Among the Amazons
By Valerafon
A soldier is captured in battle by Amazons and enters a new life.
            
This story should not be read by anyone under the age of 18. Please do 
not read further if you are offended by graphic violence and sexual 
content. 
            
            
 
Chapter 1  The Plain of Astan 
            
As I awoke, the first sensation I felt was the pain in my head. I  tried 
to move my hands to ascertain the damage, and try to soothe the area, 
but I couldn't lift my hands. Why couldn't I lift my hands? Where was I? 
Who was I? Questions flooded into my consciousness, as my mind and 
vision slowly cleared, and competed for supremacy with the pain in my 
temples. 
            
Slowly everything came back into focus. I was still on the immense Plain 
of Astan, which translated into my language as the Plain of Sorrow. My 
name was Jason and I was a soldier of the Swarm. That is the name our 
enemies knew us by, but nobody knew where the Swarm came from or what 
they called themselves. 
            
One day, two years ago the Swarm appeared in my province. They destroyed 
everything in their wake, no village survived. Before them lay lush 
green countryside. Behind their advance lay desolation, destruction, and 
death. Just like a swarm of locus they consumed everything in their 
path. Even the population disappeared. The elderly and young were 
slaughtered. The women were raped and then killed. Most of the men died 
in battle. Some of the men, like myself, where captured in battle and  
pressed into their service, replenishing their ranks.  
            
We were treated worse than animals and had no rights. We were always the 
first sent into a battle and we always suffered heavy casualties. We 
fought because fighting was the only way to survive. Although, many of 
us secretly wished to die. 
            
 I raised my head a little and scanned the plain. There were bodies 
everywhere. Today the Swarm had more than met their match. There was no 
longer any sign of the battle. The ebb and flow of the slaughter must 
have  moved off the plain or the Swarm must have broke ranks and ran, 
with the Amazons in pursuit. 
            
The memories of the battle flooded back into my brain. I remembered our 
battalion advancing on their infantry. With the conscripts and the 
Swarm's main force we must have outnumbered them by ten to one. As we 
advanced, their infantry slowly gave ground. An idiot could see their 
plan, but our leaders overconfidence was their undoing. They ignored the 
warning signs and rules of engagement and blindly led us and the main 
force on towards the enemy. 
            
Finally, the Amazons held their ground and we charged their ranks. As we 
got closer, all the women in unison raised their swords above their 
heads and pointed them and their free arm toward us. Their appearance 
and precision was an awesome sight. I knew it unnerved me as we pressed 
forward. 
            
All the amazons wore war paint and most were wearing skimpy chain mail 
bras with loin cloths covering their groins. Some did not cover their 
breasts. Almost all had golden bracelets around their wrists or upper 
arms. Some had serpent bracelets around their wrists winding up their 
arms. All wore a knife sheathed and tied around one of their exposed 
thighs. The Amazons that I could see wore a belt with a whip tied at the 
waist. None carried shields which I thought odd at the time. 
            
As we got closer, they began their war cry. It made my blood run cold. I 
remember wondering if it had the same effect on the other men. As our 
charge drew near, I could see their faces clearly now. All the women 
wore some kind of band around their heads, and many had their dark hair 
tied out of the way for battle. They all were so beautiful, I asked 
myself, Why were we trying to kill these women? I did not have time to 
think of an answer. 
            
All at once, the women warriors went to one knee holding that same 
position with their swords. We saw the archers much too late. They 
seemed to appear out of nowhere. Before we could react, hundreds of 
arrows, that seemed to blot out the sky, were coming at our ranks. The 
maneuver caught us by complete surprise, and many of our men could not 
get their shields up in time. Our advance stalled as men fell all around 
me. The wall of arrows had stopped our charge. As our ranks reeled from 
the blow, I could hear the groans of the wounded and dying men behind 
and in front of me. 

Before we could regroup, the Amazon archers let loose with a second 
volley. The first hailstorm of arrows was terrible in its destruction, 
but the second wall of arrows sealed our fate. Arrow after arrow found 
its mark. I remember admiring the skill of those Amazon archers, as they 
caused destruction and death all around me. I wondered why I was still 
alive, but I didn't have time to think, only to run. 
            
Our battered ranks were no longer a fighting force, but rather a 
disorganized rabble. The remainder of the first waves of our attackers 
reversed direction and headed for the main body of the Swarm. The 
Amazons got up and still screaming their war cry followed in close 
pursuit. 
            
As we reached our second position, we were allowed to pass through the 
ranks and regroup in the rear. I remember thinking this unusual for the 
Swarm, and that we might be killed by a hail of arrows coming from the 
other direction, but the leaders must have known instinctively that they 
would need every man now. 
            
As the Amazons approached, our leader gave the order for the archers to 
fire. As they fired, I could see the Amazons bend down and the women 
behind run up and cover the ranks with large shields. They looked like 
huge metal shields, and I wondered how women could carry such massive 
objects. The arrows did very little damage, as they harmlessly bounced 
off the impenetrable wall. Almost immediately an Amazon volley was 
returned, but they were not aiming for the front ranks of our soldiers. 
Instead, they were aiming for our lightly protected archers. Almost ten 
percent of our archers fell in the first volley. Their archers would 
then hide behind the wall of shields, as we fired back. This continued 
for about five minutes till our leader had to order our archers to 
withdraw. Of the thousand or so archers in the Swarm, maybe, a third 
were still alive to retreat. 
            
The remains of my battalion regrouped on slightly higher ground, and I 
could scan the battlefield. I could see the hundreds of bodies of our 
troops, but only a solitary Amazon body here and there. In that moment, 
I knew I would die today on the Plain of Sorrow. I looked around me and 
could see the fear on the other men's faces, a fear I had never seen 
before. Not only could I see the fear, but I could feel it as well. All 
of us wore that fear like a heavy cloak, and it would inhibit our 
actions for the rest of the day. 
            
Then without the worry of our archer's arrows, the Amazons charged the 
ranks of our much larger main body. That devilish war cry could be heard 
clearly throughout the large plain. At the same time, on our left flank, 
a large force of Amazon cavalry appeared. They were on our troops before 
they knew what hit them. Most of the women were standing straight up in 
their stirrups, and firing arrows into our troops on that side. A number 
of that force were trying to flank our troops, by heading towards our 
rear, and they were firing arrows at an unbelievably fast pace. Most of 
the arrows were finding their mark in the crowded ranks of our soldiers. 
The fear left me momentarily as I marveled at their uncanny accuracy. I 
asked myself a question. How could they ride so fast and shoot so 
straight? I didn't think it was humanly possible to do so. 
            
As I scanned back across the battlefield, I could see that the Amazon 
infantry had already started to engage our main body of troops. Almost 
immediately, I could detect the front ranks of our troops giving ground. 
I  wondered how this could be when we still outnumbered them by so many 
men. As I stared mesmerized at the unfolding battle, I observed that the 
women warriors fought with both hands on their swords. This gave their 
blows great leverage and power. It seemed to be a great advantage while 
fighting in close. I could make out some of our warriors dropping their 
shields, so they could fight in the same manner. 
            
            
Behind the front ranks of the Amazons, I could see that the women who 
had carried the heavy shields were now discarding them. They were either 
pulling out their knives from the sheath on their thighs or just picking 
up the swords from the ground from our fallen soldiers, and were rushing 
forward. Now they too were infantry advancing into the fray. The Amazon 
archers continued to fire into the Swarm's ranks. They  needed no 
protection now because our archers had retreated. They fired behind our 
forward positions killing many and disorganizing our troops. It became 
difficult to replenish the front ranks for they were under a withering 
fire. 
             
In the distance, I could make out another line of Amazons advancing with 
metal shields. The shields gave off a great brilliance from reflected 
sunlight, and nothing could be made out behind them. 
            
At this point, our leaders had no choice but to commit our cavalry. Our 
horsemen were poised to strike on the right. They were behind a small 
hill. All at once, they came swooping down on the Amazon right flank. In 
the distance I could see the Amazons drop their blazing shields, and a 
wave of Amazon cavalry came roaring out. They headed right for our 
charging cavalry. Their cloaked advance had closed the distance so much 
that they were able to intercept out cavalry before they could hit tthe 
Amazons exposed right flank. Even though the Amazon force was much 
smaller then ours, they were able to stop the momentum of the charge 
almost immediately, and fight it to a standstill. 
            
Behind the women with their discarded shields came more waves of Amazon 
infantry. They all charged now yelling their fiendish war cry. They 
swelled the ranks that were attacking the front lines of our troops. Our 
soldiers were giving ground quickly, and as our lines were pushed back, 
the women warriors had to step over the bodies of our fallen soldiers. 
Where the battle had originally started, I could see that the ground was 
completely covered with our dead and dying troops. The bodies were so 
thick it looked like a carpet. I scanned the carpet and could only make 
out a very occasional Amazon body. 
            
I turned from the carnage in the middle of the plain when I heard a 
noise from behind. Some of the Amazon cavalry, from the left, had 
flanked us. Many were headed for the troops behind us. Others of their 
number reinforced their cavalry on the right, that had intercepted our 
cavalry, and with their growing numbers were beginning to actually push 
back our horsemen. 
            
I could see in the distance behind us, on a small hill, our remaining 
archers and a number of our soldiers protecting the leaders of the 
Swarm. They were starting to come under attack from some of the Amazon 
horsewomen. I had no doubt about the outcome of that fight, as I no 
longer had any doubts about the outcome of the main battle. I'd lost all 
hope long ago, and so had the rest of the soldiers of the Swarm. 
            
At this moment in the battle, we were ordered to the front lines. We 
charged through a hailstorm of arrows. I didn't mind charging to the 
front, at this point, one direction was as good as another. Our flanks 
were being compacted and the soldiers inside were systematically being 
killed. 
            
Our brave cavalry was the first to break. They turned and ran. The 
Amazons sent much of their force in pursuit. The other Amazon horsewomen 
turned and closed the vice. The Swarm for the first and last time lost 
heart. 

As my unit reached the front, many troops were running past us. Of 
course, there was nowhere to run to. It seemed to me at this point, on 
the Plain of Astan, the Amazons were no longer engaged in a battle, but 
rather a slaughter. 
            
The Swarm still far outnumbered the Amazons, but now we were a 
disorganized rabble without leadership, and they were an organized 
killing machine. In the next few minutes, I knew our numbers would be 
drastically changing as the killing intensified. 
            
I was just a few columns behind the front lines waiting for my turn at 
death. When I saw many men throw down their weapons and stop fighting. 
They were dispatched with sword or arrow. The rumors about Amazons not 
taking prisoners seemed very real to me now. For the first time fear 
became a tangible beast that all of the remaining Swarm felt. 
            
My turn was coming quickly, and I could see the Amazons in the front 
ranks very clearly. They wielded their swords with such power and skill 
the likes of which I had never seen before, and probably would never see 
again. They were covered in blood, our blood not theirs. Their warriors 
moved with the grace of flames. Every movement was a symphony of motion, 
attack, counter, parry, thrust, and kill, then on to the next victim. I 
felt numb like I was no longer on earth, but rather in some kind of 
nightmarish fever induced hell, and the devils were coming for me next.  
            
In an instant my turn came. The Swarm no longer had ranks, but rather 
each confrontation was an individual battle. The other Amazons moved 
past my encounter, their swords looking for new prey. 
            
My Amazon was a vision of raw female power, the perfect fighting 
machine. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and focus. She looked like 
an angel to me, not a devil, but I knew she was the angel of death. I 
vowed I would go down fighting. Better then being dispatched with an 
arrow, the cowards way out I thought. Soon, I knew I would find peace, 
and with it a kind of freedom. A new and wonderful kind of freedom, 
something I had only dreamt about. 
            
Our swords met above our heads. Our first moments locked in combat would 
be a test of strength. A test I felt I was losing almost instantly. She 
slowly backed me up. I came very close to tripping over one of the dead. 
That would have sealed my doom. Our eyes locked and her gaze held me for 
a few seconds. Such lovely eyes I thought. I shook my head to break the 
spell. I detected a small smile on her face, and maybe something else. 
Could it be pity? 
            
I broke off the test of strength. It was an encounter I could only lose. 
I swung my sword widely, striking at her repeatedly. She parried my 
attempts easily. She was content to counter letting me be the aggressor. 
My rage subsided and  I started to think more clearly. She was letting 
me use up my energy. Immediately, I started to fight like her in a more 
controlled manner. She immediately sensed the change, and the smile left 
her face. For the next five minutes or so we fought on almost even 
terms. I had never fought this well in my life or maybe I should say in 
my death. 
            
I guess I had abandoned all hope long ago, and in that knowledge was a 
kind of peace. I no longer feared death. I welcomed it. This revelation 
allowed me to tap upon reserves and skill I never knew I had before. I 
fought way above my station. So far I had fought this pure female 
fighting machine to a standstill. 
            
The tide of the battle had moved a considerable distance away by this 
time. The screams of the dying men went from a roar to a distant 
distraction. Nearby, several Amazons who were mounted on horseback were 
watching our struggle with interest. I remember thinking that the one up 
front had to be a leader. She was so regal looking mounted on her stead. 
Maybe, she was a general or even the queen herself. I knew they would 
not interfere. It wasn't their way. 
            
I felt my strength fading and I knew my angel of death could sense it as 
well. Her smile returned. I had to stay calm. What could I do to counter 
her superior strength and skill? In my mind I saw a move. A desperate 
and silly move, but it was all that I had. 
            
She delivered a powerful blow to my sword. It was the moment I was 
hoping for. I took the blow and removed my right hand from my sword. At 
the same time, I went to my knees and looked hurt. I could see the 
moment of the kill in her eyes. As she delivered another blow to my 
sword, I stood up deflecting much of it's power. In one quick move, I 
went for my knife in its sheath and brought it out cleanly to my 
surprise. I stuck her in the shoulder blade, she stopped fighting, and 
just stared at me in disbelief. The moment seemed to be frozen in time. 
Then she dropped her sword and collapsed to the ground. I stood over her 
for a second and decided not to kill her. I knew she would live from the 
wound and that made me happy. We were invading her territory, after all. 
            
I looked up and staggered toward the battle I saw in the distance. 
That's one down and only two thousand more to go I thought. Then I heard 
the horse approach, and the Amazon's war cry, as she became a blur of 
motion in mid air. She hit me solid, and the blow  knocked the sword 
from my hand, as I fell to the ground. We rolled around for a second and 
then I found myself in an unbreakable grip. She was kneeling over my 
prone body. She had my head bent up and off the ground, as I faced her. 
Her left arm was around my neck with her hand securing my jaw. In her 
right hand was her knife poised to strike. I waited for the blow, but 
for some reason it didn't come. I looked at the victress, and was 
startled. If the last Amazon was an angel, this one was a goddess. What 
a beautiful face to see in the last moments of my life I thought. She 
was smiling at me and I did not see anger in her face. I looked deep 
into her eyes and was mesmerized. I found myself falling into them. I 
didn't know where they would lead me, and I didn't care. 
            
I heard some words. Was the goddess speaking? Yes, I concentrated and 
her words became clear. "For your bravery, and your act of kindness, I 
spare your life for now." Then instead of feeling the tip of the knife, 
I felt her use the blunt end on the top of my head. I felt a pain and 
all became blackness. 
            
--------------------------------
            
The battle had come back to me in vivid detail. I knew I would remember 
it for as long as I lived. Which probably was not too much longer. As I 
scanned the plain, I could see young women walking through the bodies of 
the dead and dying. Behind them were a number of carts. Occasionally 
they would stop and examine a soldier. If he was still alive they would 
pierce him through the neck with their sword. After a while, I realized 
this was more merciful then letting him die by degrees over a period of 
maybe hours or days. When they came upon an Amazon, which wasn't very 
often, they placed her gently in the cart. I scanned the plain once 
again. There were so few charts, I laughed to myself, as I thought about 
the once mighty Swarm. It didn't seem right to call what just happened a 
battle, slaughter seemed the more appropriate term to me. 
            
I heard a noise, turned my head, and saw some Amazons approaching. I 
tried to move again and couldn't. For the first time, I realized my 
hands and feet were tied. I looked down and saw my feet were tied with 
an Amazon whip. I  guessed that my hands were tied behind my back with 
yet another whip. When they got closer they spotted me, and several 
approached. For not the first time today I waited for my life to end at 
the point of an Amazon sword. 
            
"This must be the one Diana told us about. See he is marked with her 
colors." 

What were they talking about? They picked me up and placed me in the 
cart with the dead Amazon warriors. I was surprised at their gentleness. 
Zeus! I was surprised I was still alive. One of the Amazons got in the 
cart and removed something from my head. I could see it for the first 
time. It looked like the headband of the goddess that had spared me 
earlier. 
            
I heard the older one outside the cart yell, "Stop! Put it back on his 
head. That is his safe passage in our camp. Diana will kill us if he is 
injured." 

I heard the other one laugh, but she placed it back on my head.  She 
looked at her friend and said, "I hope I have my own man some day." They 
both laughed again and then she turned to me and patted my cheek. "This 
one is kind of cute." Then she walloped me on the jaw, and for the 
second time I was knocked into unconsciousness. 
           
-----------------------------------
            
Chapter 2  The Amazon Camp  
            
I awoke with that same throbbing pain in my temples. For not the first 
time, I was surprised to still be alive. I had used up more lives then a 
cat today, and I wondered if I had any left. As my surroundings became 
clear, I could tell I was lying on the floor in a fairly large tent. 
This was the tent of an important Amazon I thought. Warriors did not 
live this well. My hands and feet were still tied. All I could do was 
wait and wonder, but I didn't have long to wait. 
            
Three Amazons came in through the opening in the tent. They were talking 
and they ignored me. One I recognized immediately as my goddess. She 
must be the Diana the young Amazons talked about. One of the other 
Amazons was talking to her in a very respectful tone of voice. 

"Sir, only a few of their cavalry remain at large. We will have them 
soon."  

Diana turned around and gave her a withering stare. "I want their balls 
brought to me before morning. Do not fail me Althia. Use whatever 
resources necessary."  

I could see a little apprehension on the Amazons face as she saluted her 
superior at the chest. "Yes Diana, your wish is my command." After her 
statement, she hurried out of the tent to do her mistress's biding. 
            
A few moments after the subordinate left, the other Amazon spoke to 
Diana. "Really Diana, she worships you. Why are you so hard on Althia?" 

 I could tell by her easy manner with Diana that she was of a much 
higher rank then the Amazon that just left. 

Diana walked to a table turned to the other Amazon and said, "She can be 
a leader some day. I will mold her into that person she is to become." 

The other Amazon shook her head and replied, "If she doesn't kill 
herself trying to please you." 

Diana took her whip off, placed it on the table, and started to unfasten 
her knife sheath from her thigh. "Then we will know that she was not of 
the proper timber. Won't we Katana?" 
            
Katana laughed and said, "Your logic is as impeccable as always Diana." 

Then Katana's gaze turned toward me and she walked over. "The queen and 
I will be leaving for the capital city within the hour. I will return in 
about a week." 

While she talked Katana studied me carefully, and I returned her stare. 
She had a large smile on her face. "Your plan worked flawlessly Diana. 
Many Amazons are alive today because of you. The queen is very pleased." 

After Diana finished removing her battle gear she walked over and looked 
down at me as well. "Tell the queen she need worry no longer about the 
Swarm. The matter will shortly be settled  forever." 
            
Katana grabbed my chin in her powerful hand. I said nothing. I just 
stared back at her. Katana looked at Diana and spoke to her, "The queen 
knows you will not fail her. Many  riches and honors will be bestowed on 
you and your village when I return. Then looking back at me she said, 
"Diana, did you know there is a mouse in your tent?" 

Diana bent down and stared intently at me and said, "Yes, he is a prize 
from the battlefield. I am not sure yet whether he will live or die." 
            
Katana patted my cheek and rose. "You will have to tell me about him 
when I return." As she walked out, she turned once again and addressed 
me this time. "I hope little mouse that you're still alive when I 
return." Then she turned and was gone. 
            
Diana did not speak for a while. She busied herself with other things in 
the tent. When she would walk by, from time to time, she would look at 
me. I could see she was thinking about my fate. I knew to keep quiet. 

Then she finally walked over and said, "I hope little one that you can 
give me a reason to keep you alive." 

I did not like her condescending tone, and I blurted out,  "My name is 
Jason." 

She laughed and replied, " We will see if your allowed to keep that name 
little one." Then she  grabbed my chin, like the other Amazon, and made 
me stare deeply into her azure blue eyes. I couldn't help but swallow 
hard. 

She caught the reaction, smiled, and said, "A little fear is a good 
thing sometimes. I am going to untie you. Do not try to run away. There 
is no where for you to go. You are deep in the heart of my camp. All you 
will do is get yourself killed. Do you understand?" 

I nodded yes. 
            
She allowed me to stand after she untied me. I was amazed at her size. 
She was almost a half a head taller than I, and I was not a small man by 
any means. I stood facing her and this time I studied her. Her body was 
like sculptured marble. She had a musculature I had never seen on a 
woman before. I drank her in as my eyes roamed down her powerful body. 
Finally, my gaze went back to her face, and I could tell she liked my 
awed appreciation of her magnificent physique. 
            
I stared at her for what seemed like hours. I knew my mouth must have 
been open in awe. For some reason she allowed me this time. Her face was 
the most beautiful I had ever seen. She had a dark complexion and 
beautiful blue eyes. Not a common combination I thought. Her face was 
perfectly symmetrical adding a flawless shape to her amazing features. 
Her small upturned nose gave an almost delicate character to her face. 
It was a stark contrast to her powerful Amazonian body. Her lips were 
large but not overly so. They added a sensuousness to her as well. There 
were so many points of interest on her face I could stare at her for 
many hours and not take her all in. Her eyes led to somewhere I knew 
someday I must go.  I'm not sure where they would lead me, but I had to 
find out. Her face I was sure had already been indelibly burned into my 
mind. 
            
Finally, she came really close to me and I could feel my heart pounding. 
I could smell the sweat of battle on her body, and it excited me more. 
Then all of a sudden, she backhanded me with such force that I landed in 
a heap several feet from her. As I rose, I was sure she could see the 
anger in my face, but then I quickly caught myself, and the anger and 
the tension left my body. I stood and waited passively a few feet from 
her. 

"Good," she said. "Very Good! You have the courage to display anger, but 
the intelligence to curb it. You have passed my first test." 
            
"May I ask a question?" I inquired meekly. 

"Good, humility as well. I think you will be very trainable." 

I ignored the implications of her last statement and plowed on. I asked 
my question. "Did the Swarm retreat from the field?" 

She let out with a hearty laugh. "The Swarm has been destroyed. There  
are about one hundred prisoners in our compound and a few that are still 
on the loose. They will be hunted down soon enough." 

I reeled from the shear magnitude of her statement. Twenty thousand men 
must be lying dead right know on the Plain of Astan. I felt no pity for 
them, but my mind reeled at the shear scope of the Amazon victory. 

I had to ask, "And how many Amazons died?"  

Her expression changed to one of sadness as she answered, "Nearly a 
hundred brave Amazons died today. It was a great loss." 
            
My mouth fell open and I stared at her in complete awe of her statement. 
A two hundred to one ratio. If ever there had been a greater victory or 
maybe properly termed greater slaughter, I had not heard of it. One 
thing that I was told in childhood and reinforced throughout my life 
kept playing over and over again in my mind. Women were the weaker sex. 
Just another fallacy I thought and laughed to myself. 

Diana studied my face and inquired. "You grieve for your friends?" 

"I had no friends in the Swarm,"  I replied. 
            
She looked at me strangely and surveyed me for a second more before she 
answered me, "That's strange, a man like you should have many friends." 

There was a pause and before I could answer her she asked another 
question. "Why did you spare the Amazon on the field today?" 

I shrugged and answered her quickly, "I had no reason to kill her. We 
were the ones invading her territory. Besides, I was just lucky to win 
the encounter." 

Now she studied me intently. "You are a very strange man little one. 
There are many puzzles to you. I think I must solve them." 

I looked at her defiantly and said, "My name is Jason." 
            
She just smiled and drew closer. "I just have one last question. Why 
were you a member of such a vile army?"  

I looked at her and for the first time I knew she didn't know of the 
Swarm's practice of taking conscripts. "The Swarm invaded my homeland 
several years ago. I was taken prisoner in battle. They totally 
destroyed my country and my people. I was given a choice of fighting or 
dying. I chose life with the hope of someday seeing them destroyed. 
Today my wish was fulfilled."  
            
A smile appeared on her face. "Can you prove this?" 

I showed her my red bracelet welded to my right wrist along with the 
brand on my left forearm. "These are the marks of a slave of the Swarm. 
All slaves carry these as a reminder, and a badge to show their status 
to other members of the Swarm." 

"Were there many such as you?" she asked. 

I answered, "One in five." 

"Then there should be others such as you in the compound?" 

I shrugged and said, "Yes, if they are a representative sample and not 
just from one battalion." 
            
She smiled and the next thing she did caught me by complete surprise. 
She kissed me flush on the lips. I let her, I didn't want to get 
backhanded again. Then she moved off and sat in a chair by her bed of 
pillows leaving me totally confused and breathless. When she was 
comfortable she beckoned me closer.  

I stood passively by her for a few moments as she smiled up at me. I 
knew not to speak. Finally, she lifted up her right leg, and said 
firmly, "Come! Take off my boots." 

Her leg was so beautiful and smooth, so feminine and flawless, but yet 
so powerful looking. It had the pefection of a Greeek statue by one of 
the masters and the look of chiseled marble. It made my mind whirl with 
its opposite attractions. I hesitated a few moments and it brought 
another command, this time more harsh. I immediately grabbed her leg and 
started to undo the laces. While I struggled with the first of her 
boots, she watched my struggles with amusement and added, "You just may 
have given me a reason to keep you alive." 

I looked at her, from time to time, as I followed her orders. She 
watched me the whole time with a big smile on her face. The boots didn't 
come off easy, and I had to struggle to get them off, much to her 
amusement. 
            
Finally, she stared into my eyes for a few seconds, and then commanded, 
"Kiss my feet!" 

I hesitated and looked at her feet then back into her eyes and said, 
"And if I don't." 

She fixed me with a stare that I will never forget and said, "I don't 
think you want to find that out." 

I grabbed her right foot and held it, and looked down at its flawless 
perfection. I looked back at her and exhaled a deep sigh. I brought it 
to my lips and kissed it lovingly. Then, I did the same with the other 
foot. 

"Ummmmm!" she purred as I followed orders completely. 

Finally, Diana smiled at me, looked deeply into my eyes again, and said, 
"You please me little one....now lick!" 
            
-------------------------------
            
I woke up in her strong arms. Every part of my body was sore. When she 
made love it was physical and my body at times was just overwhelmed. My 
tongue was sore as well. I had never serviced a women in that way before 
and I had to admit it was different. I could still taste her. It wasn't 
a bad sensation. I will always remember her taste. I tried to protest 
when she made me lick her butt, but I didn't stand a chance. She 
controlled me easily with her muscles. It was much less painful to do as 
she bid. I think she had six or seven orgasms. I lost count. I knew the 
other Amazons must have heard her screams of passion, but nobody came to 
investigate. I thought if this was going to be a nightly routine, I was 
going to last about three days. 
            
I heard her stirring and I was about to say something clever when she 
pushed me right off the pillows that served as our bed. I quickly 
received another order. "Until we are in my village, never let another 
Amazon see you sleeping with me. Always sleep at my feet. Is that 
understood?" 

I looked at her sheepishly and nodded that I understood. I then crawled 
to the foot of the sleeping area and waited. 
            
She smiled and nodded her head in approval. Then she got up and started 
to dress. She looked magnificent in all her naked glory. Maybe, I had 
died and gone to heaven after all. As she dressed, I waited for her 
orders and I just watched her. I had already learned that it was better 
to be passive and wait if I wasn't sure what to do next. The orders 
would always come, and this time was no exception. 

"Do not bother to dress. You will be given suitable clothes after your 
bath." 

I lowered my head and nodded acceptance of her orders. 
            
I did need a bath. I knew I must smell terrible, but in her urgency to 
make love last night, neither of us had time to bathe. I knew it must 
have been some time since she was last with a man. She just took me. In 
our delirium neither of us much cared about our condition, and it added 
a different sensation to our love making. Last night, we were more like 
two animals in the wild then two humans. The smell, feel, and taste of 
her was like nothing I have ever experienced before, and I wasn't about 
to complain. 
            
Diana went over to a small gong and hit it. Immediately two Amazons 
appeared. They gave the closed fist salute from the chest again and 
waited. 

Diana rattled off the orders of the day. "Give this man a bath, and 
suitable clothes. I will want to see him again at noon." 

One Amazon came over and grabbed my wrist and jerked me up. I was being 
pulled roughly out the tent when I heard Diana yell "Wait!" 

The Amazon stopped and turned back to Diana. The other Amazon came over 
to me and grabbed my other wrist. 
            
While her guards waited patiently with me under control between them, 
Diana introduced me to the two Amazons. "Mouse, this is Melkia and 
Servana. They are my personal guard. Do everything they tell you to do." 

"And Melkia?" The taller Amazon bowed her head acknowledging her name. 
"Make sure mouse is not hurt." Melkia gave another slight bow of her 
head. 

Diana had more orders. Some I didn't like. "Shave his face and groin. I 
want him hairless there. That is Amazon law, but do not shave his chest. 
I like that. 

"Just wait a second, " I yelled out. 

But before I could get anything else out, I was  pulled along out of the 
tent by the two Amazon guards. As we exited the tent, I looked back and 
could see an amused smile on Diana's face. 
            
The camp was alive with activity, and there were many warriors coming 
and going between the tents on the makeshift roadways. I instinctively 
tried to cover my nakedness, but neither of my hands would move down. I 
was an unwilling prisoner in the iron grip of the two Amazons. I soon 
became the center of attention as they dragged me along. My nakedness 
was an embarrassment in front of all of these women, but there was 
nothing I could do about it. Some of the Amazons looked at me in 
curiosity, others laughed at my helplessness, and still others I could 
see had the look of hate in their eyes. After a few minutes, I stopped 
struggling and followed as best I could. After seeing some of the looks 
I got, I was glad that Diana had sent two Amazons as escort, and I was 
glad I still wore Diana's headband. 
            
Our procession stopped at a tent near the outskirts of the huge camp, 
and Servana went inside. I could feel Melkia's grip tighten on my wrist. 
It started to hurt. She jerked me hard to get my attention and then she 
spoke. "Do not try to run away by the river. There is no place that we 
wouldn't find you. You would be severely punished, and it would be most 
unpleasant. Do you understand?" 

I looked at her and nodded in the affirmative. 
            
Servana exited the tent with a knapsack. I assumed it was the stuff they 
needed to follow Diana's orders. Then they proceeded with me in tow down 
to the river. 
            
There were many women in and about the river near the camp, but they 
walked me some distance away from the camp to a relatively quiet spot 
near a big shade tree. All at once, Melkia threw me down and we wrestled 
around for a second or two till she secured my arms over my head. Then 
she changed her position and sat on my arms totally immobilizing both of 
them. She really wasn't rough with me, and she was giggling the whole 
time, but I knew she was easily overpowering me. In the meantime, 
Servana was preparing to shave me. She got some water and prepared the 
substance that would be used as shaving cream. Then she sat on my 
stomach and applied the gel to my face. I couldn't move with both of 
them sitting on me, and I was totally helpless. I could see Melkia's 
head hovering over me, as she was watching with keen interest while 
Servana shaved my face. 
            
After she was finished, Servana rubbed her hands through my chest hairs 
and said to Melkia, "I can see why Diana likes this. It feels smooth and 
delicate to the touch, like a little carpet." 

Melkia bent down with her face just a little above mine, and started to 
rub and knead my chest. My breath became a little shorter, I closed my 
eyes, and just tried to bear the sensations that the two curious Amazons 
were making me feel. 

"I don't like the feel of it," she told Servana. "If he belonged to me, 
I would take him in the woods and shave every hair off his body." 
            
Servana looked at her curiously and said, "What if he didn't want you to 
shave him?" 

Melkia laughed and answered,  "That would be no problem. I would just 
wrestle him down, put my legs around his middle, grab his wrists in one 
hand, and I would have the other hand free to shave him. If he was bad, 
I would squeeze him till he stopped struggling." 

Servana laughed and said, "Sounds easy enough." 

Melkia thought a second and said, "Get off of him and I'll show you. 
            
As soon as Servana got up, Melkia started to wrestle with me again. It 
must have taken her less than thirty seconds to put me in the exact hold 
that she had just described to Servana. 

"See, I could shave him easily like this, no problem. Remember Servana, 
men are much weaker than us. They simply do not have a chance. Watch him 
struggle when I put on just a little bit of pressure." 

I was yelling "Pleasssse stooop!" In a matter of seconds. 

"Your right Melkia. I can't wait till we have enough campaigns in and we 
can get our own men." 

Melkia squeezed me again and I let out a long "Ohhhhhhhhh!" 

"It's such a wonderful feeling to have a man helpless like this. Such a 
feeling of complete power and control," Melkia explained to Servana as 
she powered down on my trapped waist. 

"Let me wrestle with him for awhile," Servana asked. 
            
Melkia looked at the sun to gauge the time. "We better finish shaving 
him, and we still have to bathe him yet. There will be time later," she 
said.  

I was a bit relieved, but I could see the sad look on Servana's face, 
and I knew we would be wrestling later. This was going to be a long day. 
            
Melkia and Servana both got undressed before they shaved my groin. Then 
Melkia put me in the same position as before except this time she sat on 
my face. My hands were free, but I wasn't about to struggle. Not with 
the razor about to go to work down there. The gel felt great and it was 
impossible not to get hard as Servana worked it in. Melkia bent over 
with her hands on her thighs and watched intently. Servana began to 
shave me and I remained very still. 

 "I think he likes this Melkia. See how hard his dick is?" 

Melkia grabbed my dick and moved it out of the way so Servana could 
shave that portion of my groin. Melkia replied, "Men can't help this 
reaction to women. It shows how much they like us." 

Both young women giggled  like school girls as Servana worked. 
            
I started to moan. I couldn't help it. Their manipulations felt damn 
good. 

"Are you smothering him Melkia?  He's moaning." 

She lifted her butt up a bit and checked. "No, It's just his way of 
showing us he likes this." 

"Oh!" Servana responded then she started rubbing the gel underneath my 
dick and balls. 

"Pick his legs up Melkia and get them out of the way, so I can do his 
underside." 

Melkia picked my legs up and bent them back through her arms. My legs 
were bent back over my body with her still seated right on my face. 

"That's great! Melkia. I can shave the rest of him from that position." 

Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined that I would ever 
be shaved like this.  
            
Servana finished the job and put the razor down. "Do you want to see him 
squirt Melkia?" 

Melkia thought a second and answered. "We better not, Diana might not 
like that. We should ask her first. Besides, he is so helpless, and 
Diana's so busy that I'm sure we will be taking care of him a lot in the 
future." 
 
"Ohhhhhhh!"  I moaned loudly. I heard what they were talking about and 
the prospects of that made me think I would be dead in two days tops 
from all this attention.  
            
I welcomed the cold water of the river. It quenched the fire that was 
burning in my brain, and my hard on went down, but it didn't stay down 
for long. Both girls hands were all over my body lathering me 
everywhere. I was permitted to return the favor. We laughed and played 
in the water for what must have been an hour. For awhile it was hard for 
me to think of them as anything but normal young women, and not the 
ruthless killing machines I had witnessed on the Plain of Astan. 
            
Finally, Melkia noticed the sun and we had to hurry back. Servana had a 
short blue tunic for me to wear. I balked at wearing it, blue was not my 
color. When I was told that this was what Diana wanted me to wear, I had 
no choice but to comply. 
            
----------------------------------
            
We met Diana at the big stockade. She was more than a little irritated 
that we were a few minutes late. She glared at both Servana and Melkia, 
and they withered under her stare. 

She looked at me and asked, "Are you all right?"  

I appraised the two Amazons for a moment and said, "I'm fine!" 

I could almost hear an audible sigh of relief from the pair. I looked at 
the two again and knew I had an ace I could use against them, if I had 
to. It made me feel good to know that even here, I might gain a little 
bit of control over my own actions. Even if it would be a very small 
victory. 
            
A procession out of the stockade jarred me back to reality. A group of 
Amazons was leading about fifteen men out of the stockade. 

Diana stopped the march in front of us and addressed me, "These men have 
the same marks as you. They are not part of the Swarm either. All have 
told me this is true. They will be held in another compound."  

I realized she was checking out my story and she still didn't trust me 
yet. Maybe, she was doing what any good leader would have done, but it 
made me uneasy. 
            
As I was lost in my own thoughts, she spoke in a loud voice to the 
fifteen men in the column, "Follow all orders and do not try to escape. 
You men may yet live. We know you are not a part of the Swarm." 

Ater her speech, Diana waved her hand and motioned for the Amazons to 
move the men to another smaller compound. The head guard shouted an 
order and the column began to move once again. 
            
As these men were moved out, another column of men, about the same size, 
was also moving out of the stockade. Diana stopped this column in front 
of us as well. 

Again she spoke to me, "These men are part of the Swarm. They will not 
be as lucky as the others, but we will soon have need of them. They will 
be kept separate from the others." 

When she was done talking she motioned with her hand once again for the 
head guard to move this column out as well. 

With our business at the stockade complete she turned to me, smiled 
warmly, and said, "Come we will eat. You must be hungry?" 

After saying this, she glared at Servana and Melkia again. They both 
tried to shrink out of site. Before we left, she gave an order to a 
large group of Amazons who were perched on the stockade walls. I noticed 
them for the first time as Diana shouted to them. 

"Dispatch the rest!" 

After the order, she casually turned and started walking, and I 
followed. 
            
As we slowly walked, she looked at me closely, smiled down at me, and 
commented, "I am pleased with the way you look." 

Diana turned towards Melkia and Servana and smiled broadly at her two 
guards. Both women literally beamed from ear to ear, and both let out a 
sigh of relief. 

As we walked she casually said, "I will inspect you more thoroughly 
later." 

I guess I knew what that meant. Maybe, I would survive only one more day 
at this rate. 

At that moment, I started to hear screams coming from the compound. I 
turned around and watched as I saw the Amazons shoot wave after wave of 
arrows into the stockade. I knew about seventy men were dying and it 
saddened me, even though I knew they deserved their fate. 
            
Diana grabbed my hand and led me away. "Come, they are the Swarm. This 
is their reward for invading our territory." 

I knew she was right. But I couldn't get out of my mind that this woman 
that held my life, and the lives of the other men, in the palm of her 
hand had just casually ordered the death of seventy men. It jarred me 
back to the reality of my situation. 

While I contemplated my fate and the fate of the other men, that were 
still alive, Diana's mood changed again. She asked me very casually, 
"Tell me mouse, Do you like cantaloupe?" 

I turned towards her, and I said in a very low voice too low for anyone 
else to hear but her. "My name is Jason."  

She gave me that amused smile of hers and walked on. 
            
---------------------------------- 
            
I settled into a routine in the next couple of days. The mornings were 
spent at the river with Servana and Melkia. I was bathed and shaved 
every day. We frolicked the mornings away at our spot up river. Before 
the swim they each would take delight in wrestling me into exhaustion. 
The mood was playful and I  enjoyed the encounters as much as they did. 
On the matter of my penis, Diana had told them, "No!" She wanted me as 
randy as possible for the evenings. 

My afternoons were either spent with Diana or I was left on my own in 
the tent. I was allowed the run of the camp, but I found it better to 
keep as low a profile as possible. Many of the Amazons were man haters, 
and I didn't think it was safe. Although, Melkia told me countless times 
that Diana's colors afforded me all the protection I needed.    
            
Every time I started to feel comfortable something would happen to 
remind me exactly where I was. Like the time Althia came back from the 
chase and burst into the tent. She had a huge bag slung over her 
shoulders. 

She was extremely happy. "Diana, the men are all dead. The Swarm are no 
more." She went to one knee and presented the huge knapsack to Diana. 

Diana looked inside and shuddered. It was the first time I had ever seen 
her shaken. "Take this outside and bury it, and Althia, the next time 
don't take me quite so literally." 

Althia was crestfallen. "Diana, did I do something wrong?" she asked. 

"No, you followed orders a little to well is all." 

It took me awhile before I remembered the order Diana gave several 
nights before. That bag must have contained the testicles of hundreds of 
men. Diana was not herself the rest of the night. It was good to see she 
was very human after all. 
            
With that one evening as an exception, most evenings were spent in 
torrid lovemaking. Every way possible was explored. Being the good 
general that she was, Diana made my body the objective, and I had to 
surrender to her many times each night. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy 
the bouts of love. It just was different then anything I had ever 
experienced before, and it left me totally spent. 
            
-----------------------------------
            
Chapter 3  The Training Pit 
            
Two days before Katana was to return, I was informed that the men and I 
would be going to the training pit that afternoon. I had no idea what 
Diana was talking about, but I could see by the gleam in her eye, and 
the smile on her face, that I wanted no part of it. 
            
The pit turned out to be a rather large training area for young Amazons. 
It looked like a large corral. The floor of which was covered with 
several inches of loose dirt. I would be thankful for that fact later. 
Many Amazons would sit on the fences or just behind them watching the 
proceedings. The training sessions were a popular pastime in the camp, 
and the women would cheer for their favorite youngster. 
            
The trainee's ages for the group that we would be involved with were 
from fourteen to seventeen. An Amazon became a warrior at eighteen 
summers when she passed several tests of strength and endurance. The 
tests were not easy and some failed their first time. They had to wait 
three moons to retake the test. The embarrassment of failing was so 
great, few failed a second time. If a trainee failed three times she 
would be banished from the tribe. Young girls were quite literally 
weaned on athletic contests. They played and practiced from the age of 
three, and most were highly skilled long before they came of age. In 
fact, Diana could never remember a girl being banished from the tribe. 
            
The fifteen men that were not Swarm were led into one end of the pit. I 
was already there. There were ten young girls in various areas of the 
pit with a few older Amazons scattered around. I correctly guessed that 
the older Amazons were instructors. Ten men were led to one of each of 
the girls. I wasn't one of them. I would be watching for awhile. I 
noticed that there were many Amazons watching from outside the pit. The 
girls would have a house full of spectators today. 
            
Most of the girls were tall for their age, but still smaller than their 
male counterparts, that is except for one girl. She was huge and taller 
than any of the men. I had hopes I wouldn't be pitted against her. The 
men were told to defend themselves as best they could. This was not a 
fight to the death, but almost anything was allowed except fingers to 
the eyes or killing blows. The object of the game was to knock your 
opponent out. They would be dragged off to the side, and could return as 
soon as they recovered. You fought only one opponent at a time, and one 
side won when all the fighters on the other side were unconscious at the 
same time. The girls had one further handicap. They had to do it in one 
half hour or they lost. The men were told they would be given deer steak 
tonight if they won. 
            
The men cheered and seemed to get into the spirit of the encounter. Some 
were even taunting the girls. I was far more leery. I wondered how they 
could have forgotten the battle on the Plain of Astan so quickly. Maybe, 
it was because the girls appeared so young. 
            
One Amazon signaled for the match to begin and the contest was on. All 
of the girls seemed to have practiced starting moves. They caught many 
of the men flat footed. One girl grabbed a man's wrist and twisted. His 
body was sent flying through the air. Another grabbed both  man's 
wrists, one in each hand,  and sat down. She extended her leg at the 
same time and he went hurtling over the top of her, and into a heap on 
the other side.  One of the smallest Amazons was engaged in a test of 
strength with a much larger man and incredibly she was winning. She had 
the man on his knees in a matter of seconds. 
            
The men not engaged in combat were cheering for their comrades and were 
making a lot of noise. I could hear the Amazons outside the pit doing 
the same for the young girls. I stared in disbelief as I saw each 
individual contest going downhill for the men almost from the start. 
Only several minutes had gone by and a number of the  men were already 
getting severely thrashed. There were a couple of men that seemed to be 
holding there own, but not many. 
            
Out of the corner of my eye I saw one of the instructors go over to one 
of the young girls. She had a man's wrists in her hands and his arms 
were being bent back and twisted around his own neck. 

"Place your knee in his back for added leverage, " the instructor said. 
The girl followed her instructions and the man's fate was sealed. 

The instructor yelled, "That's enough pressure we don't want to kill 
him." She then watched his eyes as they began to flutter. She put her 
hand between his arm and his neck to see if the hold was too tight. Then 
she looked in the man's eyes once again and signaled for the girl to let 
him go. He flopped to the ground unconscious. The Amazons, who were 
watching, let out a resounding cheer for the first victory, as the man 
was dragged away. The girl did a little curtsey for the crowd. She 
didn't have long to bask in her victory though for another man from the 
side took his place. 
            
Over to the right the little girl who had won the test of strength with 
the bigger man sat astride his chest. While I watched, she smiled down 
at him and then blasted him in the jaw. He was unconscious immediately. 
One of the instructors came running over as she grabbed his hair and 
lifted his head off the ground and prepared to hit him again. 

"No Tanda," she yelled, "if you hit him again, I'll eliminate you." 

Tanda let his head go and it hit the ground hard. She patted his cheek 
and raised her arms in victory as he was dragged off. Another man was 
dragged off to the side at the same time. I didn't see what happened to 
him. There was three of us not engaged as yet and we weren't cheering 
quite so enthusiastically anymore. All of us were watching the girls 
systematically take apart the men in individual combat. Our eyes were 
glued on one fight or another as each man slowly lost his battle. I 
think all the men had lost their earlier arrogance and were no longer 
confident. This gave the girls a big advantage. 
            
Right in front of me a girl had a sleeper hold on a man and he was 
slowly losing his battle to stay awake. An instructor came over and told 
her to shake the man. It would set the hold better. She shook him and 
his hands flailed like a rag doll in the air. The instructor lifted his 
arm up to see if he would give a reaction, but it limply fell to the 
ground. He was out cold. The instructor signaled the girl to let him go. 
She shook the man violently again and wouldn't let go. 

"Once more Alanna and I'll eliminate you," the instructor said. The girl 
in her excitement couldn't help herself. She shook the man again. 
"That's it your eliminated," and she physically broke the hold. Alanna 
was sent to the side and she could only watch. That meant there were 
only nine girls left. 
            
I didn't like the instructors in the pit at first, but to some of the 
men they were turning out to be gifts from the gods. Another man was 
dragged past along with Alanna's man. I moved out to enter the pit, but 
an Amazon told me that I would be last. The other two men entered the 
fray. Only I was left now and not even ten minutes had gone by. I looked 
over to the pile of unconscious men and saw that a few Amazons were 
trying to revive them. Some of the men were almost to their feet. As I 
watched the ongoing battles, none of the original men, still out there, 
were holding their own anymore. Several more were close to losing their 
fight to stay awake. 
            
The man I thought who was doing the best suddenly changed his tactics 
and started to box. The girl seemed happy to oblige. His slight edge 
turned into a massacre. As I watched she hit him five times and danced 
out of the way as he swung back wildly. She moved in again and delivered 
so many blows so fast that she was a blur of motion, and I couldn't 
count them all. Then she just stopped and backed up. The man just stood 
there for a second and then collapsed to his knees. She moved in and 
grabbed his hair and prepared to hit him again. I heard a yell of "No!" 
from one of the instructors who was by another helpless man. The young 
girl shrugged and let him go. He fell face first to the ground. I think 
he had been unconscious for some time. 
            
Two previous losers had walked up behind me. I looked at them and they 
didn't look too good, but they were up and ready to return. I admired 
their courage, and so did the Amazons. They got a loud cheer from them, 
and the men waved their hands in the air to the crowd. As I was about to 
go in I looked back and said, "Stall the girls, tie them up, time is on 
our side." I could see the men nod in understanding as I walked slowly 
over to the boxer. I had no intention of boxing her though. I wasn't 
crazy. 
            
As I approached, she attacked. She somersaulted several times over to 
me. Hands on the ground, then the feet, then the hands again, then the 
feet again. I stood and watched mesmerized. When she was close enough 
she jumped up and caught my head between her youthful thighs. I felt the 
pressure immediately. I was toppled to the ground in a matter of 
seconds. An instructor was their immediately. I think they had an Amazon 
referee for almost every match now so the men wouldn't get abused too 
badly. 
            
I heard the instructor yell to the girl "Your out of your zone." 

She quickly scooted along the ground backing up using her hands to 
propel her back to her circle. My head and body were dragged along by 
her vice like grip on my head. She did it so quickly the instructor 
allowed her the move, to my chagrin. She powered down on my head and 
neck with her thighs. The grip felt paralyzing, and my head bobbed 
weakly already. Then with cat-like quickness she changed her position. I 
couldn't react. I was half gone. She sat up and snaked her one leg 
around my neck. Her calf was biting into my neck, and she held her leg 
in place with her hand grasping her ankle. She bent over to watch my 
expression as she increased the pressure. As I slowly lost 
consciousness, I thought about my last statement to the other men. Stay 
away and delay, and I had lasted about a minute. 
            
I woke up to the cheering and yes laughing of some of the Amazons. I 
shook my head to clear it. I didn't know how long I was out, but I could 
see their was a pile of about eight or nine men where I was stretched 
out. I shook my head again and as my vision cleared I could see the face 
of Diana sitting on the fence opposite me. She was smiling at me and 
shaking her head giving me that tisk-tisk look that women sometimes give 
men. I got up real fast with that I'll show her attitude, and I almost 
fell over. But I righted myself and turned around and walked toward the 
staging area. I could hear the Amazons cheer me and I turned around and 
saw Diana cheering the loudest. That bolstered my resolve. A couple of 
the other men were starting to stir in the pile, and I knew they would 
make it back. 
            
As I got back to the staging area, I could see that three of the girls 
had nobody to fight. They were sitting in there assigned place with 
their legs crossed calmly waiting for a man to wake up. The matches 
appeared to be horribly one sided now. I could hear the laughter of some 
of the Amazon spectators as they watched the men get destroyed. The 
girls appeared to be toying with the remaining men not hardly trying. 
Some of the men were now in very humiliating holds. 
            
I noticed one girl had a man in the same position I found myself in when 
Servana was shaving me. The girl was sitting on the man's face and she 
had his legs bent back over his body and through her arms. He was 
totally helpless and the girl hardly had to apply pressure at all. She 
was giving a little half wave to the crowd as they responded with laughs 
and cheers. As I approached one of the waiting girls, I could see the 
instructor tell a girl nearby that the man she was toying with was 
unconscious, and she reluctantly let him go. 
            
My teen got up immediately when I approached, and I was ready for her 
move. She lunged at me trying to tackle me. I dove out of the way. As I 
rolled over she was lunging at me again. I just managed to dive out of 
the way. Zeus she was quick. She got up and nodded her appreciation, and 
that's when I attacked. I tackled her. I could hear the cheer of the 
crowd. They obviously hadn't seen a man make a move in a long time. We 
rolled around and somehow I got her in a scissors. I had my legs locked 
around her waist, and I squeezed for all I was worth. I couldn't tell if 
it was having any effect though. There was no expression on her face. 
Then she bridged up and did a somersault backwards. It broke my hold and 
she rolled over on her feet. As I got up she jumped and snaked her legs 
around my waist. I went down as soon as she applied pressure. 
            
She wasn't having any trouble seeing that I was in pain. It was 
excruciating. My hands couldn't budge those rock hard thighs an inch. 
She wanted to play a little, so she grabbed my hand and then made a 
muscle with one of her biceps and  made me feel it. I could hear the 
laughter from the crowd. After a minute or so she got tired of toying 
with me and grabbed both of my wrists with one hand and held them over 
my head. Then she grabbed my nose and pinched it shut with the thumb and 
forefinger of her free hand. She then laid the palm over my mouth. I was 
helpless and couldn't breath. Next she powered down with her thighs. My 
chest couldn't move to take in air. I knew I would be out in a matter of 
seconds. She bent over close to see my expression and then kissed my 
forehead. Then she pressured me even more, and that's all I can 
remember. 
            
I regained consciousness again and was surprised to still hear laughter 
and cheering. I looked at the pile of men. It was huge. There couldn't 
be more than one or two men fighting. I could see that a few Amazons 
were trying to revive some of the men, but they didn't look like they 
were having much success. I got to my feet with a loud cheer from the 
nearby Amazons. I saw Diana cheering. It made me very proud. I turned 
and walked towards the pit. I could see that only one man was still 
fighting. All the other girls were sitting and waiting at their station. 
I could see the other man was just about done. The girl had him in a 
neck scissors and he wasn't moving anymore. 
            
I heard a loud cheer as I approached one of the girls. Some Amazons were 
dragging the other man away. I made sure I avoided the boxer and the 
huge girl. I didn't want to tempt fate. Great! I was the last man left, 
and I didn't know how much time still remained. I didn't care. I was 
going to fight like I fought the Amazon on the plain, and to Hades with 
stalling for time. 
            
She stood up smiling at me, and I rushed her. I tackled her and we 
rolled around for awhile. Somehow I got on top, and immediately slugged 
her. Somehow she threw me off, and got up rubbing her jaw. I knew that 
punch would have knocked me out. These girls just weren't human. She 
wanted to lock hands in a test of strength. I shook my head no. I could 
hear the laughter from the crowd. We both charged at the same time. Our 
heads made contact with a load "Crack!" The world started to spin, and I 
slumped down into unconsciousness for the third time in a matter of 
minutes. 
            
Somebody was tapping my cheek. My vision cleared and it was a goddess. I 
focused a little better and could see it was Diana. She was smiling at 
me. I could hear her talking, and she was saying I was the only one to 
knock out an Amazon. That was little consolation the way I felt. 

"Then we lost?" I asked her. 

She nodded yes. 

"I'm sorry for the men," I said. 

 "They did fight bravely," she answered. "Maybe, something can be worked 
out for them." 
            
I looked around and could see the men recovering. There were a lot of 
Amazons all around helping them including the young girls. The mood was 
different and everybody seemed to be getting along. The men had taken 
their lumps well I thought. What choice did they have. 
            
Over the next ten minutes all of the men recovered and were sitting with 
the women just outside of the pit. I looked around and could see more 
Amazons gathering. I started to wonder what was coming next. I didn't 
have long to wait. 

Diana quieted the throng and spoke to the men. "Today you men with no 
country or allegiance fought bravely. You did not win the contest, but 
you are not trained as we Amazons are. Bravery is something we cherish 
highly above all else. To overcome fear in battle is the first victory 
anyone can attain, and that was your victory today." 

She paused, looked at me, and smiled. I returned her smile. Finally, my 
attention went back to the men again. I looked at them and they were 
different somehow. There was a look of pride on their faces not shame. 
Maybe, a feeling of resignation as well. Then it occurred to me what 
Diana was doing. I felt we were being molded, they were preparing us for 
something as yet I didn't have any idea what it could be. 
            
As I looked back to Diana, she continued her speech. "You did not win 
the contest, and with losing there is always a price to pay. There can 
still be a feast tonight. You can still have your deer steak and wine 
and all you can eat.....if you agree at the celebration to kiss the feet 
of the young girls that conquered you today. The choice is yours. It is 
the first choice you have had to make in a long time." 
            
I looked to the men and they were looking around at the girls and the 
Amazons among them. All they saw was smiling faces and maybe acceptance. 
I knew most of the men had been slaves of the Swarm for many years and 
had not had a decent meal for a long time. There was only one answer 
this group of hungry and beaten men could give. In short order they all 
agreed. 
            
After the last man had accepted the offer including me, Diana continued, 
"There is a group of Amazons that will be at the feast tonight. Among 
all Amazons they have attained the highest status. For they have fought 
in over ten campaigns and live to tell about them. They wish to meet you 
men tonight." A loud cheer went up from all the Amazons gathered. 
            
Diana's tone changed after the cheer died down. "But first there will be 
one more contest here today," she informed us. 

Diana gave a signal and ten soldiers of the swarm were led into the pit. 
"These men are of the Swarm. They will fight for freedom today. If they 
win their battle they will be set free. This will be a fight to the 
death. They will fight ten of our best young girls who are not yet 
Amazons. Do not feel pity for the men as you watch. Remember they 
destroyed your homelands." 
            
The men were handed swords and they waited in various places in the pit. 
I noticed Amazons were placed strategically around the pit with bow and 
arrow at the ready. 

Then Diana addressed them, "You men have an opportunity for freedom 
today. Kill your opponent and you go free. That is my pledge to you. 
Lose and you die. If you run you will be killed." 

Diana gave another signal and the young women filed in each taking a 
place near a man. All waited for the final word from Diana to start the 
battle. As Diana walked next to me, I gave her a look of confusion. She 
knew what I was thinking. 

"Do not be afraid for the girls," she said, "they are our best 
initiates. I would not have done this if I was overly concerned, and 
after all, this is our way. It is an Amazons greatest honor to die in 
battle." 

She then gave the signal. 
            
The contests went much as the contests had gone on the Plain of Astan. 
The girls had far greater skill. The men were afraid to die, and the 
young women were not. This I knew was the girls greatest advantage. 
Several of the men died almost immediately. The girls movements were 
like the Amazons on the plain the other day, practiced, precise, 
powerful, and with an economy of emotion. It almost looked like the 
girls were doing a ritual dance. For the men I knew it was a dance of 
death. 
            
I watched one particular one sided battle. I could tell the man knew he 
had no chance. Finally, he totally lost heart, and threw his sword down. 
The girl stopped and looked at Diana, and she nodded to the girl. The 
girl quickly lunged and her sword went into the man up to the hilt. Two 
other men lost heart and tried to run. They were dispatched with arrows. 
Another man had taken many wounds, lost his sword, and fell to the 
ground. That girl looked to Diana and she gave the same nod. She pierced 
him through the throat. 
            
After each girl had killed her man, she went to attention, held her 
sword up from the waist, and with her other hand held her fist at her 
chest ready to give her salute. I had seen no girl in trouble so far 
during the battle. None had taken any wound, and none of the men had 
seemed to even have had the initiative. The men had been hopelessly 
outclassed. 
            
Already nine girls stood at attention. Only one battle was still going 
on and the man was being driven back as he took blow after blow from the 
girls sword. Finally, he lost his balance and his life came to an end. 
There was only silence around the pit. The whole encounter had taken  
less than five minutes. There were no cheers. I realized then that this 
was no contest that I had just witnessed, but rather an 
execution.....Amazon style.  
            
I looked at the men's faces sitting next to me watching the slaughter. 
They showed little emotion. I detected no pride or arrogance left in 
them. Just a strange calm, and maybe, acceptance of their situation, and 
also of the skill of the women around them. For some reason my mind 
thought of a wild horse. It is still a horse after it has been broken, 
but it is a much calmer and gentler animal. After it's breaking, it is 
of much greater use and value to it's owner. 
            
Diana gave the ten waiting girls the Amazon salute, and they saluted 
back. Afterwards, they quietly filed out leaving the ten dead bodies of 
the Swarm in the pit. 

Diana turned to the gathered Amazons and the very quiet men and said, 
"Take these men to the river, shave and bathe them, and give them a 
change of clothes. The rest of the day we celebrate." 

A loud cheer went up from everyone including the men. Amazons and young 
girls alike grabbed the hands of the men near them and they were led 
towards the river. The men didn't seem to mind a bit about the prospects 
of a bath. 
            
A young girl grabbed my hand, and I recognized her immediately as the 
boxer I had faced just minutes before. She began to drag me towards the 
procession. 

I looked at Diana and she smiled and said, "Go!" 

I stopped fighting the girl and followed. I thought to myself two baths 
in one day. I was indeed a lucky man. 
            
Servana and Melkia came out of the crowd and approached Diana. "Should 
we go and make sure he is protected?" 

Diana gave them a strange look and then laughed. "And who will protect 
him from you?" she answered back. 

Finally, she gestured with her hand for them to go. Both women smiled 
and started to leave. Diana said, "Wait! just make sure the girl has her 
time with him. She has earned it." 

The women nodded and hurried to catch up to the crowd going to the 
river. 
            
--------------------------------
            
Chapter  4  The Choosing 
            
All the men were dressed in tunics similar to mine. Some of the colors 
were very bright and I was glad I had a gray one. A large table was set 
up in the pit, and two deer were being roasted over a big fire at one 
end. All the girls who fought today were there and about twenty five or 
thirty other Amazons I had not seen before. Their was a few other 
Amazons I recognized like Melkia and Servana, but they were few in 
number. I guessed this was an exclusive gathering. Outside of the girls 
I could only guess how an Amazon got an invite to this party. 
            
I sat next to Diana and she motioned for the ten girls who fought the 
men today to stand. "You fought well today young Amazons. Prepare for 
your prize." 

After Diana spoke, the young girls all started to file away from the 
table, went to a portion of the fence, and climbed up on to it. 

Then Diana addressed the men. "Men without a country, you know what you 
have to do. Kiss the feet of each girl that defeated you today." 

The men didn't hesitate. They could smell the deer meat cooking, and 
many of them probably didn't mind much anyway. 
            
As they walked over, I turned to Diana and she said, "Go! You must pay 
your penalty." I turned away and was about to get up when she added, 
"You should be highly skilled in this by now anyway." 

I turned back towards her and saw her laughing. I lowered my eyes shook 
my head and left. 
            
I was first in line with the boxer. I bent down and untied her sandals 
and took them off. She had the cutest little feet for such a good 
warrior. How could she have such great balance?  How could they be so 
powerful?  I peered up at her, and she was wearing a huge smile on her 
face, as she looked down at me. I was sure she had gained much status 
today with the other young Amazons. I held each one of her perfectly 
shaped feet in turn and kissed them. I lingered for awhile. For some 
reason, I was trying to please her. I could hear her making a little 
purring like sound as I kissed her tiny little feet. I was sure she 
loved it and that other men would be doing the same thing for her in the 
future. 
            
She rubbed her hand through my hair as I kissed each foot in turn. I 
heard her give out with a big sigh when I was finished. I wasn't sure, 
but I think she had an orgasm. I thought it might have been her first. 
As I stood, she grabbed my neck and pulled me close. She whispered in my 
ear, "We're going to wrestle a lot more, if Diana gives me permission. 
I'm going to teach you how to fight better." Then she pulled my face 
closer and kissed my cheek. As I prepared to leave, she gave me a little 
wink and I winked back. 
            
We all took our turns at the feet of the young Amazons that defeated us. 
I could hear the older women at the table cheering for the girls. The 
men didn't seem to mind and the atmosphere was one of playfulness and 
friendship rather than animosity. I was not the only one that some of 
the girls wanted to teach how to fight. For some reason, I was beginning 
to feel like one of their trainees. 
            
The dinner went well and the atmosphere was festive. We all ate 
heartily. After, Diana stood and spoke again, "I hope you men enjoyed 
the meal. Some of the Amazons you see around you have special status in 
the Amazon nation." 

With that Diana gestured for the twenty five women to stand. "All of 
these warriors have been through at least ten campaigns. As I said that 
gives them a special status. They all wish to meet you men without a 
country." 

That was the third or fourth time I heard Diana say that. I knew it had 
some sort of significance. 
            
Diana gestured to the huge bonfire and added, "Let us all continue the 
festivities by the fire. There will be much wine and talk." 

Everybody got up and I could see that some of the Amazons that were just 
introduced had grabbed the arm of a man and were leading him to the 
fire. Some of the others moved quickly around the table to get the 
attention of a certain man. I noticed that all the young girls were 
shying away from the men. Slowly they all quietly left one by one for 
their tents. 
            
The wine flowed and the men's spirits brightened under the huge bonfire. 
They were talking easily and openly to the women they were near. I even 
heard some of the men bragging. Some of the Amazons had their men make 
muscles and the women were feeling them. A few of the women even had the 
men lower their tunics so they could see their chests. The men seemed 
eager to oblige. Most of the conversations were between one man and one 
woman. But in a few spots two Amazons were talking to a man. These women 
weren't shy either they were doing a lot of touching and probing. I even 
saw one looking inside a man's mouth. He seemed eager to let her see 
inside. The wine was definitely having its effect. 
            
I walked up to Diana who I could see was watching the proceedings with 
an amused smile. She saw me and smiled that smile I had grown to love. I 
asked her the question that was bothering me. 

"What is happening tonight?" 

She laughed and pulled me off to the side. 
                 
"The Women are choosing," she said quietly. 

I looked at her and said, "Choosing?" 

She gestured to the group with her hand and said, "These women are 
choosing their chattel. The man will be bound to that Amazon for the 
rest of his life. He will be her property. The ritual choosing will be 
in two days. The formal ceremony that we call Chumara will take place 
when the women get back to their villages." 
            
A flood of questions entered my mind. "Why these women? The men have no 
rights?" 

She grabbed my hand and held it. I stared into those blue eyes as she 
answered. "These Warriors have lived through more than ten campaigns. 
Some campaigns can go on for months or years. They all have been in many 
battles. It is their right, now, under Amazon law to choose a Chattel if 
they wish, and if men are available. Some may not want one. It is their 
right. These warriors wish to see if a man here is worthy." 
            
She led me farther away from the bonfire, and then continued,  "The 
Amazon's life will become the man's life. The Amazon's wishes will 
become the man's desire. The Amazon's will, will become the man's 
obedience. In return the Amazon will protect the man, care for him, and 
love him in our way." 
            
I looked back at the crowd by the fire,  I saw two Amazons talking to 
the same man. "What if more than one Amazon wants the same man," I 
asked.  

She smiled and said, "Then the two will fight tomorrow. It will be in 
strict accordance with Amazon ritual. It will not be to the death. They 
will fight in a circle and the one that is dragged from the circle or 
made to leave the circle losses her claim." 
            
I only had one more question. I was surprised Diana was so patient with 
me. I could see she was studying me and her mood was calm. 

I looked into those azure blue eyes and asked my question. "Has someone 
chosen me?" 

She gave out with a loud laugh. Her head bent backwards and her gaze 
lifted towards the heavens. Finally, her gaze returned to me as she 
continued to chuckle from my amusing question. 

Her answer was not unexpected. "You were the first chosen. No one will 
dispute the claim." She grabbed my hands holding them tightly in hers. 
"You are my mouse, and you already wear my colors." 
            
---------------------------------- 
            
The next day after my mandatory bath and shave, I walked with Diana to 
the edge of the village. There was a large crowd already there. I could 
see the five remaining soldiers of the Swarm. They looked very scared. I 
saw five young girls waiting nearby. They seemed a little nervous as 
well. 

This time Diana didn't wait for a question from me. "These five girls 
will undergo their right of passage today. This day they become Amazons 
with all rights and privileges. Their test will be these five men." 
            
Diana motioned to some Amazon's and they went forward and tied a colored 
kerchief around each man's neck. The men did not try to stop them. Each 
color corresponded to one of the girl's headbands. 

Diana then addressed the men. "There is a river ten kilometers from 
here." She pointed to a hill. "Towards where the sun points the way over 
that hill. If you cross the river you will be free. The kerchief is your 
safety through this land, if you make the river. Do not lose it or you 
will be killed. I give you my vow this is true. Only the girl with the 
same color headband can stop you. If she catches you before the river 
she will try to kill you using only her hands. Try and stop her if you 
can. All you have to do is cross the river and you will be safe. Do you 
understand?" 

All the men nodded 

"Then go. You will have a ten minute head start." 
            
The men took off as fast as they could. Only one seemed to be pacing 
himself. Diana watched and said, "Well at least there is one with 
intelligence." 

We waited quietly as the five girls prepared to pursue the men. After 
about ten minutes, Diana spoke to the girls. "Go after the men and catch 
them before the river. I want you to kill them and bring me their 
kerchiefs. When you bring me the kerchiefs, you will be Amazons." 

To some other Amazons she said, "Follow with horses for the girls. Do 
not interfere, but let them come back on mounts when they have completed 
their tasks. Amazons should always be on horses in triumph." 
            
The other Amazons cheered as the girls took off after the men. All ran 
in a much more controlled manner then the men. I had heard stories that 
Amazons could run down wild animals even cats. As I watched the girls, I 
didn't doubt this story one bit. 
            
Diana watched the girls with pride. She spoke to me as she watched  each 
girl clear the hill. "That is the last five of the Swarm still alive. 
Their deaths signal the end of the Swarm forever." 

After the last girl disappeared over the hill, she turned to me and 
said, "Come mouse we go to the pit. There is five disputes over chattels 
to be decided." 
            
In the pit, I could see five large circles. There was a large crowd of 
Amazons outside ready to watch the proceedings as usual. There were two 
Amazons entering each circle as we got there. I had a surprise coming. 
All the women were naked and carried no weapons. The women went to 
attention and saluted Diana. 

She asked them all a question. "Why are you here?" 

Each pair of women answered in turn. "We are here for the right to claim 
the man," .....and they each said the man's first name. 

Diana spoke again after each pair had answered. "Then let our goddess 
Hera decide the rightful claim......begin." 
            
The women fought ferociously. They held nothing back. I saw in the 
matches wrestling, boxing, biting, and choking. All were allowed and 
used. No match was decided quickly. The women fought for a very long 
time. I was amazed at their endurance and recuperative powers. Several 
times I thought a woman was beaten only to see her rally and even the 
match. Everyone was screaming loudly for their favorites. Even I found 
myself rooting for several of the woman. One by one a victor emerged and 
the matches ended. The last must have lasted a good half hour. I could 
not help but think how unbelievable all of these women warriors were. 
            
Diana was pleased. I could tell by the smile on her face. She swatted me 
on the shoulder and said, "Come mouse lets go eat." 

I in a very low voice, but one that I knew she could hear said, "My name 
is Jason." 
            
----------------------------------
            
When we entered the tent we were both surprised to see Katana there. She 
had returned a little early much to Diana's happiness. I knew they were 
very close by the nature of their embrace. 

After their greeting, Katana noticed me and said, "So mouse you live? I 
thought you might. Their was no fear in your eyes when I saw you last." 
            
We ate outside the tent under a tree. Diana and Katana talked for a long 
while as the sun got low in the sky. I sat there quiet just listening to 
the two women. I had already learned to speak only when spoken too in 
public. 
            
Then Diana asked Katana to preside over the choosing tomorrow. 

She was happy to accept. 

Katana got serious for a moment and asked, "And have you chosen someone 
Diana? You are eligible." 

Diana smiled and answered, "Yes!" 

Katana laughed and said, "It is about time. Need I ask who?" 

Both woman laughed and looked directly at me. 

"So mouse you will soon have a mistress. Be gentle with her." 

Katana laughed heartily at her joke. 

Diana just stared directly at me. 

I met her gaze for a second and then lowered my head. 
            
As we prepared to adjourn to the tent. Five Amazons came riding up. I 
made them out as the five young girls whose passing was today. They all 
carried a kerchief in their hands. All were wildly jubilant. 

Diana quieted them as she collected the kerchiefs. She spoke to them in 
a calm voice. "Go and celebrate tonight with your friends, for today you 
are Amazons." They cheered and rode quickly off. 

Diana turned to Katana and stated proudly, "Today the Swarm is no more. 
They are all dead." 

Katana frowned and asked, "What about him?" 

Diana looked at me then back to Katana. "He is not Swarm. I will 
explain." 

As they walked to the tent, Diana explained everything to Katana. I 
could see Katana looking back at me from time to time. Her frown had 
changed to a smile. 

I said nothing. I just followed. 
            
--------------------------------
            
The next afternoon I found myself and the other men being led into the 
pit. The largest crowd of Amazons I had ever seen was outside watching. 
I knew this was the choosing, but I didn't know what that entailed. I 
looked to the other men. I knew they were confused and didn't have the 
slightest idea what was going to happen next. I could see fear on some 
of their faces. 
            
Then sixteen Amazons filed in. I could see Diana was one of them. They 
each went in turn to a man and grabbed his arm and led him to a spot in 
the pit. Diana grabbed mine and went to a spot up front. A little 
platform was brought in for Katana to stand on. 
            
Katana in a loud voice spoke to the gathering. "Amazons today you have 
chosen a man to be your chattel. As is our way you must take him first. 
I am sure our goddess Hera will be pleased with your choices."  

The crowd cheered. 

Then Katana spoke to the men only. "Men with no country, today you must 
fight once more. If you lose, you will belong to the woman that defeats 
you. As is our way, if you win, you can choose freedom or the Amazon. 
The choice will be yours." 

The crowd cheered again. 
            
Looking around I could tell by their actions most of the men looked 
defeated already. If they lost to girls, how could they defeat these 
warriors. I laughed to myself, no one here believed any man stood a 
chance, even the men felt that. This was just part of the ritual. I 
looked at Diana and she was staring intently at me. I swallowed hard. 
Like the others, I too knew the outcome. 
            
Katana surveyed the pit and then motioned for everyone to begin. Most of 
the women did not want to hurt their men. What they wanted was to subdue 
them as quickly as possible, and to let the men understand their 
complete helplessness. The women moved much to quickly and were vastly 
stronger, and infinitely more skilled. In a matter of a minute or two 
most of the men came under the power of his Amazon. The women wanted to 
end the match with each of their favorite wrestling holds, and to keep 
the man trapped and helpless, in the hold, for the rest of the ceremony. 
            
One Amazon with little trouble just grabbed her man around the waist and 
lifted him off the ground. She pressured him enough till he stopped 
struggling. She just held him in that manner waiting for the rest of her 
sisters to finish. 

One man found himself between his Amazon's great thighs. She maneuvered 
his body effortlessly till she positioned herself on her back, and the 
man was held completely off the ground between her upright legs. He 
couldn't move as he stared down at her from his helpless perch. 
   
Another Amazon had her man's arms bent behind his back with his wrists 
held securely in her grip, and she placed her foot in the small of his 
back. In modern times this hold would be known as the surfboard. 

Still another man found his waist captured between the thighs of his 
mistress. She had his wrists held firmly in one of her hands, and they 
were held above his head. With her free hand she held his jaw, and she 
made sure he was looking directly at her. He couldn't move a muscle. 
            
The smallest of the women just wrestled her much larger man down till 
she was able to straddle his shoulders and capture his face between her 
well muscled thighs. After a minute or two he stopped struggling and she 
grabbed his nose in a playful demonstration of her mastery of him. 

I found myself on my stomach with my arms held prisoner pressed to my 
sides between Diana's thighs. Diana had my upper body bent back a little 
and off the ground. One of her massive forearms was around my neck. She 
was mercifully placing little pressure on my neck and back. As she 
waited for the other matches to end, she playfully nibbled at my ear. 
Finally, I heard her whisper to me, "Are you having fun, mouse."  
            
The men were all subdued in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Their 
captors held them in various states of helplessness around the pit. The 
watching Amazons roared their approval. Finally, Katana motioned by 
raising her hands for the crowd to be still. All noise ceased instantly 
except for the occasional moan from a man as he felt the pressure from 
the inescapable hold his Amazon held him in. 
            
Katana surveyed the scene, lowered her hands, and spoke to the 
gathering. "Amazons the taking is complete. Now we witness it for our 
great goddess Hera." 

A few Amazons cheered and Katana had to silence them again with a wave 
of her hands. When it was quiet once more she spoke again, "Each Amazon 
must now give her testimony for the goddess." 

She then called out to each Amazon to give her testimony. "Gloriana, do 
you choose this man in front of your sisters and for the glory of the 
goddess." 

Gloriana was the Amazon who held her man in the air with a bearhug. She 
replied, "I take him." 

The crowd cheered. 

Katana continued, "What is his new name?" 

Gloriana looked at her captive and replied, "His name shall be speck." 
She squeezed him tighter and the crowd cheered as he moaned. 

Katana had to direct one final question at the man this time. "Man, what 
is your name?" 

Gloriana squeezed him very tightly and he moaned out, "speck....my name 
is speck." 

The crowd cheered once more. 
            
In turn each Amazon was called to testify, and each man got a new name. 
One that he would be known as for the rest of his life. The Amazon that 
straddled her man named him little bird. Tatania who held her man 
helpless suspended between her legs, named her chattel chipmunk. The 
Amazon who held her man's waist between her mighty thighs named him june 
bug. 
            
Finally, only Diana and I were left. Katana called out to Diana to give 
her testimony. 

Diana replied, "I take him." 

Then Katana asked Diana for my new name. "His name shall be mouse," was 
her reply. 

There was a pause while the onlookers cheered. Then Katana asked me to 
say my new name. 

I did not answer. 

Diana pressured my neck and back severely. I thought I would pass out. 
The crowd got quiet as I heard Diana whisper to me a warning, "Do not 
embarrass me in front of my sisters." 

Katana asked me the question again. "Man, what is your name?" 

The pressure became unbearable. I heard myself saying in a low groan, 
"Moussssssse....My name is mouse." 

The gathering cheered and Diana eased up on the pressure before I passed 
out. 
            
Katana surveyed the pit and asked the final question that all officiates 
ask before the ceremony ends. "Amazon's are their any favors that you 
wish me to grant." 

Diana called out, "Katana, I wish for you to perform the Chumara for me 
tomorrow. I do not wish to wait till I get back to my village." 

Katana smiled and replied, "I will be honored." Then Katana waited to 
see if any other favors were asked......none were. 
            
Katana then ended the ceremony. "Amazons these men now belong to you. 
Take them to your tents and do with them as you will, but first they 
must have your colors." 

A few young Amazons entered the pit and placed a headband around the 
head of each man. It was the same color as the headband of his new 
mistress. As this was happening, the women outside were cheering loudly 
for their sisters. 
            
After each man got his headband, his Amazon released him from the hold 
she had him in. Most of the men slumped to the ground. Almost all of the 
men were scooped up and carried from the pit. Some were thrown over 
Amazon shoulders. Others were held cradled in the arms of an Amazon as 
she walked. I saw one man being carried by his Amazon who used only one 
arm around his waist to support him. She held him at her side, 
horizontal to the ground, while she walked. 
            
I was cradled in Diana's arms while she walked back to her tent. I 
wondered if I would have to pay a price for my misdeed. She must have 
read my mind. "You almost embarrassed me back there, little one." 

I decided to jump from the frying pan into the fire. I said, "My name is 
Jason." 

Before I had all the words out, she started to squeeze me into a little 
ball with her huge arms. "Do you want us to wrestle again when we get 
back to the tent?" 

With my last breaths I yelled out, "No...Noooo!"  

She chuckled and squeezed even tighter. "Then what is your name?"  

I moaned "Mousssse," just before I passed out. 

She let up on the pressure and smiled down at my unconscious face. Then 
she said as if I could still hear her, "You have spirit little one, I 
like that. I will teach you your new name so you won't ever forget it."  

She reached the tent and before she entered Diana paused and looked down 
on my face once more. She kissed me then added, "We have all the time in 
the world for you to learn your lesson well." 
            
----------------------------------
            
I was dressed in a light green tunic. Diana's color is light green. We 
were under the huge shade tree where we ate dinner the other day. I was 
standing before Katana with a few of Diana's closest friends and 
subordinates gathered around. 

Melkia and Servana were whispering to each other nearby. I heard Melkia 
say, "Doesn't he look cute." 

I knew my world would never be the same after I was captured by these 
Amazons. But to what extent it would change, I never would have guessed. 
I was still glad to be alive, and Diana was the most beautiful woman I 
had ever seen. She was not cruel, and as long as I obeyed her my life 
was relatively free of cares. I still couldn't help but wonder what the 
future held for me.  
            
As I pondered my fate. Diana came riding up. She looked breathtaking. 
Her dark hair fell from her shoulders in a long braid that reached more 
than halfway down her back. She carried a bow slung from her left 
shoulder. She was dressed in her best chain mail. The bra and her briefs 
were connected by a patchwork of crisscrossing strands of metal running 
down her stomach. In the center of the patchwork by her navel was a 
bright green stone that looked like an emerald. It matched her colors 
well. She had on a light green headband that also carried a small green 
darker stone that was positioned perfectly in the center of her 
forehead. On her right thigh she carried her knife. It was carried in an 
ornate sheath and was tied  by two cords around her beautiful muscular 
thigh. 
            
She dismounted from her horse and a young Amazon held it steady by the 
rains. As she walked towards us, I could see more detail. Around each 
wrist and upper arm was a large gold band. Her sandals were firmly 
fastened to her feet  by a patchwork of leather straps that extended up 
her lower legs. I knew Artemis herself would be envious if she saw Diana 
today. 
            
Diana walked up next to me and smiled. Katana asked for quiet and 
announced that the ceremony was about to begin. She looked at me and 
said, "Go to one knee mouse." 

I followed her orders. 

Diana put her arm around my neck. 
 
Then Katana looked towards me and spoke. "Mouse, do you promise to serve 
your mistress faithfully, to follow her commands obediently, and be 
faithful as long as you both shall live?" 

I knew the answer that was required. I didn't hesitate, I said, "I do." 
            
Then Katana looked towards Diana and asked her the following. "Diana, do 
you promise to protect Mouse, to nourish and cherish him, to make sure 
he obeys all Amazon laws and customs, and to punish him if it is 
required?" 

Diana looked at me fondly, squeezed my neck lovingly, and said, "I do." 

Katana smiled and signaled for the pillow. "Then in the eyes of the 
great goddess Hera and before your fellow Amazons, I pronounce you 
bonded." 

Katana turned to me and said, "Mouse, she will be your Mistress, 
teacher, and guide in life." 

She turned to Diana and added, "Diana, he will be your trusted friend, 
student, and dependent. Care for him and love him, and you both will be 
happy." 

Finally, Katana looked directly at me and said, "Mouse you may kiss her 
feet." 

I hesitated for just a second, but did not want to embarrass Diana. I 
lowered my mouth to her feet and kissed each in turn. 

I heard an Amazon who I think was Servana say, "Awwwww!" 
            
A young  Amazon brought over the pillow with my collar and chain, and 
Diana's key and chain. The Young girl stopped in front of Diana and 
Diana took the collar. She placed it carefully around my neck and firmly 
fastened the lock. Then she attached the chain to the collar and wrapped 
it around the  fingers of her left hand. The young girl moved over to me 
and lowered the pillow. I took the chain with the key on it and as Diana 
bent her head, I put the chain around her neck. 

Katana said the final words, "Go! Hera blesses this joining."  
            
We both turned around and headed for Diana's horse. Everyone was 
cheering and clapping. Diana had me on a short chain, so we walked very 
closely together. When we got to her horse she lengthened the chain and 
mounted. Then she reached down and picked up my body with one arm around 
my waist and slung me over her horse in front of her. Before she left, 
she had her horse rear up on it's hind legs, and gave a final wave to 
the crowd. The next thing I new we were heading for her tent. 
            
---------------------------------
            
Epilogue 
            
I have been with Diana now for over twenty years. Overall, I must admit 
I have been very happy. She will retire soon from battle and become the 
leader of our village. Since Katana has become queen, Diana has assumed 
more responsibility for all of the Amazon campaigns. I think Katana will 
miss her leadership greatly. 
            
Servana and Melkia also live in our village. They too long ago got their 
own men. Cutey pie and hairless have become two of my closest friends. 
Every morning when the weather is good, Melkia and her man can be seen 
leaving the village for their secret spot in the woods. Melkia always 
caries a knapsack. I never asked what's inside the knapsack, I know it's 
shaving supplies. I don't have to ask who wins their wrestling matches 
out their in the woods. Melkia's man doesn't have a hair on his body. 
            
Diana has granted me two children. It was difficult for her, but somehow 
she pulled it off, and never missed a major campaign. I must admit it 
was not easy bringing up and caring for two children with Diana off to 
the wars most of the time, but somehow I managed. We have a nineteen 
year old daughter. Her name is Dianera. Last year she easily completed 
her right of passage. She is every bit the proud young Amazon. I see 
much of her mother in her. We both think she will be a great leader some 
day. 
            
We also have a seventeen year old son. His name is Jason. Contrary to 
popular belief all male children are not killed by Amazons. Most are 
sent to neighboring nations. Some are even raised by Amazons in times 
when men are scarce. This time the queen gave Diana dispensation to keep 
her son. Jason was allowed to take part in most Amazon contests and 
games. He has always acquitted himself well. Diana is as proud of him as 
I am. He has grown up straight, tall, and strong. 
            
Right now I am driving my son in a cart out to the outskirts of Amazon 
territory. Men are not allowed to ride horses. Diana and Dianera are 
riding their horses along side of us. We all will soon have to say good-
bye to Jason. He will be eighteen soon and must become a chattel to an 
Amazon and there are many who covet him. Neither Diana or myself wish to 
see him wear a collar. 
            
--------------------------------
            
We have finally reached our destination. The outside world is just 
several hills away. Dianera and Diana have just said their good-bye's to 
Jason.  They each hugged him for a long time. It is the first time I 
have ever seen Amazons cry. I hope I can be brave myself. Diana has 
given him her horse and she will ride back with me. I love the fact that 
he calls me father. We embraced for what seemed like an eternity. In a 
way it is. I know I will never see him again. I know he will do well in 
the outside world. 
            
Diana asked me as my son and I embraced, "Do you want to go with him?" 

Dianera gasped and said, "I  couldn't bear losing both." 

I hugged her and replied, "I'm not going anywhere. My life is here with 
you. Jason has yet to make his life." 
            
We waved one last time and headed the cart back towards the village. 
Diana grabbed my hand in hers and kissed it. She asked me, "Will he be 
all right in the world of man....Jason?" 

I stopped the cart and looked at her. It was the first time she had ever 
used my given name in twenty years. I leaned over, kissed her, and said, 
"He will do very well. After all, he's an Amazon... Isn't he?" 

I turned one last time to look at my son. He had almost reached the far 
hill. There was no sadness in me now as I watched him go over the hill 
and disappear. I knew in my heart, I was finally free at last. 
            
 The End....