From the Annals of Bastet

The God of War lounged on his throne, one leg slung over the arm, his elbow on the other arm as he leaned on his fist and looked down at the warriors below. A woman knelt beside his throne, massaging the muscles of his right arm. He was a god and sore muscles after the morning's training with his sword was non existent, but the fawning over him by the beautiful slave amused him. He looked at the flawless skin and dark eyes for a moment. She smiled back but there was fear in her eyes. The insignificant mortal was lucky to be touching him and had much to fear from the dark lord. He thought about the night he had spent with her then went back to the issue of the men before him.

Ares frowned and waved the slave woman away. "You are all pathetic," he said, rolling his eyes. "My army of the elite, a bunch of baboons! Hercules kicked your asses." He sighed. "Well, what should I expect. If you want a job done, you have to do it yourself." He snorted angrily.

"Well," the leader said nervously, "he is half god." He smiled weakly. "And he had Xena with him." The moment he said her name, the warrior regretted it. Ares sat up, glaring at him.

"She was there?" he yelled. "And she was fighting against me!"

"It shouldn't come as any surprise to you, my lord," said Discord, strolling up the dais from the shadows. "She has been against you ever since her little conversion." She smiled to see the tensing of his jaw. "You taught her everything she needed to know and now she's going to use it all against you."

Ares frowned again and relaxed back into his throne. He sighed and ran his fingers through the hair of the slave, distracting himself from the growing feelings of annoyance. It was pointless to destroy these creatures. More training for them and a healthier fear of their master would improve their performance in the future. Besides, he had trained Xena so it was understandable that they would have difficulty. In a way, he had trained Hercules too. He had pursued this half mortal since Hercules was a boy. At every turn, he had lain traps, attacked without warning, arranged for adversaries to waylay the young man. Ares smiled at the irony. In a way, he had helped to train Hercules to be a better warrior – strongest man alive or not. Still, the man annoyed him.

Hercules walked among mortals as if he was one of them. He eschewed his immortal half, distaining the lifestyle of the gods as if it was somehow tainted. Mortals pledged temples to him and he refused them. He even made a point of telling his fellows that it was foolish for other mortals to worship the gods. It was a tedious theme but in a way, Ares agreed with him. The gods were petty and cruel. He was possibly the worst. But he could also step back and look at himself and the others and enjoy the irony of the position that they had been given. Life was in so many ways a joke played on the living.

The biggest joke of all was that those who had the most of it, his immortal brothers and sisters, understood its value and lessons the least.

The War God realized that he had been sitting motionless in thought for while as all around him waited anxiously. He came out of his daydream to see all eyes focused on him. He smiled mirthlessly. These little internal discussions were fine but there were wars to rage and blood to be spilt in the service of … he thought for a moment. In his service he supposed. The thought gave him a moment's discomfort and he shook it off.

"More training," he said and pointed at the troopers on the floor of the throne room below him. They disappeared magically to be cast back down onto the mortal plane. "Let a week or two against the Amazons hone their survival skills." He laughed as he reached out with his god senses and saw the men look around now as they materialized in the forest of that bordered one of the Amazon villages. He saw them draw their arms hurriedly looking around for the patrols that were always around.

Ares smiled then arched one eyebrow as he saw the Amazons approaching from the trees. Among them were two taller than the rest. One had a glow about her that told him she was not fully human. He smiled as his senses penetrated the Animal war mask to see the Dryad's face. "Kendaa, that's your mortal name, isn't it?" he said to himself.

"What, my lord?" Discord said, sitting down on the arm of his throne so that her thigh could brush against his hand.

He looked up and smiled, letting his hand run down her smooth white leg. "Nothing."

Hercules strode along the forest path, looking up at the trees periodically to see if any Amazons would make their presence known. He was in hostile territory now but soon would pass into the boundaries of the village of the Queen, where he had friendships with women warriors among an elite group of Amazons known as the Forum. This group of women, all seasoned warriors, shared a common goal with the Greek half god. They all had sworn an oath to fight the increasing power of Hera in the tribes of the Amazons.

The popular lore spoke of Hera as the immortal who had led the Amazons out of the servitude with men. For generations, the Amazons had lived separate from men, recruiting new warriors from amongst the lost, exiled and abandoned women of the lands around the Greek mainland. The Queens, chosen by Hera, led the tribes against men and carried out the laws dictated by Hera for keeping women separate, using men only as breeders to make new warriors for the tribes. Male children born were left by the river that bordered the villages and lands of the Greeks. Often they were adopted and raised by the families who came upon them. Unfortunately, unscrupulous slave traders also haunted these areas, hungry to acquire these male babies to raise as warriors and mercenaries as the offspring of Amazon women were valued for their strength and fierceness in battle. The girl babies were raised among the sister soldiers as one of their own. Through the generations a hatred for men beyond mere distaste had been promoted by Hera, jealous of the behaviors of her own straying husband, King of the gods. Men found in Amazon lands were sometimes tortured and killed brutally despite the Amazon law that prescribed that all persons deserved a fair trial and a swift death if found guilty. Hercules continued to look around and picked up the pace of his journey, hoping to leave this territory before he had to face an Amazon patrol and possibly spill blood. The Queen had declared him and "friend and ally" of the Amazons but among the rank and file the dislike for men was still strong.

Hercules saw movement in the forest ahead of him. In a flash of light, men appeared, armed and armored as Arean troopers. The men seemed disoriented for a moment and the half god recognized them as the men he had fought just a day before. He began to duck into the dense trees off the path, but the leader spotted him.

"Praise Ares, brothers," the leader shouted. "It's Hercules! We have another chance to prove to Ares that we can beat his greatest enemy."

Hercules sighed and came back onto the path. "What is it with him?" he muttered referring to Ares, his half brother by Zeus. The men began running at him. He braced himself for the onslaught. Unlike the last fight, he was alone now, unarmed and tired from days of walking. There were seven of them, well armed and able to fight as a team. He took a deep breath and readied himself for battle.

Then four figures dropped out of the trees on ropes and swords came out. A tall woman in the mask of the forest stag stepped over beside him. Hercules recognized his friend, a half mortal like himself.

"Kendaa, what are you doing here? This isn't your territory," he said as the Amazons took up positions beside him.

"The Amazons in this area are short of patrols due to the war with the Legans," she answered. "But we can leave you here if you eight would rather be alone." She drew her sword as the first man bore down on them.

"No, no," he answered as one of the Areans threw himself on the half god and was rebuffed, sword flying up into the air and man off into the forest. "I don't want to have all the fun," he answered as the sword landed neatly in his hand. He grinned at the look of admiration on the face of one of the other Amazons.

Kendaa snorted. "Show off," she grunted as she kicked her oncoming opponent, parrying his sword with hers.

The battle was on.

Hercules looked around at the bodies of the men, most unconscious and three dead.

"Your master will not be pleased," he said to Kendaa as she wiped blood off her sword with the tunic of one of the slain.

She looked up at him, arching an eyebrow. "My master, and that would be…?"

"Ares," Hercules replied. "I heard that you are going to train with him."

"Training, yes," she replied. "But master, where did you get that idea? Jealous?"

Hercules snorted and turned one of the men over. He was beginning to wake, groaning from his wounds. Ares' warriors who were still left alive would be brought before the Queen. The women were already binding them and getting them ready for the march to the Village of the Queen. Hercules lifted him less than gently to his feet and one of the Amazons began to bind him, giving the Greek a hostile glance.

Kendaa cleared her throat and the angry woman and the tall half dryad had a momentary battle of wills. Kendaa won out as the other took the man and shoved him into line and took her place in the formation around the soldiers.

Kendaa put her hands on her hips and shook her head getting back to the discussion with her friend. "I'll never understand the God of War. He seeks us out to train us but sends his elite troops to fight us. Now what in Hades is that about?"

"Games," said Laurissa, the other tall Amazon in the group. She came up to the two of her friends. "He favors men, none of his troopers are women. And yet he likes to train us because I think we entertain him."

"What about Xena? She was one of his favorites," snapped another one of the Amazons as she hauled a man up after securing his hands. He cursed under his breath as the bindings cut into his flesh. She laughed.

"Yes but he wants to sleep with Xena!" Laurissa corrected. "The point is that men see us as being around for one purpose and one purpose only. The fact that Xena is a great warrior is less important to Ares than the fact that she is a beautiful woman."

"All men?" Hercules looked over at her.

Kendaa smiled as the patrol moved out with the prisoners marching docilely in their midst. "Present company excepted."

"Oh, I don't know," the tall Greek replied. "There was a time when I thought the same. I was taught that women were weak and needed protection. I don't know why, my mother was never protected by Zeus or my step father. And Hera is anything but weak."

"We'll tell her you said that," said one of the Amazons. Kendaa glanced at the woman and then at Laurissa. The issue of Hera was a source of deep anger to her and only Laurissa knew that Kendaa had suffered at the hands of a spiteful goddess but even she did not know the nature of that suffering.

What none but Hercules knew was that the Amazon was the loving product of a mortal male and Melinnope, Queen of the Dryads, mistress of the green world, of leaf and bough, of branch and root. Kendaa had watched as Hera had destroyed her mother, her race, and the sacred forest that her people had been called to. The young half-dryad had felt the great earth itself shudder with despair at the cruel act of the goddess. Now she lived as one of the Amazons, keeping her dryad nature a secret. She had been with the Amazons for a year now, still new to the ways of the sister soldiers but already an accomplished warrior as she used her growing martial skills to focus the rage she had within her.

As the group marched along, Kendaa sunk into silence. She had been welcomed into the Amazon nation and was happy to find a place where her spirit could be free, not hampered by the rules and customs of mortals in the cities and towns of the Greeks. But the Amazons' reverence for Hera served to remind her that she was separate from even these women. She would never be fully Amazon as long as the Nation turned to Hera for their worship and support. She wondered how long it would take the mean spirited goddess before she came after the last of the dryad race. She and Hercules has talked about this often.

Hercules sensed her retreat into her anger at the comments of the Amazons about their relationship with Hera. He came up beside her as she marched along.

"Hey," he said quietly.

"Hey," she replied, smiling at him.

There was an uncomfortable silence as the tall man then realized he was at a loss for words. He sighed. He'd never been one for small talk and he knew the half dryad well enough to know that he did not have to say anything. But the pain she suffered and the secret she bore made him want to comfort her. He knew that he couldn't. He suddenly realized that if she had been a man, he would not have felt the need to protect her so much and yet, strangely, he regarded her as much stronger than most men he knew.

As if she could read his mind, she patted his shoulder and smiled. "I'll be all right. So, what brings you to the Amazon lands?"

He smiled back. "I came with a message from the king of Corinth for the Queen."

Laurissa joined the two as they walked along. "And how is Jason of the famed Argonauts?"

"Uh, drinking more these days," Hercules replied. He was a little ashamed at the statement but also angry that one of his old friends and mentor had allowed himself to be bested by the temptation of Bacchus. Hercules knew that this brought up some of his own demons as his stepfather had indulged in wine too much in the half god's youth. When drunk, Amphitryon would pit Iphicles, his own son against Hercules. Neither boy knew why he did this. He was always sorry later and promised not to overindulge but the promise never lasted. Hercules shook off the memories and tapped the letters tucked away beneath his shirt to remind himself that they were there.

"You're a courier now?" Laurissa teased.

"And a damn good one," he replied.

The forest path became less dense of trees and the plains of the Amazon Village of the Queen came into sight. Ares' troopers became more restless and began to resist. The Amazons prodded them back into line with the points of their swords as the troop neared the field where young Amazon women were training. Every eye turned to look at the patrol coming back home but most of the young girls were more interested at the presence of the tall hero than the Arean soldiers. Hercules said nothing and did not make eye contact with any as he walked along. Kendaa walked along side him with Laurissa on the other side. The three were now taking up the rear of the march.

"We will take Hercules to the Queen," Kendaa said to the patrol leader. "He has messages for her from the King of Corinth."

The three did not bother to get a response. Laurissa heard Amazons making comments but ignored them. They stepped up their pace, spanning the length of the village quickly and coming to the Queen's hut. Two Amazons on guard barred their way as they tried to enter.

"Hercules of Thebes is here on behalf of Jason, King of Corinth. He carries a message for the Queen," Laurissa said giving both women a look of that meant she expected to be obeyed. Laurissa was from this village and was related to the Queen. She came from one of the oldest families of the Nation and had incurred a certain amount of wrath from her sisters by taking up company with Amazons suspected of being unfaithful to Hera. She had her own reasons for wanting the Nation to rid itself of the slavery of worshiping the male-hating goddess. The tall woman looked at the women before her and they put their war staffs back up, letting the three enter the large hut of the Queen.

The Queen was just putting away scrolls and sitting down to break her fast. She had been up since early morning, had trained with a sword and a staff, read scrolls from various foreign dignitaries. Now she was finally able to relax and eat. She looked up to see the three coming in. She smiled and nodded at Laurissa, acknowledging Kendaa briefly. She looked over at Hercules, raising an eyebrow.

"Greetings, Hercules of Thebes," she said formally. "You have a message for me?"

Hercules bowed slightly, stepping forward and removing the scroll from his shirt. "Yes, a message from Jason of Corinth." He handed her the scroll and she checked the seal which was intact, a slight on the honor of the hero but Hercules ignored it.

Then she nodded. "You are dismissed."

The tall man turned and walked out. "My job is done," he said as he walked past Kendaa. The tall Amazon frowned at the interaction between the man and the monarch. She nodded her acknowledgement to the Queen who was beginning to read the message and eat.

"You will wait for a reply," the Queen said curtly not bothering to look up. Hercules stopped at the door and turned back.

"Majesty," the warrior said with irritation in his voice, "I have come into your lands, enduring the hostility of your people, a people that I have helped more than once. I don't usually bring that to the attention of those that I help as I don't serve for glory or reward. However, I also do not take orders like a slave. If you want me to stay for a reply then ask as I would if I were in your place or get one of your own to brave the hostility against Amazons as I have endured from your people."

"Then please stay for a reply," the Queen said, looking up at Hercules. Her words were still frosty. The man sighed and shook his head angrily.

"Fine, I'll stay," he said, turning and walking out.

Kendaa turned and followed her friend. Laurissa stayed behind as the Queen waved her to a seat.

Hercules intended to leave the village and wait in the forest but his friend snaked her arm through his. "Join me in the mess hall. I'll buy you breakfast."

"I wanted to leave this place as fast as I could," Hercules replied. "I am going to have a long and pointed talk with Jason when I get back to Corinth."

"I understand. I'm sorry for the Queen's behavior."

"It's not your fault," he answered, smiling but looking around at the women who stared back as they walked by.

"Come to Laurissa's hut then," she said. "I'll give you a breakfast there. It's not as much as the mess; bread, cheese and some fruit but you know Laurissa. She's always got simple food but the finest of it."

The tall half god nodded, calming his angry mood. "Enough for me. Are you sure that you want to be alone with a male?"

The Amazon arched an eyebrow. "I live for the opportunity," she answered. She leaned closer to him and whispered. "There aren't any forum members at the Queen's village right now except Laurissa and myself but by tonight more will be here and we will be holding a meeting in the forest."

"I can't go," Hercules whispered back.

"I know but word of you being here might help with a concern that we have," she replied as they got to the hut. They went in an both sighed in relief for the cool air and the privacy. Kendaa took off her leather breast plate and heavy wrist bands and tossed them aside putting her foot up on chair and beginning to undue one of the leather greaves that protected her shins. "The harvest was poor this year," she said as she undid her armor.

Hercules had settled into a chair by the table in the room. The room was small, a square large enough for a bed, long to fit the tall Amazon, Laurissa, who lived there, a table and two chairs and a chest to hold the few clothes and belongings that the sister soldier had. On the table was a pitcher with fresh water kept fresh and cool for her by an older woman who tended the huts of Laurissa and a few of her friends. When Kendaa was in the Queen's village, she slept in her friend's hut on the floor or disappeared at night into the forest to sleep in the tree branches which was a source of gossip for the Nation.

"Harvest is poor everywhere in the Greek city states and their allies," Hercules replied pouring himself some water. He took a deep drink. "I suspect that the message I brought from Jason is about trade so that Corinth can bolster it's food sources."

"I didn't know," Kendaa said. "The crops have failed for a second year here and the grain supply will not get us through the winter. I hope Jason doesn't expect much from us." She came and sat down in the other chair and took the goblet of water that Hercules had poured for her. In a moment, an old woman came in with a tray of food and Hercules arched an eyebrow at the instant service.

"A seer, are you?" he said taking the plate of cheese, fresh bread and apples.

"A snoop," replied the old woman, winking at him. "I keep a sharp eye out for Laurissa and her friends. I know that food comes first, then a bath and the wine after a patrol. It's the way my young warriors like it," she said.

"Well, I don't need a bath," Hercules said, smiling.

"More's the pity," the hag replied, "I wouldn't mind washing your back."

Hercules laughed as he broke off a piece of the warm bread and dipped it in oil sprinkled with fresh ground hard cheese. "You don't hate all men?" he said, between mouthfuls.

"I was a late comer to the Nation," she said, pouring him more water. "I was cast out of King Jason's fine city when I refused to join the guild."

The man frowned. "Really? Which guild."

"The Guild of the Prostitutes. They're very fussy about anyone taking up the trade and not being part of the guild."

Hercules nodded. "Ah, yes." He nodded. "Not that I partake of that entertainment much but the courtesans of Corinth are famous for their fine traditions and … strict rules of the trade."

"I was foolish. I'd been a slave on the run from a master in the East. Been around and done what I pleased for more years than I should have had as a runaway slave. Thought I knew what was what. But Corinth is a big city. Kicked me out on my assets, they did."

Hercules smiled. "Ouch."

"Best thing that ever happened to me. I damn near starved but happened to wander onto Amazon soil."

Hercules was about to speak again but the woman was gone as quickly as she had come in. The man looked across at his friend. Kendaa was smiling.

"She's something, isn't she?" the Amazon said. "She has some amazing stories. Not for the children or the easily shocked." Hercules was laughing again now.

After the meal, Kendaa lay down on the bed and Hercules took her bed roll and put it out on the floor. In the cool of the hut, the two lay down to rest.

"As I was saying," Kendaa went on, "the crops are bad and the Queen and the Council have opened discussion on making a sacrifice to the gods."

"Seems simple enough," Hercules replied, closing his eyes. "Go ahead and waste food on the gods. They don't care."

"Apparently the old tradition calls for a human sacrifice," she added.

The man sat up quickly. "You're kidding me, right? You have got to be kidding me."

"That's why the Forum will meet to talk about how to keep from sacrificing one of our own," Kendaa replied. Her eyes were closed now. "We have members on the Council. With you here, we can also argue that it would not be in our best interest not to do such a barbaric thing. Bad for trade."

Hercules was still looking over at the woman now quietly asleep on the bed. He frowned but said nothing. He lay back down pulling the cover over him and closing his eyes also. Now even though he was tired, the thought of a human sacrifice kept his mind racing. He cursed under his breath, turning over on his side. "Why should I care if you sacrifice some man-hating warrior woman," he whispered.

"Because the sacrifice will be the next male child born in the Nation," Kendaa said sleepily. "The women who are pregnant have all been informed that the first one to produce a boy will give it up to the priestesses of Hera."

"Oh, damn it!" Hercules said, sitting up again. "Why did you have to tell me that?" He threw the cover aside and stood up. "I should just go to the Queen right now and tell her that a human sacrifice will end any, and I do mean any, hope of trade with any of the city states of Greece."

Kendaa turned toward the tall man now standing over her, glowering. "And you would be taken prisoner and killed," she said, looking out from almost closed eyes.

"You all could try." He snorted with disgusted. "You're pretty calm about this whole thing," Hercules replied angrily.

Kendaa rolled onto her back and sighed, opening her eyes. "Hercules, I hope and Laurissa does that we can resolve this insanity through our intervention with the Council before we start a civil war." She sat up, turning and sitting by the side of the bed. "Many of the Amazons are against the sacrifice but the priestesses of Hera are a strong faction," she said, looking up at him. "As much as it would please me to no end to beat the priestesses of Hera, at this time, it is better to wait. Our people are hungry. We have several serious threats to our borders and the campaign against the Legans have weakened our troop strength dramatically. As much as I hate to say this and you will fully understand, we need the support of the followers of Hera."

"That's why you are minding your manners with the Queen?" Hercules replied thinking back on how Kendaa had said nothing in the meeting earlier.

She nodded. "Now get some rest and stay until at least the morning. Wait to see what happens in the meeting tonight and the Council meeting in the morning. The Council meeting in the morning will make the final decision on the sacrifice."

Hercules frowned and sighed. He went back to the bed roll and lay down, pulling the covers up over him again. "Negotiation. My wife was better at it then I am. Talk." He closed his eyes and sleep fitfully, dreaming of images that were dark and unsettling.

The clearing of the forest was bathed in light of the full moon. In a circle the members of the Forum gathered to talk. Calico, the Wolf, Whisper, Baeori, Lessa, Fayee, Klio, and others had stood waiting for the members to come from the far villages and patrols to gather. Laurissa had been chosen as leader for this meeting. She stepped into the middle of the circle as Kendaa came through the forest darkness and joined the others.

"Sorry I'm late," she said, nodding to the others. "Hercules was called back to the hut of the Queen. He's pretty upset about this issue."

"As are the rest of us," Fayee said.

"The Queen has given him the reply to the message from the King of Corinth," Kendaa replied, "I am not privy to the reply but she did not look pleased."

"No help from Corinth?" Calico asked, looking worried.

"None," Laurissa answered. "The Queen told me that the King wanted to know what we could do to help. It's a lean time for everyone."

"Tomorrow we go to train with Ares," Kendaa said. "Perhaps we can ask the God of War to help with strengthening our troops with food."

"Obviously, you haven't met the God of War yet," Lessa answered. "He doesn't care about the starvation of the people. Hunger makes men, and women, look to their neighbors for what they don't have. What won't be given will be taken. That's the nature of war and war is the nature of Ares." She looked around at the group. "Better that we strengthen our own rather than submit to the training of Ares at this time."

It was an odd suggestion to make. Calico frowned. "I don't think that upsetting the War God is a good idea, especially now," she said. "The Legans are still running incursions into our borders. We need his training to help us with every trick of war that he can give us. We certainly don't need his animosity."

"Won't he understand? Before anything, he must respect duty," Kendaa said. "We are down many troopers. Now with no help from the Greeks, we need to prepare for a hard war against the Legan and a long lean winter." She looked around. There was a strange feeling in the moonlit air. It seemed as though she was alone even though she looked around at familiar faces.

"Ares respects nothing," said another. "He likes watching us fight and sweat and bleed. Yah, we might need his skills but he's a man. Lust and power is what he understands."

"Might need?" Kendaa said to herself, more confused.

"Ares may even be in favor of the human sacrifice," Klio said. Amazons muttered and whispered amongst themselves now. Tempers were rising.

"Be still," Laurissa ordered, bringing the group back to order. "Thank you, Klio, for bringing us back to the heart of the matter. What shall we do to stop this atrocity? Hercules is here in the village and knows of the plan to sacrifice a child. He will take the word back to King Jason. The word of this will bring the wrath of the Greeks."

"The Greeks care nothing for whether we sacrifice a child or not," Lessa said angrily. "They look upon the Amazons as freaks of nature. The only reason why the King of Corinth contacted us was because he thought we had something that he needed. If we cannot supply food, he will go elsewhere. Hercules can rant all he wants of the sacrifice but the King will not commit troops or policy to stop it."

"So we're on our own," Laurissa said. "The Greeks won't help one way or the other."

"Hercules will help," Kendaa said quickly.

"As much as I admire the Greek hero, I think that we need to settle this internally," Lessa stated. "Our sisters are angry and hungry, tired from war and grieving the loss of comrades. This is not a time to bring in a man to interfere. It will only make trouble."

Murmurs turned to angry outbursts and the warriors began cursing and complaining amongst themselves. There was a mood is hostility and frustration. The bonds of sisterhood seemed to be fraying. Kendaa looked around frantically.

"Let Hercules go home to his King and friend!" Lessa said, quieting the discussion. "We will argue the against the sacrifice with the Council." Heads nodded as the women agreed.

Kendaa gaped at the women. These were no longer the kindred spirits that she had grown to known. Baeori, Fayee, even Laurissa had a different look. Something had gone from them. Their life force was different.

"Perhaps there will be no male born around the time that is prescribed for the sacrifice," Aeronwy stated quietly.

Warriors agreed nodding. Kendaa looked around more worried. "What is the matter with all of you? We have to come up with a better plan that this!"

"It's settled," Laurissa said as if the dryad was not even there. "Hercules goes home and we stay here. The group scheduled to train with Ares will send word that we have pressing business at home. Defense of the country and all that. The War God will just have to understand."

The group was already breaking up and going their ways as Kendaa watched aghast. Soon she was standing alone in the clearing with Lessa.

"Lessa, what the Hades is the matter with you?" Kendaa asked angrily. "Have you lost your mind? Have all of the Forum members lost their minds?" She felt an odd sensation from Lessa that made her feel close to panic.

Lessa stood quietly saying nothing. She stared without any emotion until Kendaa finely shook her head angrily. The Amazon watched without moving as Kendaa turned and walked into the forest.

When Kendaa had gone from sight, the tall Amazon smiled. Then she seemed to fade and shimmer and her strong form was transmuted into the dainty and wicked figure of the dark goddess.

"They don't call me Discord for nothing."

The slave girl writhed and groaned atop the prostrate man. She fretted that she would not please the dark God of War who lay beneath her admiring her lithe body. He smiled slightly to see the mixture of anxiety and arousal on her face. Her long black hair clung in strands to the skin of her face and arms as she moved.

"You please me greatly," he whispered as she worked her torso. He ran his hands over her thighs, feeling the smooth, wet skin. "I have no plan to harm you so relax. Come morning, your freedom is yours."

She looked surprised for a moment then smiled back at him. "Thank you, master, thank you," she said working her hips harder. The War God's jaw tensed as he felt himself reach his peak. He grimaced as he felt the thrill run through him and in a while, both bodies were relaxed again. The slave left him quietly and he lay now pleasingly exhausted in his bed.

He looked around curiously at the bed chamber of the God of War, his chamber. The place was so dark. Heavy curtains hung on the stone walls, woven with the tales that even his kind considered myths. The walls, what could be seen of them, were black marble veined with red. Torches made of silver burned on either side of the bed. There was a backless chair here and there, and a wardrobe for his clothing though he did not need furniture of storage as he could create with mere thought. Yet he liked the idea of ownership of his panoply even to the belts and tunics and linens. He'd started this habit a while ago when he built this fortress a top a mountain distant from Olympus. The other Gods did not bother him here. His men could get here but had to work at it. And there was a chill in the air that pleased him.

He wondered idly as he lay naked on the immense bed what had made him show mercy to the girl. He liked her and considered the thought of changing his mind and keeping her. "But," he thought lazily, "A man's word is his bond." He frowned suddenly. "I'm not a man, I'm immortal. I can do what I wish." He snorted at this dialogue with himself then the warrior god rolled over as he heard someone knock at the door. "Come," he said.

"Sire," said a servant, entering the room wringing his hands. "A thousand pardons for my intrusion on the greatness of …."

"What is it, worm?" Ares said shortly.

"The training that you had for today… the Amazons?"

"Yes?"

"They have sent word that they cannot come at this time." The man looked panicked. One never knew how the stormy god would react.

Ares sat up on the side of the bed. "Cannot come? CANNOT COME?" he bellowed. "Are these women suicidal?" He thought for a moment. "Perhaps they were held up by the troopers I sent into their territory. Their numbers are down from the wars… perhaps my men got lucky." He thought for another moment. "Unlikely."

"No, sire," the man replied, very distressed now to tell Ares the bad news. "The troopers you sent to the Amazon Nation ran into a patrol there that was joined by Hercules. Three of them were killed and the rest were taken prisoner."

"DAMN," Ares roared, leaping to his feet. The man jumped and fled the room. "Twice in one week." He was about to ask the rest of the story but the man had gone. The War God blinked and the servant rematerialized in an instant. The slave fell to the floor in terror.

"Please, my lord," he cried, "please don't kill me!"

The tall War God's face twisted into a look of disgust. "Oh, get out, worm," he said, sitting down on the side of his bed. He had looked forward to the training. The Amazons were a tough breed, eager to learn the martial arts and able to work as a team. Being female, they were more likely to cooperate with each other rather than compete as Greek warriors did. He had begun to notice lately that women, for their inferior upper body strength, had abilities in the face of combat that men did not. They were more able to anticipate each other's needs and moves. They worked more closely as a team. They were intuitive. These characteristics intrigued him. He planned to study further but now he would have to wait. He growled.

"Cannot come," he said to himself. "How dare they disappoint the God of War. Perhaps I should take the training to them. A march on the Amazon Nation, those lithe bodies in chains…" He was drifting into a fantasy recalling the elfin features of the young Amazon he had seen earlier. Ares pursed his lips and smiled slyly. "Training," he said quietly.

"No training for you today. Your little girl soldiers are too busy to come to the master," Discord said, materializing before him. The intrusion embarrassed him for a moment. Not because he was nude but because it showed a lack of respect for him. He lay back on the bed, resting on one elbow.

"Word travels fast," the War God said, looking the small goddess over.

"I sense when you are disappointed and I live to serve you," she said coming over. She crept up onto the bed by him, allowing the neckline of her leather dress to dip and show her perfect nubile breasts. She pursed her lips, looking coy. "Who would dare to disappoint the God of War?"

Ares looked into the dark eyes approaching his. Discord had the nature of an asp. She was ruthless and devious; traits he had come to admire in her. But now, her presence annoyed him. She was an immortal hungry for power and having none. This made her dangerous and unpredictable. Yet he also liked her determination, she would be loyal to him as long as he could serve her needs. This made her more predictable. He stared at the glistening eyes, perfectly made up.

"Perhaps there has been a new outbreak of hostilities on their border. They would be called into active duty," he said quietly. "All trainings would be suspended." He leaned toward her.

"Perhaps they don't care to learn how expertly you use the mighty sword of war," she replied, running her hands down his chest.

"Perhaps they are afraid of the mighty sword," he answered smiling as she stroked him.

"They do hate all men," she answered. "Poor fools." She began to kiss him, leaning back onto the bed as he rolled over onto her. Discord snapped her fingers and she was nude. She spread herself out on the bed languidly. Enjoying the attention that would have been detoured to the mortal warrior women. She smiled to herself.

Sexuality between them was quick and self involved. The two were engaged in a mutual experience of lust that bordered on being clinical. Afterward the goddess blinked herself dressed again and stood up. Ares lay back on the bed watching her. He had the slightest feeling of emptiness as she adjusted her hair for effect. Then he pushed himself off the bed.

"Well, that is all well and good but I still miss training with the Amazons," he said, smiling to himself to see anger flash across her face. He walked over to the chair where a short robe of red silk lay and put it on, tying the sash.

Discord rolled her eyes at his mundane habits of dressing and keeping clothing. "The Legans are making short work of them," she replied watching him pour himself a goblet of wine. Another ordinary act for a god, Discord thought. She pondered whether the God of War was becoming weak in associating with mortals. She shrugged and put the thought away for further study later.

Ares looked over at her. "And when did you start paying attention to the wars of mortals?" he asked.

The goddess looked back at him. "Your interests are my interests, sire."

"Oh, right," he replied drinking down the wine in one gulp.

Discord sighed noisily, looking petulant. "Oh, I almost forgot. Zeus has sent for you. He is concerned about the famine spreading over our territories," she answered, slightly pleased now to see him upset. "He sent me to tell you this your job."

Ares snorted. "I don't have anything to do with the harvest," he said angrily. "I'm war not food."

Discord giggled. "Demeter says it's not her doing. And she told Zeus that she can't seem to stop the spread of this disorder in the fabric of our control," She shrugged for effect. "or something like that. You know Demeter. Zeus feels that it is a foreign incursion into our plane. Time to kill someone …" She shrugged again as saw Ares frown. Then she vanished.

Ares looked at the place where the goddess had stood. He was alone again, now summonsed to Olympus. He shook his head again. "I'm only needed when there's blood to be shed," he thought.

The gods had collected in the great hall that Zeus had erected on the summit of the mountain of Mt. Olympus. The walls were of opalescent crystal that let the sunlight of dawn pour in as the immortals met. The floor was gold inlaid with onyx and topaz. The ceiling overhead was a snowy white mist that swirled and eddied but never thickened or diminished.

Ares walked into the grand room. In a semi circle at the end of the hall lounged the other major gods and goddesses on thrones of various sizes and styles that showed their place in the hierarchy and their preferences in presentation. Zeus himself was on the highest throne at the end of the hall. Next to him and equal in size and height was Hera who surveyed her extended family with the usual look of slight displeasure. Her eyes traveled slowly over the room and then rested on the dark god who had just materialized at the entrance. Hera smiled slightly, nodding to Ares to take his place on her right on the backless black marble throne next to and just lower than Apollo.

The great sun god Apollo was a mystery to Ares. The two men sprang from the same parents and yet could not have been more different. Ares believed that Apollo had gotten all that was good and pure, strong and honorable, that could be passed on in their unusual species. Apollo was tall, well muscled, blond, with the classical beauty of a male that was almost hard to look at. He was, in a word, perfect. He looked perfect, he walked with fluid grace, his smile warmed you, his blue eyes peered into your soul. When he spoke, all listened, even the king and queen of the gods. Ares envied him with a passion that went beyond measure. It maddened the war god to the point of despair. And yet there was something about Apollo that made Ares pity him. This emotion was so dissonant that Ares had long ago given up competing or trying to understand the nature of his dazzling brother. He had locked away his envy deep within him.

The War God made his way through the crowds of lesser gods that milled around the room's floor and stepped up onto the dais that held his throne. He nodded to Apollo who smiled slightly and nodded back.

Ares sat down and took a deep breath, looking out over the array of beings that populated this place. He was about to speak to one of them when he felt movement beneath his chair. He frowned, looking down at a black kitten rubbing up against his leg. The furry animal was such a stark contrast to the awesome beings and appointments of his surroundings that he smiled despite a feeling of annoyance.

He scooped up the little being in his hand and held it before him, inspecting the tiny scrapper critically. "Now how does an insignificant brat like you get into the hall of the gods? Um?" He pursed his lips looking into the green eyes. The kitten should have been terrified at the frowning god but instead it mewed and began to purr. The feeling amused him. He put the kitten down beside him on the throne.

"Stay there and don't be a bother or I'll have you fed to my hounds," he said paying attention now to the King of the gods as Zeus got up and began to speak.

"Greetings," Zeus said, looking over the room. The immortal beings were now standing still to attend to him. "We have been presented with…" The King of the gods began his usual long-winded speech which after several sentences Ares quickly deduced meant that Zeus knew nothing and was not about to inconvenience himself to find out anything. As King of the gods, he knew all things so if he did not know something then it was not important or he would have known it because he was King of the gods. The circular logic was so exasperating to Ares that he often found himself ignoring what was going on and today appeared to be no exception. He looked down at the kitten who was staring at him with an strange intensity. He arched an eyebrow at it in question and it mewed back up at him. He smiled stroking the black fur absentmindedly when he realized that the room was silent. He looked up to see everyone looking at him.

Ares started, looking up at Zeus. The majestic god of gods was staring at him, anger beginning to cloud his face.

"Well?" Zeus said, his voice echoing through the hall.

On his right, Ares felt a hand touch him. He looked over to see his sister, Aphrodite leaning toward him. "Bro," she whispered. "Daddy wants to know what you think?"

Ares looked back up at his father and then at his mother, whose arrogant distain was now visible.

"What do I think?" Ares said. "I didn't know thinking was in the job description. I'm a killer. You want me to go kill something, just say the word."

His impudence appalled the audience. There were gasps and snorts, a snicker of approval from Apollo and a giggle of admiration from Aphrodite. Ares felt that kitten crawl up on his lap. He stroked it again.

Zeus was now fully displeased. The air was beginning to chill. "I am King of the Gods and expect to be heard and responded to with respect," he bellowed. "We have a threat to our plane. Our mortals begin to starve. They call on us for assistance. We must find why the harvest is being altered."

Zeus looked over at his radiant but icy queen. She nodded back with equal grandeur. "I have sent my worthy and trusted minions to find what causes our mortal charges to suffer but," she reported, "I have not been able to find out what causes this tragedy."

Ares snorted quietly. "And why would you care about 'our mortal charges'?" he said to himself so quietly that no one heard. The cat looked up at him as if it understood. He raised a dark eyebrow and smiled slightly. Then he looked over at Apollo. The fair and hallowed god looked serene but sad.

"Brother," Ares said in his mind.

Apollo glanced over at him and then back at Zeus who was now droning on again about the obligation of the gods to assist men. "Yes, brother," he replied in thought.

"What do you think this is about? Have any of your wise ideas?"

"I have searched also," Apollo replied. "I am sorry to say that I can find no reason for this suffering. The humans are beginning to suffer. The very young and very old will die first. War will be the inevitable outcome as neighbor envies neighbor for what he does not have. This isn't your doing, is it?" Apollo was looking directly at the War God now, frowning.

Ares frowned back. "No," he said out loud, forgetting their privacy. "Absolutely not. I may be blood thirsty and ruthless in battle, but I don't starve women and children." He was hurt now. And Apollo was sorry. He could see it in the golden god's eyes.

"I'm sorry," Apollo said out loud also.

Now all attention had turned onto these two gods again. They both looked away from each other into the room as all eyes were on them now.

"As you two obviously have more important things to say than the King of the Gods," Zeus bellowed, sending thunder through the mortal realm. "Enlighten us on your wisdom or suffer my wrath."

Ares took a deep breath, knowing that that wrath was likely to come in his direction. He was needed by the gods but not well liked. He represented all that was dark and base in the psyche of the immortals.

But Apollo stood up. "Father, I was conferring with my brother on this matter privately as I did not want to interrupt your speech. I agree with all my heart that we need to care for the mortals. They are our charges." His words soothed the ruffled feathers of the immortal King and Queen. "I have endeavored to find out why this is happening but I have failed." Murmurs went through the crowd. "Perhaps my methods are too circumspect. The God of War has knowledge of mortals more than any of us. And he has numerous connections in the mortal plane. I propose that we ask him to deal with this matter."

Zeus sniffed angrily. "I do not ASK anyone. I order."

"My pardon," Apollo placated.

"What do you, the God of War, make of this situation?" Zeus said as if Apollo had not spoken.

"Are you asking or ordering?" Ares replied defiantly. The snub of his golden haired brother brought out his anger more than he realized.

Zeus stood up, lightening flashing around him. Godlings scurried about on the floor of the throne room scrambling to move away from the wrath of the King of the Heavens. The tall god bellowed out and thunder shook the halls, toppling some of the braziers that stood in the corners.

"How dare you? I should strip you of your godhood and cripple you also so that you can know the anguish of the humans!" he roared out.

Ares felt strangely calm when he should have and would have been groveling to regain the favor of his father. But he was angry now. "I already know the suffering of humans. I stand shoulder to shoulder with them in battle. They cry to me when they are hurt or dying. They cry out for a swift death and a brave end. I carry their souls from the field, leaving bodies bloodied and cleaved. You want to know what suffering is, spend one hour in the throes of combat. Better yet, start with the time before the fight, when men contemplate the battle, not knowing whether they will live, leave the field with all their limbs, or die and be forgotten."

"We hear their cries," Hera said, raising a perfect eyebrow. "and we mourn with them."

"Here it comes," Ares thought. "the 'mother of all things' speech." He braced himself as the goddess stood up with fluid grace.

"I am the mother of all," she said in her stately way, "and I know the heart and soul of the world …" she went on talking about herself.

The War God felt a rage come over him that almost blinded him. He took a deep breath and pulled his emotions into a tight little ball in the middle of his soul. His jaw tensed as he felt the room get colder as the gods postured in their usual fashion in times when events around them eluded their understanding. Hera had finished speaking and was sitting down. The whole of the godhood applauded politely.

Zeus stood up. "Thank you, my wife," he said. "but I am still insulted by the insolence of my son." He looked at Ares. All eyes turned toward the War God again.

Ares tensed again. "Forgive me, father," he said quietly. The words came out easily enough but the ball inside him was unraveling. "What would you have of me?"

"You may earn my forgiveness by finding out what plagues our harvest," Zeus replied, peering down at his dark son.

"Done." Ares disappeared in an instant and then reappeared suddenly. He stepped back up to his throne and swept the kitten up, putting it into the breast of his tunic. "Excuse me," he said to the astonished crowd, "I forgot my cat."

He vanished again.

"I think they have all gone insane," Kendaa said to Hercules as he left the hut of the Queen to start back for Corinth. "I really do." She went on to tell him what had transpired in the forest clearing the previous night. Hercules frowned as he heard the story. They walked along out of the village, making their way toward the forest that bordered the Amazon Nation. Hercules was carrying the reply of the Queen and would soon be out of the hostile territory.

"You say that you felt like you were alone?"

"It was so odd. I did not sense the presence of any of their spirits. It was as if they were all … gone."

"Have you talked to any of them since last night?" the tall man asked.

"No, why?" she answered. "I'm so angry with them that I've been avoiding the lot of them."

"Maybe there was magic at work," Hercules replied. The half-dryad thought for a moment as they walked along the fields. Both noticed again the sad crops that workers in the fields were attempting to harvest. The grain was sparse.

Hercules smiled sadly remembering his own sad crops. He'd never made much of a farmer. Kendaa had come once to his home and had met his wife and children. She had used her mystically connection to the earth to give him a better knowledge of his land and how to nurture it. His crops that year had been better than ever but then his wife and children had been taken from him. After that, he never wanted to see the homestead again. The fields lay barren.

He came out of this dream realizing that Kendaa had been walking quietly beside him, allowing him his private thoughts. He looked over at her. "Sorry, I drifted off into the past for a moment there," he said laughing a little embarrassed.

The Amazon smiled. "You were home again. You were thinking about your family."

"I didn't know mind reading was a dryad quality," he answered.

"It's not. You get a particular look on your face when her think of your wife and children." She smiled at him, her green gold eyes flickering now as she stared at him.

He nodded. "Nothing will ever compare to them." They walked on silently for a while. "Nothing."

"Someday I hope some man will get that look for me," Kendaa said as they approached the forest. He would soon be taking his leave of her and going back to Corinth.

Hercules stopped in the shadows of the forest and turned to her. "I know you will find that man," he said taking her hand. "And I hope that he has many years with you and the same complete happiness that I had with Deineira." He kissed her on the cheek and then the lips. A deep sense of caring echoed through both of them as he drew away from her. "And he'd better treat you right or I'll have to break his neck."

Kendaa laughed. "What if he's stronger than you are?" she teased.

Hercules snorted. "Maybe but what if he's stronger than YOU are?" he retorted.

She laughed pushing him up the forest path. "Get out of here, male!" she ordered. "Leave Amazon territory while you can!"

He laughed and waved his farewell, heading out toward home.

The God of War went from the icy halls of Olympus to a field of wheat, sparsely growing. The transition from eerie splendor of the Olympian court to the drab soil sprouting sad little stalks of wheat washed over the immortal. He squatted down and took a handful of soil, feelings its dryness. For an instant, he was more connected to earth than to the heavens, more mortal than immortal. The feeling was just for an instant, then he shrugged it off.

"Mother Gaia," he said to himself, "what has been done to you?" He felt a connection to the ebb and flow of life in this plane. Then his thoughts focused in on a elfin face that brought up that same sense of life force. "Well, thank you, old woman. I think I know just who to talk to."

"Meow," said a tiny voice.

Ares arched an eyebrow. He reached into his jerkin and dragged out the black kitten. "I almost forgot you were there," he replied.

Green eyes stared at him, wide and bright.

"Well? What do you think of the idea of a little visit to the Amazon Nation?"

"Meow," came the reply.

"I'll take that as a 'yes,'" the War God replied. In an instant, he was gone.

The God of War could take on many guises as could all the immortals. He could even maintain his own form but project a power that would keep mortals of recognizing who he was. He chose now to keep his face and form but modify it for amusement. He realized that he was taking on a mortal form. He had done so before, but only briefly. Now he would test his mettle by allowing his powers as a god to rest, and rely on his skills as a warrior and his strength as a man.

As Ares reappeared near the Village of the Queen, he was changed. He had long black hair that fell below his shoulders, which he had chosen to tie back in a tail at the nap of his neck. His skin was deeply tanned and his eyes were the color of a stormy sea, a dark gray. He was dressed in leggings of soft brown doeskin under a tunic of bright red linen. Over this he had dawned a breastplate of hardened leather that mimicked the outline his well developed chest and on the breast plate were two lions rearing at each other made of gold. He wore boots tied up to the knee. He frowned for a moment as he looked down at the breastplate. He has never used the symbol of the lion.

He flinched as the kitten, now crushed under the breastplate, wriggled out from under the hard leather and dropped to the ground, hissing at him as it dropped. The small animal glared up at him as it licked its side, rearranging the fur that had been disturbed by the transition. Ares laughed out loud, the sound echoed through the forest that now surrounded him.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I forgot you were in there."

"Phhhht," it replied standing up and shaking all over. The little being started down the path on the way to the Village of the Queen of the Amazons in the clearing beyond.

Ares watched it curiously. He realized that this was no ordinary cat, but he was unable to sense any unusual presence in or around it. It looked and felt to him like a cat, but he had the strong impression of otherness that intrigued him. The voice of caution told him that this could be an enemy in a guise but voice of curiosity urged him to take this journey. It has been a long time since he had had a real challenge. He relished the idea of not knowing what he was getting into. He followed the cat down the path willing the sword of War onto this plane. It appeared in a flash, sheathed at his side on a baldric instead of a belt. As he felt that weight materialize he felt a kind of sadness. This piece of cosmic metal was his master and his slave. To this he owed his godhood and from it he received his powers. It ruled his life and the moment he had taken it up, it had changed the direction of his path forever.

He had been lost in thought when he suddenly realized that he was surrounded by warriors dropping out of the trees around him. He stood his ground, looking around at the masked faces of the women, a slight smile on his face.

"You must have a death wish, boy," said one of the Amazons.

Ares opened his mouth to say something glib but was suddenly overtaken with a sensation that surprised him. Someone had kicked him in the groin and the pain was exquisite. He had heard his mortal warriors talk about this pain but had never experienced it. It took away his breath. He went down on one knee then was hauled to his feet again.

"I say we string him up by his now bruised…"

"He goes to the Queen," said another voice. Ares looked over to see deep green eyes staring sharply at him then at the woman beside him. "All males go to the Queen for trial. That's the law." This was Kendaa, the person he sought. He saw the kitten from the corner of his eye peeking out of from under a low bush. Its eyes brightened at the sight of the tall Amazon.

But the woman beside him was also tall and forceful. She had pushed back her mask to reveal a hard face with a scar down one cheek. "Kendaa," she replied, "you are new to the ways of the Amazons and in case you have forgotten, you are not in charge here. I am. We all know your penchant for favoring men. We know you befriend the Greek, Hercules. You slept in the tent of Laurissa with him. The gods can only know what you two did."

Ares looked over Kendaa with a renewed interest and some disquiet. Again his half brother had beaten him to the mark. He clenched his jaws in annoyance but said nothing.

Kendaa smiled as she neared the woman. "You're right. Only the gods will know. I've no great love for most men but not all men are bad." She looked away then back at her opponent. "Just like not all women are good. Now let's just take this man to the Queen. If she says he dies, well, then he dies." She shrugged taking the man between them by the arm, and pushing him up the path roughly. As she did, she got a strange sensation of power. "Be careful, all of you," she said to the women around her. "He's not what he appears to be."

The other woman snorted but backed down as she felt that Kendaa had the support of others. She had relished the idea of putting the tall warrior to the test of torture, just has she had once been raped and tortured by men in her native village. She never had lost the need for vengeance but knew that some of the Amazons now had softened in their stand on males despite Hera's clear edicts to stay separate from all men, trusting none.

The women fanned out around the intruder, giving him a wide berth within their circle. He could feel Kendaa behind him, watching him warily. He had recovered sufficiently from the blow to walk without limping but realized now why his men complained about such a blow. He straightened out, squaring his shoulders and turning to look at Kendaa again. Now he took in the woman fully.

She was superb. Tall and lean, graceful with purpose to her stance and movement. He saw the dryad features blending beautifully with the human in her. Her hair was a golden cascade down her shoulders. Her face had the high cheekbones and deep eyes of the dryad race. He also sensed her discomfort. She was fearful of something, wary about events that were occurring around her.

She looked back at the man suddenly realizing his interest. She was going to speak when he turned back and began to walk down the path. The Amazons hurried to get around him again, realizing that he had somehow taken command of the situation. The scarred Amazon caught up with him, grabbing him by the arm. Ares brushed off her arm, twisting around to bring her under his control. He had her arm bent behind her, putting pressure on the socket of her shoulder. She grimaced. The others had now drawn their swords and approached him.

"Now ladies, and I use that term with some hesitation," he said, smiling at the turn of events, "I have no wish to hurt any of you. Well… actually that's not true. I have a strong desire to rape and murder you," he pulled up on the arm of the woman with him and she flinched but did not cry out. He grudgingly felt respect but at the same time sensed a fear and horror in her. He sensed that this would not be the first time she had been violated. He looked over at the kitten and released the woman, throwing her aside. This surprised everyone there, him most of all. "Whatever," he said, annoyed. "Take me to your Queen." He heard the kitten let out a small cooing noise and start down the path. He also saw Kendaa frown then shrug.

"Wonderful," she replied, taking up the rear of the patrol, with the others keeping a sharp eye on the man.

Hercules began the journey back to Corinth. He thought about his time with Kendaa. They had a deep friendship that went beyond words. He has helped her through the loss of her family, her whole race and she had helped him when he had lost his wife and children. He recalled how he had lost his way, becoming angry at those who came to him for help. He had set off to destroy all the temples of Hera, an act that was futile at best and imminently dangerous for him and for all of humanity at worst. He had been at the second temple, outside Athens. Nightmares of his family burning alive consumed him with horror and drove him to despair. He was just getting ready to burn the second temple in the morning. He sat by the fire, fearing sleep which brought the nightly memories when Kendaa appeared from the forest. She had been with the Amazons only a short time when she disappeared from training, sensing the deep loss of her friend.

Day and night she had traveled, calling to the tree and stone to help her locate Hercules. Finally she had found him, sitting by the fire.

When she emerged from the forest darkness, she knew there were no words to say that could ease his pain. She looked down at him by the fire and as he looked up, she saw tears well up in his eyes. The two embraced for what seemed like hours. Then without a word, she lay down with him and held him all night, helping him to let out the pain for which mortals would have no empathy. They hugged each other in the night. There was no sexual union, but a union of their souls as they related to each other's loss. She left the next morning, after helping him to reconnect to his purpose to help humankind against the whims of the gods. They had not spoken but her touch and look at aided him when he needed it most. From there, he had set out to find Iolaus again and resume his life's goal.

He walked along, deep in thought, and allowing himself the pleasure of noticing the beauty of forest around him. For a while, he could let down his guard. He was out of the Amazon nation and in friendly territories. Hercules smiled, thinking about Jason and how he would tell his friend what had happened, hoping that Jason would be sober long enough to hear the whole story. He was still smiling when an excruciating pain shot through his head, then blackness surrounded him as he fell unconscious.

A figure stood over him, the small, smirking figure of Discord. She snapped her fingers and Hercules' body disappeared. She wiped her hands for effect.

"Well, it looks like the Amazons have their sacrifice," she said, cocking her head to the side with a smile. "Lord Ares will be so proud of me. What a plan." She looked up into the sky. The eyes of Hera looked back down at her.

"Excellent, my daughter."

The Amazon patrol neared the Village of the Queen. The tall warrior had made no further resistance and all the sister soldiers were amused that the fierce male was accompanied by a small black kitten that seemed to keep its eyes on the man. It scampered ahead of the group, ranging far in front of the group then turning to see about its companion.

Time seemed to slow as the women walked. The warrior fell back so as to walk beside the Amazon known as Kendaa. He looked over at her marching along. Kendaa felt a thrill go through her but did not turn to meet his gaze.

"Yes, dryad," said a voice inside her head. "Your exquisite senses are correct. I am not what I appear. I am Ares, God of War and I have come to this land seeking you so that you can help me find out what is happening to the earth."

Suddenly they were alone. Kendaa turned to see the man transformed into the guise of the God. His hair was shorter now, his muscular body now wrapped in black leather and shining silver. The two stood alone on the plains outside the village.

Kendaa took a deep breath. She had wondered and thought long about meeting the fabled God of War. He was taller than she had expected. He had the piercing gaze of a dark warlord. But his face also had a kind of sadness that she had not expected. She frowned. "I don't know what you are talking about. I have no knowledge of the ken of the dryads."

"Exactly WHO do you think you address, woman?" Ares barked out loud. He saw the woman start but hold her ground. Her bravery pleased him. "I know who you are and where you come from. I have need of your services as a being of nature." He walked away for a moment thinking then turned back to her. "The gods of Olympus have given me the task of finding out what plagues our world. I was hoping that you could help. If you cannot, tell me now and I will go elsewhere." It felt strange to be so candid with a stranger. The War God felt a pang of anxiety go through him. Was he getting weak?

"I…" Kendaa was rarely at a loss for words or taken off guard. She had trained herself in the aftermath of her people's slaughter to present, at all times, a mask of strength and aloofness. Now before her was the son of the being who had murdered her race. By all accounts, she should be wary for the gods of Olympus were moody, cruel and self centered. She had no reason to believe that she could trust this creature despite the fact that she had looked forward to training with him so as to hone her war skills even more. But as she looked into the dark eyes, she saw a spark there that she could not have predicted. This was not the lofty Olympians she had seen in Artemis or Hera. She let out the breath she had been holding.

"I mean no disrespect," she answered quietly. "In the world of the dryads, I had not yet had the chance to mature into the fullness of our nature. I cannot tell you anything. I know that something is wrong in the Nation. My sisters act strangely. The Amazons are considering returning to human sacrifice to appease… the gods."

Ares smiled. "Appease the gods, eh? What a jolt it must be to have one come and ask for your help." He looked away. "I need this victory," he said quietly. Another surprise of honesty. "I'm not well liked up on the mountain. It's a rare thing to have the gods turn to me and I mean to fulfill my orders and find this answer. Are you with me?" He looked at her now with a slight frown.

"To serve the man whose mother murdered my people," Kendaa replied.

"To serve the earth that bore you, and to help me," Ares answered. "I'll train you. That's what you wanted, wasn't it?"

The Amazon felt herself softening. She thought for a moment then smiled back. "Well, it's hard to argue with a god."

"You didn't seem to have a problem with it a while ago." Ares reached out his hand to have her take it but then realized that he had not seen the kitten anywhere. He looked around now putting his hands on his hips. "Where's the cat?" he said.

Kendaa looked around too. "A friend of yours?" she asked.

Ares laughed under his breath. "An unexpected companion. I have no idea who it is and …" He looked around. "it appears to have gone." He felt a twinge of loss, sighing quietly. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to peer into deep green eyes, flecked with gold.

"You have me for companion now, Lord Ares," she said.

The War God returned her steady gaze, feeling the pull of her beauty. She was attracted to him. He could sense it. And he was equally attracted to her. Perhaps it was her exotic dryad nature, or the mix of immortal and mortal woman. Or perhaps the long legs and war garb excited him. He took a handful of her hair and pulled her to him, kissing her hard on the lips. She gave in to him for a moment, then pulled away. His roughness should have offended her much more than it did. She felt excitement and panic all at once.

Ares smiled at her half-rebuff. "We will figure out this problem, and I will train you," he said. "And you will leave the Amazons and join my army."

She smiled. "I'll help you win this victory and I'll train with you but I'll die before I'll join your army."

Ares' face tightened in anger. Now she was a little more independent that he wanted. "You are insolent," he growled.

"I have many skills," she replied, grinning. Ares grinned also despite his ire. He blinked and the two disappeared into the ether.

Hercules regained consciousness with a throbbing headache. He heard birds overhead and felt that coolness of the forest. He was lying face down on the mossy ground, a massive log laid across his shoulders and his arms outstretched, tied to it with ropes so tight that his hands were already tingling. He felt like groaning but suppressed the impulse.

"Our charge is awake, sisters," said a voice.

Hercules looked up to see the hard face and form of an Amazon. "The Queen is weak and will only send him away again. I say we go to a higher authority." The women around her laughed. Hercules knew what they meant. He was to be brought before Hera herself.

He allowed himself the groan that he had suppressed. "This is not good," he said to himself. He felt a quick dull pain on this side and realized that one of the women had kicked him in the side. "All right," he said with disgust. "What do you want?"

"You to get your self up and walking," the Amazon replied.

The warrior started to get up and realized that getting to his feet would be both difficult and undignified as he would have to roll over, kneel, bend and squat in order to maneuver the large brace holding his arms out. He lay back down. "You want me to get up? You get me up. Otherwise, I might as well die here where I am comfortable. Tell Hera she can come here to me."

A rain of kicks and blows followed that he fully expected. He was going to suffer one way or the other so he lay there as the women took out their frustrations on all malekind on him. It was not long before he passed out again.

Unfortunately, he was a half god. He healed quickly and had an enormous tolerance for pain. Hercules came to again standing now, leaning against a frame like the one they had used some years ago when he came to the Amazons at the request of a village of men that had one neighbored the Amazon Nation. The villagers had eventually moved their lands somewhere up North. They had never gotten the chance to learn the valuable lesson about women that had played out in an adventure that had folded back on itself and ended up at the beginning. Only Hercules remembered the chain of events. Now he watched again as women around him glared and spat at the "hated male." He realized that he was not going to the Queen. He was on a forest path, going toward a clearing that he had heard of from his Amazon friends. In the clearing, the Amazons had built their temple to Hera.

The temple was build of tree branches interwoven on a wooden frame in the shape of a dome. The trees around had been cut down to make the structure and only certain branches would do so that hundreds of trees throughout the forest had been cut so that this branch or that one would be used. Hercules recalled Kendaa weeping of the slaughter of her beautiful friends in order to make the temple to the murderer of the people of the green world. The irony was tragically superb.

Inside the structure was an altar of stone, cut from a giant piece of granite that was white with veins of iridescent blue signifying the blue of the peacock, Hera's animal. Hercules had not seen it as no man was allowed in the temple. As he rolled along on the makeshift prison, he wondered if he would see it now. He tested the ropes on his arms. With sufficient effort, he could break the bonds but he hesitated to escape. Perhaps he was meant to be here to find out more about the famine, or to help his friends in the Forum. He could escape later. He lay back on the frame and let the throbbing headache settle down.

It was not long before they were at the entrance to the structure. Hercules opened his eyes again to find a woman standing in front of him. She was as tall as Kendaa, dark haired and dark eyed, handsome with strong features almost masculine in the lines of her face. She reminded him of Xena with the look of determination in her eyes, a drive for vengeance that had softened after Xena had found a new way. This woman had no such lessening of anger in her eyes.

"I am Calamita," she said. "Chief of the Guardians of the temple of Hera."

"My condolences," Hercules replied.

She smiled. "Lesser women might get angry, lash out at you for your insolence. I don't care. I once was under the bondage of men. Hera has freed me from them."

Hercules shook his head as he looked around at the young strong women surrounding him. "I don't understand you. You don't need a goddess to free you. You are free once you stand up for yourselves. I hate Hera but not because she's a woman but because she murdered my wife and children, one was a five year old girl. Five years old!" he cried out. "What kind of goddess is that?" He broke free of the bonds with one tug of his arms. "You're fools! Just like all the men I see who worship the god of War or the God of this or that. I'm the son of Zeus and I don't worship him! He wasn't a very good father, he isn't a very good god. Is he helping you eat? Is Hera going to feed your hungry daughters?" He stepped down off the frame as the women took a defensive position around him, their swords and spears at the ready.

He looked around as the women kept their distance. They were not attacking and this confused him but he held off starting the fight. There was a moment of tension as the two side stood waiting.

Then Calamita approached Hercules. She was not armed but one hand was tucked inside a pouch at her side. She drew it out as she approached and a cloud of orange powder suddenly covered his face and shoulders. He stepped back, cursing. He had smelled this before when he had been with the Amazons. He felt a weakness come over him and as he looked down, he saw the ground coming toward him but he knew he was not fainting. He was shrinking, growing younger, and within minutes he would be a babe in arms. Suddenly, it was all clear. He was to be the male baby sacrificed for the harvest. As he let out a curse, he heard his voice change from man to boy. Then his mind receded into the primitive images of early childhood. Within minutes, a baby lay crying on the ground amid the clothing that he had been wearing.

Thunder rolled across a darkening sky. The Amazons on duty in front of the Queen's hut looked up and then at each other.

"The gods are angry," said one.

"The gods are always angry," replied Fayee. She looked up at the sky and shrugged, annoyed at the hunger in her belly, the pain in her head and the dull, unsettling memories of the meeting of the Forum. She was unclear as to how much was real and how much overlapped with a dream that she had had after. Had she and the others chosen to do nothing? Had she stood and watched as the others turned away the opportunity to have the help of the son of Zeus? She shook herself from her dark thoughts as the Queen came out of her hut and looked at her guards.

"Bad weather?" the Queen said, looking up at the sky also.

"Perhaps the rain will nudge our flagging crops," said the other Amazon.

Fayee said nothing. She had a secret she had not revealed to her Amazon sisters. She was able to travel through rock as a fish travels through water. This gift not only allowed her a shortcut when others had to go around or over, but its experience helped to replenish her. Her union with the rock grounded her to the earth and gave her a unique energy that was hard to explain to others. So she had chosen not to explain except to Kendaa with whom she felt a kinship. She suspected that Kendaa had a similar kinship to the Earth but Kendaa had not said anything and Fayee did not pry. Now as Fayee looked up at the sky and felt that Earth under her, she knew that the rain could not help. The Earth was wounded and she knew that no amount of water from the father sky could help her. Fayee took a deep strained breath and watched as the Queen nodded and left to the mess hall. She would proceed from there to the Council Hall and start the day's business. Duty was over for today for Fayee and her sister soldier. She nodded to the other and dismissed herself to her hut.

Fayee approached her temporary lodging. She did not come from this tribe and her stay here was in response to the shortage of soldiers to protect the Village of the Queen. She and others from all over the nation had been summonsed. Baeori had come from her tribe in the far distance. They were friends and had chosen to barracks together in a small hut behind Laurissa's. Baeori was sitting outside the hut looking up at the glowering sky when her friend approached. She got up and the two shook hands after greeting of the Amazons, putting one fisted hand in the other above her head.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to you since," Baeori referring to the meeting. "I .." She frowned and lost her train of thought then shook her head. "I think I had a bad dream about it."

A chill ran through Fayee as her friend spoke. She frowned at Baeori. "I too had strange thoughts about the meeting. I cannot tell whether I had a nightmare or the meeting went badly. I have a memory of the meeting that confuses me."

Baeori frowned now too. "I …" She never finished. The two knew suddenly that the meeting had gone badly. Some strange power had influenced both of them. As they spoke both knew now, something more than bad crops were with the Nation now. Words failed to express their fear. The look on both faces said it all. They looked around for another Forum member to talk to.

"Laurissa's with the Queen I think," Baeori said. They went to the mess hall at a quick march, not wanting to run but unable to walk.

The tall, buxom Amazon was sitting across from the Queen, eating quietly while the Queen gave orders and broke her fast. Laurissa looked up as the two women came into the large room. Several other Amazons looked up from their meal, recognizing their sisters in the secret group. Forum members pricked up their ears as they saw two of their own walking quickly toward Laurissa. The members had been comparing notes in small groups about the night's meeting. Everyone was beginning to realize that a pall of evil that had fallen on them. The Wolf sat across from Lessa at a table by the wall. They were eating in silence when they saw the two come in. Both saw others take note. The Wolf sighed.

"Strange meeting," she said quietly. "I didn't feel like myself."

"What meeting?" Lessa replied looking back at her. "You all met without me?"

The Wolf stared at her friend, stunned. "You were there," she said finally.

Both women stared for a moment then got up and went to the other two nearing the Queen and Laurissa. As the Amazons converged on them, Laurissa looked up seeing panic in the faces of her friends. She got up and excused herself meeting the members who converged around her.

The Queen looked up. "Trouble?" she asked as Laurissa stood.

"Majesty," Laurissa replied. "I need to talk to my friends." Laurissa did not wait for the reply but headed toward the door with the others making their ways around the tables to meet her at the door.

The Queen watched the group of Amazons leave. She had heard the rumors of a secret group of Amazons who gathered to plot against the powers of Hera. The Queen had asked Laurissa about them but the tall Amazon had denied that she knew anything. The Queen knew the young woman well and knew that she was lying. So the Liege said nothing more but sought out a young Amazon to join the group under cover. The Queen watched as her spy looked up from the group she was with then got up and joined the women walking to the door. The Amazon, Keoli, lagged at the back of the group as they headed toward out onto the practice field. Amazons were use to seeing small groups go out and practice battle moves. The group grabbed war staffs that were at the ready in a carved out bough of a tree. The women took up positions in three small groups and began to spar.

"I wasn't at the meeting last night," Lessa began the meeting.

"Perhaps you were under a spell," Laurissa said, countering her move.

"It appears that all of us were," the Wolf said as Fayee moved against her and she parried quickly.

"I'm hoping to be part of your meetings soon," Keoli interjected. Baeori used the girl's distraction to trip her. She went down with a thud, groaning.

The Wolf looked at her and smiled. "Maybe soon," she said giving the girl a hand up and going back to her partner, looking back at Fayee. "We remember being there. Apparently Lessa does not remember being there."

"And I remember being somewhere else!" Lessa replied.

"So we have a changling among us?" Laurissa said. "Or a god visited us to test us?" She frowned. "Where's Kendaa?"

The Wolf stopped, jumping back to avoid Fayee's last swing. "Wasn't she on a patrol this morning? She went into the forest last night. She was upset."

"With us," Fayee added as she recalled the gathering. "I remember her speaking about our behavior." She butted her staff on the Earth standing back and holding the staff before her in a traditional Amazon pose. "Maybe she wasn't affected for some reason."

"She's an odd one," Laurissa commented. "Like many of you, she has a story that she is not telling us." She looked around but said nothing. The Forum had many women in it that came to the Nation under strange circumstances. The Amazons did not require disclosure from their new members as long as they were loyal. Many brought talents that eventually proved useful when the woman felt safe enough to speak out.

"I was with her on the patrol," Keoli said. "We captured a tall male but when we were on our way back, he escaped and she went with him."

"You mean she went after him," Baeori replied, angrily.

Keoli shook her head. "No, they were talking as we marched him along. Then suddenly he was gone and so was she."

"And you didn't think to tell us?" Laurissa said, walking over so as to face the girl. She towered over the younger Amazon. "It sounds like she was kidnapped. Obviously he used some sort of sorcery to take her with him."

"I told the Queen," Keoli said looking around. "I didn't have a chance to talk to any of you until now."

It began to rain and thunder rolled across the sky again. Lessa turned from the group and started walking back to the equipment area, saying nothing. She put away her staff as the others trailed after her. She turned around as they all stood around the staff holder. "There is more than a natural famine here. Now we have one of our own missing and a spy in our ranks." She looked over at Keoli. "How much does the Queen know?"

The girl backed off, blushing at being found out, then felt someone standing behind her. She glanced around to see Fayee and Baeori now behind her. The faces of the women were stony. Laurissa came over to her, looking down at her.

"Tell the Queen that we have known about you since the beginning," she said, "but we have chosen to keep you in the group so that you could report back that all of us are true to the Amazon Nation and to the Queen. But now you must leave. It's only a matter of time before our members and our cause are known to the Nation. The Queen suspects me already and that is why she keeps me close to her. But our purpose will go on whether we are found out or not. Hera is a danger to this nation. Tell the Queen that we only want to be free of Hera's tyranny as we are free of the tyranny of male dominated societies."

Keoli backed off as the women let her through to retreat. "You may fool the Amazons but you will never fool the Queen of the Heavens. She watches you with distain and her will will be done. For the glory of Hera!" she said. "She will have her sacrifice and the land will be whole again." She glanced back once at the small group and then headed off to report to her mistress.

Laurissa looked around at the four other women there. "Well, we've shown our hand."

"And so has the Queen," Lessa said. "But we've bigger problems. Where is Kendaa and who has infiltrated the Forum to influence us. And who took on my likeness?"

"I don't think that Hera, powerful as she may be, had anything to do with what happened last night," Baeori said. The others nodded.

"She wouldn't skulk around like that," the Wolf added. "If Hera wanted to show her hand, she would appear before us and burn us to cinders."

"True," Laurissa agreed. "Well, we will not get any further with this today. Go among the others and see what you can find out. As for Kendaa…" She paused looking worried. "We can only hope she's using her skills to stay alive."

Ares led them through the ether to the middle world. Here they were in the place that bordered on the land of the shades. This was a strange part of Hades, not the world of mortals and yet not the life after. It was part of the mystical world that men saw in dark dreams and mystic visions. The sky overhead was a strange green. The land was gray, pale and barren. In the distance mountains loomed black with dark clouds gathering around them.

"Why have we come here?" Kendaa asked, looking around at the bleakness and odd colors.

Ares crouched down and picked up a handful of soil. "This is the Amazon land of the dead," he said. "To tell you the truth, I like it here." He stood up and looked around. "There are no pretenses here. Here all must tell the truth. Even the gods cannot lie or deceive. Here the superficial is stripped away and what you have left is your strength against that of the other."

"Is this a usual problem?" Kendaa asked. "The gods lying and deceiving, I mean." Ares turned and looked at her, grinning. "We are not so very different from you," he answered. He wiped his hands together, getting the last of the dirt off them. "We lie when we think we need to mask ourselves. We deceive each other…"

"And mortals?"

He looked at her. "Most especially mortals. What use will we be to you when you learn that we are not the authors and creators of the Universe?"

"If you are not the supreme beings then who is?" she asked. She walked up to him, looking deep into the eyes of the god. "Who do you worship?"

Ares' face changed. "We do not need to worship anyone," he snapped, "Reverence is for the weak." The mask of hardness came up again. She had stirred up feelings in him that he could not entertain. He began to walk toward the horizon. "We are going to the Well of Stones." Kendaa fell in beside him. "The Well of Stones is an ancient place, made before the Titans ruled the Earth. It is a place of answers to questions about the Earth. Some say it is the heart of the Earth, but I think that the Earth's heart is in the water that lies on her." He looked around, glancing over at the tall woman.

Kendaa smiled at him. "Water makes all life possible. You may be right. So you go to this Well and ask for the answer. Why hasn't it been done already and why do you need me?"

Ares laughed. "Bold and to the point." He kept walking. "The gods do not like to come here," he replied. "They avoid this place like mortals avoid death."

"Because?"

He stopped and looked over at her. "Because we are not immortals here. Here we can be wounded and the wounds will stay with us forever."

"Like Charon's wound, the one that Hercules gave him," Kendaa said.

Ares flinched and began to walk away toward the black mountains again. "Hercules!" he said angrily. "He haunts my every step. I hate him! I would give up my immortality if I could see him into the pits of Hades with my own bare hands."

Kendaa watched him walk away. He had not bothered to look back. Mentioning Hercules had changed his mood completely. The Amazon felt sad for him. One man took him from great warrior to angry bully. Even his shoulders seemed hunched over in response to his strong emotion. She could feel his rage.

"Why do you hate him so?" she called out not moving any further. "He can't hurt you. He's just one man. He's doing what he feels is right. A warrior like yourself fighting against those he sees as rightful enemies."

"We are that enemy," Ares replied, turning around. His face was a mask of rage. "He thinks that he is better than the gods that made him!" He stood, hands in fists, staring at her.

Kendaa shook her head, snorting in disgust. "You jealous little bastard," she cried. "You are so twisted up with your own insecurities that you can't see that this is not about you gods. You make it about you with your petty rivalries and cruel acts on humanity. He's just trying to protect the mortals you say are your charges!"

"He is the son of Zeus!" Ares cried back, "my brother! Yet he destroys our temples and speaks against us! He turns men against us, confusing them and taking them from their places as our followers." He stood immobile. "Hera saw this when he was in his crib. She saw that he would bring dissension."

"She saw that he was not a sheep," Kendaa replied. "He would worship you if you were worthy of worship. But you're no better than the men you expect to serve you. He doesn't bend a knee to you and he speaks against you in protection of those who do. You take their food as sacrifices, their sons as soldier minions, daughters as priestess slaves. You are parasites!"

Ares screamed out in rage, gathering his hand to throw a bolt of lightening at her. Then he realized that he did not have the power. He strode toward her and slapped her across the face when they met, throwing her back off her feet and onto the hot sands. She rolled several times before she finally caught herself and got up on her hands and knees, shaking her head to clear her addled consciousness. She got up to face him, his countenance a mask of fury.

"I need you, bitch," Ares said through clenched teeth, "or I would kill you right here with my bare hands."

"I'm sorry that you cannot handle the truth," Kendaa replied quietly. She could feel blood running down her cheek. "You need me and I need to be honest with you. I will never flatter you and faun over you like the rest. I have no ambition except to become what I was born to be, a woman, a dryad, a keeper of the leaf and branch, a mother, and a warrior."

"And a Queen?" Ares stated angrily. "You will rule the green world. You forget that little detail."

"I will never rule the green world," Kendaa replied more calmly than she expected. "My people are gone. I have no one to rule over. Plant and bush, leaf and blade, they need no ruler. So I walk my way among men but my soul is in the forest always. I am the ruled, not the ruler. Like Hercules, I need no worshipers to show me I have worth and power."

Ares grimaced at the sound of Hercules' name. "You torment me," he said with dangerous quietness.

Kendaa put her hand on his arm. "You torment yourself," she replied with a surprising tenderness she did not expect. "Hercules is just a man. He doesn't deserve your anger anymore than he deserves your admiration. He needs neither. Let him have his path, as you have yours. And yours, sir, is no less true and worthy."

"Worthy? I am war," Ares said, coming close to her. Through his anger, his face showed the self loathing that he fought so hard to hide. "I am death and destruction. My fate was sealed when my parents made me the author of all violence."

Kendaa felt a deep ache in her heart as she gazed into the dark eyes that glowered at her. She shook her head and spoke. "Violence is a part of life, my lord. Your parents didn't make it. It has existed since the beginning of all things. It is part of a divine balance that overarches all else. Hardness and tenderness. Light and dark. Good and evil, there is never one without the other even within all of us. Yes, you are war," Kendaa replied. "And war can be cruel and brutal. But it can also be courageous and self sacrificing. Men and women band together to save a life, a village, a nation at the expense of their own lives and safety. Don't envy Hercules his place in the fabric of history. Your place is even greater."

The War God stood face to face with the Amazon, silent with a tumult of emotions. He stared at the tall woman, hearing her words in his head. Years of aching self hate began to erode away as he saw the admiration in her eyes.

Kendaa drew him to her as she felt the Earth beneath her sending power up through her limbs to the womb within her. She was filled with a sense of peace and purpose. She called him to her with her senses. Ares surrounded her like the sky surrounds the Earth. His eyes devoured her and his arms surrounded her. They embraced slowly, letting their senses merge. Ares held her and let his lips lay over hers at first with gentleness and then with growing desire. He felt her body mold to his. As they kissed, Ares felt the wind around them caress them. He felt like the wind swept through him, sweeping away something vile from within him. He held her after their lips parted, listening to the sound of her heart beat.

In the distance, beyond their awareness, there was the tinkling of a bell. "It is done," said a voice that neither could hear. "The path is altered."