<span style="font-size: 18px">Fleeting thoughts about the possibilities of sexual congress with this queen, or any of the Amazons, danced in Wendell's mind as the Amazon Queen finished her close inspection of his dear friend, Braxton, who bore her scrutiny as befitting a proper English gentleman.  He watched her stalk away from the group of men, ascend the dais and then turn to face them.  He breathed a sigh of relief as the Amazon Queen, Rhene, addressed the men and introduced herself.   He noted with interest how deliberately and enticingly she sat upon her throne, moves easily recognized as provocative and seductive by every man present..., except perhaps Braxton.<br/>
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It appeared that Braxton was about to introduce the men to Her Majesty (how strange to think of those words and not imagine talking about Queen Victoria) when Queen Rhene inquired of her soldier about the men having been checked for weapons.  In Wendell's mind, this did not bode well.  Perhaps the Amazons might have had a reasonable fear of the Englishmen had the Englishmen been of a stature equal to their... captors, yes, 'captors'.  The words, 'hosts' and 'guests' certainly did not seem to apply any longer, the men were captives.<br/>
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However, Queen Rhene's next words stunned Wendell and likely completely flabbergasted Braxton!  "~Strip."  <br/>
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Wendell's mind raced at what might happen.  In private, with a woman who knew her mind and what she wanted, Wendell could easily see himself playing the subordinate and disrobing.  He could not imagine publicly disrobing unless a knife was being held at his throat or the throat of a family member.  Any other circumstance would be utterly humiliating and he guessed that this Queen wanted to humiliate them.<br/>
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Then there was Braxton to think about.  It had been all in fun and Braxton had put up marvelously with the private nickname, but one time Wendell had used it with other friends about them and it caused Braxton to hastily excuse himself from their company.  Then had it dawned upon Wendell that what Wendell had perceived as a magnificent gift was looked at as a curse by Braxton.  He now understood that sometimes and in some respects that exceptional people could want to be perceived as 'normal' and in this matter Braxton was very far from normal.<br/>
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More words passed between Queen Rhene and her soldier, but Wendell had only just snapped out of his panicked trance over the queen's order.  Soon the soldier waded in between the men, demanding compliance and tearing at their clothes.  The men tried to retreat and shrank back at this aggressive display from the giant woman, but they had nowhere to go.  He glanced at Braxton, seeing that the man's face had markedly paled and had seemingly frozen in personally painful shock.<br/>
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He might be throwing his life away, but Sir Wendell Oleander could be quite courageous, especially in social situations.  He took a step forward, prostrated himself before the queen on the throne and begged on behalf of the Englishmen.  "~Great Queen!" Sir Wendell implored, "~They do not understand!  Please allow us to explain your orders to them."<br/>
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Wendell did not imagine that the Queen was stunned by his lack of protocol, but the faces of the women on either side clearly showed anger.  He imagined that he did not have much time before they decided to do something about him, so he continued his pleas, "~Also, my friend is of high rank (Wendell exaggerated a bit).  It would cause him incredible embarrassment for lesser men to see him unclothed."  Wendell searched his brain, attempting to think of anything that might move the Amazon Queen to show mercy on Braxton.  "~Queen Victoria, of our homeland of England, would not want her subjects to be shamed in such a way."<br/>
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One of the Queen's attendants started to move.  Wendell did not know if this was the woman's own idea or if the Queen had given her some subtle signal, but she started advancing straight for him.  Wendell was certain that he was about to die.<br/>
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Then Braxton moved and stepped between his friend and the advancing Amazon.  Without a word, his hands down at his sides, his chest out, his stance defiant, he stared into the giant lady-in-waiting's face with a determined look upon his face as if he were daring her to blink.</span>