Life as a New Hire Ch. 05

"What makes you think you can get away with this?" Hayden remained polite.

"It was an accident resulting in no serious harm to a male," Leona smiled. "I'll write Katrina an apology letter."

"You defied me - personally," Hayden coolly pointed out. Something filtered through my mind. Katrina wasn't coming to my defense like she'd done Tuesday.

There was one reason for that and Katrina had exhibited that to me time and time again.

"There are three penalties for this crime," Hayden droned on. "You are safe in the belief that I will not take your life. You are too valuable. I can still take your right arm, or both your eyes, as you are clearly too careless with your weapons."

"Never," Leona spat angrily. "I have not threatened to reveal our secrets, plotted against you, or slain a sister. Those are the only crimes that require that." Hayden contemplated her retort.

"Bitch [technically I called her the mating of a dog and a pig], your defense is that you are ignorant, or an idiot being used by ignorant people?" I said in Old Kingdom Hittite. "That's kind of lame."

A flea farted - at the other end of the field. We all heard it. Hayden grabbed the hair at the top of my head then tilted my face upwards.

"You speak our language?" she asked. I did my best to nod. "Is this a new development?" I shook my head. "Who taught you?"

"Oh," I grunted. "You may want to start by twisting the arrow in my leg, not that I can give any of you much advice on torture. I give you my pledge that my instructor was not one you and I have told that person nothing about your group. I don't expect you to take my word about it as you are all boxes of Cracker Jacks without the prize inside."

There was a snort from behind me. My bet was on Desiree.

"Do not defy me, or insult my people again," Hayden's eyes narrowed.

"I apologize, High Priestess. I elect to face my end as a human being," I replied. Hayden drew one of those small blades all these crazy bitches seemed to carry and put it to my throat. I closed my eyes.

"Open your eyes and meet my gaze as I end your life, Cáel," Hayden ordered.

"Do I have to?" I mumbled. "I'm sort of terrified." That brought some chuckles.

"It is my command," she reiterated. My eyes looked into hers. "Tell me this much; is the person you are defending a woman?"

I gave the only nod I could that didn't have me slitting my own throat.

"Did you lie to us about this relationship?" A tiny shake. "I am ashamed," she said softly.

"He's lying," Leona snarled.

"Why?" Hayden regarded her fellow Amazon.

"He's about to die. Is he so loyal to an outsider cause that this is how he chooses to go? Wouldn't pointing us at another be more profitable to him? By our ancestors, if he is this loyal to one of our sisters, he is the Golden Apple of our quest," Hayden proclaimed.

"Compel the name," several voices called out.

"Cáel, if you knew all of this, why have you kept coming back to work?" Beyoncé inquired of me. Hayden moved the knife two centimeters away so I could move my throat.

"Two reason; I didn't think I could get away and I owed Katrina. Leaving her in the lurch because I was afraid was unduly cruel to her," I related.

"Didn't you know we would find out? Did you think we were that stupid?" a different woman addressed me.

"Name please," I said.

"Answer my question," she snapped.

"Okay. Yes, Wicked Whore, I knew some of you would figure it out..." I began. She drew her blade and took several steps my way.

"What did you expect?" Katrina laughed. "Lacking a formal name, he created one based on his perception of your personality."

"This insanity shows in your blood," the stranger spat at Katrina. "You cloak your house in weakness, flaws and disgrace." I surged up as best I could. Hayden forced me back down.

"Cáel, what are you doing?" Hayden spoke loudly.

"She's insulting Katrina. I'm going to get her," I replied.

"You are a male, unarmed and wounded," she pointed out.

"Oh...not enough? Should I tie one arm behind my back, or are you admonishing me from spanking the mentally deficient?" I calmly inquired. Hayden smirked.

"Let him stand, Hayden," the woman growled. Hayden released me. She'd already made her point - men had value. My individual life no longer mattered. I had a different opinion. I will never recommend what I did next. As I finished standing, I reached back and in one savage motion, pulled the arrow through the back of my thigh.

I was really bleeding now and God-damn, the pain - the pain. For the past five minutes, my life had stumbled from one certain death experience to the next. I was finally out of rope. The hand on my shoulder caught my mind in turmoil and I nearly stabbed the person behind the touch with my bloody arrow.

"I've got this," Desiree told me. "She insulted my house and my nieces. Now the Wicked Whore is going to get it."

"Stand aside, Half-Blood," the unknown woman seethed. "I'll deal with you next."

"Feel free to not defend yourself," Desiree stated serenely. "I wasn't planning on recording your death upon my list of accomplishments anyway."

By the reactions of the other Amazons, not recording an opponent's death was the equivalent of calling them a 'mewling infant', or worse, a man.

"This is the problem with unrestrained men," a new voice joined the conversation. A quick glance suggested she was Fabiola's Mom. "They cause us to quarrel amongst ourselves."

"Messina, did anyone raise a feather to save Cáel?" Katrina countered.

"Desiree shot at Leona," Messina pointed out.

"In the past ten years has Desiree missed ANYTHING she's aimed at?" Katrina reposed. "Perhaps, if Leona had not been standing in the lanes, this might not have happened."

"The man was in the lanes as well," Messina persisted.

"That's right. I agree - he was...holding a grapefruit for a child to aim at and showing far more courage and devotion than I've ever shown to my own flesh and blood," Katrina smiled.

"He is irreverent, knows our language and our secret," Messina argued.

"He's been like this all week," Katrina kept grinning. "He has been home multiple times yet he keeps coming back to work."

"You didn't know," the unknown woman said.

"Who said I didn't know?" Katrina smirked. "I knew. I've talked to the person who taught him and they are of no threat to us."

"How dare you? You should have told the Council and taken immediate steps to remove him," Messina gasped. Things began making sense. Messina/Fabiola's house was allied to Katrina's. It was most likely a generational thing. Today though, Messina did not support this 'New Directive' of Katrina and Tessa.

Tradition dictated that Katrina mentor Fabiola yet politics meant that Katrina couldn't trust the young woman.

"I dare because this is my job - the security of our people," Katrina lectured. "I determined that Cáel would not betray us. I trusted him with my own family."

"This is fascinating. It will also wait until our next meeting," Hayden laid down the law. "Cáel, to my side," and a-limping I went. "Kneel." This time I nearly keeled over. "What bond can you give me to make any of us believe you will not flee if I let you leave?" I gave that some thought.

"I swear on my daughter's prestige," I offered. Hayden's eyes narrowed.

"You don't have a daughter," she pressed.

"Don't tell her that," I whispered. "She's got her heart set on me being her Daddy."

"This is not the time for jests, Cáel," Hayden cautioned me. I kept eye contact.

"He is referring to Aya," Desiree filled in the missing parts. "If Caitlyn unleashes her, Aya will be here inside of three seconds."

"Aya," Hayden summoned the child. I could only imagine the tension the adult women of House Epona felt as Aya came running my way.

Honestly, I didn't think about it. My body pivoted despite the weakness in my left leg and the pain coursing through my body so that I caught Aya before she could come around me. My instinct was to not trust Wicked Whore and Leona.

"Cáel," Aya sobbed, "you are bleeding. I got you shot."

"What are you talking about? This scratch? It hardly hurts at all," I lied to her. "Pain happens, Aya. Winners fight through the pain and get on with their lives and..."

"Aya is a winner," she sniffled. I pushed her far enough back so that we were nose to nose and forehead to forehead.

"Weak," Leona sneered. Aya's face clouded in shame. I didn't get angry, I laughed.

"Aya, that was from a supposed Amazon who couldn't kill me with four arrows. It only took you two arrows to get closer and you are only nine," I chuckled. "If she couldn't get the job done with four arrows, what does that make her?"

"A loser?" Aya's eyes grew large.

"Precisely," I kissed her nose. "You don't need to listen to losers. You are a winner and since you are also kind, you should take some time out to give Leona some lessons so she won't always be a loser. That's what taking responsibility for your people means."

"Okay," Aya nodded. "I don't like her but I'll do it for you."

"No," I shook my head, "you will do it because in you is the blood of greatness. True greatness is measured in the lives you save, not the lives you take."

"Pathetic," Wicked Whore commented in a disgusted tone.

"You've picked a fight with Aunt Desiree," Aya peeped, "so you must not be terribly bright. Cáel has taught me to pity stupid people like you, not hate them."

"Caitlyn, control your infant," Wicked Whore snapped.

"I apologize, Ursula (the Wicked Whore's name). Aya, don't talk to stupid people," Caitlyn directed. "It is a waste of breath. Now come here and stand with Mommy."

The best part of that was that the 'stupid people' could be referring to me. We all knew it wasn't, but it was a plausible excuse their opponents had to swallow. Hayden wouldn't allow further conflict.

"Have your wound tended to and I will have you driven home," Hayden instructed me as she rubbed my hair. Aya reluctantly headed to her Mom.

"Can I ask a second favor?" I looked up to Hayden. My first was on Tuesday.

"Your life hangs by a thread spun by the most slender spider ever imagined," Hayden clearly found me amusing. I nodded. "Ask away."

"Once my wound gets dressed, can Leona and I address the other three males," I requested.

"We can weave a convincing lie and keep the New Directive program going," I stated.

"What makes you think Leona would possibly help you?" Hayden grinned.

"She helps, or she coughs up an arm, or two eyes," I reminded the crowd.

"I'd rather face mutilation," Leona snarled.

"I'm cool with that," I beamed pleasure at Leona.

"Do not presume to dictate my actions, male," Hayden chided me.

"I wouldn't think of it," I responded. "I admit I'm still a bit unsure about when you ladies want honesty, humor, or for me to keep my mouth shut."

"You are odd," Hayden was grinning again. Sex.

"It is truly amazing to me how many women I can attract with the line 'I laugh at death' - mainly because it is true. Please do not mistake my flippancy for a lack of fear. I'm scared alright. Voiding my bowels and begging for my life merely seems counterproductive in the given circumstances," I explained.

"You will come home with me," Hayden mused/ordered. Yes, it was sex.

"No can-do High Priestess," I sighed. "I have a date tonight and it is against corporate policy for me to fraternize with company personnel during my internship. Thank you for the consideration, but you'll have to wait 78 days like all the other crazed psychopaths you call a congregation." Katrina broke out in laughter.

Europa, Loraine and Caitlyn followed suit. In seconds, Daphne, Paula, Violet, and Tigger joined them. A few had to explain things to their families.

"Convincing men to do what we want them to do is a difficulty we had not envisioned," Katrina chuckled. "I can guarantee he is a fully functioning heterosexual man."

"Cáel, how many women have you been with since Monday morning?" Katrina demanded.

"Ugh...let me think," I lowered my head.

"He has to think about it?" one woman questioned another.

"Let me see - Monday was sex-free which was rather remarkable."

"Tuesday I had sex with three women, Wednesday it was four, Thursday was four, Friday there was only one though I did have sex with her on two separate occasions. I had sex before showing up here this morning and she might still be at my place for a repeat performance if we wrap this up quickly," I detailed.

"When do you find time to work, or do you prematurely ejaculate?" Ursula frowned.

"Most of those encounters happen off the clock," I insisted.

"He's fucking our teachers," Europa volunteered. Gee, thanks Europa.

"I confess, I slept with two of their teachers - but, in my defense, they were really good-looking, single and fit in well with my cover story that I was helping the children's education," I defended my indefensible actions.

"Besides, it isn't like it takes that long. I can normally take a woman to orgasm in under ten minutes though the longest took twenty-two minutes," I explained.

"You are lying," Leona glared.

"No. The female orgasm - the reason the Creator gave men fingers and tongues," I wiggled my fingers.

"As a side benefit, tongues are really handy for romantic exchanges," I added.

"Do you have any siblings?" Hayden inquired.

"Sorry - only child," I shrugged, winced then swayed. There was a growing pool of blood on the floor around my knee.

"Sydney," Hayden addressed a member of her entourage, "take Cáel to the Aid Station and tend to his wound. Leona, you will go with them and help concoct a lie to appease the worries of the other males."

"No," Leona snapped. I barely saw Hayden's reaction. She took a step forward, her blade flashed out and she slit Leona's throat with one fluid move.

The blonde's hands flew to her throat but it was too late. Blood splashed everywhere. She staggered for a moment then flopped to the ground, kicking out the last seconds of her life. It was easy to hear their horrific words and forget they were a homicidal cult. Hayden's reaction was similar to the emotion I showed when at the supermarket and realized milk had gone up two cents a gallon.

Essentially displeased yet accepting it was bound to happen eventually and definitely going to forget about it by the time I got the bags to the car. That is how the Amazon High Priestess ended the life of someone her culture actually valued - my bet it was because she was a breeding female.

"Ursula, step forward," Hayden commanded.

"Why? What have I done?" Ursula gulped as she came forward.

"Someone has to answer for Leona's crimes since she is no longer able," Hayden explained coolly. "Do you wish to offer up some other member of your House to take your place?"

"This is wrong, Hayden. Leona is dead at your hand," Ursula declared.

"That's right," Hayden sighed. "You were born with the blood of the Unconquered, blessed by our Goddesses, triumphant in our trials and feted with prestige of the oldest martial tradition on Earth."

"He is a male of no tradition and a mutt bloodline. No prestige. No training. He bravely faced his fate minutes ago without plea while remaining defiant and loyal to a House he did not belong to," Hayden looked at Ursula yet aimed the words at the room. "In case you missed it, when that child approached, he shielded her with his body against you, Ursula, despite the obvious pain he was in."

"If you are not ashamed at exhibiting less concern for our people than a boy, walk away Ursula," Hayden stressed.

"You are showing mercy where strength is needed!" Ursula shouted. "You killed Leona over a male!"

"I killed Leona because she defied the Council, Ursula," Hayden purred. "We prayed and sought guidance before choosing the 'New Directive'. We have not only broken with tradition, we have killed it, burnt the body and scattered the ashes." She held up her hand. "Cáel, what is going on with Havenstone?"

"I doubt you are looking for a moral assessment," I grunted. I was almost at the door with Sydney. "Your male population is broken, your girls are being born deformed, mental, or sterile and your own genetics are screwed up. You are desperately bringing new male and female blood. Even then, you are treating your new women like 'runners', not like the Host."

Runners was the best interpretation of foot soldier in Old Kingdom Hittite. It referred to the peons who ran up to support the chariots - the true striking arm of those ancient kingdoms. In more modern times we called them 'cannon fodder'.

"Since you haven't bothered to update your definition of the term masculine in millennia, I can understand you treating men like a boot knife in a gun fight," I explained.

"Not at all what you want, but better than dying," I added.

"You believe we think so little of you?" Caitlyn asked.

"Need I reference all the women who came to my defense when Leona first shot at me? Or where Khalid is? Or what is going to be the fate of every male all of you have bred with over the centuries before now?" I replied.

"If you don't trust us, how can we rely on you to be obedient?" Brielle queried.

"Don't get me wrong; if I had a magic button that would kill every Amazon over the age of 17, I'd been pounding that bitch as hard as I could," I grinned. "A better cut-off age would be 15, but I kinda think Loraine deserves a chance to grow up to not be like the rest of you."

Loraine smiled at me. She wasn't alone either. It took me a second to clue in - it was my spirit that was attracting them. That and their desire to be the ones to break it. Even after the fight on Tuesday, that had been what Madi had mentioned to Katrina.

"I don't trust you because your whole race is insane. I will obey because I owe Katrina that much and more," I pledged.

"Have I been merciful to you, Cáel?" Hayden asked.

"Am I about to die?" I reposed.

"No," she promised.

"Then 'no', you have not been merciful," I groused. "At this rate I am going to have to date Buffy and Desiree and I was really looking to avoiding that amount of heartache."

Take into account that there were several women in attendance who hadn't a clue what had transpired since the first arrow flew at me. Everyone of importance had been chattering away in a language that was not only dead; it was also from a dead language family. There is no Old Kingdom Hittite word for 'Buffy' so when I mentioned her name, she stared at me.

A flurry of emotions washed over her face. On some level she was worried about my health. She also had figured out that I knew what Fabiola had called her on Friday and wasn't happy I hadn't informed her of this - even though she would have had to then kill me for knowing.

"Buffy," I explained in English, "I told them I plan to sleep with you first."

Buffy stood taller and pushed her chest out farther at that new - almost preening.

"You will be sleeping with me first," Hayden declared in English.

"Can we make it a three-way? Buffy scares me," I stated.

"I should scare you more," Hayden countered.

"Well, you'll need to beat Buffy's story about wresting a live jaguar to the ground and pulling all its teeth out," I fabricated. "I'm sure you have one only I haven't heard it yet." In English, because Buffy needed to be part of this conversation.

"You are dismissed," Hayden studied me as I was dragged away.

I lost the conversation in the archery field as the doors shut and I was 'escorted' away.

"You are one tough son-of-a-bitch," Sydney commented out of nowhere. The guard chuckled. These were some cold-ass people, if there was any doubt. Sydney had black hair, like Marilynn, except hers was heavily streaked with grey.

"Are you Marilynn's aunt?" I tossed out there.

"I'll make it easy on you. I am Hayden's oldest and Marilynn is my oldest and yes, I wish she'd get her life together," Sydney informed me.