Amazon Challenge (22 page)

"Beria," Omie said, "I'm so sorry. You
know I'd never let anyone hurt you. That woman is an animal! Please, I love you."

Beria didn't answer.

"Please, at least tell me you're okay."

"She's healing," Maya said. "You left us there. You knew who was chief of that village, and you left us there! At least you could have given us permission to go to Broken Knife."

"I know," I said. "Malora is absolutely sick over it."

"By what right did you treat us that way, Nori?" she screamed at me. "Talk about cowardly, leaving me that note, then telling the companions there to enforce it."

"I'm sorry."

"Great. You're sorry. Just great. Did neither of you spend ten seconds considering the ramifications of what you were doing to us?"

"We didn't know-"

"No excuse! You knew I wanted to leave that village, and you knew why. If nothing had happened, I'd have been livid, but you both knew I wanted to leave because I was nervous something would happen."

"I'm sorry," I said. "It was a mistake."

"It wasn't just a mistake. A mistake was when I damaged a few flowers in Loren's garden.
You two left us there intentionally!"

"We didn't know-"

"You didn't know that was the last place I wanted to be? Seriously?"

She had a right to be angry, even before Beria's mistreatment. I took a deep breath. "Maya, you have every right to be angry. Even if Beria hadn't been so badly abused, you had every right to be angry. I told her not to do it."

"You must not have tried very hard."

"You're right," I said. "I didn't. We had a major demon incursion, and the only thought Malora had for you was keeping you safe. She thought you would be safe. She knew you would be angry, but she was willing to deal with that. You would be mad for a few days, but you would get over it after making all of us suffer for a while."

"So you're suggesting I'm the unreasonable one?" If she could have glared any harder, I'm sure she would have.

"You have no right to be angry we didn't bring you. You have every right to be angry Malora didn't give you permission to go home immediately. I'm sorry, I didn't think of suggesting that. We didn't know the depth of the incursion. If it had been the ten demons we expected, we would have been back the following day or at the latest, the day after. I will not say whether she was right or wrong to leave you behind, because it was her choice, and it was a judgment call. Sending you to Broken Knife or sending you home would have been better, but I'm not sure either of us would have trusted you to go where you were told. Tell me, Maya, would you have gone home, or would you have followed us the moment you left Green Arrow, once you were sure the companions there wouldn't
stop you?"

She stared at me, not answering.
"What do you want, Nori?" she asked. "You can't possibly expect us to go back with you, and there's no way you can take us back. Say what you intend to say and we'll toss you a bucket and a single oar. The fog will burn off in a couple of hours and you'll be able to find the beach."

"Maya," I said, "
There were twenty-four demons. There was a significant battle, then cleanup."

"Twenty-four?" She looked at Beria for a moment, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. "Anyone hurt?"

"Two deaths, none from Queen's Town. A few battered bodies, readily healing. No new warriors."

"Vorine? Bea?" she asked.

"They're fine. Everyone from Queen's Town is fine." I paused. "Maya, during the demon fight, Malora took two more voices. She needs you. Add to that the stress from what happened, and then you running, and you can imagine the shape she's in."

"And I should care, why?" she asked
, her cold expression back now that she knew the people she cared about were fine. "You are always take, take, take. You all do. Well, I've given enough. Tell your queen to find a new companion."

"Beria!" Omie called out, her voice cracking. "I love you. You know I love you!"

"Quiet, Omie," Maya said. "Beria isn't the one making the decisions today. She's fifteen."

"Maya," I said, "Malora is a wreck. And Parlomith has challenged her for leadership of the Amazons. The fight is in just over
three weeks. She'll lose if you don't go back."

Maya

"You bitch!" I screamed. "You're lying! No one would support Parlomith. We solved the companion problem, and that woman is a psychopath! No one would ever follow her. Everyone loves Malora."

I dipped the oars in the water and began rowing away.

"I'm not lying!" Nori yelled at me. "Maya! She's a psychopath. I agree, and she won't live more than three days, but Malora will be dead! You care about her, Maya. You love her. She's going to die if you don't come back with us."

I stopped rowing, slowly coming to rest in the water.

"Please, Maya!" Nori yelled. "She's going to die. Come talk to me. Just come talk to me."

I turned around and rowed back
slowly, stopping far enough away they couldn't cause any mischief. I turned the boat so we could look at them.

"Maya," Nori said, "I'm not lying. Do you think
Parlomith would dare to do what she did if she didn't have a plan?"

I stared across the water.

"Malora's a wreck. She's grown dependent on you. You need to get back there and help her so she can get ready for the fight. We have to leave today."

"I don't believe you," I said numbly.

"Maya, I need you to listen to this next part, the whole thing. Don't row away. Please, I'm begging you. Don't row away."

"I'm listening," I said, "but you haven't earned an oar or bucket yet."

"Omie," she asked, "You were very angry at me when we left Malora. Why?"

"You challenged her to a death match," Omie said.

"What?" I screamed. "Nori, why?"

"When is the death match, Omie?"

"The same afternoon as her fight with Parlomith," Omie said.

"Maya, do you understand yet?"

"No."

"She'll fight
Parlomith in the morning. If she wins, then I withdraw my challenge. But even if Malora looses, she'll hurt Parlomith, at least a little, and Parlomith will be worn down. An hour later, she'll face me. An hour after that, Ralla, and then Balorie, Ping, Vorine, and virtually every other of Malora's current allies. One of us will kill her, but Malora will still be dead."

"No," I said, catching a sob. "No. You're lying. You
'd have to challenge Parlomith, and she can put you off."

"No. You challenge the position, not the person. I have a challenge match with the queen of the Amazons in
three weeks, whomever that is."

I stared at her. "Malora is going to die?"

"If you don't go help her," Nori said, "Yes, in all likelihood. and I'm pretty ragged, too. I'll win only if Malora can do some significant damage. And if Parlomith kills me quickly, she'll probably kill five or six more challengers before Loren or Mar get her."

"My sister will be dead, Maya!" Omie said. "If that happens, my sister will die." She turned to Nori. "You didn't explain until it was too late! I should be there. I didn't challenge her."

"You're staying with Beria," Nori said. "Malora gave me permission to free you both from Amazon service. You're staying with your companion, Omie."

"It won't help if I go back," I yelled to Nori. "We deserted. I know what that means."

"No, you didn't," Nori said. "I read the note Malora left for you. It said to go home after three days. You went home. Sometimes you still call this home. Sure, most of the time you mean Queen's Town, and that's what Malora meant, but it's not what she said. You went home to see your parents. That's all. You didn't desert."

I studied both of them. My heart had been breaking for a week.

"Omie, is Nori lying?"

"No," she said. "Well, I didn't see the note, but when Malora sent us after you, she told Nori over and over no one can know, and I said Beria didn't desert, she's not a deserter, and Malora said neither of you were, that you just went to visit your parents, and we were to help make sure you got back home okay. Maya, I love Beria, and I'm your friend. I wouldn't take her back for another whipping, and I wouldn't do that to you, either. And you know Nori wouldn't, either."

I didn't know what to do.

"Maya, there were twenty-four demons."

I stared at her.

"How many dead?"

I gave her a summary of the battle, finishing with, "No one from Queen's Town was seriously hurt. My new voice is especially... persistent."

I turned to my sister, who was watching me. "Beria?"

"Maya," she said to me, "I love Omie. I want to be with her. And I'm a good Amazon. We can't let Malora die. We have to go back. I'm well enough to go back."

"Your back isn't healed."

"Momma gave me more ointment, and it's healing. There's almost no infection, and as long as I'm careful, it doesn't hurt too badly."

"It's all my fault you got whipped, Beria!"

"No, it's not. It's that woman's, and we're going to go back and see Malora give her justice. You know that's what we're going to do, so please, I really want to hold my warrior now."

And the look in my little sister's eyes made my decision for me.

I looked at Nori and Omie. Omie's expression was full of hurt and need for my sister, and Nori full of fear.

"Maya," Nori said, "Malora told me to promise whatever I had to promise, and she'd stand by it. What do you want?"

"Parlomith dies."

"No question," Nori said.

"No more villages where the companions are treated poorly."

"I don't know if I can promise that, but I vow to do my best, and Malora will too."

"What about the companions who helped her?" I asked.

"You know they had little choice, Maya. Please don't ask me for something beyond what I can give."

"They helped her, Nori. They held me pinned to the ground while they tied my sister to the whipping post. They held me down while Parlomith made me count the strokes. Not a single one spoke in our defense. Not a single one warned us." I paused. "One was cautiously kind afterwards. But the rest helped her."

"Maya," Nori said, "I understand your anger, but what do you want me to do? Do you want me to promise to whip them for following their village chief's orders, as odious as those orders were?"

I stared at her. "So you don't offer full justice for my sister."

"Please, Maya," Beria said quietly. "I want to go to Omie. She needs me."

I looked at Beria as she pleaded with her eyes. I looked over at Omie, who looked miserable. I thought Nori was sure she had won.

"The entire village is guilty," I said quietly.

"No," Nori said. "Parlomith is guilty, and she isn't just going to get whipped, she is going to die. Isn't that enough?"

"I'm not helping recruit any more companions if they go to warriors who won't treat them well," I said.

"Agreed," Nori said immediately.

"When those companions become warriors, I'm not helping them, either."

"I understand."

"Green Arrow is getting no luxury goods until Beria and I both forgive them. That may be never. They should be happy if I send them more than old fish."

Nori nodded.

"Parlomith dies!" I spat.

"She dies," Nori agreed.

I studied her. "Nori, if you lied about any of this, you better tell me now."

"No lies," Nori said. "I have never lied to you, Maya."

I watched her for another minute.

"Please, Maya," Beria said quietly. "Nori isn't the enemy. We can torment Malora for leaving us there once I'm healed and Parlomith is dead. I'll help."

I couldn't help but smile at her for that.
I nodded then backed our boat slowly towards theirs until we bumped gently against the side of the other boat. Nori and Omie waited quietly.

"Tie their boat to ours," I told
Beria. "Take the bucket with you and help Nori to this boat."

"Thank you, Maya," she said. She paused. "You did the right thing bringing me home, and now we're going to do the right thing and go back. It was good to see everyone, and I really needed you and Momma."

I nodded.

My parents didn't want to let Beria leave, and they didn't want to allow Nori and Omie into the house to even discuss it. Beria finally settled it quite simply. "I'm going," she said. "If not today, then the first opportunity I get. I'm safer if I travel with Nori, Maya and Omie, but I'll go alone if I have to."

We traveled hard. It was rough on Beria, but she told us, "Don't slow down. We have to get back." Omie tended to her carefully, but the first night she saw Beria's back, she made a dozen vows of how she was going to repay
Parlomith. She made Nori look, and Nori just nodded once.

"Use more ointment," she said, "and keep it covered with a clean undershirt."

"This is not how we treat our companions!" Omie said.

Nori
had the clothes we'd left behind, and we changed back into Amazon attire the second day, and then we rode, rode, rode, switching off between the horses to give them a break. Nori was grim, but not once did she blame me for anything.

After dinner on the second night, Beria said, "Nori, you said Malora gave you her authority."

"Yes."

"Then I want permission to kiss my warrior like a woman kisses a woman. I turn sixteen in another six weeks, and I'll wait for more until then, but I want the kisses."

"Then it's between you and Omie," Nori said. "There are no Amazon laws that prevent you from kissing."

"No," said Omie, "but in Amazon eyes, she is not a woman, and I will not have it said I took
advantage of her."

"Then I declare Beria a woman," Nori said.

"We're waiting until you're sixteen!" Omie said forcefully.

But Beria took her warrior by the hand and led her to the tent, and I knew whatever happened, it would be Beria's choice.

I waited until they were gone and then said quietly to Nori, "The age difference?"

"Is a third of the difference between you and your warrior,
Maya. Another reason I wanted you for her and not that little girl I was almost foolish enough to present to her."

"There is a term for women who pursue significantly younger women," I said.

"Oh?" Nori replied. "What is that?"

"Dirty old woman," I said.

Nori snorted.

"Nori," I said. "I'm scared."

"I am too."

"Can't we just kill her? Ambush her?"

"We would be outlaws," Nori said. "We need to trust Malora."

"How bad is this going to be?"

"If Malora wins and isn't badly hurt, then it won't be bad at all. Any support Parlomith had will evaporate."

"If Parlomith wins?"

"Then it will be very, very ugly," Nori said. "She will attempt a purge. She will come to Queen's Town with whatever followers she has, but Malora will also have invited her allies. There's going to be a huge tent city. It's going to be very tense. Malora is going to try to send you to safety before the fight."

"I won't go."

"She'll order you. She'll order someone to take you."

"Who? Not you. You have a fight that afternoon."

"I don't know."

"Well, I'll have to think about that," I said.
"I won't put up with it, Nori." I paused. "This is a temporary truce, you know. Malora will kill that woman, and then she'll heal, and then she and I are having it out."

"I know."

* * * *

By riding hard and long, and
switching horses often, we arrived in Queen's Town sixteen days after Beria's whipping. Her wounds were largely healed, but she was still in discomfort, and I could tell she was ready to sleep for several days.

I had to admit, I was, too, but I had a job to do.

It was early afternoon when we pulled into the village. No one was in sight.

"Training grounds," Nori said. "Go. We've got the horses."

I hopped down from the horse, throwing her the reins, and sprinted to the grounds. When I got there, Malora's back was to me. She was holding two swords facing off against Ralla with a single sword. Malora didn't see me, but Ralla did, and she stepped back.

I drew closer. Malora still hadn't noticed me, which was odd, so I said in a firm voice. "Queen Malora!"

Malora stiffened then slowly turned. I couldn't hear her, but she mouthed "Maya."

I stepped closer, and she stared at me.

"You will answer my questions. Right now!" I said firmly.

"Yes, Maya," she said, her voice cracking.

"Did you accept a challenge match from that bitch?"

"Yes, I did."

I stepped closer, and with each question asked and answered, closer still.

"
Are you going to kill her?"

"Yes."

"Where have I been for the last two weeks?"

"I sent you home, but that was before I knew about the challenge. Nori and Omie caught up to you?"

"Not until Gallen's Cove," I said. "Last question. Why aren't you kissing me?"

She closed the last two steps to me, pulling me into her arms and squeezing me for all I was worth. A moment later, her lips found mine, and when I parted, her tongue invaded my mouth.

It was a far more intimate kiss than we normally exchanged in public, but I moaned into the kiss and clutched at her, giving her every ounce of need I had.

She finally released me, and then the other Amazons were clustered around me. I realized we had the entire village here. There should have been four warriors on patrol.

"Why is everyone here?"

"The villages around us are supporting our patrols until this is over," Malora explained. "The nearest chiefs have thrown their full support behind me."

"How many challenge matches have you accepted?"

"At last count, seventy-one."

I stared at her.

"P
arlomith is not very popular," Malora said.

"She has to catch wind of that."

"I don't think so, but when she challenged me, I didn't give her the choice of withdrawing. She either shows up, or she is disgraced and outlawed."

I nodded.

"Beria?" Malora asked.

"She'll want to see you, so I'm sure they're coming as soon as the horses are settled." I pulled her closer and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for," she said. "It's my fault. I once told you that being a companion becomes a burden. And I told you that you had your work cut out for you. Sometimes you need a break from all of it."

"I love you."

She kissed me again, and then we separated.

"All right. What do I do?"

"You just be here," she said. "Just be here, Maya."

* * * *

We retired early to our hut that night. Maya hadn't taken her hands off me in hours, and the attention was intoxicating, but I was terrified for her at the same time.

She took me into her arms and kissed me, and then we stood, holding each other.

"The purple is gone," she said.

"Most. I think there's a little left."

"I didn't see any when we went swimming."

"You may need to look closer."

She chuckled. "It's a little dark in here for that."

I pushed away from her.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Was Loren trying to hurt me?"

"Oh honey, no. It was a prank that maybe went too far, but it wasn't meant to hurt."

I turned to her. "Beria says people expect things from me they wouldn't expect from anyone else."

"Beria is wise."

"They expect more from you than anyone else, too. And I realize, so do I. I expect you to protect me, even when you're not there. That's not fair."

"Sometimes I ask too much, too."

"No, I don't think so," I said. "But I make mistakes, and I don't always understand. I think I need more warning sometimes, that's all."

She nodded. "I'm going to need you a lot for the next two weeks, and why are you way over there?"

"Because if we get any closer together, we'll be too busy for this conversation."

She laughed.

"I don't like it when you don't let me go with you. I am never safer than when I am with you."

She stepped closer.

"I can take care of myself, Malora."

"I know you can."

"You need to trust me."

She stepped closer. "I trust you."

"No more sending me away."

She didn't say anything.

"Promise
me." I ordered.

She didn't answer
but stood two feet away looking at me.

"Malora, promise," I repeated.

Still she didn't say anything. We stared at each other for a good half-minute before I turned my back on her. "I see. I'll get you through the challenge, and then we'll see."

She stepped up and put her hands on my shoulders. I didn't shrug her off, but I was angry again. "Maya," she said softly, "I don't know what the future will bring. How can I promise something so open-ended when the future is uncertain?"

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"I want you to consider something. Between us, you get your way most of the time."

"You get yours when it counts."

"No, when I get mine, it makes you angry and so you remember.
"

She let me think about that before she continued.

"Relationships have compromise. The balance of power and responsibility between us is uneven, and that's not something we are going to change. But we are both stubborn, Maya. I compromise when I can. Can't you compromise on this?"

I turned around. "You always want me to compromise or give in on the big things and you give in on the little ones."

She raised an eyebrow. "Who makes the orders when we go on our recruiting missions?"

"But you agree with me!"

"Maya, I would have enforced a quota at each village. It would be about twice as many as you're getting. We'd be at full strength of companions."

I didn't have a response to that.

"In the long run, your way may be better. We'll see. If the villages begin sending recruits without us needing to visit them each time, then this will work out. But in the short run, doing it your way is hurting some of our warriors. I'd say that's a pretty big compromise."

I studied her face. There were lines around her eyes, and her brow was furrowed, but she looked at me kindly.

"I have made staffing decisions for the Amazons based on keeping your friends here. It causes me difficulties, but I do it for you."

"I never asked you to."

"I know you didn't."

"Who would you have sent away otherwise?"

"Omie and Vorine."

"Beria-"

"And if not them, I should have sent Clara, Lidi or Gaylie somewhere, perhaps all three, but I wanted to keep their companions here for you, Bea especially. When she becomes a warrior, I will probably quietly ask Clara if she'll move so Bea can remain here. She's the only woman here you seem to enjoy sparring with, and that's too important to give up. Normally when a companion becomes a warrior, she moves. It can be too difficult to remain around your her old warrior, especially if the pair have become lovers. The daily reminder is too difficult."

I looked down. She had taken the wind from my sails, but I wasn't quite ready to back down, either.

But Malora reached for me and cupped my chin, lifting my face so I was looking at her again.

"I don't make a big deal of it, and maybe that's a mistake. You're so observant, I thought you knew."

"I guess I did," I admitted, "but I wasn't giving you enough credit for it."

"I'm not telling you because I want extra credit, teacher," she said, smiling softly, and I couldn't help but smile back. "But I ask you to do something that I know is difficult for you, I don't do it casually. Maya, I need you to compromise on this. Please."

I stepped into her arms. "I want you," I said. "Do you want me?"

I didn't have to ask twice.
She captured my mouth, and then she was pushing me towards the bed, leaving the argument behind us. I broke away from her, laughing. "Don't you think this would be better with fewer clothes?"

"Maybe I wanted to wrestle you to the bed and then pin you while I slowly undress you."

"Oh?" I said. "All right. Should I struggle?"

"Oh yes," she said. "Struggle."

She grabbed me.

"Stop!" I said, squirming halfheartedly. "Stop!"

She chuckled, pushing me onto the bed. I crabbed backwards, but she grabbed me by the hips, holding me to the bed while she climbed on top of me.

I squirmed, and I squirmed more while she removed my clothes.