by Becky Lutzke
deanlu@caller.infi.net

An icy fog enshrouded the encamped army and the castle. A lone guard had been stationed on each parapet, while sentries moved along the walls and below in the courtyard at timed intervals. The parapet guards huddled near the torches, trying to abate the damp chill, while the torches sputtered and flared, performing a little dance of light and life. Like a harbinger of doom, the icy penetrating fog rolled over worn cobble- stone passages open to the outside throughout the castle. Below, upon the battlefield, amorphous black shapes bobbed and weaved through the night, making their way to the wall of the castle. Once there, they moved slowly around to the northern parapet. The lone call of an owl filled the night sky, echoed off the tall stone walls, and then all fell silent again. A guard upon the parapet moved to the edge, trying to peer through the thick soup that now enveloped the battlefield.

“Damned birds," the guard mumbled until he heard the scrape of a boot on stone. He spun around quickly, his pike lowered in a defensive position. "Who goes there? Show yourself."

"Do you always scare so easily, Crosus?" The soft lilt of a woman's voice penetrated the shadows.

"Talia? Gods, woman. Come into the light." Talia's cloaked form moved into the torch light. "Yes, I scare easily on a night like this woman."

"Oh, come now," she admonished. "I would think you would relish the night before battle." She pushed back the hood of her cloak, revealing the strong, beautiful features of an Amazon archer. Dark brown hair cascaded down her back, deep brown eyes took in the tired features of the guard on watch. As she moved closer, Crosus's heart skipped a beat. The deep forest green cloak Talia wore could do little to disguise her considerable feminine charms.

"Relish? No, not for an old warhorse like myself. Age has given my joints too much pain. I anticipate the end of the battle more than anything. At its conclusion, I will finally be able to rest. Queen Gabrielle has promised that I shall be provided for in my old age."

Talia chuckled warmly at the man's surety. It was a well-known fact that most of those who fought for Queen Gabrielle and the God Ares went to their graves early.

"We are fortunate, are we not," he was saying, "to have such a fine queen to rule beside Ares."

Talia shook her head in disbelief that a seasoned warrior such as Crosus would believe the oft-told lie. Crosus had been one of the few older warriors whom Gabrielle had permitted to join the army. In his mid forties, Crosus had seen more battles than most men in Ares' service. But even with all his experience, all those things he had seen and survived, he still displayed an unshakeable faith in the God of War.

‘Foolish Man', thought Talia.

"What are you doing out and about now?" Crosus's nose was assailed with the fragrant aroma of the archer as she moved closer to him. Talia, for her part, pretended not to notice her affect on the man, and gazed serenely into the fog.

"I felt pent up. I needed some fresh air." Talia turned her head, hearing the muffled pop of Crosus' fingers. Crosus clenched and unclenched his hands in a vain attempt to push back the pain the dampness has started. "May I?" Without waiting for a response, she took the pike from him and set it against the wall.

"I'm on watch," he said at last, "I should --" He was silenced by a slow, deep kiss. While the man in him succumbed, the soldier on watch began to protest.

"Shhhh," crooned Talia, tracing his lips with her finger. "I won't bite. I just thought you might like to be warmed up some." She kissed him again, her left hand massaging the back of his neck with slow, circular movements, while the strong right arm of the archer drew her to him.

"Talia, I can't...if...Rage finds out..." Crosus fought the sweet seduction of the Amazon's slow kisses. Sensing his indecision, she lay a deep, searing kiss on him, at the same time using her knee to softly massage his groin.

"Ohhhh...like...Elysia..." he groaned. But his flight to bliss was short lived as icy hot pain lanced his chest, from sternum to shoulder blades. Arms that had so lovingly held him just seconds earlier, now clutched him in a vice grip. Talia held him tight in the kiss till the light left Crosus' eyes. Wordlessly, she pulled the knife from its fleshy scabbard, wiped it against his cloak and pushed him backwards off the parapet to the ground below. She spit the bloody saliva left in her mouth over the edge, and grabbed up his pike and helm, then quietly assumed his position on watch. Not long after, the roving watch was heard moving along the wall to make his check.

"Hold! Friend or foe?" Talia's cold voice called out confidently.

"It's Marsus!" The guard shuffled up the last few steps, and slowly walked into the light. He took a hesitant look around, then laid a suspicious eye on Talia. "Talia? Where's Crosus? It's his watch." Talia lowered the pike, and took a relaxed stance.

"I suppose you used your feminine ways upon him." Talia's eyes brightened, leaving Marsus wishing. ‘Lucky guy, what I wouldn't give to have just one kiss from that woman.' Marsus joined the archer on the parapet. "Damn! If I told the old man once, I've told him a hundred times: let the younger ones take the watch, they need the experience. I'm happy you were able to persuade him to rest for a while."

Talia smiled. "He was dead on his feet." She elaborated with careful ease. "He's getting some much-deserved rest." She shifted the pike as Marsus handed her the wineskin he carried. She tilted her head back slightly and let the wine drizzle into her mouth; it was warm and sweet. Marsus shifted nervously beside her, wishing he could quench her thirst with a kiss. Talia was not unaware of his scrutiny; corking the wineskin, she drew her tongue slowly across her upper lip, then snaked it across her full bottom lip to gather an errant drop of port. Each move was calculated for effect. Marsus' reaction did not disappoint.

Marsus cleared his throat, trying to find his voice. "Any trouble?" he asked, making small talk.

The archer returned the wineskin, allowing her fingers to gently brush against Marsus's own fingers. Taking up her pike again, she said, "Nope. Not a fit night out for man or beast."

Marsus nodded, and then began to move off to the other side of the parapet. All the while talking to Talia. "Okay, well. I'll be moving along now. The serving boy should be through in about half a candlemark with the some warm ale, if that wench in the kitchen gets him in gear." Talia nodded, and then turned back to her watch. Marsus sighed deeply, still thinking how lucky Crosus had been.

Talia watched from the corner of her eye as he moved off into the night. As soon as he was out of sight, she gave three short owl calls. The reply, a lonesome night bird, echoed back. She carefully checked around again, then removed a coil of rope from beneath her cloak. She tied it to a nearby iron ring, then cast it over the edge of the parapet, where its white tendrils disappeared into the blackness. Keeping a careful eye on the rope, she resumed her watch. Moments later, a hand appeared on the edge of the tower's stone, and a dark face peered cautiously over the edge. Not a word was spoken. Talia gestured and the figure swung herself nimbly over the wall, landing in a crouch. She tugged on the rope twice and then kept watch with the archer. Three more Amazons ascended the rope, and joined Talia on the parapet before the rope was quickly pulled up and concealed back under the cloak from which it came. The archer clasped her sister Amazon's arms in greeting, then turned as Solari spoke quietly.

"Is everything arranged?" Talia nodded and pointed the way the roving watch had come from a quarter candlemark ago. Then quietly she whispered instructions into Solari's ear.

"All is ready. Go down those stairs; you'll find a door that will lead you to the kitchens. Once you're in, Nalia will show you to the room opposite Gabrielle's. Be careful of the kitchen guard. He should be asleep, but one never knows around here."

Solari nodded. "What of the Lord of the manor?" Talia nodded understanding -- to say the name of Ares was to make him aware of your plans.

“He will not make an appearance for some time. You should be okay for now." Without further word, Solari turned and headed off toward the dark deed to be done. Talia resumed her position on the wall, and offered up a silent prayer of protection to Artemis for the brave warriors.

Solari and her team moved quickly through the castle. Talia's directions proved to be true to word until they reached the entrance of the kitchen. The guard that Talia had hoped would be asleep was wide awake and hassling Nalia. The kitchen drudge was handling him just fine, but it was obvious from his advances that they would have to take him out or be delayed. She motioned one of the Amazons with her. The woman moved up, took out a dart and blowpipe, and aimed for the guard. As he turned toward the fire, the warrior let the dart fly. As if guided by Artemis' hand, the dart impacted the soft flesh of the soldier's neck with a satisfying ‘phlit'. The guard struggled to his feet, staggered two steps and hit the floor, face first, profoundly unconscious. The Amazons rushed into the kitchen and while Nalia held open the door to a storage closet, Solari and another amazon quickly dragged the prostrate guard inside and left him there.

"How long before he awakes?" Nalia asked quietly.

Solarie shook her head. "He won't. Sandspider venom is fatal. When does his relief arrive?"

"A candlemark, no more, and there are two more guards stationed on the queen's door."

"They won't be a problem," said the amazon who had fired the poisoned dart, suggesting that she had more to accomplish their ends.

"Come," said Nalia. "I'll get you to where you need to be." With the three amazons in tow, Nalia moved through the castle passages with precision. Minutes after leaving the kitchen, they were esconced in the alcove adjacent the corridor to the queen's quarters. Nalia exchanged glances with Solari, conveying understand and support, and most of all caution. Once nalia had disappeared back town the corridor to the kitchens, two of Solari's amazons loaded their blowguns and moved cautiously forward. With steady arms and sharp eyes they took aim on the two guards who appeared engrossed in conversation. A sharp intake of breath, a forced, concentrated exhale and two poisoned darts sailed unerringly down the corridor towards their respective targets. Before either poisoned man could hit the floor, they were caught and moved into the darkened alcove behind a faded tapestry. Convinced the coast was clear, Solari moved into the passage and motioned for her team to follow.

The two amazons that had taken out the guards re-armed themselves, while the third and Solari quietly tested the handle on the queen's door; surprising, it was unlocked. The door swept soundlessly open to reveal an ante-room. A table, cluttered with maps, a half-burnt candle, and several scrolled letters stood to one side of the door. A cape was draped carelessly over the back of a chair. Large, vividly painted tapestries hung from the walls around the room. The amazons moved carefully into the room, wary of ambush. At the back of the room, framed on either side by twin tapestries depicting long forgetten glorious battles, was the archway that led to the bedroom of the queen. Using hand signals, Solari bid two of her sister amazons move through the arch into the sleeping chamber.

A fire burned low and unattended in the grate opposite the door. The bed, large enough for three adults, and piled high with pillows and soft skins, had only one occupant. Her reddish-blonde locks spilled over her youthful face, even as her hands clutched the over-stuffed pillows, as if in terror from a nightmare. Two of the Amazons pulled their knives and positioned themselves at the foot of the bed, while Solari and the other, in a well-rehearsed move, grabbed the intended victim by the arms and hauled her struggling from the bed.

Perhaps she thought she was dreaming for Gabrielle never uttered a word. She merely knelt on the cold stone floor, her arms restrained by her fellow amazons, and conjured up a look of bewildered resignation for her captors.

Solari, for her part, met the girl's steady gaze and pronounced sentence. "In the name of Justice and Redemption, you, Queen Gabrielle, have been judged by the Amazon Nation for your crimes. The sentence...is Death"

Even as her head was bent forcibly towards the floor, even as the knives were raised, prepared to strike a death blow for Amazon justice, the girl flung her head back and cried out,

"Mercy!"

(End of Chapter 3)