End Chapter 1

     Thera set about informing the boy as she called out for one of the Phalanx to step up and display her armaments. "Here Captain Elgar you see each member of this group are the tallest and largest and strongest of my warriors." Elgar realized the myths and legends he had been told about the Amazon Warriors were true. "They each carry a solid bronze round shield." Thera went over pointing at the item as she explained "It is four feet in diameter, it weighs 24 pounds, there is a small tip in the center; which looks like a woman's nipple," she paused with a smile "This is a special weapon that provides protection, but as you see," Thera paused moving the left arm of the warrior back "the handle is mounted to the right and the left arm is secured by a thick leather strap just below the elbow, this allows the weapon to be carried with greater ease. It provides strength and great force to push through the lines of our enemy. It is used for the smashing of skull and bones. This shield is enough to shatter a man where he stands." Here Thera gave a knowing look to her troops as they all recalled in their minds for they had seen and heard the sounds of smashing bones many times. "You will notice the armor, also hand cast in bronze. The breast plate is secured to the back plate with three leather straps; which are securely fastened."
     "Why do they have only one breast?" Elgar interrupted.
     "That is a good question Captain Elgar, thank you for asking." She smiled up at the curious boy as she pointed out saying. "Our armor is flat on the right side allowing each warrior to move with ease whilst using their swords, spears, javelins and, of course, a bow. This gives us each a chance to have an accurate aim and deadly precision so that we may have the chance to return home safe, with our lives." Elgar gave a look of understanding and Thera continued on with the boy's lesson. "Now the bronze armor covers the leg from the knee down, six small straps secure the front leg plate with the calf plate. Light weight leather sandals which are secured by laces protect the feet, remember footwear is vital for a strong army, I cannot stress this enough." she said with emphasis. "The two thick bronze gauntlets protect the wrist and forearm, two large arm guards protect the muscle and bone of the upper arm. Each wears a protective helmet fashioned in the Greek style, only the mouth and chin are exposed. You see we all wear broad collars of bronze around our throats, this is to keep them from being slashed in battle." Thera said as she rubbed the highly polished collar with her left hand.
     "Why do you all have your long hair pulled back in braids?" Elgar asked the Commander of the well armored group of strange looking women. "And black painted across your eyes?"
     "Good Elgar, that is good of you to notice." Thera said as she took her hands and rubbed them to the back of her hair as she gathered her long, blood soaked braids bringing them down around her shoulders "We pull our hair back so it is not a hindrance to our movements as we fight. Before we go to war we pour oil over our hair and naked bodies to purify our flesh in case we do not have the chance to make it back home, safe with our life. I have had, on many occasions, to bury my warriors where they lay. For, as is our custom, we believe if we fall on the field of battle we should be buried in the earth forever, in the soil where our blood was spilled so that we may nourish the earth with our bodies and bring forth many flowers. We will shed our blood for flowers, you see?" Thera gave a look as somber as a watery grave then Elgar gave a look of understanding as he looked in Thera's eyes as they stood there for a moment in silence, as the warriors gathered there recalled bloody battles and terrible scenes of war in their mind's eye. "We paint our face black from temple to temple to deflect the bright sunlight away from our eyes as to improve our sight."
     "I see." Elgar replied soaking up the knowledge.
     Thera then continued with the lesson for the boy "Now each member of the phalanx carries a spear. It is eight feet long with an iron head, razor sharp cutting edge. It is designed to fracture ribs, puncture lungs and penetrate the pericardium. You can kill a man in a breath, so quick, so deadly." Thera smiled wildly as she set the massive warrior back in line as she called out the charioteers. "Each chariot is built from ash and elm, the wheel is set at the center, this allows it to carry more weight so you have two fighters instead of one. Unlike your people's chariots with the wheel at the back. The last time these ancient relics went to war was probably at the Great Battle of Kaddesh!" here an uproar of laughter lifted across the field though Elgar had no idea of what she spoke.Thera continued on explaining the long bow was handcrafted from Ash and Elm wood. She explained the best bow strings are made from flax, hemp and beeswax, the shafts were made of the wood of a Yew tree and the inch long arrows were made of forged iron and were as sharp and deadly as a tigers tooth. Thera stressed the importance of this effective war machine.
     Now when she spoke to him of the cavalry she did not call out one of soldiers, instead she went over to Elgar as he sat atop her steed and he listened intrigued as she showed him the finely crafted saddled with the bronze breast plates covering the thick muscles of the animal's chest. Thera pointed out the thin bronze bands around the ankles of the horse. "This protects the horse from the swords of men and war dogs and snakes." Elgar was fascinated when she unhooked her small bronze, crescent shape shield from off the back left of the saddle. She then slid out the javelin from the right side of the saddle "This is also constructed of Yew it is four feet long and weighs about a pound and half. The tip is made of forged iron and if thrown with the right amount of force can stop a man's heart in an instant." she said with a snap of her finger. "Now the most important weapon we carry is this." Thera said unsheathing her sword holding it up for the boy to see, but not so close so he was unable to touch it. This is called a cyphos, or short sword. It is 20 inches long and weighs two pounds. A forged steel blade which is sharpened on both sides, so it cuts both ways. It is designed for thrusting and slashing. Cuts throats, slashes abdomens, snaps spines and amputates arms and legs and heads." Thera said a strange fascination sweeping over her face as she stared down at her sword "Yes, all my brave ladies know the sound of a man dying on the end of our blades!" here a roar came up from the warriors as they all lifted their swords above their heads then they began beating them loudly against their shields. Then Thera instructed her troops to resume clearing the dead from the field.
      Elgar had many questions but Thera had to tend to the dead. She ordered all the bodies to be taken far off down the shore to a place they called the Field of Bones. Thera made Elgar watch from the back of the horse as heads were cut from the corpses she explained they placed each head in a small bag made from fishing nets and then hung each head from the limbs of all the old oak trees surrounding the field; which was scattered knee deep with the bones of men killed in battle over the last four centuries. When asked Thera explained the importance of having a place like this near your territory to discourage unwanted intruders and thieves. Elgar thought he would vomit as he saw the bloody, fresh heads of the men he had come here with swaying in the breeze, he wanted to cry but he knew that from here on out he was a man, and so he acted like a man to show respect to his fallen countrymen and to be brave in the midst of his enemies.
     Thera was informed of the inferior quality of weaponry taken from the dead hands of the foreign soldiers. "We also found these." Lacuna said handing her commander a helmet full of black eggs. "They have been hollowed out and filled with tiny shards of glass and sand."
     Thera examined the black egg in her hand. "Elgar, what are these?"
     "We throw them in the eyes to try and blind our foe, their dogs or horses. They did not work against your helmets."
     "Very clever." Thera took the egg in her hand and placed it back in the helmet and instructed Captain Lacuna to bring them back with the returning army.
      As Thera set her ladies to their tasks she called for one of her chariots to be brought out for the boy. Thera sat on the back of the two wheeled war machine and called for water and grapes and bread; which Elgar savored as he tasted the sweet honey wheat bread, baked with apples, dates, walnuts and raisins. Thera sat with him but she did not partake of the food or drink as she explained that a true warrior never sups with an enemy.
     "Why commander? You must be hungry too."
     "Oh yes, every word you say is true. Because, young man, when you share a meal with a stranger, then they become your friend."
     Elgar wanted to say something because he thought it strange that the bizarre tribe of blood soaked women could have even the slightest concept of friendship, for they were bloodthirsty and barbaric, but they were a well organized, deadly killing machine.
     Then Thera gave Elgar his final lessons on how to handle the team of horses. "Take this chariot and these two horses as your prize and return home to your people and train hard at war and we shall meet on the field of battle, and we shall see." Thera supplied him with a goatskin of fresh water and sweet ripe fruit and more bread for his long journey home. She sent out a rider to lead him east to a road, far off in the distance, that followed the coast and would lead him back to his village and the family that worried and waited for his safe return. Before Thera allowed him to depart she called out loudly to her warriors. "What say you my fine army? In ten years on this eve will you come with me and return here to the field of battle and give Elgar the fight he needs to appease his satisfaction and vengeful needs?" A cheer came up from her people so loud was the roar there came a knocking from the lad's knees. "Now away with you Captain Elgar until you have grown and returned here upon your battle steed!" Thera watched as the boy disappeared off on the horizon, the sun now making its long journey into night as she took in a deep breath and headed west leading all her warriors back home.

More Chapter 1

     After a moment more of silence Thera called for one of the dead men's tunics to be taken from the large pile so the naked boy might have something to wear and could be clothed once again. There was a peaceful calm amongst the troops as they watched their commander standing on the beach slipping the green garment over the boy. The sad little child looked up into Thera's face as she towered over him and here he noticed she, as all the women, had black paint covering their eyes in a wide band that stretched from temple to temple. The women were all so tall, and in the greatest of physical shape, long muscular legs, all arrayed in the finest of armor, a breast plate that on the right side appeared to be of a man's chest, and the left was that of woman's breast. Thera noticed the boy eyeing her armaments and weapons and this gave her much happiness as she, a well trained eye for talent, saw the fascination in the boy's eyes.
     "Boy," Thera said loudly speaking in a commanding voice. "What is it you are called?"
     The little boy peered up at her and in a small voice said. "Elgar."
     "Well then, Elgar. I shall send you home soon, I will provide you with food and water. I will allow you to return to your land with a chariot and a team of horses." as she said this Thera lifted up the dark eyed boy back up in the saddle of her war horse and asked him this question. "Do you know why we have put those men to death by the sea?"
     The twelve year old thought for a moment the sea breeze lifting his long black curls across his face and as he pulled a lock of hair from his eyes said "Because you are a wicked people?" he said as the women gathered there on the shore laughed along with their commander.
     "Yes this is true, every word you speak." she smiled up at the young lad. "Elgar.., we have brought these men to their death to appease our god of the sea, their flesh will feed the creatures of the deep and this is why you have seen what you have seen." Thera felt a strong affinity for this child for some reason then she said. "Now, as for you.., when you return home and tell how you survived and all you have seen, you shall be called a hero and be a joy and blessing to your people." Thera smiled up at the fortunate young man saying "You, I am sure, will continue in your military training?"
      "Yes!" he said in a voice that was as big and bold as his spirit telling her "I will raise an army of thousands and I shall come back and fight you and make your ladies sleep in the water for you to see!"
      More laughter broke out amongst the troops who stood in the mid-day sun as the salt scented breeze caressed their blood soaked faces. "Now that sounds like a challenge! Very well sir! Come back with your army. Now they must be well trained, and well equipped, and well fed, as well as your horses." Thera delighted in this discourse "Now, you yourself.., Captain Elgar." Thera said instantly promoting the lad. "Yes Captain Elgar, you are in need of expert training. So let me be the first to have this honor, for you shall come back in ten years from today, and after ten winters have passed return to me on the battle field a General, and my daughters will be here to lead the fight." Thera then explained "I am their Commander." she said pointing to the armor clad warriors. "They look to me for instruction, and when their task is completed they look to me for more instruction, until the time I deem their presence is no longer necessary. Now I must tend to the after- math of battle." Thera called her Captains to bring the divisions in order. Four long columns five wide and hundreds deep. Thera called for one warrior, from each division, step forth, one by one to present arms so Elgar could see, first hand, and understand the threat of power from the might of the Themiscyran Army.

Chapter 1 continues

     There beside the waters of the Black Sea which was lapping just behind the backs of the defeated men  the little boy was set free. Thera dismounted her steed as she went over to the frightened lad and cast her green eyes down upon him as he looked up with deep dark pools of terror in his eyes as he gazed up at the angered warrior who towered over him, her long, dark, blood soaked hair pulled back into braids; which dripped with the blood of his people. Thera took the boy by the hand saying "Do not fear for your life little child, for no harm shall come your way. But see now and weep for the destruction of these men, who came here upon us, attacking my people in our own land. For this will not stand!"
     Now here as she spoke one of the older, stronger of the men said loudly to the commander so all the people gathered there could hear. "You have stolen the gold from our temple, by your own instruction our priests were killed by the swords of your people as they slept in their beds as your soldiers crept in by cover of night! We have come for the return of our idols."
     Now this brought a few laughs from the victorious warriors but not from Thera as she quieted the ladies with one sound from her mouth, then she grabbed the boy and climb back upon her massive well-trained war horse telling the boy she wanted him to have a better view. Then she went forward with her horse's nose pressed close to the man who dared speak and Thera looked at him and giving a smile as warm as a serpents embrace she said down to him "Yes it is true every word of what you say. We could have also burned your temple to the ground, or used the temple as an army barrack, like the Spartans when they invaded Athens, but these are all  matters to be left to history. As for today all your lives will, most certainly, come to an end. The golden idols of your gods have not served you well! And by the Law of Artemis my army shall take no prisoners and with your people.., we do not wish to breed. Alas this shall prove to be your greatest misfortune." Thera gave a signal to the mounted cavalry officers to her right and the long line of horses moved closer to the men who turned their backs to the approaching animals who walked the men into the cold blue waters which was now up to their knees. Then as the little boy watched in horror Thera gave the doomed foreign army one last command "March into the Ocean! March into the sea!"
     The men their hearts racing stepped out into the deep blue waters now at there chest's as the heavy weight of the chains; which bound them all together pulled them down deeper and deeper. The women where all quiet on the beach listening to the drowning screams of the men. The stronger of the some forty men tried to fight against the heavy weight dragging them down but soon they grew tired and succumbed to the inundation the salt water filling their aching lungs as their panic and terror was replaced by a deep abiding peace. Then the sea fell silent save for the sound of the waves lapping against the sandy shores and the sound of tears coming from the little boy.

Chapter 1 Begins

     "Commander!" the blood soaked warrior called out across the corpse strewn field of battle.
     "Yes?" Commander Thera answered from atop her black war horse.
     "This one is still alive." the tall woman, with dark hair wet with fresh blood, said as she pulled her arrow from out of the man's thigh as he cried out in agony.
     "And why is that? Do you wish to breed with him." her commander laughed along with her brave warriors who stood nearby.
     "No." came the reply as the woman stared down at the dark eyed frightened man.
     "Can he walk?" Thera asked as the sun beat down in the cloudless sky as the smell of blood and sweat permeated the air.
     "No commander my arrows have seen to that."
     "Then finish him off!" Thera instructed.
     The tall, blue- eyed, armor clad warrior stood over the injured man as she gazed down at him saying "You were very brave to come here and fight with us today, but your stupidity has outweighed your courage." she said simply as she stood near his shoulder unsheathing her long sword. She raised the sharpened cyphos above her head and with one mighty blow she severed the terrified man's head from his shoulders his eyes wide in panic. All her sisters in arms cheered the women's voices lifted above the blood soaked battlefield then they all turned to listen as their commander shouted out more instructions.
     "My brave ladies! You have all fought with much courage and unity on this day and we are well pleased! Now take the men who have survived strip them naked and bring them down to the shore! Captain Vega bring out the chains! Lacuna bring out the tigers so they may feast on the bodies of the dead! Captain Lexa scavenge any armor or weapons we may find a use for." Commander Thera shouted out wiping the sweat from her brow.
     As the warrior women of Themiscyra hurried to carryout their commanders orders Captain Lexa in charge of the cavalry rode over and explained to Thera that their enemy had inferior armor constructed from rattan and wicker, their small shields were made of wood and leather, even their arrows were made of date palm wood; which was a poor choice to fight against the Themiscyran Army with their bronze shields, iron tipped javelins, sharp swords and deadly arrows, not to mention their trained tigers.
     Thera was perplexed by this saying loudly so all the members of her fighting force and the men they had defeated in battle could hear "Foolish men! Have they not heard of us? Do they not know who they are dealing with?" Commander Thera rode down to the sandy shore were the surviving men stood naked as they were being chained together at the wrists, one by one, by a group of blood soaked, armor clad women when a call came up from the group as the women stood by a small naked man, who was not a man at all but a young boy about twelve years old who stood shaking in tears. The leader of the troops stared down shocked. "You stupid men! You would send a boy into battle!?" she screamed angered by this turn of events. "Let the boy loose!" she ordered one of the warriors who did as she was instructed. "Now my dear ladies, our thirst for battle and blood is legendary! But we do not slaughter children here!" all the warriors had paused from their work, all except the tigers who were busy crunching the bones and eating the flesh of the dead. "You, little boy! Stop your crying and listen well. We will let you live so you can bear witness to the destruction of these men who have betrayed you by bringing you into battle against us here today. And after they have all drowned beneath the waters we will let you return to your homeland and you must tell all what you have seen here today! Spare no detail when you tell your story let your people know of our brutality!" a cheer came up from Thera's warriors as the frightened chained naked men trembled uncontrollably their chains moving and shaking with the fear of death coursing through their veins.