It was not until early the next morning that Velasca and Melosa saw each other again after three long moons. Leaving the home of the warrior Shilo, where she had spent the night, Velasca stepped out into the brisk morning air and began to purposefully make her way through the very heart of village toward the quarters of the queen. As she walked she looked neither left nor right but kept her eyes fixed on the hut where the two of "them" lived, where she herself had lived for so long. Along the way she was conscious of being watched, of curious Amazons of all ages staring with surprised eyes, pointing and whispering to one another.

She loved it. Velasca had missed that--being the focus of attention. One day soon her reign would dominate every waking thought of these sheep. She wore her best clothes, new boots bought in Phrygia just for this occasion, a new deerskin skirt that she had made herself. For a top she wore not a cumbersome shirt or blouse but simply the heavy bra preferred by many Amazons of the warrior class. Silver studded arm and wrist bands rounded out the impressive attire.

Ordinarily Melosa would have already been out and about seeing to the day's affairs but on this day she had delayed departing the hut. She was expecting the impending visit and allowed she would not be long in waiting. She was right.

Outside the door of her hut she heard Jen say, "Yes, she's here." This was followed by the inevitable rap on the door.

"Enter."

The sentry pushed open the door and without a moment's hesitation Velasca strode straight in. Waiting for her was Melosa, standing in the precise spot where Meelah had found her the night before. In stony silence each of them for a moment carefully looked the other one up and down. The first thing Melosa noticed was Velasca's deep tan. It surprised her a little. She also saw that Velasca was perhaps a bit thinner. However she seemed extremely fit and her eyes were as fiery as ever. Obviously she had endured her exile very well.

As for Velasca she too was surprised albeit in a different way. This authoritarian woman who had always been so coldly menacing suddenly seemed...smaller somehow. Smaller and older. Just for the briefest of moments she sensed a vulnerability in the queen that she had never known before. And in that moment Velasca knew--not thought, not hoped--but KNEW...the time would come when the queen would not be able to prevent her from taking that which she was convinced she had been born to have. That day would not be today; it would probably not even be six moons from now...but it would come. Oh yes, sweet gods, it would come. Sooner or later the Fates would have their way.

So it was that with a look of almost lupine quality Velasca mentally salivated at the exquisite notion of destroying Melosa once and for all. Savagely she thought, Old woman, you are mine!

Buoyed by this, Velasca's confidence level rose even higher than before. "The three moons are up," she laconically announced. "Per your own decree my term of banishment is therefore over."

"I am surprised you came back," Melosa said frankly. "I had rather hoped you would choose to move on." For the queen this was a rare moment of personal insight.

"I could not let this grievous wrong I have suffered pass," said Velasca. "I told you I would return and I have. I will have justice."

"You suffered no wrong. You failed in your duty and suffered the proper punishment. You're not here for justice. No, you're here for revenge."

With a faint smirk Velasca said, "Call it what you will. In any event I will take from Terreis what should have been mine all along. I am the one most worthy to be your successor, Melosa. In your own heart you know that."

"What makes you think you're capable of exercising leadership?" hissed Melosa. "You have no sense of responsibility to the tribe, no moral character, certainly no devotion to duty. Don't fool yourself. All you have is your own ambition. It eats at you like some malignant growth."

"You are the one fooling herself," sneered Velasca. "Terreis is weak, a dreamer--incapable of applying the firm hand so necessary for a successful reign."

"A firm hand is one thing, a tyrannical one is another. Your brave mother was my dearest friend. She knew the difference. However it is a distinction I'm afraid you will never understand."

For Velasca the mention of her long dead mother was like the ripping open of a mending wound. Even now, after more than a decade, Velasca could not hide her hatred for the Amazon queen who she believed had purposefully sent her mother to her death. That was why she began every day by cursing to all eternity Penthesilea and all her progeny. "Enough of this!" she seethed. "I am not here to debate semantics. Terreis' succession is not an absolute, as much as you would like it to be. It is open to challenge and as a noble born Amazon I make that challenge as is my right! So unless you choose to ignore the Amazon law you love so well you will tell your dear little sister to meet me in open combat three days hence."

Eyes flashing, Melosa's voice was filled with barely controlled anger as she said, "If you claim to know Amazon law then you should also know that the challenge must be issued in person. Also, it is up to me, not you, to set the appointed time for the challenge."

"I don't care," Velasca snapped. "Today, tomorrow, a week from now, I don't care. Just name it. And just where is the little precious? She's not hiding is she?"

As it happened Terreis was out giving Pomona a break from watching over Missini but Melosa was too enraged to say so. And with good reason. She had taken the motherless Velasca in as a child, raised her as her own, given her a stature in the tribe she could have never achieved on her own. And this then was how she was to be repaid, with cold, calculating treason. For the first time in her life Melosa was glad Velasca's mother was not alive because to see her daughter as she was now would surely have broken her heart. "All right," Melosa said coldly, "you have made your challenge. Don't worry, I'll tell Terreis. And you can rest assured she will be there. Midday, three days hence on the training ground. Now get out of my sight."

Pleased to have made the usually imperturbable Melosa so upset, Velasca mockingly said, "As you wish, ma'am. I am your most humble servant." Executing a perfect bow, Velasca backed out of the hut.

Outside an amazed Jen had heard it all. "By the gods, Velasca," she gasped, "are you really going to challenge Terreis?"

"No, you big dumb cluck, I came to ask if I could be the tribe's flower girl."

"Well you don't have to be so snippy about it," Jen indignantly shot back. "It's not my fault you got the queen pissed at you."

Walking away, Velasca called over her shoulder, "And it's not my fault you're so stupid."

Hurt by this, Jen could only sputter, "Oh yeah? Well...I, I hope Terreis kicks your ass, you big cow!"

Without breaking stride Velasca continued right on walking away. You better hope she does, she thought. Because you just made my shit list too.

**********

Late that morning found Ephiny, per her mother's instructions, busily helping the armorer Reisa fashion a new cache of arrowheads. As always, Reisa was pleased whenever it came Ephiny's turn to assist her because she knew on that day she would get considerably more work done than was usually the norm. Unlike some--indeed most--of the other young warriors who, sullen at having to be there, dawdled in their careless work, requiring constant supervision, Ephiny always diligently and with quiet efficiency applied herself to whatever task Reisa might assign to the girl. Rarely did she ever need correction once she was shown how to do a particular job. Reisa was not surprised at this; the girl's mother had been the same way.

Today Ephiny's job was a fairly simple one. Not skilled enough to shape the bronze, Ephiny had been put to cooling and sharpening the arrowheads. Since these particular tips would only be used for hunting and were not intended to be carried into combat the blade was wider and the consistency of the edge was not as critical as tips used in waging war, they along with the practice arrows could therefore be assigned to someone less skilled. The combat arrows, however, were first, last and always Reisa's exclusive domain.

Ephiny finished up yet another tip and then flexed her hands for a moment in an attempt to work out the stiffness. Glancing up, she looked out of the three-sided enclosure and saw Solari hurriedly wending her way through the myriad of Amazons going about their business in the village.

Stepping inside the shade of the building, Solari said, "Hey, Eph, aren't you finished yet?"

Again Ephiny wiggled the fingers on her sore hands and it was only with a hint of irritation that she replied, "Uhh, nooo."

Not that Solari noticed; she was already moving on to the real topic at hand. "Gods, have you heard? Velasca has challenged Terreis!"

Ephiny picked up another arrowhead and set it against the grinding wheel. "She said she would, didn't she?"

"Well yeah, but, I mean, who would have ever thought she would actually do it?"

Pressing her foot on the foot pedal, Ephiny began to turn the wheel. "Velasca's a real pain in the ass but she usually means what she says."

"Oh my, I'll bet Melosa is really pissed about it. I don't think I'd like to cross her path today."

"Too late," said Reisa, an amused look on her face. "Here she comes now."

The two younger Amazons turned to see a grim-faced Melosa, sword in hand, practically stomping her way through the village and coming right for them. As she approached Amazons in her path quickly moved aside in order to give their obviously furious queen a wide berth.

"Oh shit," muttered Solari. All her life she had felt extreme uneasiness whenever the icy Melosa happened to be near.

Once inside Reisa's shop Melosa pitched down her big sword upon Reisa's sturdy work bench and the weapon hit the table with a heavy thump. "I want the sharpest possible edge put on that," she brusquely ordered.

To this a hesitant Reisa replied, "Ma'am, too fine an edge might cause the blade to chip. Perhaps--"

"I don't care," said Melosa, cutting her off. "Just do it."

"As you wish, ma'am."

Suddenly Melosa turned to the two young warriors. "What are you two doing here?" she asked sharply. "Don't you have anything to do?"

Ephiny, having of course rose to her feet in the queen's presence, answered, "I'm helping with the arrowheads, ma'am."

The royal eyes, dark and intimidating, then fixed on the apprehensive Solari. "And you?"

Immediately flustered, Solari to her dismay now found her thought processes grinding to a complete and utter halt.

"Well?"

It was Reisa who came to Solari's rescue. Nudging the pile of wood lying beside her forge. she said, "Solari's been carrying firewood for me, ma'am."

Melosa knew better. Reisa always gathered her own wood. Still, she let it pass without comment. After all, it was not really the hapless Solari that she was angry with. No, it was the insolent Velasca that was the focus of her fury. "Very well," she said. "Reisa, I want your undivided attention on this. By tomorrow I want that sword sharp enough to carve up a traitorous sow."

"Uhh...ma'am?" The tentative voice was Ephiny's.

"Yes, what is it?" the queen impatiently asked. With the grave issue of succession weighing so heavily on her mind, she had no time for young, bottom rung warriors.

"I don't think Velasca intends to make the sword her weapon of choice," said Ephiny.

Solari was aghast at this, the queen incredulous and Reisa? She could not help but admire the young warrior's guts.

"Oh? And just how did you arrive at such an insightful revelation, Ephiny?"

The queen's biting tone made Solari discreetly take in a deep breath and hold it. Ephiny was taking a real chance here. An unsatisfactory explanation on her part could send the wrath of an already agitated Melosa thundering down upon her with far more ferocity than any Phrygian storm possibly could.

She need not have worried. Once again Ephiny displayed a resolve and personal courage that went far beyond her tender years. In meeting her queen's steely gaze Ephiny's clear voice never once wavered. "Think about it, ma'am," she said. "You saw the sword exercises often enough back then. How many times did you see Velasca best Terreis in a face-off?"

Deep in thought, Melosa shifted her eyes and stared blankly at Reisa's well worn anvil. After a moment she answered, "Never."

"Exactly. And I hardly think she could have honed her skills any further wandering the plains of Phrygia. I don't know about you, ma'am, but if I'm going to make a challenge I am not going to be so foolish as to choose a weapon with which I have very little chance of winning."

At this slightly presumptuous remark Solari's lungs sucked in even deeper. Sweet Artemis, Eph, she thought with alarm, what are you doing?

Melosa, however, never even noticed. She was too busy pondering on what this girl with the blonde, perpetually unruly locks had just said. Melosa gave Ephiny a brief, hard look and slowly said, "Neither would I."

What the queen did next shocked Solari and gave surprise even to the veteran Reisa. "What do you think she has in mind?" As a rule queens were reluctant to seek counsel from even their most senior commanders much less some newly masked warrior still wet behind the ears. Yet Melosa's question to Ephiny was just that.

Ephiny, while always showing the proper respect to her superiors, had never been one to get caught up personally in the rigid protocol of rank and privilege. She was more inclined to take people for what they were and because of this she was not as taken aback by the queen's inquiry as Solari and Reisa were. Nor was ego given any sort of superficial boost by this. As she saw it her queen was simply asking for her opinion and for her part she was fully prepared to give it. "I will be very surprised if Velasca does not choose for a weapon something fairly light, something that will allow her to maximize her superior hand speed."

Melosa raised an incredulous eyebrow. "And you think Velasca has superior hand speed?"

Ephiny could have tip-toed around the pointed question but true to her nature she chose rather to speak the truth as she saw it, "Yes, ma'am," she said simply, "I do."

The queen vigorously shook her head. "No, Velasca is too tall and lanky. I know her, remember? I saw her many times in the drills and I do not think her edge over Terreis is significant enough to make her want to opt for a light arm. If she does not take she sword she will go for a heavier weapon, not a lighter one."

Clearly Melosa was growing irritated. Ephiny's response then was quiet and measured, "Highness, I am but a newly masked warrior, barely removed from the training 'turd' that I was. I cannot possibly hope to match your experienced eye. Now, Velasca may or may not be that much quicker than Terreis--most would tell you that she is but the important thing is that she thinks she is." Ephiny drew herself up to her full height and added, "Ma'am, it is my humble opinion that Velasca will not want to pit her strength against Terreis' because she knows she will lose."

Again Melosa intently studied the girl's face for a moment, saying nothing. While still not completely convinced, she was forced to admit that Ephiny might--just might--be raising a possibility that Terreis would do well to prepare for. One never knew with Velasca.

"Very well then," she said, "I will voice your concern to Terreis. Perhaps in the end in might prove useful after all."

Ephiny bowed politely and said, "Yes, ma'am."

Melosa shot Reisa a stern glance and said, "Nevertheless, I still want that sword readied at once."

"It will be done," Reisa calmly assured her.

With a curt nod Melosa spun on her heels and promptly walked out. Solari, breathing at last, eased in beside her friend. "Hmph," she snorted, "she didn't even say thanks."

Grinning mischievously, Ephiny said, "Queens don't say thanks to nobodies like us. But then, you could go jump her about it."

Solari raised a hand and said, "Or maybe not."

Reisa walked out from her work bench to stand behind the two of them. "Ephiny," she said approvingly, "if you were a male I'd swear you'd have balls the size of Hera's apples."

Ephiny could only blush as Solari giggled at her friend's obvious embarrassment. In an effort to change the subject Ephiny diplomatically cleared her throat and said, "I wonder how Celeste's funeral preparations are coming along."

"Let's go see," said Solari. "Oh! Guess what? They say your mother is going to give the tribute."

Ephiny was genuinely surprised by the news. "Really?"

"Yup, Therme and Valerie both said they heard Melosa say so."

"Therme," Ephiny grunted. "A nut cake if there ever was one." In her mind she was as bad as Morda had been.

"So, do you want to go or not?" asked Solari.

Nodding toward her unfinished work, Ephiny said, "Can't, I've got to finish up here."

Reisa placed a strong hand on the shoulder of each of the young warriors. "Aw go on," she said. "I'll finish up for you."

In surprise Ephiny looked back over her shoulder. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I'll get 'em tonight after I finish with the sword. Now get on out of here, you two. Have fun."

"Thanks, Race!" Solari chirped. Grabbing her friend by the hand, she enthusiastically began leading her up the street toward where the great funeral pyre was being erected. With a smile Reisa watched them go. Ahh youth, she thought warmly. I hope they appreciate what they have because one never...

Reisa shook her head as if to clear out such depressing thoughts. Nothing in her life had worked out as she had hoped but what was to be done about it now?

Nothing.

Damn it, moping over things past won't get the work done, she resolutely reminded herself. Reisa picked up Melosa's sword at carefully inspected its fine blade. There would be no grinding stone for this. Nothing less than meticulous hand sharpening would do for the sword of the Supreme Commander.

Like every young Amazon Reisa had longed to be a warrior; she had dreamed of it, prayed for it. Sadly, it never came to pass. When Reisa was twelve years old, just before she was to begin her formal training, a fall from a horse had left her with a broken arm. The break eventually mended but a poor job of setting the bone resulted in the hand ending up being slightly offset from the arm. Although fully functional in every respect, Penthesilea had taken one look at the girl's arm and coldly informed her that there was no room in her forces for a cripple. By the time Penthesilea's death came it was too late. Reisa's lot in life had already been irreversibly cast. Since then, year after year, Reisa had watched from her forge as the bright, freshed-faced young warriors entered into the queen's service and could only wonder at what might have been. Well, she thought, it had not been such a bad life. Not really.

Not really...

And so with one last, soft little sigh of wistfulness for the proud warrior that never was Reisa quietly turned to the job at hand.  
 

On the way over to the pyre Ephiny and Solari came upon the younger Valerie leading a horse hitched to a cart that was bearing a load of wood. Accompanying her was Eponin who had gone with the girl on her trip into the forest.

"Hey, Val," Solari said cheerfully.

Valerie smiled and said, Hi, guys. Where were you when I needed you?"

"I've been busy too," said Ephiny. Slyly she added, "It's Solari who's been the lazy ass."

"Hey-ey!" Solari indignantly howled. "I had stuff to do."

All through this Eponin had said nothing, instead merely contenting herself to look upon these younger ones with a kind of mild indifference. Though only a couple of years older than Solari, the eldest of the three, it seemed to Eponin that the difference was much more than that.

Solari, losing interest in Valerie, nudged Ephiny and murmured, "Let's go."

Ephiny, however, had other ideas. "Not yet," she said. "You're got something to do first."

"Like what?"

"Don't play dumb, you know what I'm talking about."

Solari did indeed. She had hoped to just let the matter fade away but apparently Ephiny was not going to allow that to happen. Damn her! she thought. Why can't she just leave me alone? Why does she have to be such a pain? Down deep, though, she knew Ephiny was not being a pain. Far from it. It was simply that Ephiny's sense of right and wrong would not allow what she saw as a slight on Solari's part to go unaddressed. Ephiny knew her friend was better than that. "Eph, she didn't really do anything," Solari whispered.

Reprovingly Ephiny whispered back, "What are you talking about? She was willing to risk her life for you. What the hell more do you need? Solari, you don't have to kiss her, just show a little gratitude."

"All right, all right. I'll do it. Gods but you're stubborn!"

"No more than you are."

Solari dropped back to let the cart pass and then quickly moved to the other side to catch up with Eponin. Moving in beside Eponin, she asked, "Umm, you got a moment?"

"What's on your mind?"

"Eph told me what you did. How you volunteered to stay with me back on the raft."

"Somebody had to stay with you," said Eponin.

"But why you? You barely know me."

Eponin shot her a sharp look. "Is that supposed to matter? You're an Amazon, aren't you? Well Amazons are supposed to watch out for each other or at least, that's how I was trained. Look, Solari, I know you don't really care for me and that's all right. Personally I could care less. If you have a real problem with me we can take it somewhere and settle it Amazon to Amazon, any time you want. But pals or not once we're in a combat situation I'm going to look out for your ass as if it were my own. I would hope that if circumstances arise you will do the same for me."

It was with the utmost sincerity Solari answered, "I will."

"All right then. Now, I'm not used to speaking this much and, besides, I have work to do so if you will excuse me..."

"Umm, sure. Right. Hey, Eponin?"

The older warrior turned back to face her. "Yeah?"

Solari pressed her lips together, forming an apologetic little smile. "Thanks."

Eponin's face remained as stoic as ever--all except for the barest hint of a twinkle in her eye. "Any time, kid." Turning to Valerie, she said, "Here's where we part company. Valerie, it was nice to meet you."

Valerie waved a hand in acknowledgment but Eponin was already walking away. "You know," she said to Solari, "I don't know what's going on between you two but I think she's very nice--a little brusque but nice."

Joining them, Ephiny added, "Stand up?"

"Yeah," said Valerie. "Stand up."

Solari watched Eponin stride off across the village and with a grin turned back to her friends. "Okay then, so maybe I was wrong. Maybe she's not so bad after all."

**********

Late the following day, under a thick overcast, the ceremony began. In hushed tones they came, Amazons young and old, mothers and daughters, some alone, some with friends, to gather around the great pyre and say their final good-byes to one of their own. Since they were at peace this would be an elaborate affair, one in sharp contrast to the rushed rites observed on the battlefield. There Amazon dead were very often simply gathered up unto one or more piles and burned with only the highest of rank separated. The rest then were burned with perhaps only a terse prayer to send them into the arms of Artemis. However this was not war and under appropriately dark skies Celeste would be accorded every honor that a warrior of her stature deserved.

When they had all gathered, the Amazons stood there, speaking in low murmurs with those in the back ranks craning their necks to see. Presently the circle parted to allow Melosa, followed by Terreis and the four senior commanders, to make her way through and stand before the pyre. The murmurings died away into total silence. Children, restlessly tugging at their mothers sides, got stern looks and sharp yanks on the arm in reply. For a moment it seemed sound itself had been banished from their village.

Suddenly the stillness was shattered by an explosion of the first thunderous blows upon ten heavy ceremonial war drums, repeating in unison the same five simple notes over and over. At the proper moment Amazon vocalists which had been meticulously placed nearby, broke into the first haunting, ancient strains of the sacred "Death Song." This was immediately followed by the entrance of the dancers; lithe, nubile young warriors, hoping to please Artemis with the rhythmic movements of their writhing bodies,

From her place in front Ephiny could see across the clearing to the somber faces of the four captains. The queen stood among them, her own countenance as stoic as ever. One face the daughter of Meelah did not see was that of Velasca. Aside from old Euset she alone had chosen not to attend. At that precise moment she was sitting in Shilo's hut, listening to the drums booming in the distance as she stared blankly out into the empty village. Why should she bother with such hypocrisy? Celeste meant nothing to her, nor for that matter did any of the others.

Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the pounding of the drums ceased, their last resounding beat echoing away into the trees. The voices too were stilled once more and the dancers, their tanned bodies now glistening with perspiration, melted away into the crowd. In the renewed silence the Amazons waited as Meelah stepped away from her queen's side and walked over to the pyre. There she mounted a makeshift platform that had been erected for just this purpose. As she did the circle broke and those on the opposite side of the pyre quickly shifted around to Meelah's side of the pyre. Up on the platform Meelah took a moment to look over the crowd. As a senior Amazon commander this would be her first real speech. She, however, was not the least bit nervous. Why should she be? These were her people, her friends, her comrades-in-arms. She had laughed and cried, shared food, fought and suffered and--yes--bled with many of them. She could no more be nervous about speaking before them than if she were home and simply chatting with her own daughter.

Taking a deep breath, she began:

All eyes turned to a grave Minutia. The flaming arrow already drawn in her bow, the big warrior sent it streaking into the pyre. As she released the arrow the great drums began to thunder out once more. The wood, dry and soaked with pitch, caught fire immediately. One by one the four captains trooped to Minutia's side to follow suit. Colsethme, who in her youth had tended to Celeste; Willa, who had always regarded Celeste as less than intelligent but who respected her as a warrior nonetheless; Draganis, who as a young warrior was greatly influenced by Celeste; Meelah, her lifelong friend and last captain and finally Polymenia, Celeste's only surviving sister.

Soon the flames were shooting up higher and higher, edging ever closer to the deceased's freshly wrapped body. Melosa, her regal obligations complete, did not stay to the finish. Neither did many of the others. As Meelah had said, they had their own lives to look to. Meelah, however, did stay as did Ephiny, Solari, Minutia and many of the most experienced warriors. Celeste had been and still was one of their own.

Watching the flames as they at last reached the corpse, Colsethme said, "Lee, I have to tell you, that was one damn fine speech."

"I was just trying to do her justice," Meelah modestly replied.

Caught up in the emotion of the moment, filled with pride in her mother, Ephiny lost herself for a moment. "It's true, Momma," she said. "You would have made a wonderful ambassador."

"What was that?" a perplexed Colsethme asked.

Meelah wrapped an arm around her daughter's shoulders and gave her an affectionate little hug. With a hint of a smile all she said was, "Oh, nothing."

**********

The next morning, long before the first signs of Eos' return to light the eastern sky, Terreis was up and dressed. Having gone to bed early, she slumbered restfully as one confident in her own abilities and secure in the belief that her ancestors would be watching over her. In the night she had dreamed of her long dead mother, the beautiful Penthesilea, and her aunt Hippolyte, whom Penthesilea later tragically killed by mistake. Many said it was her grief that sent her off to the killing fields at Troy where death was almost certain. But in her dream they both on this night again stood side by side, their regal accoutrements sparkling in the bright sun, their gleaming swords unsheathed and ready for battle. Their noble lineage was hers and it was by this birthright, handed down through them, that she, and not Velasca, was destined to rule. To Terreis it was as unmistakable as the sun. They would stand with her this day. How then, could she possible lose?

On the more practical side Terreis, like nearly everyone else, had carefully assessed the strengths and weaknesses, both real and perceived, of the two combatants. She knew herself to be the stronger of the two--she had proven it time and time again. She was also well aware of the general consensus that Velasca was quicker and perhaps even a bit more skilled in hand to hand combat. Of these Terreis discounted the former and doubted the latter. She was willing to concede Velasca might be faster but like her sister she did not think the edges to be great enough to matter. As for their comparative swordsmanship Terreis had no doubt whatsoever that she was at least as good, if not better. No, Velasca would come flashing out, full of fury as she always did and Terreis would systematically fend off her flurries and then slowly but steadily wear Velasca down--just as she had always done.

Poor Velasca, she thought. Poor, misguided, ambitious Velasca. I pray you don't force me to take your life.  
 

As for Velasca, her night had not been spent quite so peacefully. All night she lay on her hard pallet, fitfully tossing and turning. and occasionally dozing off for a few moments only to with a start quickly reawaken. For all her self-assurance, for all her careful scheming over the past three moons, Velasca at this last hour could not seem to shake the gnawing feeling that Terreis might indeed prove to be the superior warrior after all. All night this unsettling possibility hung over her, sinking down then to enshroud her in doubt, suffocating her confidence in what should have been a time of great anticipation. Perplexed but even more so irritated by this sudden sense of foreboding, Velasca found it inexplicable. Worse, she desperately tried to suppress even the slightest notion that she might be having second thoughts. Well, it was too late for that at any rate. The challenge had been flung in the face of Terreis and there was no going back.

But what if I lose? she thought. No!! You will not lose! You MUST NOT...lose. You...will..not...lose. The Fates and Artemis will not favor the weak-willed Terreis, but you, the best hope of the Amazon race.

All night long this little internal drama was played out over and over again in Velasca's disquieted mind. Finally she could take no more and so, like her adversary, Velasca too arose well before dawn. There the similarities ended. For breakfast Terreis enjoyed three eggs, a slab of the previous night's boar, warm bread topped with honey and washed down by two hefty mugs of fresh goat's milk. In contrast Velasca had to content herself with a hunk of stale cheese and a greasy piece of cold fish. Terreis patiently waited out the morning alone in her royal abode. To pass the time she read, practiced her recital of the "War Song," occasionally checked and rechecked her weapons and even nodded off for a catnap every now and then. Melosa had done her work well. On this, the biggest day of her life, her sister was the very epitome of composure.

Restlessly pacing in Shilo's dark hut, the same could not be said for Velasca. All morning she too waited out the appointed time by staying indoors, oblivious to the morning hustle and bustle of Amazons going back and forth outside. Her irritability increased with each passing moment, so much so that it was not long before Shilo could no longer put up with Velasca's glares and curt, snapping answers. Throwing up her hands in exasperation, Shilo retreated the hut, leaving Velasca alone to stew in her own juices.

Velasca could not understand it. Why after all this time was she now having doubt? And she was having doubt, despite all her best efforts to smother it. As if to convince herself she repeated the same mantra over and over in her mind as she continued to fretfully pace back and forth: I can defeat Terreis, I am the better warrior. I will prevail. Destiny awaits me.

At last the pacing stopped. Velasca stood there, alone, just as she had always been. Fool! she chided herself. Why do you worry so? Did not the sorceress Perille, sworn enemy of Antiope, from her deathbed curse the queen with a prophecy that the house of Druis would fall with the double daughters of a Cilician? Are not Melosa and Terreis both the seed of the same Cilician captive?

Velasca sat down at the roughly hewn table and poured herself a generous serving of Shilo's wine. After a couple of quick swallows she began to feel better. Yes, it was true. It must be true. Their time was almost over. The downfall of the usurper Druis' line would begin on this very day and soon, very soon, it would be her star that would ascend over the first the Southern Amazons and finally the entire Amazon Nation. Velasca finished off the wine and poured herself a little more. Mustn't get careless, she thought. Besides, the wine was much too sweet for her taste. Soon she would have better.

Aided by the warmth of Shilo's wine Velasca's confidence began to return. With a little smirk she leaned back in her chair and leisurely put her feet up on Shilo's table. Suddenly her mind turned to one of the very few that had ever dared to oppose her. That Ephiny, she thought disgustedly. Everyone thinks she's such a pluba. In the language of the ancient Amazons pluba had meant "golden warrior." That snot-faced little shit! she seethed. I'll crush her and her supercilious mother. They won't help me, to hell with them. To hell with all of them!

Buoyed by her sweet thoughts of revenge, Velasca idly lolled her head back and looked up at the roof for a moment before bolting to her feet once more. She sauntered over to the door and, cracking it open, looked out. Yesterday's clouds had cleared away during the night, freeing the sun from having to fight them for supremacy of the morning sky. The morning shadows were growing shorter. The time was almost at hand. Three moons of endless planning were now down to this. Velasca closed the door and pressed her back up against it. If all went well the stratagem she had devised would by nightfall leave her sole heir to Melosa's legacy. Most of her waking hours since her banishment had been spent developing it. Now the only thing left was to keep her head and carry it out. If she did that it would work she felt. It had to work.  
 

That morning the tribe waited out the time with varying degrees of interest. Naturally the senior commanders and their officers along with the more veteran warriors all wanted Terreis to win. Some just wanted the arrogant Velasca to get her ass kicked. They did not care who did it. Most of the tribe, even those who did not care who won, was comfortable with the present leadership, Melosa had led them well and so they saw no need for a change. There were others who did not have the greatest confidence in Terreis' ability to lead but who regarded her as the lesser of two evils when compared to Velasca. All in all the great majority wanted the status quo maintained.

As it was Velasca was not without her supporters--hot blooded young warriors who thought the House of Druis much too pacific, too conciliatory, too timid, in its approach to their surrounding neighbors. The history of the Amazon Nation was one of conquest and yet here they were, sitting on their asses, raising peasant crops and growing fat while their numbers dwindled all the while. What they needed was someone like that Greek Xena who by all accounts was at that very moment spreading terror from Thrace to the Gulf of Laconia. Hopefully Velasca would be their Xena and lead them in the rebuilding of Myrene's ancient and fabled empire. However except for Shilo these would be Thutmoses were to an Amazon all choosing to keep a very low profile--at least until Velasca's victory.

Like most of the others Ephiny was waiting out the morning with great anticipation. After all it was not every day that a royal Amazon fought a challenge. Well, thought Ephiny, she just damn better win, that's all. If she doesn't...

For most Amazons the day was something akin to a holiday and all throughout the village very little work being done anywhere. Unfortunately the same could not be said for Ephiny. On this morning Meelah had given her a most unwarriorlike assignment--scraping a deer hide which could then be taken to the tanner. Mid-morning found the young warrior still busily engaged in her task. Stopping to wipe the grease from her hands, she heard a cheery, "Hello."

Ephiny peeked below the rack holding the stretched hide and saw a pair of thin legs, one of which had a big freckle right on top of the kneecap. Right away she knew who it was. "Hello, Abby," she replied.

Fifteen year old Abisinthe walked around to the other side of the rack. "Eww," she said, wrinkling her nose, "how did you get stuck with that?"

"Somebody has to do it," Ephiny said with a resigned shrug. "Don't you?"

"Naw, not anymore. Mother makes Ici do most of that stuff now."

It must be nice to have a younger sister, thought Ephiny. She nodded toward the small cloth bag Abisinthe was carrying. "What have you got in the sack?"

"Mussels."

Her reply caused Ephiny to make a face. "Yuk!"

"I know," said Abisinthe, "I hate them too. Mother likes them though."

"She can have them."

"So who do you think is going to win today?"

"I know who'd better win or there's going to be hell to pay for the rest of us," said Ephiny matter-of-factly.

With a derisive sniff Abisinthe said, "Well Velasca must getting a case of cold feet."

"What makes you say that?"

"I came upon her in the woods yesterday evening. There she was, down on both knees and bent over in prayer. What do you think of that?"

Incredulous, Ephiny looked askance at her and said, "C' mooon. Velasca?"

Throwing up both hands, Abisinthe said, "Eph, I swear it."

If it was true Ephiny thought it an oddity to be sure. Velasca had never been known to be much for prayer. Perhaps she had found some kind of enlightenment during her sojourn on the plains of Phrygia or maybe she was merely trying to cover all the angles. Then again, perhaps Abisinthe was right and she was just plain scared. Whatever the case it certainly was curious. Whoever she was praying to I hope they were not listening, Ephiny thought. With arched eyebrows Ephiny wryly said, "Will wonders never cease?"

This got a chuckle from Abisinthe as she switched her load from one hand to the other. "I should be going. See you at the fight?"

"I'll be there," said Ephiny. "See you then."

Abisinthe began to walk away and Ephiny returned to her work. However she could not get her friend's strange little tale out of her mind. For some reason it kept nagging at her. What was Velasca doing out there? she wondered. Ephiny was certain that whatever Velasca's reason for being out there in those woods it was not because she was after a place of solitude for prayer, meditation or anything of the like. No, something else had her out there. What then? Like a nettlesome gnat it keep buzzing around her. Knowing Velasca as she did Ephiny was satisfied that she had been up to no good and coming as it did on the eve of such a potentially watershed day she found that even more troubling.

Absently Ephiny wiped the fat from her scraper. Had Velasca been looking for something? she wondered. No, not looking for something. Not out there. More likely she was hiding something. What? And why? More to the point, why now? Could it have something to do with the challenge? Ephiny could not shake the ominous feeling that it did. Damn you, Velasca! What are you up to? Maybe I ought to go take a look, she thought. She knew that if she was going to check it out then it was going to have to be right now. Time was growing very short. Maybe it was nothing but then again, maybe it was. Who could say for certain? Maybe even the outcome of the challenge itself might depend on it.

Tossing down the scraper she trotted off toward Abisinthe whose leisurely pace had only taken her just a short distance away. "Abby! Abby!"

Abisinthe heard the cries and turned to find Ephiny bearing down hard upon her. "What?" the girl asked.

Stutter stepping to a stop, Ephiny grabbed the younger girl by both shoulders. "Did she see you?"

"Who?"

"Velasca. Did she see you?"

"Why?"

"Just answer me. Did she see you?"

A perplexed Abisinthe furrowed her brow and said, "I dunno. I doubt it. It was getting pretty dark and I was quite a way off."

Good! thought Ephiny. "Take me there."

"Huh?"

"Take me there!"

"Now?"

"Now, Abby!"

"Why?

"Just humor me, okay?"

Abisinthe looked at her curiously but said, "Well...all right, but first I've got to get these--"

Ephiny snatched the sack of mussels from Abisinthe and said, "Later."

"Ee-eph!" Abisinthe bleated, "those are my mother's. She'll have a fit if I don't get those home right away."

"They'll keep until we get back."

"You're going to get me into trouble."

"I'll tell you mother it was my fault, now come on." Ephiny seized Abisinthe's hand and began to pull her back toward her hut. At the stretch rack Ephiny hung the sack of mussels up on it and again said, "Come on."

Stutter stepping, half running to keep up, Abisinthe pleaded with her friend, "Ephineee! What's this all about?"

"I'll tell you when we get there." Ephiny untied her mother's horse without bothering to saddle it and then easily bellied up on the animal. By now poor Abisinthe had pretty much succumbed to Ephiny's will and so it was without further resistance that she took her friend's outstretched arm. With the girl nestled in behind her Ephiny looked over her shoulder and said, "All right, where are we going?"

"The northern perimeter," Abisinthe answered. "Near the Tittie Tree."

"Hang on," said Ephiny, and with a firm kick she prodded the big horse to life.

**********

"Now, Terreis, I want you to be on your best behavior while I'm away."

Even now, over ten years later, Terreis could feel the warmth of that final hug, the last time she was ever held in her mother's arms.

"Momma, why do you have to go?"

From behind there was a voice, low and respectful. "We need to be going, Highness, if we want to get though the hills by nightfall." Terreis remembered looking at Penthesilea's muscular brown thighs as she stood up. Her mother had murmured something to a teen-aged Melosa, whom Terreis remembered as having looked especially somber that day. Turing her attention back to her youngest, Penthesilea had kissed the child on the cheek.

There had not even been a good-bye. Swinging up on her horse, the queen had simply spurred her horse and thundered off, her band of hand-picked warriors all shrieking loud, piercing war cries as they trailed along behind. It was only in later years, long after the terrible news of the death of her mother had been received, that the full, heartbreaking realization came to Terreis. The Amazons had been under no obligation to go to Troy. The Trojans were not even their friends. What she now understood was that Troy had simply been where the fight was and Penthesilea had gone for no other reason than she wanted to be there. As a consequence she and every last Amazon who had gone with her had died. And for what?

For what?

Since then she and Melosa had spoken very little about it. This was hardly a surprise. Even as a youngster Melosa had been known as a locked box. However with the death of her mother and her own subsequent rise to power the subjugation of Melosa's own emotions was to become so complete and the wall around her soul to be built up so high that except for the rare flash of anger it was impossible to read what was happening behind those dark, smoldering eyes. Only Terreis--and even her only very rarely--was allowed behind that wall. And if there was one thing Terreis did know it was that Melosa had never forgiven their mother for flitting off to some senseless war, leaving behind a little girl barely able to pee by herself and a self-conscious, skinny teenager not yet fully prepared for the crushing responsibility that was so soon to be thrust upon her.  
 

Terreis opened her eyes sat up straight in Melosa's heavy chair. She had not been asleep but daydreaming instead--letting her mind drift back to those sweet thoughts of a carefree youth and her mother, the proud, beautiful Penthesilea. It was something she often did, especially in quiet times such as this and it was always a thing of comfort for her, today so more than ever. The princess rose from her seat and went to the door to look out. The shadows were growing very short. It was time to get ready. Where is Melosa? she wondered.

Walking over to the table, she picked up Melosa's sword. Quietly she pulled the weapon from its scabbard and held it up before her. Reisa had done her job well. The metal was polished such that even in the relatively dim light of the hut the sword seemed to take on an almost luminous quality. The blade's double edges appeared to be whetted to such a sharpness that Terreis felt she could almost get cut simply by looking at it.

A soft creaking of the door heralded Melosa's return. "Where have you been?" asked Terreis. Her question contained no hint of alarm, merely the idle tone of someone only mildly interested in getting an answer.

"Out to see Missini," said Melosa. "Antibrote is showing marked improvement so I'm going to have somebody go out and bring them home. Antibrote can stay with Ansara until her hut is rebuilt."

"Good," said Terreis absently. "That's good."

Melosa crossed the room to stand beside Terreis. Like her sister she had spent much of her time on this fateful day thinking of their mother and the last time she ever saw her. To Terreis it seemed like a lifetime ago, to Melosa only yesterday. When the news of Penthesilea's death had finally filtered back to the tribe Melosa had stolen unseen out into the comforting surroundings of the forest and wept for the first and only time in her adult life. Her tears fell not only for the mother she would never see again but also for herself and the enormous burden she would now have to bear in her stead. No one, not even Terreis, ever knew of the afternoon spent alone, helplessly sobbing in the forest and no one ever would.

Out of the corner of her eye Melosa cast Terreis a subtle glance. The somewhat whiny child was now a sturdy young woman of impeccable character, proud and brave and blessed with the strong lines of a warrior's physique. Already she had led warriors in battle and had done very well. All these years Melosa had raised her as best she could. She had overseen her education, counseled her...protected her.

And now? Well Terreis was not a little girl anymore. Terreis was a princess, subject to the laws of the tribe just like everyone else. Now she was own her own. The first challenge was always a nerve wracking affair. Melosa remembered hers very well. Within six moons of her ascension one of Penthesilea's old captains had tested her. The warrior, battle tested over many years, proved to be a formidable opponent, especially for a relatively inexperienced girl still in her teens. Only to her own conscience would Melosa admit still not knowing how she had ever managed to prevail. She had however, leaving the rest of the tribe duly impressed. It had also been her first kill. Since then she had fought one more, a relatively minor skirmish some four years ago that had been over almost before it began. This time the combination of her physical and mental maturation along with her finely honed combat skills had made for an overwhelming display and awed even the most grizzled of the tribe's veteran warriors. Ever since then her grip on supreme authority over the tribe had been total and absolute. She planned on keeping it that way.

The hut took on an uncomfortable silence. Melosa, imperious, stubborn, wedded to her duty, stood there wanting to tell her sister how proud she was of her, how much she loved her. But she could not. Such heart to heart expressiveness was simply not in her nature.

It was not that she needed to anyway. Terreis knew how she felt. Over the years the highly sensitive Terreis had become so attuned to Melosa's subtleties that by now she had developed something akin to a sixth sense when it came to reading her sister's innermost feelings. This was both good and bad because it also meant that Terreis was all too aware of Melosa's nagging concerns about her sister's inner toughness. Terreis hoped that today would go a long way toward burying those concerns once and for all.

Finally Melosa broke the silence. "It is almost time."

"I know."

"Are you ready?"

Terreis looked into Melosa's handsome face. With a determined little nod she said, "I'm ready."

Melosa took the sword from Terreis' hand and slid it back into the scabbard, finishing with an emphatic push. She handed the scabbard to Terreis who without a word tied it around her waist. The princess liked to wear her sword at the side, not strapped across her back as many Amazons preferred.

"Now, Terreis," Melosa began, "I need not remind you of what this day means both for you personally and for our ruling line. For six generations we have successfully withstood any and all challenges to our authority. I expect you will one day take up the legacy established by the great Druis and carried on so magnificently by all those who followed. An important step toward doing that will be taken today.

It is vital you understand that it is not enough to merely win. You must leave no doubt in anyone's mind about your inherent superiority. It is imperative that you demonstrate fully to every last Amazon the utter futility of trying to challenge you. To that end you must not only win decisively, you must not only humble Velasca you must crush her, utterly and completely, compelling her to choose between death or humiliation." Coldly she added, "Let us hope she chooses the former."

"Velasca is a threat that needs to be dealt with now," Terreis answered soberly. "I know what needs to be done," .

At first Melosa said nothing in reply but looking into her eyes Terreis for the first time in a very long time detected just the most minute hint of emotion, of the great gate to her sister's soul perhaps being opened if only for the barest crack. "Terreis," said Melosa softly, "you will be queen one day, you know that."

And in that fleeting moment Terreis knew that this person was not fierce Melosa, the icy, all powerful, Supreme War Lord whose iron will dominated every facet of their lives. No, here before her now if only for a moment was merely her big sister, made unfortunate by virtue of the fact that six times now she had lain with a male and six times she had come up childless, empty...barren. "Ohh, sister," she said tenderly, "there is still time."

"No," Melosa said flatly as she shook her head. "I have suffered my last humiliation. I will not try again." As queen she was expected to produce an heiress. Her continued inability to do so had drawn whispers and raised eyebrows among many in the tribe, especially given the knowledge that Amazons were well known to be an especially fertile race but even more so because there was little indication that she had ever even lain with a male. Indeed, Melosa, ever the private person, had been so secretive in her attempts that only Euset and Racillione knew the real truth. For a healthy young queen in her prime child bearing years to fail to produce a child was not just a rarity, it was practically unheard of. Even those queens who had found males abhorrent, who had preferred the soft caresses of other Amazons, had done their duty to the tribe nevertheless and produced that all important offspring to carry on the line.

All in memory had done it. All that is, except Melosa. And as long as she was childless Terreis would remain the next in line. Now that this state of affairs was acquiring more than a semblance of permanency Melosa's focus on the young princess was becoming more and more acute. A loss here, in her first challenge, would be nothing short of calamitous, throwing the entire tribe into upheaval and perhaps even splitting them. That could not--must not--be allowed to happen. Terreis understood this as well as Melosa and like her sister her young mind was fixated on maintaining the status quo. Second only to the tribe's security was its stability and this she was determined to keep intact. Melosa's announcement was nothing less than a revelation but at the moment Terreis' focus lay on other matters--such as her own life.

"Terreis, it is up to you now to take up the legacy of our ancestors, I do not exaggerate when I say that you have an opportunity to become one of the greatest queens our people have ever had. Do not let it slip away."

"I am..." Melosa lingered over the words she seemed to find so hard to say.

Terreis craned her neck in a gesture of encouragement. "Yes?"

At last Melosa lips could restrain the words no longer. "...so very proud of you. I always have been and I always will be."

Caught up in the emotion of this extraordinary moment, Terreis fought hard to keep her composure. "I won't disappoint you, I swear it. By the blood of our noble mother I swear it."

With a uncharacteristically gentle touch of her sister's arm Melosa said, "I know you won't."

The sisters became aware of a presence in the doorway. It was Colsethme, Melosa's old warhorse. In her rough voice she announced, "Highness, the challenger is on the field."

And in that vicissitudinous moment Melosa was instantly transformed, No longer was she the worried sister but once again the vaunted, all powerful Queen. "Very well," she said curtly. "The princess will be there directly."

Melosa then turned back to Terreis to deliver a last minute admonition: "Now listen, don't go in expecting this to be a conventional fight. Be prepared for anything Velasca might spring on you." Using her own years of combat experience to build on young Ephiny's solid advice, Melosa took it one step further by adding, "She may try to surprise or even confuse you, I suppose what I'm saying is do not, repeat, do not assume anything and be prepared for whatever you might face. Above all, keep your head. No matter what she tries to pull don't let her rattle you. Velasca can be cunning but you're smarter than she is. Use your intelligence to your advantage. Make her adapt to you, not the other way around. It is up to you alone, Terreis. I can help you no more. Remember your brave ancestors this day and make them proud."

Terreis stiffly drew herself up to her full height and recited the line from the ancient war song that every Amazon knew by heart, "Let us therefore rush to the battlefield, with sword and bow and whispering lance, that we may destroy our enemies as we have always done, that cowards fleeing will for years to come wail in terror at our very name!"

Characteristically Melosa did not smile but Terreis could sense she was pleased. She was. "Sister," said Melosa, "I could not have said it better myself."

"To arms then," said Terreis.

"To arms." With Melosa leading the way the two of them stepped from the hut, out of the pale, comforting light of the hut and into the harsh light of both the midday sun and expectations yet to be filled.

**********

Ephiny pulled her horse to a stop right at the base of the sprawling oak known to one and all as the "Tittie Tree." There was no mystery as to how the tree got its curious name. Located on the south side of the great tree were two large, perfectly shaped bulges that did indeed remind one of a pair of breasts. The tree was at least two centuries old and legend had it that there was once a well endowed Amazon by the name of Pelome who had foolishly boasted that her breasts were so perfect as to rival even those of Aphrodite herself. Naturally the proud goddess would brook no such blatant disrespect and as punishment she had turned the unfortunate Pelome into the great oak tree, complete with the Amazon's breasts as a mocking reminder of her blasphemy.

Ephiny of course had heard this tale many times but in her mind it was just a tree with two lumps on the side of it. She had to admit, however, that it did make for a good story. But besides its unique origin there was one other event, one infinitely more tangible, associated with the tree. Some thirty-five years before an Amazon noble by the name of Zoe, crushed at having been frozen out of Queen Antiope's bed, had on a warm spring night hung herself from that very tree.

Abisinthe slid down off the horse with Ephiny right behind her. "Where?" the older girl asked.

Abisinthe stretched out a slender arm and said, "There."

"Show me."

Abisinthe waited while Ephiny tied up the horse and then off she went, her slim hips barely making a ripple in the waist high undergrowth. Some fifty paces away the girl stopped and pointed. "There. Right there."

"You're sure?"

A little annoyed by this, Abisinthe's already high voice rose yet another octave in answering, "Of course I'm sure. What do you think?"

Ephiny squatted down and began to brush away the loose debris covering the ground near the tree. Working methodically, she swept an ever larger area but found nothing. Finally she stood up and dusted her hands off. "There's nothing here," she declared.

"I never said there was," said Abisinthe. "I just said that Velasca was out here."

"That's just it, Abby. She was out here for a reason."

"Well, maybe she was praying after all."

"Not a chance in hell," Ephiny scoffed.

"Well all right, there's nothing here then." By now Abisinthe was becoming miffed. She had not wanted to come rushing out here in the first place and now here Eph was doubting her word? Who needed it? "Who cares? You can take me home now."

Deep in thought, Ephiny absently answered, "Not yet."

Abisinthe stamped her foot and whined, "C'mon, Eph, I gotta go ho-ome!"

"You're certain this is where you saw her?"

"Yes, yes, for the tenth time--yes. She was here. Right here." Abisinthe was growing more irritated by the second. Dropping suddenly to her knees, she looked back up at Ephiny and said, "She was on the ground, bent over, just like this." Abisinthe leaned forward to demonstrate but agitated as she was she did it with a little too much zeal and lost her balance. Lurching forward, she instinctively shot out her hands in an effort to catch herself. This she managed to do but not before running her left hand straight inside the tree, to the utter astonishment of both Ephiny and herself.

"Ow!" Abisinthe yelped. "Something bit me!"

"Let me see," said Ephiny, as the girl jerked her hand out.

On the edge of her friend's left hand, just below the little finger, was a neat slice extending from the last knuckle to the wrist. Apparently it was fairly deep because already the oozing blood was dripping off her hand, staining the dead leaves on the ground below a dark red.

Ephiny took the hand and after a cursory look said, "That's no bite, that's a cut."

"Bite, cut--who cares? I'm bleeding like a stuck pig."

"I guess we ought to patch you up," said Ephiny. Wryly she added, "I wouldn't want you to die on me."

"Well you can say what you want but it still hurts," Abisinthe huffed.

With Abisinthe still busy with her finger Ephiny took the opportunity to suddenly grab hold of her top and rip off a good sized piece.

"Hey-ey!" the girl whined. "This is my best top. I was going to wear it to the fight today."

"It's also your cut," Ephiny said as she tore the cloth into neat strips.

"Look at it, you're ruined it."

"Stop belly-aching and hold still."

"Ohhh," Abisinthe moaned, "I wish I had never said a word about dumb ol' Velasca."

Ephiny ignored her lament and applied the bandage, causing Abisinthe to flinch. In recoil she bent her knees. "Ow! Easy, Eph!"

Ephiny grinned at her friend and said, "Oh, some warrior you're going to make. Can't even take a little cut."

"Well maybe I'll just be a hunter or priestess or something." They both knew better. Already at fifteen one of the most talented archers in the entire tribe, Abisinthe was on the fast track to getting her mask and despite her teasing Ephiny had no doubt she would be a very fine warrior. Indeed she had already proved her mettle during the recent Mysian raid.

"There you are," said Ephiny, finishing up. "An excellent example straight from the Primer of First Aid on the Battlefield."

The two Amazons laughed because there really was such a scroll bearing that ponderous title. It was in fact required reading for all trainees. Abisinthe took a moment to scrutinize Ephiny's handiwork and had to admit the job was expertly done. But then again, that always seemed to be the case with whatever Ephiny did.

With Abisinthe's hand taken care of Ephiny could turn her attention once more to the hole her young friend's hand had inadvertently punched out. Upon closer examination the hole itself looked to be an abandoned animal den of some kind. Its opening had been stuffed with dead leaves and then carefully covered with dirt in an effort to hide it. Ephiny had expected to find a hole near the tree not under it and thus had missed it the first time around. Dropping down to all fours, she stuck her hand in the hole and began to very carefully probe for the sharp-edged instrument that she was now certain was in there. She found it, a large hunting knife, and handed it up to Abisinthe. "Here's your wild animal," she cracked. Returning to the hole, Ephiny found something else, something far more sinister.

Holding her discovery up, Ephiny said, "Well well well, what have we here?" In her hand were a half dozen arrows, bound together by a strip of cloth. Far back in the depths of her mind Ephiny thought she could begin to make out the barest of outlines through the mists of uncertainty. Is it possible? she wondered. With Velasca it certainly was.

She leered up at Abisinthe who at the moment was busy inspecting the knife that had just cut her. "Abby," she said, "you're a genius!"

"I am?"

"Yup."

With a shrug Abisinthe said, "Okay, if you say so." Suddenly she shot her friend a look of bewilderment. "Umm, why am I a genius?"

"I'm not sure."

"Huh?"

"Abby," Ephiny said, rising, "I don't know how or why yet but I have a strong suspicion that you may have just thwarted some kind of dirty little scheme by our darling Velasca. And you might--just might--have saved Terreis' life in the process."

"Really?"

"Could be."

"But how? They won't be fighting anywhere near here."

"They could."

"What do you mean?"

"Ever hear of a forest challenge?"

"A what?"

"Never mind, no time to explain now. I don't know all that much about it anyway. " Ephiny looked up at the sun which was now directly overhead. "Besides, I think you'll be finding out soon enough."

A look of alarm flashed across Abisinthe's young face. "We should tell Melosa about this."

Ephiny shook her head. "Velasca would only deny it. Besides, if she does have something up her sleeve maybe this will throw her off--rattle her a bit."

"I don't know..." said Abisinthe, her apprehensive voice trailing off.

"Look, let's say we tell Melosa. Let's even say she believes us. What then? What's she going to do? Kill Velasca for leaving something in the forest? How's that going to look to the rest of the tribe?"

"But you said--"

"Perceptions, Abby, it's all about perceptions. Melosa could give reasons until she was blue in the face--they could even be valid ones--but I guarantee you most of the tribe would simply see it as cold, calculated murder on her part in order to protect baby sister. Now, why complicate matters even more than they already are?"

"All right if you say so," Abisinthe said reluctantly. "Gods, Eph, I hope you're right."

"I am, Abby, trust me."

How could Abisinthe not? As young as she was Ephiny seemed to be one of those people who always knew what to do. "Oh would I love to stick a big ol' bug up between Velasca's demented ass."

"This could very well be your chance," said Ephiny, who felt exactly the same way. "Still sorry you came?"

"Hey you know me, always ready for an adventure."

Ephiny took the knife Abisinthe and light-heartedly flipped it up one time end over end, deftly plucking it out of the air again by the handle. "Come on," she said with a wink. "Let's get back."

Practically giggling, Abisinthe said, "Boy, if it's like you say I'd give a talent in gold just to see the look on Velasca's face when she finds this stuff missing--if I had a talent in gold that is."

"So would I, Abby, so would I."

**********

Side by side stood Colsethme and Willa on the training field, waiting. They stood by themselves, their elite status separating them both literally and figuratively from the mass of Amazons who were gathered nearby. Apart from them, also alone, also waiting, stood Velasca. Fully recovered now from her nocturnal attack of nerves, she stood in the light of a new day, confident and ready. Meelah and Draganis, still new to their commands and their newfound senior status, had both chosen to stand in the crowd like everyone else albeit with excellent viewing positions up front.

It was here that Solari found Meelah. Squeezing in beside her, Solari asked, "Have you seen Ephiny?"

"No but she's in big trouble for not finishing that hide like I asked," said Meelah.

Meelah did not really appear to be all that upset but it was enough nonetheless to make Solari feel uncomfortable. Power and authority had always made her feel that way. Under her breath she nervously excused herself, saying, "I'll...keep looking." And off she scurried to find her friend.

Unlike Celeste's funeral the assemblage gathered this day on the training field included no small children. Only those nearing training age were allowed to attend. This was a carefully followed praxis, one which would have surprised many of those outsiders who regarded the Amazons as relentlessly warlike. While it was true theirs was a warrior race, Amazons were like most others in that they were loathe to expose their fragile young minds to blood and violence so soon. Far better was to expose them to those philosophical ideals that defined their people, to teach them all about their history and the great warriors who had gone before. It was felt that once the "whys" were carefully explained young Amazons would be in a better position to accept the later horrors inevitably brought by the cruel reality that was a warrior's life.

Another difference in the crowd was their overall mood in general. Where the atmosphere at the rites for Celeste had been one of somber respect today the air was decidedly more anticipatory, more...fervid. Somebody was very likely going to be spilling blood there today--maybe even die. And while the children might be shielded the rest of them, warriors, old warriors, warrior hopefuls, were all looking forward to a good fight. They were, after all, Amazons. That so much was riding on the outcome made it all the more exciting.

Though ostensibly forbidden, Amazons here and there throughout the crowd were quietly accepting wagers, taking care to avoid the eyes of the senior commanders. None of them had any idea that both Meelah and Colsethme had discreetly employed surrogates to place one hundred dinars on Terreis. On the other hand the far less sentimental Willa, after careful analysis, had put fifty dinars on Velasca's head. She was not alone. A full third of the bettors were picking Velasca, even though the great majority of them could not stand her personally.

With the approach of Terreis their eager wait came to an end. Up through the village she came in perfect step with her sister, her mild face a stark contrast to Melosa's dark, grim countenance.

Watching them come, Colsethme squinted up at the midday sun and boomed out, "It is time!"

Velasca too saw the sisters approach but moved not a muscle. Rigidly standing in place, she wanted them to come to her.

Melosa was not about to oblige her. Instead she halted a good ten paces away and Terreis reflexively did the same. For just a moment the queen silently fixed Velasca with a withering glare and then said, "Velasca, daughter of Bellarion, you have issued a challenge to the Princess Terreis, daughter of Penthesilea, and today she is here to answer that challenge."

Velasca's only response was a polite little nod to Terreis.

"Are you prepared?"

Velasca's answer was a purring, "Ohhh yes."

"Very well," said Melosa. "Then before the eyes of our tribe and the great Artemis I call upon you to name your weapon."

It was at this precise moment that a slightly winded Ephiny ever so quietly eased in alongside her mother. "Where have you been?" Meelah softly hissed at her.

"Something came up," Ephiny obliquely. "Abby and I had to check it out."

"Well you and I are going to have a little talk about responsibility after this is over, Missy."

While firm in the belief that what she did was right Ephiny nevertheless was not about to bump heads with the all powerful figure that was her mother. Meelah had raised her daughter with a hand that was equally very firm and very loving and always, always, she had sought to be as fair as possible. Even as a child Ephiny had usually been given a chance to explain herself whenever she did something wrong. Since children inevitably will be children, no matter whose they are, swift punishment usually followed anyway but never more than what fit the nature of the transgression and never in an abusive manner. Aside from the occasional whack on the rump Meelah had never raised a hand against her child. Besides, the look of disappointment on her mother's face was always more hurtful to Ephiny than any punishment Meelah might devise. Consequently a determination was instilled early into her to always try to do the right thing as she saw it--to make her mother proud of her.

And so, confident that she would be able to satisfactorily explain her perceived desertion, Ephiny simply answered with a meek, "Yes, Momma."  
 

"For my weapon I choose..." Pausing, Velasca tapped an index finger against her temple. "...this." She then whirled and swept an arm eastward toward the long field that stretched out in front of them. "And that will be the battleground!"

Standing nearby, tough little Pomona thought, Well, this is it, she's finally flipped.

I knew it! thought Ephiny, and triumphantly she gripped even tighter the little bundle she was carrying. Abby was right, Velasca was going to be in for one hell of a surprise. The thought pleased Ephiny to no end.

"Ephiny!" a voice whispered. "Where have you been?" It was Solari, squeezing in behind Ephiny and Meelah.

"Shhh!" chided Ephiny

"But--"

Ephiny threw up an impatient hand. "Later."

As for the rest of the crowd all but the eldest were confounded by Velasca's "choice." And then, slowly filtering through the mass of Amazons came the unfamiliar words, "Forest Challenge."

For Terreis' part she too was bewildered...but not Melosa. Like the elders she instantly recognized that the field itself was not the object of Velasca's gesture. It was the forest that lay beyond. Incredulous, she asked, "You seek a forest challenge? Is that right?"

"Yes."

"You're not serious. That hasn't been done since the Great Separation."

Velasca met the queen's scathing look and said, "Then perhaps it's time we got back to the old ways." Turning to the crowd, she yelled, "Maybe it is time we got back the glory that was once ours!"

"What is this forest challenge she's talking about?" asked a confused Terreis.

"I will explain," said Melosa. Sensing her sister's apprehension, she lowered her head and murmured, "Keep your head. You can do this."

At that same moment an equally confused Solari was asking the same thing. "What is this? What's going on?"

This earned her another sharp, "Shhh," this time from old Ansara who was standing beside her.

"Very well," Melosa coldly said to Velasca, "you have made the choice, as is your right, and so it shall be done. Willa! Colsethme! Briskly Melosa's two senior commanders stepped to her side. "Search both of them thoroughly. Strip them of any and everything that might be used as a weapon."

"Yes, ma'am."

With Willa taking Velasca and Colsethme the princess the two captains began to carry out the queen's orders. Bracelets, necklaces, hair braids--anything that could conceivably be used as a weapon was duly confiscated and tossed on the ground. The two adversaries even had to submit to probing hands both up under the full tops they both were wearing and down inside their skirts.

In going over Terreis Colsethme knelt down to check her boots and for a wavering moment struggled with a powerful urge to slip in the small dagger she always kept hidden in her ample bosom. This she could have done it quite easily but in the end honesty prevailed and she simply finished her charge and stood back up.

"May, what is this?" asked Terreis.

"Don't worry, child, it's going to be all right," said Colsethme. "Just remember your training and you'll be fine. I promise." Smiling, she gave Terreis a reassuring little wink. "I know you're going to kick her rebellious ass. Good luck."

Backing away, Colsethme declared, "She's clean!" Hard on the heels of this was a like pronouncement by Willa.

Most of the crowd still did not understand what was happening. Because of this scattered grumblings of, "Why aren't they fighting?" began to be heard among them.

Spotting the swift young warrior Pycea standing nearby, Melosa summoned her with a waggle of the finger and in a low voice spoke to her for just a moment. In listening intently Pycea shut her eyes tightly as was her habit and then with an emphatic nod took off back toward the village at a quick trot.

Pycea's absence would be but a brief one and so Melosa took this moment to explain what was happening to the assembled Amazons. "From the day we are born," she began, "we begin to learn that for an Amazon the forest is everything. Indeed, many believe this deep love of the forest is innate in us, that it is as much a part of us as our warrior spirit. It is said that old sailors, dim of eye and weak of hand, will sit and stare out the windows of their land bound homes and dream of their beautiful, tempestuous mistress, the sea, whereupon they will weep because they can woo her no more. As Amazons we too have our sea, a vast green one, dark and deep. One of oak and plane and cedar. Many find it forbidding. But not us. For us the forest has always been the Great Mother. In its beginnings when the Amazon Nation was young and weak the forest suckled us and nurtured us. It protected us then and so still does today. The Mysians now suffering in Tartarus will readily attest to that. The forest constantly provides for us by way of food and means of shelter, its great canopy enfolds us to shield us from our enemies. Many men claim to know the forest but only an Amazon can be truly one with it. No Amazon fears its dark paths, its hollows and steep hills, how could we? It is who we are, it defines us as nothing else. Wherever our travels might take us in our heart, in our very soul, we will always be of the forest."

Continuing, she said, "And for all its benevolence the forest asks, no...demands, but one thing of us--that we must not be weak of heart or infirm of purpose. When we are the forest can bitterly turn on us. The forest demands strength, courage and indomitable will." Melosa paused for a moment and then added, "Our ancestors knew this too and so for countless generations they called upon the forest to settle their questions of succession, to weed out the weak. With the departure of our sisters of the Northern Tribe this practice has fallen out of favor but Amazon law allows for its use just as readily now as it did in the time of our noble ancestors. Today then, in the bosom of the Great Mother, will this great decision be made. Today, returns the forest challenge to the Southern Tribe."

In very short order Pycea returned bearing a handful of long leather strips, two bows, some arrows and two brightly colored pieces of cloth. At Melosa's direction she immediately handed these items over to the two captains and then dutifully faded back into the crowd. Without needing to be told Colsethme and Willa began distributing the items among the two adversaries--all except the cloths. These were handed to Melosa.

With a piece of cloth in each hand, Melosa raised them high over her head and cried, "This is the way of the forest challenge! The two combatants, Terreis and Velasca, will enter into the sacred forest and there they will stay until one of them emerges victorious. The objectives for each will be twofold. One, each of them must leave a leather strip at a point to be designated. The second objective is to gain possession of the other's cloth. I'm sure you all know what this means. If the first one to leave the forest does not have that cloth..." Melosa paused and swept her eyes over the crowd. She then said, "...they will be put to death. There can be no withdrawal. Only by the mercy of the victor can both leave the forest alive. Only after a combatant has won the other's cloth may they dispense with their assigned objectives.

The combatants have until sundown to effect a decision. After that the forest will tolerate their collective cowardice no longer and it will be our solemn duty to put them both to death. Again, until such time as a decision is reached neither of them must under any circumstances leave the forest. Warriors will be posted all along the perimeter to make certain that they do not."

"By the gods!" gasped Solari. "Can you imagine how nerve-wracking that's going to be?"

"That's the whole idea," said Meelah. "As Velasca insinuated victory will be owed as much to a cool head as the skilled hand."

Hearing for the first time the complete details of such a challenge Ephiny had to admit she rather liked the idea. She was loathe to admit it but as she saw it Velasca was right. That was the way for Amazons to fight! "Why isn't this done anymore?" she asked her mother.

"People nowadays have little patience for such a protracted contest," Meelah said with a shrug. "It takes too long and, besides, nobody gets to see the bloodletting." With a little sigh she added, "Everything has to quick and dirty these days."

From behind the bawdy Jen cracked, "Sort of like sex with one of those quivering little males."

Despite the gravity of the moment this evoked quite a few muted snickers from those nearby. With Ephiny so close at hand Meelah struggled to suppress her own smile. Turning to Jen in mock annoyance, she whispered, "Je-en!"

"Well it's true, Meelah, you know it is. Most of them hump like rabbits on a hot rock."

This time faces turned red, chests quivered and lips were bit hard to suppress guffaws that the queen in this critical moment would definitely have taken a very dim view of.

The young virgins Ephiny and Solari looked at each other, Solari wide-eyed, and a little scared, Ephiny, both amused and just a little embarrassed. Jen had meant no harm. It was just the way she was. She was one Amazon for whom sex was never very far from her mind.

By now Melosa had already turned back to the two adversaries. Here they were separated with Velasca being escorted some distance away by Willa. With Willa serving as a witness Melosa spoke first to Velasca. The queen gave her the green piece of cloth and, hiding her lips behind her hand, imparted to her the five locations where she was to leave her strips. With Colsethme bearing witness this time Melosa then did the same with Terreis, giving her the blue cloth and something else that she had not given Velasca. For her parting words Melosa looked deep into her sister's eyes and said, "May Artemis be with you, dear sister."

A little surprised by yet another rare moment of sisterly intimacy, Terreis was understandably deeply touched by it as well. "May she forever be with both of us," she whispered back.

Melosa stepped back and in a commanding voice said, "So it is time. Combatants, you may enter the forest anywhere you like but, remember, you cannot be the first to exit the forest without the other's cloth. LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN!!"

Caught up in the moment, there was a great roar from the gathered Amazons as the two young warriors sprinted off. Over the long field they ran, streaking for the forest and its cover as fast as they could go. As Ephiny fully expected she would, Velasca made straight for the northern edge of the forest while Terreis veered off to the right, toward the southern "arm" that jutted out from the forest proper.

Besides their respective cloths each combatant carried along with their five leather strips a bow and a meager three arrows. As with the cloth the other items too had a definite purpose. This was to be as much a test of their forest skills as their fighting prowess and to that end the purpose of the bow was a simple one--to provide a small measure of long range capability thus precluding the two of them from simply entering the forest and slugging it out right away. In years past such an occurrence would have been considered "uncivilized" and indeed very much frowned upon. The placing of the strips and the movement it entailed assured that there would be mobility on the part of both of them. In that way neither one could just sit tight in an attempt to force the other's hand. Movement and stealth were to be the order of the day. In addition, the sites given to them by Melosa further enhanced the chances for one or more encounters by Terreis and Velasca as the moved along their respective routes. What neither Terreis nor Velasca knew was that a pair of their designated points were one and the same. This practically guaranteed a fairly early encounter.  
 

With the whole village watching intently Velasca proved to be the swifter of the two and with her long legs eating up the almost three stadia distance, she hit her section of tree line well ahead of Terreis, driving straight on in. Once inside she made directly for the "Tittie Tree."  
 

When she had gotten inside the forest's arm and under cover, Terreis crouched down and took a few moments to catch her breath and also to gain her bearings. All during her dash to the forest she had kept repeating over and over in her mind the five places were she was to leave her strip. Now she once again reviewed them.

She was still breathing hard as she said to herself, "Let's see, the sink hole, the Demon's Teeth, the log bridge, which one's closer?" The bridge. No! The hole. "Damn it, Terreis, think!" Turning due north, the princess picked up a stick and began to map out in the dirt where she was supposed to go. Yes, the hole was closer. All right, she thought, that's better. It's just like Melosa said, keep my head and I'll be fine.

Being as fit as she was Terreis in very short order had her wind back. Before setting off for her first point she took a moment to stuff the blue cloth deep down into her bosom. Grimly she thought, The only way Velasca is going to get this is to kill me! In gathering herself for her first push Terreis took one last deep breath and with cheeks puffed blew it out. With the initial shock of the thing now over she felt her confidence returning. "I'm going to do it," she said softly. And so with her spirits lifted the princess shouldered her bow, snatched up the three precious arrows and melted off into the forest. A hundred breaths later she was back. In psyching herself up Terreis had forgotten all about her marking strips, running off and leaving them on the forest floor beside her dirt map.

For the chagrined young princess the enterprise was getting off to a very rocky start indeed.  
 

Velasca stood under the great oak, a supercilious little smile playing on her lips as she looked up into its sturdy branches. This was almost too easy, she thought. Her thinking was understandable. By coincidence one of her assigned points just happened to be none other than this very tree. Unlike Terreis Velasca had been very careful to keep her strips safe. To ensure this she had individually tied the ends of each one together and looped them around her neck. There the all-important items would be safe from loss.

Freeing one, she tied into it the requisite two knots that identified it as hers. Quickly then she looped the strip around an exposed root and tied it off. Kneeling down next to her hiding place, she thought, Now for my little goodies.  
 

In moving toward her first objective Terreis wisely made no attempt at stealth whatsoever. With Velasca far up on the northern end there was no danger of her movements being tracked this early on. Soon she was looking up at the old familiar ridge line she had traversed so very many times before. The ridge was high and very steep and on the other side of it was the sink hole that was her first objective. In an effort to save time Terreis did not bother with the series of diagonals that made the ascension easier but longer. Instead she tore straight up the slope. To facilitate the climb she soon resorted to moving up on all fours. Even so her forced pace made the climb a difficult one. Rather than risk breaking her an arrow through a clumsy move Terreis carried them between her teeth all the way up the side of the ridge. By the time she finally reached the crest the princess was literally gasping for air. The arrows had not helped matters. Right there she resolved to fix that. Even while she was still fighting to catch her breath Terreis took one of the leather straps and tied them and the bow together in a neat little bundle. The plain ordinary bow knot ensured that her weapon could be quickly readied when the time came. With her bow again shouldered her hands were now free.

With this necessary little chore finished Terreis immediately rose to her feet. She could not wait any longer. She knew the descent was going to be only marginally less arduous because with the severity of the incline there was a real danger of losing her balance and tumbling down like the fabled rock of Sisyphus. In wiping the perspiration from her brow Terreis noticed a near by fallen tree branch. Using her foot to hold it in place she snapped off a length of it. Aided by this crooked, makeshift staff she reached the bottom without incident and soon was marking her first objective. In doing so Terreis was well aware that this would probably be her last "free" one. From now on she would have to be very careful.  
 

In her consternation Velasca frantically raked out a hole large enough in which to bury a good sized dog. Finally she gave up, rocking back on her heels and staring at the hole in utter disbelief. Where...? Who...? What happened to them!? Now it was Velasca's turn to struggle with her composure.

Her initial shock quickly turned into rage and frustration. In a fit of fury she savagely slung the handful of dirt she was holding against the venerable old tree. "I'll gut the bitch that did this!" she growled through gnashing teeth.

Velasca thought back, trying to remember whether anyone had even remotely been in the vicinity, however briefly. She could remember no one. Still, one name kept coming back to her over and over again although there was absolutely no logical basis for it ...Ephiny!  
 

The log bridge that was Terreis' next objective was in truth nothing more than an old plane tree which had fallen over a little creek bed. Most of the year the creek was dry but if the rains came hard enough water would once again flow along the parched bed if only for a few days. Rain had been at a premium lately however and so now the creek held only small puddles of water.

Crouched low between two bushes, Terreis intently scanned to the north in a wide semi-circle. A mere twenty paces away lay the fallen tree but the time for haste was now over. What was needed now were Adele's two P's, the "twin sisters" as she liked to call them--Patience and Prudence. This was forest warfare, not some helmeted bunch of half drunk idiots stumbling up some worthless hill. This was an Amazon's stock and trade, the skill above all else they were expected to master.

Her keen ears were so attuned to every sound that even her own breathing seemed magnified. Up in the canopy she could see birds flitting indifferently about. As best she could tell everything seemed in order. She had waited almost five hundred breaths now. She could wait no longer. It was time to move. Entering the bed, she made straight for the tree. At one of the small puddles she halted and began to smear the dark mud all over her face and arms. The last thing she wanted was an unexpected flash of sunlight reflecting off her fair skin and giving away her position.  
 

Very quietly Velasca eased her way up the gently sloping ridge. Just before reaching the top she dropped to her stomach and proceeded to crawl the rest of the way up and over the flat, narrow ridge top. Once across she slowly poked her head over and peeked down the other side, into the deep hollow that held her third objective. The first two had been achieved easily enough but this had done very little to placate Velasca's foul mood. She was still seething over her loss. There was no doubt about it. Someone had obviously seen her. But who? I'd give Melosa's sword to find out, she thought bitterly.

Carefully she worked her way down beside a large cypress tree that stood just a few paces below the top of the ridge. It was here that she sat scouting the hollow, her sharp eyes intently scanning every cubit, seeking out any sign of movement, any unnatural line. Five hundred breaths later there was still nothing and so, satisfied all was clear, Velasca rose to her feet and began to methodically make her way down the back side of the ridge. "Move, stop, listen...move, stop, listen." She could almost hear old Adele chanting this litany in her high pitched voice. "Take your time. Be like shadows moving across the forest floor. Be in no hurry to die."

For Velasca this was not an easy thing to do. She was by her very nature an impatient sort and she was none too happy with the way this was turning into a high stakes game of "hide and seek." This was not what she had planned on at all. Her scheme had been simple enough. She had expected to draw Terreis out into the open by fooling her into thinking she had used up her arrows. Then it would have been a simple matter of picking off the unsuspecting Terreis off at her leisure. But that was before. Now she was resigning herself to the stark reality of having to actually earn her triumph--a very different matter indeed.

Halfway down the slope Velasca stopped and again did a careful scan of the forest. Below her Velasca could see the "Demon's teeth," ten rectangular stones as tall as an Amazon embedded side by side lengthwise in the side of the hill. This then was her third objective. Clearly it was not a natural phenomenon but no one knew who had placed them there for they predated all of Amazon history. At the bottom Velasca took one final look around. She's not here, she thought. I wonder where she is? "Well," she muttered, "let's get this over with." At the bottom of the hollow Velasca took a moment to fashion the two identifying knots in her strip. That done, she began to look around for something to tie it to.

It was then that she saw it. A fresh footprint in the black earth. This was followed hard by the sight of something even more chilling. There, pushed into the bank above the Demon's Teeth was a stick with a strip of leather wound around it. Terreis!

Reflexively Velasca flung herself to the ground and it was not a moment too soon. An arrow shot over her and shattered harmlessly against another large stone lying opposite the Demon's Teeth. How it missed her she would never know but she guessed it could not have been by more than the width of her little finger. In fact she almost thought she felt the brush of the missile's feathering as it whizzed over her.

Up on the far slope, fifty paces away, Terreis spat out a curse of frustration and instantly fitted another arrow onto her bow. But Velasca was gone. Scrambling madly down the hollow, Velasca had managed to clear Terreis' sight line and reach the relative safety of a large thicket. Terreis sat motionless, her only movement that of her eyes sweeping back and forth across the hollow. She saw nothing. Damn it, where did she go?

In working her way up the far slope it had only been by mere chance that Terreis had turned back just in time to see Velasca top the far ridge and settle in beside the cypress tree. For all her fastidiousness Velasca had simply missed her. All the way down the hill Terreis had watched her, resolutely waiting for the precise moment. And when she had finally gotten it...

You idiot! she silently raged. You had her! Why did you wait so long?! Well, no use moaning about it now. All you can do is sit here behind this stupid bush like some stupid hen on a stupid nest. Shit!

In her hiding place farther down the hollow Velasca's thumping heart was finally beginning to slow down a little. You idiot! she fumed. How could you let her do that? You pranced right into it like it was the Vernal Festival or something. Me! Ambushed like some damned farmer! For Velasca this was the ultimate rebuke for her loathing for farmers was as total as it was peculiar.

In assessing her predicament Velasca did not exactly need to have the guile of a Ulysses to know that she was in a bad way. Wherever Terreis was there was no way in hell for her to execute a flanking maneuver without being seen. The arrow had come from a position somewhere up over the Demon's Teeth. That much she knew. So Terreis had the high ground then and here she was, pinned down at the bottom of this hot-ass hollow. She began to look for an escape route. Not knowing precisely where Terreis was, however, made any sort of movement very chancy. So what to do then? Sit tight and wait her out? That was out of the question. Such passitivity was a complete anathema to Velasca's psyche. She would rather pull back, however distasteful that might be. And so she did.

Still down on her haunches, Velasca did a waddling quarter turn and looked back down the hollow. There was not much cover but the ravine had ample width and was fairly level which made for good running. But to where? From her tenuous position it was hard to ascertain just what was back there but she was confident she could find something. She knew that if she could just lose Terreis things would then be all even again. Besides, she was an Amazon and Amazons were trained to adapt, to improvise, to persevere and, most of all, to overcome. Sometimes in order to overcome it was necessary to fall back and regroup. Amazon doctrine forbade cowardice--not judiciousness. "Think on your feet," as Selena liked to say, "but never with them."

Velasca took a deep breath and got ready. All right, she thought, let's see if the fair-haired child can hit a moving target. One...two...three...go! Like a deer Velasca bolted from the thicket and tore straight down the ravine as fast as she could go. Here and there a tree limb or a bush seemed to reach and grab for her. Every now and then one of them succeeded in slapping her arms or her face. Velasca ignored the stinging of their swats and ran on. A full stadium she ran, not stopping until she came to where the ravine merged into another, larger one. Her pause was a short one for after a quick look around she again took off, this time to the left, up the ravine toward the top of the ridge. In a few moments she was gone.

Terreis never had a chance. Velasca's initial dash into cover had given Terreis a very bad angle even if she had known where she was. This made her position far less commanding than Velasca realized. Thus when Velasca made her break Terreis only got a fleeting glimpse of her before losing her behind the curvature of the hill. Terreis stood up and after a heavy bleakly muttered, "Damn."

"All right, Terreis," she said under her breath, "let's think this thing through." It was obvious that the Demon's Teeth had been an objective for Velasca as well as her. So what to do then? Wait here for another chance? Sooner or later she had to come back. No, she would not wait. She was not going to sit all day hiding from Velasca. No way in hell. So what then? What would she do? At this point there was not much to do except move on to the fourth objective. But that too was now thrown into an uncertain light. They had one objective in common. Could there be more? Knowing Melosa as she did there probably were. That meant she was going to have to exercise even more caution than before. Terreis hated that. For her part she would have much rather just battled it out toe to toe with Velasca back on the training ground. So it was with a little sigh of resignation that Terreis once again began moving up the hill, completely unaware yet that she had already done more damage than either she or Velasca realized.  
 

At the top of the ridge Velasca paused to catch her breath. So far she had seen no sign of pursuit nor did she really expect any. To go blundering after someone without a clear indication of where they were would be sheer folly and whatever Terreis might be she was certainly no fool. Velasca thought it more likely that she would do the same as her--get to the high ground. There was a good chance Terreis might choose to continue on up the hill and then carefully follow along down the ridge in the hope that she might get a glimpse of her. Velasca's guess was a good one because four hundred paces away Terreis had indeed decided to do just that and was in fact at that very moment reaching the top of the very same ridge. What Velasca intended to do was to quickly double back; close the distance on Terreis, find a good tree and from that vantage point pick Terreis off as she came by.

At least, that was the plan. What Velasca had not yet taken into account was what the noble Phillipia used to call the "little chafings" of battle. These were unexpected, often innocuous, little things that taken by themselves were harmless enough but when placed in the context of the battlefield's chaotic life or death struggle very often turned into very big problems. Such had been the case fourteen summers before. After routing a lightly defended Amazon position, an erroneous marking on a map by his lead elements had caused the warlord Kipfer to send the main body of his force down the wrong road and straight into Amazon reinforcements moving up to attack. The resultant slaughter--due totally to a simple charcoal mark on a map--had been one of Queen Penthesilea's greatest triumphs.

Velasca's "little chafing" was her left wrist. In making her dive to safety back at the Demon's Teeth she had landed awkwardly on it and in all the excitement since then she had been only vaguely aware of some persistent pain there. It was only now that she realized just how serious it was. The wrist was beginning to swell badly. At this point Velasca found she could still flex her left hand but making a hard fist was already out of the question. Hurriedly unshouldering her bow, Velasca tried to draw back the string. Try as she might she just could not do it. The pain in her wrist was simply too great.

In a fit of anger she slammed the bow to the ground. This was turning into a very bad day all around. The gods are against me! she thought crossly. They must be! Well to hell with them, to hell with Terreis and to that cold fish Melosa too. I'll show them all. I'll beat them all!

Velasca dropped her arrows to the ground alongside her bow. She might not be able to use the bow but she could still use the arrows and this she fully intended to do. One by one she placed each of them under her foot and broke it in half. Now all she needed was a chance to get in close. Just one good chance...

Picking up her weapons, Velasca started off up the ridge. This time, she vowed, the next encounter with Terreis would be on her terms. It was not long in coming. When Terreis came down the crest of the ridge a short while later Velasca was waiting.  
 

It was not that Terreis was unprepared for any further engagements. After losing sight of her foe she knew well enough that Velasca could now be anywhere. What she had not counted on was for Velasca to close so aggressively and force the encounter so soon. That, however, was exactly what happened. With the end of the ridge in sight Terreis walked under an ash tree completely unaware of the sleek form lurking just overhead. It had been Velasca who had first caught sight of the foe. With the aid of her good hand and the crook of her left elbow, she had ignored the pain and just managed to drag herself up in the tree in the nick of time. It was only by Terreis' concentration on the hollow below that she had missed being seen.

With Terreis coming near Velasca held her breath and eased out one of her broken arrows. She was only going to get one chance, she had to make it good. Wait, wait, wait--don't look up princess--wait, wait...wait.....NOW!

Velasca rolled out of the tree, right on top of the unsuspecting Terreis. She had hoped her plunge would take the princess down but her timing was just a little off and instead of knocking Terreis down, she only sent her staggering backward. Velasca was not about to let her recover. Quickly scrambling to a crouching position, like a great leopard Velasca sprang toward the reeling Terreis. With a shrieking war cry she brought her arrow plunging downward as hard as she could.

Velasca had aimed straight for the heart but with the reflexes of a well trained Amazon Terreis was at the last possible moment just able to twist and turn barely enough to avoid the potential deadliness of the blow. She did not, however, get away completely. For while Velasca's blow missed Terreis' upper body it succeeded enough in that it caught the princess flush in the upper thigh. Before she could regain her balance, Terreis went sprawling backwards.

Terreis' loud cry of pain was the sweetest of music to Velasca's vengeful ears. Intent on finishing the job, Velasca pulled out another arrow and rushed forward. At Terreis' side she dropped to her knees, ready to drive her weapon into the chest of her enemy. On the ground Terreis frantically groped for a weapon, any weapon. Falling to her knees, Velasca raised her hand only to have Terreis' desperate fingers claw for her bow and use it to slam her assailant across the left ear. Screeching with rage, Velasca rolled away and stood up. She kicked the bow from Terreis' hand and fell on top of her. Still flat on her back, Terreis succeeded in catching Velasca's arm. Locked in combat, the two young warriors tested their strength as they never had before.

Being on top, Velasca had the advantage but try as she might she could not free her hand from Terreis' powerful grip. She could, however, feel Terreis weakening. All she needed was a little more pressure. Toward that end she crossed her left forearm over her hand and. leaning forward, began to press even harder.

Terreis could also sense herself weakening. She had to do something. When Velasca brought up her left hand it was then that the princess noticed the pronounced swelling of the wrist. This was her opportunity and Terreis did not hesitate. If she could only hold long enough... In a desperate gamble Terreis turned loose with her right hand and seized Velasca by her left hand. With all her might she then wrenched it backward, causing Velasca to squall out in agony.

Terreis wasted no time in following up her success. Doubling up her fist, she punched Velasca in the face as hard as she could. Blood gushed forth from Velasca's nose, trickling down her face and dripping onto the princess. Terreis sensed her moment had come. Writhing and lurching as forcefully as she could, she managed to throw Velasca off.

But not for long. She had barely gotten to her feet when an infuriated Velasca again threw herself at her, this time slamming into her with such force that it sent the both of them flying off the top of the ridge. Down the side of the hill they went, tumbling, tumbling, unable to stop their rolling down the extremely steep hill. About a third of the way down the hill Velasca caught an oak tree flush. With a gasping groan she bounced back from the tree, unconscious. Terreis, on the other hand, had a clear path all the way to the bottom. She ended up on her side when she finally did stop rolling, her young body covered with cuts and scratches, her auburn hair full of twigs and leaves. Battered and bruised, the dazed princess's head lolled limply back. Her eyes, uncomprehending, looked up into the sunlight filtering through the forest canopy overhead and then, blackness.

**********

In silence a mounted Melosa and Colsethme sat on their horses and watched as the sun slowly sat beyond the far hills. To the left and right of them, strung out all along the perimeter of the forest, other mounted Amazons sat facing the opposite direction but doing exactly the same thing, watching and waiting. So far no one had seen or heard anything. Now time was almost up.

For some time now Colsethme had watched her queen's handsome face grow ever more grim with each passing moment. Melosa was not the only one who was worried, she was too. Terreis might not have been her ideal of the perfect warrior but she was a sincere, diligent girl and Colsethme liked her. She was just now coming of age and Colsethme thought it would be a damn shame if she were to be somehow cut down so early in life, especially by that no good Velasca.

Melosa sat there with some of her best warriors barely a stone's throw away but at that moment she might as well have been on the top of a mountain somewhere. She was alone, alone with nothing but her thoughts, her fears to keep her company. And there in the failing light she forced herself to think the unthinkable. By the gods! What if Velasca wins? Poor Terreis! If she does then the day will come when she'll challenge me too, as surely as the sun rises she'll challenge me. What would happen if she somehow prevailed? Then what? I'm not afraid to die. I never have been. But my poor people! What would happen to them? At all costs I must not all that to happen...

All this time it seemed as if neither of them wanted to speak, as if that by refusing to address it they would somehow stop time, stop the inevitable. Finally Melosa drew a deep breath and said, "Well, that's it. Go get them, May." In a strange way she was relieved. Better to put them both to death than to have Velasca win. Such was the harsh reality of being an Amazon queen.

"Perhaps, Highness, if we wait just--"

"Do it!" Melosa barked.

Colsethme was about to give the order when she heard a shout off in the distance. In unison she and Melosa turned and saw a mounted rider streaking toward them.

"Who is it?" asked the queen. At this distance, in this light, with her eyes, the middle-aged Colsethme had no clue.

Fortunately sharp-eyed Pythera was with them and it was she who made the identification. "That's Jasara's horse, ma'am," she said.

Quickly looking at her queen, Colsethme said, "Someone's come out."

Melosa did not wait. Digging her heels into the flanks of her horse, she galloped out to meet the onrushing warrior.

Pythera knew her horses for this indeed was Jasara. Breathless, she reined in her horse when she realized it was her queen coming up to meet her.

"What is it?" Melosa asked, trying not to show her anxiety. "Has someone come out?"

"Yes, ma'am."

It was here that Colsethme and Pythera caught up with their queen. In doing so Pythera's horse inadvertently bumped Jasara's mount, which spooked the animal. The startled horse reared turned sharply and it was a moment or two before Jasara again had it under control.

This was far too long for the solicitous Melosa. "Damn it!" she demanded. "Who?"

Jasara seemed an eternity in answering. "Terreis."

"All right," Colsethme said under her breath.

"Where?"

"Way back near the river," replied Jasara. "She's hurt bad, ma'am. Her leg..."

Now that the uncertainty was over, Melosa was her old formidable self again. "Pythera, get Racillione right now!" the queen ordered. "Take her straight over there."

"Yes, ma'am."

"C'mon, May."

"I'm right with you."  
 

They found Terreis lying amid a smattering of Amazons. She lay on blankets that had been provided by two of her young friends, Calliope and the older Valerie. Beside her knelt the captain Draganis and Marleen, Willa's second-in-command. Bolting off her horse, Melosa joined them in an instant.

"How bad is it?" she asked.

"Bad," Draganis answered solemnly.

What she saw shocked even the normally unflappable Melosa. Terreis lay there, unconscious, with every exposed portion of her skin smeared in sweat streaked dirt. With her clothes torn, her hair matted and full of dirt and leaves, she looked like anything but the princess she was. That, however, was not the worst of it. For mixed in with the dirt on Terreis' right leg was something else--blood, lots of it. Some of it had dried already, some of it was still very fresh. Her leg was covered in it. Underneath, a crimson bandage could be seen through the ugly hole in Terreis' skirt.

Melosa knelt down over her sister and ran a hand down inside the young woman's bosom. This rather surprised most of those present but not the veteran Colsethme. She knew very well what the queen was after. "Is it there?" she asked.

Melosa said not a word in reply. Instead she pulled out a wadded up piece of blue cloth. Colsethme's heart sank for without Velasca's cloth Terreis would still have to die. She sadly looked away for a moment and because of that did not see the queen unfold the wad. When she turned back Melosa, her dark eyes shining...was holding up the green cloth which Terreis had meticulously tucked inside her own.

"By the gods," the old warrior said approvingly, "she did it."

"That must have been some battle," observed Calliope.

"She's lost a lot of blood," said Marleen.

"I can see that," said Melosa. She wanted so very badly to have a look at the wound but thought better of it and left the blood soaked bandage in place.

"We should get her back, ma'am," said Draganis.

Melosa shook her head. "She shouldn't be moved. Racillione is coming, let her have a look first."

"The condition she's in I don't know if we can even put her on a litter," said Colsethme.

Draganis shot Colsethme a hard look. "I can carry her," she offered up.

"No," said Melosa.

Draganis rose to her feet and looked about. With pressed lips she evenly said, "I don't think we ought to wait."

Melosa looked up at what was her finest warrior. Draganis would never be confused for a scholar but if there was one thing she did know it was wounds. After all she had inflicted enough of them in her lifetime. The queen stood up and for a moment stared down at the only flesh and blood she had in the entire world. Suddenly she felt so very tired. "Perhaps you're right," she said. "Perhaps we should go to meet Rae after all." With a weary nod she said to Draganis, "All right get her and let's go."

"Right." It was a relieved Draganis that knelt down to very delicately pick the fallen princess up in her massive arms. Colsethme and Marleen fell in with her as did the queen herself and all the other warriors present. No one felt like riding, it just did not seem right.

Suddenly a thought came to Colsethme. "What about Velasca?" she asked.

"Is she alive? Anybody know?" asked Melosa.

"We don't know," said Marleen.

Calliope, who had been the first to spot Terreis, added, "She collapsed as soon as she came out of the forest."

"Find her," Melosa sternly commanded. "I want her dead or alive. Send in a party and search all night if you have to but find her."

"She'll be hard to find once it gets dark," said Colsethme.

"I don't care," Melosa sharply retorted. "As hurt as Terreis is she must have left a trail a child could follow. I would wager that if you follow it it will lead you straight to the little bitch. Take Hyacinth with you." Despite being only in her early twenties, Hyacinth had already gained quite a reputation as an expert tracker.

As word of Terreis' victory spread among those posted to watch for forest the ranks of those walking with Melosa and Draganis began to swell. By the time Pythera returned with Racillione they were all there.

Draganis, as promised, carried the princess all the way back to the village. Night had already fallen but the village itself was brilliantly illuminated by countless torches set up by those who had not been on the picket line. The procession of warriors made their way through the village along a triumphal path formed by dual lines made up of every last one of the village's other inhabitants. Owing to the seriousness of Terreis' condition, however, there was very little in the way of the type of celebration that usually went with these marches.

After Terreis was taken into the queen's hut, most of the crowd lingered for a while but as crowds are wont to do most of them soon became bored and either went home or drifted off with friends in little knots of two or three. One of those who stayed was Ephiny, as did Solari, as did--surprisingly--Eponin. Finally Meelah came to fetch her daughter and by the early hours before dawn all that remained outside was Melosa's horse. All through the long night Racillione and Missini worked under the queen's watchful to save the life of the princess. Once the wound was cleaned and the bleeding stopped at last, Racillione's chief concern became the after effects of a trauma such as this, particularly the invariable swelling and buildup of pus around the wound. If the leg began to turn black....

Racillione did not want to think about that.  
 

Back in the forest Melosa's intuition had once again proven to be correct. With Hyacinth in the lead Colsethme and the rest of her search party were able to follow Terreis' bloody trail fairly easily. Sometime around midnight they found Velasca lying at the foot of a steep slope. They found her bound hand and foot, dazed, bloodied, but very much alive. Without delay then she was hauled up and taken straight to the queen. For her part Melosa wanted oh so very badly to order her immediate execution but it was obvious her sister had taken great pains to keep Velasca alive. Why she had done so was a mystery to Melosa but as the princess was at the moment unable to reveal her intentions Melosa ordered that Velasca be thrown into their small prison at once. There she would be kept under armed guard until such time as a recovering Terreis could make known what was to be done with her. That is--if Terreis recovered.

For several days her condition was touch and go. In and out of consciousness she drifted. Very often she was delirious, speaking wildly of having her duty to do; sometimes she recited passages from the "War Song," very often she just lay there, mumbling inaudibly. More than once during this time rumors of her death swirled through the village, each time evoking a fair amount of speculation about who would succeed the princess. Each time the rumors proved to be false.

Finally, ten days later, on a cool morning just before dawn, an exhausted Melosa was awakened by gentle hand on her shoulder. "Ma'am?" It was the young healer Missini.

In that preceding ten days Terreis had given very little indication that she was, in fact, improving. Indeed on this morning as the queen struggled to focus her weary eyes it flashed through her mind that perhaps the thing she had feared all along had finally come to pass. A bleary-eyed Melosa sat up and looked up at the young healer and it was not without some apprehension that she asked, "Yes?"

It was only then, as her eyes at last began to come into focus, that Melosa saw the young healer was smiling. In an instant the queen shot to her feet. Putting a hopeful hand on Missini's slim shoulder, she asked, "Is she?" The little nodding reply was all she needed to know. Melosa rushed through the hut into Terreis' room and there in the candlelight she saw her sister quietly sitting up in her bed, nibbling on a piece of the fish Missini had brought for her own lunch.

For a moment struggled with her emotions as she made her way to the bed to sit down beside the princess. Terreis was her full sister, her flesh and blood, the object of everything she had worked for and sought to preserve. And yet even now, even now, she could not let down that impenetrable wall that had saved her reign in the early years and speak from the heart as that small piece of her soul so very badly wanted to do-as it had always wanted to do. And so, there were no joyous hugs, no kisses on the cheeks...no tears. There was only the unspoken love they had for each other and the thing that bound them together above all else, their indomitable sense of duty to the Amazon people.

At first neither spoke as they sat there, looking at each other. There was no need for words; there was no need for Melosa to express the inexpressible, for Terreis to say what both of them already knew. Their eyes said it all.

After a moment Terreis smiled faintly and said, "Good fish."

"You hate fish," a thankful queen reminded her.

"I do?" Terreis cocked her head and with nose wrinkled said, "I thought it was squirrel."

"That too. You always were a fussy eater." Terreis tried to take another bite of the fish but her hand was unsteady and so she dropped the fish in her lap, prompting Melosa to wryly added, "And clumsy too."

Without another word Melosa picked the fish up. From the bones she tore a small piece of the soft white meat and delicately fed it to her sister, just as she had done countless times in Terreis' sickly youth. Through this Missini had been looking on from the doorway but now she suddenly had the uncomfortable feeling that she was an interloper, that this moment belonged to queen and princess and to no one else. And so, respectfully bowing to the royal pair who at that moment had no inkling of her presence, Missini softly backed out of the room and very carefully pulled the curtain shut. The young woman stepped outside and deeply inhaled the crisp morning air. Off to the east proud Eos was just starting to make her timeless reappearance--up over the eternal forest that had for countless centuries been mother to the Southern Tribe. Across the village breakfast fires were already being built, their smoke hanging low in the heavy morning air. Here and there an Amazon could be seen, out on some chore or simply trudging off to empty "the pot." Soon the warriors would be assembling to receive their daily assignments from either from their unit captain or her second-in-command. Habitually this was preceded by a meeting with the queen but for the past few days neither she nor her senior officers had bothered. She had other things on her mind and they knew what needed to be done.

Missini heard a cough and in the distance she saw Polymenia, coming to take her turn as sentry at Melosa's hut. Missini looked past her to the dark hills off to the west. Many times she had wondered what life was like "out there," past those hills, out there in that huge, strange, unknown world dominated by males. How foreign that seemed to her! Draganis had said it was a place full of wonders, old Phillipia a place full of deceit and evil. Missini guessed it was somewhere in between. Sometimes, she had even dreamed of going there, of seeing for herself. of reaching out and touching it for herself. Always though, she shrank back. This was her place, this was where she belonged. Let the males have the rest of the world, as long as she could live out her days here in peace, living the life she loved, with the people she loved. All the gold in Midas' vaults could not buy for her what she had here. Here she had an undeniable sense of place, of purpose, of...belonging!

And for the young healer that was more than enough.

Polymenia greeted Missini with a friendly nod and proceeded to relieve the taciturn Moirira who, true to her nature, had stood there watching Missini the whole time without saying a word. In leaving she was no different, silently setting off at a casual pace toward home for a well earned rest.

"How's the princess," Polymenia earnestly whispered.

The gentle Missini smiled and said, "She's going to make it."

"So, aside from poor Celeste I guess this mess turned out all right, huh?"

"And thank the gods for that," said Missini. "Hopefully now this succession foolishness has been decided once and for all and the tribe can get back to normal around here."

Polymenia knew better. "As long as she is alive it will never be over." Missini knew very well who she meant. "If it was up to me I'd go over there right now and cut her insolent throat."

Missini lightly put a hand to Polymenia's arm and said, "Well, such momentous decisions lie in the domain of kings and gods and are infinitely beyond our simple station in life."

"Maybe you're right." But inside Polymenia was thinking, Little healer, if I thought I could get away with it I'd do it myself and save Terreis the trouble!

Suddenly the warrior stiffened and it was then that Missini saw the stark silhouette of Melosa in the doorway. "Missy, I need you," said the queen.

"At once, ma'am," the healer dutifully replied, and she hurried off to join her mistress.

Alone now, Polymenia relaxed her taut muscles and just as Missini before her began to let her eyes wander over the village that was her home. In that serene moment her mind turned to what Missini had said and in doing so wondered if perhaps the little healer was not right after all. All right, so she was not a queen or a goddess. She conceded that being a god might not be such a bad thing but she could not understand why anyone in their right mind would want to assume the crushing burden of responsibility that Melosa shouldered every day of her life. It was the choices she made that determined whether Amazons lived or died and, ultimately, whether the tribe itself survived or perished. Nor did she envy Terreis, the personable princess who was faced every day with the nearly impossible tasks of measuring up to a legendary mother and grandmother. Polymenia wanted no part of such pressures. Let others, envious, petty...ambitious, huff and jostle their way as near to the center of power as the could, hoping against hope that somehow, some way, the sacred Rite of Caste might one day be bestowed on them.

Not Polymenia. She was content to serve the tribe, to raise her two young daughters and to live out the rest of her days in the life she had chosen so long ago. She was content with who she was. Like countless others before her she was a front line warrior, the backbone of five hundred years of Amazon greatness. And like Missini that was quite enough for her too.  
 

Epilogue

It was another couple of days before Melosa finally got around to asking about Terreis' fight with Velasca. For her part Terreis was at that point still fuzzy on some of the details but Melosa would in time learn the whole story:

With both of the combatants lying unconscious everything depended on who awakened first. It was Terreis. She awoke just as she had passed out, with her eyes staring up at the sky. Only now the light was different and it took a moment for her groggy brain to realize that quite some time must have passed. That she was still alive seemed like a miracle in itself. Either the fall should have killed her or, failing that, Velasca. But where was Velasca? she wondered. Obviously she was in a bad way too. Or dead. As far as Terreis was concerned that was all right too. Still, she would have to find her and retrieve that scarf.

She was contemplating the difficult trek back up the hill when suddenly she thought she heard a faint cry from somewhere up high. Struggling to her feet, Terreis blinked hard a couple of times and peered back up the hill. Sure enough, she saw a dark form shakily arise out from the dense vegetation and stagger up against a tree. So she was not dead after all. Worse, she seemed to have still have full mobility. Terreis knew it was only a matter of time before Velasca's head cleared and she came looking for her. Terreis had to do something-and fast. But what? She could barely stand, much less fight. She felt all that would be necessary for Velasca to knock her on her ass would be to come down there and spit on her.

Desperately she looked around for a weapon. There was nothing. Everything she had was back up there on the top of the ridge. Again she cast her eyes about and this time she saw a rock about the size of her fist lying close by. Such a find was hardly comforting but at least it was something. It was then that her eye caught sight of a small tree limb close to the bottom of a nearby tree. Ordinarily she would not have given the thing a second thought but for a sturdy little sapling standing unusually close by. It was a long shot to be sure but what choice did she have? If only I can get the right angle...

Terreis' mind began to form a plan. First she cast a wary glance up the hill towards Velasca. She must not see me! she thought. Not yet. Like Velasca Terreis had chosen to wear a full, over the shoulder top instead of the traditional warrior's bra. Unlike her opponent, however, her ample breasts were not free but tightly bound up by a length of cloth doubled around and tied in the back. In an instant Terreis reached back under her shirt and began to frantically tug at the knot holding the bindings together. Three times she failed but after stopping a moment for a calming deep breath, she at last succeeded in pulling it loose on the fourth attempt.

Up on the hill the cobwebs were starting to clear from Velasca's head. Her entire body felt like one huge toothache. "Damn you, Terreis," she muttered darkly, "you'll pay for this."

At the base of the hill Terreis held her breath and prayed that Velasca would not see her. Slowly then she began to edge the five paces to the tree. When she got there she took another peek to see what Velasca was doing. As of yet nothing although she seemed to be looking for her. So far so good, she thought. Taking her bindings, she tied one end of it to the end of the tree limb and then every so carefully began to bend the limb back. In her weakened hands the tension on the limb was almost too much for her to handle but she doggedly hung on. By pressing her chest against the limb she was able to brace it while she tied the other end of the bindings to the sapling. The tree was wide and the light was not so good down where she was and if Terreis stood in the right spot she hoped an overconfident Velasca just might not see what she had in store for her.

Having lived with her and fought against her in training for so long Terreis knew Velasca better than anyone. What she was counting on now was to use Velasca's aggressiveness against her. Very often when Velasca thought she had the upper hand she would seek to not just defeat an opponent, but utterly crush them. In her fervor to do so that sometimes made her careless, which also made her susceptible to traps. Terreis herself had done this to her time after time. Now she planned to do it yet again. Only now the stakes were much higher than an approving eye from Selena.

She was now ready. All that was left was to get Velasca's attention. Strangely, that proved to be more difficult than she expected. Laboring to get to one knee, she let out a loud cry and then pretended to just be getting up for the first time. Up on the hill Velasca never moved. What's wrong with her? Terreis wondered. Is she deaf? So she tried again, this time simply standing there, hands cupped to her mouth, and yelling as loud as she could.

Up on the hill a still badly shaken Velasca finally heard her. So you are still alive! she thought. Well, not for long. Pulling out another arrow, Velasca began to side-step her way down the hill.

Back down at the bottom Terreis saw her coming and very carefully eased herself into position. Silently she prayed that Velasca would not notice that dark colored binding. She knew all too well that this was going to be a long shot but what other choice did she have? All her eggs were in this one all-important basket and, by the gods, she was going to make it work.

It took some time for Velasca to work her way down the hill which was fine with Terreis because every moment she wasted the light was getting worse. Finally a triumphant Velasca stood at the bottom, brandishing her weapon and leering at the apparently helpless princess. "My my, dear," she sneered, "you certainly are a mess, aren't you?"

"I'm still here, aren't I?" Terreis snarled back.

Velasca casually eyed the arrow and said, "Oh but not for long. You know, I thought about allowing you to live but I see now that that silly pride so rampant in your line will never allow you to serve me."

Through gritted teeth Terreis answered, "I am Terreis, daughter of Penthesilea, grand-daughter of the noble Antiope. I kneel to no one and especially not to a interloping cur like you!" In playing on Velasca's sense of insecurity about her own lineage, Terreis was looking to hit a nerve.

She found it. "You always were a spoiled, snot nosed little brat," Velasca said with disgust.

It was time to turn up the screws. "That may be," Terreis retorted. "But after all, I am a princess..." Slyly she went on to finish. "...and you're not."

Still Velasca would not take the bait. She wanted to relish every last moment of her impending victory. "Tell me...princess, do you fear me? You should, because I'm about to take away everything you have--your title, your honor, even your life."

Terreis snorted derisively. "Fear you? Gods of Olympus, why should I? You're a loser, Velasca. You always have been. Not once have you ever beaten me in battle. You never have, and you never will. Face it, loser, I am your better--born to rule. Serve you? Hah! Serve me, slave! Kneel to me, Velasca. Kneel to your princess."

Velasca's cry grew first from a low, guttural growl into a ear piercing shriek of blinded, primordial fury. Drawing back her weapon, she raced at the smirking princess she despised so much. In front of her stood an unflinching Terreis, waiting.

Her timing was perfect. At precisely the proper moment Terreis pulled the knot loose, freeing the limb. With a loud whap! the limb slammed into Velasca's chest, knocking her backward and causing her to drop the arrow. Snatching up her rock, Terreis lurched forward and fell on Velasca. Twice she cracked her in the head with the rock and like a sack of potatoes Velasca dropped heavily to the ground, unconscious again. Terreis sat astride Velasca's chest, her trusty rock raised, ready to finish it. But she could not. She knew Melosa would want her to kill Velasca then and there but...she just could not. She had won, that was all that mattered. She was a princess, not a murderer. Ripping free two of Velasca's leather strips, Terreis tightly bound her vanquished foe hand and foot. It was only then that she untied the green cloth from around Velasca's arm and carefully tucked it inside her own.

With Velasca safely secured Terreis leaned back--and promptly vomited. Fighting off the dizziness, she thought, Gods, Toad, don't pass out now! But the hard part was still to come. With the pulling of the arrow from her thigh her scream of agony echoed hauntingly through the forest. As a last measure Terreis untied the binding that had served her so faithfully and wrapped it around her throbbing thigh. Taking a deep breath, she started off on her long, arduous trek out of the forest. Soon she found a sturdy stick to serve as a crutch.

She was still gripping it when Calliope found her.

**********

A few days after Terreis was up and about again Abisinthe was taking her turn at the well that was finally nearing completion. She was straining to help Telle set the large tub on the cart when a jerky shadow fell across the ground in front of her. It was Terreis, leaning heavily on a crutch.

"Oh, hello," said the younger Amazon cheerfully. Turning, she unconsciously wiped her hands clean on the back of her skirt. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you," said Terreis. She grimaced slightly and said, "Still hurts though."

Telle dumped the tub of dirt in the cart and said, "Aw you'll be back scampering up trees in no time."

In Terreis' free hand was a neatly bound bundle and this she now presented to the young archer. "Ephiny says I owe you this. She wouldn't say why but if Ephiny says I do that's good enough for me."

Eyes wide, Abisinthe took the bundle and very daintily began to undo the bindings. Behind her stood Marleen and Telle looking over her shoulders. When she saw what was inside the girl gasped, "Oh my! It's beautiful!"

It was a full top, made of the finest black leather, long sleeved and cut provocatively low. It was the most beautiful thing Abisinthe had ever seen. "Oh my," she said again. Behind her Marleen teasingly whistled a wolf call, causing Abisinthe to turn a nice shade of crimson. As if to make sure she was not dreaming Abisinthe asked, "This is for me?"

"For you," said Terreis. "I had Ansara make it specially for you." She shot the girl a sly look and said, "So, uh, you want to tell me what this is for?"

Having already been admonished to keep quiet by Ephiny on several occasions, Abisinthe was not about to tell if she did not have to. Fortunately Terreis did not press her. After all, to her it was just a top, she had a dozen that were finer, but to an insecure young woman on the brink of warriorhood it was a something she would treasure always.

Abisinthe was still fumbling for a suitable reply when from down below they heard, "Hey, Abby, what the hell are you doing up there? Taking a dump?" It was the irascible Therme, relegated back to the hole once again. "C'mooon! I'd like to get out of here before I hit the change of life you know."

This was followed immediately by Valerie's inevitable giggle. It also got a laugh from Marleen and even Terreis had to grin.

Abisinthe, now doubly embarrassed, arched her eyebrows and said sheepishly, "I guess I ought to get back to work."

Terreis nodded and limped over to the hole. "You guys are doing great!" she dryly called out, and promptly limped off, leaving a surprised Valerie to gulp, "Oops!"  
 

Five hundred paces away Ephiny, Eponin and Solari, led by Minutia, were receiving final instructions from Melosa regarding a trading trip they were to make to a village some twenty leagues away. When the queen was finished Minutia playfully turned to Eponin and said, "So how do you like life in the Southern Tribe so far?"

Eponin cocked her head and for the first time Ephiny saw the makings of a smile form at her lips. "I'll say one thing, it's certainly never dull around here."

"Wait till the river floods," said Ephiny knowingly. "Then you'll have some real fun."

"Are you kidding? My feet still have wrinkles from the last time." Inside her boots Solari wiggled her toes and then forlornly added, "I think they're webbed too."

At this Minutia boomed out a laugh and even Melosa found it hard to suppress a smile. But only for a moment. Clapping her hands together, she said, "All right, people, let's go. I want you back by midday tomorrow."

Smiles faded and Ephiny and Solari scurried off to get their horses. Melosa watched Eponin climb onto the wagon and drive away. Minutia, already mounted, fell in alongside in an escort position. Soon they were joined by the two very promising young warriors and before long the four of them were through the village and out of sight.

By that time Melosa was already gone--off to face the next challenge.  
 

The day after Terreis regained conscious, a grudging Melosa followed her wishes and ordered Velasca to be released. When told she was free a shattered Velasca did not move but simply continued to numbly sit there in her cell. All day she sat there in silence with the cell door open, blankly staring at the far wall. Sometime during the night she quietly stole away into the hills and by daylight was once more out of Amazon territory. The next morning a puzzled Colsethme found only a red sash lying on the floor of the cell. Picking it up, she wondered how in the world had an ambassador's symbol of office gotten into Velasca's cell.

The End

Chapter 4

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