"We would like to offer you both a place in our ranks, formally," said Queen Amelia, holding in her hands two manila folders. "We would provide you with room, board, education, and anything else you require. We have school curriculums for children grades five and up to accommodate everyone." She looked pointedly at Reyna as she said this.
Reyna bristled as Amelia referred to her as a child. She hadn't shared her dream of Bellona from the previous night with anyone, not even Hylla. If Hylla wanted to withhold information for ungodly amounts of time, well, two could play that game. Although Reyna didn't know if she would ever tell Hylla.
"There are, of course, other options." Amelia had clearly reached the part of the proposition where she rattled off all of the boring bits that most people ignored. "If you would like to join, and we'd be positively thrilled to have you, all you have to do is fill out a bit of paperwork."
She held out a manila folder to each of them. This was not particularly presumptive of her; Hylla had expressed ample enthusiasm about joining over the 24 hours they had been with the Amazons. Hylla took her folder and the pen offered to her, thanking the Queen. Reyna didn't. "What do you mean by other options?"
The room lapsed into an awkward silence. The guards by the door stopped looking at the daughters of Bellona and stared with great interest at the far wall. Samantha, Amelia's second in command, shifted from foot to foot apprehensively.
Amelia started to withdraw her hand, startled, then stopped, before reclaiming the folder completely.
"Reyna," Hylla muttered, clearly embarrassed. She had all but guaranteed their admission into the female warriors' ranks. But Reyna didn't care if she was coming across as arrogant, petulant or disrespectful.
"Quite alright," Amelia said, forcing a smile. "There are sometimes women who come here in search of something other than what we offer. For you, Reyna, there are two other options. There's a group of young women who roam the country called the Hunters of Artemis. They take vows of immortality on the condition they never have romantic relations with men; much more strict than us, for the record. The goddess Artemis spends much of her time hunting monsters with them. Alternatively, there's an establishment in California that is what remains of the Roman Empire. It is an entire, self-contained city. Ten years of service as a legionnaire are required, but before that a recruit must train for some undetermined amount of time under the tutelage of the she-wolf Lupa." Amelia paused. "It is, of course, your choice. If you chose to leave, we can direct you to either place."
"She'll stay," Hylla said, clearly felling pressured.
"Excuse me," Reyna said loudly. Hylla looked at her in surprise. Reyna knew that this was the first time she'd really put up a fight, but she'd had enough. Enough of Hylla making her follow without telling her where they were going, enough of Hylla making decisions without telling Reyna why she was making them, enough of Hylla's word being law.
"This is my decision," Reyna said. "My choice. So butt out, thank you."
Hylla looked utterly bewildered. She had clearly never imagined Reyna choosing to separate from her. "Rey…"
"Don't call me that," Reyna said sharply. Both Hylla and Amelia raised their eyebrows.
Bellona's parting words burned in Reyna's ears. Senatus Populusque Romanus. She didn't speak Latin, but she instinctively knew what that meant: the Senate and People of Rome. The ghostly eagle burned in her mind's eye, so proud and strong without actually being there.
"I'd like to go to the Romans," Reyna said, ignoring Hylla's protests.
"What are you doing?" Hylla asked, shock and horror on her face.
"All roads lead to Rome," Reyna said, remembering her first dream.
"Not my road," Hylla challenged. But Reyna had it down by now. Now was when Hylla would assert her authority; overpower her; shut down her voice. And this time Reyna wouldn't allow it. She wasn't just going to tell herself she wouldn't permit it— she would shut Hylla down first.
"Then let's split," Reyna said. "Just don't say anything. Not right now. Hear me out right now and disregard it later but hear me now. You think you'll be happy here. Then stay. I know that I won't—no offense—" Amelia inclined her head, showing no offense was taken, "But I think that I could be happy with the Romans. So the logical thing to do is to split up."
Hylla looked as though she was trying to swallow a marble. "Logical."
"Yes." There was a long, heavy silence. Then Reyna added, "Your name's already on the paper anyway."
Hylla looked down at the partially filed-in forms, then up at her sister. "I guess it is."