A Painful Awakening

Astra still could not understand these men. She thought for a moment that they were thieves - but they had had plenty of time to get away with the horses. The fact that they stayed behind was incredible. There were people nearby. Surely these men would not be so bold as to persist in an attack in broad daylight?

Astra screamed for help as loudly as she could. The men did not react as she expected. Instead of hastening to silence her, or running away, they stayed planted. Then one of them shouted, "We have a disorderly woman. She is under control."

Astra reached for the weighted stick in her belt. Before she could get very far, two of the men had hooked their arms into hers, and pushed her into the ground. Astra struggled, but she could not rise. One of the masked men said, "You are a feisty bitch. If you a going to act like a dog, we will treat you like a dog."

The men removed the weighted stick and bound Astra's hands behind her back. She was then jerked upright, and a weapons search began. After the search was complete, Astra was barefoot and standing in her underclothes. Why were none of her people assisting her? She was being assaulted in broad daylight in Themyscira! Instead of the Aqaularian city guards, four more of the silver-clad men had arrived, these on horseback.

The leader of the men said, "Watch this bitch. She has ridden a horse without permission, refused to show the papers required of her, and resisted arrest. She is either crazy or one of the die-hards."

One of the men on horseback said, "I didn't think that there were any more die-hards.

"Yeah, but she acts like she has been in a cave for a while. She is built like one of the officers from the old Aqualarian calvary."

"You know, you are right. Same rigid bearing, too. Were you a junior officer that we missed, woman?"

Astra stared at him, and answered, "I am an officer. Themyscria Second Regiment, First Squadron."

"Bull. All commands of First Squadron, even the junior ones, were always of the royal blood, and they were all accounted for. Are you saying that you are Arthemia's ghost, back from Hyrcania?

Astra quivered. The man was correct - To be an officer of the First Squadron of any calvary regiment one had to be a very high noble, even if the command were in name only. Arthemia was one of her younger sisters, who could have conceivably taken the command if Astra had disappeared. And Hyrcania was a real place - considerably to the west of Themyscira.

Astra then said, "No, of course not ....

1. My name is Lady Astra. I was brevetted as an officer after Hyrcania." Astra was a fairly common name in Aqualaria, and Astra decided that declaring her royal lineage would not be prudent.
2. I am Princess Astra, daughter of Queen Maia, back from the Shreken Mountains. And to be honest, I am shocked at your rudeness. Even the men of the rivals of Aqualaria would not treat anyone this way."

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