Amazon Challenge (29 page)

"No!" I said into the gag.

She turned to me. "If you return, you will be welcomed again. This is insurance, honey. With any luck, we'll burn those papers tomorrow, and no one will need to know. But in case you're caught, that's insurance."

I nodded understanding.

Malora turned back to Omie. "I cannot order you, but I want you to keep her tied and gagged until you are well away. If you ungag her, she's going to start begging to turn around, and you know she can talk any of us into anything she wants."

Omie nodded. "I understand, Queen Malora."

"No. I am now Malora to you. Omie, please keep yourself, Beria and Maya safe. I am counting on you. Now give me a hug."

She hugged Omie and then Beria. Then she returned to me. She and Nori helped me to my feet. Nori turned me to her.

"It has to be this way," Nori said. "Thank you for earlier. I'll see you soon." And she pulled me into a crushing hug. "I love you, Maya. Be smart. If we don't come for you, don't fight with Omie. Everyone knows where to find you when this is over, and it will be over."

She kissed my cheek then pulled away, pressing me into Malora's arms.

Malora kissed me again. I stood there numbly, wanting to kiss her back. She held me for a long time, stroking me, and I thought every comforting thought I could.

"I love you," I said into the gag. "You better come for me."

"I love you, too," she said.

It was Nori who carried me, Malora talking quietly as we traveled not to the stables, but into the woods behind the village. Vorine was waiting with horses.

Beria climbed onto one of the horses, and then everyone worked to get me on top of the horse in front of her. This was familiar. Beria held me, and I struggled to find a position I could maintain.

Omie collected the reins of her horse, but she didn't climb on top.

I looked around and found Malora. She was watching me.

"Please forgive me, Maya," she said. I nodded and told her again, "I love you."

The words came out muffled, but she knew what I meant. She stepped forward and reached up to caress me once more.

"Get going," she said. "Be very quiet, Omie."

"I'll keep
them safe, Malora."

And she began to lead us through the dark forest.

I was livid at all of them. They had all known. I'd been saying goodbye, and Omie and Beria had known. They were going to feel my tongue.

Omie led us quietly for an hour until we intercepted the river that passed alongside our village. She stopped there then stepped back to check on us.

"This is far enough," she said.

Beria reached up and removed my gag. "Oops," she said. "She was supposed to wear that until tomorrow. I guess it fell out." She pulled the cloth from my mouth.

"Let me go!" I said. "I have to go back!"

"Hush," Beria said, covering my mouth. "Speak very, very quietly."

I nodded.

"She didn't give you a choice," Beria said. "And she ordered us to remain silent. But we're no longer Amazons, so we don't have to follow her orders."

I stared at her.

"We're giving you a choice," Omie said. "But you are going to listen to us first."

"She wants you safe," Beria said. "I told you before, you are both the same. She protects, you heal, but you almost always think of others first. But you are both very, very stubborn at the same time, and neither of you respond well to being forced against your will."

I opened my mouth to speak, but she silenced me again.

"Maya, we don't know the right thing to do, but we know this isn't the right thing, taking you like this. So you are going to listen, and then you will decide."

"I am taking Beria to safety," Omie said. "Everyone agrees that is best. Neither of us can do any good in Queen's Town tomorrow. Maya, you are very, very good at silencing the voices, but it won't last until tomorrow. And that is the only reason we removed your gag. Do you understand?"

I nodded.
"Yes, but if you took me away like this, and she dies tomorrow, you know I'd never forgive any of you." I turned to look at Beria. "Especially you. You knew and didn't tell me."

"We can fight about that if you want," Beria said, "or we can discuss what we're going to do now."

"You need to do whatever is best for Malora right now," Omie added. "Do you hear me? You have to do what is best for Malora. You have to do what is best for her to win tomorrow."

"Will she fight better if you calm her voices?" Beria asked. "Or if she knows
you're safe."

"You can't do both," Omie said.

"If Malora loses," Beria said, "Parlomith will kill you. Everyone agrees. She may want to torment you for a long time, but as soon as she realizes she has challenges pending, she'll kill you before the next fight." Beria hugged me. "I want you to come with us. I do not want to go home to Mom and Dad and tell them you're probably dead. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Nori knows we're giving you this choice," Omie said. "She wants you safe, too. She promises Parlomith will die tomorrow. But she agrees it should be your choice whether you are safe with us or standing with your warrior."

"Malora will be very angry," Beria said. "We didn't know she was going to release us as Amazons, but I don't know if that will protect us. She'll probably have to punish the three of us."

"Maya, if she does, it will be bad. Beria will get another whipping. We all will."

"Can you forgive her if she has to whip us?" Beria asked. "Because we're going back, even if it's to a whipping."

"We're going to let you down from the horse," Omie said. "And untie you. Then either you can climb on top of one of the horses and head west with us, or you can follow the river on foot and head east."

Beria began lowering me into Omie's arms. She set me on my feet, steadying me, and Beria climbed down. It took her several minutes to untie Malora's knots,
then they both stood in front of me.

"Do you know what you're going to do?"

"Is there any question?" I asked. "I stand beside my warrior. I will always stand beside my warrior. I'll take any punishment, but she won't touch either of you."

"We have your Amazon clothes," Beria said. "I sneaked into your hut and swiped some earlier.
"

"Good," I said.

I stripped out of the clothes Malora had put me in, pulling on my proper Amazon clothes instead. Then I saw Omie holding the long coat Ralla had once given me.

"It might be a little warm," she said, "but you'll make a better entrance. And it will be cool tonight."

I slipped it on, but didn't button the front.

"There's a light moon," Omie said. "You'll be able to see. It's upstream."

I nodded.

She shoved a wine skin into my hands, and I slipped it over a shoulder. Another small pouch held a snack. And then Omie turned away, returning with my staff. I hadn't even seen it.

"I'm sorry. You'll have to carry it. I couldn't get your sling for it."

"That's fine," I said. "Thank you."

"Nori says the river is safe from here, but there's someone watching downstream an hour. We were supposed to cross here and head north for a while before turning west again. That's what we're going to do now."

"Thank you, Omie, Beria." I pulled them into a group hug,
then pushed them away. "Take care of each other. I love you both."

"We'll see you tomorrow," Beria said. "Or
if Nori is delayed retrieving us because you're all partying too hard, in a few weeks."

I nodded. "Be careful."

"You two."

I turned my back, moved to the stream, and began working my way upstream, not looking back.

* * * *

As I drew closer to the village, I was unsure what to do. I didn't want to arrive in a fashion that Malora could interfere. That meant she couldn't see me until it was too late to send me away again, and that meant no one else could see me, either, less she feel obligated to report me to her.

I made myself a cold camp, hiding under a dense pine tree I knew of. It was warm and dry, and I made a little nest. I sat for a long time, worrying, but eventually I slept.

I woke throughout the night, and was awake for good shortly after first light. I ate some of my food, had more of the water, and waited, planning what I was going to do.

I decided I needed to move. Once Parlomith arrived, I didn't want to travel too far to arrive at the training grounds, but I wanted to remain near the water. I crept from my hiding place, peering out carefully first and listening to the forest animals. I felt safe, so I worked my way carefully towards the river, a short distance downstream from the village. There was a place you could cross without getting wet. I stayed inside the trees and watched for a long time, then I moved out, crossed the open area quickly, and disappeared into the trees, kneeling down and listening carefully. I waited fifteen minutes, but no one bothered me.

I moved my way slowly towards the training grounds, traveling short distances then settling down to listen. Twice I thought I heard someone else out in the woods, but I never saw anyone, and no one accosted me.

I made it to the edge of the training grounds. There were already people about, so again I hunkered down inside the trees, next to a large oak, my green coat blending well in the forest. I pulled it up over my head to hide me better, and then I waited.

It seemed
like a long time, and the number of people on the practice grounds grew. I didn't see Malora or Nori.

I waited.

The sun was out, but it was difficult to see where it was from underneath the trees. I tried to judge the time based on the shadows, but I couldn't have done so with any accuracy at all.

Parlomith
arrived. I didn't hear when she arrived at the village, but she and a contingent of about twenty Amazons strode along the path from the village to the training grounds. Even from the distance and looking through the trees, she looked arrogant and sure of herself. I glared at her with hatred.

From that point on, there were two clear camps. None of the waiting Amazons made any move to speak with
Parlomith or her allies. Parlomith stood around, talking with her allies. I memorized the faces of the women I would add to my short list to hate.

There was a commotion near the village, and then most of the village appeared along with Malora's closest allies, the ones who weren't already on the field. They crossed the field and joined into a large group, separate from
Parlomith. I didn't see Malora, Nori, Ralla or Loren, but I saw their companions.

There was another delay, and from the look of it,
Parlomith was unhappy about it. she stomped over to the other group and accosted them. I couldn't hear the exact words, but it was clear she was wondering where Malora was.

She didn't have that much longer to wait. Malora, flanked by Nori, Ralla and Loren, strode onto the field. She ignored
Parlomith but instead stopped by to talk briefly with her friends.

I watched
Parlomith, ignored, glaring at her. Malora looked cool as ice, but her lips were grim, and even from this distance, I knew the voices were after her.

I'd waited long enough. I glanced around to be sure I was still alone, then I slipped out onto the field, dropping my coat back into place around my shoulders. I knew it would billow out dramatically
as I walked.

I understood the importance of a good entrance.

I strode forward with purpose. No one noticed me at first, and then Amazons began turning in my direction. Nori glanced over, saw me, and frowned, then spoke a few words to Malora.

Malora turned to fac
e me, and I saw her mouth two words, "Maya. No."

I walked straight to her. No one spoke. "You didn't think I'd be late, did you?"

"Maya-"

I stepped closer, handing my staff to someone, I didn't see who but
discovered later it was Ping. I moved straight into Malora, pulling her mouth down for a kiss. I gave it every ounce of passion I had. Then I pulled her into a hug, whispering, "You can punish me later. Even if it is very severe, I will forgive you. But you can take your release from the Amazons and, well, you can imagine what I think you can do with it."

"Omie and Beria?"

"I escaped," I said.

She scoffed. "Escaped. They're going to suffer your punishment alongside you."

"You forget. They aren't Amazons right now. We can discuss that later. We have more pressing business. Kiss me and let me quiet the voices."

She crushed me to her, kissing me again, and I stroke
d her, soothing her soul and warming her heart. Then I pushed away and shrugged out of the coat. Someone took it from me, and then I pressed myself against Malora again, offering her more of me to touch.

I could feel the tension leave her.

"Take what you need, my queen," I said. "The voices are afraid of me, and they will not plague you today."

"You are very naughty, Maya," she said.

But she calmed.

I was actually surprised how long it was before
Parlomith found her voice. "This is very touching, but we have a fight. The Amazons require a new queen."

I kissed Malora then turned to
Parlomith. "Well, it won't be you," I said.

She scowled at me, and I knew she wanted to hit the fight out of me.

I stepped away from Malora. "Well," I said, raising my voice loudly enough for people to here. "I am Maya, Queen's Companion, and today we have a momentous fight for the leadership of the Amazons."

"We know that, you idiot,"
Parlomith said.

"What we may not all know is what this fight is about," I said. "This is not just about who leads the Amazons, it is about the very heart of what it means to be an Amazon."

I turned around, looking at everyone listening.

"Amazons fight the demons!" I said. "That is what makes us warriors."

"What would you know about being a warrior?" Parlomith asked. "You're nothing but a clown. A laughingstock."

Malora stiffened, but I walked past her, setting an arm on her hand. This first part was a battle of words, and she knew I was better equipped for that battle than she was.

"What would I know?" I asked. "I am the Amazon who gave the true death to a demon queen with nothing more than my naked body and a single hunting knife." I turned around, looking at all of them. "No one else here can say that. None of you have given the true death to the demons, and none of you have defeated one of their constructs armed with so little. I carried that demon's voice in my head for months, fighting with it, until finally I lured it here to die. None of you can say the same thing. I'd say I know what being an Amazon warrior means."

Everyone knew the story, and there had been too many witnesses to question it.  But I turned in a circle. "Of course, if you doubt me, we can retrieve the head. We can retrieve the claws. You will all recognize the demon for what it is. Where is the head of the demon you killed in this way,
Parlomith? Where are the claws?"

She glared at me, and I thought I saw a tick in her eye. Good.