Apis, the Baboon God: Three Histories of the Dark Empire (The High Strangeness Erotica series Book 14)
Page 7
After the last chariot had passed through, the warriors on foot followed. The chariots outside had formed a square, the bowmen firing from the chariot platforms. We advanced to the square, and joined the line. The plain was covered with the bodies of the gazen. The creatures continued to rush at us, falling to our arrows.
I returned to the chariot and the Queen. She held a glowing orb in her hand.
“I have called for another regiment,” she said. “We shall wait here for them then withdraw to my city. We are low on arrows and darts. We have no more javelins.”
The warriors had taken the wounded and the bodies of the dead to the center of the square. The warriors armed with pikes stood guard around the perimeter of the square.
The archers stood at the ready. We could see groups of gazen moving in the plain, and in the trees. We waited in the square as the sun began to move toward the horizon.
We heard the blast of a trumpet. We answered with a blare from our own horns. In a few moments the lead chariot of the second regiment appeared on the trail from the forest. We mounted our chariots, and formed a line, advancing to meet the relief force. The new squadrons raced forward, and formed up at our rear. We saluted the women of the second line of chariots, and wheeled back up the road, and into the forest.
“They will hit us from the trees, on the road back,” Astarte told me. The first attack came as we neared the entrance of the valley. We heard a trumpet call from the rear of our line. Howls filled the air. We continued forward. We formed a rear guard of warriors with pikes. They prevented attack on the rear of the chariots, as we advanced.
We continued to move toward the mouth of the valley. As our chariots advanced, I saw a mass of the gazen moving forward thru the trees on the side. A line of warriors followed the chariot of the Queen on each side. Shield maidens with crossbows filled the chariots near us.
The gazen rushed at the chariot of the Queen. They were met with a volley of bolts from our crossbows. Those that reached our line were met with pikes and axes. One of the gazen pushed through the pikes, and came at us, howling. The creature had been struck with many bolts, and was mad with pain. I met it with a blow of my axe, almost severing its neck.
We continued along the road, cutting through the attacking gazen. We reached the mouth of the valley. We formed a square in the desert outside the valley. After a brief rest, we deployed into a line, and rode toward the road leading to the city. The gazen did not attack in the desert.
* * *
We soon entered the gates of the city.
As we rode through the streets leading to the palace, I questioned Astarte.
“Did the gazen build the ruined city?”
“Long ago they ruled the land. They were once clever, and saw themselves as more than beasts," she replied.
“Do they hide in the hills because they fear men?
“They fear the hunt. They have forgotten the wisdom they gained over 10,000 years. Now they are like the beasts of the desert. They gather in the old city and tell tales of the past.”
“Why are they led by men?”
“My enemy has promised them return of all the land. All the men of the cities will die.”
Thus ended another day of my service to you, Astarte the Immortal. The bards still sing of this and my other battles in the mead halls of many worlds.
* * * *
Myths of Astarte
Six
* * *
The Conqueror was seen by the people of the South as a demigod. His many victories were a source of wonder. Attacks by his forces were sudden and unexpected. He overcame many foes, and lived through many battles. He led a charmed life, and was said to be beloved by the Fates.
Annals of the City, IV, p. 42
It was my honor to lead the forces of the Queen in the final battle with the rebels. On the day of battle, I joined the Queen in the courtyard of her palace. The large courtyard was filled with chariots, each bearing three women, shield maidens. One of the warriors held the reins. The other two were armed with javelins and bows. The
women raised their swords and spears in a silent salute. They then clashed the weapons three times against their shields.
One of the chariots drove forward, and wheeled to the side. The chariot was larger than the others, and pulled by four horses in-line, side by side. It gleamed with gold, and had a red pennant on a post to one side. I walked to the chariot with the Queen, and helped her onto the platform and leapt up beside her.
The driver turned to us, and bowed. A large gate lay at the opposite side of the courtyard. I drew my sword, and pointed to the gate. The driver used her whip to drive the horses forward. We raced down the
street. The other chariots followed. We followed the road to the main gate of the city, and out to the plain.
On the horizon, I could see a cloud of dust, and another mass of chariots. As they drew closer, they deployed in a line, facing us. We formed a line with our chariots and dragoons. The dragoons used their saddle animals to ride into position, but dismounted and fought on foot. Our cavalry was deployed on each flank.
As the enemy advanced, I ordered our own legions to move forward. The two great armies sought contact. As we advanced, a dark cloud appeared on the horizon.
There were distant flashes of lightning, and the rumble of thunder. A strong wind came from the north, chilling our legionnaires. I pulled my cape over my shoulder. A thick fog close to the ground. The low-lying blue mist hid the feet and legs of our warriors.
“Come, send the thunderbolts of the heavens. Spare none of the rebels,” The Lady called out.
The Queen stepped from her chariot, and raised her sword above her head. She chanted the words of a prayer, calling for victory.
Lord of the Thunderbolt, hear your child,
Bring your fire, bring the rain.
Lord of Hosts, drive all before us…
As the hymn ended, a bolt of lightning sprang from the tip of the sword of the Queen. It expanded as it rose in the air, with a bright flash of light. A loud clap of thunder pealed out. The shield maidens and their mounts were unnerved by the storm and the pyrotechnics. They did not fear the enemy, but were helpless before the power of the elements.
The armies halted in opposing ranks. Our shield maidens armed with bows took positions between the companies of our legionaries. I was at the center, in the rear of our line in the chariot of the Queen, by her side.
I ordered a blast of trumpets, the agreed signal to advance. The Imperial Guard began to move forward, raising the paean. At the same time, a force of our chariots charged forward on the left. The enemy gave way on each flank. I ordered our center to retire a short distance.
The enemy, hard pressed on each side, began to lose cohesion, and to cluster in the center of the field. I ordered our mounted regiments to close the trap. Our cavalry raced forward, and cut into the enemy rear. They were soon engaged in a wild melee with the foe. Once more, I drew my sword, and we raced forward, followed by the chariots of the Imperial Guard. Astarte drew a bolt from a quiver on the side of the chariot, and fitted it to her crossbow. She raised the crossbow, and loosed the bolt.
Bolts also began to fly from the other chariots. The enemy closed with us. I grasped a javelin from a holder on the side of the chariot and cast it at one of the enemy. He plunged backwards, the spear in his side. We passed through the enemy ranks, wheeled and halted. Warriors from each side leapt from the chariots and drew their swords and axes. The enemy wore conical helmets and coats of mail. The Queen and her archers continued to shoot arrows at the enemy.
A group of men in the conical helmets rushed at our chariot. I jumped onto the ground, and slashed at the first warrior to reach us. He fell, without a cry. A troop of our own shield maidens came to my aid. The enemy was outnumbered and were cut down.
Astarte held her bow, watching the combat. “Their attack is wavering!” she called.
“Their bodies litter the field!” I answered. There was a blast of trum
pets. I looked to my left. Soon I heard loud howls fill the air.
“Gazen!’ The goddess cried. The beasts were soon crashing onto our line. Our warriors used their pikes to hold them back. A cry arose from the ranks of the enemy. Our foe had rallied. They came rushing forward once more. Some of the Royal Guard of the Queen circled her chariot. A party of the enemy warriors broke through our line, and rushed the chariot.
I slashed at one of the men, bringing him down. His place was taken by another of the enemy. We traded blows. I thrust at his side, cutting through his mail.
I heard a cry from Astarte.
“Warrior, look!”
I turned, and saw a tall man in bright mail. He held a war axe, and carried a shield with gold embossed inlay. He ran forward, and swung at me with his axe. I turned the axe with my shield. We traded blows, with axe and sword. The warrior was strong, and struck my shield a fell blow. I stumbled, and regained my feet. I heard Astarte call out.
“Brother!”
The man stopped, and looked over his shoulder. Astarte loosed an arrow at him. The dart found its mark in the neck of the man. Blood gushed from his mouth. He screamed in pain. He fell back, and lay still. His men, seeing their leader down, looked at him in dismay.
I brought my sword on his neck, and his head fell to the side. There was still no blood from the open wound. He started to get to his feet once more, his head held at a sharp angle. One of our captains cut at his neck with a war axe. The head rolled to the side. Our captain took hold of the severed head, and thrust it on to a pike held by one
of our warriors. She then lifted the trophy high, to the cheers of our legionnaires.
The air was split by a peal of thunder. There was a flash of lightning, striking in the midst of the enemy ranks. A strong gust of wind came from the east, almost forcing me off my feet. The enemy wavered in their attack, in dismay and panic.
The shield maidens spared some of the men who fell to their knees. The enemy might hope to be sold to row the triremes for the rest of their days. Some of the men fell upon their own swords, to avoid the shame of capture, and torture. Others asked their comrades to slay them. The rest of the day was slaughter and the taking of prisoner the men who preferred to pass under the yoke.
Our shield maidens drew their swords, or took up war axes. They moved in, joyfully, on the disordered ranks of the foe still under arms. The men who still fought on had a dire fate at their hands.
As our warriors secured the field, I turned to the Queen.
“Your enemy is no more. Hail, my Queen.”
The face of the Lady was covered with tears. She averted her gaze from the sight of the gory trophy head, raised on the pike. I glanced at the head of the fallen Demon Lord. His eyes seemed to move, and fix me in a stare. His lips seemed to be forming words.
I shuddered.
“Find wood. Build a fire. Be quick,” I ordered. We built a raging fire, and cast the head and corpse into the flames. The head cried out, a horrid sound. The body itself tried to rise and grasp the head, and flee the flames.
The terrible figure, covered with fire, leapt forward. I took a war axe from a warrior and struck the demon. The being fell back, still withering.
We cast more wood upon the fire, and threw oil to fan the flames. The demon was reduced to ash. The dust was scattered by a sudden gale that rose from the east.
I sometimes see the ghastly face in my worst nightmares. I am not sure if it is all a dream, or if the Demon still pursues me, like the Furies.
Thus ended the Battle of the Myst, and my private war with the fallen Demon Lord.
All this was written at your command, Immortal Queen. May it be recorded in the annals of the city, if all is seen by you as right and proper, most dread ruler.
The End
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The Dark Empire of Astarte Collection
The City of the Mirage 101
The Dark Empire 104
Artemis the Huntress 111
Apion the Beastman 201, 202
Apis, the Baboon God 202
Eaters of the Lotus 211
The Lover of the Divine Queen 204
Astarte the Great Queen 301
Victory of the Divine Queen 303
Woman of the Desert 304
The Dark Cult of Cybele 602, 603
The Kiss of the Dark Goddess 603
Other GSPress Books
The City of the Mirage
Did Feast the Pack
Rainbow Bridge
Wise Women
Priestess of the Moon
Oracle of the Coast
The Favorite of Her Majesty
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