From the Annals of Bastet
The tall Amazon went down on one knee, exhausted and angry. "And the battle hasn't even started," she thought. She held up her hands after laying down her sword. The young man in front of her nodded once and returned to his place in the drill line. He looked confused.
She took a deep breath and looked back up at the officer that had been assigned to co-ordinate the Amazon troops that had been sent. He was a pig of a man, the kind of creature that every AMazon hated and every woman feared. He smiled down at the woman, cruelty evident in his gaze.
"What's the matter, baby?" He said. "Can't keep up with the big boys?" He began to laugh.
Kendaa stood up, seeming to adjust her bracelet then swiftly she kicked out at his groin, sending him sprawling and whining in pain. The general came over and glared at the Amazons as they applauded their sister's retaliation.
"You women are useless," he said. "You're undisciplined and you can't take orders from men. We're better off without you." He turned and walked away.
Kendaa began to go after him to explain, but Laurissa called her back.
"You won't win this one," her friend explained to the half-dryad. "These men don't like us here and they don't want our help. They are threatened by our strength."
Kendaa knew she was right, but it galled the champion to see the short-sightedness of the commanders. She had just taken part in a gruelling duel, a combat set up for her to lose, one way or another. If she won, she would be hated; if she lost, she would be the object of contempt. She had won all of the other challenges that this officer had arranged, and done so without drawing blood; but she had chosen to withdraw rather than put the fifth soldier she had been pitted against in danger. His young face had reflected his ambivalence at fighting her. He was afraid to fight, but had no choice. The officer had goaded him into the challenge. Kendaa had backed down rather than embarrass or injure the young man. Enough blood would soon be shed. She looked back at the young man, now at attention in line. He was so young, his boyish face reminded her of Leonides. She felt a familiar anger well up in her. So many sons and daughters were gone in the name of war. When would it ever end?
The Amazon troopers had come to the aid of a neighbouring state whose Queen had sent word that the kingdom needed help. Queen Apollena had sent a regiment of Amazons to help with the struggle against a warlord known as Lerius. Under Kendaa's command, the warrior women trained with the soldiers of the small kingdom, trying to form a unified contingent. The result had been disastrous.
Now it was evident to Kendaa why the campaign was going badly. The commanders were incompetent; the officers, cruel, and the troops disheartened by the struggle as much against their own leaders as against the enemy.
As Kendaa thought about this, she turned and went back to her sisters to confer with them about where to go from here. The troopers sat around, tending their weapons and talking as their leader approached. Lessa was the first to speak.
"I say we go home," she snapped. "To Hades with this band of sorry excuses for warriors."
"We need the trade this place provides," Klio replied. "As much as we hate these officers, the people of this small kingdom will pay the price. And with that, we will. I'm sorry, I think we need to stay and tough this out."
"I think you should complain to the Queen about this," Tedras said, putting away her sword. "She called us here. She needs to know what the problem is."
"But the Queen is not in charge," Kendaa replied, quelling the agreement of the other warriors to Tedras' comment. "The King is in charge. We came at the bidding of the Queen because she loves her people like a good mother should. But her request was not the King's."
"I still think he ought know why this campaign is going so badly," Calico added. "I just think it's only right."
"Well," Kendaa replied. "I happen to agree, Calico. But I also think that what is right and what is likely are two different things. If we bring this to his attention, we may be rubbing his nose in his own poor choices. His friend is the commander of the army. Think about it."
She walked off toward her tent to bath and put herbs on her aching muscles. The journey of Helios was almost done for the day. Tomorrow, the battle would start again in earnest and she had to be prepared for what would come. She looked around at the neighbouring forest that bordered the battleground. She decided to go into the forest to renew her energy. She looked over at Laurissa and nodded once. The communication between the two women was eerie. With the slightest nod or glance, the two could speak volumes to each other. Laurissa nodded back, knowing that the dryad-turned-human would disappear into the forest for a while and come out stronger. No one else saw the woman warrior disappear, except one. She was never far from his sight.
She sat in the water of the stream, letting the coolness wash over her. It was dark now and the woodlands were lit only by the shafts of moonlight that pierced the canopy of the forest. Kendaa felt the roughness of the rock she sat on and felt the silky smoothness of the river's bottom. She heard the rustle of the leaves as they spoke. She still thought about the words of her sisters. Should she go to the King with what she knew? Would it do any good or just cause her to be the focus of the problems created by others?
"I just don't know," she whispered.
"Welcome to the top," said a familiar deep male voice.
The half-dryad looked over to see the Warlord of Warlords leaning against a tree, watching her. She reached out and ran her arms over the surface of the water, sending waves away from her. She said nothing but looked over at him again.
The dark God of War came over to the bank and looked at her clothing, discarded in a pile. He smiled and took the belt off that held his sword, tossing it over onto a rock near by. Then he undid his vest and slid out of it, throwing it over by the sword. he took off his boots, slid out of his stockings and finally unbuttoned his pants, sliding them off and discarding them. Finally, he took off the black silk breachcloth that he wore under his pants. He stood naked in the moonlight, undoing his bracelets and letting them fall. His body was already responding to the prospect of her company. She smiled as he waded into the water and knelt down in front of her, sitting back. He ran his hands up her thighs to her waist and pulled her over onto him, kissing the valley between her breasts. She could feel his coarse beard against her breastbone.
"It always amazes me that gods wear underwear," she said, teasing him. She ran her fingers through his black hair, and felt his breath on her chest as he laughed softly.
He pulled away, looking up at her. "We have to protect our delicate god skin," he said. His earring twinkled in the moonlight.
She sighed, putting her face against his. He was holding her over him effortlessly. His strength, even as a mortal man, always excited her. He sat her on his thighs, cupping his arms around her buttocks to form a comfortable seat for her.
She drew back and looked at him again. "Did you see today?"
"Yes," he said.
"Do you think the officer was right?" She asked, feeling insecure now. "Do you think I can't keep up with the big boys?"
"You keep up with this big boy," he replied. "You keep up with Hercules. You laid waste to the Parthan renegades and devastated the warlord, Daco." He pursed his lips as he recalled that battle. "They'll never do that again. Ouch."
Kendaa smiled, kissing him and running her hands over his shoulders.
"That pig of an officer will die tomorrow," Ares said, kissing her on the chin.
The half dryad frowned. "Is that what you want?"
The dark Lord of War frowned in response. "Like so many things in war, what I want is not an issue. He's a fool and has been able, so far, to avoid leading his troops into battle. But tomorrow, he really can't avoid it anymore. And that will be that." He looked up into the golden green eyes that he loved. "Unfortunately, he is going to take a lot of innocent lives with him, like that boy you spared from humiliation today."
Kendaa sighed and her face reflected the sudden despair she felt for the young man. "Does he have to die?" She whispered sadly.
"No," the dark Lord replied. "That is up to him. And I will give him all the courage and skill I can. But the rest is up to the Fates." He kissed her on the forehead.
Kendaa ran her hands through the dark hair again and put her hands on Ares' cheeks, looking down into the dark eyes.
"Do you think I ought to complain to the King about this matter, about his troopers?" She asked.
Ares thought for a moment, looking away and then back at his lover. "I think you ought to do whatever your soul tells you to do," he answered. "And know that whatever decision you make, your sisters and I will stand behind you."
She smiled and kissed him on the lips.
He lifted her up into his arms and stood up, wading to shore to find a grassy spot.
Finis.
A note from the Shrine Guardian: Bastet wrote this story for me during a particularly difficult time, and I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude. It helped me appreciate and hang on to my own strengths when I wasn't sure I had any.
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