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Allotment of the Booty

When the army reported back in Zakton, spirits went from high to enthusiastic. The soldiers were celebrated, the dead were mourned, a feast was prepared. While all this happened, Amynander and the town council discussed the further plan of action. First point on the agenda: What should happen to the looted weapons, to the three big black horses, captured by Sthenelos and Areus on their journey from Mittentown, and to the prisoner.

"The horses should stay here", Amynander decided: "Sthenelos, my dear nephew, you will take care of them. Learn how to handle them. May this be the foundation of our own mounted forces."

Then Amynander summoned the captured woman in the presence of Sthenelos and Areus. - "You speak our language", he addressed her: "Tell us your name and origin." - She replied in a peculiar but well comprehensible dialect: "My name is Ida. I am a native of Nettleham, a small spot in Argolis. The Kurgan have raided our village and kidnapped me. I don't know if anyone of my family survived, but I pray for it every day. I was completely subject to ther wants. They held me in their stables. I hope they are all dead."

The men looked at each other thoughtfully. - "You were subject to their wants. Completely", repeated Amynander: "Then you are not a virgin any more?" - Ida blushed and cast down her eyes. - "So they made you a Kurgan slut. You lost your honor and don't belong to us any longer." - He pondered for a moment, then looked at Areus and said: "My son, when I asked for help, you came here with alacrity, and participated in our campaign without hesitation. Therefore you shall receive this female as a bondservant. She is a present of the people of Zakton to you and she shall do as you please." - Then he called some of the women and told them: "Wash her, feed her and give her clothes. Nobody shall say that the people of Zakton give presents that are not in good shape."

"We are very grateful that you came to our support", Amynander commenced the meeting, after the women had left. - "But now that the immediate danger is over, we don't want to keep you from your hard work at home. The Kurgan have received more than one heavy blow and we can rest assured that nothing will happen over the next weeks and months. It will take them a while to recover, and let's hope they will in fact retreat to where they came from. I feel comfortable to dismiss you now, knowing that I can call you again in times of need. Before you leave tomorrow, join us to our feast tonight and celebrate our joint victory."

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