Fall of the Amazons

Logrim

Night patrol on the shoreline was the very definition of worthless in Uleida's opinion. No one came to the island at night. No one dared come to the island without an invitation. The women of the island were feared across the entirety of the known world.

Still, her Majesty the Queen demanded vigilance, and it was Uleida's job as patrol to be vigilant. The wet sand squished beneath her sandals, between her toes, with each step along the beach. There was something to be said of night patrol, though. It was certainly a time when one could leave behind all else and ponder.

And so, Uleida pondered the darkness of the sea, all blackness and roaring surf lapping at the sand. That darkness seemed as infinite as the sea itself, and as lonely as she was on her patrol. The torches of the city gate were so far that they were little more than another star in the sky. Were it not for her own torch, that darkness would be consuming.

Then the torchlight fell on something that Uledia did not expect. A form, wet, huddled, unmoving in the sand. The tattered robe around the form was as black as the night itself, as was the tangled mess of hair strewn across the sand. Were it not for the flesh of the fingers, curled into a fist, Uleida might have never guessed that the form was a person.

Person it was, however. That much was clear now as she drew closer and bent to examine the body. Every third month, Uleida served on the night patrol, but in that time, she'd never seen person nor beast on the shoreline. Rarely had she even heard of such a thing. No one came to the island at night, and no one dared to come to the island without an invitation.

The drowned one, though, had no choice but to come to the island. The sea had placed them here, and fighting the whim of the sea was as useless as fighting one of the gods. You might hoist a sail or direct your ship with oars, but the power of the sea would ultimately take you where it wanted you to be.

Uleida knelt next to the figure and pushed back a matted clump of the black hair. The full red lips of a woman, coated with sand, shown in the light of the torch. Her eyes were closed. Then she drew breath, low and shallow, but breath all the same. Not drowned then.

Uleida pushed the butt of the torch into the sand and rolled the woman onto her stomach. A few healthy pumps and she spit up water, then sucked in air. Had it been a man, Uleida would have quickly returned him to the sea as an offering. A woman, though? This required her to render aid.

"Can you hear me?" Uleida asked, though she couldn't know if the stranger spoke her tongue.

The woman groaned and attempted to push herself up. She didn't have the strength. Uleida rolled her onto her back and brushed back her dark hair. The woman's lips moved, but Uleida couldn't make out any words. She unhooked her wineskin from her pack and helped the woman to drink.

After an attempt that was more choke than drink, she managed to swallow the second sip. A third one went on for much longer. The woman handed Uleida the wineskin and nodded her thanks.

"Can you speak? Can you understand me?" Uleida asked.

"Yes," the woman said.

"Can you stand?"

The woman tested her legs. They worked. Uleida put one of the woman's arms around her neck and helped her to her feet, then held her as she gained her balance.

"Thank Poseidon for his grace in sending you here," Uleida said. "What are you called?"

The woman shook her head and pushed her black hair from her face. In the light of the torch, her eyes seemed as black as her robe and her hair. The woman reached out and pressed two of her fingers to Uleida's forehead, right between her eyes.

"Bimbonica Descentia. It will spread with your touch, and you will work to make it so. Do you understand?" the woman hissed.

Uleida couldn't take her eyes off of the woman's. Those dark pools were like watching the sea rolling in and out. They were hypnotic, so calming, like the rhythmic roll of the surf. What had the woman just said? She couldn't recall. It seemed important that she should remember, but she could not. Still, she knew what she was supposed to do.

"Yes," she said.

"Then help me to the gate," the stranger commanded.

Uleida nodded. Of course, she would help the stranger to the gate. She was a woman, and one in need of aid. It was Uleida's duty to render that aid, to take her to the city, to help her through the gate. Uleida hefted the torch and allowed the woman to put her arm around her shoulder.

"Logrim," the woman said. "I am called Logrim."

"Uleida," Uleida replied.

"You've done me a great kindness, Uleida. I won't forget it."

"Yes, Mistress," Uleida said.

Mistress? Why had she said that? It seemed like the right thing to say, but… why?

***

Entry

"Hail, sentry!" Uleida called to the armored woman atop the gate.

She waved her torch in the signal pattern, which the sentry returned.

"Uleida, who is that with you?" the sentry called.

"Washed up on the beach. She needs care."

"She?"

"A woman from the sea," Uleida called.

The sentry leaned over the wall and Uleida held the torch closer to Logrim's face. She squinted against the light and attempted to look as feeble as they expected her to be. The sentry couldn't possibly see her clearly from that height in the dark. A moment passed and the sentry turned to call down on the other side of the wall. A further moment later and the gate opened.

Logrim's newest slave helped her through, where they met two more armored women with hands on their swords.

"Welcome to the isle of the Amazon's, Lady," one of them said. "Poseidon has watched over you this night."

"Thank you," Logrim croaked. "He has. Thanks be to the gods."

The sentries nodded approvingly.

"See her to quarters," the second ordered. "I'll send a runner to fetch Old Hilden."

Uleida nodded and directed Logrim away from the sentries.

"Old Hilden will have you good as new by daylight, surely," Uleida said with a reassuring smile.

The journey through the torch-lit streets took only minutes before Uleida stopped in front of a well-lit tavern. Muffled singing came through the thick wooden door of the place, and intensified when Uleida threw it open.

To brave the sea in search of men!

To raid the shores and lure them in!

To polish their spears 'for breaking their spirits!

And give them to the sea!

We fight 'n fuck!

We damn their luck!

The Amazons are we!

As Uleida helped her charge into the tavern's common room, the boisterous singing slowly died to a near-oppressive silence. The eyes of every woman in the place showed wariness and mistrust. An outsider, even a woman, wasn't exactly welcome here. No matter. Soon enough, Logrim would be more than welcome.

"Who've you got there, Uleida?" asked the woman behind the bar.

She set down the glass she'd been cleaning and narrowed her eyes.

"She's called Logrim," Uleida called. "And the sea's given her to us to care for. I'll need a place for her to rest."

There were some grumbles and murmurs, but soon the rest of the women were turning back to their drinks. The woman behind the bar rounded it, setting her rag aside and wiping her hands on an apron.

"You've sent for Old Hilden?" she asked as she took Logrim's other arm and draped it around her shoulder.

"Done, yes," Uleida said.

"I'll take her from here then. Get Leesa to serve you a drink and tell her I'll need some brought up for our guest."

"Yes, Mum," Uleida said.

Logrim reached out an unsteady hand and placed it on Uleida's shoulder.

"You've been a great help, child," she said and Uleida blushed deeply.

"Mistress," she said and dipped her head.

Logrim allowed the woman to lead her up a set of steps to the upper floor, where she opened a room at the end of a narrow hall. It was clean and spartan, good enough for a rest to regain her strength. After helping her to the bed, the woman stepped back and looked Logrim over.

"I'll have some fresh clothes brought in for you," she said.

"Thank you."

The woman looked wary.

"Uleida's a young thing," she said. "Never been off the island on a raid, so I doubt she knows what you are."

"What I am?" Logrim said.

"I met one of your kind once. An inland raid. You're a witch, if that black robe tells true."

Logrim nodded. "I am."

"Is it true what they say? That rescuing a witch means a… a reward?"

Logrim smiled and said, "It's true. Young Uleida may ask me a favor, and if it's in my power, I'll grant it."

"And—"

"And since you've also rendered me aid, you may also ask me a favor," Logrim said. "Though I'm not exactly at my best right now. Perhaps you'll dwell on that favor, and ask it of me when I'm stronger?"

The woman nodded.

"Your name?" Logrim asked.

"Ele— Elenya."

Logrim grimaced and rose slowly to her feet. She fixed her gaze on Elenya's eyes. They were pretty and green, like the sea. One hand slid from the sleeve of her robe and drew a circle in the air. Elenya's eyes followed the motion.

"The sea brings a great bounty to your island," Logrim said. "A day and a night hence, it arrives on your shore. My strength will be replenished by then, and your reward will be great."

Elenya's eyes continued to follow the motion of Logrim's finger as it drew in the air. A blue flame trailed behind her finger as she drew, and Elenya's eyes began to lose focus.

"Tell me your desire, Elenya."

"To… to be young again. To fight and… and to fuck."

Logrim smiled. "To polish their spears, before breaking their spirits, yes?"

Elenya nodded.

"Your island is feared for that, isn't it? The women of the sea. Those who break men's bodies and minds with their beauty."

"Yes…"

The blue flame followed Logrim's fingers as they touched Elenya's forehead.

"Then fight and fuck you shall," Logrim whispered. "Ask me your favor in the daylight, one day from this. Sentros. You will guard me with your life."

"Yes, Mistress," Elenya said, her voice a hollow whisper.

"I will rest now. Return to your duties."

Elenya nodded. Logrim withdrew her hand, and the blue flame puffed out. Elenya stood staring vacantly until Logrim sat back on the bed. Then she blinked and shook her head.

"Can I get you anything else, Mistress?" she asked.

Logrim shook her head. "My thanks, Elenya."

Elenya left and shut the door. When she'd gone, Logrim went to the window and drew back a curtain. The tavern looked out across the city of the Amazons, at the center of which sat a white spire. Yes, this room was a clean and comfortable one, but it was not luxurious. The tower, however, that was a place of luxury. A place fit for a queen. It would be a far better accommodation. Soon enough.