Amazon Chief (76 page)

I hadn't asked Lia about this, and I was worried she might feel I had overstepped my bounds. While it was my duty as her warrior to train her, clothe her, and see to her other needs, it was the duty of the village chief to acquire horses, and I was within my rights to stipulate requirements. I glanced at her, and she nodded once to me. We were good.

I pointed a finger at the girls. "Your mother will decide when that is. She will then come to me and convince me you are fulfilling your obligations and as
k me to acquire horses for you. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Chief Beria," Joelle said. She immediately turned to her mother. "If you promise to let me have a horse, then you may give me more chores. But someone will have to teach me."

"Me, too, Mama!" Annalise said. "I want a horse."

"We do not do chores because we expect a reward," Lia said. "We do them because we all do our share. And so we will discuss this later. I think perhaps you will be helping your mother first, and then we shall see."

"But-"

"Chief Beria has spoken," Lia said, "as have I. Further discussion does not need to be in front of all these Amazons."

There were chuckles at that.

There were more questions, and then we received promises of assistance as well, which was deeply appreciated.

* * * *

Chief Beria,

I am unable to completely fulfill your request. Nori, Omie, Vorine and I, along with our companions, will be here on the day you requested. Bea is patrol leader and will not be back by then, and her patrol has Clara and Gaylie. Lidi and her companion have traveled home to visit their families and are not expected back for several weeks. If you require Bea in attendance, then the next opportunity is after the recruitment trip. Otherwise, we will expect you in three days.

Queen Malora

* * * *

We arrived late in the afternoon, after training but before dinner.
It was a large retinue of Lia and the girls, Frida and Glorana with their companions, Badra and Tamma, and Aura and Lin. With four warriors and two companions on patrol, Lake Juna was a ghost town.

Yalta and Rahna organized the companions to manage the horses. "Where do we set up camp?"

"Maya will direct that," I said. I took Lia's hand. She took Annalise's, and on my other side, Joelle slipped her hand into mine.

I looked over at her, and she smiled. "We're a family now."

My heart burst with joy. Smiling broadly, I led a path to the dining hall, now moved back outside for the warmer weather. There were calls to us as we approached, and more calls to people not yet present. A moment later, Malora's hut door opened, and my sister stepped out followed by our queen. She and I glanced at each other, then I turned my nose to the dining area before looking back at Malora. She nodded then wrapped an arm around Maya and led the two of them to intercept our route. We all came to a stop a few paces apart.

"Greetings, Chief Beria," Malora said.

"Greetings, Queen Malora," I said.

I glanced around. Nori and Rora were just arriving, and Nori moved to stand shoulder to shoulder next to Queen Malora. Her hand was on her sword. I stared at it.

"Nori," I asked very quietly, "is that why you think we're here?"

She didn't answer.

"Oh no," I said. "I came to ask a favor."

"You brought a large retinue to ask a favor," Nori said.

"God, you're an idiot, Nori," Maya said. "They're witnesses."

"For what?" Nori asked.

"Queen Malora," I said in a loud, firm voice. "I came to request a favor."

"Chief Beria," she replied, "you have served me long and well. If this is a favor I can grant, I will happily do so."

"Oh, I think this favor is within your power. I wish a companion ceremony. Tonight, if at all possible."

Everyone from Lake Juna knew what I had intended.
My friends from Queen's Town hadn't, and they began to whoop with joy. Several of them descended upon us, and I was pulled into a variety of hugs.

When finally the hubbub wore down, Malora was looking at me with caution. We all stilled and turned to her.

"Beria, I would be overjoyed to host a companion ceremony. However, I do not believe you came to declare you have three new companions."

"No," I said. "One, but she comes with daughters, and they will be sharing our household for some time."

Malora frowned, looking between us, then her gaze settled on Lia. "Has Beria explained the ceremony to you?"

"She said it's normally held after the spring recruitment, but we didn't want to wait. Is that a problem?"

"What else has she explained?"

"Just that there's a ceremony, but she won't tell me anything else. She said I must do whatever she tells me to do."

"And will you?"

"Yes."

Malora turned back to me. She still wasn't smiling.

"Queen Malora," I said, "if we have to wait, we can wait."

"It's not that, Beria," she replied. "It's that you have brought two very young witnesses."

"It's sort of a package deal," I said.

"But I do not wish them to come to their future ceremonies with prior knowledge."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't think of that. Then I would ask a second favor to go along with the first."

"I will not change this tradition, Beria. Not even for you."

"I wasn't going to ask you to do so. I was going to ask you to adjust the ceremony as necessary so they may be included. It may be the children will witness a portion of the ceremony, but not all of it. Whatever changes you feel are appropriate would please us. If this is not possible, then we withdraw both requests. We will hold our own ceremony, a new one with no resemblance to Amazon secrets."

"No," Malora said, and finally she smiled. "I may need to discuss this with Maya. We would love to hold this ceremony tonight. Congratulations to both of you. Well, to all of you, I gather."

And then she stepped forward, hugging first Lia, then me, then each of the girls. She whispered to each of us. I didn't hear what she said to the others but to me she said, "I am so pleased, Beria. I'm sorry I pushed you, but I thought it was necessary."

"It seems to be turning out well."

With hugs delivered, she stepped back. "Do I need a new patrol coordinator?"

Lia answered before I could, "No, Queen Malora, unless you decide otherwise."

"But I would like to discuss that in somewhat more length," I added. "Perhaps
sometime this evening or tomorrow morning before we return to Lake Juna."

"Immediately after dinner," Malora said. "We'll hold the ceremony
after that. For now, it's time to eat. Your family will sit with us. We'll have to make some room."

And so, everyone shuffled around, talking all at once, but I heard Maya say to Nori, "You idiot."

I turned, and Omie was there.

"Omie, you remember Lia."

"Yes," Omie said. "I certainly do. Congratulations. I do hope we can be friends."

"I would like that a great deal," Lia said. "And your companion?"

"She invites you to share our hut tonight," Omie said. "I bet Maya is going to offer, but we're offering first."

"We come a
s four," Lia said.

"Of course you do. We'll have a huge party."

"I'd like that," Lia said. She dropped my hand and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Omie. I didn't hear what they said, but Omie smiled at me.

Then Maya grabbed my arm and dragged me to the table. She hugged me tightly. "I love you, Sister," she said. "Are you happy?"

"Yes."

"Good." She pushed me away and sent me to my seat. Lia sat beside me, but the girls had disappeared.

"Their aunt has them," Lia said. "Or she did, but I'm not sure she's going to be able to retain possession." She looked at Maya. "You may not have either of them yet."

"Next year, I will ask you about Joelle."

"She's only eleven."

"Then she'll be twelve, which is the youngest we accept a new companion. It will be your choice then, and hers. The year after that, I will apply significant pressure. And the following year, it becomes only her choice, not yours."

I looked to my companion. "And now you say, 'Yes, Senior Companion'."

Lia smiled. "Yes, Senior Companion."

"Good," Maya said.

Then Malora sat down, and Nori on Maya's other side, Rora past her.

"You're an idiot," I said to Nori.

"So I understand," she said. "But in my defense, I wasn't the only one who was wondering." She glanced pointedly over Maya's head at Queen Malora.

"Seriously?" I said. "Malora, seriously?"

"I wondered, that's all."

"Then you're an idiot, too. I say that with the deepest respect."

Maya chuckled.

"You just called the queen an idiot?" Lia asked.

"If she thinks I came here to challenge her, she's an idiot."

"I didn't think you did," Malora said. "I only wondered."

"Nori did more than wonder," I said. I turned to her. "Idiot."

"I heard you, Beria," Nori said. "And Maya."

"What do you mean, challenge her?" Lia asked.

"Keep your voice down about that," I said. "Nori was being an idiot."

"Yes," Nori said. "Nori was being an idiot. Could we possibly move on? Maybe to dinner?"

"We might be able to move on," Maya said, "but I think I am going to remember this day, the one Nori finally admitted what I've been telling her for twenty years."

"I will not have the two of you ganging up on me," Nori said.

"Well," said Rora from the other side. "They're kind of right. I say that with the deepest love and affection."

"That's enough," Nori said. She turned to face Rora. "You. Companion."

"Yes?" Rora said frostily.

Nori paused for a moment. "I love and adore you."

"You better," Rora said and smiled. "And don't you dare, 'You, companion' me again. Idiot."

"Oh, for crying out loud," Nori said. "I'll get our dinner."

Rora sat back with a smug look. "It's about time she got over this 'companion, fetch my meals, companion, bring me my slippers, companion, scratch this itch' thing she had going on."

"Oh," said Lia. "Beria has an itch she keeps asking me to scratch. Are you telling me I should stop?"

"Oh no," Rora said. "You scratch that itch all you want. You just make sure she scratches your itches at least twice as often."

"Ah, well," said Lia, "Then we're doing it right so far. But Beria keeps telling me she should
lick my itches. Am I supposed to let her do that?"

I immediately began to blush while the rest of them laughed.

"I can't believe you said that!"

"Did Omie lick your itches?" Lia asked
me. "I wonder if I should ask her."

"No, you should not ask her!"

"But how will I know if I'm being a good companion? Whom am I supposed to ask?" She looked at Maya. "You're the senior companion. Does that mean I ask you?"

Malora chortled. Maya smiled and said, "It is customary for each warrior to teach her companion about their relationship. Each warrior likes things done in a certain way, after all.
However, you may come to me if you have questions about being the village chief's companion. I am pleased to discuss some of the less private duties."

"You know," Lia said, "I would like that a great deal. Maybe I could pop down the next time this one-" and she nudged me, "-is gone on patrol."

"You'll take an escort," I said.

"Afraid of bandits in the woods?"

"Afraid I haven't made sure you know your way without getting lost," I replied.

"I think I can find my way," Lia replied.

"Lia," said Maya. "She's an Amazon warrior. When it comes to your safety, she's going to be heavy-handed. This is the one area you're going to have to let her win. She'll probably let you win almost everything else, but let her have this one."

"But-"

"When you have led the trip back and forth several times in a variety of conditions, I will consider removing that restriction," I said. "And now you are going to experience heavy-handed. I am your warrior and your village chief. You will do this my way, period."

"But-"

"Lia," said Malora. "We're about to become sisters-in-law, or at least the closest thing to it amongst the Amazons."

She smiled. "I suppose we are. Imagine, sister-in-law to the Amazon queen. Does that mean I may ask favors?"

"Every Amazon may ask favors," Malora said, "although it would be highly unusual to bypass your warrior. Now, as your new sister-in-law, who is older and possibly wiser, I wonder if you would allow me to share some advice."