Chapter Text
Chapter 2: Assassins and Missions
Angela woke up before dawn as she had ever since she was twelve, and put on her chemise, a woolen pair of pants, brown leather boots, and a bright red surcoat. She tied her hair back in a ponytail and got to work stretching, as she had seen Cassandra doing during other visits. When she was done with her stretches, Angela grabbed her staff and bow, as well as a quiver of twenty arrows and headed outside. Cassandra was already awake and outside in the back of the Angel’s Nectar, practicing with her armor. Angela watched the Amazon as she moved, her body already shining with sweat in the moonlight as she used her shield and spear, blocking, dodging, and counterattacking invisible enemies, only grunting instead of giving any war cry as she moved. Cassandra then stuck her spear down into the ground and drew her falchion in her left hand then turned to Angela, “It’s rude to stare.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just been so long since I’ve seen you fight. That was amazing,” Angela said as she walked over to the older woman. Cassandra shrugged as best as she could in her armor, “That was only practice, not a fight. You should focus on your own training.” Angela nodded; Cassandra was not one to be trifled with when she was training. She trained hard and expected the same from her. Angela moved a respectable distance away and spotted a tree she had been using for three years as a target. Angela backed away and put her staff down and then drew an arrow. She took a deep breath and used her hair to measure the wind, there was no wind this early morning. Angela took aim at a painted white dot on the tree and let loose her arrow.
“Damn,” she cursed, too far to the left. She drew another arrow and focused on her target, and let it fly. “Damn it,” she cursed again, she had over-adjusted and missed again. She tried her best with all her arrows, and all twenty missed her target. All of them hit the tree and were reachable, but none of them hit her target. Angela took a deep breath and stomped on the ground. Cassandra walked over to her and said, “Show more respect for Mother Gaia. Or she may claim you sooner than you expect.” Cassandra and Angela quietly walked over to the tree and Cassandra whistled, “You’re very good.” Angela grumbled, “I missed every shot.” Cassandra laughed, “This target is smaller than my pinky! Even an elf would have struggled to hit it with only three years’ training.”
Angela looked at her, “I was hoping I could be as good as Mother was. You said that she could fell a stag with an arrow through its eye at a hundred paces.” Cassandra laughed, “She had been training since she was four! It took her ten years to become so able, and you have already surpassed the skill she had after three.” Angela sighed, “So I have a long time until I’m at her level.” Cassandra pulled some of the arrows out of the tree and said, “Maybe three more years if you remain diligent. Let’s see how you are with your staff.” Angela smiled as she ran over to her staff and gave it a twirl. Cassandra strapped her shield to her back and Angela ran over to another staff she had carved three years ago, hoping for this day.
Angela tossed the staff to the Amazon, and Cassandra tested the staff, giving it a twirl and swung it around in the air, and then bent it a little. Angela was afraid it would be shattered, but Cassandra let it go and it snapped straight again. “You made a good staff, good, flexible wood that’s not too soft,” Cassandra told her as she assumed her stance. Angela assumed her own stance and got ready.
Cassandra seemed to be in front of Angela in an instant. Angela acted on pure instinct as she dodged her thrusting attack and blocked a strike to her ribs. Cassandra stayed on the offensive and it was all Angela had in her to block and avoid the Amazon’s staff. “You won’t win by focusing only on defense,” Cassandra said, never stopping her attacks, the gap in their experience and skill was obvious, “You must keep your eyes and mind open for where and when to counterstrike.” Cassandra made an overhead strike that Angela blocked, and the younger woman saw that the Amazon’s feet were open. She tried to strike her left knee, only for Cassandra to block it. Angela saw her chance and went on the offensive.
She struck out as fast as she could, going through a combination of strikes she had been practicing almost every day for the last three years. But Cassandra never retreated, she blocked every strike no matter if it was aimed at her head, ribs, arms, legs, knees, she blocked them all. Soon, it was a contest of stamina, and Angela felt her energy lagging. Cassandra was a warrior who had fought in deadly battles for longer than Angela had been alive and knew how to move efficiently and precisely. Angela finally made a mistake, and Cassandra avoided her overhead strike, then hit her wrist with her staff, making her let go of it, and then finished her with a blow to the temple. Angela fell to the ground and Cassandra put the end of her staff to her throat.
“I yield,” Angela breathlessly said. “You have been practicing very well with your staff,” Cassandra said as she helped her up, “The only thing you lack is real experience. Striking at the air will only teach you so much.” The Amazon sighed as she took off her helmet and shook her head. Sweat seemed to explode from her as she shook her head before moving her hair off her face. The two of them went over to the well of the Angel’s Nectar and got a drink and took time to wash off their faces and arms. Angela watched the Amazon cleaning herself, and felt her heart beating faster. Cassandra was amazing…no other woman could compare to her beauty, her strength…even the smell of her sweat was making Angela’s heart flutter.
Cassandra looked at her after drinking some more water and said, “Is something wrong?” Angela blushed and looked away from her and said, “I just, was thinking about my Mother. Father told me that she was once an Amazon, that you were companions. But he’s never told me anything else about her life from before he met her. And…she died so long ago I can hardly remember what she looked like some days.” Cassandra looked down, then put a hand on Angela’s shoulders, “I think I can tell you a few things about Elexis while we break our fast.”
They went inside and Angela made them some eggs and cold bread with bacon. She also drew more water, Cassandra explained she never drank before the afternoon. As they sat down, Cassandra started, “You look a lot like Elexis did when she was your age, except that she had blonde hair that shined like gold in the sunlight. You have her build, she was always thin and flexible like a willow, although you have surpassed her in at least one area.” Cassandra looked at Angela’s bosom for a moment before Angela said, “What was she like? What did she like? How did she fight? Why did she give up being an Amazon? You called her Elexis, that is her Amazon name, isn’t it? Why did she change her name to Amelia?”
“Slow down girl,” Cassandra said as she took a bite of her food, “One question at a time.” Angela blushed; she was talking like a girl half her age. “She was a gentle soul, much more than I. She always regretted taking a life and would always say a prayer for the souls of those she killed, even if it was a fish or a filthy bandit. As for the things she liked; she loved listening to music and poetry, but she couldn’t sing for the life of her. The Muses had abandoned her it seemed, no matter how she tried she could never hold a note. But she always loved to hear others sing. Her favorite food was apples, I swear she could have stripped an entire apple tree bare if she ever had the chance.
“She fought with the bow and arrow and staff and refused to learn other weapons. She had no stomach for killing. A bow and arrow at least can be used to feed you when you’re traveling, and a skilled staff fighter can win while barely hurting their opponent. That was shy she chose those weapons. We were sisters, in all but blood. All Amazons are encouraged to spend at least some of their life exploring the world outside of Amazonia, to teach other women about our ways, and, if she wishes, so she may mate with a man and have a child. I wanted to see the world, and Elexis wanted to come with me to keep me safe. We were lovers, she was the first lover I ever had.”
Cassandra stopped talking to eat more, and Angela thought about how this explained so much. Her Father didn’t particularly like Cassandra; now she saw why, he saw her as competition for her Mother. Cassandra took a sip of her drink and asked, “What about how your parents’ met? Has Gordon told you that?” Angela shook her head and Cassandra said, “I’ll have to tell you about that next time we can. Right now, I think you need to get ready to work.” Angela saw people stated coming into the Angel’s Nectar and left to braid her hair and get ready to serve them while Gordon was getting the kitchen ready.
Cassandra finished her breakfast and spent most of the day with her ears open, listening to the gossip. In earlier times in other inns and pubs during her travels she heard rumors, disturbing rumors. Cannibal cults found near major cities, animals that have been twisted by some wicked magic, such as wolves as large as horses, three-headed snakes, horses that hungered for human flesh; the various Kingdoms preparing for war and yet no one could think of a reason for them to fight. Such rumors were always around, but now there were more of them than ever before, and they had specific details this time, unlike the past. It sent a chill in her spine, and she felt as if the world was changing soon, in ways that could be catastrophic for everyone.
The Amazon then spotted someone she didn’t expect to see enter the inn a little after lunch. She was tall for a woman, her body covered in a sky-blue cloak, and most of her face was concealed by a hood. Cassandra was at least a head taller than her and looked closely at the lower half of the cloaked woman’s face. What little of the cloaked woman’s face that she could see was as pale as the full moon while her lips were scarlet like blood. Cassandra whispered so low that one would have to stand right next to her to hear her, “What is a priestess of Athena doing so far from home?”
The cloaked woman’s head turned in Cassandra’s direction and Cassandra made the sign of the Amazon’s; she curled her pinkies and ring fingers and stuck out her other three and touched them together. The priestess of Athena walked over to her table and sat down. Angela soon came over and asked, “Welcome to the Angel’s Nectar, what may I serve you?” The priestess said, “Just wine, and a loaf of bread.” Angela turned to Cassandra, “You need more ale, Cassandra?” Cassandra shook her head, “No, I’m full for now, Angela. I’ll pay for my friend’s food.” Cassandra gave some of the silver coins Gordon paid her to Angela, and the young woman went to get the priestess’ meal.
The priestess lifted her hood slightly to show her silver eyes and long thin nose and high cheekbones, and said, “Are you the warrior Cassandra? The one who slew a Gorgon, retrieved the Bow of Artemis, and has slain over a thousand foes in battle?” Cassandra nodded with a smile, “Aye, although I may have slain almost two thousand at this point.” The priestess introduced herself, “My name is Phoebe. I was sent from Amazonia to find you and enlist you to aid me in my quest.” Cassandra nodded, “And what is your quest?” The Priestess of Athena Phoebe, answered, “To find The Eyes of Eris and bring them to Amazonia.”
Cassandra’s jaw dropped as she stared at the priestess Phoebe. Phoebe continued to speak, “Surely you have heard rumors of chaos across this land? All of this was foretold long ago, over ten thousand years ago. When the Gods combined their power together, and defeated the goddess of Chaos, Eris, and sealed away her power in the gemstones that were once her eyes. It was predicted that every two-thousand years, the eyes would be returned to Amazonia so that the spell containing her power would be refreshed. Every two-thousand years have the Eyes been taken from their resting places, and brought to Amazonia, when the times have become their most chaotic; for it means that Eris is awakening, and should she regain her eyes then she will spread chaos throughout the land. The natural order will be reversed, the sun and moon will move slower and faster until day and night will be as one and the same; babies will be born old, and the old will grow young; all people will give in to their worst impulses, the very skies will rain blood, if we fail in this.”
Phoebe said all this quietly so that no one else would hear her, but Cassandra could hear the fear in her voice as she spoke. Phoebe only stopped when Angela brought her food. Phoebe drank her wine in one gulp, and her hood fell all the way, to reveal the bright golden hair and pointed ears; confirming that she was indeed an elf. Angela refilled her cup and Cassandra asked, “Do you know where to start looking?” Phoebe ate some of her bread before she answered, “I have a contact who has a map to the Left Eye, some of our spies are looking for the Right Eye or at least a map to its location. Unfortunately, my contact will only give me the map if I car retrieve a treasure for him. I was unable to reach the treasure and knew that I would need more than my magic to achieve this quest.” Cassandra nodded, the priestesses of Amazonia were all powerful sorceresses, however, focusing on magic and theology left their bodies quite weak.
Cassandra flicked her eyes to the door of the inn and saw seven people in dark hoods enter. “Friends of yours?” she asked Phoebe. Phoebe looked, and said, “They aren’t. They’ve been hounding me for a fortnight. My mana is nearly depleted.” Cassandra nodded and got ready to use her dagger, cursing that she had left her shield and other weapons in her room. The Cloaked Ones knew they were spotted, and one, a tall man judging by the size of their shoulders, lifted a hand, and a blue flame appeared in it. Cassandra quickly drew her dagger and threw it into his chest before the fire could be unleashed.
Other people in the inn screamed and backed off as the Amazon charged the other six cloaked ones. The six of them scattered as she pulled her dagger out of the dead one and started throwing blue fire at her. Cassandra moved with a speed that belied her size and dodged the fireballs. “CASSANDRA!” Angela screamed as she barely ducked under a fireball. The inn was soon on fire, and Cassandra yelled, “ANGELA! GRAB MY WEAPONS FROM MY ROOM!” She then grabbed two chairs and tossed them at the Cloaked Ones. On Cloaked One ducked under a chair, but another was hit head on. Cassandra ran at the fallen one and finished them off with her dagger before grabbing a table and using it as a shield to block fire from the remaining five. She tossed the burning table at the gathered Cloaked Ones and they all scattered. Cassandra threw her dagger and hit one of them in their shoulder.
The man screamed in pain, and Cassandra ran at him. He tried to raise his hand, but Cassandra grabbed it, and then slammed her fist into his throat. The man grabbed his broken windpipe as he started coughing up blood, and Cassandra yanked her dagger out of his shoulder before jumping back from the fire of the last four Cloaked Ones. Cassandra looked and saw that Phoebe was ducked under a table, trying to summon her own fire, but each time she did, the fire went out. “Cassandra! Your weapons!” Angela then yelled.
Cassandra saw the Cloaked Ones look at her and toss fire at her. “ANGELA BLOCK!” the Amazon screamed, and Angela did as she was ordered. The four blue fires hit the shield, knocking the girl back, but she was unharmed. Cassandra ran to her and quickly retrieved her shield and spear. Cassandra stood tall and threw her spear like an angry goddess throwing thunder and speared one of the Cloaked Ones into a wall. The other three Cloaked Ones saw how they were reduced, and instead of throwing their fire at any person, they threw it at the walls and ceiling of the Angel’s Nectar!
“YOU BASTARDS!” Gordon screamed as he ran at them, his dirk held high. “FATHER NO!” Angela screamed. But she was too late, the Cloaked Ones barely looked at the fat innkeeper as they hit him with their blue fire. Cassandra and Angela watched horrified, as Gordon was instantly cremated by the blue flames, in only a few seconds he was reduced to a smoldering black skeleton. “FATHER! FATHER! NOOOO!” Angela screamed, trying to reach what was left of him, only for Cassandra to hold her back. “It’s too late for him!” she yelled, rage filling her heart.
The Angel’s Nectar was on fire everywhere, and quickly falling apart, while the Cloaked Ones made their way out. “Angela, stay behind me!” Cassandra said as she belted on her sword, put on her helmet and put her dagger in her sheathe. Angela had tears in her eyes from grief and smoke, but she grabbed onto Cassandra as Cassandra ran towards where the flames were weakest. Cassandra grabbed Phoebe along the way and lifted her onto her shoulder. She ran through the flames and crashed through the door. They kept moving until they were a safe distance from the burning inn, and Angela collapsed to her knees as she watched her home go up in flames. Cassandra watched and said, “I swear by Nemesis, the Goddess of Vengeance, that they shall pay for this.”