Alexa

The library was not as far as Gary had thought. Once they were clear of the palace gates and out into the city, the cobblestone path practically led to it. Keeping his son Harper close, the man looked around the city as the four guards marched with him, two at either shoulder. Though he was unsure if they were there to guide him, or to watch over him. Perhaps both, he was unsure. Looking out across the city in the middle of the day, the man had to admit the city was rather beautiful. It reminded him of those pictures of ancient Greece when he was taught about the civilization back in school, but today, that world was in ruins.

But this?

Everything looked so pristine, so well tended, and cared for, like time had stopped still for this island. He almost felt like a time traveller, walking past a woman guiding a horse pulled wagon filled with clay pots on her way towards the market square, or a baker waiting in front of a clay oven baking bread on mass, pulling out what could be best described as a gigantic frying pan with grooves where a woman that would have put a wrestler to shame in how muscular she was hoisted it out of the oven and upturned it so the freshly baked loaves fell into weaved baskets to cool.

“Hey lady?” Called up Harper to one of their guards, gaining the tall crone’s attention as he pointed over to a trio of women under an open structure sifting and weaving linen strands through a loom, nearby at a table were several folded sheets of cloth already put together and waiting to be picked up. “What are they doing?”

“They are making new clothing for our people child.” She answered curtly. “Our sisters have CENTURIES of experience in the craft and are thus masters at it.”

“Is that why you look so old?”

Euboea’s leathery face creaked into a mask of indignity, had she the capacity, she would have appeared to blush. “I am NOT old! In comparison to my sisters, I be one of the youngest at seventeen hundred years of age.”

“Then that means you’re REALLY old!”

Immediately making a face of embarrassment, Gary picked his son up to be in his arms as he looked back at the fuming warrior woman, gripping her spear and shield tightly. The other three amazons stifling their laughter as they finally reached the grand entrance of the city’s library.

“Do not mind Euboea, Mr Thracy. It has simply been too long since she has had to match wits with a child.”

Looking up to the grand archway of the library, the guards quickly herded the man and his son inside. The interior looked even larger than the outside of the building! All around them, they could see rows upon rows of books, scrolls and tablets dating back who knew how long.

“ALEXA! ARE YOU HERE?” Called out Atla, the woman looking around as her voice carried over the grand library of Themyscira. “WE HAVE COME TO GET YOUR REPORT.” Again, the group was met with an echo of the Amazon’s voice reverberate across the library, but there was still no response.

Turning to see Gary holding Harper in his arms, the woman smirked and shrugged. “She must be at her study, come, we shall meet her at her place of profession.”

“Bah…” Snorted Euboea. “Rummaging around books and papers is no place for a warrior. General Aklyone says so.”

“We serve the Queen, Euboea, we always have. Our people need more than just warriors.” Explained Charis, the dark-haired woman piped in as she guided the rest with her, deeper into the library. “We are not just a standing army my sister; we are a people. A people that needs farmers, crafters, seamstresses and smiths. We must all serve the duty given to us for our people to survive.”

“Hmm… Indeed. SOMEONE must be on latrine duty I suppose…” Smirking as they turned a corner at a bookshelf, the guards and the two they escorted found Alexa. “And speaking of royal duties…”

There with her head resting on her folded arms like a makeshift pillow was Alexa, the chief record keeper and librarian of her highness Queen Hippolyta, sound asleep with ear buds on, while she slept.

“Is that my MP3 player?” Asked Harper, pointing at the woman sleeping.

Rolling her eyes, one of the guards stepped forward and tapped the butt of her spear against the leg of the woman’s chair to wake her up. The moment she did, Alexa had pushed her chair back and snapped awake, her hands raised as fists and looking around alert and cautious, the MP3 player rattling into her lap as it hung off her ears until she realised, she had company and blushed as red as a tomato seeing she had quite a few guests.

“Ah… My apologies…” Alexa smiled sheepishly, brushing down the front of her white dress. “I seem to have lost track of time.”

“It would seem to be morning sister; the Queen wants her report.” Answered Euboea, the elderly looking woman giving the librarian a stern look then nodded to Gary and Harper. “THESE two also seem to need medicine for their elder, they believe its with the items you were tasked to inspect.”

Her eyes going wide, Alexa quickly turned back to the table, plucking the ear buds out of her ears, and bringing up the insulin injector in her hand.

“So THAT’S what that was! My deepest apologies.” Alexa bowed, handing the device to the man in front of her. “I had been studying the contents of your belongings and… Then I came across this lovely enchantment.” She gestured to the MP3 in her hand.

Taking the insulin injector from the woman, he spotted that it had a full capsule in it already.

“He must have been looking for it all day, I just didn’t put two and two together until we found him **** in bed. We need to get this to him right away.”

“Fear not. The purple ray has performed many a miracle in healing our sisters in the past.” Explained Atla, resting a hand on Gary’s shoulder to calm him, seeing that he was relieved but still anxious. “I have seen the purple ray restore lost limbs, erase scars and mend even the mind, your… Grand-Father will be well upon your return to him.”

Looking to the Amazons and back to the insulin in his hand, Gary pocketed the device for now, just in case. “Well, if he’ll be alright, then at least we can give him his medicine when he needs it again. I guess breakfast is in order then?”

“Awww… The battery’s dead!” Pouted Harper, holding the MP3 in his hands and checking the thin plastic sleave where the AA batteries were and rummaged around the tall table to find their replacement. Gently picking the boy up to occupy the chair she was in, Alexa watched intently as the boy plucked a battery from a nearby package and replaced it. Pulling the ear buds from the device, the women were given a start when it immediately began to play music. Unfamiliar with the instruments or the melody it played; the four guards looked to each other in confusion.

“What is this sorcery?” Asked Charis, a little taken back by the sound of a rock band playing.

Leaning to whisper to Atla and Charis, Alexa smiled as she watched the boy press the controls on the tiny device, changing the song being played from a rock band to something calmer. “It’s a most marvelous contraption. For hours I have been listening to it’s symphonies before… Well.”

“It’s one of the reasons I got it for my son, he has trouble getting to sleep, one of the problems with living in the city is it gets noisy, even with the windows closed.” Explained the man, realising his manners in all this, he extended a hand to the red-haired beauty standing before him. The woman eyeing his hand with curiosity before doing the same, finding he slowly brought his hand to hers gently and gave it a shake. “My name is Gary, Gary Thracy, and this is my son Harper.”

“Well then. It is very good to meet you Gary, Gary Thracy.”