Apis, the Baboon God: Three Histories of the Dark Empire (The High Strangeness Erotica series Book 14)

by Jerome Brooke

  “You need not fear, Warrior," she said. “I am yet a woman, like any you might lie with.”

  * * *

  The next morning, my royal lover gave me a further explanation of my duties.

  The Queen appeared following my morning repast. She sat beside me, and dismissed her ladies in attendance.

  “How was it that you came to wander in the wastelands, Warrior?”

  “The king of my land has many enemies. They chased me into the desert. However, I was able to escape.”

  “I too have many enemies, like your ruler. I am very old. Once I was like you, with blood flowing in my veins, warming me. Now, I drink this mead, and that preserves my life.”

  “But you are cold to my touch, Immortal One.”

  “Yes, like a statue of stone.”

  “Why do you want me to stay?” I asked.

  “I need you to do battle for me. My city is in danger. My enemies are always at my gates.” She took another drink, and smiled. “You are not here by accident, Warrior. I set the mirage in your path when your winged chariot fell. It drew you to me. Then, I called you to my palace. I sent an envoy, a prince of my city.”

  “I wish to return to my own land, My Lady.”

  “No, you will remain with me. You will serve me. You have many battles before you.” She rose, and folded her arms. “I am Astarte, the Immortal.”

  “How long have you ruled this city?”

  “I have been here for eons.”

  “You were a goddess in my world, long ago.”

  “I dwelt in your world for a time. My people seeded your world with life, long ago. We molded you in our image, and caused you to share our own flesh. But now, your world knows me not.”

  “Where were you born, Immortal One?”

  “My world, the world of my birth, has fallen into ruin. Shadows stalk the cities now.”

  “Is your world empty now?”

  “A few of my people still remain. I visit the cities of my youth from time to time.”

  “Is the distance far?”

  “The world is distant. But my fleet is swift, and my ships carry me there, in but a day. In the world of my birth, lies a land called Egypt. I still follow their laws."

  Divine Lady, I have written this record of my first days in your city. If all is fit and proper, I will record this in the Imperial Annals.

  So ordered, Prince Consort.

  * * *

  Myths of Astarte

  Four

  The legions of Astarte included chariot regiments, armed with bows and javelins. There were also regiments of dragoons, who rode on the march. They dismounted for battle.

  Imperial Annals, XX II. p. 23.

  * * *

  Fallen, fallen is the city, her towers toppled.

  Hear the wails of her women.

  Scattered are her children, bound with chains,

  Cruel emblems of the bond.

  Bardic Verse, p.322.

  * * *

  The Conqueror had been in the service of Astarte the Immortal, ruler of all lands, for more than one year. The Lady had called him to her service, and enticed him to enter her mirage. The mirage was a portal across space, time and the multiverse.

  Imperial Annals, XX, p. 1488.

  * * *

  A dispatch had been sent to the Queen, the divine Astarte, by one of her Satraps reporting that one of her cities was in revolt. The goddess commanded me to ready her legions for a march to the sea. We reached the rebellious city in a few days.

  We raised our tents on a plain near the sea, and passed the night in our camp. The Queen on the day of battle and donned her coat of mail. As the sun rose, we led our forces out of the camp, and formed a line with our regiments.

  The chariot of the Lady drove forward, and raced along our line. Our legionnaires raised a cheer.

  “The Queen!”

  “All Hail the Lady!”

  The chariot of the Queen swept round our lines, to rejoin her guard, in the rear of our formations.

  The men of the rebel city soon rode forth, through the gates of the city. They marched under a bright banner of blue and white. They also formed their battle line, and advanced toward us. When they neared our ranks, they halted, facing us.

  The Queen and the royal regiment deployed on a low hill, close behind our line. Part of the regiment was mounted; the rest rode in chariots. The mounted regiment and chariots of our front line were arrayed on the left and right flanks. Our dragoons and archers were in the center. Our dragoons rode on the march, but dismounted and fought on foot.

  The Queen had armed herself this day with her golden spear – symbol of her power and her throne. She called for a blast from the trumpets.

  On this command the chariots and the mounted regiments of our front line raced forward. Our Valkyries, our mounted archers, loosed their arrows into the ranks of the enemy. Our dragoons also advanced. The crossbow bolts and arrows of our shield maidens, with their narrow heads that could punch through mail, took their toll on the rebels.

  Our dragoons were met by the cavalry and infantry of the foe. The two forces clashed. The warriors were soon locked in a wild melee of individual combats. The Queen raised her spear, and pointed to the right. The regiment, the royal guard, advanced, and moved forward at a trot. We circled the line of battle to the right, and raced forward towards the enemy flank.

  Our mounted archers loosed their arrows and darts at the enemy. The archers in the chariot regiments also loosed their bolts. Other warriors cast javelins at our foes as the chariots sped by.

  I cast a javelin at one of the enemy. He clutched the shaft at his throat and fell with a cry. The air was filled with war cries, and screams of pain and the din of the clash of arms. The Imperial Guard cut through their ranks, and passed to the rear. The Queen then raised her golden spear. She pointed it at the city. We rode forward towards the walls, leaving the mass of the opposing forces locked in battle.

  We raced directly at the high city wall. The Queen leveled her golden spear at the barrier. A bolt of lightning sprung forth from the spear. The bolt struck the stone wall, causing it to crumble into ruble. The Queen was one of the last of her race, with weapons and powers that her subjects saw as like that of the very First.

  We dismounted, and climbed into the breach in the city wall. Our way was slowed by a cloud of dust. We were followed by the warriors of the regiment. We halted when we were inside the wall.

  Past the pile of rubble was a wide plaza. A small force of defenders appeared from a side street. Our warriors rushed forward, and cut down the enemy. The Lady called for us to follow her, and went forward down the street. We followed her into the street inside the wall, to a nearby city gate.

  At the gate, our way was barred by a small number of defenders. I leapt forward, stabbing at one of the enemy. He fell before me, and was finished by one of our shield maidens.

  Other warriors of our regiment pulled back the beam barring the gate. From the open gate, we could see the enemy forces rushing back to the city. Our own riders were mixed in with them, all bound for the gate.

  We left a small force at the open gate, and raced on to the next. We forced it open.

  Mounted warriors, our own and the enemy, raced through the open gate. We left a small force there, as well. Soon the city streets were filled with warriors locked in battle. Our shield maidens fought with a relentless determination.

  The enemy was forced back, block by block. Some of the defenders turned large buildings and compounds into bastions. These we left until later. In the central square, the main force of the enemy made a last stand. Our archers filled the flat roofs of the buildings surrounding the square. Our bows and crossbows took a heavy toll on the defenders below.

  The defenders still alive soon cast down their weapons and begged for mercy on their knees. They would regret it later, and wish for a quick death. The shield maidens led them outside the walls, disarmed. The Queen led her regiments towards the central stronghold. A broa
d processional way led to the acropolis. The stronghold had high walls, rising from the sheer rocks of its lofty mount.

  The Queen pointed her spear once more at the main gate. The lightning bolt of the Lady reduced the wall to rubble. We dismounted, and climbed over the rubble. The defenders did not attempt to bar our passage. In the square beyond the gate, a handful of men stood in a half-circle. The defenders were few in numbers, they cast down their weapons and begged for mercy.

  We placed the garrison under guard, and climbed the stairs leading to the palace of the Satrap of the city. The door of the palace was open. The Lady walked forward into the central hall. The room was cavernous, with a throne and dais at the far end. The walls were hung with rich tapestries.

  On the throne was a woman, the queen of the city. She was flanked by a number of other women. We walked to the foot of the dais.

  “Warrior, she is the senior wife of their wretched king,” the Lady told me. The woman on the throne rose. She was a woman of mature years, and had a regal bearing. She removed her crown, and held it out before her.

  “Hail, Immortal One. We ask for mercy from you. We shall serve you well, if you spare us.”

  “You will enter my service. If you please me, you will be given a secure place in my palace.”

  The Queen gestured to her guard. They despoiled the royal women and the servants of the fallen queen. They seized the crown, jewels, and finery of the women. The legionnaires stripped the women of their garments to dishonor them. The Lady left a guard with the women, with orders to take them to the slave pens.

  We explored the palace. We ordered the royal women and concubines we found to be taken to the slave pens. The wives and daughters of the king were ordered to our own tents. The women of the palace fell to their knees before the Queen. Some of them kissed the hem of her garments. Some of the women kissed my feet. There was little I could do for them.

  The palace was filled with rich ivory tables and chests. We found plates and vessels of gold and silver. The king and his henchmen had been well paid by the enemies of the Queen. Others of the race of Astarte were their masters, as we later learned.

  * * *

  After the stronghold was secured, we turned our attention to the places used as refuge by the defenders. We led a force of the Guard to one of the large compounds.

  One of the captains of the Guard threw a flaming torch into the compound. She then called for surrender. The enemy had little choice. The men inside opened the gates, and walked out. They were led outside the city walls, to await their fate.

  We entered the great house inside the compound with a force of our warriors. The front hall was filled with slaves. They had no arms, and were led outside, into the street.

  We entered the next room to find two men and a number of women, waiting for us. Our shield maidens secured the room, and disarmed the men. One of the men picked up a large chest from a side table. He poured out its contents – gold coins. He then made a deep bow to the Queen.

  The Queen gestured at me, her face impassive. “Strip them.” I bowed, and went to one of the women, older than the others. I hesitated for a moment, then drew my dagger, and ripped open the robes of the woman. The lady did not offer resistance or cry out. I turned to the next woman, and tore open her robes. This woman, younger than the first, cried out, hiding her face.

  The two men rushed me. They were cut down by our shield maidens, who were waiting for any resistance with drawn swords. Their death was quick, and a death of honor.

  The bodies of the two men lay on the floor, in a pool of blood. The women began to wail, and cover their faces. The Queen turned to me. She pointed to the young woman who had cried out.

  “Take her, Warrior.”

  “This is not for me, Lady,” I replied.

  “You must amuse me,” the Lady said, with a frown. “You love mercy, my prince. That is foolish.” The Queen ordered the young girl taken to the royal tent.

  * * *

  The Queen led us then to the harbor. We found that many of the ships were gone from the docks. Some of the people of the city had fled to the ships, if they were quick. Many of the ships were able to sail out of the harbor, to safety. The people on the ships would seek safe harbor, and try to lose themselves in distant lands.

  The ships that we did capture would be sailed to loyal cities along the coast. Their cargo would be slaves, our new captives. Many of the people of the city were on the docks, or hiding in the sheds along the waterline. They were taken to the slave pens.

  * * *

  We secured the harbor, and left a garrison to prevent any escape on small boats. We spent the rest of the day taking each enemy-held strongpoint. Most of them gave up, in the hope of mercy. When there was resistance, the defenders were slain.

  In many of the houses, we found only dead bodies. The men had slain their women and then taken their own lives. The Lady ordered the women despoiled when they were taken captive. Some of the men resisted, rather than to witness such a shameful sight.

  They were cut down by the shield maidens.

  “The victory is yours, warrior mine,” The Queen said.

  “Yes, but a dark victory, my Queen,” I replied.

  “No, a glorious, bright triumph!”

  At the fall of darkness, we returned to our camp. “This generation of vipers is no more,” quote the Lady. “The city will be laid waste. The name of her king will soon be unknown in the lands.”

  The Queen continued.

  “I will command that salt be sown in the fields. The city will stand empty and desolate, as a warning to rebels.” Today the city is indeed empty and deserted. The buildings have fallen into ruin. The people of the city are scattered all along the coast, and bear the chains of slaves.

  The bards would sing of all this.

  Lo, the mighty city is fallen, fallen into ruin,

  Her children are scattered, in chains,

  Hear the keening of the mother, inconsolable,

  in the wilderness…

  The city would become a legend, a story for children, and a theme for the fools called poets.

  Thus ended my day of service to the Queen, a day of blood and fury. The news spread to all the cities of the coast and isles. Soon, all hailed me as conqueror. Great was their fear of Astarte, the destroyer of worlds.

  All this I have recorded as you commanded, Immortal Queen. If all is right and proper, all will be recorded in the annals of the city, most dreaded ruler.

  As you have commanded, Immortal Goddess, I will now give an account of your destruction of the fallen city, and your glorious return to your own city.

  So ordered,

  The Prince Consort.

  The day after the city fell to us we set some of the captured enemy warriors, and the people of the city, to work tearing down the city walls, slighting the defenses. We formed work gangs, armed with picks and crowbars and set them to work. The work was dangerous to the crews. The walls might topple at any time, and the men needed to be quick to avoid being crushed by the walls when they fell.

  Other men of the city we set to work, gathering the bodies of the fallen. They dug trenches, and dumped the bodies in them. The bodies were beheaded by our warriors, before they were pushed into the trench. The gruesome trophies collected were placed on stakes planted along the roads running up and down the coast – a warning to all of the fate of rebels.

  We found the body of their king. He was lucky. He had died by his own hand, and had not become a captive. The Lady ordered his body hung from a tower near the city gate. The body had been dabbed with tar. There it would hang for many years. Our own warriors who had been slain were placed on pyres, to be burned as heroes. The smoke from the fires filled the sky.

  Some of the captives would be sold as slaves for the galleys. The lords of the conquered city, however, would be taken back to the Mountains of the Moon. They were locked inside the palace of the city for the present, under heavy guard.

  The Queen had a pavilion set
up outside the city gate. The captive warriors and the people of the city were marched before her. The Lady selected many of the warriors, and people of the city, to be taken to a special compound. As the people marched past, she gestured at some of the victims with her dagger. They were led away by our warriors. The rest, the fortunate ones, were led off to the slave pens.

  After the selections had been made, the people sent to the compound were led out, one by one, by the shield maidens. Some of them were beheaded, a quick death. The shield maidens had driven sharp stakes into the sand among the dunes, by the sea.