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“What would I gain from marriage? I have no desire to extend my lands and we have everything we need right here. And I have even less desire to become a trophy for some egotistical king feeding his gout with wine and red meat while his men die in far off lands, or to be a home for his seed, while simultaneously being usurped by whores in my own bed.”
I came for you and to reiterate my offer.” “Your offer of marriage?” She struggled to maintain a serious look as she spoke. The anger, that had been close to boiling over, disappeared entirely, and once again, her head flew back in laughter. “You cannot possibly want me as a wife! I am not like your Greek women. You do realise that. I am not placid, agreeable, reserved, content to spend my days lounging idly in the heat, eating grapes and figs and drinking more wine than is socially acceptable. That is not a life I have any desire for.” “Then it will not be the life you will lead. Nothing
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“Are those temples?” Derione asked, in a hushed voice, only now noticing them. “And, if so, why do they need to be so large?” “Because they are Greek. They revel in the ostentatious. It is like shouting a prayer and expecting it to be heard more readily.”
cold shiver ran down Penthesilea’s spine. It was not the first time one of their women had reported that a man had made them act irrationally, although she could not recall it ever happening to any of the those in Themiscyra. The claims came from the nomads, who roamed the land, free to meet with men whenever they chose. There was a suspicion that some lived with their men, too, at least in the colder months. It was possible they even raised their children together. It was never spoken of. But this was different. She needed to know the truth. “You love him?” The Queen hesitated before
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When he brought her before his father, he might have been introducing a wild beast to him for all the welcome she received. “This is who you have chosen?” Aegeus had said. “An oirapata?” A slaughterer of men.
“And you know that, long before I met you, I was already a queen and could quite easily return to that life if I find myself dissatisfied with any aspect of this one. My husband included.”
“My place is where I wish it to be. I have beheaded men by the hundreds, put arrows through the hearts of hundreds more. I am here, in Athens, with you, my husband, because I choose to be. And if I were to leave and kill the Minotaur then that, equally, would be my choice. You seem to have forgotten who you took as a wife, Prince Theseus.”
Penthesilea had led a battle in Dascylium and won. Penthesilea had aided the King in Sardis and decimated her opponents. Queen Penthesilea. Queen Penthesilea. Queen Penthesilea. It sometimes felt as if that was the way it had always been or, at least, was meant to be, but she felt no animosity. She had found a different way of life in her new home and, with it, satisfaction in what she was doing.
“It has everything to do with me. I cannot believe this is true. I cannot believe you have fallen out of love with me. Please, Theseus.” “Your begging is repugnant to me. For someone who once used to be a warrior, I am surprised you are not disgusted at yourself.” Those were the words that she needed to hear, for he was right. She was disgusted at herself. She was disgusted that she had believed his lies and trickery and honeyed words of love. She was disgusted by this snivelling woman she had become. She was disgusted by this slothful life she had been so content to lead, away from her women
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“You? It was not you who was not enough. You were too much for him, Sister. Always too much. Too strong. Too powerful. Too smart. Too compassionate. Too brave. Too loving. He tried to knock these wonderful qualities out of you and bring you down to his level, but he could not succeed. He did not replace you because you were inadequate, my darling Sister, believe me. He replaced you because he knew you were more than he could ever live up to.”
