Amazon Chief (18 page)

My name didn't accompany Omie's every time. It looked like I was signed up for patrol about every third time that Omie went. And then I realized I only went the times that either Balorie or Nori was the patrol leader, and then still not every time.

This is what we trained for, but I knew I wasn't ready to fight a demon, not even close to ready. In a daze, I moved back into the dining area and sat down next to Omie.

"I'm not ready," I said quietly.

"Not to fight," Omie said. "And if there are any engagements, you will not be in them. But you sit a horse well enough, and you're steady. We know you'll follow orders. Those are the three criteria.
Beria, you will follow orders from anyone who gives you one: me, Balorie, or any of the other warriors."

"Yes, Omie," I said. I was nervous, but excited at the same time.

Going on patrol was the entire reasons the Amazons existed. And I was going in two days.

* * * *

My first patrol was uneventful. I was nervous the entire time, and I had a million questions. Omie or the other warriors patiently answered each and every one. I slept poorly and was very tense, and all I wanted to do when we got home was collapse. I didn't know how Balorie did it trip after trip.

But this was what we trained for.

I didn't know it at the time, but I wouldn't see my first demon for nearly two years.

* * * *

Three weeks after my first patrol, Maya stood up at bonfire. She looked chagrined. "I have an announcement," she said. "I'm very sorry. I was able to acquire enough new materials to build two new huts, barely. However, there was a fire in Tall Pines, and one hut was entirely destroyed and another severely damaged. And at Three Rocks, a tree came down during a storm, crashing through one of the huts. Luckily, the usual occupants were on patrol, and no one was hurt. However, I have had to send the materials to Tall Pines and Three Rocks so they can rebuild. There will be no new huts at Queen's Town this year. I am very sorry."

Malora stood up. "Do their chiefs know what to do?"

Maya stood back up. "They didn't. They knew how to perform basic repairs, but no one at either village knew how to build from the ground up. I wrote to Chester at Howard's Den. They sent two small teams, one to each village. I believe each team is a father and eldest son. The Amazons owe a debt of gratitude to Howard's Den." She looked around. "Again, I am sorry."

"Maya," Malora said gently, "No one believes you set the fire or called up the storm. The Amazons make due."

Both Ree and Benala, Vorine and Omie's former warriors, were present. They stood up. "Queen Malora," said Ree.

"Ree?" Queen Malora said. "Benala?"

"Queen Malora," said Benala. "We do not blame Maya for this situation, but we would have preferred a solution to the housing situation. Ree and I are a little too alike to continue to share a hut."

"What she means," said Ree, "Is that I am a slob, and without a companion of my own, I leave our hut a mess. And Benala should not need to serve as my companion, cleaning up my messes."

Then Ree looked first at Vorine and Omie, then Maya and me. "Sisters should not be separated. Maya, of course, must remain here. And thus, it would be wrong for Beria to go elsewhere."

"And if Beria remains here," said Benala, "Of course, Omie does. And where Omie goes, there is Vorine. Or perhaps the other way around. And this is how it should be."

"Normally, when a companion becomes a warrior, it is the companion that finds a new village," said Ree. "There are villages that require more warriors, and Queen's Town is overfull. Queen Malora, you may send me to another village, but I would ask to have input in where I am sent."

"And I as well," said Benala. "I like it here. I came here when I became a warrior, and it is the only village I have known since. I will miss all of you."

Malora enveloped both of them in a hug then said, "We will all miss you. I will miss you. You have both lived in Queen's Town longer than I have, and I have depended on both of you. But now I know I have two more allies in other portions of our forest, and you will both make the Amazons stronger."

I thought I was the only one who noticed when Maya slipped away, but then
Malora thanked the women again and asked if someone would like to tell a story. She slipped away as well, presumably in search of my sister.

Knowing my sister, she was blaming herself.

Two days later, Omie and I moved into a hut of our own, and I learned a new duty.

Decorating.

Maya helped.

* * * *

Time passed. I trained. I learned to shoot the bow. I learned to move quietly through the woods, and I learned to hunt. I learned to make my own clothes, but I wasn't as good as either Bea or Maya, and so when it was time for me to make clothes, I traded duties with them, and they helped me make my clothes and Omie's.

Winter came, and my
bearskin became a welcome addition to the top of our bed.

And then spring arrived. It was wet and muddy. But then the trees began to bud, and the birds that had fled the cold weather returned. Flowers grew, and one day Maya came to me following the afternoon practice.

"Do you have duties?"

"No," I said.

"Walk with me, then," she said. She led the way to the storage room, handing me a basket used when we gathered fruits and herbs from the forest, collecting another of her own. She already had her staff over her back, and she took me to my hut and told me to gather mine as well.

"Where are we going?"

"Just for a walk to a meadow I know," she said.

So I retrieved my staff and slung it across my back, and then, arm in arm, Maya led us into the forest. We walked perhaps twenty minutes before we arrived at a beautiful meadow. The sun was shining, and the meadow was vibrant with spring flowers.

"It's beautiful," I told her.

"Winter is difficult," Maya said. "It is all brown and grey. Even our clothes seem to lose their color. Last year, Malora complained about it, and you know she never complains. When I told the other companions that, Bea took me here. We gathered flowers, lots and lots of flowers. She helped me weave some into my hair, and we used the rest to adorn our huts. From Malora's reaction, I could tell she was pleased. Perhaps your warrior would also enjoy some cheerful flowers."

Maya showed me how to collect the flowers, taking them here and there so the next person who came couldn't even tell we had been here. Then she had me sit, and she unbraided my hair. I hadn't seen, but she had brought a brush. She brushed out my hair for me, then she braided it again, weaving flowers throughout my hair. I was positively festooned with flowers when she was done.

"I wish I had a mirror."

She smiled.

"Your turn," I told her.
And so we traded places. I don't know if I did as good a job with her hair as she had done with mine, but when I was done, she looked gay and colorful.

"Thank you, Beria," she said. "Sit now. I want to talk to you."

I sat across from her, and I wondered if this was the real reason why she had brought me here.

"Companion recruitment is next week," she said. "It lasts a week, out on the plains."

"A week?" I said. "Last year, it was a lot longer than a week."

"Ah. No, this is for the girls who come to us," Maya explained. "The nearest villages send to us and do not require us to go to them. Unfortunately, it is the more distant villages that have forgotten us."

I looked down. "Like Gallen's Cove."

"Yes," she said, "Like Gallen's Cove. Although they have been tithing, and generously at that."

"I recognized the salted fish this winter," I replied.

"Yes. And other things. And I have received a letter they are sending us one girl. There are only three girls turning fourteen this year, and so sending us one is generous, especially after we took three two years ago and three again last year. We ask for one in five, and so they probably will send no girls next year."

"Who is it?"

"Masie Tightweave," I replied.

"Oh," I said. I didn't otherwise comment.

"Yes, I know.
But Juna tells me the girl is keen to join us. You know her father died in that terrible storm three winters ago, and I think it's been difficult for her mother. I think Masie could be a good Amazon, but it will take the right warrior."

"Maya, I don't like her."

"I know you don't. She'll go to another village. Beria, there are forty-seven Amazon villages. The only reason Gallen's Cove is so heavily represented here is because of me. This is the only village that took so many of our warriors last year, and they came because I wanted to show off my home. And I think we got more than our share last year because I was there, and people know and trust me. Jasmine and Careen were both students of mine, after all."

I nodded understanding. "You're good at recruiting."

She shrugged.

"I'm going to be gone for two weeks," she said. "Getting ready out on the plains. Then we come back for a few days. Malora
and I have a patrol. And then we'll be gone again, for almost a month. We're going south this year. I don't think we'll have the same success we had last year, but we'll come back with as many companions as the villages will give us."

"Oh," I said in a small voice. "I suppose Omie isn't going this year."

"No. Malora and me, and Nori, if she doesn't get a companion from the plains girls next week."

"You're going to be gone for a long time," I said.

"Yes," I said. "But you'll have Omie, and the other companions. Will you be all right?"

"Sure, Maya," I said.
"Who makes the duty roster while you're gone?"

"I already did it, but if there need to be adjustments, Serra is the senior companion while I am gone."

I cocked my head. "I thought it went to the companion of the most senior warrior. That isn't Ping, is it?"

"It would be Ralla. Jasmine is a sweet girl, but she has never given an order to anyone in her life, and frankly, even you could run roughshod over her."

I smiled. "Serra runs the kitchen with a firm hand."

"Yes. You understand?"

I nodded.

"Good. I need you to do something for me while I'm gone. I want you to help Serra as much as you can. You'll be going on patrol a few times, so you won't always be here, but when you are, please don't make Serra do everything."

"Like what?"

"The equipment shed."

I smiled. She had complained about how the equipment shed was kept while she was home, recruiting me.

"The pools. Firewood. Everyone should be doing her job, but every time I'm gone, things around here slide a little bit. You know my standards, honey."

Did I ever. "I don't promise to keep everything to your standards, but I promise to help Serra," I said. "Are you asking me to do everything?"

"No. I'm asking you to cajole everyone else and to lead by example."

"I'm the youngest companion here."

"Yes. And if you need help, talk to Bea. She'll cheerfully help, but she doesn't see things the way I do. She wouldn't notice if a gale swept through the village. Honey, you can't burden the warriors with this. The companions handle these things. You shouldn't even tell Omie you're doing it. Just handle it."

"I understand, Maya." I looked around. "So taking me here was an excuse?"

"No. There were two purposes for coming here. We could have talked anywhere, but we can only pick these flowers here. Did you have any questions?"

"Yes," I said. "Will you bring me a present?"

She laughed. "I'll try, but I don't have any money, and I'm out of rabbit skins to trade.
"

"You can trade rabbit skins?"

"Yes." She sighed. "Not enough hours in a week."

"If I send my skins with you, can you trade them for me?"

"What do you want?"

"I don't know. Anything."

"Do you want me to trade them if I find something I think you might want, or should I trade them for money, understanding I might not find anything you need, and I might come back with coins for you?"

I thought about it. "Don't come back with the skins. So whatever you think is best."

"All right. I'll make sure everyone knows they can all send their skins with me."

"No!" I said. "You won't get as good a price if you bring too many skins."

She laughed. "We'll pass through a dozen villages. I can sell skins at every one. Anything else?"

I looked away for a moment.

"Tell me."

I paused. "What's it like?"

"What is what like?"

"You know. Being with Malora."

"Ohhh," she said. When I looked at her, she was blushing.

"Is it nice?"

"Very nice," she said. "Honey, you're only fourteen."

"I'm not talking about me," I said. "I want to know what it's like for you. I mean. She's not a man."