Amazon Chief (89 page)

"No," I said, "I haven't. Will it be a good match?"

"I believe it will be my best to date." Then she stepped closer and said quietly, "I liked watching your match yesterday afternoon. I do not like that woman."

She pulled away before I could respond, but I said, "Haldara, I do believe we are becoming friends."

She grinned. "There are no friends in the tournament ring, Chief Beria, but perhaps we'll share a table and a pitcher of beer when the tournament is over."

"I believe I would like that."

We separated further, and then Malora told us to back away even further. We were both holding weapons with a long reach, after all. She didn't bother with her usual speech. Instead she said simply, "I believe we are going to see one of the best matches of the tournament." She glanced at both of us. "Ready. Fight."

Haldara came after me quickly. I discovered immediately I had been right; I could treat her sword as a staff. But everything else was different, and I found myself retreating in circles around the ring.

Her sword struck with bone-numbing strength, and I felt the blows all the way to my shoulders. I was actually worried the staff would crack from the assault. And for such a large woman, she was quick.

She got the first point, a numbing strike that I blocked, but that powered through so hard that her sword slapped against my arm just below the shoulder. Malora called, "Hold", and I backed away, shaking out my arm.

"I pulled it," Haldara said.

"I know," I replied. "You almost make me feel badly for the demons."

She laughed. "Almost?"

"Almost."

Malora called fight, but Haldara waited until I raised my staff.

She got the second point as well, but she had to work for it, and by then, I thought I had her figured out. Her motions were so big, and I realized that giving ground was a mistake. It is natural to retreat from someone so large and powerful, but I needed to get inside her reach. Oh, she was probably deadly up close, too.

But so was I.

The third, fourth, and fifth points were mine. Then Haldara tied it up at three-three, and I found myself shaking out my arm again.

"Good match so far," Haldara said. "Thank you, Chief Beria."

"Thank you, Haldara. Yes, a good match."

Malora stepped between us and raised her voice. "Sisters," she sai
d. "Are you hearing their words? They stand as opponents in this ring, but they are complimenting and thanking each other. This is why we are here, to see this. We have two of our finest warriors here, and I am so proud of both of them."

"Aw shucks," Haldara said. "If you step aside, little queen, we can finish this."

"Little queen?" Malora asked. She turned to Haldara. "Little queen?"

Haldara grinned at her.

Queen Malora was not a tiny woman, but she had to look up at Haldara. "To you, everyone is little."

Then she stepped out from between us, made sure we were ready, and said, "Fight."

Haldara got the next point -- against herself. She made such a big motion with the sword that I ducked under it, but I thrust my staff upwards in the path of her hands, and she slammed her hands into my staff more than I hit her hands. I didn't even have time to pull it.

She nearly dropped her sword, then backed away. Malora called hold.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"That was my fault," she said. "Point to Beria."

"Is your hand okay?" I asked.

She was flexing it. "Yes," she said. "I caught it against the tip of your staff."

"Did you want Nori to check it?"

She flexed it a few more times. "I'll get some lovely companion to
massage it later," she replied. "Did you know that was going to happen?"

"I was going to tangle you and catch you with the other end." I waved my staff to demonstrate.

"Spank my ass?"

"Yep."

She laughed and gripped her sword.

She came after me more cautiously, and I thought that was a mistake. It was against her style. And while she was good while being cautious, she wasn't that good. I finally reached through her arms and thumped her solidly in the chest.

"Hold!" Malora called. "Point and match to Beria. Thank you both. Watching you two makes me proud to be an Amazon."

Haldara and I met in the middle. I was going to clasp arms with her, but she pulled me into a huge hug, then she reached out an arm and snagged Malora, pulling her into the hug.

Once we separated, she said, "We might meet in the ring again."

"Don't take this the wrong way, Haldara, but I hope not. I'd rather fight at your side." I shook out my arm in emphasis.

"Yeah," she said. "I think I'd like that, too." And she began flexing her hand again. "Good match though."

"Yes," I agreed. "Good match."

I stepped out of the ring. Omie, Lia and the girls were waiting. I took a hug and kiss from Lia and congratulations from Omie.

"Did you win, Mother?" Joelle asked.

"Yes, Joelle," I said. "I did."

"You and that warrior seemed to get along," Lia said.

"She's a good woman," I said. Haldara was standing halfway around the ring, looking out over everyone. I called out her name. "Haldara!" I lifted my arm so she could see me. She turned, nodded, and headed this way. When she arrived, I said, "Haldara, this is my companion, Lia."

She surprised Lia, putting two meaty hands on her shoulders and pulling her into a hug. Lia almost disappeared into the woman. I saw her whisper something to Lia, but I couldn't hear what. Haldara grinned at me.

"Give her back now, Haldara," I said.

"Do I have to? She feels good.
" But she released Lia, who seemed a little dazed as she stepped back to my side.

"These are our daughters. This is Joelle."

Haldara knelt down so her eyes were just slightly lower than Joelle's. She offered a hand. Joelle tentatively accepted a clasp. "Such a young Amazon," Haldara said.

"I'm twelve," she said.

"Ah, twelve," Haldara said. "Almost a woman then."

"Not quite yet," Lia said.

"No, not quite yet. Do you have a warrior, Joelle?"

"No, but I'm going to be Bea's companion! She asked Mama this morning."

"You are? Well, that's excellent." She looked up. "Bea is the one that's always smiling?"

"Yes," I said. "That's Bea."

"She'll be a good warrior for you, Joelle."

"I know," Joelle said. "She's already teaching me to wrestle."

"This is Annalise," Lia said.

"Hello, Annalise," Haldara said, offering her hand. Annalise was a little shy about it, but then she stepped forward and accepted the greeting.

"You're really big!" she said.

Haldara laughed lightly. "Yes, I guess I am. How old are you?"

"I'm ten," she said. "I'm going to be an Amazon when I'm older."

"If you're living here, you're already an Amazon," Haldara said.

"I am?"

"Yes," she said. "But when you're ready for your own warrior, you let me know, okay?"

"Okay," she said.

Haldara stood up and looked around.

"Looking for someone in particular?" I asked.

"I was looking for my chief," she said. "Sometimes her companion helps me out. But I don't see her."

"Did you need your bruises tended?" I asked with a grin.

"No more than you do," she said back, also smiling. "No, just-"

"Right." The voices.

From in front of her mother, Annalise was listening. "Did you need a hug, Haldara?"

Haldara looked at her. "Yes," she said. "I guess I do."

"You
may hug me if you want. The warriors at Lake Juna always tell me they like hugging me."

"I may?" she asked, but she was looking at Lia, not Annalise. Lia nodded to her. Haldara paused for a moment before kneeling back down. She opened her arms, and the girl stepped into the hug. Annalise definitely disappeared when Haldara closed her arms around her.

Haldara closed her eyes and held our daughter. It was amazing to see such a large warrior offer such a tender expression. I saw some of the tension leave her body, and then she clearly whispered, "Thank you," to the girl before releasing her.

"Haldara," Lia said. "Perhaps you would like to join us for lunch, if you're not needed elsewhere. Annalise can make a plate for you, if you like."

"I wouldn't want to intrude."

"It's no intrusion at all, but there is no obligation."

"I eat a lot. Can your village afford to feed me?"

Lia smiled. "We eat with Queen's Town. You don't mind sharing a table with the queen, do you? Please, we'd love to have you." She looked down at Annalise. "I believe one of my daughters wants to ask you about your sword."

"May I see it?" the girl asked. "It's taller than I am!"

Haldara laughed. "Yes, I believe it is. I would love to join you for
a meal."

"I need to get back to the kitchens," Lia said. "But I'll see you at lunch. And these two have duties for Maya. Go on, you two. I'm sure she's wondering why I haven't returned you yet. Annalise, you may ask about Haldara's sword after lunch. Maybe she'll show you her real sword."

The girls ran off. Haldara stood up. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," Lia said. "It was very frightening watching you with my warrior-"

"Aw, I wouldn't have hurt her."

"-but Beria said you're a good woman, and I find my warrior to generally be an excellent judge of character. So I'll see you at lunch, won't I?"

"Yes, Lia," Haldara said. "I would enjoy nothing more."

"All right," Lia said. "We need help in the kitchen, Beria. Hint."

"I'll be along shortly," I said.

"We both will," Omie added.

Lia gave me one quick kiss and then disappeared into the crowd. Haldara looked at me. "Was there a fight you wanted to see?"

"Jalad hasn't fought yet, but I have her figured out."

"I haven't fought her, either. I think maybe when I do, I won't pull my strikes."

I laughed. "I like you, Haldara."

"You two help in the kitchen?" she asked.

"Our companions are the cooks," Omie explained. "All the companions are so busy helping with the event."

"I'm pretty good with a knife," Haldara said. "Is there room in the kitchen for me?"

"Oh, I'm sure they'll happily put you into work. You know, the moment we step in, we belong to them until they release us."

Haldara grinned. "That wouldn't be so bad."

Omie and I chuckled, but then Omie said, "Get your own."

Haldara laughed. "I'm all bluster. Someday I'm going to ask Maya to help me find a companion a little closer to my own age, I think." She shrugged. "Maya has a hard time finding companions for me. I seem to scare them." She paused. "Annalise didn't seem scared."

"Who could be afraid of you, Haldara?" I asked. "You're a big teddy bear."

She grew quiet, and the three of us turned towards the kitchen, stepping forward to go lend a hand. But outside the kitchen, she pulled me to a stop. "Maybe I should dress up in a bear costume. Would that help?"

* * * *

Aren and Lia were overjoyed to see the three of us. Aren took one look at Haldara. "You're in my kitchen. You know what that means, don't you?"

"This little thing is your warrior?" she asked, pointing a thumb at Omie.

"She is. I am Aren."

"I'm Haldara. I understand I now belong to you until you let me go."

Aren laughed. "Yes, you do. Know your way around a kitchen?"

"I might know a thing or two."

"Well, we don't let Beria do anything more complicated than the dishes."

"I can handle more complicated than dishes," Haldara said. "Why don't you give me the big job
s?"

Lia turned to me. "You know your job."

I laughed. "Right."

Haldara fit right in. She teased everyone, but it was exceedingly
good-natured, and she uttered not a single complaint or suggestion a warrior shouldn't be serving in the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, I heard Malora from the entrance of the kitchen. "May I come in without being put to work?"

Aren laughed. "Just this once," she said. "I have enough help."

Malora stepped in. I glanced over, and she looked surprised. "You have three of my favorite warriors at work in the kitchen?"

"They're doing a good job, too," Aren said. "Please don't tell me you're taking them away from me."

"Well, I was looking for the one at the sink," she said. "But I'm happy to see Haldara at the same time. If I can borrow her for just a minute, I'd appreciate it."