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The Slayer Queen Chapter Seven
Sam Perlo-Freeman
A short story based on the world of Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, created by Joss Whedon. Some place names are fictitious, as of
course are all the characters depicted.
Rating: 15
Previously, in the Slayer Queen...
Artemesia: Antones, I need an army! Gorsyres of Masalis is in league with
the forces of darkness. We are to march against him as soon as we are
ready!
...
Finally she drew the short sword at her side and ... plunged it down
into Gorsyres' chest, cutting through his armour as if it were butter...
His body shuddered and convulsed, and then finally he lay still. Artemesia
sat up in shock... She gave out no victory cry, but a whimpered gasp.
Gorsyres was the first human being she had killed with her own hands.
...
Atemon: Then it is agreed. The Slayer is to die.
CHAPTER 7: QUEEN OF LIGHT
As shouts of victory went up from her assembled troops, she quickly
recovered herself. She took Gorsyres' great bronze sword from his
death-clutch and removed his great bronze helmet from his head, then with
one blow severed his head from his corpse and held it aloft in triumph, as
her troops roared in delight and banged their weapons against their
shields, while the enemy forces looked on in numbed shock.
Artemesia threw down the head of her defeated enemy, then raised a hand
gesturing for silence. Turning to the defeated Masalisians, she addressed
them thus:
"Men of Masalis, fear not! The demon-worshipper Gorsyres led you
astray, and forced you to fight alongside the armies of hell with whom he
had entered into vile compact; but Artemesia, the Slayer Queen, is
merciful, and knows you acted through ignorance and compulsion! Lay your
arms before me now and serve me and, by the bright Sun that shines above
us and dispels darkness and evil before its burning rays, I swear that not
a hair on your heads shall be harmed! Instead, with me you shall help
destroy the creatures of darkness that still lurk in the alleys and
cellars of your city, quaking in terror in the knowledge that their day of
doom is here!"
When she finished, Antones raised the shout,
"Hail Queen Artemesia! Hail the Slayer Queen!"
With one voice, the men of Amrethus joined the cry, and after a moment, so
too did the men of Masalis. First one, then another, then a whole stream
came to lay their swords before Artemesia, and prostrated themselves on
the ground before her, the shouts of acclamation going up all the while.
Once all the soldiers of Masalis had given their obeiescence, Antones
beckoned them to join ranks with their erstwhile foes, and assembled the
combined army into columns for marching. The gates of Masalis had already
been thrown wide open by men inside the city, realising the way things were going. Two trumpeters went to the fore of
the force, accompanied by heralds. These were first through the gates,
proclaiming the new Queen through the streets of the city accompanied by
loud trumpet blasts. Then Artemesia, riding her chariot, led the troops
into the city, where already people were emerging from their houses to
acclaim their new ruler with shouts of joy, and flowers strewn in her
path. (It is quite possible this was from genuine joy at the turn of
events, as something that brought hope of deliverance from the shadow that
had stalked their city; but equally, when a conquering army parades in
triumph through a city, it is my experience that most people will
find it best to be among those cheering and throwing flowers; not merely
out of self-interest, but swept along by the splendour of trumpets,
banners and chariots.)
"Hail the Slayer Queen!" they cried, and soon also new cried
went up: "Hail Artemesia, Queen of Light! Hail Artemesia, Scourge of
the Night! Hail Artemesia, Vanquisher of the Legions of Hell!"
**********************************************************
But this was not simply a triumphal procession; Artemesia was determined
to mark her own unique authority on the town. So, after reaching and
securing Gorsyres' palace, from where she addressed the crowds (the
content of her speech is not especially worth recording, suffice it to say
she proclaimed her new just and benign rulership and triumph over the
forces of darkness, and the populace were suitably inspired, cheering and
shouting her praises); after this, as I say, she took Antones and a modest
squad of her elite warriors, and proceeded towards the darker, out of the
way quarters of the town, where most of the remaining vampires hid
themselves away in the wake of their defeat. Eager crowds followed of
course, and more emerged cautiously from their dwellings as she went past,
or turned curiously from the market places to see what their new queen was
about (for news of her victory had of course spread rapidly throughout the
city).
The spirit of the hunter was upon her now, no longer that of the warrior
on the battlefield or the monarch in her royal splendour. All of her
senses and instincts finely alert and attuned, enhanced by the power of
her heritage, she sought out their lairs, and whenever she did so, swiftly
put paid to the cowering, dismayed creatures of darkness she found, in
many cases rescuing terrified people who had been held prisoner for the
vampires to feed upon at their leisure. All of this had the desired effect
on the people who followed and beheld, realising that this was no ordinary
ruler, but a stalwart defender of the people against the inhuman terrors
that stalked the world.
In one such place, no fewer than seven vampires had made their nest, and
when they were slain, the full toll of their predations became clear: the
drained corpses of an entire family, parents, grandparents, children, and
a tiny baby were scattered. And amidst this scene of carnage, a girl, no
more than fifteen, sat terrified, weeping and gently rocking her body.
Hardened and accustomed as she was to such horrors, Artemesia's heart was
moved to pity by this girl, no older than she had been when she was
called. She bent down and gently took the girl by the hand, speaking
comfortingly to her, and brought her outside into the light. Making sure
her men kept the curious crowds form her, she spoke gently to her,
though clearly enough that those nearest to hand could hear:
"What is your name, girl? It's OK. You are safe now."
Struggling through her tears, she replied "M-m-mara, ma'am".
"I am Artemesia. I am now queen of this city. The creatures that have
done this are no more. Do you understand this?"
Mara nodded.
"I am sorry for your family. Do you have any other?"
The girl shook her head.
"Then I shall be your family. I and my household. From now you shall
dwell in my palace and serve me, in honour, in comfort and in safety. Do
you wish this?"
Mara looked up into the Slayer's face, a faint light of hope in her eyes,
and she replied yes, whereupon Artemesia held the girl to her, then
ordered her men to have her taken to the palace and cared for.
Those nearby were most impressed by this unfeigned act of kindness, and
word of it quickly spread, further contributing to the Slayer Queen's
popularity. So much so, indeed, that Otanes later suggested that she
should make a policy of such unfeigned acts of kindness, and she agreed
this would be wise, so that in future, whenever she first entered a city,
she would always find one such desperate soul to rescue from his or her
plight and elevate them to the royal household.
And so, Artemesia the Vampire Slayer, the Slayer Queen, became Artemesia
the Queen of Light, the Scourge of the Night, not merely a ruler but a
Goddess; some saw her as the very incarnation of the Sun, whose cleansing
rays scoured and consumed the forces of evil. And Artemesia did nothing to
discourage this notion. As her fame spread through the country, shrines
were built to her honour; indeed I have seen the remains of one such, no
longer in use of course; but on one of the walls can still be scene a
frieze engraved with her image and her deeds. She is depicted with ankh round her neck and stake in
her hand, bedecked in fine robes, and with rays of light surrounding her
beatific face. Another ray of light springs from her finger, striking a
demonic-looking creature, crouched half-way down, it's face set in a cry
of despair, akin to the despair of the Titans shown in the temple of
Athena at Pergamum, as they meet their final defeat at the hands of their
children, the Gods of Olympus.
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