Food for the Gods Read online

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  Silk's Vault Publishing LLC

  www.silksvault.com

  Copyright ©2006 by Camille Anthony

  First published in 2006

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  NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

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  Food for the Gods

  By

  Camille Anthony

  A Silk's Vault Electronic Publication, in arrangement with author Camille Anthony.

  ISBN # 1-934055-71-9

  Copyright © 2006 by Camille Anthony

  Cover Design and Art by Carmel St. James, © Copyright 2006

  Edited by Peggy Roberts

  Silk's Vault Publishing

  www.silksvault.com

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in part or whole, in any form or by any means, without permission from both the author and publisher. All characters, incidents, situations, institutions, governments and people are fictional and any similarity to characters or persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Daphne Eresteou stumbled through the corridors of the palace, the remains of her ragged thola clutched to her breasts. The bloody slashes crisscrossing her back burned with each jarring step.

  Despite her desperate attempts at holding them in, tears threatened. Low sobs—trapped behind tight lips—fought to escape. She wouldn't cry. No way would she give those vultures the joy of witnessing that final humiliation. She couldn't bear the thought of having their avid eyes staring in delighted amusement at her emotional breakdown.

  Great Poseidon, what have I done to deserve this? She wondered for the umpteenth time. I never treated anyone thusly when I ruled here. Noble or servant, I tried my best to be fair and even-handed with all.

  After what seemed like hours, but had only been a few minutes, Daphne gained the opening of her humble room, desperate for its promise of privacy. The thin pallet in the corner of the tiny room had never looked so welcoming, but she eyed the low sleeping arrangement with a jaundiced eye, worrying over how she was going to achieve getting down there when every movement awoke the agony in her back, the pain spiking each time she so much as breathed, let alone moved.

  Nearing the end of her endurance, she decided the intervening pain was worth the reward of getting off her unsteady feet. She started down slowly, gingerly easing to her knees before lowering her aching body to the coarse sheets.

  Once down, Daphne panted and tried to relax, her control as shredded as her back. She shifted, trying to make her sore body as comfortable as possible—what a mistake.

  "By the Gods!” A hiss of pain escaped her lips as tears leaked from her eyes. A wadded fold of blanket found its way into her mouth in an attempt to muffle her anguished cries.

  "I should have died along with my father!” Her hoarse moan held the ache of all she'd endured in the three years since losing her beloved parent and King.

  Curled on the thin, makeshift bed, she wanted to cease struggling and just give up. Tonight, she felt all her fragile hope fading, becoming finally, totally ashes under Ordana's dainty feet.

  "Shame on you, mistress. How dare you even whisper such abomination when you know the Gods hear everything?"

  The soft, tentative touch accompanying the quietly spoken words caused Daphne to rear in startlement. Immediately, a groan slipped through gritted teeth at the new explosion of pain. Every movement was a reminder of the cruelty she now dealt with on a daily basis.

  "Let them hear,” she grated, recklessly tossing her challenge to the Gods. “What more can they do to me that hasn't been done? She has branded me a whore and a lackwit ... a clumsy one, at that.” Daphne rolled her neck to catch the other woman's eyes as she narrowed her own.

  "Every one knows I remain solitary and alone, kept from any men lest I breed a rival for the throne. Do you know how lonely I get? How much I want a family and children of my own. If there were eligible males around, her accusations might have been true. I'd mate with anyone just for the sake of escaping this prison."

  The servant sighed, never ceasing her soothing healing attention to the shredded flesh of her deposed Princess’ back. “You don't mean that."

  "Oh, yes I do! With the Sea as my witness, I swear I'd ride the waves themselves if it would get me free of Ordana's filthy presence."

  The maid slapped one of her hands across her mistress’ still moving lips. “Poseidon, forgive her impertinence, she knows not what she asks for."

  Bending over to whisper urgently into her charge's ear, she hissed, “Mistress, to call upon the waves is unwise and foolhardy. Everyone knows the sons of Poseidon are fierce lovers with saltwater in their veins. The three share one soul between them ... and usually one woman. You—an untried kore—would be split apart by such great beings."

  Daphne frowned, unsure what her servant was saying. “They kill the women they take?"

  The servant blushed. “That was a manner of speaking. The God's are built on a larger scale than we mortals are—so are their male organs. Yes, your cousin's accusations were unjust and the lashing harsh, but there are other punishments a young, beautiful kore might face that are more apt to make you long for death. Thank the Gods she cannot quite bring herself to subject you to those ... yet. Princess Ordana has no right to treat you thusly, and some day—I pray soon—the Gods will punish her for her lack of familial love."

  Daphne came up on one elbow, her wondering gaze trained on the woman who worked on her back so gently. Grateful tears—so long held at bay—flooded down her cheeks. “Thank you, Terena, for your comfort. I don't know why you and the other servants treat me so well when I know Ordana has threatened to you punish you all for behaving toward me with honor. Why do you all continue to help me?” Her face twisted in self-disgust. “More to the point, how could I go on without you? Behold me in this humble state..."

  "Oh, my dear Princess, we sorrow when we look upon you.” Hands shaking, the servant wiped away Daphne's tears before helping her ease back down to the pallet.

  "We remember how it was. In your service, we were never mistreated, never looked down upon. It was our pleasure to serve you and our good King.” With a fearful glance toward the door, Terena lowered her head and her voice to whisper in Daphne's ear. “Several of us have gone to Poseidon's temple. We've left gifts and promises of more, if only he would hear our plea and right the wrongs done to you."

  Daphne snorted. “I fear our patron God has long abandoned us. It has been so long since last we had a visitation..."

  "Not since before your father, the King, died,” Terena nodded, “but some say he has abandoned us because the new King shuns him, having done away with the temple rites. Still, we have to believe Poseidon continues to hear the pleas of those faithful to him."

  Lying prone, Daphne twisted her neck to lock gazes with the trusting servant. “On days like this, I find it very hard to hold on to belief."

  "Faith is not always easy, but it is its own reward.” She reached under her thola and produced a roll of parchment and a quill. “Here, why not record the day's events in your journal. It always seems to make you calmer."

  Daphne's heart stumbled. A chill of fear raced through her, icing her veins. Pain forgotten, she shot to a seated position and snatched the roll out of Terena's hands.

  "Where did you find this?” If even a hint of its existence leaked to the King or to Ordana, Daphne knew her life would be in jeop
ardy.

  "Be at peace, Princess. We found it long ago. Every morning, one of us always sneaks it from your room and returns it each night before you return. We know she has spies check through your things on a daily basis. We take it and pass it among us, keeping it safe for you. It is the least we can do."

  New tears fell from Daphne's eyes, as she gazed down at her journal and then over at the woman—a symbol of those willing to endanger their livelihood and their very lives for her. “Thank you,” her voice broke on the words, “and thank the others for me. I am not worthy of your loyalty."

  Terena smiled, patting her hand. “You are worth all that and more. Never forget we love you. In our hearts, you will always be our Princess."

  Dear Journal:

  I don't know what I'd do without this outlet. Life is so strange now. No longer the royal Princess, I'm forced to do the bidding of my cousin, Ordana—now ascended to my old position. It's not that I begrudge her the titles and honors, nor do I mind being a simple kore—a servant girl, serving where once I was served. The Gods above know I have no care for that, but oh, I miss my father so terribly. He was never King Erestes to me, though he demanded respect at all times. He was Father and friend, the only parent since mother died giving me life, the only one who saw the real me under the trappings of royalty. If only he'd been sick, suffered some lingering illness, I'd have had more time to get used to the idea of losing him...

  CHAPTER TWO

  Dear Journal:

  In the year since I began keeping this record, I usually record only my thoughts, feelings, and memories upon these parchments, but today I overheard something in the town, something sinister and frightening...

  I was walking through the busy marketplace, anxious to complete my chores so I could have the rest of the day to myself, when two shopkeepers greeted each other—raising their voices over the general babble.

  "Ho, Ternichius, how goes your business?"

  "As slow as always under the severe taxing by King Menaeos, my friend,” the other man replied. “How else could it be?"

  "Ah, if only good King Erestes had not been poisoned..."

  "Yes, he was a great one for encouraging business and supporting the fishermen's livelihood. Things are far different under the dictatorship of Menaeos."

  "Guard your tongue, young fool!” The first merchant glanced around fearfully, making sure there was none on the street with ears poised to hear their conversation.

  They totally overlooked me, standing near, head down, diligently shifting through the smelly pile of the morning's catch, pretending to search for the only fish Ordana deemed worthy to break her fast. One always overlooked servants—what harm could a young girl cause, anyway?

  Journal, my heart burns within me. Could it be true? Was my father poisoned? Why would the simple folk of the town hold it as common knowledge, and why had I not known...? Oh Gods, could I have saved my father? What did I overlook or ignore...? Gods above, I could not stand it if I should find I could have saved him and did nothing ... !

  CHAPTER THREE

  The sea swirled in a gentle froth of waves about her feet as Daphne strolled along the shore, basking in the rare luxury of private time.

  The royal court had retired to the winter palace higher in the mountains and the Princess had refused to take her cousin along, complaining that she was worth nothing since the flogging.

  It was true, Daphne thought, swirling a string of seaweed behind her. She had not healed well, tired easily and more importantly, had finally ceased responding to the taunts and insults Ordana allowed her Nobles to hurl at their former Princess. Once she was no longer a fitting ‘whipping boy’ for their amusement, they quickly became bored with her presence.

  A half smile lifted Daphne's lips. If only I'd thought of this in the first months, how easy my life would have been! Serves me right for trying to hold on to a dignity I no longer deserve.

  Sudden laughter welled up and out of her. Lifting her arms in an impromptu dance, she twirled in a circle, toes kicking the sparkling waters high about her.

  "Great God Poseidon, I thank you for life ... for reminding this hardheaded kore of the true meaning of faith! I worship you, oh God, and give you obeisance, here on the edge of the sea, nature's temple devoted to you!"

  With a joy bordering on euphoria, Daphne bowed low before rushing, laughing, into the warm waters of the Aegean, her thola and under-tunic quickly becoming soaked.

  Oh, she loved it here! This was her favorite place, quiet and serene one moment, rough and angry the next, yet always alive and vibrant. She loved the changing faces of the sea. A deep sense of awe came over her and she revered the God Poseidon anew, for his gift of ever-present bounty.

  The sea was a natural boundary on three sides of her beloved Croapolis and daily, fish almost leaped into the nets of the fishermen. Her countrymen earned riches for the royal family and themselves with their talented working of the pink coral and the even rarer and most precious dark coral found exclusively off their close shores.

  Daphne danced in the sea, chasing waves and tickling fish until at last, she wearied. Feeling pleasantly sated and drowsy, heart full and mind calmed, she made her leisurely way in to shore and headed over to the outcropping of rocks jutting from the sea in the shape of a fist on an upraised arm, called simply ‘The Sea Rock'.

  Clambering out of the water, she climbed the formation to reach the platform erected above the fist. Once there, she settled down to allow her clothing to dry in the warmth of the mid-day sun.

  Stretching her arms above her head, she sighed in contentment. If only every day could be so peaceful ... she would ask nothing more of the Gods. Turning on her side and curling a hand under her cheek, she closed her eyes, content to drowse away the hours in the afternoon warmth.

  Time passed...

  "What have we here, brothers?” a soft gruff voice mocked, “A maiden sacrifice, offered up for some God's delight?"

  Another voice sounded from above her prone body. “A plump feast at that—no slim pickings, here, guys."

  Daphne started up, rubbing her eyes, still half-asleep, and confused. Fear came swiftly as she gazed up at three beautiful men, wet from the sea. Their naked bodies dripping with seawater, they surrounded her, eyes trained on her body with unhidden interest. She glanced down in horror to find that body unmaidenly revealed through her still damp, steaming clothing.

  She was a good Hellenic maiden and knew when she was in the presence of a deity-or in this case deities. Trembling, uncertain how to comport herself, she rose to her knees, crossing her arms over her breasts. Bowing her torso low to the ground, she reverently averted her eyes. “My lords, have mercy. I am but a simple kore—no fit company for such as you!"

  "By Ares, brothers ... someone has marred this perfection!” Hands gently smoothed over the see-through cloth covering her back and she shook, realizing the marks from her recent beating were visible to the three Godlike men.

  "Who has dared mark you, Princess?"

  Daphne glanced up, caught a glimpse of tight lips, lowered brows, and clenched fists. She quickly cast her gaze downward, the fierce visages of the huge, lovely males overpowering her courage.

  The one asking the question seemed to be their leader. His muscled body was the cerulean blue of the deep waves, his thick wavy hair almost colorless, like a fine spray of iridescent sea foam. His dark male root, thrusting from the bed of what looked like a cloud of the softest sea foam, drew her gaze with wondrous curiosity. Daphne had never seen the like. She marveled at its length, standing high and strong with a single drop of clear liquid trembling on the fat tip of its hooded head.

  The second lord's hair flowed like a blade-straight waterfall over his broad shoulders to his trim waist. His mane was magnificent, gleaming with mixtures of rich deep sapphire and royal blue, the colors of the summer nighttime sea. Perfect masculine nipples, their soft buttery coral making a striking contrast with his pale hair-free body, resided on a chest of massive pro
portions. His man's part—equally as long as his companion's—rode high against his slim belly, thickly corded, uncut, and as inhumanly perfect as the rest of him.

  Last, but certainly not least, loomed the third impressive male. Blessed with skin the color of the blackest, most rare coral of all, the man's darkly lean face was a study in extremes. Long, thick lashes shielded wide-set intense eyes. His long blade of a nose swept down his face, sharp cheekbones offsetting its length. His mouth ... by the Gods, his mouth was lush, almost womanish, but for the hint of cruelty in the set of the bottom lip. Teal green hair, wild and unruly, frothed about his striking face, softening his harsh allure. A mass of curls spilled over his wide forehead, tumbled across his shoulders all the way down to dance about his full, tight buttocks. An ornate seashell adornment attached at the back of his head, held most of if off his face. Lush green curls rioted around the thickest member of all—a monstrous organ that reared past the God's concave bellybutton. It had to be as big around as her wrist, and she was no small-boned kore.

  The eyes of all three males were the most brilliant mixtures of blues and greens, gleaming with mischief ... and with a heated focused attention, she'd never before encountered.

  Surely—Daphne gulped, mind gone begging, her hapless gaze riveted on the more than human beauty before her—desire for this plump, ungainly body could not possibly be the cause for that focused interest, those magnificent swellings ... could it? Impossible!

  "Lady, we demand an answer to our query."

  The commanding voice jerked her out of her musings. It took her a moment to recall his question and she stammered, ashamed to reveal her humble circumstance. “Lords, I am Princess here, no more. My father, King Erestes is dead and King Menaeos rules Croapolis in his stead,” Daphne answered, not surprised these men knew who she was. Did not the Gods know everything?

  "Speak kore! Who was it...? Tell us!” The demands came from three throats simultaneously.