King Vyakles was left on the shores of Themiscyra outside the gates. He watched and waited upon the beach as Admiral Vasha sent his crew out back and forth from the ship to the shore with the cargo of tribute for Queen Thera and her nation. A tent was erected outside the walls for the King of Sparta and his body guards. Admiral Vasha and his crew spent the long night aboard the war ships. Now here, gathered around a large camp fire, Vyakles sat eating olives and drinking a bit of wine commenting to a few of his men sitting on the sand next to him. "These walls are immense!" Vyakles remarked at the height and length of the massive structure; which by what Thera had told him were 4 miles long, eight feet thick with nearly fifty thousand women inside.
"All those women and no man has ever step foot inside there?" Kai, one of Vyakles most favored guards said as he stared up the three story structure where he saw a few officers walking about next to the watchtowers; which were lit up by four torches on each of the four corners of all the towers.
"So they say." the King of Sparta said with a stretch and a yawn.
"Surely these women could not have possibly constructed these fortifications. Is such a task even possible by a race of women?" Kai balked at the very notion.
"Who can say?" Vyakles wondered.
Now, as the men sat chatting before they rested for the night, the evening found Queen Thera on the other side of the wall. A silver war horse was brought out from the Royal Stables for the new Queen to ride in to Colchise on the West Coast of her territory. When the animal was led to the Queen she refused to climb up in the saddle saying loudly so the hundreds gathered there could hear her voice "I have journeyed far and slept little, but I will walk with my good ladies, and all you gathered here. So I might lead you back to our home." a great cheer rose up from the crowd, a roar so loud King Vyakles and his men pricked up their ears at the sound.
True to her word Queen Thera walked ahead of her people there on the road. Amara the Captian of the Archers, Lexa the Captain of the Cavalry walked just behind the Queen and the rest of the returning breeding party from Sparta followed in the long procession to the Artemisian Lake in the center of Colchise. Here the women joined the returning parties from Scythia and Dardina, the groups from Macedon and Illyria would not return for three more days. Now here Captain of the Phalanx, Lucia Vega delighted to see her dear friend Thera, who was now Queen. She approached Queen Thera who was attired for battle in her armor, hair slicked back, golden crown upon her head. "My Queen!" Captain Lucia Vega shouted loudly as she drew nearer to her and with a deep bow Captain Vega reached out and embraced the Queen. "The hands of the Fates have brought you home to us a Queen! Our New Leader!" she said in a joyous voice which was met with praise of cheer. Queen Thera was pleased to see the Captain of the Phalanx, the only one missing was Lacuna, Captain of the Charioteers.
"Captian Vega!" the Queen said in a serious tone "Tell me at once! What news of Thrace?"
"The King, and Queen of Thrace have sent a message of condolence for Themiscyra's great loss. He, and his wife send greetings of Peace and gifts of rare spices and myrrh." Captain Vega was proud to impart this news to her worried Queen. "Also the returning women have been sent by armed escort from Scythia and Dardina, along with messages of hope for new treaties on trade and commerce between our Nations. The armed guards are encamped outside the North gate, and await your word. Commander Odessa is riding out from Themiscyra with your Councilors with the documents,"
"Are the Scythians and Dardinans not a mite bit presumptuous to wish to begin to discuss these matters?" Queen Thera remarked feeling a bit insulted.
"Well my Queen, with new leadership comes changing times. Many of our customs have been cast to the wayside over the years." Captain Vega informed her noting to herself their new Queen walked in and did not ride into the city, as was the custom of all Queens. Here Queen Thera placed her hands on her hips and shook her head a little. Putting the future of trade agreements and peace treaties far from her mind Queen Thera and her ladies were brought into the city for the ritual cleansing as was the custom for those returning from battle or breeding. However, Thera was brought into the Temple of Artemis where she was taken by the priestess into the clear circular pool in the center of the columned temple and there under the stars by the light of the waning moon Thera, Daughter of Artemis, Servant of Apollo, Heiress of Ethera, Ruler of Themiscyra was placed naked in the cold holy waters of the temple and blessed by the acolytes of Artemis and Apollo as ancient prayers were given up to the Goddess of the Moon and her brother the Sun Apollo.
"All those women and no man has ever step foot inside there?" Kai, one of Vyakles most favored guards said as he stared up the three story structure where he saw a few officers walking about next to the watchtowers; which were lit up by four torches on each of the four corners of all the towers.
"So they say." the King of Sparta said with a stretch and a yawn.
"Surely these women could not have possibly constructed these fortifications. Is such a task even possible by a race of women?" Kai balked at the very notion.
"Who can say?" Vyakles wondered.
Now, as the men sat chatting before they rested for the night, the evening found Queen Thera on the other side of the wall. A silver war horse was brought out from the Royal Stables for the new Queen to ride in to Colchise on the West Coast of her territory. When the animal was led to the Queen she refused to climb up in the saddle saying loudly so the hundreds gathered there could hear her voice "I have journeyed far and slept little, but I will walk with my good ladies, and all you gathered here. So I might lead you back to our home." a great cheer rose up from the crowd, a roar so loud King Vyakles and his men pricked up their ears at the sound.
True to her word Queen Thera walked ahead of her people there on the road. Amara the Captian of the Archers, Lexa the Captain of the Cavalry walked just behind the Queen and the rest of the returning breeding party from Sparta followed in the long procession to the Artemisian Lake in the center of Colchise. Here the women joined the returning parties from Scythia and Dardina, the groups from Macedon and Illyria would not return for three more days. Now here Captain of the Phalanx, Lucia Vega delighted to see her dear friend Thera, who was now Queen. She approached Queen Thera who was attired for battle in her armor, hair slicked back, golden crown upon her head. "My Queen!" Captain Lucia Vega shouted loudly as she drew nearer to her and with a deep bow Captain Vega reached out and embraced the Queen. "The hands of the Fates have brought you home to us a Queen! Our New Leader!" she said in a joyous voice which was met with praise of cheer. Queen Thera was pleased to see the Captain of the Phalanx, the only one missing was Lacuna, Captain of the Charioteers.
"Captian Vega!" the Queen said in a serious tone "Tell me at once! What news of Thrace?"
"The King, and Queen of Thrace have sent a message of condolence for Themiscyra's great loss. He, and his wife send greetings of Peace and gifts of rare spices and myrrh." Captain Vega was proud to impart this news to her worried Queen. "Also the returning women have been sent by armed escort from Scythia and Dardina, along with messages of hope for new treaties on trade and commerce between our Nations. The armed guards are encamped outside the North gate, and await your word. Commander Odessa is riding out from Themiscyra with your Councilors with the documents,"
"Are the Scythians and Dardinans not a mite bit presumptuous to wish to begin to discuss these matters?" Queen Thera remarked feeling a bit insulted.
"Well my Queen, with new leadership comes changing times. Many of our customs have been cast to the wayside over the years." Captain Vega informed her noting to herself their new Queen walked in and did not ride into the city, as was the custom of all Queens. Here Queen Thera placed her hands on her hips and shook her head a little. Putting the future of trade agreements and peace treaties far from her mind Queen Thera and her ladies were brought into the city for the ritual cleansing as was the custom for those returning from battle or breeding. However, Thera was brought into the Temple of Artemis where she was taken by the priestess into the clear circular pool in the center of the columned temple and there under the stars by the light of the waning moon Thera, Daughter of Artemis, Servant of Apollo, Heiress of Ethera, Ruler of Themiscyra was placed naked in the cold holy waters of the temple and blessed by the acolytes of Artemis and Apollo as ancient prayers were given up to the Goddess of the Moon and her brother the Sun Apollo.
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