Amazonia

  Amazonia hating riding, and especially hated riding with a hangover.

  The pounding headache was almost worth it, though, because the previous evening had been everything she’d hoped for, and more. As the wine had continued to flow, Prince Timur mentioned he had a son Paulus’ age with his second wife, and began asking the boy questions about life as a nobleman’s son living with gladiators, and about Konstanopolis itself. When Paulus had asked about life with the Crimson Horde, the prince had said, “We don’t call ourselves by that name. We are the People of the Eternal Sky, or just the People.” When Paulus had tried to apologize, the prince waved it away. “Since there was no way for you to know this, I take no offense. As for our life among the People…” Prince Timur had stroked his beard before going on. “My son will be pleased to have a companion he can teach our ways to. I will have him attend me when we reach the encampment.”

  By that time Asena had returned from the privy and Greywolf offered to push as much mana into her as he could. She’d scowled but hadn’t said no, and sat cross-legged as he’d put his hands flat to her temples and closed his eyes. His palms against her skull began glowing blue and remained that way for a while, Greywolf looking more and more exhausted as Asena grew calm. When he’d finished, Greywolf curled up beside her with a cushion under his head and went to sleep. Meanwhile, Asena began swapping war stories with Titan as if no harsh words had been spoken between them. Dancer had asked Titan if Alexander’s empire would’ve lasted, had he not died when he did, but Asena was the one who’d answered. “Nothing in this world lasts. Babylonia got old and decadent, and even when she turned her Reaver’s into Shadow Knights and raised the armies of darkness, the Persians still trampled them into the dust.”

  “The Oldenblood of Carthago were the last ones mad enough to repeat Babylonia’s mistake,” Titan said before Amazonia could ask what Asena meant about Shadow Knights, “and the Etruscans not only killed everyone down to the smallest infant, but they razed the city and sowed the area with salt.” His dark eyes had met hers. “The ability to turn humans into anything except Reaver Knights and Chaldeans died when the Empire of Carthago shattered.”

  Just like Etrusca did. Everything shattered into pieces eventually.

  But not today. As they left Bukhara behind them, Amazonia rode double on her lizard-horse with Dancer behind her, while the Nomads rode together and Troll, along with Titan, walked. Prince Timur and the other two Bloodguards rode Warghorses, built for speed and ferocity in battle, but not endurance like Az’s scaled riding beast. Paulus sat in front of Greywolf on the Shadow-walker's Daemo mount, an ugly creature resembling a six legged lizard without spines or a tail, and as usual was peppering Greywolf with questions. "Why do you ride a giant lizard? Wouldn't a lizard-horse, or even a regular horse, be better?"

  Greywolf patted the side of his grey-green beast as they plodded along the dusty road. “Rocky, being a Daemo, takes care of himself so I don’t need to worry about him, and while he can't go any faster than a trot, he can keep up a steady pace for hours."

  "Do you let it drink your blood?" Greywolf nodded and Paulus screwed up his face. "Yuck."

  The Daemo Mount's head swung back and gave Paulus a withering look before it swung forward again. "Daemo never need much," Greywolf said, patting the side of the creature's neck again, "especially from someone with Oldenblood running through their veins." He lowered his voice. "Best be careful in what you say. Rocky's sensitive, and you might hurt his feelings."

  Rocky's head swung back again and snorted just like Asena did. "Oh, please."

  Paulus' eyes went wide. "It talks!"

  The Daemo rolled its eyes and looked forward again as Greywolf laughed. "All of the Daemo are intelligent, and most of them know our languages, even the creatures." He scratched the top of its lumpy head. "Rocky's been a good friend to me, and he's not the least bit afraid of the Shadowlands."

  "Speaking of which," Karl said as they crested the top of a hill, "the ruined temple's just ahead." Amazonia’s Wardogs formed up alongside her as they looked down into the small valley below.

  In its day, the temple had been impressive, with Greco columns and white stone walls, a large dome overhead and fountains. Now, the fountains were dry and the columns fallen, choked with vines and other weeds as were the walls. Pieces of the dome had fallen in while the rest was cracked. Yet in the center of all this ruin, a dead grey tree stood with nothing but bare earth in a large circle around it. Greywolf turned in his saddle. "It's best if everyone stays here while Fox and I walk down to the tree."

  Greywolf swung down before reaching up to help Paulus off, who balked. "I don't want to stay here. I want to see the Shadowlands."

  Titan plucked him off the mount and set him on the ground. "Best if you don't."

  "We once took a job with a merchant who wanted to save time by traveling there," Asena said. "Along the way we were attacked by Shadow Raptors, and before Greywolf and I drove them off, one of the caravan guards had his head lopped off." Asena made a cutting motion with a claw near the boy's throat, who flinched away. Asena smiled as she bent down. "Want to know what happened? He died, then both his body and his head came back to life.”

  Paulus’ eyes went wide. “What happened then?”

  “He had to carry his head in his hands until we reached the next weak spot, where Greywolf made a large gate and brought us through to the real world. The moment we were out of the Shadowlands, his body started spurting blood and he fell over, dead."

  Troll made a face. "You're telling a tale."

  Greywolf shuddered. "I wish. C'mon, Fox; grab your sword and let's go."

  Fox, dressed like one of the Bukhara women with her midriff and feet bare, shook her head as Argat helped her down from his horse. "Since I don't know how to fight, I don't have one."

  "You don't..." He blinked. "But what do you do when a Shadow creature goes after you?"

  Fox shrugged. "Run."

  Standing near her, Titan rumbled, "I plan to guard Fox should anything attack us while we are in the Shadowlands."

  Greywolf gave him a dubious look. "If you say so. Since no one's used this entry in a while we should be fine, but every time one of us opens a large gate into the Shadowlands, it sends vibrations out in all directions which alerts any Shadow creature nearby. Papa used to call it, 'Ringing the dinner bell'."

  Titan chuckled. "I actually know your father from a long time ago. He came out to watch Amazonia and I fight last year and bought wine for the entire Ludus, which Lord Paulus told the gladiators came from a loyal patron of the games."

  Greywolf's face lit up. "Is papa alright? What did he say?"

  "Greywolf," Asena growled, "the day's not getting any longer."

  "Yes, Asena." He grabbed his sword and led Fox down the hill towards the ruin, Fox asking him questions as they went. Amazonia swung down off the lizard-horse and stretched, Dancer taking the reins as she continued watching them.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Once they were out of earshot, Titan turned towards Asena. "You know Muzen might not be bluffing about the girl being driven to kill herself, right?"

  Expecting Asena to deny it, Amazonia was surprised when she only sighed. "What do you want me to do? If I give in to Muzen's demands, he’ll train Greywolf to be his assassin and corrupt my son once he's gotten me out of the way."

  Prince Timur moved his horse closer towards them. "If we are to attack this Muzen and you help us, you could certainly take this Blood-Wysper as your slave."

  Asena glowered at him. "Prince Timur, I don't want to insult you, but I'm not letting that girl anywhere near my son. She's a mortal, and mortals die."

  He shrugged. "Everything dies in time, even you Oldenbloods."

  "It's time that's the problem. Greywolf's like I am; he's going to fall in love with her, and even if she doesn't die by violence, he's going to watch her grow older and older until she's finally gone. It'll tear his heart to shreds and I won't allow it."

  "You mourn," Titan said in a quiet rumble, "and then you move on."

  Asena shook her head. "No, you don't move on," she snarled. "You find another who loves your wildness and you watch them die. Then you lose another, and another, and even more, until every night the wine you drink to help you sleep wears off, and in the early hours of the morning you relive all their deaths. Oh no, I won't put Ghostdog’s son through the same torment I've gone through, not if I can help it."

  Dancer traded a troubled look with Amazonia as Argat called out, "Look, they've reached the tree."

  Down the hill, Greywolf had his sword out, an Artifact blade shaped like a katana from the far east, and he seemed to be explaining something to Fox as he gestured. Nodding eagerly, Fox moved her hand towards a tree branch as they seemed to count down together: three... two... one... Both touched a tree branch and a wolf-like halo the size of Titan appeared around Greywolf for a moment before it vanished.

  Like a rock hitting a still pond, a single ripple spread outward, robbing the area of color behind it as it moved in the space between one breath and the next, until it reached its limit. Fox and Greywolf were still visible, but moving incredibly fast, Fox's arm a blur of motion as she touched the... it's not a tree but a mass of tentacles! Then the ripple flowed back, color returning to the area as the tentacles became a dead tree once more. Fox waved her arms. "I did it," she shouted. "I've learned how to use the Grey." Amazonia smiled and waved back.

  "Is she sure?" Az could hear the frown in Prince Timur's voice. "Because if she is not, and we find ourselves trapped..."

  The thought of being lost in the Shadowlands was enough to make anyone shudder. "Are you sure?" Amazonia yelled back, cupping her hands over her lips. "Try again by yourself."

  They both waved and Greywolf held his katana at the ready as Fox grasped a branch in her hand. The grey wave rolled out once more. Fox began darting about like a hummingbird, Greywolf seeming to laugh as Fox's arm whipped up... a hairless, birdlike creature the size of a mastiff darted towards them. Greywolf became a spinning blur as Fox turned and ran... a split second fight, Greywolf chasing after Fox… and the grey wave rolled back as color returned. Amazonia ran like the wind down the hill as their movements slowed and their bodies lost their grayness. The creature flew over them like a ghost and disappeared.

  Fox collapsed on the ground, her face in her hands, and Greywolf knelt beside her as Asena roared from behind Amazonia, "Damn you, Daemo slut, I remember you now. I'm sending you back to the spawning pits where you belong!"

  Greywolf looked up as Amazonia reached them, spun around and drew her sword. "Back off," she yelled at Asena, running towards her as the rest of the Wardogs leapt off their mounts. "To kill Fox you've got to get through me."

  Asena roared in defiance, her claws extended and hair bristling as Titan yelled, "HOLD!" Asena glanced over her shoulder.

  And tripped on a stone slab. She went sprawling, sliding across the surface and into a patch of weeds as Amazonia grabbed Fox and moved them to a more defensible position. Greywolf sheathed his sword at his side and ran towards her. "It's not her fault," he said as she picked herself up. "The Shadow Raptor snuck up on us, but I scored its flank and it shot up—”

  Asena grabbed him by the front of his armor and flung him straight towards a leaning stone column. Hades’ hairy eyeballs, he's going to hit it hard.

  A grey oval appeared and Greywolf went through it, the oval disappearing and reappearing a moment later in front of Asena. Greywolf stepped through. "If you're trying to keep me from getting hurt," he yelled, waving his arms, "you're picking a really strange way to do it." Asena snarled as she glared down at him.

  Then she turned around and stalked back up the hill. Titan met her and reached out, but she snatched her arm away and continued stomping up towards the top. Titan shrugged and continued walking in their direction as Amazonia sheathed her sword. "Greywolf—”

  "I'm fine, not even a scratch, no thanks to Asena," Greywolf trying to curb his temper and failing miserably. "Is Fox alright?"

  "It never touched me," she replied.

  "Good." Greywolf drew a deep breath and shouted, "Because right now I need to kill something, not that you care." Asena made the gesture of her four fingertips touching her thumb and held it up, meaning she thought Greywolf was making an arse out of himself. Greywolf snarled as a gate formed and he stepped through it.

  Turning around, Fox was trembling. "Domina—” Greywolf appeared, threw down his katana and sat beside it, crossing his legs with his back to all of them.

  Amazonia put her hand on Fox's shoulder. "I need to know if I can trust you to stay with the group when we travel through the Shadowlands. If you panic and disappear—"

  "I know, Domina, I truly do. I... I think if Titan's guarding me, I'll be alright."

  "Get someone with a large shield and crouch with him behind it," Greywolf said, his back still towards everyone else. "Shadow creatures go for weakness, and usually won't attack a Shadow-walker if there's other people around since we have power over the Grey. Wound a few and they'll leave you alone."

  "I wish you were coming with us," Fox said.

  Greywolf hung his head between his knees. "I can't leave her or she'll die," he said in a quiet voice, "but I can't keep going on like this."

  Titan knelt down beside him. "Your mother is caught between the cliff and the cavalry, terrified of making the wrong choice."

  "No offense, Syr, but Asena's not afraid of anything."

  "You might be surprised. She is terrified of losing you, yet even more terrified that you will make the same mistakes she did, and suffer the same regrets she must now live with."

  Greywolf turned his head and looked up. "But it's my life she's interfering with. I should have the right to make my own mistakes and learn from them."

  "Some mistakes you can't learn from until it's too late." Amazonia walked around Greywolf and knelt down on one knee in front of him. "When certain tribes of the Mauri people revolted against the Etruscans, I joined the Javelin Corps against my mother's wishes and learned to fight." She shrugged. "The rebellion was crushed and I ended up a slave in Thrace, sold to a Ludus and trained as a gladiator. Had I listened to my mother, I'd still be living in our village with a husband and children of my own."

  "But you wouldn't have become a champion of the arena."

  Az unconsciously touched the piece of boiled leather protecting her throat. "I made the best of the fate I'd brought upon myself and never looked back. But I also listened when the other gladiators gave me advice, and acted upon it, so I didn't have to make the mistakes they'd learned from the hard way."

  "Do you regret going against what your mother wanted?"

  Amazonia couldn’t help but snort. "Maybe when I'm old and wrinkled I'll have time for regrets, but right now I'm too busy living my life and trying to stay alive." She extended her hand towards him. "Now, grab your sword and let's get going before anyone else throws a tantrum."

  Greywolf grabbed his weapon in one hand and let Amazonia pull him up as she stood herself, Titan rising to his feet as he rumbled, "By the way, did you kill anything in the Shadowlands?"

  The shadow of a smile touched Greywolf’s lips. "The Shadow Raptor took one look at me, turned tail, and flapped away."

  "Which is a lesson you have just taught me," Fox said. "Show no fear."

  "True, unless it's a Night Hag," Greywolf said as he let go and the four of them started up the hill. "Then you run like a Daemo Oliphaunt was after you. Fortunately, Night Hags tire quickly, letting you escape if you..."

  Greywolf walked on with Fox as Amazonia motioned for Titan to stop a moment. “I never had a chance to speak with you alone last night. Titan…” Amazonia took a deep breath. “Did you know about Antonius’ spirit?”

  “You want to know if I would have asked you to abandon your mission and join me beyond the Khitian wastes, had I known the truth?” Amazonia nodded, and Titan said, “If I had known the truth and not heard what Alexina told you about the Daemo being in your debt, should the Eastern Empire get the breathing room it needs, then yes, I would have. I used to be concerned with the fate of kingdoms and empires, but Asena was right. Everything that rises, falls, and everything that grows, eventually grows old. So now, I concern myself with the fate of those I love, and leave my concerns regarding the fate of the world for others to deal with.”

  “That’s good to know,” Amazonia said with a smile. “It’s like I told the prince last night: I’ve got no regrets over swearing a blood oath to him, even if I can’t do anything about the Sasnayams and remain his Bloodguard until one of us dies. Yet it’s nice to know I mean as much to you as you do to me.”

  Titan chuckled. “I suppose that is the closest you and I will ever get to saying, ‘I love you’, to the other.”

  Amazonia grinned. “Pretty much, yes. Take it or leave it in the dirt.”

  Titan held out his hand. Az took it and, hand in hand together, the two of them walked back towards the others.