"Newbie coming through!" Kinzie called as she shoved past the crowd of Amazons trying to get to the front. Hylla followed her silently. Some of the Amazons glanced at her. Others didn't pay attention.
Hylla had spent the day trying to memorize the long hallways and large passages. All she really remembered was how much merchandise the Amazons had. There was large shelves everywhere she went.
"What's going on?" Hylla questioned. She ran a hand through her wet hair. Hylla had just finished taking a shower. She had been given camouflage pants and a black shirt to wear.
Hylla felt Kinzie stop her as they reached the edge of the crowd. They had the perfect view of two women. One was wearing all black. She had a golden belt made of interlocking chains. Hylla spoke, "Who is that?"
"The queen of the Amazons. Well, that title won't hold true after a few more minutes," Kinzie replied in a whisper. Hylla hide her confusion and crossed her arms.
"What exactly is going on?" Hylla asked.
"The first thing that you learn about the Amazons is that they respect strength. Our queen must be the strongest out of all of us," Kinzie replied. "Anyone could challenge the queen for her title. Of course, it is a duel to the death."
"There are a few rules. First, there can be no outside help. No one can jump into the middle of a battle to save their buddy. The second is that the queen must take her belt off and place it on her throne," Kinzie explained.
"Why?" Hylla wondered. She watched the queen take off her belt with a shaky hand. "She's nervous."
"No, she's weak," Kinzie corrected. "There are not many people who like are current queen. She is a bloodthirsty child of Ares. There have been rumors that she has even had skirmishes with Camp Jupiter. That's not something we need."
"Why tolerate it for so long?" Hylla asked in a whisper.
"She was a great fighter. That was until she received her shoulder injury during her last duel. It's left her sword arm weak. Our queen used to rule by fear. Now, she isn't going to rule at all," Kinzie explained.
"The challenger doesn't look like much of a fighter," Hylla commented. She looked at the woman standing next to the group of girls. She had blonde hair and gray eyes. The challenger had to be in her twenties.
"A daughter of Athena. Brains not brawn," Kinzie whispered. "She is popular among the Amazons. That is why everyone wants her to win."
"You're not one of them," Hylla guessed in a low voice. Kinzie nodded once. "Are there any other rules?"
"Any weapons or powers from your godly parent are allowed. The queen can't have her belt because it boosts her regular attributes. It's suppose to be a fair fight," Kinzie replied.
"So, whoever wins can just walk over to the throne and take the belt?" Hylla questioned. She received a nod. "Why midnight?"
"Amazons like to live life to the fullest. Everyday is a new day for them. Midnight begins a new day, right? Well, it might also mean a new day for the Amazons in the form of a new queen," Kinzie responded. "Now, let's watch the fight."
Hylla frowned but fell silent. She watched the queen of the Amazons lay her belt on a throne. The queen turned towards her challenger and spoke, "It will be a cold day in Hades when you take over Emma."
"I hope Hades is ready to freeze then," the challenger, Emma, replied. She calmly unsheathed a bronze sword.
"Have any mortals ever been the queen of the Amazons?" Hylla whispered.
Kinzie shot her an annoyed look and spoke, "You like to talk, don't you? There's been a few mortals. The most memorable one is when the queen forgot they were facing a mortal and came to a fight with a bronze sword."
"Mortals can't be harmed by that type of sword," Hylla guessed. Kinzie nodded. Hylla focused back on the fight. The queen of the Amazons was on the defensive. It was clear that her old shoulder wound was hurting her.
"What's her name?" Hylla whispered.
"I am going to find some duct tape and tape your mouth shut," Kinzie commented. She looked at Hylla and winked to show she was kidding. "Her name is Diablo."
"You're messing with me," Hylla said.
"I'm just giving you my perception of reality," Kinzie countered. She winked at Hylla. The daughter of Bellona crossed her arms. "Does the name matter if she is going to be dead soon?"
Hylla glanced up to see the queen dodge an attack. The queen was on the defensive and looked nervous. Emma looked confident but was not taking any chances. Hylla gazed at the crowd and saw a few Amazons glaring at Kinzie.
"Who are they?" Hylla questioned. She made a small motion towards the group of Amazons.
"Supporters of Emma. They don't like me much," Kinzie answered.
"If Emma wins, could she do anything to harm you?" Hylla asked.
"She can't walk up to me and stab me," Kinzie responded. "But, she could just give me the horrible and dangerous jobs. It probably wasn't smart to make her mad. She might even take some of it out on you."
"Let her try," Hylla said. She wasn't worried. If Hylla could survive pirates, she could survive whatever petty thing the queen of the Amazons may do.
Hylla inwardly winced as Emma stabbed the queen of the Amazons in the thigh. It would have been the stomach if the queen didn't move. Kinzie looked nervous as she watched.
It wasn't hard for Hylla to predict what was going to happen. She had been in enough fights to know what a wounded enemy looked like. Most would crack under the pressure and make a dangerous bid.
That is exactly what the queen of the Amazons did. She lunged forward with a war cry. Emma stepped to the side and tripped her opponent. She placed a foot on the queen's back.
Emma looked around and smiled. She placed her sword to the back of the neck of her opponent. Emma raised her sword and brought it down for the decisive blow. Kinzie made a face and spoke, "I hope she doesn't carry the head with her."
"That's gross," Kinzie complained as she seemed to think about it.
"You're the one who brought it up," Hylla commented. Kinzie turned away looking pale. Hylla watched Emma raise the decapitated head of the former queen of the Amazons. Most of the Amazons around Hylla broke into cheers for their new queen, or they were just excited because of the fight.
"Why would you join the Amazons if this kind of stuff disgusts you?" Hylla asked quietly.
"Where do you come from for this to be normal?" Kinzie demanded. She looked ready to lose her dinner.
"Pirates," Hylla answered calmly. She looked at Kinzie and smirked. "If they want to keep the head as a trophy, they should put it on ice."
That comment almost caused Kinzie to vomit. She turned and pushed through the crowd. Hylla laughed. She turned back towards Emma. The new queen of the Amazons grabbed her belt and looked around.
Hylla went to walk away. She found two Amazons blocking her path. They smiled at her. One spoke, "You are the new Amazon, correct?"
"Yes," Hylla answered. She watched them suspiciously.
"Kinzie is showing you around?" the other asked.
"What about it?" Hylla demanded. She crossed her arms. "I don't have anytime to waste today."
"None of us do," the first Amazon agreed. "It's a new day for all of us. That is why Emma wants a meeting with you."
"Meeting?" Hylla questioned. "I'm new here. Why would she want a meeting with me?"
"Bellona is a very respected goddess for the Amazons. Emma just wanted to meet her daughter," the other Amazon replied. Hylla nodded once. She knew it was because Emma saw her as a threat. The daughter of a war goddess would make a good ally or a dangerous enemy.
"When does she want this meeting?" Hylla asked crossing her arms.
"After Kinizie tests you tomorrow. We want you to deliver her full report," one of the Amazons replied. She smiled at Hylla.
"Of course," Hylla said. She watched the two Amazons walk away. Hylla turned back to look at the new queen of the Amazons. Emma was being congratulated by her fellows Amazons.
Emma scanned the crowd and caught Hylla's eyes. She gave her a bright smile. Hylla just studied her and felt movement near her.
"You should go get some sleep," Kinzie commented. Hylla glanced at her. Kinzie wiped her mouth. "We have a big day tomorrow."
"We do," Hylla agreed. "I feel like I'm in a game."
"A game of what?" Kinzie wondered.
"Politica," Hylla answered. Kinzie gave her an odd look. Hylla gritted her teeth. There was still a few English words that she struggled with. "I don't know the English word for it. The government participates in it."
"Politics," Kinzie guessed. "You're in a game of politics. What makes you say that?"
"Emma wants a meeting with me tomorrow," Hylla answered. "I assume it isn't pleasure."
"You never know," Kinzie joked. She turned serious after a moment. "You should just go with it. You really don't want to be on the bad side of the queen of the Amazons."
"Why do I get the feeling that I will get on her bad side no matter what?" Hylla muttered. She shook her head and followed Kinzie to the room that they shared.
"Nothing you can do about it. The worse case scenario is that she kills you," Kinzie said. Hylla turned to stare at her. Kinzie smiled wickedly. "That was for making me vomit."