Interlude: Watching Amazons (13)

       Sert and Meli had moved to Kestrel's side to nod their acceptance at being left behind.

     “The Amazons will not hold back defending their lands.” Kestrel told them directly. “Trespassers will be killed on sight.” he added bluntly. A ring of murmured rebukes rose around him but with a challenging glare from Sert, none attempted to stop him. He hopped down to the dock without fear of the sea of spear tips pointing toward the ship.

      “I have been summoned by Queen Aurora.” Kestrel proclaimed. The ring of spears aimed inward flickered skyward. “Guide my feet to her my sister.” he added. Sert and Meli watched as they marched Kestrel away from the ship.

      “I wonder how long he will need with such inferior people?” Cole drawled at them.

      “As long as he needs.” Sert retorted. “If it could have been arranged, he would have taken us with him.” he added.

      “I think I would have decided to stay with the ship and crew.” Cole returned. Sert turned to glare at Cole's sneering face. “You never know what savages will do.” he added. Sert felt a tug at his arm and turned to find Meli pointed toward the mud huts.

      “They are taking him into the jungle!” she croaked. She tugged on Sert's arm pulling him behind her to the prow of the ship. “Sert!” she screamed. She turned to face him fully. “He's gone.” she groaned.

      “Lord Kestrel will not so easily be held against his will.” Sert returned bluntly.

      “You are his honour guard Sertian!” she half screamed half sobbed at him. The rock hit his arm before bouncing over the other side of the ship. They both turned to look down spotting an Amazon using the others to hide her motions from their shipmates. She waved at them to approach the rail. Sert moved to the rail casually.

      “Are you Sertian of Atlantis?” she asked in stilted Greek. “Arms man of Melchia?” she added quickly.

      “Yes.” he replied. “How do you know my name?” he continued. He crouched down by the rail as Meli moved to hide him from the rest of the crew. The amazon pushed back her mask revealing a young girl smiling up at him.

      “Name me little sister and ask to see my spear.” she told him quickly. She held up her spear that had paper wrapped around it. “She who is to be your bride's letter explains all, future uncle.” she stated. The other started challenging the sailors verbally in a crude form of what Sert and Meli had learn was a common tongue globally.

      “Little sister!” Sert called out over the challenges. “I am but a mere man that wish to learn about all weapons.” he declaimed. He bowed toward the Amazons as a group which had them silence. “I ask the boon of seeing your spear little sister.” he stated. He felt to one knee at the rail holding his hand outward through the rail as he kept his face down cast. He wait until he felt the warped long spear in his grasp. He lifted it through the rail without problems to stand with it before him.

      “Meli.” he whispered. He glanced down once seeing the girl replaced her mask in place now standing on the post closest to him. “I get the tie while you secure the note.” he ordered to Meli. She nodded in silence while using her body to hide their actions from the crew. “Pull it away as I spin the spear.” he added. She nodded again signalling to him that her hand had the edge of the paper gripped tightly. With but a quick wobbly spin on its butt, the note was unwound from the spear's shaft. Sert tapped the butt against the deck and examined the sharpness of the spear's pointed flint head for a minute to allow Meli to twirl the note into a tight tube which she slipped into the edge of Sert's pouch. He dropped back to one knee at the rail sliding the spear through the rail as easily as he had retrieved it.

      “I thank you little sister for such a honour.” he proclaimed. He held the butt of the spear back to her before lowering his head.

      “He shows good training.” one of the Amazons near the girl stated in Amazonian. “Maybe we should raid the ship for that man.” she suggested.

      “Touch him and I will earn my title by removing you from life.” the girl growled back at her. “He is my blood sister's mate.” she continued fearlessly. “I would protect him in her stead as is my duty.” she added.

      “Does he have brothers?” another one asked. “Ask little sister.” she added.

      “They ask if you have brothers.” she stated in Greek. “Be it by blood or sword brothers of your kind.” she added.

      “None by blood since I am an orphan.” he replied. “Many of my kind would be fine mates but I do not see them ready to leave Atlantis.” he continued. “I thank you again for this gift.” he added. He bowed once more to her before moving away to read his letter.

      Meanwhile, as Meli dragged Sert away Cole moved slowly from group of sailor to group of sailors.

      “I cannot believe that some humans live more like animals than the feral guards.” he comment to the group.

      “They seem simplistic in dress and weapon but ...” one of the sailors commented. “I will heed my captain's warning and not challenge them by stepping into their lands.” he concluded.

      “But they are nothing but savages!” Cole exclaimed. “Our forces could annihilate all of them in a single attack.” he remarked.

      “A foolish action attack weaker beings.” another sailor commented. “Their primitive ways could be part of their strength we are blind too.”

      “If they truly are savages,” an older sailor began, “they would fight like wild beast.”

     “Which would cause more damage to us than you could imagine as a Council lapdog.” the last man concluded. Cole grumbled as he moved to the next group receiving a similar response.

     “May I ask why your marines seem so driven to avoid fighting people that are absolute inferior to them in all ways?” Cole finally asked the captain. He ignored Sert's squawking with the natives. “All I can see here is an overly easy victory.” he added conceited.

     “Because my crew are not butchers.” she retorted. “Even an easy victory causes future aggression that will escalate.” she explained. “That and they are trained to battle on the seas and not on land.” she added.

     “Tell me what you see when you look upon the Amazons?” he returned petulantly.

     “A very close knit race that will kill if threatened.” she replied quickly. “And I would ask myself where the free men and the rest of their tribe are hiding while they act like targets on a rickety dock.” she concluded. She walked away before Cole could force the conversation to continue.

     “Blatant disregard to the Council and fearing animal like things makes me feel unsafe on this ship.” he remarked to himself before returning to examine the army of women holding them at bay without any direct violence.

      “Well?” Meli asked Sert.

      “Maya is doing well.” he answered as he continued reading. “She must stay at Lorenzo's estate for another few years before returning to the north to gain her warrior title.” he muttered.

      “But the Amazon are here in Africa.” Meli returned.

      “She says that her clan of Amazons come from the the field between the mountain ranges of Aspen Nines and Alps.” he explained. “She was assigned by the Queen to work at Lorenzo while her sister came to serve Queen Aurora in Africa.” he continued. “Once her training is completed in Greece, she will join her sister only after receiving her warrior title.” he stated. “I will seek for you at that time with my sister as my spear maiden.” he quoted.

      “I wonder how long before your wife arrives in Atlantis?” Meli teased.

      “You do know that I have feelings for her?” he returned softly. Meli smiled and nodded as Sert blushed deeply.

      “Once we learn that she has claimed her warrior title, I am sure Kestrel can be asked to bring you two together.” she told him.

      “Speaking of Kestrel.” he remarked. He pointed to the space between the mud huts where Kestrel returned with a five Amazon escort. “One is missing from the group.” Sert stated. He reread the last portion of the letter. “Use your eyes to see what is real and false before you my love.” he whispered to himself. He moved with Meli in silence as he examined the Amazons they faced. Their stance and hand on there spears showed more military knowledge than their dress suggested. He watched them move on the dock with a surefootedness of trained warriors that held weapons hidden under their garb. He waited with Meli and Cole near the spot Kestrel had vaulted to the dock. Sert held back telling Meli directly what he observed until later when they were alone.