Amazon Chief (22 page)

My heart was in shreds.

I had been in and out of awareness during our initial flight from the forest, the home of the Amazons. Somehow I knew more was wrong than what Parlomith had done to me, but it wasn't until the second day that I had roused enough to wonder where Maya was taking me. Even then, I hadn't argued with her.

"I am taking you home, where I can keep you safe."

But my heart had been breaking, because she was taking me from Omie. Omie would need me, and deep down, I needed her, too.

Maya hadn't wanted to take me in the boat. Mama had come to us where we had hidden and told us Nori and Omie were here. Maya and Mama had agreed I was to stay hidden, but they also knew Nori wouldn't go away without talking to Maya. And deep down, although she wouldn't admit it, Maya was worried about Malora. Oh, yes, she was very, very angry, an anger that was eating her inside. But she wanted to hear what Nori had come to say, and perhaps also to scream at Nori. And she didn't say it, but I thought she also finally believed for once she was going to beat Nori.

So Mama and Maya had decided how Maya would meet with Nori in a fashion Nori couldn't take Maya home the same way she had the first time.

I thought it was telling when Maya said it that way. She referred to Queen's Town as "home", but she didn't notice she had done it. I noticed.

"I am going," I said.

"You are not," Mama replied. "You are fifteen and will do what you are told."

"I want to hear with my own ears what happened to that woman when Malora found out," I said. "And if you don't let me go, then I will have to go to Queen's Town and find out for myself."

"You will not," Maya said.

"Do you think you can keep me here?" I asked. "Do you think you can watch me every minute of every day?"

Mama and Maya had both grown angry with me, but I was right. And so Maya had taken me with her. After that, I didn't care.

I wanted to see Omie.

And now I could see her, ten yards away, huddled in her own boat and clearly miserable. The demon voices were after her. I could see it in her face and hear it in her voice. She was my warrior, and it was my responsibility to silence the voices and soothe her soul. But before I could do that, Maya had to calm down enough to let me.

"Maya," I said, "I love her."

My sister looked at me for a moment, but she was so terrified N
ori and Omie would take us back, bound in ropes to be whipped for deserting, that she only looked at me for a moment before her gazed flashed back to Nori.

"She needs me, Maya," I said. "She's your friend. She's my friend."

Maya and Nori argued for a while. Maya pretended she didn't believe Nori, but she did. Of course she did. Nori wouldn't need to lie.

"Please, Maya," I said. "Omie needs me. And Nori isn't lying."

She looked at me again, huddled in my cloak, miserable, and I saw the moment when she decided.

She negotiated with Nori, and Nori gave her everything she could.

"Please, Maya," I said again, and I didn't try to hide the tear crawling down my cheek.

Carefully, Maya rowed our boats together, the back of ours first near the front of theirs, so I could tie the two boats together, and then Maya adjusted us so our boat was against the side of theirs. Maya told me to give them a bucket, but instead I took the bailing pump from its storage place, and I handed it to Nori. It was clear she didn't know what it was.

"It pumps the water," I said. "That end goes in the bottom of the boat, and the hose goes over the side."

Then she understood, but her boat rocked precariously when she moved around, and I held onto the side, trying to steady it.

"Haven't you ever been in a boat before?" Maya asked harshly.

"No," Nori admitted.
But she pumped the water from the back of her boat. I took the pump back and stowed it away then talked her through moving from her boat to ours, both boats rocking badly while she did it. Maya ordered her to sit next to her, and then I crawled into the boat with Omie.

"Beria," she said, but she wasn't touching me.

"Hold me, Omie," I told her.

And then she took me in her arms, but was very, very careful of my back. That was when she began crying, and me right with her. Over and over she whispered to me, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

I pulled her to me, and I quieted her voices. Slowly, she calmed down.

My pain wasn't so easily dispersed.

I heard Maya explaining to Nori how to help row. "I'm not doing it all myself," Maya told her. Maya chastised Nori repeatedly, but I felt when the roped between our boats tightened, and I trusted Maya to take us in the right direction.

"I'm so sorry, Beria," Omie said again.

"It's healing," I said.

"I'll take care of you. I need you so badly, Beria. Please come home."

"Omie," I asked. "I need to know. Do you love me?"

"Yes," she said.

"You know what I mean. Do you love me that way?"

She pulled away a little. I read longing in her voice, but it may have been longing for the comfort a companion provides to her warrior. I couldn't tell.

"You're not sixteen."

"I need to know."

She didn't want to tell me.

"Omie," I said. "I'm going back with you whatever the answer is, but I need to know."

"Yes," she whispered. "But you're not sixteen."

I pulled her to me, my heart soaring. She loved me. She loved me. She loved me.

I touched her, the way a companion touches her warrior. I was still bundled in my cloak, but I put her hands inside, at the back of my neck, one resting against my ear, and I soothed my warrior's soul, I silenced the demon voices.

We reached the beach, and I heard Dannick's voice guiding Maya. Their boat reached the shore, and I heard Maya yelling at Nori to sit down, that she didn't want to go for a swim three feet from shore.

Our brothers together pulled the other boat to shore, but still I heard splashing when Nori climbed out. She swore as the water sloshed over her boots. Another minute later, and Dannick reeled our boat in, but then I heard him ask harshly, "What are they doing?"

"Hush, Dannick," Maya said softly. "Leave them be."

"Tell her to get her hands off my sister!" Dannick said. "You! Amazon! Leave my sister alone."

Omie would have pulled away, but I told her quietly, "No. Hold me just a moment longer, then we'll go deal with the boys."

Omie actually chuckled. "Do you think I'm going to have to kick their asses?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not in any shape to help you."

"Oh Beria," she said, her voice breaking.

"Try not to hurt them too badly," I said. "Omie, will you kiss me?"

"Beria..."

"Please. One kiss. That's all I want. One kiss."

She shifted in her seat, and her hand changed how she was holding me, her fingers pressed against my cheek. Then she lifted her face to mine, and our lips met.

As kisses go, it wasn't much. But it was my first kiss, and to me, it was wonderful. She tasted salty, but her lips were soft and kind, and she offered a little moan as she kissed me.

Dannick went insane. "What are they doing?" he screamed. Our boat reached the shore, and I felt when he set his hands on the edge, ready to climb into the boat and pull Omie from me.

"Dannick," Maya said. "It's just a kiss. Leave them alone."

"She's taking advantage of my little sister, and you're telling me to leave them alone?"

"I believe," Maya said, "that it was Beria's idea. Now leave them alone."

And I knew then and there that Maya was on my side.

The kiss ended, and then I opened my eyes, looking into Omie's. She smiled tentatively. "One kiss," she said. "For more, you have to wait. We have to wait."

If she thought I was waiting for more kisses, she was crazy, but for now, one kiss would do. I clasped her hands. "Take me home," I told her.

And she smiled.

* * * *

The fight with our parents was loud. All of us were crammed into the house, and it had never seemed so crowded.
I refused to let Omie leave me, although she was very solicitous. Dannick had tried to run ahead, presumably to tattle on me for the kiss, but Maya had hissed at him, "Let me handle it, Dannick."

But Mama had been waiting by the door, and the moment we stepped up, she opened it. She took one look and said, "No. I won't allow it."

"Let's go inside and talk, Mama," Maya said calmly.

"I won't allow it," Mama had repeated. "And I do not want either of those women in my house."

"All right," Maya had said. "Please let us know when you'll be by to visit."

She turned around and got a half step before Mama screamed, "No!" Maya froze, waiting, and then Mama said, "All of you come in."

And so we had gathered in the kitchen. Maya and Mama waged a silent battle to see who would take charge, a fight the men probably didn't even notice. Nori took a post near the door, leaning against the wall, not speaking. Omie led me to a chair then pulled one next to it. She helped me slip out of the cloak, and then we waited.

I was willing to let Maya fight this fight for me.

"They were kissing, Mama," Dannick finally said. Mama spun to him and saw him pointing at Omie and me. She turned to us.

Maya flashed a grin of victory and proceeded to brew a pot of tea.

"Kissing?" Mama asked.

"It was one kiss," Maya said. "Their first, I believe." And I nodded.

Maya had grown amazingly calm. I didn't think she had gotten the yelling out of the way, but there was no one here she wanted to yell at anymore. I thought perhaps she wasn't done yelling at Nori, but I knew she wouldn't do that with our family to witness. And so she brewed the tea while Mama tried to glare holes in Omie. I'd once thought Mama was really good at glaring, but she had nothing on Queen Malora, and Omie didn't even look intimidated.

Maya puttered around while the tea steeped. "Nori and Omie, have you eaten?"

"I am not feeding them!" Mama said.

"We're fine," Nori said. "We can get something to eat later."

"Mama," Maya said, "I want you to think about something. Two days from now, when you have calmed down, but you won't see Beria and I for who knows how long, what memory do you want us to have?"

"Do not manipulate me, Daughter," Mama said to her, but I saw Maya flash a grin. She had distracted Mama from Omie and me. "There's bread and jam," she added.

"Bread and jam, Nori?" Maya asked.

"Bread and jam would be lovely," Nori said.

"Mama makes her own jam," Maya said. "It is especially good. Mama, our cook is very good, but we don't get jam quite like yours. And father, our fish are good, but there are days I would love a tasty reedfish."

Maya puttered, Mama and Father unsure how to handle her. She pulled out the bread, but Mama took it from her and cut it up while Maya found the jam.

"There's strawberry, too," Mama said. "And we have honey."

"Oh," I said. "Honey. Maya, why don't any of the villages tithe us honey?"

"We get a little," she said. "And some of the Amazons make their own. Remember? I showed you the hives at Lake Yara."

Maya and Mama set out plates and delivered the food. Mama made a plate for father. I made a plate to share with Omie, and Maya gave a plate and cup of tea to Nori.

The food was wholesome, and the tea was warming. Everyone was afraid to speak, although Nori said, "That was very good, Renee. Thank you."

"Yes, Renee," Omie said. "Thank you."

Mama accepted graciously.

"Nori," Maya said, "Are you going to sit with us?"

"I think I'll stay here," she said. "This is between the two of you and your parents. I'd pull Omie away, but I don't think either of them are ready to let go of each other."

"I'm sorry," Omie said. She looked over at Mama. "The voices. Do you understand?"

"No," she said. "I do not." It was said coldly.

"Well," said Maya, drawing the attention again. "As you can guess, we're going back. We're needed."

"I forbid it!" Mother yelled. "Neither of you are leaving Gallen's Cove ever again!" She turned to Nori and screamed, "You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Mama!" Maya said firmly, "Nori didn't do anything wrong. Nori was dealing with the demons. Malora, now, she and I are going to have words, but leave Nori out of it."

Mama turned to Omie, but Maya slapped the table with the palm of her hand. "And leave Omie alone, too."

"Do not address your mother in that fashion," Father said.

But again, Maya had accomplished her goal, and both our parents focused on her. I was sure that was intentional.

"You're right," she said quietly. "I am sorry. But the enemy is not in this room. The enemy is several days east of here."