Hippolyte's Desperate Gambit
Hippolyte's eyes widened as if she couldn't hide her shock.
"I am royalty of the Amazons. Moreover, I am a warrior among warriors, a beauty among beauties. How dare you offer me as dragon fodder!"
"You still haven't come to your senses, have you? What does any of that matter? Hippolyte, no matter how exalted your status, you're nothing but my prisoner right now."
I called out to the enraged dragon Cataphractus as if this worked out perfectly.
"This woman is of royal blood. Precious among humans, so she's perfect as a sacrifice."
"Grrr, is that so?"
Cataphractus seemed pleased. At this rate, things would go smoothly. After offering Hippolyte, I might even ask about Endymion. As the longtime resident of this island, the dragon might know something.
"Very well. I'll accept this woman as sacrifice and forgive your rudeness."
"Thank you."
At that moment, Hippolyte glanced at me, then her eyes suddenly widened. What was that? Her face lit up like she'd shouted "eureka."
Before I could stop her, Hippolyte yelled,
"Cataphractus, I am no chaste virgin!"
"What?"
The dragon's face twisted at the implication of a flawed sacrifice, clearly displeased. In truth, from a dragon's perspective, whether the sacrifice was a virgin or not didn't matter—it was food anyway. Tradition was all it was.
Cataphractus made that clear.
"The 'chaste virgin' is just an old ritual I follow. But a problematic sacrifice is hardly pleasing. Human, how dare you lie to deceive me?"
His gaze turned fierce on me instantly. Those long, vertical pupils brimmed with murderous intent. I swallowed hard.
"No, that's not it. This woman is an Amazon. She's lived as a warrior her whole life and never known a man."
"I know nothing of your human customs or culture. Are you saying the sacrifice herself claims she's no longer chaste to save her skin?"
"Exactly. She's our prisoner, harboring grudge and lying to put me in a bind."
"Grrrng..."
Cataphractus seemed to find my words plausible; his anger eased a bit. But Hippolyte had one more counter left.
"I have proof I'm no chaste sacrifice."
"What? You can prove your own words?"
"Of course."
No, what was this woman about to say? Hippolyte smirked triumphantly and pointed at me.
"Look at the belt in that man's hand. It originally belonged to me."
I'd happened to use Hippolyte's belt tied to rope as a leash—the rope had been too short.
"And what of it, human sacrifice?"
"I am an Amazon. To Amazons, the belt symbolizes chastity. Unbinding it means surrendering one's virtue. See who holds my belt now. I am no longer a chaste virgin. That man conquered me. Yet he lies to deceive you."
Whoa, who'd have thought she'd pull that card. A low groan escaped me at her cleverness.
"Grrr... The Amazon speaks lies, Cataphractus."
"No, that man deceives you, Cataphractus."
As we spouted opposing claims, the dragon stroked his chin with a claw, looking troubled.
"Truly hard to judge. Simple solution, then—I'll just eat you all. Once those chattering mouths vanish, this cave returns to silence."
Hippolyte burst into mocking laughter at Cataphractus's declaration.
"Kyahahaha! Perfect! You tried to sacrifice me, and now we're all doomed!"
She was no ordinary hothead.
"You're digging your own grave deeper, Hippolyte."
Anyone thinking I couldn't handle Cataphractus would be dead wrong. I just preferred to avoid a tough dragon fight. Unleashing too much divinity drew the gods' attention, after all. Zeus probably had no idea I was on Naxos Island—he wasn't watching my every move.
Secretary. To kill the dragon, I'd need more divinity than when I smashed the Amazons' triremes, right?
Obviously. That'd make Zeus peek in, wondering what's up. And stop calling me secretary!
Not good. If Zeus catches wind of Endymion, everything unravels. Best not fight the dragon.
Not wise. If Zeus sniffed out Endymion, it was all over. Fighting Cataphractus was the least smart option. But that infuriating Hippolyte had played her ace to drag us all down together—countermeasures were needed.
I quickly sorted my thoughts and spoke.
"Cataphractus, even if you eat all three of us, your cave won't find peace."
"Why not? Silence follows silenced mouths."
"More intruders will keep disrupting your quiet contemplation."
"Grrrng? Explain."
Luckily, the dragon showed interest. I described how the Amazon queen led an army here seeking treasure.
"Look at this map. Confiscated from her. As the queen's sister, it's reliable intel."
I held out the Naxos Island map marked at five spots.
"Grrrng!"
Cataphractus brought his massive head close, peering intently at the tiny map.
"Human maps are annoyingly small. Grrr, let's see... Is this cave my home?"
"Precisely. Your cave is one of the spots the Amazons are scouting. The queen's soldiers will raid here soon."
"Insolent wretches!"
Cataphractus's rage was palpable. He roared, shaking the entire cave.
"What have you done!"
Hippolyte shot me an anxious glare and shouted.
"Who knows. Just watch. You have a role too."
She'd been awfully cheeky; time to teach her her place. Her belt counter was commendable, but she was still green against me.
"Cataphractus, it's a hassle, but unavoidable. Prepare ahead, and it'll end smoothly."
"Prepare how?"
"Exactly. Knowing they're coming, dig traps and wait. Capture them all and punish their intrusion."
"No!"
Hippolyte paled and screamed.
"Haha, scared of this?"
I pointed at her and added to the dragon,
"She's high-ranking among Amazons—perfect hostage or bait. Invading Amazons see her tied up, panic, and rush to save her."
"Strike then?"
"Yes."
"Intriguing proposal."
Hippolyte shrieked curses at us.
"Vile scum! Dragon and man, colluding like the beasts you are!"
Foolish. Her outburst squandered any chance to sway the dragon.
"Atalante, quiet her down."
"Got it."
Atalante's harsh slaps silenced her again. She hit hard—no one wanted to die keeping their mouth open.
"Human, what's your name? At least you make sense, unlike her."
"Peleus."
"Good. Peleus, I like your intel and solution."
"Glad to hear. With your permission, I'd help deal with the Amazons."
"But you entered my cave seeking something, didn't you? Why trust a suspicious stranger?"
"Fair point."
"Then, Peleus, what do you want? Our alliance hinges on it. Do you covet the gold I guard?"
Claiming the gold would doom me. Luckily, I had no interest.
"I seek a sleeping human."
"Sleeping human? That's... grrr."
Cataphractus knew something.
"Do you know of the sleeping human? Heard he's somewhere on Naxos Island."
"That's a divine secret history. Why seek it, human?"
"It's crucial to me. Any marked spots on this map?"
"In goodwill, no. I stake my name on the truth."
Dragons didn't lie on their name. Trustworthy.
"Then where?"
"Can't say lightly. Needs proper payment. Subdue all Amazons, and I'll tell."
I calculated pros and cons. Handle Amazons, or subdue dragon here?
The dragon's stubborn. Forcing it risks failure. Just get a name-bound promise. Easier to handle Amazons.
I followed the Secret Book's advice, securing a promise for Endymion's location post-Amazons. Cataphractus agreed readily and turned away.
"Leave the rest to you, Peleus."
His heavy footsteps echoed as he vanished deeper into the cave. I scanned around, pondering traps.
"Alright. Time to prepare for guests."
Amazon Queen Penthesilea had narrowed Endymion's likely spots on Naxos Island to five based on gathered intel. She assigned each to one of her five favored captains.
Captain Euryale drew the cave.
"Check weapons."
Euryale was stern and peerlessly skilled, her warriors disciplined.
"All clear."
Only after verifying gear did she order advance. Thirty-one warriors total, including her—all elite Amazons worth a hundred men. Yet unease lingered.
"Captain, will Hippolyte be safe?"
One asked worriedly. Word had spread: lightning from the sky smashed Hippolyte's trireme during coastal scout, kidnapping her. Queen Penthesilea had search parties scouring the island.
"Trust comrades, focus on duty."
"Yes..."
Beloved Hippolyte's plight crushed morale. Euryale hid her own worry—Hippolyte had trained her in childhood.
No. No personal feelings. Focus on mission.
They reached the cave.
"Entering."
Euryale led. The damp cave reeked of ominous dread. Soon, an unbelievable sight stunned even stoic Euryale.
"Hippolyte!"
Amazons' eyes bulged. A bald giant prepped food by a dying fire; beside him, scantily clad Hippolyte was tied to a spit, roast-ready. (No guts removed or skewered yet, but no time for details amid shock.)
The hideous giant licked his lips at Hippolyte. Euryale barked without thought,
"Charge! Save Hippolyte!"
But it was a trap. As Amazons rushed, bald giant Thematos blew mightily on the embers.
"Huuuuh!"
Ashes and sparks exploded into flames, showering forward.
"Kyaaak!"
Even Amazons reeled from hot ash and embers. Then, two hidden youths—young man and woman—emerged, pummeling mercilessly.
Thwack!Thud!Thump!
"Rear! Ambush from behind!"
Euryale yelled, but sandwiched attacks sowed chaos. The silver-haired woman was vicious—her chops felled Amazons foaming like dead.
Ruthless.
"Atalante, you didn't kill them, right?"
"Of course."
"Gotta trust you sometime."
Peleus shook his head, scanned, spotted the captain Euryale, and pounced like a leopard.
"Yes! Victory's mine!"