Illustration for chapter 2 of 'The Lady and the Bronze Mask', by Alveric2

Amelia 'Millie' Lee has had quite a tough couple of days. An expedition in search of Darus, a lost Roman city in East Africa led to the revelation that men from the lost city had already found she and her archaeologist father. Not content with murdering Professor Ambrose Lee, the dastardly Valens brought Millie as a captive to the fabled city. There it seemed they would offered up as a human sacrifice in a decadent and degraded cult of Minerva, as per her original fear. But instead the compelled her to put on a bronze mask, which once over her face sticks fast, imprisoning her face, by means of a cruel enchantment. They then cast her out into the wilderness, naked but for the mask- newborn to her new condition / plight / predicament. She manages to avoid dangerous animals and yet more dangerous humans, to wit slavers, and is ultimately found by some sympathetic missionaries. But still her face is hermetically sealed in accursed bronze which will not be induced to release her...

Chapter 1:  The Lady and the Bronze Mask: Part OneThe Lady and the Bronze mask
I first met Miss Lee some years ago.  She was quite young then, perhaps ten years of age.  Her father, Professor Ambrose Lee, was preparing for his second expedition to the upper Nile, for which I had signed on in my usual role of scout and hunter.  In that brief encounter, Amelia impressed me as being a serious and intelligent child, very knowledgeable in her father’s field.  It was no surprise to me when she grew up and began accompanying him on his exploits.  This was after I had amicably parted company with the Professor in order to serve as a civilian guide during the campaign against German East Africa.  After the end of the war, I was quite surprised and distressed to learn that tragedy had struck during their final trip, a terrible accident had brought about Professor Lee’s death and destroyed both his daughter’s face and her ability to speak.  
I was far away and felt I could only send a letter o
Chapter 2:  The Lady and the Bronze Mask: Part TwoThe Lady and the Bronze Mask
Part Two
The path downstream was less difficult because of the trail we had made yesterday going in the opposite direction.  By sundown, I’d managed to reach the mouth of the Setekh, which joined the Blue Nile at the bottom of a great gorge.  But I was now nearly spent, and the lack of eating was a real problem.  
As the shadows grew, I also began to feel fear again.  Not now of the Darians, but of exposure, starvation, and wild beasts.  It was very different from the trip upriver, when I had a horse, companions, weapons, shelter, clothing, food, and a mouth that worked.   Someone once asked me why I didn’t just give up.  Well, despite what many people think, giving up is not that easy.  It involves a great deal of discomfort and uncertainty.  A lion, for example, isn’t at one’s beck and call and being eaten alive is certain to hurt.  
I pulled sticks and leaves down from the trees I

Earlier illustrations for this story:

Reading the Account:



Amelia Mourns her father:


Masking:

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Mature Content

Flight from Darus:

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Mature Content