would he be any different?

"You know, not all men are evil."  Raven gave the sheepskin back to Soraya as though he read her mind.

"Why do you think that I think that? I never said anything to you, did I?"

"There you go with the defensives, I can tell. You haven’t taken your eyes off me since we started on this journey. Now it’s either that you don’t trust me or that you can’t take your eyes off me.  He raised his eyebrows and gave her a sneaky look.

Soraya couldn’t help but smile. "Yeah you wish! I don’t trust anyone."

"You trust your Amazon Sisters don’t you?"

"That’s different. They’re my family. When there was no one there for me they were, okay? So back off!"

"Okay, okay! Sorry, didn’t mean to strike a nerve."

She turned her back to him to stop him from seeing her turn red. It was his gaze; all the time he looked at her she’d go red. Come on Soraya he’s not that cute! You can’t trust him; keep repeating that to your self. But he does have a really good body. Ohhhhh STOP IT RAY!

Raven untied the horses and handed Soraya Spirit. She took the reins and mounted him.

"It’s better if we carry on; in case any other thugs come and try to rob us."  Ravens mounted his stead and lead the way.

Soraya followed trying to keep her thoughts on Zia, she was worried about her, but this guy had her all silly like some kid, and she didn’t like it. Well, maybe a little. She missed her sisters; she missed their wisdom that she really needed right now.

She was completely lost in her own thoughts that she hadn’t noticed Raven jump on top of her.

"What the hell are you doing? Get off me!!"

Just as she screamed those words a log came flying above them, it would have crushed her for sure.

"You’re welcome!" he screamed back.

She bit her lip. Damn he did it again! She got up and cleaned the mud from her. She took a look at the log that could have killed her, she turned to Raven but he was already on his horse and heading forwards. She quickly mounted Spirit and caught up with him.

"Look, I’m–"

"Never mind!" he cut her off.

"Hey, I’m trying to say sorry, the least you can do is listen to what I have to say, you-you big oaf!"

"Well that’s a funny way of saying sorry"

"You didn’t let me finish! Now listen and listen good cause I will not say this again! I’m sorry I yelled at you back there, ok. Thank you for saving my life."

Raven smiled at her. "That was a nice speech, its ok. Any time, Amazon." 

He started to ride slightly ahead, leaving Soraya behind with her own thoughts. I should have picked up on that log, what was a log like that doing there anyway? And how did he know about it? It seemed like some sort of trap...

Cassia made it to Faela and Deidre’s hut, with an apprentice running to catch up, as was protocol. As she entered the hut, she saw the problem immediately. Deidre was convulsing, violently. Faela was standing nearby, hysterical. In other words, she was of no help, whatsoever. Neither was her puppy, who was responding to his owner’s behavior. She looked at her apprentice. "Take both of them outside, and send for more apprentices. And Toria, if someone can find her." The apprentice did as she asked, though Faela did object to being handled that way, and especially to being put out of her own hut.

There was an ulterior motive to this. It also made it so that no one witnessed her employment of her healing abilities. She put her hands on Deirdre and began to find the source.

Something black hit her, and she mentally screamed, but stood her ground. It was something large and black and appeared to be upset that Cassia was even there. She fought it for a few moments; Deirdre was her sister and her patient and she wasn’t going to allow something like this to keep her from doing her job.

However, whatever it was did not seem inclined to let her win. It knocked her back again, this time harder. Her hands fell away from the girl, and her body fell away from the bed. As she lost consciousness, she heard, "Cassia!"

* * *

Iona put a hand over her belly, feeling the slight swell. She was beginning to ‘show’. This would have been more enjoyable if she were able to leave her bed. But no, Cassia was making her stay down. Never mind that she felt worse when she did stand, she wanted to make that decision herself.

She did, however have plenty of guests. Alida, when she wasn’t training, eating, or going to classes. Toria, to treat and otherwise help her along. Of course, Cassia, for the same purpose. And various others, just to say hello and to keep her company.

But what she wanted was to be out there, among her sisters, doing the things they were doing. But she couldn’t. Her ‘condition’ prevented that.

It was times like this when she truly cursed John.

* * *

Doron lay down on his bunk, his body aching in several places, including one he hadn’t been sure existed. Part of him wondered if it was worth it, but the other part brought up a picture of Naiya, and both parts agreed: it was.

He heard footsteps behind him. Doron shifted to his back, a motion that hurt more than anything Hades could devise. He looked in the direction of the footsteps. General Vaughn. Unless he fancied killing himself, he could not move into the appropriate, respectful stance.

"You will have to forgive me, General. I’m still getting used to my new place in life. How may I be of service?"

Cassia was knocked away, as if a disembodied hand shoved her away from Deirdre’s body. She dropped down by the edge of the bed, head lolling to one side.

"Cassia!" Domaris caught the Keturah Archila before her head slammed into the floor. She watched the gray eyes cloud over with darkness. "Dali," she cursed.

She glanced at the Amazon writhing on the bed, then down at the unconscious healer. Decision made, she laid the russet-haired head gently on the floor. One of the apprentices stepped up onto the porch, and Domaris slammed the door with a wave of her hand. She turned to Deirdre.

"Zandeh basavolo sumani athelfi!" she called. Stop torturing my sister! She put a hand out over the writhing girl and met the same black wall Cassia had.

She wandered around the blackness, testing its boundaries and it’s borders. She poked it and watched it swirl around in mesmerizing circles. She tried a little taste and found it foul beyond description.

Just as she had suspected.

"Niv sumani ti," she told Deirdre. Beware my power.

There was a flash, a mini-explosion of sorts. Domaris was thrown up and away from Deirdre, across the floor to lie next to her sister Cassia. Unlike Cassia, she had been expecting it and responded in kind.

"Kevatoba!" She shouted. Leave!

The girl on the bed stopped writhing. The blackness lifted itself up out of the body a moment, swirled around and gathered itself together, then dropped back inside the body where it wrapped itself snake-like around the Amazon’s mind.

Domaris nodded. She’d localized the problem enough that Cassia could begin some kind of healing on the girl. At least the seizures had stopped. It would have to do.

She waved backhandedly at the door and it opened behind her, several apprentices rushing in.

"Take care of the Keturah Archila first," she warned. Her voice gave nothing away, her icy blue eyes adding weight to the words. When she was certain they would do as she had ordered, she allowed herself to collapse to the floor.

* * *

Across the camp, Selena was suffering a similar fate. This was no swirling vortex of sorcery, however, and the Goddess Samsara could tell in an instant. This was a dark someone, not a dark something.

And whoever it was wanted Selena to suffer.

Samsara wasn’t entirely sure what to do. Get it out was the obvious answer, but it seemed somehow a part of the Amazon.

Latrina tripped in through the door behind her. She stumbled against Samsara, bracing herself. "Kax," she mumbled. "How is she?"

"I’d like to know the answer to that," the new Latra announced, peering around the open door.

* * * 

Kou ran a tired hand through her dark hair as she returned to her hut. She still hadn’t managed to figure out Kiran’s exact language. She’d exhausted all the languages of the east that she could think of.

Perhaps tomorrow, she thought. When I’ve a clearer head.

* * * 

Deoris had meditated until her nerves calmed. So she was Lyna. What does a Lyna have to do anyhow? Bring the Latra scrolls and news? She could do that. She had been one of the best spies in camp once upon a time.

Of course, She’d been blind, and therefore invisible to others. No matter. It was a skill she could relearn.

She tossed on the terribly comfortable mattress Samsara had conjured for her. Really, how hard can it be?

Faela paced the veranda, her new pup following at her heels. She thought again of Cassia and the Protectoress, both in her hut trying to save Deirdre. She’d seen a bunch of apprentices go in, as well.

Faela’s eyes glistened with tears at the thought of losing her best friend. "Ohi!" Faela said harshly, running down the steps of her hut and heading to the horse paddock.

She slammed open the gate and ran toward the stable. She need to feel the freedom of the wind, the pounding of horse hooves on grass. Turning her head, she saw Darkfire galloping towards her. Without slowing down, Faela grabbed the reins and pulled herself onto Darkfire’s back.

Faela didn’t need to sing her song to make Darkfire speed up, the beast understood her need and her heart. They were out the gate and thundering down the meadow in short order. Not even a horse of the gods could have caught them.

Twenty minutes later, Faela lead Darkfire back into the stables. They had ridden for miles and were now only just returning. She felt better, but not much. But she had enough sense not to ride her horse to exhaustion.

"My song," she thought, brushing her horse down as it munched some oats. "It always calms beasts and birds, the sick and injured. But whatever has Deirdre can’t be tamed by a silly song," Faela muttered to herself.

Finished grooming her animal, she left the paddock and wandered back toward her hut. She wondered what she would find when she arrived.

As Latrina stood up from her trip she studied Selena. "I wish I could have a premonition now so we could figure this out," she said with a sigh.

Samsara ignored the comment, focused on Selena. "This is not good. I wonder how long she’s been this way. What else did your premonition tell you?" she asked a little edge to her voice.

"Premonition?" Valkyra asked. "What’s this?"

Latrina paused. Dali, just what I need. My lovely so-called gift is going to be the cause of rumors and talk through the whole village by tomorrow if I explain this to her. I will be put in exile before I can start my new position in the tribe.

The Latra continued to study both Selena and Latrina, expecting an answer.

The new Amazon felt herself go sick. She couldn’t explain! She wouldn’t! They’d never understand!

"Look let me know about Selena... I have to get some air," she said. Her stomach heaved at the look on Valkyra’s face. "I don’t think it is benefiting me to be here right now."

Samsara looked at her hutmate, her intuition told her something was wrong. "Latrina, wait! What is wrong?" Samsara objected.

"I just don’t think I should be here right now. I am going to get some air," Latrina said with anger edging on her voice.

She left the hut before Samsara could say another word. As she walked out of the hut she headed for Kardia’s hut. She was her new apprentice and she should get to know her more if she was going to be working in the tribe, even if it would be short lived.

As Latrina left, Latra Valkyra looked straight to Samsara. She wanted answers and fast.

"What of this premonition?" she pressed, walking toward the cowering Cumae Paros.

"Latrina had a sense that Selena was in trouble," Sami explained, setting her hutmate down on the bed. From the shock of the situation, she passed out. She’d be fine in a few hours. "She had this look on her face, this... I can’t describe it."

A new voice added answers. "It was just as when you had your premonitions, Waka-musabi." Mariko stepped into the hut, her clothing floating about her as she walked toward them. "Latrina saw just as you used to."

"I... see." Sami mentally smiled at the word-play. She stood up. "Well, I saw nothing here when I came in. I don’t know what’s going on."

"You’re not seeing, Athanase," Mariko sharply responded.

"So, Selena’s all right," Valkyra said, attempting to break the tension swirling in the room.

"I think she needs some real rest, Latra," Sami responded. "I did sense something here. There is evil lurking in the village." She said it as if she were merely confirming suspicions. But the fact was, she was only realizing what was going on.

"It’s why I’m back," Mariko responded. "I’ll need to talk to your Protectoress."

* * *

Vaughn looked at the new recruit (no longer new) and stood rigid. He was still proving himself to Dachus and had to be tough if he wanted to keep his position of General.

"Stand at attention," he requested, despite knowing how sore the soldier was.

Doron felt the edge in his voice and without protest, forced his body to stand. Severe pain went through his body as he brought his right hand up to his eye to present arms. He stood straight as an arrow and kept his left hand at his side, maintaining a straight path for his eyes.

"I’ll need you to learn how to command a small squadron of men. Our ranks are growing and we’ll need more supervision for the newer recruits." He walked to Doron and brought his right hand down to place by his side. "You don’t have to salute me yet. You just stand at attention." As soon as he physically corrected Doron, he went on to explain what precisely he needed. In the back of his mind was the athelfi healer he met the last time he was in the village. She haunted his dreams.

Faela didn’t really want to see what was happening in her hut, she slid down the wall next to the front door and put her head on her knees.

A little fuzball hobbled over to her and began licking her face and tried to worm its way onto her lap. Faela sniffed and laughed slightly at the pup’s antics.

"Ok, little fella, hop up." Faela pulled him onto her lap and he curled down and promptly fell asleep.

"Just what I need, an extra weight on me," Faela said, her voice cracking. Just thinking of Deirdre in pain was enough to destroy whatever walls Faela had spent years building around her heart. "She’ll be ok, she will little one, she’ll be ok" she repeated to herself as the evening wore on.

Sitting on the floor of her hut in the dim candlelight, Chrysippe couldn’t help but gloat. The way the dagger sparkled as the light danced across the facets of the rubies, its perfect weight and balance in her hands – it was everything she could hope for. This will make a fine tribute to the new Latra, she thought to herself. When she sees what I can acquire for her, she is bound to be pleased with me. Perhaps she will even give me a fitting position within the tribe...

She began to think of the past few days as she stared into the hypnotic glimmer cast from the gems. It had been a difficult time. Not only for the tribe, but also especially for her. Jadea’s passing of her title and responsibilities caught Chrysippe particularly off guard. However, after careful consideration, she concluded that perhaps these events were merely the work of the Fates interfering on her behalf. She had never so much as seen the former Queen, but she had met Valkyra. In fact, she had even got the impression that she had been somewhat impressed by the young girl. A smile passed over Chrysippe’s face as she thought of this.

On the other hand, the weapons instructor of the new recruits had been less than impressed with her. All of her showboating the previous day had left a sour impression on the instructor, one that was worsened by Valkyra’s scolding. As retribution, she worked Chrysippe hard: using her for demonstration for skills she had not yet learned, doubling the amount of calisthenics for Chrysippe in comparison to the other recruits, sending her on frivolous errands and insisting that they be completed in double-time; the list went on. Chrysippe bore it all without complaint. She knew what the instructor was trying to do to her, and she refused to give her the satisfaction of thinking for even a second that her spirit had been broken.

Just that morning, the instructor had given Chrysippe yet another menial task. Earlier, the more advanced students were drilling with practice broadswords. Although the blades had no sharp edge to them, they were at least twice the weight of a normal sword. Teaching the students to master such a heavy piece of equipment improved their use of the real sword in battle, thereby increasing their skills. In the course of their session, one broke. The instructor assigned the chore of bringing all of the practice swords to the forge for inspection and repair to Chrysippe, and insisted that the task be completed in one trip. She did not protest, but instead quietly gathered the heavy utensils up and headed towards the forge.

The weight was nearly unbearable. Cursing in her mind the entire way, she finally reached the forge and she thought she would drop with exhaustion. She made her way inside.

"Excuse me... I have some practice swords that need to be inspected. One shattered today during practice." There was a muscular woman was pounding away at a piece of semi-molten metal with a great hammer.

"Just what I need. More to do," she muttered in a gruff tone. "Place them on that table over there," she said without even looking up.

Chrysippe complied with the order. As she made her way over to the table, she nearly gasped in disbelief. There was the dagger she had coveted, all polished and sparkling with the brilliance of the sun. She carefully placed the practice swords on the table, never taking her eyes off of the dagger. I could just take it now...it would be so simple. She is distracted, and hardly even notices me. The woman still pounded the metal at the forge, her back towards Chrysippe. But no, that would raise too much suspicion. She could trace it straight back to me. And what would that prove to the Latra? That I’m good at getting caught? I can’t have that.

As she placed the last sword on the table, she had a plan squarely set in her head. Now that she knew where the dagger was and how carelessly it was lying about, she knew that it was hers for the taking. She would watch the forge like a hawk, waiting for that perfect opportunity. But she would not wait too long, lest the dagger be returned to its owner. She left the forge quietly, as to not rouse the woman’s attention away from her work.

Chrysippe flew back to the training grounds on invisible wings. When the session was complete, she loitered outside the forge carefully. She wanted to keep a careful eye on the comings and goings within, but not look out of place. Just before mealtime, the woman emerged looking as preoccupied as she did while she worked. Chrysippe smiled, then slipped inside the building. She headed straight for the table but was a little surprised to see the dagger gone. She must have it with her. No matter. I can still get it.

Hurriedly, she left the forge and followed the woman from a safe distance. She seemed as determined to reach her destination as she was to bend the metal at the forge. Suddenly, she veered off towards the mess hut. Chrysippe followed closely.

She got something to eat, never taking her eyes off her intended target. She eats as ravenously as a jackal, she chuckled to herself, watching the woman shovel food into her mouth. Quietly, she made her way over to the woman’s table. She introduced herself, sizing up the woman the way a tiger sizes up its prey before it strikes. It was obvious that the woman was not in the mood for pleasantries. Just as well. Chrysippe sat next to Kardia, and watched the woman devour bowl after bowl of stew. It was almost humorous to watch, but it was the perfect opportunity for Chrysippe. She reached under the table with surgical precision, and removed the dagger from the pouch on Kardia’s belt, where it was so obviously held. Chrysippe had just tucked her prize safely into the folds of her own clothes when the Kardia suddenly stopped and ran from the mess hut. She finished her own meal, and then graciously excused herself.

Now she was sitting in her hut, cradling the dagger in her hands. Chrysippe picked up a piece of soft buckskin, and wrapped the blade up protectively with it. She went over to the wall where she had hidden the rest of the items she so carefully collected. Removing the sack that she stored her treasure in, she glanced inside. She had been busy over the past few days, lifting coin purses, jewelry, and other objects of interest and value. She placed her greatest prize inside the leather sack then carefully hid it away. All that was left now was to plan a meet with Latra Valkyra to present her with her fitting tribute.

As Latrina walked towards Kardia’s hut…

Kardia had been looking high and low for the ruby dagger. "Where is it?" Kardia screamed into the air. She had lost the dagger Samsara had given her. This brought a lot of concern to Kardia. She never misplaced things or left work unfinished. Something was bothering her and she didn’t know what it was.

"Kardia?" said Latrina outside the open door of the hut.

"Just in time.....I have misplaced, lost a dagger. It is really important."

"What does it look like?"

"Its a dagger with a ruby in it. You can’t miss it." So how did I? Kardia thought. "A pile of weapons had fallen the other day… I haven’t seen it since." Kardia said lifting her head above the table.

"Tepae," Latrina wasn’t one to argue, she of course was Kardia’s new apprentice and this was her first task. Was this a test? Latrina thought.

"Kax... Tre kanete tu?" Kardia said. Latrina had a puzzled look on her face. "How are you? I know it is hard picking up the language. Fortunately I am a quick study," Kardia boasted.

"I’m fine... Tepae." Latrina knew her sister meant well by her statement.

"Really, you look troubled. Of course, this is not the first thing I wanted you to do as my apprentice!" Kardia could tell by Latrina’s face that something was wrong, but she did not want to push it.

"Really?" Latrina wanted to explain to someone about what had happened, but she wasn’t sure Kardia would understand... or even if she herself understood.

"Kax!" Kardia said apologetically. She wasn’t used to sharing her space. This of course would be another task to accomplish.

All of a sudden Kardia remembered Toria being in the shop early the other day. It can’t be! Kardia thought.

Latrina and Kardia wanted to talk as they looked for the dagger, but silence felt better. Each sister was dealing with their own personal problems and if they could help each other, was a questioned not asked.

All material contained in these archives belong to the authors who created them and the community they wrote them for. Removing, reprinting or reposting these stories in whole or in part is copyright theft. ©1999-2010 Themiscyra Amazons