Captured Chapter 7

Captured, Chapter 7

Written by Virginia Leonard

Copyright 1997

 

            Leahnthea did not bother with covering her lithe body.  It was

nothing more to her than a tool, a finely honed one that she used to

make certain she got what she wanted out of life and right now, it suited

her to share this tool with the warlord Hersius.

            Hersius watched her bedmate slowly pull the stopper from the

bottle of blood red wine and fill two glasses only to have her reverie

broken by an obscene knock at the door.  “What?!”

            “Forgive the intrusion, Lord, but...” the sentry stopped and

saluted, keeping her well disciplined eyes towards the floor.  It was not

worth death to risk taking a peek and her leader’s current mistress.

“...Stacia just returned with news that I felt was important.”

            Hersius sat up, letting the silken sheets fall to her lap and took

the proffered glass of wine.  “I hope, for your sake, the news is indeed

worth this interruption.  You’re my best lieutenant and I’d hate to loose

you.”

            The lieutenant swallowed with an audible gulp.  Leahnthea hid

her smile behind her glass and lowered herself to the bed next to

Hersius.           

            “Stacia found Xena’s trail and followed it to the Valosean

springs.  They’re camped there and have been for several days.

            Hersius drained her glass then set it aside.  “Why?”

            “They’re waiting on the return of a fifth companion...Xmerson.”

            The name meant nothing to Hersius but it caused Leahnthea’s

blood to freeze in her veins.  She was on the eve of bringing together

and controlling the greatest fighting force on the face of the earth and

she would not let those meddling amazons stop her, especially that

annoying priestess Xmerson.

            Hersius opened her mouth to ask another question but was

silenced when Leahnthea leaned forward.  “How many days has

Xmerson been away from the group?”

            The lieutenant stared harder at the floor.  “Three, my lady.”

            “Does Stacia know which way she went?”

            “Yes, my lady.  She followed the trail northwest but turned

back before she discovered Xmerson’s destination.  She thought it

better to keep her eye on the serving wench.”

            “Easy, lieutenant, I don’t bite.  You must have a name?”

            The lieutenant looked to Hersius who nodded her head.

“Alann, my lady.”

            Leahnthea could sense Alann’s uneasiness and sought to make

the soldier feel more at ease in her presence.  She needed to gain the

trust of this woman, trust that would enable Alann to confide in her and

Leahnthea knew that Alann would not be able to do that if the tension

remained as thick between the two.      

            Hersius caught the glances exchanged between the two and

smiled to herself.  She knew exactly what Leahnthea was up to and that

was just fine with the warlord.  In fact, the mysterious woman was

playing right into Hersius’ hands.  She would now be able to feed false

information to her bedmate without Alann or Leahnthea ever becoming

the wiser.

            As for the physical aspects of the arrangement, well Hersius

knew she would never sleep alone unless she chose to.  She had learned

that jealousy had no place in a commander’s cache of emotions because

more often than not it was the cause of a warlord’s downfall and not the

sword of an enemy.     

            Leahnthea asked a few more questions then fell silent.  Hersius

gave Alann a list of orders before finally dismissing the lieutenant from

the room.

            “I hate amazons,” Leahnthea blurted out.

            Hersius barked a laugh.  “An odd emotion from a woman who

expects to be their new queen.  Don’t you think you should learn to at

least like them?”

            “It won’t matter once I have the third talisman in my

possession.  They’ll be compelled to recognize me as their queen just as

they’ll feel the same compulsion to do as I tell them to.”

            Hersius stood up and began to pull on her armor.  Metal scales

covered the warlord’s chest and lower torso, protecting the vital organs

from lethal wounds.  Her vulnerable wrists and shins were protected by

metal covered greaves with matching bracers and her throat was

protected by a thick leather collar that Leahnthea helped buckle into

place.   Hersius strapped her sword across her back and when she

turned to face Leahnthea it became obvious why the warlord had been

given the nickname, Dragon.

            “We still have to get that third talisman which means....”

Leahnthea began.

            “Which means I have to go get my warriors ready for a fight.

Just as well, all this sitting around is making for short tempers.  We

don’t do something soon I won’t have any warriors left...they’ll have

killed each other.  I’ll call a strategy meeting in two hours and I’m

assuming you’ll want to be there.”

            “Yes.  We’ll have to do this quietly.  The Nation is stirring, I

can feel it.”

            “How much time do we have?”

            “It’s safe to assume that Xmerson and the old queen will want

to follow the ancient traditions which will give us a week maybe two at

the most.”        

            “Easy enough.”

            “No, it isn’t and thinking like that will doom us to failure,”

Leahnthea hissed.  “The old ones already know that someone will try to

prevent the chosen one from reaching the holy city so they will be on

alert.  They don’t know where we will be coming from or even who we

are and that will give us an advantage but it does not give us the

freedom to become lax in our planning.  Although there may only be

four warriors protecting that sniveling child right now, you can rest

assured that taking her and her necklace won’t be easy.  Don’t forget

who the amazon goddess is.”

            Hersius shivered as the image of Artemis formed in her head

and she lost her breath when she remembered what had happened the

last time one of her warriors had gotten in the way of the goddess’

children.  Who knew bowels could be stretched out that long.

 

===================================================

           

            Xmerson pulled her knife from its sheath and began to cut

away at the vegetation threatening to crush the small temple.  Two steps

led up to the entrance which was guarded by two large owls that had

been chiseled from solid granite.

            Xmerson ran her fingers over the weather smoothed features

and smiled.  “We do tend to go soft around the edges after a while don’t

we,” she said softly then continued to cut her way into stone building.

            The interior, which was remarkably free of dust and smelled

fresh like the surrounding forest, was sparsely furnished.  Something

had made a nest in the large ritual bowl that sat in the center of the

stone altar and Xmerson carefully removed it.  She looked over the rest

of the alter taking a mental inventory of everything that was there and

was pleased when she found nothing missing.  Preparations for this

ritual were crucial.  One misstep and it meant death for the participant.

            Xmerson gathered everything she would need then settled back

to wait for the apex of the moon’s orbit.  The ninth full moon of the

year; it would not be higher in its orbit again for another 14 cycles so

everything she did on this night had to be perfect or she would doom

her amazons to failure.

            She must have dozed because when she opened her eyes the

small adytum was dark.  Xmerson stood up, stretching her cramped legs

then took her flint and lit the candles ensconced in the walls.  She

walked back around to the front of the altar and removed all of her

clothing.  Not only would she be required to lay bare her soul for her

goddess but she had to offer up her body as a gift.  Her goddess would

inspect every inch of that body carefully, an act that would require

complete nakedness.  Vulnerability.  Total faith that her goddess would

protect her from anything that might cause her harm.  There was no

room for doubt.  Not on this night.  In fact, never again from this

day forward.

            The amazon looked through the opening in the ceiling and

noticed that the moon was now centered there, casting its glow down

on the circle of stones that surrounded the large bowl throwing its

reflection into the exact middle of the black water. 

            Xmerson took a fagot of sage, touched it to the candle then

placed it in a holder above the bowl.  She closed her eyes and breathed

deeply, inhaling the pungent smoke and exhaling the impurities that her

human body collected.  Her mind began to clear, her hearing became

acute and she began to chant the invocation to her goddess, asking that

her mistress appear to her.       

 

                        Atinue meda iglessa Ri...

                        Broungh hagga myseirneah broestch     

                        weidern Artemiesa shoen ute meiden.

 

            Xmerson chanted until her throat became so parched that the

sound barely escaped from her mouth and finally she was rewarded.

The pressure in the room shifted, much as if a door had been opened

and she could hear the faint echoes of a chorus singing a tune so

soothing that if one were not careful one could become lost in it forever.

 

            ::My precious Xmerson.  Artemis is pleased::

 

            Xmerson placed her forehead against the stone floor and

stretched her arms out, palms up, above her head then waited.  She felt

the touch of her goddess and gave in to the passion and the pain that it

caused.  Each was a gift to be treasured.

            She felt her breath taken from her, felt her heart stilled and yet

was not afraid.  If this was the moment that her goddess took her home,

so be it.

            Without moving from the stone floor, she felt the goddess’ lips

pressed against her own, possessing her, owning her, taking from her

everything that would bring the goddess pleasure and in return, she felt

the infinite love and protection that only Artemis could give to one of

her amazons.

            Finally, she heard Artemis’ voice once again and stood, as she

had been instructed, so that she could see the face of her deity framed

by the moon and reflected on the still water in the bowl.

 

            ::You have pleased me, my Xmerson::

 

            “That is my greatest wish Mother.”

 

            ::Mother:: 

            Artemis chuckled. 

            ::I suppose I’ll get used to::

            ::that title one day.::

            ::Do the amazons really believe that I am::

            ::their mother?::

 

            “Well, they do believe you have had a hand in their birth, either

choosing the woman they would be born of or choosing the sire.”

 

            ::Not much I can do about that is there?  I suppose::

            ::as long is it keeps them obedient I shouldn’t complain::

 

            “Pardon my candor but, it’s their devotion to you that keeps

them in line and no small dose of the whip when it is deemed

necessary.  Your amazons are an intense and fiery bunch.”

            Artemis roared with laughter.

 

            ::I’ve noticed that.  They are my chosen children but::

            ::that does not mean they have not caused me my share::

            ::of headaches.::

            Artemis paused, her golden eyes looking deeply into the brown

ones of Xmerson.

 

            ::You’ve not called me here for idle chit chat have you?::

 

            “No, I haven’t.  The Baroshtna has begun the walk towards her

birthright.”

 

            ::Is she aware of what her responsibilities are?::

 

            “No, not yet.  I’ve only had her in my possession for a few

days.  I thought to let the tribal priestess tell and teach her everything.

It’s not my wish to upset her at the moment.”

            Artemis smiled slyly.

 

            ::The dahlnai is with her.::

 

            It was Xmerson’s turn to laugh now.  “Oh yeah and I must say,

you’ve outdone yourself this time.  You could not have chosen any

better.  This one is full of piss and vinegar and filled with the love for

Mahshika.”      

 

            ::But will she be ready to fulfill her destiny when::

            ::the time comes?  I’m asking a great deal from these::

            ::two.::

 

            “I believe they will.  Of Mahshika, I have no doubt and while

the dahlnai feigns a certain aloofness I discern in her a deep seeded

sense of responsibility.  Besides," Xmerson shrugged, "I trust your

judgment.  You have a reason for choosing her.”

 

            ::Your faith in me is extraordinary and I cherish it.::

 

            Xmerson lowered her head before speaking.  “I don’t know

what to say.”

 

            ::Don’t say anything.  I can feel and see what’s in your::

            ::heart remember?  Now, I haven’t much time left...the::

            ::moon continues her journey.  You have a very powerful::

            ::and cunning enemy.  Do not underestimate her.::

 

            “Ah, so it is a female.  The priestesses weren’t certain.”

 

            ::Yes and she has the ability to summon demons.  Once::

            ::the battle is begun I cannot help you.::

 

            Artemis snorted, not exactly a goddess-like sound and it

startled Xmerson.

 

            ::That has already::

            ::been agreed upon...Zeus and his infinite wisdom...::

 

            “I understand.  Can you tell us how to defeat these demons?”

 

            ::No, not directly.  The only counsel I can give you is to::

            ::look to the truth.  There lie the weapons to scatter these::

            ::monsters to the corners of the universe.  Also, you must::

            ::give Xena this message.  Tell her that she must give me

            ::the bard and take what I have to offer instead.::

 

            Xmerson raised both eyebrows.

 

            ::No questions my precious.::

 

            “Yes Mother.”

 

            ::Eyee.....stop with the mother stuff already.  Makes me::

            ::feel old.::

 

            Xmerson opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted.

 

            ::Not one word.  My time is up.  Watch your dreams and::

            ::the dreams of others.  Messages will be hidden in them::

            ::I know, I know it’s cheating but Zeus does it all the::

            ::time.  He only said I couldn’t help you directly...He said::

            ::nothing about not being able to send happy thoughts::

            ::your way now did He?::

 

            “No,” Xmerson cleared her throat.  “He did not.”

 

            The moon moved away from the opening and the image faded

from the bowl.  Xmerson slumped back against the floor, drained of the

last bit of energy she had held in reserve and slept for the next twenty

four hours.