Amazon Challenge (26 page)

We had taken Nori and traded Bea for Jasmine. My team pulled me to the surface and clustered around me while I caught my breath.

I looked, and I didn't see either Beria or Ralla.

"Where's Ralla?"

I had my answer when I felt hands on my legs. I disappeared under water, pulled by my legs, and when I looked, Ralla had one leg and Beria the other. They both had a solid grip, and I knew I wasn't going to break it. I struggled anyway, but I had already been out of breath when they pulled me under, and I hadn't gotten a good breath.

But then Malora and Nori were there with me. I reached for them, and they each clasped a wrist, but they used it not to pull me away, which wouldn't have worked, but to clamber down my body. Malora went for Ralla and Nori for Beria.

They better free me quickly, though. My lungs were burning.

Both my attackers clamped even tighter on my legs, with Ralla applying a submission hold to my ankle at the same time. It hurt! If Malora didn't release me fast, I was going to tap out.

I struggled and kicked, but I was tired and grew feeble. Then I felt Beria release me. I looked, and I couldn't see her, and Nori was helping Malora, the two struggling with Ralla.

I bent over, ready to tap out, my lungs burning, but then I felt Ralla begin to release my foot. More arms wrapped around me, and I felt myself pulled away.

They got me to the surface, and I lay limply there as they dragged me away. I didn't even care if it was my team or Beria's anymore. I didn't even look around to see who they were. I had my answer soon enough.

"She's done in," I heard my sister say. "Don't dunk her again. Tap out, Maya."

I didn't even bother. I hung there limply, not struggling, but I recognized my sister when she slid up behind me and wrapped an arm around me.

"I've got you," she said. "I won?"

I nodded weakly.

"Good," she said into my ear. "I could get used to winning."

Malora, Nori and Ralla finally surfaced. Malora took in the situation and said, "Good game, Beria."

"Yes. Good game," I agreed. "Fun?"

"Oh yeah," said Beria. "Again?"

I laughed weakly. "You can't be serious. I think I'll sink if you let go." I laid my head back against her shoulder and let her support me. I hadn't needed help swimming in nearly twenty years.

Beria laughed, and it was the sweetest sound I could have heard. She was going to be okay.

For training that afternoon, I quietly admitted to Nori I was too exhausted to drive anyone.

"Omie and Vorine will handle the run
," she said. "But I understand there's to be a wrestling tournament for the companions."

"Yes." And I knew my friends would want me to wrestle. They liked beating me. "We won't need help for that."

"You need to wrestle, too, Maya."

"I know. I will."

She narrowed her eyes. "I need you to wrestle as hard as you can. I know you're tired. What incentive do you need?"

"Why does it matter?"

"The swimming today was good, but it was play. I think it was play we needed, but now we need to get serious, and you need to lead the way."

I sighed. "Our only goal for the next two weeks is preparing Malora for her challenge. Now is not the right time to pressure more out of me than I can give. Come talk to me in three weeks."

"When the companion's tournament is over, Maya, you will tell Malora and me you gave it your best. If you cannot do so, then the day after the challenge match, we are dying you purple and keeping you that way for the next three months."

By waiting until after the challenge, she was avoiding my sullen behavior leading up to the challenge. I sighed.

"No, if I can't tell you I did my best, I'll take whatever punishment you and Malora devise, and you'll do it tonight, but it better be something that amuses everyone else."

"You won't pout and get angry?"

"No."

"You won't like what we do."

"I know."

She studied my face.

"I'm going to lose. I have no strength in my arms. If I last thirty seconds against Bea, I'll be surprised. And we both know it."

"You will do your best. That's all I need from you."

"Nori, do I still make a habit of performing below my ability?"

"No," she replied, "but I worried today you would make a token showing, and I need more from you than that."

Omie and Vorine made us run, Vorine running alongside me, and I could tell she was watching me carefully. Omie ran with Beria, who looked good. Vorine quietly urged me to run faster, and I thought Omie was setting the pace based on my speed, not pulling more than a half dozen paces in front of me. I gave it all I had, and it wasn't much, but everyone was breathing hard when Omie pulled us to a walk, then a rest.

"Winner gets a bout with the warrior of her choice," Omie said. "I wish I could wrestle with all of you."

I asked Serra to run the match, but she declined. "Let Bea and Jasmine do it," she suggested.

"Do we want to watch all the other matches?" Bea asked. "If we do, then we probably don't have time for everyone to wrestle everyone. If we each judge ourselves, then we can do a lot more wrestling."

"We can do two at a time," Aura suggested.

"All right," agreed Bea. "Aura, your first match over here," she said, pointing to one side. "Jasmine to judge. Pick an opponent."

"Careen," she said immediately.

"Beria, who is your first opponent?"

"My sister, of course," Beria said with a grin.

It was a very one-sided match. I was normally stronger than Beria, but not that afternoon. She had a difficult time pinning me, and I struggled as hard as I could, but it wasn't long before Bea was spanking the ground; Beria pinned me.

"Wow," said Beria. "You really are tired."

I won my match with Gweneth but lost the rest, some of them faster than others. My last match was with
Bea, and I could barely lift my arms. She pinned me easily.

I lay there numbly after that, wondering what Nori had planned. Bea finally helped me to sit up then sat next to me. "Guess we tired you out earlier."

"Yeah. I tried, Bea. I don't have anything left."

"I know."

But I didn't know what I was going to tell Nori when she asked.

In the end, Beria and Aura did well, but Bea was the overall winner. That wasn't surprising. Serra wasn't a good wrestler in spite of greater years of experience, and Bea was good.

We all owed her one day of lunch duty. We congratulated Bea then climbed to our feet and turned to the warriors.

I'd been sneaking peeks from time to time. Malora was fighting with two swords against a staff, trading sparring partners every few minutes. She was doing better than she had in the morning, but I wasn't satisfied. I didn't think she was, either.

The companions moved across the training grounds and sat down to watch the warriors. Nori saw us. "Anyone who has more in her is free to practice with us, but we won't have time to coach you today."

Aura immediately got up. She tried to pester me to duel with her, but I told her she had to be kidding. Bea offered instead, and they ran to collect a sword and staff. Beria looked after them then turned to Neela. "Please?" Neela agreed as well.

I lay down on my back and closed my eyes.

* * * *

I don't know how long I lay there before Malora woke me, Nori sitting on the other side. I blinked and looked around. Everyone else was gone.

"You didn't wake me to run?"

"We tried," Nori said. "We decided if you could sleep, you had put out enough today."

I struggled to sit up, and Malora helped. I leaned against her for a moment then turned to Nori. "You're going to have to punish me," I told her. "I tried. I really did. I can barely lift my arms, Nori."

"Could you have fought harder?"

I shook my head.

"That's all I wanted." She paused. "I think you should do something to earn a punishment though. I really want to see you purple again."

I smiled. "Good luck with that plan."

She grinned at me.

"Everyone's bathing again," Malora said. I glanced at her, and her hair was matted to her head, and I could see she was tired. They were working her hard.

"How are you doing?"

"We're working it out," she said. "It might be unnecessary, but we're training all the combinations I can expect."

I nodded and slowly climbed to my feet. My warrior needed to be bathed.

* * * *

I had some of my strength back by bedtime, although I knew I was going to be weak for a day or two. Malora pulled me to our hut then said, "There's something I wanted to talk about." As she was plucking at my clothes, I had a pretty good idea what that was.

"Talk, huh?" I asked.
"This doesn't feel like talking." I reached for her, intending to help her out of her clothing, too, but she pushed me away. "It does seem a little one-sided though."

She had the laces of my tunic released, but I was still otherwise fully dressed.

"It's about to get even more one-sided," Malora said, grinning. "I have plans for your body."

I reached for her again, but she captured my hands.

"I'll give you a choice," she said.

"Oh." I tried to free my hands, but she
held them firmly.

"Yes. You can submit willingly, or you can struggle."

"I was hoping for soft and sweet," I replied.

"So you'll submit and then I can be soft and sweet." She grinned at me.

I struggled to free my hands.

"Or you can struggle," she said. "That will be fun, too." She began pushing me backwards towards the bed.

"Wait," I said.

"Hmm?"

"Take my tunic off first."

I relaxed, and she released my hands, lifting my tunic over my head and setting it aside. I didn't struggle as she captured my hands again, wrapping them around behind my back and clasping them there. She kissed me like that then began pushing me backwards towards the bed. I offered token resistance until we reached the bed.

"What are you going to do to me?" I asked her breathlessly.

"You asked me last night whether I enjoyed dominating my companion."

"Oh, is that what this is?"

"Uh huh."

"Did you really want me to surrender?"

"Did you want to ask me to stop?"

"No, but can I hold you for a minute first?"

She released my hands, and I wrapped them around her, pressing myself against her and laying my head against her shoulder. She rested her chin on the back of my neck, wrapping her arms around me to pull me more tightly against her.

"I love you," she whispered. "Always remember that."

"I will," I said. "Can we talk for a minute?"

"Of course."

I leaned away. "Nori threatened to punish me if I didn't wrestle hard today."

"I know."

"Is there something I need to know? Does everyone need the same laugh that the people in Two Bends needed?"

"No, although I think they needed the games today. But we're going to step it up even more the next few days. I'm going to need you."

"I know. Did you need a massage tonight?"

"No. I need to play tonight. I know you're tired."

"Never too tired," I replied. "And we can play all you want. I like playing with you."

"You're going to lose this game."

"You know I don't mind. I feel badly when I can't give you a challenge."

"You challenge me a great deal, Maya," she said. "Right now, for instance, I am wondering how I'm going to get you tied up if you struggle."

"Oh no!" I said, immediately pushing away from her, but she caught me easily, throwing me onto the bed, and before I could scramble away, she was on top of me. She wrestled me onto the bed, face down into the pillows, and pulled my arms behind my back.

I was giggling the whole time.

I tried kicking at her, but she pinned me with her weight, and my struggles were ineffective. I turned my head so I could breathe and talk to her.

"Brut!" I said. But I giggled.

"I need you to tell me this is okay," she said.

"The giggles weren't a clue? Don't ask again. You can do whatever you want to me. I trust you. But that doesn't mean I won't struggle."

"I'd have it no other way," she said.

She moved my hands to the small of my back. I renewed squirming, but I wasn't much challenge for her. She clasped both my wrists together with one hand. I didn't see where she got it, but she began wrapping rope around my wrists.

"No!" I screeched, still giggling, and I renewed my struggles. I made it hard for her, but slowly she secured my wrists, tightening the knot carefully. She used a second rope above my elbows. It wasn't comfortable, but I could handle it for a while. Then she lay on top of me, both of us panting.

At least I had made her work for it, even if the results were foregone.

"You'll pay for this," I told her. "I'll get you. Remember, you're a lot older than I am, and you'll be an old lady some day, old, slow and weak, and then I'll get you."

She laughed. "Is that the best threat you can come up with?"

I laughed with her. "Pretty much."

Still holding me pinned to the bed, she turned around, sitting on my ass, and captured my kicking feet. She peeled one boot off, then the other.

"Are your feet ticklish, Maya?"

"You know they are."

"I'll give you a choice. You can cooperate while I remove your leggings, or I can tickle your feet."

"Never!"

She began tickling, and in the three years we'd been together, she had learned very well how to tickle me. My squirms and shrieks only caused her to laugh, and she didn't let up. I grew weak with my struggles and eventually lay there limply. She tickled me for a little longer then slowly released my feet. When she shifted off of me, I didn't resist, and she removed my leggings.

Then she began to stroke my body, and after a few minutes, I began to squirm again.

* * * *

She wore me out completely before she released me. I lay in her arms, spent, while she continued to stroke me.

"Did you enjoy that?" she asked.

"Yes."

"I did too."

"What about you?" I asked.

"This is what I need," she said. "I want to hold you and go to sleep with you in my arms."

We lay quietly for a while before she said, "Maya, I really enjoyed that. Did you mind?"

"I wouldn't want that every night," I said. "My arms were already sore."

"Is that the only reason? Because your arms are sore?"

"Well, I want to touch you, too."

"If I find other ways to tie your arms, will you let me?"

I craned my neck, reaching for her head to pull her lips to mine. We kissed briefly, and I said, "Whenever you want, Malora. I might not feel the same way if it's every night."

She caressed my face. "Not every night, but often, at least for a while. I need this right now."