Burial.

A week had passed since the army had returned and Arerto had been brought home. She had laid in state in the temple for the people to walk past to pay their respects. Today was the day that she would be laid to rest in the royal burial grounds and as per tradition, she would be buried in a reed casket that would decay back into the soil over time. Her body would be put back into the ground when it decayed as all the royals believed in this form of burial. The six warriors now stood with the reed casket on their shoulders and when the trumpets sounded they walked forward and down the temple steps to the waiting carriage. The casket bearers had been drawn from Arertos personal guard and the rest lined the route to the wagon and they all stood rigid and upright as the casket passed. Behind the casket came the Queen accompanied by her two other daughters and Helena who the Queen now considered a daughter. Then followed Julieanna and Kriss along with Cheytelle who had been given amazon citizenship and after this group, various dignitaries followed.

The trumpets sounded again and the funeral cortege moved off to wind through the streets of the city so that the citizens could further pay their respects. The crowd was subdued in respectful silence as the carriage passed by escorted by mounted warriors on pure white horses until they started to climb the road to the royal cemetery. Once inside the casket was removed and placed on the ropes that crossed the burial hole and would be lowered using them. The congregation came together and the priestess gave the eulogy and Arerto was laid to rest with replicas of her sword and shield. The originals hung on the wall of the main hall in the palace. The mourners then returned to the palace and celebrated the life and passing of Arerto well into the night. The next day the palace and the realm moved on each person with their own memories of Arerto. Eventually, the wounds would heal over time but they would still remember her.

Queen Alcippe ruled for another ten years then stepped down in favour of her daughter Princess Chasin. Upon her death, Alcippe was laid to rest next to Arerto.

Helena kept her promise by leaving the military and becoming an educator and living a long and happy life all be it alone but she was happy.

Julieanna also left the military and became a diplomat. Her first mission was to Hansmead where she with Marcus signed a peace treaty along with trade agreements. This treaty was officially called the Arerto peace accords. Upon her death, she was and remains the only non-royal to be buried in the royal cemetery.

Kriss took over from Julieanna and eventually rebuilt the army and became the commander of all the Amazonian armies. She led the army to many victories and retired as a well-admired leader.

The sacrifice of one warrior had changed the lives of so many and for the better. She had saved the army from destruction during the skirmishes at the pass. More importantly, she had brought about peace between Freeconia and Hansmead and both civilisations flourished.

The End