Masseeia stared at me, waiting for a response. Begging me to defy her. I could see it in her dark eyes. Masseeia knew her dominance over me, she relished it, and my struggle would only encourage her. Once she realized I had nothing to say, she crossed her arms, going on.
“And once seed is forced into you, you will bare the consecrated for me. You like that?”
“I’ll run.” I clawed at the post, trying to unfetter myself. “I’ll run myself through before I’ll-”
“You’ll do what I tell you to do.”
The First Commander cooled, pulling up behind me, pressing her body against my back. Wrapping one arm around my chest and the other around my neck, the warrior bruised me into the post, stinging my chest wound. Crushing my breath. We held there for a few moments with Masseeia making sure I knew her authority just as well as she did.
“Good girl.” She said hot in my ear, loosening her hold. Unable to move, I watched her dirty hands cut my tethers loose, but before I could even think to resist, Masseeia swiped both my hands behind my back again, bruising my wrist bones together under her iron palm. She then turned me, put a knee in my back, and pinned my sore chest against the post as she retied my wrists.
Turning me around, the First Commander ground the back of my bleeding head into the wood. I winced, my fresh wound mangling into the splinters. Holding my throat, she stared at me as if she were memorizing my features, taking an inventory of them.
“Your name curses you, Askca. It curses your bloodline and it curses everyone you love.” She tightened her grip on my air. “Now you have been chosen to suffer.”
Masseeia then grabbed a hold of my elbow, forcing me over to the waiting steed.
“You can’t watch me every moment of the day.” I warned, knowing well the foolishness in mouthing off to the First Commander but, as usual, unable to control it. She forced me up onto the horse in an unbalanced heap.
“And I can’t listen to you garble on all day.” She pulled up behind me on the horse. Yanking a bind into my mouth, she gagged it back into a tight, raw split across my face.
“Rival me again and I’ll break both your ankles.”
Chapter 70
I glared at the stable doors, my chest tight. Heart racing. The horse bustled beneath me, shuffling, aching to charge. My arms pulled behind my back, hurting, and my tongue soured with the taste of my gag. But worst of it all, Masseeia pressed into me from behind, wrapping a solid arm around my waist. The First Commander…. Those three words stung my mind, sparking a fearful memory. The trials of the First. I’d been a witness to the competition. It pitted Amazon warriors against one another in a battle for the title of First Commander.
Masseeia displayed undeniable blood thirst, cutting down her own sisters. Her friends. Snapping bones and slicing flesh. Hostile she sparred, tearing into the women like a rabid dog. There was no warrior in all of GarTaynia that could rival her. Not even Laidea. Only Queen Perseathea sparred superior. I stared at the stable doors, trying not to think on the bloody trials, or the things Masseeia was capable of.
“And it begins.” She palmed my stomach, holding me to her, skirting her black hair across my cheek. “Yah!”
She kicked the steed, surging us forward. The doors busted open in a spray of splinters, unleashing us from the stable. Fires burned across the yard, shining orange all around me, choking me in the billows of smoke. The horse galloped, zigzagging the flames in a panic, jostling me off balance. My arms behind my back, I grappled to hold on, but realized… there was no one there to hold on to. Masseeia was gone.
The horse sped ahead, hurdling the fires and dodging the swarm of people around me. I bit into my salty gag, clenching my thighs into the animal, but a sword slashed us from beneath, spooking the steed into a buck. I tumbled off its’ back, pummeling into the dirt. Crashing into my shoulder, I rolled a couple paces. Lifting my chin, I looked back to the stable. Malaia stood battling Masseeia behind the busted door.
“She was in there with us.” I muffled to myself under the gag. Fear for Malaia shot through me like lightening. Malaia was no match for Masseeia. Not even close. I crawled to my knees, scrambling back to the stable.
Malaia straddled Masseeia, choking the First Commander with a noose. I couldn’t be sure, but by the look of it Malaia had thrown the noose over Masseeia’s head just as our horse charged, ripping the woman backward to the ground.
“Get the Queen!” Malaia shouted as I neared the threshold.
Red faced and straining, Malaia knew well her fate against Masseeia, and also that Queen Perseathea was the only one who could match the First Commander.
I nodded to Malaia, but soon realized I couldn‘t take off into the battle with my hands tied back. I’d be slaughtered within the minute. Desperate, I looked around for a way to cut the ropes.
Masseeia lynched forward, tumbling Malaia off of her. Pinning the woman to the ground, the First Commander’s face blazed red from behind the suffocating noose. She clamped her hand over Malaia’s mouth, mashing the warrior’s head into the dirt, holding her down while loosening the noose. Gasping for breath, Masseeia balled her fist, unleashing several punches into Malaia’s face.
“Yes Askca,” Masseeia taunted, glancing at me, “go get the Queen. Your friend here needs all the help she can get.”
Ignoring the First Commander, I crouched into the stable door’s broken hinge, frantically bobbing to fray my ropes. As I did, Masseeia and Malaia wrestled over the hay strewn dirt, misting blood as they tossed into one another. I bounced on, heaving my weight into the hinge, trying to focus. Trying to block out the sound of the bone crunching strikes Malaia was eating in my place.
Masseeia cracked another punch into Malaia’s jaw, sending the warrior flying into a stall divider. The wood busted, crumbling down on top of Malaia. Masseeia lumbered over.
After what felt like forever, my ropes slackened at my wrists. Jumping up, I yanked the gag out of my mouth, barreling into Masseeia from behind. But the First Commander twisted around, using my momentum to bust a knee into my gut. With the breath tugged from my lungs, I dropped, gasping. I wanted to get up, but I couldn’t breathe.
Suddenly, a plank splintered over Masseeia’s head, knocking the woman to the dirt with a thud. Malaia raised the plank again as I scrambled out of the way.
“Get Queen Perseathea!” Malaia shouted again, splitting her timber over Masseeia’s back as the woman crouched to stand. “Now!”
I swallowed, not wanting to leave my friend, but knowing there was no other way. Malaia and I couldn’t handle Masseeia. Not even together. I pulled to my feet, nodding just in time to see Masseeia batter her own plank across Malaia’s cheek. Warm blood splattered across my face as the woman dropped.
Now, Masseeia white knuckled her bloody plank, eyeballing me. I took a step back, my mouth drying like sand. Masseeia stepped over Malaia, following me.
Chapter 71
Hippolyta rushed Kia-Maie and Tilliandre through the battle, whisking the children passed the bloody barrage of panicked horses, slinging swords, and a hail storm of arrows. Searching for the chosen stable, they hurdled a scatter of dead bodies, smoke choking in around them.
“This way!” Hippolyta shouted over the clamor, shepherding the two braves behind the armory and down a row of living quarters.
Kia-Maie and Tilliandre ran under Hippolyta’s guiding fingers till they were deep into the alleyway shade. Spotting the line of stables at the path’s end, Hippolyta sprinted the girls into the first of the three. Pushing inside, she closed the door behind them to just a crack.
“Wait for Tythose.” She said, peering at the children in the dark. “Do not leave this stable.”
Kia-Maie wrung her smoke smudged hands, staring up at the warrior. “Are you coming back for us?”
“Of course I am.” Hippolyta cupped a palm over each girl’s cheek, then drifted her attention to Tilliandre. “I’m going for your sister so she’ll know you’re safe. I‘ll be back.”
Once outside, Hippolyta pulled her sword, sprinting back down the alley as scorching arrows slashed the blue sky overhead. Staring up after their smoldering orange streaks, she watched them chase past her and into the stables she just left. Swallowing, she forsook the apprehension, and put the children in the hands of the goddess. Jolting out of the shadows, she sped back into the fighting.
“Hippolyta!” Kelius ran up, grabbing her friend by the arm. “Did you find her?”
“She’s in one of the last remaining stables with Kia.”
Kelius gave a relieved sigh. “Where’s Laidea?”
“I lost her after we fought Cyrenna.” Hippolyta shrugged. “I’m sure she’s looking for Queen Perseathea. Come on, I’ll take you to Tilliandre.”
But before they could turn, Kelius and Hippolyta caught sight of Bartamius. Sword in hand, he brawled with a gang of soldiers, Palius joggling on his hip.
“The girl is worth coin!” They shouted.
“Hand her over or we’ll cut her loose of you!”
The men hurled their swords into Bartamius, but he stood his ground. Slicing his blade against their attacks, he gripped Palius tight under his elbow, like a baby bird beneath its mother’s wing.
Hippolyta and Kelius hurried to aid Bartamius, rushing the soldiers with unexpected blades. Two of the men fell victim to the surprise attack, dropping where they stood. The third, finding himself outnumbered, thought better of it and ran.
“Thanks.” Bartamius sighed in heavy relief, lugging Palius over to Hippolyta. “Look, she’s not safe with me.”
Hippolyta sheathed her sword then coddled the girl, wiping smoke smudges from her cheeks. Palius looked at Hippolyta with glassy eyes and spoke.
“She’s not going to live through this.”
“Who’s not going to live through this?”
The girl’s lips began to quiver, and she kept silent, instead hugging into Hippolyta’s neck. The warrior smoothed a palm over the girl’s blond curls.
“She told me the same thing.” Bartamius shrugged. “I can’t get her to tell me who she‘s talking about.”
Kelius nudged Hippolyta in the ribs. “Let’s get her to the stables. She‘s a sitting duck out here.”
“Is Tythose there yet?” Bartamius questioned, smearing the sweat from his upper lip.
Hippolyta balanced Palius onto her hip, then drew her sword again. “No.”
“What about Perseathea?”
Both Kelius and Hippolyta shook their heads, prompting Bartamius’ chin to lower in disappointment.
“If you see her,” he said, “tell her to meet at the first of the three stables. Tythose is readying to take the two daughters and your braves back to Pahll-sus. My sister would do well to go with them.”
“Are you coming as well?” Kelius asked, axe still in hand.
“I think the time for that has passed. I have too much to fight here. But I’ll meet you there when this is done.” Kelius grasped Bartamius by the elbow, and he by hers, and the two shook in respect.
“If we find Queen Perseathea,” she said, “we’ll give her your message.”
He smiled. “She won’t listen.”
Kelius glanced at Hippolyta, then mirrored Bartamius’ smile, dropping her arm from his. “We know.”
Seeing the flames from paces away, Hippolyta and Kelius rushed to the stable, heaving the door open. The flames atop were small, and only eating at the corner of the edifice, but the smoke inside already fogged the air.
“Tilly?” Kelius perked her ears for her young sister’s voice, walking into the shadows of the stable.
The horses shuffled and snorted from their dark stalls, spooked by the imposing fire looming above. Palius lifted her head from Hippolyta‘s shoulder, staring into the dark.
“Something isn’t right.” Hippolyta whispered, her steps cautious.
Muffled grunts sounded from ahead. Kelius and Hippolyta stopped, listening. The mumblings of the battle outside seeped into their quiet. Guarded, the two warriors resumed their steps. A creak sounded overhead. Both Hippolyta and Kelius stared up into the rafters. Smoke hovered there, but revealed no suspect. Hippolyta’s attention drew to a far corner of the stable, settling her on a post in the distant dark. Sketchy outlines began to form there, silhouettes merging out of the shadows, but the warrior couldn’t be certain of whose.
Thud!
Something dropped from the rafters, nearly toppling down on top of the two women. The body laid face down in the dirt, as still as stone. Kelius white knuckled her axe, pushing Hippolyta back so that she could protect Palius. Crouching down to the body, Kelius stretched her hand out. Prodding it by a shoulder, she flopped the body onto its’ back.
Kelius gasped. “Malaia…?”
Malaia’s eyes loomed wide open. Blank and empty. Dead. Her face dotted with blood and her jaw slung to the side, jagged and open. Out of place.
And the muffled grunts came back. Kelius lifted to her feet, axe ready. As the two warriors crept toward the silhouettes at the post, the grunts grew into a frenzy.
“Oh gods….” Kelius rushed forward, but before she could move more than a few steps, Masseeia dropped from the rafters, landing behind the two silhouettes. Kia-Maie and Tilliandre. The gagged braves stood back to back, bound to the same post. Masseeia pulled two quick swords across their necks.
“You led these baby chicks right to the slaughter, huh Hippolyta?”
Without thought, Kelius lunged, swiping her axe up the middle of Masseeia’s two swords to split their hold on the braves. As the two women battled, Hippolyta dropped Palius to her feet, hustling her to hide in a horse stall. She then ran to the Tilliandre and Kia-Maie.
Her fingers toiled over their ropes, but they proved to be a never ending jumble. Before she could loosen Tilliandre, the child squealed under her gag. Hippolyta glanced over her shoulder to find Kelius hunching over one of Masseeia’s swords. Kelius’ axe dropped to the dirt. Shoving the woman back off the sword, Masseeia flashed her eyes to Hippolyta. Grinning.
“You’re next.”
At the end of Masseeia’s words, Kelius slumped into the dirt. Dead. Hippolyta went back to her panicking braves, fumbling her fingers over the knots, trying to free the girls. Sawing her blade over the ropes, she tried desperately to cut them, but they knotted too thick and tight. Her sword could not force deep enough, quick enough.
Tilliandre wailed under her gag, red faced and crying as she thrashed against her ropes, distraught over her dead sister. Kia-Maie stood bug eyed and silent on the other side, bound up to her shoulders.
Feeling a sharp point prick in between her shoulder blades, Hippolyta’s skin iced over. Masseeia was behind her. Ripping Tilliandre from the post, she shoved the girl.
“Run!”
Tilliandre ran, ripping off her gag then diving to her knees in the dust at Kelius’ side.
Before Hippolyta could determine her next move against Masseeia, she felt the blade tip lift from her back. Without questioning the moment, she shot up, rounding the post to protect Kia-Maie. Turning, Hippolyta knew before she spotted Masseeia why the woman had eased off. Tilliandre. The brave sat so caught up in her weeping that she failed to notice the First Commander approaching. Masseeia plucked the child up by a shoulder, dragging her kicking and screaming away from Kelius’ body.
Hippolyta fumbled back into Kia-Maie’s tangle, watching Tilliandre out of the corner of her eye, her mind racing. If I can get Kia free, then rush Masseeia, Tilliandre and Palius can run. As Kia-Maie’s rope finally untangled, Hippolyta ushered the brave toward the stall where Palius hid. Gripping her sword, she looked to the First Commander, who stood grappling to hold onto a frantic Tilliandre.
The brave’s chest heaved like a bullfrog‘s, her arms flailing, eyes begging Hippolyta for help. Without a word, Masseeia swiveled Tilliandre around, jabbing a sword through the child’s belly.
“Join your sister.” Masseeia skewered her blade deeper. Tilliandre gasped, blood dribbling her stomach. Masseeia
bruised her fingers into the girl’s shoulder, pulling back her bloody blade, then tossed the dying child into the hay.
Chapter 72
“Think you can save the last two little imps?” Masseeia stepped over Tillliandre’s body, pacing in front of Hippolyta. Flaunting into a swing of her two swords, she shined them into continual motion.
“I’ll do what I must.” Hippolyta said, sword ready, trying to hide the tremble in her voice.
Masseeia kept her pacing, swords spinning. “So you’re willing to die?”
“I’ll do what I must.” Hippolyta took a breath, calming the shake in her sweaty hands.
“Ha!” Masseeia snapped, the outburst startling Hippolyta. “So predictable, loyal Hippolyta. Willing to die for one who will never love you in return. Pathetic.”
“Love? What do you mean love?”
“You know what I mean. And you know who I mean. And here you are, willing to die to protect that child curse cowering in that stall.”
Hippolyta flit a nervous glance to the stall where Palius and Kia-Maie crouched, but soon pulled her eyes away, instead searching the stable for an escape for the two girls. As it stood now, the First Commander blocked the only way out.
Masseeia stopped her two swords, cutting them both toward Hippolyta‘s face. “Do you think Laidea will cry over your body, longing for the woman who died in place of her fate child?”
The tension iced the air between the two women, and Hippolyta gave no answer. Masseeia shook her head with a grin.
“I guess you do.” Dropping both swords, Masseeia sprung up, grabbing a rafter. “Sad.”
Hippolyta’s heart surged but before she could respond, Masseeia swung forward, kicking her in the chest. Stumbling back a few paces, Hippolyta regained her footing just as Masseeia dropped to the dirt, racing toward the stall holding Kia-Maie and Palius. The two braves squealed, running out from their hiding place, but Masseeia snatched Kia-Maie like a snake plucking up a field mouse. Hippolyta grabbed Palius, shoving the girl behind her.
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