Amazonia (6 page)

“Yes, but I really don’t
think that’s the best course of action.” Shale studied the leaning fir
tree with a careful eye. “It’s going to fall any moment now.”

“I know that, you idiot.
That’s why you need to go and wrap this rope around it, then we can pull
it the other way. It could dam the river otherwise.”

“Couldn’t we just wait and
see what happens?” Kale said. “Surely we can still pull it free if it dams
the river?”

“Then it would be weighted down
farther by the water,” Melaina told her icily.

“True, but at least no one
would be in danger of being crushed to death,” Kale said.

“That’s why I’m choosing
you.” Melaina prodded a finger into Shale’s chest. She then tilted her
head to Kale. “There’s a spare one in case things go wrong.”

Shale’s eyes narrowed. “You
really are a piece of work, Melaina.”

“I’m your leader and I’m
ordering you to do this. Are you refusing to carry it out?” Melaina
lowered her voice. “I win either way.”

Shale grabbed Kale’s arm to
hold her in place, lashing out wouldn’t help. Melaina was right, if she
did as Melaina wanted, her life was at risk, and if she didn’t, she would
be punished for not following her command.

Luckily, the decision was
taken away from her when the tree finally fell, and it crashed to the
earth, making the ground beneath their feet vibrate.

Shale and Kale smirked at
Melaina, infuriating her further.

Aris, who had been on the
other side of the tree, walked over to them. She took in Melaina’s annoyed
posture. “What’s going on?”

“They questioned my orders.
Things would’ve been a lot easier if they had followed my lead.” Melaina
pointed to the fallen tree. “It was just sheer luck that it didn’t block
our water supply.”

Aris gave first Kale, then
Shale, a sharp look. “I don’t know how your old tribe worked, but in this
one we don’t question our leader’s orders.”

“Even if they’re wrong?” Kale
said.

“Melaina didn’t get to this
position by being wrong,” Aris said. “She’s been my second in command for
many years, and has never given me reason to doubt her.”

She probably bullied her way
into it, Shale thought, and knew Kale was thinking the same thing from the
slight curling of her lips.

“Now I won’t accept you
undermining me, or my second. In a battle, it could get us all killed.”

“I didn’t mean any
disrespect,” Shale replied levelly. “And you’re right, warriors can’t
hesitate in battle, I’m not ignorant of that.”

“Could have fooled me,”
Melaina said. “Just because you can fight doesn’t mean you can lead. You
come into our village and try to tell us what to do. What makes you think
you have the right?”

“Actually, you’re wrong. We
can lead,” Kale said angrily.

Melaina stared dumbly at her.

“You led your old tribe?”
Aris looked back and forth between them.

Shale nodded. “We did.”

Melaina folded her arms over
her chest. “That doesn’t change anything.”

“I now understand your
reluctance. It’s difficult to follow orders when you’re used to making
them.” Aris paused. “But my second is right, it doesn’t change anything.
These are my warriors and I’m their leader. If you want to be a warrior
within this tribe, you must submit to me. You must follow my command.”
Another pause. “Is that understood?”

Kale glanced to Shale, a
wealth of communication passing silently between them.

“We will follow you,” Shale
answered for them both. Aris was speaking the truth. If they wanted to
stay here they would have to try and make this work. It would be the same
within any tribe.

“I’ll let it go this time,”
Aris said. “You’re new, and things are different here. But if there is a
next time, you’ll be punished. Have no doubt about that.”

“THEY WEREN’T FOLLOWING
orders, and that’s why Melaina’s so mad.”

“I was told they put the
whole group of warriors in danger.”

“The whole group?”

“Everyone. Our water supply
was nearly cut off, too, because they thought they were above orders.”

“They make me nervous. If
half of what I’ve heard is true, Zeus only knows what they’ll do next.”

“Ladies,” Blake said, sitting
down at the table with them. “And who are we talking about?” She knew
exactly who of course, but wanted to hear it from their own lips. Blake
detested gossip, rumours were difficult things to control, and were rarely
ever accurate.

“The twins,” one of the less
quiet Amazons spoke up.

“Shale and Kale,” Blake said.

“Yes.”

“What about them?”

The woman directly opposite
Blake replied this time, “Apparently, they’re not following orders.”

“And who told you this?”

“Melaina,” another informed
her.

That didn’t surprise Blake.
“And you don’t think Melaina could simply be sore about Shale beating her
in a fight? Warriors do have a lot of pride.”

The table went quiet and
Blake stood, intending to leave them to it. She had said what she’d needed
to make them think. Blake left the dining lodge and headed for the
training ground, intent on getting to the bottom of this. Shale and Kale
would never settle in if malicious rumours followed them everywhere.

“Aris,” Blake called to the
chief warrior, who came over instantly. “What’s this I hear about Shale
and Kale not following orders?”

Aris looked startled. “How do
you know about that?”

“Word of mouth. Now is it
true?”

“Yes, Blake, but they’ve both
been dealt with.”

Blake could tell something
wasn’t right. Shale wasn’t the type to defy orders, Kale maybe, but not
Shale, not without good reason. “What was the order?”

Aris frowned. “Does it
matter?”

Normally it wouldn’t have,
but Blake had a hunch. “In this case, yes. They both used to lead, Aris,
they wouldn’t question without good cause.”

Aris reflected on that, then
nodded. “I wasn’t there. It was Melaina’s order they defied.”

Blake sighed internally.
Things just kept getting more and more complicated.

“I’ll get her for you.”

Blake shook her head. “No,
it’s all right, Aris.” She looked to the twins, who were off to one side,
sparring with each other. “Why are they separate from the rest?”

“Warriors have a strong code
of honor, Blake. Following orders is part of that code. By defying
Melaina, they’ve dishonored that. They haven’t done themselves any favors
with the other warriors.”

Blake’s forehead creased in
thought. “Surely both of them would’ve known that? And still they didn’t
follow Melaina’s order.” Another shake of her head. “That doesn’t make
sense, Aris. They’re trying to fit in, not cause trouble.”

Aris raised a brow.

Blake smiled. “Though I grant
you, they’ve caused their fair share. Or at least Kale has.” She walked
forward. “I need to know what that order was.” Blake held up a hand to
stop Aris from following, knowing that she would likely find out more if
she were alone.

Shale and Kale were sparring
fiercely, and Blake was amazed when they stopped in perfect unison and
looked at her.

“Blake,” Shale greeted.

“Princess.”

“Shale. Kale.” Blake gestured
toward the rest of the warriors. “I see you’ve managed to alienate
yourselves quite nicely.”

Kale scoffed, either missing,
or ignoring Blake’s teasing tone. “We’ve already been scolded by Melaina
and Aris, we don’t need to hear it again.”

“Good, because I’m not here
for that,” Blake replied easily. “But I do want to know what happened.”

“Why?” Kale asked.

“She doesn’t need a reason,
Kale, she’s the princess.” Shale reminded her point blank of whom she was
talking to. Kale needed to give Blake the respect she deserved.

“Well it’s not like she can
do anything,” Kale mumbled.

“Do anything about what?”
Blake asked.

Kale stared stubbornly at the
ground.

“Shale?” Blake switched the
query to her when she realised Kale wasn’t going to answer.

“We just had a difference of
opinion.”

“So I gathered. You refused
to carry out Melaina’s order. That’s a serious offence.”

“I thought you said you
weren’t here to scold us?” Kale said.

Shale sighed. “Be quiet,
Kale.”

“You’d be wise to listen,
Kale,” Blake said firmly. She searched Shale’s face intently. “I know you
had to have a reason. I just want to understand.” Blake’s tone was softer
now, and directed solely at Shale. “Talk to me.” A request, not a demand.

Shale held her gaze for a
moment, then nodded. “Basically, a tree was going to fall, and Melaina
wanted me to attach a rope to it so we could make sure it didn’t dam the
river.”

Blake frowned. “What was so
wrong with that?”

“She wanted me to go
underneath the tree to do it.”

Her frown grew stronger, and
Blake asked the obvious question, “Couldn’t you have got to it any other
way?”

“Yes, but time was of the
essence, and Melaina wasn’t willing to give me any,” Shale said. “The tree
fell a few moments later. If I had followed her command...well, I wouldn’t
be talking to you now.”

“It was pointless anyway. The
tree didn’t block the river. And even if it had, we could’ve pulled it
free without risking anyone’s life,” Kale said.

“It was an unnecessary risk,”
Shale finished.

“But apparently acceptable as
there are two of us,” Kale added sarcastically. “I could easily take
Shale’s place.”

Blake wasn’t amused. “I don’t
find that funny, Kale.”

“Neither did I.”

Blake’s voice went up a pitch.
“Melaina said that?”

“She doesn’t like us,” Shale
said simply.

Kale broke into laughter.
“That’s putting it nicely.”

Blake turned, intending to go
and confront Melaina. Shale lightly gripped her wrist. “No, Blake, don’t
do anything.”

“Don’t do anything? I’m not
having her put your lives at risk because she doesn’t like you. You can’t
ask me to do that.”

“I’m not. I’m asking you to
trust me. No one will believe us over Melaina anyway, and I give you my
word that we’ll be careful.” Shale’s mouth quirked. “Though we might need
your help if we disobey another order.”

“If it’s anything like
today’s, you’ll have it.” Blake glanced at Kale. “Both of you.” Though
Kale didn’t smile, she did nod. It was a start.

“Except for how she’s
treating us, Melaina’s a brilliant second, I can see why Aris chose her,”
Shale said.

Blake was surprised by how
fair Shale was being. Under the circumstances, it was more than Melaina
deserved.

“I agree. Though that’ll make
it a lot harder for us,” Kale said. “She’s also careful not to treat us
unfairly around others. Melaina knows what she’s doing.”

“All this because you beat
her in a fight?” Blake asked in astonishment. “You warriors must have big
egos.”

Shale grinned. “We do. But in
this case, I think it’s more than that. I’m not sure what it is though.”
She faced Kale, her gaze accusing.

“Don’t look at me,” Kale
said. “You’re the one she threatened.”

“What? Melaina threatened
you?”

Shale tried to play it down.
“It was hardly a threat.”

Blake didn’t look pleased at
all. “When was this?”

Shale tugged on her ear.
“After I showed Anikett that move. Melaina didn’t like me interfering.”

Blake was indignant. “You
were only helping.” At Shale’s shrug, she said, “No, I don’t like this,
Shale, not one bit. I’m going to have a word with her.”

“No!” the twins exclaimed in
unison, startling Blake to a standstill.

“That’ll only make her
worse.”

“It comes down to one simple
question, Blake.” Shale regarded her seriously. “Do you trust me?”

Blake didn’t hesitate. “I
trust you.”

Shale smiled. “Then leave it
to us.”

SHALE KNOCKED ON the healer’s
door, not wanting to barge in just in case someone was being treated.

“Enter,” a musical voice
called from within.

Kale went in first, never one
to hang around. Shale followed, her gaze landing on a waif of a woman with
pale blonde hair, whose skinny arms looked like they would snap like a
twig.

She glanced up from the
assortment of jars that she’d been examining, and smiled pleasantly at
them. “You must be the twins I’ve heard so much about.”

Shale had to resist the urge
to roll her eyes. Amazons sure knew how to gossip. There was no one else
in the lodge, so she assumed this was the healer. “Appollonia?”

“That’s me.” She studied
first Shale, then Kale. “My, you’re much more attractive than I’ve been
led to believe.”

Kale sniggered. “I bet we had
horns in some of those stories you heard.”

“And tails, too,” Appollonia
said humorously. She pointed to a couple of spare chairs behind them,
along the wall. “Please, sit down.”

Kale took the chair closest
to the door, and Shale sat beside her, glancing around the room. There
were three beds in the lodge, all pressed against the one wall. There was
plenty of space to maneuver between them though, and a chair was beside
each bed. At the far end, two shelves stretched across the width of the
room. The top shelf was cluttered with an assortment of jars and bottles,
no doubt filled with medicinal remedies, and the bottom was stocked with
rags and bandages, cutting implements, and other tools of the trade. A
table and chair were positioned in front of the shelves, and the table was
littered with scrolls and parchment.

“Please forgive the mess,”
Appollonia said. “You caught me in the middle of cleaning.” She dipped her
hands into a bowl of water, and then dried them on a cloth. “Would you
like something to drink? I’ve got some lovely herbal tea.”

“No, thank you,” Shale
replied, as Kale shook her head.