From the Annals of Bastet

Kendaa leaned back in her chair and looked around at the revelers of the party. She shook her head in disgust as the woman next to her passed out and a couple on the divan across the way began groping each other with unromantic abandon. She was slightly uncomfortable sitting here in this strange land where she had been sent by the Queen Ephiny of the Amazons to negotiate a trade agreement. The revelers were drunk and some had begun to brawl.

She got up to leave and as she turned to go back to her apartments in the hall of the guests of honor, she ran into an officer coming into the room to seek the Princess. The officer bowed slightly to her and went his way to the Princess who was one of the two gropers that were now half clothed.

"Your grace, he has been recaptured, and is in chains in the dungeons, mistress."

the princess looked up and nodded. "Good work. I will come by later to see him myself. Make sure that he has been made properly receptive," she replied laughing and then returned to her pleasuring. There was a strange air of tension in the room.

The Amazon headed out of the room stepping over a guest who was asleep on the floor. In her native land such behavior would not be tolerated. Not that her sisters did not know how to have a good time. Some of the parties of Forum members were legendary for the events that had spontaneously taken place (like the thirteenth labor of Hercules but that is another story). But drunkenness and brawling, never.

The Amazon thought about what the officer had said. She didn't liek the tone of his voice. As a matter of fact, Kendaa had not liked this mission from the time she set foot in this land. The Princess was rude. the people groveled around her greedily trying to ingratiate themselves with her.

Everyone seemed on edge and annoyed. The Amazon felt like she was preparing for war and had to remind herself that her mission was to talk, not to fight. She idly thought about the prisoner to which the officer had referred.

As she walked down the long hall she stopped dead in her tracks. "No," she said out loud.

The guards in the hall looked at her and she smiled, a little embarrassed. Then she proceeded. "Don't even think about it," she said to herself quietly. "It is none of your business and you are here for one reason and one reason only." Her steps became a little quicker and as she reached her apartments she stripped out of the ceremonial gown she was wearing and pulled on the suede war garb that was more comfortable and functional. Kendaa realized that she felt very focused and ready for battle which she thought was a little odd at this time.

Kendaa pulled a dagger from its sheath and looked at the finely honed blade. She sat down on the bed and pulled a grape from the bunch that sat on the table nearby.

"This is clearly a bad idea," she said to herself munching and tossing the blade in the air so that it made a complete revolution and landed again by the hilt in her hand.

She got up and went to the window. The evening air was cool and crisp. The stars were just beginning to come out. She looked up at the night sky and down at perfectly manicured grounds stories below. Then she leapt onto the sill and out onto the ledge.

It was not hard to locate the dungeon. One followed the stench of filth and the sounds of suffering. The tall warrior woman kept to the shadows and moved quickly. The palace was quiet and the guards were few. Soon she came to a hall where the officer she had seen earlier was heading towards stairs down into an even lower level of confinement. She followed him at a distance down the stairs and into the shadows of a large room. There in the middle was a tall man secured with chains between two posts. He was dirty, wounded and stripped to the waist. His black leather pants had been cut in several areas and he had a sizable bruise under one eye. Kendaa had to look twice to be sure that she was seeing correctly. There, between the posts, tied up like an animal, was the god of war, Ares, himself.

Part Two

Kendaa recalled Xena's story of when Ares lost his godhood due to the loss of his sword. This fueled the belief that the Amazons of the Forum had about all the so-called gods. Their powers had definite limits. Kendaa was witnessing one limit right now. Perhaps the great god of war had lost his sword again. Kendaa smiled to herself. This mission was getting better and better. She looked around the room from the shadows. There were three men and the officer. They were heavily armed and alert. They looked like seasoned veterans of battle. The Amazon decided not to take them on but to wait for a better moment so she crouched down in the shadows and watched.

The Amazon would not have chosen to watch the events that followed. The god-made-mortal was whipped, taunted and beaten. Kendaa doubted that he had ever been through anything so cruel. He held up bravely, keeping silent, but Kendaa could see pain and fury in his eyes. As a god, he was not used to the physical brutality that was so common among mortals.

The interrogators were well aware of who he was and Kendaa gathered that supernatural forces had been at work in stealing his sword of power away from him. She also learned that since the gods banded together in the fight against Hera and Set, Hera had been quietly pitting one god against another through her mortal servants in an effort to secure her supremacy again. The loss of the sword was a retaliation by Poseidon who had been led to believe that his nephew had betrayed him. Hera's forces were particularly strong here in this nation, Kendaa learned. The very thought made her nervous.

Kendaa was well known among the Amazons as an enemy of Hera. She belonged to a group called the Forum, a secret sisterhood that had sworn to battle Hera and her forces in their nation. They also had a strong alliance with Hercules, the son of Zeus and the Greeks' mightiest hero. Kendaa knew that Hera would take any opportunity to avenge herself on any of the Forum members as she would on Hercules. No act of aggression was too great or too small for the Queen of the gods. Her alliance with Set had proven that. She was willing to incur the combined wrath of all the immortals just for vengeance. That was almost her undoing but now she was at work again consolidating her powers and wreaking havoc.

Kendaa had no great love for the god of war in what he did. But she had a grudging respect for him. He pursued her for his army of great warriors. She spurned him, which made him approach her all the more. She, herself, was unclear on these feelings. She hated war but loved the heat of battle, for it gave her the opportunity to take her skills to the limit and prove her loyalty. It was a strange thing, the making of war. Like so many warriors, she both loved and hated it. As Kendaa crouched thinking about all these things and analyzing the information she had gathered, her thoughts were disturbed by Ares' cry as he passed out from the pain. She tensed thinking that he would not last longer, and she may not have the opportunity to wait till a better moment to rescue him.

The issue was decided for her. The princess came down the stairs accompanied by five more of her guards. She had managed to get back into her clothes. She called for a chair and had the guards awaken the prisoner with water and a slap to the face. Ares opened his eyes and looked at the woman with contempt.

"Your mother sends her greetings," the Princess said smiling. "My guards said they made you cry out," she taunted. She looked with exaggerated sympathy at him running her hands across his chest. "Poor baby, did they hurt you?"

His jaw tensed in anger. "I'm mortal right now. I'll deal with it. But lady, you better pray to every deity known that I never get that sword back."

"Oh my, yes. Don't think I have not considered that. I have taken every precaution to see that the sword is not only secured but will be destroyed. Did you know that; that the sword of your power can be destroyed?" She looked up at him with a pleased self-satisfaction stroking his belly with her long fingernail.

Ares' face showed his shock. She had caught him off-guard and everyone present knew it. The guards laughed softly. Kendaa became increasingly concerned. Without a standing god of war, mortals had a hard tme controlling their aggression. That is why the guests at the party had been so tense and fighting had broken out. Those who were disciplined could control this feeling; even benefit from it as it helped the warrior become more centered. Kendaa felt it herself as she had felt strangely like she was focusing to do battle ever since she had entered the land.

"We know the power of the sword and we know what will happen when you are not available to quell the aggression of mortal men. I have been planning this for months and my men throughout the palace are handpicked. They are all veterans of many battles," the Princess went on. "I have invited some of the more influential of my citizens to a party in honour of the visiting Amazon." She smiled. "They won't be leaving. Now my only problem is the Amazon herself." The Princess turned and looked directly at Kendaa in the shadows. "You can come out now, my dear."

Soldiers came down the stairs. They were ready for her to try to escape the only way she could. She stood up and stepped out of the shadows as men on either side of her closed in. They stripped her of her weapons and tied her hands behind her.

"Wonderful," she muttered looking Ares in the eyes.

"I'm glad to see you," he whispered. She knew he meant it.

Part three

The tall Amazon was secured between the posts by her arms so that she stood face to face against Ares. She could smell the scent of his sweat and leather and the metallic odor of blood. His face, inches from hers, remained impassive. He kept his gaze on the Princess. Kendaa kept her expression equally hard to read as her forehead practically rested against his chin.

"You need a shave," she said matter-of-factly.

"I know. Sorry, I've been busy. One tends to let the little details slide when one is being tortured," he replied.

"Silence, both of you," the officer said.

The Princess had called for wine and was enjoying her ease. "How long has it been since you ate?" She asked the prisoner. "Or aren't you aware that that unsettling feeling in the pit of yoru stomach is hunger? Well, you'll learn." She laughed and sipped her wine.

"Now," she continued, "I have the enviable task of telling Hera that I not only have her son as my prisoner, but I have one of the Amazons' most formidable champions and her enemy trussed up with him." She laughed. "I love this job."

"Has it occurred to you that my mother may not appreciate you beating me like a common criminal," Ares said.

"On the contrary, it was done on her roders. She thinks you deserve it. You've been a bad boy." The Princess rose and came over to the prisoners. "Your mother wishes to consolidate the power of Olympus absolutely under her rule. You are an annoyance to her as you refuse to be obedient to her will."

"Really," Kendaa said to him. "Well, I may reconsider your offer on that note."

Ares smiled despite the pain it caused him. "After this episode, you and I may have a lot more in common than before. I may join the Forum myself."

"Sorry, girls only," she replied.

"Oh."

"Silence. Both of you!" The Princess answered. She sat down again and paused looking over the room, the guards and the prisoners before continuing.

"I have spent years preparing for a time when I could assist the Queen of the Heavens in taking over the domination of this world. I have studied every aspect of the occult to gain the knowledge I need to be in this position right now. I want more than this pitiful kingdom can give me and I intend to get it." She looked at the guards again. "I have more power than you understand. If you serve me, you will be powerful men in your own right. Think well on this."

The officer came forward and bowed. "My lady," he said. "My men will follow me and I will follow you. I have watched you carefully and I am here to serve you." He looked around at the men in the room. "Are you with me?" He said to his men.

All the men present nodded save one young man. He seemed unsure. The officer nodded to the man next to him and that man killed the young soldier without hesitation. Kendaa felt the horrified fury rise up in her but she kept her face indifferent.

"Impressive," the Princess said. "We will get along just fine. Now...I will be occupied until the morning light. I go to Hera with the news. Take these two and confine them. Post guards outside the cell and at all entrances. Do not fail me."

Ares was feeling the effects of the beatings. He rested his chin on Kendaa's head. he moved his arms to stretch the sore muscles and grimaced at the ensuing discomfort. "How do you mortals put up with this day after day?" He complained softly.

"We don't. If it goes on day after day, we do something called dying," she answered but doubted that he heard her. She could feel his weight on her and wondered if he had passed out again.

Part four

The hours passed slowly. Kendaa sat on the floor with her back to the wall of a dirty windowless cell with Ares' head resting on her lap. He was fast asleep. She idly brushed the black hair away from his forehead and studied the handsome face.

"It is about this time that we mortals would start praying to you beings, whatever you are, to be rescued," she said quietly. She rubbed his cheek gently with her thumb. He moved in his rest, but did not wake. "Now if I were Xena, I would have some fascinating plan of escape and probably be well on my way." She looked at the door of the cell. The only light into the room came from a small barred window in that door. The room was dim. Two guards were standing right outside and the officer had checked frequently on the prisoners himself and changed the guard every hour. "I wonder what the next world is really like," she went on to herself. "Some of the Amazons went there briefly and said the trip wasn't that bad. Tartarus or the Elysian Fields. Hmmm...I wonder which I am bound for. I've led a pretty good life, but...I don't know. When I get into that black battle rage..." she looked down at the sleeping god. "You know I can be a real bitch."

The god of war opened his eyes and smiled. "That's my Kendaa," he said quietly.

She ran her thumb over his lips and he parted them. She could feel his tongue briefly touch her thumb then he rolled over and got to his feet with difficulty. "Gods..."

"If you say 'how do you mortals stand this' one more time I'm going to smack you. We just do. We don't have a choice." She got to her feet and looked him over. "I should try to dress those wounds," she said, "or they will fester. You think you feel bad now..."

She looked around and then went to the door of the cell and kicked it. "Someone bring me some water and bandages so I can dress his wounds," she yelled.

"Be quiet." Then water splashed through the window onto them. "You want water, lick it off the floor."

Kendaa sighed and leaned against the wall crossing her arms. "Wonderful."

The morning came none too soon. The officer came in with a heavily armed contingent of guards. The two were shoved up against the wall and their hands were bound behind them. Then they were led down a series of halls. The journey ended at a cavernous circular room with colonnades lining the walls. Kendaa quickly assessed the exits. There seemed to be four placed like the points of a compass. The domed ceiling had a large opening that showed the light of the morning sky. Thirty or forty figures stood waiting in a circle in long blue robes, peacock blue. In the centre of the circle was a round flat stone that stood about three feet high catching the morning sun on its polished surface. On it was the sword of Ares' power. The god of war looked at the beautiful blade as it caught the rays of the sun. Kendaa could see his breathing increase and felt him focus on the blade.

As they entered the circle of robed figures, the fitures pushed back their hoods and Ares and Kendaa looked around, shocked. There were minor gods, warlords and high priests and priestesses from all over the mainland of the Greeks. Among them was Strife. Ares fixed him with an angry stare.

"You too? You would betray me?"

Hey Unce...you know. Things change. I've got to go with the flow," Strife replied shrugging.

"Gods, you are an irritating little twerp."

Then on the other side of the room a door oopened and Hera herself came into the room in her ceremonial peacock robes. In actuality, she was a beautiful woman despite what Aphrodite said. She had long black hair piled high on her head and deep violet eyes. She was regal beyond any of the deities Kendaa had ever seen.

Ares read her thoughts. "Magnificent, isn't she," he said quietly. She detected sadness in his voice. "She's my mother. I should love her. But she is a spiteful, mean-spirited, twisted old snake and she has no honor. None." Kendaa could see his jaw tense in anger. "Unfortunately, I think I have her nature."

The Queen of the gods was brought a chair and she sat down on the opposite side of the round altar and settled her robes around her as if she was about to take in an entertainment. The Princess stood behind her quietly.

"Bring him here," Hera said motioning to the spot before her. The guards led Ares to the spot and forced him to kneel. He was close now to his mother and his chest practically met her knees. She crossed her legs and laced the perfectly manicured fingers in her lap leaning forward to speak. "Why are my children such a disappointment to me? Hephaestus is a cripple. You are a bully. Aphrodite is a fool. Artemis is lazy. She stays out all the time at the hunt never tending to her duties. Where did I go wrong? Apollo and Athena are the only ones worth a fig and barely that."

"We are what you made us." Ares replied between clenched teeth.

"True. Ultimately, this is all my fault. I need to reconsider my plan for this world." She sat back and looked over the hall. "To show you all my love for you and to teach you the importance of loyalty to me," she said to the audience of guests, "I am going to make an example of my son. I will strip him permanently of his godhood."

The Queen of the gods motioned the guards. They pulled Ares to his feet and pushed him out of her way. She rose gracefully from her chair and addressed the crowd. "There are worlds and universes out there that you cannot even imagine. Powers above even me. I will harness those powers for domination in this world. If you follow me and are loyal, you will share in this endeavour. If you betray me...you will be sacrificed as I am about to sacrifice my own dear son." She reached over and cupped his cheek in her hands. He pulled away violently. For a moment Kendaa was afraid he m ight break down, but he looked away and when he looked back at his mother, his eyes showed only loathing. The Queen smiled back at him.

She walked to the altar and picked up the sword. It was heavy and it took two hands for her to lift it. As petty as the thought seemed, it gave Kendaa pleasure to realize she was not strong enough to wield the sword with one hand. Hera held the sword up over her head with some difficulty.

"Behold the power of war," she said. The crowd murmured in response. Hera called out something that made Kendaa shudder, and with all her strength Hera hit the sword on the altar and the blade shattered in two.

The Amazon heard Ares scream. "No!" he cried and sank to his knees putting his head down to hide the pain on his face.

"Bring me the blade end," Hera said calmly. Strife went and fetched it obediently. She motioned for the guards to bring Kendaa to her, waving them to the altar to place her there. Ares' head shot up and he stood and kicked the blade from her hand. His next blow would surely have been to her but the guards and the warlords in the room wrestled him to the ground. The Amazon took the opportunity to fight. She had managed to break free but her arms were still bound. She jumped up on the altar.

"If I'm going to die, I'm going to die like a warrior, not like an animal," she cried. She knew that the threat was useless. She was outnumbered and unarmed literally. But her blood was up and she was ready to go to the other side. She gave the Amazon war cry.

But instead of the onslaught, suddenly the crowd was backing away. She looked around then up. Down from the opening in the ceiling had dropped Cupid, his wings flapping to bring him down with ease. Hermes dropped onto the other side of her. They were both armed and arrows began raining down into the crowd as they fired.

"These aren't the arrows of love, granny," Cupid screamed as he aimed for her. The Queen of the gods vanished into thin air. "Damn!" he added.

Hephaestus entered from the west. Despite his limp, he was a formidable opponent even without immortal powers. Years at the forge made him strong enough to swing a battle ax as if it was a toy. Robes flew as men and women tried to flee. Athena entered from the east. She was the expert with all arms, but had chosen a sword for this battle. Artemis came in from the north. Her arrows also rained death. Kendaa could only stand and watch as Hera's worshippers ran to get free and were cut down by blade or shaft from their immortal foes. She felt her hands freed from their bonds and turned to see Aphrodite behind her in the garb that mimicked Hercules' traditional outfit. Aphrodite winked at her.

"Let us take care of this," she said smiling. She looked around with her hands on her hips and sighed. "Mother is such a drag."

Part five

The battle seemed as if it had lasted an eternity but it was really only minutes. The bodies of the slain were forever silenced. The ambitious princess lay in a heap, brought down by the arrow of Cupid. Strife and the other minor gods had disappeared along with Hera.

Athena was untying Ares' bonds. He undid the last of the knots and let the ropes drop to the ground. Then he went to the altar and picked up the hilt of his broken weapon and looked at the blade. Kendaa could not read his face.

Hephaestus limped over to where the other piece of the blade lay discarded on the floor. He picked it up and studied it carefully. Then he walked over to where Ares stood by the altar and took the two pieces, fitting them together. He raised the sword in the air and a bolt of lightning shattered the quiet striking the blade making it whole again. He handed the blade to Ares and the bruised and dirty giant turned once again into the splendid dark god of war.

Then the immortals beings all disappeared. They vanished as instantly as Hera had, leaving the Amazon alone in a room of dead enemies. She stood on the altar for a moment in complete astonishment. Then she jumped down tiredly and headed out of the room.

She had made it about halfway when she heard a voice behind her.

"I'm sorry about this," said Hephaestus. He was standing on the altar bathed in the morning light. "I really am. This sort of thing goes on all the time. They do it to amuse themselves or vie for positions of relative power. But nothing ever truly changes."

"It appeared pretty bad for Ares there for a while," Kendaa replied angrily.

"True, but he was foolish and got caught off-guard. He needed to learn a lesson. But the scales always come back into balance. Hera never truly wins, she never completely loses. Same with Zeus. The same with the rest of us."

"What about you...you don't get wrapped up in all these insane plots, do you?" She asked.

He smiled sadly. "I make their toys of vengeance. I suppose I am as much to blame." He got down off the altar and limped toward her. In his right hand he was carrying a staff. He came over to her and handed it to her. "I made this for you. I fashioned it from ironwood. Stronger than metal but lighter. It will serve you well if you will accept it from me. As a token."

Kendaa looked around the room, her hands on her hips, shaking her head in disbelief. 'Not even so much as a 'thank you' from the man," she replied.

"He doesn't even remember," Hephaestus replied. "When he became immortal again, it was as if the other events were a dream." He paused for a moment trying to reach for words to explain. "You see, we don't have a history like you do. We go on forever, eternal, unchanging, omniscient, omnipotent...perfect."

"But you're not perfect," she replied realizing she was taking a risk in pointing out his deformities.

He smiled and leaned close to her. "I used to hate my imperfections," he said quietly. "Now I think I may possibly be one of the lucky ones." He handed her the staff and nodded his goodbye. Then like the others he was gone.

The Amazon looked at the staff. It was beautiful. Perfectly weighted. Intricately adorned with small carvings. She twirled it around then took one last look around at the dead. Then she headed out of the strange room. She abandoned her belongings that lay in the hall where she had been staying and headed straight for home.