Amazon Companion (6 page)

I didn't believe her, but I remained civil in my response.
"Then gag me."

The queen did it herself. She was gentle about it. And then the two of them worked on the knots on my wrists and arms. Nothing
hurt, at least more than it had, but once my arms were nearly free, Nori said, "Maya, you're going to try to move your arms the moment they are free. That is a very bad idea. I want you to do your absolute best to remain calm and relaxed and let us move them for you. It's going to hurt, but it will hurt less if we do it."

I nodded understanding, and they finished untying me, both of them clasping my arms firmly at the end.

"Here we go," Malora said from my left, and then together they slowly moved my hands down to my sides then into my lap.

Nori had been right. Pain like I'd never known before shot through my entire body, and I screamed into the gag, but I didn't fight them. They each clamped a hand onto my shoulder, helping to hold me in the chair, and then my hands were in my lap.

I continued to scream into the gag for a short while, then slowly was able to calm down.

I tried to move my arms, but they wouldn't move. I began hyperventilating, sure that my arms were worthless.

"Calm down," the queen said. "You'll be fine. It will hurt for a few days, but they'll start to work soon, maybe a half hour. I promise."

I looked up at her, and I knew there were tears streaming down my cheeks.

"This has been quite a lot for you, a school teacher," she said, brushing my tears away. "You are very brave."

I shook my head and looked down at my hands, not moving in my lap.

"I promise," she said again. "Your arms are not ruined. You'll be fine for that duel in a few days, if that's what you choose."

I looked up at her sharply, and she was smiling.

"Not funny," I said into the gag.

"Are you ready for me to remove the gag again?" she asked. "You understand the repercussions of a smart mouth."

I nodded, and she untied the gag. I spit it out into her hands, and she set it aside.

"More water, please," I said, trying not to sob.

The queen held the glass for me, then dried my mouth for me when I was done.

I turned to Nori. "This is your fault," I told her.

"I know."

"You aren't even going to apologize?"

"No."

I clamped my mouth shut before words escaped I couldn't take back.

"More water?" the queen asked.

I shook my head. "No
, thank you, Queen Malora."

The two of them returned to their seats facing me, the queen crossing one ankle over her knee.

I sat there in agony, letting them watch me, the shooting pains slowly settling into a steady ache. The tears hadn't stopped, but I dried my cheeks on my shoulders then turned to the queen. "What are you going to do with me?"

"That is what we are here to discuss," she said. "I presume you would like us to return you home?"

"You don't need to bother.  Point me west and give me a horse and some food. I can find it."

She smiled. "It's harder than you think. If we were going to allow you to return home, we would send you with an escort."

"An escort that would pick a replacement for me instead?"

"That would be a side issue," she said. "Sending you home is not currently on the table."

"Why not?"

"Because your village owes us tithe," she said. "We have been complacent too long. You don't understand, and that isn't your fault. I have been begging and pleading with the councils of most of the villages along the more western reaches of Morehama for years. This latest choice was forced upon us."

"You could agree you have outlived your usefulness," I said. "You could raise your own crops. You could make girlfriends the old fashioned way: by getting to know someone who joins you willingly."

"We can not be both farmers and serve as a shield for all of Morehama. We are owned payment for what we do."

"Perhaps Gallen's Cove does not agree."

"And if we could let a demon or two stop by your neighborhood without risking everyone between here and there, perhaps we would. But the villages closer to the mountains all pay their tithes, and thus we have an obligation to them. But the burden should be shared."

"I do not believe these demons exist," I said. "Nor am I convinced someone living so many days from the danger, if it does exist, should be expected to be treated the way I have been treated."

"I agree with you," the queen said, "at least about your treatment."

I stared at her.

"We would much rather take volunteers," the queen explained. "In the past, that is how it was done. In the closer villages, girls compete for the privilege."

"Then take them!" I spat.

"We cannot. If we did, there would be no more villages, as there would be no women giving birth to more villagers."

"Give birth yourself," I suggested. "As I understand it, you cannot have men here, but you can travel to the men. They are only a village away."

She sighed. "That is impossible. I will not explain why at this time. I wish it were possible. I would have loved to have been a mother, but
it that is not to be."

"Instead you are queen. That does not seem like a bad trade."

"Would you mother give up you and your sister for responsibility of your village?"

Of course not. I remained silent.

I looked around the room. "May I have some of that wine now?"

"Of course," she said. "Nori will you pour for all of us?"

"Yes, Malora." Nori rose and poured from the other jug. She handed one glass to the queen then crossed the room to me. "Your arms are probably not working yet."

I tried raising my hands then shook my head.

"I'll hold it," the queen said. She moved her chair closer, taking a glass from Nori, then held it for me. I sipped. It was a good, red wine.

"Tribute?" I asked her.

"Tithe," she corrected. "Yes. We don't get much."

"Rank hath its privileges?"

"All tithe is shared equally," the queen said.

"This was from one of my bottles," Nori said. "I have one remaining. I will fetch it if we finish this one."

I looked at her.

"Consider it an apology," she said. "There isn't sufficient apology for what you feel I've done to you, and you couldn't possibly accept until you fully understand. That won't be tonight. When you understand, if you ask for an apology then, you will get one."

I nodded, not fully understanding, then turned back to the queen and looked at the glass again. She held it up and I took another drink, then leaned back. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she said. "So, I have a proposal for you."

"Oh?"

"I find you intriguing
."

I stared at her. "What does that mean, Queen Malora?"

"Nori knows me very well." She smiled at Nori. "I will offer this. Serve as my companion for two years. If at the end of those two years, you still wish to be returned home, I will personally escort you."

I started to open my mouth, refusing to be her slave, but I realized that wouldn't go over well. "What does a companion do?"

"Tend to my needs," she said. "Make my life easier. Ease my loneliness."

I glanced at the bedchamber. The queen grew indignant. "I have never taken anyone to my bed who did not want to be there, and I wouldn't start with you!"

"If you leave such an obvious conclusion by your casual words, it is not my fault if I ask whether the conclusion is accurate, your Majesty. What else does 'ease my loneliness' mean?"

"Queen Malora," she corrected.
"A queen has few friends. Even Nori and I must maintain a certain distance. We would talk. As if we were friends. Companions."

"All right," I said. "What else?"

"There would be, um. Physical duties."

"I thought so."

"We live a warrior's life," she said. "There are aches. A companion eases those aches."

"So, clean your tent-"

"Or house. Yes."

"Make your bed. Do your laundry. Prepare your meals."

"Meals are typically served communally, although there would be times you would be expected to cook for me."

"Serve your meals."

"Yes."

"Rub your feet."

"And my arms, my back, sometimes my legs, sometimes my hands."

"Polish your boots."

"And spend time with me. There are two beds in there." She gestured towards the inner chamber. "You would occupy one. Most companions become very casual with their warriors. You may or you may not."

"I would call you Malora?"

"If we developed a warm rapport, yes, I would invite that. You should not presume."

"I see. Anything else?"

"Most warriors train their companions."

"Train?"

"To fight. I would expect you to accept at least basic training, enough you wouldn't be a hindrance in a fight."

"Who would I be expected to fight?"

"Demons."

I stared at her.

"Believe it or not, they are real."

"I see." I didn't. "Anything else?"

"I believe you have the basic understanding. I would require you to operate in good faith."

"Don't spit in your dinner."

"Yes."

"And you would trust me?"

"You would offer certain assurances. I fully expect you to attempt to escape. When you do, you will be found and returned to me, and I will punish you. The punishment will grow increasingly severe with each failed attempt. You will vow to make no attempts to murder anyone, especially me or Nori."

"And you would believe me?"

"Yes. You already know what will happen if you break that vow."

"You were serious."

"Quite. You would be subject to Amazon discipline on all other issues. There is a certain amount of leniency for new arrivals, but the rules are not complicated, and the period of leniency is limited."

"I would be expected to act subservient to everyone else?"

"You would be expected to act politely with everyone else, and they with you. Disputes are handled on the training ground."

"So the best fighter gets her way?"

"I am the best fighter," the queen said with a smile. "And yes, I get my way."

"Virtually everyone here is a better fighter than I am," I pointed out.

"Then you should be especially polite, but no one will treat you as a servant."

"Except you."

"Companion."

"I fail to see the distinction."

"Servants rarely share meals with their masters. Companions live the same life as their warriors. It is not a caste system."

"Everyone here began as a companion," Nori said. "I didn't start out as hers, but I became Malora's companion."

I stopped. "You were lovers?"

"Yes," she said. "Once upon a time."

"And now you have acquired me for her?" I was puzzled. "Aren't you jealous?"

"Yes," she said, "but we haven't been lovers for a long time. We. We can't." The two looked at each other. "We can't," she said again.

"More for you to learn," Malora said, "but not tonight."

I looked down, studying my hands. I tried lifting them, but the pain was nearly overwhelming. I blinked back the tears.

"I promise," the queen said, "your arms will be fine in a few days. We can fashion slings for now."

I looked up at her through the tears. "You promise?"

"I promise."

"Do you keep your promises?"

"Yes. Do you?"

"Yes."

I looked back down. "I want to go home," I said in a small voice. "I'm a teacher of small children. They need me. I'm a good teacher. I am not a warrior. I am not suited for your life. Send me home."

"And take your sister instead?" the queen asked. It was gently said, but my response was not.

"No!" I flashed my eyes at her, then I knew my face filled with dread.

"Consider this a warning," she said. "I applaud your desire to protect your sister."

"Please send me home."

"I wish I could," she said. "And should I also send home every other girl who was not thrilled to be here, or only the ones who put up the best fight? How easily do you think we will recruit the next time, if the girls know we send them home for being a brat?"

"You could do something you didn't do in Gallen's Cove," I suggested.

"We have tried a great deal in Gallen's Cove, but you may not be aware of everything we have tried."

"If I was not aware, then there is a great deal you could have tried you did not. Like, I don't know. Explain your need and ask."