I must admit fear consumed me as I waited in the stinking, muddy hole into which they tossed me. Given the choice, I would have preferred capture by the Waharans to the North, as they tended to me the more merciful of our opponents. At least in the arena it was one on one combat, a shred of respect and chance to decide ones own fate. I had seen the cruelty of the Amazons once as a child. After defeating an opponents army, killing every last male in battle, they rounded up the surviving women and in a terrible ritual, one by one, tied their hands together and hung them by a hook under the ropes and as they struggled, hands above head, slit open their bellies and drained the blood into a tarp that funneled into barrels- the blood to be drank at the victory feast. Merciful they were to the ones under about the age of ten- they were summarily beheaded. Luckily they had not seen me- I had been playing in the forest and was high in the trees above the plain in which the events took place. Thus you will understand my terror- the thought of being hung and my intestines burstng forth as I was slit open was almost too much to bear. The thought of that much agony- as I had seen on the victims faces and heard in the endless screams of pain. It took then a long time to die.

The council had debated for a day deciding the matter and had come up with a most satisfactory sentence in their eyes- "A chance for life" Phaedra had called it, "A Chance to prove yourself worthy." All I had to do was survive a little game in the forest, within marked boundries. Oh yes, since the time of testing drew near for several of the younger Amazon women, they would try to hunt me down and kill me. Good practice to sharped their skills for the time when they would be tested to see if they were good enough to join the Amazon Warriors. There would be twelve against me, armed with bow and sword, knife, and axe depending on choice. To make it fair, no armor would be used and I would be provided with one days food, a weapon, and skin with which to gird my loins.

twelve to one odds. Not promising indeed, but a chance. I thought of the number, why twelve? why...I struggled to remember all I had learned about them- as a general I had to know my opponents in order to try and defeat them. Terror still slowed my brain and the answer eluded me. A rustling at the door to my cell brought me back to my senses- time to start the game. Two guards escorted me to the gates of the city- thousands of Amazons looked upon me with scorn as I was paraded towards my fate. We finally stopped near the gate, Phaedra and the council were waiting on a platform above. All sound stopped as She stepped forward to speak. "Now you may meet your opponents.", and the hunting party came forward. I looked upon them and noted that a couple of the twelve appeared older and then the missing information I had been trying to recall came- the bonding. The amazons "bonded" in groups of three- like blood sisters, to care and protect each other in life and death. In this instance the veterans were getting ready to bond with two apprentices soon, and as a final training, were going to hunt live game with them. I felt a little hope now for I could see some anxiety and nervousness in the novices. Perspiration showed freely and the restless shuffling of feet told me I could win against them, but the veterans, that was the problem. Cold and hard as iron they were, better in battle than all but the finest of warriors, one would be difficult enough to manage, but 4! Then the hammer blow fell as their leader showed herself. Tall and slender, hair of coppery red and eyes of emerald fire she had, skin the color of bronze and hard sinewy muscles everywhere. Her name was Selene, she was my lover.

Had I not said the Amazons were cruel? To live I would have to lose the very thing I wanted most. The dream of any children would die too, for if she indeed carried any, they too would be lost with her death. What must she be thinking, I looked in her eyes and of course they were filled with hate. She was an Amazon! Humiliated and rebuked because of her weakness for a man, I reckoned she must now prove her own worthiness by killing me. I wondered what penalty awaited her if she failed. My eyes watered with pure rage- a chance at life? To prove how right Phaedra was about the dangers of men, how they would lead to doom and downfall of any Amazon who fooled around too much with them. How men cared more for themselves and the proof would be me killing my lover. I vowed if I lived, that I would have my revenge on Phaedra, even if it meant my life. I whirled around to face Phaedra and saw her smirk, her understanding of my plight. "The sun has risen, you have until it appears highest in the sky until we follow. The boundaries are trees marked in white, stray beyond them in any direction and your life is forfeit, the same for your opponents. We will be watching."

"The Game Begins...Now!"

I ran.

Out the gates and into the forest beyond. I could see Amazon warriors spaced within a bowshot of each other, the sentries whom would enforce the boundary rules. I ran into the forest, trying to remember a plan of attack I had formulated earlier. Breathe, breathe, I told myself- dead is the warrior whom has no control over himself. Step one, find a river or stream, scout locations of defense and attack- there was plenty of time to know my surroundings before the Amazons came. I jogged along the outer perimeter of trees marked with white bands, slowly making a spiral around towards what I judged to be the center. The Amazon hunting ground was well chosen, many dense copses of trees, rocky outcrops and rugged terrain offered lots of options, but my goal was the river I knew had to be here. In a matter of minutes I found it, a decent size stream, deep and old, the banks damp. Perfect, I thought.

My father was an excellent hunter and one of his tricks was to smear himself with mud, to disguise his scent to better sneak up on his quarry. I employed the same trick, figuring if I knew about scent, then the Amazons surly did too. I then backtracked to the entrance path and set several snares- sharpened saplings bent backward so that when tripped, they would drive into the leg, or body of the person whom tripped it. Not instantly lethal, but would definitely hurt an opponent and perhaps buy me the critical extra seconds with which to kill her. A horn sounded in the distance, they were coming. I hid near the entrance in dense brush so I could see what they planned. THe twelve came quickly, running nearly silent upon deerskin footwear. They ran past and at a signal given by Selene, the split into the 4 groups of sisters, each moving in a different direction. Obiously there was significant honor to be had by which group killed the quarry, but I felt better dealing with 3's.

My only hope was to kill one quickly and better arm myself so I trailed one group silently thanking my father for the skills of hunting and stalking taught to me over many years. I watched as the broke up, each taking a lane through the forest, finally ending up near the river. One novice went along the bank, the veteran into the forest and another novice up a crest of rock, perhaps to scout. This was my chance, so I trailed the novice to the rocks, hiding behind tree and shadow to escape detection. The novice was young, very young judging by her tight face, unlined by weather or battle, her golden hair tied back to reveal a slender neck. She had made a critical error by coming to this spot for she was out of sight of the others. she stood up to look around and at that moment I struck. I crossed the 3 or 4 steps from forest to rock in seconds and too late she heard my footfalls. I struck her full force from behind, one hand going across her mouth, my foot tripping hers. She fell with my full weight upon her. I heard muffled cracks as we hit the rock, several of her ribs breaking clean from the force. She tried to scream, but my hand muffled any sound and as she tried to overcome the shock of pain, my right hand drew my knife across her pretty slender neck. The young flesh parted easily, like silk between the baldes of a weavers shears. There was a hiss of escaping air and I felt warm blood between my fingers as it gurgled from her mouth. Her body flailed as a fish upon the dock, struggling to return to the water, but I pressed her down, to keep the sounds muted. I watched as her blood slowly ran along the granite, her life running out with it untill she was still. The process had not taken more than half a minute, but it felt like an eternity.

I quickly took her bow and quiver and rolled her over to strip her provisions and sword. I glanced her again, she was so young, maybe no more than fifteen or sixteen seasons. Pretty deep blue eyes, now glazed with death, yellow hair so fair as the finest wheat under the mid-day sun now stained red with her life's blood. A child never to grow into woman. Two rib bones protruded from her side. A pang of guilt stuck me, but I had no time for regret and I moved quickly back into the forest, finding a spot overlooking the crest. I took out an arrow and tried the bow. The tension was good, so I readied it and waited. When her sisters came for her I would be ready. I did not have to wait long. The other novice appeared from the forest, her sweep completed and intending to meet up with her sister. She stiffened when she saw the body, crouched down and quickly scanned the forest. Sensing no danger she scuttled up quickly to the body and seeing the slit throat, stood up at the crest edge and whistled a call. I drew back the bow, the novice hearing the sound whirled around, but too late. The arrow was already in flight and as she saw me her eyes widened, then the arrow hit home. It thudded into her chest, just below the breastbone and covering deerhide, piercing deep and through, the point protruding from her back. She screamed in pain, a short bark, for the force of the arrow had thrown off her balance. Realizing she was doomed, she drew breath and as she toppled over the edged she unleashed a terrible scream, echoing on and on until it stopped with a sudden grunt as her body broke upon the earth.

I knew her last scream was a warning and beacon to her "mother" sister, telling her where she might avenge her death. I dropped the bow and drew sword, knowing the veteran was in the forest and bow would be rendered useless by all the branches. I felt a presence and I knew I was in trouble, I dropped to earth. A sword whistled over my head as the Veteran, who had snuck behind me tried to seperate my head from body. I rolled over and raised my blade to parry off the next stroke which I knew was coming. My instinct again saved me as the sword trembled, stopping the blow. I thrust my blade forward, but the Amazon easily jumped back, escaping it. That gave me time to recover and I stood and looked my opponent full in the face.

Her eyes were jet black, same as her hair. Her face tanned and hard, scars from battle across her forhead told me I was facing a dangerous opponent. Her body was muscular and a white scar from a sword wound of long ago ran across her bare abdomen. "May Hades have no mercy upon your soul," she whispered, voice dead. I rushed her, knowing time was of the essence. I must be away from here before more arrived. She blocked my blow and I her counterstroke. She again swung high towards my face and I dropped to one knee and as the blade whistled above me I grabbed a handfull of dirt and stones and as I rose, threw them into her face. A cowards trick to be sure, no warrior would think of cheating that way in battle. The Veteran blinked as the stones hit her eyes and the dirt blocked vision only for a moment. The moment, the precious second in which life and death is decided. The thrust I had started after the stones had left my other hand penetrated her guard and her dead apprentices sword claimed her life. It entered her left side, just below the ribcage, sliding in deep ruining organ and cutting flesh. She cried out at the sharp pain and at the pull of the blade as I widthdrew it. "No.."she gasped, "Not by you!". My answer was a swing of the blade, now stained deep red from her blood. It parted her head from body, more blood fountaining from the stump of her neck. The body collapsed and the head came to rest beside it.

I quicky gathered her food, arrows and the small axe she wore at her side. Her sword I took too. The novices sword would send another message. I thrust it into the Veteran's stomach, just above the navel, running it into the ground. The veterans head I impaled upon the handle. I hoped the desicration of their sisters body would impart anger in her companions. Anger can lead to miscalculation and haste and perhaps give me another advantage. Now I fled quickly down by the riverbed. In a small crevasse, I washed quickly and then again rolled in the mud. I moved into the dark forest, finding a hiding place in some bushes. I ate to replenish my strength. They would be coming, the 9 who remained. Coming to send me to the same fate as their sisters. I shuddered, finished and moved quietly into the woods to seek out death first, rather than it find me. The sun was sinking in the West, the sky would soon be the color of blood.

The forest is alive with sounds. Birds and animals going about their lives, creating home or meal. Knowing how to move through it without disturbing such natural ambiance is a skill which will keep you alive. I had it, but unfortunately so did my opponents. At least that put us on equal terms, something I hoped the Amazons were not used to. The sun was sinking, the already dark forest becoming blacker as I moved through it, looking for signs of my enemies locations. Deep in the forest I went, the older growth trees towering above me, like Gods. Movement to my left stopped me cold- I shrunk into the shadows of a tree. A solitary figure by another tree- it looked like a novice, but was not sure. I readied an arrow, but a glance by the novice upward stopped my shot. I glanced and saw another figure standing in the trees, barely visible against the trunk. A veteran, waiting for her novices to flush me out. Tricky, very tricky- I was fortunate the novice had tipped me off, I readied myself, for my shot would have to be quick and accurate. The veteran would not remain exposed for long. I shot as rapidly as I could, exposing myself from the tree and then shrinking back to shadow afterward.

The veterans arrow thudded into the trunk inches from where my head had been. I heard a cry and dropping to the ground snuck a peek. The shaft of my arrow had penetrated the Veterans side, the shaft deep in her intestines. She fell from the tree to the floor below. I ran. I retreated back into the forest as the last light of day vanished, leaving us in blackness. I sat, listening. I knew hunting in the black was pointless, more chance of generating needless noise than discovering more targets. A light flared ahead. I was stunned, who would risk such a thing and why? I moved forward to investigate. In among the trees, a small fire had been built. Two figures moved around it, a third lie on the ground. Apparently the veteran had not been killed in the fall and her two sisters risked the light in order to save her. One had an object inserted in the veterans mouth, the other appeared to have already cut the arrow from her sister and was now sewing her up. The fire had been needed to sterilize the tools as so not to save their sister now, only to empart some fatal infection later.

I watched enthralled by the skill of the novices, not only good fighters, but doctors too! They must love their sister very much to have risked all to save her. They must also figure I had gone to ground for the night. It seemed a shame to kill them. Another figure strode quickly into the light followed by two more, red hair gleamed- Selene! Her hand talk demonstrated her extrme agitation, gesturing at the fire and then at the abashed novices. I had to act, before the chance was lost. I drew back and shot an arrow right at my love. It was a poor shot. It hit her in the right shouder, glancing through the flesh. She cried out in suprise as I loosed another arrow at a novice. This arrow was true and it pierced her breast. She screamed and fell over, striking Selene and knocking her off balance she fell right on her backside...on the fire. Selene screamed horribly as her womanhood was seared. Her deerskin, soaked with dirt and oil from her own sweat ignited. She popped up, her midsection alive with flame. She beat at the garment trying desperately to put out the flames, screaming in agony. The three novices stood in shock at the sight of their leader and the carnage I had envoked. The flames had now ignited her hair and the skin covering her breast and she became a human torch, screaming and screaming. Bile rose in my mouth as I loosed another arrow at a novice, striking her right between the eyes. She fell as a log would, without complaint. I could not waste another shaft on my love, how I wanted to end her suffering for pity!

The two remaining novices came to their senses and fled to regroup I assumed. Selene had fallen to the ground and the screams had finally stopped as the fire burned her lungs. I rose from my hideout and quickly strode to the veteran, whom had suffered so much, from my attempt to kill her and then her sisters attempt to save her. I removed the small axe from my belt and looked at her. Her eyes still gleamed with pain but still pride shown through. The deep blue of the Amazon. I knelt beside her and said "You are a worthy opponent, die with honour." I buried the axe deep between her breasts. The Amazon grunted, mouth open from shock, then spat forth a fountain of blood, which covered her face, and then lay still. I again took provisions and as many arrows as I could find and then strode into the forest. I felt sick as I past the black, still burning, smoking corpse of the woman I had loved, and now killed in a most horrible and cruel way. The Gods would surely torture me for this night.

I jogged into the blackness, my thoughts staying on my now lost love. I smelled something sharp, almost acidic in quality which brought me back to my senses. I took one stride off to my right, and I felt the pain of a blade sliding along my arm, as I heard a war cry from the figure that materialized from the blackness. I ducked and moved to the left, purposely colliding with the novice who had ambushed me. It was her scent I had smelled, the scent of rage and fright. I still had my axe in hand and we struggled, her to bring sword into play, me with my axe. Advantage to me, for a sword is not good in close quaters. Again I used my superior size and tripped her, shoving forward as to land on top of her. We fell and I landed solidly on her, driving the breath from her body. I chopped with the axe, slicing open her side, intestines errupting from the slit. She gasped, and I tried to raise the axe for a final blow. As I raised my arm, something grabbed it and the axe flew from my grasp. At the same time I saw several figures energe from the opposite side of the fire. Something cold and slimy enveloped my hand and I looked down at the Amazon below me. A loop of intestine ran from her belly around my hand- the axe had caught it and on the upswing, the intestine had caught on the ribcage, depriving me of my weapon. I needed silence or I was dead. Hardly without thinking I half rolled the stunned Amazon, whos own hands were trying to find her missing innards, and looped the coil of intesting around her throat several times, cutting off her air. Her hands flew to her neck, I grabbed them and forced them over her head, her body pressed down by mine. I breahted through clenched teeth as my face was buried into the dark moist fur under her arm, her sweat and stench filling my nostrils, but preferable to smelling her insides, which were on the opposite side of my head.

She struggled, slowly strangling, fighting against my bulk, but to no avail. I held my position, all concentration on silencing sound. The figures at the fire numbered 4, two in discussion and two on lookout. I recognized one of the novices, who had gone for assistance while the other stayed to try and avenge her sisters deaths. They stayed no more than a minute, listening to the remaining veteran who was in charge before the fire was kicked out and all became black again. I heard rustling away from us and I hoped they had moved on to shelter and defended positions for the night, cutting their losses until morning. My own struggles ceased as the novice expired, but I held still, the terror of another ambush upon my mind. Finally after many minutes, I slowly rolled off. I gasped for fresh air instead of the pungent scent I had endured. The moon had risen, providing faint light with which to study my latest kill. She was also young, dark hair, dark eyes, wide open with terror and despair. I could imagine her suffering, how she must have longed for breath, how long it took for her to die. Bound helpless and strangling upon her own insides. I figured she was older than my first kill, for her face seemed harder, her scent stronger, but a child still. I found her quiver and food and added the contents to my own. I said a small prayer as I left, for a nicer afterlife, for her death had been a cruel and tortureous one. I found a hollow in a tree and holed up for the night. The first stop would be for water, for I used the last of mine to wash my her smell from my face.

It reminded me of how evil my dark half was, and how I had found pleasure in the feeling of that dark haired novices struggle for life under me. The massive errection returning as I thought of the warm,soft flesh of the novice, and the thrill of having her die under me. I had killed without mercy, and I had enjoyed it.

I allowed myself to half sleep the rest of the night. Strange how moments of extreme anxiety is as tiring as a days work. I was stunned not only to have lasted the day, but to have killed 8 Amazon warriors, including 3 of 4 veterans. The veterans were my first targets, as to confuse the novices who would not be used to making decisions on their own. To have caused such carnage in one day must have thrown Phaedra, Amazon Queen into a towering rage. I assumed spies lurked everywhere, silently reporting the battles to the Queen via handspeak. You can't have a game without an audience!

I also knew I had been extremely lucky. The one wound I had was not lethal, although it had required very tight binding with leaf and vine. It needed sewn, but without tools to do so, I made do. I very carefully arose just as the first light of dawn came and made my way to the stream, to the crevasse where I washed up, cleaned my wound, ate and finally covered myself in mud yet again. I was very suprised the Amazon's had not thought to use this technique of hiding scent. I was sure they knew of it, but perhaps pride and confidence had overrided caution, much to their own loss. They now knew I was a dangerous opponent, thus even though I faced only a third of the original party, they would be much more dangerous, all their concentration and skill sharp from the stinging defeats of yesterday.

I had enough food for several days and with the rest of last night, I was going to hunt for a full day if necessary. It seemed the Amazons had no taste for night battle, but then maybe they had assumed I did not either, and had not pursed this option either. I decided to move back twards the entrance to the forest and check my snares. They were, of course, not sprung, but in any case, I set several more for if I had to run, I could try to lead the pursurers through here and maybe catch one or two unawares.

The forest grew darker and the sky became grey, the air damp, rain approached. The game now more dangerous than ever, for now all sound was muffled, my camoflauge rendered usless as the mud ran from my body as the rain fell. What to do, that was the question now. Do I continue upon my aggresive course, or sit tight and wait for the Amazons to come to me? I finally decided I must press the battle, try to fight on my terms, rather than let my skilled opponents dictate reaction. I moved toward the old growth of the forest.

I was exceedingly careful in my movements and it took twice as long to cover the same distance as yesterday. As I exited quickly from a tangled mess of vine, straight across from me, an Amazon appeared. We looked at each other, stunned. She was tall and limbre, her brown skin glowing bronze from the rain, her eyes, a lupine yellow flashed death, her yellow hair tied back as to be out of the way. Her sword was out in an instant and her war cry errupted from parted lips as she charged forward. My own blade was ready in an instant and I braced for her blow. Pitched battle was bad for me and I knew I was in serious trouble.

Her blow came as though she was chopping at a mighty oak. Crash- my sword trembled as the strength behind the blow suprised me, it was every bit as strong as most men and it notched my sword. I countered with my own blow, easily parried by the warrior. We exchanged blows left and right, up and down. I was desparate, her sisters must be close by and I had to leave soon, or I was dead. I took a terrible chance and used the most dangerous move I knew. Upon my next sweep with the sword, I went from left to right, down to up, purposely leaving the Amazon an opening in which to strike. She took it, reflex overriding reason, for the opening would allow her sword to pierce my side at best. Of course her aim was true and as I rotated my hip, her sword pierced me, entering into the flesh and I felt equal pain in my back as it exited. I purposly screamed as to make her think I was hurt bad, but at the same time I swung my sword around, right to left, and chopping down upon her exposed forearm. My sword cut clean through her arm, severing it above the wrist.

I stepped back and ripped her sword and clamping severed hand from my body as the Amazon stood tall, screaming in shock and pain, watching her blood fountain in spurts from the stump. She looked me full in the face and I took the opportunity to swing my sword back around, slicing clean across her exposed stomach, disembowling her. Her scream cut short as her diaphram exitied through the wound, and blood ran from her mouth as she fell. I turned and ran, as much as I wanted her possessions, I couldn't wait around for her sisters must be within seconds of coming and I knew the wound the Amazon had given me would start to stiffen my movements without promp aid.

It was already to late. I gasped in shock as it felt like I was hit in the left shoulder by a club. I almost fell, but kept running, back tward the entrance to the forest. I glanced at my shoulder and saw the arrow point protruding. Fool! I told myself, to have taken the time to kill the Amazon. She would have died anyway, but my newfound joy for killing had caused me to stay too long. The joy of watching the pain in those yellow eyes as her innards were carved out, I had seen the pain and loved the pleasure of the resistance on my blade as it cut through her lovely bronze flesh. Now I had 3 opponents after me, and I was wounded. Now all I could do was run. The pursures whooped and cried, experiencing the joy of hunting. Their cried were chilling and I was scared now, I could here their footfalls, they must be closing in fast. I reached the entrance and juked left and right around trees trying to make another bowshot impossible. I ran past the entrance and into the other side of the forest. Not two seconds later I heard a twang and a scream, I glanced back and saw one Amazon had tripped a snare, the sapling now buried deep in her thigh. She was in mid-fall, as her companion ran into the back of her and they both fell in a tangled heap of limb and weapon.

I stopped, now I could bring bow into play. I reached back to find..nothing. My bow! Stupid!! I had dropped it when I was forced to engage the last Amazon. Nothing but a quiver of useless arrows on my back. I had to engage now, too late to start running again. I looked for the third Amazon, and saw her running up to my right. I shifted the sword to my almost useless left hand and grabbed the small handaxe from my belt. I threw the axe at the two Amazons on the ground, hoping to incapacitate one or both so I could fight one to one. I heard a thump as the axe struck something, but now the Amazon was upon me. A raven haired warrior, her expression was death itself as she came to me. Wicked was her blow, my sword turning at the blow in my hand. I regripped it and warded off the second blow, and the third. So fast and hard she fought that I could mount no offense. I stepped backward to clear some space, and my foot slipped from beneath me on the wet ground. I fell awardly and fortunately, the Amazons sword had aimed high so her sweep went through clean air, momentarily making her stop to recover.

I rolled over and over and finally used the momentum to stand up. More trouble, for now two figures stood in the rain facing me. Another young blonde, she had a puncture wound in the leg from my snare. She roared and stumlbled forth along with her untouched companion. I circled around, attempting to keep the black haired one between me and her as to only fight one of them. It failed as the raven haired Amazon countered my circle, placing me instead between the two of them. Swords flashed. I parried with Raven and juked to miss the thrust from the blonde. I rotated around, striking at the young blonde, she blocked me and Raven pressed forward. I threw up my blade, warding off her fierce attack. As I did so, the young blonde lunged at me, her blade sliced my chest. Her momentum carried her into me. As we collided I plucked the knife from my belt with my stiffening left arm and stabbed her in the back, just above the right buttock and then pushed backward. The push spun the blonde around towards the other Amazon as she cried out in pain.

The dark haired Amazon was already into her next move and the luckless blonde fell right in its path. Her cry was cut off as the other Amazons sword suddenly exploded from between her breasts, red crimson ran down her chest from beneath the deerskin. The blonde screamed horribly. The raven haired Amazon was stuck, for her sword was unusable and her companions body had all but stopped her movements. I took one step and thrust straight forward with my sword, using all the strength that remained to me . The blade pieced through the blondes navel and I drove the sword in all the way to the hilt. The blade came out her back and into the midsection of the dark haired Amazon. She cried out in shock, and then screamed in rage. She and the blonde fell in unison to the ground. I moved quickly over to them, raven hair still lived and she looked at me from beneath her now conjoined sister with unconcealed hatred and contempt. "You will never live!" she screamed. "Phaedra will avenge us!" "She will never let you go!".

With only her head and part of her neck exposed from beneath the dead blonde, and me having only one arm and a knife, my options were few. "This is gonna hurt," I wispered to her. I put the knife at her throat and sawed at it. Blood fountained and the Amazon cried out in agony. I turned away and got up quickly for one Amazon still remained. I listened to the Amazon scream in pain and rage as I made my way carefully to the snare. My chest burned and bled, the wound fairly deep. My arm had stiffened to uselessness, the last thrust with the knife all it could handle. The rain had stopped. I saw a body laying almost fetal like on the forest floor, by the snares. I kicked her over and gasped. The Amazon lived, but where her mouth and chin should be was nothing but gore. The axe had evidentally smashed her jawbone and cheek. No sound could be emitted from the carnage, but her tears and trembling body gave evidence of the overwhelming pain. I looked around and saw the axe. I picked it up and went over to the critically injured Amazon. Her raven haired sister's screams had stopped, and with the fall of rain stilled, the forest was silent.

She was another novice, youthfull skin, small breast, taught body. My guilt was overwhelming and tears ran from my eyes. "I am so sorry", I cried, "Long shall be my shame for this!" "I have killed 8 children in my eyes and cursed be the name of Phaedra whom also bears responsibility for this crime!" She looked at me with moist green eyes, soft eyes, they spoke of mercy. I screamed at the top of my lungs and buried the axe right between those eyes, the thunk of the axe splitting open her skull ended her suffering. I sat there for several minutes, weeping uncontrollably at the waste of life. How cruel for Phaedra to have sent children to learn how to kill. Is this the Amazon way? To kill from childhood?

I became aware of several figures standing beside me. Three Amazons dressed in armor bade me rise. "You have won, Master Prince, Phaedra wants to see you before you are released." The leader continued "Cursed be your name Master Prince for the harm you have caused here, if any Amazon sees you in her lands again, we will drink the blood from your still living flesh." "Drop any weapons and follow us." I complied, but the image of green eyes was all I saw. Green Emeralds in my irises, green emeralds behind my sight....I knew now what Raven had spoken of. I knew what I must do...my life was forfeit.

They helped me, none to gently, back to the City where my wounds were tended and I was bathed and clothed. Scorn shown from every eye I encountered, for they knew what I had done. Finally, they led me into Phaedras residence, into her bedroom. Archers bearing huge bows stood flanking the doors. I was stunned as I looked around, at the spartan bed in the center of the back wall, murals of Amazon battle on the walls, torches gave off flickering light. Phaedra sat at a desk, reading a scroll. I stood at attention in the center of the room, nerves jangling, for this did not seem right.

"Ah, Master Prince and Warrior, congratulations on your victory." Phaedras voice was mocking as she stood. In the torchlight she was beautiful, Auburn hair ran to her waist, she had the Amazon blue eyes, deep wells of hypnotic color, she was as tall as me and her wide shoulders and large busom hinted at great strength. Gold necklace and headband were the only hints of royalty. The rest of her dress was Amazon, deerskin covered her chest and loins. Her face and red lips were stunning in their radiance.

The face hardened. "You have put me in a difficult position Master Prince. I admit we underestimated you greatly by sending such young novices and warriors against you. Apparently you feel some anger by this choice of ours." "You slaughtering such youth has some grumbling for revenge. Never in living memory has a man killed so many!" "The council looks foolish for sending them instead of true warriors."

"Have you no pity!", I shouted. "They should have grown into women, instead you sent them to their deaths before they could grow up and live! You used them as pawns in your own games. You are evil, sending Selene to face me. To choose death over love- you are heartless Phaedra Queen of the Amazons..Heartless!".

She laughed.."Heartless? We are Amazons! War is our life! They knew going into the game the danger. Look into my mirror Master Prince. Is your heart any bigger, the way you slaughtered them, the way you burned your own love to a horribly painfull end. The way you suffocated one of those children with her own insides?"

"It matters not at this point. I have more important things to consider. The council cannot rule without the support of the people and right now some do have doubts. If I set you free, they may seek my head. If I kill you, I will have broken my promise to allow you to live if you survived. I must consider my next choice very carefully."

I pointed to the bed. "I see it is big enough for two Phaedra, would even the Queen be condemed as Selene was for loving a man?" I smiled at her.

Her eyes opened wide in shock at the jab and she quickly strode over to me and slapped me hard across the face, her nails opening channels of red on my cheek. She took two steps back towards the bed and swept her arm out at it. "How dare you speak to me that way! No man has ever touched these lips- I am pure!"

"As you condemed my love so shall you be condemed!!" I shouted as I ran towards her at full speed. Phaedra stood in shock at my lunge. I heard the bow strings twang and I braced myself. Thwack thwack- two arrowheads protruded from my chest. Thwack, thwack, the arrows kept coming. The powerful bows had great stopping power, the problem was they were shooting at my back, the imact driving me to my target. More stabbing pains as arrows pierced my flesh and bones. How many, six, eight hit me as I reached her. I grabbed Phaedra and hugged her tight as I pushed one last time towards the bed. We fell onto it, the arrows piercing Phaedras body, joinging us together.

Phaedra screamed in pain, then in rage. "No..no..NO!!!" We lay still, my body in exquist agony, my vision swimming. Phaedra lay below me, blood stained her lips. "Burn in Hades worthless scourge of manhood!" She gasped from the effort. "I love you too", I replied and pressed my lips to hers. The taste of her blood and mine mingling was satisfying. Phaedras strength had left her, as had mine and I wondered if we would be buried together, or if they would actually honor Phaedra, even now unpure and throw me into some hole. I wondered, as my vision slowly turned black at the edges, black working towards the center what we would do when we meet again in another life, for this one, for us, was over.