NOTES: This is a work in progress.
Niobe rode along the well-worn dirt road with no
particular destination in mind. She loved to ride
especially on beautiful spring days like this one.
Fury, her majestic roan stallion, loved these long
rides almost as much as Niobe. They moved along as
though they were one as the wind whipped through
Niobe's long brown hair.
Ahead of her in the distance Niobe could see a massive
stone structure. She wasn't sure what it
was but it appeared to be a temple of some sort. Niobe wondered
who's temple it was and decided to check it out. As
she approached the temple she thought she heard
someone following her.
Niobe brought Fury to a halt and quickly dismounted.
She wanted to be sure she wasn't hearing things. She listened
for a moment. There it was again. She was sure someone was
there. Niobe led Fury to the side of the road
and hid herself and the horse in the bushes
as she waited to see who it was.
Just then a strange man in mismatched armor came
bumbling up the road. Niobe waited with her dagger
drawn for just the right moment. Then as the stranger
approached her hiding spot Niobe jumped out and
grabbed him from behind, her dagger at his throat.
"D-don't hurt me!" the stranger stammered. "Who are
you and why are you following me?" Niobe
demanded. "I-I wasn't following you," he said,"I
was just on my way home
." "Home?" said Niobe,"Where's that?" "Just up the
road a bit," he replied,"You really ask a lot of
questions." "And you talk a lot for someone who's got
a dagger at his throat!" said Niobe as she tightened
her grip.
"Hey! That hurts!" the man whinned. "Shut up!" she
said,"Now tell me who you are!" "Wait. I'm confused,"
he said,"Do you want me to shut up or tell you who I
am?" Niobe couldn't help but smile at this. He had a
good point. She released him and placed her dagger
back in her boot.
"You know, I like you," she said. "Boy, I'd hate to
see what would happen if you didn't like me," he said.
Niobe smiled again. "You are funny," she said. "What
do you mean funny?" he asked,"Funny as in I make you
laugh or funny as in strange?"
"A little of both I think," she said,"I'm Niobe and
you are?" "Joxer the Mighty," he replied. "Well, it's
nice to meet you, Joxer," she said. "Nice to meet you
too," Joxer said as they clasped forearms in a
warriors' greeting. "Even if you did hold a dagger at
my throat." "Yeah, sorry about that," said Niobe,"But
you can't be too careful these days." "Very true,"
said Joxer,"Not everyone can have
a warrior like me to protect them."
Niobe tried hard not to laugh at this. Surely he was
joking. This man couldn't protect himself let alone
anyone else. But she didn't say this outloud. "So,
Joxer," she said as she quickly changed the
subject,"Where are you headed?" "Well, do you see that
building up ahead?" Joxer asked and Niobe
nodded,"That's my temple."
"Your temple!?!" Niobe said in surprise,"But you're
not a god." "No, I'm not," said Joxer,"But that
doesn't mean I can't have a temple. Besides, my Adri-
wadri says I deserve it." "Who is Adri-wadri?" Niobe
asked. "Adrianna. She's my beautiful wife," Joxer
said,"She's the most wonderful, kind-hearted person
anyone could ever meet. And you should see her with
our children. She's the best mother."
"She sounds really sweet," said Niobe. "She is," Joxer
"You're very persuasive," said Niobe. "It's part of my
************************************************************
Niobe and Joxer arrived at the temple and made thier
She greeted her husband with a hug and a kiss and
"It's a pleasure to meet you too," Niobe replied,"So,
"Joxer, why don't you give Niobe a tour of the
Niobe looked at Adrianna. "Is he always like this?"
"Mommy! Mommy!" she cried. Adrianna immmediately
She sat down on a nearby bench with Ali on her
"Kids will be kids," she said to Joxer and Niobe who
"You have a daughter?" said Joxer. "Yes," said
"When did you see her last?" Adri asked. "Oh, it
"Why's that?" said Joxer,"You seem nice
"Don't worry, Adri," said Joxer,"It was nothing." Then
"You mean you have killed people?" Joxer asked. Niobe
"Ares?" said Adri,"What does he have to do with any of
"Ares isn't really as bad as most people seem to
************************************************************
To Be Continued......
replied. "I'd love to meet her sometime," said
Niobe. "Well, why not now?" Joxer said.
"Now?" said Niobe. "Yeah. You can come back to the temple with
me," said Joxer,"I'm sure Adri would love to meet you
as well."
the gang too." "The gang?" Niobe asked. "My
priestesses," said Joxer,"They always enjoy meeting
new people." "I suppose it couldn't hurt," said
Niobe. "Good then it's settled," said Joxer.
charm," said Joxer,"Shall we go?" "Alright," said
Niobe,"We'll take my horse." She gave a sharp whistle
and Fury appeared. Niobe swung herself up into the
saddle and pulled Joxer up behind her.
way inside. Joxer looked around but didn't see
anyone. "Hello?" he called,"Is anyone here?" Adrianna
emerged from the other room.
Joxer introduced her to Niobe. "Adri, I'd like you to
meet Niobe," he said. "Hello, Niobe," said Adri
sweetly,"It's a pleasure to meet you."
this is quite a place you've got here." Niobe looked
around the temple. "Yeah, isn't it great?" Joxer said.
temple?" Adri suggested. "That's a great idea!" Joxer
said excitedly,"What do you say, Niobe?" "Well, I-"
Niobe began but Joxer cut her off. "Good, we'll get
started right away," he said.
she asked. Adri nodded. "Yeah, most of the time," she
said. Joxer and Niobe were about to get started on
thier tour when a little girl came into the temple in tears.
scooped the child up. "Ali, what's wrong?" she
asked. "I fell down and scraped my knee," she
said. "Here let me look at it," said Adri.
lap. "Oh, it doesn't look so bad," Adri said examining
the wound. "Kiss it better," said Ali. Adri kissed
Ali's boo-boo and sent the child on her way.
stood watching. "They certainly will," Niobe
said,"Your daughter reminds me of my own little girl."
Niobe,"Her name's Chloe. She's five." "Chloe. That's a
pretty name," said Adri,"Where is she now?" "She's
staying with relatives," Niobe said,"It's been so long
since I've seen her."
must've been two years ago," Niobe said sadly. "That's
a long time," said Joxer,"What happened?" "That's kind
of a long story," said Niobe,"Let's just say I wanted
to protect her and keep her from becoming like me."
enough." "Really?" said Niobe,"And after I held a
dagger at your throat you still believe
that?" "What?!?" said Adri.
turning to Niobe he said,"I do believe you're a nice
person. After all, I'm still here. It's not like you
killed anyone." "Well, you don't know me very well,"
Niobe said.
hesitated a moment before answering. "Yes," she
said,"But that was a long time ago. That part of my
life is over. No matter what Ares thinks."
this?" "I was the leader of his army for several
years," Niobe said,"Then after my final battle I
became one of his priestesses. But I refuse to go back
to him."
think," Adri said. "How would you know?" Niobe
asked. "Because he's my father," Adri said.
