Met by a friendly face

You are met on the banks of the Elaina river about three bow-shots from the white walls of the city. You recognize the slight build and graceful sway of her hips as she approaches with a trio of Amazon guards in her wake. Laoda, unlike nearly every other resident of Accor, is not an Amazon sister. You mother explained this to you years ago, but you still find it odd at times. Laoda, apparently believes that her diplomatic services are be more effective if she isn’t mindlessly chanting praises to Ares. It is hard to imagine this delicate woman as a blood thirsty Sister, leaping from the foredeck of a galley onto an enemy ship, but you don't doubt for even a heartbeat how important she is to your cause.

Laoda greats you with a friendly smile and a deep bow. “Welcome to Athenapolis, your highness.” As always the slender beauty is impeccably dressed in a blood red tunic and cape of golden silk that is almost the color of her blonde hair. The somber green eyes evaluate you with the practiced eye of a trained observer, and you wonder if she approves of the changes she must see in you since the **** of your mother. Although she wears red to show her allegiance to the Amazons of Accor the gold medallion around her neck is emblazoned with the peaceful image of Aphrodite on its surface to help prevent the curse of the Amazons from passing to her. This is just one of the several steps that Laoda takes to ensure that she doesn’t contract the Amazon’s curse.

Taking your calloused hands between her soft palms Laoda turns and leads you to a tent already erected with your pennant flying from the center pole, “Come, your Majesty, there is much for me to tell you.” Inside the tent she guides you to a heavy ornately carved chair of polished ebony that looks just like the ones in your mother's - well yours now - conference room back home.

“Thank-you for meeting me, I hope all is well?” You had expected to find Laoda at the command tent where all the important leaders of the alliance met to work out the intricacies of combining the efforts of almost a dozen different forces into one United Army. I have been selling your praises to everyone I can find, but when you meet the other commanders I'll need you to live up to my prep work. You are glad she is working in Accor's interests although you can’t help but feel a little uncomfortable that she is putting your queendom up on display like a merchant showing off her wares.

“So is there anyone I should speak to?”

“Oh plenty,” Laoda replies showing her white teeth again in a gentle smile, “First is the wife of the governor of Deni. They don’t really have much of an army but, because of their location, they are quite skilled at trading. You mother had set up an arrangement with them, metals for protection. We can’t really provide much protection right now so I would recommend some of our oils, namely our Aphra oils.” This time her smile is slow and sensuous and she places her hand on your arm almost like she needs your strength for support. “Oh, that stuff can make the limpest of men as stout as an oak and a frigid old spinster as hot as the sun.”

By the way her eyes light up as she speaks about Aphra, it's pretty clear she is speaking from personal experience, and you wonder if you should ask around to see if there is any available. An image of this petite beauty massaging you with glistening hands almost takes your breath away and instead of letting your imagination take you into dangerous waters you turn your attention back to the matter at hand when her light tone sobers noticeably.

“I have news about the men you asked about.”

You straighten in your seat when you hear this, “Excellent! Thank-you Laoda, I knew you would be able to find those bastards.” The silence in the small tent rings in your ears; clearly your ambassador is trying her best to think of a way to explain the problem, but you were quick to catch on. Taking in three deep breaths you ask as softly as your anger allows, “Where are they?”

Laoda tries to keep you calm, “My Queen, you must understand if we are to take the city -”

You jump to your feet so quickly that the heavy chair rocks dangerously, and glare down at your ambassador, “WHERE ARE THEY!!!”

Laodo takes a half-step back as you angerly tower over her, but after that brief momentary retreat she meets your fury with a strength and fortitude that doesn't waver. “On the far side of the city, blockading the southern gate.” The Southern gate is less than a bowshot from the River gate, if you had known those bastards were there you might have taken your forces directly to their camp instead of having them blockade the river. Her presence here makes a lot more sense now.

“So explain to me, why can't I just kill them now?”

“Because if you do, Accor will be expelled from the Alliance. We will not be allowed into the city as part of the United Armies when the walls fall.”

“What if my Sisters and I take the damn city by ourselves.” Even as the words slip out you are already kicking yourself. Amazons have no siege weaponry, no heavy hoplites and very little experience taking heavily fortified emplacements. Even if you could convince all the warriors of Athenapolis to leave the safety of their high walls and take to the calm waters of the Elaina in ships and barges, you wouldn't have the numbers you need to win a decisive battle. - Damn! How many times have you been taught not to open your mouth until you're sure it won't make you sound like an idiot.

You have to admit Laoda is a lot better in the diplomatic theater than you, because she overlooks your bluster without even a hint of disapproval. You wonder how much of her success is because of her ability to think out every implication of her words, and how much is due to her ability to hide her reactions to just about anything you might say. Of course her elegant beauty and dulcet voice couldn't hurt; a great many men (and women too) probably choose to interact with her just because they want to be in her presence.

You listen patiently as she presents a diplomatic agreement that she has been asked to convey to you. In essence, in exchange for non-aggression between your Sisters and their men, they agree to disclose the name of the Athenian who hired them and to turn over any Amazon captive or remains they find in the city free of charge.

“I told them I would deliver their offer to you, but made no promises.” The way her green eyes search yours, you know she looking for an answer.