Amazon Companion

by Roseau, Robin

  "We were wrestling."

  She froze.

  "Turn around."

  I turned away from her, and she stepped up behind me. "There are twigs in your hair and grass stains on your back."

  "The grass stains could be old," I said. "We were wrestling." I told her the entire story.

  "If you're mad, do not blame them. I was the adult, and it was my decision."

  She began to smile. "Wrestling." I nodded. "And you beat Bea by tickling her?"

  "I bet that's a submission hold Omie doesn't know."

  She laughed. "Or would never stoop to using, at least."

  "She begged me not to tell anyone. Please don't embarrass her."

  "Of course not." She tapped her foot. "I have to punish you for being late, but it is going to be a token punishment, because I couldn't be more pleased about the reason."

  "I figured. Please don't punish the girls. They were helping me."

  "The training ground is what frightens you?"

  "I don't know. Those three are fun, and they're so much younger, they aren't intimidating, even though all three of them can beat me."

  "Except, apparently, anyone who is ticklish." She frowned. "Don't you dare try that with me."

  I laughed. "Like you wouldn't turn the tables."

  "I would use a submission hold you wouldn't like." She cocked her head. "It needs to look like a punishment without being a punishment. Do you mind embarrassment?"

  "No."

  "All right. Public spanking."

  "Seriously?" I said. "I'm not a child."

  "Which is why it's embarrassment." But she grinned. "I was making a joke. I'll think of something embarrassing and announce it after dinner." She hugged me. "You may wrestle with them if you want, but don't make everyone wait for dinner again, and please don't frighten me."

  I nodded.

  By the time we stepped outside, the three girls had finished at the stables and were standing in a group with Ralla. I followed behind Malora as she led the way back to the dining tables.

  "Maya, Bea, Aura and Neela returned from a venture far later than expected. If they were warriors, this offense would not be notable, but all four of them have duties that were being neglected, and dinner tonight is delayed due to their tardy return. Furthermore, the tardiness was lengthy enough we were on the edge of sending out search parties, which would have inconvenienced more of us."

  She looked around. "My companion has explained the delay and accepts full responsibility." She turned to Clara, Lidi and Gaylie. "Will you accept my judgment on this issue?"

  "Yes, Queen Malora," was the response from the three of them.

  "Very well." She paused. "To be honest, I am torn as to what to do, and I think perhaps I should explain. As all of you have no doubt determined on your own, my companion is not fond of the martial arts."

  "She could have fooled us this afternoon," Benala said.

  "Quite," said Malora with a smile. "But on the training ground, her reticence is evident, and in private she has repeatedly begged to be excused from training."

  That generated some discussion. Most of the women wouldn't have known that.

  "In short, even light wrestling terrifies her."

  "Why?" Lidi asked.

  I wasn't sure if I was to answer, but Malora turned to me and said, "That is something I have tried to understand. Do you care to answer, Maya?"

  "I don't know," I said. "I didn't choose this life like most of you did. I know I am not fit to be an Amazon."

  I looked down, embarrassed to have admitted it in public.

  They were quiet.

  "Queen Malora," said Aura.

  "Not now, Aura," she replied.

  Nori stood up. "Maya has not been long with us, and her arrival amongst us was probably about as shocking as could have occurred. I have been aware of her emotional reaction to training, and I have been very disappointed with myself that I haven't been able to overcome it. I do not blame her. She was thrust into this life more rudely than anyone else here, and that is entirely my fault. I saw a woman I knew would be a valued companion, and she seemed very fierce, but I then was quite cruel in how I brought her to us. Maya, I am sorry."

  "You once told me you wouldn't apologize until I understood why you did it that way," I told her. "Why now?"

  "Because you are owed the apology. I do not apologize for taking you, and I disagree that you are unfit as an Amazon. But I was wrong in taking you so cruelly. I hope you will forgive me."

  I considered it. "I cannot completely forgive you until I know I will never throw it in your face again, but I thank you for the apology, and I will take it to heart."

  Vorine stood up. "You were afraid of me in the water today."

  "And of your sister, and to a lesser extent of Nori the day I roughhoused with her," I said. "Yes."

  "You thought we were going to hurt you."

  "You did hurt me," I said. "And I am hurt every day during training."

  "I misspoke," Vorine said. "You were afraid I would damage you, perhaps cripple you."

  "Yes."

  "Were you still afraid after we talked?"

  "Less so."

  "Only less so? You think I would cripple you?"

  "Perhaps not intentionally."

  "I wouldn't!"

  "She doesn't know that," Malora said. "She sees our competitive nature but has not been amongst us long enough to know she can trust us." She turned to me. "I suspect there are a number of reasons for your fears."

  "Yes, I believe there are."

  Clara stood up. "What does this have to do with why they were so late?"

  Malora smiled. "Because they were wrestling. All of them."

  "Maya was wrestling?" Nori said. "Willingly?"

  "I had fun," I said. "A theory was proposed that my joy in the events at the water today suggest it is not wrestling that is my fear, but the location of the wrestling. Another theory was proposed that there are certain Amazons that intimidate me so excessively, that being near them frightens me. Another theory proposed was that the presence of whips is counterproductive to my emotional state, or perhaps the whipping post in the center of the training grounds. All theories have merit."

  Nori stood back up, looking at my three compatriots. "Where did you wrestle?"

  "After checking my snares, on the meadow at Backbend Gulch."

  "A fine location," Nori said. "And did you follow the rules Malora has established for young companions?"

  "We did. We started down and interrupted on every separation. We were very careful."

  "And these three," she said, gesturing, "are not the Amazons that intimidate you?"

  "No, although I only won one of my three matches. I will not state which one."

  "You were away from all the sources of your intimidation," Nori pointed out.

  "And I was away from anyone who might be forced to punish me if I responded poorly," I said, "so that fear was removed as well."

  "And you had... fun?"

  "Yes."

  "In that case, I do not at all mind a late dinner." Nori sat back down.

  Clara stood up. "Serra, is dinner ruined?"

  "No. It is stew. It can bubble for hours, although it would have been better with the addition of a rabbit or two." She looked at me pointedly.

  "Oh dear, the rabbits!" I said.

  "Already delivered," she said. "We will have them tomorrow."

  "My skins?"

  "I have them for you," Ralla said. "I do not mind a late dinner."

  "Nor do I," Clara said, sitting back down.

  One by one, the warriors stood up and said in one way or another, "I do not mind one late dinner," and sat back down.

  "Thank you," Malora said. "We cannot allow this tardiness to go completely unrewarded, so I will announce my decision when dinner is over. We've waited long enough to eat."

  She took her seat, and the companions all rose to serve their warriors. I served Malora and Nori and was invited to sit betwee
n them, my usual place.

  "You've had a big day," Nori said to me.

  "Yes," I agreed.

  "And it's not even over," Malora added with a chuckle.

  "What are you thinking, Malora?" Nori asked.

  "Something embarrassing," Malora replied.

  "Remember that time you made Lidi kiss everyone's feet?"

  "It wouldn't have been so bad, but you all intentionally got your feet muddy first. I hadn't intended it to be as bad as it was."

  "We weren't happy with her, and we thought she was getting off easy."

  Lidi overheard and said, "I liked when you made Ping wear Serra's clothes." Ping was very tall and Serra very short.

  "They didn't tear?" I asked.

  "They did. Ripped the seams right out," Lidi said. "Serra was unhappy about that."

  "I made Ping repair them."

  "Ping is lousy at sewing and Serra had to redo all the repairs."

  "Oh," Malora said. "I didn't realize that. I wasn't trying to punish Serra."

  After that, one by one, the Amazons reminded Malora of punishments she had inflicted in the past. Clara once spent two days wearing nothing but her boots and a horse's tail. Another time, she'd had her legs tied together so she could only crawl around.

  "Clara was fond of practical jokes," Malora explained. "Which was fine unless she went too far."

  "I admit the punishment you gave Varda and Bea was good," I said.

  "You made me dye my face blue once," Nori said. "It took six weeks to fade."

  "You probably shouldn't have dyed her horse," Ralla suggested from the end of the table.

  "I was drunk," Nori said.

  "And stupid?" I asked.

  "Yes."

  "I would like to point out, just in case it matters, that I was not engaged in practical jokes."

  Malora smiled. "No, but you are accepting the punishment for four. You were all late, after all, and while you claimed it was all your fault, it clearly was not."

  Bea heard that and said, "Queen Malora, I would accept my share of the punishment. I am sorry we were late, but I am not at all sorry about the reason why."

  "Bea," Malora said, "that is very gracious of you, and bluntly, I am quite pleased about the reason why. You helped my companion, and I thank you."

  "We didn't do it entirely for altruistic reasons," Bea said. "I like wrestling her. And so do Neela and Aura. But not if she doesn't think it's fun, too."

  Malora thought about it. "Well then, Bea, I believe a minor amount of embarrassment is coming your way. We are not due for a bonfire tonight, but I believe we will have one anyway, and you will tell the first story."

  "First story?"

  "Yes. You will tell the story of my companion's wrestling win."

  "You told her!" Bea said.

  "I told you I'd have to. I'm sorry, I asked her to limit the punishment to me."

  "We're just as guilty," Neela and Aura said after a glance at each other.

  Malora glanced at me and whispered, "You have won them over. I knew you would." She raised her voice. "Very well. Some time ago, we were tithed a variety of things that are not at all appropriate for Amazons, including bright pink hair ribbons. You will each tie your hair in a pair of high pony tails," and she gestured where she wanted the pony tails, "and adorn them in the pink ribbons. We will all help you tonight. You will wear the pony tails for three days."

  "Pink?" said Aura.

  "Pink," Malora replied.

  "Yes, Queen Malora," Neela said.

  "We also have some lovely pink lip paint, which you will keep well-applied."

  "Pink?" said Aura.

  "Yes, Queen Malora," Neela said.

  From my left, Nori chuckled, then she whispered to me. "She's got something truly special in mind for you, but I don't have a clue what."

  "Nori, will you teach me an ankle lock tomorrow?"

  Nori began to laugh. "Yes. I would love to."

  We finished dinner. I cleared and cleaned up, and when I got back, I saw Malora whispering to Serra. I thought that was likely bad news for me, but I was pretty sure whatever she had in mind wouldn't be horrible.

  "You four will build our bonfire," Malora said. "We will implement the punishments, and then I want a song from you, Maya."

  I gathered the other three, and we set up the fire. As we finished, the rest of the Amazons joined us, spirits high. The bonfires were always popular, and the promise of a little entertainment made it more so. Malora direct us to set up benches for the four of us to sit on, directly in front of the fire where everyone could watch us, then she lit the fire.

  "Serra," Malora said. "Are you ready?"

  "Yes," Serra said, rising to her feet. "I will need some time to prepare your companion. Perhaps I should begin now."

  "Very good," Malora said. She looked at the rest of the Amazons. "Anyone who gives away to my companion what Serra is doing to her will suffer the same fate. Do I make myself clear?"

  There were a lot of nods, and I suddenly began to grow nervous.

  "Maya," Serra said, bringing a bench near the fire and setting it down. "Sit here, facing your Amazon sisters."

  Dutifully I moved onto the bench indicated. Serra unbraided my hair and then ordered me to close my eyes. A moment later I heard Malora whisper in my ear, "If you open your eyes before I give you permission, there will be a real punishment." I nodded understanding. "You will sit there quietly and let Serra do whatever she wants. No questions, no comments." Again I nodded.

  Malora stepped away. "All right," she said. "Bea, you're up. Please tell the story of Maya's third wrestling match."

  Bea sighed dramatically. I was proud of her. She told the story well, adding a bit of drama to it, and from the sounds, she even acted some of it out. The Amazons enjoyed the story, laughing often and even catcalling, but of course, they didn't understand why it was punishment for Bea until she got to the part where I began tickling her.

  "Wait!" Clara said, and I heard movement. "She tickled you during a wrestling match?"

  "I couldn't get her pinned," Bea said. "But she was getting tired. She was already tired. That's why she wanted company in the first place. It was only a matter of time. So she cheated!"

  I spoke up from my seat. "No one has ever said tickling is not allowed during a wrestling match. If that is a rule, then I should have been made aware of it."

  That yielded chuckles, especially when everyone called out to Nori for a ruling. Nori and Malora bantered back and forth, then Nori declared tickling to be a perfectly valid submission hold.

  I imagined Omie and Vorine were deeply amused.

  "How did this tickling wrestling match end, Bea?" Malora asked her.

  "I'm ticklish. It's not my fault. And it was just a fun match, anyway."

  "Bea...."

  "I couldn't get away!"

  "Bea...."

  "I tapped out moments before I was going to soil my pants."

  That earned her a great deal of teasing, some of it also directed to me. I was referred to as "tickler" for a few days after that, which even I thought was funny, although I was about to acquire a second nickname as well.

  "How is it going, Serra?" Malora asked.

  "It will be some time," Serra said. "She has a lot of hair. Perhaps we could have other people tell stories for a while."

  "Excellent suggestion," Malora responded. She immediately called for other stories, and all the Amazons took turns telling one ribald tale after another.

  I had no idea what Serra was doing. She had spent the entire time messing with my hair. It felt like she was painting something into it, and it smelled awful. I wondered if she was mixing something awful into it that I wouldn't be able to wash out, but I didn't think Malora would do anything terrible to me. She needed her companion, after all, and if I stank terribly, she wouldn't want me to get too close. Furthermore, she loved playing with my hair, so I was sure she wouldn't do anything to ruin that for herself.

  The stories went o
n for a long time. Malora checked frequently with Serra, and from her tone, she seemed very amused. I heard muttering from the other Amazons as well, but nothing that gave me a clue.

  "Has she peeked?" Malora asked Serra.

  "No," I said, "she has not. Are you going to give me a hint?"

  "You'll see soon enough. Don't forget her eyebrows, Serra."

  Serra finished whatever she was doing to my hair then knelt in front of me. "I don't like doing this part," she said quietly. "I need you to hold very still. Here." She pressed a damp cloth into my hands. "I want you to hold that over both your eyes." I lifted it to my face, wrapping it into place, and Serra made adjustments until she was satisfied. Then she did to my eyebrows whatever she had been doing to my hair. She waited a while as Nori told a story about a hunting expedition gone awry, and then Serra rinsed my face, dabbing with a cloth. She took the cloth from my hands, dabbing at my face a little more, then stepped around behind me and pawed at my hair for a moment.

  "Queen Malora," she said, as soon as Nori finished her tale. "Your victim is ready."

  "Wrap her hair in a towel. I'm not ready for her to see," Malora directed. Serra did that, tucking it in tightly, making sure she got every wisp of hair.

  "You may open your eyes," Serra said into my ear. "I do not believe Malora will be pleased if you catch an early glimpse of what I have done."

  I turned to her and opened my eyes. She was grinning.

  "Thank you, Serra, for whatever you have done."

  Her grin broadened and she nodded.

  "All right. Next up are Neela and Aura," Malora said. "Serra, do you have my supplies?"

  "Yes, Queen Malora," she said. She stepped forward and handed Malora a spool of ribbon and a few other things. Malora recruited assistance, and soon Neela and Aura sat on the bench, side by side, their hair done in an excessive number of pink ribbons, waving around every time they turned their heads, and their lips painted a bright pink.

  "You will refresh the lip paint several times a day as necessary," Malora said, "and anyone who sees you outside your hut with your hair done improperly or your lips smudged may add to your punishment."

  The two of them did not look at all like Amazons, but they bore it well.

  "Now, for the ringleader," Malora said. "The eldest, the one who should have known better."