Lukrena

On the endless plains of Sarmatea, Lukrena, a chieftain's daughter, learned to shoot before she learned to braid her hair. She hunted, defended her people's borders, and returned from places others feared to enter. Her pale eyes and composure before a shot earned her the name Silver Gaze.

Word of the archer reached Heracles. He came to the plains and demanded that she acknowledge his superiority. Lukrena told him to earn it.

On the third day of their duel, his club broke her bow. Heracles could have killed her, but a living captive made a better testament to his victory. He chained the chieftain's daughter and took her from one royal court to the next.

At feasts, he made her stand beside him while he recounted their fight. Each telling held less truth than the last. Lukrena kept silent, memorized the doors, and learned to tell the guards apart by their footsteps. In all her months of captivity, she never once begged for mercy. Heracles took this for submission.

One night after a feast, he fell asleep with the key still on his belt. Lukrena freed herself, found a hunting bow among his trophies, and chose a straight arrow.

Heracles woke as she drew the string. He had time to recognize her.

His scream roused the palace. By then, Lukrena was already running for the plains.

At dawn, she stopped beyond the last hill. For the first time in months, there were no walls or guards around her. She lifted her bloodied face to the sky:

“The next arrow is for the gods.”

A thin golden thread settled around her wrist. Lukrena pulled away, but the plain was already slipping from beneath her feet. The grass gave way to the black stone of the Arena of Eternity.

Wargul leaned over her.

“Let's see if you keep your word.”

Now Lukrena fights among his Pieces, searching for a way home and watching the arena master's every move. Heracles, too, had once thought her his trophy.