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LYE-ASHE LED THE SMALL group of villagers towards the outskirts of the Amazonian boundaries. She directed them to get into their places high in the trees above the Amazon graveyard. It would be dawn soon and the Amazon Ang’ther would start on the morn of one of their most sacred holidays. The Amazons would come down to the graveyard to pay homage to their fallen sisters and send blessings on to the otherworld. Little did they know they were about to discover the Cerynians’ newfound power first hand.
As the morning sun poured over the sacred place of the Amazons, the line of priestesses could be seen in the near distance. Mourners followed behind them unarmed and unaware. As long as the Amazons had been around no one dared attack them on their own lands other than their once patron goddess Athena. Surely, there was no fear of any mortal enemy coming here. Or was there?
Just as the last priestess had chanted the final mourning ritual, the earth began to shake below their feet. The priestesses looked to one another with a panicked fear widening in their eyes. Was the earth going to open and swallow them? Then the first scream came. A hand reached from the grave nearest the head priestess and grabbed her ankle as the body drug itself out of the ground. Mangled mildew covered flesh hung from the reanimated bones that clawed at the feet of the mourners.
The bodies gathered the group in a circle as many of the Amazons tried to fend them off with walking sticks or incense burners. When they were near enough, Lye-Ashe walked out and spoke to the group.
“Amazonian whores, listen to me now. You see the power of the Cerynians first hand. Long has it been hidden and lying in wait. They no longer fear you for they can have the dead fight their battles. What match are your skills against a foe that is neither alive nor dead? Your swords may strike, but the soul has moved on and feels no pain. Yet, the bones can strike back and cause you pain.”
An older Amazon warrior stood and faced Lye-Ashe. She showed no fear in her eyes. Her name was Iristi. Lost daughter of Ila. She had a newborn child in one arm and a walking staff in the other. “Who do you think you are coming here and making the dead move on our most holy of days? You think I cannot see the people in the trees. If I were to kill those people hovering in the trees would I not be able to kill these poorly chosen corpse warriors?”
“Perhaps, but would you be able to get through me before I slaughtered all of you? The Cerynians are no longer without a protector. I, Lye-Ashe, Crythl, have given the Cerynians new magic powers and protection. Leave them be from this day forward and you shall live in peace with your neighbors. If you do not, face a lifetime of agony bound to me as my servant.”
Iristi moved to strike at Lye-Ashe. Without so much as a blink Lye-Ash killed Iristi and took the child from her hands before her body hit the ground. Then Lye-Ashe recited an incantation while holding up her mysterious staff. Iristi’s body shook and moaned as her spirit left and appeared before everyone. Lye-Ashe commanded the spirit to do her will. The spirit turned and said exactly what Lye-Ashe said.
“Go back my daughters. Go back to your homes and your lives. Release all those recently took from the village and bother them no more. Forget the Cerynians. Or suffer the fate I now do as her immortal slave in the staff Shultash.”
With that, the spirit disappeared into the staff. The Amazons stood there in disbelief. One of their chief warriors was now dead and her spirit was hostage inside a strange weapon. Her child ripped from her hands. How could this be?
The remaining Amazons decided to do as Iristi commanded for none of them wanted their spirits trapped or their bones used as a puppet. They led the small band of ambushers to the gates of the Amazon village and released the newly acquired prisoners. Eunara was among them. As for the child of Iristi, Lye-Ashe awarded the baby to be cared for by Eunara. Eunara called the child Aesurnu.