Squid General
"No way in hell! You dare try to hunt this body? Raaargh!"
The cannibal giant Thematos exploded in mad fury. His eyes were bloodshot red, and his lips glistened with gore. Gone was the fool who usually spouted nonsense by Peleus's side—here was primal rage incarnate.
"As expected of an ancient Titan's descendant! Taking him down would cost us dearly."
Amazon Queen Penthesilea let out a heavy sigh. She raised a hand to halt her subordinates chasing the fleeing giant.
"But, Your Majesty!"
"Let him go. We need to head back to the village now. This has trap written all over it."
Blessed with Artemis's special power, Penthesilea could slay Thematos. The problem was the cunning brute's focus on escape over combat. Pursuing and felling him would take considerable time. Better to cut losses.
"The Sparta Basileus was supposed to show. But with that monster in his place, this reeks of a diversion. I'm worried about the village."
Penthesilea's suspicions hardened into certainty upon hearing Sophitia had vanished.
"That sneaky little brat betrayed us despite Your Majesty's grace. Give me just three warriors, and I'll bring back the traitor's head."
One of the Amazon captains gnashed her teeth, but Penthesilea shook her head.
"Let it be."
"But, Your Majesty!"
"No arguments."
The captain clamped her mouth shut. Everyone knew the queen was oddly soft on Sophitia. She might just let the girl slip away.
"More importantly, have we sent scouts to the village? Figuring out what's happening there is priority one."
They'd wasted time clashing with Thematos, but Penthesilea responded wisely and swiftly. Spotting the giant in the Basileus's stead, she'd immediately dispatched a group toward the village. Still, the lineup irked her.
Of all people, Ganeia leading them...
Ganeia wielded influence across the Amazons' theocracy, making her a thorn in the queen's side. Her arrogance went beyond the norm—Penthesilea could hardly stomach her. But with Ganeia volunteering, intervention was tricky.
Nothing better go wrong.
Penthesilea fretted even as she tidied the battlefield. They'd freed captives from Thematos, but a similar number had died by his hand. The mood hung heavy as they descended the mountain.
"Has the village fallen to the Spartans?"
"If so, they won't get away with it."
Murmurs like these echoed their unease. Penthesilea separated the wounded to quicken the pace, but the village was still two hours off. She made her call.
"No good. We'll ride full tilt—me and the Royal Guard."
The Amazons' top thirty formed her guard: martial masters blessed by Artemis herself. Each could claim the title of hero in the wider world. With them, no number of Spartans scared her.
"Follow."
Though distant, the queen and her elite could cover ground swiftly and dive into battle. Artemis's gifts included the Hunter's Foot boon.
They surged forward at terrifying speed.
"No slacking! Stragglers get left behind. We'll hit faster than they expect and pierce their guard!"
All agreed with the plan. Even Spartan human weapons couldn't match goddess-blessed warriors. Morale soared as they charged.
But one figure blocking the path halted them cold.
"Who goes there?"
"Your Majesty. Tiabe greets you."
The nymph in the trail's midst was one of Artemis's favorites: Tiabe, mountain tree spirit and divine messenger. Her presence meant word from the goddess.
"Tiabe, what's this?"
"Simple. Halt your advance on Naxos Village."
Penthesilea frowned at the baffling order.
"We've been hit by a feint. Our forces in the village are in peril—we must hurry..."
Tiabe shook her head.
"Naxos Village has already fallen. Even Ganeia and the vanguard are prisoners."
"What? Ganeia?"
"Yes. She offered parley and got nabbed."
"Peleus! That barbaric savage! Capturing an envoy—utter disregard for law or courtesy."
"That's not the point right now."
"Are their forces that overwhelming? Even for our blessed elite?"
Penthesilea figured numbers alone couldn't do it. This was an island far from Sparta mainland.
"Not the issue. There are only three of them."
"Truly?"
"Yes. Subtract the giant you met, and it's just two. They took the village alone."
"What in the world is happening?"
Shaken, Penthesilea couldn't hide it. Tiabe explained the details. Only then did the queen grasp events—but she groaned all the same.
"Unbelievable. He's Zeus's favored son? Blasting our triremes with the king of gods' lightning... Still, we Amazons won't tuck tail against just two."
"The pair aren't the problem. Artemis wouldn't have sent me otherwise."
"Then what?"
"Triton stirs. Sea god's army heads to Naxos, backing Peleus."
"This keeps getting worse..."
Penthesilea was dumbfounded. They'd come for Endymion intel on a minor isle. Suddenly Spartans—Zeus's son, no less. Now Triton joined the fray. Her mind reeled.
"Why would Triton meddle?"
"Artemis is probing now. But one thing's clear: Triton craves favor from this Peleus."
"What?"
She couldn't fathom it. Gods' arrogance was no secret to her. Olympians viewed mortals as bugs.
"What kind of man commands a god's goodwill?"
A chill ran through her. Curiosity about Peleus surged.
"True enough. You might push Peleus back short-term, but the sea host seals your defeat. Triton's sent a powerhouse."
"Who?"
"Oites. Mocked as the Squid General."
"Gods..."
The nickname was jest, but Penthesilea knew better and shuddered.
"That Oites? Thetis's brother?"
"Exactly. He comes personally, commanding sea monsters."
Even the fearless queen fell silent.
"Scylla of the deeps, siren mages, sea Cyclopes—disasters each."
"They're fearsome, but Oites is the real threat."
His slur "Squid General" stemmed not from looks. Brother to sea's fairest Thetis, his form was majestic beyond words. No—the jeer mocked his rise on her coattails.
Thetis, ocean's top beauty, drew suitors like Zeus and Poseidon. A prophecy doused that: she'd birth a son surpassing his father. Terrified, they backed off. Her fame only grew, beauty rivaling Aphrodite's—divine territory.
Oites rode that wave to success, earning sneers: propped by sister's glow, not merit.
"No denying Oites's might. Demigod rank, yet stronger in arms?"
"Yes. Far beyond Your Majesty, apologies."
His temper was vicious too—frantic for glory to silence the mocks. Triton's orders were perfect excuse to rampage. Annihilate the Amazons, and no more slurs.
Terrifying indeed.
"And Artemis? With Triton moving, surely she'll aid us."
"Apologies, Your Majesty. She can't this time."
"What?"
Betrayal stung. Endymion hunt for her sake, yet abandoned. Tiabe read her dismay.
"War goddess Enyo attacks Artemis now. She's tied up quelling it."
"Enyo?"
Ares's adjutant, forever fuming at her lord's losses. She harbored grudge since Python's cave—Ares humiliated, pinned on Artemis by cunning ploy. Ares accepted, failed, drew Zeus's wrath. Enyo snapped.
"Yes. Enyo can't match her, but the frenzy demands time."
"Hah..."
Penthesilea clutched her throbbing head. Everything tangled.
One old grudge, and this mess.
"Your Majesty, negotiation's your only path."
"Negotiate now?"
"Artemis prepared: aged dragon Cataphractus knows Sleeping Man's rumors. Endymion search first. Settle via talks."
Artemis as bystander? Amazons' fate a mere card to her.
Artemis.
She hadn't chosen the goddess willingly. Public piety was political theater. Now, doubts swirled.
Paths aren't singular.
Amazons mattered more than any god.
-Secretary. Who knew calling someone that could feel so fond? Nicknames hit different.
-Groooan...
-What's wrong? Something stuck in your throat?
-You stuck something in my heart.
Poor thing. Health's key for secretary duties. Such disloyalty.
-Stop! Shut it, you bastard.
-What? I said nothing.
-I know your head anyway. Minds linked like brothers, huh?
Closer than ever with my secretary. I chuckled inwardly when Atalante brought news.
"Peleus. The queen's here."
"Yeah? Come to fight?"
With sea forces en route, stalling till then was victory. Holding Hippolyte and Ganeia as prizes, I lounged in total ease.
"No, she wants talks. Says the Amazons might surrender wholesale, depending."
"What?"
"Odd to me too. Added they'd pledge full loyalty if we protect them."
"Hm?"
What nonsense? Why would fierce Amazons swear to me?
"Not hearing things? They wanted to devour me earlier."
Atalante shook her head, visibly uneasy.
"No. Even offered marriage alliance if needed."