Treachery, Lies, and Deceit

CHAPTER ONE

The village had changed considerably in the few years since Edico and Balimber had died in the arena. Attila had returned east but with only a quarter of his army. There had been many die in the battle at the Catalonian Plains where he had been defeated. There was a deadly virus that also took a great number of lives leaving his once great army even more depleted. Where he had left the east thin on the ground of armies he realised that on returning he was not coming back as a force to be feared by some of the larger eastern tribes. He was still a very dangerous adversary but with a smaller army.

He had heard about the battles on the east coast of the black sea but refused to acknowledge that they ever took place. On hearing the same story from the few survivors both of his sons wanted to take a small army down and beat this Amazon queen into the ground. Instead Attila sent commanders down to look at what defences were in place, and on their return he forbade them to even think about it.

He had a bigger problem at that moment on his hands. The Alani that had been fighting with Attila, but since his return they were now distancing their army’s from him. The Alani had grown strong since he had been in the west fighting the Romans. On his return he had found that a big chunk of his empire in the south-east now belonged to them. They now held and defended a long strip of land east of the Big River and just north of the Caucasus Mountains.

Attila decided to send two generals down with two thousand mounted warriors each to bring them back into the fold by force. His two sons objected saying that it was their right to go but he waved them aside. Attila along with the entire Hunic race was mistrusting, and there was no way Attila was going to send the successors to his empire down to war with others. He had no intention of letting them come back strong and attacking him for the right to reign over the empire.

***

Echephyle now had a two year old girl that was called Andromache after the child’s grandmother. Danilo was out most days with the commands when doing their patrols. They rode out for a few days at a time and he hunted for the commander at the same time giving them any information about the Hun. While riding in the winter with them he had been given a shelter of his own, which the commander’s slaves put up for him.

The horn blew as the lookout shouted, “Army of two hundred heading this way from the north-east.” The three queens walked out of the palace to look towards the hill. Then leaving Andromache with the children Hippolyta and Echephyle walked down to the main gates. The battlements were now made of stone and at least five paces high.

As they looked over the wall with Alexius a group of six warriors were riding down the hill towards the north wall. One was carrying a white flag but these warriors were not dressed like Hun and their hair was dark in colour with long beards. They rode around the burial mound that stretched along the front and crossed the bridge. In front of the gates they stopped and looked up at the group on the battlements.

The one that Hippolyta thought was the leader rode his horse half a length forward of the others. “My name is General Akbar we are Alani and we come in peace. We wish to speak with the powerful Queen Hippolyta of things that are important to both of our people. As you see we carry no weapons and my army is here are only for my protection and will remain the distance they are now.” The queens never replied before the great doors opened and taking it as an invite the Alani rode in.

They dismounted just inside the gate and were met by Hippolyta and Alexius. “I am Hippolyta, Queen of all Amazons. If this is important enough for the King of the Alani to send the General of their army, then I think we had better go and sit about the council fire.”

“You are very knowledgeable of other realms and empires, Queen Hippolyta.” He gave a courteous bow before following Hippolyta up the hill.

As they walked up to the fire, Danilo that had just returned with Scyleia went to stand up. “Stay where you are, Danilo, this might concern the army.”

Once they were all sitting about the fire Akbar began talking. “We have a mutual enemy in the Hun. At one time while Attila was fighting in the east, we the Alani fought at his side. This all stopped when we had a new leader after the death of our old one. Our new leader is a peaceful man but on the other hand he is powerful with a large army.”

“Our people now wish to trade with the west with our route being from the Caspian Sea along the side of the Caucasus Mountains to the Black sea. From there we will take the older trading routes to Rome and north of the Danube.”

“The problem is that Attila has sent two generals by the name of Octar and Bleda along with four-thousand mounted warriors south. Their instructions are to attack our villages and trader caravans that are travelling west. Although we have an army that is infinitely larger than your army, we need help to keep these Hun away from our traders and trading routes.”

“Why would we want to help the Alani?”

“Our new leader knew that you would ask this question and told us that we had to tell you all that we knew. We had a man that was close to Attila and his sons who was one of the Alani. Because of the conflicting loyalties when he found out the plans of Attila he defected or should I say returned back to us”.

“You have fought and killed over five-hundred of Octar’s command when attacking them one night in a village. He has sworn revenge for that night as he only narrowly escaped with his life. He has two-thousand mounted warriors with him now, because he has been given the western edge of the mountains.”

“Attila will not fight you directly because it would use up a vast amount of warriors, and even then he is not sure of victory. He cannot afford to waste his warriors in one battle that victory is uncertain. What he has done, is place eight thousand warriors in reserve for Octar to use if he has to deal with you.”

“I know Octar from a long time ago and he will draw you out by attacking the villages in your realm. Octar is no fool, and it was for that reason he was with Attila in all of his battles. He and his command of two-thousand warriors are the cream of the warriors in the east. He is not like Bataar or Edico.” He saw the surprise on Hippolyta’s face.

“Yes, my Lady, I know of all your battles. Our lookouts saw you chase Edico to the forest of islands. We watched you defeat Bataar and Churnobog. At any time we could have attacked you in the name of the Hun, but our leader wanted you as an ally not another enemy to contend with.”

“He said it was in the stars that Attila would come back a weak warrior from the battle in the west. It was because of the prophecy the Alani never followed him. While Attila was away and Edico was trying to carve his own empire we were slowly carving ours. Attila had told his sons that on his return if Edico was alive he had better have defeated you or he would die soon after.”

“We would like you to help us to look after the trade route on the western end of the mountains. We look after the east and help you in your battle with the Hun. We the Alani will always have armies in the east for you to use as back up when fighting large numbers of Hun. It will give you the freedom of riding the Caucasus Mountain trail without the need to look over your shoulder. Your back will always be covered by our forces. That is my word and also the word of our leader.”

Hippolyta had been listening to all that had been said and as soon as he stopped she asked. “I see what you are saying about helping each other, but long term what do I get out of this?”

“I was coming to that, my Lady. The weapon makers will not deal with the Hun anymore because they have a habit of stealing. We know from our informers that you and your army have the pick of the weapons and those arms dealers will always deal with you. Those same arms dealers will not deal with us because we once helped the Hun. If you can get those dealers to come to you we will buy them for the armies in the west. You will be having the lion’s share of the value by trading for eastern products.”

“On the way back you can trade with the same traders that are going east. You will be a trading stop to all the traders, because they need your protection to travel north of the Black Sea and to the centre of the Caucasus Mountains.”

“It is late in the day, my Lady. I have two hundred warriors with me for protection only. Would we be able to place our shelters near the forest to your front for the night? It will give you a chance to talk with your commanders, and we can complete our business in the morning.”

“Yes I think that would be a good idea. I will point out that I mean no offence to you or your leader, but we will be watching you carefully while you rest. These are uncertain times and we cannot be too careful.”

“I do understand your concern, my Lady, and no offence was taken.”

As one of Alexius’s officers took the six men back to the gates Hippolyta said, “We will have food and be back here later to talk about the alliance.”

I was an age later before they all returned to the fire. “Alexius, you have fought the Hun and these Alani longer than most, what do you think of this alliance?”

“I think there is a genuine worry within the Alani. By what Akbar has told you there is at least twelve-thousand Hun that could be here within two maybe three days. Not only could they give the village problems, but they could give the Alani problems with half their army and give you problems with the other six-thousand.  To the Alani twelve-thousand is not that great and they could manage at a push, the same as we could here in the village. Together though you could push Attila’s army back north giving the Alani control of the trade route.”

“One other thing that you should remember is their new leader wants to trade with the west. He knows that the spoils of war are only that, momentary treasures. He is looking to make long term friends with the west along with all those along the trade route. There is no end to the basic trade you could do with furs, animal hides, weapons. This area could be a port for transporting the goods over the sea. This is a very rich area to those that wish to make it so.”

“So you are saying we should form this alliance Alexius, and I for one agree with you. My main reason is because of Attila and his army. I don’t think he is the sort of person to stay quiet for very long. he has already showed that he is up for the fight by sending two generals down here to put things right.”

“My Lady, these two generals have to be sent back on their knees or captured and made an example of. We know that it was not long ago when he was defeated, and I don’t think he will want a repeat. It might be the real reason he is not sending his sons down. He might be thinking that if the battle is lost by these two generals then he has distanced himself from the battle.”

“Does anyone else want to make any suggestions or objections?” There were no comments because all that needed to be said had been spoken.

The following morning when Hippolyta walked out of her palace she heard the steel striking steel. It was the sound of Queen Echephyle and Danilo practicing. Standing around them were at least two hundred Amazon warriors. It was a practice session that they did every morning but it was so lifelike it looked as though they really were trying to kill each other. It was their skill and knowledge of each other’s way of doing battle that stopped it taking place.

Both queens pushed through the warriors only to find Akbar and his group already at the front. Echephyle swung her sword allowing Danilo only a fraction of time to get his shield in the way. Again there was a clash of steel just before his sword came in the other direction so hard it nearly took her off balance. When he saw her catch her balance he smiled which made her mad enough to step back a little. Then came forward with a hard left, right, left with her sword in quick succession. He had to use his sword and shield fast to parry off the strikes and he smiled at her knowing she was rattled.

Echephyle stepped back and threw the sword down and took the axe the warrior gave her. On seeing this he laughed, “Now you’re being silly, my Lady.” Danilo put his sword on the ground and took the axe off of his back and got ready once more.

She came charging at him swinging her axe hard from her right to Danilo’s left. He put the shield up just in time to stop the axe dead. “I’ll teach you to call me silly, Danilo,” and she swung the axe once more. The force she struck the side of the shield was so hard that even Danilo had trouble keeping balance. “You’re not fit enough to call yourself a wolf, you’re like a slow old donkey.” The axe struck his shield once more but there was not as much power.

“Yes, my Lady, but as you have not got me worried yet shows that I am still faster than you.” His axe struck the side of her shield so hard that it moved her to his left half a pace. “See you are too weak now to parry my strikes, and I see the end of this battle with the old donkey the winner.”

The crowd that was gathered around all laughed including the two queens. “Weak? You dare call me weak I’ll show you who’s weak.” Echephyle stepped forward with her axe in the air to bring down on his head. Danilo stepped forward to meet her taking hold of her wrist. Her hand took hold of his wrist and a struggle between them took place. Their faces were only inches apart and Echephyle’s look of aggression turned to a smile.

She then kissed him on the lips, and his grip on her wrist slackened. Their bodies were touching as Echephyle curled her leg around the back of his knee and gave a hard push. Danilo lost his balance and went straight over on his back looking up at Echephyle who had her axe at his throat. “My Lady, you cheated.”

“Is that what you are going to say when the Hun have you in that same position, donkey?” and she laughed.

“It will never happen, my Lady, because the Hun has not started kissing their opponents on the battlefield yet, have they?” There was another burst of laughter from the onlookers as she put her hand down to help him up. They both walked back to the fire and sat down.

Akbar turned to face Hippolyta, “Your warriors are ferocious in practicing, my Lady.”

“I understand why you said that, Akbar, but the woman is Queen Echephyle and the other is my hunter and protector.”

“Never the less, my Lady, I have never seen two people practicing with intent. We have heard stories about Hippolyta queen of all Amazons, and I have always been unsure of their truth. We have also heard that you are fair in your judgment with the ability to show mercy when you could have shown death. That is the act of a person that has the power to give or take life, it shows strength of mind. It was on hearing this story over a year ago why our leader sent us to make peace with you, and if possible trade.”

“Who told you that I show mercy when I could have shown death?”

“We caught a thief trying to steal food and our leader was going to cut his hand off. He begged for it not to take place crying while saying he would serve the Alani for the rest of his life if he could keep his hand. Our leader said he would give him one chance to save his hand if he told of one brave thing he had done in his life.”

“He told us a story of how he was captured by you and your army after a big battle. Then after bringing him here you made him fight wolves with only a knife. He said that after long battles with two wolves you showed him mercy instead of throwing your last wolf in the pit with him. He told us that because each fight went on for a long time he was feeling weak, but he still had the strength to look up and shout. “Send the next because I am getting a taste for blood.”

Hippolyta and Andromache both burst out laughing, and Hippolyta said, “That’s not quite how I remember it, but it did take place. Did he still lose his hand?”

“No, our leader liked the story so much that he rewarded him. He told him that as he was so brave he would give him two hundred men and make him a commander. If he never showed his bravery in battle his men had permission to kill him. Since that day they have fought the Hun a few times and he is still alive.”

“We have decided to have the alliance Akbar, and I think in the next few days we will go out on the offensive. We have already had word from the villages that the Hun was about once more causing problems.”

“I will be on my way, my Lady. You will know our army from the Hun, and there are many about. They already know who you are as they have seen you on many occasions have orders not to take up arms against you. They have also been told to give you assistance if you should ever need it against the Hun.” He gave another courteous bow before he and the others walked away.

All the commander and queens were now around the fire talking. Echephyle cut some meat off of the wild boar and gave it to Danilo. “Thank you, my Lady. I hope this isn’t a bribe so that I will go easy on you tomorrow morning.”

“We are now in an alliance with the Alani and they will be available as reserve if we should need it. Octar the commander that is in charge of two thousand Hun warriors is in my realm somewhere and we have to find him. Two of the villagers have sent word that Octar has already been to their villages to take their food. Unlike Bataar he has not harmed the villagers, but at the moment they have food to give him. We will go out tomorrow and find him before sending him up north without his army. Is there anyone here that wishes to add anything to what I have just said?”

No one answered, but as they were about to get up Danilo asked, “Would it be allowed for me to give you one of my thoughts, my Lady?”

“Yes of course, Danilo.”

“Would it be alright for me to go out and scout around for Octar and his army? I know the two villages that he has sacked and somewhere in between he is hiding. I was only thinking that maybe he has sacked those two villages to draw you out. If Octar has been sent by Attila, then we must assume that he is not as stupid as Bataar, Edico, and Balimber.”

Thraso faced Hippolyta, “Danilo has a very good point, Hippolyta. We have no idea where he is or what position he is in. As Danilo has stated he could be in a position where he could attack us without us leaving us no chance to fight back. The same as we did to Balimber’s marching Hun when they were in the dip.”

Hippolyta thought about what had been said before answering. “You have both given me good reasons to be cautious which I thank you both for. By giving me your thoughts we have avoided a catastrophe that could have caused the death of many Amazon warriors. In my eagerness to get into the battle with the Hun once more, I had forgotten that we had a barbarian warrior and hunter in our midst.”

“There is no rush to kill Octar and his army because he most probably thinks we don’t know that his army is big. He probably thinks that we are going to go out with a small army thinking that the Hun that were robbing the village were just small commands. Time is on our side during the battles ahead because we are secondary to the task Attila sent him on.”

“Danilo, there is no rush to get the information back to the village. Your safety is more important than speed. My army will not move out of the village until you have returned to tell me the situation on the ground. As soon as you have eaten and rested you may go.”

“I will go as well,” Echephyle said.

“My Lady, I for one know that you are capable of doing that very task. I would however advise you against that thought for the reason you are a queen. If at all you were captured by the Hun they would use you as a lever to get at, my Lady Queen Hippolyta. The battle would be ended before it had even started with at least one maybe two queens dying to save the village. I am a barbarian warrior and it is my task to take the danger from my queens. It will be me that has to die in place of them not another queen. My life is expendable and for my queens to use to the full.”

Echephyle knew that he was correct about her being a liability, and stood up with Hippolyta and the commanders as Danilo finished his food. As they were walking away Hippolyta turned back towards Danilo. “Your life will never be expendable for the queens to use, Danilo. You are as precious to your queens as the army of Amazon warriors.

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Vengeance Is Mine

Vengeance is Mine

In the back of Nathan’s mind was a secret, vaguely remembered from his childhood. It was a secret that would change not only his life but also the lives of everyone around him. There was a house, a very special house where the Mistress battled to drive out demons from those they possessed, and it was inevitable when Nathan was wrongly accused of infidelity by his wife that he would be drawn back towards the house. Only slowly would the secrets of the past be revealed for Nathan and, too, for the Mistress of the House. The battle with evil had only just started…

CHAPTER ONE

The priest walked into the small office, and bowed towards the man sitting behind the desk.  Then, in a quiet but clear voice, he started to speak.  “Your Eminence, the poor soul is now in the cell awaiting your instructions.  He has been fed with just the bare essentials, one crust of bread and a small cup of water.”

The year was 1963 and it was winter, the snow was on the ground and the fires in the big house were burning bright.  The workers had been fetching the logs in all morning, and there was real warmth all over the house.  In a room at the top of the stairs a woman was sitting looking at a child in a bed, he was just a few years old, but he was ready to be shown the way of the Mistress, sentinel to the doorway to hell.  She had already taught him how to unlock the doors, look for the secret passages and pull back the curtains.  He was only four year old, but the Mistress knew that his life was to be one of pain, although it would not be coming from her hands.  There were no secrets of life and death that the Mistress did not know, because she had read the pages of time.  The boy’s fate was sealed, as was the fate of every Mistress and sentinel. She knew that once those pages have been written they can never be changed.

A middle-aged man walked in the door and placed more chopped wood by the fire, and as he was about to leave, the Mistress stopped him.  “Benjamin; there will be another charge in the basement tomorrow morning.  See to it that he is stripped and ready for the ritual.”

“Yes Mistress Chrystal.  Will that be all?”

“No.  You are to come to my chambers tonight and sleep with me.  I am in need of comfort.”  As the Mistress spoke, she gazed at him.  Her smile was genuine, in her eyes as well as on her lips.

“Yes, Mistress Chrystal.”  He left to go about his daily chores.

It was some hours later when the Mistress headed towards the basement, stopping just inside the door from the hallway to listen to the tumblers of the door lock clicking into place, ensuring that there was no risk of being disturbed or of anyone passing through that door in either direction without her permission.  Satisfied, she headed downwards, her heels clicking on the stone slabs of the stairs.

She had no idea who he was.  Now, just before midnight, was her favourite time of day for this.  Some had described it as a battle, but if it were, then it was a very one-sided battle.  He had been brought to her Domain for cleansing, and therefore he would be cleansed.  There was no doubt in her mind about what would take place.  There never was.

She could sense that he was on his way and close. She pointed to the far wall and watched the dark hole appear.  She could hear footsteps from inside the hole where the tunnel opened out into her battleground. The boundary lines were drawn with her new charge almost in her care.  She shivered, as she always did, in anticipation of another battle royal with one of the devils disciples.

The priest was the first to show as he stepped out of the darkness, closely followed by two others. Between the following priests was the object of her attention.  He was so young!  He could not have been more than twenty-five at the most, she thought, as she watched the priest cuffing his wrists to the St Andrew’s cross.

He was looking at her, his eyes half closed, but his face was expressionless.  The priest faced him, made the sign of The Cross, and then turned to walk back the way he had arrived. He paused only once before disappearing, only to drop two coins into a brass bowl on a small table by the wall.  The clink of the coins was all that broke the silence before the two other priests, followed him into the darkness of the tunnel.

The Mistress watched them go. Her eyes straining to follow them into the darkness until with a satisfied toss of her head she closed the apparition.  She turned her full attention to the young man on the cross.

She walked closer to him, but not so close that there was any risk he might be able to lash out at her.  His legs were not yet bound and only the bonds on his wrists held him securely.  His eyes were bright now, wide open and shining, alert, and ready for whatever she would do to him, but the Mistress was looking much deeper.  She wanted… no, she needed to find the person beneath the skin, the one with whom she would do battle.  Her own face was still expressionless, without hate or anger. Nor did she have any emotions of like or dislike for this person.  It was not his fault that he was now her charge.  He was a victim just as others before him had been.  The Mistress looked deep into his eyes past what the normal person could see, and it never took very long to find what she was looking for. Almost as soon as she saw the beast deep inside him, he closed his eyes as if he knew she had found what she sought.

She spoke with a knowing certainty in her voice, “You cannot hide from me by closing your eyes.  Your fate has been sealed and your end is now in sight.  I have had far stronger than you, and they screamed as they were sent away.  You will be no different.”

The eyes came to life, the lids opening as fast as if they were on a tight spring.  “You dare mess with me, bitch,” the man shouted.  “It will be me that has you screaming in defeat.  You’re just a whore.  I won’t bow to your will.  You think I’m here to test you?  I’m here to break your hold on reality.”

The Mistress gazed at the young man and could see that the fire was still in his eyes.  This one was a screamer; he would scream with every stroke of the whip, trying to gain sympathy, but there would be none forthcoming from this Mistress.  Without another word, she turned and walked to the stairs. The clicking of her heels on the stone floor would be the last sound he heard before she left him to the deafening silence of the empty basement.

In the lounge upstairs, the Mistress touched a panel in the wall by the old oak dresser. She stood back as the wall opened in front of her.  Briefly, she glanced behind her as if wanting to be certain that she was alone before climbing the few steps to the door above.  The room was small, with a dim light shining onto a desk near a wall.  She sat down at it and opened the journal that lay in front of her.

The writing in the journal was elaborate and ornate, much as ancient manuscripts might have been centuries before. It was like the painstaking work of monks or scribes who had a love of the writing for its own sake.  The first page bore the words: Testimony to the work of Chrystal Marie Donna, for the St David’s Charter House.

She opened it to the page where she had left the marker ribbon, a blank page ready for a new chapter to be written.  She picked up the pen, as ancient as the style of the writing, and dipped it into the well of ink set into the corner of the desk.

The agents of the Charter House brought Peter to me tonight.  He is a screamer, and I will make him scream like he has never screamed.  When I looked into his eyes, I could see the eyes in the eyes looking back at me, but I know that this one will not take long.  The screamers never do.  It is late, as it is always whenever my new charges arrive.  I have told my assistant to strip him ready for the whip in the morning. I shall not start the battle with the being while I am in need of sleep.  His ritual will begin after breakfast in the morning, but before then, I must see to the running of the house.

She put down the pen, dried the ink, and read what she had written.  Satisfied, she closed the book.  It was then that she saw the envelope near the top of the journal and reached over to pick it up.  There was a red wax seal on the back, and she recognised it as the seal of His Eminence.  She already knew what would be inside.  She had been expecting it since Timothy’s fourth birthday.  Breaking the seal, she removed the single sheet of parchment and started to read:

Chrystal Marie Donna,

The time has come for Timothy to learn the way of the Mistress of Chrystal House.  The powers in Rome have decreed that, although the child is young, you must teach him the ways of the Key Master.  At all times he has permission to watch you while you carry out your task. He must also be shown that there is nothing to fear from your charges.  He has all the knowledge and magic, and it can only be enhanced by his presence in your place of work.  You and he have the blessings of Rome to carry out your task and for you to pass on further knowledge to your siblings while you head towards your ultimate destiny.

Your God be with you.

The Mistress put the letter back in the envelope and left it at the side of the journal, and then she went down to the lounge once more.  Timothy was wide awake, gazing up at her, and the Mistress’ assistant waited expectantly for her instructions.  She knew that what she would say next would shock him.

“Tomorrow, Timothy, while I am at work in the lower room you must come and visit me.”

The boy gave her a knowing smile, as though it were no surprise to him.

The Mistress turned to her startled assistant.  “We must go to bed.  I must be fresh for the battle ahead.”

* * *

It was nine-thirty in the morning when the Mistress walked into the lounge dressed in riding boots and breeches with a white blouse.  She looked out of the window at her assistant who was near the shed sawing logs for the many fires in the house.  Sitting on the pile of sawn logs was Timothy, and as she looked at him, he looked up as if sensing her gaze.  He smiled.  There was a bond between them that could never be broken.  He was part of her destiny, and it was he who would ensure the survival of the Mistress of Chrystal House.  Her assistant looked up also, and he too smiled at her. He turned and stepped to the pile of wood before he carried on with his task, his muscles rippling as he worked.  It was good to see the effort he made for her, although no less than she expected.  Even at this time of the year, he was working hard enough for the teardrops of sweat to be visible from this distance. She could see it running down his naked back while covering his chest and arms.  A knock at the door broke her thoughts.

“Yes?  What is it?” she asked.

“Mistress Chrystal, your charge is stripped and waiting for you downstairs.”  It was her other assistant speaking, but he made no move to enter.  This room was forbidden to him, and he knew his limits.

“Thank you, Benjamin.  Have your breakfast, and then go to the village and collect the groceries.  My charge will not be moved until tomorrow morning, and then you will need help.”

“Yes, Mistress Chrystal.”

She waited at the window until she saw the car being driven down the drive to the big gates.  It was time.  The ritual was to start, and her charge was waiting.  She did not bother to lock the door as she descended to the basement.

He was naked, as she had instructed.  It should have made him feel more vulnerable, but it seemed not to have made the impression on him… yet.  She stood a few feet from him and stared at his body appraisingly.  He had a good body, and yet there was nothing sexual in her evaluation of him.  Her gaze was no more than she would have given a piece of meat at the market.

“Come on, whore,” he shouted.  “Show me what you can do.  Don’t just stand there lusting after my body.  You think you will defeat me, but I will show you that I am made of stronger stuff than you think.  You will be begging me to let you live after your pathetic efforts are wasted.”

“Silence.”  She raised her voice, just a little.  She had no need to shout, and his defiance had not even roused her anger.  She walked to the wall and took down a coiled whip.

She returned.  On the floor was a mark, almost invisible, no more than a slight indentation in the stone slabs, and this was the mark she would now use.  Without taking her eyes off him, she threw the coils of the whip out onto the floor in front of her, and the young man laughed aloud at her.

She pulled the whip back, fast, and in a split second it was travelling on its way back towards the young man.  Snap!  The noise in the silence of the basement was horrendous, and the sound of his scream was even worse.  His face was contorted in pain, but the Mistress had seen all this before.  Yet, he was still defiant.  Before she had time to pull the whip back once more, the young man was laughing hysterically.  “Fuck, you’re pathetic, you fucking whore.  A child could wield a whip better than you.  I told you that there was no way that you could defeat me.”

Snap!  The second stroke touched just above the first on his the belly, and the two tell tale red marks were side by side like rail tracks but the skin was not broken.  The young man’s head was thrown back as he gasped for air, but still, as his head came down and his eyes focused on her once more, he still had that defiant smile on his face.  Snap!  Snap!  Two strokes in quick succession, one on each of his nipples, and this time the shrill scream would chill the warmest of hearts.  She smiled, but not at his pain, as it was the skill and precision of the strokes which pleased her.

Snap!  The next stroke sliced his shoulder blade, but still the skin was not broken. He still had that smile on his face which was now curling into a sly grin.  He was trying to goad her into putting more power into the lashes, but that was not the way of the Mistress.  He had to be whipped in exactly the right way for the magic to take its course.

Snap!  The whip struck his other shoulder blade, and again there was a wicked scream.  Once again, the Mistress took no notice.  His screams were all part of the devils game, and he was as determined to play it his way. The Mistress was playing his game her way to bring it to an end and at her speed.

It was at that moment she heard the basement door open and close, before slow footsteps could be heard coming down towards where she stood.  She rapidly turned in her own space ready to chastise whoever had disturbed her in her inner Domain.  The sight that greeted her was of a small boy with a small toy bear in his hand, and he was smiling happily.  Once he was at the bottom of the stairs, the Mistress put her hand out and Timothy ran towards her.  The young man on the cross seeing this take place, looked at the boy and made out to be trying to escape, and then he screamed a blood curdling shrill.  The Mistress looked at Timothy, but far from being frightened, he was looking at the Mistress and smiling.

“You cannot frighten the boy,” she said.  “He is made of stronger fibre than you, and he has this minute shown me that it is you who is weak.”  The Mistress took a firm hold of the boy’s hand before she walked him over to the wall to seat him on one of the chairs.  For a moment, she held his face in her hands before kissing him tenderly on the forehead.

The Mistress took hold of the whip and walked in front of the young man, and once more she threw forward the whip.  The smile was still on his face as he spat at her, but she easily moved to one side to avoid it.

Snap!  The whip struck again, curling around the man’s arms at the biceps.  Again he screamed, and again he laughed loudly as soon as he had control of his voice.

“You are no fucking good, bitch.  I am feeling no pain.  There are no cuts to my flesh.  All you are doing is showing me that I am stronger than you.”

Snap!  The other arm was wrapped in leather for a fleeting moment, and this time there was no scream, just a hysterical laugh.

“You are tickling me so much with your childish play that I cannot help but laugh.  When are you going to stop playing and try to hurt me?  I realise you are weakening, and it won’t be long before you bow to my power.”

Snap!  Snap!  Another two fast strokes, and this time the man was caught off guard.  The screams came from deep within him, screams of real pain.

Snap!  Snap!  Two more fast ones to the belly, and a deep groan came from a now contorted face, as if drawn from the bowels of the earth.

The Mistress walked away from his front and over to the wall. She coiled the whip before she hung it in its proper place.  Nothing was spoken, and all that could be heard was the click of her heels as she walked over towards Timothy. The Mistress went past the man on the cross as if he never existed.  Her hand went down, and Timothy jumped off the chair to take hold of it. The Mistress led them both out of the basement leaving her charge to the silence of his own thoughts.

In the hall, the Mistress told Timothy to go and play.  She had other work to do, and as he ran off she headed for her desk in the tiny, hidden room with its entrance behind the wall of the lounge.  She opened the journal, and once more picked up the pen.

This morning I started the ritual of cleansing Peter, and I have found the being inside to be weak and ill prepared.  Twice during this first session I have caught him out, and he has been unable to help its host victim.  There is no mistake: this young man is as much a victim as I am.  Timothy walked into the basement during the ritual and, as ordered by the agents in Rome, I allowed him to stay.

 

The beast was immediate in its challenge, by aiming a threat accompanied by a scream at him.  However, to a boy born with all the knowledge, he showed no fear.  He smiled.  His secret is safe for the moment, but I have read the pages of time and I know my span on earth is drawing to an end.  I believe this evil one will give up the body during the night, because after the next session there will be very little strength left to carry on with the fight.

The Mistress closed the journal, put down the pen, and returned to the lounge.  As she walked through the secret door, she saw Timothy on the couch waiting for her, playing with a toy.  At the fireplace, she moved the lion’s head and a side of the fire opened, and Timothy watched as the Mistress put her hand in a bag and took out a coin.  She once more closed the fireplace before putting the coin into Timothy’s hand.  She kissed him on the forehead, and said, “Go and place this with your other treasures, Timothy.  It is for keeping my secret just as I keep yours.”

She walked with him to the door and watched him walk outside before going back to her upstairs rooms where she looked out of the window.  Timothy was in the centre of the brick maze, kneeling by one of the walls.  He stood up and walked back to the entrance and looked up smiling.  The Mistress smiled back.

It was later in the afternoon when the Mistress was in her rooms that she called Timothy.  He looked up at her, “Yes, Mistress?”

“Dear sweet boy, there is no need for that because we have a bond holding us together.  Come and sit on my lap and I will tell you things that you must never forget.  I must tell you things you must never forget.”

Timothy stepped closer to her and she lifted him on her lap and hugged him tight.  “Your place in life has been set.  You are the Key Master and without you, the Mistress of Chrystal House will not be able to function.  In years to come, you will be reunited with your close relations, but it will be a painful experience getting there.  I will always be with you even in the times that we are apart.  Over the next few months, I will be teaching you all that you need to know.  It will be implanted in your brain and stored until you need it.  I expect you to forget some things I tell you, but at a later date I will talk to you in your mind.”  She looked at Timothy, and saw that he was looking back at her with questioning eyes.  “Do you understand what I am saying, Timothy?

“Yes, Mistress.”

She pulled him close once more, and after kissing him on the forehead they both fell asleep.

It was a little after eight in the evening when the Mistress returned to the basement.  It was warm down there, as heat from radiators driven by the fires of a boiler kept it from the chill around it. The heaters were working during the summer months, because even during the hottest days the warmth of the day rarely penetrated so deeply below the ground.  Peter watched as she walked over to where he was hanging from the cross. She stepped a little closer to him than previously while she looked even deeper into his eyes.  The being inside was now in retreat.  Peter’s eyes were smaller, and the Mistress knew that his strength was being drained by trying to keep the pain of the whip away from Peter.  She stepped back to appraise her charge once more, and could see that his once strong face was now haggard and tired. Despite the power the beast had wielded to protect him from the pain, he had suffered the mental battle alone.  The eyes were pleading for rest, but the Mistress knew that to win the battle there would be no time for rest.  If all went well, this would be the last session, but if the beast started to fight back then there would have to be more of the same.

The Mistress walked over to the wall and once more she lifted the whip off the hanger.  A moment later, she was standing in front of Peter.  She knew that she had to catch the beast off guard if that were possible.  Weakening the man would give the beast less to hold onto.

She threw the whip out to the front, and then sent four strokes off in quick succession.  Snap!  Snap!  Snap!  Snap!  Peter screamed with the pain, and the Mistress knew that the scream was real.  It was not the voice of the beast; it was Peter’s own voice.  The strokes had landed on his tender inner thighs and it had only taken a few seconds for the telltale stripes to appear. 

Snap!  Snap!  The tail of the whip struck his belly once more, and again the beast was too slow to protect him.  Peter, the man, screamed.  She watched as is head lowered in pain and exhaustion, and his eyes closed.  She thought about the salts, but there was little point in torturing for torture’s sake.  The Mistress coiled the whip and walked over to the wall, and once the whip was back where it belonged, she headed for the steps.  She had nearly reached them, without making any visible deviation from her course, when the wall opposite Peter twisted and rotated.  Before him now was a mirror, and slowly his head rose and his eyes opened.  Just before the Mistress closed and locked the door to the hall, she heard his horrendous scream.

* * *

It was morning, and the Mistress was sitting in her room above the lounge. She was having her breakfast with Timothy sitting opposite her at the table.  She looked up as the assistant came into the room, “I will go down and turn your charge, Mistress Chrystal.”

“That will not be necessary, Benjamin.  I think after the first session this morning he will be taken back to the Charter House this evening.”

In an hour, the Mistress was once more in the basement, gazing closely at Peter’s face.  He was exhausted still; both from lack of sleep and reaction to the pain she had given him.  He had a haggard look, and yet it was the look of a man.  Evil had left him, for a moment at least, and the beast was in retreat, but the battle was not yet won.

Deliberately, she walked towards the wall and lifted the whip.  At once it was back, and as she came back to stand in front of him, Peter shouted, “You cannot hurt me you bitch,” and then urinated on the floor.  “Get down a lick my piss, you filthy whore.”

She knew it was the beast talking, and threw the end of the whip towards him.  There was that look: the sly eyes narrowed, but now there was also hurt in them. 

Snap!  Snap!  The Mistress sent two quick strokes to the groin area, and the scream told her that it was where the beast had least expected the lash to fall.

Snap!  Snap!  The second two struck him on his nipples, and this time he threw his head back with real pain etched on his face.  The beast inside was tired and weak, and was now failing to protect him from the pain, and she knew that the end was really in sight.

Snap!  Snap!  One to each of his thighs, and then without a word, the Mistress walked over and replaced the whip on the hanger.

It was done.  That same evening when the Mistress went down the stairs into the basement, it was for the agents of the Charter House to come and collect him.  As usual, there was a priest with them, and before he left, he blessed the Mistress and crossed her forehead with holy water.

Several months went by, and in that time two more men were brought to her for cleansing.  Finally, there was a third who needed her expertise, but this was no man.  When the door of the basement opened and the Mistress saw the agents of the Charter House, she immediately recognised their charge standing between them.  This was Sister Clair, a nun, and the Mistress knew that this battle would be a particular challenge for her.  The agents cuffed the nun’s hands to the St Andrew’s cross and walked out, and as the door closed behind them, the Mistress stepped closer to her new charge.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vengeance-Mine-Ian-Johnstone-ebook/dp/B017WJCJ1E/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1449178118&sr=1-7&keywords=ian+johnstone

HIPPOLYTA and how I brought her to life

I have a belief that old people are not so much lonely when their spouse dies but lost. You spend your life with the woman or man that you devout your life to and suddenly they are not there. It leaves a gaping great hole in your life that in some cases cannot be filled. Your life has been placed on hold because all those things you did together cannot be repeated. All of those places you visited having a great time so many times together, now they only add to your misery. I have always been told a person should never go back and after hearing my friend’s experiences I now know that to be true.

I lost my wife eight years ago and it has taken until now to start getting over my loss. Over those years I put a hold on holidays because being fourteen years older than her at sixty, I had a strange feeling of guilt. Thankfully it has started to fade and my life is a lot brighter. There is a saying that moving on is not forgetting the good and bad times with your late partner, but having the mind to deal with the situation.

The Greek Version of an Amazon Warrior

Like I said earlier there is a great big hole left in your life and if you do not deal with it, the hole will consume you. I was lucky in the fact that I could write stories and had a vivid imagination. It never took me long before I had written my first story called, The Last Warrior, I thought it was the best thing after a fresh warm bread roll first thing in the morning. However, that story would not be the path I would take to filling my hole by writing.

I placed the story in a folder and secured it on a CD and pushed it aside. I was watching a program on television about graves that had been found under burial mounds north of the Black Sea. They were supposedly of female warriors because they had all been buried with their weapon of choice. Carbon data proved the bones to be from the fifth century around the time of Attila the Hun.

A Statue of an Amazon Warrior Preparing for battle

There is in Greek mythology stories about Penthesilea and her sister Hippolyta who was Amazon warriors, Amazon is a Greek word. They were a fierce army of women that killed or enslaved men fighting in the Scythian district [Ukraine] north of the Black Sea. In my mind Hippolyta was born, but this time as a mortal, and I pulled her from Greek mythology and gave her a life.

The vision that most people have when talking about Hippolyta and her Amazons, is of half naked twenty-two year old women running around the jungle with a spear in their hand. It is purely wishful thinking on behalf of the male population, and Hollywood feeding their imagination. Nothing could be further from the truth, because that Amazon forest was still a bunch of sticks over ten-thousand miles from Greece and undiscovered in the fifth century.

I will write more about this mythological warrior in my next blog until then  

Be well Ian

HIPPOLYTA [The Trade Wars]

CHAPTER ONE

Almost two years had passed since Hippolyta’s battles with one of Attila’s rogue generals, and dealing with the treachery of the Alani.

Now, there was a port on the Black Sea by Hippolyta’s village.  Ships regularly arrived and dropped off a caravan of traders, or picked them up and took them northwest.  Most were only small traders and dealer, but some were rich and it was those that Hippolyta traded with, although she had little interest in spices or semi-precious jewels.  In previous years, traders had often passed her village, but few stopped because they feared Hippolyta and her army.  However, now that it became known there was a safe port near the village that would cut journey times by several weeks, they overcame their fear.

The port was below the village, protected by the village’s north wall manned by Romans and Amazons.  An additional gate had been built into the western end of the wall, enabling traders to use the port without having to enter the village, and an additional wall had been built to completely separate the village from the port, thus ensuring the village’s security.  Roman soldiers patrolled the port on foot to ensure that law and order was maintained.

From time to time a small fishing boat would dock and bring the village fish that they had found hard to catch from the shore.  Hippolyta allowed a few dwellings to be built on the shores for the people that helped load and unload the boats.

All travellers that passed through the docks paid Hippolyta a tax as they moved either way.  It was only a very small charge, agreed between her and the captains of the boats.  It was a good business, and now Hippolyta was sending her patrols of warriors halfway to the Big River she sent a quarter of the revenue to Attila who offered her assistance against the Alani if she needed it.  Attila’s forces were still stretched out over his empire, and there were few places where an army of any size could be assembled at short notice.  The biggest army was the one commanded by Bleda in the east, but the Amazons had never been that far.  They had run into smaller forces of Hun on many occasions, but because of the alliance there was no friction.

* * * * *

Early one morning, Hippolyta was sitting near the fire talking, after the council meeting, and the lookout shouted down.  “There is an army of about four thousand Hun riding in from the northeast.”

The two queens and commanders were on their feet in no time, and heading down to the north gate.  The army stopped at the top of the hill and dismounted, before a general rode alone down the hill towards the bridge.  At the gate, he stopped and looked up at the Amazons who had bows drawn and arrows pointing at him.

“I am here to speak with Queen Hippolyta of matters of great importance.”

“Let him in, Alexius, and bring him up to the council fire.”

They were all sitting back in their seats when the Hun general arrived at the fire.  He stopped at the fire, and Hippolyta asked, “What is so important that one of Attila’s generals comes into my village without fighting the bonds that hold him?”

The general laughed.  “Yes, it is also a strange experience for a Hun general, my Lady.  I am Bleda, and I have been sent here by Attila’s command, but I also have to inform you that both you and he have a huge problem.  The Alani have started to raid villages to the west of the Big River in the disputed realm of Attila’s empire.  It has always been a problem, but until now it has been no more than a minor inconvenience.  Now, however, the raids are by between two and three thousand Alani.”

“Why would that bother me, General?”

“Not long after your warriors left a town west of the Big River, two thousand Alani raided it.  The only reason I know this is because we caught them, fought them, and destroyed them.”

“What were you doing there, General?”

“We just happened by, on our way here.  We have also been told to look after the villages and towns in the disputed realm.  Attila has never asked for taxes from the south because there is nothing down here to tax, except the port from which he already receives a fair tax."

“We had a spy in Goar’s army who has recently returned to us.  Goar is rebuilding an army of the size and power he once had.  It already has more than twenty thousand strong.  Goar is not in the disputed lands here in the east, although his smaller armies are here and causing trouble.  Attila believes him to be in Gaul, and his armies west of the Big River are coming from further east.  Whether he can bring them all together quickly is another question, but the threat is very real.

“The Hun forces are widely spread, as you know, although I have now an army of ten thousand mounted warriors.  I have six thousand of them in smaller contingents just to the west of the Big River.  I also have available between eight and ten thousand foot warriors, if I need them, but we would be hard pressed to deal with Goar if he really can put together an army of over twenty thousand warriors that our spy informs us he may be able to do, and it’s quite possible that he can command upward of thirty thousand.  He is a very deceitful leader, and Attila has not forgiven him for turning against the Hun and leaving us high and dry on the Catalonian Plains.  Attila would like to see him and his generals dead."

“We also know from our spy that Goar hates the sound of your name and intends to make you pay for throwing Akbar to the wolves.  Attila thanks you for that, and it made him a very happy king when he heard that news.  Attila also sent warriors down to clean up that mess in the town Octar destroyed in his senseless act of madness.  They also rebuilt some of the dwellings to erase the deed from his mind.  I think it was Octar’s biggest mistake, and it upset Attila more than him siding with Akbar of the Alani.

“I do not have the warriors to hold or defeat Goar’s army if it numbers thirty thousand.  I believe you have maybe thirty or forty thousand warriors, and you too would find it a hard battle to win.  The only way to defeat an Alani army of that size would be to cut it down bit by bit, and I do not wish to take the risk of travelling around the south of the empire trailing my ten thousand warriors – which will hardly go unnoticed.

“On your word, my Lady, I will gather the foot warriors together, to be ready for battle should it be necessary, but I must tell you that all this is preliminary to specific orders and strategic planning from Attila.  I am sure his personal messenger will bring you further information, and I am equally certain that it will all be as I have related."

“I am now going to set camp at the end of the long valley to rest for the night.  My warriors and I have ridden for three days without stopping.  We can talk again in the morning before I return to the east.  I trust this meets with your approval, my Lady?”

“Yes, that will be fine, general.  I have much to discuss with my commanders.”

Bleda walked away down to the north gate, leading his horse.  Hippolyta asked her commanders what they thought of Bleda’s information and conclusions.

Thraso was the first to speak: “Do you think we can trust the Hun, Hippolyta?  We have been warring with them for more than ten years, and despite the recent truce and the proportion of the port fees paid to Attila, do you think they would change now?”

Hippolyta did not answer.  She looked up at Alexius, who was standing in his usual place.  He realised that she expected his opinion as a Roman commander, and perhaps an overview of the political and military situation in that part of the world, that the Romans with their extensive empire might know better than any others. Alexius, however, was only able to provide part of the information she hoped for.

“I think it is much as Bleda has told you, my Lady.  The Hun army is thin on the ground this end of the empire.  The Alani have been pushing Attila for more than three years, and his patience has worn thin.  We know that, despite his ambitions of empire, Attila has more than often kept his word than the Alani.  Even when he had an alliance with them, it was the Alani that broke the treaty.  More importantly, as long as a treaty is in Attila’s favour, he is unlikely to break it for a small gain."

“You aren’t having any trouble from Bleda because you are paying Attila a tax that helps him pay his army.  Attila, like, you also knows that all the time Goar has no big army he is not a threat to the north and northwest of his empire.  Neither is he a threat to you at the moment.  However, with a big army he could overrun the Hun and possibly you and the port.  The Alani have to be contained in the southeast and not allowed to create bigger armies.  Remember that Attila is getting more revenue from your port than he could raise in taxes from anywhere in this poor part of his empire.  He’s realistic enough to know that, and he also knows that you and he have to put your differences aside and fight together against the Alani.

“I must say that I cannot be sure of most of this.  I’m speculating, but it’s based on the limited knowledge I do have.  I am in no doubt that Attila and Bleda know more about Goar than I do.  I expect it will all become clearer when the messenger from Attila arrives.  My opinion is just that: an opinion, but I hope it will help you make whatever decision is necessary to continue the prosperity of your village and avoid any risk of it being conquered by the Alani.  I will leave you with those thoughts while I see to the running of the Legions, my Lady.”

“Thank you Alexius.  As you say, the decision is mine alone.  I think you for your input, and I will certainly not blame you for any decision that I make today.”

Scyleia started to speak: “I have seen a few of those Alani armies Bleda was talking about.  They were so far away in the distance to the east that I did not realise they were Alani.  I assumed they were contingents of Hun, but I should have realised that Bleda would have a far bigger army to ride with.”

“I too have seen them,” Phoebe said, “and like Scyleia I mistook them for Hun.  If they are showing themselves without fear of being seen, I would assume they are confident they can take control of the trade route.”

Andromache said, “You need to remember also, Hippolyta, that Attila has been sending trade this way down the Danube.  The cargo of pottery on that last boat was his.  We have been sending animal furs and weapons back his way that Attila is willing to pay for, to replace his aging weaponry, although – as you well know – we have been careful enough not to risk sending him enough weaponry to equip new forces that might become a threat to us.”

The lookout shouted down once more, “There is a runner coming in from the northeast.  He looks like a young runner from the north-eastern villages.”

Some time later, the boy stopped at the gate.  “I have a message for the queen,” he called up to the guard on the gate.

The gate was opened to let him in so that Alexius could take him up to the council fire . The boy seemed nervous as everyone looked at him expectantly.

“Don’t be afraid of us, boy.  We are not going to hurt you.”

“My Lady, last night an army of raiders came to our village, and stole all the cattle, horses and the corn for the bread.  They killed two of the young men that tried to stop them.  When our village leader Fedeyka tried to plead with them to leave the corn, their leader, called Chuluun, killed him with his sword.  He then shouted, “These are taxes for the great Goar, and I will be back for more.”

“Toxis, give the boy some food and something to drink.”

“There is more, my Lady.  On the way here, I came past the valley to the north of that forest.”  He turned and pointed to the north.  “The army is in there, because I saw the sentries on horses.  They were dressed the same as the raiders were last night, and they are camped just inside the entrance.  I saw the smoke from many fires.”

“Toxis, look after the boy.  He has served his queen well."

“Scyleia, I want three thousand of your archers on the rim of that valley.  You must travel fast, and blow the horn when you start shooting.  As soon as we hear the horn, I will have two thousand warriors ready to deal with any of the Alani that escape your arrows.  After today, Goar will know that I am at war with him.”

It took very little time to prepare the army, and Scyleia left the village first with her archers.  Hippolyta left soon afterwards, with Danilo riding just behind the queen and Thraso.  Before long they were at the corner of the forest before the valley, and waiting for the sound of the horn.

* * * * *

A rider jumped from his horse and walked over to the fire where Bleda was sitting with his commanders.  “General, that queen has just ridden out from her village at a fast pace, heading north along the side of the long forest.”

“What were you doing when you saw her?”

“I was hunting for a meal tonight.”

“Well, you had better get moving because the light will be starting to fade soon.  You had better remember this while you are hunting: the queen and her warriors are fighting the Alani at our side and have an alliance with Attila.  So, if you see any of them while you’re hunting, you had better leave them alone.  This is not the time to start a war with our only friends down in the south.”

“You seem very sure that she will help our army, general.”

“The queen is a very clever woman, and it would be advisable not to treat her alliance lightly.  She has no time for fools, and her army has in the last ten years destroyed almost twenty thousand Hun warriors, and destroyed and defeated at least the same number of Alani.  Both Attila and I give her a lot of respect, because those that do not end up like the fools that thinks she is a fool: Bataar, Churnobog, Edico, and the worst fool of all, Octar.”

* * * * *

Scyleia made the detachment of Amazon archers run all the way, and they was soon in position with enough time to regain their breath.  Then, with the wave of her hand, she had all the warriors on the ridge looking down.  As she blew the horn, they fired their arrows into the army of Alani.  There were shouts and screams of pain as the arrows struck the soft clothes of the warriors.  Some tried to escape and mounted their horses, only to be pushed back as Hippolyta blocked their way.  There were only a few left standing when Scyleia gave the signal for the horn to be blown again.

The arrows stopped falling, and the few Alani that was still alive were in a group.  Hippolyta rode her horse close to them and looked at their clothes.  “Who is Chuluun?”

The group split up so that a man in the middle of them was on his own.

“So, you are the thief that steals my people’s corn, cattle and horses.  You dare come into my realm, you pig, and kill my people, even the village elder?  If you don’t already know, I am Queen Hippolyta and this is my realm.”

“This is not your realm any more, Witch Queen.  It belongs to Goar.  When he finds out what you have done to his army he will send a much larger army down here and destroy you.”

Hippolyta looked at this commander, noting he could not be more than twenty years old.  “You are a little young to be a commander in the big pig Goar’s army.  Ha!  You’re no more than a piglet!”

“You wouldn’t call my uncle that if he was standing in front of you.”

“So, piglet, you are the big pig’s nephew, and I thought things could not get better.  Thraso, heat up a sword and we’ll send Goar a present.”

Hippolyta then pointed at the Alani warriors standing near their young commander.  “Move over near the forest of young trees and sit down, if you want to live.  Scyleia, get some warriors and tie his left hand behind his back, then tie his arms to his side at the chest.”

While this was happening, Bleda rode into the valley with ten of his men.  Hippolyta looked at him with caution, but realising he had no army with him she turned back to face Chuluun.  “The blade is ready, Hippolyta.”

“Hold his arm on the side of that cart so that I can get a good strike on his wrist.”

“What are you going to do?”

“You’re a thief, boy, and we cut the hands off thieves so that they don’t do it in the future.  It is the same law your pig of an uncle lives by.”

“No, please, I beg you.  My uncle will pay you not to do it,” he screamed as he thrashed about.  The warriors pushed him to the cart as he screamed, and then held his arm tightly against the cart side.  He was still screaming as Hippolyta’s axe fell on his wrist.  He passed out before Thraso pressed the red hot sword against the stub of his arm to stop the bleeding.  Water was thrown over his face to revive him, and he screamed again at the pain.

“Be thankful you are not dead, Chuluun, nephew of Goar.  You can go back now, and tell that fat pig Goar that Queen Hippolyta and her army are on their way to find him and push him out of his palace.  He will not be able to find enough warriors to stop me doing it.  My people are not for taxing, especially not by Goar the pig.  Tell him not to send any more thieves west of the Big River collecting taxes, or he will have nothing but one-handed men in his army.”

“Scyleia, leave them some horses for the survivors and the wounded, and then take the cattle and carts of grain back to the village.  The remainder of the horses we will keep as a tax on Goar.”

Hippolyta mounted her horse and then brought it to a halt near Bleda.  “I will push this filth all the way back to the Caspian Sea, and further.  I think now Goar will have to show you and me what he is made of, Bleda.”

“So we are joining forces, my Lady.  I will send word out for the foot warriors.  They will be needed, because Goar has at least twenty-five thousand of the same.  It will take several weeks for the army of foot soldiers to be formed up, but while that is taking place I will be just west of the Big River.  One thing to remember: the Alani armies are no bigger than twenty-five hundred in each group.  I am in no doubt though, my Lady, that at some point in the future we will have to join as one army and make a battle plan.”

Hippolyta watched him ride away, and Thraso said, “Can we trust them to uphold the alliance, Hippolyta?”

“Thraso, he had forty-five hundred warriors that could have attacked us while we waited for Scyleia to blow the horn.  We have to trust each other, because neither he nor I with our armies can beat the Alani on our own.”

It was not long before Hippolyta’s army had returned to the village and she was sitting at the council fire.  Alexius had heard what had happened earlier, and he was also in his usual positions for meetings.

“I have sent another message to Goar, and this time he had better remember it.  We have no idea of how many armies he has in the south-western Caucasus, but however many there are we have to send them back the other side of the Big River.  I believe Bleda was correct when he told me that at some time he and I would have to join armies to fight as one great army.  Goar will only take so much punishment before he realises that I will not roll over and let him walk over me.

“Today, Thraso asked if after the defeat of the Alani we can trust the Hun.  I believe the only reason Bleda rode to that battlefield with ten warriors was to show me that they could be trusted.  He had forty-five hundred warriors fresh from resting that could have overpowered us in no time.  Both he and I know that if Goar has the nerve to send tax collectors to one of my villages then he has no intention of taking a peaceful trade route.  I am in no doubt that Goar is collecting taxes in the east of Attila’s empire, which means that he believes he has a big enough army to back up his demands."

“For the first time, my army and the Hun’s will be going out with the same purpose, although we will patrol separately.  My army will be split.  I will be leading forty-five hundred warriors, and so too will Echephyle.  I am going as far east as the Big River while Echephyle will patrol the surrounding area with the local villages.  There will always be ten thousand warriors in this village ready for battle, so if we need help it will be only a few days away."

“We’ll have slaves riding with us, leading horses that will carry our reserve weapons, equipment and supplies.  I have decided that the slaves will be mounted and travelling at the same speed as the armies, but they will remain one hundred paces to our rear.  That way, we will have whatever we need when we need it, but at all times they will be protected by two hundred warriors and a commander.  As it is the beginning of summer, there will be no need for us to have shelters, except for those over the fires."

“Echephyle, I am giving you Scyleia as your second in command.  Listen to her and your commanders.  This is not a time to think you are going to get everything right just because you are the queen.  Don’t take chances with your warriors.  They will follow you to the gates of hell, fighting for the realm every step of the way.”

Hippolyta looked up at Alexius.  He had not moved from his spot where he always standing.  “Have you anything to say, Alexius?”

“I am expecting a boat in from the Emperor, and then I will know more of the situation.  We do have spies in the east keeping an eye on things because there are a few Alani at the southern banks of the Black Sea, but they are giving us no problems.  I think that Goar has realised that the trade route will bring him wealth.  He is not satisfied with collecting the taxes on the Caspian Sea, so now he wishes to control the whole of its route.

“On the other hand, you give Attila a share of your taxes at this end by the Black Sea, while he collects a lion’s share his end.  He knows that if that trade route is owned fully by the Alani he will lose a lot of his wealth.  He also knows that if any of his sons were in your position he would be getting no more than he is now, and probably less.  He will help you protect this end of the Black Sea and its port, and because it is in the disputed realm it is as much his as yours, my Lady.”

“The armies will both leave tomorrow, Echephyle, and you will go first in the morning.  We will leave at different times so that there are not so many warriors in the area around the village at the same time.  As you are covering the first half of the realm, I will leave you to take the boy home and the belongings of the village people.”

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hippolyta-4-Trade-Ian-Johnstone-ebook/dp/B01B36DCKO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1455446160&sr=8-4&keywords=ian+johnstone