Recruits (Keeper of the Water Book 2) (27 page)

I’m standing on the edge of the spring filled with bright blue water, the Keeper standing beside me. She has always been kind and friendly toward me – has said some surprisingly nice words to me – but I’m still nervous whenever I spend time with her one-on-one. She says nothing so I remain quiet as well, both of us gazing into the sparkling blue. When I stare straight down from so close, I can understand how the Keeper could spend hours just watching its beauty.

The Keeper eventually crouches down so I do, too.

“It is said that this water contains the first drop of water that ever existed in our world,” the Keeper says, her voice dreamy and distant. It sounds like she could be talking to herself – or maybe even the water – rather than me. Still, I remain silent and wait for her to continue. “This water is more pure than anything else in the world and connects every part of life.”

I nod my head, saying nothing.

“You do not speak unless you have something to say,” the Keeper says with a smile. “There is something refreshing about that, trustworthy.”

“Thank you, My Keeper,” I say.

I glance up long enough to see several sets of eyes watching me from within the darkness of nearby trees. It’s not unusual for the protective gazes of Amazons to be turned toward the water and Keeper but these are not simple glances of safety. Many of these glares are filled with vitriol; the Queen Clan is
not
pleased to see the Keeper taking such an interest in me. But I don’t sense Cassie out there watching, which makes me even
more
concerned.

“Ignore the others,” the Keeper says, finally looking away from the water to see that I’m distracted. “The job of Keeper requires strict concentration on the water. The Amazons are there to protect us, whether or not they care about us personally. Not everyone liked me when I was given this duty but they
did
follow through with protecting me, just as every woman here would do today.”

I had no idea why she requested my presence with her today but what she insinuates is surprising to me.

“I thought Cassie was going to be the next Keeper,” I say bluntly.

The Keeper frowns. “I know there has been some friction within the group but don’t you think that calling her by that nickname would only make things worse?”

“You’re right, Keeper,” I agree. “I’ve been calling her that for so long that I almost forgot it’s not her real name.”

“She has served me and the water longer than any current Amazon and for many years I assumed she would be my successor,” the Keeper admits. “But that choice is still years from being made. And I’ve already noticed many qualities that
you
have which a Keeper must possess.”

“Even though I was never royalty? And don’t have the leadership experience of Cassie or the other queens?” I ask, not realizing I’ve used the wrong name again until I see the Keeper frown. “Sorry, you know who I mean.”

“Her decisive decision-making is a result of leading an entire nation – certainly a quality that makes her an admirable candidate,” the Keeper says. “As you know, I was actually a
pharaoh
a great many moons ago. Throughout history, the majority of powerful women in the world
have
been some sort of royalty. But the world has changed drastically since the time before I became an Amazon. Women are being afforded more opportunities in many societies. That is becoming clearer with each new recruit brought into our ranks and we have you to thank for that. Our tribe is catching up with this change, as evidenced by our diverse backgrounds and social classes. It is truly amazing for me to witness.

“Like many of the queens currently Amazons, I used to think that being powerful in the past was the best indication of who would make a good Keeper. But my opinion has changed during my years holding this position. I might have the final say on many issues but my ability to make those decisions has nothing to do with the years I spent ruling Egypt. I’ve learned to connect with Mother Earth – to feel the water’s connection with every living being – but I sense that such a deep appreciation for nature has been ingrained in you for a long time. I’m not sure that is something I could teach
any
of our current queens.

“I think this is a big reason for the current division amongst our numbers, mainly between your recruits and
Cassie’s
queens. She is threatened by you, and has been ever since Anne first told us your story and sought permission to offer you a place in our tribe. After you turned down her initial offer, the queens lobbied hard to deny you a second chance. But I was so intrigued by stories of your life that I would’ve given you
ten
chances to join if needed. I’m sure they thought I was crazy and I don’t blame them. But being Keeper changes you – feeling such an ever-present connection with the water and the earth and life in general has made me
totally
different than what I used to be like. Can you believe that I was once very pushy?”

The Keeper looks at me and smiles, a gesture I return in kind. She is so meek and mild and apparently disconnected from negativity that it’s hard for me to imagine her as anything but a kindly old woman watching over her water.

“No, My Keeper, I can’t imagine that.”

She nods. “It’s true. I was human and had many flaws, reluctant to trust others and resistant to consider ideas other than my own. I’m afraid that once I give up my role as Keeper, my close bond with the earth will be severed and my old flaws will return…”

For a moment she looks sad, troubled even. I can’t picture her ever returning to that previous version of herself but I don’t pretend to understand the ways of the water as she does. Eventually her gaze falls upon the bright blue again and serenity passes across her face.

“My reign as Keeper will end in less than a hundred years,” the old woman continues. “In that remaining time, I will give you as much training as I give Isabella.”

“Then you
don’t
want her to have the job?” I ask, trying to interpret her mixed messages.

“Not without properly earning it, without proving to me that she understands that which is truly most important about leading the Amazons and keeping the water,” the Keeper says. “She has been here a long time, has outlasted many other strong women who have left for easier lives. And I’ve never questioned her bravery or cunning, which were both evident from the first day she strolled into our camp. But after so much time has passed, I need to make sure she’s here for the right reasons, that she understands that protecting the water and keeping it hidden truly takes top priority. Plus, my hope is that training the two of you together will help forge a bond between you; if you can learn to be friends, maybe you can help unite the fractures within the tribe.”

The Keeper isn’t as oblivious as I assumed to what’s been happening in the tribe.

“I’m not sure that Cas… Isabella will like the idea. But I’m willing to give it a try,” I say.

“I had been an Amazon for several hundred years when a new recruit named Zenobia joined the tribe. She was also an Egyptian ruler so you’d think we would’ve bonded over a shared nationality; not the case. But our Keeper trained both of us at the same time for possible succession and we ultimately became very close while competing for the role. We pushed each other and became better Amazons because of it.”

“What happened when you were chosen instead of her?” I ask.

The Keeper frowns. “Zenobia left in protest, never to be heard from again.”

“Yeah, that sounds more like it,” I say.

“Hopefully the two of you will learn to appreciate one another so there’ll be no hard feelings from whoever isn’t chosen,” the Keeper says. “The future of the Amazons depends on the two of you getting along. I think it would be best if you find Isabella now and bring her back to me.”

I glance back to where I know the Queen Clan is watching but I still don’t sense Cassie among them. The Keeper has returned her dreamy gaze back to the water but she notices more than she lets on.

“She must be out on jungle patrol,” the Keeper adds.

It suddenly dawns on me how unusual Cassie’s absence is considering she’s rarely out of sight of the water. The Keeper remains staring into the bright blueness, our conversation over until I retrieve Cassie. I head toward the jungle, walking straight for the area where I felt the Queen Clan watching me. The women seem to materialize out of thin air, a few of them dropping out of trees while others step around areas of heavy vine cover. In less than a second, I’m surrounded.

The
clang
of two short swords stops me in my tracks. Catherine the Great stands in front of me, the Queen Clan’s leader in the absence of Cassie. Things haven’t gotten
so
bad with the queens that I expect violence to suddenly break out but I remain on guard just in case. Most of the queens would pose little threat to me if they
did
attack but I’m not so certain about Catherine.

“What do you want?” asks the queen with the twin swords.

“I’m looking for Cas… I mean Isabella,” I say, trying to sound respectful now that the Keeper wants me to bridge the gap with these women.

“For what purpose?” Catherine asks brusquely.

“The Keeper requested that I bring her to the water,” I say, hoping my veiled threat will spur Catherine into dropping the attitude. Unfortunately, it seems to have the exact
opposite
effect.

“The Keeper, huh? You and her have become…
friendly
,” Catherine says with disgust. “Why don’t you fill us in about what the two of you were discussing.”

Catherine rubs the sharp edges of her twin short swords against one another. I try not to become annoyed by her attempt at intimidation but it’s difficult to keep my composure.

“That’s none of your concern,” I say. “If the Keeper wanted you to know
anything
of significance, then I’m sure she would’ve summoned you. But obviously that hasn’t happened yet, nor do I
ever
expect that to happen.”

Catherine takes a threatening step toward me and I see the rest of the queens bracing for a fight. It takes all of my self-control not to reach for my bow.

“You’d be wise to remember that I have been an Amazon longer than you – we
all
have,” Catherine growls, the other queens nodding in agreement. “I gave you the water that saved you from fever. Some might say that you owe me your life, that it is mine to do with as I please.”

“My
mentor
gave me that water;
she
saved my life,” I snap back.

“And a lot of good it did her. Now she’s
dead
and if you’re not careful about stepping on the wrong toes around here, the same fate could befall you, too,” Catherine warns.

“That would lead to a lot more bloodshed,” says an unexpected voice.

Catherine raises her twin blades, ready to fight, while the other queens spin around. We were all so focused on my confrontation with Catherine that nobody noticed the approach of three other women. Harriet stands closest to Catherine and has her heavy club leaned casually against her shoulder. The two glare at each other, fire raging in each of their eyes. If there are two Amazons who despise each other more than Cassie and me, it’s Harriet and Catherine. Mary Bowser emerges on the other side of the queen and Amelia appears from behind. Florence is my only recruit not here though she rarely chooses to step into a fight; healing is more of her thing. The queens outnumber us three-to-one but I still prefer those odds with my recruits watching my back.

“
Now
could you tell me where I can find Isabella?
Please?
” I ask Catherine.

There are so many things I
want
to say but don’t for the sake of diplomacy. Catherine continues to sneer at me and I can’t stop myself from grinning.

“Am I supposed to be afraid of a bird-woman and a pair of escaped servants?” the former Russian empress asks.

“She’s on patrol, back that way,” says one of the other queens, who points toward the jungle. “She wants to be left alone to have time to think.”

I try to walk around the group but Catherine steps in my way.

“Isabella wants to be left alone,” she says.

“The Keeper’s needs come before
Cassie’s
,” Harriet says, slapping the club against the palm of her hand over and over. “Go ahead, Mentor. We’ll make sure there’s no problems here.”

I leave the two factions locked in a staredown and hope that neither side does anything rash. I head into the jungle and quickly pick up Cassie’s trail. She may have once been a powerful leader but she’s very easy to track. I run deeper into the jungle, well beyond the boundary of our territory and the places where we normally patrol. Her trail leads in the general area where the two explorers have taken up camp downriver from us. I worry that she’s decided to hurt them for some reason but that makes little sense since it’s been years since I rescued the men and they’ve made no trouble. Luckily, her tracks suddenly veer off in another direction.