How curious, she thought, that within minutes of my leaving him the seeds were sewn for my betrayal of him.
Her headache had increased.
She opened her eyes and sighed. Her cell was windowless, and the door was solid. There was no way for her to tell what time of the day or night it was, nor how long it had been since the last visit by her interrogator.
Her wondering was put to rest even as she was thinking it, for just then, Ares appeared directly in front of her, his face expressionless.
"Do you have anything to say to me, my dear? You're running out of time," he told her coldly, his dark eyes intent.
Kendaa gazed up at him out of heavy-lidded green eyes. From her present vantage point, he seemed so tall. And entirely dangerous. But then, she reflected, Ares had never been anything but dangerous.
"What would you have me tell you, my Lord? I betrayed you. The facts speak for themselves, do they not?" She closed her eyes for a moment, wishing the throbbing in her head would diminish even slightly. She was having difficulty in concentrating or focussing on anything, let alone the new round of interrogation Ares had just commenced.
Ares contemplated the form of his Chosen, lying chained at his feet. Over three weeks of confinement had taken a toll. Her wrists and ankles were red raw and swollen from the constant rubbing of the metal restraints around them. She was dirty. Her hair hung in a lank and dull, untidy profusion around her. Not having washed for some time she smelled bad. He knew that would cause her distress. The half-dryad had always been very particular about washing herself regularly and often when not on the battlefield. She had lost weight too. Intent on breaking her, he had allowed her only a minimal amount of daily food - bread - and enough water to keep her alive. He had been coming to her at short, irregular intervals, making sure she got very little sleep and that what sleep she did get was broken before it could allow her sufficient refreshment.
He vehemently refused to look within himself at the painful feelings that were trying to surface. There was very little time left and he had no option but to treat her as he would any prisoner of war if she were to tell him the truth behind her apparent betrayal of himself and the entire pantheon of gods.
Ares raised his head a little, his stance containing a cold arrogance his prisoner was all too familiar with. "I'm not interested in the facts 'speaking for themselves'. I want to hear it from your mouth. And I want to know why."
She started to speak, but only managed a hoarse croak this time. The God of War shook his head impatiently. Instantly there appeared beside her a plate containing some bread, and a beaker of water. Another thought, and her chains grew long enough for her to reach the bread and water.
Kendaa lunged for the water, drinking greedily. Some water spilled and ran down her chin. For a moment, he almost relented and refilled it, but stopped himself. "If I were you, my dear, I wouldn't drink it all at once," he told her without expression, as she lowered the beaker and took up the bread, biting off a large chunk.
His prisoner looked up at him, still chewing, but remained silent.
He waited until she had finished the bread.
Taking a step closer, he crouched down next to her, one hand going out to gently stroke her check, although there was little affection in the gesture. At such close quarters, she could smell his leather, and the musky, male scene that was uniquely his, and feel the heat emanating from his predator's body, as he leaned in close to her.
"Kendaa, I know you too well. Give up this foolishness and tell me the truth. We both know you didn't do what you have been accused of, no matter what the apparent facts are. Now, all you have to do is tell me the real reason you told Dahok's emissaries that you would betray me," he invited in a soft, seductive tone, "and once you do, I'll free you and take you to my quarters. You can bathe and sleep to your heart's content..and see Leonides."
For a moment, she could only focus on one thing. "Leonides?" She asked him muzzily. "How is he? Is he alright?"
Ares ignored her anxious questions.
"If you don't do as I command you, and do it soon, you will never see your son again," the dark Lord of War whispered in a snarl laced with calculated cruelty. "We will not discuss the child until you do as I tell you."
She closed her eyes and leaned back away from him. "There's nothing more to tell you. You've seen for yourself. I went to Dahok's emissaries and promised to give them your Sword of Power in return for Dahok's promise that the dryad kingdom would remain protected and inviolate once he came to power in this world," she repeated doggedly, as she had over and over again for weeks.
Ares stood slowly. "Alright," he told her in a cold, deadly voice. "If you want to continue the game, then I shall oblige you, my dear." A sharp gesture abruptly pulled the chains binding her back to their original position. Her arms jerked back above her head with a suddenness that caused her to moan in pain.
"But be warned - if you have not relented in three days' time, then you will go before the full Court of Olympus. You will stand trial for your life for betraying not just me, your nominal god and Lord, but the entire pantheon of gods, and you will die. There will be no Elysian Fields for you, much less Tartarous. You will simply cease to exist at all. You will be sent to the oblivion that Callisto so ardently desired. Erased - as if you had never existed. But not before you are made to suffer unspeakably."
For all that the words were softly delivered, his beautiful voice rang out sharply in that small, dank cell like the tolling of a bell for one already dead.
Ares vanished, leaving her alone once more.
She close her eyes again, hoping that sleep would come and claim her.
It didn't, and soon her tired mind wandered back to the events in the Amazon City five days after she had seen Ares that last time.
The door to her hut opened with a resounding crash to collide with the wall beside it.
"What in Tartarous have you done?" Cried a furious and bewildered Laurissa, at the front of a small group which included Lessa, Calico and Calee.
Kendaa looked up from the floor where she had been playing with a now-frightened Leonides.
"Keep your voice down! You're scaring him!" She barked softly, gently pulling the wide-eyed little boy against her and rubbing his back soothingly.
Laurissa subsided slightly. "Sorry."
"What I've done - if anything - is nothing to do with anyone else but me - and the gods," she told her friends quietly.
Her close friend moved into the hut, as did the others.
"Come off it!" Laurissa ran her hand through her blonde hair in angry frustration. "One of Ares' priests just left the Council, after being sent with a message from Ares that he will come tomorrow to formally take you to his temple for questioning. He said you've been accused of betraying Ares and all the gods - to Dahok. And you sit there and tell us it's nothing to do with us? Thanks very much!"
Now it was Kendaa's turn to say it. "I'm sorry Riz - all of you." She sighed, her face pale. "I don't want to talk about it. I wish I could ask you all to trust me. Just this once. I'd never do anything to place you in danger. And if Ares wants to take me, then... It's his right. He is my nominal god."
Lessa pushed forward to stand beside Laurissa, her face as angry as her sister's. "You know, we've been friends a long time. We've covered each other's backs in battle - there are few I'd trust anywhere near as much as I'd trust you. I don't believe you would do that. There's no way you would do anything for Dahok, except put a dagger through him if he materialised in front of you. You can forget it," she rasped flatly. "I'm not buying it."
She took two steps closer to her sister on the floor. "I don't know what game you're playing, Kendaa, but if I were you, I'd think twice before bringing Ares into it. You know you'll live to regret it." She shook her head in disbelief. "You're going to get hurt. I just hope no one else gets hurt in the process, sister." For a long moment, she simply stared down in anger at Kendaa, before turning abruptly on her heel and storming out of the hut.
Calee moved forward to take Lessa's place beside Laurissa.
"You know we all care, sister. If you've somehow managed to get yourself into trouble, tell us. Maybe we can help," she coaxed quietly. In the background, Calico was swallowing back tears. She knew what it meant for a god to decide to put one of their own to the question. Kendaa's eyes moved between the two of them, avoiding Laurissa's angry eyes.
She smiled quietly. "Thank you, I know you care. But this time none of you can help me. There are things you don't know about - and I can't tell you. I wish I could." Her green eyes were moist, and she furiously willed away the tears that were threatening to spill.
Calico smiled slightly, sadly. "Sister..." She shook her head, her voice breaking. "Kendaa, you know what it means to be put to the question by one of the gods. Is that what you want? Do you want to die? To leave Leonides motherless?" Her voice was gentle.
Kendaa remained silent, looking up at her from tear-filled eyes.
Calico closed her eyes for a moment. "I don't believe you did what you've been accused of." With those last words, she turned and walked slowly from her friend's home. Calee followed her, leaving Kendaa alone with Laurissa.
Her equally tall friend had calmed down somewhat. "Kendaa - please..." The woman holding the small boy smiled slightly and shook her head. "I can't, Riz. I can't. This has to be played out."
Laurissa shook her head, her hands hanging at her sides. "I wish I understood you. Sometimes I think you're more dryad than human," she remarked quietly.
Kendaa smiled sadly at that. "Perhaps you're right, Riz." With an effort she kept herself from saying anything further. She couldn't bear the sadness in the eyes of one of her closest friends. Iron will rose and aided her. Her face was now expressionless.
Her friend nodded. "Alright." She took a deep breath. "I'll look after Leonides for you - unless Ares wants to take him..."
"Thank you, I'd appreciate that. So will Leonides." She didn't want to think about being separated from her child, no matter how short or lengthy the period.
Without another word, Laurissa turned and left her alone.
There were several more visits throughout the afternoon and evening, Ephiny among the visitors. Her Queen didn't try to dissuade her from allowing Ares to take her - she knew that the god would take her no matter what efforts were made to hinder him. She did try, however, to learn what lay behind the charge laid against Kendaa. But the warrior remained closed to all her attempts. She was courteous, yet Ephiny had a strong sense that there was more to the whole affair than readily met the eye. In the end, she left the Amazon's hut wearing a thoughtful frown. As the last light from Helios's chariot died from the sky, she sent for two of the best horsewomen among her warriors.
As they stood before her quietly waiting, she finished writing on the scroll before her. Tying a strip of leather around the scroll, she handed it to them. "Ride with all speed. Find Hercules. Give him this and tell him...tell him that Kendaa needs him."
She saw the look of doubt on the face of one of the women. "They have long been friends - since Hera destroyed the dryad race. He'll come." She knew he would. She wasn't sure exactly what he could do, but he'd be there for his friend, of that she was certain.
Kendaa stayed in her hut, performing her usual duties of feeding and bathing her son and preparing him for bed, as if somehow she could find distraction in making a ritual of everyday events.
She had just placed Leonides in his bed when there was a quiet knock on the door.
Upon her invitation, the door opened to reveal Therese, Khyra, Klio and Fayee.
She smiled. "I wondered when you would all show up."
Therese went to her, placing a hand on her gauntleted forearm. "Ken, we can't let you do this. You have to tell us the truth. What is going on here?"
Fayee moved forward into the firelight. "You surely don't think that anyone who knows you would believe this nonsense, do you?"
The blonde Amazon warrior moved away to stand close to the fire, warming herself. It wasn't a very cold night, but she was suddenly cold all over. "Do any of us really know each other that well?" She asked, her face betraying nothing. "I am half-dryad - perhaps more dryad than human; Khyra is Dragonrider Queen and was raised by Centaurs; Klio is the daughter of Ares; Therese came to the Amazons from that upstart city of Rome. And you, Fayee? You have yet to tell us your full story," she taunted deliberately, for all that she was tearing her own heart asunder.
Her head was raised defiantly now as she faced them. "Why would I not want to protect those who are mine to protect? When have the Olympian gods ever shown us they care one way or another for mortals? Even Ares was powerless against Hera. The Forest Realm has suffered too much. No more," she rapped out coldly.
Khyra smiled, and clapped slowly. "Bravo, Ken. A fine performance. But you don't really expect us to believe you, do you?" She asked softly.
Klio moved to stand beside Khyra, her own eyes intently focussed on the green eyes of her dryad sister. "Oh but she does, Khyra. She's desperate for us to believe her, aren't you sister?" Kendaa remained silent, her face unreadable. "I'm wondering why it's so important that you need us to believe you'd betray everything you hold dear - including my father," she added, a strange emphasis on the last words.
The daughter of the God of War and the water nymph walked slowly forward until she was beside Therese and face to face with Kendaa. "Yes, you're desperate for us to believe this thing, Kendaa, but you above all should know what it means to play the God of War for a fool. Whatever the reason, Ares' wrath will be great. He won't be gentle. I have tasted his anger, and I didn't do to him what you are. You're playing a dangerous game - and you'll be lucky to survive," she concluded, her face grim.
Kendaa swallowed. "I've told you my reasons, now drop it! And leave me! It's over-late and I'm tired," she rapped out harshly, turning from them to face the hearth.
For a moment there was silence behind her. But then the sound of feet moving towards the door, followed by the closing of the door. She threw her head back and expelled her breath on a loud sigh, her face twisted in pain.
"You know, my father will know you're lying. And he will tear the truth from you - one way or another," came the soft voice from behind her.
Kendaa spun to face Klio, her face angry. "I asked you to leave!"
Klio ignored her anger, smiling slightly. "Kendaa, I see more than you think I do. I see Zeus involved in this somehow. I don't know why that came to me, but it has." She paused for a moment to let her words sink in. "If it comes to a choice between your living and dying, I'll tell my father that, sister," she added deliberately.
The tall blonde moved fast. She grabbed Klio's shoulders in a tight grip. "You listen to me! You must, under no circumstances, tell anyone anything! There's too much at stake, Klio. Please, trust me," she whispered quietly, in contrast to her earlier anger.
For a long moment, the two warriors faced each other, both equally determined. It was Klio who, finally, relented, nodding slowly. "Alright. You're asking a lot. I just hope you know what you're doing."
Kendaa laughed softly at that. "Not really, but this is something I have to do."
The daughter of Ares nodded again, moving to hug her sister wordlessly, before leaving her alone with her thoughts and fears.
As Kendaa prepared for bed, she knew she really wouldn't get much sleep. The thought of what the morrow would bring - and of seeing Ares - would keep her awake. Idly, she wondered why he hadn't come to her before sending his priest to publicly announce his intention to put her to the question.
She was relieved he hadn't.
Ares sat alone in his throne room brooding.
He had been in a foul mood since he had imprisoned Kendaa in his dungeon, and his priests and priestesses knew better than to go into his presence for anything other than the most urgent matters. For the time being they studiously avoided him. And so he sat leaning on his hand, idly stroking his beard and thinking.
His mind went back to the morning, weeks before, when he'd been seated in a similar position, and the Amazon Chaerea entered the throne room...
She approached him with a peculiar, affected diffidence that always had him longing to slap her - hard. He didn't move, merely regarded her with cold eyes, his face disinterested.
She went to her knees before his throne, lowering her head.
"What do you want?" He asked, with no particular interest in the answer.
"Lord Ares, I come with information of a particularly distressing nature." Her head was still bowed, so he couldn't see her face.
His lips curled in a sneer, unseen by his visitor. He sighed to himself. The sooner she spills it, the sooner I can get rid of her.
"Rise," he told her calmly.
She did so. Olympus, he thought, she has a face like a prune. Humourless, without life. And she has always stood behind the skill and courage of her sisters. Totally unworthy of the title she claims for herself of warrior. He sat straighter on his throne, anger making him ball his fists, for all that his outward demeanour remained mild.
"Your news?" He asked quietly. Deceptively.
"My Lord, I fear you won't like what I have to tell you," she volunteered.
Zeus, will I have to tear it out of her?
"I won't know that until you tell me, will I?" He smiled, without humour.
She took the hint.
"The Amazon Kendaa has gone to Dahok. She has betrayed you, My Lord. She has told him she will give him your Sword of Power in exchange for his protection of the Northern Forest Realm once he comes fully into this world."
Ares stared. She actually dares come before me and slander my Chosen to my face? Unbelievable.
He was now sitting straight and tall on the throne, his hands gripping its arms to keep himself from destroying her outright.
"Your proof?" He asked in a dangerously quiet voice.
Chaerea nodded. "My Lord, late yesterday afternoon, I saw her go into the Forest close to the river near our City. She drew my eye because she seemed to not want to attract attention to her going. I followed her."
I'll bet you did, the dark Lord of War thought nastily.
"She went deep into the Forest until she reached the bend in the river that hides the water from the path, and is well out of ear-shot. There I saw her meet one of Dahok's priests. With my own ears I heard her promise to hand over to Dahok your Sword of Power in exchange for the evil one's protection of the Dryad realm."
He couldn't - wouldn't - believe it. He'd known the woman who was his Chosen far too long and knew her far too well to doubt for one minute that there was something more to the words of the bitch before him than met the eye. He reached out and delved into her mind, seeing for himself what she had seen. It was true. Kendaa had apparently done as she said she had. He heard her, through Chaerea's ears, telling the priest-emissary that she would take his Sword and keep him distracted while Dahok was preparing his entry into the world. He even heard her demand reassurance that she herself would be protected from his wrath once she had taken his Sword. He almost laughed to himself in stunned incredulity. What in Tartarous was she doing?
His eyes returned to the figure of the hag before him.
"You may go," he dismissed her. There was no inflection in his voice.
Chaerea took a step closer to the throne.
"My only desire is to serve you, Lord Ares," she simpered, hoping for more than the laconic dismissal she had just received.
Ares slowly rose from his throne, his full, daunting height now evident.
"Amazon, if you value your life, you will leave. Now," Ares told her softly.
Not even the woman before him could have failed to sense the rapid and growing build-up of unimaginable power around her in the vast chamber.
Chaerea bowed and began backing out of the room. When she had disappeared, Ares walked down the steps from his throne to stand glaring after her with fury. One day, he promised himself, he would rid himself, the amazons and the world at large of the bothersome, repellent creature.
But for now, he had more pressing matters to attend to. Kendaa had some explaining to do. His senses reached out. His Chosen was in the training field with some of the younger Amazons. She was demonstrating certain moves with her sword. He watched dispassionately for several moments. She moved with a light, fluid grace that was faultless. Something inside him was tearing. He was filled with pain. and growing fury.
Could he bring himself to believe what he had seen through the bitch Chaerea's eyes? He couldn't believe she'd done it. What would be her motive? He knew her well and knew that her love for him was totally unfeigned. What possible reason could she have had beyond the apparent one of providing for the future of the young ones in the Northern Realm? And to betray him? He didn't know what he believed at that moment. He did know he was furious with her though. She was going to seriously regret whatever game she was playing.
His face harsh, he prepared to send himself to her, but just as he was vanishing, Hermes appeared abruptly before him. He immediately, and with displeasure, anchored himself back in his Throne Room, glowering at the Messenger of the Gods.
"Hermes, whatever it is I don't have time for it!"
"Then you'd better make time, Ares. Zeus commands your immediate presence on Olympus."
Ares clenched his jaw in anger. "What for? This is not a good time! I am rather busy right now," he retorted angrily.
Hermes sighed. "I don't know for sure. But it has to do with your dryad Amazon. Zeus is convening the full Olympian Court of the Twelve."
Ares drew in a sharp breath. Only the most serious crimes were dealt with by the full Court of the Twelve.
Without one word to Hermes, he vanished, to reappear on Olympus almost instantaneously.
Zeus was already in the Great Hall, as were Hera, Aphrodite and Artemis.
The King of the Gods looked unusually sombre, while his wife couldn't contain her malicious grin of triumph.
"Well, well. How...appropriate. The dryad has fallen by her own hand - and betraying you into the bargain," Hera crowed in glee.
Ares' face twisted into a snarl.
"That will do! Nothing is confirmed yet," Zeus rapped out sharply.
"This is ridiculous," Ares growled. "She would not..."
"You have seen the evidence, have you not?" His mother interrupted impatiently to enquire coldly.
"Yes, but..."
"And yet you would still defend her. Strange, you've never displayed such...softness...before."
Ares fought to contain his anger, until his mother's words distracted him.
He rounded on her.
"How did you know about it?" He asked coldly.
Hera smiled - a humourless parody of the real thing. "My servant Chaerea told me. She serves me well - far better than your precious dryad has served you," she gloated openly.
The God of War felt his rage reaching its upper limit. Chaerea again. Dealing with that bitch was one pleasure he'd reserve for himself after this mess was resolved. He turned to the King of the Gods.
"I'll go to Kendaa and question her. She..."
"I forbid you from going anywhere near her, until she stands trial before the Twelve," Ares' father barked.
His son blinked in astonishment.
"Excuse me? You forbid me? She's mine! You can't forbid me!"
Zeus remained obdurate. "Nevertheless, as your King, I do forbid you. Her crime is against all the gods, therefore she will stand trial before the full Court of the Twelve - of which you are one. You will go nowhere near her."
There was something more here than met the eye. Ares frowned. "Why are you suddenly so eager to see her dead? You of all people - you who have aided her again and again," he asked with narrowed eyes.
Zeus's head raised, but his face remained cold. "I have seen the evidence. It doesn't matter what my relationship with her has been in the past. If she has done this thing, then she has betrayed my special beneficence to her and deserves to die."
Ares stared silently at his father for a long moment, while he was thinking rapidly. Even during that short space of time, Poseidon and Hades arrived.
The God of War ignored them. He remained facing the King of the Gods.
"You don't deny, at least, that she's mine." It was a statement rather than a question.
Zeus inclined his head.
Ares nodded slightly, knowing that Zeus would, by Olympian law, have to agree to what he was about to say.
Before he could open his mouth, however, Artemis cut him off.
"Excuse me, brother, but I also have some claim to the Amazon, as I'm sure you'll agree," the goddess of the Amazons calmly but pointedly told the God of War.
Her brother nodded again. "That is true, Artemis, but would you deny that I have a far more binding claim on the particular Amazon in question?"
The Goddess of the Hunt smiled slightly. "Indeed, brother. I will not hinder whatever it is you are about to propose. But be warned that I nevertheless have a particular interest in her fate - as I do in that of all the Amazons." She turned and wandered over to stand beside Hades, the small smile still on her face.
Ares, knowing she would not interfere for the time being, turned back to his father.
"By Olympian Law, I, as the nominal god and sovereign Lord of Kendaa of the Amazons, lay claim to her. By that right, I also state my intention to take her and put her to the question regarding the crime of which she stands accused." His calm, determined voice rang out throughout the Great Hall of Olympus.
Zeus glared, but Ares knew the King of the Gods could not refuse him. Beside him, Hera snorted in disgust, but remained silent. There was little she could do now that Ares had chosen to invoke Olympian Law - it was the very law under which the Amazon had been accused of betrayal of the entire Olympian pantheon.
At length, Zeus nodded grudgingly. "Very well. Take her. But you will only have her until the next full moon. Unless you are able to provide absolute proof that she did not do that of which she stands accused. If not, then on that night you will bring her here, and she will stand trial before the full Court of Olympus." The tone of the King of the Gods contained a cold finality that bothered Ares, although he could see no reason for his unease.
He nodded shortly. "It will be as you decree," he rasped out icily. He vanished before anyone could say another word to dispute his claim.