Amazon Challenge (21 page)

"Malora too, and Maya feels responsible for every companion she's talked into joining us."

"And I took her sister," Omie said. She took a deep breath. "I bet they go to one of the villages."

"Probably," I agreed.

W
e followed the trail as best we could.

Late that day, we lost the trail. We spent an hour looking for it, but we had firmly lost it.

"We can check the villages," Omie said. "If they haven't been to any of them, we should take the fastest route to Gallen's Cove."

"Yep," I agreed. We headed for the first of the villages, riding into the village just at dusk.

Amongst the plains villages, Amazons are popular. We were warmly greeted and offered a place to stay for the night. Instead, we asked them about Maya and Beria.

Fornacht was the village elder. "No," he said. "We've had no
visitors except a caravan."

"Fornacht," I said. "Do you know who I am?" He shook his head. "Do you know who Queen Malora is?"

"Of course. Everyone knows Queen Malora."

"Well, one of the Amazons is Queen Malora's companion, and the other is
Omie's companion, the queen's companion's sister. They are heading home to see their parents, but Malora has an urgent message for both of them."

"They haven't been here," he said. "I wish we could help. You know we always help the Amazons when we can."

"The queen's companion may have looked a little unusual," Omie said. "And my companion was hurt. We want to help them."

He shrugged, and I believed they weren't hiding anything.

"How close is the next village north?" I asked.

"Two hours or so, I reckon," he replied. "You can't miss it." But then he judged the sun. "Moonless night though. Maybe you can miss it
in the dark."

Omie
swore, but we accepted a place to sleep. Some of the villagers were willing to be displaced, but we happily took a spot in one of the barns. They fed us handsomely and replenished our supplies.

Omie
paced for an hour before finally climbing into her bed.

"The sooner you sleep," I told her, "
The sooner we start in the morning."

"We should split up," she said. "You check out the villages; I'll head straight to Gallen's Cove."

"No. Frankly, if we run into trouble, I want your sword by my side, and if we catch up to them, I want you there to talk to Beria. And you need me to make promises to Maya. She's barely going to trust my word; she won't believe Malora gave you that much authority."

"And she isn't going to believe you, either, without me."

"So we stick together."

We slept fitfully, and
Omie woke me well before daylight. She already had the horses saddled, and she was only waiting for me to roll up my bedroll. The eastern sky was just barely lightening by the time we were moving.

It was two villages later when we found them. Well, found their trail.

"That's Beria's horse!" Omie said.

"I know," I replied. "Keep your voice down. If they're still here, we don't want to spook them." We approached the stables. All their horses were in the paddock, although they looked a little done in. Outside the door, I whispered to
Omie, "Wait out here and keep a look out. Whistle if you see them run."

She nodded, and I slipped into the stable door. No one was there, and I checked carefully. I collected
Omie.

"Nothing," I said.

We went in search of someone. Everyone was already working the fields, but we found an old granny hanging up laundry. She stopped and stared at us as we approached.

"Well, I'll be," she said. "Two groups of Amazons in three days. Are you looking for your friends?"

"Yes, we are," Omie said. "Have you seen them?"

"They
stayed a day and left two days ago. You'll want to talk to Mardina."

"Where will we find Mardina?" I asked.

She pointed to one of the houses. "She's half deaf, so you'll need to speak up."

Omie and I exchanged looks and headed to the house. "Think they're still here?"

"No," I said. "But we can find out how they were doing."

We approached the house and knocked firmly at the door. Not receiving an answer, I opened the door and called out, "Mardina! Mardina! Are you here?"

"You don't have to yell," said a woman's voice. "Of course I'm here. This is my house, isn't it? Where else would I be?"

I thought that was a perfectly good question.

"May we come in?" I replied.

A moment later, a gnarled hand appeared, clutching the edge of the door. The owner pulled the door wider, and I stared down into the most wrinkled face I had ever see
n. The woman was tiny and stooped, but her eyes were bright, and she eyes us carefully.

"I bet you're looking for your friends," she said. "They're not here. Stayed a day. Left two days ago."

"How were they?" Omie asked.

"The one looked real sickly. Had some sort of skin condition, I think."

I nearly cracked a smile.

"The other seemed tired and spent most of the day sleeping. Talked in her sleep."

"Did you see which way they went?"

"Nope."

"That's my companion's horse in the paddock," Omie said.

"The one, the sickly one, she
said Queen Malora would be by."

"Queen Malora sent us," I said.

The woman eyed me. "I've got something, but I'm supposed to give it to Queen Malora."

"I'll get it to her," I said.

"Are you going to pay for the two horses and the clothes they bought?"

"They didn't trade the horses they had?" I asked.

"If you were really sent by Queen Malora, shouldn't you know about that?" Mardina said. "They asked us to keep the horses and said Queen Malora would be picking them up. They left some of their things -- it's all in the stables. They bought new clothes and two new horses, and they left the note."

"May I see the note?" I asked.

"Are you Queen Malora?"

I sighed. "No, I am Nori, Queen Malora's most trusted advisor."

She squinted her eyes at me. "It's easy to say you're the trusted advisor, but doesn't every advisor say that?"

"She really is," Omie said. "I'm not. But
one of them is my companion."

"Which one?"

"Probably the one that slept. She wasn't feeling well."

"Well," Mardina said, "I can't imagine three sets of Amazons coming through, so if you're going to pay for the horses and the clothes, I should give you the note, too." She stepped aside, inviting us in,
then we followed along behind her as she hobbled further into her house. It was a simple, one-room house, and she stepped towards the kitchen area, reaching to a shelf and pulling down a folded piece of paper. She hobbled back to me and held it out.

"I didn't read it," she said. "My eyes aren't what they used to be."

I took the note and opened it.

"Malo
ra. You aren't welcome in Gallen's Cove. We will tithe, but you are getting no more recruits. If you come to take any, you'll take them over my dead body. M." She was even angrier than I had predicted.

I folded it. "What do we owe you for the horses and clothes?"

She named a figure, and miraculously I actually had enough coin with me to pay for it, barely. I'd be selling some of the pack animals before the trip was over. I paid her, and she led the way across the street to the stables.

She pointed out the horses we were allowed to take. Omie caught them, and we recognized all of them. Then she showed us where the rest of Maya's things were. There was tack for the horses and a bag with their Amazon clothing. I stared at the contents for a minute then handed it to Omie and told her to ready the horses.

"Are you sure you don't know where they went next?" I asked the old woman.

"I didn't say that. I said I didn't see them leave. They went with the caravan. It was heading to Parson's Gate."

Five minutes later, Omie and I were mounted and heading north to Parson's Gate. We got ten minutes out of town when I pulled us to a stop. "This is foolish," I said. "They're going to Gallen's Cove. They've got no money and almost nothing else, and Beria is hurt. They're going home. We can beat them there and wait for them."

Omie looked at me, nodded, and we turned west.

It took us three more days, riding hard, to make it to Gallen's Cove. We were sure we would have gotten there ahead of Maya and Beria.

"Let's go straight to their parents," Omie said. "We can wait there."

"If they see the horses, it will spook them."

"Okay, let's go there. If they aren't there yet, leave me and take everything south to Klindara. It's not that far, and I can send for you."

I thought about it. "I'll bring all the mounts there but trade one of the pack animals for something else and buy some different clothes. Then I can watch the roads into town."

She nodded, and we headed to Maya's parents. I'd only been there once, but Omie knew the way, and we dismounted in front of the house. We stepped to the door, paused, and then knocked politely.

Renee, Maya's mother, opened the door, and I knew instantly they were already here.
Her face flashed anger at us, then she schooled her features, but it was a struggle.

"Hello, Renee," Omie said brightly. "How have you been?"

Renee took a moment to answer. "Omie," she said, her voice forced. "And you must be Nori. I remember you. What are you doing so far from home?"

"Renee," I said, "You already know. I saw it in your face. They're already here. We're not here to cause trouble. We desperately need to speak to your daughters. I cannot impress upon you how desperately."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, the false smile gone from her face. "You should perhaps go back home and leave the good people of Gallen's Cove alone."

"I love Beria," Omie said. "Renee, I love your daughter."

"She is too young for you to say words like that," Renee said. "Go away." She began to close the door." I pushed forward, blocking the door.

"Renee," I said, "We just need to talk to them. I swear."

"I'm not sure your promises mean very much in this house," she said to me coldly. "I remember how you took my daughter away the first time." She looked at Omie. "And you should be ashamed of yourself. How could you let that happen to my daughter?" She screamed the last words.

"I wasn't there. Renee, I wasn't there to stop it. I'll never leave her again. We'll stay here, if that's what she wants. I'll never leave her unprotected again."

"Renee," I said, "Are they here?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Renee, Maya is going to want to hear what I have to say. There were twenty-four demons. Seeing as many as three together is uncommon. There were twenty-four. Don't you think Maya wants to know if Malora is alive?"

Renee stared at me. "You can tell me, and I'll tell her."

"A conversation," I said. "That's all I want. One conversation. Ten minutes. We came alone, just the two of us. We need to talk to them, urgently."

"Leave. Tell your queen to stay away from Gallen's Cove. Get out of my house."

"Renee," Omie said, "Beria is owed justice for what was done to her."

Renee narrowed her eyes. "I'm listening."

"One conversation with Maya," I offered, "and I will do everything in my power to see to it the woman who whipped your daughter pays dearly."

"And the other women who helped?" she asked.

"They're only companions. They aren't responsible."

"Get out. My daught
ers are only companions. Only? Get out!"

"I didn't mean it like that," I said. "Maya would know I didn't mean it like that. I meant that in that village, especially in that village, they had little choice. Please, is Maya here?"

"She's not in this house." Renee paused, then smiled. "You want to get a message to them?"

"Yes, very much so."

"Search the house. They aren't here. Then leave. And I'll consider giving them your message."

"Omie, go look," I said.

"No," Omie replied. "Renee said they aren't here. I believe her."

Good girl, I thought.

"You're right, of course," I said. "Renee, a conversation. That's all I ask, but it has to be soon. Malora's life is at stake."

"So she is alive! Not that anyone here cares."

"Just tell that to Maya. A conversation, and then she is free to make her own choices."

"I want to see my companion," Omie said. "We need to see them both."

"I'll think about it. Get out of town. One of the farms east of town will let you set up camp. Someone will find you."

"Renee, soon. It has to be soon. Today."

"It will be when Maya decides, and no sooner. For all I know, you have a spy watching me, and I am not leading you straight to them."

"Come on, Omie," I said. "Renee, I know Maya loves Malora. She is going to want to talk to me."

"It will be her decision," was all Renee would promise.

* * * *

Omie and I set up camp in a fallow field. "I think this is the same field as two years ago," I said.

"No," she replied. "It was on the other side of the road."

"Oh, I guess you're right."

We didn't hear anything that night or the next day. But very early the following day, two voices spoke out from the edge of our camp. "Nori and Omie, if you want to see our sisters, you will come with us."

I never scrambled out of a tent so fast, and Omie was even faster. There were two young men waiting for us. They had come on a single horse, and one of them was holding it.

"Hello, Dannick," Omie said. "Chandor."

"Omie," said one of the boys. "Leave all your weapons and saddle one horse. No knives, no swords."

We both dropped our swords and knives back in the tent. I hoped they would still be there when we got back. Omie saddled my horse, and then we were both up and following the boys.

It was still dark, and as we drew closer to the harbor, we rode into a deep, deep fog.

"Where are you leading us?" I asked.

"You'll see," one of the boys said. "No questions."

They led us down to the water, a rocky beach. They climbed from the horse, and we stepped down next to them. I looked around, but I couldn't see more than twenty paces in the thick fog.

"Come with us," the oldest of the two boys said. I guessed his age to be about twenty-one, a few years younger than Maya. The two led us down the beach a short distance, and ahead in the fog I saw another figure standing next to a small boat. At first I thought it was Maya, but then it turned out to be another young man. The two brought us to the third, and then they turned.

"You're going to do exactly what we say."

"Of course, Dannick," Omie said. Dannick appeared to be the oldest.

"If you try anything, we'll kill you," Dannick added. "You two can probably kill us here on dry land, but we're going out onto the water, and Maya tells us neither of you swim that well."

"We're just here to talk, and then your sisters can decide what they want to do."

"Maya can decide what she's going to do, but Beria isn't of age, and our parents will decide."

Omie made a sound of distress, but I put a hand on her shoulder. "It will be okay," I whispered. "Trust me."

She half turned to me. "I need her, Nori."

"I know."

"Get in," Dannick said, gesturing to one of the small boats. "Middle seat. Chandor, stay here with the horses."

"Get in," I told Omie quietly. She climbed into the boat and I followed her. We took the middle seat, and a moment later, Dannick and the third brother were pushing the boat into the water. They gave it a good heave, and we floated away from shore. They hadn't gotten in.

"Hey!" I said.

"Relax," Dannick called out. I watched as they moved to a second boat, shoved it into the water, then climbed aboard. They sat down on the middle seat, facing backwards, and each grabbed a large oar, setting into place in the oarlocks on the sides of the boat. I looked around our boat, but I didn't see any oars, or anything else, for that matter. Our boat was completely empty except for Omie and me.

The two boys rowed backwards for a moment,
until their boat was even with ours, then they turned away from us and began rowing away. After another moment though, our boat began to turn, following theirs, and I realized the front of our boat was tied via a rope to the back of theirs.

Once we were following them, they turned away from shore and began to pull harder on the oars, working in tandem. They towed us out away from shore, and pretty soon all we could see in the fog was our own boat, their boat, and the water immediately around us.

"Keep track which direction is land," I whispered to Omie.

"Directly behind us," she said.

"No," I said, "a little left."

"Are you sure?" she said.

And then I saw the other boat turn to the right, turning us. Then they did what seemed like a full circle, then a second, and I had absolutely no idea which direction it was to shore.

"We're in trouble," I whispered.

"We can pull in the rope and jump aboard their boat."

"If we do, they'll untie the rope and be gone before we can gain a foot. I bet they have a quick-release knot on their end."

"The sun will come out eventually," Omie said.

"Sure," I said. "This is just a prank. Lord knows
, Maya owes us a few."

"Owes you, perhaps," Omie said. "I'm not the one who hauled her away from home with her arms tied behind her. She says she forgave you, but are you sure?"

"Maybe you can appeal to their kindness and let you go back to shore with them," I suggested.

"And then throw them overboard and come back for you? I'm pretty sure they know that trick."

I sighed.

They towed us for about twenty minutes, never saying a word. Then one of the boys leaned forward and released our rope from their boat, and a second later, they were rowing away.

"Hey!" I called out.

"Maya will be along soon," Dannick said. "If she doesn't change her mind."

"Don't worry," the other brother added, "it's a slow leak. You shouldn't need to bail for at least another half hour."

"If it doesn't rain," Dannick added.

I looked over my shoulder at the back of the boat, and there was already about two inches of water in it.

"Oh hell," I said. "She wouldn't."

"She may not even be party to this," Omie said. "This could be Renee getting rid of us."

"How will she find us in this soup?" I hollered out.

"Look in the water!" came the reply. "You'll figure it out."

Omie and I immediately turned to the task of searching the water, rocking the boat in the process.

"Oh no," I said. "We're going to tip over!"

"Settle down and keep your weight in the middle," Omie replied.

"I've never been in a boat in my life!" I said. "And I bet you haven't, either."

"Beria loves me," Omie said. "I know she does."

"She may not know. Maya may be protecting her from us."

"Maya wouldn't do this. I don't care how mad she is, she wouldn't kill us."

"Do you have any idea where shore is?"

"Not a clue," she said.

It was absolutely still, not even a ripple on the water, and no way to tell which direction was which.

But we looked in the water, and to the left was a small float, presumably anchored in place. Omie pointed to it.

"Apparently we're not in some random location out in the bay," I said. "But how did they find it?"

"I have no idea," Omie said. "
If Maya finds us out here, she'll demonstrate another skill of hers we didn't even know existed."

"I took her from everything she knew," I said glumly.

"Until a few weeks ago, I think she has been glad you did, more or less," Omie said. "She loves Malora, and Beria said she never had friends. She has friends with us." Omie paused. "She won't abandon us here."

We sat there for another ten minutes, and the water in the back was noticeably higher. We still hadn't come to a solution to our situation, but then I heard the sound of oars striking the water. I couldn't tell where it was coming from, but after another minute, a boat appeared in the gloom.

"Maya?"

The boat came a little closer then it turned sideways to us, and I saw Maya rowing the boat by herself, Beria in the back of the boat, huddled under a dark shawl.

"Beria!" Omie called out. "Beria! Are you okay?"

Beria didn't answer but looked at us sadly.

"Well," said Maya. "Aren't you in a sticky situation? Feet wet yet?"

"Is this your revenge?" I asked.

"No," she said. "Just being cautious. Any funny games, and we leave you. The boat will sink before the sun burns the fog off. Behave yourself, and we'll toss you a bucket to bail with and one oar. We'll be long gone before you reach shore. What do you want?"