Honouring wagers.

Returning to the marketplace, the Thracy family were left relatively alone to eat in peace at last. Save during that time, they had quite the crowd of amazons giving Harper attention or found genuine curiosity in the two men. Several had asked how Gary was able to make child’s play of their most difficult test, finding his inability to remember how as simple humility on his part.

Sitting with the three, it made Diana smile to find her sister so exuberant, smiling and laughing as she held Harper’s hands in hers, laughing as he kicked his legs out when she pulled him up off his feet. It warmed her heart to see the woman so… Happy. And not just her. The boy’s presence had awoken a side of her sisters she had never seen since the time she too was a child.

When their meal was done and the day had passed to darken into evening, Diana led the three to her personal quarters. ON their way the guards gave the four a mix of looks. Some gave them steely disciplined stares, some looks of contempt, others found their resolve crack as their eyes followed the clumsy gait of the 4 your old child looking up at them, resisting the urge to wave back when the child waved a hand to them. Reaching her personal quarters, the princess found her guards Atla and Areto there still on guard, their attention falling on the three guests as their princess stopped before them.

“Atla, Areto, these are our guests, they will be sleeping in my quarters for tonight, I will be staying at the stables.”

Eyeing the three behind the princess, Atla was the first to speak after trading looks with Areto.

“Does the Queen know of this your highness?”

“I will inform her when the time is right, until then, if anything needs to be brought to my attention, you will find me in the royal stables, likely Episteme will be there even this late at night.” Turning and resting a hand on Phin’s shoulder, gently squeezing it with a warm smile, the older looking man nodded as she gestured for his family to enter, the double doors creaking open thanks to the two guards opening them.

The interior of the room was spacious, with high windows with silken blinds and tapestries on the walls showing murals of the Amazon’s storied past. At the center was a larger bed big enough for several people, along with tables, scrolls and various personal items belonging to Diana.

“Are you sure about this?” Asked Phin, finding the gesture and location a little lavish for his taste. “That lady wasn’t too keen on us being here.”

“She is a servant of the crown and thus answerable to my mother and myself. Her… Actions, have overstepped her own authority and will be dealt with.” Resting both hands on his shoulders and forcing the bearded man to look up at her warm, smiling face, she continued. “Until then, please have a good rest, we shall see what we can do to get you back home.”

Looking down to find Harper looking up to her, Diana’s smile showed her perfect teeth as she easily hoisted the young boy up into her arms to sit in the crook of her arm as she stepped inside. Sitting him om her bed, she made to leave, saying her farewells to the family when she closed the doors behind her and readdressed her personal guards.

“See to it they are safe and well tended to, as promised by your Queen.”

“Yes, my princess, they will be cared for.” Bowed Aleto, she and Atla stamping their spears to salute their Princess.

Knowing their safety was assured, Diana bowed to her own guards and turned to leave, heading her way out of the palace to step out into the open grounds and towards the stables, as she had offered. Making her way out the arched entrance of the palace, Diana paused briefly to lean against a support pillar as she felt a shiver course through her. The same shiver she felt when she made that proposal earlier that day. Just as quickly as it came, it left. Leaving Diana to look down at her hand, finding her skin supple, smooth, and healthy. But overall, unchanged.

Out in the open she could see the night’s sky overhead, the stars in full view without a cloud in the sky. A contrast to the mid-day where a turbulent storm brought new guests. Making to the stables, she silently opened the gate to enter the large wooden structure, finding many of the horses and kangaroos either asleep or sitting awake, spotting the amazon princess make her way inside and quietly close the gate behind her. Meandering her way through the stables on foot in the dark and keeping sure not to wake the other horses, Diana found a spot and bundled hay together to make a cushion to rest on, finding her favorite roo Jumpa asleep nearby.

The moment she laid down next to her, the animal perked its ears and looked up, grunting out sleepily before shifting itself over to rest her head in her lap. Making Diana smile.

Looking across the stable, her smile remained when she found her friend Epistome asleep, resting her head against the stomach of one of the horses who slept soundly despite being the woman’s pillow. The woman sleeping peacefully, her face both serene… And stunning. Not only had her beauty been restored, but constant work tending to the stables and showing kindness to the animals had progressively made the woman more and more beautiful. Her legs were long and athletic, toned from years of exercise and tapered by wide hips and a narrow waist. Her ample chest strained against the fabric of her tunic as she breathed in her sleep, the topmost buttons left undone revealing ample cleavage. Her silky-smooth black tresses cascaded down her shoulders and draped over the animal behind her, shimmering in the moon light. Her pristine face practically shone through the moonlight, revealing plump lips, soft cheeks, pert nose. Had she been in man’s world they would have declared her one of the most beautiful women they had ever seen.

Just like her.

Closing her eyes and placing her hands over her own face, Diana sighed as her fingers traced over smooth skin and soft black hair. Hugging herself and resting a hand over roo’s ears to stroke down her fur and neck, Diana sighed again. She was beautiful. So why did she feel so ugly?

*

In the library, the candlelight had reached all the way down to the ends of their wicks, hinting they would go out at any second surrounding the table where Alexa slept. Her arms were crossed as a makeshift pillow while she hummed to herself, the MP3 player still playing music in her ears and only finding sleep all the easier.