"This is Stelios and Astinos." Kermis said nodding to each man. "I am Ephiny." I said bowing my head to them. "How long have you been an Amazon?" Astinos asked dipping the ladle in for another drink.
I stared at him for a moment. "What have you heard about Amazons?" I asked him as a child ran between me and the well.
"Well Amazon's are taken from villages close to their territory and hate men. Well not too sure about that last part." Kermis said with a small smile.
I gave a small laugh and looked up to the sun. "Amazon's don't steal children. Some Amazon's find suitable males and once they are with child we send the men back to where they came." I said still looking at the sun.
"If the child is born a girl we keep her and raise her. If the child is a boy we give him back to the village the father came from." I said smiling a little.
"We don't hate men, not really. Long long ago Amazon's lived as a mixed village much like this one. One day war came and the men left to fight. A few years went by and the enemy came to our village. They slaughtered the old, and the young males." I looked to the men standing near me.
"The women decided not to be dependent on males we learned to fight and take of ourselves. We are on good terms with some mixed villages but our elders do not want us to be so dependent on males again, or live with their wars, where we suffer from them" I finished looking over at the children playing ball.
Stelios looked over at me with a small smile. "No man had ever beat you in battle?" I laughed at that, turning to him. "I have much more training then my Sisters." I said to them honestly, turning my head to watch Theron walk out of an arch way. "You're not the only one who does not like Court man Theron." Jilios said quietly.
"I'm not surprised. He is a sour man his soul is less then -" I cut myself off as I heard a sound I hadn't heard in years. "His soul is less then what?" Astinos asked. I turned and looked over to him. "Can we talk more later, there is something I need to do." I told them and without waiting I ran back to my room.
Mumbling to myself I almost missed someone following me. I sighed and ducked into the shadows and waited for them to walk in front of me, pulling my sai free and taking a silent deep breath.
I let it out slowly as I realized it was the King. "Are you following me?" I asked him coming out of the shadows. Not jumping or seeming surprised I was there he smiled and turned to me. "I was wanting to talk to you." He said with a small smile. I nodded, :I figured you would want to. It's not every day you read something like what you did earlier." I said looking at the ground.
"I burnt the scroll. I wouldn't want anyone knowing what it said and trying to force you –"He started to say. "Thank you." I said cutting him off. He gave a small humorless laugh, "The Gods play tricks on us all." I smiled as he said that. "You really don't mind?" I asked hesitatingly.
He turned and looked at me. It felt almost as if he was searching for something, some hidden answer. His smile slipped a moment before disappearing all together.
"We don't get to choose everything that happens in life. We do the best we can." He said and turned away from me. I nodded silently and felt the hurt burst to the surface of my mind. I swallowed back tears and turn to leave.
"You'll have a home here." He said and started to walk away before stopping. "You are a brave woman, Ephiny, the solider you marry will be lucky to have you." He said then walked away quickly.
I smiled a watery smile and tried to force the tears away, this time happy tears. 'Just breath, no crying.' I told myself and closed my eyes.
"I told you to have patients, and things would be better for you." A voice said just behind me before strong arms closed around my arms.
"You were right for once. Maybe I'll listen to you more often than Ares." I said turning and hugging him. He laughed and held me at arm's length away looking me over.
"You've grown since I last saw you." He said in an almost said voice. "Ares the last time I saw you I was eight, I'm twenty-four now." I said with a laugh. "Hmmm. Are you practicing? I don't want you to get feeble." He said looking at me even closer now.
I laughed harder and patted his hands still resting on my shoulders. "I am the best warrior Amazon Queen Torres has. Did you have me come here? Is that why Mother wouldn't look at me when asking this of me?" I asked him. I took in his silence and turned away and leaning against the wall.
"Yes. I want you my Amazon Warrior, to be with the Spartans. Your destiny is with them." He said softly. "I have to go, but I'll be back soon. Be good!" He said and I turn in time to see him disappear into shimmering sparkles.
"Gods." I said softly and made my way back to my rooms just wanting to lay down.