Now six days of rest and relaxation passed quickly and Thera enjoyed the long days of laying on the sandy shore of the lake soaking up Apollo's rays swimming in the deep blue water. All of the women returned to Themiscyra refreshed and rejuvenated. Thera was the last one out as she had to insure all the tents and supplies were packed up and ready to roll out on the caravans for the breeding parties. There would be seven groups traveling to Scythia, Macedonia, Dardania, Epirus, Thessaly, Thermopylae and Megara. Thera would be in charge of the twenty two virgins and bring them to Amara. The Queen would normally perform this function, but as she was old and war torn this was one other duty Thera must perform as the Queen's Commander.
So it was Thera returned to Themiscyra late in the evening the sun setting at her back as she approached the gleaming city on the winding road from Colchise. Thera felt confidant and relaxed as she traveled back home. Upon entering the city she noticed her officers surrounded by their daughters, who had crafted garlands of flowers for their hair. There was here, as always, a feeling of peace and happiness in Themiscyra. Thera was radiant in jubilation as she approached the Queens Fortress in the center of the city. The virgins were gathered there in the great hall admiring the statues of the former Queens: Aella the Whirlwind, Antiope kidnapped and taken to Athens, Hippolyta Daughter of Ares, Lysipee nemis of Aphrodite, Marpesia Most Victorious in Battle, Omphale Ruler of Themiscyra and Lybia, and of course last, but not least, the long dead Penthesilea killed by Achiles at Troy.
Now Thera knew this should not take long and she should soon be home in her bed. However when Thera was brought in with the eighteen and nineteen year old virgins Thera noticed a look of great concern on the old Queens face as she stood there in the great hall surrounded by the virgins. Thera went up to the long table the Queen sat behind her Foreign Relations Emissaries on either side the Queen. Thera greeted her Queen "Queen Ethera I have returned to your court with these good ladies seeking our your blessing and instruction before we part for Megara on the morrow."
Here her Queen showed no sign of happiness or contentment of blessings to bestow. She merely looked at Thera with a face of solemnity as cruel as the grave and then she spoke to the women assembled there in the Great Hall of her Castle. Then she spoke saying "We have received word from Sparta." the Queen paused then said "King Vyacles has chosen to ratify our peace accord. Our ladies are now allowed to breed in Sparta."
"That treaty is a hundred years old." Thera sighed knowing what this news could only mean.
"Yes, all the better for new seeds for our young flowers." Queen Ethera smiled at the blushing young girls who were instantly thrilled knowing the legend of the fierce warrior men of Sparta. However Thera was not so pleased as she had heard many stories of the Spartans from General Pelopidas and Thera had a deep uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Commander Thera you are here by ordered to escort these good ladies to the city of Sparta where their king awaits."
"What of Megara?" Thera asked of the Queen who did not answer instead she called each woman up to the long table where she greeted them each warmly and gave to them each a small golden ring that was opened on each end with two tiny orbs, one in gold, the other in silver, the symbols of the sun and the moon. "Now as is our custom when you leave the gates this ring must be on your right ring finger and when you return the ring must be on your left ring finger. This is the only way you may pass through the gates." the old Queen explained.
Now here Thera became impatient and she questioned the queen once again. Queen Ethera did not appreciate this discourse so she summoned every one to leave the chamber as she wished to speak to her impudent Commander alone.
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