Author's Note: I read somewhere that Godric's maker was a Roman. I change that. I want to introduce you to other cultures. I chose a Sumerian to be his maker. He came from the land of Isin, existed somewhere in lower Mesopotamia ca. 1798 BC – 1775 BC. The king of Isin at that time was King Enlil-Bani. King Enlil-Bani had a very strange idea of reincarnation (perhaps other kings of Isin as well). Every year this strange dude chose one of the Isin men (from what I read, mostly one of his gardeners) to be a king of one day to be sacrificed, you know, to give impression to his people that the new king was born. So, at the new year's eve, when everybody had fun, the poor dude of king of one day, was sacrificed. The 'old king' died, the 'new king' arose.
So, if somebody ask you to be a queen or a king at the new year's eve...just remember King Enlil-Bani, his idea of reincarnation and the new year's eve... lol.
I read somewhere too, that the Roman influenced the architecture style of the Kingdom of Cush/Kush. I don't know if the Kushites built the bath houses like the Romans did, but I love the idea of Roman bath-houses. There were two kind of Bath-houses.
1. Balnaeae were small bathhouses. They might be privately owned, but they were public. It meant, they were open to public for a fee.
2. Thermae were large baths. They owned by the state and sometimes they were so large that they covered several city blocks.
You can say whatever you want about the Romans, but certainly they did know how to have fun and make money at the same time.
I want to take this chance to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2011 (No, I don't choose anybody to be a king/queen...yet ;)).
Chapter Twenty-One
The Bracelets
Godric flattened himself to the red brick wall beside the Queen's room. He heard two persons, one woman and a man, talking in a language he didn't understand. It was the Queen; he recognized her voice, but the man was unknown to him. Who was he and why was he in her chamber?
A month had passed by since their last conversation about the war. The Queen didn't want him to say anything about it, even when the whole town talked and asked him about it. Every time he went to the bazaar, the curious eyes of the merchants would follow him around and with anxiety mentioned the city far distant that had lost half of its people, because they had started to run away from the disaster that came nearer.
The Roman Army was approaching, they said. They could hear the sound of their boots tromping the ground. They could also hear the sound of the trumpets that were blown to call the soldiers to create their deadly formation.
And he, who's living in the center of the power of Meröe, knew nothing.
Perhaps, his uneasiness would have been not strong, if the love, which the Queen once had for him, had remained the same. In this whole month, she had summoned him four times. Yes, they had made love and he had consummated the time with her as if tomorrow would be his last. He still could hear her voice, begging him to stop for she couldn't do it anymore. The sound, which once was so sweet, became agonizing when he slept alone in his room, counting the stars, which could be seen from the window of his room, and praying for Belenus to come earlier.
He was after all, only one of the Queen's harlots and her love for him was fading away. He was being replaced by that stranger, who was talking to her now. There would be no other reason for her to speak to him in her chamber beside her bed; a place he thought would be only for him, if she didn't want that stranger the way she had wanted him.
He sniffed. Suddenly he felt his chest burning. His eyes were hot from sudden anger that came to him. No, he didn't want to be replaced….she may not replace him with anybody else. She was his woman! He didn't care if she was the highest ruler in this land, she was his woman, and he would not let her or anybody else to tell him otherwise. He would force her to be his woman if necessary. He loved her; he had proven to her he wasn't only a good student, but also a good lover. Why couldn't she be satisfied? Wasn't he good enough?
There were days where he wanted to visit one of the slave girls and take one of them to his room, or bring her near the Queen's chamber so she could see she wasn't the only woman in his life, but that wish was gone when he thought about her.
He rubbed his nose. He had to know. He couldn't go on living like this, waiting for her summons and asking questions which couldn't be answered. If he may not enter her room as he pleased, then he preferred to take her offer and leave this land. Even when it meant he would go with an empty chest because his heart would stay here, longing for her love, the way she had given to him once.
Yes, he had to hear it from her own mouth.
He stepped out and was about to enter the room when he heard a loud scream. He turned to the source of the sound. It was from the hall way.
The guards of the Queen's chamber rushed out and unsheathed their swords. "Master Godric," one of them said. "What's going on?"
He didn't know, but he would find out. "Stay here and guard the Queen," he said. "Whatever happens, don't leave."
They nodded.
Godric took a chance to throw his sight to the chamber and his blood ran cold when he saw who was standing inside the room. It was the pale Roman he saw a month ago. His head was very close to her neck, either he was whispering to her, or kissing her, Godric couldn't tell. One thing for sure, he felt his heart beating faster than normally and his jaws were painful for he had clenched his teeth too tightly.
Blinded by anger, he grabbed one of the guard's sword and was about to run to the chamber when he heard the Greek calling him, "Godfrey, come! Help me!"
He gave the sword back to the guard, who was shocked to see how fast he had his sword in his hand, and ran to the Greek.
The torches, which were burning on the wall of the hall way, sent their heat, but the heat he felt inside his chest wasn't from the torches. It was from something deeper in his stomach. The Roman….he knew the Queen had a long trade relationship with some Roman senators, how many of them, he didn't know. None of them, however, had ever visited her in her chamber, at least not since he had become her lover. The guards, who somehow felt pity for him, told him The Queen's chamber was always empty in the night, unless he was with her. The Queen spent most her time, sometimes even until deep in the night, reading rolls of parchment that were sent by her ministers.
A Roman. From all men she could have, she had chosen a Roman to replace him! He didn't accept this. He swore to kill that Roman! He would tear apart his limb and feed them to the lions!
Godric stopped his steps as he saw the Greek holding a woman. For a moment he thought the Greek was trying to break her and make her his woman, but then he saw it was the other way around. The woman was attacking the Greek; she was kicking, scratching, even biting him!
"Godfrey, help me! Get this mad woman off me!"
Godric took the arms of the woman and locked them behind her back. When he saw the face of the woman, he couldn't believe his eyes. It was Amani, the queen's maid! Her eyes were black, and at the corners of her mouth was white foam.
Amani screamed and kicked around, trying to set herself free.
"Quick, Godfrey, we have to bathe her!"
"Bathe her?"
"Yes! We need cold water..."
"Where should we have cold water in the hot evening like this? I don't see any river or lake around the palace!"
"Balnearium, we go to Balnearium!"
Balnearium, as the Greek called, was a room where the Queen normally took a bath. Nobody else may enter that room without the Queen's permission. She took him there several times and let the slaves bathe him.
The room itself had four separated rooms; apodyterium – or a dressing room, where the Queen changed her dress. Before she took a bath, she would play first, either it was a game that once he and she had played, with sticks or wooden swords, or a kind of ball made of roots covered with animal skin. After that, the slaves would remove the dirt and the sweat on their skin with strigils. A strigil was a small curved metal with two little flasks chained on it. At first, Godric thought the slaves wanted to skin him with that metal tool and he almost hurt one of the girls for touching him with the tool.
From apodyterium, they would go to the tepidarium, a warm room, which had heated walls and floors. In the middle of it was a caldarium. It was a small pool, smaller than the swimming pool some rooms away from the Queen's chamber. Different from the swimming pool, caldarium contained very hot water. To cool their neck or face, they used the water from the waist-high fountain they called labrum.
The third room was frigidarium or cold room. It had a cold pool where they used to refresh themselves. On the walls, were ornaments like fish or snakes, with cold water came out from their big mouths.
Godric's favourite room was laconicum, a moist steam, dry heat place, where he just sat there and did nothing. The steam would take care of all dirt to go away from his body and a slave would give him massage with perfumed oils.
Amani screamed, kicked and grabbed everything that was on her way, tried to set herself free from Godric and the Greek. Godric felt sorry for her as he had to drag her on the floor or twist her arm so she couldn't harm the Greek or herself. He didn't care so much with the hitting or the kicking of his body. It didn't hurt him much; but obviously it hurt the Greek a lot. He could see the pain on his face, and the groaning in his voice.
"Put the sandals on your feet, Teacher! The floor is hot!" Godric said when they were at the door of the balnerium. "I'll hold Amani." He held Amani's hand, and locked her with his feet. Amani screamed and even bit his leg, but he ignored her.
After the Greek put the sandals – thick wooden sandals on his feet, and put a pair on Godric's feet, they entered the balnerium. The hot air in the room made it even difficult for Godric to hold Amani still. It seemed the girl had more power than before. The heat seemed somehow strengthen her and her hands were harder. He started feeling the pain and almost let her go, if the Greek hadn't told him to hold on. They were almost there.
Godric shivered from the cold water that poured over his head as they were standing under one of the figures. He bit his tongue to fight the coldness that crept under his skin and straight to the bones. The Greek took one of the strigils and told him to remove the dirt on Amani's skin. Godric swore he saw neither some dirt nor sweat on Amani's skin, nevertheless he did what he had been told. The Greek himself took a sponge and rubbed her skin. Amani stopped screaming. She grabbed his neck and kissed him. Godric pushed her; Amani moved some steps behind, bumped the Greek. Her eyes were wide open in horror. Her mouth opened and said some words, but Godric didn't hear what she was saying; because through the water that slowly froze his joints, he saw the Queen standing on the side of the pool.
Godric stopped scrapping Amani and got out of the pool.
The Queen stood opposite to him. One of her hands was on the hip and the other was pointing at Amani. Godric didn't know what it meant, but he realized the guards, who were standing behind her, rushed to the pool. He jumped back to the pool and stood in front of the Greek and Amani. If the guards wanted to do seize them, they had to face him first.
The guards stopped and turned to the Queen.
The Queen's eyes were blazing with anger, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she turned around and stormed out of the room.
Godric ran to her; the guards caught his arms. "Let me go, or your blood will stain the floor," he hissed.
"Master Godric," one of the guards said, "don't make us turn against you."
"Then let me go."
They looked at each other for some moment, and then the guards let him go.
Godric ignored the burn feeling under his feet as he walked across the room barefoot. He wouldn't let her go this time. He would break down the door if it's necessary. He didn't like to be treated like a slave or a harlot, and she had to hear it. Now.
When Godric reached the Queen's chamber, he saw the guards' faces were pale. They were even sweating. Inside the chamber he heard loud noises. Somebody was throwing things and shouting rapidly.
"Master Godric…"
"Leave," he said. "It's between your queen and me."
"But…"
"Leave. Now."
The two guards nodded and left the door.
Godric entered the chamber and slammed the door behind him. On the floor were pieces of potteries spreading around.
"IN MY BATH ROOM! WITH MY MAID!"
He heard the Queen screaming.
"I'LL KILL HER WITH MY OWN HAND, IF…."
The Queen stopped screaming as their eyes met. The bedroom was in a mess. Everywhere there were cushions, pieces of potteries, weapons and gods only knew what else.
The Queen raised her head. "What do you want? Are you finished giving my maid a bath? Is she pleasing you?"
For a moment Godric was confused with her questions, when slowly he understood what was going on. The Queen was angry seeing him with Amani. She was angry seeing him with a woman…she was jealous. The anger that had been raging inside his stomach was gone.
Carefully avoiding the pieces of the potteries, he walked towards her.
"Don't you dare touching me," she said. "I won't allow you touch me with your dirty hand…."
But Godric ignored her. He took her hand and pulled her into his arms. By Aeron, how he missed her! How bright were her eyes when she was angry like this! How beautiful….
"Godric, let me go!" She hit his chest, but not strong enough, and probably didn't mean it either. Godric knew how painful her hit could be, and what she had done just now was light. "Godric…" she sighed as he took her neck and kissed her. By Aeron, how he missed her! He lifted her body and wanted to take her to the bed when at the corner of his eyes, he caught some objects on the table he had never seen before. A pair of bracelets and a white veil.
Slowly he put her down. He went to the table and took the one of the bracelets. Roman bracelet. It's made of bronze, a solid bracelet with red stones on it. In the middle of it was a square shape with a letter E in the middle of it. The other one had a similar style, but made of gold and instead of a square shape, there was a small figure of a woman with four blue wings, wearing a vulture diadem.
The anger came again.
"You received his present," he hissed.
"Yes."
He turned around and threw the bracelet to the floor. His eyes were hot again. He walked toward her. "You were almost ordering your guards to seize us only a while after you had taken his present! A Roman's present, in your bedroom chamber!"
"Godric…" the Queen moved backward.
"A Roman! Of all men, you replace me with a Roman! A ROMAN?"
"You don't understand…"
"What is it that I don't understand?" his rage was rushing to his head. "You were angry seeing me with your maid, and I am supposed to accept that you received a gift from a Roman?"
"It's for you."
"I'D RATHER DIE THAN TO RECEIVE A GIFT FROM A ROMAN, AND I'D RATHER DIE THAN TO SEE MY WOMAN BECOME A ROMAN'S HARLOT, GIVE HERSELF TO MY ENEMY AND BECOME HIS FEET WASHER!" He spat on the floor.
Plack!
The Queen's eyes were blazing. "How dare you to raise your voice to me, your master! You're my slave, behave yourself!"
The anger now overtook him and he lost the last control he had. "A SLAVE?" He grabbed her hand and pushed her to the bed. "I'LL SHOW YOU WHO THE MASTER IS!"
"GODRIC….NO!"
But Godric didn't hear anything anymore. He had seen some of his Norsemen brothers force their wills to the women of their conquered villages, how they ripped off their clothes and made the women beg for a mercy. They had done it to show who the masters were. To degrade the pride of the women and at the end, many times, they killed the women so that they wouldn't carry their Norse blood.
He wasn't going to kill the Queen, but surely he would show her who the master was. The sound of ripping cloth and the Queen's voice begging him to stop filled the air and was lost somewhere in the room without anybody caring. The more she begged him to stop, the more he was eager to destroy her pride and make her his. He forced her legs to open wide and was about to force himself into her when he saw her face. She turned her face away with tears roll down on her cheek. She had stopped fighting, she even had stopped begging.
He lifted his body and sat on the edge of the bed. By Aeron…what was he doing…? He was about to hurt the woman whom he loved. He probably had done it. And it's all because of his jealousy and anger, more toward himself than toward the Roman or the Queen. Only the gods knew how much he wanted to make the Queen his woman. She belonged to him the day they slept with each other and he wanted to keep it that way. It hurt to know there had been other men who had touched her and it hurt him more to think there were other men who touched her now or was going to touch her after she became his.
And those presents were just like drops of water in an already filled cask. It hurt so much to realize except his virgin body, he had nothing else to give her; it hurt so much it made him want to cry.
"Godric…." A soft touch was on his back, then an embrace.
No…he didn't want her pity….
She released her embrace and made him face her. "My love…" she touched his face and wiped off something around his eyes. He had cried after all.
"I don't want you to be with other men…or receive gifts…from them…" He tried to be stern, but even he knew it was unsuccessful. His voice sounded somber. A soft touch touched the tattoo on his chest, "Especially not from a Roman."
"You have to stop that hate."
"Hate protects me."
"No, it doesn't. It blinds you."
The anger slowly arose in him again, but also sadness and frustration. "You like him? If you like him more than you like me because he can give you more…." He stopped and turned around. Any freeman in this kingdom could give her more. He didn't own anything. He ate her food, drank her water, wore the clothes she had given, he even slept in her bed!
"My love...," she wrapped her arm around him. The warmth spread from his back slowly crept on his skin, made his limb grow hard. "Don't you know you have given me more than any man?" Now she put her head on his shoulder. "You have given me your freedom. You could've left, but you decided to stay and be my slave."
"But I can't give you anything else. No necklace, no bangles, no bracelet…"
"What you have given me can't be valued with all those man made goods."
"But I want to give you something man made! I want you to be my woman, wearing my gifts!" he said, desperately trying not to cry. "I don't want any other man to have you…to touch you…"
There was a silence. And then, with a voice that sounded like from a distance, she said, "I am yours."
He turned around. His eyes were getting hotter and not being able to stop himself, he cried. This time, it wasn't a cry of anguish, but of feelings that were hard to explain.
"Oh, Godric," she kissed his cheek. "Doomed is your fate to take a woman who could be your mother as your woman."
"You're not my mother," he wiped off his tears. "You're my woman and the future mother of my children."
"One at a time, my love. When I give you a son, then we can talk about children."
A son who would continue his name…that's what the people in his village always said when their women were pregnant. The women's stomachs would grow bigger and bigger and then after some time, they would call a druid to help them with their newborn children. Now a woman was talking about giving him a son…he turned around. His son….he touched her stomach. Yes…his very own son…
She laid her body down. Carelessly she removed the rest of the cloth that still covered her. "Come here, you young fool. I'll show you how much you mean to me."
Xxxxx
Godric lay facing the Queen with his eyes half closed. It was some time after the Queen had made love to him. He still could feel his heart beating irregularly; he could also feel the warm sweat that was rolling down on his back.
She had made love to him like she had never done before. She hadn't allowed him to do anything, but to lay there and had spoiled him with her kisses. He could only lay there on the bed, wait impatiently for her to touch him, to kiss him and to drive all his senses mad with joy. He groaned and moaned as she kissed, bit and sucked him. He grabbed the sides of the bed as he felt his body shake from the lust that came abruptly. When she fell on him, like a feather, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. By Aeron, how he loved her!
"You should see people as people, Godric, not from their skin colour, tribes or the gods they worship," she touched his nose gently. "It will make you see the world with different eyes."
"I see you as a woman even when you have different skin colour and gods." His hand trailed on her body. "I never see you as a Kushite."
"Then, why can't you see the same thing in Enlil?"
Enlil…that was his name, "Of all people," he said, "I thought you would understand why I can't have a love for Romans."
"Yes, your previous masters were mostly Romans. How could you give love to your Norse brothers, but not to the Romans and I am not talking about your masters, but the other Romans. They gave you the same markings as the Roman and possibly treated you just the same?"
"The markings I had received from my Norse brothers are to honor me, a sign that I am part of them. Meanwhile the marking I received from the Roman is to humiliate me, a sign that I am nothing but a possession which they will destroy or replace as soon as I am broken or not useful."
"My love, one day you will understand, that not everyone is the same, even when they are from the same tribe," she got up, but Godric caught her hand.
"Where are you going? The night is still early."
She smiled. "I want to show you something."
Godric smiled. He loved her words, those words. They had been the words that opened her bedroom door. It would only mean good. He let her hand go.
She got down from the bed; when she returned she had the bracelets and the white veil. "These are for you from Enlil. You should wear them so that he can look after you….ssst," she shook her head as he wanted to protest.
"Listen to me, Godric, and listen carefully. I've heard some troublesome rumors that outside the town, there are some activities that do not please me. There is a new god that has been introduced by a priest, which spreads like fire. I am an understanding person, who is open to new ways or gods. I would allow new religions to be taught, as long as it wasn't against the rules and the tradition of my people.
"But what I heard about this new religion doesn't please me. The followers of this new religion will gather every night, drink bier and mead, dance around the fire and copulate with each other in front of everybody as if they had no shame. They neglect their duty as mothers or fathers; they do not tend their houses or even do their duty as citizen of this land.
"I can't allow this religion to spread on my land.
"Enlil told me this religion already has some followers inside my palace. He warns me to be very careful, otherwise when my objection to this religion reaches the ears of the priest, then I or the one I love will be in danger. He believes I am well protected, but he is concerned about you. He asks me to give this bracelet to you," she gave him the bronze bracelet, "and asks you to wear it all time so that he will know who you are in time of danger."
"I will not…"
She put her finger on his mouth. "If you love me, Godric, you will wear this bracelet so that my weariness will be in rest." She took the other bracelet. "And I have its partner. This is from me."
Godric took the golden bracelet and put it on his wrist. He touched the woman figure. "Is this supposed to be you?"
"No, my love. This is Mother Goddess Mut, the consort of Amun, the protector of lovers. She has the eye of the sun, I pray for her to watch over you."
Godric kissed her.
"Please, my love. Wear the one from Enlil. You will release me from this fear if you do."
Reluctantly, Godric put the bronze bracelet on his other wrist. The bracelet was heavy, as if it was made from iron; as if it had been a chain to bind him, like a slave. "So be it," he muttered.
The Queen smiled. "It's not difficult, is it?"
"With one condition."
"Name it."
"I may come here as I please. Treat me like I am your man and not your slave."
"Godric, it's a difficult question you are asking."
Godric opened the bracelet, "Then, I don't need…"
The Queen put her hand on the bracelet and closed it. "Keep them on. I agree."
Godric pulled her closer to him. "I love you, my Queen, my woman."
She kissed him soft and deep. "My beloved slave…my virgin lover…"
They made love again that night. Like two dancers dancing around the fire under the silver light of moon, they moved slowly. The kisses were as passionate as before, but they were longer and more careful. Her touch, which burned his body, was tender. She followed every curve of his body, every wound he had. The grips were no longer grips of a warrior, but more of a girl's who was playing with her most precious treasure. He touched her body likes a druid painted a warrior's body with sacred symbols; gently, tender and full of respect. She was his most precious possession, more precious than his own freedom, even his life.
A long and high cry came out of her sweet mouth as they reached the peak of their pleasure. When he got off from her body and threw himself on her side, he was spent. He was tired, very tired. He felt the power which he had had before leave him. She was lying beside him, covering her face with both hands. When he removed her hands, he saw tears roll down on her cheek. "My Queen," he kissed her cheek. "Did I hurt you? Why are you crying?"
She hugged him tightly, "No, my love. You didn't hurt me. I am crying because I haven't felt happy like this for a very long time."
He kissed her head, "My Queen."
He made a promise that night he would treat her the way he had treated her that night; gently, passionate and patient, nor he would force his will to her.
Xxxxx
It was early morning when a soft touch woke him up. Instinctively, he grabbed that hand and twisted it around.
"Master Godric, it's me, Amani," a woman's cry made him to let his hand go.
"What are you doing here?" he got off from the bed and dragged her away from the bed. The Queen was still sleeping. Her naked back was gleaming under the soft lamp at the corner.
"Cover your body, Master, your teacher wishes to see you."
The blush on Amani's cheek made Godric realize he was standing naked in front her. He took his trouser, which was on the bed and put it on.
"Godric…where are you going?" asked the Queen in sleepy voice.
"Sleep, my Queen. I'll come back soon."
The Queen muttered some words, moved a little and continued sleeping.
Almost running, Amani led him to the Greek's room. His teacher was sitting. On the table in front of him was a roll of a parchment. His eyes were on Godric's bracelets.
"Her Majesty gave me this," Godric touched the golden bracelet. After clearing his throat, he continued, "This one is from a Roman."
"He's not a Roman," The Greek took his bracelet and touched the Letter E carefully. "He is a man of Isin, a city that is prospered by the River of Tigris. A long lost King of One day of Isin."
"A king? Is this a mark of a king?" Godric looked at the 'E'.
"No, this is a mark of his god, Etana, the shepherd, the one who came down from the sky and gather souls and foreign lands."
Godric sat down. "Is he trying to gather Meröe?"
"No, young Godfrey. Enlil was not a king, but a tender of the King's garden, who was made a king for a day, before he was sacrificed to the God. But Etana saved him and …." The Greek fell into silence. Then, he continued with a heavier voice, "I see he has chosen you."
"I wouldn't wear his chain if the Queen didn't beg me."
"Beg you? What a big word you use, my dear Young Godfrey!"
Godric pressed his smile. But it broke out as he said, "She's my woman. There are times when she has to beg to make her wishes come true."
The Greek laughs. "Indeed, she is. Young Godfrey, what a proud soul you are, now I begin to understand why many Romans want to break you, why a worshipper of Etana has chosen you." His eyes became soft. His face was calm. "But I don't take you out of Her Majesty's bed for talking about the gifts. There is another more pressing matter that you must know, Young Godfrey.
"I want to talk to you about Amani and what happened to her. Listen carefully, Young Godfrey, you might face the same danger. I know you are a skilled warrior and you will be able to handle any dangerous situation. But this is not the time to use your fighting skill because it's your feelings, fears and wishes which will be attacked.
"Enlil came to me some time ago, and he warns us about the danger that lurks outside the palace's walls. As I witnessed it with my own eyes, the priests of Dionysus are starting to possess the souls of many lives on this land. Women and men are made drunk and forgot their dignities and being lured to the danger of losing their faith on what is good and what is evil. The degradation of people's morals is only a step away from the destruction of the land."
"Why can't we look for the priests and punish them?"
"It's not easy to punish somebody when the rules are no longer clear and when the soul and spirit of the men or women whose duty is to uphold the law are corrupted and tarnished. When they are influenced and commanded by a higher power; when they have no longer understanding of what is right and what is wrong.
"It's also not easy to find a demigod."
"What is a demigod, Teacher?"
"Demigod is a being, who is neither human nor god. He or she possesses a power, a beauty or strength that a normal human doesn't. Some might be called nymphs. The priests of Dionysus were once only human, but graced and possessed by their greed and love to their god, they became maenads. 'Raving Women' that's what the Athenians called them, for they would dance, sing and pray to their god all of their life. They will neglect love or compassion from other humans, for their body and their mind are only for their god. In their heads they utter no words, but the song of praise to their god.
"Lytta is the most dangerous priest of them all. She is beloved by Dionysus for she will sacrifice everything she has for him, including her human soul. The god has given her one of his beloved guards, a Faun, who will accompany her and do her bidding. With one prize, his loyalty has to be paid with a virgin that will be ravished by him during the full moon.
Oh, the poor maiden and boys who become his prey for their bodies will be broken or carry a creature most unimaginable!"
Then, they fell into silence.
Godric didn't know how a faun looked like, but it must have been a being with a terrible form, perhaps like one-eyed Balor, the god of Death, who could kill human only by looking at him. Otherwise, the Greek's face wouldn't have been that pale.
"The Queen has heard about this," said Godric after a while. "She isn't pleased and she wants to look at the matter closely."
Now the Greek's pale face was covered with horror. "You have to stop her, Godfrey! The followers of the priest or the priest herself may not hear this. If they do…I could only imagine death would be upon her. Not any kind of death…but a terrible death, just like what had happened to the King of Thebes, whose flesh being torn by his mother."
"How would I stop a queen from exercising her power? I am nothing but her lover and not her ward."
"She loves you, Young Godfrey. She will do anything for you."
Godric touched the golden bracelet. Yes, he knew and he was sure of it now.
"Take me to her, Master Godric." Amani, who had been silence the whole time, spoke. She walked toward him and knelt down. "I have caused you a great deal of trouble in front of Her Majesty. Take me to her so that I can tell her my story."
"Amani, you and I know the best thing you can do for the moment is to stay away from Her Majesty, until you are summoned. She had almost given a decree to kill you."
"I know, Master Godric. But she will listen to you. You are her beloved slave; your wish is her command."
Just the night before, Amani had screamed and tried to set her free from him. Now, she was kneeling down in front of him, begging him to be taken to the Queen's chamber. Godric wasn't sure if it would be a good idea. Amani could behave erratically again and it would only cost her life. He liked Amani; he didn't want it to happen to her.
"I know I have drunk a lot lately and my behavior is not at its best," Amani bowed. "Last night was probably the worst of all. I have no explanation or apology for what I have done. I am willing to be punished as well, but before all that, Master Godric, please take me to the Queen. She must hear what I know. It's only for her well being."
"She has been cured, Godric. Her body is clean, and her mind cleared. She's no longer a threat to anybody. Take her to the Queen before it's too late."
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