Amazon Chief (42 page)

"Yo! Demon!" Narsana yelled. "Yes, you, the ugly one with the green scales. I'm talking to you!"

The demon turned its head towards her, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Narsana stiffen and her sword point dip.

She had just become a warrior.

"They lie, Narsana," I said, just loudly enough to hear. "Everything he says is a lie."

Glorana
's demon was charging her now. As long as it wasn't coming for Narsana, I put it out of mind, paying just enough attention to make sure it didn't change directions.

Narsana's began stalking closer. A demon stalking was still a fast creature, but manageable.

There was a clash to our left, and I knew the sisters had engaged.

"They're fine," Badra called out. "Tamma, be ready to drag Narsana out of here."

But then Narsana turned her head to look at Badra. "Narsana is fine," she said. She turned back to her demon. "You pathetic creature. Is that the best you have? I'm waiting!"

He charged.

I firmly believed, if at all possible, a warrior should kill the demon whose voice she takes, and so I didn't kill Narsana's demon. Instead, I stepped forward and to the right, and as it ran past, I leapt and buried both swords straight down through its tail and into the ground.

Narsana dodged right, ducking under the demon, and then she scored a long, raking slash along the demon's side.

It bellowed and fell over, off balance. It had torn loose from my swords, but the tail hung in tatters from about halfway down. I'd never done that before, but I wondered if it needed the tail for balance.

"Careful!" I yelled to Narsana.

She waited, then as the demon kicked with a foot, she met the foot with her sword, slashing into the kick, the demon's own muscles providing a greater impact. She slid the sword exactly as I had taught her, her form perfect, and she opened the demon's leg widely.

Badra moved in from the other side, watching carefully. None of us had ever fought a fallen demon before. The creature tried to struggle to its feet, and the three of us dashed forward together, scoring another cut. Narsana ducked under a thrashing arm, and then I saw her eviscerate the demon before jumping back.

Gore fell out, splashing my former companion.

"Watch your footing!" Bad
ra yelled.

Narsana feinted at the demon, and it hopped forward, landing right on her sword. She thrust upward, and I knew she had found the heart. Then, without even the slightest pause, she withdrew, rolling away and coming to her feet in a crouch.

Perfect.

The demon shuddered and then collapsed into ash.

Narsana stared where the demon had stood, then we all looked around. Glorana and Frida were standing by, five paces behind Badra, ready to help if needed. Their demon was long dead.

Narsana fell to her knees.

"Tamma!" I yelled. "Yalta!"

Both companions were already moving. Narsana was splashed with gore, but they both dropped their knees beside the new warrior, wrapping her in their arms. Narsana shuddered for a few moments, but then I knelt in front of her, gently taking her sword from her. Yalta took one of Narsana's hands and pressed it against her own face; Tamma took the other.

Narsana looked up at me. "Did she really think I'd believe you don't love me? Stupid creature."

I smiled. "I love you, and you know
it," I said.

"I know." She leaned her head against Tamma. "And now I understand even more why. Thank you, Tamma. Thank you, Yalta."

"You are welcome," they said together.

I stood up. "Who took the other voice?"

Glorana looked upset. "She did!" She pointed at her sister. "This was supposed to be my turn."

"I'm sorry," Frida said. "We couldn't let Narsana fight two at once." She stepped forward. "Yalta, may I touch you?"

"Of course," Yalta said. She held out a hand, pulling Frida down next to her. "Take what you need."

Badra stepped up to my side. "And so the cycle continues."

"And so it does," I agreed. "Well led, Badra."

"Thank you, Chief Beria. Will she stay at Lake Juna?"

Narsana heard us talking. She looked up at me. "Chief Beria," she said.

"You are welcome to remain, Narsana," I said. "We can ask your mother to come build another hut for us."

"Chief Beria," she said again. "Lake Juna is full. If Queen Malora would have me at Queen's Town, I would like to move there to be near my mother. But Queen's Town is overfull, and so if the queen cannot make room, I would like to stay at Lake Juna."

"Then we shall travel to Queen's Town and see what the queen has to say."

* * * *

We made contact with the patrol from Black Oak that afternoon, making camp
together near a thin river. As soon as they learned we had a new warrior, their patrol leader said, "We'll cover the rest of your patrol if you wanted to take her home."

We thanked them and accepted the offer. We'd done the same for them, and patrol for Queen's Town, Lake Juna and Black Oak had grown so much easier with Lake Juna's growth.

For the first time in years, I slept without a companion in my arms. I ignored the voices and slept well, although I rose early and took a guard shift, relieving Black Oak of the responsibility.

Narsana looked a little pale in the morning, but she assured me Tamma had kept the voice at bay.
Both of our companions and the two from Black Oak were very attentive to our new warrior as we packed camp, at least one of them touching her at all times, and frequently two of them.

I was so proud of all of them.

With Tamma and Narsana riding double, we turned south.

"Home, or Queen's Town?" Badra asked me quietly.

"Queen's Town," I said. It would only take another hour, and I wanted to get Narsana settled as quickly as I could. We weren't expected home until tomorrow, and so no one would be worried. Over the years, we had developed new trails through the forest, and there was a trail from Lake Juna out to the eastern plains near what we considered the border with Queen's Town, then from the same point we could travel southwest to Queen's Town. That was the trail we took.

We weren't expected, of course, arriving during afternoon training. The trail entered Queen's Town via the training grounds, and so we made a proper entrance. As we approached, I kicked my horse into a canter, then came to a stop and climbed down. My sister was there moments later, pulling me into a hug.

I leaned into her, moving my hands to her neck. She pressed her forehead against my cheek, and she stilled my voices for me.

"Thank you," I said to her.

"Why isn't Narsana taking care of you?" she asked.

"Narsana is going to need you now."

"Oh," she said. "She was ready. Is she in immediate need."

"Tamma and Yalta have taken care of her, but you're better than they are. Although Tamma is good."

"She's been one of my favorite recruits," Maya said.

Then she pulled away, and I turned to Malora. "Queen Malora," I said. "I apologize for our unscheduled appearance."

She stepped forward and gave me a huge hug. "Don't be silly," she said. "It's good to see you. Do you bring me troubles?"

"A small decision to make is all."

When I turned to find Narsana, she was holding her mother. Malora followed my gaze.

"Ah," she said. "She wishes to move here."

"She is welcome in Lake Juna, but if you can make room, she would like to be near her mother."

"Karena asked to retire," Malora said. "Ping and Serra have invited her to their home, and I detect matchmaking in progress as well. We have room for your former companion."

Maya slipped between us, nudging us each aside, her fingers finding bare skin.

"Will you stay for a day or two?" she asked.

"I'd like that," I said. "I'd like to spend some time with Nori and Malora."

Malora grinned over at me. "Then you better go take care of your horse. No time like the present.

* * * *

I spent two years without a companion. Twice Maya invited me to the spring recruiting drive, but I declined. "I'm not ready." The companions at Lake Juna saw to my most immediate needs, and I visited my sister once or twice every week.

Nori and Malora both stopped taking bouts with me. They would work with me, but Nori told me not to ask either of them for a bout. At first, I didn't understand why.

But then, one night in the dead of night, I sat bolt upright. I thought about it, and then I slipped from my bed, dressing quickly. It was a cold, winter day, but I had somewhere to be.

I slipped from the bed. No one was awake, and so I slipped over to Ree's hut, slipping inside. "Ree."

"Chief Beria?"

I slipped to the side of her bed. "I'm going to Queen's Town," I told her. "I'll be back in a day or two."

"Is something wrong?"

"I need to speak with Nori. I hope she's there."

Ree smiled in the dark. "She doesn't like leaving her companion and doesn't patrol much anymore. Unless they all went on vacation, she'll be there."

"They better not have gone on vacation without me," I replied.

"Do you need us to do anything special while you're gone?"

"Just what we always do," I said. "Protect Morehama."

She nodded.

"Chief Beria," said Pallie. "Do you need me to quiet your voices before you go?"

"I'm fine," I said, "but thank you. I'm sorry for waking you, but I didn't want to leave like a thief in the night."

"Send word if you'll be more than two days," Ree said. "So we don't worry."

"Of course."

Ten minutes later I was on my horse, pointing her south. She was a little sleepy at first, but she woke up and grew frisky during the trip.

"You know this route well, don't you, old girl?" I said to her, patting her neck. "Got a boyfriend in Queen's Town?"

She snorted at the suggestion. Right. She was an Amazon's horse. She had a girlfriend, not a boyfriend.

I arrived unnoticed right at dawn. I let the horse loose in the paddock and strode, quietly, to the dining hall, making myself at home.

"Good morning, Beria," said Bea, three quarters asleep.

"Morning, Bea," I said. "Wrestle later?"

"I'd love to."

It was five minutes before she stood up at her place. "Chief Beria, what are you doing here?"

I giggled at her. It felt nice to be home.

Nori and Rora appeared a few minutes later. "Morning, Bea, Halla, Beria," she said. Rora gave me a double look, but Nori didn't register anything strange at first, either. The two of them sat down opposite me, then Rora got back up to retrieve breakfast for Nori.

It took Nori a minute, then she grinned at me. "Making yourself at home?"

I nodded. "I need to speak with you, very, very privately."

"A long conversation?"

"I don't know."

"Let's go start it, and we can always finish later. Once Maya sees you, we won't be able to talk for hours." We both got up, and she said, "Rora, Beria and I are going to go talk for a few minutes. Come find us if we're not back in ten minutes."

"Yes, Nori," Rora said.

Nori led the way to her hut. Once we were there, I paced back and forth several times before coming to a stop.

"Nori, is the reason you and Malora wouldn't fight me anymore because you don't want anyone to know I can beat both of you?"

"Yes."

I stared at her in horror. "I wouldn't. Nori, I would never challenge her! She is queen until she decides to retire."

"I know," she said. "We don't want any ideas getting into anyone else's head. Right now, we have a certain reputation, and we don't want it sullied."

"She's queen until she decides to retire," I said firmly. "And I will kill anyone who tries to challenge her!"

"Then the three of us are in agreement," Nori said. She smiled.

"All right then," I said. "I needed to know."

"Maya said you'd figure it out."

"Took me long enough."

Nori smiled.

"Nori, I want to move back here."

"Why?"

"To help protect her."

She smiled again. "Why do you think you're so close? And Beria, she's not decrepit. Neither am I."

I smiled and hugged her quickly.

"Beria, you're good. You're really good. But you're not quite as good as Malora was at her peak."

"Or as you at yours?" I asked.

"I don't know," she said. "Don't grow complacent."

I nodded.

"Anything else?"

"No," I said. "That's all I had."

"Sticking around?"

"A day or two," I said, "if I'm welcome."