Trying to fall asleep the night after her unsuccessful first slave combat, Thalia's mind was occupied by a number of separate trains of thought, each obtaining temporary prominance..... She must ask for more physical duties to build up muscle strength.....she must be better prepared mentally for the tasks that she would confront.... .she must be more dilligent during her upcoming training sessions..... While she gently massaged her aching belly, which, punished the day before, and was now covered by purplish-brown bruises from her navel to her pubic triangle, she thought of Delia, whose delicate hands had recenty brought her body so much pleasure. Her Amazon captors neither phohibited nor encouraged intimacy between female slaves (such contact with a male slave was, of course, strictly forbidden) But Thalia and most her comrades knew that while physical intimacy was beneficial, emotional entanglements were to be avoided at all costs; one never knew who one would have to fight. She recalled the first death match she had witnessed, between a young but homely dark haired captive, and an older, full-fleshed blond, who had been lovers. Soon into the contest (unlike the non-lethal ones, the fights to the death were often quickly decided), the brunette had been driven to the ground flat on her back, her small shield and dagger knocked out of her hands. Her adversary's blade was poised to pierce her delicate throat, but looking down at her lover, the blond hesitated, not for long, but for long enough. Suddenly, the blond's body shuddered and a soft grunt escaped her lips as her lover's dagger plunged easily into her soft, naked belly. Thalia would not make the same mistake. She needed Delia, she looked forward to her touch, to her soft, youthful skin, eager mouth, full young breasts and fragrant womanhood . But she wouldn't love her, or let herself be loved. This, Delia also understood.

Her thoughts turned to her sister Cali, two years her junior. Cali had blossomed recently, to full-fledged womanhood with pleasant facial features, a dark complexion like her own, and a body generously curved. She had large breasts tipped by prominent nipples which jutted out magnificently from her chest. Long slim thighs, rounded feminine hips and buttocks, and a smooth, gently rounded belly completed her striking appearance. ( It was not surprising that she had been summoned by more than a few high ranking warriors to share their beds.) In a few days, Cali would have her first combat, on a feast day, during which 4 contests would be held, including one death struggle. She worried for Cali, for her upcoming fight, and prayed that they would never have to meet as foes.

There were almost 200 women enslaved by the Eolian Amazons. Nearly 150 of them were attempting to earn their freedom through combat, all but a handful of the others being too young or old to take part. Today's training was on the use of the short sword and shield. Footwork and quickness were emphasized. Stay balanced...do not let the weight of the sword control your body's movements. Move...Thrust...Parry...Turn...Feint...Thrust...Parry..Block...Thrust...
Move...Slash...Block...Consntant repitition...until the swords got too heavy from constant exertion. Thalia felt confident with her sword...her arms and shoulders had gotten stronger...her reflexes were sharp...she was enthusiastic. The to-the-death matches were held with a variety of weapons, and a combatant never knew until that fateful morning what weapons were to be used: Swords, spears, daggers, spiked clubs, shorter spears with wide ugly serrated blades, were all employed. Rarely, If both combatants had two losses to their records, special spiked gloves were used, horrid-looking pieces of leather with three sharp half- inch long spikes attached. These were wrapped around the women's hands with the three spikes positioned over the knuckles, turning their fists into instruments of slow, torturous death. Sometimes the fighters were given shields, but often their only defensive weapon was their skill. Thalia could only put the possibility of death, hers or Cali's, out of her mind. She MUST succeed.

The morning of the feast day had arrived. The entire camp, and almost all of the slaves, except the men of course, were in attendance. From her spot on the side of a slight hill, Thalia had a close-up, full view of the stone-ringed, 25 ft. wide battle circle. The first contest was between a young, plain- looking woman, newly captured, who Thalia did not know, but whose red hair indicated she was from a land very far away. She was of medium height, and very, very thin, her breasts not much more than two bright red nipples, her hips and ass barely indistinguishable from those of a man. She was naked except for a white cloth rectangle at her crotch, indicating that this was her first fight. She faced an older, much heavier brunette named Gia, who had already lost one contest, as evidenced by the tiny yellow cloth at her groin. The brunette's large breasts sagged noticably, and she carried a protruding belly, centered by a large, deep, round navel. Her face showed the hard life she lived as a slave; she was probably not nearly as old as she looked. As their battle began, the skinny redhead wasted no time; a solid kick to the groin had the brunette crying out in shock and pain, folding forward grabbing her sex. Her next kick crushed the side of Gia's head and sent her sprawling. The brunette managed to get to her feet and tried to keep distance between herself and her opponent, backing away as the redhead advanced towards her. When she reached the rock border and continued to retreat, an Amazon, (one of 12 or 15 that stood just outside the rocks) rammed the blunt end of her spear into her lower back. The stunned woman arched her back, yelled in pain, and reached behind her back with her hands. The generous mound of her belly, now thrust forward, must have seemed like an offering from the gods to the young redhead. WHUMMPPP!! Red's fist was swallowed up by brunette's soft belly. TTHHUUUDDD! A second brutal punch into the inviting target of the woman's guts followed almost immediately, as a loud "uuggghhh" escaped Gia's mouth! Then an uppercut to her defenseless face caused first blood to flow as Gia sank to her knees, one hand clutching her belly, the other, closed over her mouth with blood oozing between her fingers. As the redhead approached her hurt adversary, the brunette, from her knees, fired out a punch that cracked against her opponent's pubic bone. The redhead stopped abruptly, screeched and fell to her knees grabbing her womanhood. The two now faced each other less than two feet apart, on their knees, legs spread wide. Gia's heavy breasts and belly heaved as she desperately regained her wind. Red was still trying to press the pain from her delicate sex. The two began two rain punches at each other, defense was not considered. The thin young redhead sent punch after vicious punch into the brunette's soft, full breasts. Gia's attacked every part of her foe's body and face. Red grunted as Gia's fist plowed into her flat belly, spit blood after Gia drove a fist into her mouth, and wailed in pain as an uppercut THWACKED squarely into her vagina. Both women fought through the pain. The redhead's fists continued to pound Gia's breasts. Gia concentrated on battering Red's face. Blood streamed from both their noses and mouths, and trickled out of Gia's nipples. A crushing, breast- busting punch from Red finally kept her larger opponent from returning a punch of her own. As Gia clutched desperately at her battered breasts, her opponent switched targets. With all the strength she could summon, the redhead buried three straight punches deep into Gia's soft, rounded belly! The last of the three was planted just above the top of the yellow crotch cloth, smashing her internal sex organs. The brunette blurted out an agonizing "ooouuufff ", and folded over, clutching her gut in agony. For a moment, the redhead was too spent to take further advantage, and Gia had a few precious seconds to attempt to gather herself. As she struggled mightily to breathe, fighting through the severest pain, the brunette tried to stand, and as she raised a knee and planted one foot on the ground, her crotch became totally exposed. Red's uppercut slammed into her cloth-covered womanhood with devastating force. Gia screamed. Her next blow, to Gia's breast crumpled the larger woman. As the soft-bodied brunette fell on her side, the redhead staggered to her feel, rolled her opponent onto her back and began stomping! After the first few heels violated her prone body, Gia ceased to feel them. The chief judge stopped the contest as Gia lapsed into unconsciousness....She would recover, but a second loss meant that her next fight might cost her her life.

The second match of the day would include one woman who, if she won, would be able to join the Amazon ranks as a provisional warrior, or leave the encampment, a free woman. Sofia had won 2 fights (and had lost one). If she could beat Nissia...if she could just defeat one more opponent...