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.
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