Friday, July 10, 2015

Chapter 16 begins

     Now the following hours spent with Queen Sparta were a delight to the heart, mind and spirit of General Cothos whom was given a crimson robe of royalty to where, going out with the Grecian Queen upon her golden chariot through the streets of the city. Her citizens smiling and waving as they passed. So it was, her foreign guest took in every sweet moment of the pomp and pageantry for he was treated to all the luxuries afforded to him as he was becoming ever closer, in personal relation, to the Royal Family. Now he was serving as an escort to the Queen coming with her on her chariot to the drinking party. Whereupon they arrived in the heart of the large city, near the Agora and Halls of Council, at the magnificent home of Lucia Vega and La Quint. Where they lived with their many children in a one story, large square structure with colonnade porches, built around an open courtyard, where a shimmering pool and fountain were surrounded by palm trees, with thick blankets of purple bougainvillea growing up the stone walls and ivy covered columns, here there where many large terracotta pots filled with a variety of fragrant roses and hydrangeas. There were many guest gathered in the great house milling about, mingling together, before everyone sat down to begin the evenings celebration.
     Here General Cothos was introduced to several members of the Spartan War Council, Ambassadors and Dignitaries, where he found his men, those soldiers selected to travel from Rome, engaged in lighthearted conversation with two very close friends of the Queen, Captain La Vada and Captain Syndra both of the Legendary Themiscyran Division. Now here at the festivity was, none other than, Captain Synos, whom Queen Sparta had invited for one reason only, namely, to make her dearest beloved body guard to be tortured with jealousy, as she would bathe General Cothos, openly, with great affections and admirations she would bestow upon the foreign general. All just a part of the Queen's cunning and deceitful plan.
     So it came to pass, after everyone had settled themselves down upon the many couches there, it was General Cothos who took center stage of every ones attention, as he sat back on his comfortable couch; which was placed very close to the Queens, as he sipped his wine mixed with honey and cold spring water, his face beaming with self pride as he regaled all 'round with his exciting stories of War and the recent conquest of Etruria. Many seemed impressed with his tales of glory and his skills as a storyteller, all save for Captain's La Vada, Syndra and Synos, who gave each other little looks of scorn and disgust with a bit of rolling of the eyes here and again. Of which Queen Sparta noticed her friends rude behavior but saying nothing of it as she had to try hard and keep smiling, feigning enthusiasm, as General Cothos recanted his long winded tale, which, in her opinion, were no where near as intriguing or entertaining as were the Spartan Histories, such as the Battle of the Six Hundred, or the recent Siege of Thebes, or even King Leonidas and the Brave 300 at Thermopylae. Though the Spartans were all excellent hosts to their Roman Guests so they also were all eager listeners, keeping their own stories of War and Glory to themselves allowing General Cothos and his men to entertain the small group with the intrigues of Rome.
     Now, after what seemed like an eternity, whilst the General was waited upon hand and foot and treated like Royalty, Field Commander La Quint, upon the request of Queen Sparta, sent for the Haitairi to dance naked for the men as Captain La Vada, along with Captain Syndra, excused themselves going out to the quiet courtyard to soak their feet in the pool, as they sat there at the edge of the shallow water they spoke among themselves freely  Meanwhile Queen Sparta had followed them out to spy on them standing just inside the open doorway listening and watching carefully. Here her Comrades in Arms were sitting in the palm garden, the pale moon light shining down upon their long silken hair, a slight breeze lifting their flowing tresses, ever so slightly, across there bare shoulders as the Queen listened intently thereafter she soon realized, hearing them more clearly, they were both conversing in the ancient tongue of Hatusha, a dead language only known of, and spoken by, the Warrior Women of Themiscyra. For it was incorporated into their culture 700 years ago as a way of communicating in times of War, to keep their motives and movements secret from enemy troops.
     As the Queen strained her neck to hear, she soon clearly heard, and understood, every word they spoke, and it was all of a most scathing and derogatory nature aimed squarely in the direction of General Cothos. Here, after a few minutes of eavesdropping, Queen Sparta called out to La Vada and Syndra, speaking, now, herself in the Hatusha language saying unto the two "What are these words you speak against my dearest Cothos? Declare now, if thou hast understanding, of your dissatisfaction with the man? For in him I, myself, have found immense satisfaction, for I have been with him, daily he has been my delight, rejoicing always before me, my own pure delight is with him. So tell me now.., all of it. Confess the truth of the nature of your feelings of ill will concerning the General." she said crossing her arms over her chest staring down at the pair. "Pray, speak to me.., not as your Queen or your Commander in War, but rather.., speak to me openly and honestly, as my friend." 

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