FOR THE AMAZON NATION

FOR THE AMAZON

NATION

Paulina Sánchez

Isabel Forga

iUniverse, Inc.

New York Lincoln Shanghai

FOR THE AMAZON NATION

Copyright © 2006 by Isabel Forga Sánchez - Paulina Sánchez Vázquez

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ISBN-13: 978-0-595-40069-0 (pbk)

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Printed in the United States of America

CHAPTER 1

They’re coming.

So much light and so much darkness. All at once…the beginning and the end.

It was a feeling more than a thought for there was no time to think as she ran through the forest carrying life and death in her arms.

Her doom had come along with the night when the mob broke down the temple’s door and searched with anger for their chance to have revenge. She was feeling exhausted from struggling with her mind and soul, trying to find a way to escape the claws of hatred that were getting closer with every second that time stole.

“Get her!”

The echoes of their voices were daggers through her heart. They were not very far, but giving up was not a possibility, even if her path was already destroyed, smashed by the feet of those who had praised her before.

She tripped with the roots of the trees that surrounded her like an army of executioners and seemed to grow taller as her fear became stronger. The air was so thick that her breathing turned heavy and her heartbeat sounded as thunder in her chest. The leaves felt like sharp little razors cutting the edges of her eyes and lips. She was bleeding. She was hurting.

She couldn’t stop.

The night she had lain with Kaneis was only a dream now. As perfect as it had been, it was the symbol of evil and the beginning of chaos. Had she repressed her

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love and desire, he would still be alive and she wouldn’t have raped her sacred oath. Yet, she would never regret having loved at least once in her not long life.

She didn’t want to die but it was not her survival that mattered anymore. It was too late for that. And still, she had a reason, the most important reason to throw herself into the forest on a wild attempt to save the only thing that made her heart keep beating in the middle of such despair.

Running, escaping. How much longer could she resist it?

Keep going, keep going, she repeated inside her mind trying to avoid the temptation of letting herself fall in the dark that surrounded her and wait for the furious fangs of the mob to find her like a pack of wolves. For a moment she could almost feel that idea as a relief and she remembered some of the faces that had looked at her with so much respect in the past. But no! That past was gone now and only scorn was left.

She knew she had to find a place to hide before they caught her, but not a single soul would build a house in the forest. Not with the danger of being attacked by wild fearsome beasts without the chance of getting aide in case of need, given that the nearest village was one moon away.

Nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide.

Who could be out there to help her? Not even her goddess, to whom she had dedicated her life and youth completely until…oh, no! She didn’t want to remember, the pain was already too intense to bear such an image. Nothing was out there for her now, only fear and emptiness…and her treasure, yes, her treasure to protect.

Closing her eyes to the sharp little branches she focused on the impossible effort of keeping ahead, always ahead, until suddenly she could distinguish, through her lids, some light, the light that meant hope for her agonizing heart.

She opened her eyes and a blessed sight stood before her. How much had she longed to find shelter after fleeing away for hours! Perhaps there she could find someone who would help her. Maybe they would save her, or maybe…they

would know all about her and kill her the minute she trespassed their property.

Against all odds, she finally made up her mind and ran toward her only chance of safety. As she got closer to the tall imposing building, she prayed that whatever destiny had prepared for her, at least it didn’t mean the death of that who was free of crime. The time had come to face her fate. She couldn’t avoid it nor try to fight it. It had to be.

Once she reached the large structure, she started to go up the few steps leading to the entrance. It was obviously not a humble house because the thread of light coming from inside allowed her to see artistic details carved on the wooden Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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doors. She didn’t hesitate and knocked with all the strength she had left, but nothing happened. Neither a sound nor a voice inside. She didn’t have much time, therefore, she decided to push the doors and go in. They were really heavy, but she finally managed to open them a little and entered the mysterious house with the expectation of getting help as well as the fear of encountering the end.

However, once she was inside, she found herself standing in solitude in a cryptic hall slightly lightened by candles.

This is not a person’s home, she realized. It was full of amazing paintings and statues showing events and images associated with the different gods that she was quite familiar with. There was no doubt: it was a temple. As she walked through the aisle that led to the sacrificial stone, she wondered if the deity that was praised there would be one that favoured her or not.

She looked around trying to find a symbol or sculpture that would help her recognize whose temple it was, but the dim light produced by the candles and the moonlight that came through the windows were not enough to clear her sight.

“Mythera,” whispered a voice that seemed to come not from a human being but from the walls of the temple.

“Mythera!” she heard her name again, this time pronounced with a firm

female voice.

“Traitor! How dare you profane my temple?”

She could barely see through the penumbra, and so she couldn’t distinguish where the voice was coming from. An intense fear possessed her in that moment, which together with the weakness of her long escape through the woods, prevented her from finding any answer. She just kept silent, as if waiting for a final judgement that could only mean death.

A chill ran through her skin and it finally became unbearable when she reached the sacrificial stone and saw, right above it, a painting of the goddess whose temple she had entered.

“Artemis…” The word came out of her lips as a sentence of damnation. She grew pale as a winter sunset and felt her legs not being able to hold her any longer. She couldn’t run nor scream. She just stood there frozen as a lifeless sculpture knowing that she would live no more.

As she thought about her imminent misfortune, she sensed a presence behind her. She turned in dismay and saw the magnificent figure that she immediately recognized as Artemis, the virgin goddess of the moon, the brave hunter and mother of the Amazons. She was an awesome sight, like all deities are. Her thin figure made her look even taller than she already was. She had chestnut colored eyes that reflected her wisdom and her strong courageous temper. Her hair, fall-Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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ing elegantly above her waist, matched the color of her piercing eyes. And in her forehead’s center, she wore the symbol of her favourite prey: the deer. It was engraved on a golden trinket tied to her head with a leather strap. She was dressed in a saffron tunic above her knees with a red girdle that surrounded her waist and crossed her chest and back. It held the scabbard in which she carried her arrows and with her left hand she was holding her bow.

“You! Unfaithful woman! Disloyal to me and to your goddess Hestia! How dare you come into my temple after disgracing the noble sisterhood of Hestian priestesses with your crime? You are a shame to those who swear to cherish and defend chastity against all earthly pleasures. It’s time for you to pay!”

Artemis grabbed an arrow and skilfully prepared it in order to kill the terrorized woman. She aimed at Mythera’s heart and just as she was about to execute the deadly sentence, the priestess fell on her knees trembling but still protecting the precious bulk that she had been carrying in her arms with so much care. She felt the goddess approaching her threateningly and didn’t dare to raise her head to meet Artemis’s eyes. She just opened the blanket she had kept pressed against her chest to show a baby’s face. Then, offering the child to the goddess, she managed to speak:

“Almighty, please! Have mercy!”

“Mercy?! You let Kanei’s filthy touch deprive you from your virginity and purity, and now you want mercy? What mercy can you deserve?”

“None. But my child is not to be blamed for what I did.”

Artemis did not move but her voice sounded more furious this time:

“Your child is the product of a woman’s lack of will power! It must not live to see another day for it’s an insult to all those who you betrayed.”

Mythera embraced her baby tightly in order to protect her from the goddess’s rage, but Artemis ordered:

“Raise your head and face your death.”

The priestess obeyed and directed her sight to the threatening archer again.

The deep terror she felt paralysed her throat and she couldn’t stop the tears that had built within her eyes from coming down her face. Helplessness possessed her and all that she had been in her past died inside her at that moment, even if her heart kept beating against her desire to stop breathing in this world. With a last desperate gesture to save her daughter, she offered her to the goddess one more time. Then she closed her eyes awaiting the mortal tip of the arrow. However, it was Artemis’s voice what pierced her senses instead.

“That child!”

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The goddess leaned forward to have a closer look at the baby and then she stepped back quickly, her face expressing inexplicable amazement. Mythera hadn’t expected that reaction and as a consequence, she was confused and startled at the same time.

“It can’t be,” Artemis muttered showing great astonishment on her face.

Mythera didn’t say a word. She just looked at her fixedly trying to understand what was going on.

“This child is…her eyes are…it’s not possible.”

The priestess stared in awe as Artemis put the arrow she was aiming at them a few moments before back in her scabbard. The goddess stayed silent for a moment and then she said:

“Mythera, the gods have favored you this time. I shall not kill your child.”

The former priestess felt relieved, although she couldn’t comprehend this change. But she wouldn’t ask a thing being too scared to make the goddess angry again. She just looked down without holding her cry. She grabbed Artemis’s tunic with her left hand and kissed it as a sign of gratefulness.

“Don’t thank me,” Artemis said. “It was destiny that saved her, not me.”

“Destiny?” Mythera murmured.

“Yes. Your child has the eyes of the Chosen One. One is deep green like the ocean waters that she’ll have to sail in search for salvation, and the other one is grey like the color of a warrior’s sword, a sword that she’ll carry in battle to lead the Amazon Nation to its destiny.”

Mythera was too impressed to say anything. She looked at her child and then back at the goddess, who now reached out to take the baby from her mother’s arms.

“I shall keep this child and protect her as my own,” she stated. “And as for you, Mythera, I know now that you were a puppet of fate to bring this child into the world. Nevertheless, you are still not welcome in my temple for you’ve been stained by a man. I banish you from my domains for as long as you walk this Earth.”

The priestess stood up looking at the doors through which they could hear the voices of the raging Hestian followers gathered outside.

“Fear not. Go through that door at the back of the temple and I shall stop them.”

Mythera looked at her child knowing that she had to give her up for her own sake. It was too painful. It had all happened too fast.

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“Goodbye, my sweet baby. I will never forget you,” she said as her eyes started crying again along with her broken soul. “I love you.” And she kissed her one last time.

“Go now,” Artemis commanded. “And never return.”

Mythera walked away and with the sound of the door being closed behind her she opened her spirit to all the pain that would haunt her deeply for the rest of her life.

Artemis hid the child behind the sacrificial stone and then she advanced with powerful steps toward her temple’s entrance. She only made a short pause before confronting the mob, and smiled.

Thalassa is born, she thought.

CHAPTER 2

Palene saw the sword coming toward her but didn’t have time to avoid the blow.

“Ouch!” she complained when it hit her shoulder.

The air felt thick that morning and the usual training had been a little heavier.

Even the wooden swords felt like real ones in the hands of the young Amazons.

“You have to move faster,” Zelei said trying to organize her movements in a more skilful way.

The combat started again and the wooden swords created a clapping sound as they were struck against each other with strength.

“Jrisa!” Zelei attacked using the war cry that was so familiar to all of them, but this time, Palene managed to elude the blow with a nimble leap and complained:

“Come on, who do you want to impress with that? You are not the great

Thalassa.”

“You know? Thalassa taught me her special attack the other day. Do you want to see it?”

Zelei changed the sword to her left hand and used it to strike Palene on the right side of her neck. Then, she turned around her, back to back, and as she was standing behind her, she hit her on the left side.

“That’s not how it goes,” Palene said. “First of all that move is not for a sword combat, it’s for a chobos fight, and second, when you’re standing behind me, you’re supposed to hit me first with your left hand on the right side of my neck and then with your right hand on the left side. You have to think that…”

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“…that you’re drawing an “x” in the air,” Thalassa interrupted and surprised the two girls who hadn’t noticed her presence.

Palene’s eyes opened widely when she saw the awesome golden warrior

advancing toward them and grabbing their swords.

“Jrisa!” they heard the original cry that had become so famous among the young learners. One second after, Zelei had her back on the ground.

“You see? That’s how it’s done,” Thalassa said helping her up. “Oh, and one more thing: you have to be more aggressive if you’re going to use a war cry.”

Some of the other Amazons on training had gathered around them to see

Thalassa’s expertise once again. They stared in awe at her strong and fast movements and then they continued with their exercises, but this time with more energy, trying to imitate the warrior’s style.

The training was very hard and demanding for every member of the tribe. The ones with more experience in battle tried to improve their horse riding abilities day by day. Amazons were splendid riders from an early age. They were able to stand up and hit an enemy at full gallop or even jump from one horse to another.

They also endeavoured to have a perfect command in the use of all the possible fighting instruments at their disposal. Amazons were trained in different sorts of weapon use since childhood, and so, young girls like Zelei and Palene had already acquired important skills in sword fighting, the use of chobos, staffs, sais, bows and arrows and hand-to-hand attacks. However, it was not until young adult-hood that they were allowed to fight in a real battle. This was because they didn’t need to prove just their fighting level, but also their mental and spiritual maturity as warriors.

When an Amazon was considered apt to become a warrior, she was conducted through an initiation ceremony in order to bless her weapons of choice by submerging them into a caldron filled with a deer’s blood. This act symbolized the power to shed every enemy’s vital fluid without ever having to face defeat. Then, the warrior-to-be had to endure several days of thirst and hunger in order to prove her resistance to the body’s needs, and finally, she was put to test in different fighting events in which she had to demonstrate her skills in using different weapons. At the end, she was awarded with a small tattoo designed with an animal that was chosen by the tribe’s priestess according to the young Amazon’s temper and abilities. With this, the Amazon was declared a warrior for the rest of her life. Even when they got to an age in which they were no longer able to carry a weapon, they were still very helpful to the younger warriors with their advice and wisdom.

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Thalassa was watching the girls and helping them improve their techniques.

She felt proud of them because she could see how much they had learned since the first time they stood on that training ground.

“Thalassa,” Jerma interrupted the golden warrior’s thoughts and woke her from her daydreams with her low-pitched voice. “Queen Guinais wants to have a word with you immediately.”

“Where is she?”

“She said she’ll meet you in her hut.”

Thalassa nodded.

“Thanks, Jerma, I’ll be there right away. Stay with the girls, all right? They could use a piece of advice regarding your attacking techniques.”

“All right, Thalassa. Girls! Grab a staff and form a line in front of me. I want to teach you something.”

Thalassa started walking toward the queen’s hut with that decisiveness that was so particular about her. All Amazons in general were taught to walk in a firm way, keeping their look ahead and without hesitation, but Thalassa did it with strength and softness at the same time. Her fierce eyes and powerful steps made everybody get out of her way as soon as they noticed her. Yet, she moved in a silent way and by so doing she was able to hear any person or animal approaching her from any angle.

The queen’s hut was located at the center of the village. All the Amazons’ huts were built around it in order to protect it and as a sign of respect for their guide and ruler. It was the second biggest building in the village after the main hut, and it was guarded by two of the fiercest warriors just as the priestess’s hut and Artemis’s altar.

The queen was supervising the perfect state of her clothes and ornaments for the Full Moon Ceremony when Thalassa pushed the hut’s door and went in.

“Queen Guinais?” she called but received no answer. “Mother?” she asked.

“Thalassa, come in,” a voice finally answered from inside the hut. As soon as the golden warrior heard it, she saluted the queen in the traditional Amazon way: by crossing her arms in the form of an “x” at chest height.

“My Queen and mother, you sent for me.”

Queen Guinais was a strong looking woman. Her height was not that of a very tall Amazon, but her manners and way of speaking surely demonstrated her power and wisdom. She had ruled the tribe of Lemnos for twenty years and she had won more battles than most warriors fight in a lifetime. She was standing near an amazing crest of shiny colored feathers coming from a golden diadem.

“Is everything ready for tonight’s ceremony?”

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“Yes, my Queen, don’t worry about anything. Everyone knows what to do

and the young girls are quite excited about it.”

“Excited?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thalassa, the Full Moon Ceremony is certainly something to be excited about, but above all, it is an event that must be seen and lived with profound respect and seriousness. If I put you in charge of the girls, it was because I know how much they look up to you and listen to you, so please, before the ceremony starts, gather them in the main hut and explain this to them.”

“Yes, mother, I will.”

“I don’t want any mistakes.” The queen walked closer to Thalassa. “Please keep an eye on the young Amazons’ rehearsal of ritual dances and their body paintings. I’m sure you remember what a mess they made on our last ceremony,”

she said with a chuckle at the funny memory.

“As you wish my Queen. Is there anything else you need me for?”

The queen smiled at her. “I count on you as usual. You may go now.”

Thalassa saluted her queen one more time crossing her arms in front of her chest and left the hut without a word and without giving her back to the mother who deserved all her respect.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

By nightfall, all the Amazon tribe had gathered at the seashore. The weather was too cold for the season but everything was ready for the ceremony. The moon was full round symbolizing the power of the great Artemis to whom many rituals were going to be addressed. It had been difficult to keep the bonfire burning because the wind was blowing a little more violently than they wished. Nothing could prevent the Amazons from carrying out their respective full-moon duties, though.

They were all perfectly dressed and ready for the occasion. Their leather garments had been adorned with bright colored feathers and their skin was painted with different body designs that included symbols of power, courage and bravery in war. The queen’s designs were particularly important because they represented the battles she had won against their enemies. They had beautiful images that reminded of a prosperous Amazon Nation. It had existed in the past, but it had begun to fade due to several warlords’ invasions that had come from different lands, known and unknown.

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Queen Guinais was sitting on a reed ceremonial chair that only she, the highest ranked Amazon in command, could occupy. She would remain seated until the end of the introductory dance performed by the younger members of the tribe. She was wearing the feathers crest on her head now, which gave her a very distinctive look.

Some of the women were in charge of performing the ritual dance around the bonfire. It was a dance of spiritualism and physical significance; it was full of combat movements and war cries, and the Amazons who participated in it entered a state of ecstasy in which they fused their souls with those of their ancestors, or in the case of the Full Moon Ceremony, with that of the moon.

Another group of Amazons played drums of different sizes and shapes. They guided the dancers with their powerful rhythmic pounding and were not to stop the music until they received the priestess’s order.

Zarpa, the high priestess, was standing at the queen’s left side, dressed in a deer’s skin that covered most of her body and head. She had an earnest cold look in her dark eyes. Even though her duties were not those of a warrior or a ruler, her advice and predictions were to be taken seriously because she had been chosen by Artemis to share her ability to foresee the future. She was also in charge of guiding the Full Moon Ceremony in which she conducted the ritual sacrifice: she decapitated a deer in order for the members of the tribe to receive Artemis’s blessing through the moonlight.

At the queen’s right side, as it was usual in this kind of ceremonies, everybody could see Thalassa, the great warrior and Amazon princess, in her best outfit. She was also wearing a feathers crest although smaller than the queen’s. It allowed her light brown hair to be seen falling on her golden tanned shoulders. Some more feathers of different colors were tied around her neck forming a necklace, and her arms showed several silver and leather bracelets.

The big bonfire in front of them started to be surrounded by young dancers.

They were ready for the ceremony to begin. As the music started, they presented a very well prepared choreography that Thalassa had rehearsed with them a few hours before. Once it was over, the queen stood up and waved her hand inviting the priestess to proceed with the sacrifice.

“Artemis!” Zarpa shouted. “May the power of your mighty arrows bless the Amazons of Lemnos on this night of full moon! May your sword protect us from those of our enemies, and may the Amazon Nation live forever in all the lands of your domains!”

After saying this prayer, Zarpa took a sword and raised it as Princess Thalassa brought a deer to her side.

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“Amazons!” the priestess cried out as she dropped her arm shedding the blood of the sacrificial prey.

All the Amazons howled in response and their voices filled the air as a single loud cry of life. The drumming started again and with it, the dancers’ shadows were drawn on the sand as the bonfire’s light illuminated the scene.

Queen Guinais observed everything. She felt proud of her tribe and she hoped that none of its members ever got to see the end of their nation. No, she would never allow it for as long as she lived, and she knew she had trained Thalassa well enough to be a wise ruler when the time came. But now she just needed the ceremony to be carried out with perfection, just as it had been planned. So far, everything was going well.

The images, the voices and the music, all combined to form a beautiful tapestry of art, religion and war. Each member of the tribe was dedicating all her strength and concentration to the important event that would allow them to participate of Artemis’s grace. They were possessed in such a way by their spiritual connection with their ancestors, that none of them noticed the changes in the vault of stars above them.

The ecstatic dance of the expert warriors was almost at its climax and all the Amazons fell on their knees raising their arms toward the sky. Only Queen Guinais remained standing also invoking with her arms the powerful Artemis in the form of that white full moon.

The strong wind that nearly extinguished the bonfire was at first taken as a mere response from the goddess, until thick black clouds covered the night completely. The sudden darkening of the white beams representative of Artemis’s greatness disconcerted the women that stayed paralysed for a few seconds. As if some strange force had cast a spell on them, they stopped the music and dances.

Then, the sound of strenuous thunder deafened them. Rain started to fall heavily on the fire creating chaos among the members of the tribe whose sacred ceremony had been so abruptly interrupted.

A storm was most definitely uncommon during that season, particularly one that had started with such violence. Everything fell silent except for the sky. It was roaring as it poured on the island of Lemnos. Lightning was striking very close to the shore. Even some trees were lit on fire and this caused commotion among the younger Amazons.

Zarpa was the first to react:

“Great Artemis! What is the meaning of this sign of your immense power?”

she cried still kneeling with her hands raised to the darkened sky. “Haven’t we honored you correctly on this ceremonial night?”

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The wind and rain became stronger after her words putting out the fire completely and infuriating the sea with its threatening waves.

“This is not a storm,” Zarpa continued, “it is a sign of damnation. Bad news are approaching the shores of Lemnos. Tonight we must all stay together and pray for Artemis’s protection.” And then she faced Queen Guinais. “This is a bad omen,” she warned. “Save them.”

Then it was Queen Guinais who spoke:

“Amazons! Run to the main hut and await there further orders. Don’t let anyone come out. The rage of the night endangers us!”

The efforts to try to light up a torch were totally vain and only their instinct could guide them back to the village. Thalassa’s voice broke the darkness and everybody could hear it in spite of the uproar created by the storm and the confused voices of the young Amazons.

“Don’t rely on your eyes, walk behind me! Simmaho!” she cried with all her strength.

All the Amazons were familiar with the meaning of this word that com-

manded them to gather in one single and impenetrable group, and so, they obeyed.

“Simmaho!” she shouted once again and kept doing it while she walked

through the night with the tribe after her, having understood perfectly the orders given by their princess.

In that way they reached the village in a short time and gathered in the main hut, where they could finally light up some torches and a fire to see their scared faces before such violent forces of nature. The younger women got together in small groups trying to comfort each other with words of encouragement but knowing that all of them were feeling afraid. The older Amazons were silent.

They wanted to show mildness but they were aware of the dangers that night had brought. Even Thalassa, the brave warrior, felt uncertainty building inside herself.

They could hear the wind blowing against the weak wooden walls while trying to warm up and dry close to the bonfire.

Queen Guinais and Priestess Zarpa were the last ones to enter the hut to make sure that no one had stayed behind and all the members of the tribe were there.

“I think everyone is safe,” the queen told Thalassa as soon as she closed the door behind her.

The princess nodded but the worry was obvious in her expressive eyes. Who could be safe in such a situation? Their huts were not prepared to resist the ravag-Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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ing strength of nature sent by the gods. The battle was uneven, especially because they didn’t exactly know what they were facing…or why.

After a while, the Amazons started to calm down and just sat around the main hut waiting for the storm to end. Only Zarpa and Queen Guinais remained standing and kept their minds fixed on the meaning of the priestess’s prediction.

They were all trying to organize their ideas while also fighting the fear inside themselves when a young voice suddenly interrupted their thoughts as well as the deafening roar of the tempest.

“Where is Zelei?”

All the eyes turned to Palene and just by the expression on the girl’s face, Thalassa knew something was wrong. Then she asked:

“What are you talking about?”

“I haven’t seen Zelei since all the confusion started back on the beach. We were sitting together during the ceremony but when everyone started running, I lost her.”

They all looked around searching for the missing Amazon but nobody could see her. Thalassa got on her feet and started walking inside the hut analyzing the familiar faces of her sister Amazons and hoping to find Zelei’s among them.

“She’s not here,” Thalassa said turning to her queen and awaiting her consent.

There was a brief silence before she received an answer. Queen Guinais knew the risk her daughter would take, but she also knew that a young Amazon’s life could be lost if no one went to look for her.

“Go,” the queen finally ordered. “But keep your eyes open. I want to save a life, not lose two.”

“One moment!” Zarpa’s voice stopped Thalassa before she left the room. “We don’t know what we’re up against, or what you could be facing out there. This tempest on a full moon night is the sign of something still unknown.”

The golden warrior stared at her with her deep eyes:

“We can’t abandon our sister!”

“No,” Zarpa continued, “but we should prepare a search group.”

“There’s no time for that and we’ll risk losing more sisters in this chaos.”

“Thalassa knows this island eyes closed,” Queen Guinais interrupted. “Go and bring her back.”

The queen’s orders were respected without further discussion. Thalassa nodded. A second later, she was gone.

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Still unable to light up a torch, the princess advanced through the shadows with amazing decisiveness. She couldn’t see through the thick wall of trees standing ahead of her, so she had to trust her good memory in order to remember the way through which she had guided the Amazons before.

“Zelei!” she shouted from time to time with all the strength of her lungs.

No answer.

She continued through the thicket but each step became more difficult than the previous one since the rain had turned the dirt into mud that trapped her steps. However, she kept walking all the way back to the sea with the cold water running down her skin but knowing exactly where she was placing her feet.

“Zelei!” she shouted again.

This time there was a faint response that seemed to come from a distant place.

“Thalassa!”

The golden warrior’s senses sharpened in an attempt to identify the voice’s source.

“Zelei! Where are you?!”

“I’m here!”

This time Thalassa recognized the origin of the girl’s cry and started advancing toward it. Her movements were slow because of the mud, but she was determined not to give up until she found her.

“Zelei! Keep shouting so I can follow your voice!”

“I’m here, Princess!”

“I can hear you closer now, don’t be afraid!”

The golden warrior hurried toward the bushes from which the girl’s voice was coming. Zelei was trembling with fear and cold when she finally stretched out her arm and took the young Amazon’s hand in hers.

“Are you all right?”

Zelei answered with faltering words:

“I got lost…I was running behind you but…the rain…and the dark…and I

couldn’t catch up…”

“It’s all right now. Come on, we’ve got to go back to the hut, everyone’s worried about you. Stay close to me. Some roots and branches are treacherous.”

The warrior helped the girl up and they both headed for the hut hand in hand.

The storm refused to cease. Instead, it seemed to become stronger, more threatening. The village was not far, but only Thalassa’s intuition and the danger-Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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ous lightning that opened the sky constantly could help them find their way back, a short way that looked, however, endless.

“Wait, did you hear that?” Thalassa suddenly halted.

“What? Thunder?” Zelei asked innocently.

The golden warrior didn’t answer, she just stood there listening.

“No, that.”

This time Zelei heard the noise as well. It seemed to be the sound of branches cracking, steps on the mud, heavy breathing…trouble.

Thalassa immediately pulled Zelei behind her. She would protect her from whatever beast was approaching them, although she didn’t have her sword with her. Chances of her taking on a powerful opponent were small.

Suddenly, lightning stroke nearby. It illuminated the scene completely allowing the Amazon to see what she was prepared to fight with. Something was lying on the muddy ground. At first sight, she took it for a dead animal, hopefully not a deer which would be one more disturbing sign at such night. As they

approached it, they realized it was no beast. It was no animal. It was no enemy…It was a woman.

Thalassa recognized her as a sister Amazon because of the clothes she was wearing. Nevertheless, she knew she didn’t belong to the tribe of Lemnos.

The Amazon Princess hurried to kneel by her side and when lightning stroke again, she noticed the woman was injured. She couldn’t see very clearly but she touched her neck to find out if she was alive. Her duty as a fellow Amazon was to help other sisters in case of need, even if they didn’t belong to her tribe. So, she did.

“Zelei, she needs help. I need to take her to the main hut. I won’t be able to hold your hand for the rest of the way, so stay close. I don’t want you to get lost again.”

After saying that, Thalassa pulled the warrior up with her strong hands and passed the woman’s arms around her neck, who seeing herself suddenly helped out, started walking weakly toward wherever she was taken.

“Come on, try to walk leaning on me. I’ll get you to safety.”

The village was not far from where Thalassa had found the Amazon, but the mud made it so difficult for her to walk with an injured woman, that it seemed like hours before they reached their shelter.

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The door opened and everyone turned to find three sisters entering the main hut. Two of them were familiar faces, the other one was a stranger.

The younger Amazons ran to greet Zelei and they cheered the golden warrior for bringing her back safe. Queen Guinais and Priestess Zarpa also went to the door and sent the girls away to see what was going on with the stranger.

“We found her lying outside the village,” Thalassa stated. “I don’t know how or why she was out there, but she needs help.”

They could all see that she belonged to a different tribe, probably from the north, according to her clothes. Her hair was dark and dirty with rain and mud but her complexion was white and particularly pale at the present circumstances.

The queen helped her daughter lay the stranger on a comfortable skin for there was no other place to accommodate her in the hut. As they laid her there, she opened her eyes to meet Thalassa’s. Then, she tried to speak with noticeable difficulty, and what she said froze the tribe’s hearts:

“The Amazon Nation…is close to an end.”

CHAPTER 3

White beams caressed Thalassa’s eyelids waking her up. She blinked twice before she could get used to the light coming from the window. Her memories of what had happened the previous night seemed like a dream, a nightmare created by her vivid imagination but never real, never true. However, she knew that the storm that had almost torn her village into pieces had been as real as the rays of light illuminating her hut.

That morning, she realized, all the Amazons were very quiet. Usually, there was always a fuss by that time, but that day something was different. Probably, they didn’t want to come out of their huts until Zarpa ordered them to do so, or maybe, they were still resting after not being allowed to sleep during the night because of the storm and the mysterious appearance of the foreign Amazon.

The Amazon…

Thalassa’s eyebrows tensed as she thought about the stranger’s presence and her words. What did she mean? Where did she come from, and why? After a moment of reflection, the golden warrior quickly jumped out of her hammock. She put on her Amazon Princess’s garment and walked out heading directly toward the hut where they were nursing the unknown warrior.

The moment she opened the door, she noticed the delicate form of a woman’s body before her eyes. The Amazon was lying on a hammock and good care was being taken of her by orders of Queen Guinais.

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She must come from a northern tribe, Thalassa thought as she examined the leather clothing that the woman was wearing. The details and symbols sewn to it were quite similar to the ones she wore herself. Yet, her clothes were made for a colder weather than that of Lemnos. The golden warrior could also notice that she came from a different tribe because even though her skin was reddened by sunburn, it was clearly white as the ocean’s foam in contrast with Thalassa’s tanned body.

Then, their eyes met.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Light. After so much darkness, the sunlight filtering through the half-open window lay on her eyelids like the most natural thing, waking her up. Pain was the first feeling that invaded her senses and she opened her eyes to find herself in a strange place. Her memories were not completely clear yet, but the light and the peaceful singing of the birds coming from outside were quite comforting. She looked around the hut where she was lying in some kind of hammock. It was similar to the huts that she knew but there was something that made it different, even the decorations with colorful motifs on the walls were not common for an Amazon from Aretias; and the woman that she noticed sitting close to the entrance was wearing a strange outfit that let her legs and her stomach naked.

Then, everything came back to her in a flash. South. She was south. She had made it through the storm.

The Amazon watching her had gotten up seeing her awake and was coming

toward her when the door opened allowing somebody inside. Her view was still a little blurry and her eyes blinked trying to see the woman that had just come in.

It was obviously an Amazon warrior and her leather clothes were more sophisti-cated than the ones of the guard standing next to her, although revealing her muscular legs and abdomen too. She was not extremely tall but her appearance was somehow magnificent with wavy light-brown hair falling on her shoulders, which were, like the rest of her skin, tanned in a very particular shade that made her look kind of golden.

Then, their eyes met.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Thalassa lost herself completely in that warm look that gazed back at her tiredly and profoundly at the same time. The stranger was also captivated by Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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Thalassa’s eyes. She had never seen eyes like those that melted two different colors in a single powerful look. After a moment of visual enchantment, the woman’s chestnut eyes closed and Thalassa turned to the guard.

“How is she? Did she talk?”

“She’s just waking up, my Princess, and didn’t say anything yet. Her wounds are not serious, but she has some bad scratches and is quite dehydrated.”

“All right, leave me alone with her,” Thalassa ordered.

Once the guard left, she got closer to the hammock where the stranger had opened her eyes again and was looking weakly at her.

“How are you feeling?”

“As if I had gone to Tartarus and back,” the Amazon answered with a faint smile on her face.

“You are safe here. My name is Thalassa. I am the princess of this tribe.”

“Am I in Lemnos?”

“That’s right.”

“I…I made it,” she said half to herself and half to the impressive warrior before her.

“Feel welcome to stay with us for as long as you wish.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

“Call me Thalassa, and don’t thank me, you know that every Amazon is

always welcome in her sisters’ tribes.”

“I know, but I mean thank you for saving me last night.”

Thalassa stayed silent at these last words not knowing what to answer. She simply nodded and said:

“Tell me who you are.”

“My name is Elephthera,” she said with a hoarse voice. Then she cleared her throat and went on. “I’m from the tribe of Aretias. I came here because…” she interrupted herself for a moment as a ray of pain hit her when she tried to rise to a sitting position. Thalassa helped her find a comfortable spot in which she didn’t hurt herself. “I came here because Aretias has already been at war for two moons.”

“Against whom?”

“The Sarmatians. They’re attacking my homeland and killing every Amazon in it.” Then she stopped at the terrible thought of losing all her sisters and turned her eyes to the open window.

“The Sarmatians?” Thalassa asked attracting her attention again. “Can you tell me more about it?”

“I ignore the reason why they chose us as targets. They’ve never before been known as Amazons’ enemies, but one day they anchored on the shores of Aretias Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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and started a war that hasn’t stopped since. We’ve already lost many sisters in battle but, as far as I know, my tribe is still holding on. The problem is, I don’t know for how long. Maybe they’re all dead by now.”

Elephthera swallowed and continued still with a hoarse voice:

“We were sent here by Queen Xanthia to warn you and ask for your help. She believes that if the Sarmatians want to end the Amazon Nation, they are coming for you next.”

“We? Where is the rest of the party you set sail with?”

“They died. Three of us were sent, but we planned the journey with such a rush that we didn’t have time to bring with us enough food or water supplies.

Besides, we are not used to the southern sun and, as you can see,” she passed her hands through her burnt skin, “our bodies can’t take its killing rays. One of my sisters died of dehydration halfway to this island, and the other…last night, when we were close to the shores of Lemnos and the storm started, lightning struck on our ship’s deck and it broke the vessel into two. It all happened too fast. I only remember the pieces of wood flying around and her hand reaching out for me. I couldn’t save her. I managed to swim to the coast and I don’t remember much after that.”

As she said this, she looked down in mere reflex of the sadness she had inside her.

Thalassa had been paying close attention to Elephthera’s words. She knew now the meaning of Zarpa’s prediction and she was completely aware that important decisions would need to be made in relation to this dangerous matter.

“Don’t worry now. Try to rest, but you have to tell me more about the Sarmatians and what is exactly happening in Aretias. I’m going to inform my queen and Priestess Zarpa and then we’ll come back to you. In the meantime, try to sleep.”

Elephthera closed her eyes one more time and the golden warrior examined her arms and legs full of scratches and burned by the sun, but obviously strong and used to fighting.

Brave warrior, she thought and touched the Amazon’s shoulder as an expression of understanding. Then, she left the room with her fast powerful steps.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“Sarmatians!” Queen Guinais exclaimed hitting the arm of her throne with her fist. “Why should they attack the Amazons? They never did before.”

Thalassa and Priestess Zarpa remained silent while the queen got up from her chair and started walking around the royal hut.

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“Sarmatians are known for their desires of territorial possessions but they have always wanted to conquer the most powerful reigns. Amazon islands should mean nothing to them compared to their main target.” Zarpa commented aloud, though giving the impression that she was saying it to herself.

“Which is their main target?” Thalassa asked.

“Greece,” Queen Guinais and Zarpa answered in unison. Then, the queen

asked:

“Did she give you any more details?”

“Not yet. She’s still very weak, but I told her we would go back to her later.”

“I think we should get more information from her,” Zarpa suggested.

“I don’t believe she knows much more than what she’s already told me. She sounded quite disconcerted too.”

They fell silent again until Thalassa startled the other two women with an unexpected interruption of their thoughts.

“I got it! I know why the Sarmatians are attacking us.”

She walked closer to where Zarpa and Queen Guinais were and stated:

“They want Greece.”

“We know, we’ve already said so,” the queen said disappointed at the words that hadn’t answered her questions.

“No, I mean that their target is Greece and there is no better way to conquer it than having strategic places from which they can start their attacks. That’s why they want Amazon islands.”

“You’re right, Thalassa,” Zarpa said agreeing with the princess’s theory.

“Islands like Aretias and Lemnos are very convenient strategic lands for a nation that intended a bigger conquest.”

“Besides,” Queen Guinais added, “our conflictive relationship with the Greeks is no secret and everybody knows we are alone to face any enemy.”

After a brief moment, she continued:

“Whatever their reasons may be, our main concern now is to take immediate action, we must plan our defense. No savages are going to steal our lands and kill our sisters without a fight.”

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

She didn’t know how many hours she had been lying on that hammock when she woke up. There was still some light coming from outside, and so she figured it was the same day. The Amazon in charge of nursing her was still sitting near the door cleaning some weapons in a very smooth and skillful way. Elephthera Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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could feel the pain of her numerous little wounds torturing her as well as her skin burning terribly. She also knew her body temperature was probably higher than normal but she couldn’t stay there any longer without knowing what was going on or if she had succeeded in getting the help she needed for her tribe.

She was about to try and get up when the door opened again and the Amazon with golden skin came in. Just as she had felt before, she was quite intimidated by Thalassa’s presence at the hut’s entrance. She’s the princess of this tribe, she remembered.

This time, Thalassa didn’t need to order the guard to go out because as soon as she entered the hut, the warrior saluted her and walked out leaving her alone with the northern Amazon.

“How are you feeling?” Thalassa asked as she walked toward the hammock where the wounded woman was lying awake.

“Still weak, Princess, but that doesn’t matter now. Something needs to be done soon,” Elephthera answered trying to sit up.

“We know, my queen has made a decision about our situation. I come to

inform you about it. She will divide the tribe’s warriors in three groups. The first group will stay here to protect Lemnos and it will be commanded by herself. The second group will travel to Aretias in order to provide weapons and fighting elements to your tribe. Obviously, you will be in charge of that group. Finally, a small party of…”

“You can’t send me back to Aretias,” Elephthera interrupted. “I have a mission to accomplish and I will not give up now that I’m here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m very grateful for your queen’s fast decisions, but Queen Xanthia gave me clear orders to get help from every possible Amazon tribe, not only of Lemnos. I won’t fail to do what she told me to.”

Thalassa didn’t answer for a moment. She had not expected the Amazon to reject Queen Guinais’s orders, but at the same time she knew she could not ask Elephthera to disobey her own queen. She saw the firm decision in her eyes and admired her courage and loyalty.

“I guess that you’re going with me, then,” she said without showing any dis-content at the thought of it. “A small party will go on a mission to seek the help of Fezzan, the Amazon tribe in the African desert. I will be in charge of that group.”

“Good,” she answered in a firm cold way that irritated Thalassa.

“Do you realize how dangerous this journey is going to be?”

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“Yes, of course, but I’m going under the command of the bravest warrior of this tribe, isn’t that right?” Elephthera said this with a challenging smile on her face.

Thalassa felt somewhat annoyed by the Amazon’s words, but at the same time, she was flattered.

“All right, Elephthera, listen carefully: with the second sunrise from now we will set sail to unknown lands. I can’t risk wasting time or supplies with an injured Amazon on the ship, so you’ll have to heal fast if you really want to come with me.”

“Don’t worry, Princess, I heal as fast as a demigod. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

“I’m counting on it.”

The golden warrior turned and walked to the door but she suddenly stopped and looked back at her:

“Don’t call me Princess. My name is Thalassa, don’t forget.”

After saying this, she walked out of the hut leaving the air full of her and Elephthera breathing every bit of it.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The sea was perfectly calm at sunrise. That is a good sign, the priestess thought looking at the ships ready to set sail while entrusting their different missions to the greatness of Artemis with a series of ancient prayers she was repeating silently to herself.

Soon, all the Amazons of Lemnos would gather at the beach to start the dangerous tasks that their destiny had suddenly imposed on them.

Every warrior was absolutely busy that morning and so was Thalassa, organiz-ing all the details of the preparations for the risky journey to Africa, land still unknown to her and to the small party of six Amazons she was going to command.

“Are all the provisions and weapons on the ship, Kalima?”

“Everything is ready, Thalassa, and so are we.”

“All right,” she said and lost herself in her thoughts. She touched her tiger-shaped tattoo praying that the power that it represented along with Artemis’s blessing, would protect her and help her be a wise leader on the dangerous quest that awaited. Her meditation was suddenly interrupted by the sound of someone knocking at her hut’s door.

“Enter!” she ordered.

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The wooden door squeaked as it was opened by Jerma who, once inside,

crossed her arms in the shape of an “x” to salute Thalassa in the traditional Amazon way.

“My Princess,” she said, “Queen Guinais wishes to see you before you go. She wants you to meet her at her hut.”

“Thank you, Jerma, I’ll be there right away.”

Jerma nodded in response, saluted the princess again and left the room.

Almost immediately, Thalassa followed her outside and headed for the queen’s hut.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Guinais was standing beside her royal chair when her daughter came in. Her eyes showed more concern than ever before and her expression was very solemn.

“Come closer. Sit next to me,” the queen said as she sat herself and pointed at a chair next to her throne. The golden warrior obeyed in silence.

“Thalassa,” she continued, “this is not the first time we face war, but we have to part today on behalf of the Amazon Nation, and the mission I’m asking you to embark on, is the most dangerous you have ever carried out. You are aware of the immense responsibility you have in your hands by being in charge of the Fezzan group, aren’t you?”

“Yes, my Queen.”

“I trust you. You are the best warrior in this island and we both know that. I also know that you are destined for great things and that this journey is part of your fate, but not the end of it.”

Thalassa listened carefully to the queen’s words. They comforted her, but she couldn’t help feeling bothered by the thought of these being the last ones she ever heard from her.

“However,” the queen went on, “you are my daughter, your blood is not my blood, but your heart is my heart and that’s why I rely on your courage and wisdom for this enterprise; and my order to you as your queen and mother on this day of your departure is this: come back safe, my daughter. May Artemis be with you and protect you and all your Amazon sisters.”

She held Thalassa’s hand instinctively without saying more. The princess looked back at her, feeling the blood running through her body like a raging flood. Her heartbeat increased and she felt, for the first time, the heavy weight of fear of the unexpected crashing her down like a defenseless being. Even so, she was conscious of her Amazon duty and she could not afford not to accomplish it Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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at any rate. She managed to compose herself and after taking a deep breath, she stood in front of her mother and said with her strong voice:

“My queen…I will not fail you.”

After saying this, she knelt and offered her respects to her ruler and mother who raised her chin and said:

“My Princess, you could never fail me. Go now, your sisters await you.”

Thalassa got on her feet and walked out of the royal hut feeling the burden of an immense responsibility on her shoulders as well as the pride of the honor it meant.

The queen watched her disappear behind the door through which she had

seen her enter so many times before. She stayed a few more minutes inside balancing in her thoughts the pain of that farewell and the acceptance of her duty as queen. Then, she also headed toward the coast and was immediately surrounded by several sisters.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

All the Amazons were already formed in three different groups before the vessels when the queen arrived. She walked through them placing herself at the head of all three parties. There was a sense of nostalgia in the air and in the women’s faces that painted a very depressing scene on the island’s shores.

“All aboard!” Thalassa shouted and everyone obeyed the warrior’s orders. It seemed that every Amazon on each of the ships knew exactly what to do in the posts they had been assigned to.

The vessel that was going to Aretias had a bigger crew on it. It was commanded by Elenthe, the Amazon who had been chosen to take Elephthera’s place for being one of the most experienced in battle. Most of Lemnos’s army would be transported on this ship to the northern island in order to fight the fearsome Sarmatians. Many of them would find their death there and they knew it.

The other vessel was smaller in both, size and crew. Only six Amazons were chosen to go with Thalassa to Fezzan: Kalima, whose features were as strong as her temper and had been one of the golden warrior’s closest friends since childhood; Alanthea, humble in spirit but courageous in war; Xylona, an experienced and trustworthy traveling companion; Elani, who had a broad knowledge of sailing; Listeia, the youngest and most inexperienced of the group, yet absolutely loyal; and finally, Elephthera, the valiant foreigner, who had apparently almost recovered from her wounds.

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Thalassa had been quite surprised at the northern Amazon’s strong will and felt happy to count on her experience and bravery in such situation. It was actually the first time she saw her standing on her feet and she liked the confidence of her ways and posture.

“I’m glad to see you in my group,” she told her.

“As promised,” Elephthera answered with half a smile.

Queen Guinais’s voice was then heard by all women present:

“Amazons! Go now and may the gods protect you!”

Zarpa stayed by her side performing some ritual signs with her hands until the ships started breaking the waves in opposite directions, although sharing the same quest.

As the vessels moved away from the shore, Thalassa leaned on the deck’s railing and stared back at the faces on the beach that were becoming more distant with every second.

“Craving hurts, doesn’t it?” Elephthera said after coming to stand next to her.

“What do you mean?”

“Craving to see them again, to stand on that land knowing that there’s no war around you, to laugh with your sisters under a starry night sky sitting near the bonfire.”

“Yes, it hurts.”

“Then swear to yourself that you’ll have that again. Hope, Thalassa, that must be your strongest weapon through the whole journey. It has been mine since I left Aretias.”

“Hope.”

“Hope.”

CHAPTER 4

The horizon was clearly drawn in front of them, dividing the sunny sky from the blue waters. The sea was calm. They had been sailing for ten days and the weather had been very pleasant. The Aegean had favored them with gentle waves and friendly wind that allowed them to cover the initial part of the journey at considerable speed. Just enough wind to keep ahead but without enraging the sea.

They knew a crew of seven was too little to face the strength of a violent storm or any other turbulence that destiny might have prepared for them, and so, they kept addressing Poseidon and Artemis in their thoughts to get the favor of the gods.

The Amazons were aware of the responsibility they had in their hands, but for some of them, this was the only chance they had ever had to travel so far away from their island and they were enjoying the days of good sailing that they were having.

The sun was quite strong on deck and Elephthera did not remain on it as long as the other women, although she observed very closely their movements and skills to compare them with her own experience as a sailor and see if she could learn something from them. Every Amazon on board knew exactly what her duties were and so did she, but she was particularly impressed by Thalassa’s abilities to command the ship. She seemed to know what was best to do in any situation and to have the right answer to any question, even if the journey had been quiet so far and no problem had appeared.

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By the tenth day they had already gone farther than what they had planned and this gave them a sense of confidence that would soon fade away. On the elev-enth day at dawn the surface of the sea was not only calm, but even, like a mirror, and the waves were completely inexistent. The vessel was not advancing at its usual speed.

That morning Elephthera woke up and sat on her hammock to listen. She

heard nothing, so she immediately realized that something was wrong and ran up to the deck to find Thalassa standing next to the helm staring at a dead ocean.

The air was dry and the wind had unexpectedly vanished. The heat had become stronger, which made it almost unbearable to try to breathe in such a suffocating atmosphere. The water looked as if it had suddenly frozen in an eternal moment of calmness.

Thalassa did not move her eyes from the water until she was distracted by Elephthera’s voice:

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. I guess that our days of fortune are over and now the real journey begins,” the princess replied with a worried expression. “It’s too quiet. I hope this changes soon or we will be very delayed.”

Elephthera’s eyes showed concern. She turned up to see the sails and noticed that they were not flapping because there was no wind to push them. Therefore, the ship was floating motionless on the ocean. Then, she turned back to Thalassa who seemed to perceive what she was going to comment, for even before she moved her lips, she said:

“I know, we will have to ration the food and water until the weather changes.

Inform the others about our situation and tell them that no one is allowed to eat or drink more than half a day’s meal. It’s our only chance of survival.”

“Yes, Thalassa,” Elephthera answered and started walking toward the stairs that would take her down below where her sisters were still asleep. Nevertheless, she stopped midway in order to say something to try to release the Lemnian’s mind from the burden of responsibility and worry that she knew she was feeling at that moment.

“Thalassa,” she called her, “don’t you worry, I’m sure that the only problem is that Poseidon is having a late start on his daily activities today.”

She finished her sentence with a friendly wink and received a brief smile in return.

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

On the twelfth day the sunrise showed again a quiet sea, totally flat, and the ship had stopped completely by that time. All the members of the crew had prayed for a quiet sea to accompany them but this was not exactly their idea.

Rationing the food was not a problem for the Amazons, who were used to enduring that kind of hunger during the days they were at war, but having to live with just one pot of water per day under the increasing heat and dry atmosphere, was almost like trying to survive in Tartarus. They were so exhausted and thirsty that every second seemed to them like an eternity. The waters’ stillness had invaded their perception of time under such agonizing circumstances and there was nothing they could do about it.

Thalassa had ordered them to go down below to keep them from getting

dehydrated if they stayed with her under the burning sun. Elephthera, though, was the only one who refused to follow her orders.

“I’ll keep you company,” she had answered when Thalassa had told her that there was no point on her staying there, especially with the delicate condition of her skin.

The rest of the Amazons tried to keep busy by weaving ropes and sewing clothes but the whole situation became so tedious that from time to time Listeia, the youngest of the group, broke the deafening silence by expressing an ironic thought such as:

“By the gods! We’re surrounded by water and yet my mouth is as dry as the Livian desert we’ll have to cross to get to Fezzan.”

This kind of ironic jokes helped them be distracted from their worrying state, at least for a while.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“You didn’t eat anything yet today,” Elephthera commented approaching

Thalassa who was leaning on the railing.

“The sea looks so beautiful,” she said without giving an answer to Elephthera’s appreciation.

“It is also very dangerous.”

“Which makes it more interesting,” Thalassa added with an intriguing smile,

“and don’t worry, I’ll eat something later, I don’t plan to starve myself to death.”

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She remained silent after saying that, lost in the deep waters of the sea. Her appearance was as calm as those waters, but Elephthera could see the anxiety in her eyes.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

There was not much they could do when the morning of the thirteenth day arrived and the sea was as dead as on the two previous days. Not much, except saving food, drink and their energy for whatever might occur afterward. The morning hours had been extremely slow and heavy in the young women’s minds and the powerful afternoon sun was torturing their dry tongues and skin.

Thalassa had been observing the sky, waiting for a sign of some change. She had managed to stay calm or at least to pretend to be, in order to prevent panic from spreading among her small crew. Those women had great confidence in her and she knew it. The only one who seemed to be aware of the many ideas crossing her mind was Elephthera. I feel she can read into my eyes, the golden warrior thought while going down below to protect herself for some time from the burning sun.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“It’s been three days now,” Thalassa told Elephthera while they counted the food supplies that were getting scarce as the situation got worse.

“Yes, and if we don’t drink more water we will start having dehydration problems.”

The Aretian fell silent for a moment and then she continued:

“This reminds me of my journey to Lemnos.”

Thalassa felt sympathy for her sister Amazon because she knew that she had suffered a terrible loss on her mission.

“I’m sorry about what happened to you,” she said trying to comfort her, “but think that they died as brave noble warriors and that if it hadn’t been for all of you, Aretias could have never had the chance to stand against the Sarmatians.

Now, thanks to you, we all have it.”

Elephthera looked at Thalassa and found sincere empathy in her eyes. There was something about them that let her see right into the golden warrior’s soul.

Yet, her strong personality struck her as an interesting contrast to her noble heart.

What an enigmatic woman, she thought, she seems to have lived more years than the ones she has walked on Earth.

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“Thalassa!”

The voice was so loud that it startled both Amazons and demanded their immediate attention.

“Thalassa!” Kalima shouted again. “Come up to deck, there’s something you need to see!”

Thalassa glanced at Elephthera, who followed her up the stairs toward the deck. Once there, they felt a fresh gust of wind on their faces.

“Look! Dead ahead!” Kalima exclaimed as she pointed to the place where everyone else had their eyes fixed on.

A group of clouds was appearing quickly on the horizon and Thalassa’s first reaction was a smile, before she noticed their color and shape, which erased the glee in her face.

“By the gods,” Elephthera whispered when she saw the dark clouds that had built in the sky right in the direction where they were heading.

The dry air had vanished and now a strong wind was starting to move the ship violently. Not far from where they were, lightning struck on the rough waters that seemed to be waking up from the deep sleep they had fallen into on the previous days. Sky and sea became one whole as Poseidon enraged the waters and made them fall from above and rise from the ocean, all at the same time.

“Secure the mast! It could be struck by lightning!” Thalassa ordered immediately feeling her senses sharpen at the presence of danger. “Alanthea! Xylona! Go below and close the galley. Don’t let the water wet our food. Elani! You’ll be in charge of the helm. Just hold steady. This is going to get ugly.”

Elephthera grabbed Thalassa by the arm and asked her:

“Can’t we change our heading to avoid the storm? We’ll waste time but we won’t risk our lives.”

“No, we can’t. The wind is blowing from the North and it’s pushing us too fast to the South. By the time we have the chance to turn the ship, we’ll be right in the eye of the storm.”

The tempest was on top of them before they could even organize themselves and the wind was blowing with extreme violence. It had taken them less than they had expected to get under the dark scary clouds of doom. The thunder’s growls silenced Thalassa’s voice, even though she was forcing her lungs and throat to the utmost possible degree.

“Alanthea! Secure the hatch! Don’t let the water in!”

“Hatch secured!”

“Elani! Don’t fight the wind, just let it guide you! Turn South West by West!”

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“Yes, Thalassa! Everyone! Hold on to something and standby to turn star-board!”

“Xylona! Haul the sails down before we lose them to the wind!” Thalassa ordered with all the strength of her lungs.

Xylona ran toward the mast and started slacking the lines that held the sails.

She was having trouble staying balanced, which made her movements slow and time consuming. When Thalassa noticed it, she decided to go and help her, but she was pushed to the floor by an unexpected wave that happened to cover the ship’s deck as an evil cloak. The princess’s eyes turned then to Elani, who was trying to control the helm with all her strength knowing that if she let it go, the ship and her sisters would be lost.

Thalassa knew her choice had to be the right one because Xylona and Elani needed her help, but it was impossible for her to assist them both.

“Kalima!” she shouted. “Help Xylona lower the sails!”

After saying this, she got back on her feet and ran toward Elani, who thanked the renewed strength that took her place. However, even for Thalassa, it was very difficult to carry a stiff sail.

“Help Elephthera secure the lines!” she told her.

Xylona and Kalima were already at the hard task of lowering the sails against the strong will of the wind. The pouring rain was mixing itself with the water constantly sprinkled by the waves that were getting higher and higher.

The Amazons fought to gather strength from the deepest corners of their souls given that their bodies had been weakened by the previous days’ draught and the lack of food. They knew that not only their lives were at stake, but also the lives of all the women who had faith in their mission’s success. Regardless of the rain that blinded them, the waves that whipped them and the wind that pushed them, they decided in their minds that they had to survive for their sisters and for the Amazon Nation.

And then, it happened.

The back stay got dangerously loose at its bottom.

“I’ll get it!” Listeia shouted and ran as fast as she could to try to fix it.

With amazing effort she managed to grab the line in her hand. She was the most scared of the group, perhaps because her youth implied that she had never had any experiences in which her life had been in jeopardy. Yet, she was as determined as her sisters to fight and survive that terrible storm.

All of a sudden, a gust of wind caught her by surprise, the slippery surface of the deck betrayed her and she fell overboard without having a chance to do anything except holding on to the line that she was tying.

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The waves were hitting her so hard that she could not cry for help. The seconds that she had outside the water were her only chance to breathe, but still, she was swallowing mouthfuls of salted liquid that made the whole situation even more anguishing. She feared she would not resist long enough for her sisters to notice what had happened to her. She was sure she would die.

Fortunately, Elephthera had seen it all. She was on the ship’s port securing some lines when the gust of wind hit her and dropped her on her knees at the same time as Listeia fell before her horrified eyes.

“Amazon overboard!” she yelled getting back on her feet and running toward the point where she had seen her fall.

She leaned over the ship’s railing and looked down at the choppy waters, where she saw the young woman holding on to the rope for her life. She did not think it twice. She still had her sister’s look written on her mind when she fell in the dark sea the night before arriving to Lemnos. She could not save her that time, but she would not make the same mistake again. I’m coming, she thought, and fastening one of the ropes she was securing around her waist, she jumped without hesitation into the cold waters. The northern Amazon soon found herself fighting against the current trying to reach out for Listeia’s hand.

“Help them!” Thalassa ordered as she ran toward the railing to aid her endangered sisters.

The constant movement of the foamy waves was making things very difficult for both women. Listeia had already swallowed too much water and was getting weak fighting against the powerful current. She had never been so scared in her entire life, and all her efforts to grab the hand Elephthera was trying to offer her, seemed to be useless. She knew she would lose consciousness soon.

Elephthera was also struggling to get closer to the young Amazon but her swimming skills were not good enough to win the battle against the furious sea.

The strength of the waves was superior to her own and she realized she was losing her, she would stop seeing her at any moment.

Once again, she reached out trying to grab Listeia by the hand but every time their fingers touched, an angry wall of water would rise before them keeping them apart. No! she thought. Not this time. She had to make an act of superhu-man will in order to break the current and swim against it toward her drowning sister.

“Take my hand!” she shouted in despair.

Listeia was so afraid of letting go of the line she was holding on to, that that prevented her from getting closer to Elephthera.

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The northern Amazon’s muscles tensed as she decided to make another

attempt to save Listeia. Her strokes became stronger and stronger and she threw herself toward the young woman with all the power of her heart, finally grabbing her hand and pulling her toward herself. Listeia embraced her tightly as soon as she felt salvation near her.

“She has her! Pull now, Amazons! Pull!” Thalassa’s voice sounded through the rain and thunder that were deafening them.

Kalima, Xylona and Alanthea organized themselves quickly to synchronize their movements and unify their efforts, in spite of the terrible swinging of the ship. They started pulling the Amazons up very slowly because the waves doubled their weight. Little by little the two women were lifted from the raging water.

Their fear faded as they got closer to the deck of the vessel and they saw their friends’ familiar faces becoming clearer. Elephthera embraced Listeia tighter, not wanting her to slip from her arms and fall into the sea again. She fixed her eyes on Thalassa, whose face was covered with drops of water that came from the rain and from her own sweat.

But their relief was very short.

Elephthera felt something scraping her waist. The knot she had made in her attempt to reach Listeia as soon as possible, had become loose during their never-ending struggle with the ocean and it could not take the women’s weight any longer. Before she could react, the rope slid completely and they felt themselves falling inevitably into the black waters again. The two Amazons’ cries penetrated their sisters’ hearts as they watched them fall back into the sea.

“No!” Thalassa shouted watching them disappear among the powerful waves.

Xylona and Kalima said nothing. Their minds were completely troubled at the thought of not having been able to save their youngest sister as well as their northern friend.

Against all odds, Elephthera managed to find the line she had previously been tied to and grabbed it. She was very weak and it was not easy for her to fight the waves with as much strength as before. Nevertheless, she knew she had to make an effort or else she would drown.

Where’s Listeia? she thought trying to find a sign of life around her. Nothing.

They had both fallen together, so she had to be near her. Didn’t she? Elephthera moved her free arm under the water trying to feel something solid underneath the dark surface. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her. She pulled Listeia toward her and managed to get her face above the water.

“I won’t let go,” she told her, “I won’t let go.”

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But now it was worse. They had no air left to keep fighting the sea. They had no strength. They were drowning and they knew it. Only darkness around them and the foam of the relentless waves. The end.

Then, they heard it. In the middle of so much turmoil they heard that cry that didn’t mean much to Elephthera yet, but that for some reason her soul recognized as some kind of hope. For Listeia, that was exactly what it meant: hope.

Thalassa had jumped into the ocean breaking the storm with her war cry that reached everybody’s ears.

“Jrisa!”

CHAPTER 5

The days had been getting progressively colder at sea and that was not very comfortable for those women used to the burning Greek sun on their shoulders.

They had been quite lucky with the weather, though, and the sea had been very calm and peaceful so far. Under that beautiful sky and gentle waves, it was difficult to imagine that an island not so far from them was being or had already being devastated by merciless warriors.

Elenthe, who had been given command of the ship after Elephthera’s refusal to go back home before accomplishing her mission, was not an expert captain, and so, she was very pleased with the peaceful journey they were having. Conflicts and violence would arrive soon, she knew it, but it was comforting not to have them for the moment. We still have a long way ahead, she thought.

She allowed her sight to travel through the horizon’s line until the bright landscape was interrupted by Aglaia’s silhouette leaning on the prow railing and looking sadly at the majestic ocean. She could see some shadow in her face that had been worrying her from the morning. Elenthe observed her for a moment. It was strange for her to be so withdrawn because she was usually a cheerful woman.

Zarpa’s young apprentice had been chosen to accompany the group of warriors that set sail to Aretias since she was the one who best knew Zarpa’s ways of communicating with the gods, and the queen had decided that the priestess should stay in Lemnos with her to protect the village from any foreign attack.

Aglaia had been very serious from the morning, standing on deck with her eyes fixed on the waters or on the sky. Elenthe did not want to interrupt what she

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imagined to be some kind of ritual prayers at first, but she was getting more than worried by now, so she asked one of her sisters to take the helm, walked to Aglaia and leaned on the railing next to her.

“Beautiful landscape, isn’t it?” she asked trying to find an excuse to start a conversation.

“Yes, it is.”

They stayed silent for a moment. Then, Elenthe said:

“When something troubles our minds and makes us restless, sometimes it is best to trust it to ears that are willing to share the burden.”

Aglaia didn’t answer immediately. It seemed that she knew some kind of painful secret that she didn’t want to reveal. However, after a few seconds, she sighed and said:

“Nothing is clear in my head yet, but I had a dream last night.”

“A bad dream?”

“A terrible dream about our sisters’ vessel. I saw thunder and darkness. There was a wall of deadly waves and the air was full of evil. I saw bodies, Amazon bodies, covered by the ocean’s obscurity, but I couldn’t see their faces. I felt their fear.

The last thing I remember is that I heard Thalassa’s war cry and then I woke up.”

Elenthe turned pale. She had been paying close attention to Aglaia’s words and she knew that this young Amazon had inherited Zarpa’s ability to have pro-phetic dreams.

“Have you told anyone about this dream?”

“No, just you.”

“Let’s keep it like that. If our sisters have at any moment the idea that Thalassa and her group could fail to get the African Amazons’ help, they would lose the hope of standing a chance against the Sarmatians. That’s why you must not say a word about this.”

Elenthe didn’t want the Lemnians to panic at the thought of their sisters’ possible death, especially if this information came from Zarpa’s apprentice.

“Is there anything we can do?”

“I think a sacrifice is needed.”

“A sacrifice? What kind of sacrifice here in the sea? There are no deer in the middle of the ocean and that’s Artemis’s favorite prey.”

“I don’t know yet. I have been waiting for a sign from the gods to decide what should be done. We can’t offend Poseidon by sacrificing one of his creatures at random.”

After saying this, the young priestess went silent and Elenthe understood that was all she was going to say for the moment. She searched desperately for an Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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answer in Aglaia’s eyes, but found them empty of any kind of comfort. It frustrated her not to know what to do. Then, she felt that the Amazon Nation’s future was fading because if Thalassa and her group died, her own mission to Aretias would be in vain and she and her sisters would add corpses to a war that was already lost.

The whole afternoon she waited for Aglaia’s words about what they should do to help their sister Amazons, but the apprentice seemed to be as absorbed in her thoughts as she had been all day. Only when the evening started to fall upon them with its gradually weaker sun, did she hear Aglaia’s voice calling her. She ran to her immediately.

“Those birds!” the young Amazon said pointing at a flock of gulls which were circling the ship above them. She was staring at them as if a spell had been put on her. A strange mixture of curiosity and enlightenment started shining on her face.

“Those birds!” she repeated. “They’re the answer!”

Elenthe observed them carefully. It was a flock of white seagulls but in the middle she could clearly see a black bird flying among the others.

“That is the animal we have to sacrifice with an arrow right across its breast. I know it. Zarpa has taught me to interpret every symbol in nature. That black seagull represents my dream and it carries evil and death in its dark wings.”

Elenthe didn’t doubt the young priestess’s statement. She took an arrow from her scabbard and pointed carefully at the bird’s chest.

“Artemis!” Aglaia prayed. “Let this dream’s evil wings never fly to our sisters’

sky.”

Elenthe heard Aglaia’s voice just before releasing the arrow from her bow. It flew into the sky and right across the black bird’s heart. Its wings stopped flapping and it soon started falling directly into the sea.

It finally dove into the waters drowning the evil it carried inside…

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

…She finally dove into the waters becoming the only chance of salvation.

The waves made a thundering sound around her as they swirled confusing even the most precise mind. Thalassa had last seen Listeia near her left side and so, she extended her arms trying to find her sister’s body under the raging waves.

It took her what she felt like ages to finally find the solid, almost lifeless woman.

Once she had her within her grasp, she pulled her near her in order to tie the line she had taken with her around the weak young Amazon’s waist. She made sure that this time the knot would not give in by making the strongest one her forces Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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allowed her in those desperate circumstances. Once she had her ready, she signalled the Amazons on deck to pull her up.

“Pull!” she shouted, not sure of being heard in the middle of the storm.

“Pull!” she cried again, feeling the choking taste of the disgusting water in her mouth every time she opened it.

Painfully and slowly, Listeia felt her weight being lifted out of the water. She cherished having a chance to breathe again and, semiconsciously, she watched the water become more distant as she was closer to the deck. A short while later, Listeia felt the wood touching her skin as a sign of safety. It was over. It was over.

She looked around trying to find familiar faces waiting for her, and when she found them, she gave in to the powers of weakness and closed her eyes.

After having given the order, Thalassa saw, her eyes already irritated by the salt and wind, the young girl almost on board. She took a deep breath and submerged into the agitated sea trying to save as much air in her lungs as she could, although fighting against the current was too tiring to hold for long. She had to go back to the surface several times before finding Elephthera. She feared Poseidon could have swallowed her into his domain. No. Thalassa knew she would find her even if she had to dive into the mouth of Tartarus itself to save her. She just wouldn’t give up. She became so exhausted that with each attempt she held her breath for less and less time. This anguished her deeply because every moment she returned to the surface she wasted precious seconds.

The other Amazons thought there was no hope left. Elephthera had drowned and had died as a brave heroic warrior. That’s what they believed. But suddenly, out of obscure madness, came the golden warrior carrying a fragile woman in her arms. Thalassa surrounded her waist with her powerful grasp fighting the black agony of those enraged waters, and Elephthera felt safe even in her unconsciousness. She couldn’t see much and she didn’t understand what was exactly happening, but she knew her salvation was there, one more time, in that arm that was holding her.

The violence of the waves made it extremely difficult for Thalassa to maintain her sister floating and she knew she had to act fast for them both.

“Pull us up!” she commanded with renewed strength.

The Amazons immediately grabbed the line that was tied around Thalassa’s waist and started pulling them back onto the ship as fast as they could. Every muscle in the Lemnian Princess’s body ached terribly because of the battle against the ocean, and now, the weight of the soul she was carrying. But nothing mattered. The only thing she had to do was hold, hold on to that northern Amazon Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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whose life depended on her at that moment. She concentrated on that strength she needed so as not to lose consciousness and their two lives with it.

They were going up. Slowly, but without interruption, their bodies kept ascending over the waves and the turbulent sea. Not long later, they were both back on the ship, where Listeia was already being taken care of and was soon accompanied down below.

“How is she?” Thalassa asked still holding Elephthera, who didn’t seem to react yet.

“She already spat out the water she swallowed, but we are going to try to keep her awake and check on her,” Kalima answered. “And what about her?” she added looking at the pale face of the northern Amazon.

“I don’t know,” the golden warrior answered worriedly.

Elephthera was still unconscious when the young princess laid her on the soaked surface of the deck and, pressing her lips against hers, tried to bring those lungs back to life.

“Elephtera!” Thalassa called without getting an answer. Elephthera’s eyes were closed as if she had fallen into a peaceful sleep. The women around her knew that kind of peace could only come from death.

“Elephthera! Don’t give up!” Thalassa repeated unsuccessfully. She took a deep breath and put more air in the Amazon’s mouth.

“Come on! Breathe!”

Nothing.

Thalassa tried endlessly to revive her by pressing her chest to make her heart react and by giving her air in alternate moments. The rest of the Amazons watched in silence.

Then, for a second, it seemed that the storm, the wind, the ocean and the ship disappeared around Thalassa. All she could hear was Elephthera’s breath of life coming back to her. The new air made her cough and she started throwing all the salted water out of her body.

Their eyes met. For an instant. In the middle of so much turmoil. And

Thalassa surrounded her with her arms.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again,” she said.

Elephthera smiled still unable to speak.

“Alanthea,” Thalassa called. “Take her down below and tell Kalima to take care of her. She needs to rest and recover from this terrible incident.”

Then she turned to the rest of the Amazons:

“Sisters! You have been heroes today. Tomorrow we shall look back at this moment and smile at the courage you’ve shown, but today we still have a storm Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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to defeat and we must not rest until Poseidon gives up and Apollo shines again,”

she encouraged them and her voice sounded firm and strong through the rain and thunder.

The Amazons responded with their own war cry and then went back to their duties. They worked hard against the savage waters all night long. It was not until the following morning that the sky and sea showed mercy on those brave warriors again.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The next morning, Elephthera was awakened by a headache stronger than she had ever had. She was not surprised, though, because it was the least she had expected considering the fear, the tension and the near to death experience of the previous night. Her throat was dry and she was still feeling dizzy after so many hours of continuous rocking, but she noticed that the movement had stopped and the ship was sailing steadily. Suddenly, she felt afraid again as she wondered if Listeia had been saved too. She looked around and sighed in relief when she found the young woman’s body resting peacefully near her. She also saw the other Amazons sleeping on their hammocks. The only figure she didn’t find was that of Thalassa’s. She decided to go and check on her to see if she needed help.

She got up from her hammock, but she almost lost balance as she was struck by dizziness. By the gods! , she thought, I feel worse than if I had spent the night in one of Dionysus’s orgies, and she kind of smiled at the silly idea while walking among her sleeping sisters toward the stairs that led to the deck.

She had to see if she was fine.

The sun was shining strongly again and her eyes suffered terribly when she found herself in the open air. She could not see a thing until a few seconds later.

Then, she looked around and felt the sharp sorrow of the devastation surrounding her. That beautiful, although small vessel that had set sail from Lemnos some days before, looked now almost in pieces, wooden pieces miraculously floating across the sea. And there was Thalassa, at the helm, looking straight ahead at the blue horizon. The newborn sun fell on her shoulders making her golden skin shine more intensely than ever before.

The air tasted like salt but it was now pleasant and refreshing contrasting the gust of the previous day. The ocean reflected sparkles of light in its mirror-like waters and everything seemed to have returned to peace and beauty.

Elephthera took a deep breath and tried to erase her memories of the storm with the sight of the new serene landscape. She enjoyed the view of that clear sun Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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spilling its bright rays over the now calm waves and she thought about the mysteries of life and how it was possible that that beautiful sea which gave her so much peace that morning, could have been their most dangerous and scariest enemy the night before. She felt a chill running through her skin at the thought of that terrible adventure, so similar to the one that had taken her northern sisters away from her not so long ago. Then, she walked toward Thalassa and said:

“Princess, I was worried for you.”

Thalassa saw her getting closer and smiled.

“I am happy you’re feeling better.”

“Thanks to you. We haven’t known each other for a long time and you have already saved my life twice, my Princess.”

The Lemnian moved her head in an acknowledging way but trying to take

importance from her deed and said:

“It was a brave thing you did yesterday. You risked your life to save Listeia.

Not many people cherish life so much as to sacrifice their own for another.”

Elephthera reflected on those paradoxical words for a short moment before answering:

“But you do. You were there when we needed you.”

Thalassa thought a change of subject was desperately needed:

“Have you seen our ship? We have a lot of work to do if we want to reach the African coast.”

“Yes, I know. It’s amazing that we made it through the night, but until we start fixing it, I think you should rest too.”

“I will. I just wanted to see the beginning of a new day at the helm of our ship.”

A short silence fell between them until something came to Elephthera’s mind:

“May I tell you something, Thalassa?” she asked and felt a strange joy at pronouncing that name directly to the princess.

“Yes?” the golden warrior answered and asked at the same time.

“When I was in there” she said pointing at the sea, “surrounded by death and darkness, I thought it was over; that there wouldn’t be another sunrise for me or another night by the bonfire with my sisters. I almost gave up fighting until…until I heard your war cry echoing in the depths of my soul and then I knew I’d live. Jrisa. It meant the sound of hope.”

Elephthera turned to the sky and closed her eyes for a few seconds pronouncing softly Thalassa’s war cry as if she wanted to savour the way it sounded coming from her own lips.

Thalassa went suddenly serious:

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“It’s a very special word for me. Somebody used to call me that.”

“The golden one,” Elephthera said in a low voice and didn’t dare asking any further because she feared she might step into very intimate ground. But the princess continued:

“When I was fourteen I used to sneak out of our village and row a boat away from Lemnos. I enjoyed having time for myself and to please my desire of knowing the world outside the Amazon culture.

On one of my day trips I found a little island and I decided to explore it, even though I knew those people were not fond of Amazons and they could kill me if they found me in their territory. I hid in the bushes so that no one could see me and I started observing the villagers and their ways. Unexpectedly, out of the trees came a young woman. She was there to fetch water from a stream nearby. I can still see her in my mind…Danara.”

Thalassa paused for a moment.

“She saw me but I didn’t fear. She spoke to me and my lips answered. Amazons were not welcome among those villagers, but she was different. She conquered my trust in one breath and from that day I became her loyal secret friend.

And she became mine.”

A pause.

“Months went by and I never failed to visit her. She was not an Amazon but she was wise. She talked to me about her world; her thoughts and words taught me a lot about life…and death.”

“You said was,” Elephthera dared to say. “What happened?”

Thalassa swallowed.

“Warlords happened. One day I went to her hut with the intention of giving her a surprise. I had gotten her an Amazon amulet, but I never had the chance to give it to her. Warlords ravaged her village and two of them abused her and beat her.”

Thalassa’s eyes spat fire of anger. Her breath became stronger. She closed her fists and turned to Elephthera:

“I heard her screaming and I ran to help her. That was the first time I used my war cry because I wanted Danara to know I was there for her. When I reached her hut, the warlords were still there. I killed them both.”

“And Danara?” Elephthera asked in anguish.

Thalassa looked away. She watched the gentle waves dance around the ship:

“She reached out to me and gently caressed my face with her bleeding hand.

Jrisa, she called me. And then she left me.”

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Elephthera kept silent. They both did, until Thalassa interrupted their thoughts:

“Do you feel strong enough to take the helm for a while? I could get some rest now.”

“Yes, of course,” she answered and noticed the teary eyes on the golden warrior’s face as she turned away and left.

CHAPTER 6

The silence surrounding them helped her recover her usual temperance. Being twice in a similar situation of danger at sea was too much of a horrible coinci-dence and she didn’t want to think about it anymore.

The breeze caressed her skin in a gentle way that she enjoyed as she sailed the ship across the majestic ocean. Her conversation with Thalassa still echoed in her mind. The princess had been very sincere and had revealed personal aspects of her life to her. She felt intensely moved but tried to concentrate on all the work that had to be made in order to repair their ship and fulfil their mission.

She wondered about the situation of her sisters in Aretias and felt a deep anxiety inside her soul. Maybe, she thought, I should have gone back to them immediately. Nevertheless, something in her heart had told her what to do and she had followed it. She knew she was in the right place.

It took a while before she heard the steps of her Amazon sisters heading toward her. One by one, Alanthea, Kalima, Elani and Listeia came from the stairway and walked across the deck amazed at the terrible shape in which their vessel had been left after the tempest. Broken wood, torn sails and uncorded ropes were all that they found around. They looked tired from the night before and a little down after seeing all the debris surrounding them, but they put themselves to work at once.

Listeia, however, noticed the northern Amazon’s eyes were fixed on her, revealing the joy she felt for knowing her alive and well. She walked to the helm and stood beside the dark-haired woman looking at her in the eyes.

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“Elephthera,” she said. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here today. Thank you.”

And she saluted her in the traditional Amazon way to show her gratefulness and respect. Elephthera nodded and answered:

“I’m glad to see you’re fine.”

Listeia smiled and headed for the ship’s stern to fix the remains of the previous night’s disaster. Then, Elani approached Elephthera.

“You look much better now,” she told her.

“Yes, thanks. Princess Thalassa asked me to stay at the helm so that she could have a rest.”

“I know,” Elani said a little worried. “She told me and she didn’t look good, but I suppose it’s normal after staying up all night in such conditions.”

“What did she tell you?” Elephthera asked showing interest.

“She asked us to come up on deck and start the repairs. She said she would join us as soon as she felt strong enough to be useful.”

Elani’s words created an unexpected anguish in Elephthera’s heart and she hoped the princess was fine, but she decided to stay at the helm as she had asked her to do.

Some time went by as the Amazons kept working on their ship which had

been so strongly punished by the raging weather, and Elephthera remained at her post at risk of damaging her still delicate skin, though she could not get rid of her concern for Thalassa. Finally, she called Elani, who came to her at once.

“Why don’t you go and check on the princess?” she asked her.

“All right, it is actually strange that she hasn’t come up yet.”

The Amazon ran down below and took quite some time to come back…time

that seemed like an eternity to the Aretian.

“Elephthera!” Elani finally called.

“Yes?”

“Do you think you’ll need any help with the helm?”

“Why?”

“Because Thalassa won’t be coming back in a while,” Elani answered seriously.

Elephthera frowned as she immediately asked:

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the princess has a fever, probably caused by exhaustion or by the wound.”

“What wound?!” Elephthera asked raising her voice.

“I don’t know how it happened, but she was injured yesterday when she

jumped overboard. She has already cleaned the wound and now she’s just resting.

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I asked her if she wanted me to stay with her, but she told me she was fine and that the ship needed all our efforts to be repaired. That’s why I was wondering if…”

“Hold the helm,” Elephthera interrupted and headed down below with fast strong paces.

The anxiety in her heart increased as she climbed down the stairs. Thalassa wounded or sick was something she couldn’t really imagine. The strong princess that had saved her life twice and seemed so invulnerable! The thought was strange and it anguished her, especially when she arrived near the figure resting on that hammock.

Thalassa’s eyes were closed and the Aretian barely dared to approach her. She looked so impossibly helpless! How hadn’t she noticed her state during their conversation in the morning? It’s true that she had looked tired, but that was completely normal after such a terrible night. Yet, this was different. Her golden cheeks had grown pale and her lips were colorless. She was trembling.

Elephthera felt an unstoppable need of helping that woman who had been her saviour on two occasions in which she had seen Thanatos so close.

“Thalassa,” Elephthera called. “Are you okay?” she asked touching the shiver-ing Amazon.

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry. It’s…just a fever.”

It certainly didn’t look like just a fever to Elephthera, who had never seen Thalassa so weak and defenseless. The northern Amazon reached out and

touched the princess’s forehead noticing the dangerous hot temperature that could be easily palpable with one light touch.

“By the gods, Thalassa, you’re burning!” she exclaimed.

“It looks worse than it really is.”

Elephthera looked around trying to find something to make a compress with.

She took a small piece of cloth and wet it with cold water that had been kept in barrels from the previous night’s storm in case there were any other strange changes of weather such as the draught from some days before.

She squeezed the cloth strongly allowing it to keep its humidity without being completely damp. She gently helped Thalassa turn and lay on her back before placing it on her forehead.

How it hurts to see her like this, she thought, and she placed her hand on the compress to prevent it from falling from the princess’s forehead.

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spit their raging lava. Yet, how fragile, how delicate, how easily defeated by their own bodies when they give in to an illness or a wound…The wound! Elephthera remembered. She looked at Thalassa’s body searching for the wound Elani had talked to her about. And there it was, on the right side of her ribcage. Not too big, not too deep, but still, damaging enough and painful enough.

“I’ve already cleaned it, don’t worry…but thank you,” the golden warrior said and her voice sounded deprived of its usual energy. Then, she opened her peculiar eyes and fixed them weakly on her.

“You also asked me not to worry this morning and look at you now.”

Elephthera’s answer provoked a brief smile on the princess’s face, although it quickly turned into a grimace of pain.

“You can be sincere with me, Thalassa, like you were a few hours ago. What can I do for you?”

The golden Amazon took a few seconds to speak again and then she replied:

“You can go help the others with the repairs. I’ll be fine.”

“I know, but if you allow me to, I’d rather stay in case you need something. I owe you my life, Princess.”

“All right,” she answered with trembling lips. “I already put some leaves that I brought from Lemnos on the wound. It’s an old remedy that usually works fast, and it will also make my temperature go down.”

“Good,” Elephthera said. “I’ll make sure everything goes like you said.”

The truth was the northern Amazon felt very concerned about Thalassa’s state. If her fever didn’t decrease, her body wouldn’t have sufficient energy to heal and the wound could get infected.

“How did it happen?” she asked as she carefully examined the wound.

“I don’t remember,” the princess answered.

After a brief moment, Elephthera commented:

“I feel that this is all my fault. If I had saved Listeia on the first try you wouldn’t have been hurt and you wouldn’t be sick now.”

“It’s not your fault,” Thalassa said feeling an uncontrollable chill run through her body. “We all did what we had to do.”

Thalassa’s body contracted with pain and exhaustion and she grabbed Elephthera’s arm to find some brief but comforting relief.

Elephthera leaned by her side and whispered compassionately:

“Don’t worry, my Princess, I will stay with you until you have recovered. Try to rest now, I’m here.”

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The princess’s eyes closed again and the northern Amazon sat down on a wooden box next to her with the firm intention of staying there until she got better. Her saviour. Her princess now.

The golden warrior.

Some time went by and Elephthera observed her restless sleep. Her temperature was obviously getting higher, so she kept refreshing her forehead and wondered what else she could do.

Eventually, Thalassa’s pale lips opened as if she were trying to say something.

Elephthera took her hand and got closer. The Lemnian started mumbling words that somehow attracted her attention.

“This is my destiny, but I was not always your servant. Artemis…forgive my mother.”

“Are you saying something about queen Guinais?” the Aretian asked.

“No. Artemis…you know who my real mother is…forgive her…”

And she lost herself in the enchanted visions of dreams. Only Elephthera would guard her sleep. She observed her carefully while thinking about her words:

My real mother. What did she mean? So young and yet so full of mysteries.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The morning arrived. The Amazons were already working on their vessel

when the sun started to rise stretching its golden arms across the ocean. The sky was clear. Not even a cloud appeared on the blue canvass that soon covered the hard working women. Only a little distant dot seemed to spoil the beautiful line of the horizon…

Down below, the princess rested now with a calm deep sleep under Elephthera’s vigilant eyes. Her body temperature had decreased enough for the northern Amazon not to worry about it anymore, but her skin had not yet recovered its usual golden tan.

Perhaps she’ll look better when she awakes, Elephthera thought not taking her eyes from the pale woman that lay before her.

Everything looked completely peaceful until the morning was broken by

Xylona’s voice, which startled the northern Amazon.

“Elephthera!” she called as she came through the door.

“Shhhh! What’s wrong?” the Aretian whispered trying not to bother Thalassa, but it was useless, she had already been awakened by Xylona’s shouts, though she didn’t open her eyes immediately.

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“Sorry, but we need you on deck. Alanthea has spotted a ship coming toward us.”

“That’s great! Maybe we could ask them to sell us some supplies or material to repair the ship…”

“It’s an unfriendly ship,” Xylona interrupted. “It has black sails. We should be ready.”

These words made Elephthera’s heart pound strongly. She knew exactly what the meaning of unfriendly was: rapists, thieves and assassins were just part of the list. Many different thoughts invaded her mind in a single second, but she couldn’t get an immediate answer for any of them. Protect my sisters. Defend the ship. Avoid human losses. Think fast. Think fast.

She looked at Thalassa who started opening her eyes. Then, she looked back at Xylona:

“All right. Let’s have a look,” she said and started following her, but she was suddenly interrupted by the golden warrior’s voice:

“Bring me my labrys. Let’s go and see what their intentions are,” Thalassa ordered weakly. Her voice, though lacking its natural strength, surprised Elephthera, who turned to find the Amazon princess rising from her hammock.

“But Thalassa,” the Aretian said with a worried expression, “you’re still very weak and the gods know what these men could do to you if they see the condition you’re in. Maybe you should rest a little longer.”

“I know I can trust you with our lives, but it is my duty to be with all of you at moments like this. I’ll be fine. Now, come with me.”

The golden warrior stepped forward and almost fell back on the hammock after a flash of dizziness made her lose her balance. The only thing that prevented her from falling were Elephthera’s arms that held her midway in the air with a strong grip.

“Thalassa,” Elephthera said as she helped the princess stand. “I don’t want to contradict you and I won’t tell you not to do what you must, but I will be there right by your side in case something like this happens again.”

“It won’t.”

Thalassa didn’t give Elephthera a chance to argue because she started up the stairway before she could say anything else. All the Aretian could do was smile at herself thinking how proud she felt of her princess and yet, how worried she was by her unhealthy determination…or stubbornness. She grabbed her weapons and followed her.

The Amazons were glad to see their captain take command again, in spite of the new danger that seemed to be sailing toward them. They smiled.

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“Get your weapons ready,” Thalassa ordered.

“We had no chance to escape from them,” Alanthea explained to her princess.

“Our sails are not completely repaired.”

“I know, just be prepared, but don’t do anything yet.”

Xylona gave the labrys to Thalassa, who grabbed it strongly with her eyes fiercely fixed on the approaching ship. The other Amazons were standing near her with their weapons ready for the imminent attack. The suspicious vessel moved slowly until it was close enough for the Amazons to see the faces of the men on board. Thalassa’s skilful eyes immediately analyzed them. They were ship thieves, experienced in robberies and naval attacks. Most of them were young and strong. They had probably chosen this kind of life because it gave them enough money without having to make a lot of effort to earn it. They just needed to find a target ship, board it and claim the booty once its crew was murdered. But she wouldn’t allow them to take her ship or her sisters’ lives, at least not without a good fight.

The warrior in charge had a fierce appearance. His face was quite dark and burned by the sun and wind, but his teeth were unusually white for a dirty sailor, and he constantly smiled at the attractive booty that appeared before his eyes.

Thalassa didn’t take her intense look away from him studying his movements and patiently waiting for his first mistake. He seemed to understand her authority because he suddenly addressed her:

“Lady! What a beautiful morning for a day at sea, don’t you think? Aren’t there any men on your ship?”

The women stood silent as the enemy ship stopped next to their vessel and its captain approached the deck’s railing pronouncing these menacing words with a mocking smile on his face.

“We have all we need on our ship,” was Thalassa’s answer, which provoked the sailor’s loud laugh.

The Amazon’s muscles got tense, ready to fight if necessary.

“Well,” he continued, “your ship is not in a very good shape and I think you could use the help of these strong young men. The name’s Mahenon, by the way, and this is my crew.”

“I am Princess Thalassa of Lemnos. This is my crew and this is my ship. You have no business here. Now, as I told you, we have all we need on board.”

The golden warrior pronounced these words with such strength and determination that she made her sisters feel completely confident of their power over the menacing men, even if they could clearly see that they were outnumbered.

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“Well, Princess,” Mahenon laughed again, “it is a pleasure to meet Amazon royalty. I’m sure you won’t mind me and my men coming on board.”

Then it was Thalassa who smiled and said:

“I don’t remember having invited you and I prefer to continue our way without further delay.”

“I would advise you to cooperate with me and my men if you want to live to see another sun. Here’s the deal: we take your ship, your supplies and your weapons and you’ll live. You refuse to cooperate and you’ll all die. Right here, right now. Oh, and one more thing, we will allow you to keep a lifeboat to save your useless female lives if you and your girlfriends here give us a nice share of…personal entertainment, if you know what I mean. So, shall we?”

Mahenon’s men rejoiced at the thought of tasting those fresh untouched women, who seemed to be a gift from the gods prepared to be victims of their filthy intentions right there, in the middle of the ocean, with no one to witness their terrible crime.

Both crews were silent while their respective captains had this awkward conversation, but they knew the combat could start at any minute and were grabbing their weapons firmly. Listeia turned her head to see the curious ones in Elephthera’s hands. She had never seen anything like them, apart from the natural claws in some wild animals. They seemed to be an extension of her own fingers in the shape of sharp threatening knives.

Mahenon grabbed a line, and as he intended to swing from his ship to the Amazons’, Thalassa warned him not to do so by pointing her labrys at him and saying:

“Place one disgusting foot of yours on my ship and you’ll be fetching it at the bottom of the ocean.”

“Oh, Amazon!” he said laughing loudly. “You want to put up a fight? That’s ridiculous!”

“You’ve been warned,” Thalassa responded.

“It will be my pleasure to kill you, then. Korax! Bring me my sword.”

Korax was a tall muscular man who had a three blade metal sharp pointed claw that substituted his left hand which he had lost in a battle a long time ago.

He gave Mahenon his sword and took one for himself. Then, he turned to the women and fixed his eyes on Elephthera, whose weapons resembled his own metal hand. He licked his lips savouring the temptation of attacking the northern Amazon, and received a disgusted look of hatred from his female enemy.

“Attack!” Mahenon shouted and swung to the Amazon ship.

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“Simmaho!” Thalassa ordered and all the brave warriors gathered by her side prepared to defend their vessel, their purity and their lives.

Mahenon made a sign to his men and some of them took a line and jumped with him onto the Amazon ship, sword in hand. They were about twenty in total and at least ten swung toward the other deck.

Twenty men against seven women was quite a significant difference, but these weren’t just any kind of women, they were Amazon warriors with a lifetime of training and experience in battles, which had prepared them for this sort of situa-tions, or even worse. They were not afraid and each of them knew exactly what to do.

Mahenon landed before the golden warrior. He was a middle aged well built man who had obviously become commander of his own group by force, intelligence and experience. His brown hair and tanned skin combined with his bright smile and cunning words were a perfect disguise for his dark evil heart, and they even made him look quite charming, but not for Thalassa. She could clearly see through that handsome flesh directly into his poisoned soul.

“Take all you can find and have fun with the…”

He couldn’t finish his orders because his sword was abruptly intercepted by Thalassa’s labrys.

The men started the attack in a playful way, without considering their enemies to be worthy rivals. They had never encountered Amazons before, although everybody had heard about them. Soon, they realized the battle was not going to be an easy one. The air was immediately filled with the sound of weapons clash-ing. The inevitable had begun. Those men’s and women’s destinies were at stake.

The sole elements that would define who would die or who would live were agility and the skill to trick and tire the opponent.

The first to fall were part of Mahenon’s crew. However, it didn’t establish the course of the battle since the Amazons were still outnumbered. Thalassa rejected Mahenon’s attack with a firm movement of her labrys that even made him stagger.

“Hey!” he protested with surprise, but didn’t have much time to react because she turned around and lowering herself with amazing speed, made him fall inevitably on his back using her foot to sweep him.

Elephthera, close to Thalassa, could observe her princess’s skills while fighting a young inexperienced enemy she took only a few seconds to get rid of. The Aretian’s movements were precise and well marked, and she used her peculiar weapons with great agility. That set of claws in her hands were one of the most Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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lethal gadgets many of the eyes around her had ever seen. Yet, her own eyes were on Thalassa. She’s the best warrior I’ve met, she thought.

Korax had landed before Xylona. He was savagely attacked by the brave Amazon whose movements were fast and strong, though she hadn’t still had the chance to find an unguarded spot on the man’s body to make the final stroke.

Their fighting was extremely aggressive until Xylona’s muscles started to get tired of the constant impact between her sword and Korax’s.

It was Elephthera who stroke the next lethal blow. A man was standing on the deck’s railing and tried to jump on her in order to throw her on the surface and place her in a disadvantaged position, but he had just propelled himself to the air when the Aretian raised her right arm and slashed her attacker’s entrails with her claw-like weapons. He fell heavily and watched in horror as his abdomen became a puddle of blood.

After that, Elephthera turned away and looked at Thalassa again. Never before had she seen her fight. She was certain that she had to be an outstanding warrior considering that she was the leader of the group and that her royal inheritance obliged her to set the example for skill and courage in her tribe, but the way she fought…it was just too impressive. Her labrys cut the air with such lightness that it seemed to be weightless; all her body’s muscles were tense and perfectly coordi-nated with her concentrated mind; her whole movements were flawless and Elephthera couldn’t take her eyes off her.

The other warriors were also defending themselves quite successfully from those savage men who had started acting in a more ferocious way when they had seen the actual abilities of their female counterparts.

At that moment, Korax charged against Xylona with all his rage. She tried to reject him, but his arm was too strong and she couldn’t block it. His sword went through her. There was nothing she could do to avoid it.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Korax’s sword was still inside her body when Elephthera turned to see her. She was down on her knees with blood on her hands and her eyes were fixed on her murderer, who laughed at her and then pulled his sword out by kicking her to the deck’s surface.

“Xylona!” Elephthera yelled and ran toward her but it was too late: the Amazon was lying on her own blood. Then, she turned to Korax with the firm decision of ending his life at once. They fought with terrible rage, and when Elephthera managed to kick his sword off his hand, she did it with such strength Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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that it flew through the air and fell overboard. When the man tried to charge against her with his dangerous metallic hand, she used her own claws in a more effective way. They looked like two raging felines lusting for death, but it was the female who had a stronger soul. She dodged him first. Then, with one quick stroke she slashed the man’s face and with the other hand she pierced his throat.

He fell instantly and died also on his own blood.

Thalassa’s skill forced Mahenon to keep a distance from his opponent and to move defensively while the golden warrior maintained her offensive attack. It was clear that in only a matter of seconds she would give the decisive strike and defeat him. Once that happened the battle would be over because the rest of the men would not fight without their leader.

Thalassa executed each blow with precision until she managed to get him in a defenseless position. She pulled her labrys to her right and just as she was about to hit his ribcage with it, her eyesight failed her and she missed.

After watching Korax die, Elephthera glanced back at Thalassa and didn’t like what she saw. Something was wrong with her. Her fight with Mahenon was being quite long. At first, it had seemed to her that the golden warrior was even playing a little in her attacks not wanting to kill the man too soon, but now she looked tired and pale, and in one of her characteristic turns, she almost fell out of balance.

A strong dizziness made Thalassa stumble backward until she managed to lean on the railing. She could barely stand on her feet and she was absolutely aware that her opponent would not waste this precious chance.

Mahenon did not move at first. He was shocked by the sudden change in

Thalassa. She was not injured and for the way she was moving just seconds before she was definitely not tired. Something was not all right with her. His face turned from a grimace of surprise to a confident grin. He grabbed his sword and charged against the helpless woman that didn’t even have enough strength to turn and face him. He lifted his sword high above his head and let it fall with all his rage.

Elephthera ran to her at the precise moment. The northern Amazon interposed her wild weapons between Mahenon’s sword and Thalassa’s weak body just in time, making the man move backward.

“You don’t look all right” she told Thalassa in a low voice.

“Give me a minute,” she answered. “I’ll be fine.”

Elephthera immediately realized why Thalassa had been fighting him for long, to the point of almost extinguishing her present weakened forces. Mahenon was really strong, or, at least, stronger than she had imagined. Each one of his blows made all her body tremble and resounded in her head, making her almost stagger.

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And the worst part was his aggressive smile as if he actually wanted to bite her.

He tried a second blow against Thalassa, but was once again stopped by the claw-like metal weapon.

“You’ll die before I let you touch her!” Elephthera threatened.

“You will pay for this!” he shouted and waved his sword toward Elephthera’s body.

She barely managed to elude it before it ran through her chest. She kept fighting him as she could, trying in vain to reach his face or throat with her claws. He was also fast and agile, although he had probably not expected such fierce opponents.

Mahenon charged against her again. This time she diverted his weapon and scratched his arm, though the damage was not great enough to defeat him. He looked at his bleeding arm and turned to her:

“Is that all you’ve got, little girl?” he said smiling.

Elephthera’s breath was very agitated. She decided that he was definitely too strong and so she only concentrated on avoiding his continuous attacks with fast movements that almost resembled an Amazon dance. Her intention was to tire him enough to strike a lethal blow when he least expected it.

Thalassa had not completely recovered, but she could see that Mahenon

would kill Elephthera at any moment. She didn’t want her friend to die trying to defend her. Not for me, she thought, not for me.

At that moment, Mahenon chose to end the battle. He would extinguish Elephthera’s life with one blow, push her body aside and kill Thalassa, who was standing behind her, with the second stroke. That would be it. Then, he would claim possession of the Amazon ship and of all its beautiful virgin cargo.

“Die!” he shouted and ran toward the two Amazons in front of him. Elephthera got ready to defend and attack. All her strength was centered on this decisive moment that would either save or end her life and those of her sisters. He pulled his arm back, prepared the blow and…

Elephthera suddenly felt a powerful arm pulling her from behind and found herself with her back on the deck’s surface. This is the end, she thought as she saw Mahenon’s weapon close to her. However, previously announced by a cry that filled her with joy, she saw Thalassa’s strong arm and her labrys stopping the final blow that she had seen approaching her head inevitably. Everything was fast and slow at the same time, but when it ended, she remembered clearly that wild Jrisa and the golden warrior’s amazingly quick movements that had managed to make her labrys fly above her directly through Mahenon’s neck. His body had fallen heavily and his head had rolled a few feet away from it.

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That seemed to stop the battle. With Korax dead and now their captain, the other men started to pull back and surrendered. The Amazons didn’t kill them.

Instead, they offered them a boat and the opportunity to escape in exchange for their ship, which would be useful for the repairs they needed.

When left alone, the women looked around and encountered the sad fact of Xylona’s body lying dead on their deck. Alanthea leaned next to Elani, who had also been injured during the battle. Her wound was not a mortal one and she would recover with the necessary care, although, by now, she couldn’t move or stand without help. The rest of them had only the normal scratches of a difficult combat and Thalassa looked quite strong again, even if it was clear for Elephthera that something was not completely all right with her.

All the Amazons were proud of themselves, but sad at the same time, because that night they would have a funeral pyre.

CHAPTER 7

By nightfall death had demolished the Amazons’ spirits and sadness reigned among them like a dark veil covering the ship. Xylona’s life had been extinguished like a fragile flame that had surrendered to an evil wind. At the same time, the Amazons’ hope of accomplishing their mission seemed to fade away, for the loss of one of their sisters meant an opportunity less to win the battle at their final destination: Aretias.

“Thalassa, everything’s ready for the funeral pyre,” Kalima told the princess, who was finishing to arrange the details of the mourning attire that she would wear for that unfortunate night.

“I’ll be there in a moment. Could you please tell Alanthea to bring me some of the medicine she’s been giving me before the ceremony begins?”

“Yes, my Princess,” Kalima answered and headed directly to the medicine room. When she got there, she thought she heard Alanthea talking to someone inside the room, but once she opened the door she only found her sister Amazon there.

“Were you talking to yourself, Alanthea?” she asked as she walked toward her.

“I was talking to the spirit that came to visit me. You just missed her.”

Kalima was completely confused by Alanthea’s answer, but thought that she had probably meant that she was praying for Xylona’s spirit to enter peacefully into the Land of the Dead. Strange way to express it, though.

“Thalassa wants you to prepare some of her medicine right away.”

“Right away. Yes, her medicine. Right away.”

- 59 -

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“Are you all right, Alanthea?”

“Me? Yes, yes. I’m all right.”

Kalima decided not to pay much attention to Alanthea’s strange behaviour as she herself felt shaken by the day’s events. Perhaps Alanthea was also reacting to them, although in a peculiar manner. She left the room and as soon as she did, Alanthea started preparing Thalassa’s medicine while whispering:

“Water. Then, medicinal herbs. It has to be an exact amount, yes…no, a little bit more…and a little more. It’s all right, just some more, the perfect amount…”

At that moment Thalassa entered the room and startled Alanthea who seemed to be awoken from a terrible nightmare by the princess’s voice.

“Is my medicine ready?”

“Yes, here you are.”

Alanthea offered Thalassa a wooden container full of green liquid that she drank until the last drop.

“Let’s go. The ceremony is about to begin,” she said before leaving.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

She shot the first arrow across the night. The golden warrior. It ran fast through the darkness like a flash of lightning and reached its objective, setting it on fire. Then, the funeral dance started.

It was Elephthera who shot the next arrow. They had agreed on that, because she was now considered to be the second in command by all of them, despite belonging to a different tribe. She had shown her courage and experience to them and that was enough for her Amazon sisters.

The night was beautiful and peaceful and the view from the ship’s deck was absolutely breathtaking. The Amazons had worked all the afternoon throwing the dead men’s bodies to the ocean and trying to wash the blood off from the wooden surface. They had not taken vengeance on them by mutilating their corpses like other warriors did. They thought them to be men of the sea and returned them to it, leaving them at Poseidon’s will.

Elephthera and Listeia had set themselves to the construction of a small boat on which they had built a wooden altar in honor of Artemis. On top of the altar they had laid Xylona’s body wrapped in a white gown, and they had placed an Amazon amulet over the clothing so that it would protect her in her journey to the Land of the Dead.

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Aretias, it was the duty of the highest ranked Amazon, who in this case was Thalassa, to preside the funeral prayers. She signalled the Amazons to let Xylona’s boat loose and waited until it got a few meters away from the ship. Then, she said:

“Life’s ending is only another life’s beginning. We dwell in an endless circle called eternity in which those who have journeyed with us once will journey with us again when we meet in the future.”

After saying this, she grabbed an arrow, lit it with a torch and prepared to shoot…

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The funeral pyre was now burning on the sea. The loss of Xylona felt heavy in their hearts. She had been a fine Amazon: brave and loyal to her nation, and, although she hadn’t got to live long, her behaviour had always been that of a true warrior. She deserved all the funeral rituals under the moon, earthly representa-tion of their goddess, and her sisters were offering her the expression of their sadness through their dances and songs, as well as providing her with a safe way of union with Artemis.

The waves were taking the pyre further and further from the ship, but the rituals would continue until the sky started to become blue again under the golden rays of Apollo’s sun. Artemis’s brother’s appearance would mark the end of the rites as the moon disappeared taking Xylona’s spirit with it.

Thalassa and Elephthera did not dance with their sisters, but they presided the ceremony and accompanied with the funeral songs.

After a while, the pyre became only a luminous spot in the distance. It seemed to dance itself, following the Amazon rhythms, taken by the waves, away and away from the vessel. Elephthera glanced at Thalassa and noticed, even at the dim light of the torches, the paleness on her cheeks and lips. That was a funeral and she was not supposed to have a bright expression, of course, but she remembered the golden shade she had not seen on her face for a few days now. She didn’t like it, although she knew she hadn’t completely recovered from her wound yet.

Xylona’s pyre vanished in the horizon taking with her the night and the Amazons’ chants that now echoed in the wind as a distant farewell to their gone sister.

They remained on deck until the sun rose and then Elephthera realized that Thalassa looked really weak, even more than she had thought. She was aware of her state, but she knew the princess was far too strong to let a little wound affect her that way. She stood next to her facing the thin red line that started to color Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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the ocean waters with the rising sun. They watched in silence for a while until Thalassa gave a sudden gasp that penetrated Elephthera’s soul painfully. Instinctively, she turned just in time to receive the princess’s body falling frail in her arms.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The bright sparks of the Olympic hearth matched almost perfectly her red hair tied up in a chaste bun with an ornamental comb decorated with pearls. Her dark green eyes were fixed on the bright flames before her. The fire that was reflected in her pupils was the same as the one burning in her vindictive mind. That day after nightfall, all the tormented years that she awaited for her vengeance to take place would finally come to an end. Thalassa would die and there was no one who could prevent it from happening.

The slim red headed deity smiled at the thought of finally having justice done, and stood up from the divan she had been lying on. Her discrete white tunic unfolded heavily on her golden sandals and moved lightly with every step she took. She glanced at the fire one more time and then turned around as if she expected to find someone standing there. A moment later, a tall figure holding a bow and an arrow with her left hand appeared in the magnificent room and walked toward her with the fast but silent steps characteristic of a hunter.

“Hestia!” she shouted. “What have you done to her?!”

“Nice to see you too, Artemis,” the goddess answered without showing any agitation before Artemis’s violent ways, and offered her a cup full of precious liquid.

“Would you like some nectar?”

“You know exactly what I would like.”

Artemis approached Hestia with angry determination.

“How dare you do this to the Amazons?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. As you well know, my dear niece, I have nothing against the Amazons.”

But Artemis was furious and her wild side had taken control.

“Liar! Whatever you’re doing to make Thalassa sick will affect all the Amazon Nation. Without her help, the battle against the Sarmatians will be lost.”

“Please, don’t bore me with your warrior stories. As I said, I have nothing against the Amazons. In fact, I couldn’t care less about your battle in Aretias.”

“Then you didn’t need to interfere. Amazons’ businesses are none of yours.”

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“But Hestian priestesses are,” Hestia answered without losing her composure.

“And virgin women should be yours too.”

“You didn’t have the right to…” Artemis started but was soon interrupted.

“Of course I did! It was you who didn’t have any right to save that child, the proof of such outrage. She was condemned from her birth.”

As Hestia pronounced these words, the fire she had been keeping became bigger and stronger, and Artemis could feel the heat burning her silken skin.

“Only the Moirai know why Thalassa was born of that woman but, according to the legend, she is the Chosen One and it was my duty to protect her no matter…”

“Protecting her didn’t mean helping Mythera escape her punishment! And what do you mean by the Chosen One? Do you believe that this…woman can change the course of the future based on a legend? Humans believe in legends, Artemis, not goddesses. We shape the future because we created the present.

Don’t fool yourself with nonsense stories about the glorious destiny of the Amazon Nation because they are based on hope, and hope can’t keep a fire burning.

That woman and her child should have been punished and buried alive a long time ago.”

Artemis tried to calm down and swallowed before replying:

“Hestia, you are not a warrior, you are the goddess of home and family. Let me arrange this my way, but let’s save her now on behalf of the Amazon Nation.”

“It’s too late,” Hestia answered immediately. “She will die by sunset and there is nothing we can do to avoid it.”

Both goddesses remained silent for a moment regarding each other intensely.

Then, Artemis grabbed the arrow she had in her hand and placed it on her bow ready to fire. Hestia smiled and said mockingly:

“Are you going to kill an immortal, Artemis?”

“Tell me what you’ve done to her. I know you’re using one of them, isn’t that right? The Amazon called Alanthea. But I want you to tell me what she’s been giving Thalassa.”

The goddess of hearth sat down again and took a few seconds to answer this time.

“Haven’t you figured it out? She’s poisoning her with her own medicine. You know, you need to use just the right amount of hellebore for that formula to be effective. If you use more, it poisons your blood and kills you.”

Artemis’s face turned pale as the word hellebore resounded in her head like thunder penetrating her mind. Hestia laughed at her, knowing the helplessness she was feeling at the thought of not being able to save Thalassa for one simple Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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reason: blood poisoning with hellebore could only be cured with an infusion prepared with wine and sand. The wine was easy to get because the Amazons had taken with them big barrels of the precious liquid among their supplies, but sand…Their ship was still too far from the shore and it was impossible to reach it before the end of the day.

“It’s ironic, isn’t it?” Hestia said as she moved her hand through the flames she guarded. “To be a few suns away from the shore when you need to reach it today, and to be surrounded by water with an empire of sand at its bottom. So close, yet, so unreachable.”

Artemis did not answer. She tensed her bow and shot the arrow directly into the fireplace barely missing Hestia’s hand.

“If Thalassa dies, I will hunt you for eternity,” Artemis threatened her and disappeared.

Hestia did not turn, she just continued caressing the fire. She remained alone in the majestic room and smiled at the inevitable destiny of the impure daughter of a sacrilege.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Thalassa’s paleness stole so much of her light that she seemed robbed of the golden treasure that always shone in her skin. She still looked beautiful, though.

I wonder what is wrong with you, Elephthera thought as she gently took the princess’s hand between hers. The reason why she was so weak and sick was completely inexplicable for the northern Amazon. Thalassa had collapsed in her arms and there she was, lying on her hammock, trembling with fever. It was not possible that that little wound on her side was provoking all this, unless it had been caused by a poisonous arrow or had gotten infected, but neither of these possibilities was the case. Her wound seemed to be healing without problems and anyway, Thalassa was too strong a warrior to let such an insignificant scratch affect her so much.

The other Amazons were still busy with the repairs, although things were being easier now that they had all the wood, sails and material they needed on the other ship. They had agreed on taking turns to look after the princess and Elani, but Elephthera was too worried to walk away from her side. She kept by her hammock, studying her movements carefully, her words, and thinking over and over everything that had happened to see if she could find a solution. She looked at her patiently. Thalassa was obviously lost in some strange delirium and kept say-Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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ing enigmatic things about her mother that didn’t make any sense, at least not to the northern Amazon.

You should have recovered by now, Elepthera thought. She took a while to examine Thalassa’s body thoroughly trying to find an unseen injury, an animal’s bite that might have put her in such a delicate state, or any clue that could help her get an idea on how to help her friend. She found nothing.

She had only known Thalassa for a relatively short time, but it had been full of such intense experiences, that they had developed quite a close friendship or, at least, she felt it that way. Besides, that amazing princess had the opportune habit of saving her life and therefore, she definitely had to find out what was wrong with her. She held the golden warrior’s hand tightly and whispered:

“I would do anything to save you, Thalassa, anything. If only I knew that something could be done…I’d lay down my life if that’s what you needed.”

“Maybe you’ll need to,” a voice interrupted.

Elephthera was startled by the unexpected visitor and turned to find an awesome figure standing in front of her. She had never seen her before, but she immediately recognized her as Artemis by the golden trinket engraved with the symbol of a deer that was tied to her head. There was also a splendor about her that made her entire being shine with power.

“My goddess!” Elephthera exclaimed as she knelt and lowered her head as a sign of submission and respect for Artemis. Then, she said:

“I’m not worthy of your presence, but I am honored to serve the almighty huntress and mother of the Amazons.”

“Your loyalty is as unbreakable as Hephaestus’s chains, Elephthera. That’s why I’ve come to see you. Rise.”

Elephthera obeyed and turned to meet Artemis’s piercing eyes. She had always heard stories about the beautiful and imposing personality of the Olympian deities, but none of them described well enough Artemis’s greatness.

“Go and find the others. I need to have a word with you regarding Thalassa’s state,” the goddess ordered and then walked toward the golden warrior. She put her right hand on Thalassa’s forehead and looked at her compassionately.

Elephthera could not take her eyes away from her because she suddenly felt the strong hope of seeing the princess well again. Perhaps Artemis had come to save her. She turned and ran out to call her sisters to the presence of Thalassa’s possible saviour.

Soon, the Amazons gathered around the princess’s hammock, all except Elani, who was still quite weak. Kalima, Alanthea and Listeia couldn’t believe their eyes and were shaking with emotion. It was Artemis, their goddess, standing before Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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them and addressing them. They were too impressed to even look at her, and so they kept their eyes down.

“Amazons!” she startled them with her firm voice. “You have all shown your courage through this dreadful voyage and you have my appreciation for accepting the responsibility of the mission to Fezzan. However, today I must ask one of you to sacrifice more than you already have in order to save your princess. She’s dying and she won’t get to see another day…it will be over today by sunset unless we do something to prevent it.”

Her words went through the Amazons’ ears like sharp thorns. They didn’t know who would be asked to make that sacrifice she was talking about, but they were confident that if they were chosen, they would not fail to do their best to save Thalassa. Elephthera shared that thought, but she understood that the goddess’s words might need to be taken literally and that the sacrifice she talked about could imply their own death in order for Thalassa to live. She would not think twice to lay down her life if necessary.

“Thalassa has been poisoned by one of you,” Artemis stated shocking the Amazons even more, “but the author of the crime is not to be blamed for she has been manipulated by a greater force to do it. You!” she said and pointed her finger at Alanthea.

Some light went suddenly from it to the Amazon’s face and made her stagger.

“You were under a spell and you have poisoned Thalassa without even being conscious of it. Now, you will be yourself again.”

Alanthea was terrorized at the unknown guilt that lay upon her. She just couldn’t explain to herself what was going on. Kalima was looking at her with rancor as she remembered noticing her strange behavior a day before when she asked her to prepare Thalassa’s medicine. Artemis turned to Kalima and said:

“I told you not to blame her. It was Hestia who put a spell on her.”

“Why?” Elephthera asked and almost regretted doing so when Artemis

directed her eyes to her.

“Because of an old vengeance we are not going to discuss now. The important thing is to save your princess, although I’m not sure it is possible.”

“What needs to be done?” the northern Amazon asked again trying to overcome her fear for Thalassa’s sake.

“The poison she has inside her can only be fought by drinking a solution of sand and wine boiled together.

“Sand?” Elephthera interrupted.

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directly with human life or death. We can only influence or alter the mind.

That’s all.”

A deep silence followed Artemis’s words until Elephthera broke it.

“Where is the shallowest part of the sea in these waters? There is no time to reach the coast before sunset, but maybe we can get to the sand beneath us.”

Everyone gazed upon her surprised at such a clever, but at the same time, impossible solution. Artemis almost smiled.

“There is an area where the sea appears to be less deep, but it is still a great challenge for human lungs. Your courage, Elephthera, by proposing such a deed, makes you the most suitable to try it. If you want to save her, follow the course of the sun until the waters of the ocean are no longer blue, but green. There, you will face this great challenge. If you die today, I will personally escort you to the Elysian Fields for you have earned your place there.”

“I won’t die today.”

Artemis regarded the Amazons’ scared eyes and finally turned to find Elephthera’s confident look.

“I’ll be with you,” Artemis promised, and vanished like a mirage leaving the air full of mystery and uncertainty.

There, in the middle of them, lay Thalassa, their great princess, and she was dying. The Amazons remained silent for a moment until Elephthera started walking toward the stairway and said:

“Let’s not waste any more time. I’ll take a boat given the condition of our sails and I’ll be back before sunset.”

Before she left, Listeia called her:

“Elephthera! Let me go with you. Thalassa saved my life the day of the storm and I owe her my being here today. Let me be there with you and keep the boat in place while you dive.”

“All right,” she answered. “I’d appreciate your help.”

Then, Kalima interrupted:

“I should take your place, Elephthera. Any of us deserves the chance to save Thalassa better than you.”

“And why is that?”

“Because we are all from Lemnos except for you. Thalassa is not your princess,” she said with an unfriendly tone.

Elephthera frowned and raising her voice, she stated:

“I have declared myself loyal to Thalassa since I met her. That makes her my princess too, and even more, that makes her my friend.”

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Elephthera turned and left with strong steps. The other Amazons followed her leaving Kalima alone with the anger in her heart.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

They were silent. They and also the waves. Nothing seemed to move in the sea, except for the rows that opened the water rhythmically.

This was not her first dangerous mission, but she felt a heavy responsibility in her heart. Not even her duty to her sisters of Aretias had caused such an effect inside her mind and soul. She was concentrated on her objective and they were both rowing as fast as their muscles allowed them. Their breathing was the only sound that accompanied them.

Elephthera could see the fear in Listeia’s face. She was young and she had probably experienced more emotions during the last weeks than in her entire life before. Elephthera would have liked to tell her that there was nothing to worry about and that she was determined to succeed. Yet, she preferred to focus on the exercise of her arms, her own breathing and the silence that surrounded them.

Silence felt good.

It was imperative that they fulfilled their mission and she had already decided to do so at the cost of her own life, if necessary. She knew that Thalassa’s life was in her hands. That princess. That extraordinary warrior that had dazzled her with her greatness and courage. I still have so much to learn from her, she thought, but she wouldn’t have the chance to if she didn’t get the sand before it was too late.

Elephthera also thought about Kalima’s suggestion of taking her place, and she understood that the Amazon’s loyalty to her princess urged her to try to save her life. Nevertheless, she knew that Artemis had chosen her instead because her desire to save Thalassa had been born from something more powerful than loyalty. That’s why it must be me, she thought.

Follow the course of the sun, Artemis had said. However, the powerful master of light travelled a long distance through the sky before reaching the horizon, and part of such distance also had to be covered by those brave Amazons searching for the green waters.

They continued rowing for some time in the direction the goddess had

pointed, but the waters never seemed to turn green, and there was no sign of any seaweed underneath. The distance from the ship kept growing as the time to sunset became shorter. That worried Elephthera very much. In case Listeia has to come back by herself, she reckoned, it is going to be extremely hard.

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“Look!” Listeia exclaimed interrupting her thoughts, although she had a good reason.

Right in front of them the sea was starting to change its color and becoming clearer with a shade that could be identified as some kind of green.

“Artemis was right!” Elephthera answered. “We must be reaching our target.”

They advanced still for a short while until the new color of the water surrounded them completely. Then, they stopped rowing.

Elepthera grabbed a rope and started tying it around her waist. She suddenly remembered how the knot of the last rope she had tied to secure her body had gotten loose during the dreadful storm, so this time she made sure it was strongly tightened.

“I’ll pull the rope when I’m ready to come up,” she stated.

Listeia nodded, but the tension was obvious in her eyes and movements. She was conscious of her responsibility.

“Don’t worry. We’ll make it,” the northern warrior tried to reassure her, though the truth was she had no idea of what could happen.

Listeia handed her the wooden receptacle she would use to keep the sand. She regarded her with admiration and respect, but fearing that not even an Amazon who had proved to be almost an equal in skill to the golden princess, could hold her breath long enough to…not to die.

“I’ll pull you up as fast as I can,” she promised needing to say something that could give them both hope and confidence in an almost impossible mission.

“It’ll be fine,” Elephthera told her.

“I haven’t known you for long, Elephthera, but all I’ve seen in you since the day I met you is bravery, wisdom, courage and…and a heart full of compassion and love for your sisters. You’re a good Amazon.”

Listeia finished the sentence with a friendly but sad smile.

“For Thalassa,” Elephthera said firmly and saluted Listeia in the traditional Amazon way.

“For Thalassa,” Listeia answered and saluted her in response.

No more words were pronounced. The air was precious for Elephthera. Yet, she recognized the sympathy in her sister’s eyes and thanked her with a brief smile. After that, she looked around one last time before pulling oxygen into her lungs and jumping off the boat into the immense dominion of Poseidon.

Listeia was left alone, on a boat, in the middle of the endless ocean. May Artemis be by your side, brave warrior, she thought. They didn’t have any certainty of how deep the waters were. Surely, less than the others where they had been sail-Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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ing, but, was that any guarantee? She could only concentrate on that piece of rope and wait. Wait.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

There was so much responsibility lying on her shoulders, that Elephthera felt her heartbeat speed up as soon as she dove into the water. This also consumed part of the oxygen she had inhaled because the anxiety didn’t allow her to control her breath as well as she wanted. Focus, she repeated to herself, just focus.

As the northern Amazon swam deeper, her surroundings got darker. Little by little she left the surface behind until the sunbeams no longer penetrated the salted waters. There was a desperate feeling taking over her as she realized how deep she was swimming and how long she would need to hold her breath before going back up.

She looked around and found nothing. She could only distinguish a small part of the rope that tied her and the rest was lost in darkness, just as she was. Black was all she could see behind her, before her and around her. But even then, she kept on swimming.

If only I could touch the bottom…If only…If only. She reached out trying to see if she could touch the ocean’s floor, but still nothing. She started wondering if her senses had gotten confused because of the dark water around her. Maybe she had swum down and then sideways and that was the reason why she had not reached the bottom yet.

After a while, her fingers bumped into a hard surface and she even pulled back for she didn’t know if she had touched the ocean’s bottom or an aquatic living thing. Slowly, she reached out again and closed her eyes in relief as she sensed the greatly desired sand. She rapidly opened the wooden receptacle and filled it with as much sand as fitted in it. She tried to get everything ready with fast movements. Now, she only had to give a sign to Listeia, although the lack of air was pressing her quite hard.

And then…

What was that? Her foot got entangled in some kind of seaweed. She felt trapped. Trapped! No! No! Not now! She started fighting against the enemy that was holding her captive but couldn’t loosen her foot from its menacing grasp. A mouthful of bubbles came out of her lips as she struggled to free herself. She almost gave up trying, but the thought of the golden warrior kept her fighting.

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won’t be able to hold long enough, she thought. She finally decided to untie the rope that held her and use it to secure the box of sand she had collected.

Then she made the sign.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Every breath seemed to be the last in the agonizing state she was. It was difficult to say if her heart was still beating, for her chest was motionless and her eyes were closed in a peaceful endless sleep.

Her sisters were worried about her and about the Amazons who had accepted the responsibility of trying to save her. They had chosen a big risk in return for their princess’s life.

Kalima and Alanthea were on deck waiting for the threatening darkness. It seemed inevitable. The sun was setting and the moon would soon appear in the sky. They stood near the deck’s railing watching that sun leaning closer and closer to the horizon, and still, no sign from Listeia and Elephthera. It made them uncomfortable and anxious to see they had not returned since they had parted hours ago.

As the landscape was painted with a red shade of dim sunbeams, Kalima

frowned and set her eyes on Apollo’s traveller that was close to reaching the end of its journey.

“She should have let me go in her place,” she started.

Alanthea had not recovered completely from her shock and the guilt that it implied, but answered with a firm voice:

“What makes you think you would have been more successful?”

“I would have put my heart in it. Thalassa is my princess.”

“I’m sure, but I think Elephthera’s heart is totally into this mission too.”

There was not much Kalima could say against that reasoning. They all knew Thalassa and Elephthera had become good friends during those difficult days.

Despite that, she didn’t like the idea of that foreign Amazon appearing suddenly in their lives and becoming their commander and great hero.

“You must admit,” Alanthea added, “Elephthera is more experienced than we are and if she can’t make it, I think none of us could.”

Kalima turned to Alanthea and replied angrily:

“Don’t underestimate my skills, Alanthea.”

“Well, Elephthera was chosen for a reason.”

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“So, you’re also blinded by the northern Amazon’s presence?” she said ironically. “It seems that I’m the only one on this ship focused on what we have to do.

The rest of you have just fallen for her, particularly Thalassa.”

“Think what you may, but I’d rather not listen to your nonsense anymore. I’m going to check on our princess.”

Alanthea turned and left Kalima facing the setting sun. She stayed on deck until it almost disappeared from the sky. Then, she also went back to Thalassa, afraid of some terrible change in her state. She remembered the goddess’s words perfectly and she knew what sunset could mean for her princess.

Downstairs, death polluted the air with its disgusting essence. Thalassa looked paler than before and Alanthea would have thought her to be dead if it were not for the slight pulse that was palpable on her neck. The golden warrior was fighting in the unknown realm of a life’s end, but she was losing the battle and every second that passed she fell deeper into the darkness.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Every second that passed she fell deeper into the darkness. It meant death and she knew it. Death for her, though Thalassa would have a chance. Still, she refused to accept dying in those distant waters. It was a warrior’s destiny to die in battle before Artemis’s eyes rather than suffering the humiliation of helplessly surrendering to nature’s power.

Weakness possessed her as her lungs ran out of air and her muscles ached intensely for the restless battle. She felt the box slowly being lifted away from her in the dark waters and she almost passed out, but she heard her name. She heard her name being called from above and she clearly recognized the voice as the golden princess’s. She heard her name…or so she thought. She heard her name, and she chose to live or die fighting like the warrior she was.

She struggled with all the strength she had left to free her leg. There was nothing to lose and she tried her biggest effort. Probably the last, she reckoned. But still, she kept fighting with her last breath. She pulled and kicked harder and faster although her chest ached terribly at the lack of oxygen. This is the end, she admitted to herself, no human being can endure this.

Then, it happened. Whatever was trapping her foot had just released it and she started swimming up. The possibility of her lungs resisting to the surface was too remote. Her nature, though, impelled her to die trying and so she continued swimming. She gave a few strokes and soon her arms touched something. The Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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line! , she thought, it’s the rope. She barely managed to grab it and held on to it for her life. That was her last memory of her adventure under water.

Listeia used all her strength to pull the rope as fast as she could. She knew that Elephthera’s life depended on her. She could feel the sweat running down her forehead as she tensed her arms’ muscles with every movement. The effort made her stagger a few times and she nearly fell from the boat once, but the idea of her friend’s salvation kept her trying until…she saw her. Listeia smiled spotting her hand attached to the rope. The northern Amazon’s arm reached the surface, but as soon as it did, it let go of the rope and slid back into the water. Listeia saw her sinking again before her eyes.

“Elephthera!” she called, and took her hand before it submerged completely.

She noticed that the Aretian was unconscious and held on to her.

“Elephthera!” she repeated trying to get her on board while keeping the boat balanced.

With a little help from the northern warrior, who was acting more by reflex than really consciously, she managed to pull her up. Face down, on the boat, Elephthera started coughing and throwing out all the water she had swallowed. After that, she turned around looking at Listeia and at the precious box that lay at her feet. She tried to smile, but then, realized the sun had already disappeared from the sky.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Night had fallen and the vessel floated silently on the immense ocean. Aboard the ship, the Amazons were also quiet. Listeia and Elephthera had failed their mission and Thalassa was leaving the land of the living with no chance to keep it from happening.

Kalima and Alanthea had decided not to inform Elani of the last events, because they thought they would put her life at risk by giving her such distress considering her delicate condition. They were standing at Thalassa’s side waiting for the inevitable to happen.

“Amazons!” someone cried outside.

Kalima and Alanthea ran up to deck and looked out to find two courageous warriors bringing the salvation they had believed to be lost forever. They were back. That’s all they could think of. They were back.

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The fish bones fell on the wood making a slight clapping sound.

“That’s the best fish I’ve ever had,” Listeia said licking her thumb.

All the Amazons were sitting near the bonfire having a celebration dinner.

“The ship is almost ready. I think we will be sailing again tomorrow,”

Alanthea stated.

“That’s some good news,” Elani answered.

She had almost totally recovered from her wounds and enjoyed having the chance to join her sisters on deck once again.

Elephthera looked across the bright sparks and met those peculiar eyes that had captured her imagination since the first day she saw them. One grey, one dark green. They were full of life again and they reflected the flames that burned before them.

A brief smile crossed the northern Amazon’s lips, and it made the golden warrior look down. She still seemed to be a little weak, but her strong nature had helped her stand on her feet again just a few hours after drinking the miraculous infusion. Her usual tan shone on her skin, although there was something new about her that Elephthera had never seen before. She seemed shy.

The Lemnian princess did not want to look up. She would meet Elephthera’s eyes if she did so, and that would put her in an uncomfortable situation. She was used to saving lives but never before had anyone saved hers, much less, someone like Elephthera. Thalassa felt greatly thankful but she just didn’t know how to express it.

“I don’t think the African coast is very far from our current position,” Elephthera commented.

They all looked at Thalassa waiting for an answer.

“Well, according to my calculations,” she started, “we should be less than a week away from Africa.”

They smiled satisfied.

“But, as you know,” she continued, “this is only a little part of our mission.”

They nodded in agreement and then kept eating in silence for a while,

although they had been quite talkative and excited all day. Seeing their princess taking command again after the terrible thought of losing her, had renewed everybody’s energies and they had worked on the ship so hard that it was almost completely repaired. Only Kalima had remained serious and quiet, even if her heart was happy to see the golden warrior standing again.

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Suddenly, Listeia started a new topic and asked Elephthera:

“I saw your weapons during the fight the other day. Are they usual in your tribe?”

The northern Amazon had expected that question to come at any moment

since their encounter with those savages.

“You mean my xilais?” she said turning to face the young woman.

“Xilais? That’s how you call them? Nice,” Listeia said enthusiastically.

“Yeah. They’re not so common, actually. I made them myself imitating the attack of an animal…I saw once.”

Everybody was attentive to her words now and she noticed the interest in Thalassa’s eyes.

“Well,” Elephthera continued, “these weapons’ story has to do with a certain day in which Aretias was attacked by raiders from the East.”

“Tell us about it,” Alanthea said.

Thalassa paid close attention but said nothing.

“You see,” Elephthera explained, “I’ve always been interested in weapon making. Ever since I was a child I used to sneak in the crafts workshop and I asked older Amazons to teach me how to work wood and metal. I was soon inventing my own weapon designs. One day, a group of invaders attacked Aretias. They came from a far away place in the East called India. My sisters and I were sent to fight them near the shore of the island but what we found there was something none of us had ever seen before…”

All the Amazons were silent. Their eyes were fixed on the Aretian, who made a pause before she continued her story:

“These invaders had brought with them some beautiful but deadly beasts.

Their striped golden fur was an impressive sight. They were so big and strong that each one of them could kill four warriors with one blow. They were also so fast that none of us could outrun them. But above all, their deadliest feature was their sharp pointed huge claws that could slice a body in the blink of an eye.”

“How are they called?” Listeia interrupted.

“We learned to call them tigers.”

“Tigers,” Alanthea repeated.

“The fact is,” Elephthera continued, “that I was fascinated by these animals and that’s how I was inspired to adapt their attack to a pair of weapons as deadly and effective as their claws.”

“You have to show us that attack better. May I borrow them some day?”

Listeia asked.

“Sure,” Elephthera grinned.

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“Well,” Kalima interrupted, “I think it’s late and we still have to fix some parts of the ship tomorrow. We should all go rest now.”

“I agree,” Elani said still lacking enough physical strength.

Kalima stood up and saluted Thalassa in a respectful way. Then, she headed down below. The others followed her leaving the princess and Elephthera alone on deck. Both Amazons remained quiet for a while, not even looking at each other. The golden warrior stood up and walked toward the railing, keeping her eyes on the peaceful sea. She decided to break the silence:

“I know that animal you were talking about.”

Elephthera got on her feet and walked toward the Lemnian. She leaned on the railing by her side.

“That’s clear to me. It’s the image that appears on your tattoo,” she replied casually.

Thalassa looked at her intensely in the eyes.

“Have you…?” she asked touching the exact point on the right side of her waist.

“Yes, I have seen it,” Elephthera answered raising one eyebrow.

Thalassa had chosen to talk about this subject because she thought it was safe to chat about something impersonal. It had nothing to do with the previous day’s events, so it was supposed to be a way to start a conversation without immediately stepping into personal grounds. Now, with Elephthera’s answer, she felt shy again, but the golden warrior did not want to seem embarrassed and so she teased her friend in return:

“Does that battle with tigers have anything to do with that nasty scar you have?”

Elephthera felt her skin turn deep red at this unexpected question.

“Have you…?” she asked and brought instinctively her hand to the back part of her waist.

“Yes, I have seen it,” Thalassa answered teasingly.

They laughed a bit before Thalassa spoke again.

“By the way, Listeia told me all about your diving adventure.”

“She did?”

“Yeah, she gave me every detail on how Artemis healed Alanthea, how Kalima wanted to take your place in the mission and how you showed your bravery once again and almost drowned doing it.”

Elephthera didn’t answer. She just smiled until Thalassa continued:

“I have to say, though, I have noticed that you have the strange habit of drowning from time to time.”

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Both of them burst into laughter at the hilarious fact that had just been stated.

It felt good to have the chance to laugh again after all the tension and anguish of the previous days. They enjoyed each other’s company so much that they were cherishing every second they had together.

“No, seriously,” Thalassa said. “I really appreciate what you did for me. And I…I have to confess that…while I was lying sick I dreamt that I was calling for your help.”

“I heard you. I mean, I thought I heard you calling my name when I was close to giving up any hope of getting out of the water alive.”

They paused and looked at each other.

“Why did you follow me?” Thalassa suddenly asked.

Silence.

“Why didn’t you go back to Aretias?”

“Because I knew it was my destiny to follow you. I was sure then and I am sure now. This is my way.”

They lost in each other’s eyes again, and then Thalassa turned up to the sky.

It was a starry night. The silver moon was ravishing.

CHAPTER 8

“Alexa!”

The courageous Amazon looked up to find Jerma running toward her. A red thread of blood fell from her lips. She could taste the bitter liquid coming up her throat and out of her mouth.

“Alexa!” Jerma cried again as she took her injured sister in her arms.

The sword had penetrated her chest and it was still buried in it. The wound was too deep. Nothing could be done.

“I could have killed him,” Jerma told her full of concern.

“I’m sorry, Jerma,” she coughed spitting more blood.

Alexa gasped out these last words before her soul parted and left Jerma holding a lifeless body in her arms. She was not the first and she would not be the last to fall on that unknown island’s battlefield.

“I’ll miss you, my sister,” Jerma said closing the dead Amazon’s eyes and grasping her sword with great strength. She looked furiously at the warriors around her and let herself be carried away with grief and rage. She killed three men in the blink of an eye and many more were still to die by her hand.

They had to continue advancing and Jerma glanced at her friend’s dead body one more time, although she knew any distraction could be lethal at that point.

The group of Lemnos had disembarked at Aretias’s coast two suns before. The situation they had found on their sisters’ island had been worse than they had expected. The bloodshed was indescribable and the Amazon lands were either burning or completely destroyed. Elenthe had given the order to attack immedi-

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ately before the Sarmatians became aware of their presence there. They had tried to profit from the element of surprise which, at the beginning, had been a good strategy. Elenthe’s intentions had been to trap the enemy between two fronts, although that direct attack had also meant losing many Amazons’ lives. The Sarmatians had reacted fast to the surprise. They were awesome warriors, their weapons were well forged and they used them with great skill. Their army had been trying to break open the Aretian walls for quite a while and the Amazons were still resisting. Nevertheless, they realized that those savages would never be defeated unless they had reinforcements.

After endless days of fighting, hundreds of bodies lay on the ground. They had not been recovered from either side. It was devastating for the Amazons to see that, after dying gloriously on behalf of their nation, their sisters still hadn’t been given a proper funeral.

Aglaia had asked permission not to fight and to be allowed, instead, to send those fallen Amazons’ souls to the Land of the Dead by burning their bodies in an improvised ritual pyre. Every night after the armies left the battlefield, Aglaia recovered all the Amazon bodies she could and took them to their camp near the shore. Once there, she sung a funeral prayer for them and then watched the flames as they rose from the pyre to the sky. During the day, Aglaia moved among the corpses at great risk of her own life performing some rituals in case there was no chance to burn them with all the honors they deserved. All the warriors had orders to protect the priestess’s apprentice at all times.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Blood. Iron. Death. Rage. Courage. Pain. Horror.

All the usual companions of a battlefield had been present that day. At night, both armies had retired to their camps and were planning destructive strategies for the next day.

“Contacting our sisters in the island is a priority,” Elenthe stated.

“They must be wondering about these days’ events,” Aglaia agreed. “We must send somebody to inform them of our plans.”

Jerma and Isala volunteered for the dangerous mission of sneaking in the village and parted before dawn. They could be easily detected by the Sarmatians and killed at once, but the animal-like way of moving so characteristic of the Amazon race was most helpful.

“Get down,” Jerma whispered.

“What is it?”

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“Shh. There,” she said pointing at a Sarmatian guard not far from them.

Jerma took a dagger from her belt and silently crawled toward the man. Once she was close enough, she jumped toward him and cut his throat before he could even react.

“Ok, let’s go.”

They walked farther and this time it was Isala who saw a Sarmatian aiming at Jerma with a spear. She pushed her sister to the ground. The spear barely missed.

She quickly took an arrow out of her scabbard and shot him with enough precision to terminate their enemy.

“Thank you,” Jerma said with gratitude.

“It’s not over yet.”

Unfortunately, another Sarmatian soldier had seen them and gave word to other warriors that were near him. Soon, twenty Sarmatians were throwing spears and arrows to the Amazon intruders.

“Isala! Run!”

They ran as fast as they could. Faster, Jerma repeated to herself, run faster. The Amazon guards at the wall saw their sisters running toward them.

“Open the gate!” one of them commanded.

There were spears and arrows flying so close to them that Isala could hear the hiss of their speed getting nearer.

“Ah!” she shouted.

An arrow had penetrated her leg. Jerma looked back and saw her injured sister hobbling. She ran toward her and put Isala’s arm around her shoulders.

“Let us in!” Jerma yelled.

The gate opened slowly allowing the Amazons in. It was immediately closed again resounding with the arrows that stuck in it.

The guards approached the two women and aided Isala.

“We’re here to see your queen,” Jerma said.

“She was expecting you,” a tall strong woman with light colored hair

answered. “I am Aricia, princess of this tribe. My sister, Queen Xanthia is ready to meet you.”

Jerma nodded in response. Aricia turned to Isala.

“We’ll take care of her,” she said and then made a sign to two guards. They helped Isala lean on them and carried her away.

“Follow me,” Aricia ordered.

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“We were waiting for you after we saw you on the battlefield,” Queen Xanthia said. “Tell me, where is Elephthera and her group? Where are you exactly from?”

Her voice had the solemnity of recognized authority. Jerma spoke and

explained their situation and plans, as well as their princess’s trip to Fezzan in Elephthera’s company.

“So, your princess was personally sent to Fezzan to get reinforcements?”

“Yes, Queen Xanthia.”

“Queen Guinais must be quite confident of her daughter’s skills to send her on such a dangerous mission.”

“Princess Thalassa is very courageous.”

“I admire courage in an Amazon. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

Queen Xanthia was, like her sister, a tall strong woman. Her delicate fine features and her blond hair made her look like the legendary Valkyries that Jerma once heard about from some merchants of the north that visited Lemnos years ago. Her long blue gown matched the color of her piercing eyes and even during those hard times, she appeared calm and peaceful to all who stood before her.

However, she was well-known for her fierceness in battle and, above all, her great bravery.

“I regret to hear the news about the Amazon lives lost at sea, but I am happy to know that Elephthera succeeded in her mission to Lemnos. We are most grateful for your help and I hope our sisters can reach the African coast and come back to us. Artemis be with them and with us.”

Then, she turned to Aricia:

“Take six Amazons with you and escort our sister to her camp. Isala may stay with us until she heals.”

“Yes, my Queen.”

Aricia and Jerma saluted Queen Xanthia respectfully and left.

It was already daybreak when they parted. Both Amazon armies prepared for another long day of war and blood in defense of their land and lives.

CHAPTER 9

Waves. Waves. Waves.

The days at sea were becoming tediously long and Thalassa started getting worried about a possible miscalculation. What if they had not been sailing in the right direction? That could be a lethal mistake, considering the few provisions of food and water they had left. The African coast should appear in the horizon at any moment, and yet, there was no sign of land anywhere on sight.

A few more suns went by and every morning at dawn, the princess went up on deck with the hope of finding a different landscape before her eyes. However, those never-ending waves appeared relentlessly day after day.

Those Amazons relied blindly on their princess’s guidance, and so, they tried not to show their desperation. They expected, though, that she would break her silence and trust them with any new obstacle on their way.

“Sisters!” she spoke one day profiting the presence of them all on deck.

“Unfortunately, we need to ration our supplies again. According to my calculations we should already be in Africa, but there is no sign of land yet. I hope this situation won’t last much longer and I would like you to keep your spirits high before this new challenge. Now, go back to your daily tasks, but don’t waste any energy unnecessarily.”

And so they did, not knowing if Thalassa’s words should comfort them or scare them.

The golden warrior remained with her eyes set on the peaceful ocean and from time to time she climbed all the way up to the highest mast to see by herself,

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although she had asked Listeia to stay in the look-out and inform right away of any possible change.

“It is a good idea to ration the food,” Elephthera told the princess approaching her from behind, “but you haven’t eaten anything in the whole day.”

“Since when are you controlling my food?” Thalassa answered and immediately regretted her brusque words, especially after seeing the surprise in the northern Amazon’s eyes. “I’m sorry,” she added, “thanks for caring.”

“Don’t worry, I know you’re carrying a lot of tension on those shoulders.”

“I didn’t expect this land to be so far, we should be there by now.”

“Do you think we can have gone astray? Maybe we lost our course after the storm.”

Thalassa considered the question she had been asking herself for some days and took a few seconds to answer:

“But I calculated a thousand times how much our course changed with the tide…Perhaps I was wrong.”

“You? Wrong? I don’t think so. We’ll spot Africa in no time,” Elephthera said trying to reassure her friend.

Thalassa’s mind went over and over the events of the previous weeks and she could not understand why, after sailing for so many days, they had not reached the coast yet.

“I’m responsible for taking you all safely to Africa, Elephthera. If something went wrong…It’s all my fault,” she told the Aretian, who kindly answered:

“You have done things for all of us that are beyond your responsibility. Never blame yourself for doing your best. Besides, I’m happy to see you completely in command again.”

“Thank you,” the Lemnian princess answered. “And I really mean it, you know.”

Thalassa stood at the prow even after the sun touched the horizon and even after Elephthera tried to persuade her to go to sleep. The great treasure of her sisters’ lives lay in her hands, and so she stayed there, facing darkness all through the night.

Early the next morning the Amazons were awakened by Listeia’s voice:

“Land! Dead ahead! Africa!”

They all jumped off their hammocks and ran up to deck. Their faces reflected the joy of knowing they would soon walk on dry land again. Kalima, who was at the helm, started ordering her sisters to make the preparations needed to reach the shore safely. Before helping the others, Elephthera turned to face Thalassa and as she did, the Amazon princess also turned to her. They looked at each other Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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for a moment, and without needing to say a word, they revealed how happy they were through their smile. Then, Thalassa walked toward Kalima and told her:

“Help our sisters. I want to take us to shore.”

Kalima stepped off obediently and saluted her respectfully. When Thalassa took the helm, all the Amazons turned to her recognizing her authority and her achievements as their guide through the journey. She looked ahead and shouted proudly:

“Jrisa!”

To which the Amazons howled and yelled in response.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

They were not usually seen in public places, particularly in so busy ports. Of course, ships from many different cities and countries arrived there, but a group of women warriors was really out of the ordinary. At the same time, the Amazons had not expected that African coast to be so lively and they were not used to being observed by so many eyes.

“What is this place called?” Thalassa asked a little man who was obviously intimidated by the warrior suddenly approaching him.

“You are in Leptis, the famous trade port,” he answered with a trembling voice.

“Your calculations were flawless,” Elephthera commented. “Right where you said we’d be.”

“Mmm, go figure,” Thalassa said with a proud smile. “I didn’t imagine it would be so full of life, though.”

“I see what you mean,” Listeia agreed.

They kept walking and observing everything with curious eyes, although they were conscious of actually being the exotic ones. The first thing they noticed was that people stared at them because of their evidently different look. They almost felt naked compared to how people dressed there. Both, men and women, wore long light colored tunics that covered their bodies completely. Their heads were protected by something that looked like a bunch of cloth arranged around them in a strange way and they wore some weird kind of leather boots tied to their legs with long leather stripes.

“They’re all staring at us,” Alanthea mumbled.

“Yeah, maybe we should get ourselves another kind of clothing,” Elephthera proposed.

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“You’re right,” said Thalassa. “I think that would be necessary if we want to get to the desert. We will also need some horses.”

“That there looks like a market,” Elani pointed.

The Amazons headed toward the marketplace and walked around surprised at the amount of goods they could not even name. The whole place was absolutely different from any other they had seen before. They were very impressed by the variety of products sold there. Walking around the stalls, they found fruits completely unknown to them; many kinds of garments made of beautiful materials and colors; animals of a hundred species, dead and alive; exotic weapons; perfumes and oils; scrolls that told amazing stories of ancient and present heroes; jewels made of precious stones…and so many items that were even making them dizzy.

Thalassa asked a clothes merchant about the most appropriate outfit to cross the desert. They were shown several tunics and long pieces of fabric they were supposed to tie around their heads. The merchant called them turbans.

“It seems all this is to protect ourselves from the strongest sun we have ever known,” the princess explained.

They all looked at the textiles and finally chose a variety of different colored gowns. Thalassa’s tunic was white with golden embroidered motifs that made her truly look like the princess she was. Elephthera’s clothes were also white but they were decorated with an aquamarine colored shawl that was as delicate as her fine features. She was the first one to finish getting dressed and when she saw Thalassa come out from behind the curtains that covered her while she changed, her eyes ran up and down the golden princess amazed at the way she looked dressed like that.

“I can’t fight like this. These clothes are heavier than a sword. They’re uncomfortable. They’re suffocating. They itch…” the golden warrior said without turning to face Elephthera.

“By the gods…” the Aretian whispered.

“What?” Thalassa asked looking up and also finding an impressive Amazon before her. “Oh. Nice uh…color,” she said sounding a bit shy.

“Yours too.”

They stayed silent for a moment and then the Lemnian turned to pay for the tunics.

“How are we going to buy so many things?” Listeia asked looking at the clothes with wide open eyes.

“With this,” Thalassa answered showing her a bag of gold she had tied to her waist.

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“I didn’t know we had brought so much money with us,” Elani commented.

“We didn’t,” Thalassa said. “Actually, Kalima found a small treasure on Mahenon’s ship when she was searching for repair materials and I thought it could come in handy someday.”

“Good thinking,” Elephthera added.

They all finished putting on the tunics, although they decided not to use the turbans until it was absolutely necessary. They continued walking around the market discovering an uncountable variety of grains such as wheat and oats, bottles of olive oil and ornaments decorated with symbols that belonged to the powerful and well-known Egyptian culture. Every Amazon stopped at the stall she found more interesting, and Thalassa, who kept on walking with Elepthera, suddenly saw an item that caught her attention. She grabbed an amphora observing closely the drawings on it. One of them represented a man with a dog’s head, and the other one was a mummy whose hands held a crook and a flail.

“Anubis and Osiris,” a merchant told her. “Those are the Egyptian gods of death.”

Thalassa nodded, put the amphora back in its place and turned.

“Wait!” the man called. “I have something that might interest you.”

He looked into a big sack and took out a beautiful golden and crystal girdle.

As he was doing so, Elephthera came close to Thalassa and recognized the Amazon design.

“This,” the merchant explained, “is an Amazon royal band. You know, the legend says that Amazons are fierce blood-thirsty women, over six feet tall, strong as the Greek hero Heracles and crazy as the Harpies. They kill men just for the pleasure of it and they eat their meat in wild orgies…This band here is a unique treasure and I’ll sell it to you for two pieces of gold.”

Thalassa and Elephthera were trying very hard not to burst into laughter, but they finally did when the golden princess said:

“Thank you, but I already have two of those bands which, in fact, are called girdles. By the way, Elephthera, do you think this good man would be kind enough to join us for dinner tonight? I’m in the mood for some local meat, you know?”

The merchant blushed so terribly that the Aretian could not stop laughing.

She laughed enough to make her stomach muscles ache. They walked away giggling and headed toward the animals vendors trying to find some horses, but they saw none.

“By the gods!” the Aretian exclaimed suddenly fixing her eyes on the enormous animals they had in front of them.

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“Would you like to buy any?” the merchant asked them pointing at several of those animals.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so,” Thalassa answered dryly.

The merchant looked at her strangely and walked away toward other possible clients.

“These African horses are weird,” Elephthera said looking at the animals.

“Aha,” Thalassa answered.

“They’re too tall.”

“They are.”

“They don’t have a mane.”

“I know…”

Both Amazons tilted their heads to the right and grimaced. Thalassa broke the silence and, making a wry face, commented:

“They’ve got humps.”

Elephthera turned to the merchant and asked:

“Are these the only kind of horses you have?”

“They’re not exactly horses,” he answered. “They’re dromedaries.”

“Do they serve like horses?”

“They are camels, young lady. They will get you through the desert much easier than a horse, and they can go up to seven days without food or water.”

“Are you kidding? I can barely go without food for seven hours!”

“I can vouch for that,” Thalassa added.

They finally bought the animals and were also informed of the most direct way to Fezzan. They only had to keep south through the Libyan country and still go south when they got to the Sahara desert. That was where their worst challenge would start.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

That was probably the most astonishing sight they had ever found in front of them. A never-ending sea of sand under the brightest sun and not a drop of water anywhere around.

Thalassa knelt to feel the caress of those grains in her own hand. Her golden skin shone beautifully in that clear white landscape, and her peculiar eyes showed the gratefulness she felt for being there with her sisters. She thought about Xylona and how she would have wanted her to be with them in that African desert. May Artemis be with you, she said to herself, and let a handful of sand run through her fingers, despite being so extremely hot that it almost burned her.

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Elephthera closed her eyes trying to smell the sand, to feel it within her now that she was standing on it. They had heard about the famous Sahara desert before, but nobody could remain impassive before such an amazing landscape.

Beautiful and dangerous, that is how the northern Amazon described it in her mind. A combination, she admitted to herself, which has always attracted me.

Then, she looked at the golden warrior and smiled.

“I think it’s time we put our turbans on,” Thalassa commented, “especially you,” she said pointing at Elephthera, whose white skin would inevitably suffer under that sun.

They all tried to wrap the turbans around their heads, but it took them a while to finally get them right.

“I guess now is when we get on those things,” Elani stated directing her eyes to the camels.

“They are dromedaries,” Thalassa explained, “or so we were told.”

“And how are we supposed to climb on them? They are too tall,” Listeia said with a worried look.

“I think they should lower themselves,” Elephthera answered. Nevertheless, she did not have any idea of how to make that happen. She tried pulling the reins, but the animal did not move.

“You don’t seem to be succeeding,” Kalima commented in a mocking way

that didn’t please any of them, and provoked a short silence.

Listeia was the first to try climbing on the camel, but she found herself back on the sand twice before she was able to get on it. And still, when the huge animal started moving, she almost lost her balance again and ended up hanging from its brown neck. This obviously got some giggles from her sisters, whom she immediately challenged to try the same.

“I’ll do it,” Alanthea volunteered, though she also fell down a couple of times before finally getting on the camel. Then, Elani found it as difficult as it had been for Alanthea to get on the flat padded mammal, though she succeeded in the end.

The next one to try was Kalima, who decided to use a different strategy. She approached the camel and said:

“You’d better not play your dirty tricks on me, all right? Because I’m going to show you that if Amazons are the best horse riders in the world, we can surely ride a ridiculous hunchbacked like you. Is that clear?”

The dromedary looked at her with a doe-like expression and continued chew-ing the wheat it had in its mouth. When Kalima tried to get on it, the animal moved and almost dropped her back on the sand, but she managed to grab the reins firmly and didn’t fall.

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“You see?” she told the others, “it takes a real Amazon to do this.”

Listeia rolled her eyes finding it too conceited of her to say that. After all, it was the first time any of them got on a camel.

Then, it was Elephthera’s and Thalassa’s turn to get on the peculiar animals.

The northern Amazon regarded her dark brown means of transportation and skilfully pulled herself up using her strong arms to grab the reins and climb on the dromedary.

Kalima turned away pretending she had not seen her smooth climbing and did not look happy at all when the camel started moving and Elephthera did not even stagger.

Finally, the golden princess impressed everyone when she ran directly toward the camel and then jumped yelling her war cry and landing exactly on the cream colored animal, which, surprised at the sudden weight on its hump, started walking fast into the desert.

Elephthera smiled and shook her head at the golden warrior’s evident pleasure of showing off, while Listeia turned to Kalima and said:

“You were right, Kalima, it takes a real Amazon to do this.”

Kalima’s eyes spat fire but Listeia was not intimidated by them. She started riding, instead, and her sisters followed her.

Thus, the group of women began to penetrate the mysterious domain of the burning heat, which was entirely unknown for them. They were all wearing their turbans and they understood their function now, because even through them, their brains seemed to be melting under the intensity of the African sun.

Hours…sand…heat…sun…

Each second they spent crossing the endless desert seemed like an eternity to them. Weakness tortured their tired bodies like arrows penetrating their souls.

Thirst started to be a pressing need after a while and, although they had brought enough water with them, the unquenchable sensation was becoming unbearable.

Born in an island, those women were so used to the presence of water around them, that the knowledge of its complete absence was exasperating.

The group continued advancing through the menacing desert, where the

slightest shadow appeared to be an unreachable dream. The sun never seemed to hide behind the clouds and there was nowhere to find shelter in that boiling king-dom of sand.

Alanthea felt close to fainting until Elani offered her a skin bottle full of water which revived her…for a while. Thalassa kept a constant eye on Elephthera, whose skin was more delicate than the others’. The northern Amazon suffered the pain of the sun burning her face so terribly, that she could not even stand the Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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feeling of the cloth from her turban touching her cheeks. The golden warrior rode next to her and although Elephthera was not complaining, she could see the agony she was living in through her deep brown eyes.

“Rub this on your face,” the princess said offering her a small bottle with some kind of liquid in it.

“What is it?” Elephthera asked.

“It’s liver ointment I got at the market. They told me it’s good for people who cross the desert because it prevents you from getting blistered.”

The northern Amazon smelled the bottle’s content and grimaced.

“By the gods!” she said. “This thing might prevent me from getting blisters, but what’s going to prevent me from getting eaten by vultures if I go around the desert smelling like a corpse?!”

Thalassa smiled and answered:

“Don’t worry, they won’t eat you because you’ll smell so bad that they’ll think you’re already rotten.”

That comment made the Amazons laugh a bit and it relieved them from the fatigue they were all feeling.

“Please, Artemis,” Listeia prayed aloud, “let the night come soon before we die under Apollo’s rage.”

However, it would still take hours before the night sky provided the shelter they so desperately longed for. How long could they resist like that? Nobody knew.

Exhaustion acquired a new meaning in Sahara. Those women were used to

tiredness, to making unbearable efforts; and they also knew about dehydration.

Yet, nothing they had experienced before was comparable to that immensity of sand where not even the horizon was distinguishable.

“Be careful with something called mirage,” Thalassa warned them.

“What is it?” Listeia asked more by reflex than by real interest.

“We don’t know exactly,” Elephthera tried to explain. “The camels’ merchant said we should be careful with it and not believe everything we see.”

Her explanation confused them more than helped them, but they were too desperate to inquire any further. If there was any other danger coming, they would inevitably encounter it, anyway.

Thalassa, always attentive to the suffering in Elephthera’s eyes, did not want to imagine what that northern Amazon was enduring, considering what she was going through herself. From time to time, she saw her close her eyes and she thought she was going to swoon, but Elephthera kept on her camel without a sound of complaint.

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Kalima was also completely silent with her own suffering and she sat on her dromedary as straight as her despair allowed her to. On the other hand, the young Listeia could not stop her continuous sighing during that unbearable trip through dunes and dunes that seemed to have no end. Every now and then, Alanthea had to be held by Elani, who was not actually so sure of resisting herself the pressure of that burning environment where everything looked so unreal, so impossible and blurry.

Then, suddenly, something happened. Slowly, Uranos’s reign became darker.

From one second to another, the brightness of the sun began to dissipate and the growing obscurity above provided a refreshing shelter for the tired women. Their bodies ached after enduring hours of sunstroke and the thirst they felt almost consumed them completely.

“I had never appreciated the sunset as much as I do today,” Alanthea commented.

“I know,” Elani answered. “After such a hard day I will sleep endlessly tonight.”

“Has the night arrived?” Listeia asked, but before anybody could answer Thalassa looked at her right and said:

“We mustn’t set the camp yet, I don’t like that thing.”

Her sisters turned to see what she was staring at and found themselves facing a strange cloud that was moving toward them.

“What is it?” Listeia inquired.

“Maybe it’s the mirage you talked about,” Elani suggested.

Everyone glanced at Thalassa expecting an answer she did not have.

“Maybe,” she finally said. “But whatever it is, I don’t like it.”

Elepthera regarded the golden princess, and without saying a word, she gave her an understanding nod. She jumped down from her camel and walked toward Listeia’s dromedary. Then, she opened a saddle bag that she had hung from it and took out five small pipes. She handed one to each of her sisters and tied hers around her neck.

“What’s this for?” Alanthea asked

“It’s just a precaution in case we are separated,” the northern Amazon answered.

“Why should we be?”

“There’s a sandstorm building in the west. It might get ugly. Sound the pipe if you need help.”

“Let’s try to ride ahead of the storm,” Thalassa said and made her camel advance faster.

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The rest of the Amazons followed her turning from time to time to look at the whirlwind of sand that was getting closer. Soon, they realized they would never escape from it. That unknown danger frightened them more than a hostile army, but the uncertainty was not long. A few moments after, it was around them, among them and they could see almost nothing.

“Simmaho!” Thalassa yelled, but her order was not heard. Her voice, silenced by the high pitched cry of the wind, vanished like a grain of sand in the middle of such chaos.

Kalima, whose camel tried to run away, used all her strength to control her scared animal, and finally decided to tie the reins around her wrist in order to prevent them from slipping from her hand.

The group tried to stay together, though it was difficult not to lose track of one another when the sand that got in their eyes almost blinded them.

Alanthea fell on her knees after a gust caught her by surprise. She was having a hard time keeping up with the others because her senses had already been weakened by the day’s sun. It was her who found it most difficult not to feel disorientated. Elephthera tried to stay close to Listeia whom she thought to be the most scared of them all considering her inexperience.

“Simmaho!” Thalassa ordered again trying to prevent the group from being diffused in the storm. “Keep together, Amazons! Arrange the camels around us while we advance!”

The warriors gathered around their princess with a lot of effort, and pulled their animals close to them trying to use them as shields. The sand was all over them like a plague of insects, as they moved slowly side by side surrounded by their dromedaries. It was almost impossible to breathe through that strange and unexpected storm that had invaded the whole landscape…and them. It was also highly unadvisable to open one’s mouth in such circumstances, but Thalassa managed to shout again:

“Keep together! Keep walking!”

They knew that if they stopped, the sand would cover them completely in seconds, and so they continued moving, trying to reach out for their sisters in order to make sure they were not lost in the dark. That was probably the most anguishing experience they had ever endured and it seemed to be eternal.

Elani intended to tie her camel’s reins around her wrist as Kalima had done before, but the dromedary rose its snout and got loose. Then, it ran away after kicking her strongly in the stomach as she tried to grab the reins again. Elani fell on her back and passed out for a few seconds. When she opened her eyes, she could still feel pain in her abdomen. Therefore, she inhaled deeply trying to Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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recover from the loss of air. She looked around and found nothing but sand whirling and blowing all over like a cloud of death. She reached for the pipe with the intention of asking for help, yet, she could not find it. Desperately, she leaned down and dug in the sand looking for the instrument that was her only chance of salvation. I don’t want to die like this, she thought, not like this. Her trembling hands moved through the sand rapidly, and finally, they touched something hard…the pipe!

Elani put the instrument between her lips and blew as hard as she could. The noise it made was loud, nevertheless, it was not loud enough. She tried again, this time harder than before, but there was no response.

In which direction are they walking? she thought to herself turning her head to find any possible clue that could guide her.

“Thalassa!” she shouted.

Pause.

“Elephthera!”

Pause.

“Sisters!”

Nothing.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Eternal hours perhaps. That’s the only way the Amazons could describe the dreadful torture they had experienced in the sandstorm. It had ended in the same sudden way it had started, leaving them under what seemed to be a starry night.

And it was fresh, even cold.

They opened their eyes to life again at dawn, but they had died a thousand deaths during that terrible night.

The camels lay on the now calm sand and beside them, the Amazons rested from the endless battle they had fought against nature yet again. Listeia leaned on her dromedary’s side and closed her eyes trying to forget all they had been through…all they had coped with. Alanthea sat near her and poured some water on her face trying to wipe the sand off of it. Kalima also poured some water on her face, but she used the rest of it on her wrist because the strain of the reins had cut her skin and it bled.

“Are your hurt?” Thalassa asked Elephthera, who had a painful look on her face.

“Not more than them,” the northern Amazon answered looking at her sisters.

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The golden princess also turned to see them and examined their faces full of little scratches. Then, she noticed.

“Elani!” she called startling the rest of the Amazons.

She didn’t get an answer.

“Elani!” Elephthera repeated looking around and hoping to find her resting behind a camel or near her sisters.

All of them got on their feet, their hearts beating like thunder in their chests.

She was not there. She was nowhere near.

Fear. Its scent surrounded them menacingly.

“Elani!”

What way had they followed in the middle of that ordeal? They didn’t even know if they had gone in the right direction toward Fezzan, but their main objective through the storm had simply been survival. Now, one of them was lost and they totally ignored where to look for her.

“Do you think…?” Elephthera started, but didn’t finish her question.

Thalassa did.

“…she can have survived alone in the desert?” and she answered herself with the terrible look of her eyes. “I hope I’m wrong.”

Then, addressing the rest of the group, she said:

“We are going to try to go back on our steps, although I guess the storm has erased every footprint.”

They knew what going back could mean. It was easy to lose one’s way in that world of sand, and that waste of time and water could lead them directly to death. Despite that, there was no point for an argument. One of their sisters was missing and they would do everything possible to recover her. The decision, though, was not easy for Thalassa. Should a good leader risk five lives to try to save one that was probably already lost?

“If we haven’t found her when the sun is high, we’ll continue our way to Fezzan,” she finally ordered.

The golden warrior ran toward her camel and jumped on it without saying anything else. She rode off as fast as she could following the path they had taken the previous night during the storm. Elephthera and the rest of the Amazons followed her and soon caught up with their princess.

“Elani!” Thalassa shouted as loud as her lungs allowed her to, but there was no answer.

“We should organise search groups,” Elephthera suggested.

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“You’re right,” the princess answered. “You come with me. The rest of you,”

she said turning to her sisters, “spread out and blow your pipes if you find her.

Please, be very careful and don’t go too far.”

Alanthea and Listeia went together to the East and Kalima chose to cover the dunes on the northern part of the territory.

How didn’t I notice it? Thalassa demanded herself, but she could not find an answer. There was little she could have done during the terrible experience they had gone through, but still, she was in command and she was responsible for all their lives. Blinded. That is how she had felt during the storm when she had tried to save everyone trusting that they would manage to stay close to the group.

“Whatever we find, it’s not your fault,” Elephthera said interrupting

Thalassa’s thoughts.

“Of course it is,” she answered angrily. “It must be me the one who dies before any of you are even touched by danger. It is me who has to be aware of every move you make in case you are in dire need. Me, Elephthera, no one else.”

“You did the best for all of us last night.”

“Oh, really? Well, ask Elani if I did.”

“We haven’t even found her and you’re already expecting the worst.”

“Aren’t you?”

Elephthera looked down not finding an acceptable answer. Then, she raised her eyes and when she was about to say something to reassure her princess, she was stopped by the loud sound of one of her sisters’ pipes.

“It must be Kalima,” she said. “She is the one who went north.”

Both Amazons rode their camels in the direction the sound had come from.

When they got there, they found Kalima standing still, looking down and holding the pipe with her right hand.

Thalassa and Elephthera dismounted rapidly and ran toward her. Seconds later, Alanthea and Listeia arrived at the tragic scene. Alanthea covered her mouth with her hand.

“By the gods!” Listeia exclaimed while running toward the specific place where her sister might lie.

They all stared with horror at the arm that appeared half buried in the sand.

Only that had remained uncovered by the white veil of death, and just a few inches away, her pipe lay silent until the end of time.

Slowly, the Amazons removed the sand from their sister’s body and allowed the bright sun to shine one last time on her now peaceful features. The corpse was not difficult to dig up, although that didn’t make it less painful. Their sister had lost herself in that foreign desert and she had found a terrible death. Not the Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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death in battle every Amazon thinks to be destined to, but one of loneliness and fear.

Silence. What can be said in the face of death?

The northern Amazon tried to find Thalassa’s deep look, but instead, she found hurting eyes full of guilt. Eyes she could not heal. Pain she could not bear.

“Listeia,” Thalassa called, “bring the wood I have in my saddlebag.”

“Are we going to build a funeral pyre here?” Alanthea asked with a faltering voice.

“We don’t have enough wood to make a proper one, but at least we will give her soul a chance to travel safely to the Land of the Dead.”

When Listeia came back, the princess helped her sisters surround Elani’s body with wood and put two coins on her eyes.

Elani’s body was burned immediately, not with all the honors of a big funeral pyre, since they had only used the wood they had kept for their bonfire at night, but Thalassa’s words comforted a little the hearts of those devastated Amazons:

“Sisters, a noble warrior has died in this foreign land and I know you will think she didn’t die fighting, as an Amazon deserves. Maybe her death was not in battle, but she died fighting a more important war: the war that brought us through this dangerous mission to save the Amazon race. May Artemis lead her to the Land of the Dead like the hero she was.”

Elephthera knelt and saluted Elani respectfully. Then, she said:

“Your light will shine forever in our hearts, it will guide us through distress in the rest of our journey.”

The other Amazons also saluted Elani and started singing the mourning

prayer giving a last farewell to their friend. Thalassa’s piercing eyes were directed to the flames which burned before her as well as inside her.

Good bye.

CHAPTER 10

A blue body of water appeared before her like an unexpected dream that suddenly seemed to be true.

“Look! An oasis!” Listeia said pointing at the dry sea of sand in front of her.

“Where?” Alanthea asked.

“There! Don’t you see it?”

The Amazons looked around, but the never changing landscape was that of a dry, anguishing desert.

“I think that this is what the merchant meant by a mirage,” Thalassa commented and offered a skin bottle full of water to Listeia. Then, she told her:

“There is nothing there. Just sand. I guess that the sunstroke is making your eyes play tricks on you.”

Listeia found it difficult to believe that her senses could be so easily affected.

She tried to convince herself of the falseness of that optical illusion not to let the heat and the sun defeat her. However, the oasis still seemed to be there. The mind must never trust the eyes, she said to herself, they lie.

The five Amazons continued their way, though by this time they did not know if they were headed the right direction or if the storm had made them lose their way. The princess was aware that her sisters would not resist much longer under that raging sun that got hotter and stronger with every second that passed.

It covered them like a canvass of fire. No way to hide from it, not even for a second. It seemed to be behind them and nevertheless, they thought to be always walking toward it.

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“Great Artemis,” Alanthea gasped, “ask your brother to have mercy on us.”

The burden on their souls after losing Elani, together with the unbearable riding on the burning sand, was turning their way to Fezzan into their most terrible nightmare. Their minds were not clear anymore and they just knew they had to keep advancing if they wanted to live.

“Don’t stop, my sisters, don’t give up,” Thalassa said from time to time, although she was not sure of making it herself. She concentrated on her camel’s legs moving rhythmically toward her objective: Fezzan. Soon, she thought , if we’re not favored by Artemis, we will all face a destiny similar to Elani’s. Protect us, my goddess. We have a mission to accomplish.

She knew Elephthera followed her close behind without saying a word, but always constant and looking back every now and then to make sure the others came after them. Then, she realized, like in a dream, that Alanthea, Kalima and Listeia were not the only ones behind them…or before them. Seven horse riders dressed in black rode menacingly toward them down a high dune. They carried bows and arrows on their backs as well as a sword on their side.

“Are those amazing horse riders also a vision?” Listeia asked in anguish.

“No,” Elephthera answered. “We all see them.”

The Amazons stopped their camels. They did not know what to expect from those mysterious riders that approached them. Soon, the seven strangers galloped around them forming a barrier that surrounded them.

Horses! Was the first thing that called the northern Amazon’s attention and she felt strangely happy to see the animals, in spite of the new danger they might be facing. Thalassa’s sisters were too tired to even think about reaching for their weapons, so they just looked at each other expecting the worst.

All the riders’ faces were covered with a piece of fabric that was part of their turbans and so, the Amazons could not distinguish anything else but their piercing brown eyes. Suddenly, the seven strangers drew their swords. One of them advanced and Thalassa moved her camel forward too.

“Are you in command?” the rider in black asked with a firm but smooth voice and uncovered her face to show her dark skinned features.

“Yes, I am,” Thalassa answered also showing her face to the desert woman.

“Are you Amazons?” the mysterious rider asked them.

“That’s right. We are from the tribes of Aretias and Lemnos,” the golden princess affirmed saluting the riders in the traditional Amazon way.

As she said this, the dark skinned woman nodded while the rest of her group put their swords back in their scabbards. Then, she took the turban off releasing her long straight hair over her shoulders and saluted the princess back. After Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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observing Thalassa she turned to look at the other women. She particularly set her eyes on Elephthera and finally looked back at the golden warrior.

“Follow us,” she said. “We will escort you to Fezzan to see our queen.”

Kalima, Listeia, Alanthea, Elephthera and Thalassa rode behind the seven warriors through the desert. The way to Fezzan was not long and the spirits of the Lemnian princess and her group were now much higher. They had found them.

They had found their African sisters and they embraced the comforting feeling of such an achievement.

They were guided to a village, although the huts they expected to see were actually tents, completely different from the ones they knew. In one of those austere, yet comfortable tents, they were invited to rest, eat and wait for the queen to call for their presence. It was quite a long time after, that the dark haired woman came back.

“I have talked to my queen. She’ll meet you tomorrow. Today, you must rest and recover from your journey. The desert is not a friendly territory for foreigners.”

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The queen did not appear immediately. Thalassa and her companions waited for her in her tent and they had a little time to have a look at it before she arrived.

They were silent, trying to imagine the sort of life these Amazons had in the middle of the desert, when the queen entered. The warriors that guarded the tent spread some sort of carpet that seemed to be made of the skin of an animal, probably a snake, according to its colors and texture. She walked barefoot on this carpet toward the center of the room. Then, she turned to them and her big dark eyes with her amazingly piercing look crossed the tent like a dart thrown at the Greek party.

Elephthera observed the magnificent queen that stood before her like a tall mast of dark marble. She was even taller than Thalassa and stronger than any of them. A lifetime of training was the only possible reason for that well built figure that could have easily overpowered Atalanta, the greatest Amazon ever. Her long black hair fell heavily on her back and was decorated with a golden tiara. This particular item caught Elephthera’s attention for it was engraved with the image of a snake she had never seen before. Its broad neck made it look grand and frightening. Perhaps this kind of snake was only found in this exotic African region. The northern Amazon wondered if she would have the chance to see one of those peculiar animals during their stay in Fezzan.

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The next thing that Elephthera felt curious about was the queen’s gown. It was quite different from the one Queen Xanthia dressed in, or the one she had seen Queen Guinais wear. Unlike those, this queen’s black gown was considerably more adorned with jewels and precious stones which shone with every movement she made. Her bracelets, earrings and necklaces were as majestic as she was herself, and they highlighted her strong African features.

Thalassa took a step forward leaving Elephthera and the others behind her in order to demonstrate that she was the one commanding the Lemnian party. She stood some feet away from the queen showing respect for her authority and saluted her in the universal Amazon way. The African saluted in return and with a gesture invited them to sit down on a carpet, while she did so too. They all remained silent as it was the highest ranked Amazon’s duty to be the first to speak.

“Welcome to my territory,” she finally said. “You were found in the desert, but you come from far in the north. Tell me, what important deed has brought you Aretians and Lemnians to such distant lands?”

“A deed that concerns all of us who are part of the Amazon Nation,” Thalassa answered.

“Then, speak,” the queen commanded.

Her voice was profound and mysterious like the desert itself. Its tone was firm but sweet and smooth at the same time, and her words seemed to be caressing the air as they were uttered. She had an interesting personality. The desert heat ran through her veins like fire, and so it burned even to be near her. The Amazons could notice that, just by observing the way she moved or listening to the confidence she reflected when she spoke.

“I’m the princess of Lemnos,” the golden warrior explained, “and I’m here together with my sisters to ask for your help on behalf of the whole Amazon Nation.”

Thalassa told her all about their theory regarding the Sarmatians’ vile intentions to conquer all Amazon lands in order to gain strategic positions for their future invasions against the Greeks. She also described their long ordeal through the ocean and the desert in search of the African lands, as well as their purpose of getting reinforcements for the war in Aretias.

As she related this, Elephthera turned her head to look at her surroundings.

They were not less beautiful than the queen. There were several tapestries covering the ground which told stories of the tribe of Fezzan, the first of the Amazon tribes:

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A long time ago, a young girl’s family was slaughtered by hungry warlords. When she grew up, she dedicated her life to undo the harm that had been done to her by protecting all women who were wronged by a man’s hand of stone. Therefore, she trained herself to become the most skilful warrior the world had ever seen. She learned the ways of a sword, and she made herself a bow and arrows to kill the enemy at long range. When Artemis saw her from Olympus’s peak, she chose to love her and protect her as well as any other woman who decided to take arms in honor of their noble cause. The great goddess gave them shelter in the African desert where no man would find them, unless they survived a long journey through sand under Apollo’s rage. It was then that Fezzan was founded and the history of the Amazon Nation began.

The majestic African queen listened to every detail of Thalassa’s narration with evident interest and worried look. She waited for the princess to end and after, she still remained silent for a few seconds, trying to cope with the terrible facts that had just been presented to her.

Elephthera’s fascination with the tapestries was finally interrupted by the queen’s voice:

“You are all brave Amazons. The journey you have made has not only tested your fighting abilities, but also your spirits and your minds. The loss of your sisters’ lives is also our own since we all belong to the same mighty nation. Tonight we shall conduct a ceremony in their honor under the moonlight.”

Thalassa nodded politely and the queen continued:

“I’m willing to defend the Amazon blood and sisterhood against any enemy, but I need a few hours to organise the best response to this situation. I will ask you to go back to the tent that has been arranged for you and your companions, and wait there while I consult with my warriors. By the way, I am Queen Nijtá.

Please, tell me your names, so I can meet my sisters in arms.”

One by one the Greek Amazons introduced themselves to Nijtá. After Elephthera did so, it was the golden warrior’s turn to speak:

“I am the princess of Lemnos, daughter of Queen Guinais. My name is

Thalassa.”

That name provoked a strange reaction in the queen’s expression, that Elephthera, sitting close behind Thalassa, could notice immediately. Nijtá suddenly got up and approached the princess, looking intensely at her face with a violent movement that made her and her group stand brusquely on their feet. The queen’s tall figure was powerful enough to intimidate anyone but Thalassa. She leaned closer and met those peculiar eyes she had dreaded to see.

“Your eyes!” she almost screamed. “It’s you! You are Thalassa, the shame of the Amazon Nation!”

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Then, she turned to the warriors that were guarding the entrance of the tent.

“Seize her!” she ordered pointing at the Lemnian princess with a long threatening finger.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“I just don’t understand! What is happening here?” Elephthera exclaimed as she walked back and forth in the tent.

The rest of her sisters were as disconcerted as she was by Queen Nijtá’s sudden reaction of anger against their princess. It had all happened so fast that they were not given any explanations when the golden warrior was chained and taken away.

They had not had enough time to assimilate the fact that Thalassa was suddenly a prisoner of the African Amazons.

They had been taken to their tent again, but now, two guards stood at the entrance to make sure nobody went in or out without the queen’s consent. Every second without knowing what was going on, got Elephthera on her nerves in such a way, that none of the others dared to speak for fear of making her lose control. She might even let her anger out against them, considering how desperate she looked.

“Her eyes?!” she said frantically. “What is the problem with her eyes?”

“I think there is an old legend about her eyes,” Alanthea answered, “but I don’t know exactly what it is about.”

The northern Amazon looked desperately at her companions.

“That’s it,” she finally stated. “I’ll try to sneak out of the tent.”

“But the queen ordered us to stay here,” Listeia argued. “If any of the Africans sees you out there, you’ll get into deep trouble.”

“I don’t care,” Elephthera insisted. “Stay here and obey this foreign queen’s orders if you want, but don’t stop me from being loyal to my princess.”

“Your princess?!” Kalima yelled. “All through the journey you’ve given yourself rights that you don’t deserve with her. You’re not from our tribe and no matter how much you think you care for her, you’ll never mean to her what we do!”

Elephthera’s face turned red with rage. She would have jumped on Kalima at that very moment if it had not been for the fact that she did not want to waste time fighting her. She wanted to see Thalassa and she would not allow anything or anyone to keep her from doing so.

“There is no time to argue now. We don’t know how the Amazon law is

applied in this tribe or what is happening to OUR princess. This must be our first concern in this moment.”

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“I thought your first concern would be the fate of your own tribe in Aretias right now,” Kalima said ironically.

The northern Amazon did not answer to her, but her eyes spoke with fire and contempt. She walked toward the back of the tent, opposite to where the guards were. Then, she made a sign to Listeia and the young woman helped her dig a hole in the sand through which she intended to escape. Alanthea also worked by their side, so the task did not take them too long. When it was finished, the Aretian told them to stay there and wait for her, and after that, she slipped through the hole and disappeared.

“You’re both crazy if you think I’m going to stay here and do nothing to save Thalassa,” Kalima said with a furious tone. After saying that, she ran to the hole and also disappeared through it, leaving the others concerned about their situation.

“This is going to get ugly,” Alanthea said sighing and shaking her head.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Like the tiger she had seen long ago, she moved fast and silently through the Amazon village, although unfortunately, her feline-like weapons had been taken from her. It was not easy for her to find her way in that unknown African town, but she soon identified the tent in which Thalassa was imprisoned, because it was the only one guarded by four warriors. Elephthera felt her heart rate increase as she approached the place where her golden warrior awaited. She felt some kind of excitement for being so close to her and also for the fear of being caught at the last moment.

She looked around and threw herself on the sand behind some wooden barrels as an African Amazon walked by. Luckily, she had not seen her, but Elephthera ignored how much longer her good fortune would last. She knew she had to reach her target as fast as she could, however, it would be very easy for the guards to see her if she got back on her feet now that she was so close to them. Therefore, she dragged herself to the back of the tent trying not to make any noise.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Suddenly, one of the guards turned to her left. She had spotted an intruder.

“You! Hold it right there!” the Amazon ordered.

The four guards ran toward the trespasser and seized her immediately. There was nothing she could do now. She had been caught.

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Elephthera heard the fuss near Thalassa’s prison, though she was not sure of the reason for it. Perhaps my sisters are creating a diversion to help me reach our princess, she thought, and used the opportunity to apply the digging strategy again.

She soon found herself inside the tent where she saw Thalassa and the thick iron chain that immobilized her hands and feet. She was standing, with her eyes closed.

“My Princess,” she whispered.

The Lemnian opened her peculiar eyes and was about to smile when she saw the northern Amazon before her, yet, she realized the danger she was in and immediately said:

“Elephthera! What are you doing here? They’ll kill you if they find you.”

The princess reprimanded the Aretian for disregarding her own safety,

although she was actually happy to see her there.

“I was going mad without knowing what was happening to you. Did they hurt you?” Elephthera asked checking Thalassa’s face and body for any injuries.

“No. I’m fine, but you won’t be if the guards come in here.”

“What is the meaning of all this?” Elephthera asked ignoring the golden warrior’s comment.

Thalassa didn’t answer. Those chains seemed to be too embarrassing for her, like a heavy weight that prevented her from looking straight at the northern Amazon.

“How do they dare do this to you?” The Aretian insisted with a low but indig-nant voice.

“There is a reason for this,” Thalassa finally said with her look still directed to the ground.

“A reason? What reason can there possibly exist? Tell me.”

“No. I’d rather die than disappoint you.”

“Thalassa,” Elephthera said with a soft compassionate tone. “I already know you enough to be certain that you could never disappoint me. Trust me.”

The golden princess took a few seconds to answer, but she finally nodded.

“All right, I’ll tell you because it is you, above any other person, that I trust the most…I am not a true Amazon,” she admitted with a trembling voice that was just too disturbing for Elephthera.

CHAPTER 11

The tent was suddenly opened and she was thrown inside, falling inevitably on the ground. It was not only anger that burned inside her, it was also helplessness and jealousy for not having been able to reach her princess. And that northern Amazon…it all pointed to the unbearable possibility of her actually having entered Thalassa’s prison unseen.

Alanthea approached Kalima and held her arm, but the angry woman pulled it back and stood up by herself. The guard, who was still at the entrance, threatened her, sword in hand:

“Don’t you dare try another one of your silly escapes, Amazon, or you’ll pay the consequences.”

After saying this, she put her weapon back in her scabbard and left. Listeia was the first to question her:

“Are you all right?”

“Yes,” Kalima answered visibly annoyed.

“What happened out there?”

“Elephthera happened!” Kalima responded with a furious tone. “I was very close to the prison, but then I saw her on the other side crawling toward the tent.

I ran trying to reach it before her, and then, the guards spotted me and caught me before I could escape.”

“And what happened to Elephthera?” Alanthea inquired. “Did she reach the tent at least?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t really care”, Kalima answered frowning.

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Listeia could not help the question and she said innocently:

“Why are you against her?”

“And why are you so fond of her?” Kalima replied fast and using a mocking tone.

“I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be. She’s been great so far,” Alanthea intervened provoking an almost violent reaction in Kalima.

“Well, if you don’t see it, then I can’t explain it to you. I’ll just say that she’s been monopolizing our princess ever since she appeared in Lemnos, and she has only brought problems. Look, two of our sisters are already dead.”

“You’re being unfair and I don’t agree with you,” Alanthea said. “But I don’t think this is the best moment to start a fight between ourselves.”

Kalima did not answer, although she almost killed her with the look she gave her.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Elephthera granted her princess respectful moments of silence allowing her to gather strength to tell her the story that was evidently not easy for her to relate.

Thalassa swallowed and sighed a few times before she was able to let any sound be released from her lips. Then, she looked at the compassionate eyes that were waiting for her words and said:

“Somehow Queen Nijtá knows all about my origins, about the impurity of my Amazon essence; a secret that only Artemis and Queen Guinais are supposed to know…and now, you will know it too.”

“What do you mean? I can’t imagine a purer Amazon than you, Princess.”

Thalassa swallowed and continued in a low voice:

“Queen Guinais is not my blood mother, although she has always and will always be my only mother.”

The Aretian looked at her seriously but did not interrupt.

“The woman who bore me used to be a Hestian priestess, but one day she broke the sacred vow of chastity for the love of a man and her followers tried to lynch her. She didn’t face her executioners. Instead, she ran away abandoning the Hestian sisterhood and taking me with her. Even though I was the living proof of her shameful act, she tried to save me. Somehow, in her flee, she reached Artemis’s temple and the rest of the story is quite difficult to understand.”

“Quite difficult?” Elephthera asked interested in the story she was being told.

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“My mother handed me to the very same Artemis. It was the goddess’s duty to kill the priestess and me as a sign of solidarity with Hestia, but instead, she took me to Lemnos where I was raised as an Amazon princess.”

“Why…why did Artemis take you to the Amazons?”

“Queen Guinais told me once that when Artemis saw my eyes, she put her sacred arrow back in her scabbard and took me from my mother’s arms. She let her go and promised to protect me because my destiny belonged to the Amazon Nation.”

Elephthera was bewildered by Thalassa’s words. They were yet another reason to feel interested by this enigmatic woman that held so many secrets and so many truths. She drowned in the princess’s peculiar eyes trying to find the reason for Artemis’s decision and she looked so deep into them, that the golden warrior blushed at the intensity of those brown eyes, which easily stripped her soul.

“Your eyes,” Elephthera suddenly understood. “That’s why the African queen mentioned them. But what is the matter with…?”

“I know,” the Lemnian interrupted, “but remember that Queen Nijtá belongs to the oldest and most traditional tribe of all. Here, a virgin’s vow of remaining untouched by men is the most sacred one. The queen surely knows about the legend and my origins, which are an insult to the Amazon race.”

“Legend?”

“The legend of an Amazon princess whose eyes and name spoke of the sea, but whose origins made her a contradiction in herself…a fraud.”

Elephthera shook her head.

“A fraud? No, my Princess. I can’t imagine a truer Amazon than you. And your destiny really belongs to our nation as a great warrior and a great queen someday.”

After saying this, the Aretian warrior saluted Thalassa with all the respects due to a queen. Then, she fell on her knees before her.

The princess tried to help her get up again but her chains did not allow her any movement.

“Rise, Elephthera,” she said desperately. “I’m not your princess, I’m your friend.”

“And I’m yours, Thalassa,” Elephthera said while getting back on her feet again. “Always and in any circumstance.”

Thalassa smiled.

“Thank you.”

Elephthera smiled back.

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“And now,” she said looking deeply into the princess’s ocean-like eyes, “I have to find a way to get you out of this.”

“Queen Nijtá will never understand what my mother…”

“Your mother,” the northern Amazon interrupted. “It was her, not you, who broke the vow and I’m going to make sure she understands that.”

“But Elephthera…!” Thalassa called yet couldn’t stop the Aretian, who was already crawling back out of the tent and soon disappeared through the sand leaving her to her thoughts.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The viscous creature was sliding along her naked arms and neck, but Queen Nijtá seemed to be enjoying the experience, her eyes fixed on the snake’s eyes as if they were hypnotizing each other. That was the striking scene that appeared before Elephthera when she was taken inside the royal tent.

“My queen,” she had heard one of the warriors say, “we have caught an

intruder trying to sneak inside your tent. We request your permission to come inside.”

The gesture of the queen’s hand had made clear that she allowed them to bring the furtive Amazon to her presence. Then, she ordered the guards to stay at the entrance. Elephthera was pushed and almost fell on her knees as the chains that held her feet almost impeded her to walk. She was first and foremost shocked by the sight of the mighty queen and had to wait for some time before the African even noticed her, or at least, let her know that she had.

The queen was sitting on a golden cushion holding the long body of a very fearsome snake with both hands, just like the one engraved in her tiara. The grey-ish-brown reptile moved smoothly around her shoulders covering them like an exotic textile that made the queen look, if possible, more imposing than she already was. It was amazing how she didn’t seem to fear this mysterious animal, especially when it straightened up, spreading its wide hood and showing the lower part of its body, which was yellow with dark mottles. It looked menacingly at Elephthera.

“It’s an Egyptian cobra,” Nijtá finally said. “It is not particularly aggressive if you know how to treat it, but its venom could kill you quite fast. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Elephthera nodded as an answer but did not say a word yet.

“A cobra like this one,” the queen continued, “crawls through the sand at night disguising itself with the desert environment it is so familiar with. Some-Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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times, it manages to go inside a tent undetected, camouflaged, and then, when it finds its victim, it attacks it with one silent and agile bite.”

Nijtá said this indifferently, not turning to the northern Amazon. Instead, she was looking at her cobra moving slowly on her hands. Then, after putting it back in a basket the African queen asked much more abruptly, raising her eyes and meeting Elephthera’s with a cold stare:

“Was it your intention to bite me, snake?”

Her black eyes and tone were terribly intimidating, but the Aretian knew that could be her only chance to save Thalassa from the present and unfair situation she was suffering, and so she spoke:

“Queen Nijtá,” she started respectfully, “neither my intentions nor my companions’ have ever been hostile toward you or any member of your tribe. We came here, as you know, on a mission to ask you to join us against a common enemy that is trying to destroy the Amazon Nation. I’m sure you have a good reason to do what you are doing against princess Thalassa, but I wish to speak on her behalf…”

The queen, who had listened patiently to the beginning of Elephthera’s speech, suddenly made her stop with a gesture as soon as her prisoner’s name was pronounced.

“You have some nerve, Amazon, coming here to lecture me about that shame you call princess. There is no defense for her situation. It’s not even up to her. It’s Amazon Law,” she argued with an emphatic tone.

Elephthera had to search inside her in order to gather enough courage and strength to answer to that statement. She knew her words could displease the queen and make things even worse, but Thalassa’s life was worth everything.

Everything.

“Forgive my daring, Queen Nijtá. I am not from Lemnos and I have known Thalassa only for a few weeks. I have no other reason to speak in her defense than what I have observed during this time. For my goddess, I can assure you she is a true Amazon, a great warrior and a fair and courageous princess. I have come to admire her qualities very deeply in this short time. She’s not a shame, she’s a hero of our nation. Whatever origins she may have had, the remains of its despicable stain do not lie in her hands. Artemis saw that when she chose to save her.

Thalassa belongs to us as we belong to her. Our Amazon spirit binds us all so close that no difference of birth or blood could ever make us doubt our sisterhood…we are one.”

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sharper and she seemed about to interrupt, but she didn’t. She kept silent even after Elephthera finished, which made the tension grow in the Aretian warrior’s body. It was impossible to know whether the queen would immediately sentence her to death for her insolence or pardon the golden warrior.

Silence.

The hissing of a snake.

Silence.

Elephthera was almost trembling when Queen Nijtá stood up, approached her and finally spoke after quite a long reflection:

“She must mean the world to you, or else you wouldn’t risk your life in such a way to save hers.”

She walked around the brave Amazon standing before her.

“I would never contradict our mighty goddess, Artemis,” she said. “Therefore, I will leave it up to her wisdom to save…or not…the Amazon you say she favors so much, and decide her destiny one more time. Tomorrow at noon, the

so-called princess and I will face each other on a fair fight. My weapons of choice are staffs, so it won’t be a fight to the death. The winner of this confrontation will decide what is to be done, but just know that if I win, Thalassa dies. May Artemis show us who is in possession of the truth.”

“Thank you, Queen Nijtá,” Elephthera said in a humble tone.

“Don’t thank the woman who might kill your friend.”

Immediately after, the queen signalled her guards to take Elephthera back with the other prisoners.

“And keep her there this time!” she ordered.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“The situation is getting desperate. Many more of our sisters fell today under the anger and hatred of the Sarmatians’ swords. We’re losing countless warriors every day, and I don’t know how long we can resist in this position. Unfortunately, I don’t believe it will be for long.”

Queen Xanthia started the meeting with these words that made everyone look down in remembrance of the inevitable bloodshed this war had brought.

The night had fallen one more time covering the bloody battlefield and allowing the fighters a few hours of rest, although never peace. Their hearts were far too invaded by war. That war, which was already lasting too many moons, given the relentlessness of both sides.

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And also one more time, the Amazons in command of the tribes of Lemnos and Aretias were sitting around the same table discussing their situation and the necessary strategies. Each of them took turns to speak as the imminent hardships of war turned their spirits darker and their minds colder. Queen Xanthia and her sister, princess Aricia, were present together with their high priestess, Dasha.

Elenthe and Aglaia had often been invited to these meetings, and so they could witness Queen Xanthia’s desperate statement that night.

The queen had made a pause in her speech regarding her sisters in arms and then she continued:

“The Amazon Nation will die if Aretias is defeated someday. And although I would lay down my life a thousand times before I allowed that to happen, every second that passes draws that dreaded day nearer. Your help has been precious,”

she said addressing the commanders of the tribe of Lemnos, “and I don’t think we would be here now if you hadn’t come to support us. However…”

She made a pause, so long, that her sentence seemed to have actually finished there.

“…however,” Elenthe dared to continue, “our forces diminish every day, I know, and still I think our only chance is to resist and try to weaken the enemy as much as we can for Thalassa and the African Amazons to crush them. I know our princess will not rest until she has done everything to bring salvation to us. We should not give up, because before we see ourselves in the Land of the Dead, Thalassa will be here with the Africans and the promise of life we so badly long for.”

Dasha, the Aretian high priestess, had remained silent through the night, not being able to contradict the queen in her realistic explanation of the facts. At that point, though, she could not help the question:

“Can we be completely sure about your princess’s arrival to Aretias? I didn’t feel any sign that told me so.”

“Thalassa will come,” Aglaia answered keeping her head down as a gesture of respect toward the priestess.

“I pray for Artemis to hear your words, Aglaia,” Dasha said in a low voice.

“Nevertheless, we must make a sacrifice in honor of our goddess to whom we owe every breath we have left. Even more, we must ask her to give your princess protection from all the evil she might find on her way here and that could prevent her from fulfilling her mission.”

“I offer my help to prepare the sacrifice,” Aglaia suggested. “Priestess Zarpa has already taught me the sacrificial prayers and I’ll be glad to assist you in any way I can.”

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Dasha nodded and was about to tell Aglaia how to proceed when Aricia, who could never keep as calm as her sister, especially in that dramatic situation, stood up and faced Aglaia and Dasha directly:

“You are so sure Thalassa will come, but the question is: when? Maybe it will be too late by then. We should be planning our defense instead of sacrifices.”

“Aricia!” the queen said with a harsh tone.

“I’m sorry, my Queen. I don’t mean to be disrespectful toward the priestess or to offend Artemis, but our beliefs will only save us if we fight for them. We barely have a chance of surviving for the next two weeks, so it is imperative to decide how we’re going to keep those Sarmatian animals from killing us.”

“You’re right,” Elenthe said, “and we must also decide how we are going to ration the food among the injured Amazons. Our warriors need to eat more to have enough energy to fight.”

“But you can’t choose not to feed the injured well. They also need energy to heal,” Aglaia argued.

“Sometimes hard things need to be done for a greater good, Aglaia,” the Aretian princess replied. “We can’t sacrifice a whole nation for a few Amazons that might not even survive.”

Priestess Dasha immediately disagreed with the desperate measures that Elenthe and Aricia were suggesting. Therefore, she decided to intervene again:

“It is vital that we figure out a way to save everyone, not to murder some of our sisters for our own good. Our lives are not worth more than theirs, and it is just a matter of luck that we’re not lying bleeding like they are. So, no more talking about rationing their food, Amazons. No more.”

“Priestess Dasha is right,” Queen Xanthia spoke with her usual confidence and strength. “It is our duty to plan our resistance, not our destruction. Aricia, count our food and water supplies. Calculate the way in which we’ll have to divide them among all our sisters. Elenthe, arm your warriors with the weapons of the injured or the dead. We can’t waste any device we can use to kill a Sarmatian.

Priestesses, prepare your sacrifice and carry it out as soon as possible. We will all be with you at the sacrificial pyre tomorrow at dawn in order to pray for the African mission. We’ll go on making the best of the resources we have now and we will all die fighting, if it comes to that. I hope princess Thalassa will arrive with the necessary help before everything is lost, but in any case, our defeat, if there is one, will never be an easy one.”

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Anxiety was stabbing her like a very sharp knife. What was going to happen?

All this time was being wasted because of her and there was nothing she could do to avoid it. She had asked to speak to the queen, but her request had been rejected because Nijtá was in deep meditation that night, or so she had been told, and nobody was allowed to interrupt her.

It was already dark, but no news had been brought to her about her possible trial or punishment, and she had not known anything else about Elephthera after she had left her hours before. That worried her terribly. She had seen the decision in the northern Amazon’s expression and her words showed her firm intention of trying to see Queen Nijtá.

I shouldn’t have let her get herself into this, she thought . She’s my responsibility in these foreign lands. She has to be all right, Thalassa repeated to herself, although the truth was that uncertainty was killing her.

I know I’ve let her down with everything I’ve told her. I’ve let all my sisters down by allowing myself to be dragged here in chains. But then, what was I supposed to do?

Risk their lives by taking a sword before I knew Queen Nijtá’s motives? No, that was not a convenient way to react. Yet, I despise myself for being here.

Thalassa’s breathing became stronger as multiple thoughts crossed her mind.

“Why has it come to this, Artemis?” she asked looking up. “Is it that one who is born of an unfaithful must pay with her life for that betrayal? And if so, must everyone around me pay as well? No, my goddess, don’t let them suffer because of me.”

Then, after she made a pause, she continued:

“I can’t die like this. Not if I know that the Amazon Nation still needs me. My Aretian sisters are surely in dire need of reinforcements and it’s my duty to provide them with that.”

“And Elephthera…she expects so much from me. Oh, if they have done anything to her I’ll…” the golden warrior interrupted herself as she pulled the chains angrily being carried away by the frustration she felt. She sat on the ground with a thousand ideas in her mind, but she soon realized that there was one that occupied her thoughts more intensely than the others, perhaps more than her own possible death.

“She has to be all right,” she whispered one more time.

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

She was exhausted after all the unexpected events of the day, but sleeping was something she would not even consider. Sitting on that carpet that had been arranged for them, in the dark, she appreciated the silence, for it allowed her to be alone with Thalassa…at least in her mind.

Since the moment she had been taken back to the tent, her sisters, particularly Listeia, had been asking her a thousand questions. She had to explain to them how she had managed to have a secret meeting with Thalassa and her later conversation with Nijtá about the confrontation of the following day. The queen’s intentions scared them, although they trusted their princess’s fighting abilities.

Listeia and Alanthea were now resting next to her. Kalima had chosen a corner away from them, after listening to her adventures outside the tent with angry eyes and without saying a word.

Elephthera sighed thinking that their mission was at risk. Her sisters in Aretias were probably dying or already dead, and everything depended on Thalassa.

Thalassa, she repeated to herself. She had seen her fight and knew what she was capable of, but the oppression in her heart had been growing stronger since Queen Nijtá pronounced those words: if I win, she dies. In the middle of so much pain and confusion, the idea of Thalassa’s death anguished her beyond understanding.

I’m afraid of tomorrow, she thought. I wouldn’t bear losing you right before my eyes. Not by the hand of this foreign queen. She looks so dangerous, so strong and experienced in battle. It’s not that I doubt your skills, my Princess, it’s that I don’t want her to hurt you or to win the privilege of sentencing you to a death you don’t deserve.

Please, Artemis, protect her. For all of us, for my Aretian sisters, who need us there.

We must carry out our deed for the Amazon Nation, and we won’t make it without her…I know I won’t.

Elephthera lost herself in her thoughts, and in her mind, she saw the peculiar eyes of the golden warrior: their warmth, their power.

I’m thinking of you, Thalassa. Every moment, I’m thinking of you.

CHAPTER 12

Heat and hatred. Two elements that dwelled in that particular day.

“Justice will be done today after such a long time,” the goddess said expressing her satisfaction at the situation that was developing before her eyes.

“Why doesn’t it surprise me to see you here?”

“I’ve come to witness the fulfilment of the vengeance I have sought for so long,” she answered with an arrogant tone.

“This is not a day for vengeance. It is a day for the truth to be found and embraced,” the great Amazon goddess said dryly.

“The only truth we’ll see today will be that of a dead princess: your precious Thalassa.”

“You must remember that we can’t intervene, Hestia. This conflict has to be solved between mortals, but destiny will protect Thalassa like I did when she was born. The Moirai will decide.”

“And they’re precisely who I’m relying on. You see, I paid them a short visit this morning and they told me not to worry about today’s battle’s outcome. They said justice would be done,” Hestia smiled and made a brief pause. “Destiny will finally repay me all the wrong that Mythera and her daughter have meant for the Hestian order.”

The goddess’s expression reflected the fire of revenge that raced under her skin. Artemis trusted the golden warrior’s fighting skills, even if she was to confront such a powerful opponent as Nijtá. And yet, the burning look Hestia gave

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her made the mighty huntress fear for her protégé’s life. Hiding her concern, she returned the cold gesture to the deity before her and said:

“She’d better not die today, or your priestesses and followers will become my new favourite prey.”

After this tense conversation, Hestia and Artemis prepared to see the fight from different angles. All the attendants were forming a great circle inside which the fight would take place. The divine huntress stood near the Greek Amazons, whose presence had been allowed at the combat, although very well guarded. On the other side, Hestia moved closer to the area where Nijtá was supposed to enter the circle. She observed from behind the African Amazons who loudly cheered for their queen.

Both goddesses wanted the group they favored to feel their support, but neither of them were going to intervene in any way, and so they chose to remain unseen.

Thalassa was already waiting for her opponent in the center of the circle. Her skin hurt with the intensity of the sunrays that burned it since she had been stripped from her desert clothes and forced to dress in her usual leather attire.

Even at this time of nervousness and distress, rather than thinking about what she felt or what was going to become of her after the fight, the sole thought in her mind was how much Elephthera must have been suffering under the sun of Fezzan considering that her skin was far more delicate than hers.

Strange thought for a moment like this.

The Lemnian princess was standing on the burning sand surrounded by hundreds of African Amazons that expected her defeat. Only four women in custody at one side of the circle, as well as one of the goddesses that were secretly witnessing the whole process, wished for her victory.

Thalassa had been informed of the upcoming events that same morning, only a short time before, but she appeared to be calm and concentrated. She hadn’t almost looked at her Amazon sisters when taken into the circle, just a quick glance at Elephthera that had meant the world to the northern warrior. She had directed her deep eyes to her to let her know she was conscious of her presence and support, and during that fleeting instant, Elephthera had perceived the confidence she wanted to transmit to her, but also the shame and sorrow she was carrying on her shoulders.

And there she was, in the middle of all of them, as superb as always, waiting for her destiny.

Suddenly, the African Amazons went silent. The only sound that could be heard was that of drums, loud and violent, announcing Nijtá’s arrival. A small Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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gap was made and through it the mesmerizing queen walked in to stand in everyone’s sight.

When Elephthera saw Queen Nijtá, she thought her legs would not hold her for long. A sudden dizziness invaded her as the muscular African stepped confidently before them. Her only relief through that ordeal was the fact that it would not be a fight to the death. Nevertheless, the memory of the queen’s words broke that instant of calm immediately. She knew Nijtá’s victory would imply Thalassa’s death, anyway.

The Greek Amazons had only seen Nijtá in her luxurious tunic and had now the chance of contemplating the well-built body of the African queen, which did not precisely make them happy at that moment. She was the tallest of all the warriors present and her sculpture-like figure was more breathtaking than ever before. She had changed her royal gown for a more comfortable light blue kilt that would allow her to move freely in combat. She was also wearing a light blue and silver breastplate that let her dark skin and strong muscles stand out in that sandy landscape.

Thalassa did not even blink at that menacing figure, though.

A warrior of silver and a golden warrior. Both powerful. Both determined to win. They stood there for a short while staring at each other from a distance. The drums were deafening, although the sharp ears of the goddesses could also hear the beating of so many human hearts, particularly of some.

A member of the Fezzan tribe suddenly moved toward the center of the circle carrying two solid staffs in her hands. By order of Nijtá, she approached Thalassa first and left one of the weapons close to her on the sand. She moved then fast toward her queen and lay the other one by her side. After that, she returned to her place with agile feet.

The fighters leaned and seized their staffs slowly, without taking their eyes off each other. Their breathing was calm, although their muscles were already tense and their senses had intensified their capacity of perception. For a moment, Thalassa turned her eyes and met Elephthera’s. That was all she needed. Then, she turned back to face Nijtá. The moment had come. One of the two warriors stroke the first blow…only those who were there know who it was.

Both women realised they would have to give the best of themselves to defeat such an opponent, and soon, their incredible fighting abilities became obvious for all the witnesses of that amazing combat. It was even difficult for their sisters to follow them with their eyes, given the speed of their movements. The tapping of the staffs was fast and almost rhythmic. It followed the sound of the drums that still beat in the improvised arena’s background.

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At the beginning, the battle was even. Both warriors engaged with all their strength and attacked rather than defended. Queen Nijtá’s strategy was to overpower Thalassa with her big muscular structure and the fact that she was taller than the golden princess. On the other hand, the Lemnian wanted to tire her opponent by giving her a strong and constant fight. Her responses to each blow were quick and cunning for she wanted to keep the queen moving until she weakened.

Nonetheless, their strategies were not good enough to gain any advantage over each other, and so the fight continued to be aggressive for quite a while. Evidently, neither of them would be easy to defeat.

The African queen went on with her fierce attack and eventually made

Thalassa’s knuckles bleed for hitting them so many times when trying to block the Lemnian Amazon’s staff. At the same time, Nijtá’s wrist got bruised and swol-len after being strongly hurt by the wooden weapon that kept on swaying close to her. It didn’t take long for both contenders to get sprinkled with sweat and blood. The ardent sun made those drops of vital liquids shine on their skin as they ran down their bodies or splashed in the air with every movement they made.

This exhausting fight of titans seemed to be endless for both, the warriors and the spectators. The balance of justice had not yet fallen in favor of a winner and this filled the Amazons’ hearts with anxiety. However, whether it was the queen who won or the princess, this battle was certainly worth being witnessed. If it weren’t for the risk it implied, most of them would have even enjoyed it.

Elephthera was among those who were partly worried and partly amazed at the fight’s development. She had only seen Thalassa fight once, against those bar-barians at sea, and she had already thought the princess was a magnificent warrior. Yet, this was totally different. She was astonished at the extremely fast but at the same time skilful way in which those two women were confronting each other. Her eyes, heart and soul were focused on every move Thalassa made. She felt fury possess her whenever the princess was hit, but she also felt pride flowing through her veins when the golden warrior proved the many reasons why she was so greatly admired for her skills in war. The Aretian could not help feeling respect and admiration for such a wonderful person that she now had the privilege to call friend.

The rest of the Greek Amazons were also very interested in the fight’s development. Despite the fact that they were more used to seeing Thalassa in a battlefield, they were a little surprised, since they had never seen her face such an Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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awesome warrior as Nijtá was. Every movement of the African queen was precise and powerful, no hesitation or weakness seemed to invade her at any moment.

Kalima started considering the idea of killing whoever tried to end Thalassa’s life in case she lost, but the odds of such a small group of warriors defeating the entire African tribe were practically none. Alanthea was too worried to even think about the greatness each of the fighters were showing in the confrontation, while Listeia was fascinated by the queen’s power and the princess’s way of showing strength and ability.

At the same time, the warriors of Fezzan thought this combat could be a chance to prove their superiority over the other Amazons. After all, theirs was the first and most important of all tribes, so they wanted to have the same place in battle as they did in the history of the Amazon Nation. Even so, that princess their queen was fighting was turning out to be a tough opponent. Neither Nijtá nor the members of her tribe had expected her to be such a fabulous warrior, who could perfectly answer and even anticipate her counterpart’s blows. It looked as if she had been trained by Artemis herself. Therefore, they didn’t want to feel over-confident because this golden warrior could be, perhaps, the first person to ever defeat Nijtá.

Both fighters kept looking at each other’s eyes to guess their next intentions and the excitement in their faces showed that they were somehow enjoying the challenge they had been obliged to encounter. Only the rhythmic sound of the drums and the hitting of the staffs accompanied them, but not a single word was pronounced by any of the attendants, since they knew their concentration should never be disturbed.

Nijtá’s hypnotizing eyes made it difficult to decide whether she felt herself like the snake trying to lure its prey to her inevitable death, or she was so used to tam-ing that kind of animal as to attempt that strategy with the golden warrior.

Despite that, Thalassa did not blink; she did not lose her focus for a single moment.

Suddenly, the queen charged against her in an even more aggressive, furious way, trying to reach her body with a series of powerful blows that kept progressively growing in strength and speed up to the point of seeming unstoppable.

Amazingly, Thalassa avoided or answered each one of them until Nijtá took a moment to recover her breathing, and then, the golden princess, without wasting a second, started her attack in a similar relentless way that the queen could not easily control.

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This is going to be a long and terrible fight, Artemis reckoned and she could also feel the fear that was taking over Hestia at the thought of her vengeance not being attained that day either.

The combat continued to develop before so many eyes, human and divine, but none of the fighters appeared to be at the limit of her forces. The outcome didn’t seem close or clear, although the burning sun was another enemy on Thalassa’s body. Nijtá’s darker skin, more used to that climate, could cope with those terrible sunbeams much more easily. They fought each other restlessly, until suddenly, something happened.

Nijtá hit Thalassa’s hand so hard that she made her lose grip of her staff. She kicked the wooden weapon away from the Greek Amazon and attacked the

unarmed warrior fiercely. The princess tried to defend herself, but the pain of each stroke weakened her too quickly. At that moment, the queen found the perfect chance to defeat the golden warrior, so she swung the staff to her left and hit Thalassa’s head making her fall face down on the sand.

The drums stopped. Silence.

Elephthera held her breath. Her heart stopped beating at the sight of such a terrible scene. Life was slipping away from her. Thalassa…

Queen Nijtá only had one thing left to do: she had to immobilize the princess who was painfully trying to get back on her feet.

“Give up!” she shouted angrily, but Thalassa managed to get on her knees.

Nijtá was furious at the princess’s strength of will. She wanted victory. Decid-edly, she positioned her staff horizontally and ran toward the injured warrior. As she was about to push Thalassa back and hold her with her staff, the Lemnian grabbed the queen’s weapon with both hands, leaned back and kicked Nijtá on the stomach pushing her up and making her fall right behind her.

It only took a few seconds for both Amazons to get on their feet again, but Queen Nijtá never had the chance to charge against Thalassa one more time. As she felt the tip of the staff hitting strongly against her abdomen, it was too late for a reaction. The golden warrior had attained a weak spot using her weapon almost like a spear and, as soon as the African fighter leaned at the intense pain, the princess turned around her with the fastest movement she could be able of, and hit her again on her back making her fall on her knees. Before she could do anything about it, Thalassa’s foot was already on her, and she found herself suddenly face down on the sand.

There was nothing else to do. The Moirai had decided.

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“This is an outrage!” she shouted, but only a single being heard her: that other who shared divinity with her.

“The Moirai said that justice would be done today, and so it has.”

“How can you call this justice when this is but a vanity of chance?! You’ve always had your way, Artemis, and that is definitely not justice.”

“Hestia!” the Divine Huntress raised her voice. “Admit once and for all that you can’t fight Thalassa’s place in the Amazon Nation despite the shame that lies on her mother’s acts. Their lives might be intertwined by the inheritance of blood, but whatever they each do in their lives, good or bad, is theirs and theirs only. Thalassa was chosen to redeem her origins by devoting her life to the mighty warrior women and you shall never interfere again with her path, because no one, not even deities, must ever change whatever is sewn with the threads of destiny.”

“Shame on you, Artemis!” Hestia answered angrily. “Shame on you and your Amazon princess!”

Two goddesses left the sand of Fezzan that morning. One was furious and determined to go and see the Moirai to ask for an explanation of that ridiculous outcome. The other one was satisfied. She knew justice and destiny had become one that day, and understood more and more the legend of Thalassa’s greatness.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Their queen was defeated. Defeated for the first time. The silence was total and Nijtá still remained face down on the sand for a few moments, probably as astonished as the rest of the members of her tribe. Only four faces among the big group of attendants appeared visibly relieved and could not help expressing the happiness that spread over them in the shape of a smile.

“Please, take my staff as a symbol of my defeat,” Nijtá’s voice was loud and firm. She sounded as powerful and sure of herself as if she had won the fight.

However, she was not standing triumphant like the champion of this confrontation. She was kneeling humbly, vanquished and disappointed.

Thalassa hesitated at first. She did not answer immediately Nijtá’s words.

Instead, she grabbed the queen’s staff with both hands and raised it as a symbol of respect. Then, she lowered it quickly and used her thigh to hit the wooden weapon and break it in half .

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Even though the African was looking down, she knew what the golden princess had done because she had followed her movements through her shadow. She thought Thalassa was trying to confirm her success, but then, she did something that Nijtá had not expected: she grabbed her own weapon, which she had dropped on the sand once her victory was clear, and she also split it, throwing both halves away from them. The queen understood the wish for peace that gesture implied.

The four pieces of wood lay on the sand and Thalassa spoke:

“Raise, Queen Nijtá, there will be no more violence today.”

Nijtá got on her feet taking the hand that Thalassa was offering her as a friendly sign. She approached the princess and pronounced the following words in a loud voice, so that all the present could hear her:

“You are the winner of this fight, and so you have the right to decide now about my destiny and that of my tribe.”

Everybody waited tensely for the golden warrior’s answer, which seemed to be taking too long to be given.

“Queen Nijtá,” she finally said with a strong voice. “It was never my intention to create any hostility between our tribes, which both belong to the same world and are meant to unify against a common foe. This must be the first and last time that we face each other as enemies. From now on, we must remember that we were all born of a single mother, and that that mother is the Amazon Nation. We must remember that as we speak, the fate of our glorious nation is at stake and it is up to us to make a choice: either we fight together as sisters, or we hate each other and die. We came here to ask for your help and that hasn’t changed. We still need you, and so my decision is that we go together to Aretias. This should be our priority now.”

Thalassa looked into Nijtá’s eyes intensely. She expected an answer.

“I can assure you that Aretias will get all the help we can offer, and I give you my word that I’ll fight by your side for all the Amazons’ sake today and always,”

the queen said and made a brief pause. “Even so, as hard as I try, I can’t promise to ever see you as my sister, for that, I think you will never be.”

The golden warrior sighed.

“I appreciate your honesty, queen Nijtá,” she stated. “Therefore, I tell you this: if we survive the battle in Aretias, I’ll put my life, that you consider to be an aberration, in your hands. And if you still think me unworthy of being an Amazon, I will give you myself the weapon with which you will pierce my heart and avenge the day when I stained our nation’s name. A delay of my punishment is all I request from you.”

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None of the present could deny the nobility of such words that surprised the Africans even more than the result of the combat. Elephthera did not expect such a speech either, and although she did not like Thalassa’s decision particularly, she could not help admiring her more for that. In fact, full pages could be written about the way she felt at that moment, but there’s not enough ink for that. All that can be said by now is this:

Sublime, Elephthera kept saying to herself. She is just sublime.

The queen needed a few seconds to recover from the unexpected answer, and then she said:

“Everything will be as you request. We’ll meet this afternoon to organise our army and we will part tomorrow at dawn toward the isle of Aretias.”

After hearing this, Thalassa saluted Nijtá in the traditional Amazon way and walked away. The African warriors did not stop her because she was a free woman again.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The tent they had been offered this time was bigger and more luxurious. They were supposed to rest there until the following day, but the Greeks were too nervous after all the events of the day and felt it impossible to relax.

“I was so scared for you, my Princess,” Listeia said.

“We all were,” Kalima almost interrupted directing an ironic look to Elephthera.

The princess smiled at the young Amazon.

“I know, thank you.”

The northern warrior had kept in silence and her face showed an expression mixed with relief, admiration and also fear. She could not help the question:

“Why did you do it, Thalassa? Why did you have to offer her your life?”

The question did not surprise the golden warrior, who had been expecting it.

“Because I want to conquer her respect freely and not by obligation.”

“What if she’s not reasonable?” Elephthera insisted with anxiety.

“I think Nijtá is a wise queen, but in any case, I hope she’ll be reasonable enough not to go against her own kind.”

Thalassa knew this answer was not enough. Therefore, she directed her deep ocean-like eyes to Elephthera one more time with a touching look that seemed to say: thanks for your support, thanks for your friendship.

CHAPTER 13

It was such an astonishing landscape. Those grains of white danger seemed so peaceful, and yet, so threatening…The memory of how those waves of sand had turned into a murdering tornado the night of Elani’s death, cut their hearts and filled them with grief as they crossed the Livian territory once again.

The way through the desert was being faster this time and they felt safer with the proper guides and provisions. The big group of about two hundred and fifty Amazons advanced on the burning sand toward the city of Leptis, providing a remarkable view of the usually quiet desert to anyone who would have been there to admire the African dunes. But, nobody saw them. They were not disturbed by any human intruder.

The Greek Amazons felt much more comfortable now that they had been

given horses, although some of the Africans preferred camels for the journey.

They actually looked as fresh as those animals, while Thalassa and her companions suffered terribly the sunrays on their head and skin even through their clothes. They had been trying to follow the rhythmic step of their African sisters, but they could not help looking tired and weak despite their big effort. The golden warrior was the only one who kept completely straight on her horse, but she was conscious of the enormous difficulty she was having not to sway like her Greek friends.

The members of the tribe of Fezzan glanced at them sideways a little surprised before these Amazons’ weakness. Why did they look about to faint if they had been going through the desert just for a few hours? Somehow they enjoyed their

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superiority. Even Queen Nijtá, although more aware of their lack of experience in that specific environment, was enjoying that feeling, probably to recover from her hurt pride after the fight.

“I still don’t understand how these African women can find their way through this immense world of sand,” Elephthera told Thalassa, who seemed to be lost somewhere in the world of daydreams.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, it’s amazing,” she answered vaguely.

“Were you thinking about Elani?”

“Yes. If only the sandstorm had occurred now, on the way back, she wouldn’t have died because the Fezzan Amazons would have told us what to do. I feel so helpless in these foreign lands that I just want us to go back where we belong, so that I know you are all safe with me again.”

“Let me tell you two things, Thalassa. One, what happened to Elani was not your fault; and two, you can’t always be in control. There are always circumstances. Remember that.”

“But my will has always been stronger than any circumstance.”

“And I admire you for that, but there are moments in which you have to step aside and let others take control.”

“That’s impossible,” Thalassa said and Elephthera shook her head at her proud response.

The expedition flowed slowly but without pause toward the sea with the queen at its head. Everything seemed peaceful enough until the ones close to her heard Listeia’s scream and saw her fall grabbing her ankle. When Thalassa turned to her, she was squirming on the ardent sand holding her right leg. She moaned and closed her eyes tightly showing clearly that she was in deep pain.

The Greek Amazons ran toward her and leaned beside her trying to find out what was wrong with her. Slowly, Thalassa removed Listeia’s hands from her leg and discovered two aligned small bleeding holes on it. They were bite marks.

“It was a cobra!” one of the Africans exclaimed. “It slid away.”

“I jumped off the horse…I wanted it to rest for a while,” Listeia said and held her breath as an arrow of pain struck her. “I stepped on the sand and…a snake…” she couldn’t talk any more because her leg ached as if it had been burned with fire.

Thalassa tried to help her, but she had to admit to herself she knew nothing about desert snakes. What to do? What was best? Of course, the poison had to be taken out…and that had to be done fast. Kalima and Alanthea were also looking at each other nervously, while Listeia kept grabbing her ankle with despair.

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“What’s the fuss about?” Queen Nijtá asked as Elephthera approached her.

“One of our sisters has been bitten by a snake.”

Nijtá knew what that meant. She had to act fast. Most probably, none of the Greek Amazons knew what to do about that situation and if Listeia was not attended immediately, she would die.

Some of the Fezzan warriors had already run to Listeia’s aid when Queen Nijtá appeared. Alanthea stepped aside in order to allow the queen to take her place next to the injured Amazon.

“Let me,” she said. Then, she addressed Listeia:

“Don’t move, you have to be completely still.”

Nijtá analyzed the young woman’s wound and took a dagger she had tied to her waist.

“Hold her,” she ordered Thalassa and the others around her. “Don’t let her move a bit.”

Then, she made a smooth vertical cut on her ankle right through the terrible bite, and she got out the venom skilfully using the knife and her own mouth to spit it out. She also pressed Listeia’s skin making it bleed abundantly.

“Give me a piece of cloth,” Nijtá ordered and took the one Thalassa offered.

She asked one of the members of her tribe to bring her a special antidote and she poured the viscous liquid on the Amazon’s wound cleaning and curing the cut. After that, she bandaged Listeia’s leg and pressed the wound tightly to stop the bleeding.

“This will keep the venom from spreading through her bloodstream,” she finally said, and she was about to give some instructions, when suddenly, Listeia started to choke. She could not breathe and brought her hands desperately to her chest and throat. She was scared, everyone could see it on her face.

“By the gods!” the queen exclaimed. “I didn’t think the poison had had time for this.”

“For what?” Elephthera asked, but Nijtá did not waste any time answering questions.

“Bring me another clean knife and a small tube!” she shouted. “Fast!”

Only a few seconds after, she made a precise incision on Listeia’s throat, placing the tube in it immediately after, and soon Listeia was able to breathe again.

“She’ll have to breathe through this for a while until the poison doesn’t endanger her anymore,” Nijtá said standing up.

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Thalassa also stood up.

“Will she live?” she asked addressing the queen.

“The elixir I put on the bite won’t let the poison spread any further, but she has to avoid any brusque movements. I’ll order a litter to be improvised for her.”

“Thank you,” the golden warrior said and there could not be more sincerity in her words. The queen only nodded as an answer and walked away toward the head of the group.

Alanthea knelt close to Listeia and tenderly patted her shoulders trying to comfort the scared Amazon.

“It’s over now,” she told her. “It’s over.”

Thalassa’s eyes showed deep disappointment, even though she was happy to know that there was hope for Listeia. Only Elephthera knew what that peculiar expression was hiding: shame and impotence before another adversity she had not been able to vanquish.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

As they entered Leptis they felt as if they were living again the beginning of their great adventure in the desert. It had not been long since they had walked the market’s aisles trying to find supplies that would help them survive in those foreign lands. Now, they were back in this exotic village getting closer and closer to the shore that would mean the end of one journey and the beginning of another.

The bustling port had not changed at all since they had last seen it. The African Amazons had not approached the sea in quite a while, but everything was just as they remembered it. It also appeared unchanged to Thalassa and her sisters and it seemed that the same noisy merchants had not moved from their stalls during their days in the desert.

The enormous group of Amazons had managed to finish their journey to Leptis without any other obstacle apart from the normal weariness that dry climate implied, in particular for the Greeks.

Their first objective when they reached the maritime city was to buy some ships. They calculated they were going to need at least two more vessels besides the one Thalassa and her sisters already owned, and for that purpose they had carried quite a lot of gold and precious stones the African tribe possessed. The deal was made as fast as possible, but not without taking the necessary precautions not to be swindled by those cunning merchants. It was the queen herself who arranged the purchase, helped by Thalassa, given her expertise at sailing.

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The rest of the warrior women had waited outside the town until everything was ready because they didn’t want to alter the daily activities of the inhabitants of Leptis with their presence. However, that was not avoidable. When the big group of warriors entered the port to get on their corresponding ships, many scared eyes stared at them. At the beginning, some of those people practically thought the city was under attack, but were glad to realize the Amazon tribe was just passing by. For many, the existence of such an enormous and well organized group of warrior women was just a myth and so, they were completely astonished before their appearance in that busy harbor.

“We made a good deal with the merchants,” Thalassa told her Greek sisters as she and Queen Nijtá returned to join the group of warriors that had been waiting for them near the market.

“How many ships are we taking?” Elephthera asked.

“Three,” the golden princess answered.

“You mean three apart from the one we already had, don’t you?” Alanthea asked concerned about the number of Amazons that would have to fit in each ship.

“No, I mean three,” Thalassa answered coldly.

The Lemnians didn’t look very happy. They knew the ship would be too

crowded and that that would cause more difficulties when trying to organise the inexperienced Africans. The warriors of the Fezzan tribe were changing their usual dry environment for the humid weather of the ocean. They were not experienced sailors because it was rare for them to need to go beyond their desert territory, so they would not find it easy to face the upcoming challenge.

“How are we going to be divided?” Elephtera asked not wanting to show too much that she was actually worried about being asked to go on a separate ship from Thalassa.

“I will be in command of our ship,” Thalassa answered. “Queen Nijtá will be in charge of one of the new ships because she has some experience at sea, and I think that you and Kalima will be the captains on the other one.”

Neither Elephthera nor Kalima were happy to hear these words, but they didn’t express their discomfort because none of them dared to contradict their princess. Nevertheless, just when they thought that their trip was going to be like a long journey through Hades, Queen Nijtá approached the golden warrior and told her:

“I have spoken to my tribe and we’ve decided that our ships will be commanded by our own warriors.”

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“But none of them has the skill to…” Thalassa started but was immediately interrupted.

“They do. Some of them have come with me on certain occasions and this will be their chance to improve their sailing knowledge and gain experience.”

Kalima and Elephthera were absolutely happy to hear Nijtá’s words, although they both remained apathetic not to make their joy too evident. The northern warrior even insisted one more time on helping the Africans.

“Queen Nijtá,” she said, “it would be our pleasure to travel with the sailors you have chosen as commanders and aid them if needed, even though we let them be in charge for the duration of the journey.”

“Thank you, but we’ve already made up our minds.”

Before anyone could reply anything, the queen walked back to her tribe leaving the group of happy Amazons that just looked at each other and smiled.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“Fast!” Nijtá ordered. “Get on the vessels according to the order we have established.”

Once on board, and after the uproar caused by their presence in the port had passed, the only thing left to do was to organise the provisions and prepare the ships to weigh anchor as soon as possible. In spite of their terrible experiences on their way from Lemnos to Leptis, the Greek Amazons were thrilled to see the open sea again and feel its fresh air and scent filling up their lungs, after the difficult journey through those never-ending dry lands. The smell and humidity of the ocean seemed to be very positive for Listeia’s recovery, who looked immediately better once she was taken on the ship. She had been carried very carefully all the rest of the journey and her companions were happy to see her smile before those waves that were so familiar to her.

“It is good to be back,” Elephthera told Thalassa noticing how absorbed she was in those waters that resembled her own eyes in color and deepness.

The golden warrior looked at her slowly as if she was coming out of a dream.

“Yes, but there is still a long way ahead of us,” she answered.

“Even long journeys seem short when traveled with a friend,” the northern warrior told her before going back to her post.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“Secure the lines!”

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The order was repeated onboard the three ships as their crews got ready to set sail. Elephthera climbed the ropes that led to the lookout and firmly tightened the knots on each of the lines that attached the sails to the mast. Then, she signaled Alanthea who was looking at her from below and she also started pulling the ropes that would eventually be used to hoist the sails.

On board of Queen Nijtá’s ship everyone was working at a slower pace. The African Amazons felt the impact of the new environment they were not used to.

They received orders that were not familiar to them and it took them longer than it did the Lemnians to get everything ready.

Nyame, one of the members of Nijtá’s group, followed Elephthera’s example of climbing the ropes toward the lookout. Once there, she reached out trying to pull the lines and tighten them, although she found it very difficult to grasp the loose ends that hung a few feet away from her. As she leaned forward, her hand slipped from the mast, and a moment later, she found herself hanging in midair and choking because one of the ropes had got entangled around her right arm, her chest and her neck. The pressure that the rope made on her throat disabled her to cry for help but fortunately, one of the Amazons who were standing on deck had seen her fall.

“Nyame!” she cried desperately.

Queen Nijtá’s reaction was immediate. She ran toward the mesh and started climbing it as fast as she could. Her lack of experience on a ship, though, impeded her to move as rapidly as she actually wanted.

“Thalassa!” Elephthera shouted from the lookout and pointed at Queen

Nijta’s ship.

The golden warrior ran across a plank that connected both ships with amazing speed and she jumped on the mesh like a savage tiger.

“Jrisa!”

Her arms and legs almost seemed to be floating on the ropes as she climbed directly to the lookout. Queen Nijtá was still halfway up the mesh when Thalassa got to the top and reached out to pull the rope from which Nyame was hanging.

“Don’t be scared,” Thalassa told the African Amazon grabbing a dagger she had tied to one of her boots.

She started cutting the ropes hastily until they were not able to hold Nyame’s weight any longer and as the African started to slip, Thalassa scudded and caught her hand preventing her from falling from such a deadly height.

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was hurt and the ropes had burned her neck’s skin, but she held the princess’s arm tightly trying to show the gratefulness she felt for having saved her life.

“Your throat will be fine in a few hours,” was all Thalassa said.

Queen Nijtá was standing behind the Greek warrior and she met her distinctive eyes when she turned to go back to her ship.

“Thank you, princess Thalassa,” Nijtá said with a solemn tone. “I will never forget that you have saved a warrior from my tribe.”

“And I will never forget that you have saved one from mine,” Thalassa

answered.

They stared at each other and nodded respectfully before returning to their posts.

From the next vessel, Elephthera was watching the scene with great emotion, and when Thalassa crossed back and looked up, she smiled at her approvingly.

She knew her princess could be proud now, as she was herself.

CHAPTER 14

The power of the ocean was all around them again, pushing them toward their objective at a very good speed. The weather had been very favorable since they had left the port of Leptis and a strong, but not violent wind, was blowing constantly, making their journey fast and agreeable. That fresh, saltwater wind that the Greeks had missed so much during their stay in African lands, was now caressing their faces like a gift from the gods. On the other hand, the Amazons from Fezzan seemed to be suffering the humidity of that air that kept sticking onto their skin like little needles forcing them to use all the clothes they had to cover from it. This made the Greek women smile and feel that kind of superiority the Africans had experienced during their way through the desert.

Learning and working were the two predominant activities during the first days at sea. The Fezzan Amazons’ sailing skills had improved considerably thanks to the Greeks’ help and to the great effort they had made to learn such unfamiliar tasks. They had acquired enough knowledge not to need the permanent supervision of their Lemnian sisters, and this had given them the chance to divide each working day in three shifts.

The Amazons praised Artemis because there had been no more incidents since Nyame’s accident on the day of departure. However, the African crew thought constantly about another god, Asclepius, praying for their bodies to get used to the ongoing rocking of the ship. Dizziness had become part of them in such a way that, unfortunately, it was as common as breathing. No wonder the Lemnians profited from the chance to joke with them about their digestive systems’

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condition and this, despite being an unfortunate situation, gave birth to com-radeship and trust among the two tribes’ warriors.

Thalassa was certainly enjoying the view of the deep waters that she knew so well and that had always given her an immense sense of power and calm at the same time. She needed those feelings more and more as they kept sailing in the direction of the island of Aretias, where they didn’t know what they were going to find. Three vessels full of very capable warrior women were headed toward their salvation or their destruction, and yet, that uncertainty did not stop them.

The golden warrior turned to see the ships that were close behind hers and felt strongly proud of her race and nation. Her blood might not be Amazon, but her heart truly was.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Several days after the ships set sail from Leptis, Alanthea was helping Listeia arrange some tools when Elephthera approached them.

“Take some of these tools down below. The galley has several leaks that need to be fixed before they become a problem,” she said leaning to pick up a wooden hammer that had fallen near her.

“Do you want us to help in the galley?” Alanthea asked.

“No, don’t worry, the Africans are already working there and you have a lot to do here.”

As she said this, Kalima walked past her and Elephthera held her arm.

“Hey, Kalima,” she called the Amazon who looked at her hand angrily as if ordering her to let go of her arm.

The northern Amazon noticed her reaction and lowered her hand immedi-

ately.

“What do you want?” Kalima asked coldly.

“I need you to come and help me with some repairs. As soon as you finish with what you’re doing, come down below with me. It won’t take us long to…”

Elephthera was suddenly interrupted by Kalima’s angry voice:

“That’s just too much. Who do you think you are?” she asked menacingly.

“Who gave you the authority to give orders here?”

“What do you mean?” the Aretian asked with a challenging tone. Actually, she had seen this situation coming for some time and she knew it was no longer avoidable. Then, she added:

“I’m just trying to help, you know?”

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“Help?!” Kalima exclaimed and then laughed loudly. “The way I see it, it is us who are helping you all the time: helping you save your tribe and your island at the cost of our lives.”

Alanthea, who was witnessing the conflict along with some of the African Amazons, tried to intervene and calm Kalima down, but she was almost pushed away.

“Stay out of this!” Kalima yelled and then turned to Elephthera. “And you, you should know that being close to Thalassa doesn’t make you our ruler. It doesn’t make you her equal in any way.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Listen to this, Amazon, and listen carefully. I have known Thalassa for a long time, so long, that we’ve lived experiences that you will never get to share with her no matter what the duration of this journey turns out to be. You think you know her after having met her some moons ago…Well, I know her life, her heart and her soul because I grew up by her side while you were living another life in your island, Aretias, where you should have stayed in the first place. And you think she’s your friend?! Friendship is based on trust and loyalty, and those things are proved with time, not moments. So let me give you a piece of advice, Elephthera: never stand on the way of friendship.”

“Shut up, Kalima!” Elephthera commanded feeling her blood boil inside her as she got closer and closer to losing her temper. “I’m sick of your never-ending jealousy. It’s absurd. Thalassa is not like an object we should fight for like dogs, she’s our princess, and no matter how angry you feel about our friendship, it is as strong and true as the trust and loyalty you say you’ve shared with her for years.

Moments are sometimes more honest than a lifetime of nothingness. So, yes, we’re close. Now, deal with it.”

Kalima could not restrain herself when she heard Elephthera’s last words. She charged against her with all her fury and strength, but it didn’t take the northern Amazon by surprise because she was expecting to have that kind of reaction herself. Soon, what had been a calm morning became an uncontrollable manifesta-tion of hatred. Somehow, friendship had been twisted and deformed until it had become a fight for love understood as possession, rather than generosity.

Elephthera was able to avoid the first punch, directed to her face, but there was a second one immediately after, that landed painfully on her ribs. She reacted fast increasing her ferocity and hit Kalima on the nose making her bleed. The Lemnian Amazon was almost blind with rage and saw the Aretian as her worst enemy.

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Every punch and kick was quick and strong, but not honorable. It wasn’t destined to protect another, for it was born of anger. Kalima jumped toward the northern Amazon and kicked her in the stomach with such fierceness that she made her fall. However, before she could realize what had happened, Kalima found herself face down on the surface of the deck with Elephthera’s foot on her back. And yet, that didn’t stop her. She managed to get up again and tried to reach her opponent one more time.

Alanthea had been trying to stop them without success. None of them had even heard one single word she had pronounced because in such an intense storm of feelings, there was no place for peace unless a stronger power came to re-establish order. It was only Thalassa who bore enough authority to stop such an outrage.

“Enough!” she shouted as she appeared on deck. “What in the name of Artemis are you doing?”

Kalima and Elephthera remained motionless as if they had been frozen by the golden princess’s voice. Nevertheless, their eyes were still fixed on each other waiting for any reason to start the attack again.

“I don’t believe what I’m seeing! What has gotten into you?” Thalassa asked clearly upset. “Haven’t we been through enough for you to behave like this? We are trying to unify our tribes here and you’re fighting between you like savages!

What do you want the African Amazons to think of their Greek sisters? We have a mission to accomplish and you both need to learn to work together for our nation’s sake. Someone has to put an end to this continuous fighting!”

They did not say anything at first. They just looked at her trying to contain themselves because their hearts were not appeased yet, but then Kalima said:

“You’re right, my Princess. We should be ashamed of our attitude. This will never happen again.”

“Good, I’m glad you’ve come to your senses,” the golden warrior replied. She nodded seriously at her and directed a cold look to Elephthera expecting her words. The northern Amazon didn’t speak, though. She turned her still angry eyes to Kalima and then, slowly to Thalassa. After that, she walked away without looking back.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Rivers of blood ran through the grass like a satin wave of terror. What can be said before the tragedy of such destruction? Who can justify so much pain and death when its only cause is blind ambition, the greed for land and power?

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Those who had had the chance of seeing the island of Aretias before the unexpected attack of the Sarmatian tribes, could not recognise it now. Almost every tree had been cut down to be used as barricade or just to burn the corpses that fell everyday on the battlefield. That forest that had witnessed the daily lethal encounters of both armies had become a plain of blood and horror.

Since the beginning of the battle, all the Amazons had fought restlessly to defend their sisters and their Nation. The war became a bloodbath after the Sarmatians and their adversaries proved themselves almost impossible to defeat.

Things were getting too difficult for the Aretians and their Lemnian sisters because the Sarmatian raiders outnumbered them considerably.

The feeling of hope that the Amazons had kept in their hearts for so many days was vanishing. There were only a few of them left and the only thing they expected at that moment was to die fighting like the warriors they were. They would never surrender their lives or their land to those invaders, although the depression of watching their beloved island in such a pitiful state didn’t help their spirit much. The village itself was proof of which group had gained advantage over the other. Most of the huts were demolished or had been burned down by the enemy’s hand. Crops and fields had also been burned in an attempt to destroy all of Aretias’s food supplies, but the warrior women had managed to save enough food and water not to starve to death, at least for some time.

There were so many injured Amazons, that some of them died, not because their wounds were too deep or too dangerous, but because there were not enough people that could tend them or medicines to cure them. Diseases spread easily and the whole island smelled of blood and rotten flesh for there were not sufficient hours in a day to burn all the corpses. There were funeral pyres prepared for ten corpses each. Even though it was not an Amazon custom to send their sisters to the after life in groups, there was no other way to offer them a proper funeral ceremony given the circumstances. They had seen so many sisters’ bodies turned into ashes, that they had already assumed that that was going to be their end as well. They would die defending their Amazon isle against those barbaric tribes.

Queen Xanthia had caressed the idea of Elephthera coming back with reinforcement for many moons, and she knew her well enough to be sure of her return. Nonetheless, she was also convinced by now that that would happen too late. They didn’t have much time left. How long could they resist when there were probably more than twenty or even thirty Sarmatians for every Amazon?

The enemy had also suffered hundreds of casualties and were very weakened, but they still outnumbered them and were extremely ferocious.

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That night the queen’s soul was specially burdened, although she wouldn’t show it to her warriors, because she was mourning her own blood before a particular funeral pyre. That night, under the white moon, she was sending her own sister, Aricia, to Artemis and the Land of the Dead. Queen Xanthia’s sister had fought relentlessly for days. She always had the nerve to go to combat without hesitating to be in the front lines. And when it came to saving an Amazon that had been trapped in the enemy lines, she charged against any Sarmatian that stood between her and the endangered fighter until she brought her back safe to her group.

Aricia died as the bravest warrior in the last attack of that savage army of invaders. Elenthe, the Lemnian captain, was injured by an arrow and she fell close to a group of Sarmatian warriors. As soon as they saw the wounded woman, they surrounded her and were about to kill her, when Aricia charged against them and took them out one by one. During the confrontation, she was stabbed more than once and she received several wounds by sword. And yet, she managed to kill them all and then carried Elenthe on her back in order to take her to safety. She didn’t get far, though. Unfortunately, she fell under the sword of one of the Sarmatian commanders who profited from the chance to kill an unguarded enemy.

Queen Xanthia saw her collapse, her heart pierced by the cold iron, and took the man’s life immediately after, beheading him with tremendous rage. But it was too late, like it probably was for all the Aretian Amazons. Elenthe put her hand on the princess’s face and closed that pair of blue eyes that would never see light again.

Aricia’s funeral was attended by women from both, Aretias and Lemnos. They all paid their respects to the brave princess who had given her life for her sisters and for her nation. Queen Xanthia mourned her and she chose to be the one to light the pyre. Elenthe stood by her side and put her sword over Aricias’s body as a sign of gratitude for saving her life. Priestess Dasha and Aglaia led the ritual prayers that prepared the Amazon’s spirit to enter the Land of the Dead. There, she would dwell for eternity in peace and joy.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

A fire was burning inside her. It was more intense than the one that had tortured her skin in the desert, more devastating than the feeling of rage and impotence that had invaded her after the attack of the Sarmatians. Her dark silhouette danced like a heavenly spirit in the bright crimson landscape, for the sunset had started to fall upon her as well as on the sea, covering the evening with its orange Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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colored arms. While the sun caressed the surface of the ocean before travelling trough the underworld, the athletic Amazon practised a series of movements that became rhythmical shadows under the reddish sky. Her claw-like weapons hissed as they cut the air with each strong and fast blow, and her thin figure seemed to create a perfect shade that contrasted the calmness of the broad horizon.

Thalassa had been watching her for long, wondering how nature could be so powerful as to combine beauty and strength in one single being. Never before had a sunset seemed so dazzling to her, because never before had it been accompanied by such an impressive figure. The warrior before her could easily be taken for a goddess if it were not for her human qualities and kind feelings. That morning, her good sentiments had been tainted by anger, though. And knowing that she was to be blamed for it made the golden princess feel guilty and sad. She knew she had made the adequate decision considering the circumstances, yet the consequence of her actions was too intense to bear any longer. She could not cope with the pain of Elephthera being angry at her, and the fact was that the northern warrior had made quite clear that she was upset because she had avoided Thalassa all day long.

The princess knew she wouldn’t stand the night if she had to go through its darkness without Elephthera’s voice to appease her spirit, so she walked toward her not knowing how to address her. For a moment, she just stood by the Amazon’s side watching her practice in silence. She could not think of any words that could allow her to start a conversation with the angry warrior. The truth was that Elephthera had noticed Thalassa’s presence and somehow, she was happy to feel her near her, even if her broken heart would not allow her to show it. She could have just turned to the golden warrior and talked to her as if nothing had happened, but instead, she chose to let herself be possessed by resentment and she blinded herself to friendship and forgiveness. As she remembered the way in which Thalassa had stopped the fight with Kalima and even favored her, her muscles became tense and her movements were performed with great speed and force.

The golden princess noticed it and she felt as if she was being wounded with each blow Elephthera choreographed. And still, she knew she had to put an end to that painful situation.

“You can easily catch a fighter off guard with that movement, you know?”

Thalassa commented trying to break the ice between them.

“Yeah, like you caught me off guard this morning,” Elephthera answered coldly and continued practising her attacks.

Wrong way to start a conversation. Right answer to pierce Thalassa’s heart.

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“You show great skill with those weapons, but I sense too much anger. The tiger’s movements are more subtle,” the princess said.

“Tigers are also enraged sometimes.”

Somehow, these words made the abyss between them even bigger and more

difficult to cross. However, Thalassa insisted one more time and decided to speak openly:

“Look, I know you didn’t like how I solved the problem with Kalima.”

“Solved? I don’t think there is anything solved,” Elephthera stated with a serious tone still cutting the air with her xilais.

“It’s not like I was trying to hurt you.”

“Well, you did.”

Silence.

“Stop doing that so that we can talk,” Thalassa told her, but Elephthera didn’t obey and continued charging fiercely against the cold air surrounding her. Yet, this time her weapons met the princess’s sword.

“We need to talk,” the golden warrior insisted. “I’m conscious of how Kalima has been behaving and I will speak with her, but you have to understand I couldn’t do it there. At that moment I had to be your princess because I can’t let my…” she made a short pause, “feelings interfere with my duties.”

Elephthera had not expected those words. Therefore, she took a while before answering:

“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t suffer it anymore. I was fed up with her constant attacks. I thought you hadn’t noticed but…”

“Yes, I had,” Thalassa interrupted her, “and it was my mistake not to put an end to it before it came to this. I know Kalima very well, I’ve known her since she was born and she’s always been very close to me. Lately, I have been spending some time with you and she’s feeling…”

“Jealous?” Elephthera finished her sentence and noticed that the golden warrior was becoming a little uncomfortable as it always happened when they stepped on personal ground.

Thalassa nodded as an answer and added:

“Kalima is a good warrior, but I also know you could have defeated her. You were only defending yourself from her attack.”

The northern warrior turned then completely to her and Thalassa could see her face to face.

“By the gods!” she exclaimed spotting the ugly bruise that had already started to appear on Elephtera’s ribcage. “How could she…?”

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“It’s nothing, just a blow,” the northern Amazon said taking importance from it, but Thalassa didn’t pay attention to her words.

“Let me have a look at it,” she said pulling her toward a wooden box to make her sit on it.

Elephthera grimaced at the sudden movement.

“Does it hurt you badly?” the princess asked with a worried look running her fingers over Elephthera’s ribs.

“It’s just a bruise,” she repeated, but Thalassa’s touch together with the tension of her previous anger was making her eyes teary. She wouldn’t allow herself to cry, though, and even less, before the golden princess. She turned her face away from her.

“I don’t think there is anything broken,” Thalassa told her and looked for her eyes. “What is it?” she asked not being able to find them.

“I…” Elephthera started but didn’t continue.

“I know we’re going through very hard times and…”

“Do you think…?” the northern Amazon interrupted her with inevitable tears trembling in her eyes. “Do you think I could be the last of the Aretians?”

Thalassa swallowed at the hard question.

“I don’t know what we are going to find when we get to your island. I also ignore if the Lemnian party will be dead or alive, but I can assure you that whatever we encounter, I’ll be by your side. You are not going to be alone,” she said emphasizing the last words by pronouncing them slowly.

“I know,” the Aretian Amazon answered intensely moved.

Then, the golden warrior knelt before her and turned her chin with her right hand. Elephthera’s hair moved revealing a cut on her cheekbone that had remained hidden to Thalassa up to that moment.

“What did she do to you?”

“It’s nothing, don’t worry,” Elephthera answered intimidated by those peculiar eyes that analysed her face in great detail.

Thalassa was so close to her that she could feel her breath caressing her skin smoothly and warmly. Then, the princess looked up and their eyes met for a moment that seemed to last less time than it takes a tear to run down a grieving face, but which infused them with the feeling of an eternity in the Elysian Fields.

Suddenly, the golden warrior moved back a little bit and said:

“I’ll talk to Kalima about this. She’ll have to learn to live with this situation.”

“I just hope she understands that I can be as close to you as she is.”

“But that would be impossible.”

“Why?” Elephthera asked disconcerted.

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“Because she knows that you are already closer.”

Elephthera blushed so terribly that she thanked the gods that it was getting dark enough for the princess not to notice her deep red skin. She held Thalassa’s hand and smiled.

“Sometimes you are too self-centered, did you know that?” the northern Amazon told her with a playful tone.

“And sometimes you have a terrible temper,” Thalassa answered teasingly and they smiled together.

After that, they both remained silent for a while enjoying the beauty of the last sunrays tinging the sea with a hundred different shades before disappearing behind the horizon. One more time, Apollo’s bright light had given way to his sister Artemis’s silver shine.

Elephthera looked back at Thalassa then.

“Thalassa…”

“Mmm?”

“I love…” she started with a soft voice. “I love these sunsets so much.”

The golden warrior pierced her with her eyes trying to reach her mind so intensely that Elephthera had to turn her look away and back to the sky. Thalassa smiled.

“Yeah,” she said, “I know what you mean.”

CHAPTER 15

The northern Amazon’s dreams had been pleasant and joyful. She would have even liked to sleep a little longer, but Alanthea’s voice woke them both up.

“My Princess!”

“What is it, Alanthea?” Thalassa asked drowsily.

“We have been observing Queen Nijtá’s ship for a while and we have noticed that they have stayed far behind us.”

“Did she send a message informing us about any problems they might have?”

“No, they just lagged behind,” Alanthea explained.

Thalassa decided to go up on deck and see for herself how far Nijtá’s ship was from hers. Elephthera immediately got up from her hammock and followed her up the stairway.

That morning, the sun had risen over a very calm sea, although the wind necessary to make the ships sail without problems was still blowing. Perfect weather, the Lemnian princess thought hoping the lucky days would accompany them until the end of their journey. Then, with tremendous agility and speed, she climbed up to the lookout that had been occupied by Alanthea before and observed Queen Nijtá’s ship, which was sailing really slowly. Indeed, the ship was a long distance away from them and it was not convenient for the small fleet to be separated, since they were supposed to arrive in Aretias at the same time.

“Alanthea,” Thalassa said after descending, “write a message to the other ship.

Tell them to slow down and wait for the queen’s vessel to catch up with us.”

“Yes, my Princess.”

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Then, she walked toward Kalima and ordered her to haul the main sail down in order to decrease speed, but they soon realized that this measure did not give any result since the queen’s ship almost vanished in the distance.

The message written by Alanthea on a parchment was wound around an

arrow. Thalassa’s warrior skills with a bow allowed her to shoot the arrow directly at the other ship’s mast and she soon got the answer from the African captain: they didn’t know anything about Nijtá’s possible setback, but were also getting worried. Therefore, the golden Amazon shot another arrow communicating that she would send someone to check on the vessel that had now disappeared completely from their eyesight.

“We can’t leave our sisters behind,” Thalassa stated. “I’d go to find them myself, but then these two ships would be left without a commander and that could be too risky. I will have to organize a small search group to see what’s wrong.”

“I can go,” Listeia offered feeling much better after a few days of rest. “After all, I owe Queen Nijtá my life.”

“I know,” Thalassa answered, “but I don’t think it’s a good idea, Listeia. You haven’t recovered completely yet and rowing all the way to the ship could weaken you.”

“I think we should just continue our journey,” Kalima said. “Sooner or later they’ll catch up with us.”

“Not if something happened to them,” Alanthea replied.

“We are not leaving anyone behind,” Elephthera added giving Kalima a

threatening look.

Kalima was about to respond to the northern Amazon’s aggression, when two of the African warriors approached Thalassa and volunteered to go and find their queen.

“I’ll go with them,” Elephthera offered.

Thalassa didn’t seem happy to hear that suggestion. At first, she stared at the Aretian not wanting to admit that she didn’t want her to put her life at stake.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’re very useful here.”

“Everyone is, but I’m quite faster rowing.”

The golden warrior still hesitated, but she knew that her crew expected an answer and Nijtá’s vessel probably needed help from an experienced sailor.

“Fine,” she finally gave in unwillingly. “Go with them and try to be back as soon as possible. I’ll be waiting for your news.”

“As you order, my Princess,” Elephthera answered with a playful smile that was immediately corresponded.

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A short time later, a boat was prepared and loaded with some tools and weapons that the Amazons might need. The two Africans were already waiting for Elephthera to come in the boat when Thalassa held her arm and stopped her.

“Why did you volunteer?” she asked whispering.

“Because it was the right thing to do.”

“Yes, but…”

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

Thalassa frowned and then nodded in response. She was still too worried to agree with Elephthera, though.

“May Artemis be with you,” she said with an affectionate tone and slowly released the Aretian’s arm.

Elephthera got in the boat and started rowing away from the two ships.

Thalassa followed them with her eyes until they became a small dot in the distance.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Every hour consumed Thalassa’s heart like an evil spirit of darkness. It was almost noon and they didn’t have any news yet. She wandered restlessly on deck finding no peace. She regretted not having gone with them in that boat; she hated herself for not having taken more precautions before letting the Africans sail by themselves. Where were they? And what if something had happened to Elephthera…? Hadn’t she waited for too long?

Kalima observed her with jealous eyes. The princess had not said a word since the search party had left, but she didn’t need to do it anyway. She knew exactly what and who Thalassa was thinking of.

“She should have sent me,” she complained to Alanthea. “I’m not a waiting kind of person and this inactivity is killing me.”

“You’ll have to wait like everybody else,” Alanthea stated.

Kalima shook her head in disagreement and approached the princess.

“Thalassa! Send me as well, I’ll…”

“Nobody else is going anywhere for the moment,” the princess interrupted her. “And by the way, I need to talk to you. Come down below.”

And she disappeared followed by a disappointed Kalima. Nevertheless, it was not too long before she had to be called back on deck. Nijtá’s ship was visible in the horizon, sailing at great speed.

Thalassa ran toward the stern, spotted the ship and felt joy take her worries away. She almost counted the seconds the vessel took to level with them until Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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finally, using a rope, she jumped skilfully to the queen’s ship, landing on the wooden floor of its deck.

“Queen Nijtá,” she said saluting the African in the traditional Amazon way.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, Thalassa, thank you,” Nijtá answered solemnly. “We had a problem with the main sail. It tore so badly that we lost our speed. That’s why we stayed behind. Anyway, we have already fixed it, as you can see.”

Thalassa looked at the sail the queen was pointing at.

“Good. I hope that the group I sent you was of some help.”

“Group? What group?” the queen asked disconcerted.

Thalassa went pale.

“Well, I sent Elephthera with two Amazons from your tribe in a boat. They rowed in the direction you came from.”

Queen Nijtá shook her head showing great concern and said:

“I’m sorry, but we didn’t see them.”

Thalassa’s world collapsed with the queen’s words. Lost, she thought. Lost, she felt. She was terrified at the thought of experiencing the pain of losing her friend.

No, she would never allow anything to happen to her. Even if Elephthera were abandoned in Tartarus, she would go and find her.

Nijtá was also quite disconcerted at Thalassa’s attitude.

“Try to calm down first, and then tell me what all this is about,” she said with her usual deep tone.

Her look directed to the sea, the princess did not react immediately at the queen’s words. She felt as if she had been pierced by a sword.

“I can’t understand…” she finally said coming back to her senses, “what happened to the boat.”

“The only thing I can tell you is that we never saw it,” the queen insisted.

At that point, Thalassa lost her temper and forgot completely that she was talking to royalty.

“That’s not possible!” she exclaimed feeling her heart beat violently in her chest. “I have to search for them.”

Queen Nijtá controlled the anger that had started to invade her before Thalassa’s disrespectful manners, and said calmly:

“Probably they’re just looking for our ship and after not finding it, they will row back here.”

“I don’t settle for probabilities,” Thalassa stated. “It’s crucial to find them.”

“As crucial as getting to Aretias before the whole Amazon Nation is massa-cred?”

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“You don’t understand,” the golden warrior said disregarding again the fact that every Amazon was utterly forbidden to talk to a queen in such a way.

“Don’t challenge my intelligence, Thalassa,” the queen said with a threatening tone. “I can see you have a personal interest in this situation, but we have already wasted a lot of time and you should know what your responsibilities are.”

“Yes, and they don’t include abandoning three Amazons in the middle of the sea.”

Aware of the state in which Thalassa was, the queen requested for them to go down below, so that they could speak in private. Once alone, Nijtá started:

“So far, you have shown me you are a great fighter, probably the best I’ve ever known. Now show me that you are also a princess. Your personal feelings shouldn’t guide your decisions.”

Thalassa hesitated for a few seconds before saying:

“Queen Nijtá, I owe her my life.”

“I know that.”

“You do?”

“Of course, she talked me into giving you a chance to save yourself. That’s why I organized the combat.”

After hearing these words, the golden warrior closed her eyes for a moment, overwhelmed by guilt and distress. She had suspected so since the day of the fight, and now her guess was confirmed. She was pleased to know how much Elephthera had done for her, yet, that urged her even more to aid her friend as soon as possible.

“Then, I owe her more than I knew and it is my duty to assist the person who has done so much for me.”

She swallowed and continued:

“I will not leave her lost in the ocean, neither will I abandon the two Amazons I sent with her.”

Queen Nijtá was annoyed by the golden warrior’s insistence. However, she recognized courage and loyalty in her words. Only a faithful friend would be so persistent about carrying out such a difficult and time consuming enterprise.

Therefore, she regarded Thalassa coldly and said:

“You know I’m a Queen. I can give you orders, even if you don’t belong to my tribe.”

“I’m aware of that and besides, I still consider myself as your prisoner. You will decide about my life at the end of this mission, if we survive. But now, I know what I have to do.”

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Thalassa spoke with a firm voice, without hesitation this time, and her reso-lute posture obliged Queen Nijtá to take a moment of reflection. Aretias was their priority, true, but Nijtá did not want to appear like a cold-hearted tyrant who abandoned her sisters at sea.

“You should be killed at once,” Nijtá finally stated. “You have been disrespectful to me in front of my crew and, as a consequence, you should be punished.

Still, you will owe your life to Elephthera once again; she has saved you from my sword’s blade because instead of killing you, I will let you go and search for her and for my sisters. You will go alone since we can’t afford to waste any more warriors, and if you’re not back before nightfall, I will take command of both ships and sail to Aretias without you. Is that clear?”

Thalassa felt some kind of relief after listening to Queen Nijtá, although the oppression in her heart was still unbearable. She sounded absolutely sure of herself when she affirmed:

“I will bring them back before the moon appears in the sky.”

The queen smiled as she shook her head and said:

“She really is an important part of your soul, isn’t she?”

“She’s every part of it,” Thalassa answered truthfully.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“It won’t hold the three of us,” Zanahary said with latent fear in her voice.

“You both get on it, we’ll take turns later if it comes to that.”

Elephthera had advised the two African Amazons to try to pull their bodies on top of the inverted hull that was still floating. She had decided so because she knew their situation scared them terribly for they were not used to confronting water related problems. In addition to that, that piece of wood wouldn’t hold the three of them. For the moment, the northern Amazon remained inside the water.

Anyway, she thought, my skin can’t suffer the sunrays for as long as theirs, and if this situation lasts…She didn’t want to think about it because she knew they wouldn’t survive if they were not found. But would they be looking for them? That was not actually the best thing to do considering their urgent mission to Aretias.

They had already lost track of time. They only knew they had been floating for a long while and that there was barely any chance of being rescued in the middle of nowhere. According to Elephthera’s calculations they should have already reached Nijtá’s vessel, but wherever she turned, she could see nothing around them except for water. No sign of any of the ships.

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Their arms ached after hours of holding on to the boat to keep themselves from drowning; and particularly, Elephthera’s muscles hurt badly for the constant struggle against the current.

“What do you think made us capsize?” Leza asked still shocked after their accident.

“Beats me,” Zanahary answered weakly.

They were not completely conscious of what had happened. The only thing they were totally aware of was their desperate situation. It was actually possible that whatever had collided with their small craft was still somewhere under them and they hoped the obstacle was a rock or a reef and not some kind of marine beast. It had all been too sudden. They were rowing, and one moment after, they were in the water. The three Amazons had managed to turn the boat over and get in it again, but they soon realized that it was flooding. Elephthera, more experienced than the others in the matters of the sea, had had the idea of capsizing the craft one more time before it sank, so that they could at least have a piece of wood to hold on to.

“Maybe we’ll still see our queen’s ship,” Leza commented to encourage herself and the others, who just nodded as an answer. Since she didn’t feel very reassured with their response, she tried asking a question: “Elephthera, do you think your princess will come to search for us?”

“Her princess thinks that we are with Queen Nijtá. There’s no way for her to find out that something happened to us. Right, Elephthera?” Zanahary said.

“She’ll come…” Elephthera whispered with a trembling voice. She embraced the edge of the boat and closed her eyes. She kept moving her legs to prevent them from becoming numb in the chilly waters. In her mind, she could see Thalassa’s eyes looking at her as tenderly as the night before. That was the only thought that could make her go through that ordeal.

Leza gazed at the horizon and shook her head after noticing how close Apollo was to reaching the horizon’s line.

“If the sun sets before someone finds us…” she started sadly but didn’t finish her sentence.

“We’ll die in the dark,” Zanahary ended.

Then, the Africans turned to look at the northern Amazon who was mum-

bling something they could not understand.

“What is it, Elephthera?” Zanahary asked.

Elephthera moved her lips as if trying to let words come out of them, though they were not audible for her sisters.

“What do you want to tell us?” Zanahary insisted.

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The Aretian opened her eyes, raised them to the sky and almost in a whisper she said:

“Thalassa”

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

“Apollo! Halt your journey!” Thalassa shouted at the almost setting sun. “I plea for your mercy. I need to find my sisters and I can’t see unless you brighten my way through Poseidon’s domains.”

Exasperation was building inside her as she realized she would probably not have time to find the small craft before the moon rose. The strangest thing was that the decision of going back without Elephthera had never crossed her mind.

If the night fell and she had not found them, she would also be abandoned to die in those foreign waters. Row further, row faster, she repeated to herself trying not to give up. I’m coming, Elephthera, she promised in her mind. I’m coming.

As the evening began to fall upon her shoulders, the intensity of the sun became lighter. The chilly wind of the approaching night seemed to freshen around her and it cooled the sweat that ran down her back giving her a disagreeable sensation. Her mind, body and will fell in a state of contradiction since part of her felt defeated by the growing cold and feebleness that invaded her, and another part would not give in to any physical or environmental impediments.

There was a feeling inside her that was a stronger motivation than any she had ever experienced before when trying to achieve difficult goals.

Despite her arms already being weakened after several hours of search, her muscles tightened and she started to row faster than ever before when she distinguished a dark bulk floating in the middle of the sea. As she was getting closer, she began to make out the shape of the two black women on the piece of wood.

Elephthera, though, was nowhere in sight and the golden warrior felt a terrible fear inside her. At the same time, her strong will impelled her to increase her rowing speed until…

By Artemis! she said to herself. Her heart, which had been beating strongly, almost stopped completely. The Aretian’s head was the only part of her body that was visible on the surface of the water. She looked extremely pale, her eyes were closed and her lips had turned deep purple.

“Jrisa!” Thalassa shouted and her voice vibrated intensely in her sisters’ souls.

Elephthera sighed and thanked her goddess. That word was now familiar to her and it symbolized the sound of power, the presence of her princess and the promise of life. With that war cry of salvation echoing in the ocean, her fears sud-Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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denly vanished, but the joy of having Thalassa before her when she had thought she would never see her again, was even a more overwhelming feeling.

“Sisters!” Thalassa called approaching the wreckage.

Although Leza and Zanahary knew their queen was not fond of the Lemnian princess, they had to admit that their tribal differences were of little importance now that she had come to save them. They were thrilled to see the strong Amazon approaching them and all they wanted was to be taken back to safety by this outstanding woman.

The Lemnian hurtled toward Elephthera, who looked in a worse shape than the others. She dove into the water and swam to the northern Amazon, whose arms gave in to weakness and started to submerge in the dark water right before the princess held her. Thalassa pulled Elephthera to the surface and embraced her tightly as she swam back to the boat.

“Grab on to this” Thalassa told her pointing at the edge of the craft. Then, she climbed to the boat and once there, she held the Aretian’s arms and pulled her up laying her carefully on the hard surface. As soon as she noticed Elephthera’s cold body temperature, she rubbed her arms trying to warm her, yet she didn’t get any response: she was on the verge of getting hypothermia.

After that, the princess turned to Leza and Zanahary and shouted:

“Try to get in the boat. I’ll help you.”

They moved with difficulty, but managed to get close enough for Thalassa to pull them aboard.

“What happened to you?” the golden warrior asked the Africans.

“We don’t know,” Leza answered. We were looking for Queen Nijtá’s ship when something hit the bottom of our boat and made it capsize. The next thing we knew, we were in the water and the boat was so damaged that we couldn’t get it to float again.”

“Why was Elephthera still in the water while both of you were floating on the wood?” Thalassa asked visibly annoyed at the state of the woman she was holding in her arms.

Leza and Zanahary looked ashamed. They knew Elephthera had let them be on the surface because they were scared, but they were conscious that they should have taken turns to be in the water.

“We…” Leza started, “thought about changing places, but she insisted…”

Leza’s answer upset Thalassa. However, she understood Elephthera had done it as the courageous warrior and kind woman she was, so there was no use in trying to blame others for her decisions.

“What will happen to Queen Nijtá?” Zanahary inquired.

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“Don’t worry about her, she’s all right, but we need to hurry now. Otherwise, she’ll leave without us. We have to get back before nightfall.

Instinctively, they all looked up at the sun which was not far from setting.

“Do you think you can help me row?” Thalassa asked the Amazons from Fezzan.

They were both exhausted and half dehydrated, but their skins were used to the African sun and so they still had some energy left.

“I think I can”, Zanahary answered taking one of the oars.

Thalassa held the other one, but before she started rowing she ordered Leza:

“Stay close to Elephthera and keep her warm. That’s her only chance of survival.”

Thalassa and Zanahary started rowing racing Apollo’s journey to the underworld. It was not easy to orientate themselves on their way back to the ship. Only the Lemnian could guide them with that sixth sense that Elephthera admired so much, even if during their tense return, the golden warrior never took her eyes away from the brave Amazon that lay so helpless before her on the surface of the boat. I’ll get you out of this, she whispered to herself as she prayed for Artemis to hide her silver shine a little longer that night.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

They had recovered their normal speed and were trying to make up for the time that had been lost on the previous day. After Queen Nijtá had given the order to weigh anchor again, the women aboard each of the ships returned to their tasks and remained at their sailing posts all through the night. The next morning, the wind favored their journey toward the Aegean, which was now not so far from them.

Down below, the environment was silent contrasting the fuss that could be heard on deck. The smell of medicinal herbs filled the air giving it a perfumed scent that was pleasantly mixed with the ocean’s aroma.

“Thalassa…” was the first word that came out of her lips as she woke up.

“I’m here”

Fortunately, Queen Nijtá had decided to give them some more time after sunset, for Thalassa’s skills were too precious to disregard in a battle. They couldn’t spare one single warrior and particularly one of her category. Moreover, Nijtá didn’t want to lose two of her Amazons if there was any chance to recover them.

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little craft in the dark was beyond understanding, even for the queen. She had to admit Thalassa never stopped surprising her.

Once rescued from the waters, the golden warrior had spent all night watching Elephthera’s restless sleep. She had also tried to keep her covered at all times so that her body could recover her normal temperature. The northern Amazon had been trembling incessantly and Thalassa was afraid she would catch a bad fever.

However, the strong Aretian opened her eyes almost peacefully in the morning, looking for her princess. Her eyesight was still hazy after blinking twice. She slowly moved her eyelids to reveal a pair of brown pupils that weakly fixed themselves on that intense pair of eyes that were deeply staring back at her.

“I’m here,” Thalassa repeated softly.

Elephthera was pleased by the beautiful form that stood before her and gave her a faint smile that was corresponded.

“How long…” she started and made a pause to clear her throat. “How long have you been there?”

“Long enough to make sure you’re all right. How are you feeling?” Thalassa asked tenderly.

The northern Amazon licked her lips after noticing that her mouth was too dry to allow her to pronounce all the words she was trying to say.

“It’s all right,” Thalassa told her. “You can tell me later. Right now, all I care about is you getting some rest and recovering from yesterday.”

“Yesterday? Have I been out for so long?” the Aretian asked confusedly.

She had lost track of time and wasn’t aware of many things that had happened after the rescue.

“Yes. After I rowed back to the ship you fell asleep and didn’t wake up until now. You had a difficult night, though. I guess you were having bad dreams. Yesterday’s ordeal really shook you up, didn’t it?”

“Yes, but while I was there, I was thinking about you all the time,” Elephthera responded with a feeble tone. “I failed you.”

“No, you could never fail me. It is me who is sorry for not being there when you needed me.”

“But you were. When everything started to turn obscure and the cold pierced my skin until I thought I wouldn’t resist, I heard your war cry. It was like light shining at the end of such darkness and like the sun sharing its warmth with me after a long winter.”

Thalassa remained silent for a moment feeling shy due to Elephthera’s words.

Then, she finally said:

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“I was rowing in the darkness of despair myself. I didn’t even want to think about the possibility of not finding you. I…” she shook her head and decided to change the subject by offering Elephthera the medicine she had prepared for her.

“Come on, try to drink this,” she said handing her a small bowl full of some greenish fluid.

“What is it?” the northern Amazon asked trying to sit up on her hammock.

Thalassa helped her.

“Just some herbs. They’ll help you prevent fever or any illness provoked by the cold water.”

Elephthera took the bowl with both hands and drank its contents obediently.

“Thanks,” she said grimacing at the infusion’s bad taste.

Then, she put the receptacle aside and looked at the Lemnian princess directly into her mysterious eyes.

“Why did you do it? I mean…you have so many responsibilities here.”

“You are my responsibility too,” Thalassa replied firmly making Elephthera blush.

Still, the northern Amazon managed to continue:

“But you know there are things you shouldn’t do. You are a princess and…”

“I was not going to let you die in the middle of the ocean if there was anything I could do to avoid it. Not after everything you have done for me,” Thalassa interrupted her with the same solid tone.

“But Queen Nijtá…your life is in her hands. You have to act like the princess you are.”

“I did”

Elephthera shook her head slightly.

“Look,” Thalassa continued then. “We might have wasted a few hours, but we recovered three warriors.”

“It was too risky, Thalassa. You are too valuable.”

Now it was the golden warrior’s turn to blush, although she made an effort to hide her emotions.

“Not more than you,” she answered.

The northern Amazon was going to show her disagreement, but she rather diverted the conversation because she knew that sharing her feelings in such an intimate way was not one of Thalassa’s fortes.

“Are Zanahary and Leza ok?

“Yes, they’re fine. They have been asking about you. They shouldn’t have let you in the water for so long; the consequences could have been terrible.”

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“Don’t blame them,” Elephthera responded. “I saw how scared they were and I didn’t want to make them go through more stress than the one we were already suffering.”

“You know I don’t agree with you, right?” Thalassa said with a smirk.

“I do, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Elephthera answered smiling.

The northern Amazon looked around for a moment thanking Artemis for

having kept her away from the touch of Thanatos. She was utterly thankful for the chance to live another day and share another conversation with her golden princess.

“You know what?” she asked with a playful tone.

“What is it?” Thalassa responded with curiosity.

“I think I’m going to abuse my tragedy survivor’s rights by asking you a favour”

“Anything, just name it.”

“Is there any possibility that the Lemnian princess would want to share break-fast with me here? I’m famished.”

Thalassa smiled enthusiastically.

“Bread and cheese are on the way.”

Thalassa turned with the intention of leaving, but before she did, Elephthera took the Lemnian’s hand in hers and pressed it.

“Thank you, my Princess”

They lost themselves in each other’s eyes for a few seconds. Then, Thalassa smiled and headed for the galley. Her heart was immensely happy to see her friend in a much better shape. After all, she thought, I probably didn’t fail her so much since we are here together again.

CHAPTER 16

Artemis had to be invoked and praised.

More than ever before, the future of their nation was in jeopardy for the decisive battle would soon take place. And they knew it. The tension was evident in the three ships and although all the Amazons tried to keep busy with their daily tasks, the threat of the imminent encounter with the Sarmatians flew over them like a black bird. Many of them remained silent most of the time, and that was a perfect excuse for Kalima, who, since the day Thalassa had saved Elephthera and the African warriors, had not addressed one single word to her and even less to the Aretian Amazon.

Everything was ready for the ceremony, but before, Thalassa, Elephthera and Queen Nijtá met to determine the best strategy to attack the invaders.

“We have no idea of what we’ll find there,” the northern Amazon stated with great sadness in her heart.

Thalassa was perfectly aware of her friend’s feelings, but she had to think like a warrior.

“And that’s why we need to consider all the possibilities and be ready for any of them,” she said.

“I agree,” Queen Nijtá intervened. “Unfortunately, and according to what you have explained,” she glanced at Elephthera, “the most remote of the possibilities is that your tribe has already gotten rid of these invaders.”

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Thalassa looked at Elephthera too in order to perceive her reaction at the queen’s words. Apparently, she was managing to remain calm and deal with the situation like the warrior she was.

“Another possibility,” Nijtá continued, “is to find the Sarmatians in total control of the island, which would mean…”

“…that my tribe has been vanquished,” Elephthera interrupted with a firm voice.

Thalassa hurried to speak then, trying to ease the anguish that she was sure the northern Amazon was experiencing.

“Or maybe that some are still resisting the attack.”

Elephthera spread a parchment on the table around which they were standing.

The lines and circles that were drawn on it represented her homeland, her past and perhaps, her death. It hurt her to think about Aretias’s possible destruction for she couldn’t picture her beloved island as a mere memory of what once was the land of the prosperous Aretian tribe. She still remembered the smell of fresh air in the mornings, her field trips to the deepest parts of the island’s territory, the beautiful sunsets that she had savoured at the beach and, above all, her sisters’

faces: all those women who were her friends, her tribe…her family. She was certain that many of them were dead, but even if she knew the Aretian battlefield was covered with corpses, she refused to give any names to those lifeless bodies that appeared before her in her nightmares.

“What do you think about it, Elephthera?” Thalassa called waking the northern Amazon from her wistful state.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you said,” she answered apologetically.

“We were discussing the possibility of attacking the Sarmatians on the flanks,”

Queen Nijtá explained.

“All right. I think we can manage to climb the hill on the northern part of the island with a group of your warriors and attack from that side while you and the rest of your tribe charge from the south.”

“Is this the hill you are talking about?” Thalassa asked pointing at a rocky region marked on the map.

“Yes, it might slow us down a little bit, but likewise, it can also give us the advantage of a better view of the battlefield before riding down to it.”

“Riding? Then I suppose that you want to take all the horses that we brought with us,” the queen asked not very convinced about giving the twenty horses to the Lemnian group.

“No, Queen Nijtá,” Elephthera answered, her skin turning deep red as she regretted seeming covetous.

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Thalassa noticed her friend’s sheepish reaction and immediately interrupted:

“We should divide the horses between the two groups. Let us have some and you can take the rest of them. That will give you a strong medium to break the Sarmatians’ defense, and then, we will have the chance to ambush them.

Queen Nijtá regarded both Amazons with a dry look and remained silent for a moment.

“Fine,” she finally agreed.

After the meeting, the day was busy for all the Amazons. They made the preparations for that night’s ceremony. They painted their bodies with different designs which represented good omen symbols that they thought would be blessed by Artemis after their prayers.

The calm sunset took away the daylight and gave way to night and fire. The three ships were fully illuminated with torches that made them look like bright sparks which plowed the seas toward their objective. All the crews had gathered on the three decks in order to participate in this important ceremony where they would ask for their goddess’s blessing for the upcoming battle, and they would pray for the souls of those who might see their final ray of light in the Aretian battlefield.

Africans and Lemnians chanted in unison the sacred prayers that would join their spirits with that of the divine huntress, and as the night devoured their ships in its darkness, their agile shadows were drawn on the waves with the rhythm of the drums during the solemn ritual dance.

They were already in Greek waters and they knew the island of Aretias was not far. They pleaded with Artemis to guide them like the moon that shone over them, to protect them and to let them die, if necessary, as true warriors embrac-ing their destiny.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The drums that had beaten for hours during the emotional ceremony

resounded in her heart, even though everything was now silent and calm. Most of the women had already gone down below to rest, so the three vessels’ decks looked as if they were isolated except for the burning torches and the Amazon leaning on the stern railing. The oppression in her heart was too obvious for Thalassa. The golden warrior had been observing her during the ceremony and was aware of the fear and sorrow that were torturing her. The end was so near…Naturally, they didn’t know if that end would be imposed on their lives, their sisters’ or the Amazon Nation itself. Therefore, facing that uncertainty was Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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not easy for them, much less for Elephthera, whose tribe was probably exterminated.

Once the chants and rituals were over, late at night, Elephthera had stayed on deck with her look and thought lost in the dark immensity. Thalassa felt the need to approach her. She had to let her know to what extent she was sharing her anguish.

The northern Amazon noticed Thalassa’s presence behind her, in spite of the princess’s silent steps. There was something so powerful in her essence, that she could recognize her eyes closed. And so, she closed them and waited for her to arrive by her side.

For a while, they leaned on the stern railing, silent, just bathing in each other’s company. Then, Thalassa spoke with a soft voice:

“The night is very peaceful.”

“Very,” Elephthera answered after a few seconds. “And yet, we are sailing toward a war.”

“I know.” Thalassa sighed.

“I was actually thinking about how much our lives resemble the ocean waters.”

“Is it because they are both like a mystery that hides within it all sorts of mar-vellous secrets?” the golden warrior asked regarding the tenuous horizon line.

“Yes, and because sometimes the water is calm just as our lives are in moments of peace, and in others, a storm breaks and all the beauty it holds becomes a threatening evil.”

Thalassa immediately perceived the sadness of those words and placed her hand on the Aretian’s, who felt her entire body shiver at the warm touch.

“We’ll arrive at Aretias any day now,” the Lemnian started, “and I want you to know that no matter what awaits there, I’ll fight by your side until the end of it.”

“I know, and that scares me too.” Elephthera answered and put her right hand on Thalassa’s arm.

The princess felt Elephthera trembling and repressed the impulse of just holding her in her arms. She only asked looking at her directly:

“That scares you?”

“Yes. You are the only good thing that has happened to me since the Sarmatians invaded my island. I don’t know if I’ve already lost my home and my family, but I couldn’t bear…”

She stopped.

Thalassa took her by her shoulders and turned her slowly obliging Elephthera to face her.

“What?” she asked piercing the northern Amazon with her intense voice.

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“I couldn’t bear losing you too,” the Aretian answered completely absorbed into the princess’s eyes. “Even if I need you to guide us…even if I know that this battle would be lost without you, there’s some part of me that would gladly ask you not to fight. I’m terrified of losing my tribe, my nation and my Princess in one day.”

Thalassa felt a strong emotion that made her heart start beating faster. She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them again.

“No,” she managed to respond, “you are never going to lose me.”

“But…how can you be so sure when we probably have a difficult battle coming?”

The golden warrior let go of Elephthera’s shoulders and cupped her chin in her hand.

“I won’t try to find any words to appease your anguish because I would simply be lying to you. The truth is, I share your fears with all my heart, and although they’re all of great importance to me, the fear of losing you is the hardest one to deal with.”

After making a small pause, she continued:

“All I can tell you is that we have to embrace our destiny and find glory in our friendship. I’m prepared to die in Aretias for I’ll die with the satisfaction of fighting for what I believe in…and I believe in you. So, no matter what happens in that battle, you are never going to lose me.”

Elephthera smiled at the princess’s tender words and, as irrational as that might sound, she knew inside herself that Thalassa was right. They would never be apart. Her muscles tensed as she tried to prevent the tears that had built in her eyes from falling, but despite her attempts, she failed. One of those crystal whispers that come from the soul found its way down her cheek and made the black cream she had used to paint symbols on her body run down her face. Thalassa reached out to wipe the dark tear and said:

“Come on now, don’t ruin your body art. It took me hours to paint it all for the ceremony and it’s not fair that you erase it just like that.”

Elephthera laughed and dried her tears trying not to appear weak before a woman who always seemed so strong.

“I also believe in you, Thalassa, and so I’ll fight this war with your name in my lips. No matter what fate brings upon us, ours is a truth greater than death. I’ll be with you in this realm or any other.”

“I know, I’m counting on it,” the golden warrior answered smiling.

They turned to the sea, then. Hand in hand. Two true warriors, two true souls ready to face their lives or their deaths.

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“No goodbyes, then,” Elephthera told the princess.

“No goodbyes.”

The waves crashed against the ship’s skull producing a rhythmic thundering sound. Around them, dark waters hid a reign that possessed beauty and danger all at once; and above them, two women gazed at the stars that lightened the sky with their glittering shine.

CHAPTER 17

An illusion. That was the only possible explanation for such an unexpected event. The chance to see those allied ships headed for the island had become so remote that she had stopped dreaming about it many days ago. And yet, those vessels were as real as the waves splashing loudly on the shore. She had discerned them as soon as they had appeared in the horizon.

Drea rinsed her eyes thinking that after opening them again the ships would have disappeared, but they floated there steadily as hundreds of women warriors disembarked on boats that they would row to the beach.

She ran as fast as she could until she reached the cave where her sisters awaited. Obliged by the enemy forces to abandon their village, they had found shelter in that improvised hideout that prevented them from being found by the Sarmatian predators, who had already taken control of the island. Less than twenty Amazons from both tribes survived the endless attacks until, eventually, they decided to find a secret place where they could protect themselves and keep Queen Xanthia from being murdered.

The queen smiled openly after hearing Drea’s announcement.

“Is Elephthera with them?” she asked immediately.

“I don’t know, my Queen, they’re still a little far, but they are definitely Amazons and some of them are already trying to get ashore.”

The women rejoiced and cheered after hearing Drea’s words. Salvation, Queen Xanthia thought, Artemis has finally listened to our prayers. And she closed

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her eyes for a moment feeling gratefulness in her heart. Two ships, she said to herself and then addressed the Amazon who was sitting near her:

“Onira, go with Drea to the beach and guide our sisters here. I need to talk to their leader.”

While waiting for Drea and Onira to return accompanied by the foreign Amazons, Queen Xanthia felt a strong emotion. She had seen the end so close…the end of her tribe, of her island and of her own life as well as all her sisters’. Now, a new chance appeared in her path, and it was not long before it took the form of a dark astonishing foreign queen, who was soon brought to her hideout. Xanthia stood up and greeted her respectfully in the traditional Amazon way. Nijtá also saluted her recognizing her garments as those worn solely by royalty.

“Welcome, Queen…”

“Nijtá,” the African answered with a deep voice.

“Queen Nijtá,” the Aretian repeated solemnly. “I am Queen Xanthia. I regret meeting you in circumstances such as these, but I am honored by your presence in my island. May the gods grant you a good life and a heroic death.”

Nijtá nodded in response and Xanthia continued:

“Is Elephthera, the brave warrior I sent to your land with you, or…?”

“She’s all right,” Nijtá rushed to answer. “One more ship, commanded by the Lemnian princess, detoured in order to reach the northern part of the island, and Elephthera is with her. They’ll join us on the battlefield attacking from the opposite side.”

A smile of deep satisfaction appeared on Queen Xanthia’s face, and she raised an eyebrow amazed by the plan the reinforcement party had prepared.

“We need to act fast or else the Sarmatians will spot your tribe before we attack them. We must all head for the village. That’s where we’ll find them.”

“Are you sure that’s where they are?” Nijtá asked.

“I am. They’re burning and ransacking our huts trying to find me. They know that once they kill me, the surviving Amazons will surrender and they’ll have full control of the island.”

Her own words made Xanthia burn inside for the anger she felt at the thought of surrendering to those savages. She remained calm as she explained everything to the newcomer, though. Nijtá was silent considering the few options of attacks that the present circumstances allowed her to reckon. She looked around and noticed that the Amazons that had survived so far were either injured or looked visibly tired, therefore lacking the strength they needed for this last and decisive battle.

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“We’ll be ready for combat as soon as I give the order,” Nijtá stated with great confidence. “I will charge first since my warriors are fresher than yours and we’ll take the Sarmatians by surprise. That will give us an advantage over them. I suggest that you arm your group with bows so that they can help us get rid of some warriors at long distance. Then, your Amazons can charge too. Hopefully, Thalassa and Elephthera will get there on time to give us backup. I count with one hundred and seventy warriors ready for battle, and eighty more will arrive on the other ship.”

Xanthia’s blood seemed to be boiling through her veins. She thought about her own sister Aricia and all the loyal members of her tribe who were already in the Land of the Dead, unable to share that moment with her.

“Thank you, Nijtá, on behalf of my tribe and myself,” she said solemnly while saluting the African Queen one more time.

After that conversation, Nijtá walked out of the cave with a powerful stride.

The Amazons standing near her stepped aside and let her pass as they felt intimidated by her strong personality. Then, the other imposing queen took on her role as leader and started instructing her warriors on the way the attack would be made.

“Fight restlessly,” she told them. “Fight until victory is ours.”

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

As they marched toward the flames that were visible from the whole island, the devastation became also heavy in their hearts. That feeling could only be translated into rage. Their village was dissipating into the air together with the smoke that invaded it. The sight was absolutely disheartening and the cause of all that desolation was still in action: after sacking and burning the huts, the also bat-tered Sarmatian army was still waiting for the queen to surrender and give herself up. That’s why when Xanthia appeared before them with her few wounded warriors, their first reaction was a smile. The final step they needed before becoming ultimate conquerors of the Amazon Nation was embodied in that blond woman on horseback before them. Queen Xanthia’s body could be easily distinguished from the distance and they thought her presence to be a gift from the gods who favored their victory.

Still, although the Sarmatians were conscious that the Amazons were out of options, they were not sure that such fierce warriors would ever yield. Therefore, the reason why Xanthia was finally surrendering to them was obscure. Perhaps she thought that by doing so, she would convince them to sign a truce by which Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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they would promise not to kill the remaining Amazons; or maybe, she was only accepting the fact that they were vanquished for good. Whatever the reason was, the only thing standing between them and success was the Aretian queen.

The Sarmatian warriors started running toward her with the purpose of killing her until a peculiar sound caught their attention. As the drums of war approached the village, the raiders felt disconcerted. They were not prepared for further combat since they had believed the Amazons to be already defeated. Yet, according to the numerous footsteps that were getting louder and louder, there was a big army headed toward them at considerable speed.

The Sarmatian commanders ordered the soldiers to fetch their weapons and get ready to face their still unseen enemies. The fearsome warriors started to feel the nerves and excitement that comes with the expectation of an armed confrontation. Their muscles tensed and they felt their pulse speed up as they kept a steady look toward the place from where the thundering sound was coming.

Soon, an Amazon army formed behind Queen Xanthia ready to receive the

order to attack. A second queen suddenly appeared beside her and shouted:

“Prepare to die!”

She controlled her horse with one hand and waved a spear with the other in a threatening way. Then, she turned to her army:

“Sisters! Find glory today on this battlefield or die with honor defending our mighty nation! May destiny favour us and may Artemis witness that, from this moment, you are already heroes!”

There was a sensation of excitement mixed with anxiety filling the air.

Nobody moved or made any noise that would break the perfect formation in which they stood. The whole environment seemed to stay silent for a brief moment until a cloud of furious Amazons charged against the Sarmatians like a shadow of death. Soon, the day’s brightness was devoured by a swarm of fighters who moved around the battlefield trying to destroy each other.

One after another, many Sarmatian lives were robbed by the warrior women.

The men’s disorientation was a great advantage for the Amazons at the beginning. However, the fierce Sarmatians organized themselves as fast as they could to face the enemies who were attacking them out of nowhere. They had considered the victory to be already theirs, and now…was it actually possible that that tribe of female fighters still had resources for another battle? That war was lasting too long and there was no telling on who would win such a savage confrontation.

The only certain thing was that the battle would not end soon since both armies appeared invincible.

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A short while after Nijtá attacked with her nearly two hundred Amazons, all well armed, Queen Xanthia also ordered her few warriors to charge against the enemy. Their own village, or rather, what was left of it, became one more blood bath. How much rancor and anger were present in that battle! The two great queens on horseback offered an impressive sight, and all their impeccable movements implied immediate death.

“Don’t leave the flanks unguarded!” Nijtá shouted.

“Don’t break formation!” Xanthia added a few seconds later.

“Simmaho!” both queens ordered their troops when they noticed they had started to disperse dangerously.

The difference in number was their most difficult obstacle. Xanthia calculated about five or six hundred of those relentless opponents in the improvised battlefield, and they still kept coming.

The sound of the drums was substituted by the deafening clash of the swords and shields. War cries filled the air with the voice of those courageous fighters who wanted to win or recover their land. Each of them thought themselves invincible and likewise, they knew they were vulnerable to those blades that barely missed their flesh whenever an opponent stroke a blow.

The landscape was painted in red since the fire the Sarmatians had started in the village soon spread across the field and the trees. Whistles of arrows flying through the air caught the warriors’ attention as they tried to avoid being injured by any of those deadly pointed weapons.

Blood. Cries. Death.

And with that…immeasurable pain.

All the Amazons had in mind that Thalassa and Elephthera had not arrived yet, and they started praying for their appearance. It was utterly important that they and their group arrived soon. That was the only way in which the Sarmatians’ victory would be put at stake.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The clear superiority of the Amazons at the beginning of their unexpected attack was not so obvious anymore. The Sarmatians were too many and

extremely wild in battle. The Africans realized how difficult it must have been for the Aretian tribe to resist and survive that ravaging presence on their island. Only their respective queens were able to hold against more than one at a time and the Amazons could only think of another warrior with enough fighting skills and strength to do so. They had all seen her face Nijtá in combat and even defeat her.

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Now they wished for her presence on that battlefield as soon as possible. Princess Thalassa and her party were taking too long, and the situation was getting desperate for the women warriors.

Where are they? They should be here by now. Are they lost? Did they encounter raiders at the northern coast? Queen Nijtá said to herself. The tenacious queen of Fezzan dodged her enemies’ swords and javelins with agile movements. She used their own weight and force against them by pushing them to the ground when they charged, or letting them fall directly on her blade when they threw themselves at her. However, little by little, her strength started diminishing and she noticed her sisters were also feeling the quills of exhaustion making their muscles ache as the battle intensified in ferocity.

We need you here, Thalassa, the queen reckoned without taking her eyes from her moving targets. Then, she attacked two Sarmatians at the same time using her sword to hit and defend herself from her restless opponents. One of them prepared to strike, but the queen’s sharp blade slashed his right arm. In the meantime, the other one loaded a crossbow and pointed at her. It was his perfect chance since she was facing the other Sarmatian soldier. He aimed, walked toward her with firm determined steps and…an arrow penetrated the Sarmatian’s throat before he could fire his crossbow.

Nijtá was the first one to see her, but soon, her war cry resounded on the battlefield inundating the plain like a wave from Tartarus.

“Jrisa!”

Everything seemed to freeze for a moment as the warriors from both sides felt the intensity of that battle cry penetrating their hearts. They all looked up and there she was, on top of the hill, with Elephthera by her side. Her breathtaking figure seemed truly divine on her white horse, which was perfectly distinguishable over the destructive flames that had started to spread over the island.

At Thalassa’s side, the Aretian who had fetched the aid the northern island so desperately needed, mounted a muscular black horse and carried a spear on her right arm. At her right, Listeia stood straight holding two short swords. She waved them fast in a threatening way preparing to charge against the Sarmatian raiders. Kalima stood next to Alanthea. They each carried a sword in a scabbard, but held a long range weapon in their hands. Kalima aimed at her enemies with a crossbow, and Alanthea used a bow and arrows. A bow was also visible in the Lemnian princess’s hands, while her favourite weapon, the labrys, was still kept inside her leather scabbard waiting to be tainted with her enemies’ blood. Apart from these deadly elements, she had a pair of chobos tied to the outer part of her boots and a small dagger attached to her waist.

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Soon, a row of armed warriors formed on top of the mountain and a sea of arrows started falling on the Sarmatians with enormous precision.

“For the Amazon Nation!” Thalassa shouted. Her beautiful stallion neighed and stood on its back legs before launching itself down the hill as the golden warrior’s war cry sounded one more time over the battlefield.

“Jrisa!”

Her sisters immediately identified that word as the order to attack, so they ran or rode their horses down the slope toward their encounter with fate.

Thalassa was an expert rider and she didn’t need her hands to control her mount. As she advanced toward the enemy, she kept throwing constant arrows and she didn’t waste a single one. More than twenty Sarmatians were killed by her lethal bow even before she arrived at the battlefield.

Both sides reacted in very different ways before the new situation. The invaders were distracted and obviously discouraged. They were attacked from every side now, and they found it difficult to stay focused after all the fuss the Amazons were making. The female warriors, on the contrary, felt their strength revived and charged against the enemy with tremendous energy and courage.

Elephthera reached the plain soon after Thalassa. She was wearing her peculiar xilais and at the same time, she managed to successfully throw her spear at a strong Sarmatian, who was causing too much death around him. She had kept behind her princess all the way down, and even in the middle of the rage and fever of the combat, she could not stop admiring that powerful warrior and the way in which she had barged in the battle provoking all kinds of reactions.

As soon as they found themselves surrounded by war, Thalassa started making good use of her labrys and Elephthera’s xilais immediately began to wreak havoc on the Sarmatian army. The fighters scattered in the battlefield trying to cover as much ground as possible. Thalassa and Elephthera, who tried to stay close at the beginning, slowly got separated by the swell of Sarmatians who stood on their way.

The warriors fought ceaselessly. Thanatos too.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The Amazon army combated their enemy with renewed energy and fierceness.

They believed themselves to be unstoppable and that was their best weapon against the weakened Sarmatians. Even the small group of Aretians and Lemnians, who had experienced that war for quite a long time, seemed to recover their strength all of a sudden. Elenthe and Aglaia had not believed their ears when Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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they had heard their princess’s war cry. Emotion had possessed all the Lemnians in such a way, as they had seen her riding into the battle, that they had started fighting with incredible vigor given their condition.

The Sarmatians were surrounded, attacked from different flanks, and were well aware that the situation was becoming dangerously unfavorable for them.

Nevertheless, their bellicose nature impelled them to struggle for victory and their own lives until the end. And it was precisely the end what many of them read in Thalassa’s eyes during those few seconds before they were slaughtered by her labrys. She moved and turned her double axe with such speed and precision, that some of them got the impression of being attacked by more than one weapon.

After identifying Thalassa as their main target, four warriors tried to kill the golden princess and managed to scare her horse with the purpose of making it drop her. Yet, she didn’t even stagger. She held on to the reins swinging her labrys close to the Sarmatians’ faces to get some distance between them and her horse. Then, she jumped off it and charged against her attackers with wild movements. One by one her enemies were injured or killed by her weapon while she let herself be embraced by the thrill of war.

Elephthera dismounted as soon as she arrived at the battlefield. Her agile steps allowed her to move through the corpses and flames quite quickly and she reached several Sarmatians with her claw-like weapons. They were terribly disconcerted by her xilais, which didn’t give them much time to react. As soon as they managed to avoid one of those deadly sets of claws, they could feel the other one immediately tearing their throat or piercing their hearts. One of the tallest and strongest enemy warriors, however, spotted the northern Amazon and charged against her with tremendous rage. She barely avoided the first blow and was not able to dodge the second one. The back end of the warrior’s sword hit her cheekbone and made a deep cut on it. Elephthera lost her balance for a moment and the intense pain made her grimace. A thin red line of blood soon fell down her face like a tear of fire. Everything around her became fuzzy, but she groped for her enemy, managed to stretch out her hand and cut his stomach open with her xilais before he could strike the final blow. The Sarmatian fell heavily on the ground gasping. A few seconds later, he died.

Listeia and Alanthea tried to stay together all throughout the battle. They fought back to back in order to protect each other and to have a greater attacking range. Close to them, Queen Nijtá made many Sarmatians experience the

strength of her blows as she clashed her sword against theirs. Queen Xanthia also fought with a peculiar style. She seemed to be less passionate than Nijtá in her Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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movements, but still, she executed each manoeuvre flawlessly. Her sword’s blade made such fine cuts, that whenever she decapitated a Sarmatian, their heads didn’t appear to be separated from the rest of their bodies until they fell on the ground.

Thalassa was plucky and persistent throughout the confrontation. She neither lowered her defense nor decreased the intensity of her strikes. Her precise fighting strategy enabled her to defeat all the warriors surrounding her without faltering.

Yet, there was one Sarmatian that she didn’t see. He was standing some steps behind her, facing Elephthera, who was only a few feet away. He carried a long spear in his right hand and a shield in the left one. It seemed that he was going to attack Thalassa, but he actually aimed at the northern Amazon, who had no chance to react on time. As the spear flew through the air, it made a hissing sound that caught the princess’s attention.

“No!” she cried, but she could do nothing about it. It was too close to Elephthera’s body.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

She moved in an extremely fast way, somehow copying the attack of the tiger, but she didn’t see the spear coming, or at least, she didn’t perceive its proximity with enough time to reject it. It was already too close. As she turned, she almost felt the cold iron reaching her chest. This is it, she said to herself during that fraction of a second, and that thought appeared in her mind strangely mixed with Thalassa’s image.

While fighting relentlessly, the princess had tried to keep an eye on Elephthera, but the battle had separated them. Too much blood, too many blades, too much confusion had pushed them apart on the battlefield and Thalassa was not there for her, even though she occupied her soul and mind completely.

Now, it was too late…the golden warrior held her breath and almost turned away as the painful tragedy became inevitable, and yet, suddenly, the lethal spear was intercepted. A sword broke it into two pieces before Elephthera’s surprised eyes. She turned to see Kalima holding her leg, since one of the fragments of the weapons had incrusted into her thigh after she had been able to reject it with her sword.

Elephthera froze for a moment and wondered why Kalima had just risked her life to help her. There was no reason for her to protect the warrior who had “stolen” her princess, but despite that, she had done it. The Aretian ran to the wounded Amazon, who was soon surrounded by several Sarmatians eager for the Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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blood of a possible easy prey. She prepared to defend her, but Kalima straightened up and continued fighting without paying attention to her.

Thalassa was as shocked as Elephthera about the bravery Kalima had shown, so she regarded her intensely and nodded briefly as a way to thank her for saving her best friend’s life. Kalima frowned, she never said a word.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

And there was pain, and there was sorrow, and there were countless feelings indescribable in human words. The effects of war destroyed more than lives, they ruined the warriors’ spirits as they saw their sisters fall by the hands of their enemies. But they never gave up, they never ceased fighting. Even when their limbs trembled with pain and exhaustion, they still fought with as much dash as at the beginning of the epic confrontation.

Here and there, bodies of both armies lay limp as Thanatos stole their souls and transported them to the underworld. Many Amazon warriors might have lost their lives on that battlefield, but no one would doubt that in that same place, they had found eternal glory and honor.

One single moment of distraction and she felt the burning pain of a blade cutting her side under her ribcage. Elenthe almost fell on her knees, but didn’t allow herself that weakness. Continue fighting, her own interior voice encouraged her.

Xanthia was soon by her side and everybody heard her shout:

“Don’t give up now, sisters! They are almost defeated!”

And certainly, the Sarmatian army was visibly pulling back and its warriors were scattered along the battlefield, having lost any sense of formation, and still, they didn’t show the slightest intention of surrendering. They seemed to be determined to die fighting in that foreign land if they were not capable of conquering it. The attack of the two queens, together with Thalassa’s appearance at a decisive moment, had been impossible to stop by those men already weakened by war. The winds of change had brought an unexpected twist to what had seemed an inevitable defeat for the Amazons. Slowly, they had claimed the advantage the Sarmatians had stolen from them, and they clearly showed who was, after all, the most forceful army.

At a given moment, the golden princess saw herself dispossessed of her labrys by the accurate blow of an enemy’s sword. Her deadly weapon flew off her hand, leaving her apparently without any defense. Elephthera, who was close to her, witnessed the situation and hurried to her aid. Yet, with great speed, Thalassa grabbed the chobos she had had tied to her boots all the time and used that spe-Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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cial attack of hers the young Amazons of her tribe were so fond of. She hit the man on the left side of his neck with the weapon she carried on her right hand.

Then, she beat him again on the other side with the other hand and, finally, turning around him, she stroke from behind crossing her chobos in a way that caused his immediate death. One more time, Elephthera couldn’t help but being full of admiration for the princess. Nijtá had also had the chance to see Thalassa’s abilities again. She just smiled to herself and continued fighting with endless energy.

Every part of this epic story wove itself in the tapestry of Amazon history and finally summed up in a word: triumph. The last few Sarmatians perished knowing that no man had ever weakened the Amazon Nation as much as they had.

Nonetheless, it was not them who would defeat them. Their leader was the last survivor and although he saw his army vanquished, he charged against Thalassa flailing his sword, but the golden warrior managed to disarm him and pierced his chest with his own weapon. The last of the Sarmatians fell dead in a pool of blood. The war was over.

What happened after that is difficult to understand, unless one was there living it, breathing it. A certain silence filled the atmosphere. That silence was noisy, though. It was not peaceful or calm because it was still impregnated with adrena-line, strong heartbeats and the Amazons’ agitated breath.

The surviving warriors stopped combating, even if many of them still stood in fighting positions. They looked around them. The devastation was breathtaking, but they had defeated the invaders. Aretias would continue to be Amazon land, and although terribly wounded, their nation was saved. Near them, and yet, very distant from them, a Divine Huntress smiled with pleasure.

The women were happy inside their hearts, but it was no time for celebrations.

Too many of their sisters lay inert. Too much blood covered their island. There was a lot of work to do and many funeral pyres to build.

Kalima was squatting as she tried to recover her breath, while Listeia and Alanthea leaned on each other trying not to give in to exhaustion. Elephthera looked around and found the sad landscape that was completely different from the one Aretias had had previous to her departure so many moons before. She finally gazed upon Thalassa who slowly tied her chobos back to her boots and picked up her labrys without looking up at the northern Amazon, who was standing next to it. Then, the golden warrior approached Queen Nijtá lowering her head in a humble and respectful way, and offered her the weapon she had used to slaughter many Sarmatian enemies.

“Please, Queen Nijtá, take this labrys and fulfil your sentence as we agreed in Fezzan. My life is in your hands,” Thalassa said with a confident tone.

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Nijtá looked at her in a disconcerted way before she pulled her hand out and grabbed the labrys. She noticed all the Amazons around them were staring at her with perplexity, but she didn’t pay attention to them. She only glanced at Elephthera, whose face expressed extreme anguish and helplessness as she tried to repress a strong impulse to intervene. The queen raised the labrys and Thalassa closed her eyes expecting its blade to slash her skin at any moment. Every heart beat fast. Then, Queen Nijtá released her grip and the labrys fell with a loud sound on the ground.

“Look at me, Thalassa,” she ordered and the Lemnian raised her eyes.

Nijá gave her a cold stare and then crossed her arms in front of her and saluted the princess as the true Amazon she had proved to be.

“You are a worthy Amazon Princess no matter where you come from. It has been an honor to fight by your side,” she stated and nodded as Thalassa saluted her in response.

Elephthera sighed in relief and took the princess by surprise by giving her a pat on the back.

“Jrisa!” Thalassa shouted raising her left arm.

All the Amazons cheered back feeling pride and satisfaction in their souls.

Many courageous warriors had laid their lives defending a Nation only those mighty women believed in, and although their names were not copied in History books that transcended ages, their brave deeds were printed in the hearts of those human beings that are today part of the female gender.

CHAPTER 18

Drums.

They had been resounding in the island for several hours in memory of all the valiant women who had lost their lives in order to protect their land and nation.

A single but huge funeral pyre had been built to honor so many dead sisters, the ones that were going to be incinerated that night, and the ones who had fought and died throughout the long days of war.

The corpses of the Sarmatians had been thrown into a pit and burned without any glory in order to avoid infections.

Now they were ready for the ceremony, while the drums still continued

sounding all over the island of Aretias. They accompanied the ritual dance the Amazons were performing near the bonfire. The funeral pyre was lit with burning arrows that were accurately shot at it. It was a night that could best be described as a conjunction of the basic opposites of nature: life and death. The Amazons were celebrating the survival of their mighty nation but, on the other hand, they were mourning the loss of their sisters’ lives. The war had opened a gap in the heart of each of the tribes that had participated in it, and that gap would never be closed again.

All the survivors were present and Queen Xanthia presided the rituals, although it was Dasha and Aglaia who were in charge of performing them. They conducted the traditional funeral ceremony and they led their sisters on a prayer in honor of those who had fallen in battle. Then, the priestesses sacrificed a deer

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to thank Artemis for blessing their weapons and granting them victory in what had been a perilous war.

Queen Nijtá was sitting beside Xanthia and by her side appeared princess Thalassa. Elenthe and Elephthera were standing in a privileged position at both sides of the royal members. The rest of the Amazons danced around the funeral pyre with the rhythm of the drums until Queen Xanthia stood up in order to speak.

“Sisters!” she spoke in a solemn tone looking at the moon that was almost full that night. “Today we have sealed our destiny in History. The Amazon Nation has overcome death and by so doing, it has become more powerful than ever.

We, the daughters of the moon, have shed the blood of our enemies and purified our souls through their defeat. Tonight we can say that Aretias will continue to be our territory. Let’s honor the memory of the great women who gave their lives for all of us and our mighty civilization. May Artemis be always with us, and may she hold our fallen sisters in an eternal embrace of glory.”

The members of the three tribes agreed in silence and paid close attention to the gestures the queen made inviting Thalassa, Elenthe, Queen Nijtá and Elephthera to step forward.

“Never before has royalty carried such grandeur as it does in you, Queen Nijtá,” she said addressing the African queen. “Your aid has been essential in this war and I want to thank you and all the courageous warriors of your tribe for that. You brought us a new air of confidence and the wisdom of your experience.

Just as the beginning of the Amazon Race resides in Fezzan, today, a new beginning is born in Aretias thanks to you.”

Queen Nijtá nodded and then stood straight showing the satisfaction she felt for the war’s outcome. Xanthia smiled briefly at her and then turned to meet a pair of peculiar eyes.

“Thalassa…Thalassa…” the queen savored the name as if she were under

some kind of spell. “Your name will become a legend, of that, I’m sure, but before the glorious future that awaits you arrives, you must enjoy the righteous present you have forged through your heroic deeds. It is an honor to know such a brave princess, and I’ll make sure Queen Guinais receives my appreciation for raising such a noble warrior. Thank you.”

Thalassa blushed slightly and felt a bit nervous, but she managed to control herself and simply thanked Queen Xanthia while saluting her politely.

Then, the Aretian queen addressed the commander Elenthe:

“Elenthe, you were the first to arrive in Aretias when the battle was so intense that it took the lives of many of the members of your crew. Yet, you never aban-Paulina Sánchez & Isabel Forga

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doned the battlefield and therefore, you will never abandon our hearts. I am sure your queen will know how to reward you when you return to your island, but have also my immense recognition. I know your courage will be remembered always among the Aretian tribe.”

Elenthe and Xanthia saluted each other and finally, the queen approached Elephthera and put her hand on the northern Amazon’s right shoulder. She smiled with appreciation and said:

“You are a true hero, Elephthera. You risked your life to save us all, and you saved us all indeed. You tried to splice Lemnians and Africans on the greatest and deadliest mission of all, and you succeeded. The Amazon Nation bows at your accomplishment.”

Elephthera felt proud about what she had achieved. She remembered the day she set sail from Aretias and thought about all the dangers she had had to overcome before returning to her homeland with the aid she had promised to bring.

She thought about the people she had met on her journey and as Thalassa’s face appeared in her thoughts, the queen spoke again:

“I know the destiny of our island will be as safe in your hands as our nation has been. Therefore, in recognition of your courage, I want you to be in charge of the reconstruction of Aretias once our African and Lemnian sisters part…”

Those were the last words Elephthera and Thalassa heard, even though the queen continued speaking. They grew pale for their hearts were broken.

When the Lemnians part, she thought, when Thalassa parts. And then? Could there be a life for her without the golden princess? She had learned through that journey that no matter how far one travels in a lifetime, one’s whole world can be enclosed in a single person.

When the Lemnians part, Thalassa repeated to herself, when I part and Elephthera stays. And then? Thalassa reckoned , Is there anything worth living for after I’ve possessed everything in a single friend? My northern Amazon will not be with me anymore.

The ceremonial dances went on until dawn and all the Amazons were con-

scious of the importance of that particular night. A mixture of satisfaction and pain was visible in their faces, but Elephthera’s expression was covered with a deep sadness that went beyond the tragedy they were all sharing. Thalassa could see that clearly every time she looked for her friend’s eyes during the long ceremony.

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✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

The wood creaked with the soft rocking of the ship, which was anchored off the northern coast of the island. Its halls were silent for most of the members of the crew were working on the main deck getting ready for the long journey back to Lemnos. The only Amazon who stayed down below reading the map they were going to follow on their voyage was the golden princess.

Once and a thousand times she tried to focus on her work, but whenever she started following the chart with her eyes, she lost concentration and dove in her thoughts and the sadness of her close departure.

The ship already feels empty without her, she said to herself and closed her eyes to see different moments of the journey she had shared with Elephthera: she remembered the day she had found the northern Amazon lost in the Lemnian territory. Then, she smiled as she enjoyed the memory of Elephthera’s insistence on going with her to Africa; she admired her for the courage she showed when she tried to save Listeia during the storm; she beamed when she remembered the first time she saw the Aretian wearing that strange tunic in Leptis; she thanked her in her heart for risking her life to save hers more than once; and she…

“Princess Thalassa,” a voice called from the cabin’s door.

A pair of thoughtful eyes turned to meet the Aretian queen’s intense look.

“I’m sorry for startling you.”

“No, no, please, come in,” Thalassa answered absently.

Most unusually, Queen Xanthia had decided to visit Thalassa in person

instead of sending a messenger or requiring her presence. She probably didn’t like anybody seeing her in the austere circumstances of the cave in which she was provisionally living, but she also wanted to express her gratitude to the princess one more time by visiting her.

“Is your crew ready to part?” Xanthia asked taking a seat.

“Yes, I believe we’ll be ready the day after tomorrow. In the meantime, I want them to rest before the voyage.”

“Of course, they deserve it. And you, Thalassa, don’t you also need some rest?” the queen inquired noticing the princess’s sad look.

“As you know, Queen Xanthia, sleeping is a luxury that sometimes royalty can’t afford.”

The Aretian queen nodded in agreement but didn’t speak for a while. Then, she continued:

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“Aren’t you going to say goodbye to Elephthera? I’ve heard you became good friends through this journey.”

The princess held her breath for a moment. The queen had pronounced that name…her name, the name Thalassa had sown to her heart in letters of gold.

“Elephthera…” she whispered.

Xanthia immediately perceived the growing tension that filled the cabin and opted for a change of subject.

“Princess,” she started, “you know I’m extremely thankful to you, as I am to Queen Nijtá. And I would also wish to transmit my immense gratitude to your mother, Queen Guinais, through a written message that I will ask you to put in her hands like a personal favour.”

“Of course, Queen Xanthia,” Thalassa answered.

The Aretian queen glanced around the cabin looking for the necessary means to carry out her purpose.

“I had the intention of preparing this before, but unfortunately at the moment,” she said casually while Thalassa provided her with a parchment, a quill and a bottle of ink, “we have been deprived of many necessary objects that stayed back after we fled our village.”

After handing all the materials to the queen, the golden warrior lit a few candles in order to lighten the room more for Xanthia.

“Thank you, Princess, I appreciate this.”

“I will leave you in privacy to express your thoughts, but I won’t be far. If there is anything else you need, please, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I’m fine, and thank you again,” Xanthia said smiling.

Thalassa headed out of the cabin, but she was only a few steps away from the door when she had a fortunate encounter with someone who bumped into her.

“Elephthera?!” she exclaimed holding the Aretian for a moment with her arms.

“My Princess,” Elephthera replied also startled and immediately started to speak in a fast almost babbling way. “I needed to see you or else I would have gone mad.”

The golden warrior, aware of the queen’s presence in the cabin, tried to warn Elephthera with a sign, but the Aretian took her hands in hers and continued talking:

“I know you’re leaving soon, but there is no way I can let you go without telling you that…”

“We should find a better time for this because…”

“A better time?! Thalassa, it’s now or never. You heard what Queen Xanthia said, she assigned the reconstruction of Aretias to me, and that means that…”

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“…that she trusts you and knows you can deal with the responsibility.”

“No, it means that you and I won’t see each other again! I’m sorry but…”

“You can’t disobey your queen’s orders, now, let’s go to…”

“I don’t want to disregard her orders, trust me, I know my tribe needs me in these difficult circumstances and I’m conscious of the honor my Queen is granting me, that’s why I’m going crazy. On one hand, my mind is telling me to do what I must, but on the other hand, my heart reaches for something greater than that, something that is as precious as gold.”

“What do you mean?” Thalassa asked worried about what the queen could

have heard about their conversation.

“She means you,” Xanthia said as she walked out of the cabin with the quill still in her hand. Then, she turned to Elephthera:

“I had already noticed your discomfort with my decision during the ceremony and I couldn’t understand the reason. Now everything is clear to me.”

The northern Amazon grew pale.

“Oh,” was all her lips could pronounce and she directed a quick look to Thalassa asking her with her eyes why she hadn’t warned her.

Xanthia walked between them noticing Thalassa’s anguished look and Elephthera’s disconcerted expression.

“There are truths,” she started, “that the mind can’t understand for it is blinded to the power of the heart. It is true that one must commit to duty on the first place, but when it comes to making a decision that will define one’s destiny, then one must surrender to the heart.”

The queen looked then directly into the northern Amazon’s eyes and asked:

“Is it your destiny to stay in Aretias, Elephthera?”

The young woman hesitated for a second before answering:

“I don’t know, my Queen.”

“Of course you know! Your decision was made since you gazed upon her!” she exclaimed pointing at Thalassa.

Elephthera felt her hands and knees were shaking and her heart was pounding so strong that she thought all the women on board could hear it. Thalassa was extremely nervous herself. She hoped Xanthia wouldn’t punish her friend as an act of reprisal, and she regretted not having stopped her before she said all she had.

“I will ask you one more time, Elephthera,” the queen continued. “Is it your destiny to stay in Aretias?”

Silence

“No,” the young woman finally answered.

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“Then reach out and follow your dream. You’re free to go.”

Elephthera could not believe what she had heard. It was almost like an illusion, and yet, it was real. Thalassa herself was speechless and she looked from the northern Amazon to the queen and back without knowing how to react. Queen Xanthia gave Elephthera a reassuring look and then addressed the princess:

“And now, if you allow me some time, I have a message to write.”

After saying this, the queen returned to the cabin leaving the two Amazons in total confusion but with a new evident happiness growing in their hearts.

✶ ✶ ✶ ✶

Thalassa shook her head and leaned against the deck’s railing. She felt troubled for not having reached a conclusion yet in their long chat. Likewise, Elephthera was walking back and forth with a thousand thoughts flashing altogether in her mind. She ran her fingers through her dark hair for the fourth time and continued the conversation that had already been going on for quite some time.

“Of course I’m glad, Thalassa. You know what I really want, but…”

A shadow covered her eyes, and the princess was perfectly conscious of it.

“I understand,” she said. “You can’t leave in this circumstances because you are too responsible to abandon your sisters knowing that they need your help.”

Elephthera lowered her head. A melancholy sun had started to set on the horizon matching with the sadness of her eyes.

“I can see that you know me quite well. The thing is…”

“The thing is,” Thalassa interrupted her, “that we are not ready for a farewell.”

After saying this she looked around to make sure nobody was listening to them on deck.

“Isn’t that right?” she added.

“Yes, that’s right”

“However, sooner or later you’ll have to make a decision,” Thalassa said as she watched the northern Amazon go to and fro.

“I know, I know, but it’s one of the hardest choices I’ve ever had to make.”

“I won’t deny that, but saying it won’t keep you from having to make it, even if you don’t like the consequences of either choice.”

“Oh, come on,” Elephthera halted for a moment. “You are not making this any easier for me by saying this.”

“I’m just stating the facts,” the golden princess answered calmly. “Don’t blame me for being realistic.”

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“I don’t blame you, I just…don’t think there is a solution,” Elephthera answered with evident pain and exasperation in her voice.

“Aha, I see.”

The northern warrior looked at her almost with a reproach, surprised at the indifference the princess was showing. But after all, she thought, this probably doesn’t affect her so much.

Thalassa smiled at Elephthera’s obvious desperation.

“Look,” she started, “there is actually a very easy solution.”

The Aretian raised her head with expectation and curiosity before the golden warrior’s words.

“You know you must stay and help your sisters, right?”

“Yes, I’ve said it before,” Elephthera answered confused by the Lemnian’s insistence on what had already been said.

“Well,” Thalassa continued with a playful expression, “since you can’t come with me now and you don’t want to let me go either, then don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t let me go.”

The Aretian narrowed her eyes and frowned after hearing Thalassa’s answer.

Asking the princess to stay was a possibility that had not even crossed her mind.

“Would you do that for me?” she asked and her voice trembled with excitement.

Thalassa walked toward her and leaned forward almost touching Elephthera’s ear with her lips.

“I would do anything for you,” she whispered.

Elephthera grinned. Her face shone with gratefulness and happiness.

“I will stay in Aretias and help you rebuild the village. After that, you can choose to come with me.”

For a moment, the northern Amazon thought she would start crying, but she managed to hold her tears.

“But…but…” she tried to say.

“There are no buts,” the princess interrupted. “As soon as your queen finishes writing her message, I’ll inform her of that. I’m sure she’ll appreciate another pair of hands. I’ll send Elenthe as commander of the Lemnian group back to my island and they’ll explain the situation to my mother.”

“And what about your crew?”

“I’ll tell them as well.”

“Tell us what?” Kalima startled them both.

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Thalassa and Elephthera took one step back after being taken by surprise by Kalima’s presence. Elephthera looked down as the princess answered:

“That I’m staying here to help the Aretians reconstruct their village.”

“What?!”

The golden warrior’s words had hit Kalima like a bucket of cold water. She had hoped to leave Aretias as soon as possible and return home with her princess leaving Elephthera and the war behind, but now, her expectations had sunk in a fraction of a second.

“Staying? For her?”

“Don’t talk to me in that tone, Kalima. You are free to go if you wish, but I want you to understand that I’m going to stay here until this village is reconstructed.”

Kalima shook her head in disagreement and started to speak to Elephthera angrily:

“Haven’t we done enough for you? We risked our lives to save your island; we lost many of our sisters to protect you from the invaders; we sacrificed uncountable things for you, Elephthera, and I’m fine with that, but I refuse to lose Thalassa for you. She is our princess and I…we need her in Lemnos. So, no more.”

“It is not her you should be yelling at, Kalima,” Thalassa intervened,” for it was not her decision, it was mine.”

“No! She has blinded you! She has lured you with her charms. She…”

“Nonsense!” Thalassa exclaimed clearly irritated by Kalima’s accusations.

“Elephthera has not influenced my actions or my decisions whatsoever. And you, you are not to question my judgement…not now, not ever!”

The princess uttered those words in a firm way and with such authority that Kalima understood there was not much more she could or should say. She felt her blood boiling with rage. She hurt inside. Immediately after that, the golden warrior regretted having yelled at her. She knew how the young woman felt for her and that she didn’t mean wrong by insisting on them both going back to Lemnos together. Besides, she had saved Elephthera’s life and that was something Thalassa felt deeply grateful for.

“Kalima, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Anyway, I won’t stay here forever, I will only do what I can to help for a few months and then, Elephthera and I will return to Lemnos.”

“Elephthera and you?” Kalima asked feeling worse with every word the princess pronounced.

“Yes, her queen has granted her permission to come with us.”

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Kalima’s eyes filled with tears. She could not bear staying there any longer.

She gave one last look to her princess and left without saying anything else.

There was an awkward silence between Thalassa and Elephthera after Kalima left. They both knew what that grieving Amazon was feeling.

CHAPTER 19

And so, the courageous Aretians put their weapons away until future battles required them, and took the tools that would help them reconstruct not only their houses and huts, but their home. Home was their village, a place built on the basis of dreams and expectations of greatness for the Amazon Nation; an island where persistence and bravery had triumphed over the hatred of their invaders; a place that had been almost completely burned to ashes. Yet, from those ashes it would be reborn.

They had not granted themselves too much time to rest. The works had to start as soon as possible, even if they were still exhausted after the terrible war.

Those warrior women that inhabited the northern island were totally absorbed by their chores as Queen Xanthia walked among them giving instructions and orders for the raising of stronger walls and fences that couldn’t be destroyed so easily in future attacks. The queen herself stopped from time to time to help different groups of Amazons and she was the last one to rest on their never-ending working hours. She accepted no different treatment from that of the other members of her tribe and she sacrificed her meals in order to share them with others who looked too hungry or tired.

Xanthia was supervising the reconstruction when she spotted Elephthera coming toward her. The northern Amazon was carrying some solid branches and pieces of wood she had collected, which was quite a difficult task, given that most of the trees in the island had been burned or destroyed. It was, however, absolutely necessary to find some trunks to rebuild the huts. She left her heavy burden

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on the ground and started nailing some planks together in order to make the roof for the main hut.

“I see that you’ve made a lot of progress,” the queen addressed her showing interest in her work.

“Yes, my Queen. Actually, I’m almost finished with this part,” the young Amazon answered pointing at a long set of planks that she would insert later into the walls’ chinks.

“Elephthera,” the queen started casually, “I’m really pleased with your decision to stay and, of course, very grateful to princess Thalassa as well. We need as many workers as possible if we want to have a decent village again, but I would have respected your decision had you desired to leave. Anyhow, I know that you made the right choice by staying and I appreciate your commitment to this greater good.”

“Thank you, my Queen,” Elephthera answered humbly. “It’s the least I could do and anyway, I would never leave our island in such a situation.”

The northern Amazon made a pause and continued hesitantly:

“Nevertheless, you know that after the reconstruction I will probably leave if you still give me permission to and…”

Xanthia raised her hand to stop her.

“I know, Elephthera, and I won’t change my mind. I understand you have to follow your heart and your destiny. I would never force you to embrace unhappiness. And still, I must admit I don’t want these days to end because I’ll miss you when you leave with the princess. You are one of the finest Amazons of this tribe.”

Elephthera smiled at the queen’s comment. She felt satisfied to know that Xanthia thought of her in that way, but nothing would make her change her mind. As soon as the village was finished, she would go to Lemnos with Thalassa.

“I promise you I’ll find the time to come and visit you often.”

“Perhaps…” the queen corresponded also with a smile, “when the Amazons learn to apply the term spare time to their over active life.”

The young Aretian nodded in agreement and chortled. Then, she kept observing the queen after she walked away to continue the supervision of the works. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she was taken aback by Thalassa’s presence suddenly by her side.

“Tough day, right?” the golden warrior commented.

“Yeap. Lots of heat and little rest…not much fun for a day indeed.”

“I know. Hey, how about if I give you a pretext to get some rest?”

“Well, only if it doesn’t take too long.”

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“The thing is, I heard that the African and Lemnian ships are about to leave and I’d like to see my sisters off. Would you like to come with me?”

“Of course,” Elephthera hurried to answer, “if I had known they were leaving so soon, I myself would have suggested going.”

The Aretian felt moved by Thalassa’s evident melancholy. There was no way she could reject the invitation to see her sisters before they left. She laid the hammer and nails she was holding on the ground and patted the golden princess’s arm as a sign of agreement. Both women headed toward the beach at a fast pace, but as they got there, they saw that the vessels had already weighed anchor and were a few miles off the coast.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” the northern Amazon said sadly. “I would have liked to say goodbye to your party at least, although I know we’ll see them soon anyway.”

Thalassa didn’t answer. She only looked ahead in the direction of the ships and felt sorry for not having gotten there on time. She didn’t regret staying, but she knew she would miss her sisters, especially after having shared that long adventure with them.

“Hey!” a voice shouted from behind.

Thalassa and Elephthera turned to find a smiling Listeia walking toward them.

“Listeia!” Elephthera yelled cheerfully.

“Aren’t you two supposed to be rebuilding a certain village? What are you doing here on the beach?”

Thalassa smiled. Her whole face shone with excitement as she saw Alanthea appear from behind some palm trees and head in their direction as well.

“I thought you had left with the rest of our tribe,” the golden warrior said showing disconcert.

“And leave you here all by yourself? Nonsense!” Alanthea answered.

“Thank you for the all by herself thing,” the Aretian said ironically.

“I didn’t mean it that way, Elephthera, we were just concerned about our princess’s well being in this northern island full of savage Amazons that might influence her in Artemis knows what strange ways.”

“Well, now you just fixed it,” Elephthera replied laughing.

“Are you sure you want to stay?” the golden warrior asked.

“Yes, we’ll go back when you go back,” Alanthea pointed.

Thalassa felt satisfied and started looking around as if searching for someone else.

“Did Kalima leave with the others?” she asked doubtfully.

“No, I didn’t,” Kalima answered walking out from behind the same palm

trees.

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The golden warrior looked pleased to see her, even though she didn’t know how exactly to talk to her after the last conversation they had had on the ship.

Kalima herself looked a bit uncomfortable before the situation, particularly since she noticed that everyone went silent when she appeared and the atmosphere was so thick it could be cut with a knife.

“Look, I’m here because these two dragged me off the ship so, no comments, ok?” Kalima started glancing at the princess.

“Are you kidding?” Listeia intervened. “You were the one who had the idea of staying in the first place, and I think it was a nice thing to do considering…”

“Thank you, Listeia, but I don’t recall asking for your opinion,” Kalima interrupted in her usual grumpy way.

Thalassa shook her head and smirked. She was conscious that Kalima didn’t mean to be harsh on anyone, but it was the way she usually behaved when her sensitivity was too evident.

“I’m glad you all stayed,” the princess finally stated.

Elephthera knew that the Lemnians’ decision made Thalassa feel proud and content, therefore, she gave them all a thankful look and then turned to meet the golden warrior’s peculiar eyes. She was so familiarized with their language that she understood perfectly well the joy they reflected, even after a second of looking into them.

“Well, we stayed to help and so, the sooner we get started, the better.”

Alanthea said pushing Listeia and Kalima inland.

“You’re right,” Listeia agreed. “Let’s go reconstruct Aretias. Come on, Kalima.”

Kalima stared at the golden warrior and Elephthera for a moment. It still hurt.

It would always hurt. She walked away head down and thoughtful while Listeia patted her back sympathetically. Elephthera was going to follow them to the village, but Thalassa held her hand and retained her by her side until they were gone.

“I never imagined they would stay,” she said starting a casual conversation that she knew would become personal.

“You’re such a great leader that your sisters follow you without hesitation,”

Elephthera answered in a low voice.

“I’m not.” Thalassa blushed. “But you followed me even before you knew me.”

“And I’ll follow you forever in any journey that this life or any other has destined for us.”

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They remained pensive for a brief moment and then the princess broke the silence.

“I want you to know that I’m very happy with my decision.”

Elephthera was moved.

“So am I. Right now you could be on that ship,” she said pointing at the Lemnian vessel that was getting farther and farther, “and that would have been…”

“I know, but I’m here with you,” Thalassa stated pressing her hand and looking deeply into her eyes.

She made a brief pause and then continued:

“Artemis knows that you’re the dearest thing to me and that nothing would make me happier than being with you until the end of days. At the same time, how can you say you’ll follow me when there are so many other roads that you could choose?”

Elephthera shook her head and put her hand on the princess’s lips. Her face expressed great joy as she submerged once again into those eyes that had over-turned her life completely.

“Thalassa, my heart is with you, my life is with you. There is nothing for me away from you but emptiness.”

The waves splashed rhythmically and endlessly on the shore echoing voices from the ocean sailed, and beyond them, the horizon promised countless journeys under Artemis’s eternal rite.

BIOGRAPHIES

Paulina Sánchez (Mexico City 1982-

). After graduating with high honors

from the Universidad Anáhuac del Sur with a major in Literature, she started working as an English and Literature teacher. She has published several liter-ary works and wishes to continue her career as an English language novelist.

Isabel Forga (Barcelona, Spain 1972-

) has a degree in English Language

and Literature by the Universidad de Barcelona. Given her interest in languages, she has lived and studied in several European countries and currently resides in Mexico City, where she works as a teacher and translator.

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Document Outline

- Cover

- FOR THE AMAZON NATION

- CHAPTER 1

- CHAPTER 2

- CHAPTER 3

- CHAPTER 4

- CHAPTER 5

- CHAPTER 6

- CHAPTER 7

- CHAPTER 8

- CHAPTER 9

- CHAPTER 10

- CHAPTER 11

- CHAPTER 12

- CHAPTER 13

- CHAPTER 14

- CHAPTER 15

- CHAPTER 16

- CHAPTER 17

- CHAPTER 18

- CHAPTER 19

- BIOGRAPHIES

Table of Contents

Cover

FOR THE AMAZON NATION

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

BIOGRAPHIES