Battle for Tristaine

by Cate Culpepper

  The mention of water made her aware of a raging thirst, and Brenna blinked hard, trying to clear the tears from her eyes. A sudden and sharp series of hacking coughs bent her double, and she joined the rasping chorus all around her.

  Black-booted soldiers moved among the Amazons sprawled in the center of the arena. There were easily seventy mercenaries—of mixed gender and age—encircling the stadium floor. All of them carried rifles, which they used to push the women aside if they fell into their path.

  Soldiers had removed the protective masks that had shielded them from the gas, and Brenna saw that the smoke and fumes had cleared. She realized with a queasy start that she’d been unconscious for hours. The weak sun overhead was already coasting down toward the western peaks.

  “Here, Brenna. Sip it.”

  Brenna felt Jess’s cold fingers brush her brow, and she accepted the canteen. She held herself to the few swallows Jess would allow, but it took restraint. Her throat was coated with a nasty chemical slime.

  “What happened?” she managed.

  “The village is taken, Bren.” Jess took the canteen and lifted it to her lips.

  “What about K-Kyla and Shann?” Brenna asked anxiously.

  “Stay here,” Jess croaked calmly. She brushed Brenna’s hair off her forehead and checked her red eyes. “I’ll find out what I can.”

  Brenna knew an order when she heard one, and she didn’t try to stop Jess as she climbed to her feet. Her fierce eyes streamed tears that had nothing to do with sentiment and everything with chemicals, but she seemed to be recovering quickly.

  “Hey!” A soldier at the periphery of the group raised his rifle. “Get down, over there!”

  Jess ignored him

  “Hey!”

  “Hold your water, boy.” Jess coughed and spat on the ground. “You’ve taken our weapons. You’re safe enough.”

  Not necessarily true, Brenna thought, but now that she could see, she realized how badly Tristaine’s warriors were outnumbered. Three dozen Amazons were scattered separately and in small groups on the hard-packed ground of the arena. Brenna didn’t see Shann or Kyla, or any of Tristaine’s high council. The retching sounds around her were starting to fade.

  Jess walked stiffly over to three of her warriors and crouched to speak to them. Then she rose, her hand on the shoulder of the youngest in the group, and scanned the open stadium.

  “Sit down, you big pendeja bitch!” the soldier barked.

  Brenna saw several rifles rising toward Jess.

  “If you were allowed to fire on us, cabron, I’d see wounded.” Jess scrubbed her forearm across her face. She surveyed her troops. “My sisters look whole enough.”

  “I said sit down!” The man’s voice cracked, which scared Brenna.

  “Go find your witch doctor, mercenary.” Jess spied Camryn and gave her a hand up. She looked her over, brushing off her leggings. “Tell her we want to see our queen.”

  The soldier tossed his rifle to the woman next to him. “Dana, this is your fucking squad. Speak the fuck up!” He stalked toward Jess.

  Brenna threw herself far enough to wrap her arms around one khaki-clad leg as he strode past. He yelled in alarm, flailing, and the Amazons immediately cheered.

  Brenna ground her teeth at the embarrassment of being dragged across the dusty arena by the kicking, staggering soldier, but it gave her enough time to crawl up his leg. Her well-placed fist, midstride, brought both his cursing and his momentum to an abrupt halt. The mercenary toppled like a sack of laundry and lay curled on his side, cupping his testicles.

  “Two,” Camryn crowed, and the Amazons’ laughter, choked and sputtering as it was, heartened Brenna. But more soldiers were moving now, and rifles were coming up fast.

  “Stand down, militia!” Theryn’s command rang across the open stadium.

  Brenna swiveled on her hands and knees, shock sluicing through her.

  Theryn’s handsome features were congested with anger. She stalked over to the woman the soldier had called Dana and snatched her firearm from her hands. “I just ordered your squad to lower their weapons, you young idiot!”

  Waves of disbelief coursed through the Amazons around Brenna as palpably as ocean surf. She stared, aghast, at the small group of familiar faces entering the arena in Theryn’s wake. There were about twenty warriors, including Patana, Perry—the warrior who had clashed with Elodia—and the hauntingly lovely woman Brenna had seen on the balcony with Theryn.

  And Myrine. Brenna’s heart fell when she saw Jess’s old friend hand in hand with Patana in the small assembly that gathered around their angry leader.

  Camryn saw Myrine at the same moment, and Brenna heard her muffle an anguished curse. Jess’s eyes were expressionless.

  “Where’s Shann, Theryn?”

  “Jesstin, Shann is safe. She’s right here.” Theryn was calming now, and she injected authority into her voice. “Just tell your warriors not to resist, and I promise you, Amazon blood won’t stain this—”

  “Sow’s daughter.” At the far edge of the group, Vicar stood. She spoke quietly, but the venom in her tone carried her curse. “Your liver, Theryn, my fist.”

  An angry murmur went through the women surrounding Theryn, but she quieted them with a wide gesture. Theryn’s chin lifted, and she clasped her hands behind her.

  “I expected your enmity, sisters. I knew I would pay a heavy personal price for living by my ethics.” She paused a moment, then continued. “But I prefer the hatred of Tristaine’s old guard to the death of our village. I would have done anything…” Theryn looked directly at Brenna, “anything to avoid this. Your high council chose this fate, adanin, when they chose to silence me.”

  Brenna considered throwing up again, but her need to reach Jess and Camryn overrode the impulse. Hearing a scuffling noise high in the risers of the arena at the door to the review stand, she took advantage of the distraction and scrambled to her feet. Cam took Brenna’s arm and drew her in protectively when she reached them.

  She heard hissing rise from the Amazons, and as she focused on the review stand, she saw Shann accompanied by two guards who still wore the bulky gas masks. They pushed her roughly to the railing.

  Shann straightened, her patrician features composed. Her arms were tied behind her, and the soft fabric of her robes was mud-spattered and torn. A bleeding bruise capped one high cheek. Her bloodshot eyes sought out Jess and held a moment, then swept across the other warriors below.

  Theryn gasped, and even the women with her looked shaken. “Shann, I ordered that you not be harmed! Lady, I swear to you—”

  “Really, Theryn. Still your heaving breasts.” One of the soldiers holding Shann tittered and released her. “Our barbarian queen here is far thicker of skin than you imagine.”

  She pulled off her black gas mask and shook out silver hair, ruffling it with long, tapered fingers. The distinguished woman turned to the sea of faces watching her.

  “Amazons of Tristaine, good morning!” she called, and gave them a dazzling smile. “My name is Caster.”

  Chapter Six

  Jess’s arm braced Brenna, and she felt Camryn’s shoulder brush her own, a small gesture of support that warmed her, even through the sick pounding in her head.

  Caster’s bright gaze coasted over the Amazons until she saw Brenna, and her ebony eyes sparked with pleasure.

  “Brenna, Jesstin! And young Camrie, isn’t it?” She pressed a well-manicured hand to her heart. “I’ve worried about you all through this long, tedious summer! Little Kyla is safe and well, you’ll be pleased to hear. She’s been taken to one of your—bunkhouse things, along with your noble tribal chieftains.”

  A harsh cry rose. “Release our queen, banshee!”

  Jess kept her eyes on Caster. “Stand down, Sage,” Jess ordered.

  “Why, thank you, Jesstin. Standing down would indeed be a sage decision.” Caster’s gaze caressed Jess’s face. “My, my. And wowza. What a dashing hunk of leathered Amazon you’ve landed, Mi
ss Brenna! It’s quite a thrill to see our brazen warrior here at last, isn’t it? In her natural habitat, among others of her primitive ilk! I have literally dreamed of this day.”

  So have I, Brenna thought.

  “And I’m just as pleased to see you, young Brenna.” Caster’s sharp teeth glinted as she smiled at the Amazons. “Ladies, please know my former med tech has a special place in my heart. And I’ve brought both Brenna and Jesstin souvenirs from the City.”

  Brenna didn’t have to look up at Jess to know that her tears had dried the moment Caster revealed herself. Faced with an enemy, Jess had a warrior’s discipline, even over her rebellious tear ducts.

  As she studied the scientist she had once respected, Brenna realized she was trembling, but not with fear. It was fury, a fury that heated her blood and put steel in her spine.

  A slipstream of images swam through her mind of the Festival of Thesmophoria: Kyla singing the Challenge of Artemis, Shann’s address, and the grieving pride of the Amazons as they left their village. Brenna would later describe this moment of rage in her second journal as the beginning of her life as an Amazon.

  “I realize how anxious you all must be to hear from Tristaine’s attractive lead dominatrix.” Caster smiled at Shann. “And I will indulge that desire straight away! We have a great deal of important work ahead of us, Jesstin, and I don’t want your warriors distracted with worry.”

  Shann glanced at the soldier that still kept a tight grasp on her right arm. At Caster’s nod, he released her. She looked out over her women and her shoulders relaxed, despite the cruel ropes that bound her.

  “I’m not badly hurt, adanin. And last I saw them, neither was Kyla, or Terme, or Cay, or Ziwa, or anyone else on our high council. I can assure you that Tristaine’s greatest treasures, the wise women who guide her queen, are all safe and whole.”

  Shann’s voice rasped with the after-effects of the gas, but her remote calm helped ease Brenna’s concern for her. She made vague note that Shann was talking in code and hoped Jess would be able to translate it for her sometime soon.

  “Our village has been taken without real bloodshed. That tells us Caster needs something from us.” Shann’s red eyes fell on Jess again as she went on. “For now, sisters, we will not resist.”

  There was a murmur of disquiet among the Amazons, and the cords stood out in Jess’s jaw, but she nodded.

  “Shann.” Theryn stepped forward and tried to catch Shann’s eye. “Lady, I give you my bond that your warriors will not be injured. All Caster wants to do is film a documentary about her—”

  “Cooperate as Gaia allows, sisters, and keep fast to the path of our Mothers,” Shann continued. “I ask for your patience and your trust.”

  The same small, detached part of Brenna’s mind that was thinking clearly noted that this was the first time she had ever heard Shann interrupt anyone.

  “Our trust is yours, lady.” Hakan’s voice was heard from the back, and Brenna looked around for her in relief.

  Caster let the silence linger after Shann finished speaking. Then she gestured to the female soldier who stood next to Theryn. “Miss Dana! Please escort our pagan queen back to her barracks.”

  The girl grimaced in reply and shouldered her weapon. Brenna caught her eye as she stalked past, and the young woman scowled and looked away. Fascinated, Brenna watched her until she was out of sight.

  “Brenna?” Jess’s rough hand touched her arm. “You know her?”

  “Never seen her before in my life.” Brenna hadn’t. There were several women soldiers among Caster’s mercenaries. She had no idea why this one stood out for her.

  The breeze that felt pleasantly cool on the dam chilled Brenna now as she watched Shann being escorted out of the stadium. Jess’s arm pressed her shoulders, and she leaned into her, both offering comfort and accepting it.

  None of the Amazons around them moved, but it seemed the group gathered closer to them in spirit. Brenna could feel the breath of twenty warriors warming their backs.

  “Sit down, Bren,” Jess said.

  Brenna folded her legs gratefully and let the cold, hard-packed ground support her. She drew in deep draughts of mountain air and watched the remaining soldiers space themselves around their circle. Then she saw Theryn, walking slowly to the front of their gathering.

  Theryn’s padded shoulders were slumped at first but lifted as she turned to address Tristaine’s warriors again. Her stentorian voice rang in the quiet arena.

  “Whatever your anger toward me, sisters, listen well! I entreat you to heed our lady’s command. Cooperation is your only hope for survival.” Theryn paused with a showman’s timing, making sure every eye was on her. “Caster holds your queen and several members of Tristaine’s high council. Because of young Kyla’s injured leg, I’ve arranged to have her stay at Shann’s side. I warn you, any deviation from Caster’s agenda will put their lives at risk, as well as your own!”

  Brenna was distracted by movement from Theryn’s cluster of followers. The woman she had seen on the balcony broke free of them and ran to Theryn, who lifted her arm to embrace her.

  “Who is that?” Brenna whispered to Camryn.

  “Grythe.” Camryn grimaced. “She’s Theryn’s adonai.”

  Flaxen curls billowed around Grythe’s lovely face, and her posture next to her taller mate was fiercely protective. She lifted one arm, adorned with thin silver bracelets from wrist to elbow, and tickled the base of Theryn’s throat with long, ragged nails. Her glittering eyes fell on Brenna.

  Theryn raised one arm. “I have succeeded in securing a pact with Caster!” Theryn’s followers gave a supportive cheer, and she waved a benediction over the crowd.

  “Caster is a practical woman, and she will convince her Military funders to honor our agreement. Never fear. Now, this is what Tristaine offers the City.” Theryn enumerated the terms of the truce on her gloved hand. “Amazons will become legal Citizens. We will accept a City delegate on our high council. Our silver will be taxed. And that’s it! That is all Caster demands.”

  Utter silence in the arena.

  “In return,” Theryn continued, “the migration will be recalled! Our sisters will be permitted to return from their exile in the southern meadows. A new high council will rule. And we will be allowed to live out our lives here in Tristaine!”

  Celebratory war cries erupted from Theryn’s group, in vivid contrast to the bleak silence of Jess’s warriors. Patana pumped her fist in the air, her hawkish features elated. Brenna saw Myrine close her eyes, looking more relieved than elated. She never glanced their way.

  Theryn waited for the cheering to fade, stroking Grythe’s slender arm, which was draped seductively across the base of her throat. “Now, sisters, let me explain the logic behind our truce. Caster’s capture of Tristaine will validate the project she began in the City Clinic. She will prove to the Government that her techniques can turn their enemies against each other.”

  “The City doesn’t need Caster for that, Theryn. They have you.” Jesstin’s brogue was clipped. She looked up at the scientist in the review stand. “My clinical study had nothing to do with turning Amazons against Tristaine, Caster.”

  “Of course it did, Jesstin.” Caster sipped delicately from a canteen. “Or at least it will, with proper film editing and a few payments—a few silver coins—in the right pockets.”

  “Our strategy is this,” Theryn continued. “Caster will film our two companies in mock battle.” She moved until she was in Jess’s line of sight. “Sham combat, Jesstin. No one will be hurt.”

  “Or what, Theryn? Your truce will be null and void?” Jess smiled without mirth. “Caster will pack her expensive toy soldiers and march them back down the mountain?”

  Grythe looked at Jess as though she were tasty carrion.

  Theryn bent as Grythe whispered to her, then shook her head and straightened. “You and your warriors, Jesstin, and our lady and her high council, will be banished from Tristaine. Forever. You’ll be give
n your freedom to move deeper into the mountains to form that new commune Shann spoke of so movingly in the Queen’s Address.”

  “Our freedom isn’t yours to give, Amazon.” Jess’s voice was low and ominously quiet. “You’ve struck a deal with a demon. Caster has no intention of letting anyone loyal to Shann leave Tristaine. Not alive.”

  “Fine with me, bitch!” Patana elbowed Myrine aside and grinned at the warriors sprawled on the ground. “I don’t care if we skewer each and every one of you sisters and hang your pelts from our lodge poles. I figure it’s worth a little carnage if we finally win Tristaine a queen worthy of the name.”

  “Fucking pendeja!” Elodia exploded to her feet. “We knew you wanted Shann’s throne, Theryn, you bloody traidora!”

  “We will continue to honor all of Tristaine’s Grandmothers.” Theryn raised her voice, obviously trying to tamp down the ire rumbling through the warriors. “And I will maintain our sacred ceremonies—”

  “You betrayed your clan for power, puta!” Elodia hurtled toward Theryn, but Jess swiveled and caught her attempted rush.

  “You want to rule Tristaine, and you want City medicine for your crazy wife!” Elodia could still yell under Jess’s restraint. “That sick bruja, Grythe—”

  Jess’s hold on Elodia moved smoothly from a simple hold to punishment, and the girl gasped. Jess lowered her with a distinct lack of gentleness to a seated position beside Camryn. Jess’s eyes on Elodia were as cold as Brenna had ever seen them.

  “You don’t mock an Amazon’s affliction, girl. Any Amazon. Now stand down and tame your temper.” Jess straightened. “You believe you can convince our clan to accept your rule, Theryn?”

  “I do.” Theryn smiled directly at Jess for the first time. “I’m confident, Jesstin, that the prosperity I bring Tristaine through this truce will soothe any ruffled feelings eventually.”

  “Let’s wrap this up, ladies, shall we?” Caster snugged her parka around her. “We’ve lost the light for filming today, at any rate. Get these primitives sorted out, Theryn, and lead me to a decent dinner.”