DAUGHTERS OF THE SKY

The Adventures of Azure and Sapphire

Episode 1 The Slavers of El Arish

Chapter 1 The Sky Maidens

Thousands of feet below, the brilliant green landscape of Lemuria rolled past beneath Azure and her sister Sapphire. It was their first solo adventure, and the sisters exchanged a glance, the incredible cerulean blue of their eyes glowing like the most brilliant of gems. The two astonishingly beautiful young women were alike in every way except hair color, which was not surprising considering that their mother had given birth to them only minutes apart seventeen years ago.

Sapphire’s silver-white tresses blew wildly in the wind, while Azure’s waist-length raven mane was controlled in a single thick braid that hung down to the small of her back. Other than that, it would have been difficult to have told the two beauties apart.

Both of the charming damsels were mounted on magnificent flying beasts that resembled enormous gryphons. The tremendously powerful wings of each huge creature spanned thirty feet from wingtip to wingtip. Their hindquarters were those of a lion, but the forequarters ended not in paws, but in powerful four-taloned claws. No reins guided the giant avians, but instead the two girls relied upon voice commands and the gentle pressure of their knees to direct their steeds in the direction they wanted to go. The gryphons had been a part of the two warriors’ lives since they had been old enough to walk. The girls had been introduced to the two creatures when the gryphons were only fledglings and a deep bond had developed between them. Azure called her gryphon, a female, "Sky" and Sapphire had named her male gryphon, "Fire." They were formidable fighting creatures and made the two young women almost invincible under normal circumstances.

The young warriors were strikingly dressed. A silver diadem encircled Sapphire’s forehead, while Azure’s head was crowned with a diadem of gold. In the center of each band was a blazing red ruby, the emblem of their Sisterhood.

Azure’s arms were ringed with gold armbands and Sapphire’s with silver. A white cloak trimmed with blue protected each of the riders from the high altitude rays of the sun. In keeping with each girl’s chosen style, Azure’s cloak was secured with a light gold chain and Sapphire’s with silver. About each of their slender necks hung an amulet on which was mounted each girl’s name gem; azurite for Azure and a sapphire for her sister.

A silken strap over each shoulder secured a vest of the finest chain mail to each girl’s torso. Its gleaming metal gleamed with he brightness of a mirror where the sunlight touched it. A glittering belt girdled each girl’s waist - silver for Sapphire and gold for Azure. The belts supported swords forged by the greatest armorers of Lemuria. Their keen-edged blades were capable of sheering through steel.

Each woman’s ensemble was completed by a short white skirt and thigh-length black boots. But it was not their clothes and weapons that caught the eye of most persons who saw them, but rather their incredible beauty.

Each of the almost-identical twins was stunningly beautiful, standing about five-foot-nine inches tall. Their tanned bodies were exquisitely muscled attesting to a life spent in hard martial training. Long legs merged into delicate buttocks which narrowed to tiny waists. High perfect breasts completed a picture of incredible beauty.

Azure flashed her sister a brilliant smile. It lit up her high-cheekboned face. She and Sapphire were on their first mission away from their Sisterhood. As novices, neither of the young women as yet bore the mark of the warrior. That was a badge that had to be earned in battle.

The Prioress had chosen a relatively simple task for their first mission. Azure and Sapphire were the most gifted novitiates she had ever trained, but she wanted to start them off slowly. Experience was a precious commodity best accumulated a little at a time. As a result, she had sent the enticing duo on a routine flight to one of the more distant outposts of the Sisterhood of the Blood Ruby. Their mission was to escort a caravan of precious stones from the gem mines of Ulthor to the trading town of Cyban. Such caravans were sometimes subject to attacks from roving bands of bandits, but it was nothing that two such highly trained warriors could not handle.

The gryphons moved with tremendous speed, covering in minutes what would have taken a person on foot several days. Hills, valleys, fields, and towns passed below them. Both young women were fascinated by the ever-changing panorama. They had, of course, flown before, but never this far from the sacred cloister where they had trained since infancy. They were experiencing a whole new world and were enjoying every minute of it.

Azure’s gryphon suddenly gave a sharp cry. Its telescopic eyesight had picked up something far below.

"Down," Azure commanded. The huge creature folded its wings and dropped like a stone. Sapphire repeated the order and followed directly behind her.

"Eeeeyaah!" Sapphire gave a little cry of joy. Diving at high speed always gave her a thrill. She enjoyed the rush of excitement she always felt in free fall. Next to her Azure’s face was also alight with exultation. Both young women were exhilarated by a feeling of independence and duty. They were finally on an independent mission. Their long years of arduous training were about to be put to the test.

"Slow," Sapphire commanded. Immediately each of the gryphons leveled off, circling the tall trees. The gryphons were now only a few hundred feet over the dark green of the forest. Just below them was a small clearing in the center of which was a farmstead. What each of the young women saw filled her with a quiet rage.

A band of forest brigands had descended upon the small farm and had taken the farmer and his family prisoner. Such farms were usually left alone by most of the marauding forest bandits, as they had little of value and could be used as a source of food and supplies. However, on this farm the forest thieves had stumbled upon something valuable, the farmer’s two comely daughters. Azure guessed that the two girls were no older than about twelve or thirteen. The two frightened young women had been trussed up in preparation for marching them off into the forest. The robbers no doubt intended to either sell them into slavery or to make use of them themselves.

The farmer and his wife, taken by surprise had offered little resistance. It probably would have made little difference if they had. They were outnumbered seven to one and were poorly armed and had no military training. They too had been tied hand and foot, and could only watch helplessly as the robbers prepared to lead their children away.

It was the weeping of the young girls and the wailing of her parents that Azure’s gryphon had heard. Azure’s mouth clenched in a straight line, as did Sapphire’s. Each of the warriors reached for her bow, which was slung just in front of her knee.

The gryphons circled lower, closing the range to less than a hundred yards. Azure bent her powerful compound bow until the arrow was next to her ear and let fly. The barbed missile struck one of the robbers who was holding one of the girls just below his collarbone. With a gurgling scream, he fell to his knees, clutching at the feathered shaft, the point of which projected a good foot from the lower part of his back. Next to him a second robber took Sapphire’s arrow in the throat. He tried to scream, but his larynx was pierced through. He fell, blood pouring from his mouth.

For a few seconds the stunned robbers simply stood where they were, paralyzed with surprise and fear. That hesitation cost two more of them their lives, as two more arrows struck home. The three remaining villains took to their heels. They still did not know where the attack had come from, but they had no intention of remaining where they were. Shouting oaths they disappeared into the thick cover of the forest.

"Land," Azure commanded. The gryphon folded its wings and dropped into the clearing, followed closely by Sapphire. The small clearing was just large enough for both of the gryphons to set down. Upon reaching the ground both of the women warriors dropped from their mounts, their bows still at the ready. But there was no threat from the robbers. Their flight could be easily heard as they crashed through the forest.

The amazed victims of the forest bandits could hardly believe their eyes. The women warriors of the Sisterhood of the Blood Ruby lived in legend among all the peoples of Lemuria, but the farmer and his family had never expected to meet any of them, much less be rescued so unexpectedly.

Azure and Sapphire made short work of the ropes binding the farmer and his family. As they were released the four peasants crowded about their rescuers, thanking them again and again. Somewhat embarrassed by all the attention, the warrior maidens blushed and stood awkwardly in the midst of the grateful family.

"We cannot repay you for so great a service," said the grateful mother, "but you must stay with us for the midday meal. It will be but peasant fare, but we will give you the best we have."

Sapphire and Azure would rather not have had their journey delayed, but realized that it would have been bad manners not to accept the hospitality of the forest family. The farmer and his family wanted desperately to show their appreciation for what the two women had done, and they had nothing else that they could offer. And so they accepted the meal, while at the same time declining the family’s offer to stay the night, explaining that their gryphons also needed food and they would have to fly to the next town to find a sufficient quantity of meat for the huge beasts.

They had lost a little bit of time due to their little adventure, but both young warriors were exhilarated by their experience. It did not count toward gaining their mark, as there had been no hand to hand combat against anyone who could be considered their equal, but it was their first triumph. They had made their first step toward full-fledged warrior status.

The gryphons slowly gained altitude. They were not powerful flyers so much as they were soarers. They used the slow beat of their wings to gain elevation and then rode thermals to greater heights. They could stay aloft for hours, riding the air currents and conserving their strength. When they dove, however, their striking power could be devastating. Azure could remember the time when she had seen a wild gryphon pick up an entire cow and carry it away seemingly without effort.

By early evening they were approaching the first stage of their journey, the small woodland town of White Falls. It was situated at a point where a river descended into deep gorge, forcing boats to unload their cargo and transport the goods by land either upstream or downstream before continuing the river journey.

The Sisterhood had long protected the important forest junction and the two novices were welcomed warmly. They were provided with food, lodging, and meat for the gryphons.

They rose early the next morning and prepared to depart. As they mounted their gryphons, however, they were greeted by the town mayor. "I regret to delay you, but news of danger was brought to me while you slept. A caravan from the Great Sand Waste to the south has been delayed by brigands. There is a danger that they will overwhelm the caravan’s escort and despoil its cargo. Many innocent lives will be lost. We would try to send help, but I fear that all may be lost before we complete the two-day journey."

Both young women nodded. "The Sisterhood would be pleased to aid the people of White Falls," said Sapphire. "We will see to it immediately."

The gryphons pushed strongly into the air. Azure and Sapphire turned their mounts south. Two hours later, they were gliding high over the fringes of the Great Sand Waste. They followed the road, expecting to pick up the caravan. Soon, it came into sight. The brigands had chosen the site of their ambush well. The caravan, consisting of about 150 camels and a hundred armed escorts, was trapped in a deep canyon. It was hemmed in both front and back by several hundred heavily armed men. They were using their elevated position to rain arrows on the outnumbered escort and had already killed and wounded over two dozen men.

It presented a problem for the two warriors, as the wingspan of their gryphons was too great to allow them to safely enter the narrow defile. They would have to dismount and attack on foot. First, however, they swooped over the outlying forces of the brigands and rained arrows down on the surprised foe.

The aim of the two female warriors was deadly in the extreme. Every arrow they shot found a mark. Panic ensued amongst the brigands as they came under this unexpected attack. Men dashed in all directions, seeking some sort of shelter from the aerial assault. Soon there was a complete absence of targets and the two women guided the gryphons toward the ground. They did not allow the two huge flying creatures to land, but donned their helmets, grabbed their shields, and dropped the last few feet to the ground.

The brigands they were up against were skilled fighters. Both Azure and Sapphire recognized them from pictures they had studied when in training. They were the Bedouw, a tribe of desert warriors known for their skill with the sword and the bow. This would be the first real test of the novices’ combat skills.

The two women closed with the enemy as quickly as they could. It was better to engage them in close combat as quickly as possible to prevent the possibility that they might sit back and shower the women with arrows.

A few shafts were launched their way, but these were easily deflected by their shields, and then they were amongst the foe, striking hard with their sharp blades.

The swords wielded by the two heroines were of the finest steel in all Lemuria and they were handled by two of its greatest swordswomen. Azure and Sapphire cut a swath through the enemy, hacking off limbs, and ripping open the bodies of their less skilled opponents. To the Bedouw it was as if they had been set upon by demons. Never before had they seen the like of these two young women who seemed invincible in battle.

The reputation of the Bedouw, however, was not without foundation. Momentarily stunned by the ferocity of the unexpected attack, they fell back, but rallied around one of their leaders.

Mahmoud Ben Aben, was one of those rarities in combat, a man who could think clearly in the heat of battle. He saw that none of his men could stand up to the assault of the two women, but did not give up. Even as his men fell before the sweeping blades of the amazon warriors, he gathered a small group of men about him. Spreading his men out, they allowed the charging heroines to penetrate their ranks, and then closed in from the back and sides. They did not, however, seek combat with the two deadly females, but instead each man pulled from his belt a bola. Such a weapon was not normally used by the Bedouw in combat, being mainly a tool for catching small game, but Mahmoud reckoned it would now serve as his best weapon against the incredible fury of the two young women.

More than a dozen bolas were launched all at once. Both Sapphire and Azure saw the objects swirling toward them and did their best to block them. Had they been ordinary missiles they would have presented little danger, as they would have caught them on their shields and swords, but this time, such a defense played right into Mahmoud’s hands.

Azure intercepted a half dozen of the bolas, catching three on her shield and three on her sword. Instead of being knocked to the ground, however, the whirling missiles wrapped themselves around both the shield and the blade of her sword. For a brief instant, while she struggled to disentangle her weapons from the ensnaring ropes of the bolas, she was defenseless. At that moment, Mahmoud’s men closed in, swarming over the young beauty.

A few feet away, Sapphire met the same fate. A score of hands laid hold of her, grabbing at any part of her body they could reach. Now a desperate struggle ensued, as Mahmoud’s men sought to wrestle the two heroines into submission. There was no thought of killing them. All of the men had recognized the two women for what they were, members of the Sisterhood of the Blood Ruby, and therefore more greatly prized than any treasure. Each of the young women, alive, was worth a king’s ransom on the slave market.

Both of the sisters had been trained in the arts of unarmed combat, but they were simply overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of their attackers. A man caught at Azure’s long braid, pulling her head back. Two more grabbed her left arm and another two seized hold of her right. Two men wrapped their arms tightly about her slender waist, and five held on tenaciously to her kicking legs. Having grappled with her, the eleven Bedouw then held on to the bucking, writhing, and heaving female for all they were worth. It was like trying to hold a wild horse. The strength of the amazon warrior was beyond anything any of them had ever experienced in a woman, or even in most men for that matter, but they kept hold of her, while others ran to get ropes to bind her arms and legs.

Sapphire gave a mighty heave, shaking loose many of her attackers, but several maintained their grip, and the others immediately pounced on her again. One of the men was already carrying a rope, which he skillfully looped abut her thighs, binding them together. With only her arms to worry about, they were soon able to completely immobilize her, despite her almost panic stricken struggles. As in the case of Azure, her captors were amazed at her great strength. It took six of them to hold her and slowly force her arms behind her back where they could be bound and controlled.

Azure fought in quiet desperation. The only sounds she made were grunts of exertion and her heavy breathing as she battled for her freedom. Somehow she had to get her arms free so that she could pick up her sword and fight her way out of her hopeless situation. Even a few seconds of freedom would enable her to use her martial arts skills to devastate her opponents and gain a little more room. But it was not be. She began to tire, as the sheer effort of heaving almost a dozen men about wore her out. Suddenly she felt what she dreaded most, the touch of hemp rope upon her skin. Redoubling her efforts in one last incredible outburst of energy, she almost broke free, but did not have the strength needed to completely shake loose from her captors. Slowly she felt her arms being pulled behind her as the ropes were pulled tight. For the first time in the battle, she felt fear, as she realized that she had been totally immobilized. She was completely at the mercy of her captors!

Sapphire too was in despair. Her long legs were now completely bound with several lengths of rope being looped about them. Other ropes had been lashed to her wrists and upper arms and these were now drawn tight, forcing her arms behind her. She struggled to the end, but soon found that she was quite helpless. She could move neither her legs nor her arms. She glanced over at her sister and saw that she was bound as tightly as she was. They had been taken prisoner and now awaited the cruel attention of their captors!