Disclaimer: I only own Arlia and her amazons. I do not own any featured song.
Chapter 2
15 years later
Arlia looked down the hill that led to the place where she and her Moon Riders had been billeted for the past thirteen years. She had been going out of missions from that villa only two years after she had joined the Moon Riders. She was now a successful leader with a small group of deadly amazons. Her and her group numbered fourteen, soon to be seven, for today was the day when seven of her group would be allowed to go home to their families. There were two reasons she was a leader. Firstly because she was a good fighter and secondly because she had no home to go home to. Her tribe was killed by another tribe soon after she left. So now she was the last of her tribe, and was striving hard to find a place where she belonged. Right now she was happy with what she had, friends and a job, though it wasn't the best of jobs.
"We're home now." Bremusa spoke up.
"Yes, and we have to say goodbye to some of our friends." Arlia smiled back at her small group.
There was her as leader, and Bremusa, who had asked to stay on so she could help Arlia, as the two had become good friends. Then there was Reseda, a half-Egyptian, trained in the art of their fighting skills by her Egyptian mother. Then there were the twins Xanthe and Marpessa, newly joined to the ranks. Then there were the twins Xena and Myrina to finish off. There were two sets of twins and a set of triplets going back. The triplets, Theano, Deane and Halie, came from Sarmatia, an unusual choice for Aranwe to make. The twins Mynce and Rayne were deadly fighters, with a very different fighting style from the others. The last two Polyxena and Gul were very quiet and tried to avoid fighting, they were the diplomats of the group. Arlia would miss them, but she was hoping to get some promising new recruits at the camp this year. It was ironic, she had been chosen from that camp, and now she had gone back for the past three years and chosen new recruits, or she was supposed to. The only promising recruits she had found were Xanthe and Marpessa two years ago. She herself was now twenty eight and had been a leader for three years.
Arlia could afford to be selective about the recruits she took in more than any other. Her group was the best fighters and dancers; if you excelled at one and did badly at the other you could not enter the ranks. That was why there were so few Maidens left to her, as she had not seen any other promising recruits apart from Marpessa and Xanthe. So she didn't have as many Moon Riders as she should have. There was another advantage to having a small group. She could get to know the group as individuals, and they could get to know her. This made it so that when she gave orders they were followed as quickly as possible. So she always tried to have a small group that she knew and trusted.
As the gates opened the women let out their cheer. They were home again from another dangerous journey and they were all alive. They had to give thanks for that. But whatever happened they were all home, and some of them were free. Looking behind her Arlia led the way to the stables she smiled at what she saw. All of the other women were smiling and laughing amongst themselves. But that smile was soon wiped off her face when she saw who was waiting in the stables for her. It was a Roman messenger. He stood tall and proud and watched as all the women filed in. Swinging down she walked straight up to the man and looked him in the eye.
"Are you Arlia?" The messenger asked.
"I am she." Arlia inclined her head as assent.
"Then here are your new orders." The messenger handed them to her.
"When do these come into effect?" Arlia asked.
"As of the morning when your women are free." The messenger informed her.
"That will mean I won't be able to get any recruits." Arlia said calmly glancing over the instructions.
"You will have to manage." The messenger said springing up onto his horse and riding off.
"Brilliant." Arlia sighed.
"What is it?" Reseda asked.
"We leave for Britain, the most godforsaken place I can think of, in the morning to escort the bishop Germanus to the villa where we will receive further orders." Aranwe read off the paper.
"You been there?" Gul asked.
"Al long time ago and I don't wish to repeat that experience." Arlia wearily sighed.
"I was hoping to see Hati again." Bremusa sighed.
"I was hoping to have a break." Xena sighed.
"I was hoping to get into a bar brawl." Reseda sighed.
"I was hoping to check out the new girls." Arlia sighed, "But we have to make the most of it and get on with enjoying tonight."
"Drinks are on the last one to get to the tavern." Xanthe called as she raced off. Arlia smiled before running off after the group. Surprisingly she wasn't the last one there.
"First round on me everyone." Bremusa called as she walked into the tavern.
"All drinks are on the house." Came the serving girl's reply, which made the all the women cheer.
"After we dance to the moon." Arlia took up the first position, the others following.
There were many dances that the Riders performed. There was the sun dance, and the moon dance, and many other celebratory dances. There was also a death dance that sent loved ones on to the Great Mother. This dance welcomed in the moon with sedate movements that were not too energetic. Many people called on the Riders or Maidens to dance for them. There were those who asked for a successful fishing season, others who asked for a child. There were many blessings that could be brought down by the Moon Riders. There were many names, though three were recognised wherever you went. Firstly the Moon Riders, as they ride from place to place to bless people and animals. Next the Moon Maidens, as they are all maidens. Next the Amazons, attributed to the fierce warriors they could become. That was why the women were employed by Romans, because they were fierce warriors, who could kill without a single afterthought.
"To the Great Mother, may she protect our friends on the morrow." Arlia toasted.
"To the Great Mother." The others toasted before taking a sip of their drinks.
The night was full of revelry and dancing. There were many drinks to have, and much food was eaten. Arlia kept herself sober because she would be needed to wake the others, but she let herself have a drink or two, it would be shameful not to. Everyone took turns in singing, letting their voices carry their messages. To finish with Arlia finished with a song that had been sung for generations, since the Greeks began to ship the amazons away to fight for them.
I am sailing
I am sailing
Home again 'cross the sea
I am sailing stormy waters
To be with you to be free.
I am flying
I am flying
Like a bird 'cross the sea
I am flying passing high clouds
To be with you to be free
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
Through the dark night far away
I am crying forever trying
To be near you who can say?
We are sailing
We are sailing
Home again 'cross the sea
We are sailing stormy waters
To be near you to be free
All the moon riders sat down and drank to the women who would be leaving them. They were all very close, and so were very subdued, though they were able to put on a brave show, so if you didn't know the women you would think they were drinking and having a good time. And boy did the amazons know how to have a good time. They drank and sang until they decided it was time for them to sleep. Arlia walked out to the stables to check on her friend Yildiz before walking to the villa, where she settled down quickly into her room and fell asleep.
Author's notes: Well, whadda ya think? You know the drill if you've read my other stories, if not only review if you can be bothered. Right, so one more chapter changed. I have changed the name, so the troop now consists of Arlia, Bremusa, Reseda, Xanthe, Marpessa, Xena and Myrina, just in case you're confused. I chose a name of Greek origin for Arlia, mainly because her tribe was closely linked with the Greeks. Bear with me while I re-write the other chapters, as I have to change all the names, and I'm sorry if I miss one or two names.
