"Fourteen?"
"That we saw. Twelve are feeding the buzzards."
"Did I kill mine?"
"Three. I finished the other two."
"Harsh."
"They were tattooed." They'd attacked Amazons in the past, and gotten caught for it.
"Were all of them?"
"Five total, probably the remnants of a gang that Balorie and Gaylie dealt with a few years ago."
"The leader?"
"He was dead. One of the tattooed corpses."
"I-" I paused. "I kicked ass!"
"You totally kicked ass."
"They were..."
"Not up to Amazon standards," Malora said with a grin. "Bandits rely on intimidation and bluster. Fourteen to two odds seems overwhelming, but they didn't have a clue how to attack more than two at a time, and you saw how readily you handled two. Imagine how many Nori and I could handle."
"I kicked ass."
She grinned. "Yes, you did. And more importantly, you did exactly what I told you to, well, except I told you to leave the rest for me."
"I was just hanging around, getting bored. Are you going to make me wear pink lips again in punishment?"
She laughed. "I should. You were very naughty."
"Seriously? Are you upset? I didn't follow orders."
"In a situation like that, you trust the warriors you are with. The first two would have come after you. I was out of sight, so you were the nearest target. I had thought to get to them before they could reach you, but the two at the back joined in, and one of them actually knew how to use a sword. He delayed me. I was worried for you, but then I saw you had it handled."
"You had me take the leader because it got me furthest from everyone else?"
"Yes. You were perfect. He never saw it coming."
"No reason to warn him."
"No."
"I fainted."
"You did. But you waited until it was over. You would have kept going if I'd needed you to. I caught you."
"Thank you. How did you get me here?"
"On the horse with me."
"Did you fondle my breasts while I was unconscious."
"I had to squeeze your ass getting you on the horse, and then your breasts were the most convenient handle."
We smiled at each other.
"I'm glad you can joke."
"It doesn't feel real." I looked at her. "Why aren't you holding me? I think I need you to hold me."
She moved over to sit next to me and I folded into her, laying my head on her shoulder. Her hair was wet.
"You bathed without me!"
"I was a bit of a mess."
"Oh. I suppose a sword is messier than a staff."
"You may not say that if you saw the body parts you left leaking out of some of them."
"Eww. Let's not think about that."
She chuckled.
"You seem pleased, Malora."
"We rid the world of ten problems. I feel for their need, but I do not apologize. Maybe I am bloodthirsty, but I have no tolerance for men who would prey on the weak. Nor for fools who would attack Amazons." She paused. "You know what they would have done to us."
"He said he'd let us go."
"Do you believe him?"
I thought about it. "I suppose that would be naïve. Yes, I know what they would have done. Probably. We didn't give him a chance."
"Well, for what it's worth, the leader wouldn't have been able to, not after your little initial exchange. Every man there reacted. They can't stand seeing another man get hit like that, and it shocked them. I really should credit my first two kills to you, but then I'd have to admit you got more than I did."
I smiled and kissed the side of her neck. It was what I could reach. "Admittedly, I had a head start."
"That you did, and mine were more spread out."
"I watched you for a second or so. You were amazing, Malora. I'll never be like that."
"You were plenty good enough today though, weren't you?"
"I was. I really was."
"Yep." She hugged me more tightly, and I winced. "Sorry."
I clung to her for a while. "Am I going to have nightmares?"
"I don't know," she replied. "I do sometimes. I'm sorry for that."
"You knew I could handle it. As bad as I am, you trusted me with the leader, who was the biggest and meanest."
"Big bully," she replied. "And did you see that stance? Laughable. He was practically begging for you to do exactly what you did. He couldn't have been more obvious if he had attached a sign saying 'kick me here'."
I laughed. "So that one doesn't count?"
"Oh no, it definitely counts," she said. "I knew you could take him. I didn't know if you could take the others."
"I hate to admit it, but I don't know if I could have without having received Parlomith's lessons."
"As you said, she gets results, but she still interfered with your primary responsibility. You could have handled the leader, and you could have held off a few more while I worked my way to you. That's all you needed to be able to handle. But I think you're right, and maybe I won't kill her. But I don't want her training in Queen's Town, either."
"When you send her a message declining, I wouldn't suppose you could mention I took out five bandits?"
Malora chuckled. "Count on it. But when we get home, we're going to be addressing your form. You used far more energy than required, and if there had been any at your back, you would have left yourself open."
"Ah, sure. Never satisfied." I tightened my hold to let her know I wasn't upset. "Did I damage my staff?"
"I didn't check yet."
"I swept away some sword points."
"A few dings are signs you used it. That's another reason you don't practice with it. Any dings should be gotten honestly." She paused. "Hungry?"
"Starving."
* * * *
We met up with Ralla late the next day, the bandits having delayed us. She admitted she was worried and was going to look for us if we didn't show up by morning.
"I had to get a little training for my companion," Malora explained.
"You stayed an extra day at Northglen?"
"Bandit management training," she explained.
"Oh?" Ralla raised her eyebrow.
"We detoured to Howard's Den for a little shopping, and they were waiting in one of the ravines for us."
"Oh. I've been meaning to grab Nori or Balorie and roust them out. I should have told you about them. If I'd known you were going to be this way... Do I need to go finish with them?"
"I don't think the last two have stopped running," Malora said. "The rest are done running."
"Ah." Ralla paused. "How did she do?"
"I did okay," I said. "I passed out."
Ralla patted my hand. "Well, an unconscious woman doesn't attract a lot of attention, so they probably left you alone until Malora could finish them off."
I grinned at her, then turned to Malora. "We didn't discuss a theory."
"What theory is that?"
"Whether the five I killed were blinded by my pink hair, and that's why they were so easy."
Ralla blinked. "Five? So you didn't pass out?"
"Oh she passed out," Malora said. "After it was all over and she realized what she'd done."
"She got five? Way to go, Maya! I bet that left Malora disappointed. You're never going to catch up to my count if you keep taking the best warriors with you, Malora. Maybe next time you should knock her out so she doesn't steal your kills from you."
"What's your count, Ralla?"
"Seventeen. Nori was so angry because she got the two best swordsmen in that encounter, and by the time she finished with them, the rest of the band was dead or dying."
"Only one got a chance to demonstrate any proficiency with a sword," Malora explained. "Maya did a great job demonstrating why we teach staff."
"We're going to need a big party when we get back," Ralla said. "So, what's this about Parlomith?"
Ralla held up her hands. "What did she do?"
Malora explained, and then Ralla said, "I never did like her, but she gets results. In all fairness, Northglen gets some of the worst troubles to deal with."
"Well, she's not getting near Queen's Town," Malora said.
"You promised I could take her swimming though!" I said with a grin.
Ralla laughed. "Wouldn't that surprise her? I'd pay to see that."
"It would be petty," Malora said. "But fitting."
"She'd find a way to pay me back," I said. "I don't want to think about her. Can we talk about a big bandit leader begging for a little attention between his legs instead?"
They laughed.
* * * *
That night in our tent, I curled into Malora, wrapping my arms around her. In the dim light, we stared into each other's eyes.
"Roll over," I ordered. "I want to hold you for a while."
"I prefer to do the holding."
"Please."
She rolled over, offering her back, and I snuggled closer to her. I didn't understand my emotions, but right then, I really wanted to hold her. I buried my face in the back of her neck and inhaled deeply.
She caressed my arms. "Are you all right, Maya?"
"I don't know," I admitted.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm a poor Amazon."
"No, you are not," she replied. She tried to roll back to face me, but I tightened my arms around her. "Maya-"
"I want to hold you. Just for a few minutes."
She settled, but she felt stiff.
"Is this so hard for you, Malora?" I asked her. "Do you hate my arms around you?"
"I very much enjoy your arms around me, but I think you need mine around you."
"I do, soon." I snuggled closer, my entire body pressed against her.
I didn't know what I wanted to say to her, and I didn't understand what I was feeling, but it felt good to hold her, and I slowly grew more settled.
"I was safe in Gallen's Cove," I said.
"Oh Maya-"
"Wait, Malora." I tightened my arms for a moment before I continued. "I was a good schoolteacher. I had the respect of the entire village. I had the respect and ear of the village elders. I came into my job younger than I should have been. I worked hard, and I succeeded. No one ever accused me of being lazy, of shirking my duty-"
"Maya-"
"I'm not done." She clasped my hands but grew still. "Here, I have none of those things. You make me train hard because it's not safe; yesterday was evidence. You'll never be able to let me travel alone, because while I performed well yesterday, I could not have handled that without you. I am alive because of you."
"Maya-"
"I'll tell you when I'm done, Malora," I said firmly. "Here, I have the ear of a queen, but I have no influence."
"That's not true!"
I shut up. She wasn't going to let me finish. I pulled my arms away from her and rolled over, bending away from her so my bottom was pressed against her, making it harder to hold me.
She rolled over to face me.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I keep interrupting. You are misstating your position here, and I can't help it. You can gag me and finish, if you want."
The thought of her letting me gag her almost made me smile. I rolled onto my back and let her wrap her arms around me, one underneath my neck, the other across my chest, her hand on my far shoulder.
"I am not respected," I said. She opened her mouth then closed it. "And I shouldn't be, either. I'm a good swimmer, but everyone in Gallen's Cove is a good swimmer. I am organized. Neither of these holds great value to the Amazons." I paused. "The worst part is, I know there's nothing I can do about this. I know I'm never going to be worthy of respect here. The youngest amongst us are already worthy of greater respect than I am. What do you think that does to my ego? How helpless do you think I feel?"
She started to open her mouth to answer, but leaned towards her and set my fingers across her lips, and then I rolled into her, laying my head on her shoulder, shoving her onto her back. She let me.
"But in spite of all that, you make me feel safe. I wasn't afraid of dying yesterday; I was only afraid of disappointing you. I know, right at this minute, I am safer than I could be in my own mother's arms with you here and Ralla only a tent away. And I know that while you'll never respect me as an Amazon, you need me, and right now, so do Nori and Ralla. And while I am not respected, and I have nearly no influence and even less power, I am liked. I have friends. I have never had friends."
I bent my head and kissed her shoulder before laying my head back down.
"I've never been held the way you hold me. As a teacher, I was wanted, and I guess my students liked me." I grew still. "I'm not sure if I have a point."
We both lay quietly for a minute before Maya asked me, "My turn?"
I nodded.
"You have influence, Maya," she said, "more than you realize, and it will grow. And you have power, although right now it's subtle. That will also grow." She kissed the top of my head.
"You are liked, deeply liked, and you have many friends now. That will also grow."
"But I'm also a laughingstock and an embarrassment to you."
"Neither of those are accurate," she said gently. "There are Amazons who are narrow-minded, but there are people everywhere who are narrow-minded. Were you respected by every single person in Gallon's Cove?"
I thought about it. "I don't know. Probably not. There are people who don't respect teachers."
"Exactly. And there are Amazons who don't respect a good companion. But doesn't say a thing about you; that is about them."
My emotions began to bubble out of control, and I felt tears leaking from my eyes. "I want you to be proud of me, Malora, but how could you ever be proud of me?"
"Oh Maya," she said, tightening her grip. "I am proud of you."
She stroked my cheek, and that's when she encountered the tears.
"Oh Maya," she said again. "Do you have any idea how important you are to me?"
"You're forever going to be apologizing for your worthless companion, until you finally send me home."
"You promised me two years," she replied, "and I am never sending you home. In two years, if you ask, I will let you leave, but it will break my heart. And I have never apologized for you, and I do not expect to ever be required to do so."
I didn't understand but allowed her soft words and gentle touch to soothe me.
I didn't tell her the most important part. I didn't want to leave, not if it meant leaving her.
* * * *
We traveled south to the far end of Amazon territory, sticking to the plains where traveling was faster. Finally ahead of us I could see the start of a massive swamp.
"This is the southern border," Malora said. "Sometimes the Halana people raid northward, and we deal with them, but mostly they stay to their swamps and jungles, and the demons never get quite this far south. We cut into the forest here."
We stayed overnight in a village there and worked our way north. Our visits were routine, but then we reached a village called Broken Knife, and I came face to face with Riva. Malora was off with the village chief, and I had just settled the horses and was heading to the hut we would be using that night.
"Hello, Maya," she said. "How is it going?"
"Good," I said. "How is your companion?"
"She suits me well, thank you." There was a pause. "Would you like a tour of the village?"
"I would, thank you."
She showed me around. At first, there wasn't much to see, but then we arrived at the dining hall. Broken Knife had an indoor dining hall, which wasn't common, but we'd seen a few others. What was notable was the way this one was decorated.
I almost recoiled in shock. Beside the door was a large bear, standing on his rear legs. But then I realized it wasn't moving.
Riva laughed. "Everyone reacts that way the
first time. It's a village rule that we don't warn newcomers."
"It wasn't mentioned in the briefing I got."
"Well, telling you there was a rule not to tell you something might negate the entire reason for the rule in the first place."
I studied the bear. "It looks so real."
"It is real. Look." She gestured, and I looked around. Throughout the room there were other animals, all standing still, although none of them as dramatic as the bear. There were the heads of deer, and there were the entire bodies of smaller animals. They were everywhere, it seemed.
"I don't understand."
Just then, another Amazon walked in. "Aww! Riva, I missed it. Did she jump?"
"She did. Maya, this is Giorda. She made all of these."
"How?" I asked. "They look so real."
"They are. Basically, they're tanned."
"Oh. Clever."
I walked around, admiring the animals. "How long does it take?"
"Weeks, a little at a time," she said. "I do one every winter."
I counted them. "You're not this old."
"My warrior did it before me, and I believe her warrior before her. But now you must tell me. Why is your hair such an unusual color?"
Malora assured me the color was beginning to fade, but I knew it was still shocking. I told them the story with only a few embellishments, the ones I'd learned amused people the most.
Two days later, we were home.
Surprises
We were well greeted as we arrived. We had barely climbed down from our horses when Nori said, "Aura and Neela, see to the their horses and drop their things off in their huts."
I wasn't expecting that; it was my responsibility, after all. But she grabbed me with one arm around my neck and pulled Malora and me away from the crowd. She was more familiar with Malora than I would have expected.
We had only take a dozen steps when she hissed, "What is Parlomith doing here, why does she think she is getting my job, and who in the hell is she to say those things about the queen's companion?"
I began to stiffen as soon as Nori mentioned Parlomith's name, and Malora's face clouded. There was a moment of silence lasting five heartbeats, then Malora said, "I'm going to kill her!"
She began to pull away from Nori, saying, "Where is she? I'm going to kill her!"
"Nori," I said quietly. "We have to stop her." I stepped out from Nori's grasp, grabbing one of Malora's arms. Nori grabbed the other, and I said more loudly, "Ralla, we could use your advice. Is Balorie here?"
Amazon Companion Page 34