Not well.

At the back of the tent is a small closed off area where the diplomats of the United Armies could do business undisturbed. As the hoplite standing guard pulls the silk cloth door open for you, you spot Laoda along with her guard and two other men. One is dressed in worn yet regal armor and looks like he has seen his fair share of combat. The other is a middle-aged bearded man dressed in a blue tunic, obviously a diplomat and not a fighter. The diplomat is sitting at an expensive looking wooden desk and is writing on a large piece of parchment, while the soldier stands next to him his helm tucked comfortably under his arm.

Laoda turns to give you a friendly smile. “Welcome to Athenapolis, your highness.” Your ambassador is a slender beauty with blonde hair and somber green eyes that remind you at times of a cool jungle spring. 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, believing that her diplomatic services would be more effective if she isn’t mindlessly chanting praises to Ares and demanding the blood of her enemies, takes steps to ensure that she doesn’t contract the Amazon’s curse. Although she wears a blood red tunic 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.

Taking your calloused hands between her soft palms Laoda pulls you closer to the two men in the room, “May I introduce you to King Thanos and Lord-Marshal Raxius. These men have taken it upon themselves to make sure that this siege goes smoothly.”

“It is a pleasure to finally meet you Queen Xira,” Thanos motions you over to an ornate chair. You take his offer and sit straight-backed on the edge of the cushioned seat nodding politely at the crop-haired General standing next to you. “I’m sorry to hear about your mother,” the polished diplomat continues, “I heard that she was a great and proud warrior.”

“Spare me the sympathy,” you try unsuccessfully to keep the bitterness out of your response, “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told by some diplomat how ‘sorry’ they are to hear about my mother’s passing. If you truly cared about what happened to her and my sisters then you would have sent aid when our shores were beset by this city’s mercenaries!”

Once again the firm hand of Atheas rests on your shoulder, her silent way of asking you to calm down. She knew full well that you were right and doesn’t stop you from voicing your anger to the men but at the same time, she doesn’t want you to lash out as you did earlier.

There is a short pause before Thanos clears his through, “Yes, ahem, yes we are deeply sorry that we didn’t come sooner but our resources have been focused on other things.”

You were about to snap again when Laoda steps in, “Perhaps it would be best if we continued with our business.”

“Agreed,” the Lord Marshal voice has a rich confident timbre to it, and if the man weren't almost three times your age you might have found him interesting in more ways than just his position as the commander of the United Armies. Like Laoda he clearly wants to prevent a small war from erupting inside his command tent. “Queen Xira, what have you brought to the field?”

You let out a long exhale to help calm yourself before you respond, “Five hundred archers, three hundred javelins, eight hundred spears, and fifty-five light galleys. More than enough to take the river ports of this city.”

“No drakes?” the Lord Marshal asks.

The knuckles on your mother’s sword whiten and you grit your teeth at the question; was the man trying to provoke you? Thanos, rises quickly from his seat and whispers in the Lord Marshal's ear, undoubtingly reminding him of what happened to your riders. Raxius sighs and gives you a slight bow, “Please forgive me, your highness.”

Thanos shakes his head and slips back into his seat where he taps a quill on the side of an inkpot before speaking. “Seeing as there are multiple city-states located in this camp, each with their own reasons for tearing down this city, I highly recommend that the young Queen familiarizes herself with the assembled generals and noblemen." He smiles easily at you although you find little real warmth in his placid face. "Perhaps you can renew old alliances or strike a trade deal, like something to replace your drakes." He pauses for a second as he inspects the tip of his quill, "Now, are there any bounties her majesty would like to place?”

“My mother’s armor, shield, crown, ring, and body,” you started, “Also any of our sisters lost in the Battle of Elaina, living or dead.”

“Very well,” agrees Thanos as he writes the bounties in his scroll clearly expecting something along these lines, “anything else?”

“The heads of the mercenary captions, Aristidis Mutos, Eftichios Nassos, Kostas Rodias, as well as information on the identity of the man who hired them, for the **** of Queen Hyphiroe of Accor.” Thanos and Raxius trade glances upon hearing this.

“I see,” Thanos begins somberly, “That request may be…difficult to fulfill.”

You arch your brow when you hear this, “Why?” The silence in the small room rings in your ears; the pair are trying their 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 once again tries to intercede, “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 trembles in fear as you angerly tower over her. As she struggles to answer Thanos responds in his irritatingly calm tones, “On the other 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 tents instead of halfway around the city to meet with these ignorant men.

King Thanos' guards are moving to his side when Atheas grabs your wrist. “Let's hear his Majesty's explanation first,” she tells you before glaring at the man, “And for his sake, it better be a good one.”

Thanos coughs and waves his men back, “Yes, they came to us in the first days of the siege, well before news of your imminent arrival reached us.” It does not surprise you that rats like those three would abandon on an employer when the odds turned against them. “When they found out that you had joined the United Armies they asked me to offer you deal as a goodwill offering, so that we may work together to overthrow the vaunted Citadel of Athena.”

“You would insult us by asking us to fight alongside them!” your voice is cold and fierce as the Northwind and you see Lord Raxius shake his head at King Thanos, “Those fucking cowards don’t even have the nerve to present this deal themselves?!”

Thanos smiles weakly as he retrieves a second scroll and places it on the desk, “I doubt the three would have survived the encounter and, regrettably, we would have been **** to expel you from the alliance for killing a member." You do not miss the poorly veiled threat as he continues. “Something I’m sure you don’t want as some of your sisters are still chained inside this city.”

“What are their demands?” you ask slowly and through gritted teeth.

“I return for non-hostilities between the Amazons and the mercenary companies in question, they are willing to offer you the name of the man who hired them and in addition return any Amazon **** they find during their sack of the city, free of charge.”