This little adventure technically began on day 6, but as I was unconscious most of the time (you know, from the beating), I choose only to refer to those events as "the rescue." Which, upon reflection, was not really a rescue at all, but merely a change of venue.
At first the Amazons seemed quite friendly. They expressed genuine concern over the seriousness of my injuries. And, as was custom in Cirra, they didn't just drag my defeated body back to their village, but instead, actually lifted me up and carried me.
I woke to find my wounds had been dressed, but I....
MM: "HEY! Where the hell are my clothes?!"
Amazon#1: "We had to burn them. They reeked something awful. Don't you ever wash them?"
MM: (slightly embarrassed) "Well, uh I..."
Amazon#1: "Anyway, they were too battered to save. But here you can wear these." (hands me full Amazon garb)
MM: "I can't wear *that*! It's completely reveling."
Amazon#1: (arches her eyebrow, looking at me)
MM: "Oh. I see what you mean."
I soon discovered that those little outfits are as cold as they look, offering little protection against the elements.
MM: "How do you stay warm in these things?"
Amazon#1: (shrugs) "Just warm blooded, I guess."
MM: (mumbling) "A whole lot of good that will do me."
Amazon#1: "Hmmm?"
MM: "I said, can I at least have a blanket or something?"
Amazon#1: "Sure." (tossing a blanket at me)
MM: "Thanks" (quickly wrapped it around myself)
Amazon#1: "Come on," (motions towards the tent exit) "the Queen wants to meet you."
Having never seen an actual Amazon Queen (well, unless you count that irritating blonde that Xena hung out with, but then, that was only in picture books), I was more than a tad curious.
As we left the tent we were greeted by an escort party of three Amazons. Upon seeing us they quickly did that funny little greeting they do, you know, the one where they cross their hands over their head and kind of bow. I couldn't help but chuckle, recalling a little joke the Goddess had told me about this very thing.
We walked across the Amazon Village towards the Queen's tent. What kind of a Queen lives in a tent? I couldn't wait to tell the Goddess about this one!
The inside of the tent was actually rather spectacular, as far as tents go. No television, but then, there didn't appear to be any electricity either.
I was quickly ushered over to where the Queen sat with her back to me.
AQ: "So we have a visitor do we?"
Amazon#2: "Yes my Queen, we rescued her from the Centaurs."
AQ: "Centaurs, eh? Well, they have been nothing but trouble for centuries. I think it's time to put an end to that. What do you think?" (turns around to look at me)
MM: (Gasp) (Gulp) (Whisper) "Valasca."
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