Christina got up and paced the floor. “They guide anyone seeking a spiritual connection, embracing the core of every religion, which was always love to begin with.”
“Okay, but then why do you call them priestesses if they don’t follow a specific religion?” I asked, wishing she would stand still. “At least our priests only preach about the Bible.”
“I don’t know,” she said in agitation. “But I do know that we don’t have many priestesses and that they are seen as highly treasured. My people will take this as a declaration of war and the council will have to come back at you full force.”
“Fuck!” I exclaimed in understanding, feeling even more angry with Magni now.
“You think we’re just a bunch of sweet women, but that nickname you have for us…”
“What – Momsies?”
“Yes.” She lowered her brows and scolded me. “The Momsies are going to be very angry with you boys and you won’t like it.”
“Don’t call us boys,” I said offended. “And you know what, Christina?”
“What?”
“If you want to threaten me, at least have the balls to do it with some curse words. I can’t take it seriously when you scold me as if I’m a child.”
She looked like she’d sucked on a lemon. “Did you just ask me to grow testicles?”
I turned my back on her with an exasperated sigh.
“I see, so we’re back to the insults now, are we?” she said sourly. “But let me tell you something, Alexander Boulder; your fellow Nmen might feel offended when you accuse them of being feminine, but I can assure you that I take it as a compliment. And from what I know of the male physiology I would think that statement is complete nonsense anyway.”
I rubbed my face. “What?”
Testicles are fragile, and I’ve seen men cry when they’re hit hard in the crotch.
“So?”
She tilted her head. “I don’t follow your logic. Women’s private parts seem more robust and can take a hard pounding. They even have to endure giving birth – which isn’t easy, I’ve been told. So, why would you ask me to grow a sensitive, fragile body part and not a tough one like a vagina?”
I groaned at her logic. “It’s just a saying and unlike you people, we don’t have time to fucking sit and meditate on the deeper meaning of everything we say.”
“Well, maybe you should.”
“Oh, give me a break, woman.”
“Fine… so what are you going to do about Athena?” she asked.
“Me?” I pointed to my chest. “Why wouldIdo anything?”
“Because your imbecile of a friend Magni has kidnapped a priestess, and that’s deeply wrong.”
“Sure, but it’s Khan’s problem, not mine.”
“Of course it’s your problem. Aren’t you supposed to be a real man?”
I squared my shoulders and narrowed my eyes, signaling for her to elaborate but tread carefully.
“A real man doesn’t allow women to be mistreated. Isn’t that what you meant when you said men had evolved since the time when they oppressed women?”
“We have!” I expostulated.
“Then show it to me. Free her.”
I took off my clothes again and got under the covers. “I’m not doing shit, Christina. My only concern is making sure you’re safe, and if I did something stupid like crossing my ruler, I’d be killed and you’d be without a protector.”
