Among the Amazons Chapter 1

Three kinds of slaves were in the merchant caravan. Most kept their eyes downward, flinching if they ever even thought to be caught looking up. Some glared or growled with a futile defiance, as if to scare off their prospective owners. And then there was the last one.

The calm one.

Kazimir watched with keen eyes as his fellow men were brought out by their amazon captors, the loose grains of sands slipping between the toes of his bare feet. They were naked, save some with cloth enough to cover their loins, including himself. Their hands were bound in front with thick, tight ropes, as they were lined up for a rather improvised presentation.

The sun was still high in a clear sky, and the journey far from over. The caravaness was greedy, but she wasn't petty enough to waste precious time over minor coin. Which could only mean their surprise patron or patrons were wealthy.

Powerful as well, he deduced by their armored escorts. Dozens of tall women, each a sculpted beauty clad in armor both of quality metal and form-fitting. The caravan guards had only leather, with some bronze on the arms and legs. The difference couldn't be more obvious. But then again, the warriors weren't the buyers.

A great majority of the buyers never even came up to the slaves, pouring over the weapons, jewelry, and other exotic goods instead. A few young amazons, small enough in height and strength to still be mistaken for human women, watched them inquisitively. His snarling comrades kept them at bay, even as the caravan guards kept the slaves in check.

Then came the guests of honor.

"Right this way, My Ladies!" Their illustrious caravaness spoke with her most charming smile, her silvering mane giving her an admittedly eye-catching and experienced look. "Much of our stock was plucked fresh from the battle of Balsade against the Lurzites! We have those still ripe with defiance and others heeled into submission!"

The first was soft. That was his first summary of the brunette that studied a particularly tanned and bearded slave. Amazons never had bulging muscles, but this one had no definition or firmness covered by her silken clothes. She leaned away from the growling mountain of a man; far too skittish, in Kazimir's opinion.

"Alright, worms! Who want to be free again?!"

Kazimir raised an eyebrow at the second amazon, her hair green and cropped short with an eye-patch covering her left eye. She was clad in leather, but there was something off about her to Kazimir. She gave a cocky grin, tossing a pouch of gold up and down.

"Mining, farming, building. Last three years, and you're a free man. Or, for the impatient, the games await. I am fair, you will get to choose your path."

Kazimir looked on, unimpressed as many of his fellows jumped at her offer. She was a middle-woman, he doubted she could guarantee anything. After all, she said "if" they last; heavily implying the survival odds of volunteers were low.

"My, my, what a lovely batch. And we get first pick."

Kazimir froze. He didn't recognize the voice, just the way she spoke. Every instinct in his core made him very wary as he looked towards the amazon in question.

A fool might mistake her to be like the first, soft. Dressed in a dark, luxurious dress with fair skin and an air of noble arrogance about her. But Kazimir saw the hawk-like stare of her eyes, studying every slave like they were her prey. Her face said it all: Hungry, challenging at those with unbroken wills while the docile slaves gained coy, tempting looks to put them in a false feeling of peace.

Behind both kinds of gazes was the same thing: she was clearly calculating how long they would last or considering how long they could entertain her.

Her eyes passed onto him and the smile was gone. Her eyes were searching, inquiring, suspecting. This could be trouble.

"Anarew, what is this one's story?" she asked with a searching, curious stare as she came up to him. One he matched, wondering what was she looking for.

Kazimir fought off a smirk as he saw Anarew coming towards them, trying not to show her limp. He often wondered where she got it. A young merchant's first folly with slaves, or something older than that? The mystery of the caravan.

"Madam Onakila," the caravaness addressed, her selling charm faltering as she looked upon Kazimir. "Ah, him. He was at Balsade as well. I imagine he's been a life-long warrior with this disposition."

Kazimir wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not.

"Hmm, highly unmarked," Onakila noted, tapping a finger to her chin as she looked him over. "Impressive for a man of combat, but not so much for you, Ana. Losing your touch?" she asked, giving the merchant a playful look.

"He's not exactly broken in, but he's been obediant thus far. With the many trouble makers of this batch and, well, I believe you understand," Anarew explained, stirring some amusement from Kazimir. He recalled plenty of times she had tried to get a rise out of him to no avail. Her frustration had been his secret joy on weary days between marketplaces.

"Oh, I understand perfectly," Onakila assured, patting her on the back and ignoring the wince from the merchant.

Kazimir tilted his head slightly at that. There was a story here. The way they knew one another and spoke to each other. A frequent buyer? The air seemed too tense to be just that. Old lovers? Not tense enough. Interesting.

"He certainly isn't unappealing," Onakila mused, as if considering making a purchase on him. "I hope you trust my word in place of my coin, Anarew. I didn't expect this little trip would allow us to run into you."

"To a point, My Lady. It shall be a time before my humble caravan arrives at Aladojdim, and we need coin for the journey between towns," Anarew reminded.

"Ah, yes, what a pity. I don't suppose you can put a hold on this one for me?" Onakila requested with a smirk. "For a bonus, of course."

Kazimir shifted his gaze between the two amazons. He hadn't tried to escape before, but this might be his incentive to do so.

"That won't be necessary."

Every woman and every amazon froze, and every man took note of this as all grew silent. Onakila and the caravaness turned, their startled expressions on the edge of fear despite the pleasant tone.

It was a warrior, or so Kazimir had assumed. Her armor was like the others, but with curved spikes along the joints and a faint engraving on the edging. Her hair was long and dark like the blanket of night, her eyes like summer almonds.

She was kind in tone, beauty embodied, and caused terror among her kind. Who was this? Surely a noble or general, the true reason for this kind of escort to be wandering through these lands. Maybe they were already on this amazon's lands.

"Apologies, Me-Melza, my p-" Onakila greeted, bowing stiffly as Anarew kept her gaze down.

"No need for alarm, Onakila. I myself had no intention to purchase a slave today until just now," Melza assured, every move graceful and assuring.

"Purchase?" Anarew repeated in understanding, looking at Kazimir out of the corner of her eye. "Surely you would prefer-"

"This one, Caravaness. I would prefer this one," she answered factually, waving to someone behind her.

Kazimir grew confused as he saw a female, a human, come forward. She was barely a woman in age yet, her allure more cute than carnal. She had on similar armor in appearance, but Kazimir could tell: It was lesser, lighter, thinner. Blond was in her hair and green in her eyes, carrying a tiny blue encrusted chest covered in beautiful carvings and inscriptions.

She handed it over, and he could almost feel Anarew's mouth go dry at the contents. "It has been a while since I've seen so many Ecil-Rokas," Anarew stated in disbelief. "I only require thirty of these for the slave, My Lady."

"Take fifty. Put the remainder towards Lady Onakila's purchases, since I am stealing such an interesting specimen," Melza instructed with dismissive generosity.

"You are too kind, Princess," Onakila remarked in thanks, her expression wary and cautious.

Kazimir's eyes went wide as he rolled the title around in his head. Princess? Surely they couldn't mean what he thought they meant? She had to be the noble of some important colony or heir of a minor vassal nation, right?

"I see you do now know who I am," Melza remarked as she stepped up to him, their eyes locked with reciprocated interest. "I am Crown Princess of the amazonian Empire of Alotana, Melza VI."

Kazimir was stunned. There was no other word for it. The princess of the amazons, right here in front of him. This was, needless to say, shocking and concerning. She would one day be the most powerful amazon in the world, and was already among the ranks below that. It clearly explained the other amazons. A single word and this woman could ruin or even kill them.

No one would bat an eye over what someone of this nature did to a slave.

But he rallied himself. This would be interesting, and challenging, but that smile on her face was neither fake nor malicious to his eye.

"What is your name, Male?" she inquired simply.

"Kazimir, Princess," he answered instantly, his voice crisp and dry from lack of use.

"How exotic. I like it," she mused, glancing down at his wrists.

He understood the prompt and raised his arms, knowing that disobeying wasn't an option for anyone in this situation, male or otherwise.

With armored hands, she reached forth to grasp the length of rope leading from his binds.

"Come. We have a long journey home, Kazimir."

Author Note: Well, there's the first chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it and might give feed back on it.