Castlewarming Chapters 81-90
by Hercules Forum Collective
Chapter 81
by Shambalayogi
Dirty and grimy and wanting a change of clothes, Shamba was going to head
for the baths that were being prepared in the village bathhouse for those
who wanted them. The bathhouse was a large building for the village. It was
not damaged in the fighting because actually few buildings were destroyed.
The wounded, villagers and Amazons, would get a chance to recover in a
protected warm place and the rest could revive in whatever way they wanted
to at least for one night. Kendaa has also decided that they would look for
a campsite just north of the village. Those Amazons not badly hurt would
report there. Raincloud, Wikewike, and Shana were among those out scouting
for it.
Joxer and Hercules went to get Lyrical from wherever Aphrodite had left
her. Maddie, was with Autolycus. She would not leave him after his return
from death. Of course, he did not look like he had ever been dead talking
as animatedly as he was with Maddie right now.
Shamba pulled the interesting garment that the Amazons had given her before
the battle out of her back pack. Arkie called it a kami or
teeshirt-something like that. It was somewhat skimpy for this wintry
weather but it would be good in warmer weather. She could wear it
underneath another shirt or tunic though. At least with Arkie, she knew it
wasn't Arkie's Greek she couldn't quite understand. Arkie had an accent she
had never heard before. Come to think of it, she didn't know why she could
understand Arkie at all. Did they speak Greek in the future? She knew
others had some trouble understanding her Greek since she hadn't used it so
much in years.
Shamba saw Iolaus sitting there with Eeyoraus, Aquillea and various other
warriors scattered on the ground-sitting or lying down as they felt after
the battle. She saw him looking at her with the shirt in her hands. He had
something like a look of dismay on his face. She couldn't tell if that was
from exhaustion or the image on the shirt that bothered him. Then she got
an idea and a big grin at the same time. She looked Iolaus straight in the
face and told him in very carefully chosen words for a desired effect "I
shall enjoy very much having you dressed in very little lying next to my
skin." Poor Iolaus! He turned almost purple with embarrassment from the
roots of his hair almost to his boots!! Goodness, he was fun to watch even
purple! Everyone around him was so astonished and busy watching for his
reaction, they didn't respond in any other way. Laughing out loud, Shamba
headed for the blessed bathhouse (hoping she hadn't embarrassed him too
much).
Shamba cocked her head in doubt as Arkie tried one more time to make the
Amazons gathered around the campfire understand what the future world was
like. Maybe it was Arkie's battered Greek or just the fact the tales she
told were absolutely unbelievable.
"Well, we get around by driving these car...ah, these enclosed wagons,"
Arkie began again. "So what's the big deal about that?" RainCloud demanded.
"We have wagons." "True, true. But our wagons aren't pulled by animals,
they're..."
"I suppose they just roll along all by themselves," Shana laughed as the
other sisters joined in. "Actually, they have an power system that's even
more powerful than crystals and these wagons can go much faster than a
horse," Arkie tried to explain. "No way!" Kendaa insisted.
A baritone voice interrupted the laughter as Hercules came into the circle
and knelt down beside the flustered Arkie. "Let's hear what she has to say.
None of us has been to her future, so, maybe we can learn something." As he
settled himself on the ground beside her, Arkie began to sweat, but not
from the rising flames of the campfire.
"Maybe I'll tell you about something else. Let's see...oh, I've got it. Now
you know there are machines capable of flying, Dadelus invented one, didn't
he?" Arkie proudly remarked, hoping this was finally common ground.
"Yeah, and it got his son, Icarus killed," Wikewike reminded her.
"True again, but now, there is stronger material and these flying machines
can take you clear around the world. And they carry hundreds of people at
one time."
"And do they ever fall out of the sky?" Hercules asked quietly.
"Ummm...yeah. Sometimes," Arkie conceded. "Okay, next topic. I've got it,
you'll love this!" Every week, this square box in your home lights up and
you can watch plays right in your house, and battles and contests and
trials and.....commercials."
"What's a commercial?" someone asked across the circle from Arkie.
"A waste of time usually. That's when you go grab something to eat or drink
or go to the... door and answer it," Arkie replied slightly embarrassed and
not the least bit interested in explaining modern plumbing.
"Tell me more about the light box," Kendaa insisted. "What kind of plays
and battles?"
"Now this is the really good part," Arkie hurriedly explained, her
excitement growing. "You can pick what you like to watch. For example, I
watch Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and..." she trailed off as Hercules
jerked around to stare at her.
"You watch me?" he croaked.
"Every chance I get," Arkie grinned widely. "Especially this episode," she
said as she pointed to the sweatshirt with his physique displayed.
"You mean that you know about that in the future?" Hercules literally
roared.
"Hey, good storylines are hard to ignore," Shamba reminded him.
"They sure are," Arkie agreed, but with a sigh, her shoulders dropped and
she frowned as she remembered. "But for some reason the producers are
getting rid of Iolaus and..."
"What!!!" the female voices chorused as Hercules jumped to his feet, irate.
"They can't do that! Not after what I've been through to save him,"
Hercules roared.
"Unfortunately, they're rewriting history...your history and Iolaus'. I
wish we had all the magic things you have here in the future, because I
would dump a load of that magic dust on the whole lot of them in New
Zealand," Arkie stated with conviction.
"So, what can we do to help you?" RainCloud asked.
"Not much I guess, unless all of you want to become writers. And let me
tell you, if they were using the wonderful stories you all have told me
tonight, I bet Kevin Sorbo would be making ten times more money and be
nominated for every award possible!"
"Who's Kevin Sorbo?" Wikewike asked.
Hercules coughed uncomfortably and then stared at Arkie before glancing
away. A look of guilt crossed his face before he restored a blank
expression to hide it.
Arkie's eye bugged out and she gulped hugely.
"What's happening?" Eeyoraus asked brightly as she joined the group
followed by Aquillea and a grinning Iolaus.
"For those of you just joining us..." Kendaa began but stopped as Hercules
went into a fit of coughing and Arkie felt herself start to swoon and
toppled off the log she'd been sitting on.
Hercules scrambled over to Arkie and gently lifted her into his arms.
Although the group believed her to be victimized by the fainting disease,
this time she was faking it until she could figure out how to get out of
the mess she had unknowingly made with Hercules.
"You all enjoy yourselves," Hercules rapidly stated as he began heading
toward the edge of the stream a few yards away from the campsite. "I'll
take care of her," he added with a bit too much emphasis on "take" for
Arkie's liking.
Quickly Arkie popped open an eye to check his expression, then shut it just
as quickly before the son of Zeus could spot her deception. When he reached
the edge of the water, Hercules slowly knelt, then dipped on of his hands
in the water and proceeded to flip drops into Arkie's face.
"Whaaa.." Arkie sputtered, blinking the moisture from her eyes.
"Okay, drop the game. I know you didn't zone out back there," Hercules
growled.
Zone out? Had she heard him correctly. Then her gut feelings had been
correct. It was Hercules playing Kevin Sorbo playing Hercules.
"Then...you're...really...I mean you're for real..." Arkie stammered in
shock.
"Yes, Arkie, there is a Hercules," he snapped as he helped her upright.
"But I hope you don't plan on spoiling that fact in either world."
"Are you kidding? I'd be institutionalized. What are we going to do?"
"You are going to do nothing about it. I'm having enough problems with Ares
messing up the show and I don't need to be worrying about protecting you."
Hercules insisted, being careful to keep his voice down.
"Okay," the remorseful Arkie replied. "But it would've been great to take
all of us to New Zealand. Just think how great the fight scenes would be
with REAL Amazons in them. I bet once Tapert saw what these women could do,
he'd do anything to keep them happy for fear they'd..."
"Would you just stop it!" Hercules commanded.
"Sounds like a heck of an idea to me," Shamba countered.
While Arkie brightened, Hercules' expression darkened and Arkie noticed a
momentary resemblance to a certain Sov.
"What's the problem?" Shamba demanded.
"You don't want to know," Hercules replied as he walked away to have a few
moments by himself.
"I think he wants me back in the future and fast," Arkie groaned as she
walked in the opposite direction leaving Shamba to consider the
unbelievable conversation between them.
They were traveling for about an hour when Calee leaned over to check her
sleeping friend. Good, she was still breathing steadily. Angel had not made
a sound in about 1/2 an hour, except to groan when the carriage hit a rock.
Calee wondered if Angel was indeed just asleep, or unconscious. She also
wondered how they were going to find the rest of their friends. She
supposed that Hades had probably instructed the driver on where to go.
"If our friends are not where Hades told him they'd be, I'll contact
Lyrical & find out. But not until we're closer" Angel said. Calee had not
been expecting her to speak, & jumped so hard, she rocked the carriage!
"Sorry, Calee, but you looked so worried about me I just had to put your
mind at ease." Angel stretched & continued "yes, I do read minds,
occasionally. It's a habit I picked up from my sister Renae. But, I try not
to use it. It's one of the few things Zeus didn't take away from me. Hades
has temporarily enhanced the natural telepathy I share with my sisters to
include others. So, I'll just call Lyrical & find out where they are, if
Hades isn't accurate about where we're going."
"I'll have to watch what I think around you in the future" Calee grinned.
"How are you feeling now?"
"Still weak, but I'm getting stronger. No, I don't use it, & normally,
unless you're worried, or are thinking evil thoughts, I can't use it. You
were worried, so I was able to hear what you were thinking. Don't worry,"
she added, "I can't get 'into' your mind on a regular basis, only my sister
can do that."
Calee grinned & looked relieved at that, she didn't want to think that the
other Amazon had known all her most private thoughts all along.
Just then the carriage gave a mighty jerk, shuddered to a stop, & the two
women heard shouting from outside. The door was flung open
and....................
Hercules came out of the woods leaving a puzzled Arkie behind. He grabbed
Joxer by the arm and they went off to find Aphrodite. It didn't take long.
They had just entered the woods when in a burst of light there she stood in
all her splendor. "Hi Joxer cutie," she said, "Did you come all the way out
here to see me?" " Wellll uh um we um…"Joxer said," Tell her Herc." "We
came to see how Lyrical is. There are a great many people very concerned
about her," Hercules said. " I think you should see for yourself, Herc,
just how she is. Joxer, be a dear and wait for me right here will you."
Aphrodite said, smiling sweetly at him. Joxer's eyes got very large and all
he could do is say "Ok". Aphrodite took Herc's hand, and with a flash of
light they were gone. They reappeared in "the meadows" and Hercules saw
Lyrical lying very still, on a mat near a stream. "Is she alright?" he
asked. "Of course," said Aphrodite, " She is in a deep sleep so her wound
can heal as painlessly as possible. Look Herc, you have to know something,
when I took Lyrical off of the battlefield, I went straight to Zeus. Don't
give me that look Bro, I know how you feel about him, but he did save her
life. In fact she is now just like you." "What is that supposed to mean
Aphrodite, just like me how?" asked Hercules. "Well, the only way I could
keep her alive was to have Zeus give her mixture made with ambrosia. So now
she is half god." Said Aphrodite, "Now she won't have your strength or
anything like that, but it will enhance the otherwise limited powers she
has." "And just what might those be?" inquired Hercules. " She can see into
the future with visions, and can tell is someone is lying or not. Just a
few things". Said Aphrodite, " look Herc the reason I wanted you here is so
she can see you when she wakes up. I know how she feels about you and I
have a pretty good idea about the way you feel about her. Just do me a
favor, if you aren't interested in her the way she is in you, please let
her know right from the start don't try to be noble and all that. She has
been through enough in her life and she doesn't need another guy leading
her on." Before Hercules could object to what was being said, Aphrodite
continued. "I know you wouldn't do anything like that intentionally, but
once I make her past known to you, I think you will understand." With that
she waved her hand in front of Hercules and he instantly new Lyrical's
past. All of the pain of being brought up in her uncles house and treated
like a servant who could do nothing right. Then the jerk of a guy who
proclaimed to love her all the while cheating her out of what little monies
she had, It was no wonder she didn't trust anyone. "Now you see Bro, why I
want you to just tell her how you feel from the start. My sister has had no
one in her life to love her for just herself." cautioned Aphrodite. " Oh I
don't know about that sis," said Hercules, " She's had you." " Thanks" She
said, " I'll go back and tell Joxer, the cutie, that she will be fine and
I'll come and get you in the morning, assuming you still want to stay?"
Iolaus tried his best to pry answers from Eeyoraus to questions about her
mysterious beginnings. "I told you it's a long story. No one believes it
anyway and right now I want to talk to that Amazon of yours." Eeyoraus
grumbled.
So the two of them walked back to camp without saying a word, both
contemplating what consequence would result from Eeyoraus next move. Only
Iolaus realized Hercules was missing when they returned. He plowed into the
group with questions about his buddies whereabouts while the ever single
minded Eeyoraus approached Aquillea directly and asked politely if the two
of them could talk alone , emphasizing alone.
"Well, I guess so" Aquillea responded, thinking it an odd request from this
rather odd woman she barely knew. They walked silently through the forest,
sat down by the edge of a stream and Eeyoraus began her drill. "Why do you
not take the man you desire? You could have any man and certainly this one
who admires and desires you, but you constantly pass up golden
opportunities to acquire the golden hunter. Today in battle the timing was
perfect for you to at least hint of your feelings yet you barely gave him
the appreciation he deserved. Women, what the heck is your problem?"
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean." Aquillea replied with
uncharacteristic demureness.
"Yeah, right! I've seen the way you look at him and besides I know these
things. It's a natural talent of mine. Even as a donkey I could look at
people and just know what which ones belonged together.
"Sure, whatever. But I don't remember inviting you into my business."
Aquillea was beginning to get very uncomfortable with this new arrival.
"Aquillea.. I care about you. I honor you. I want to see you happy. I want
to Iolaus happy and I just have break through your walls to see that
happen. It's just what I have to do. I owe you both a great debt." "You
don't owe me anything and Iolaus and I have been friends for a long time. I
don't want to mess that up."
Just then a voice came out of the darkness and said in a very strange
dialect" Oh, no honey! The seeds of love are in friendship and the other
stages of relationships develop out of that. Marlo Thomas said that. I just
read it on a calendar today." Both the women who had thought they were
alone turned to see Arkie standing there looking a bit damp. "Who's
Marlotomaus?" they chimed.
" Um...uh ... well. She is one of the great philosophers of my time." Arkie
stretched the truth a little, herself not knowing how the actress' words
wound up in print. Eeyoraus looked doubtingly at her other new friend then
turned back to Aquillea. "The important thing is that what the great
philosopher of the future meant is that friendship is the perfect place for
love to be born." she quickly added. Then, "Thanks, Arkie, I was running
out of arguments on these two." " But he's not the only friend I'm trying
to be careful with here. Aquillea interrupted. "Speak for yourself
Eeyoraus. I've seen you get all dreamy-eyed over Iolaus ."
The ex-donkey blushed, then blushed deeper remembering that she had teased
the golden one for blushing earlier." I do. O.K. I do have feelings for him
but you have loved him forever and mine may be simple hero worship. She
giggled, "Besides how many times do I have to tell you that I know what's
meant to be?...and I'm O.K. with that."
Aquillea hung her head to ponder her friends words then said, to cast the
spotlight on something other than her own supposedly private affairs."
Well, then *we'll* just have to find a man for you now won't we.
At that moment another voice came out of the seemingly crowded darkness.
Salmoneus, who had been making himself suspiciously scarce during the
fighting stepped up to the three women and said, "I have a proposition for
the lovely young lady." "Arrrrrrgggghh!" the chorus rang out
Salmoneus? Aquillea tried to picture Sal with Eeyoraus. She tried to
picture Sal with anyone. 'OK, so imagination isn't my strongest suit,' she
thought to herself in wry amusement. Actually, Sal wasn't a bad sort and
the novice Amazon rather liked the fellow much to the dismay of some of her
warrior sisters. He had several admirable qualities, well hidden much of
the time, but they were there. Aquillea was tempted to push the pair
together just to give the redhead something else to worry about but
immediately changed her mind. She liked them both too much for such an
underhanded move.
'But at least he's good for a temporary distraction,' Aquillea thought. Her
mind was assaulted by an assortment of troublesome thoughts and watching
Eeyoraus watching her only added to the Amazon's discomfort. Aquillea
waited until the somewhat mysterious ex-donkey was distracted by
conversation and quietly slipped off for a solitary walk.
The Amazon was feeling somewhat bleak and prickly. Iolaus had been saved
Aquillea reminded herself, reaching for something to quiet her nerves, as
she followed the bank of the stream. This particular Amazon loved water,
especially rushing water. She might have enjoyed its song if the music of
it could have been heard above the questioning voices in her mind.
"Iolaus," she said, somewhat disgusted with herself. "Oh, way to go Quills.
You know, with just a little more effort you probably could have appeared totally incompetent!"
The Amazon shook her head trying to clear away the image of her clumsy
fall. There were more important concerns at the moment than Iolaus. Next
she considered her conflicted feelings regarding her first taste of battle.
But the triumphs and near tragedies of they day were probably best examined
at a later date, when she was on safer ground, both physically and
emotionally. Still one concern continued to pound in her head like an
inescapable, loudly beaten drum. The Ambush.
It had been an ambush, there was absolutely no doubt about that. Nearly
two dozen soldiers, that far from the nearest village or encampment could
not have been on that path by chance. In hindsight she surmised that they
belonged to Maloran's army as had all the warriors they had encountered
that day. That meant the two warlords had divided their combined force,
Stygnos' men probably remaining near the northern most village where Xena
had set up camp.
"They were expecting us," the woman said with conviction.
"Who were?"
Aquillea looked up to see Stripe standing before her. The Amazon was on
sentry duty, at the edge of the Amazon encampment, where a grove of trees
bridged the cliffs to the right and the stream to the left. Before she
could answer the warrior's question, however, she caught sight of something
large and shadowy disappearing into the woods. Her companion had seen the
movement as well and moved to pursue, but Aquillea put an arm out to stop
her.
"Are you nuts? Kendaa will have your head if you abandon your post! I'll
check it out. Probably just an animal or something."
The Amazon jogged off at a moderate pace and was swallowed up by the tree
line some distance from where the shadow had disappeared. Aquillea's
strategy was to take a wide berth and move just quickly enough to overtake
her quarry. This should allow her to proceed undetected until she was ready
to intercept whatever, or more likely whoever it was she was following.
The woodland was dark and filled with obstacles, but Aquillea never
faltered, speeding onward with a certain confidence and grace. The hours of
night maneuver training with 'shana had truly paid off, enhancing the
woman's own natural abilities. Moreover, unlike her sister Amazons, the
novice did not eagerly embrace challenges but instead had developed an
unerring ability to identify the path of least resistance. The unusual
talent served her well in this particular endeavor.
Now and then Aquillea paused in her pursuit confirming or adjusting her
course as needed. The woman never became impatient as she continued deeper
and deeper into the thickening woods. She picked up her pace in concert
with her target who now, so far from the Amazon base, sacrificed quite for
speed. 'Good,' the pursuer thought, satisfied. 'You think you're home free,
don't you!'
The terrain became more uneven as the looming cliffs began encroaching on
the woods. This was no problem, however, as Aquillea sensed she had finally
overtaken her target and turned toward the stream on an intercepting
course. She chose her spot and turned, hands on hips, to face the
approaching figure who jerked to a halt 25 paces away. The woman's eyes
narrowed in challenge as she locked eyes on a sister Amazon!
"Khestrany?," Aquillea searched her memory for the name. She was one of
several Amazons, from bands other than her own, who had attended Calee's
party.
"What are you doing here, Aquillea?" asked an ashen haired woman of
average build. Her tone was all innocence and light but a menacing grin
revealed that she realized she had been 'found out'. In fact she seemed
almost pleased.
"I was about to ask you the same question," Aquillea responded with chill
politeness.
"I don't suppose you'd believe it's a lovers' tryst?" asked the woman, not
really trying to sound convincing.
"Depends, who's the lucky guy?"
"Maloran."
"Traitor!" Aquillea spat the word like on oath.
The woman laughed evilly. "Hardly! To be a traitor to the Amazons one must
actually be an Amazon." The betrayer continued, "Honestly," she sighed
dramatically, "you have no idea how difficult this has been for me." Then
her voice turned at once icy and venomous, "I couldn't decide whether to be
pleased or disgusted that you accepted me so easily as one of your own!"
The woman reached back to draw her sword saying, "But I'm so glad you've
given me the opportunity to set the record straight. Pity you won't be able
to tell the story."
Aquillea had reached into her boot to pull out what appeared to be a bundle
of sticks. With a flick of the wrist the sticks rearranged themselves into
a pole. With a firm tap on the ground, metal clips at each of the joints
slipped into position, locking the rods in place. The Amazon then removed a
covering from the end to reveal a spiked point. She and Salmoneus had
designed this collapsible spear together. It was about to receive its first
field-test and Aquillea hoped the first test would not also be the last.
The warlord's woman and the Amazon circled one another, weapons at the
ready. Enraged though Aquillea was, she willed herself not to make the
first move. Her opponent was a more experienced and vicious fighter but
also more impatient. Eventually Khestrany lunged for the wary warrior and
the personal combat was begun.
Although the fight was not terribly long, it turned out to be impressively
fierce. Khestrany's sword was easier to wield and she did so with great
force. Aquillea's spear required more finesse to be used effectively but
had the advantage of a greater reach. Parries were met and blows were
blocked. Aquillea went down hard, rolled to avoid the sword coming down on
her, and continued her somersault rising to her feet.
The intense exchange continued. The imposter Amazon charged the true
Amazon, sword raised overhead. Aquillea's footing would not allow a good
jab so she raised the spear overhead to meet the weapon. Then she adjusted
her footing and gave a mighty shove hurtling the woman solidly into a tree.
Changing her grip on the spear rushed Khestrany who dropped and executed a
painful sweep kick that took Aquillea's legs out from under her. The spear
was dropped as the novice warrior again hit the ground, rolling closer to
the bank of the stream.
Again Khestrany charged the Amazon, this time aiming her weapon lower.
Aquillea sidestepped the attacker who caught hold of her wrist, and both
women careened into the icy waters of the rock filled stream. Twisting
free, the dark warrior rose to her hands and knees while Khestrany again
sliced at her with the sword. Fortunately, the woman lost her footing on a
slippery rock and the blow glanced off Aquillea's shoulder.
The Amazon leapt for the shore, grabbed her spear and rolled onto her back.
She raised the weapon just as Maloran's treacherous mistress dove at her.
The black hearted witch dropped her sword in shock, staring down at the
protruding instrument of her death, then fell in agony.
The 'victor' struggled numbly to her feet; Aquillea had never killed a
person before. As Khestrany lay dying, it occurred to the peaceable Amazon
that she should retrieve Salmoneus' spear but she could not bring herself
to do so. Even in the darkness she could see the woman's life blood
spreading, spreading as if it had a life of its own. In the raspy voice of
death the victim lashed out one last time, "You'll pay for this, Amazon!
Remember my words. You will pay." Then silence.
Aquillea stared, somewhat unbelieving, just long enough for the vision of
her first kill to be forever imprinted in her mind and heart. Then she ran
back towards camp just as fast as her battered body could carry her.
As time had ticked away, Stripe had become more and more concerned for her
absent sister. "She's been gone too long," she muttered with concern. She
chirped out an Amazon warning call and bodies came running from all
directions. 'shana was the first to reach the sentry and Aquillea nearly
ran the two over as she blindly emerged from the glade.
The women were instantly dismayed by what they saw. 'shana had caught
Aquillea by the arm and spun her sister around to find her soaked to the
skin and paler than the snow which had recently begun falling. 'Gods, is
that blood?' she thought.
"What happened?" 'shana asked the distracted woman, grabbing her by both
shoulders and looking her directly in the eye.
Aquillea returned her sister-friends gaze and tried to focus on the
question. "Kh...KKh..Khes...tra..n..ny," she stammered. She was shaking
violently and gasping for the air that only burned her lungs.
"Sss...s..spy."
Only the Amazon's determination to warn the others had gotten her back to
the clearing. A single mindedness of purpose that prompted her to break
free of her concerned sister.
"Ken..daa?" she questioned fully intending to bring this news to her leader
herself.
The door was flung open and.........Destiny poked her head inside the
carriage "come on you two, you don't have time to travel like this, things
are too messed up. I'll send you to the others."
"Destiny, you scared the heck out of us!" Angel exclaimed. "What's going
on? I thought I would have time to recuperate."
"You can do that later, I'm sending you & Calee to meet the rest of your
group. That stupid Chronos stone has gotten a lot of destinies messed up, &
I'm having a hard time righting what's gone wrong! If it's not found soon,
more will happen, you've got to help!"
"You can see the future, why don't you just find the stone & take it?"
Calee asked.
"It's not that easy, I'm not allowed to interfere with things directly
relating to the Gods unless it will change the destiny of the world, or
will harm myself, my sisters, or another God."
"Well, why don't you fill us in on what's happening?"
"Don't have time for a long story, but, here's a quick summary. Ares is
going stir crazy, you need to call him before he gets into trouble in
Tartarus. The mission was successful, so it's completed, don't worry about
Hera. The war is heating up.
Lyrical need help, she's unconscious. One of your Amazon sisters is hurt,
she need some help. There are spies in your Amazon camp, & they are
adding to the problems. & the future has come to the past. Now get ready,
we're leaving."
Destiny paused long enough to help Calee & Angel from the carriage, then
continued, "first, call Ares to you." "Boy, are you pushy today! I need to
rest, I'm still hurtin'!" "Now sis! You've healed more than you think,
since when did physical pain ever stop you from anything?"
"How would you know what she feels?" Calee asked getting more & more
confused & angry by the moment.
Angel turned to her & said "we have a link to each other. When one of us is
hurt, the other knows it, sometimes better than the individual that's
injured."
"*Enough* talk, let's go!"
"Thought you wanted me to call Ares," Angel said with a grin.
"Hurry up! Gods, you're slow today!"
"OK, ok, I'm calling."
Moments later Ares appeared. "About time you called! Now if you'll excuse
me, I've got a war to get to." Ares started getting ready to leave when
Destiny put an arm out to stop him, "No you don't, we need your help."
"Hey, wait a minute, I've already been missing out on a good war, I've
sacrificed my time to help the *mortals*, & now *you* want me to help
some more, & you don't even ask, you tell me? You, Destiny, want my help?
You can't even stand me! I don't think so! NO, I will not help you!" He
turned to leave once more, but Angel stopped him this time.
"Ares, Destiny's not asking you to help her, she's asking you to help me.
I've agreed to help my Amazon sisters, & now I need you" Angel pleaded
with him. "Please don't leave us to finish this alone. Calee & I really
could use some help, I'm really not looking forward to getting into any
more fights before I'm fully healed. Pleeease, Ares, don't go" Angel
practically begged him.
His anger faded as he looked down into her weary, but determined face. "Ok,
I'll help. But, you owe me later! You're making me miss what looks to be a
good war." He faced Destiny & told her "Don't think I'm doing this for you!
Get that smirk off your face." To Calee he said "I don't know what you're
smiling for, but if it doesn't stop, I'll put you down in Tartarus to
stay with my mother!"
"Who me?" Calee responded, not the least bit afraid of the GoW's threat.
There was no reason to think that he would carry out any threats, at least
not while Angel & Destiny were able to 'twist him around their little
fingers'. That's what made her smile to begin with. Gods, she was going to
have to start putting a mask of indifference on her face, or she might risk
really irritating Ares yet!
"Yes you!" he continued. "I'll........." Destiny interrupted "This is all
very fascinating, but, we have things to do! Be a 'good boy' Ares & save
the threats for later! I'm sure Calee & my sister would be more than
happy to repay you for your help later."
"Humm," Ares responded, "both of you to repay me?"
"Work now, play later" Destiny warned. "You three need to go to the Amazons
first, one of them is injured. Next, you must help Lyrical. From there, you
will learn what else needs to be done. Ares, I expect that the next time I
see my sister & Calee both of them will be in one piece & without bruises,
right?!" The last comment was meant more as a threat than a question. Ares
knew from experience that to go against Destiny was not a smart move.
Besides, it could be a very painful experience. He decided that it would be
in his best interests to watch these two very closely for the duration of
the war.
"Destiny, are you going to let us go, or are we going to stand around
threatening Ares all day?" Calee inquired.
"Yeah, there's hurt Amazons & Lyrical to be concerned with. Not to mention
a war to fight, & who knows what else to put right." Angel agreed.
"Be gone" Destiny said as she waved her hand. The three of them
disappeared.
They reappeared slightly away from the Amazon party just as Destiny had
planned. She hadn't wanted the travelers to frighten anyone, or end up in
the middle of an attack.............
