Hallo readers.

It has come to my attention that the text below explaining the Untouchables is a bit confusing, but I'm not going to alter it. Therefore, when you read it, keep in mind that the Untouchables are like the Amazon women. All-female warriors taken from Greek mythology. Ipotane (from chapter 13) or 'Ipotanes' were a race of half-horse, half-humans — the original version of the Centaur.

Proof read by Danaye

Chapter 14

"I won't allow it!" the rough voice growled while the owner twisted a bow over and over again in his calloused hands. The bow was crafted from wood of the finest tree in the forest. "I simply won't allow it! Not my girl — not my daughter! They can choose another, not her! And by the way, why didn't they choose The Lioness? She's perfect, my daughter is not!"

"You should listen to yourself once in a while," the woman answered. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with being an Untouchable. They are skilled in both art and in technique, and they are excellent fighters. It's a wonderful opportunity that she's been given." The woman picked up the brush that lay in front of her on the nightstand and began to brush out the long, loose curls of her fair hair.

There was a long pause during which Sarra watched her husband, the father of her only child, pouting.

She picked up the conversation again, "And you know exactly why The Lioness wasn't chosen. First, she doesn't have a gift with animals..." Sarra was about to continue when Weiryn cut her words off.

"She had Faithful and she talked with him — communicated with him. What more could possibly be necessary? How is she not perfect?" the god growled deeply.

Sarra set the brush back on the nightstand and turned so she could see him fully, focusing her bright blue eyes into a steady gaze. "That's different. Faithful is not like the animals our daughter talks to, and I'll have you know that she inherited that gift from you."

Weiryn snorted instead of replying and Sarra turned back to the mirror once more. As she picked up the brush yet again, Weiryn sat behind her on a make-shift stool with his lips pressed together. He forced the words out between his lips. "Why do you always brush your hair?" he asked, turning his anger to another subject and raised his eyes to meet hers in the mirror.

He saw that his chosen one was about to open her mouth, no doubt to give him an impish reply, but he didn't give Sarra any time to answer. "You are a goddess now! There is no need for you to do such things on a daily basis."

"Others might find it a bit boring," Sarra told him curtly, searching Weiryn's eyes as he moved to stand behind her, "but for me, it will always be something that reminds me of the mortal life I once lived."

Weiryn shook his head as he registered her words. "'Mortal life?' Mortals — they are barbaric," he told her aggressively and turned away.

Sarra frowned over his display of emotion. "Are you talking of simple mortals or do you have someone special in mind?" she asked, rising from the chair. The second she left it, it disappeared into the floor, as if it had never existed.

She reached for him and he turned around under her gentle touch. She allowed her soft hand to grip his naked elbow.

"They, the Untouchables, are barbaric. They are murderers with no consciences and they have made my daughter into one!" Weiryn stated furiously, tossing his bow into the air and allowing it to fly from his hand.

Sarra only shook her head over how thick-headed the God of Hunt could be. Therefore, not wanting to give his actions more attention than they deserved, she only smiled. "No, my sweet, they are women living in a civilization without men. That doesn't mean that they are barbaric," she said, pausing when she saw an angry expression developing on Weiryn's face. "Yes, they kill, but only because they need to in order to live. They have done so for thousands of years," she said firmly.

"And that is justification for their actions? For their behavior?" Weiryn's voice rose to a yell, "They bring nothing but trouble and they have turned my daughter into one of them!"

Sarra sighed in resignation and eyed the god with something that resembled patience, but it was about to run out. "Trouble is inevitable and our daughter will do well with them. There is a reason that the Great Mother Goddess chose for them to live like they do. They've lived as such for many years and you, my dear, cannot change what has already happened!"

Weiryn shook his head vigorously, forcing his loose brown hair to dance from side to side. "Not my daughter! They can choose another! She could have chosen someone else. Besides, I won't allow it."

Sarra lifted her hand and placed it on his cheek, trying to calm his anger. She looked up into his eyes with understanding and compassion. "My dear, you don't have a choice in the matter. It's done and you cannot change that. Once, several hundred years ago, some mortals tried to stop their daughters, sisters, and even mothers from going when they saw the signs on their backs. However, they still vanished and the knowledge of their existence vanished along with them, but that doesn't mean that they are lost forever!"

She continued while Weiryn pressed her fingers against his cheek. "Girls still wander off in the middle of the night, or even in broad daylight, and they still disappear. The only difference now is that the mortals no longer know where they disappear to. Back then, the location of the Untouchables was known. Now, no one knows where they are anymore. It is kept secret — even from us. When the time comes, the signs will be clear and she will answer the call just as the others did before her."

"Then I'll stop the call when it happens. I'm one of the gods, not a pathetic mortal with a small gift," Weiryn snapped.

She took her hand away as if he had zapped her and took a step back. "There's nothing wrong with having a small gift," she spat venomously, her blue eyes ablaze with anger.

That seemed to get his attention and Weiryn grabbed her upper arm. "Sarra – I didn't mean it like that," he tried to say, but she shook herself free. Suddenly, her appearance changed from the normal-looking woman she had been to the Green Lady she was.

A green veil covered her face and when she spoke there was only ice left in her voice," Maybe you should take a closer look at yourself, before accusing the Mother. If I remember correctly, your son was born not long after our daughter. Have you checked on him lately?"

The God of Hunt took a step forth, "Don't you bring him into this conversation! He's a lost soul and he forever will be. I can give life, but I can't take it away."

Sarra crossed her arms in front of herself, an act that clearly proclaimed that she had had enough of his self-pity. It was time to remind him of his other responsibilities. "If that is so, then why didn't you help him as you helped our daughter last night? You gave her a bow and healed her wounds, but have you ever given your son something? Did you know that he had lain unconsciousness not far from the clearing that you found your daughter in?"

"Do not accuse me of neglect, Sarra! I'll choose to help whom I want and no one else."

"What a loving father you are," she spat directly in his face.

"Do not talk to me like that, Sarra!" Weiryn's voice betrayed his fury, "I only want the best thing for my daughter!"

That seemed to only provoke her further and Sarra leaned forth, "She was my first and will always be a daughter of mine. As for your son, he is yours and not mine, even though I helped him when you did nothing. I suggest that you take a look at what he is doing, because right now he's hunting! He has the order to kill her, our daughter! Only if she goes to the Untouchables is she safe."

Glaring daggers at the God of Hunt, Sarra rose on to her toes, saying the final thing that lay upon her lips. "Not only do you have two children, but our daughter's brother has been ordered to bring her to Sun Tzu. So, are you still angry that she has been chosen? The Untouchables can protect her where we cannot. Lastly, I'll have you know that if you will not help to set your son on the right path – then I will!"

And at that, Sarra left the small cottage and disappeared. In her wake she left a baffled god, with his mouth dropped towards the floor in awe over the defiant statement that had come from his loved one.