Chapter 7: The oracle
Over the next few days Shego spent much of her time entertaining the queen, Kim often joined them but as the festival grew nearer she was seen less and less. The night before the festival Shego sat with the queen in her chamber, they had been sparing for over an hour before Kim interrupted.
"Hello all." Kim said happily as she strolled into the room.
"Aw look who came to play." The queen teased over the clash of swords.
"Not here to play I'm afraid, I'm here with one last piece of business before the festival starts tomorrow night." Kim said slightly disappointed she could not join them. The queen sighed and dropped her sword, Shego set hers aside.
"As requested I have handpicked the carriers but as customary you have to pick from our captives."
"Right now? I was finally going to beat her." The queen protested. Shego shook her head in disagreement. Kim only shrugged and led them out to the village that surrounded the palace; before them stood a line of men, chained together. The queen started from one end of the line and looked over each man carefully.
"What this all about?" Shego asked Kim.
"Well this is an Amazon tribe, men are strictly forbidden from entering the village or even setting foot on our territory. This is the only time of year we raise this rule. The festival is to honor the coming of spring and populated the village to keep from dying out. They're strict on that too, only the most beautiful women in the tribe are chosen to give birth and only the best men are chosen to impregnate them. We capture about fifty or sixty men and put them through a series of tests to weed out the healthiest, strongest, fastest and smartest men. Then it's up to the queen to pick the men worthy of impregnating the most beautiful Amazons."
"What happens to the men after all this is over?"
"Well, the other tribes kill them. But we send them back to their villages. It's less of a hassle that way."
"So if no men are allowed to live here, what happens to the boys who are born?" Shego asked dreading the answer that would come.
"Well it's different for each tribe. One tribe kills them, another sends them off into the wild to fend for themselves but, we send them back to their fathers. It's really up to the queen on those decisions, our queen doesn't believe in killing an innocent child so we send them back to their father's."
"So how long does this festival last?" Shego asked.
"Three days. Starts tomorrow the moment the sun goes down, everyone drinks, eats and fun times are had by all…a certain group of women more than the rest of us but, fun is still had by all."
The queen approached them. "How many woman?" She asked in a business like tone.
"About thirty. Why?" Kim questioned.
"There are only four suitable men." The queen replied.
"So seven women to each man; one of them will have to take on an eighth."
"They can handle it." The queen said passively. She turned to one of the guards, find Captain Bana. Have her take care of this, if she has any objections tell to take them to me." The guard nodded and ran off to find Bana.
"Now, Kim you are going to join us for a sparring match."
888
The clashing of swords rang throughout the air, jeers and taunting shot between all three women as they spared. The occasional word of advice would break through and enhance the ongoing match.
"Majesty, explain to me why I'm suddenly taking on the brunt of the general's tasks." Bana demanded as she stormed into the room.
"Captain I trust you competed your task before you came to complain to me about my delegation." The queen said without stopping the match. Kim and Shego chuckled as the match went on.
"I would not question your delegation majesty, but I would like to know why I was pulled from my chambers to handle…" Bana was cut off by the queen suddenly braking away from the match and approaching her.
"Oh I'm so sorry captain; I didn't mean to take you from the warmth of your women to handle one small task. Gods forbid I ask the general to assist in a training session and drag you from your bed. Maybe I should just appoint a new captain so you can laze about the palace coming and going as you please; would that be more to your liking?"
Bana shrank back for a moment and straightened her posture. "No majesty, I…that won't be necessary."
"Hey Bana, you mind running along we have a lesson to finish." Shego added. Bana gritted her teeth and left the room, she couldn't argue. She could only storm out of the room and vent her anger.
888
The village was a massed with all the women chattering excitedly as they filled tables with freshly made food and wine. Young girls were shooed out of the square to make room for the finishing touches on the stage. The sun was beginning to set and the queen paced the floor of the throne room. Kim stood by quietly waiting for her to calm herself. Shego walked into the room and immediately noticed the queen's nervous behavior.
"Okay I'm going to bypass the fact I have to wear this ridiculous robe, though it is comfortable, that's beside the point why is she pacing?"
"She always gets this nervous before the festival; we're waiting on the oracle."
Shego watched the nervous queen pace the floor. She was beginning to get dizzy. "The oracle? Don't tell me you really believe that."
Kim shushed her harshly. "Don't talk like that, these people are very superstitious, you say the wrong thing about their beliefs and your life is a living hell from then on out."
The queen stopped pacing and glared at the women. "Unless you two are talking about the oracle's location as of now, I suggest that you stifle yourselves."
"Relax the oracle is probably just outside that door." Shego said. At that moment the doors opened and a hooded figure came into the room escorted by Bana.
The figure stopped and turned to Shego and removed their hood. Shego found herself staring at a girl no older than sixteen. Even though her eyes were clouded over it felt as though she were looking into Shego's very soul. Shego felt a twinge of discomfort as the girl reached up and touched face. Shego wanted to recoil but found herself frozen; everything around her seemed to disappear until she was locked in darkness with this cloudy eyed girl. The girl let her hand fall and approached the queen. Shego left weak but balanced herself by resting a hand on Kim's shoulder.
"The year ahead will be prosperous, crops will flourish and alliances will grow stronger, but I see conflict in your land, I see turmoil and pain brought down on your people and I see betrayal by one of your own." The girl said ominously.
"Who will betray me?" The queen demanded.
"I cannot tell you. But unlikely heroes are amongst you, keep them close and you shall prevail." She turned to leave and looked in Shego's direction she smiled and pulled her hood over her head. She left the throne room with Bana following close behind. Shego felt the rush of vertigo, her knees buckled under her weight and she fell to the floor. Kim dropped down to her side while the queen called for help.
It didn't take long for Shego to wake in daze. Her head throbbed to the beat of heart. A servant gave her water while Kim helped her to her feet. Shego left the room without a word, leaving everyone to question what had happened between her and the oracle.