"I'll skin the rabbit, Maya," Aura said. "I believe your warrior wants a report."
I handed her the rabbit and thanked her, then altered my direction towards Malora, the rest of the companions veering off to their own duties before dinner. As I drew closer, suddenly whatever conversation was going on finished. What coincidental timing. Malora indicated the bench on the other side of the table from her.
"Do I have time to bathe before dinner?"
"We'll go together, if you like."
"My lips will smudge."
Malora raised her voice. "Our four tardy companions have paid their penalty. They will wear pink the remainder of the day, but there will be no additional punishments if they are not entirely diligent."
I smiled. "Tell me. When you see these bright pink lips, do you think about kissing them?"
"Yes," she whispered. "Don't tease."
"Perhaps I will adopt pink lips and pony tails on a more permanent basis." I touched my hair. "I think it's very cute."
"Funny," she said.
"It was your idea. I thought you were telling me how you liked me to appear."
She chuckled.
"I am only trying to win your approval, Malora," I said with a grin.
"You're in a playful mood."
I nodded.
"I do not detect twigs in your hair."
"We all had a very good workout, Malora," I said quietly. "You know that."
"I know. Are you going to tell me about it?"
"Vorine is ticklish."
At that, she guffawed. "And how did you discover this?"
"I attempted a wrestling submission hold. It was only partially successful, but against Vorine, I think that's doing pretty good."
She laughed again and nodded. "I would agree with that assessment. Ready to bathe?"
Ten minutes later, she said, "You have fresh bruises."
"I do?" I asked. "I didn't notice getting them. Where?" She pointed them out. "Oh, I think that one is Varda."
She pointed to two others. "These are from submission holds."
"Omie or Vorine then," I said. "Bea got me with one on my leg though." I paused. "Is the pink in my hair fading?"
"Maybe a little."
"Oh," I said.
"I could try washing it more thoroughly," she said. "Or we could cover it with a different color."
"No," I said. "Can Serra make more of her mixture?"
"No," Malora said, nudging me.
"I think it's cute."
"You're pushing my buttons."
"Really?" I looked over my shoulder at her. "Good. It's in fun."
"Of course." She hugged me. "You haven't been like this since we arrived. You were a little like this the first day."
I turned around and took the soap from her and began washing her. When I was done bathing her, I took her hands and began luring her into deeper water. She didn't realize what I was doing until we were in the middle of the pool, then her eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't."
"We had an agreement," I told her. "I have accepted every wrestling match that has been offered to me, including yours."
I separated us.
She looked over her shoulder to shore.
"You won't make it," I told her.
"You are a sneaky woman, Maya," she said.
"I could have waited until we had an audience to watch this."
She launched herself at me, but she misestimated the distance, falling short, and I pushed her under.
I played cat and mouse with her for a long time. Several times she tried setting off for shore, but I caught her and pulled her out to deeper water each time. She was alternating between laughing and snarling at me.
I don't know how many times I dunked her. She got me a few times, too, and several times she managed to apply a submission hold or another, but each time I managed to twist enough to dunk her, and she had to break her own hold and escape for air.
Finally I let her back away from me, but stayed between her and shore. She was panting. I was too, but not anywhere near as hard.
"If you offer to wear pink lips tonight, I'll let you go to shore. Otherwise you're about to get the dunking of your life."
She stared at me. "You wouldn't."
I grinned. "Naw. It was the funniest thing I could think of to threaten you with."
"I admit there could be a certain amount of amusement to some people."
"Race you to shore, first one standing on the rocks gets a massage at bedtime."
She laughed and then tried to cheat, grabbing at my feet when I pulled ahead during the race, but I turned around, dunked her badly, dragging her to deeper water, then took off while she was sputtering.
"You cheat!" she said when she finally made it to shore.
"I wasn't going to until you tried to grab my foot," I said. "It's your own fault." I wrapped a towel around her, pulling her into my arms in the process. "I want to ask a question and I need an honest answer."
"Of course."
"Did you want the massage tonight?"
"No, of course not."
"That's why I made it that wager," I said, "but it was in fun because I thought it was what you wanted, anyway."
"It is, Maya. That time is important to me."
"So you won by my cheating."
She grinned. "I guess I did."
"I also believe that while you do nearly everything better than I do, there is this one thing that I do better than you do."
She laughed. "More than one, but yes, your prowess in the water pleases me."
We dried and, arm-in-arm, returned to our hut. Malora fixed my hair, chuckling while she did it.
"You are amused by your own joke," I observed.
"I am amused more by how well you accepted it. I worried you would be sullen."
I glanced up at her. "It was in fun." I looked away. "You know, fun was never important to me. I don't understand."
"Perhaps because, while you were heaped with responsibilities, you knew fun was available, and you were not as far out of your element as you are here. You always had the sea just outside your door."
"I miss the ocean," I admitted. "I miss my family." I looked up. "Do you think they have replaced me as teacher yet?"
"I am sure someone stepped in. I am sure others wish you were teaching and not whoever has taken over."
She adjusted my hair for a minute then said, "There. Perfect. You look so darling." I grinned up at her, and she brushed my lips with her fingers. "But most of the pink is gone. You will need to find Aura or Neela before dinner and again afterwards, and that should be the last time."
"You may do this punishment again, Malora," I told her. "It has been a bonding experience for us."
"I rarely do the same amusing punishment twice," she said. "But I am pleased you took something away from it. We have a little time before dinner. Do you have chores?"
"Not unless there are new ones," I said. "I am caught up on all my mending."
"Then perhaps you should visit for a while with Nori or Ralla. We will be away for two weeks, or a little more. Nori will remain here, although we will meet with Ralla for the second week."
"What about Karena?" I asked. I hadn't been helping her.
"Karena is less in need," she said. "Balorie as well, but she may seek you out. I have advised her she may do so. It will not be as steady as Nori and Ralla."
I went in search of Aura first, and she fixed my lips. Then I found Ralla. She was outside, just hanging around, which I thought was odd, but her face lit up when she saw me. I realized she was hoping to catch me.
"May I speak with you, Maya? I have something for you."
"Of course," I said. "I was looking for you as well."
She took my arm and led me to her hut. She had a new piece of furniture, a small bench made from tree branches lashed together. It had a back as well. She led me to it, and we sat down together.
"I know," she said. "It isn't very comfortable. I am not a very good furniture-maker.
"
I moved her hands where I wanted them, one on my neck, the other on my arm, my fingers wrapped over hers. "I could make cushions, but there is a materials issue."
She laughed. "With you, it is always a materials issue. I will obtain cloth. Thank you."
"Leather?"
"No, I think cotton."
"Where will you get cotton?"
"From one of the villages on the plains, if possible. Otherwise it will need to wait until I have future opportunity."
"I have a lot of rabbit skins now."
"I imagine."
"If I gave you half, would you be able to trade for cotton or wool?"
She smiled. "I can try. What colors?"
"Ocean colors if they have them, forest colors otherwise." I smiled. "And more pink lip paint."
She laughed. "You enjoy pink lips?"
"I enjoy teasing my warrior."
"You said you were looking for me," she said a moment later.
"Just for this," I said. "Does it help?"
She nodded.
"Not as much as if we were more intimate?"
"No, but it helps. Thank you."
We sat quietly. She stroked the skin of my neck and face, her other hand staying on my arm, neither of us talking for a while. Then she smiled.
"I have something for you. A gift."
"For me?"
She nodded. "I traded for it. I asked permission from your warrior, and she made recommendations." She rose to her feet, and she looked deeply pleased with herself, pulling me to mine. "Please close your eyes."
I closed dutifully, and there was a rustling sound, and then she stood behind me, slipping something over my arms, and a weight settled onto my shoulders. "Open."
I looked, and she had dressed me in a long leather coat. It was forest green and absolutely stunning.
"Ralla!" I said. It was a princely gift, and I was stunned.
"It is cow leather," she said. "I have had it for some time. It came to me easily, a reward for a life saved."
"An Amazon life?"
"A merchant and his incompetent guards," I said. "Waylaid by bandits. He offered me any reward I asked, and I told him leather and practical cloth. He sent me a great deal, and I have used it for trade for years. This represents the last."
"You-"
"Are very pleased to see you wearing this," she said. "Please accept it. Your warrior has given permission for me to give this to you."
"Thank you. Who made it?"
"That was the trade. There is a woman in a village to the south who is known for this. She made it. I will introduce you."
I turned around, causing the coat to swirl open. She hadn't buttoned the front.
"It should protect you from the weather," she said. "It is too warm for the summer, but if it rains during your trip, you will want it. The oils for caring for it are amongst the common supplies."
"It is beautiful. Thank you."
She helped me step out of it and drew me to her bench again, and we sat for a while longer. I was touched by her gift. Ralla laid her head on my shoulder and seemed content.
"We can not do this at other villages," she said. "Do not offer. Serve only your warrior."
"Why?"
"Because it will start false rumors."
"It does not start false rumors here?"
"No, but Amazon politics are like the politics elsewhere. I avoid them, but your warrior cannot. She may not tell you this, because she would rather accept more difficulties in her life if doing so ease mines. I will not allow her to make that choice."
"I understand."
"Do not tell her I told you unless she asks. But do not lie, either."
I kissed the top of her head, and she clutched my arm for a moment.
"You better go," she said. "I am about to ask for more from you."
I squeezed her hand, collected my coat, thanking her again. She rose from the bench and handed me a hangar for the coat before seeing me to the door of her hut.
I didn't have time to visit Nori, and I had to leave the coat in our hut. Malora was waiting for me, and she grinned when she saw what was in my arms.
"Let me see you wearing it," she said. and then helped me pull it back on. She made small adjustments, grinning. "You look amazing."
"It is too great a gift," I said.
"Were you gracious?"
"Yes."
"She wanted to give this to you. She has no companion to lavish with her gifts, and it will ease her to know she has offered this protection to you."
"She is not asking for something from me?"
"No. Gifts are gifts, and there is never an obligation. Otherwise it is a trade. There are those who call a trade a gift, but I would warn you if you were dealing with one. None of the warriors here are like that, and I hope you aren't, either."
"Where do the favors I have been doing count in that, Malora?"
"I choose to believe you were offering both of them friendship, and while they may not have repaid you exactly the way you may have wanted, they would have found ways to help you. I find no fault, Maya. Turn around once more please."
I turned around for her once more, then she helped me remove the coat, and I hung it up.
"After dinner we will pack."
* * * *
We left early the next morning, just the two of us, our two horses, and a third horse with our supplies. We had a small tent rather than her large pavilion plus the other things we would need.
"I have something for you," Malora said once the horses were ready. She gestured, and Nori approached holding out a staff. "Be gracious," she whispered to me.
Nori was carrying a staff, but it was a little different than the ones we practiced with. Instead of being only wood, this staff was wrapped in leather for the middle third of its length, and there was a small loop formed near one end of the leather. She handed the staff to Malora, who turned to me.
"An Amazon does not leave her village unarmed," my warrior told me. "Not even a companion. For some companions, that means a sword. For some, it means a bow. For you right now, it means a staff." She thrust it towards me, and I took it from her.
"Thank you, Malora." I didn't want it. I couldn't begin to tell her how much I didn't want it, but she had asked me to be gracious, and I would be gracious.
"The leather makes it easier to hold," she explained. "But the leather damages easily during training. This is a weapon, not a training staff. If you train on this trip, it will be with a borrowed training staff, not this weapon."
I nodded understanding.
"There are two ways you may carry it," she explained, and Nori handed her some sort of sling. Malora put the sling over my shoulder, tightening it, then showed me how the staff could sit across my back at an angle, peering over my left shoulder and around my right knee. She helped me release the staff from the sling then replace it, asking me to do it several times. It wasn't hard, and at least I was good at putting things away, even if I couldn't use them in my hands.
"There is one other way to carry it," she said. "There is a similar sling for your saddle." Nori handed it to her, and Malora helped me attach the sling to Fleetfoot's saddle, then we slid the staff into the sling.
I thanked her again, and then we offered our farewells to those seeing us off.
As we started out, we rode together on her horse, although we would not ride double the whole trip.
"We will stay at the villages each night," Malora explained, "and some will have arrangements for us, but some will not."
"Other than my normal duties to you, do I have other responsibilities?"
"I will from time to time ask you to take notes. We brought paper."
I had packed it, wrapping it carefully to protect it from the rain.
"At some villages, you will remain with me at all times. At some, you will not. You may be asked to help prepare meals. At no time will you serve anyone other than me."
I nodded understanding.
"The comp
anions of a village may wish to speak with you. Do not engage in gossip, but otherwise you should speak with them. Sometimes messages to me are sent in circumspect fashion. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Sometimes, most times, it will only be a friendly invitation."
"I understand."
"When we are in a village during that village's training sessions, we will probably train with them. I know this thought doesn't please you, but I require you to accept with as much stoicism as you can manage, and do your best."
"I will embarrass you."
"Do not focus on that. Do your best. That is all I ask."
I nodded, but my heart began pounding in my chest, and I didn't hear what she said next.
"Maya? Maya? Maya!"
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Have you heard anything I said?"
"Not for a while. I'm sorry."
She was quiet, but she didn't reprimand me. "What was the last you heard?"
"Do my best."
She caressed my cheek. "All right. Each village has a village chief. They are second only to me and Nori, but within their villages, we follow their rules."
"They are different?"
"The normal Amazon rules you have learned apply, but each village may have additional rules. For you to be bound by the rules, it is required they offer to present them to you. Before we arrive at a village, I will quietly tell you the rules, but someone will ask you if you know the local rules. You will always say yes, but ask for them to be repeated for better understanding."
"Why?"
"In case they change. Even if we return to a village two days later, you will ask for the rules."
"I understand."
"If no one offers you the rules, but you know the village has special rules, then you should ask. Do so in my hearing. Someone may be playing games with you by not offering, although simple oversight is more likely."
"What can I expect?"
"The first village today is Black Oak. We will arrive before lunch, stay for an hour or so, including lunch, and then travel on. Black Oak has no special rules. However, the next village is Two Bends. It is on a river. The village chief keeps a garden, and every companion in the village is expected to spend a few minutes every day tending the garden. Do you know how?"
"I wasn't a farmer, but I grew up in a town that was half fishing village, half farmland. Nearly everyone kept a garden, but I may need to be introduced to any unusual plants."
Amazon Companion Page 26