Notes: So presumably this story is some sort of allegory; maybe about the ancient Greeks coming to Libya to free a kindred state there from the aggressions of another (possibly competing) civilization; perhaps the princess' journey symbolizes the rescued city leaving wilder and more youthful ways (Cyrene being from a somewhat rugged pastoral people, at least compared to the urban centers of the city-states; and Artemis being a goddess of wilderness and also of adolescence), for the maturity and wisdom of adulthood (Apollo being a god of light/enlightenment and founder of cities (among a bunch of other things))... who knows, I'll leave interpreting literary symbolism to people smarter than me; personally I just wanted to focus on enjoying it at face value, as such an unusual story out of ancient times featuring a female action hero (but I did try to modernize the love story a bit)... ;)
P.S. Special thanks to Elgarain for beta-reading!
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The Hero of Cyrenaica
ACT I
Scene I:
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Trees, fields, sounds of cattle. Enter animals, Cyrene herding them
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CYRENE (singing):
Another evening, another day
Of winding down well worn ways
Another round of standing guard
Over this herd who would be prey
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Tempo and volume increase
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To the wild beasts of glade and wood!
Who see in my charges more of their food
But none of growl and fang will win
Past this sentinel tending the king's brood
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The predators lurk
But must all stay hid
Or sent to their tomb
To threaten calf and kid
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Tempo slows
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No man could surpass such a maiden as I
In race by foot or of arrow's flight
For this princess is of a different kind
Blessed by the archer goddess high!
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Volume decreases, tempo slows more
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But then the sun wanes
And all must turn in
And I lead them home
Till morning, when I lead them out again
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She arrives at the palace gates. Two guards bow and open the doors
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GUARD 1:
Evening, princess!
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GUARD 2:
Welcome home!
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CYRENE:
Good evening, sirs!
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GUARD 1:
Any trouble in the fields today, madam?
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Cyrene prods the herd through the open gates.
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CYRENE:
None at all, my good guards.
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GUARD 2:
As always, brave lady!
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CYRENE:
Good night, now. I pray your relief does not arrive late!
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Guards bow
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GUARD 1:
Her highness is most gracious
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Guard 2:
Goddess of the Woods keep you!
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Cyrene exits