Amazonian challenges.

You walk into your camp quickly spotting the makeshift dueling area where the sounds and smell of excitement is coming from. A dozen or so dark-haired Amazons of Accor are holding a small tournament trying to decide if there are any worthwhile mates among the Warriors & Mercenaries of all factions in this forsaking war.

"Isn't that captain Nassos?" Sandrine is staring in anger at a barrel-chested man with a badly broken nose and dark beard stepping into the fighting circle. "I heard he and his men were slaughtered in an ambush the week before the siege even began," Sandrine is trying unsuccessfully to contain her rage at discovering that the balding mercenary captain is not only alive, but now in the service of the United Armies. You, however are more interested in the woman he is squaring off against. The tall, dark-haired Amazon in golden armor is younger and taller than most of her Sisters and you recognize the new Queen of Accor as she shrugs off the protests of two other Amazons and steps into the fighting ring. This striking warrior-queen is, from the stories you've heard, the one ruler who is as passionate and undisciplined as you.

"Fuck they're not supposed to be here, he was told not to cause trouble." Lord Marshal Raxius snarls, clearly not happy with the political disaster which is unfolding. Both Raxius and Sandrine push forward to get to the fighting ring an as you follow you realize what that this is no friendly display of skill. Neither combatant is wearing a helm, but other than that they are dressed in full battle armor and the weapons in their hands are no blunted practice swords. Both blades gleam in the morning sun and you can see the razor-sharp edges even from this distance.

Nor are the Amazon queen and this Captain Nassos holding their blows; the queen is striking again and again with her gleaming long sword and while the squat mercenary is too busy blocking the frenzied attack to be much of a threat, when he does return a riposte it is hard and fast. At first it looks like the one-sided fight will soon be over, but the veteran warrior seems content to weather the storm, shrugging blows off his shield and heavy armor and even provoking his opponent with crude comments about how he's going to enjoy her struggling body when he's won. This is far from the other Amazon trials you've witnessed in the past; not some trial of approval, this fight is personal.

Raxius is close to stopping the fight but is intercepted by an older Amazon and a petite priestess of Aphrodite in a elegant gown of vibrant red wool. You've seen this pale-skinned woman before, mingling among the various command tents of the United Armies coalition negotiating on behalf of the small island nation. Alexia may have had a few conversations with her, but she has yet to ask you for an audience although it is probably just a matter of time. From what you understand of the battle of the River Elaina the Sisters of Accor are badly in need of replenishing their supply of drakes and the priestess of Aphrodite has a reputation for shrewd negotiations. As you watch you see the grey-haired Amazon rest her hand on the Lord Marshal's chest plate with an easy familiarity and say something too low even for your augmented hearing to decipher. Whatever it is she told him seems to have settled the general down, and the veteran warrior settles into a comfortable stance by the woman's side.

Catching Alexia's attention you glance towards Sandrine and she nods in understanding. Technically speaking, by bringing Sandrine from the city you have violated the terms of the ceasefire, the last thing you need at this time is for the young woman to be noticed by someone who would call her out for being of Athenapolis. A war captain from United Armies would most certainly want her as a prize and an envoy of the besieged city may **** her back to where she fled from. Neither option would be acceptable, and in spite of your commitment to keep a low profile, there is no way you will let this passionate woman be taken from you by any man.

"Well, this is interesting." Galeon steps to your side, "you prevented Ares from starting a bloodbath at his temple only to find two more of his worshipers trying to kill each other in your own camp." You watch the fight play out a little longer and Galeon shakes his head. "You'll be smelling blood soon enough, Bruce, and I'm afraid it's going to be Amazon blood at that." The young queen is still landing blows on the older mercenary, but like before each one is slightly deflected by the mercenary, and you notice that her strikes are starting to slow and lose their strength. As you survey the cheering crowds you wonder how many of the spectators realize that that their heroine is in danger of losing this fight.

"You are right my friend, but this fight might be more difficult to stop." Both the other Amazons duels you witnessed were clearly won by the warrior women; in one, the defeated man was helped to his feet and lead away by the very woman that had pounded him into submission, in the other the Amazon was unimpressed, and left the man lying on the sand as she wandered away with two of her friends. It is unclear what might happen if the challenger had defeated the Amazon, but judging by the coarse suggestions yelled from Nassos' small group of leering supporters things could get very ugly for the inexperienced young queen. You study the grim-faced Amazon standing surprisingly close to the Lord Marshal. Would she allow her queen to be dragged off to the mercenary's tent to be violated? If the rumors about this beautiful young queen are true, not only does she lack experience in combat but with all aspects of men. Nassos might be position to not only tear away her hymen but also plant a baby in her womb; nothing in the cold sneer of the mercenary captain as he finally starts returning the Amazon's attacks, suggests that he is interested in anything less. The mercenary using his compact body to press the queen back onto her heels and twice now he has succeeded in drawing blood.

The mood of the spectators has shifted as well, no longer are the small group of Amazons cheering on their beautiful queen wildly; the men and women from your camp and representatives from both Athenapolis and the United Armies have all become quiet as the weariness of the warrior queen becomes apparent to even the most casual of observers. Now it is her trying to conserve her strength as she parries repeated blows from the veteran warrior. In fact as you survey the crowd it is clear that the only men cheering now are the men from Nassos' company of vicious killers. As you search for some way to avoid what is now looking more and more inevitable, you are joined by Victor, Barticus, and to your complete shock, Lyra who should according to your reckoning still be two day's flight away with your expected reinforcements.

"My King." The petite Rider that you sent away with your would-be assassin appears worried by your surprise, "Please don't be upset at me your Majesty." The earnest Rider's wide eyes and obvious desire to please makes your oath brothers chuckle.

"Aren't you popular my brother," Barticus slaps your arm jovially, "first, I walk in on you and Alexia then discover you with those pretty noblewomen hanging on your every word and now I find out you've got another beautiful woman after you." He doesn't know about Sandrine yet you realize with a relieved smile as he continues his teasing. "I'm grateful we passed out that night or you may have had my wife also chasing you around too." Victor nods sagely in agreement embarrassing poor Lyra.

"It is not like that!" Lyra objects a little too quickly. "I only watch my king making sure he's safe not for any other reason..." Lyra's protests are undercut by the blush on her cheeks and her inability to meet your eyes.

"That's enough you two scoundrels." Galeon interjects, "take Rider Lyra to Alexia to get her report, Bruce has a much bigger problem to worry about right now." A quick glance back behind you shows a fight that is as one-sided as the one you first witnessed, but now it is Nassos who looks completely in control of it's outcome. As you watch he kicks the Amazon queen's legs out from under her sending her to the sand as he tosses his shield to the side and grabs his crotch with his free hand. As Barticus leads Lyra away Galeon pulls you close.

"I'm going to have to have a talk with you later about your brother's claims," Galeon says when a collective gasp comes from the spectators behind you.