"Of course."
"I will find a common instrument. It may be some time."
And I had agreements with all of them.
Then the warriors began making more wagers over whose companions would last longest, which warriors would survive longest, and who would strike blows against Malora and Nori. No one asked Malora and Nori for wagers, and they made no wagers amongst themselves, not that I saw.
The odds were against them. I had accepted far more wagers than I intended, but I couldn't back down. I may not like a good fight, but I understood pride and I definitely understood politics. I also understood supporting your family. But I hadn't expected the warriors to wager with me, and I feared my debt would be crushing.
I didn't think Malora and Nori could win. There were far too many swords to be raised against them.
Finally, the warriors finished with their individual agreements. I noticed there was none of the taunting that I had seen prior to some of the other matches. I wondered if perhaps one does not taunt the queen.
Malora collected two swords. Nori held one, but there was a whip curled on her belt. The warriors all carried a single sword. Of the companions, most carried swords; Neela and Aura carried staffs.
Malora and Nori moved to the center of the training ground, immediately in front of the punishment post. The other Amazons clustered together then arrayed themselves in a line with the newest companions and their staffs forming a second line behind the first.
"Begin!" yelled Nori.
The Amazons began to advance on Malora and Nori, moving together smoothly. When they reached whipping distance, Nori suddenly transferred her sword to her left hand and pulled the whip from her belt. There was one smooth motion backwards, and the whip uncoiled, then another smooth motion and it snaked forward, striking Gaylie's sword hand. She yelped and nearly dropped her sword, transferring it instead to her left hand.
The whip reached out again, this time striking Karena's off hand. I heard the strike land, and Karena flinched, but she didn't yell out.
Then the warriors advanced closer, and the whip reached out once more, actually cracking past Bea's head, missing her, but sounding loudly. Bea flinched away from it drastically, stumbling into Clara and tangling with her for a moment. Nori dropped the whip and transferred her sword to her right hand, and then together in perfect unison, Nori and Malora lashed out.
I realized the whip hadn't been meant to disable; Nori only used it to disrupt the line of advance. What had been a clear, well-organized line instead had become muddled. Gaylie was fighting with her off hand. Karena was a half step behind the other warriors and didn't have a clear strike at either Nori or Malora, and Bea and Clara took several seconds to become untangled, opening a hole in the center of the advancing formation.
Nori's strike was for Vorine. It didn't land, but she parried hurriedly and stumbled against Lidi. At the same time, Malora struck at Lidi, her first sword sweeping Lidi's defense away, her second descending firmly on Lidi's shoulder with a sharp crack! And then the first sword came down directly on the same spot.
Lidi fell to her knees then onto her face, and I gasped. Was she hurt? I didn't see any blood, and I was sure the strike had been to her shoulder, not her head.
Then Nori and Malora were fighting for their lives, but their opponents were disorganized. I watched attacks parried or swept aside, other attacks returned. Nori swept her sword out for Gaylie, but Gaylie blocked it, barely. Malora was about to add her own attack on Gaylie, but from behind the first line of warriors, Aura thrust her staff through, and Malora was forced to retreat a half step. Together the two of them stepped behind the post, and when they came back out, they came together, attacking against only four opponents instead of all of them. Vorine took a strike to her sword arm and transferred her sword to her left hand, and Clara went down entirely.
The remaining opponents backed away to regroup.
"You two stay down," Malora said. "You are now dead obstacles." And I realized Lidi and Clara were fine, they were just playing dead.
The other opponents backed far enough away that Nori glanced at the whip and bent down to pick it up, but the warriors saw her and yelled, charging together. Everything happened too quickly too see, but when it was done, Malora had dropped her left sword but Bea and Karena were both down.
The odds looked a lot better, and I wondered if they really could win. There was another exchange of attacks, and another, and then the warriors split into two, coming at Nori and Malora from opposite directions, forcing them to split their attention. They went back to back, using the post on Nori's offside to help protect her flank.
Nori was facing Gaylie alone. Everyone else was concentrating on Malora. I thought that was a mistake. Nori would dispatch Gaylie easily, and then she could turn and help Malora. But instead, Gaylie kept her distance from Nori, keeping her occupied, but only reaching out if Nori turned to help Malora.
Malora was fighting for all she was worth. She was facing Benala, both Vorine and Omie, and behind them, Neela and Aura. Benala kept up a constant string of attacks at Malora, and I realized none of them were meant to get through her defense. She was keeping my warrior busy so that Vorine and Omie could watch for an opening.
Omie found an opportunity, her sword snaking in to strike against Malora's sword arm, but then Omie said, "Just a scratch."
In exchange, Malora beat Benala back, feinted at Vorine, then caught Omie's sword arm in a vicious backhand stroke. Omie dropped the sword and yelped then was forced to back away from it when Malora struck again at her, Benala barely protecting Omie.
"Take yours out," Malora yelled, and suddenly Nori was in hot pursuit of Gaylie, Malora backing frantically away from her pursuers to protect Nori's back. Gaylie tried to back away, but Nori leapt forward, knocking her sword out of the way, and slammed her sword firmly against Gaylie's chest. It looked more like a punch, but then she pulled sharply with the sword, and I knew if it had been steel, she would have sliced Gaylie open. Gaylie went down. Nori and Malora stepped past her and away, turning to face one warrior, two very good companions, and two new companions.
Nori and Malora didn't hesitated. It seemed like they flew at their opponents, swords reaching out. Vorine took a blow.
"Scratch," Malora declared.
But they were pressing their opponents back, and it was clear they had the strength to carry the day.
Then Aura screamed. She wrenched Neela's staff from her, screamed again, then thrust herself between Omie and Benala. Holding each staff one handed, she thrust both of them towards Nori's legs, tangling her but taking a solid sword slash across her left arm. Then she threw herself on Malora, throwing her good arm over Malora's shoulders and intentionally tangling her legs in Malora's.
Malora tried to shrug her off, but Vorine attacked, Benala less than an eye blink behind her. Malora shifted so Aura took Vorine's blow, and she tried to parry Benala's attack, but she tripped on Aura's legs, and Benala's strike landed firmly on Malora's sword arm.
Aura dropped to the ground and Malora dropped her sword, but she wasn't done yet. She and Nori retreated, Nori finally untangling herself from the staffs Aura had thrust at her. Benala and Omie threw attack after attack at her and at Malora. Nori was forced to defend both of them and had no time to attack. In the meantime, Vorine was attacking Malora, which Malora countered with a kick, but Vorine stepped back then landed a firm slash on Malora's extended leg.
Malora went down, taking one final token blow from Vorine, and then Nori was on her own, retreating, retreating, the three of them forming a triangle around her.
Nori managed to take out Omie, but Vorine and Benala struck together at the same time as Nori was disengaging from Omie, and Nori was down.
I stared and realized my heart was pounding out of my chest, one hand plastered over my mouth to keep the screams from erupting from my throat.
In the end, Benala, Vorine, and, in the back, Neela, were the three standing.
I ran
to my warrior, pulling her into my arms and trying not to cry. "Are you all right? Malora, are you all right?"
But she was laughing. "Of course, Maya. It was all in fun." But she pulled me to her and held me while I shuddered.
"Damn, Queen Malora," Benala said. I looked up at her, and she was looking around. All of the "bodies" still lay where they had fallen, the woman lying on their sides to watch as the action unfolded.
Malora and Nori climbed to their feet, Malora still holding me as I plastered myself to her. The two of them looked around and laughed, then Malora disengaged herself from me with a whispered, "I'm sorry about your wagers. We did the best we could."
"Was I foolish?"
"I am very proud of you."
Then she turned to Aura, sitting on the ground and looking up to the queen. "You!" she said. She stepped to the girl and lifted her to her feet. "That was the most foolish thing I have seen an Amazon do in a very long time. You saved the lives of three of your sisters today. You are going to be a great warrior someday; see to it you live long enough to enjoy it."
The girl beamed. "Yes, Queen Malora."
Malora turned around. "You all did very well." Then she looked pointedly at me.
"After dinner tonight, I will work with each of you to adjust the duty roster and begin paying my debt," I announced.
There were more congratulations passed around, and I received some good-natured hugs from several of the companions.
While they were all dissecting the fight, I collected all the practice weapons and made several trips to the storage shed, several of the companions helping me. Once everything was put away and tidy, I returned to my warrior.
Malora threw an arm around my shoulder, kissed my hair, and began pulling me away. "I want you to bathe me." Then she grabbed Nori's hand, tugging her along. Malora hugged me once more then said, "Please retrieve a change of clothes and towels and meet me at the pools."
"Maya, there are clothes ready in my hut. Will you bring them as well?"
"Yes, Nori," I said. I dashed away and caught up with them just as they were entering the pools.
Water Warrior
I set the clothes down, arranging them to collect some sun, and the towels as well, then I looked at both of them splashing around in the water.
"Am I bathing both of you?" I asked.
"Only your own warrior," Nori said. "But did you bring soap?"
"Catch," I said, tossing a bar to her. I threw a second bar to Malora, stripped out of my own clothes, then dived in. I swam under water to Malora, then past her to surface behind her. I briefly contemplated dunking her, but I didn't know what the repercussions of that act might be.
She turned around when I surface and smiled. "I am proud of you, Maya."
"I didn't do anything," I said, "but stand there in terror."
"You were so frightened?" Nori asked. "For us?"
"Yes," I said, splashing water at her. "For you."
She eyed me for splashing at her.
"Did I just break a rule? You two were splashing each other."
"No, but perhaps you issued a challenge. You look quite dunkable."
"You'd have to catch me first," I said, watching her carefully. "Or would the two of you team up against me?"
Malora laughed. "I hardly think we need to team up against you." Malora began to move away from me, and Nori was watching me intently. As soon as Malora was out of splash range, Nori began splashing water at me. I splashed back, and she slowly began moving towards me.
I disappeared under the water.
The water was not clear, and visibility under the water was limited, but I went straight down then swam under where I thought Nori was treading water. I saw her feet, kicking slowly. I waited for my chance then grabbed a foot and yanked hard. Then I swam frantically past her, coming up well past Malora.
Malora was laughing, and when I turned, Nori's expression was priceless. I had surprised her.
I grinned at her.
"You think so, do you?"
"Are you going to take it out on me later?" I asked her.
"Of course not. I'm going to take it out on you right here and now." She began to approach, but I kept Malora between us.
"And if you fail to do so? Will I pay on the training grounds?"
"Of course not," she said. "That would be petty."
I grinned and disappeared under the water, moving away from her. I was sure she was wondering what I intended, but with the water visibility, and as far apart as we were, I wouldn't have been able to find her except purely by accident. I dived all the way down to the bottom of the river, finding two handfuls of muck, and then surfaced.
She turned towards me. "What are you doing way over there?"
Malora moved out from between us again, and I let her.
"Come here and find out," I suggested.
"Your companion went from squeaky mouse to roaring little lion," Nori said to Malora.
"So far, she seems to be winning, Nori."
"She won't be winning once I catch her."
I waited until she halved the distance and Malora wasn't in the way, and I lobbed the mud. It landed in a rain of one big plop and a few smaller ones, the big plop right on top of Nori's head.
Malora began laughing again.
"What the hell?" Nori brushed at her hair before she realized what I had thrown at her. "Mud?"
I laughed and watched as she dunked under the water to rinse it off. I edged closer while she was clearing the mud out of her hair, and as soon as she was done, I launched a second handful at her.
My aim was perfect.
"Maya!" she yelled. "Stop it!"
"Come on, big talker," I said. "You said you were going to dunk me. I'm waiting."
Instead she dipped under the water, trying to wash the muck out of her hair. Who would have thought she'd be so prissy about a little mud? I edged closer, then, fixing the direction to her, I ducked silently under the water, swimming towards her and down. She never saw me when I grabbed her feet, blew out all my air to make myself heavier, and tugged as hard as I could. I held onto her for a moment while she kicked ineffectively at me, then swam away again, surfacing with empty lungs. I gasped for a while on the surface, but at least I wasn't sputtering like Nori was.
When I had my breath, I asked, "Malora, what's the score?"
"Four to nothing," she replied.
Nori ducked under the water, rinsing at her hair frantically, then glared at me.
"Just in fun, Nori," I told her. "Right?"
She grinned. "Yes."
"Good. Let me know when you get tired." Then I began splashing water at her.
She began swimming hard for me, and I swam away, easily outdistancing her, but the pool was not big, and I needed to keep her in the deeper areas. I let her chase me for a while, then turned and held out a hand in a "stop" gesture. She stopped.
"When does this end?"
"When I catch you, plus about two minutes."
I laughed. "What if I decide to catch you?"
"I'm right here."
I disappeared under the water and swam to her left, coming up silently. She was looking around frantically for me. I glanced at Malora, who was grinning, then waited for Nori to notice me. She finally did and lunged for me. I let her catch me, and she bore me underwater. I went willingly, straight down, and she failed to maintain a clasp of me, but then I grabbed her legs and tugged her under again, then pushed off of her to propel myself to the bottom. I grabbed another handful of muck, then pushed off firmly. I found Nori, coming to the surface behind her, and grabbed her by the shoulder, pushing her under the water, pushing away from her with my feet.
She went way under water, coming up sputtering, and as soon as she surfaced, I closed the distance and plopped the mud directly into her hair.
"Damn it!" she yelled, still sputtering. She dipped her head to rinse out the mud, and I lunged forward, pressing down on the top of her head. She went right under and came up sputtering ag
ain. I waited two arm lengths' away from her. She caught her breath, and she glared at me.
"All in fun, Nori?" I asked her.
She paused, and I watched her calm down. "Yes," she said finally.
"Nori," Malora called out, "maybe you shouldn't have challenged someone to a water fight when she grew up somewhere called Gallen's Cove."
"I figured that out," she replied. "Thank you for the suggestion, Queen Malora."
Malora laughed.
"Maybe the two of you should have teamed up," I suggested.
"Oh no," Malora said. "I've already seen you swim."
I grinned at Nori. "If you promise no repercussions afterwards, I'll let you catch me."
"No repercussions," she said, and she was lunging for me.
I let her catch me, but I wrapped my legs around her and hooked them behind her, well above her waist, and then I used my legs to lift myself as far from the water as I could, shoving her down again. I held her down for just a few seconds before I let her back up. She came up sputtering again, gasping for air. She wasn't used to water games, not at all.
"You're winning, Maya, but she has a few tricks you don't know."
I let Nori catch half her breath, waiting until she was between breaths before I plunged her back under the water again. I held her under while she beat against my legs. Then she managed to turn around in my hold and grabbed one of my legs. She did... something, I didn't know what, but she unhooked my legs, and then did something to my leg that hurt, it hurt quite a lot.
I yelped, and whatever she did forced me to turn away from her, my foot still in her clasp. She surfaced, sputtering for air, but managed to gasp, "I've got you now." She did something to my foot, something that hurt, and I gasped then went underwater.
I didn't have any air, and whatever she was doing to my leg was holding me under the water, but I doubled around on her, clasping her about her stomach with both arms, and raised my free leg high in the air. She wasn't a strong enough swimmer to hold her head above water with the weight of most of my leg pressing her down, and she went under.
She released my leg, and I separated from her, kicking away, and came to the surface about five feet away.
Amazon Companion Page 18