Hades said nothing. The Amazons procreated once a year with a tribe called the Gargareans, keeping only the female children born from the
couplings—males were returned. It wasn’t that the Amazons hated men; they found them unnecessary for anything outside of sustaining their society, so to seek one out beyond necessity was considered shameful.
And dishonor among the Amazons was a death sentence.
Hades could not help looking at the woman who was staring down at her feet, and while she appeared stoic and unbothered by her punishment, he could see her pain in the details of her body—the way her toes curled into her sandaled feet, the tremor that shook her legs, the hard fists she made behind her back, the set of her mouth that seemed to make her jaw far more prominent. The metal at her back had to be scorching, and if he had to guess, her skin was covered in blisters.
They continued across the courtyard, though as Hades looked ahead once more, he found Hippolyta approaching. There was something enchanting about her face. Perhaps it had something to do with her eyes, which were pastel green and heavy-lidded. She looked perpetually bored but stern. Her blond hair was braided away from her face and she wore white. Cinched around her waist was her leather girdle. It was a plain piece of ornamentation that laced closed at the front, though as far as relics went, it was probably best it was so unremarkable. No one expected mediocrity from the gods. They’d assume it had no power save its utility.
“Lord Hades,” she said. “You are here to see me?”
“I am,” he said. “I’ve come to ask for your belt.”
He saw no need to be anything other than direct. He did not have time, and neither did Hippolyta.
There was a pause. “I appreciate that you do not dally, though your request seems out of character.”
“It is.”
He said nothing more, not wishing to offer an explanation, and Hippolyta did not ask for one, likely because she did not care. The Amazon queen
studied him for a moment, then said, “I am not opposed, though it would need to be a fair exchange.”
“I have a trade in mind,” he said. “Though it is not conventional.”
He was not certain Hera would like it, though she had not said when he had to obtain Hippolyta’s belt, and her final message had given him more room for interpretation than she had probably intended— do what you must to trade.
“Go on,” she said.
“I am in need of an aegis,” he said, indicating behind him with a nod.
“And one of your own is in need of honor.”
“Zofie is young,” Hippolyta said and, like the other Amazon, did not spare her a glance. “She has a wandering eye that causes her to lose sight of what is truly important.”
She was speaking of discipline.
“Perhaps a charge will give her focus,” Hades said. “If she brings honor, then I will return her to you in exchange for the belt. If she does not—”
“You will kill her,” Hippolyta said.
Hades was not surprised by the queen’s quick command. It was likely their plan for her to begin with, so he nodded.
Not one to delay, Hippolyta nodded.
“We have an agreement, Lord Hades,” she said and glanced at the Amazon who stood a few paces behind Hades. “Bring her.”
The guard left to retrieve Zofie, and with her departure, Hippolyta turned her attention to Hades.
“There is unrest out there,” she said. “I feel it in my blood.”
That premonition was something she had inherited from Ares. It was a type of magic that stirred their lust for battle, and it only confirmed what Helios had said about war.
“You are not wrong,” Hades replied, grimacing.
Hippolyta inclined her head. “You do not like war despite its benefit to your kingdom.”
“There is no benefit for traumatized souls,” Hades said, and as much as the Underworld could offer healing in peace, receiving souls who had died in battle was not an easy thing to witness.
The queen said nothing, and the guard returned with Zofie. Hades turned to observe the woman. He had been right about the blisters. Her skin was bubbled, not only from where the metal pole had touched her but from where the sun had beat down on her shoulders and arms. It was likely her scalp looked the same, though it was hard to tell given her dark hair, which was long and braided. Her hands were still bound, but she no longer looked down. She met his gaze with piercing green eyes.
“Lord Hades has offered you a chance at honor,” said Hippolyta, and when the Amazon heard her speak, her eyes lowered to the ground once more. “If you are found to be inadequate at any point, he has been ordered to kill you.”