From the Annals of Bastet

Hebea rolled her eyes and took a deep sigh, putting her hands on her hips. The small contingent of Amazons behind her showed their frustration in various ways. Kendaa snorted and Calico muttered something under her breath. But the guards on the other end of the rope bridge which spanned the deep gorge did not move. They began to take out their swords.

"Look," Hebea said patiently. "This is really very simple. It does not take a Socrates to understand...we are entering Tingar on private business. We go to worship at the temple of Aphrodite." She began to walk forward and the Amazons behind her had closed ranks but had not made a move to arm. The guard in front began to laugh.

"First, we'll beat you all to show you who is master, then we'll have a little fun. You ladies are good looking for warriors." he said.

"So the entrance exam for this army is high marks in stupidity." Kendaa said. She crossed her arms on her chest.

The guards kept coming. They were all advancing onto the bridge now.

"In all good conscience, I must tell you to go back now." Hebea said. "I really am warning you."

They still came.

"There are more of us." said the leader.

"True." Hebea replied. She motioned to someone behind them. Lady Pegasus had flown the gorge and was on the other side cutting the ropes. "Now save your miserable skins by holding on!"

The guards grabbed what they could as the bridge gave way. The Amazons had backed off the bridge that was now descending into the ravine with men frantically holding on screaming. Kendaa was already preparing a grappling hook to secure a rope over to the other side. Lady Pegasus caught it and tied it to the nearest tree. Women came over hand over hand with their legs hooked over the rope. The last of the warrior came over and Lady Pegasus flew back and unhooked the rope and took flight for the other side just as the first guard had made it over the side.

The five Amazons disappeared into the forest leaving the men cursing at them from the other side of the gorge. Hebea led the way and discussed the mission with Kendaa and Calico. Lady Peg had flown ahead to scout out the path. Lessa brought up the rear, making sure they were not followed.

"To tell you the truth, I haven't much to go on." Hebea said to the other two. "I know that the message from Queen Jesyca was short and stated that something was in danger."

"Something..great..animal, vegetable or mineral?" Kendaa replied.

Hebea frowned at her.

"Sorry, I don't know what comes over me." Kendaa said rolling her eyes. "I cut short a hunting trip that included a visit with Hercules so you'll pardon me if I am just a little annoyed."

Calico smiled, "You're kidding. Is he back from Nemia?"

"Yes and he sent word through a runner from Corinth that he would meet me and any of the other Amazons up on the slopes of Mt. Etna. The harpies up there are worth hunting." Kendaa replied.

"And just when were you going to tell the rest of us about this invitation?" Hebea said.

"I was getting around to it."

"Oh, you were getting around to it, at the last moment when the rest of us would have plans or orders from the Queen." Calico answered back. "You are evil, Kendaa of the Amazons. Evil, evil, evil." She laughed. "You just want him all for yourself."

"Oh, Imagine that." Hebea replied.

The three continued to squabble, laughing and exchanging barbs until Lady Pegasus came into sight, landing in a clearing and taking her bow off her back. Lessa caught up with the group. They all began to arm readying themselves for a fight. Lady Pegasus motioned that soldiers were coming in their direction. Hebea asked how many in sign and Lady Peg replied with two flashes of her hand.

"Ten men." Kendaa said. "Two each. What do you think?"

"Ordinarily I would say, 'go for it' but I want all of us there and in good health." Hebea replied. She pointed upward and the four took out their tree ropes and ascended into the trees above. Hebea made a sign to Lady Pegasus. She slung her bow and grabbed a branch still full with leaves. Flying low she wiped clean the tracks they had made for a distance then landed, threw the branch aside and started in a different direction on foot to throw the soldiers off. Hebea called to her as she went.

"A quarter of a league, then join us." she said.

"Done." the horsewoman called back as she disappeared into the forest.

From the trees the Amazons saw the soldiers come through.

"No sign yet, sir." said the forward guard.

"I thought they would make better time but I guess not." said the leader. "The Amazons march in single file to cover their numbers so the tracks may not be very obvious." he continued to the others. The soldiers were looking around nervously and had their swords at the ready as they advanced through the woods.

"They say that the Amazons are ten feet tall." said another as he looked around the clearing. He looked under a bush.

"We're ten feet tall," Kendaa whispered to Calico, "but we can hide under bushes that wouldn't hide a rabbit." Calico winked at her.

"They say that they're fierce in battle and take no prisoners. They're all the daughters of furies and can..."

"Cut the crap!"said the leader. "Just keep an eye out. They have to have come this way."

The forward guard yelled. "Here's their trail. They have veered off into the woods."

The Amazons hidden by the foliage watched as the soldiers disappeared into the woods following the false trail.

"The daughters of furies? Yeah, right." Lessa said as they descended back to the ground and continued on their mysterious mission.

Part 2

The Amazons continued on their journey toward the City State of Tingar. Once near the Royal City, they covered their war garb with long capes that hid their weapons and Lady Pegasus' famed wings. They bound their staffs and bows unstrung together and wound them with bandages to make them look more like ordinary walking sticks. They had traveled day and night to get to the city. Hebea had been told to go to an inn at the outskirts of the city. There an agent of the queen would meet her. She paid for the room and spun a tale to the innkeeper about their purpose as pilgrims on their way to the temple of Aphrodite that lay in the next valley. Tingar was a small principality that had little value as a place to be conquered. It lay nestled behind the lands of the Amazons and a steep mountain range so it enjoyed peace and but got few visitors. Its army was small and poorly organized and when danger came the queen, a distant relative of the Amazon royal lady, had in the past called upon the warrior women for assistance. Lately however, the old queen had developed poor health according to the reports received by Queen Apollena and the day to day management of Tingar's throne had been taken over by the Queen's nephew Gartico who in the past had been hostile to the Amazons. So when the message of danger had come to the Amazon Queen she advised her war party to proceed with caution and contact the Queen through a secret emissary.

The tired party of women went to the room after a short meal of soup, bread and ale. They began to bed down and drew lots for which two would get the bed, and which would get the floor.

Lessa threw back the thin blanket on the bed and wrinkled her nose. "Uh, I don't think that we will be the only two living things in this bed." she said to Calico. Calico put her hands on her hips and snorted.

"Five dinars for a room with pets." she said. "I'm taking the floor."

"Well, I don't care." Kendaa said. "I'm dead on my feet." She wrapped herself in her heavy cloak and lay down and in an instant was sound asleep.

Lessa shook her head and laughed. "That woman could sleep hanging upside down from a tree with an arrow in her." she said as she began to change into plainer clothes. "It's a gift." With that she pulled on a plain suede vest and short skirt and slung her short sword on her back. "I'm going out to look around."

"You don't look much like a pilgrim." Lady Pegasus said to Lessa as she arranged her cloak around her and nestled her wings behind her shoulders.

Lessa smiled as she opened the door. "I'm a pilgrim with an attitude!" she answered winking and disappeared.

Hebea laid out her cloak on the floor. Lady Peg had taken the other spot on the sad, bug-infested pallet. Calico was sitting by the window for a moment looking at the moon. "It's a full moon." she said absently almost to herself. "A wolf moon. The kind that brings out the dark ones."

Hebea looked up for a moment and wondered again what she had for a long time. Calico had gone into a dark netherworld sometime before. She talked little about that world and what she had been through down there. But ever since she had returned she would periodically say things that chilled the others; as if she had developed an arcane knowledge.

"Are you all right?" Hebea said quietly.

Calico looked at her and smiled. "Yes. Sorry if I troubled you."

"You never told us much." Hebea answered, knowing that Calico knew what she was referring to.

"I know. It's hard to tell about it. It's hard to put into words. Sometimes I just know things now and I'm not sure how I know them." She looked back at the moon. "Like right now. Something is going to happen tonight. I know it." She settled back on the window sill and watched. "Get some rest, sister. I'll keep watch."

Hebea thought about replying then changed her mind and went to sleep. Soon she was in the dream world and wrapped in the arms of a tall hero.

Lessa drew a little attention as she left the inn. Two men eyed her drunkenly and followed her out into the street. Lessa looked back at them as they followed her and laughed quietly which made them follow her with more interest.

The young Amazon had an impulsive, capricious nature when it came to all things except the making of war, her profession. Her present fatigue made her all the more unpredictable even to herself but she knew that these two were foolish drunks who would regret their plan of cornering her. It entertained her to toy with them but as she walked in the market place now quiet except for the prostitutes and the dealers in those things which were best not advertised openly, she realized it was also better not to make a scene. She picked up her pace and disappeared into the shadows leaving the stupid fellows calling after her.

Lessa was also a creature of the night. She abhorred the morning and during her early training as a cadet Amazon had come close to killing someone who had dragged her out of bed in an early morning muster. But patience had taught her to tolerate the morning though now as then she came alive at night. Since she was a night creature, she had an instinct for the places night creatures went. She followed her senses to that part of the city that catered to the night people. Soon she was making her way into a dilapidated, poorly lit tavern. Heads bobbed up to look at her then turned back to their business. The bartender was an enormous satyr half-man, half-goat. He looked up at her as she walked up to the bar.

"Greetings, stranger. What is your brew?" he said.

She was surprised at his friendliness. It made her wary.

"Eh, I'm lost. I'm looking for the temple of Hephaestus. Isn't it around here somewhere?" she said trying to look innocent.

"Ah, yes it is. It's just over on the next block. But it is closed to worshippers right now on account of the fire." he answered back in a more than friendly tone.

She paused for a moment as men began approaching from all sides. "Well," she said to herself, "five fools to one Am...." then she stopped herself and looked at the satyr. "I wasn't really looking for the temple..."

"There was never any fire." he replied beginning to draw a knife.

Lessa swung onto the bar and drew her sword. As she did, she kicked over the brazier that he had burning on the bar. "There is now!" she said as hot coals flew out at her enemies. Men scattered to avoid the burning projectiles. Lessa kicked the knife out of the satyr's hand and ran down to the end of the bar and jumped up to a balcony that led to the upper quarters. Once up on the second floor, made her way through some rooms surprising the occupied prostitutes and their customers but was gone before they had time to do more than gasp. She went through a window and onto the rooftops, jumped an alleyway or two and was gone from the tawdry scene. She let the breeze on the rooftop blow her hair free and took a deep breath wondering what she was after. She sat down for a moment then got her bearings and went down the colonnade on the front of the building. Back in the streets she began to walk down to the market place again.

Lessa had walked all the night through the streets and alleys. She felt like she was looking for something but could not seem to find it. Finally, she decided to go back to the room and get a few hours sleep before the mission progressed.

As she went back into the inn, it was deserted now in the early morning hours. She surveyed the room and found only one figure hunched over a bowl at the table. She walked past the figure toward the room.

"Psst."

She turned around and looked at the shrouded figure. "Excuse me, are you talking to me?"

"Yes," the figure whispered, "Are you one of the Amazons?"

"Why?"

"Look, I've been waiting here for hours," it went on in a hushed tone, "The queen sent me to find the Amazon war party she sent for."

"And how would this war party you wait for know you?" Lessa answered sitting down. She tried to see the face but it was covered.

"The queen told me to say that I come to meet the forum," the figure answered still whispering.

"First show me your face."

The figure looked up and Lessa gasped. "Iphicles!"

Part 3

Lessa motioned the tall dark warrior to follow her and she returned to the room. Calico was still by the window, snoozing now but woke up to gasp at the sight of the brother of Hercules. The others were awake in an instant.

Lessa told Hebea that Iphicles had known the password phrase that would identify the agent and Hebea nodded and motioned Iphicles to sit down.

Kendaa went over to Calico still sitting by the window and sat down herself. The cool night breeze helped to wake her from her deep sleep. Lessa leaned against the wall beside her watching the dark brother of Hercules as he surveyed the women in the room quickly.

"Is this all of you?" he said in a whisper.

"It's enough." Hebea replied. "Now tell us how we can help. What is the problem?"

Iphicles sat down and looked around as if trying to find words. Then he folded his hands in his lap and looked up at Hebea saying nothing. He seemed to be waiting for something.

Hebea frowned. "Iphicles, if something is wrong, you'll have to help us by telling us. Whatever it is...we'll deal with it together. Now tell me, why did the Queen send for us?" Kendaa was yawning, trying to wake up when she caught something out of side of her vision. She swore under her breath. Calico saw it too and became alarmed.

"Well, Iphicles," Kendaa said as she went for her staff. "There are soldiers coming. It appears you led them right to us." The women scrambled to get armed.

They heard the sound of bootsteps in the hall. Calico motioned that soldiers were outside the window also.

"We're surrounded." she said to Iphicles as she tried to hand him her sword.

"I know." he replied getting up. He made no move to take the weapon. "I'm sorry. I had no choice."

The Amazons all froze trying to take in his words. They looked to Hebea for guidance. She begun to ready her staff when she stopped to look at him also in dismay. "I don't know what is going on, Iphicles. I don't understand what they've done to make you surrender to them but as for us, we are not going without a fight." she finally said. The others nodded and the Amazons prepared for the fight.

The door to their room crashed open as men behind it forced the door with their weight. A tall sallow man stood in the doorway. Hebea recognized him from the description Apollena had given her and his fine clothing. This was Gartico. Behind him stood a tall dark shadow of a warrior. He stepped into the light of the room.

"Hercules!" several of the Amazons said in unison. He looked at the women without recognition and then looked at Gartico.

Hebea thought of putting up a fight but changed her mind. There were too many and the presence of Hercules and his brother acting so strangely had her completely baffled. She also realized she did not want to put her Amazons in the position of having to fight the legendary hero. She motioned to the others and dropped her weapons putting her hands up in surrender. As she did, she looked at Hercules but he avoided meeting her gaze. The Duke of Tingar ordered the guards to put the Amazons into chains.

The warrior women were shackled, taken to the palace and put into separate cells in a prison wing. They could do no more now but wait. Confusion about the turn of events was evident in their glances at each other before each disappeared into her own dismal hole. Most chilling was the fact Hercules had avoided any eye contact with any the Amazons. He and his brother had followed the Duke quietly not speaking to each other or to anyone else. They looked solemn.

Part 4

Hercules and Iphicles stood before the duke as he sat in the throne room. The room was empty except for the duke, several guards and the two men who stood silently before Gartico with little expression on their faces.

The duke smiled and stroked the small beard that came to a point below his chin. "This is going beautifully. The Amazons were a small setback but with the right persuasion I knew I could convince my aunt to give me the information I needed. How she had managed to get word out to Apollena I don't know yet but I will find out." He smiled again and eyed the two men. "My greatest prizes." he said greedily.

"Can we see her once more?" Hercules said.

"Yes, go." Gartico snapped. He dismissed the two with a wave of his hand and they left the room with guards at their heels. The two went down a dark stairway to a small dungeon below the throne room. The hallway to the small cell was dank and smelled of brackish water and death. The two men's faces had not changed somber expression.

They came up to the small cell door and looked in. The guards by the door made no move to give them privacy but the two men did not seem to care. Their stares were for the small figure within.

"Mistress?" Hercules said.

"Wake up!" said Iphicles.

Within the dirty cell a small figure began to move. Covers rustled and a thin woman with long white hair looked up at the faces at the door.

"Are you alright?" she said.

"Yes, we're fine." Hercules replied.

Who is it whose form you take? And what plan does the Duke have for you that you need to look like these men? she thought. Her companions heard her thoughts.

We don't know. Some plan of revenge. thought the one who looked like Iphicles.

And they have captured the Amazons that Jesyca sent for. thought the one who looked like Hercules.

Is there one among them with very long golden hair? the mistress thought to them.

Yes, they call her..

Calico... yes I know. Good. This is turning for the better. It is a wolf moon again tonight and she and her sisters will know how to take the upper hand with these fools. she thought to them again. The two men looked puzzled.

The small woman rubbed her hands together thinking. Hmmm she thought. Then she looked down at her nails. My stars, my nails are filthy!!

Hercules snorted and beat his head gently on the door. Iphicles shook his head. Mistress, he thought, this is no time to worry about your nails. How will we get you out and get us all home safe?

Do not worry, my beauties, things are not as bad as they seem. All things happen for a reason.

We know. the one who looked like Hercules replied silently.

Go to the Amazons. Seek them out for help. This kind of thing is just what they are trained for. the Mistress thought to them.

"Okay, that's enough" said the guard. The two men started. They stared angrily at the guard who was pushing them away from the cell.

The guards behind them laughed and shoved them around. They made no move to defend themselves which entertained the guards even more.

They treat you this way because you are not Hercules and his brother. she thought to them as they made their way down the passage with the guards at their heels.

We know. Why are these humans be so cruel? the one who looked like Iphicles answered her with his mind. But the woman did not hear him. She had gone back into a state of meditation.

Calico sat in the dank cell and contemplated the plight in which they were embroiled knowing that each of her sisters was doing the same. What could make the son of Zeus submit to this minor duke in a small country? The Amazon could only guess. She wondered if the spiteful and powerful Queen of the gods had something to do with it. She shivered to think that Hera might finally have gotten her fondest wish of dominating the hero of the Greeks. She began to drift off and finally slept but her dreams were dark and fearful.

Toward the early morning light, she woke to the sound of scratching. She got up from the floor and went to the door. The guards were away from the door, over at the table gambling. She heard the scratching again and then saw a small kitten jump through the window of the cell door and tumble onto the floor. The black kitten looked around for a moment and then ran to the corner of the cell. Calico watched with a mixture of suspicion and awe as the small creature began to blur and then lost all shape. It became a shadowy form that grew and expanded upward and within a moment the tall figure of Hercules stood in the shadow of the corner motioning her to silence.

She went to the door. The guards were still gambling. Then she went to Hercules. The Amazon was unsure what to do. Part of her wanted to embrace him but her rational side realized now that the man they had seen was not Iphicles and this was not Hercules. He motioned her to him and held her close so he could whisper. As she gazed up at the icy blue eyes she had to admit even if he was not Hercules, this was exciting. He put his face close to hers so he could whisper in her ear. The smell of the leather and clean sweat was intoxicating.

"Listen to me, please." he whispered, "Are you the Amazon called Calico?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"I'm sorry for all this. We did not want to take the shapes of these men but we had no choice." said the man.

Calico put her hand on his chest. She could feel him breathing fast and his heart pounding.

"Alright. Tell me quickly who you are and what is the problem. I don't know how much time we have together." She stepped over and glanced out the cell window again. The men were still gambling. She came back to him quickly and stood close again.

"My name is Caylan." he whispered, "I'm a changeling."

"I thought changelings were a myth."she said softly.

"Some say that the warrior women called Amazons are a myth." he replied smiling. It was the same dazzling smile of Hercules. "Queen Jesyca told us of your coming before she died."

"Queen Jesyca is dead?" Calico whispered sadly. "How?"

"Gartico killed her trying to find out about the message for help that she sent. In the end she couldn't hold up under the pain and she told him everything."

"Gartico's a real sweetheart. Go on."

"Gartico has captured the sorceress from whom we get our powers to change and holds her under guard. She told me to seek you out. To ensure her safety, we will do what Gartico says. He knows that if she dies, we will lose our powers and soon die ourselves...." Caylan said.

Commotion outside the cell made the two of them start. Calico glanced again out the cell window and saw that the guards were bringing food to the prisoners. She turned back to Caylan and saw only the kitten looking up at her. She backed off to the back of the cell as the door opened and men came in with bowl of gruel and a cup of water. They had swords drawn. The tiny black kitten slipped out of the cell without being noticed and disappeared down the shadowy hallway.

Part 5

Breakfast such as it was had been served and the guards changed. The new contingent of guards continued the tradition of gambling in the center of the room and talking amongst themselves not paying much attention to their prisoners.

Calico took that opportunity to begin to sing. She sang in the lilting tongue of the Amazons long ago before they had been forced to take up the sword and the staff. In the ancient times, before the advent of the patriarchy of male gods that dominated women and the world, the people had worshipped a female god, the mother and the maker. The great goddess had given the Amazons the language of Kooshon. With the coming of the Greeks to the plains, the Amazons had taken up the art of war to defend their land. The war of the genders had begun and the Kooshon language had all but died out.

When the forum was formed, one of the things that they did was to bring back their ancient tongue and use it to communicate secretly with each other. It was a sing-song language that inspired awe when used in music. The soldiers outside the cell of Calico didn't pay it much attention but as she sang quietly she was telling her sisters of the information she had learned.

And let us avenge her death with victory over the duke. Let us be strong in a world which is weak." she finished. In an instant the voices of the other Amazons replied.

"Let us be strong in a world which is weak." they all replied in unison. The soldiers began to notice and one of the guards ordered them to be quiet. But the message had already been sent to the others and now the Amazons were readying themselves for the next move.

Hebea considered the information that Calico had passed to her through the ancient tongue of Kooshon. The leader of the war party contemplated the cruel death of the Queen of Tingar and the ruthless captivity of the two changelings and their sorceress. She realized now why Iphicles had been hesitant to speak. He had been sent only to find out how many Amazons there were and then to wait for the soldiers to arrive.

But the fact that one of the two changelings had escaped and come to warn the Amazons troubled the leader. Perhaps there was more here than met the eye. She called out to her sisters in a the ancient tongue,

The others agreed. The soldiers were quelling them again now with curses and the women warriors waited patiently for the right time to act. The day dragged on into night and the full wolf moon was out again high in a cloudless sky. The tiny windows above them in each cell reflected the bright moonlight. Calico looked at the wolf moon and felt again the eerie sensation she had had that night before when they were in the inn room.

"The wolf moon is up again, sisters." she said in the language the guards could understand.

"Be quiet." said the sergeant.

"Then perhaps the death spirits will come out." said Kendaa from her cell. She could hear the guards cursing and the sound of keys being jingled.

"If you women don't shut up. I'm going to come in there and beat you." the sergeant said again.

Kendaa could hear men laughing and swearing and making impossible boasts about what they would do.

"A night for the furies." said Lessa.

"A night for blood rage." replied Lady Pegasus.

"Let us call for the bones of our enemies to rise up and serve us once again in battle." said Hebea. Although her face was impassive, inside she was laughing.

"I'm warning you!" said the sergeant again but this time he sounded a little less sure.

The Amazons became quiet. The soldiers became quiet. It was a test of wills to see who could would last out in the war of nerves. One of the soldiers crept over to Calico's cell, thinking that he was undetected. He peaked in surreptitiously to find the Amazon standing up in the rays of the moonlight with her back to him and her arms outstretched. Her long hair fell about her shoulders and down her back. She was naked from the waist up and seemed to be rapt in some mystical prayer.

The soldier crept back to the others. "I think she's doing some sort of witchcraft." he whispered.

The amazons could hear the soldiers begin to curse and whisper amongst themselves. The sergeant ordered them to calm down but he didn't sound too convincing.

"Damn." he said. "If anything happens...okay, get two of them out and let's see what they are up to."

The soldiers went over to Calico's and Lessa's cell. The keys threw the heavy bolts free and two men each came in of the dismal holes with swords drawn. Calico had slipped her vest back on. She stood now facing the soldiers with the radiant moonlight flowing around her. She had an odd smile on her face and as they came in she stretched out her arms as if to beckon to them. This took the two men by surprise. They looked at the beautiful Amazon warrior with golden hair flowing around her in the moonlight, looked at each other for reassurance and began to walk toward her laughing slyly. Calico could hear the men in the next cell laugh as Lessa spoke to them.

The soldiers never knew what hit them. From calm to chaos in a heartbeat; the two Amazons attacked quickly with smooth, unbroken movements that took out the four soldiers in an instant. With the doors open, they stormed into the room where three more men including the sergeant stood with their mouths gaping to see the women come out of the cells free and ready for battle. The soldiers reacted but not quickly enough and the sergeant was alone before he could call out for help. Lessa had him at sword point while Calico freed the others.

Hebea sat on the bench with legs crossed and her back leaning against the table. She looked at the sergeant whose eyes were wide with terror while she picked delicately at the bunch of grapes that were left on the table. Her foot swung impatiently. He looked at Kendaa and Lessa on either side of him and gulped.

"Are you the furies?" he said.

"We are the Amazons." Hebea said quietly. "As you are an idiot, you obviously do not understand what that means and up until now that has served our purposes. However...now you must understand that if you do not tell me what I want to know, I can and will hurt you so badly that your ancestors will feel it."

The sergeant whitened. "I don't know anything..." he whined, "We went to an island and the duke went into a cave and they came out with her and we left.... all this magic... I don't know, I'm just a soldier...I..." He fainted dead away.

"...Your ancestors will feel it?" Kendaa said to Hebea as they watched the pathetic man collapse.

"Where did that come from??"

"This whole mission is turning out to be annoying." Hebea replied. "And these brutish wimps are beginning to get on my nerves."

"But there is someone around here who, one...looks like Hercules and, two.. needs our help." Lady Pegasus said, "now that lends a positive aspect to this otherwise unpleasant mission."

"True." Hebea replied.

"And Iphicles...let's not forget him....whoever he is." Lessa added.

They all agreed.

Calico was laughing softly. She pulled the unconscious sergeant into the cell with the other men, tied and gagged him and locked the door again.

"So now what?" she said.

The first order of business was to find a safe place. Hebea had been in this castle once before when she was young. She had come here as a young Amazon accompanying her mother and other warriors to the coronation of Jesyca. While her mother did her duty as one of the royal escort of the Amazon Queen, Hebea had taken to exploring the castle. She was particularly interested in the dungeon area as she had found that it had many passage ways and hidden rooms. When Queen Jesyca had found out that the girl was interested in this, she had given her a personal tour. Jesyca saw no need to hide anything as she was a woman of peace. She had shown the girl passages and rooms that Hebea to this day could remember. The Amazon leader led her party through the bowels of the castle and to a room. By now they had gone through twists and turns, up stairs and through crawl ways and no one was sure what was north or south. The room had no windows and was probably somewhere under the main part of the castle. By the looks of the passages and the room itself, no one had been here for years. Lessa lit a torch and the women sat down on the cold stone floor and got out the food they had gathered from the guards table before they had departed.

The sister soldiers came together to conspire. They discussed all that they had found out and all that they felt.

"I cannot escape a feeling of dread." Calico said as she sipped some wine. She tore off a piece of bread from the loaf. "As much as I would like to think that these people are sincere, I wonder if there is more here than we know. And sorcery!" She shivered. "The thought of it makes me nervous."

"Well, we really can't decide anything." Hebea said. "All we can do is be prepared to jump either way."

"I agree." Kendaa added. "Perhaps they are not being forced... but I would feel terrible if they sent for our help and we deserted them."

"So how do we find out which way to jump?" Lessa asked.

"I know the room of which the changeling spoke." Hebea replied. "If the sorceress is there then we can locate her and perhaps at least talk to her. With that, we may be able to decide if this plea for help is real."

"What could the duke be up to to have the changelings take these forms?" Lessa said.

"I could think of a thousand reasons." Kendaa replied. "Substitute the changelings for the real ones to have them in his control. Then he would control the city of Corinth that Iphicles rules. And use Hercules at the head of his army."

"But these aren't the real ones." Lady Pegasus stated.

"Doesn't matter. People trust Hercules and his brother. By the time that the problem is sorted out, Gartico could have done a lot of damage." Hebea replied. "We must also consider the possibility that Hera is involved..."

"Oh, duh!" Kendaa whispered.

Hebea gave her a piercing look and went on, "If so, then Hercules and Iphicles are also in danger. This Gartico is not smart enough to destroy the son of Zeus. But Hera may be and with her help that just may put the balance in his favor. So I say we go talk to this sorceress and go from there." The others nodded their approval of the plan.

The Amazons left the cell and Hebea looked down the corridors taking the torch from her sister. "If my senses are right, the throne room is in that direction. We should come to a central hall. I think however that the room she is being held in does not join with any other of the underground passages. We're going to have to go up and find our way to the corridor that leads to the throne room. In that hall there is a door behind some curtains that leads to an underground cell." she said. "This is going to be a little tricky."

Part 6

The Amazons made their way to through the passages of the castle until they came to a door which would bring them into the main hall of the building. Once here, the mission would get a little more eventful as they realized that they would face the guards in the palace again. This was not of great concern as so far the army of Tingar had not proved to be difficult. But now the women had to consider the fate of the changelings and the mysterious sorceress that held their power. Hebea conferred with her warrior quietly in the darkness of the secret passage.

"Ideas?" she said.

"One of us should go out there and lead them away." Lady Pegasus said. "I volunteer."

"Maybe a few of us should go together. That way we have the strength of numbers if cornered." Lessa added.

"Okay, you two go first..." Hebea replied. She went on to tell them the course they should take and the plan of the building. "Meet us back here if you can. If not, we will all have to improvise."

"Our middle name." Kendaa said watching her sisters go out into the hall. The Amazons left behind heard a commotion in the hall as their sisters were spotted by the guards. They waited until they could hear no more noise then slowly opened the door and looked around the hall. The door was hidden by the large tapestry. They snuck out behind the large wallhanging and Hebea peered into the hall. It was clear.

The three women left went down the hall that was clear now as men were running here and there to find the Amazons loose in the castle. Hebea located the hall where another door led into a small passage and down the stairs to a single cell. Once inside the passage, the warriors saw that the way was lit with torches. They stood at the top of a stairwell down. Hebea turned to the others.

"We'll surely meet guards down there." she whispered.

Calico smiled. Then she took off the vest and the short skirt. Now she was dressed only in the scantiest leather pants. She pulled her hair about her shoulders and the long golden mane flowed down her chest covering her breasts. She slipped out of her boots and handed everything to Kendaa who laughed quietly.

"Poor bastards." she whispered.

Calico stepped down the stairs and could see clearly down the hall now to the end. Two guards stood there looking at her, probably waiting for a change of guard. The two men smiled and looked at each other surprised.

"Well, well." said one of them, "what do we have here?"

Calico smiled as she sauntered down the hall, swinging her hips. "Hello, boys. It must get lonely down here."

They both nodded. As she neared them, she put out her arms and cupped her hands around their faces. They were practically drooling. She walked between them and leaned her back against the door of the cell. They turned and faced her and one began to undo his shirt while the other was taking off his belt. Then they both went down with a thud. Standing behind them were the other two Amazons. They had used the hilts of swords taken in the prison room to brain the soldiers.

Calico got back into her clothes as the other two looked into the bleak little cell. In the darkness, all they could see was a small figure curled up under a blanket. Calico began to get a very strange feeling. She shook her head.

"I know this woman." she whispered.

Hebea looked at her amazed. "How can you? We can't even see who is in there."

"I do! I know this woman!"

The covers of the tiny pallet began to move and a small head poked out from beneath the blankets. A pale thin face looked up at the warriors.

"Oh," she said, smiling, "Excellent...you're here."

Hebea looked at the others. Kendaa shrugged and Calico smiled back at the woman after nodding to Hebea.

"You're the woman I met with Tai. The one in blue who came into my room in temple of Bastet." Calico said.

"Remarkable!" the woman replied. "Excellent powers of recall. I am so glad to meet you again, Calico of the Amazons. You got home in one piece, I see." she said getting up. It was then that the Amazons realized that the sorceress was chained to the wall.

"Is there any way you can get out of the chain?" Calico said.

The small woman shook her head. Long white hair fell around her face. "The chain was forged by magic and holds me here." she said sadly, "Else I would change into a cat and run away. Do you like cats?"

"Yes, I do." Calico said laughing softly at the odd presentation of someone in so much danger.

"And I would love to talk to you more about them but right now..."

"Right now we are a little busy!" Hebea cut her off exasperated.

Kendaa was already looking at the lock. Her brief time in the company of thieves such as Autolycus had taught her a thing or two about the nature of lockpicking. "Let's hope that this lock is like everything else in this place." she muttered as she used a small pin to open the tumblers of the mechanism.

The lock proved to be easy to pick and soon the Amazons were inside. Hebea looked at the chain. It was solid but did not seem to be extraordinary. She yanked on it then motioned the other two. Together the three strong women tore the chain from the wall to the surprise of the sorceress who watched in amazement.

"Oh, my." the woman said afterward. "Brute force. How innovative!" She smiled up at the taller women as she stood. They realized she was barely five feet. "Well then, let's go!" she said.

"You couldn't do that?" Hebea said. "You're a sorceress for the gods' sake!"

"Whatever." the woman replied.

Calico was standing next to her. "I never got to ask you your name."

"Waart."

"Waart??" the three warriors answered in unison.

"Yes, Waart."

"First," Kendaa said taking the small woman by the hand, and leading her down the dank passage, "we have to get the Hades out of here, get your changelings and our warrior sisters and go home but then, honey...we are definitely getting you a new name."

Part 7

Once out in the hall, Lessa and Lady Peg were spotted by guards at the door of the throne room. The Amazons took off running and with them went the befuddled guards who were apparently unaware of the secret door. To them it appeared as if the Amazons had materialized out of thin air. At the end of the hall the two split up. Lessa went right and Lady Pegasus left. They picked up more guards as the alarm was called. Lessa went to a palace window and surveyed the drop. She shrugged. "Not bad." she said and leapt up onto the sill and out onto the ledge. From there she was away with guards trying to follow.

Lady Pegasus used her unique talent. At the end of the hall she went left and that took her down a series of halls and to a large room with a large divided staircase leading up to a second story hall. She flew directly up leaving her little gaggle of guards to negotiate the stairs. Flying down the hall she came to another door, went through it and closed it behind her throwing the massive bolt closed. She turned around from locking the door to see a huge bedroom lit by a fireplace. For a moment the Amazon just stood transfixed. Standing at a table stood what looked to be Hercules. She knew now that this was one of the changelings. He had been bathing when she burst into the room and was wrapped in only the scantiest towel around his hips.

Guards were pounding at the door jarring Lady Pegasus from her state of shock.

"As much as this pains me and believe me it does, you need to put some clothing on." she said. "We have to get out of here." She was already looking around for a means of escape. She went to the window.

"I won't leave." he said quietly. "As long as the mistress is in bondage, I will obey Gartico." He finished washing and began to dry himself off. The guards were hammering at the door. He looked back at the Amazon. "You'd best save yourself. She told us you could help but I'm not so sure." He went and sat on the bed. "I don't want any of you to get hurt. There's been enough injury."

Lady Pegasus looked out the window and then at the sturdy door which still held against the men outside. She walked quickly over to the changeling and cupped his face in her hands. "Look, I know that this seems hopeless but you have to come with me. You have no guarantee that Gartico will not kill your mistress anyway after he gets what he wants. At best, he will keep her prisoner indefinitely to have power over you. Do you really think that's what she wants?"

The changeling seemed confused. "She....she did tell us to seek the Amazons out. That you would help us. I just don't know..." then suddenly his face lit up in surprise. He jumped up and smiled at her.

"They did it. They broke the chain. I can feel it. She's free."

"Now will you put on some clothes and come with me??" the Amazon asked hoping the door would hold a little longer.

"I don't need clothes." he said laughing.

"A sentiment most of my Amazon friends would agree with but right now..."

"No, I can change into anything you want me to be!"

"Oh, right...how about a bird?" But as soon as she spoke, the changeling blurred and shrank and a hawk flew out the window with the winged Amazon on his tail feathers.

Lessa was leading her growing band of followers on a merry chase. It was becoming evident why Queen Jesyca had always sent for the Amazons during times of need for martial strength. Lessa laughed to herself that she and a handful of forum members could probably seize and hold this palace fairly easily. Lessa was just about to elude them for good when she realized that she was by accident back in the main hall. The throne room door was open and within stood Gartico with the changeling Iphicles by him with a strange fine rope around the changeling's neck that the duke held. The rope hung loosely between the two men.

The scene took the Amazon by surprise long enough for her to lose her edge in the chase and in a moment she was surrounded by the impotent guards who began to push her into the room toward the duke. The duke smiled as the Amazon was brought before him. He took the opportunity to sit down in the throne.

"Come in, come in, my dear." he said. His voice was quiet but the woman warrior could hear the anger in his tone. "I have overestimated my countrymen and underestimated the Amazons. It appears that these idiots have allowed your friends to free the sorceress. By now Caylan has felt the breach of the bond. He's probably escaped. But I still have Ssen and that will bring them both back. The sorceress won't leave without her little charges." He pulled on the rope and Ssen looked at him angrily then came over to the throne and stood quietly.

"You see," Gartico went on to the Amazon who stood before him now with her hands bound behind her, "while my stupid aunt held a pitiful throne on a nameless piece of dirt, I traveled the world learning all that I could about the black arts. While other men seek the treasures of gold, I sought the treasure of the knowledge and control of power. Ssen cannot change as long as I have this rope around him. The chain that held the sorceress was forged in hellfire. It has been broken from the wall but she cannot remove it and so her powers are still curbed." The duke got up from the throne. " The wolf moon is still high in the evening sky and will be on the rise again tomorrow night for the last time so a time of particular power is available to me. I still have one of the changelings. Not what I had hoped for... but enough for me now." He ordered the two prisoners taken to his wing of the palace and accompanied them there himself.

Part 8

Hebea, Kendaa, and Calico led the sorceress out through the passage and stopped at the door which led to the main hall. The three Amazons were discussing what to do next but while they spoke the sorceress had slipped past them and was at the door now opening it quietly.

"Wait." Hebea said. "I'm not sure that it is safe out there."

The funny little woman turned and looked at her quizzically. "Small minds are easily controlled." she said softly. Then she slipped out into the hall with the three Amazons in pursuit. Calico caught up with her first.

"Look," she said, "we want to help you but you have to let us!"

As she spoke guards rounded the corner and spied the women. "Damn."Calico muttered and drew her sword readying herself.

But the sorceress cleared her throat and spoke, "There is no one here." she said quietly.

The guards looked around amazed. "Didn't you see something?"he said to his partners. "I could have sworn that I saw one of the Amazons here with someone!"

"Me too!" said another, "All this black magic stuff has got all of us turned around."

They looked around as if there was no one there. As they moved toward them now the sorceress motioned Calico to step aside to avoid them and the guards went on past them. From behind the tapestry the other two Amazons stepped out cautiously and all three exchanged looks of surprise.

"That talent will come in handy for us." Hebea said, "but why have you not used it before."

"It wasn't the time." the sorceress said. "All things happen..."

"...for a reason." said the voice of Hercules. The Amazons turned to see the changeling Caylan standing before them. He went to the sorceress and embraced her kissing her fondly on the forehead.

She looked up at the likeness of the massive warrior. "This Hercules, he is a beautiful man."she said quietly. "And a great spirit."

"That he is." Calico said in reply.

Caylan turned to the Amazons. "Your winged warrior is safe on a battlement where I left her to come and seek out the mistress. When I flew over the palace, I saw one of the Amazons being taken away with Ssen."

"That would be Lessa." Calico said.

Caylan turned to the sorceress. "Gartico has a harnessing rope."

"Which means?" Hebea asked.

"Which means that he cannot change while Gartico has him bound by the rope's magic." the sorceress answered. "But no mind. We will solve that problem when we get there." The sorceress closed her eyes for a moment. She seemed lost in thought. Then she frowned and looked at Caylan.

"Go back and seek the winged Amazon. Bring her to us. We will need all the warriors to get Ssen and the last Amazon." Caylan changed and flew away through a window.

"He will guide your comrade to wherever we go. He follows me with his mind." the sorceress explained to the Amazons. "Ssen and your Amazon have been taken to a place of Gartico's power. It is here in the palace. I can follow Ssen with my mind as we are all connected. Let us go. Be calm. The guards cannot detect us as long as we are not on their level of fear. If you are calm and proceed with courage and focus, we will be safe."

The Amazons intuitively understood her. In the rage of battle, the human spirit could take two directions. It could sink to a level of fear and survival or it could rise to a level of courage and focus on victory. One could end up at the same outcome taking either path but the aftermath was what broke most warriors who took the path of fear. The warrior who relied on fear and a need to survive could rarely do so over and over as she eventually became a danger to her comrades. The Amazons followed the sorceress as they walked through the palace past guards and servants. The sensation was strange to them.

The party left the main palace and went to the wing which appeared to be added on recently. The halls were newer, dark and richly appointed. There was a sense of evil that seemed to emanate from the very structure itself. As they turned to proceed down a long hall, a slave working there saw them. He was an old man polishing one of the vases that stood as decoration.

"Queen Jesyca abolished slavery long ago." Kendaa said. "This must be Gartico's slave."

The sorceress smiled at him and he nodded to her as if he understood the events at hand. The look of years of submission was evident in his gaze. He watched them walk past.

Calico drew her sword as she passed him. "You'll be free soon." she said.

He nodded and went back to his work. The party went on.

The sorceress seemed to know where she was going. She went down this hall and that until she came to a great black door. The presence of evil built as they approached. The Amazons had begun to steel themselves for the coming struggle. As they approached, Lady Pegasus and the changeling met them from another hall.

"We've seen no guards at all." Lady Pegasus said to Hebea.

"They are afraid to come here. This struggle is between Gartico and us." the sorceress replied grimly. Her countenance had changed. It was as if she had aged twenty years. Her face was drawn and even paler and her grey eyes were sunken and tired. She turned to Caylan and touched the face of Hercules briefly then looked at the Amazons. She looked sad.

"Gartico's plan has failed. He wished to seize the Greek peoples with the countenance of this man and his brother. Now he is more dangerous than ever. Do not try to engage him. I must do that. But you must retrieve your sister and hold off any soldiers he has with him."

"Won't the chain he put on you stop your power?" Caylan said.

The sorceress looked at the manacle around her wrist and the chain that hung from it. She shook her head sadly. "Magic. Just petty magic. Yes, I suppose it will curb my powers. I will just have to try that much harder...."she seemed lost for a moment. "We will see...change now, my beauty."

Caylan's form blurred and swirled and then from the figure of Hercules, he transformed into his natural state; a small elflike creature shorter than the sorceress. His face was pale and covered like the rest of his body with a soft downy fur. His eyes were a seafoam green. He had pointed ears and slender body that had no clothing. There were no indications of male or female. In back he had a funny little tail that switched back and forth like a lamb's. The Amazons could not help but smile at the strange endearing creature. The odd creature smiled back at them and put his hand in Calico's like a child preparing to cross a busy street. The sorceress smiled at the little creature. "Stay with the Amazons, Caylan. No matter what happens. Will you do that?"

"Yes, mistress." said the changeling. Its voice was high-pitched whisper.

The sorceress went to the door. She pressed her hands against the door gently and the black doors swung wide. Behind them was a huge cavernous room. It was completely bare. The walls and floor were of black marble and the ceiling had a large hole which allowed the ascending moon's light to come in.

Guards stood back against one wall of the room. They looked terrified and made no move toward the Amazons. Tension in the room was thick. The Amazon sisters readied themselves for the battle forming a line behind the sorceress. Calico gently pushed Caylan behind her ordering him to stay there. He looked up at her and nodded.

Gartico stood at the other end of the room in front of a large tapestry. It was obvious that the tapestry hid something. The Duke had a knife at the throat of the remaining Amazon. Lessa seemed dazed; barely conscious and hung from his grip limply.

The Duke had been waiting for the party to enter.

"I am so glad to see you again, Waart." he said. "I have something you want and you have knowledge of the power I seek. We can satisfy our needs and go our ways." The Duke said.

"I cannot give you what you want." the sorceress replied. "Let the Amazons go and we can try to resolve this. At least do not put them in danger."

"Oh, Waart, you old fool. You should know that these women are used to danger by now. They have spilled more blood than you and I put together. They're players in the game just like we are."

"They kill to survive, not for the gaining of power." the sorceress said. She took a deep breath appearing to shutter for a moment. "What have you done with Ssen?" she cried.

"Ssen was not strong." he said quietly. "He could not endure. Forget him, he has gone to the other side." the Duke said quietly. He stepped aside and pulled away the tapestry behind him to reveal the body of Iphicles hanging from the rope which had kept him from changing. The lifeless eyes stared into the next world.

Caylan gave out a wail that filled the room. The sorceress gasped and cried out throwing her head back in pain. "You stupid boy!" she screamed, "You understand nothing of the world you seek! There is no magic! It is all illusion. Tricks we play on our minds, you fool." She began to weep and covered her face.

"You say that because you have it!" he answered. "I want what you have. I want to walk in the halls of darkness as a king. Show me his face...take me to the Evil One!"

The sorceress' head popped up as she reacted. "You Fool! Do you know what you ask? You are a fool!! The Evil One does not give us our power. I had to learn that the hard way. Benefit from my knowledge and turn away." she pleaded.

"Show me." he screamed and pressed the knife to the throat of the Amazon. Blood began to trickle from beneath Lessa's ear. "Or another will go to the other side."

"So you want my power," the sorceress replied, "Do you really want to meet the evil one??" She shook her head and let out a growl, "Well, let's go meet him together!"

The Duke who had seemed so confident saw the transformation first. He gasped and dropped Lessa who began to crawl away as best she could. Kendaa went to her and pulled her to her feet. It was then that she saw the face of the sorceress. The pale face of the sorceress had become twisted and transformed into an animal of malevolence. Her eyes were red beads of hate. She focused on Kendaa.

"Get out. Take the others and get out!!" the sorceress screamed. She began to draw power from the air. The build shook sending stone from the ceiling. The guards were the first to flee. Calico grabbed Caylan and Hebea called to Kendaa.

"Let's go!" she ordered, "there's nothing we can do here!"

The Amazons began to back out of the room as the sorceress gathered the powers of darkness around her. It was an eerie, frightful sight that the veteran warriors would never forget. They watched as the room filled with fire. The guards ran out falling over each other to get through the door. Gartico screamed with anger and his face contorted with rage. He put his arms out and stared at the sorceress with fury equally hers. They began a battle of the blackest magic. The body of the other changeling caught on fire and was consumed quickly. The walls began to shake and crumble. The sorceress held out her hands and the doors of the room closed as the Amazons scrambled out. Calico had Caylan by the hand and picked him up now. Kendaa had dragged Lessa out and hauled the half-conscious sister onto her shoulders.

The Amazons retreated to the courtyard of the palace with their charges. The guards they met on the way were busy deserting and did nothing. The palace was being stripped by the soldiers of whatever they could find. The earth shook around them as dark powers raged within in the room of Gartico's power. A cold wind came up in the night sky. The Amazons watched as the wing where the battle of magic raged shook. Then suddenly the entire structure shuttered and was consumed by the earth in a huge hole that yawned sucking it in and then closing in a heartbeat. A whirlwind of dust and smoke blurred their vision for a moment then settled. Then where the wing of the palace had stood only the sorceress was left standing. Her robes were torn and she was hunched over; now even smaller than she had been before.

Calico went to put her charge down. She looked at the changeling realizing that in the fury of the magic and the tragedy, her small charge had slipped away in death, following his comrade into the next world. She gasped softly and moaned. Lady Pegasus checked the little creature shaking her head sadly. "He's gone too." she said quietly. His body began to fade and blur and in a moment, the last changeling vanished.

Lady Pegasus went to the sorceress. She stepped back for a moment in horror to see the woman bleeding from her eyes, nose and mouth. The sorceress held out her hands in front of her searching and the winged Amazon realized the woman was blind. The little woman fell to the ground unconscious.

Epilogue

Calico looked up at the abandoned temple. It was ancient and primitive compared to the magnificent structures built to honor the new gods. This was an ancient place erected centuries ago and long forgotten. The forest had grown up around it and the city of the Amazons flourished now in the distance closer to trade routes and in a more suitable location for defense. But sometimes the forum members would come out here and look at the temple that still had Kooshun writing on the walls.

The war party had returned a few days ago but the sorceress had refused to go into the city. She begged the sister soldiers to take her to a sacred place and leave her alone for a while to heal and purify herself. She explained that she had allowed the darkness to overcome her and needed time to meditate.

Kendaa had suggested this temple and the party had agreed to take her to the old structure. After Lady Pegasus had seen to her wounds as best she could, the warriors made sure the woman had food, water and warmth then went home to report to their Queen and return to their normal lives. But Calico returned every day to check on the sorceress as she knew the other women probably did also. She walked into the temple and noticed already only days after leaving the sorceress here the temple had begun to look occupied. The halls were clean now of debris and the doors looked mended. The brackets that had once held torches were whole and polished.

She went down the main hall to the altar room and found that the writing on the walls had been repainted and was now complete. Everywhere the room was strewn with scrolls. In the middle of the room was an altar made of one piece of rough hewn stone. It was now covered with scrolls also. But in the middle was a small black marble statue of a cat sitting serenely with one gold hoop hanging from its ear.

"Bastet!" Calico said as she approached.

"Yes, they call her the cat goddess but she is one of the ancient ones and an inspiration to me." said a voice. Calico turned to see Waart standing in the doorway completely healed.

"She's appeared to me once, you know." Calico said. "She sent a tiger to me to help me in an adventure on which she led me."

Waart smiled and entered picking up one of the scrolls and looking at it briefly. She rolled it up and again and put it on the altar. "You must tell me sometime about this adventure. I will write it down for others to enjoy." She waved her hand about the room. "All these are my writings. I have decided stay here if you will have me and live in the temple. I have conjured up my possessions from the place where they lay in the caves of Isos. I will put away the tools of sorcery. Now, all I want to be is a scribe and a listener."

Waart led the Amazon into another room where she had set out food and drink for them. "Perhaps I will even meet the beautiful Hercules whose face was so important to Gartico." she said pouring them both a goblet of wine.

Calico laughed. "I think that can be arranged." she said. "He comes around now and then..."

"And that is when you and he and the other members of the forum annoy this Hera person you spoke of." Waart replied.

Calico laughed again. "That's right. Any chance we get." They both laughed.

Finis