Chapter 14: The Isolationist Empire Part III

In the early 1800's, a British author named William Congreve will be credited as the first person to coin a certain popular phrase.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"

The central idea of this phrase being, that should a female compatriot be offended in someway, especially concerning matters of the heart, their wrath shall be plentiful. Admittedly, this phrase plays into the stereotype of over emotional women, and generalizes all women to be like that. But it does hold a nugget of truth.

A nugget of truth known by most intelligent male life forms. Irregardless of their country of origin, culture and even technological level.

Yet despite this, Bashenga had managed to 'scorn' not just one, but two women. One of whom, was a literal goddess. And the other woman, while not a goddess, but only marginally less deadly than one.

He may not have intended to hurt or offend either, but he had. Especially Zarda whose past was heavily mired by such thing's. In fact, it was through unwitting infidelity, that she became a Siren.

Zarda was once a regular human woman, living in one of the small tribes that made up the Meso-American Inca empire. Her family was far from wealthy and powerful. But they weren't extremely poor or anything like that.

They were just unremarkable in the grand scheme of things. With the only truly remarkable thing about them, being the great beauty of their daughter, Zarda.

In fact, so great was Zarda's beauty, that she drew the attention of many young eligible bachelors. All vying for her attention by showering her with expensive gifts. Zarda herself did not care much for these things, but her parents did. So they encouraged her to play along for more gifts. If not for herself then for them.

Which lead to her developing a reputation of being quite the flirt, but ultimately unattainable. Eventually though, among the sea of young wealthy suitors who failed to win her heart, was a man who did. His name was Inti from a different tribe far off from herself.

Just like the other suitors, he was wealthy and not afraid to show it. But unlike the other's, he knew a better way to her heart was to charm her and sweep her off her feet. And he managed to do so in no time.

So enamored was Zarda with this exotic man, that against her better judgement she allowed herself to be wooed into his bed before they officially married. But as soon as the deed was done, Inti left Zarda high and dry. And it was even revealed that Inti was already married, with kids far away back in his homekand.

And to add further insult to injury, word got out about how "easy" she was. And soon marriage proposals quickly began to dry up. As no 'respectable' man wanted a 'loose' woman.

The shame and humiliation of the betrayal, drove Zarda to a deep depression. And eventually to try and end her own life in great Yucatan river. But in the process of ending it all by drowning, she inadvertantly ingested a strange flower that grew under the water. The flower turned her skin blue and scaly. And gifted her myriad of other unique attributes. And from that moment on, the Siren of Yucatan was born.

She prowled the river, using her new found abilities to institute a strange form of justice. She would use her enchanting voice to test the resolves of men who dared to trespass her shores. If they resisted her call, she deemed them to be rare examples of faithful men. If they failed to resist her call... she punished them as she saw fit.

It was doing this warped act of vigilantism that she entered into the Ancient One's radar and was eventually captured.

So by all accounts, Bashenga was in for a world of trouble. Especially from Zarda. Fortunately for him though, there was more pressing matters at the moment and the issue had to be tabled for now.

"Where have you been? I was told you mysteriously disappeared" Bashenga asked in an attempt to buy time, as fumbled about the room in search of something to give to Zarda, in order for her to hide her still exposed body.

He eventually settled on a vibrant colored, patterned cloth which unceremoniously draped over Zarda abruptly. Zarda barely reacted to this act, still try to rap her head around everything that just transpired.

This Bast woman was apparently Bashenga's wife. Something he had never felt the need to bring up once, during their obvious flirtatious.

'This was just like Inti all over again' she thought to herself, feeling complicated whirl of emotions boiling inside her. From outrage, to confusion, to hurt and finally disappointment.

Eventually she settled into an odd sense of unfeeling calm. 'No.' she thought to herself resolutely.

'This isn't like Inti. I loved Inti. Bashenga was just a source of fun at best. If he is untrustworthy like all men, it doesn't matter now. We have more important things to deal with'.

Bast who had been coldly glaring at the two with suspicion finally answered the question Bashenga asked.

"I should be the one asking where you where. I left Wakanda in search of you. I came back here the minute I sensed you were back"

"Oh" Bashenga said lamely. He then explained the whole ordeal about his capture by the Ancient, the deviants threat and the need for an army.

Bast remained silent through out the explanation, appearing to be listening, though her contemptuous gaze remained upon the unflinching Zarda.

After the Bashenga's spiel, Bast began "Dealing with Khonshu and Amon, will be relatively simple. We can simply demand an avatar clash. Whichever gods Avatar wins, gets Wakanda."

"An avatar clash... meaning I and Amon fight?" Bashenga asked quizzically.

"Indeed. It's a fairly common practice. It's a more effecient way of solving religious schisms than to allow for all out war. Both of you will be rendered powerless as no god can empower their champion. Then you fight till a clear winner is declared." Bast continued finally looking away from Zarda.

Only for her to snap back to her, as Zarda said "And do you think the people of Wakanda will accept this? Having their leader decided by fist fight".

Bast narrowed her eyes and omniously declared "Khonshu and I are gods. The people of Wakanda are mere humans. They know better than to defy which ever of us wins the clash".

The threat may have been directed at the Wakandan people, but Zarda got the distinct impression that it was just as much a threat against her.

Unafraid Zarda looked Bast square in the eyes and replied "If you say so".

The two held each other's gaze for an uncomfortably long spell before Bast made a 'tsk' sound and looked away first.

"I'm going to tell Khonshu of our desire to challenge him. He'll likely agree and want the clash to happen soon. So be ready, I'll be back".

With that, there was another bright gold flash, like the one that preceded Bast's initial arrival. And once it faded she was gone.

Bashenga exhaled in relief and his posture slackened. He turned over to Zarda who was uncharacteristically quiet and subdued.

He hesitated briefly mulling his next set of words carefully, before finally speaking

"I know you think I withheld the truth from you. But it's not that straight forward. Bast is a jealous god. And also a wrathful one. She may insist we are married, but to her marriage is merely a way of staking claim over me so no one can. She doesn't love me. And neither do I love her. But I can't just leave her. You heard what she said. We are mere humans. Their wants and will supercede ours"

He paused mid speech. Then slowly walked over to Zarda and gently coax her to face him properly.

"Hey... Look at me. I know we haven't known each other long. But I want you to look me in the eye and know I'm telling the truth. I don't know what we have between us. But it's more real than what Bast and I have. And I was coward for not telling you about us earlier. But at the end of day, I didn't want was burgeoning between us to be snuffed out by something out of both our control"

Zarda remained quiet, simply doing as he said and trying to detect deception from him, but she saw none.

He appeared to be telling the truth. But it didn't matter now.

"Let's just focus on the avatar clash thing" she muttered softly, pulling her head out of his gentle grip.

She then walked away. No shouting. No crying. Only stone cold emotionlessness silence.

"Damnit" Bashenga whispered quietly into empty space.

In this moment, he would take the 'scorn' of a woman, over the apathy of one.

The next day, as Bast had predicted, Khonshu had agreed to the clash. And in no time at all a venue was prepared.

The fight was to be highly publicized and spectated upon by thousands of Wakandans. The gods sat upoon a raised dias overlooking the water fall, as their champions, now depowered sauntered into the battlefield.

Zarda had left the room the night before. Likely to clear her head. But she was yet to return back.

So the clash began despite her presence. Even without the blessing of the heart shaped herb. Bashenga was skilled warrior. Yet it became immediately clear Bashenga was distracted and thus pushed to the back pedal.

His attacks were slow, clumsy and predictable. And Amon easily evaded them to retaliate with his own. Overall he fought like he was drank so it was no wonder that the fight quickly become a beat down in Amon's favor.

Bast could only watch in horror as her champion was pummeled into the water slicked floor.

Khonshu meanwhile cackled gleefully, clearly pleased by this outcome.

The rules of avatar clash stipulated a winer could only be decided by submission or death. And though Bashenga was obviously losing he wasn't making any attempt to submit.

After a particular nasty round house kick, that sent Bashenga flying several meters away and sprawling to ground unmoving. Amon took the opportunity to try and rally the Wakandan spectators. Who through out this fight had been oddly silent.

They had no love for Bashenga. But they still preferred his rule over stringent isolationism imposed by Amon. So his victory wasn't exactly wanted.

Amon, continued trying to muster up some positive cheers but none came. This infuriated Amon who began to jeer and mock the Wakandan spectators, sarcastically asking if this was finest warrior they had to offer. If so Wakanda desperately needed his rule.

This finally caused the Wakandan's to react though it was negatively. They began to boo and pelt small items at Amon.

Khonshu witnessing all this 'tsked' in annoyance. "Unruly bunch these lot. Nothing a firm ruler can't curb out" he muttered to Bast.

All the while, Bashenga laid flat on his back, too tired from his beating to stand up.

"Get up" a voice whispered to Bashenga. Bashenga was so disoriented he thought he hallucinated it. But voice repeated itself once again, this time more firmly.

"Get up" the voice urged.

"Zarda..." Bashenga moaned out. Weakly craning his head around in search of her.

"I'm right under you. Swimming beneath the Earth. You have get up. If you can't. Then submit or else he'll kill you." Zarda said.

"I can't back down, we need the army". Bashenga weakly replied.

"Then get up and fight. If not for me, then your people. I know you are stronger than this. Show me that strength" Zarda said as she suddenly pushed her arm through the earth and directly onto his back propping him up.

As he began to raise up, the Wakanda masses noticed and stopped booing Amon and began to cheer Bashenga instead. As their cries of encouragement grew louder, Bashenga found new found strength.

Fueled by the faith of Zarda and hopes of his people. He returned back into the fray. The fight didn't immediately swing back into his favor, but there was palpable change in the power dynamics.

Slowly but surely, Bashenga began to land more hits that Amon. Wearing down the other champion and putting him on the back pedal. One especially powerful punch from Bashenga, sent Amon slipping backwards and nearly falling off the waterfall.

Bashenga quickly caught Amon by the wrist before he fell off completely. "Do you yield?" He yelled over the roar of water.

Amon gritted his teeth in defiance and for a second it looked like he wouldn't. But he did so at last, prompting Bashenga to drag him back to safety.

The crowd roared in excitement at victory over Amon, his performance here and forever changed their perception of him from a mere puppet of Bast, to bold leader in his own right.

"We did it" Bashenga muttered weakly out loud to Zarda not sure, she could hear him over all this noise.

"We've secured the army of Wakanda".