Queen of the Amazons
Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons, pressed a hand to her forehead amid the cascade of misfortunes. Not only had her younger sister Hippolyte been kidnapped by some unknown enemy, but the entire squad she'd sent into the cave had been captured as well.
"What in the gods' names is going on?!"
Penthesilea's voice, laced with fury, made the Amazons bow their heads in shame. Especially the youngest among them, Sophitia, standing before the queen—her face had gone nearly ashen.
"Q-Queen... I'm so sorry..."
Penthesilea softened her expression at the sight of Sophitia struggling to hold back tears. She wasn't angry at this little Amazon. If anything, she pitied and felt sympathy for her.
"No injuries, I hope? Thank the gods at least you made it back."
"...Thank you. That man... he gave me this letter to deliver."
The queen and her Amazons pieced together the situation. The mysterious foe had released the weakest, most worthless Amazon among them to carry his message.
Most Amazons didn't know why the still-immature Sophitia had been made a full warrior. They simply acquiesced because the queen had decreed it. That was why they often cast unkind glances her way. Even now, several clicked their tongues coldly at the fact that she'd returned alone.
Sophitia felt their sneers piercing her like knives.
Why did the queen make me a warrior? I don't deserve it...
Not everyone in the tribe became a glorious warrior. There was no need for that. Sophitia had always assumed she'd support the warriors from the village. But for some reason, Amazon Queen Penthesilea had personally selected her as a full warrior.
The title of Amazon was an honor, but to young Sophitia, it was a burdensome, overwhelming position. She still couldn't fathom the queen's intentions.
Well, since it's come to this, I should just go with Uncle.
It hadn't been discovered yet, but if they found out she'd spilled every detail about the Amazons during her interrogation, all hell would break loose. The queen seemed to care for her a little, but Sophitia doubted even she could protect her in that scenario.
"Here's the letter I received, Your Majesty."
"Bring it here, child."
Penthesilea unrolled the parchment scroll Sophitia handed her. It was written in elegant, flowing script—the work of someone well-practiced with a quill.
To Her Majesty, Queen of the Amazons—long may you reign!
I am mortified that I cannot pay direct homage to your august presence. Circumstances being adverse, I send this letter in my stead and beg your forgiveness.
To introduce myself: I am Peleus, servant to the Queen of Sparta. As Basileus of the kingdom, I humbly contribute to the governance of the realm.
Thus, I must conduct myself with propriety and set an example—yet alas, today's unfortunate events have left me ashamed to face my own queen.
"Basileus of Sparta?"
Penthesilea's eyes widened. Sparta was a military powerhouse, foremost among the kingdoms. A Basileus from there was no small figure, making the situation all the more bizarre.
Murmurs rippled through the Amazons. They'd overheard the queen's mutter. To think they'd crossed swords with a high Spartan official. Faces grew troubled.
Sophitia was just as stunned, her eyes rounding.
Uncle's a big shot!
Meanwhile, Penthesilea continued reading.
My venture into these seas was to eradicate pirates. Indeed, I recently disbanded the Three-Headed Pirates and reformed the brigands through discipline and morality. Seeing hardened sea-dogs weep in shame at the lessons of human decency left a profound impression on me.
This part was a blatant lie. Rather than moral reform, he'd hanged them all from the gallows. Their tears weren't from shame but terror. But Penthesilea, unaware of the truth, pegged the sender as a staunch moralist—stiff-necked and rigid.
She was also shocked by the claim of dismantling the Three-Headed Pirates.
That crew's infamous across the seas. Even our warriors, mighty as they are, tread carefully on water, their domain. He must be no ordinary man.
She assumed he'd brought droves of Spartan elites. It made sense for a high official. Only now did Penthesilea grasp why Hippolyte had been taken and the cave squad captured wholesale.
How did Spartan warriors slip in unnoticed? And why?
Questions piled up as her misjudgments snowballed. In truth, the enemy was just two men and a cannibal giant, but she was convinced a mighty Spartan legion had descended. Nothing else explained it.
Her expression grave, the Amazon queen read on.
Thus, with no interests beyond crushing pirates and spreading Sparta's queen's glory across these waves, I was blindsided by this clash with your Amazons.
I sincerely regret the recent discourtesies. We came to this island of Naxos for simple reasons, yet your Amazons plundered our ships and sought to drag off able-bodied men—a most unseemly conduct.
We seized the culprit, Hippolyte, burned a trireme, and demanded accountability. But the outrages didn't end there. While resting in the cave after landing, we were assaulted by your soldiers, whom we duly captured.
I'd punish this insolence myself, but to avoid escalation, I propose a courteous negotiation with Your Majesty.
"Haa..."
Penthesilea sighed deeply as she finished. The situation was graver than imagined. The rest detailed a meeting place.
"Listen well."
She explained the circumstances and Peleus's proposal.
"He suggests meeting tomorrow at the ruined Oceanus Temple on Naxos Island. He requests my presence personally, as queen."
A great mountain dominated central Naxos, and midway up lay the dilapidated temple of Oceanus. Once a Titan ruler of the seas, he'd been supplanted by Poseidon. Forsaken by worshippers, the temple had crumbled to foundations.
"Such insolence!"
"Your Majesty! Show no mercy!"
The Amazons couldn't contain their rage. Even against Spartan super-soldiers, they feared no one. Voices rose for vengeance.
"I hear you. But first, we assess the foe."
They nodded at Penthesilea's words. She turned to Sophitia with questions.
"How many warriors did they have?"
"Three."
"What? Three?"
Peleus had told Sophitia not to lie unnecessarily. Even three sounded implausible to the Amazons—a deliberate mix of truth and bluff.
"Yes. The Basileus, a female warrior, and a giant."
"A giant?"
The more Penthesilea asked, the murkier it got. Frustration mounted. Sophitia spoke truth, yet it defied logic.
They must have hidden their main force. Ambush at the temple, perhaps.
The sender was indeed Sparta's Basileus—the seal on the letter was genuine, too intricate to fake. But scant details hampered judgment.
No choice.
After long deliberation, one path remained: rescue Hippolyte. And showing weakness here would undermine her leadership. The enraged Amazons demanded action.
"Very well. Trap or no, it matters not—we'll smash them. Isn't that the Amazon way?"
"Well said, Your Majesty!"
The gathered force could conquer a city-state; Spartans held no terror. They'd stand fearless.
"As a Spartan magnate, deceit ill suits him. We'll meet—but prepare for battle regardless."
Yet queen and Amazons remained oblivious: the enemy truly numbered three, with zero intention of honoring the Oceanus Temple rendezvous.
"Peleus, the Amazons are departing."
Atalante, hidden with me observing Naxos Village, spoke up. They'd left a token force; most marched with the queen to Oceanus Temple, bristling for combat.
"Hope they enjoy themselves."
Thematos the cannibal giant waited at the temple with the Amazon prisoners (save Hippolyte). He'd negotiate prisoner matters in my stead. I hadn't broken the letter's promise—just sent a proxy due to "circumstances." A busy man like me gets excused now and then.
"Can that man-eater even negotiate with the queen?"
I shrugged indifferently at Atalante's question.
"Wasn't sent to actually negotiate. Just stall with absurd demands. Worst case, hostage drama—flee with the prisoners."
Titan-blooded Thematos shrugged off most blades. Even hundreds of Amazons: only the queen and a handful could land real hits. He'd buy time evading.
"We do our part while he drags it out. Hope he gives us enough."
We waited till the Amazons vanished. The temple trek took half a day. We ate leisurely before rising.
"Let's go. Time to work."
Our task was simple: storm Naxos Village, just us two, and wreak havoc. With most Amazons gone, a skeleton crew guarded prisoners and loot.
But my prime target? The ships.
"There they are."
From afar, three Amazon triremes gleamed in the harbor.
"Atalante, without those behemoths, the Amazons are stranded. Naxos's vessels are mere fishing boats."
"Torch 'em?"
"Guards make that tricky. Nah, let's go big."
I patted Zeus's sword at my waist. Lightning from it had half-sunk one before; flames finished it. Losing even one trireme was catastrophic—vast resources per ship.
"We wrecked one already. Sink these three... they'll be sea-bound for a decade minimum."
Daring to cross me? They'd pay dearly. Burn the fleet, trap 'em on the island, snag Endymion clues, and slip away—with poor Sophitia in tow.
"Heh heh heh."
Grinning, we approached the village entrance, bumping village guards.
"Who goes there?!"
Spotting us, they leveled spears menacingly. I calmly asked Atalante,
"Developed a new trick. Wanna see?"
"Sure. Divinity-based?"
Nodding, I strode forward alone. Instantly surrounded, spear-tips kissed my throat.
"Suspicious bastard! Don't move!"
"Twitch and you're skewered!"
Ignoring them, I raised my right hand to face height—empty palmed, drawing puzzled looks.
"Hey, stay sti—"
As one scowled and reared for a kick, I flicked my finger.
Snap!
A sharp crack, then thunderous boom.
BOOM!!
Explosion erupted around me, hurling nearby Amazons back. Crashing through walls—CRASH!—or splintering carts.
A mere finger-flick, like a grenade blast. Free divinity use birthed this compact explosive first. Controlling the small, precise burst had been tricky—but now battle-ready.
"Blasting wide's easy; clean like this? Tricky. Not bad, eh?"
Seeking praise, I grinned. Atalante stared, pale, lips sealed—then finally spoke.
"These... trained warriors, ten years at least. Some twenty. But Peleus, they can't match your finger-snap."
I nodded faintly, stepping on a fallen Amazon sword. My footprint smeared its pristine blade.
"Yeah. And they poked the bear."