A MORTALS BEATING HEART IS BUT A DOORWAY
Twenty one seasons ago in the village of Potidaea during the first winters fall.
Hecuba looked up in to the darkness feeling the anxiousness take over. Maybe it was the cold night air or maybe it was the feeling of the baby kicking inside of her once again. She breathed in deeply putting her hand on her mid section her first child seemed so awake all of the time. She found her self questioning whether or not that was natural. She pulled up the fur skin coat around her shoulders her mother seemed to think it was natural. She sighed as she started to pace but then she thought everything about this pregnancy was natural. As much as she loved her mother she had done nothing but suffocate her these past few months.
She shouldn't have been surprised this was her first child and a new line in the family. She rolled her eyes she just wished that her mother would stop giving Herodotus such a hard time, she loved him so much. He was a solider and a brave man who had a duty to the city of Olynthus which meant that he was only around some off the time. There was darkness in his eyes sometimes as if he'd see some terrible things but didn't feel ready to talk about them. She knew one day he would be just not right now. She looked at the small scroll in her hand feeling a smile spread across her lips, he was coming home he'd said he would be meeting her tonight and the feeling of knowing that was making her heart float.
She missed him so much when he was away and all she really wanted was for him to settle down and become part of her family. She wanted him to take over her family's bread mill which needed more hands. Her mother was getting to old to run it and she'd been struggling since her father's passed two seasons ago. She looked down sadly she only hoped that one day that he'd lay down his swords and be with her completely but she was prepared to wait until the time was right for both of them. She moved her finger over the scrolls writing she couldn't wait to see him again and she was ready to wait out in this cold night until he came.
She felt the baby kicking again she put her hands on her stomach her child was so awake tonight more than normal. Maybe the child knew that its father was coming to see her mother again. She felt her smile widen yes that was it her child would get to hear her daddy, despite what her mother said she was convinced that children could hear there fathers voice from inside the body. Akemi felt the cold snow as she landed on it knees first, she breathed out ignoring her cold breath as it moved though the night air. Her gaze shifted to the red portal which was behind her she stood up sharply. She could see the square up ahead it was a small walk up to it she turned pulled out the musket.
She turned seeing clothing hanging from a line near by which had a number of fur items on its drying line. She ripping a fur skin coat and boot covers free from the line. She pulled the fur coat on followed by the covers which went over her sandals covering her feet from the snow which was freezing cold. Hecuba pulled the fur coat over her shoulders, he would be here soon she breathed out watching as her cold breath flowed out in to the night air in a stream. It was very cold tonight much colder than normal and in the dim light she could just about make out the icicles forming on the tavern roof. Her thick deer skin coated boots crunched the freshly fallen snow as she shifted her weight she turned as she heard the sound of footsteps close by.
She looked up catching sight of a figure which was difficult to make out in the darkness. "Herodotus?" She narrowed her gaze seeing that the figure was standing still. "Herodotus now if that's you then please speak you know I hate it when you do that stalking warrior thing that you do, it scares me." Akemi smirked looking at the young woman who was about Gabrielle's age and very heavily pregnant. She took a step closer seeing the fear play across the young woman's green eyes. She smiled as she looked at her musket. "Is your name Hecuba?" Hecuba breathed in it was a woman but she didn't recognise the voice at all. "Yes my name is Hecuba, do I know you?"
Gabrielle felt the cold floor as she hit it hard she breathed in deeply as she stood up pulling her sai blades out. Her gaze drifted upwards as the cold air made her shiver. She turned seeing a fur coat hanging of a drying line she didn't think as she ripped it free putting it around her shoulders to keep the cold out. She knew where she was she'd walked this street a thousand times to go home she was in one of Potidaea's ally ways one of the ones opposite the tavern. Though it wasn't quite the way she remembered it, it had different ornaments on the walls and the tavern posts opposite had decorative fur skins hanging down from them. The portal behind her vanished its red light fading away, her gaze drifted as caught sight of the deep foot prints in the snow, she broke in to a run not bothering to look back as the panic hit home.
Akemi eyed the young woman she felt a cold smile form. "Is that your first child?" Hecuba blinked as she tried to see the woman features in the darkness, her Greek language didn't sound right it sounded like she was struggling with it. "Yes this is my first child, what's it to you?" Akemi looked up slightly she hated speaking in Greek it was so guttural. She breathed in deeply feeling her anger churn as the intense green eyes burnt in to her, it was an expression that mirrored both daughters. She felt her teeth grind together she was just as defiant as them as well! "What is it with the women in your family? You're all rude, defiant little bitches who get off on giving every one attitude!?"
She laughed but it was a cold laugh. "Are you also another one who gets of with sleeping with women because I'd love to know where that element comes from?" Hecuba narrowed her gaze how dare this woman say that, her mother was a kind, gentle woman. "How dare you insult my mother! My mother is very highly regarded in Potidaea as was my father!" She breathed in feeling the baby kick. "As for your other comment I'm not like that but my cousin is and she's is a good person and you have no right to insult her!" Akemi narrowed her gaze as she raised the musket pistol higher so it was pointing at the blonde woman's chest. "I'm really looking forward to watching you die Hecuba."
She pulled back the flintlock as her fingers moved to the trigger pressing it. "You and your unborn child!" She felt the pain as she was suddenly shoved full force. The loud bang hit the air as the weapon went off only to miss its target. It hit a stationary fire torch opposite causing it to fall over hitting the woven cover of the stall opposite setting it alight with flames. She felt the ice cold snow as she hit it side first she turned getting to her knees only to feel the pain as a sai blade hilt came down smacking her in the face full force. She ignored the pain as she turned catching sight of the figure standing over her who was faded in and out due to the flames. "You bitch!"
Gabrielle eyed Akemi in disgust she could see her mother who was as young as she and heavily pregnant looking back at them both the fear and uncertainty in her face. "It takes one to know one." Akemi turned spitting the blood in her mouth on to the white snow a cold smile slowly forming on her face as she got to her feet grabbing her musket pistol. "I never did like your right hook." She put the weapon in to her belt as she eased her katana free. "So tell me how is it that you're still breathing I did after all stick this sword, which was yours, right through your stomach?" Gabrielle eased her foot back reading herself she watched as Akemi did the same she felt the calm over take once more. "Ever heard of the ethereal myth?"
Akemi rolled her eyes. "Oh how nice, they took your skull and threw it in the pool of creation, I might have guessed that was how you crawled back in to the land of the living." Gabrielle twirled her sai blade. "You're not going to kill me again." Akemi sniggered twirling the katana. "Oh really and what makes you think you can beat me?" She laughed enjoying the mocking sound. "I knocked you in to the middle of next week first time around and I ran you through the second time." Gabrielle eyed her mother who looked utterly confused by the scene in front of her, she turned back. "You only won because you cheated on both counts the first with Aztec magic and second when I was seriously wounded, I swear to gods that you won't do ether again."
Akemi sneered she began to circle her. "We'll see." She didn't think as swung the sword around only to watch as Gabrielle moved sideways avoiding her strike. Gabrielle stepped back trying avoiding the blade again as it swung over her head. She found herself leaping backwards as it swept past her leg, she narrowed her gaze she would not let her guard down again. She would not let this woman take advantage of her no matter what! She didn't think as she dodged the blade slamming her foot it in Akemi knee as turned on her heel causing the other woman to cry out in pain. Akemi turned in confusion ignoring the pain as she stepped back. She wouldn't let her do that again.
She eyed Hecuba who was still staring at them she turned back grinning. "She looks just like you, small dumb and blonde." Gabrielle eyed her as they circled each she kept her eyes focused on the katana's blade. Something felt so different with in her at this moment something which she couldn't describe. She watched as her cold breath moved through the night air gods she felt so calm. What was more was that, the comment had, had no effect on her. She knew full well that it was comments like that normally irritated her. She side stepped the blade once more feeling her boots crunch the snow. Comments like that had always been her weakness she just didn't like them or ones about her lover and that she was no good for her.
She didn't think as she brought up the sai blade point watching slammed in to the other woman's shoulder as she brought up her sword to swing it. Akemi felt the pain which caused her to step back instantly. She eyed her covered shoulder watching as the red blood soaked the fur skin from the cut, she snarled trying to keep her voice even. "You've improved." She turned back narrowly avoiding the sai blade tip as it swept past her face. She stepped back further what was going on here? Was the little bitch toying with her or something? She was just so damn calm and she hated it, it wasn't normal. The Gabrielle she knew was all fire and rage and very easy to provoke.
The woman in front of her was showing none of that! May be she just wasn't pushing the right buttons she looked up meeting her intense green eyes. "You know that she doesn't love you don't you? You know that she'll come crawling back to me one day and you'll be left all alone in the dark once again like the worthless object that you are." She watched as one of the sai blade moved in the firelight. "Let's face it, its not like you can deliver in bed like I can, you can't give her that pain and pleasure." Gabrielle looked up slightly once more feeling no anger at all as her calm words hit the air. "Yes you could give that to her, but she's not that person anymore and she never will be again."
She felt a warm smile creep over her lips. "I have nothing to fear from you, I just thought I had in fact I got so angry about you that I forgot what really mattered and that is that she loves me and she always will until the end of time. I know this because she did everything to bring me back from the dead." Akemi blinked in confusion she felt her anger start to burn. "I have your sister her soul is running this device and she's going to die!" Gabrielle shook her head. "No she won't, you don't want her not really and you know it. You've only ever wanted to face me in battle and now I'm standing here before you. So please stop trying to antagonise me and give me what I want a true fight worthy of your name."
She felt her body tense she could see that Akemi was about to explode she breathed in calmly. "You're my rival give me the fight to remember so we can finally find out who is truly worthy of their Aztec name." Akemi couldn't stop herself as she screamed with anger as she ran at the other woman. Hecuba felt her eyes dart in panic as the two women collided with a crash as the long curved sword smashed against the strange weapon, which was being held at the hilt and had three long sharp points. The fire was bouncing off them but she couldn't see there faces fully in the darkness only dark shadows.
All she was sure off was that the woman who'd saved her life was about her height and blonde. Nether of these strange warriors if that's what they were had clothes that she recognised their clothing was completely different to anything on the market. Their clothing was very bright and intense and had patterns in some case which looked tribal. Why had the woman saved her? Why would she risk her life for someone she didn't know? Why was she fighting? She'd never seen a warrior who was female before, maybe she was an Amazon she'd heard that they were warriors. Maybe this was a tribal battle but then why had the other dark haired woman come after her with her strange weapon?
She eyed the burning stall a weapon that could cause fire, somehow. There was so much that she didn't know and couldn't answer and so much that she wanted answers to. All she was sure about was that the fight these two were having was over another woman but that still didn't explain how she fitted in to it all. She should have run away but she couldn't help herself she wanted to watch something which she couldn't describe was drawing her in. She'd never seen anything like this before and her curiosity was getting the better off her. She wished she could see these two better in the darkness instead of seeing flashes of colour in the flickering fire light. She found herself stepping closer ignoring the babies kick inside her.
Akemi felt the pain as the sai blades hilt smacked her across the face she tried to turn only to be hit again. She swung her sword watching as Gabrielle ducked under her blade. She cried out in agony as the woman's knee impacted with her mid section, she stumbled back once more raised the blade. Gabrielle stepped sideways as the gleaming blade shot past her she didn't think as she went down on her knees as it swung over her head. She slammed her foot out smacking it in to the other woman's leg taking her clean off her feet. Akemi hit the snow covered floor full force on her back feeling the air leave her lungs.
Gabrielle stood up slowly watching as the other woman front flipped only to slip backwards and hit the snow hard as her fur covered sandals failed to grip it. She stepped back watching as Akemi struggled to her feet. "Winters in Potidaea are very cold and wet you need very sturdy boots to grip the snow with." Akemi snarled as she swung the sword only to watch Gabrielle side step it again she hated that placid calm look which was still on her face. Her eyes shifted she just had to wait for the opening in the sai blade that was all! She swung again only to feel the other woman's boot as it slammed in her side mid swing causing her stumble painfully.
Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "You have never fought a fight that you couldn't win have you?" She brought up the sai blades hilt slamming it in to Akemi's shoulder ignoring her yelp of pain as swung around to face her seeing the katana rise once more. "You've always been able to win by using your godly items and spells." Akemi eyed her in disgust. "Its how I survived in Mexica you know better than anyone what's that like!" Gabrielle turned watching the gleaming blade. "Yes I did but I didn't use any godly items to cheat during the battle its self." Akemi pulled the katana back. "Might is right even when it's wrong isn't that what they say?!"
Gabrielle smiled sadly. "If only you truly knew what those words mean there is so much more to being a warrior than reading the laws of wars and taking them literality." She flipped her sai blade. "Some one who I don't hold in high regard once told me that the world is shaped by warriors and he was right." She smiled slightly. "What I've come to realize since then is that it takes the right kind of warrior to stand against those who would try to shape the world." Akemi laughed enjoying the mocking sound as she raised her pendent. "You can't stand against those who shape the world it's the order of things."
She let go of the pendent swinging her sword once more only to grind her teeth as Gabrielle avoided it. She was starting to hate this! Why couldn't she just hit her? It had been so damn easy on both the other occasions so why was it difficult now? She side stepped swinging again in a full loop only to see the other woman twist in a fluid motion avoiding her swing. Herodotus adjusted his armoured plating he was late he pushed his medium length dark hair back as he turned the street walking towards the market square. It was a typical night in Potidaea it was silent and everyone was asleep, mind you it was more silent tonight because most of the people in this small peaceful place were out at Olynthus's market.
They would not be back until morning, he walked faster he loved this little village it was so serene and calm. Olynthus was noisy and all action for eight years he had woke to up the general bellowing voice, he'd run the drills and watched men die in battle. He wasn't going to lie he had seen some terrible things that haunted his dreams and gave him nightmares. He was starting to hate war through and through he hated the blood the suffering and the damage that the warlords who had attacked the city caused. He hated warlords they were vile bastards and a part of him would be happy to wipe them all out. He sighed aloud war had made him hatful he knew that now and it was making him unhappy.
He looked around him he wasn't interested in his position as high captain anymore the general bored him. All the man did was talk about sleeping with women and drink and then fight for no good reason and then drink some more. He'd already started his plan to leave as soon as the baby was born he would resign. He loved Hecuba he loved her more than anyone and he was going against his father wishes to marry a high ranking woman to marry her. Frankly though he didn't care his father's choice was awful. His pick was a shrewd woman who was all about swagger and class and it had put him off, he wanted his marriage to mean something and for it to be with someone who he truly cared about.
That was his father though the retired general of Olynthus he was all about high sociality and when he didn't get his way his legendary temper came out. He didn't care anymore about what his father wanted he would marry Hecuba and no one was going to stop him. His father's only comment to this had been that if the baby was a boy he'd be interested its upbringing and bringing him in to training academy when he was the right age. If it was a girl he'd said that he would give her a share of the money but wanted no part in her life, in his view girls were only good to grow up get married and have children. His father could go to Tartarus as far as he was concerned girl or not he'd love his child all the same. He'd teach his first born to read and write and if he had more children he'd teach them as well. His child would be well cared for and loved and have every chance possible to have a healthy peaceful childhood. Gods he couldn't wait to hold Hecuba in his arms again and as he put his hands on her stomach feeling his unborn child. He adjusted his double swords as he ran even faster feeling a content smile form on his lips.
End of part 108
Silvermoonlight
