Authors: Robin Roseau
"Perfect," said one of the companions, and I realized it was Spade, Parlomith's companion.
They were back.
"We cleaned them by the river," I said. "Do you know how to cook them?"
Spade looked around and no one volunteered, but then Beria spoke up. "I do. I'll just pan fry them with a little butter, if we have it."
"Cook one first," Spade said. "For Parlomith. She's the only warrior here. We'll eat when she's done."
"There are only three fish," Beria said, "and ten hungry stomachs."
"The warrior eats first," Spade said. "Cook one of the fish for her."
"But-"
"Beria," I said quietly, "Do what Spade says."
My sister looked at me, and I added, "Please. We get fresh fish all the time."
She stared for just another moment then said, "Of course, Queen's Companion. One pan fried fish, coming up."
I stepped away, putting our fishing gear away. The poles were just sticks, and we could toss them in the woods when we were done, but I'd keep the rest, and I vowed to carry fishing line and flies on future trips.
When I returned, Parlomith was sitting alone at a table, waiting for her dinner.
She caught me watching her, and her eyes narrowed. I'm sure she blamed me for all the woes of the world.
"You," she said. "Come here."
I considered it for a moment then remembered she was chief here. I crossed the dining area and stood near the table. I considered sitting down, but Malora wasn't here to protect me if she decided to get angry, so I decided pushing Parlomith's buttons was a bad idea.
"Good afternoon, Chief Parlomith," I said. "Did you have luck hunting?"
She ignored my question, and I decided that no, she hadn't had luck hunting, or we would be eating venison instead of fish.
"I see you have disgraced your warrior yet again. Yellow might have been a more appropriate color."
"Malora seemed to think royal purple was perfect." Her eyes narrowed, and I realized I was already pushing Parlomith's buttons. Oops.
"What did you do that your warrior dyed you purple?"
"My warrior did not dye me purple, Chief Parlomith," I stated. "Chief Loren of Two Bends did."
She slammed her hand on the table, and I was sure it was intended intimidate me. "Answer my question!"
"I am sorry, Chief Parlomith," I said as carefully as I could. "Do you wish the real reason Chief Loren dyed me purple, or do you wish the fake reason she used as an excuse."
"I wish to hear the stated reason, and stop wasting my time."
"Chief Loren dyed me purple because while working her garden, I inadvertently disturbed some of her flowers."
Parlomith
stared at me. "You're lying."
"The entire story takes longer to tell, and I told you the stated reason wasn't the real reason."
"You have a smart mouth, and your warrior isn't here to discipline you for it. That means it is up to me."
"I am sorry, Chief
Parlomith," I said. "I am not trying to have a smart mouth. I am answering your questions as best I can. If I am doing poorly, I am sorry. Perhaps there was something in the dye that has left me somewhat addlepated."
At that moment, Spade stepped out of the kitchen with Parlomith's fish. From the looks, Beria had cooked the biggest. I know she would have given her the smallest, so someone overrode my sister. I wasn't worried about going hungry, but I thought it was selfish of Parlomith to take the biggest fish and leave the two smallest for the other nine people here. There would be enough other food, but if no one ever fished here, fresh fish would have been a treat.
"Tell the entire story,"
Parlomith ordered before diving into her meal. So I told the story, absolutely accurately, with no embellishments and no critical details omitted. I ended the story at the point I stared in the mirror and walked off. I didn't owe her the private details of my conversations with Malora or anyone else.
"Well, now at least all Amazons know what a clown you are."
"I'm sure you're right," I agreed.
She eyed me. "Are you being sarcastic with me?"
"I was agreeing with you. In fact, I believe the term I used with my warrior was laughingstock. Clown is just as accurate a word."
She finished her fish before looking back up at me. She looked around and found Spade standing nearby. "The fish was excellent," she said. "Who caught it?"
"Maya and Beria caught three," Spade told her.
I almost laughed at her expression as she realized she'd eaten a fish my sister and I had presented to the camp, and then to compliment it besides.
"Beria cooked it," Spade added. "No one else knew how."
"How hard can it be?"
Parlomith said. "Throw it on a fire until it's burnt."
The fish had been perfect, and
Parlomith knew it. I suppressed another smile at her petty behavior.
She turned her attention back to me. "You speak of being a
fool so easily. Does it not bother you?"
"I am not a
fool," I said. "I have the appearance of one. It seems to lighten hearts. It even lightened yours. We all do what we can for our Amazon sisters."
I could tell she wasn't pleased she wasn't getting a rise out of me. She stood up and said to Spade, "I will be in our hut. Retrieve me when the evening meal is completed. There is a disciplinary matter to attend to."
And then without another word, she turned on her heel and was gone. I was quite pleased to see her backside.
* * * *
Beria and I declined the fish, leaving more for the other companions. There was plenty of bread and some dried beef. We made do.
"We're leaving in the morning," I told Beria quickly. "It will have been three days, and we're getting out of here. Keep your head down until then.
Parlomith is looking for an excuse."
She nodded, and then the two of us helped clean up after dinner.
None of the other companions looked at us. We hadn't exactly made friends, but they were being even more standoffish than usual. I decided they were jittery with Parlomith here. I didn't blame them.
As soon as the meal was over, I drew Beria to our tents, intending to be scarce and hoping that
Parlomith would leave us alone. But ten minutes later, I heard Spade's voice. "Maya. Beria. You are required."
I poked my nose out of the tent. "Excuse me?"
"Parlomith requires your attendance. Please come with me." With her were four other companions, and I decided we were going whether we wanted to or not. I quietly told Beria to bring her staff, and we settled our staffs in place before following Spade. The other companions followed behind us, and I decided whatever was going on was bad.
"Keep your mouth shut," I told Beria quietly. "She's going to try to push our buttons. Don't give her any reason to discipline us."
"What's her problem?"
"
She doesn't like me. I don't know why. Just keep your mouth shut and let me bear the brunt of her anger."
"You're doing it again."
"Shut up, Beria."
Spade led us to the training ground.
Parlomith was waiting along with the last two companions. None of them looked at us. Spade led us straight to the village chief and said, "Maya and Beria, Chief."
"I see that,"
Parlomith said. She looked at us. "Tell me why I shouldn't pronounce sentence right now."
"I don't know of what we're accused," I responded, "
So I can hardly answer that."
"You have not attended training the entire time you have been here. I personally observed you were not in attendance this afternoon. I take it you were out fishing instead of attending to your training."
I stared at her, wondering how I was going to talk us out of this.
"We were not aware there was training with no warriors in attendance," I stated, "and we were not aware you had returned to conduct training. Furthermore I know Queen Malora does not allow you to conduct training of companions, so even knowing you were here, there was still not a warrior present to conduct training."
"I am the chief of this village, and I conduct whatever training I wish!" she thundered. "You were not here, and thus you are guilty of being absent from training without permission. Five lashes each!"
"You are not allowed to train companions," I said. "And you have no authority over our training schedule. Furthermore, all disciplinary issues must be referred to our warriors for approval, and they are not here. You may lodge your complaint with our warriors or with our village chief, and I am sure you will be given all due consideration."
"I am chief of this village and my word is law, second only to Queen Malora's. As she is not present, you are subject to my authority!"
"You have no right to touch us. I am Queen Malora's companion, but I am also a warrior! I have taken the voices of two demons, killing one of them with nothing more than a knife and my bare hands. You have no authority over me. And my sister is also not of your village, and you have no authority over her. She answers to her warrior, to her training leader, and to Queen Malora, not you. We will be leaving in the morning, and that will be the end of this."
Parlomith studied me carefully. I know she would have loved to declare me a liar, but every Amazon alive knew I'd killed Lathana and how, and it was no stretch to believe I'd dealt with a second demon.
"You are no warrior," she said finally.
"The definition of an Amazon warrior is one who has fought a demon and taken the voice. I have done so twice. If you believe I lie, you may ask my warrior for confirmation."
Parlomith
was in a corner. She'd staged this, but I was right. She had no right to touch us, especially me, and I was the one she wanted to punish.
"Furthermore," I added. "Beria was following my orders as both most senior companion of all Amazons and a warrior of Queen's Town. You have no right to touch either of us. Queen Malora ordered us to remain here for three days,
then return home if she had not returned. Today is the third day, and we will depart in the morning. Goodnight, Chief Parlomith."
I began backing away from her, a hand on Beria's arm pulling her with me.
"Stop!" Parlomith barked. From behind us, several of the companions blocked our path. We froze in place. Parlomith alone could beat Beria and me together, and most of the companions were probably better than either of us as well. We couldn't fight our way out of this. Our only choice was to talk our way out of it."
"
The situation regarding you, Maya, is murky. However, the situation regarding Beria is not so. Senior companion does not outrank village chief. Warrior of Queen's Town, if that is even accurate, also does not outrank village chief. Beria will take her five lashes and yours too."
"No!" I said. "We did nothing wrong, and you know it!"
"I decide that here. Seize them."
From behind, the companions grabbed us, at first two on each of us, then three. Beria didn't even struggle, and I was pushed down to the ground firmly, my hands lashed behind my back.
"Parlomith, don't do this!" I yelled. "I am the reason we're catching up on companions. Beria is one example. If you whip her, you'll undo everything we've accomplished in the last two and a half years. Furthermore, Malora will kill you!"
"Your precious Queen Malora is afraid of me!" she said with a sneer. "And this is Amazon law. She was absent for training, and that is a whipping offense. Bind her to the post!" The last was screamed.
"Don't do this, Parlomith! This is a mistake!"
She knelt down in front of me. "Every additional word from your mouth is another stroke against your sister's back."
I believed her. I clamped my mouth shut, but if she touched my sister's back with that whip, I would see her dead.
Several companions stripped Beria's tunic from her then dragged her to the post. She was crying, and they tied her to the post as if she were hugging it. Spade ran to the storage shed, returning with a whip. I buried my face in the dirt, not willing to watch.
Parlomith knelt down in front of me again, waving the whip in front of me. "You will count the strokes. Failure to do so means that stroke doesn't count. And you will need to watch so you can tell a stroke from a practice swing."
She would die. I would see to it.
I looked up, staring at my sister's bare back. Parlomith stepped away, the whip reached back, then she stretched forward. There was a crack, a thud against bare flesh, and a red line appeared on my sister's back.
"Beria!" I screamed.
"I'll count that as one," Parlomith said calmly. "I suggest you count properly after this."
The whip arched out.
"Two!" I screamed.
Beria didn't start screaming until the fourth stroke landed.
By the tenth, she had stopped screaming, and I feared she was dead. I sobbed into the dirt.