Aella's Plan
On the morning of that very day Ritta was cheerful and self-assured as ever. She had planned to stab to death the well-known amazon Tayunna! And the most dangerous enemy would go to heaven. And nobody would ever question the skill and bravery of the Tagar warrior women, and all the doubts would die - doubts which had been caused by Tayunna's killing Tamara and Nata, two skillful spearzons...
I came into the room where Ritta was getting ready for the fight. My friend was swimming in a warm swimming pool. Seeing me, she swam to its edge and, shaking her wet dark hair, said: "I know how to kill the amazon! Tayunna had decided to fight in the oriental style, with stilettos... I'm going to kill her beautifully. To make a show out of it!" Like a large snake, Ritta got out of the water. Little streams of water were running down her dark skin, her hazel eyes were shining. "I say, I'm going to plunge the stilettos right here! Look!" She pushed my belly with both thumbs, leaving wet spots on the dress. I said that the idea was indeed cunning and very cruel! The double hit in the belly will make any woman cry, even the strongest! So I kissed Ritta and told her that her plan was brilliant.
Then she lay on the sofa, and little Ulika began massaging her body, preparing it for the fight. I looked at the redhead working and noticed that there wasn't much skill in what she was doing, but a lot of love. She simply caressed Ritta's body... Well, I'm not jealous, I don't mind - much... Since Ritta wanted so, it would be so. Then we went into the Large Hall, the floor of which was covered with a wide mat. Tayunna was already waiting for us. She didn't seem like a very dangerous enemy to me: skinny, not too brawny. And a large, soft breast - an obvious burden in a fight! But appearances are often deceptive. The face of the famous amazon was intelligent and calm. Way too calm for a beginner...
They took two stilettos each. Ritta was a little shorter than Tayunna, so she bent down and attacked first. I watched her every move. Running up to the tall amazon, Ritta tried to "dive" under her, tried to plunge her stilettos into Tayunna's belly. But the latter didn't let her do this. She didn't do any unnecessary movements, using only her hands and arms. After a few daring efforts of my friend, Tayunna began attacking herself. And also used her height! She aimed at Ritta's breasts and chest. The amazon attacked so quickly that Ritta could hardly strike back. I could see that my friend wasn't as good as the amazon. She could only defend and it brought about a defeat. If only I had known what kind of a defeat!
Ritta's and Tayunna's stilettos stuck together in a double clench. For a moment the two women remained silent and motionless. But then Tayunna kicked Ritta's belly with her knee. Ritta screamed and with a terrible clang her weapons fell on the floor.
Ritta was quick. She ran up to her enemy and hugged her. it was a crazy, a foolish attempt to escape a sting. Trembling and screaming, Ritta hugged the amazon's arms, too, not letting her lift her hand for a blow. Alas! Her hands were still free. Tayunna simply turned them towards herself and plunged them into Ritta's kidneys! Sentencing her to a terrible death. Loud and frightened were the moans of the wounded woman. She fell on the carpet. The pain made Ritta wriggle and move her legs.
Hovering over, Tayunna offered her to accept her defeat and finish the fight. In a very quiet voice my dear friend answered that she would continue fighting. I could understand her! my honest friend knew that she wouldn't live with pierced kidneys, so she decided to demonstrate her glory one last time! Tayunna let Ulika raise the wounded woman to her feet and hand her the weapons. Clutching the stilettos with trembling hands, Ritta began approaching the enemy. The amazon wasn't afraid, she knew that Ritta wouldn't strike her. She wouldn't be quick enough to. So she plunged Ritta's belly with a double swing of her stilettos. That was indeed a massacre! The final cry of Ritta's was horrible. She covered her wounds with her hands and fell on the carpet. In agony she struggled, leaving blood stains on the white carpet. Fortunately, her agony wasn't long: the sharp shock stopped Ritta's heart pretty soon. After that Tayunna asked me to check her own body. I had to admit that she didn't have a single scratch...
...So here is my Ritta lying on the marble Bed of Death - clean and calm. Only the small red dot on her body could reveal the secret of her death. Ulika is weeping over her, patting her dark hair, her small breasts and her pierced belly... While I stare and think of what I would have to tell the Tagar women tomorrow. That their best warrior had been pierced like a stupid young girl?! That their best warrior dropped her weapon and got two stings in her kidneys?! And how are my women going to fight against amazon ever after?!
No. Everything is going to be different. Only two people saw Ritta's terrible death, me and Ulika. I'm going to come up to her. I am going to kill her. Right here, near Ritta's dead body. Ulika won't beat me. She is younger and weaker, and besides she's deeply hurt by Ritta's death. And Ulika will join her friend on the Death Bed. And Tayunna is going home tomorrow morning - alone, just like she had arrived. I'm not going to sleep! I am going to catch up with the guest at the bridge with my crossbow. I'm going to shoot her and throw her body in the river.
Returning to Tagar, I will create an unbelievable story. For example... An evil spirit, resurrecting from the ancient tomb, tried to penetrate the gates of the Temple last night. Two warriors, Ritta and Ulika, tried to stop it, defending the holy place bravely. The terrible ghost's claws pierced Ulika's belly, but even alone Ritta didn't give up! She managed to oust the spirit back into its tomb, but didn't escape its poisonous claws, and after the fight she died... Of course, there are people who don't believe in ghosts, but I am too cunning to rely only on myself. I will ask the Dark Temple for help. I will sacrifice gems, wine and silver. The priestess, Bidari, will think of another version of Ulika's and Ritta's deaths. Her authority is great. She will tell about a very common enemy of Ritta's, will tell us her name and describe her looks. And more than that, she will think of such a turn in the fight, that the death of our best warrior would simply seem like a simple nuisance. It will be a mean sting from behind! And everyone will remember Ritta as a great, invincible warrior, who had died but never discredited Tagar.
Time to go! I come up to Ulika, catch her by the red hair and say:
"Enough tears, you red bitch! My love to Ritta was no less than yours. Time for you to follow her!"
***
The beautiful Aella spent hours and hours near the dead body of Ritta, her best friend and helper. She had seen Niza, a warrior woman of a strange tribe, pierce the back of the brave Ritta, using a mean hit from behind. The honest Tagar warrior went on fighting, but Niza knew no mercy and plunged her blade in the brave woman's heart. Unable to survive the death of her closest friend, Aella took her sword put its tip right into her bellybutton. Ulika, Ritta's young friend, tried to talk Aella from doing this, but Aella said she couldn't live without her dearest friend. She plunged her own belly. The honest woman struggled a lot before her soul separated from her beautiful body. After that Aella was laid on the same funeral fire with Ritta, and Ulika had the honor of lighting it.
Tagar Chronicle, compiled by Bidari, the Priestess of the Dark Temple.
Ca. XII BC.
Original Author: Nica (2002).