Chapter 8 continues

     Now as Thera crept up to the city she was astounded to see the buildings and dwellings of Sparta looked incredibly similar to the structures of the city of Themiscyra. All one story buildings supported by large, round columns, small elevated canals of water running through the city, having lived in Themiscyra all her life Thera was taken a back by the similarities in the cities. Thera had been gazing off down one of the streets seeing no one, as it was late, the crescent moon overhead casting pale blue light deep into the shadows. Thera felt uneasy, her heart racing, a fever to her brow, palms sweating as two night watchmen found her lurking in a row of gardenia bushes. When asked to explain her presence Thera feigned illness and asked at once to be taken to the king's physician. "I am Commander Thera, Daughter of the Royal House of Themiscyra and I demand you escort me to the king's palace at once!"
     The two guards did indeed hasten her to the royal palace where Thera was taken to a small chamber back and to the left of the great hall. Thera could not believe this stroke of luck and she took all this in as she was now breathing the very air in the house of the king. Thera was left alone momentarily whilst the king's physician was summoned from his rest. Thera sat waiting in the small room, a couch covered in fine crimson silk blankets, two large wrought iron oil lamps burning brightly, the long dark curtains pulled closed to the great hall. Now Thera took but just a moment to peak her head out and as she did she looked around the great space, darkly lit, only a few lamps burning so late in the night. The bronze thrones of the king and queen sat on a raised platform above the marble tiled floor. The room lacked any style of decoration, plain and simple, the Spartan way. Thera had been in many a kingdom's court and this was the most barest display of wealth she had seen, but now, the more she thought of it, her own court was not as finely decorated with gold and silver touches, tapestries, and such as say the courts of Thrace, Macedon, or Dardina.
     As Thera waited impatiently King Vyakles himself was next to his wife in his warm bed curled up in a deep restful sleep, but Queen Keeva slept not, and the great king turned not to hear her tears. She had many troubling years with Vyakles and the shame of not bringing forth an heir to the Spartan throne was of a deep pain to her dearest heart, this was a trouble her heart could not bear and so she had fallen into deep despair, so great, she had thought to end her own life so that Vy might find a fertile bride. So it was they lie there together on this warm Spring night in the city of Sparta. Now as the king was lost in a most pleasing dream the voice of his Page came at his chamber door.
     "King Vyakles. Your guest the Royal Daughter of the House of Themiscyra has taken ill and now awaits the physician Kaderios here in your palace."
     Not a word was spoken between the king and his queen as he sat up immediately standing to his feet his heart racing as he wrapped a long piece of silken fabric around his waist covering his nakedness. The queen watched as Vy turned to leave as he spoke to his Page saying "Thera is ill?" with great concern in his voice as the angry spirit of jealousy crept up and curled in Queen Keeva's heart like a serpent.