Challenges

"It's done," said Celosia to her Highland counterpart. "It's over. We're safe."

"Now the fighting stops and the work begins," Medea said, implying that she was not looking forward to the work. "You! Get me a casualty count!"

"Right away, Regent."

"You, over there! Start rounding up the prisoners. None of them are treated until every Amazon wounded is cared for. Got it?"

"Yes, Regent."

"Someone get after the enemy horses!"

"Right!"

Seriana, riding up as the orders were being handed out, had to give an approving nod. Medea knew her stuff. "Where's Jadea?" she asked, swinging down off Denius.

Celosia looked around. "She was just here . . ."

Soon, a small search party scoured the battlefield looking for the Sorceress Empress. They finally found her slumped against a tree in a mound of vivid autumnal leaves. A call brought all members of the search party to her location.

Seriana knelt and checked her pulse. "She's alive."

"Is she injured?" Thalia asked, her voice tense with concern.

"I don't think so, but I'm a warrior, not a healer." Seri took a long, quiet minute to try and feel the magic that her very blood would respond to. "I don't feel her power."

"Is that bad? I’m a biomorph, not a sorceress."

Seriana smiled a little. "She could just be drained from the fight. Or I could be numb and not feel her. That's very possible. Or . . . something worse. I don't know."

"We should get her off the battlefield. I'll try and find a litter."

"Good idea."

As Thalia got up, Seriana shook her head. What is it with my family today?

Looking around, Seriana searched for the source of the voice she heard. What she saw was Angus mounted on Jadea's horse. He'd been out of view when he answered her.

"Queen Vorgeen!" Seriana yelled to the Highland Amazon Queen, who in turn came to investigate. Seri pointed toward Angus.

"Perfect," Vorgeen sarcastically replied.

Swords were drawn as Angus swiftly approached, all belonging to Themiscryan Amazons.

"It's all right, Sisters," Seriana called out. "He's with us."

Angus' eyes scanned the faces of the women nearest him. A few standing warriors blocked his view of Jadea on a litter. The Sorceress Empress remained their only unconscious Amazon. As fate, or divine intervention, would decree, neither tribe suffered fatalities, though many had been wounded.

"What did you find?" Vorgeen inquired, a dangerous fire burning in both her eyes.

"You were right. The battle was a diversion. Five regiments are marching toward Themiscrya. Word in the Twilight Bark is that one or more of the gods deployed them. Whatever the Goddess Samsara did to Kakistos . . . it has halted their trek. They are turnin' back," he answered, his voice sounding pleased with the news he shared.

Seriana mentally noted to herself that he omitted the information he'd individually told her.

"That is good to hear. But we're not leavin' the Themiscryans until I am confident their enemies are defeated or remain far at bay," Vorgeen replied with a distinctive tone, used only by Amazons with high rank. "Yah!" She cried, and kicked her horse to catch up with Medea and Celosia at the front. As she trotted, a path was cleared for her.

Thalia seemed skeptical, and it showed on her face. She didn't trust this man. Her reservations about him came mostly from the few encounters she'd witnessed between him and Jadea.

"What's the 'twilight bark'?"

Angus turned his head to address her, veering the look he received from Seriana.

"A secret known only to those involved," he stated nonchalantly, emphasizing his meaning with a hard look.

To his surprise, Seriana cut in. "The Twilight Bark is a link the Celts use to communicate secretly, when they don't want messages to fall into enemy hands."

"Or upon enemy ears," another Amazon added.

Angus studied Seriana for a moment or two before finally nodding. He'd figured out how she knew about it. "So it is. Where's Jadea?"

No one answered. Just as Thalia opened her mouth to give who-knows-what reply, the Amazons began pulling away again.

Unusual, it was, for Ardra to be away from Jadea. And if ever the guardian hawk left her Mistress, indeed there was a reason. Yet, just as Angus began to question Ardra's absence, Jadea's whereabouts, and many other things, a loud squawk came from high above the troop of Amazons. Both Queens looked up, relief beginning to at last come to them.

Where have you been? Angus asked, irritation in his tone.

None of your business, Angus, Ardra replied and dove downward. Where's Thalia?

Ardra wanted to speak to Celosia. At present, the only way she knew to do that was through Thalia. The hawk knew of Jadea's state, for she'd felt it herself when the Sorceress Empress had fallen. The pain was less, now, though Ardra knew not the reason.

Thalia winced as the adrenaline from the fight ebbed and her wounded shoulder began to lose its numbness. She cursed as it began to burn. She felt lightheaded. How much blood had she lost? She'd been shot by one of the men's arrows while taking Valkyra to Jadea. Pulling it out had probably not been the best idea- it had only let the blood flow more.

Thalia leaned against a tree, glad that the battle was over, for now. She could get this wound tended to and be ready for their next fight. She was tired . . . so tired . . . maybe if she rested against this tree for a little while . . .

A scream jarred her from her thoughts and she saw Ardra in front of her. The hawk flapped in front of her, before flying off towards Celosia.

She wants me to help her talk to Celosia, she thought to herself. All right . . . maybe after that I can rest. Pushing herself to her feet she walked after the hawk.

The hawk could sense Thalia's pain. She tried her best to transfer some of her strength to the biomorph, but wasn't sure if her efforts did any good.

Angus! She yelled and heard him trotting up the line.

You beckoned, oh sweet one? He asked superficially.

Normally, Ardra would have jumped at the chance to banter with him. Now was neither the best time nor place for it, though. He knew this as well as she did, and she noticed the hot flush of shame on his face. Ask Vorgeen to give Thalia the orb. She needs it to heal her wound.

His eyes studied the hawk in a way that made her nervous. At times, she felt that he could read her when he shouldn't have been able to. Jadea had always assured her that he couldn't, that it was simply a tactic he used.

Jadea needs Thalia, she added, for further persuasion. Whatever differences they had, they were bonded by their love for Jadea.

Angus went to Vorgeen and privately made the request. Vorgeen looked up as she saw Thalia approaching. She turned to Angus and nodded. "Thalia, here!"

She moved slowly toward Angus and Vorgeen. By now, both troops of had been halted in their journey home. Vorgeen dismounted, pulling something from a pouch secured on her waist, and walked the remaining distance to Thalia.

Curious and slightly suspicious, Medea and Celosia dismounted and followed. Vorgeen held a crystal orb that fit perfectly in the palm of her hand. She asked Thalia to place her hand over it. As Thalia did so, the orb began to glow. The Amazon's eyes closed. Within a matter of seconds, a mist covered the crystal. The entire time, Vorgeen murmured a mysterious incantation. Celosia was the only other Amazon besides Vorgeen herself, who understood the words. She allowed the Highland Queen to heal her Sister, a light of appreciation showing in her eyes.

Thalia looked at shoulder and saw the wound was no more. She then looked at Vorgeen who gave her a reassuring smile. "Welcome back," she said before returning the orb to her pouch.

No explanation was asked, and none was offered. Each Amazon Queen had her secrets, remedies, and burdens to carry. The responsibility was a heavy one, but to the vast majority of Amazons, it was worth it.

Well done, Angus, Ardra turned her head to tell him. He said nothing, but she caught the slight nod he gave.

Thalia morphed into a hawk. She was beautiful, no matter what form she took, but as a hawk, she was magnificent. Thank you, was her first thought.

What makes you think I had something to do with that? Ardra asked.

Can you tell us where Samsara is? Thalia asked instead, getting down to business.

Medea cleared her throat impatiently. Thalia turned and saw the mutual feeling on Celosia's face. What new position? She quickly asked.

Thalia's expression changed dramatically.

"Thalia, let us know what the Hades is going on!" Medea demanded.

So, what's to be done? Thalia asked, giving a brief look of recognition to her Regent.

There’s nothing you can do. Jadea might be of some help, but only an Amazon of royal blood can revive Jadea now. The sooner we return to Themiscyra, the better, Ardra replied with as solemn a tone as Thalia had ever heard.

Will she die? Thalia asked, reluctant to tell her Sisters anything just yet.

Ardra blinked and turned her head to look at Celosia, Medea, and Vorgeen. She turned back to Thalia and offered her comfort. It will take more than two battles and a missing God of War to kill Jadea. She will live, but longer she goes unconscious in this world, the worse her chances of regaining her powers become.

Silence fell between them for several moments. This time it was Vorgeen who cleared her throat with impatient meaning. Ardra looked up from her companion and recognized the look she was receiving.

Go to them, Thalia. Tell them that home holds all the hope we have, Ardra commented and Thalia nodded, turning herself back into the beautiful woman she was.

"My Queen, Samsara is on Olympus. She is no longer a threat to us. At least, not for the time being, I believe. Jadea will grow weaker until we return to Themiscyra."

Medea growled in frustration. "It took you two that long to communicate that little?"

Queen Celosia gave Medea a gentle reprimanding expression, which Medea ignored. "Then, it's settled. Amazons, let us go home," Celosia stated. As word spread to the warriors behind her, a wide-felt cheer surged new strength into the exhausted homesick Amazons.

Ardra flapped her wings, lifting herself into the air to fly ahead of the two tribes. Vorgeen returned to the rear of the lines where she found Jadea still warm toned and appearing sound asleep.

Opting for familiarity, Angus rode beside the Highland Queen. To both her great surprise and relief, he held his peace the remaining way to Themiscyran lands. Though, he did occasionally send one or two thoughts into the air.

The journey back to Themiscyra brought only good conversation amongst the Amazons. Rare, it was, that a group so large of Amazon warriors should not meet with any male obstacles while on the move.

Themiscyra was soon filled again with the faint murmur of a tribe of Amazons, working and sleeping and eating and fighting and living. It was good to be home. Everyone felt it. Even the Highland Amazons, who had come to rest and heal their wounded before heading back to where they came from, could feel it.

Jadea was placed in her hut, but no one seemed to know what to do with her besides that. She was barely wounded, had no fever, and her pulse was perfectly steady.

Hunting parties were immediately sent out to feed two armies of hungry warriors. Seriana did not go with them. She sat with Jadea, one hand on her Aunt’s forehead, eyes closed, focusing and breathing.

Angus ducked his head in, without knocking, and asked, What are you trying to do?

"Hmm?" With a sudden jerk of her head she came back to consciousness. "Vocalize, please. I can't hear you."

With a sigh of mild resignation, he spoke. "Aren't you coming hunting? You can't help her much, you know."

"I can help her some. I can feel her taking power from me, and she needs any help I can give."

"She needs a lot more than you've got, Lovely."

She shrugged. "So people like you will be able to sneak up on me for a while. I can live with that. Besides, you don't have any right to criticize if you've got twice the power I do and you're not helping."

He held up his hands defensively. "She doesn't like me much."

"She could lose her abilities forever."

It was more an experiment than an accusation. She couldn't help wondering how he would react. After all, it had been some time since she'd traveled with a man. Did pride or compassion motivate Angus? It was an intriguing question about an intriguing person.

So she sat still and waited to see how he would meet her challenge.

Angus studied the eyes of the Amazon warrior before him. He saw in them Seriana's loyalty and her compassion for others. When an interval of silence had at length passed, he took a slight step forward and solemnly replied, "I wish I had half your strength, Amazon. I have no power to speak of."

With that, the Celt turned to exit. Before his foot stepped outside, Seriana felt pressure on her hand. She looked at Jadea and then at their hands, uncertain of what she suspected. When Jadea gently squeezed her hand once more, Seri uttered a cry of surprise.

This caused Angus to immediately turn back around and stare at her. "What?"

"She squeezed my hand," Seriana answered, and laid her other hand on Jadea's face.

"Jadea . . . can you hear me?" A very faint and elusive sound escaped the body of the Sorceress Empress.

Suddenly, Ardra's voice entered Angus's mind. Something is happening on Olympus. It's affectin' her state. I'm going to investigate. Stay here, and don't you bloody leave her...or even the gods won't be able to save you from what I'll do.

Angus snorted at Ardra's last comment. Seriana didn't seem to notice. He had no intention of leaving, not even if forced.

Seriana continued to talk with a soft, comforting tone. Angus hesitated, then remarked "I'll get Queen Celosia." Seri gave a slight nod to indicate that she'd heard him.

Far away, on Olympus . . . something indeed was happening.

Samsara had initially scaled the ladder of rank among the Gods. With Ares' throne, and the hind's blood, she'd all but become the new Queen of the Gods. Of course, she didn't claim the title or the position . . . but she knew she held the power.

"What has become of my son?" Zeus demanded to know for the umpteenth time. Samsara shrugged with a cool, nonchalant manner.

"He took a holiday. Something about an anniversary of this war or that."

From the shadow of one of the pillars in the hall, a Goddess smirked with admiration.

None of the Gods dared to challenge Samsara. She could kill them, and not a one of them was confidant enough that she wouldn’t.

"Artemis!" Samsara lifted her head and raised her voice. The Goddess of the Hunt appeared from nowhere. Her generally expressive features were veiled behind a calm look. To be angry at Samsara would provoke Samsara to become angry. So far, she had done little more than make an uninvited and unexpected visit to Olympus, inform that she was now the Goddess of War, as well as of Destruction, and request an assembly of the Gods.

"Samsara Kakistos," Artemis spoke with a clear voice. The name sounded foreign to Samsara. She made a mental note to take care of the matter regarding of how she would and would not be addressed.

"Artemis. You are, not by my choice to be sure, the Goddess of the Amazons. Are you not?" Samsara began walking around in a fairly sized circle, toying with a dagger in her hands. The act was more of that of habit that something to threaten or intimidate Artemis with. And yet . . . it wasn’t a habit at all. Then again, Callisto had done the same at times.

"You know that I am," Artemis replied, unwillingly allowing some of her irritation to seep into her voice.

"Then tell me this: Why is the Amazon Nation divided? Why were the tribes ever scattered in the first place? And what exactly are you going to do about it?" The more she spoke, the more her voice rose in anger and agitation.

She’d understood Kaia and Ares’ plan all too well. And the discovery of their plan had lead to the inspiration of one of her own, along with several backup plans. She’d been with the Amazons long enough to learn that you always have something ready, should your original work of genius fail.

Artemis did not answer for several moments. Those moments cost her credibility with Samsara. "I have given the Amazons free will, Kakistos."

"My name is Samsara!" She shouted, and her voice combined with her powers filled the halls of Olympus and shook the mountain. "And you gave us nothing! Free will is not a gift, Goddess of the Hunt, if it can be taken by the Gods whenever they so choose," she declared, edging the border of dangerous territory.

Samsara herself had been guilty of abusing and forcing free will. That she now felt differently on the subject, at least on behalf of the Amazons, would not be enough to persuade the other Olympians.

"What would you have me do, then?" Artemis asked in a voice that could only be described as compromising. She would not cower to this goddess, but she would not stand by and watch her throw a tantrum either. Especially considering that an Amazon's tantrum usually involved the deaths of many - innocent or not.

"Do your job. Go to each rogue tribe and command that they return to the Nation. Go to each Amazon imprisoned by men or enslaved and free them. Protect the Amazons. Unite them. Do your job!" Samsara answered firmly, though she did not yell or scream once.

Artemis vanished, and soon rumors in various locations spread that a strong movement was underway.

Meanwhile, back in Themiscyra . . .

"Celosia, she squeezed my hand. I know she did. I felt it," Seriana testified with increasing zeal.

Queen Celosia nodded and gestured for Seriana to rise. The Queen placed her hand in Jadea's. As she did so, the pendant around Jadea's neck began to glow. When Celosia saw this she whispered the Amazon's name and closed her eyes. Come back to us, Jadea.

Seriana stood watching, a step or two away.

The Queen's eyes shot open, stunned that she'd heard Jadea and yet not entirely sure that she had. Her eyes closed once again. Come on, Jadea. You're Amazon. You can do this.

Behind her, Seriana felt Thalia's touch on her arm. She turned her head and the two exchanged communicative looks. Thalia had just returned from a hunting party when she heard the news.

Celosia . . . I have little time. The Sorceress Empress thought weakly. Her pendant continued to glow vibrantly, though without any one color.

Queen Celosia began to will that Jadea awaken with her powers fully intact. A soft but heard murmur came from the Jadea.

"You two. Leave," it was Vorgeen's voice. She stood in the doorway and spoke to Thalia and Seriana. Reluctantly, the two Amazons complied.

Vorgeen approached Celosia and watched. She walked to the other side and took Jadea's left hand in hers. It's high time ya got your arse up and started kickin' again. Vorgeen's mind linked with Celosia's and Jadea's. Both Queens heard a mild chuckle.

If I could, I'd have done so by now, Jadea returned, her thoughts sounding stronger than before.

An Amazon can do anythin' she sets her mind to, Vorgeen replied, a slight sound of humor mixed with sincerity.

Fight, Jade! Come on. It's what you're good at. Fightin' like a banshee on a bad day when no else can fight or will. Angus' voice slipped into her mind. He wasn't nearby, but he remained in camp.

All three heard the sound of a neighing horse.

That's when it happened. Artemis appeared in the hut, cloaked from view. She saw the two Amazon Queens on either side of the Sorceress Empress. And though she made no divine intervention . . . she was witness to what happened.

Vorgeen, Queen of the Highland Amazons from the Isle of Britannia. Celosia, Queen of the Themiscyran Tribe, defender of the Amazon Nation. Jadea, the Sorceress Empress, arcane and powerful protector of the Amazon ways and the warrior women themselves.

Jadea's eyes opened slowly. As they did, both Vorgeen and Celosia made a simultaneous and audible exhale. The Sorceress Empress blinked a few times to reassure herself that she was awake. Vorgeen saw that Jadea's pendant had returned to its natural hue of calmness.

"Welcome back," Celosia said as she and Vorgeen lifted Jadea up. The look of astonishment and relief aside, you wouldn't have been able to tell that anything had been wrong with the Sorceress Empress.

"You had us goin' there for a minute," Queen Vorgeen quipped with her usual flair.

Jadea smiled, attempting to get to her feet. Celosia backed away enough for the Amazon to stand. She was greeted with a hug when she succeeded.

"Aye, and for a minute . . . I didn't think I'd be comin' back."

Vorgeen cut across the shortest way and stood with Celosia in front of her. "So, how did you?"

Jadea looked at both women and shook her head. "I couldn't. You two did."

The Highland Queen smiled again and gave Jadea a warm embrace. When she did, she whispered, "Us, and that meddlesome Angus." Vorgeen pulled back a step and looked in Jadea's eyes. She knew. All three of them did, for all three had heard him.

Composing herself, she gave a delighted sigh and asked, "Well now...when's the feast?"

Laughter followed as the women exited the tent, Jadea bringing up the rear. She paused just inside her hut, looked upward and smiled. "Thank you." Just to whom Jadea was speaking is anyone's guess. And to this day, only her listener knows.

Outside, there was much to celebrate. For the first time in many days the Amazons were able to feast, relax, and heal.

As she walked among her Sisters once again, Jadea received many relieved smiles and warm embraces or handshakes. Even Medea, when she returned from her occupying task, took Jadea aside and offered a gentle word.

Eager to help with the feast preparations and clean up, Jadea immediately pitched in where she could. She wasn't unaware for some time that Angus had been watching her.

Ardra, the Sorceress Empress recognized.

Jadea stirred something in a pot. What's that, then?

She'll be fine, Ardra. She's just adapting, Jadea assured with a steady tone.

Tern sighed contentedly and slouched gratefully onto a comfy chair. "Oh, it's good to be back," the Amazon Witch murmured blissfully, snuggling into her seat.

Across the room, Pelee surveyed her with a droll expression. "Back to your home or your cushions, sister?" she asked dryly.

Tern looked up sharply. "Like your behind isn't due for some light treatment after those bloody uncomfortable saddles."

Pelee laughed and slumped onto the floor beside her twin. "At least you aren't going to be walking bow-legged for the rest of the month."

"Mmm, your horse has put on a bit of weight, hasn't she? From the expressions you were pulling I'd thought you'd been struck by a poisoned arrow . . ."

Pelee shoved Tern from her seat. "And I suppose the look on your face was purely a matter of past-date trail mix?"

"Forgot how uncomfortable long trail rides can be."

"Apparently. Only person I know who gets horse-sick."

Tern bristled and climbed back into her chair, pushing her sister over this time. "Oh, quiet. I was alert when it meant something! Besides, no one else noticed but you."

"I suppose we have become quite talented in putting on the old battle face."

The tent flap opened letting a filter of light through. Medea grinned at her cousins devilishly. "Not nearly talented enough, didn't you notice the extra leak-proof saddle bags I gave you two? Didn't want a mess," was all she said before she closed the flap and was gone again, strutting through the village.

Tern and Pelee exchanged looks and shook their heads.

The Regent flipped a dagger absently as she sauntered about, shooting smirks to her rivals within the tribe. Medea was one of the few Sisters who had never learned how to get along with the others. She had a considerable number of semi-enemies within the Themiscyran ranks. Léda being the most prominent; a group of too-friendly Healer Apprentices were next on her factor-of-annoyance list; Samsara, surprisingly only ranking third; and her newest addition, that treasonous twit, Seriana.

Medea rounded the corner that brought her to the village square, sheathed the dagger and hauled herself up onto the side of the well to wait. Seriana would have to come through at some point, and with the Solstice preparations seen to already, Themiscyra's Regent could think of nothing better into which to invest her time than to wait around and pick a fight.

The Healer's Apprentices arrived presently and cautiously approached the well with basins in hand. "M-Medea, one of the children has cut herself and we need some water to help the poor little dear."

Medea snarled at the sheer selflessness of the request. Perhaps she wouldn't have to wait for Seri...

Thalia sighed. It was good to be back. Jadea was all right, the Amazons were home, and she could finally let out the breath she'd been holding. She sat relaxed in her chair in her tent, reveling in the sheer comfort of the cushion.

Zanifus poked his giant head under the flap. "I'm all right, Zani," she stood up to pat the nose of the blue-green dragon. She noticed her hands were still caked with dirt from the previous battle. "I guess I'll have to go grab some water from the well."

Stepping around Zanifus, giving him one last pat and a quick order to stay, she headed off towards the village square. She whistled softly to herself, smiling as she spotted all the Amazons working together to get everything prepared for the celebration.

She saw Seriana and Valkyra carrying food prepared by some of the Amazons and thought that perhaps she'd join them once she got washed up. Thalia was so caught up looking at the bustle in the village surrounding her that she wasn't watching where she was going as she approached the well and ran into Medea.

"Oh! Sorry, Medea," Thalia backed off, knowing the Regent didn't have the most controlled temper. She knew Medea didn't like her all too well, but she tried to make peace with her. "Didn't see you there." She smiled a lopsided grin. "Are you joining the festivities?" Zeus help me for asking that. She took a chance with that one, knowing Medea didn't like festivals and seeing as she was twirling a dagger, Thalia knew she wasn't in the best of moods. Cautiously she waited for a response.

Medea answered with something that sounded like a snarl. "I oversee festivals. I don't join them."

The mere tone she used was enough to warn Thalia off furthering the conversation. The Amazon kept silent as she hurriedly washed her hands.

Medea simply smirked, looking over at her. The sound of Seriana's voice caught her trained ear and she moved her gaze off Thalia to stare at her intended playmate. "Play" was such a soft word for it, but it was a better one than the others which sprang to one's mind.

Thalia walked over to where Seriana was helping lay out the food. She looked a little pale from helping Jadea, but it was nothing serious and, indeed, she seemed more at ease than she ever had among the tribe. "Medea bite your head off?" she asked sympathetically as her friend joined her.

"Nearly. Whew, she's in a fine humor today. Apparently, she 'oversees' feasts. She doesn't 'join'."

Seriana grinned. "Well then, she can 'oversee' me eating all the baklava." She took a piece of the flaky pastry from its tray and stuck it in her mouth.

"Leave it alone, Ser," Valkyra called.

"You spoil my fun." Seriana licked the honey off her fingers and headed to the well to wash her hands. "I'll be right back, guys."

And Medea did her looking-dangerous thing . . .

Medea pounced the second she saw Seriana exit the Mess hut. Twirling her dagger with a feral grin, the Regent set her glacial eyes on her prey. "Indulging in a sweet before the feast's begun, Seri?" she called, her keen gaze not missing the bit of flaked pastry remaining on Seriana's index finger.

Seriana averted her gaze and pretended not to notice the young woman so obviously wanting to provoke her. She stepped up to the well and proceeded to casually wash her hands.

"Y'know in an Amazonian kitchen it's considered a great offense to taste the food without the chef's permission. In fact, when I was a little girl my mother used to tell Celosia and I that we could lose a finger for it," Medea crooned, sidling up to lean against the well. "It's kind of like the way Amazon hierarchy works, if you think about it, isn't it?"

"Medea, I've got food preparations to be helping with." Seriana shook her hands to dry them and began to walk away, but Medea's arm blocked her path.

"Stick around for a while Seriana, Valkyra can be a demanding taskmistress I'll admit, but surely she wouldn't challenge the will of the Regent," Medea growled menacingly.

Though she no longer had the claws her short-lived demonhood had provided, she flexed her fingers anyway, as if expecting something to happen. Studying her talon-less fingers with a look of lost identification, the Regent shook her head and dropped her angry tone.

"Besides, it's so rare that I get to talk politics with someone . . ."

Seriana looked away uncomfortably.

"As I was saying," Medea continued, apparently at complete ease. "The stolen sweet and Themiscyra rule. Yes. Well, you see, all conflicts within the village begin, as the chef's did, with a sweet. For the purpose of our discussion we'll call the sweet . . . Ambrosia."

"Medea I-"

"Quiet! I'm not done yet!" Medea snarled furiously, attracting the attention of everyone in the small square. Smiling serenely, the platinum blond continued. "So there's some ambrosia to be had, and naturally, somebody wants it. Let's call that person . . ." she grinned wickedly. "Fanatic Number One. Now, Fanatic Number One goes completely insane and goes after the ambrosia, even though she knows the chef, or the present ruling force of the tribe, the Fearless Regent, will gravely disapprove."

"I never went after any ambrosia! I followed your orders! I was after my sister!"

Medea pretended to be confused. "I don't recall saying this discussion was to be taken on a personal level, Seriana. We're just talking politics. Now, Fearless Regent goes after Fanatic Number One, only to find that she has already gotten her grubby little paws on the ambrosia. Fearless Regent formulates a brilliant plan to retrieve the ambrosia without anyone getting hurt. Enter Treasonous Little Idiot.

"Treasonous Little Idiot disregards Ruling Force's orders and goes after Samsara with NO plan and NO regard for her former orders! The fearless Regent is forced to save Seriana's ass from Samara, putting herself at great risk. The plan is lost and several Amazons are now in a cave with a tripped-out goddess! To make matters worse, the entrance to the cave falls, and fearless Regent is stuck in there with the two traitorous, idiot sisters!

"I mean what does she do? Assuming she makes it out alive, that is. Does she welcome Treasonous Little Idiot back to the village with open arms, or does she kill the traitor right there? Well, Fearless Regent, not being known for her forgiving nature, decides she'd really rather have traitors dead at her feet than waiting to disobey within her ranks. She decides she's going to wait to get out of the mess she's been forced into, and then she's going to announce an exile. That sounds perfectly fair, don't you think Seriana? In fact, fairer than what some Regents would have contemplated.

"But, oh, no. No. The Executive Ruling Force steps in and calmly explains that Treasonous Little Idiot had her reasons. And that the half-wit should be given a second chance because 'we all have hearts and sisters are loyal, and you'd do the same for me if I went insane and destroyed a nation don't ya know?' So Fearless Regent finds herself in a very undesirable position. Fearless Regent is given a plainly unjust treatment! But she's still a chef, and her orders have still been disobeyed, and Executive or not, Seri, this chef will find a way to slice a few fingers. That's the way Amazon law is. I am the law here, Seriana!" Medea paused and collected her composure. She'd been raging loud enough for most of the village to hear. She lowered her volume and leaned closer to Seriana.

"So what do you think of the situation?" the Regent hissed.

"You said this wasn't personal, Medea," Seriana replied truthfully. Inside she screamed. It wasn't right, what Medea was doing here, basting her in front of her sisters for no reason but her own sadistic pleasure. If anyone should lose a few fingers it should be her! "And I think Valkyra's going to be very angry if I don't get back soon." Unable to keep the temper from her voice, Seriana stalked back to the Mess hut where Thalia and Valkyra awaited.

The surrounding Amazons gawked.

"Never fails." Medea muttered, stretching and regarding the crowd nonchalantly. "They always run off when I start talking politics..."

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