The Alyta Trilogy: Handmaids, Heroes, and Hierarchy.
Alyta waves as they fly off into the sunset, tiny lights against a huge one. She turns back to the path and heads to Corinth for supper. The sky darkens, and Alyta catches the first star coming out. Continuing to walk along, they come out one by one, until the whole sky seems to have holes in it, showing glimpses of a greater power. The entire tapestry comes alive before her eyes. The bards� tales of the stars: serpents, heroes, lions, and dragons vividly show their forms. Alyta twirls around and around until the stars seem to circle around her alone. An arrow hits her flailing arm. The force of it brings her to the ground. She looks at her hand and sees that only her droopy sleeve was caught. She tears it, and looks at the arrow. She doesn�t recognize the arrow as royal, but it isn�t a commoner�s. The intricate designs of the Hind and Athena betray that it must be Amazon. She jerks her head around and sees a retreating form down the path. �I don�t think so,� she thinks, �you don�t leave me for dead. Not gonna happen.� She darts off in that direction, and reaches a forest clearing. She looks both ways, and seeing no one, continues on. Another arrow wakes her up, zooming by her ear. Turning around, there is no trace of anyone. Alyta waits on guard for a few minutes. Nothing is heard, but after almost 10 minutes, a final battle cry is heard in the distance. She breathes in, with effort. �What just happened here?� Alyta thinks as she tries to get her thoughts together. Someone attacks her in the woods, after following her for presumably a long time. Shoots two arrows, and then leaves. This is no assassin, but why would an Amazon want to attack her? After all, she has the gold armbands that label her. She continues to the castle. The night is now set, and dinner has started. She can hear the festivities inside the palace wafting over the courtyard. The flutter of parchment catches her newly-alert senses, and she sees a notice attached to a tree with that same type of arrow. Looking around her to make sure the Amazon is nowhere in sight, and then cautiously takes the arrow out of the tree and reads the parchment. In Greek, it says, �In an honorable fight, they call that a Warning.� Alyta looks to the moon, and lets the paper drop. The wind picks it up and carries it off into the darkness. She stares off in a dumb state. �What in Atlantis have I gotten myself into?�
*~*~*
Kirya, fading into the dark forest, watches with slitted eyes as her note is read. The paleness on Alyta�s face brings a cruel smile to her lips. �I won�t be the only one to suffer. The dues must be paid.�
*~*~*
Jason toasts another round of ale to the new crown and peace between kingdoms. Iolaus stares intently at the fruit on the table, as if determining something completely fascinating about it. Truthfully, he just can�t handle too much ale. Princesses are surrounding Hercules; he definitely looks blissful. This is the scene Alyta walks in on, Jason being the only one who�s aware of reality. He looks up to see her, and what a sweet reality it is. He excuses himself from the royal table and rises to meet Alyta.
�Hello, princess.�
�Hi there Jase.�
�Where have you been? Herc and Iolaus have been out for a couple hours and it�s been such a drag, you know: royal functions,� he adds in a whisper, �I missed you. Hey, do you want to get out of here?�
�I�d love to, but won�t you sorta be missed, I mean, it�s kind of your royal thing after all,� Alyta notes with a smile.
�They�ll never notice,� Jason whispers mischievously as he takes her hand and drags her up the stairs, laughing, after him.
*~*~*
