Laidea stepped out from the group atop the marble, her heart aflutter. She had never felt so proud, not of herself, but of Perseathea, who truly held such respect and awe from the Nation that they dare not question the proclamation, even for a moment. Standing before the masses, Laidea bowed her head, dropping to a knee of respect.
A warrior emerged up the side of the marble, bringing forth two clay bowls and sitting them at the Queen's feet. Perseathea looked down on Laidea, gently lifting her chin. Lifting the first bowl, Perseathea dipped her hand, bringing out a bright yellow finger. She mirrored the symbols of her own Queen hood onto Laidea’s face. The second bowl offered a bold crimson, which Perseathea smeared in a heavy line to divide Laidea’s face.
"This place in the Nation,” she spoke just between them, “the Queen hood of GarTaynia, as sacred as life, is now passed onto you, my companion Laidea. In my death, you shall hold GarTaynia in your hand. Protect and love her. Defend her people. Your hand under the Goddess, in my death, so shall you reign."
Laidea rose to face the crowd. When she did, the village went into a wave of silence, every Amazon taking their first bow before the destined Queen. Perseathea gazed at Laidea, a smile tugging her lips, then gestured with a nod to the thousand of bowed heads. GarTaynia stood quite, in reverence, and the day shone most beautiful.
A shot sparked the breeze and my eye caught the flash of an arrow. As if time stopped, I watched it navigate the breeze. The arrow stabbed into Queen Perseathea, jolting the woman, flashing her eyes wide. The arrow stuck out from her shoulder like a thunderbolt, summoning a violent flow of blood. Perseathea staggered back, clutching at her shoulder.
“Get Askca and Palius out of here!” Laidea shouted, rushing Hippolyta to sweep Palius up. The warrior grabbed my arm.
“No!” I shook loose. “I have to do this. Just hide Palius.”
The crowd of thousands scrambled into a tangled mass, screaming and shouting, but the sounds somehow faded in my ears as I ran. Diving on my knees to reach my Queen, now bleeding on the marble. Another arrow streaked, jolting into Perseathea’s ribs.
“Run, Askca!” Laidea shouted, dragging me off of my mother. Pulling Perseathea into her arms, the warrior lifted to run.
Frantic, I glanced around, searching the enemy. GarTaynia swarmed with Amazons, weapons ready and searching as well. Where were the attacks coming from?
Another arrow shot from nowhere, jolting into Perseathea’s stomach. She cried out under a gurgle of blood, and Laidea grabbed hard fingers into my shoulder.
“You have to hide. Now! I will not lose you all!”
Standing there uncertain, I didn’t know what to do. Where to go. I couldn’t run, not after the quest, but I couldn‘t stay either. In my heart I knew I was the reason for this attack. Again. Shifting fast feet, I scanned the crowd, my breath fast in my chest.
Laidea ran, blood smearing her arms red. But before she could get to the Temple, the heat of an arrow stung into her own back. She staggered, off balance, blood oozing down her back. Dropping her to the marble. Hippolyta sprinted to her, pulling Laidea away from the Queen.
“No!” Laidea refused, grappling at Perseathea. “I won’t leave her!”
“Bartamius comes for her!” Hippolyta shouted. “You can’t save her if you’re dead!”
Bartamius ran past the two women, falling on Perseathea just as another arrow busted against the marble near the Queen’s head. Sweeping his sister up into his arms, he ran. Another arrow splintered on the marble after them. Then another. A third tore through Queen Perseathea’s leg, dropping her mouth in a pained expression, gasping.
“I’ll get you out this time. I’ll take you away from this.” He said desperate, flashing back to that day he shielded his young pregnant sister. That day they fled Gragore’s fortress. Sprinting down the marble steps he held her tight, but before he could reach the bottom his arm exploded with blood. Gritting his teeth, he did not slow his pace, but kept on. Another arrow sunk his leg, gushing it with blood and stumbling his feet. He tripped, dropping Perseathea hard on the marble before him. Within a blink, his back had been sliced deep to the count of three.
Chapter 78
I looked around, chest heaving. Unable to stop it. Unable to take it back. Arrows fell unmerciful, one after the other. From nowhere. From no one. The crowd ran wild, everyone searching the one who brought this death. This destruction. I looked to the marble steps. Queen Perseathea strewn halfway down them, next to Bartamius, red babbling from her like a brook.
Heart racing, I ran to her, falling on her side, searching a way to pick her up. But the Queen stuck with so many protruding arrows there was no way to grasp her without gouging them in deeper. I grappled, tears burning as I twisted and turned my mother, maneuvering her into my arms. Her blood glared up at me, bright and unforgiving.
“Askca… leave me….” She whispered, begging.
“I won’t let her take you from me.” I scrambled to lift, my bloody hands slipping, fighting my hold.
Warriors scattered the village, hunting, a sea of Amazons in a torrent of chaos. Arrow's busted the marble, clattering like hail stones and I fell back down, bruising my knees, lunging forward to cover Queen Perseathea. With my aching knees slipping in the red puddles below, I palmed my mother’s head in my hands. I didn’t understand. There was no army. There was no Gragore.
Perseathea panted for breath. “Askca….”
"Don‘t die" I muffled into my mother’s shoulder, cleaving to her. “Please don’t die.”
"Askca…" her word was barely above a whisper and choking with pain.
I lifted, looking to my mother, my heart breaking.
She gazed back at me, warmth glassing her eyes. “I love you. I always loved you.”
Another arrow blazed down and Perseathea’s eyes shot wide, her body flinching.
"No…" I begged, “no, no, no….”
Pain suddenly flashed into my back, tensing me to bow up. Warmth spilled down my leg. Another flash and my arm exploded with heat. I shuddered under the assault, holding my mother, protecting her. Willing to die with her. Red. Black. Blood. All pain ravaged me like a wild animal. Draining me…. And I let it. A scorching sting hit my leg and the blue sky of afternoon began to fade. GarTaynia and the madness blurred. The reek of blood overtook the sweet scent of mimosa and pain thundered through me.
I cried out, aching, grunting, fighting. But it was too late. The day dimmed before me. Black. Haze. Black. Blur. The screams and the sunlight faded in and out. Like a dream. A nightmare. I curled my body over my mother’s, holding to the woman. Silence.
High atop the Assembly Hall, Masseeia snickered at the people scattering below, swarming like panicked ants. Slipping back down, she eased into a crouch, a slow grin creeping her lips. Sae-mond crouched next to her, his bow clutched tight under white knuckles, his chest heaving in and out.
“They won’t look for us here?” Sae-mond whispered, his eyes wide.
“No.” Masseeia dropped to sit in the shade of the wall, her own bow tucked under her elbow. “And why are you whispering?”
“But, but…” he stammered, his pale face glazed in sweat, “what if they do? They could find us up here. They could-” Masseeia cupped the young man’s mouth, staring him into silence.
“No one is coming. Got it?”
Sae-mond nodded, wringing his sweaty palms over his bow.
Masseeia dropped her hand, tilting her head back to relax against the wall. She took in a deep and satisfied breath.
“No one can take this moment from me.”
Chapter 78
The day wept, rain misting from an overcast sky, dropping like tears in the dust of GarTaynia. A chill carried in the breeze, cutting a path through the village to where the masses gathered, souls heavy and spirits grieving. Entering her hut, I settled gentle hands on Palius’ shoulders. Without a word she turned to me, hugging into my hip.
My arm, leg, and middle bound in white binds, so my balance wobbled
a bit, but I embraced her all the tighter. Laying a hand over her cheek, I stared out the window, past the procession of mourners and into the green of trees surrounding GarTaynia. The wet trees swayed under a desperate breeze, their leaves dripping tears. Even the wind mourned this day’s silence. A slow wave of people passed by our window, an ocean of grievers, and the sight of them stung my weak heart. I could take no more days like this one. My face pasted pale and covered in a cold sweat. I felt dead… too much love taken from me in this lifetime.
But I knew I had to be strong for Palius. I needed to take care of her. Be there for her. I was her family now. She needed me and truthfully, I needed her. And that’s what Queen Perseathea would want, her two daughters together, at long last. I parted my lips, my mouth as dry as dust, forcing myself to speak without tears.
"We can do this." I told her in a whisper, trying to sound strong. Pulling my sister in close, I lifted a trembling hand to the amulet at my neck.
"Askca, Palius." Hippolyta appeared at our doorway, "it's time."
Chapter 79
Uncountable Amazons floated by, familiar and unfamiliar alike, all suffering under the same sorrow. The Amazons of GarTaynia, Arcania, Eshma, Qkuose, and Naltez streamed past in hallowed reverence. Heads of the Nation; Queens, First Commanders, Commanders, and elders walked together with heads low in respect. The holy circle of shaman priestesses gathered together in the procession to prepare the Queen’s spirit to pass. Behind them trudged warriors and braves, kept by their own silence. They followed the path into center village to where the funeral fires burned.
Laidea. The sight of her made me feel like I had swallowed a ball of ice. As much as my own heart hurt, seeing the torture on Laidea’s face only deepened my pain. I hurt for her, wishing more than anything I could provide her a moment‘s comfort. When we entered, the auburn haired woman stood silent in the middle of the chamber, staring at a door. Behind this door, She rested.
And Laidea had spoken to no one. She held her arms out to her sides as the warriors dressed her for ritual, but she never took her eyes off the door. The warrior women slipped ceremonial leathers over Laidea, stained her skin with the symbols of Queen hood, then brought forth the sacred amulet. It dangled from the unnamed woman’s fingers, her head bowed in reverence. Head still bowed, she raised her arms over Laidea's head, slipping the blood stained talisman around her neck.
Laidea held the smooth green stone in her hand, squeezing it in her palm. She brought the stone to her lips, kissing it as she closed her eyes. Her fingers shook as she rested the stone against her chest. Slipping her old amulet from her neck, Laidea dangled it, staring at it as if it held the answers to all that had happened… to all she had lost. Placing her own amulet over the one hanging at her neck, she took both stones into her hand, begging a closeness to Perseathea as the two amulets cradled in her palm. After the sacred moment, Laidea dropped Perseathea's amulet back to her skin.
“Askca.”
It was the first word Laidea had spoken. I dropped Palius’ hand, stepping toward my new Queen. With tears glassing her eyes, Laidea cradled my cheek in her palm, holding me in a mother’s touch. I swallowed the burning tears in my throat, refusing them, cupping the woman’s hand in my own. After moments of unspoken words, Laidea lifted her old amulet, slipping it over my head. We shared this silence, then I dropped my eyes, stepping back.
Laidea looked to her warriors, her eyes signaling she was now ready. One of the women stepped forward, a clay bowl marked with the insignia of a Queen resting in her hand. As the woman stood before her, Laidea kept her eyes far from the bowl. The warrior before her dipped a hand, bringing out a dark red finger.
I looked away, my heart clenching. The bowl brimmed with Queen Perseathea's blood… the blood of her fall. I instead looked to Palius, who stood staring at her feet, weeping silent tears into the dust.
After Laidea had been properly marked with the blood of a Queen, the two warriors left the hut, leaving the family to the chamber Queen Perseathea had once shared with Laidea. The whisper of rain, along with the weeping from outside, crept into our room. A knock at the door prompted Laidea to smear the single tear from her cheek. Hippolyta cracked the door open. Laidea nodded to her friend, so she opened the door, escorting the four Queens of the Nation into the chamber. Palius and I stood behind Laidea as Hippolyta went to the door behind which Perseathea rested. Pulling the door open, the four Queens followed Hippolyta into the candle lit room.
Laidea and I watched, Palius under my arms, as the four women stepped back into our room, the pallet with Queen Perseathea’s body in their hands. A gasp escaped Palius as Queen Perseathea, our mother, was rested at our feet. I looked away, burying my face in Laidea's shoulder, but Palius stood staring with a stream of unending tears. Laidea held us both, and I could tell she was choking back her own heart.
Queen Perseathea lie with her eyes closed atop a cascade of doe pelts, with violets, sun kissed lilac, and dew covered lilies scattered about her body. The bouquet of wildflowers dotted with summer dandelion and greening leaves. The fragrance of the blossoms mixed with the sweet scent of oils perfuming the Queen's body, tangling with the scent of rain. A beautiful, but tragic moment. It was a scent, and a feeling, I knew I would never forget.
Crimson and pale blue feathers strewn throughout Perseathea's sunset colored hair. Her body dressed in mahogany battle skins, the brash red and yellow symbols of the Queen hood painted proudly on its’ leathers. Atop the leathers lay her heavy chain mail skirt. Her battle scars, along with her fresh wounds; the wounds that brought her death, were painted bright yellow and red to emphasize her great strength. Her mammoth axe lie across her body, her fingers tucked around its’ handle.
And still, it felt as if she would simply wake up. The feeling that this was all a dream, a mistake… refused to leave me. Queen Perseathea, even in death, was still so beautiful.
Chapter 80
A woman's graceful yet haunting voice floated up to the heavens, notes of pure and exquisite anguish. The song of sorrow. My own heart stopped its’ beating as the first note sailed into me, hitting me like a hard fist in my stomach. The four Queens lifted Perseathea’s body, and thus began the slow procession to the fires. Laidea slipped her arms from us, taking her first steps out the door. I looked down to Palius, taking her hand, then forced my heavy feet to follow out into the people. Strangely, I knew their sympathetic stares would burden me, somehow making this moment worse. I wanted to hide from their eyes.
The sky loomed wet and overcast gray. I squinted my puffy eyes against the light, so bright it hurt. The four Amazon Queen's carried Perseathea's body on their shoulders at the forefront. Laidea walked alone behind the body, and I took my place with Palius at the end.
Not a mumble escaped the masses. A wide path opened up through the thousands of mourning Amazons, falling to each side in waves, the people going to one knee. A single drum began to pound alongside the sorrowed song, and the four began their descent. Rose petals began to fall like rain as the host of mourners showered Queen Perseathea and the path that lay ahead with the soft yellows, deep crimson, and pure white petals. Pounding, weeping, raindrops, and the heavyhearted melody filled the rainy day.
Laidea held solid as she walked behind the body of her companion. Her head was held up strong. Her face like stone. She looked to the sad eyes of the women she passed. Every eye brimmed with compassion for her loss, for the Nation's loss. Then, she saw Bartamius. The man stood, his entire middle bound in white linen, his face covered in bruises and cuts, tears turning his eyes red. The two shared a burdened glance of compassion, then Laidea took her eyes away, no longer able to look on him.
Rain misted into Laidea’s auburn hair… and she held on. She walked steady, blocking out the grieving faces. The song, the body in front of her, the daughters behind her. They all had to disappear because if they didn't she would break. So she stared ahead, seeing nothing, allowing herself no thoughts. She tried to keep her eyes from the body a
head, bouncing in motion to the steps of the four women. But her eyes came to forsake her…. Looking on, chasing after Perseathea… her lips still soft. Her beauty still fresh. None of this could be real.
The steps leading up to the funeral fires appeared white and blinding. Flower petals whisked up by the breezes swept across the steps. Large drops fell from the gray above and Queen Perseathea's body began its ascension up the steps.
And sobs rose up, choking Palius. The child tried to stifle them, but they forced through, too powerful, too consuming for her to stop. Under their pressure she broke like a clay jar on marble. Heavy rain drops slid down her cheeks mixing with her hot tears. Her heart drowning. It hurt, the pain suffocating, and she stumbled, unable to stay on her feet.
I scooped her up, carrying the girl as she cried, clinging to me.
The sight that lay ahead… miraculous. A golden blaze crackling in amber glow, whipping the wind, battling the light rain. The rain stood not a moment’s chance against the powerful force of fire. White smoke billowed up from the flames like a heavy fog looming over the GarTaynia, waiting to carry the Queen's soul to the after. The golden glow of funeral flames lit up even the gray of day, illuminating every marble step leading up. The musk of burning wood melded with the sweet aroma of spice and herb. The smells smoldered into an intoxicating incense, rising from the fires to fill the village with the heady scent. This was the funeral flame of a Queen.
I stared ahead, squinting at the bright blaze, Laidea silhouetting against the orange before me like a dream. Heat scorched my cheeks. I stopped on the steps, Palius crying warmth into my wrapped chest. I glanced down to the crowd, my feet begging me to walk back, as if that might change things. But not even thousands of warriors, this sea of women, could change this. There was nowhere to go but to the fire, and I turned back to face it… just in time to watch the four Amazons lift Queen Perseathea’s body to the flame. One last look.
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