"Go ahead and eat, and when it is dark outside, we shall talk of the prophecy." She said. A few men in dirty clothes ran in and lit torches on the walls.
I talked to Atlanta during dinner. Apparently she was a demigod, too. She was the daughter of Ares, and she was 5,021 years old, though she looked no older than 18.
"When did you join the Amazons?" I asked.
"I was born into them. My mother died when I was born, though, so the tribe raised me. I'm part of them now." She replied.
"Did your mother name you?" I asked.
"No. The tribe named me. You don't get a name here until you kill an enemy in battle. I killed my first person by dodging all their arrows and jabbing them with a spear." She seemed really proud. Her eyes were glowing with fire, as if remembering the chase. I shifted uneasily.
"I'm Hestia's daughter," I said, trying to dodge the subject.
"Yes, we know. You are her first daughter ever. That's why you're the girl of the prophecy." She said. It was her turn to start shifting.
"The sun has gone down, I think you can speak of it now." I said, trying to calm her. She looked nervous.
"No, I can't. It's Klaus's job. Don't worry, though, she'll tell you pretty soon."
In fact, that very minute, Klaus got up and the room went silent. "My fellow Amazons and guest," she started, "Thank you for attending tonight. The time has now come when the prophecy is to be read and told to Zenia, daughter of Hestia. For thousands of years, we have been searching for the one who comes with the Hind." Everyone glanced over at Philana, who was sitting on a beautiful dog bed with women stroking and brushing her. "She has come now, and we shall rejoice. But it shall be short-lived, as you will go on your journey soon. I shall now read our prophecy."
She took out an ancient tome, and it had to be more than a thousand pages. "You can't possibly read that all aloud by nightfall!" Said a woman. She was shushed.
"I will summarize the prophecy, as the full moon is only three days away. First, I will tell you what you are to retrieve. You must find the Girdle of Hyppolyte. It was lost when Hercules stole it, but someone else now possesses it. Next, you must retrieve the sword at which Helene was killed by Achilles. Finally, you will find the wedding ring of Antiope, the only Amazon to ever marry. Luckily for you, young hero, they are all in the same place. You will, however, have to fight to get there. The one who guards it is one of the most vicious of beasts- the Teumessian Fox." Nervous murmurs erupted. "Silence!" Klaus instructed before continuing, "You are to kill him with nothing but your body- that means no weapons. You will have to out wit and out fight the fox with the aid of only your mind. You will bring the objects back here, and in return, you will be allowed to keep the Girdle of Hyppolyte. Do you accept this challenge?" She asked.
I was guessing I didn't have much of a choice. "I do." She nodded in approval.
"Then this assembly is dismissed. Zenia, your training will start tomorrow." She said, and everyone got up and filed out.
Atlanta led me to my room with Philana. "Will you stay? I doubt I will be able to sleep." I asked
"Of course! Anything for the one of the prophecy." She said dutifully.
"You don't have to be a maid, you know. I just wanted to someone to talk to." I said. Philana snorted.
"Sure." She said. We closed the door and the three of us sat down on the bed.
"Do you know these objects that you are to find?" Atlanta asked.
"I think so- Hyppolyte's belt was stolen by Hercules a few bajillion years ago because the queen thought he was attractive." I started. Atlanta closed her eyes and sighed.
"He certainly was." She said, smiling. I giggled.
"Anyway, I'm guessing it didn't go into good hands." I said.
"You're right. It went into the hands of some vain, evil princess. It was put to better use with a sword being carried by it, not an ugly princesses fat." She said, scowling.
"Yes, well, the sword that Achilles used to kill Helene- that was lost?" I asked. Spending a day reading up on Amazon history certainly came in handy.
"Yes. He threw it away after he found out that the person he had killed fair Helene in the Trojan War…" She trailed off. A tear slid down her cheek.
"You knew her." I assumed.
"I did know her. I knew lady Helene very well. She was a brave and honorable woman. That is why she is famous among us Amazons. We all strive to be as strong and fast and cunning as her." She was lost in her memories.
"You were good friends with her?"
"Yes. She was the best friend anyone could ever be. I just wish I could have stopped her from leaving the tribe. You know why she did it, right?" She asked.
"Didn't she accidentally kill her sister?" I asked.
"She did. She deserved it though. Her sister betrayed us. Helene would never… She just wouldn't…" She was all red now, and the tears flowed like rivers. "I just wish I could have told her." I hugged her, and she buried her head into my neck. I felt like her mother, sitting there, striking the fact that she was around 5,000 years older than me. Philana touched her nose to Atlanta's cheek in sympathy. She calmed herself and let go of me. "I'm sorry, it's just… after all these years, you would think that I would get over it. But it's not true! Every time I think of her, all the memories come flooding back. I'm sorry for breaking down in front of you."
"It's okay. Everyone does it sometimes." I explained.
She nodded. "Back to your task. You know the wedding ring?"
"Isn't Antiope the only Amazon to ever get married?"
"She was. She was the lucky one."
"What, you guys aren't allowed to fall in love?" I asked.
"We are, it's just that we're all immortal and men, well, they can't be Amazons, so you have to find a new love every time your man passes away. A heart can only take so much breakage." She explained.
"So why not just fall in love with some immortal? There are a bunch of single minor gods." I said.
She laughed. "Easier said than done. Besides, I did fall in love with someone like me… can only die in battle."
I sighed. "Died in battle?"
She nodded. "It's okay, though. You really should get some rest. I'll be four doors to the left if you need me. Your training starts tomorrow."
"Goodnight." I wished. She wished the same and left.
Some discussion. Philana said, but I was already dozing off.