Amazon Chief (29 page)

She was adorable.

Chester finished with his news, and then he said, "But you came here for a reason. How can Howard's Den assist the Amazons?"

"With your expertise," I explained.
I told him we needed to build two new huts and that Maya and Malora were collecting the materials for it. "But we are unsure we will build them properly. Is there someone here who can teach us what we need to know? They are simple, and perhaps we can copy the construction of the others, but perhaps it isn't as easy as it looks."

"Howard's Den has helped with this in the past," Chester said, "and we are honored to help again." He smiled. "But you do not need my assistance."

"They need Mama's!" Narsana said. "My Mama is the best carpenter in town."

"And so, Narsana," Chester said, "Run home and ask your mother if she would join us. Together we will see how much assistance Howard's Den shall send back with our Amazon friends."

Narsana didn't wait but simply announced, "I'll be right back." She ran from the house, barely closing the door behind her, all of us staring after her.

"She's a joy," Omie said.

"She is," Chester said. "And now we have a minute or three to discuss anything too sensitive for such young ears."

"Things are well for us," I said. "It is not easy what we do, but is life anywhere ever easy? You scrape out a living here on the plains. That is very hard work."

"But we are safe to do so because the Amazons keep us safe," he said. "It may appear you deal only with the demons, and perhaps from time to time a bandit group, but you also act as a steadying influence throughout the entire region. Everyone knows if they bring us trouble, they are at the doorstep of the Amazons. Only a fool would wish that upon himself. Perhaps the rest of Morehama has little understanding what you do for us, but the villages upon the plains couldn't survive without you, demons or no demons. We only wish there were more we could do in return."

"You do so much already," Omie said. "And it is appreciated. Howard's Den is an especially good friend to the Amazons."

There was a knock, and Larrick popped to his feet, giving entry to Rora and Narsana. Rora looked a little perplexed, but said, "Narsana told me you needed a carpenter."

"Perhaps you are too busy to help," Chester said, "but our Amazon friends bring us a puzzle and request our assistance." He summarized the situation. "And so, what do you think of this puzzle, Rora?"

She began peppering us with questions. We answered them as best we could, although there were many we couldn't answer.

"Can you teach us?" I finally asked.

She frowned. "May I speak plainly?"

"Of course."

"No."

Omie chuckled. "That is quite plain."

"If I knew exactly what materials your queen was to obtain, and exactly what tools you have, I could perhaps describe how to build these huts. But I fear there are too many decisions to be made, and I cannot make them from here, and I cannot teach you how to make them in a day or three. I will need to go with you. Am I welcome?"

"Of course," Omie said, "but-"

"But nothing," Chester said. "Rora, what responsibilities do you have here?"

The two of them talked back and forth, and I understood little of what they said.
Finally Rora said, "I will travel to you in a week's time."

"We'll send an escort for you," Omie said immediately.

"The Amazons have far too many worries to send an extra escort," Chester declared.

"We cannot ask you to risk yourself crossing the plains unguarded," Omie said.

"It would be reprehensible of us," I added. Yes, my sister taught me that word, probably to describe some prank I had played.

Chester and Rora conferred again, and then she said, "Then if I am welcome, and my daughter as well, we would travel with you tomorrow when you return home."

"Your responsibilities here-"

"Will wait," Chester said.

"There won't be anything for you to do until Queen Malora and Maya return," I said, "and they may not bring the materials with them but instead may expect them to follow along after."

"Am I welcome? Is my daughter?"

"Of course," I said.

"Then we will come, if you do not mind traveling more slowly."

"We do not mind," Omie said.

"I have a narrow cart for my tools that can navigate your forests," she said. "And a horse to pull it, but no other horses."

"I will provide a horse," Chester said. "She is a gentle filly."

"We can prepare the place for the huts," Rora suggested. "And perhaps you will allow me to harvest a tree or two."

"Of course," said Omie.

"But Maya didn't tell us where to put the huts," I said. "And knowing my sister, she will want to be involved."

"Maya, the queen's companion, and not the queen herself?" Chester asked.

Omie smiled. "The queen is quite besotted." She grinned. "She leads the Amazons, but Maya leads the village." Then she turned to me. "And my companion wishes to follow in her big sister's footsteps."

"Oh," Chester said. "I did not realize you were Maya's sister. Then we are doubly pleased to have you. I remember her first visit here."

"She wore
such shockingly pink hair," Blara said.

"I have had my hair pink for a time," I said. "And my warrior as well. We were quite the source of amusement."

"Your sister is quite a bit older than you are," Chester observed.

"Ten years," I said. "A fact which I used to hate, but once she turned thirty, she no longer cares to be reminded of the difference."

We had long finished our tea. Blara collected our things, and we all stood up. "Chester," I said, "thank you for your guidance."

"If you send Narsana as messenger, we will see you off in the morning," he said.

A moment later we were outside. Narsana turned to her mother. "I am going with?"

"Yes, my little love,"
Rora said. "You are going with. And you will behave. I will need your assistance, and you will not bedevil the Amazons with your questions."

"With your blessing," Omie said, "she will attend training, of course.
And you are welcome, if you wish it."

Rora smiled. "Perhaps I will, if you will be gentle with me. I will teach you to build these huts, and you will teach me what it means to be an Amazon." We reached her house, and she held open the door, inviting us in. Narsana raced ahead, offering to show us her room. Laughing, Omie and I followed her.

Narsana's room was in the loft. It was difficult to tell in the evening, but it seemed like it would be a cheerful place. The bed was small, but Omie and I slept in each other's arms, anyway, so that wouldn't be an issue. Omie declared it perfect, beyond perfect, and I told her I would retrieve the things we would need; our packs were still in the stable. When I got back, Rora had tucked Narsana in, and I found Omie and Narsana in the kitchen, drinking another cup of tea. I set down our pack, accepted my own cup, and then asked, "Rora, are you sure you have time?"

She smiled. "When I was Narsana's age, I wished to join the Amazons. I was not allowed to do so. But now, at least
for a while, I may join you. I will consider this a grand adventure, and I thank you for the opportunity. You will also give my daughter an opportunity to see the Amazon life up close. She may decide it is not for her, or she may find herself at the front of the competition to join you." She smiled. "And my reputation will grow as having directly helped the Amazons. I am very pleased to help you, Beria."

Then Rora turned to Omie. "You are her warrior, but it seems like she is the one in charge."

Omie smiled. "She is now my equal as a warrior, and I have little more I can teach her."

I stared at her. She hadn't said that before.

"And so a companion is an apprentice?" Rora asked.

"A companion is many things," Omie explained. "Friend, apprentice, squire. Beria quiets the demon voices I carry and attends to my needs, and I train her to be an Amazon."

"What does it mean to quiet the voices? I have heard this before, but I have never understood. It seems like everyone assumes everyone else understands, and thus no one ever explains."

And so Omie explained.

"And that is why you touch her so much?"

"Yes," Omie said. "And, well, we are lovers, so I would want to touch her anyway."

Rora had more questions, and we answered them for her.

"Is it difficult to learn to quiet the voices?" she finally asked. "You take the girls when they are young." She eyed us. "Who will you love, once Beria becomes a warrior?"

"That becomes a problem for older warriors," Beria agreed. "As the age difference increases, warriors take companions who view them more as surrogate mothers, not as potential lovers."

"That is sad," Rora said. "Everyone needs love."

"We have love," Omie said.

"But that is not what I meant, and we all understand that, don't we?"

"Yes," Omie said. "We understand. This issue is why Nori has gone so many years without a companion. Do you know Nori?"

"I know of her," Rora said. "We have not met."

"My sister seeks to find a companion for her, but she has been trying for the entire time I have been an Amazon. Nori states she wishes no companion if she cannot have the type of love you describe."

"Perhaps Nori should consider an older companion. So I ask again, does one need to be a young girl to learn to become a companion?"

"No, Rora. Anyone, gentle of heart, can soothe the voices. You could do so."

"Could you teach me?" she asked.

"It is... intimate," Omie said.

Rora looked at me. "The sort of intimate that would cause jealousy?"

"No," I said. "My sister soothes the souls of all our warriors, not only Malora, and recently, I have been doing so as well." I smiled. "The voices do not plague Omie right now. We rode separately, and so they were bothering her when we arrived, but she has been touching me since we dismounted. But she can teach you. Perhaps you will silence them in a fashion I do not, and she will find additional comfort from you."

"It is just touch," Omie said, standing up. Rora stood as well. "We will touch. A hug." She stepped closer, and Rora opened her arms. Omie stepped into them, but the two were not comfortable with each other, so I stood as well.

I moved Rora's hands. "Skin to skin contact," I said. "As intimate as is appropriate." I put her hands on the back of Omie's neck. "Omie presses her face into my neck. You are even taller." Rora adjusted, and Omie leaned against her. Then I moved Omie's hands as well, giving them permission to touch Rora's neck.

And Omie sighed. I could see her relax further.

"This is all?" Rora asked.

"It is important that you want to soothe her," I said. "But yes. If this were
the most intimate touch Omie experienced, the voices would not be silent, but they would be dim."

"And that is enough to bear them," Omie said. "But of course, more intimate touch can silence them, sometimes for as much as a day or two, although usually only a few hours."

Then Omie stepped away. "That is the type of touch I accepted from Beria until she was nearly sixteen."

"What happened then?"

"She felt very guilty about something, and I was able to get her to start kissing me," I said with a grin.

"Did I soothe you, Omie?"

"Yes," she said. "Thank you."

"And you are not jealous?" Rora asked.

I smiled. "No. I am pleased my warrior finds comfort."

"Well," said Rora, "you have given me much to think about. We rise early in this house."

"And we have kept you up late."

"I am not complaining," she said. "I
am warning."

Omie smiled. "Amazons also wake early."

* * * *

We rose early, but were surprised that Rora had breakfast waiting for us. "I will need perhaps a half hour to prepare," she told us.

"Is there anything we can do?"

"Take my daughter outside and give her some exercise," Rora suggested. "Can you do that?"

Omie laughed. "I believe we can, especially if you have three sturdy sticks we can borrow."

Narsana grinned at us, and ten minutes later we were outside. The village had a small green, and we headed there. "Lead us in stretches," Omie said. "I will assist our newest recruit."

We had barely started with other residents gathered around us. One boy, perhaps a year older than Narsana, asked if boys could do the exercises, too. Omie assured him they could, and soon we had three boys joining us, and then two of their mothers as well.

And so we taught them the basics of stretching prior to exercising. We went easy on them, and we only did the simpler stretches, but it would be enough for this morning.

"Now," Omie said, "after stretching, we run. New companions always ask why we run so much. Do any of you think you can guess why?"