Me again with another chapter, enjoy and review. Smile
Chapter 4: Aphrodite
Serenity yawned as Helios started to make his morning debut as the sun peaked over the ridge. Serenity opened her cornflower eyes to see that she was the first to rise. Ella and Mina still slept peacefully on their grass beds. Stretching and rubbing the soreness from her back she tried to recall last night's dream but for some reason she could not which was rather strange, the only thing she could remember was that of an outline of a person standing over her while she slept. Shaking that ridiculous thought out of her head Serenity grabbed the bag of food and started to prepare a cold breakfast of grapes and apples. Mina awoke a short while later with a panic look in her eyes.
"What is it Mina," Serenity asked, worried.
"I need to relieve myself and there are no latrine's," Mina whispered softly, her ivory cheeks colored pink from embarrassment.
Serenity laughed loud and hard making Mina pink cheeks turn red, all this worrying over a lost latrine. Tears gathered at Serenity eyes from laughing so hard and her belly started to ache.
"Mina use the grass, go off far enough if you want some privacy and squat to relieve yourself," Serenity said, trying not to laugh anew. Merriment danced within her eyes.
"You mean out there," Mina breathed, pointing to the grass, her face stricken with horror.
"Yes, now go. We will be here when you come back," Serenity said, stifling another laugh at Mina's expense.
It took Mina about a minute or two to wander off in the tall grass. Mina did not travel far as her red bow can be seen from camp. Serenity's laugh woke Ella; she too smiled at Mina discomfort.
"What are we having for breaking our fast," Ella asked, sitting up.
Serenity passed her a handful of grapes and another apple. Ella stared down at her food as her stomach growled.
"That's it?" Ella asked, shocked.
"Yes, the girls have packed well but we are on our own with no money and only the food and clothes in our packs, if we are going to survive this journey we need to preserve our food for as long as possible just incase it takes us more than a month to get to Thessaloniki," Serenity explained, popping a grape in her mouth.
Ella nodded her head in agreement. "Do we have a map?" Ella asked, biting into her apple.
Mina came back to camp flushed and somewhat bewildered.
"I'd rather use a latrine," Mina mumbled.
"Get use to it because we are not going to see another latrine for a while," Ella laughed.
Mina said nothing more, grabbing her share of the food Serenity dished out and started to eat.
They left the camp within an hour of waking so they could get ahead start on their journey. Hours passed as the sun scorched they're pale skins red. Sweat pour from Serenity and her dress stuck to her as well as the other girls. Blowing out a breath Serenity was relieved to be out of the tall grass and to finally see a dirt road.
"We can travel the road from here on out," Serenity said stopping alongside the road. She pulled one of the bags from her back and squatted down searching for something in the bag. The girls looked on wondering what she was looking for. Serenity eyes brighten when her hand came out grasping an old parchment. When Serenity unrolled the parchment Mina and Ella were overjoyed to see that it was a map. Closing the bag Serenity placed it back over her shoulder while looking at the map.
"We are here, there is a small town a half days walk from here, maybe we can rest there for the night," Serenity explained, showing the girls the town on the map.
"A nice warm bed would be nice," Mina gushed.
"It might not be that easy, they might not follow the order of hostility with the war going on," Serenity stated.
Mina smiled disappeared into a frown at Serenity's words. With a flip of her hair Mina started down the dirt road. Serenity looked at Ella and Ella glanced at Serenity suppressing a giggle.
"I don't think she wanted to hear that," Ella said softly, following behind Mina.
Serenity sighed following behind Mina and Ella, hoping that a nice wind would pick up to cool her heated skin.
Mid afternoon hit and there still was no breeze to cool the girls down and they had to stop twice to drink from their water bags. The heat wavered before Serenity's eyes but she knew they must keep walking. The road laid barren, no travelers passed by which cause Serenity to worry. She knew that traders would travel the summer to sell their wares before winter and she smiled when traders came to the temple to offer their goods to the goddess and her servants, but last year they did not come and it was a harsh winter for them.
"Doesn't seem odd that there are no traders running the road?" Serenity asked, voicing her worry.
"It is most likely that they are now soldiers in the war fighting for their King," Ella guessed.
"Most likely, but it seems unnatural not to see any signs of life," Serenity shivered despite the hot sun.
On they walked in the blistering heat, Serenity's bare feet began to blister and bleed stumbling a few steps before she fell to her knees.
"Let's rest for a bit and have something to eat," Serenity huffed, drawing Ella and Mina attention.
"I agree, my feet are worst for wear," Mina whined, flopping down on her butt showing Serenity her blooded feet.
"I wish we had something to wear on our feet's like sandals or shoes," Mina said.
"Maybe in town we might find some, we are not used to travel and had no need for footwear, but I think when we stop next we should get some sandals," Ella stated, sitting by Mina.
Taking the packs off, Serenity moaned in pleasure of being relieved of the weight. Taking the food bag she brought out a loaf of bread and hard cheese, sharing it with Mina and Ella. Washing the bread down with a little water Serenity noticed someone walking in the distance.
"Girls there is someone on the road coming our way," Serenity announced, spitting out some of her water.
Mina and Ella both turned to the road seeing that Serenity was right, there was a person coming towards them. Serenity jumped onto her feet and quickly packed everything away, hauling the packs back onto her back as she stepped on the road with Ella and Mina following close behind. Serenity could see that this person was female due to the long fire red hair trailing down her back and shapely legs taking long strides. Serenity gasped in shock as the woman neared and her cheeks redden as she quickly averted her eyes. The woman was wearing a yellow toga that stop at mid-thigh its strap covering only her left breast while her right perky breast was exposed. Sandals graced her feet and laces snaked up and around her legs. Serenity heard Mina and Ella gasped at the sight as well and before they could start walking on their own again the woman was upon them.
"Lovely meeting," The woman said ,bowing her head.
Serenity turned back to the woman soft voice and bowed her head. "Many greeting," Serenity stuttered out.
"What have we here, moonlings on the road, who would have thought it so," The woman laugh, her voice heavenly.
"May we ask who you are?" Mina was the first one to speak.
"My name is Venus and I am High Priestess of Aphrodite and you are?" Venus announced, bowing at the waist her golden skin clashing with the yellow of her toga.
"My name is Serenity and this is Ella and Mina, we are priestesses in training of the Goddess Selene," Serenity introduced them, pointing to her companions.
"Nice to meet a follower of Selene, but moonlings never travel far from home. What are you doing out here?" Venus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We are traveling to Thessaloniki to deliver a letter to the King," Mina explained.
"I see, come with me to Aphrodite's temple for guidance. And I grant you hospitality for the night so you may rest in comfort," Venus said, her smile encouraging.
"We accept your hospitality," Mina gushed before consulting with Serenity or Ella.
Seeing no other option and wanting to get out of the heat they followed Venus down the long stretch of road.
Within an hour they arrived at a small village. Men and woman walked the streets in similar togas, but the men's togas had no top and went bare chest.
Venus led them passed many small houses with narrow streets, the people on the streets all stopped and bowed when Venus passed by and Serenity made sure to bow back in respect. Venus took them up a small hill and at the top stood a temple made out of marble with an effigy of the love goddess Aphrodite standing off to the right. Serenity knelt before the effigy in respect knowing that Aphrodite and Selene were very close to one another.
When Serenity stood Venus stepped in her path catching her eyes. Memorize Serenity could not look away falling into the green grass of her eyes; suddenly Venus smiled and put her hands on Serenity's shoulders.
"You are a true priestess of Selene, never forget that," Venus said before walking to Ella, doing the same thing.
Ella blushed at the attention she was receiving but Serenity knew how intimidating those eyes could be. When Venus pulled her eyes away there was a frown upon her lovely face and she walked away without a word confusing Ella. Next was Mina and she sighed when she caught the grassy green eyes of Venus. Serenity could swear that Mina sky blue eyes held a far away look as Mina leaned closer to Venus.
"Child I have to say you are not a child of Selene," Venus stated, snapping Mina out of her trance.
"Yes I am. I been with Selene since I was ten and I will become a High Priestess someday," Mina defended herself.
"Yes, I agree with you, you will be a High Priestess some day, but not of Selene, I see in your eyes that you will be a priestess of Aphrodite. I can see the way you blush when you looked into my eyes, I can feel your desire for me as you leaned closer to me. You belong here," Venus smiled patting Mina blonde hair. "You have greatness within you and Aphrodite has lay claim on you since birth, her hands are all over you, I can sense it."
Well that is it for Chapter 4. Read and enjoy and don't forget to review. Smiles