Screams echoed in the hall as Briseis ran. The sound of blood dripping as the birds chased her was nearly as loud. But the smell was worse, no matter how far she ran the stench of it was always in her nose. The weight in her arms seemed to grow heavier as she cradled the bundle close to her chest. She had to escape, if she couldn't her life would be worse than the fields of punishment in the underworld.

     "Come back," Umna shrieked. "Give me my children!"

     Briseis swung around a corner and hid behind a column. She couldn't run anymore. Her sides cramped and her breath wouldn't go deep enough. Briseis heard the flock of owls approaching and she put her hand over her mouth and nose to help hold her breath. Her lungs were going to explode, dark spots danced into her vision as her eyes watered uncontrollably, but she still couldn't take a breath.

     With great effort, she forced herself to keep holding her breath for ten seconds after the last owl had passed.

     "Ahhh," she fell to her knees and gasped as her eyes shed tears. The bundle in her arms moved. Briseis looked down to see Kegarta with her face bleeding, her brand was fresh.

     "Why did you let this happen to me," the child Kegarta asked with an adult voice.

     Briseis screamed and dropped the babe. The bundle of blankets disappeared before they hit the floor. An owl screeched overhead. Briseis looked up to see the bird with Umna's face swooping down at her. Umna's face also bled from gashes caused by claws. It was those wounds which dripped loudly and stank. "Give me my children!"

     The blood landed on Briseis' face and arms, burning her where the droplets fell. She screamed just as the claws of the Umna–owl sunk into her flesh.

     Briseis sat up in bed, a cold sweat dripped down her body and the feeling of fear lingered. The screaming was still going on. Was this a dream? She looked toward the curtained window to see the sun had risen not long ago.

     "Shhhhhhhh," somebody hushed but the screaming didn't end.

     Groggily, Briseis got out of bed and went to track down the source of the noise. She found Kegarta holding a squealing child, Kertis, Briseis youngest child now that she'd taken Umna's place. "Have you fed him?"

     "I can't, Princess, no one has arrived to help. I sent Verstia to the kitchen for boiled milk."

     "I wouldn't have thought of that. Very good, Kegarta." The child bawled in Kegarta's arms and refused all attempts to be soothed. Synlex, the middle child, was playing with a toy horse by the window while Arachne looked on in between her weaving. A loom had been moved for her into Briseis' quarters, as Arachne's status had been raised thanks to Briseis taking control of the harem, such an extravagance was now within her rights. Arachne was no longer required to work for the weavers but she loved the craft and therefore had requested this boon.

     Asteroin, the eldest of Briseis' children at nine years of age, sat with his arms crossed, scowling at them all. Last night the boy had returned to the quarters to find a small army of women removing their stolen things, and men taking out anything of Umna's Briseis didn't want, but too large for Umna's new lodgings and therefor headed for storage.

     He didn't take it well, which Briseis couldn't blame him for, but she hoped this attitude of his wouldn't last too long. Asteroin eyed the owls around the chambers with dismay. By now the story of what Briseis had done to take over the harem was well circulated throughout the palace. The boy obviously didn't trust the birds and trusted Briseis even less.

     Verstia returned leading a servant girl. She carried a steaming cauldron of milk and an oddly shaped spoon. Verstia and the girl bowed before Briseis. "I have returned with our assistance."

     "Stand. I would like to feed the baby while one of you holds him. What is your name," Briseis addressed the unknown girl.

     "Irini, my Princess," she looked pale, from fright or something else Briseis couldn't say.

     "Let us begin, Irini. Are you to be my nursemaid for the children?"

     "Ummm," Irini hesitated. "I don't know. I'm a just kitchen worker and I have no children of my own so.." Irini trailed off but got busy setting up the feeding area. She put the warm milk pot on a table while Verstia found a chair for Briseis to sit in.

     "Are nursemaids not regularly assigned to these chambers," Briseis asked.

     Kegarta handed baby Kertis to Irini. Briseis took the chair opposite her and took up the strange spoon. It was more pointed than a regular spoon with a deep concave groove. Briseis dipped the spoon in the milk and brought it to the edge Kertis' lip. The ritual was familiar to the child, he was clearly more used to milk from the breast but seemed to have an understanding of this method.

     "Well...yes but..." Irini bit her lip and shot Briseis a worried glance.

     Briseis raised an eyebrow at the girl's reluctance to speak. "I will not have your tongue for anything you say. But what?"

     Irini swallowed. "Umna's former nursemaid was one of her handmaidens and you dismissed them all."

     "Ahh, I see." Dismissing them without finding out the specifics of their rolls had been a mistake.Though for a handmaiden to also be a nursemaid was unusual, at least it would have been in Pedasus. "Is that typical here?"

     Irini nodded. "Handmaidens may choose to remain in service to their ladies after marriage in Lyrnessuss."

     "Know you of any girls you serve alongside in need of a promotion?" Briseis saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Asteroin was leaving. "Where are you going?"

     The boy didn't answer and took off down the hall. The owl Briseis assigned to him also took flight after the fleeing child.

     "I shall retrieve him," Arachne rose.

     "No," Briseis said. "He needs to work this out in his own time." Little Synlex got off his toy horse and tried to follow after his brother but Kegarta swooped him up playfully, causing the boy to laugh in delight.

🦉

     Hedas came to Briseis' chambers not long after they'd finished the long task of feeding Kertis. He finished almost a third of the milk and nodded off in a happy nap. Synlex had continued to play on and off with Kegarta, unlike his older brother the change of people in his daily life didn't appear to bother him. He hadn't asked for Umna or anyone from that circle.

     Kertis being only a one year old babe, was too young to ask for anyone specific, and although he did occasionally look puzzeled at the people around him, his fits didn't seem to be from missing anyone as they were always able to calm him quickly. Hedas entertained the kids with dancing vines while she spoke to Briseis.

     Irini and Verstia cleaned up the mess they'd made. Kertis would playfully grab for the spoon causing Briseis to spill some the milk occasionally. Briseis assigned Verstia to see about hiring at least three nursemaids and the girl left with Irini.

     "I have compiled a list of women I believe would be a credit to your council," Hedas put the scroll on the table while she observed the baby.

     Briseis was gently slapping the back of the child as she'd seen some of the nursemaids do to the young children. "Kegarta?" The handmaiden took the babe so Briseis could take the scroll. "This is shorter than I expected."

     When she arrived in the hall during her wedding Briseis remembered being surprised at the number of women Mynes acquired as wives, and the twenty five who'd been at her wedding hadn't been all of them. Hedas did tell her a great number of the women had their spirits broken in part or completely by Umna's cruel treatment. But even still Briseis thought Hedas' list of candidates would be greater than three.

     "If you want more we can incorporate additional women, but I believe these are the safest options to begin with."

     Briseis looked again at the short list. "Were any of these women on Umna's council?"

     "Yes, one. Princess Opal from a kingdom to the south called Tiber."

     Kegarta was rocking Kertis in his cradle but upon hearing this she stopped. "Why would you assign a woman who was in league with Umna?" The baby began to grumble and Kegarta went back to rocking the child. He quickly fell back asleep.

     Arachne was listening intensely as she played with Synlex but shot a glance at Hedas, wanting to know her answer.

     "I thought it might be a show of good faith, for Opal, and the others who were close to Umna. Additionally, I wasn't on the council, having someone who is familiar with all the annual events they plan would be helpful if not strictly necessary."

     Kegarta snorted. "Why? Princess Briseis doesn't need to save face with any of them."

      Hedas raised an eyebrow at Kegarta's words. "Though only a night has passed since she's taken the harem, the tale of what we did to supplant Umna has made its way around the palace. There have been some whispers that Umna, cruel as she was, may have been a more merciful High Princess than Briseis. In short, fear of Briseis is growing rapidly and not just among the wives."

     "What's wrong with fear," Kegarta asked. "It could keep us safe if they're too afraid to cross our lady."

     "Monarchs should be feared to a certain degree," Hedas said. "Too much can cause just as many problems, if not more, than too little. If Briseis isn't able to establish herself as a more just ruler than Unma it may not just be angry wives she will face."

     "Are you talking about assassins?" Arachne asked. She'd stopped playing with Synlex and the boy tapped her arm to get her attention once more.

     "Yes, she is." Briseis rose from her seat and looked at the list once more. "I admit I had concerns for the children in that regard once Umna was removed. I hadn't considered I might become a target as well. Tell me more about her and the other two."

     Knock, knock, knock, someone pounded on the door. Kegarta went to answer it but the doors slid open on silent hinges before she got the chance. Morgan and three other men came into the chambers. The knocking woke Kertis who began to cry, while Synlex stopped playing to hide behind a table. Several of her owls screeched in alarm but remained motionless. All the guards except Morgan looked nervously at the animals, thankfully none were armed with bows.

     "Morgan, what's the meaning of this?" Briseis asked.

     "These men have come to escort you and Princess Hedas to the office of the High Prince, my Princess. I will accompany you."

     Briseis looked again at the men standing behind Morgan. All were unfamiliar but she didn't know many of the soldiers anyway. Several wore mean expressions she didn't like. "No, Morgan I would like you stay behind with Kegarta and the others."

     Morgan looked like he was going to protest but restrained himself. Several of her owls rose from their perches and took flight as Briseis and Hedas exited the room. Eyes peeked at them from behind doors and before darting around corners in surprise. Her owls flew above her, slowly circling, and Briseis was happy the palace had such high ceilings.

     Mynes was alone when they entered his office. His back was to them as he stood with his hands folded behind his back. The owls landed on the desk and stood silently at attention. "Your demonstration of power has caused an exodus of servants from the palace." He turned with an unamused expression. "Hedas why did you hide your lineage? I've always liked you even though you've given me no children, but this has caused me to reevaluate our relationship."

     "My reasons are simple, Umna would have been more threatened by me if it was known."

     Mynes took a seat and stared distastefully at the owls taking up his desk. The birds had their eyes fixed on him, unblinking. "Hmmmm. Then there is the matter of you, Briseis. You have taken control of the harem which I will not protest, yet the problem of your insufficient dowry remains."

     "Surely you can overlook it," Briseis said.

     "No, I will not. I want the money."

     "How much money?" Hedas asked.

     Mynes told her the amount and Hedas' eyebrows twitched. "I see. I am willing to write to my mother and ask her to–"

     "No," Mynes said with a wave of his hand. "With the war started I couldn't be certain the funds would even reach Lyrnessuss, just as the food supplies from your kingdom are likely to stop, and the latest one is overdue by two weeks already. Which posses yet another problem as the people of my city have come to rely on it instead of growing so many of their own crops."

     Briseis shot Hedas a quick glance, a plan was already forming in her mind but she would need Hedas to agree. And it wasn't a small favor. "May I speak to my fellow wife in private?"

     "No," Mynes snorted, "whatever you're thinking I would hear it as well."

      "Nevermind then." Mynes' face turned a tinge red at Briseis refusal to speak.

     "What were you thinking," Hedas asked her. Briseis looked over at Mynes. She didn't want him to demand Hedas do as Briseis asked if it turned out the woman was unwilling. "Briseis," Hedas put a hand on her arm, "whatever it is will make no difference if Mynes hears as well."

     "The night we first spoke, do you remember it?" Mynes lifted an eyebrow at Briseis vague question.

     "Yes."

     "And what you did for me when I was in need?"

     "Yes," Hedas said clearly puzzled.

     "Could you do it a mass scale?"

     "A mass scale? Just how large are you taking about?"

     "Enough to sustain the city, we would charge the people for the product and have it applied to my debt."

     Hedas put her hand in her chin and thought. "I don't know, Briseis but we can give it a try."

     "Speak plainly," Mynes demanded, "this secret affair annoys me."

     Hedas turned back to Mynes. "Briseis may have found a solution to both problems. I am a granddaughter of Demeter. I can grow crops from wheat to cherries with just a snap of my fingers. She wants to use my power to supplement the people of the city. We would charge them for it and that money will go to replace the missing funds from Briseis' dowry."

     "You can do that? Growing the amount of food to supply my entire principality—"

     At this Briseis cut him off. "Not the entire principality, just Lyrnessuss proper."

     Mynes twirled a quill in his fingers, the very quill Briseis had given him at their wedding, but she doubted he realized it. "Just where would you plan to do this? We have no tracks of land inside the city large enough to support this venture, and I will not let you outside the city."

     "The area around the old mines, we'll use them."

     "Hahaha," Mynes laughed but it was a laugh of little joy, "that land isn't suitable for growing."

     "Let me worry about that," Briseis said. "In addition to using the land around the mines. I want your permission to transform them into escape tunnels in case the city is invaded."

     Mynes shook his head. "Nobody's been in those mines in over a generation, they're unsafe."

     "I don't need to open the entire length of the mine, just enough for the people to escape outside the city away from Greek forces."

     "You anticipate an invasion of Lyrnessuss? We are pretty far from the lands likely to touched," Mynes said. "No other kingdoms do that type of thing anyway."

     "And their women and children are taken as slaves while the men are slaughtered," Hedas chimed in. "Even if you don't survive the battle, the people would carry your name forward as a king who put their lives about his own."

     "You're very eager for my death," Mynes spoke as he narrowed eyes.

     "Not at all, I believe the armies of Lyrnessuss could repel any attack, but it is best to be cautious with the lives of your people," Hedas said.

     Mynes examined the two women with glowing eyes before him. "I will agree to this plan on one condition, you bring me all the missing gold within six months. If you fail, Briseis steps down from the position of head wife and her coronation will postponed until the matter is determined. If it succeeds, because of Hedas' lineage she will be crowned alongside you as second wife."

     Briseis nodded. "Very well. But do we have your permission to utilize whatever people and gold we need?"

     "Determine what you believe you need then bring it to me for approval. You both may go," he dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

🦉

     Later that night as the full moon rose, Briseis and Kegarta rode from the palace. As she was now head wife no one but Mynes could stop her going. Morgan was riding with them, the young man insisted if she left the palace he would go too. Now that she was head wife it was a miracle she managed to slip through with only one guard.

     The trio rode for the merchant district with plain cloaks and plainer clothes. It wouldn't do for Briseis to be recognized going to the Red Storm. Earlier in the day Briseis found an hour glass pendant which she hoped would serve her purpose. It wasn't long before they reached the building and were pleased to find a small stable on the property to house the horses. Though they rode without banners, or the saddles bearing the royal crests, such fine animals as they had clearly marked them as high borns.

     Morgan knocked on the door with a firm hand. For a moment there was nothing, then the dim light of a single candle appeared in the cracks of the upper shutter. There was clicking from behind the door and it opened just a crack to reveal dark hair and a pale eye. "We're closed." The woman tried to shut the door but Morgan put his hand on it and pushed just enough to stop the door from budging.

     "My lady needs a word with you," he told the woman.

     "Come back tomorrow," she tried to shut the door again but Morgan was stronger.

     Morgan reached for his waist and the woman flinched. He didn't draw a sword or dagger but a pouch filled with gold. "For your time, and there's another waiting for you if you can help my lady."

     "Fine," the woman sighed with a twinge of curiosity. "Come in quickly. I don't want anyone else thinking I'm open."

     They rushed inside. The woman went about lighting a few candles around the room. The place was filled with vails and pots on the shelves and counter. Drying herbs hung from the ceiling and the sent of almonds hung in the air. "What do you people want?"

     Briseis took the necklace with the hourglass pendant hanging from it. "Can you replace the sand in this with a poison?"

     The apothecary took the necklace with a sigh. She examined it for a moment, the pendant wasn't incredibly large, it held enough sand in one end to time for five minutes only. It could be filled with more but that would defeat the purpose of keeping time, and throw off appearances.

     "Who are you trying to kill, man or woman?"

     "A man," Briseis clarified, "an extremely robust one. Can you fit five times the dose for a single man in that pendant?"

     "Five times the dose," the woman rose an eyebrow. "My mixtures for a single man will kill any man, no matter how strong he is. For what you're asking I'll have to consult a jeweler to open this pendant. If I do it I'll just break it. That alone will be extremely costly."

     "Price isn't a concern to me and I need five times the dose for a normal man," Briseis insisted.

     "Suit yourself, it's your gold. How do I find you to let you know it's finished?"

     Briseis walked to the window and opened a shutter just enough for an owl to fly in. "Tell the bird to come find me and I will come. Morgan." Morgan threw the second bag of gold on the counter and suddenly there was fear in the woman's eyes.

     "You're not killing Mynes, are you?"

     "I wouldn't waste this gold on him," Briseis said. "The man I need to kill isn't in the city as of yet, but I need to be ready when he gets here." Briseis lowered her hood and let the woman see her face and eyes.

     The apothecary nearly dropped the pendant. "As you wish, High Princess."

      Briseis was awoken the next day by a screaming baby again. They hadn't found a nursemaid to work with them, so they went through the spoon fed ritual again. Asteroin was escorted to the chambers by one of the guards in the middle of the feeding.

     The boy had come back just as they were served dinner last night. He hadn't spoke and poked at his food with a scowl quickly becoming a feature of the child's face. The soldier held the boy by the collar and Asteroin wore a look of defeat. The owl Briseis assigned to the child flew in.

     Instantly, the bird's memories overtook Briseis vision. She saw the boy crying and ripping up flowers with his bear hands. He screamed in frustration and killed more flowers. He kicked pots over and ripped them from the hangers in the walls.

     "We found the boy destroying the palace gardens," the soldier said. "High Prince Mynes told me to bring the kid to you and have you deal with it." The man let the boy go and Asteroin ran for the suite of rooms that made up his quarters.