"This should help with the pain, man. If you begin to recall a memory and the pain comes, chew one of these petals and hold it in your mouth between your cheek and your gums until it dissolves. I cannot say when your memory will return fully or when the pain will stop coming to you, but the flower helps."
Clark nodded thankfully. "I appreciate this, Epione, thank you." He was perched on a low ottoman in the study center of the library, with Epione seated at a table across from him. Tall shelves crammed full of tomes and scrolls lined the walls of the vast library. Clark felt very small, being placed in such a room, but he knew that he had become a turning point in the history of the Amazons. It might very well be that his own appearance on the island had already been archived into the scrolls of Themyscira.
The healer bowed her head slightly to him. Epione was no longer afraid of the man; after all, she had seen him at his most vulnerable and even though he had recovered his strength, the man was a human. This Clark had not been blessed with the strength of the Amazons and he had shown that he knew nothing of combat. The men who had attacked Epione and her sisters were centuries dead and she knew, lived on only in her nightmares. Clark was under the thumb of their blessed princess and the fires of Hestia had proved him harmless in his intent. Like Diana, she extended to Clark the open hand of friendship.
She smiled at him. Yes, this is a handsome man and his nature is gentle, thanks the gods! "You are welcome to our care, Clark. I hope that you are not so greatly troubled by this pain. The flower will help."
From the third seat in the center, an ornate chair of gilded leaf, Diana nodded to the healer. "Thank you, Epione. I intend to bring the man into the city today but thought to consult you first."
"A fair judgement, my princess. The noise of the city would have only made the pain worse if he'd had another memory return." Epione replaced the herbs and potions that she'd brought to the palace back into her healing pack and walked with Diana to the doors of the library. Clark remained seated on the ottoman, watching. He was glad that Epione no longer recoiled from him. In a way it was nice to learn that not all of the Amazons would remain afraid of him.
"I value your skills, healer Epione. Your hands are a treasure to the island entire." Diana bowed lightly to her friend in a great show of respect.
Epione laughed lightly as Diana opened the door. "Oh, please, princess. Mine are skills that I've had centuries to refine. It is you who is destined to bring the Amazons back into the world."
It was just such comments that made Diana uncomfortable. She knew she was brought into being by the gods to protect and eventually promote her Amazon heritage, but all the same it was an intimidating responsibility that was upon her. She shook her head. "That destiny is not mine alone, Epione. We will all step forward together."
"Bye, Epione." Clark waved to her as she slipped out of the library and into the corridor of the palace.
Diana sighed lightly and turned to him. Now was not the time to become morose about the prospect of her destiny. "Are you feeling well enough to see a part of the city? The queen has made her announcement to our sisters, so none will be shocked to see you."
Clark raised his brows. "Oh, so there won't be a riot once they lay eyes on me, you mean? That's reassuring."
"You are full of banter again, you must be feeling well. Come. I know where we will go first."
They departed from the palace and Diana lead the way to the section of the city that had been devoted to the arts. Several blocks were open to those Amazons who dedicated themselves to pursuing beauty through design. There Diana's sisters worked tirelessly, much like Epione, to refine their skills in creation. Though Hippolyta's decree had been heard by all, the shock of seeing a man on a leash was not welcome.
Diana held the lasso secured around Clark's forearm in a way that assured the others that he was under her control. The princess knew her sisters well. If there was any doubt of her control over Clark, then they would move to subdue him with force.
As for Clark, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the city surrounding him. The stone buildings lining the street were carved with the likenesses of Olympian gods, the monsters and poetic creatures of the old tales, and beautiful mosaic landscapes. It was strange to him, how each building held its own unique features but still met with a sort of Themysciran theme. In seeing the scope of the city, crafted and ruled over by women, the enormity of the Amazon legacy hit him full in the face: these women, this entire nation had been lost to the world until he somehow had washed up on their shore. It would change the world once they revealed themselves.
So wrapped up in his own thoughts, Clark hadn't even realized that Diana had been speaking to him.
"...part of the city where our artists work." Diana explained to him as they walked together. "They paint and sculpt here, sometimes I go to the potter's wheel."
He barely heard Diana's words. The Amazon women were moving up and down the block on foot and driving supply carts pulled by fine horses, all of the women so beautiful but so obviously suspicious of him. Clark felt hated, confused. He knew that he was the subject of their scorn but he had no idea why. Why hate him? Why did the Amazons hate men?
Sets of brown, blue, green and golden eyes narrowed at the sight of him, and soft, full lips twisted into distrustful frowns. No one said anything to him or took any kind of aggressive action, but the silent message was clear: Clark's appearance on the island was not a celebrated event. These Amazons would have been happier if he'd never washed up on the shore of Themyscira.
His presence defied the protection of their gods and signalled a change in their world. Clark understood that the other women had no reason to rejoyce, but all the same he would've welcomed a smile from someone other than Diana, who he knew was more or less obligated to put up with him.
"Taking your pet out for a walk, princess?"
Diana and Clark turned around to find Artemis approaching them. Her hands were stained with indigo dye from the garment vats. Artemis had not mentioned to the other Bana that she'd long been carrying an interest in modifying her clothing; specifically, Artemis wished to craft new robes for the upcoming festival of the winter solstice.
"Bana sister Artemis, good morning. Yes, I am showing the city to Clark. You heard my mother's decree?"
Clark smiled at Artemis. Yes, she had been a little vulgar at their first meeting, but he could see now that it was simply her sense of humor. He could appreciate that, and Artemis was a very striking woman. Her long mane of flame-red hair set her apart from the other Amazons, though she was still nothing in comparison to Diana. "Hello Artemis."
Bright, grassy green eyes flashed at Clark. "Oh, it speaks? Hello to you, Clark." She turned to Diana. "Yes, Hippolyta was clear in that there would be no harm to your precious little man, that he is a guest to this island and that we are all to behave as befitting the Amazon legacy...Isis! I grow bored just recalling her words."
Diana frowned, but the mirth did not vanish from her eyes. "Behave, Bana, or have you forgotten that Hippolyta is my mother?"
Artemis rolled her eyes. "Your goddesses are your true mother, or have you forgotten that? So tell me, how has your walk through the city gone so far?"
Clark shrugged and glanced around them only to be rewarded with suspicious glares from the passing Amazons. "As you can tell, I'm the talk of the town."
Artemis looked around them and called out to the others, "What are you all afraid of? He is only a human man, untrained in combat and gentle as a lamb!"
Inwardly, Clark winced. He didn't want to be looked at like some meek animal, but if that was what it took to win over the natives...
Chantal, another Bana, approached them. She was carrying several reams of colored material, likely intent to tailor a set of robes, but she paused at the sight of Artemis with the princess and the man. Clark recognized her, she had been with Artemis the day before on the beach.
"You call too much attention to yourself, Artemis."
She rolled her eyes and kissed Chantal on the cheek. "And you are always so concerned with the image of the Bana, my friend. Thank you for coming forward- we cannot have the Amazons of Themyscira think that the Bana are just as afraid of the man as they are."
Chantal looked at Clark, taking his measure. She was several inches shorter than him, and slim in comparison to both Diana and Artemis, but Clark was no fool. He had quickly learned that all the women on the island were trained warriors and not to be underestimated in any way. "I am not afraid of any man. I saw him with the princess yesterday, he is docile and actually, amusing."
Artemis winked at Diana. "That's one more Amazon won over. Shall I continue to recruit more to your side, princess?"
Diana watched with a slight smile as Clark held court over a group of her sisters. Even the princess could admit that Artemis had a gift for generating dialogue between the man and the more wary of Amazons. Only an hour ago the man had been a pariah, and now he seemed to have made genuine friends with several of the women. They had moved in from the street once the rain began, and now were relaxing in a lounge. Diana and Artemis often came to this lounge after a contest of skill, the loser being the one to fetch their wine. After five hundred years, Diana had yet to lift a finger for Artemis.
She sat apart from the gathered group, with Artemis at her side. Chantal, Mala, Clio, Cydippe and Gorgo were clustered around Clark as he was explaining something called a "vending machine", something from his world that supplied both food and drink in exchange for silver coins. It was good to see Clark engaging with the women, his expression seemed happier now that he was no longer the subject of silent scorn.
"He seems to be enjoying himself, Diana. You see here, others will hear of his gentility and more will come. The man will not be hated by all. You're welcome!" Artemis gloated.
The princess rolled her eyes lightly and took a glass of wine offered by the hostess of the lounge. "Yes, sister, you have done what I could not, praise Isis! Truly, I am glad of your help. From the looks of things, so is Clark."
Both Diana and Artemis watched as Clark smiled, obviously glad to be the center of positive attention for the first time in days.
Artemis felt she could relate to the way Clark might be feeling. When the Amazon tribes had reunited on Themyscira at the order of their gods, it had been tense, with no forthcoming trust. Even after centuries, there were still the occasional moments of tension between the two former tribes. She watched as Clark laughed, revealing a very attractive smile. He was handsome, young and strong. "You might want to reconsider setting him up as a breeder for the island, Diana. Once the fear of him passes, you may come to see that I am not the only one who could see such a use for him."
Diana wrinkled her nose. "You're revolting, Artemis!"
"No, I am a woman. Unlike you, I have known a few men. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you haven't even thought of him in that way; you are an eternal woman-child and your sisters have known the horror men are capable of, while mine have only known the pleasure."
Diana stared at her blankly. "Pleasure?"
Artemis smiled broadly and gave Diana a long, knowing look. "Princess, we will speak tonight."