Chapter 2

"Be careful morons!" shouted the captain of the battered felucca "you're going to make the barge to capsize!"

The crew of the felucca made enormous efforts to prevent the barge from capsizing before the onslaught of waters from the bayou of the Snake River, which flowed into the Gulf of Pelair. Although seemingly gentle, the majestic tributary unloaded a huge volume of water into the gulf, so making very difficult the navigation through that area. Because of that, it was the least watched.

Nobody in their right mind would have dared entering the river through that channel, for it was the most violent of all. The azcangorians had successfully built a series of locks that had allowed them to tame the raging river, and enabled them to bridge the gap that existed between the waterway at the mouth and the Gulf of Pelair. They had left but a channel with its natural watercourse to allow the excess of water to flow, especially in the rainy season to follow its course to its final destination in the Gulf without causing major flood damages.

This was the channel crew had chosen to reach Azcangor, capital of the kingdom of Terrara. They had had no choice. The state of war between the Empire of The Triad and Terrara had increased the watch to the maximum. No ship could reach any port of Terrara without first going through a thorough requisition by the agile and swift-armed schooners of Terrara's navy. Therefore, the normal entrance navigation channel was not a choice for this mission.

The trip by land had not been an option either. The opposing armies of Terrara and The Triad occupied the strip of land across the Isthmus of Azcara, the only land bridge between eastern and western Pelair, unless they wanted to make a very long detour through the southern realm.

"The rudder!" shouted the captain of the small felucca. "To starboard, rotate it to starboard!"

The crew of the felucca made strenuous efforts to avoid the huge rocks that jutted out of the raging water flow. They were almost about to crash head-on into one of those huge mounds, which as indomitable watchdogs, made very difficult and risky any expedition through that channel. However, they had no choice but to get to their destination alive or die in the intent. Going back without fulfilling their task was out of the question.

"Are you alright, my Lady?" asked the captain to the woman entrusted with the mission of abducting Terrara's baby princess. Sorah had been chosen amongst hundreds of women that made up the body of the Triad's amazons militias. Guildorhad attempted to put together the best and most powerful army in order to conquer and subdue Terrara and hence, gain control of the entire northern Pelair. He would be the most powerful monarch that had ever known those lands. The southern kingdoms would eventually surrender him vassalage, and who knows if someday he may also conquer them. His ambition was limitless. For that, he spared no efforts. He did not underestimate the role women could play in his plans, although he regarded them as minor supplements to his forces. However, for this kind of mission, a female was the most appropriate.

"We've seen the worst, I think," said the captain with some relief. "Now darkness will be our greatest ally.

They had chosen the time of new moon to carry out their mission, so they could go unnoticed in the darkness. In hope of that, they would mingle with other boats that would make them company through the watercourse of the mighty river, once they had surpassed the access channel. Then, they would navigate upstream to try to find some hidden corner of the channel to disembark unnoticed. The crew proceeded to lower the sails and pulling out the oars, maneuvered and lead the small boat to a lonely and sheltered beach, where they finally landed

"Be very careful my lady" instructed the captain. "You're on your own now."

Entering the Azcangor palace had been easier than she had anticipated. On her walks throughout the city, trying to figure out how to snick into the compound without raising suspicions, Sorah had happened to pass by the convent of the congregation of Noor.

From their very first day in the cloister, the girls admitted to the order had to cover their faces with a veil, which prevented them being tainted by any mortal. Noor novices only owed to their Goddess, and usually withdrew from the world to live a monastic life. Sorah had learned that from time to time, some of the novices were taken to the palace of Azcangor, to participate in the ceremonies held there in honor of the Goddess Noor. She immediately requested membership into the congregation, having no major contretemps in been admitted. Luckily, she still was a virgin, because her sexual appetites geared rather towards her female counterparts. Thus, she easily overcame the rigorous examination to confirm her maidenhood. Virginity was a requirement to enter the order. Sorah thought very pleased, that she was going to find herself very comfortable in that place. She made illusions about the pleasures she would share with many of the maiden candidates to priestesses she would certainly try to entice while she was there.

"Did you ask for me, my lady?" Sorah reported to the Mother Superior who had requested her presence. At first, she had feared being discovered, but then she calmed down. She had been a model novice for the two months she had spent in the congregation. True, she had already tasted the delights of another girl, but her secret would remain safe. The girls were the first interested in their dalliances not to transcend. Officially, the rite forbade any kind of intimate encounter, since it was assumed the novices should devote in body and soul to their goddess. In practice, even the ordered nuns relieved their surreptitious desires with some of the novices.

"Yes, dear," replied the old nun. "You have fully met and exceeded your initiation rites, and given the dedication you have shown, we've selected you to lend your services to the Goddess at the palace's chapel. I called for you to prepare your belongings to be transferred to the castle tomorrow morning."