This is my re-imagined story of the lost continent of Atlantis as they extended their realm into the fertile trade lands of the Mediterranean Ocean. The magnificent children of the gods brought culture to their more primitive brothers and sisters well before the rise of the Egyptians, Greek or Romans who their culture served as the basis for.
These giants among men towered over the peoples of the inland ocean and brought trade, peace and prosperity to their neighbors. The Adlanduzans raised the standard of living and quality of life in the region and reigned for a thousand years. The empire was lost in the annals of time but lived on in legends passed down in various tongues that modified the pronunciation of their name. Even today, many remember tales of the lost continent of Atlantis and Atlantean culture. (Adlanduz and the Adlanduz people).

Targeted Age Group:: 17 plus

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I will watch anything about Atlantis. So why not recreate the lost continent, a cast of imaginary characters, and epic events. It allowed my mind to range from one end of the historical realm to the fantastic.

How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
Magical fantasy allowed me to create phenomenal female royalty and priestesses, an entire culture, and male warriors to populate the pages.

Book Sample
Chapter One

“So this is how the first day of the rest of my life begins?” Kliopatruz declared more than she asked it as a question. “I expected my daily affairs to undergo drastic changes after my mother’s surprise announcement in court yesterday. You should have better prepared me, my tutor. It is an unexpected honor to have the Grand Advisor call so early in the day.” The princess made it sound like a stern rebuke to the men standing before her.
Yet the natural beauty of her smiling face softened the impact of her words as the two men inclined their heads forward. They offered the standard sign of deference to her position of royal standing, as any court administrator would. The statuesque high priestess stood and surveyed her teacher and her guest bathed in the bright rays of the morning sun. The direct light streamed in through the three eastern facing windows and lit the spacious library as designed. The picturesque female form of Kliopatruz matched that of all the Adlanduzan people. The nation's citizens were all direct descendants of the gods and goddesses of old. Her breasts heaved in the single diaphanous wrap all island women wore. The garment lifted and separated her firm feminine attributes. The material supported each globe slung across her shoulders in a crisscross pattern. This tied in the back and had an ornate brooch clasped across the front pinning the two pieces together. The symbol of the royal house, a gold scallop shell within a red triangle on a sea of blue sat in prominent view there. The minimal covering allowed the sun god Heliuz to warm the woman’s golden, exposed skin. All the while, the gentle breezes of the goddess Aural caressed and cooled that same exquisite expanse of bare flesh.
The maiden feigned a slight display of displeasure, posing spread-legged and somewhat out of breath. Her green eyes flashed her exasperation as she tossed her loose blonde locks with a little bob of her head. A tight, flat stomach with a bejeweled navel thrust out from her defiant hands on hips pose. Her waist wrapping and tiny skirting material rode high over her muscular thighs. This was the standard day wear of the people, regardless of social stature. The thongs of her leather sandals laced around her well-defined calves and tied under her knees. It was her melodious laugh that confirmed she only voiced the impetuous nature of youthful verve as she stepped forward. Kliopatruz trained since birth to discharge the civic duties of the royal household. She would conduct herself with grace and the aplomb of a regal individual. This twentieth summer marks her rise to adult status as the education and carefree trappings of youth get left behind.
“Forgive the failure of an excited old man, my grace,” her tutor Erazmuz offered. “The queen’s surprise announcement shocked everyone, including me. It still spreads across the land and our people accept her divine will as the word of the gods. Soon now that will be your will, too. Grand Advisor Nicolandral stopped by with important words of counsel for our soon to be new queen. It is your duty to receive his wisdom and weigh it against the wishes of the people and the gods, my lady.” The woman placed both her hands on the older gent’s shoulders and shook his robed frame to acknowledge his advice. She went to the other distinguished official clad in a shorter robe or tunic and he held out his two hands clasped together to her. The princess took them in her hands and raised them to her lips to kiss them. Her noble lineage recognized his show of fealty, and she rewarded his act with the appropriate sign of acceptance. This denoted the high regard and honor she held reserved for this person.
In Adlanduzan culture, to hold out both hands clenched together is the sign of absolute trust. It symbolizes one’s hands tied together and the other may do with the person as they see fit. Between males, there are usually two honorable responses. The other man takes the clasped hands with his hands, shakes them, and then pulls them apart. That reaction signifies acceptance and the pulling apart breaks the binding and frees the person to act on equal footing. Or the proffered hands grasped together could get smacked away as an unaccepted overture and public insult. Either an argument or fight would result from that rejection, or the person would slink away in disgrace. Those two actions are common between women, but they often respond as the princess did and raise the hands together for a mutual kiss. Between a man and a woman, it is the same yet either or both can pull the still clenched hands up for a kiss as a more romantic sign.
“I am here of my own free will, my queen to be,” Grand Advisor Nicolandral told her with a smile and a wink. “But you must realize your mother suggested this early meeting. You flew out of the court quicker than a migratory bird at the first sign of snow on the mountains. We caucused in private late into the evening and your mother checked in on you before retiring. She refused to wake you and asked me to seek you out this morning.” Her mother’s most trusted counselor asked if they could sit for him to relay the queen’s wishes before she spoke with her at dinner this evening. The two men pulled over stools as the young woman reclined on the floor in a pile of cushions by the wall.
The savvy court politician combined the talents of a skilled tactician and a master negotiator. The royal court official explained what seemed like her mother’s spur-of-the-moment decision. He also detailed her overriding concerns to the novice but soon to be in charge, august ruler. First, he disclosed the planning for her abdication started two full moon cycles past because this was different. Power always changed by the will of the gods upon the death of the sovereign. When called to dwell in the heavenly realm by the supreme beings, the reins of power fell from king to queen and on down to the firstborn. Yet this was not the case in Queen Kestral’s concept of transition and power sharing. Yet she spoke for the gods so the populace would accept and support her divine declaration.
Ruling Adlanduz alone for the last fifteen years wore on the woman after the death of King Adluz in an airship accident. The widow queen chose not to accept the overtures of all prospective suitors. She relied on her husband’s trusted advisors and friends to keep the country stable. She also continued with the civic progress according to her husband’s visionary concepts. The island continent of Adlanduz ruled the entire known world as the children of the gods should. The golden skinned race stood head and shoulders above the other more primitive races from the surrounding lands. Millennia ago, the virile gods mated with human women and they bore demigods to dwell in this land. The lusty goddesses took human mates for their pleasure and delivered half-human godlike hybrids. These crossbred magical mixtures then intermingled and produced offspring of their own. Generations later, the golden race of huge Adlanduzans developed. They populated the island, isolated by stretches of impassible water. Previous kings sent ships to the red peoples of the setting sun and also out to the rising sun. Their ships visited the white peoples of the north and black and brown peoples to the south. The primitive cultures of the other land masses viewed the Adlanduzans as giants. Epic legends sprang up about these superior warriors from the land of the gods.
The islands and coastlines of the inland ocean appealed to the sailors of the Adlanduzan trading ships. They gave thanks for safe passage past the mountain rising out of the seaside peninsula. This symbolized the cosmic egg perched amid the sacred opening to the fertile lands within. It was smoother sailing in the warm waters of the internal sea. The leadership established outposts in the sheltered harbors of the city states there. These grew from small seaside settlements into ports and soon became merchant cities. These enclaves shipped the bounty of the lands and sea back to the motherland. It was five years ago when Queen Kestral dispatched her older son Gregoruz to the domain in the inland sea. His assignment was to centralize control over these far flung burgeoning primitive societies. She named him Supreme Regent two years later as a reward for his success. But now the queen worried about his acceptance of her division of power. Would he accept his sister ascending to the Shell throne as Queen? Or did he covet the title of King of Adlanduz, expected to pass to the firstborn? These were important national questions to ask and they required immediate answers. The correct answers would secure and maintain the integrity and continuity of the country.
“The queen sent out her personal royal airship this morning,” Nicolandral informed the princess. “Your mother ordered the crew to fly to your brother’s seat of power this morning with a three ship escort. A lengthy letter explained the queen’s personal reasons for relinquishing her claim to the throne. In it was also a mother’s decision to split the leadership between her two children. The message packet contained a recall order for your brother to return home before the passing of the next full moon. The last item was a sovereign proclamation naming Gregoruz as King of Greater Adlanduz.” The court advisor sat and waited for that information to sink in so he could answer her obvious next question.
Kliopatruz frowned as she processed that last part of his statement. The experienced solicitor made ready his prepared explanation for the response he expected but did not receive. Instead, a look of abject horror crossed her face, and she leapt to her feet with the ease and grace from the years of athletic training she received. The young woman huffed and puffed as she put both hands against the smooth white plastered finish of the library’s wall. She exclaimed no, no, and no, she would not accept that. This surprised both men since she did not expect to become queen but showed outrage at her brother receiving the title of king. The enraged princess turned and pointed at her mother’s advisor as her eyes flashed, manifesting the fire of the gods. Blue flames played along her forearm, coalescing in the shape of a coiled serpent around her fist. The iconic conjured magical energy viper assumed a strike-ready position. The head of this asp hovered above her index finger leveled at Nicolandral. The highest level initiate in temple magic could do almost anything she wanted. But this out-of-control response was something not seen from her before now.
“Greater Adlanduz does not exist and incest is the sole purview of the gods,” she shouted. Sparkles shimmered along the writhing and constricting energy body of the asp. The surging wave of energy crackled, and it mimicked a hiss from the opened mouth of the erect serpent's head. “We know the stories and repeat them to avoid the identical consequences. I love my mother and my brother with all my heart, for I have yet to give it to another. I applaud her naming him as king, and I would serve the people as queen. But I will not submit my purity to my brother and rule as king and queen, husband and wife, brother and sister.” Both men stood and bowed at the waist with their heads held low and arms outstretched, signaling for her to stop.
“I did not finish explaining your mother’s entire plan, my princess,” the advisor pleaded. “I beg forgiveness to correct your mistaken assumption.” Kliopatruz’s facial expression softened at that entreaty and added fact.
“Speak up, counselor,” the angry priestess commanded. “If I am wrong, it is your sworn duty to right my incorrect opinions.” She relaxed and dropped her arm, and the snake unwound from it and vanished into thin air. Kliopatruz sat cross-legged on the largest of the cushions and motioned for the men to sit. Nicolandral paused to gather himself before he resumed his tale.
“The proclamation covers everything in plain and simple terms," the minister continued. "It announces the official annexation of all the merchant lands your brother trades with. The port cities on the north and south mainland shores and the occupied islands of the inland sea become Greater Adlanduz. Your brother receives these separate and isolated city states and isles as his kingdom to rule and expand as he sees fit over time. You will rule the island continent of Adlanduz as queen, and your brother will rule as king over the expanded Greater Adlanduz. The island continent becomes a protectorate of the king, with you leading the people as queen.” Once more the sage politician paused for his subject to absorb the full scope of this new revelation.
“That is quite a relief,” the young royal admitted with a smile. “I thought my mother lost her mind and it might be the underlying reason for turning over power to me. Now I see it is a far more reaching change and I apologize for accosting you over my misinterpretation. Please go on with the rest.” She sat at attention to take in the rest of the restructuring. This new info intrigued the woman, and she could avoid any confrontation with her brother having his own domain to rule.
“You will be the spiritual authority of Adlanduz and the new territory of Greater Adlanduz,” the queen’s advisor declared. “You will rule as queen over our island nation from this palace. Your brother, as the new king, will assume command of all our military might. He must accept responsibility for securing the borders of Greater Adlanduz and our island homeland. The fleet, airships and warriors will protect what we now call ours and will expand out as our king sees fit. He will rule from the seat of power of his choosing in his current realm. As king and queen, you will each run your own sovereign territory, but he will obey your spiritual edicts and doctrines. Our military reports to the king whether serving on our island or in in the annexed territories. A lot remains for us to work out, and that will occur when your brother arrives.” Once again, the court officer stopped for his charge to digest the facts as he laid them out. The look of understanding on her face pleased him, for it meant he accomplished his primary task.
“Do you have questions for Advisor Nicolandral?” her mentor asked. The young woman shook her head as she rose and patted both men on the shoulder. Her wondrous smile let on to the fact she achieved a deeper grasp than what he first presented to her.
“All this depends on how my brother responds to the decree,” Kliopatruz stated as a matter of fact. “My mother and the court both assume Gregoruz will go along with this. It is my belief he may go along with this plan. But then again, did he entertain his own expectations about the transition of power? We will have to wait and see.” The princess folded her arms across her chest and stood there to see if either man had anything else to say.
“We will have further discussions tonight at dinner, my lady,” Nicolandral told her. “Your mother wants you to understand all the ramifications of what she wants to do. The queen needs to know what you like and dislike about this future arrangement. Things need to be in order before your brother puts in an appearance. A united front with the queen and your spiritual authority is a must. If he has any resistance to this plan and detects the same from you, then he may try to exploit that as a weakness. We will speak more on this tonight.” She nodded, and then turned that into a bow of agreement. The advisor repeated that slight bow to her tutor, turned and left the library room.
“I have no lessons planned for you today, my student,” Erazmuz said. “We could talk as friends if you have concerns and trepidation about the upcoming changes. Remember, I am also your confidant and will relay the truth to you from an academic point of view. It will lack opinion, emotional content, and political agenda. You may find my words to be beautiful or they could seem ugly to you, but they will be the truth.” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged the man as she did so many times in the past fifteen years.
“Thank you, Erazmuz, for I am counting on that,” Kliopatruz admitted as she released him and stepped back. “You will attend this evening’s meal?” His positive nod reassured her, for it meant no political posturing started yet. “I will run to the temple and spend most of the day there. I would like to consult with the priests and a seer if one is available. Afterwards, a ritual cleansing bath is my next order of the morning. Then, a prayer and meditation session with the temple virgin acolytes will finish out my day. I will see you tonight, teacher.” The pair exchanged slight head bows and she whirled in a graceful and athletic motion to leave the study. It left her mentor to wonder if he prepared his royal charge for the rigors of ruling the populace.
The title of temple high priestess was always her destiny from the moment of her birth. He knew she’d discharge her spiritual duties for the people with unreserved confidence. Queen Kestral served in a dual capacity with distinction until the king's death. Then she left most temple duties to the priests, acolytes and attendants. The queen only officiated as high priestess on the high holidays. Kliopatruz spent more time in the main temple complex as she blossomed into full womanhood from the flower of her youth. Erazmuz attended every ceremony ever conducted by the princess. His heart swelled with pride as his student outdid herself in his opinion. The girl poured her emotions, mind, body and spirit into each rite and extracted the same from the faithful. Then he chuckled because he realized there was as much intrigue and maneuvering in the religious sector as in the political arena. With that, he decided she was well-prepared and would acquit herself in a surprising and splendid fashion.
Princess Kliopatruz exited the side door of the library wing of the palace and trotted down the crushed shell pathway. She turned away from the morning sun and ran towards the standing stone colonnade high on the adjoining hill. The sacred temple entrance caught the morning sun and the colorful supports beckoned the adherents to come hither. Other couples running to destinations of their own choosing offered greetings to her in passing. The populace walked or ran short distances around the city and this kept the holy temples of their bodies fit and toned. Most citizens rode on horses or in carts and wagons for longer journeys. The priestess joined a group of five young men and women jogging up the flagstone walkway and all exchanged morning pleasantries. They gathered at the portico to catch their breath before entering the common antechamber in silent reverence.
That entrance room was a windowless stone slab structure lit only by a ceremonial fire burning in a squat, bronze bowl. The six stood before the eternal flame and gave up a personal prayer to their god or gods and goddesses of choice. Robed priests materialized out of the dark corners and waited until the supplicants finished talking to the gods. All four priests offered their fealty to the high priestess, and she took one aside as the remaining three helped the others. The left door was the entrance to the male sanctum while the right opening led to the female chambers. The group split up to go into their designated private sections. They would join up in the common worship garden and amphitheater further along in the complex. Kliopatruz asked the priest if a seer was on site and he told her yes, asking that she please follow him. She thanked the man and said she knew the way. The young woman went back out through the front and followed a worn footpath a short way to a stone stairway. The smooth steps led down to a narrow doorway and a dark, underground cell lit by wall mounted torches. A hooded figure squatting on a small stool gestured to her to sit on the empty wood block opposite the soothsayer.
“Ask your question or say why you are here,” an old woman’s voice cackled to her. This was a rare occurrence, and the royal woman took that as a good omen. Most seers were men, and every past visit was with a male gifted with second sight.
“I am honored, wise woman,” Kliopatruz began but got no further. The crone shushed her and held up her hand to stop her.
“I am honored, princess,” the old woman replied. “I auger the will of the present queen, my future queen, and I am to remain silent about questions from you. I can say but one thing to put your mind at ease and you will understand why after pondering their meaning. Change, my young sovereign, is the only constant in all creation. It rules the world of men by the will of the gods. To embrace and be an instrument of change is to implement the wishes of the gods. To oppose change is to make a foolhardy stand against the power of the gods. We have many epic sagas recounting the folly of that action. Now I said what I could and you consider my words. You are a gifted high priestess and wield the magic of the gods. So too will you serve as the queen. You may repeat my pronouncement to your sibling for as he knows change well, but may need a gentle reminder. Now go, girl, for much will you learn tonight.” The aged woman pulled her cowl lower over her head and bowed forward as she shooed the princess out of her dank cellar.
The priestess carried the gifted visionary’s words in her heart as she left the underground and reentered the temple edifice. An attendant met her as she ventured into the female sector of the inner sanctum and she escorted her into the courtyard. The outdoor hot spring pool sat in a walled enclosure and was identical to the male cleansing bath on the other side of the separation. The three women already in the hot bath and the other attendants all greeted the princess, and she acknowledged the citizens and workers. Her aide helped remove her upper garment and slid her skirting off as well. Kliopatruz raised her face and arms to the sun god in thanks for the late morning warming rays on her nude form. The young attendant remarked how she had the fine form of a goddess as the girl took her hand to guide her down the steps into the bubbling water. This was a common expression used by the attending helpers and women of the island. The female population wore minimal coverings most times and nudity was not shameful. Male and female citizens had statuesque physiques sculpted by nature itself. Their steady regimen of diet and exercise kept the populace in superb athletic shape.
Kliopatruz hugged each of the ladies luxuriating in the steaming pond before immersing her own body. She took a seat against the edge of the bath and sat up to her neck in the pool. Another aide sat with the priestess between her legs, dangling her feet in the relaxing water. Without asking, she began gathering the bather’s hair up on top of her head and secured it with a decorative cord. The attending girl offered her a large sea sponge, and the princess took the object to rub it over her skin. A different attendant scattered fragrant flower petals and evergreen needles into the pool. These filled the warm, humid air with pleasant and relaxing aromas as a gentle breeze cooled their faces. The priestess ducked her head below the surface, came up and then reclined her head against a cloth pad the aide provided. A smile played across her lips as she considered the words offered by the intuitive woman beneath the temple mount. After a brief prayer and contemplation, she rose from her position to wade across the spa and exit the bath.
An attentive worker stood at the ready with a large, soft towel as the dripping stately woman turned her back to the aide. The girl rubbed her hair, back, sides and legs dry. She turned the perfect example of the divine feminine towards her and wrapped the cloth around her body. The aide inclined her head with respect and backed away, but was quick to return again. The attendant held a small metal bowl and tiny cloth pad in hand as Kliopatruz finished drying off. An aromatic fragrance wafted up from the anointing oil sponge she offered to her spiritual leader and the royal whispered yes, please. The aide dabbed under her arms, between and under her breasts and on the back of her neck. She set the bowl aside and used her hands to spread out the spots of oil, rubbing it onto her body. The oil sheen added a glistening dimension to the normal healthy golden glow of her skin. Her chest rose as she drew in the perfumed essence and wondered how it would affect a man who got close to her.
The attending girl then took a knee in front of her charge and held the skirting as the royal stepped into the material. The aide slid the wrapping into place and cinched it around her waist before attending to her breast wrappings. The assistant finished by tying the ends of the garb behind her neck and pinning her brooch in front. The temple worker bowed her head, held both hands together and extended them to her now dressed charge. The princess clasped her hands around them, pulled them to her face and kissed them as a sign of her thanks. The young aide took her by the elbow and led her around the corner to the outside garden courtyard and amphitheater. She seated the high priestess and laced her sandals on, thanking her for visiting the ritual cleansing bath today. With a quick bow and curtsy, she turned with a flourish that ruffled her short skirting and disappeared back into her domain. A robed priest and priestess approached her right away and asked how they might be of help to her.
“I intended to bathe and have a quiet private meditation and prayer observance,” she told the temple clergy. The number of faithful in the outdoor worship space surprised her. The spiritual adept scanned the gathering, looking to each individual that made eye contact with her. The citizens waved, inclined their heads in that slight bow of reverence or held out their clasped together hands in greeting. Kliopatruz raised a hand and returned a single wave to those here to worship on their own.
“I could clear a private prayer space worthy of you station, princess,” the priest suggested to her. She frowned at that unacceptable disruption of her fellow citizens on these sacred grounds. Her sister priestess recognized the look of displeasure on her face and made a suggestion.
“It is near the midday meal, your grace,” the female cleric pointed out. “Even now our servers put out a light fare for those in attendance that might hunger for something. You could lead our prayer of gratitude. Then, while we partake of the bounty of the lands and seas, I would canvas the attendees to see if they wished for you to lead a brief service. You could perform an impromptu ritual of your choosing and after the ceremony you could have a more private moment.” Both women’s eyes twinkled as she spoke for they knew each other well from serving together before.
“As you wish, my sister, Kalypsuz,” she announced. “A high priestess serves the faithful at the behest of the gods.” Both of the clergy smiled and hurried off to speak to those awaiting the blessing before taking nourishment.
The priest told those gathered what was to happen as the small group cheered and applauded. They knelt in place as the spiritual leader raised her arms, eyes and voice to the gods and goddesses of their island nation. Her compassionate voice of thanks brought a resounding agreement from the ardent believers at the end of her declaration. The two clergy and she bade the people to eat, and the three stood back to make sure everyone took food before they did so. Kliopatruz visited each individual, couples, and small groups as they supped. She hugged each woman and felt the sisterly love bond between the different females. Likewise, as she hugged each male, brotherly love passed to her tinged with a slight sexual energy. That was as it should be, and any man not paired with a woman in the eyes of the gods could be hers for the asking. Whether she wanted a onetime discrete coupling or sought the same male many times over, it would be her choice alone. But she was a virgin by choice to serve the gods as a temple priestess. Now, as she attained the status of a high priestess in her twentieth year, her duty to the gods would change. Adlanduz society now expected the sacred vessel of her personal temple to bear fruit and bring forth the next generation of the faithful.
Unpaired Adlanduzans practiced sexual responsibility since everyone appeared in public almost fully nude. The common female upper garment, the minimal breast sling wrap, left little to the imagination as designed. The lower skirting wrap barely covered the sacred feminine front triangle and backside area. It allowed a full view of muscular thighs and tight butt cheeks. The male lower skirting was every bit as revealing but held the male components in a comfortable pouch. However, sexual arousal became self-evident as the opposite sexes interacted in social circumstances. Men failed to view this as an embarrassment, and women accepted it as a compliment from nature.
The priestess made her rounds until she stopped in wonder and amazement at the woman seated before her. Her god-given normal flat abdomen bulged with a globe-like protrusion, and that sight brought her to tears. Though she recognized the woman was with child, it was the first time the princess saw a mother-to-be in person this close up. Adlanduz society maintained a low reproductive rate as part of their social and ecological awareness. The island nation culture practiced sustainable and controlled animal husbandry. This included domesticated animals and extended to wildlife conservation. So that practice carried over with the citizenry and their view of a proper family size. Kliopatruz hugged the woman and then cradled her baby bump. She kissed and caressed the rounded belly of the mom-to-be and shed tears on her skin. The psychic energies of the high priestess contacted the aura of the developing child as she rubbed the woman’s abdomen. An intense wave of feminine love passed between the two and she looked into the mother’s eyes.
“Would you like to know the sex of your child?” she asked, “Or do you already know?” Her face lit up, and she asked to know what the high priestess felt. Her joy doubled when the royal said she carried a little girl. They hugged and kissed again before the princess moved on and completed her rounds. Kliopatruz moved to the serving table, took a large shell and placed samples of almost everything on it. She watched a lithesome male her age finish taking food at the end of the line and return to his group of friends. The priestess realized she missed greeting him and went to sit with his group. The young woman hugged him as she did with the others, and a wave of gratitude washed over her like no other. Intense brotherly love interwoven with mild sexual overtones followed that initial surge. She had to kiss him in response to the level of intensity that poured out from him. A blush of red colored the golden skin of his cheeks, changing his handsome face. In her estimation, it gave him a more boyish look and made him even more adorable. His friends joked she made his day as he repeated how he couldn’t believe their luck. Who would think the princess high priestess would be at the temple on this day and now she will conduct a service for them.
Their kidding kept the rose hue on his cheeks as he watched her. He admitted the only times he ever glimpsed her or any of the royal family this close was here in the temple. The group made nervous small talk as they ate with the august female presence seated with them. She asked each of their names to put the group at ease. The temple foodstuffs were a wide range of simple island staples. Her shell plate held small cubes of cheese and dried fish, along with fruits and nuts drizzled with honey. Kliopatruz commented on how the thick sweetness of the honey complemented the crunchy nut combination. Her blushing fan Stavruz said he failed to try that and the princess took that as an opening. She wanted to appear as a regular citizen to them, not an unapproachable regal personality. As a high priestess, the public needed to see her as available to intercede for them with the gods. The woman chose a large piece of nut meat and rolled it in honey to make sure she covered it. She held it up to him to bite and the other four seated with them stopped to watch what transpired.
Stavruz hesitated, but she encouraged him to try it. He took the sticky treat from her fingers with care, but his lips touched her fingers. He blushed again as he accepted the morsel, and Kliopatruz received a burst of admiration from the gathering. Others around them also watched the social interaction of those she sat with. Her perception confirmed they viewed her as one of them, a citizen and a real woman. A bit of honey clung to the corner of his mouth, so she held his head with one hand. The royal then used the thumb of her other hand to remove it. She put her thumb to her lips and tasted the honey as she stood and said she needed to prepare for the service. Thanks passed between them all for sharing the mealtime together. The high priestess pulled Stavruz to his feet and declared he would ignite her ceremonial altar fire. She chuckled to herself as she led him by the hand, thinking that sounded suggestive.
The priest and priestess readied everything, so she called those gathered to attention. She pointed for Stavruz to light the three metal bowls using the small torch held by the priest. This he did, and then she hugged him and said he could return to sit with his friends. The high priestess first offered thanks for everything bestowed upon the faithful. She called off a litany of names of individual gods and goddess, asking or thanking each for something. Then she sat on the ground cross-legged in front of the altar, raising her arms above her head. Her hands came together in the classic praying position and she dropped them to rest on the crown of her head. Electric blue energy materialized out of nowhere and surrounded her seated form. The energy column rose and expanded as the clergy and the faithful went to their knees. The shimmering pillar of power morphed and took the shape of a gigantic muscular male shape. The manifestation towered before them and looked down on the believers.
The giant head was faceless save for a full mouth, and it roared at the people as it flexed its arms with raised fists. The godlike entity paced back and forth across the length of the temple amphitheater front. A thick energy umbilical connected it to the source of power emanating from around the entranced high priestess. As the massive deity paced, it continued to roar unintelligible words and make wild gestures in different directions. This went on for several minutes as it made a few passes along the length of the altar area. The colossus stopped in front of the high priestess still facing the faithful. It bowed low to the faithful in attendance and stepped backwards. The enormous mass of energy sucked back down into Kliopatruz. The maiden opened her eyes and smiled at the people, but remained seated on the ground. The two temple clergy went and helped her up, and she sat on the altar facing her flock.
“That unnamed lessor godlike presence controls the winds of change,” she called out to the crowd. “His words were only for my benefit, but I will relate what is fitting for his meaning belongs to all the people. He harbors the winds of change, and change comes to our island nation. Embrace change, for it is the will of the gods. Spread his message to become part of the change and reap the rewards that arrive with it. Oppose the coming changes and your woe will be great. These are the words and will of the gods.” With that, she went silent and bowed her head. The priest and priestess waved to the onlookers to signify the service was at an end. Most filed out, but a few people came forward, took the exhausted woman’s hand and kissed it before leaving. Stavruz waited as the last in line, but at his turn, he did not take her hand as the others did. The man extended his clasped hands to her and stepped between her legs as she sat upon the altar. His hips pressed against her inner thighs and a now familiar energy wave washed over the royal. Their blended auras announced this person to her before Kliopatruz’s lowered eyes saw his presented show of fealty.
The high priestess accepted his sign of respect by taking the man’s clenched hands with her own and pulling them to her lips. The princess raised her face to lay those entrancing green eyes on the classic features of Stavruz. Her kiss imparted a charge that leapt between them and he sighed as he bowed to kiss her hands, too. The energy of emotional love flowed out from him with such unexpected force it caused the weakened girl to release her own surprised sigh. His emanation of altruistic love for his leader contained threads of overt sexual energy. These interwoven waves within his field contacted the high priestess and warmed all the right places. Her energy body expanded outward as an invisible bubble encapsulating the pair. The physical body of the virgin priestess resonated in her sacrosanct female regions. Those areas vibrated from the tingling of increased blood flow. A rolling wave of heat rose in her breasts and also smoldered down below in the seat of her feminine center.
“I embrace any changes as you see fit to pronounce, my high priestess and princess,” Stavruz declared. He spoke in a low, wavering voice. “I am untrained as a warrior but would act to spearhead any decision you demanded the people to put in place. My background in the fair arts of our land inspires me to envision change with all I see.” She felt as if he wanted to say more, but his sigh gave the sign he finished his on-the-spot pledge.

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