by Robin Roseau
"Please, Maya," Beria said quietly. "I want to go to Omie. She needs me."
I looked at Beria as she pleaded with her eyes. I looked over at Omie, who looked miserable. I thought Nori was sure she had won.
"The entire village is guilty," I said quietly.
"No," Nori said. "Parlomith is guilty, and she isn't just going to get whipped, she is going to die. Isn't that enough?"
"I'm not helping recruit any more companions if they go to warriors who won't treat them well," I said.
"Agreed," Nori said immediately.
"When those companions become warriors, I'm not helping them, either."
"I understand."
"Green Arrow is getting no luxury goods until Beria and I both forgive them. That may be never. They should be happy if I send them more than old fish."
Nori nodded.
"Parlomith dies!" I spat.
"She dies," Nori agreed.
I studied her. "Nori, if you lied about any of this, you better tell me now."
"No lies," Nori said. "I have never lied to you, Maya."
I watched her for another minute.
"Please, Maya," Beria said quietly. "Nori isn't the enemy. We can torment Malora for leaving us there once I'm healed and Parlomith is dead. I'll help."
I couldn't help but smile at her for that. I nodded then backed our boat slowly towards theirs until we bumped gently against the side of the other boat. Nori and Omie waited quietly.
"Tie their boat to ours," I told Beria. "Take the bucket with you and help Nori to this boat."
"Thank you, Maya," she said. She paused. "You did the right thing bringing me home, and now we're going to do the right thing and go back. It was good to see everyone, and I really needed you and Momma."
I nodded.
Queen's Town
My parents didn't want to let Beria leave, and they didn't want to allow Nori and Omie into the house to even discuss it. Beria finally settled it quite simply. "I'm going," she said. "If not today, then the first opportunity I get. I'm safer if I travel with Nori, Maya and Omie, but I'll go alone if I have to."
We traveled hard. It was rough on Beria, but she told us, "Don't slow down. We have to get back." Omie tended to her carefully, but the first night she saw Beria's back, she made a dozen vows of how she was going to repay Parlomith. She made Nori look, and Nori just nodded once.
"Use more ointment," she said, "and keep it covered with a clean undershirt."
"This is not how we treat our companions!" Omie said.
Nori had the clothes we'd left behind, and we changed back into Amazon attire the second day, and then we rode, rode, rode, switching off between the horses to give them a break. Nori was grim, but not once did she blame me for anything.
After dinner on the second night, Beria said, "Nori, you said Malora gave you her authority."
"Yes."
"Then I want permission to kiss my warrior like a woman kisses a woman. I turn sixteen in another six weeks, and I'll wait for more until then, but I want the kisses."
"Then it's between you and Omie," Nori said. "There are no Amazon laws that prevent you from kissing."
"No," said Omie, "but in Amazon eyes, she is not a woman, and I will not have it said I took advantage of her."
"Then I declare Beria a woman," Nori said.
"We're waiting until you're sixteen!" Omie said forcefully.
But Beria took her warrior by the hand and led her to the tent, and I knew whatever happened, it would be Beria's choice.
I waited until they were gone and then said quietly to Nori, "The age difference?"
"Is a third of the difference between you and your warrior, Maya. Another reason I wanted you for her and not that little girl I was almost foolish enough to present to her."
"There is a term for women who pursue significantly younger women," I said.
"Oh?" Nori replied. "What is that?"
"Dirty old woman," I said.
Nori snorted.
"Nori," I said. "I'm scared."
"I am too."
"Can't we just kill her? Ambush her?"
"We would be outlaws," Nori said. "We need to trust Malora."
"How bad is this going to be?"
"If Malora wins and isn't badly hurt, then it won't be bad at all. Any support Parlomith had will evaporate."
"If Parlomith wins?"
"Then it will be very, very ugly," Nori said. "She will attempt a purge. She will come to Queen's Town with whatever followers she has, but Malora will also have invited her allies. There's going to be a huge tent city. It's going to be very tense. Malora is going to try to send you to safety before the fight."
"I won't go."
"She'll order you. She'll order someone to take you."
"Who? Not you. You have a fight that afternoon."
"I don't know."
"Well, I'll have to think about that," I said. "I won't put up with it, Nori." I paused. "This is a temporary truce, you know. Malora will kill that woman, and then she'll heal, and then she and I are having it out."
"I know."
* * * *
By riding hard and long, and switching horses often, we arrived in Queen's Town sixteen days after Beria's whipping. Her wounds were largely healed, but she was still in discomfort, and I could tell she was ready to sleep for several days.
I had to admit, I was, too, but I had a job to do.
It was early afternoon when we pulled into the village. No one was in sight.
"Training grounds," Nori said. "Go. We've got the horses."
I hopped down from the horse, throwing her the reins, and sprinted to the grounds. When I got there, Malora's back was to me. She was holding two swords facing off against Ralla with a single sword. Malora didn't see me, but Ralla did, and she stepped back.
I drew closer. Malora still hadn't noticed me, which was odd, so I said in a firm voice. "Queen Malora!"
Malora stiffened then slowly turned. I couldn't hear her, but she mouthed "Maya."
I stepped closer, and she stared at me.
"You will answer my questions. Right now!" I said firmly.
"Yes, Maya," she said, her voice cracking.
"Did you accept a challenge match from that bitch?"
"Yes, I did."
I stepped closer, and with each question asked and answered, closer still.
"Are you going to kill her?"
"Yes."
"Where have I been for the last two weeks?"
"I sent you home, but that was before I knew about the challenge. Nori and Omie caught up to you?"
"Not until Gallen's Cove," I said. "Last question. Why aren't you kissing me?"
She closed the last two steps to me, pulling me into her arms and squeezing me for all I was worth. A moment later, her lips found mine, and when I parted, her tongue invaded my mouth.
It was a far more intimate kiss than we normally exchanged in public, but I moaned into the kiss and clutched at her, giving her every ounce of need I had.
She finally released me, and then the other Amazons were clustered around me. I realized we had the entire village here. There should have been four warriors on patrol.
"Why is everyone here?"
"The villages around us are supporting our patrols until this is over," Malora explained. "The nearest chiefs have thrown their full support behind me."
"How many challenge matches have you accepted?"
"At last count, seventy-one."
I stared at her.
"Parlomith is not very popular," Malora said.
"She has to catch wind of that."
"I don't think so, but when she challenged me, I didn't give her the choice of withdrawing. She either shows up, or she is disgraced and outlawed."
I nodded.
"Beria?" Malora asked.
"She'll want to see you, so I'm sure they're coming as soon as the horses are settled." I pulled her closer and whispered, "I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to apologi
ze for," she said. "It's my fault. I once told you that being a companion becomes a burden. And I told you that you had your work cut out for you. Sometimes you need a break from all of it."
"I love you."
She kissed me again, and then we separated.
"All right. What do I do?"
"You just be here," she said. "Just be here, Maya."
* * * *
We retired early to our hut that night. Maya hadn't taken her hands off me in hours, and the attention was intoxicating, but I was terrified for her at the same time.
She took me into her arms and kissed me, and then we stood, holding each other.
"The purple is gone," she said.
"Most. I think there's a little left."
"I didn't see any when we went swimming."
"You may need to look closer."
She chuckled. "It's a little dark in here for that."
I pushed away from her.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Was Loren trying to hurt me?"
"Oh honey, no. It was a prank that maybe went too far, but it wasn't meant to hurt."
I turned to her. "Beria says people expect things from me they wouldn't expect from anyone else."
"Beria is wise."
"They expect more from you than anyone else, too. And I realize, so do I. I expect you to protect me, even when you're not there. That's not fair."
"Sometimes I ask too much, too."
"No, I don't think so," I said. "But I make mistakes, and I don't always understand. I think I need more warning sometimes, that's all."
She nodded. "I'm going to need you a lot for the next two weeks, and why are you way over there?"
"Because if we get any closer together, we'll be too busy for this conversation."
She laughed.
"I don't like it when you don't let me go with you. I am never safer than when I am with you."
She stepped closer.
"I can take care of myself, Malora."
"I know you can."
"You need to trust me."
She stepped closer. "I trust you."
"No more sending me away."
She didn't say anything.
"Promise me." I ordered.
She didn't answer but stood two feet away looking at me.
"Malora, promise," I repeated.
Still she didn't say anything. We stared at each other for a good half-minute before I turned my back on her. "I see. I'll get you through the challenge, and then we'll see."
She stepped up and put her hands on my shoulders. I didn't shrug her off, but I was angry again. "Maya," she said softly, "I don't know what the future will bring. How can I promise something so open-ended when the future is uncertain?"
"Why are you so stubborn?"
"I want you to consider something. Between us, you get your way most of the time."
"You get yours when it counts."
"No, when I get mine, it makes you angry and so you remember."
She let me think about that before she continued.
"Relationships have compromise. The balance of power and responsibility between us is uneven, and that's not something we are going to change. But we are both stubborn, Maya. I compromise when I can. Can't you compromise on this?"
I turned around. "You always want me to compromise or give in on the big things and you give in on the little ones."
She raised an eyebrow. "Who makes the orders when we go on our recruiting missions?"
"But you agree with me!"
"Maya, I would have enforced a quota at each village. It would be about twice as many as you're getting. We'd be at full strength of companions."
I didn't have a response to that.
"In the long run, your way may be better. We'll see. If the villages begin sending recruits without us needing to visit them each time, then this will work out. But in the short run, doing it your way is hurting some of our warriors. I'd say that's a pretty big compromise."
I studied her face. There were lines around her eyes, and her brow was furrowed, but she looked at me kindly.
"I have made staffing decisions for the Amazons based on keeping your friends here. It causes me difficulties, but I do it for you."
"I never asked you to."
"I know you didn't."
"Who would you have sent away otherwise?"
"Omie and Vorine."
"Beria-"
"And if not them, I should have sent Clara, Lidi or Gaylie somewhere, perhaps all three, but I wanted to keep their companions here for you, Bea especially. When she becomes a warrior, I will probably quietly ask Clara if she'll move so Bea can remain here. She's the only woman here you seem to enjoy sparring with, and that's too important to give up. Normally when a companion becomes a warrior, she moves. It can be too difficult to remain around your her old warrior, especially if the pair have become lovers. The daily reminder is too difficult."
I looked down. She had taken the wind from my sails, but I wasn't quite ready to back down, either.
But Malora reached for me and cupped my chin, lifting my face so I was looking at her again.
"I don't make a big deal of it, and maybe that's a mistake. You're so observant, I thought you knew."
"I guess I did," I admitted, "but I wasn't giving you enough credit for it."
"I'm not telling you because I want extra credit, teacher," she said, smiling softly, and I couldn't help but smile back. "But I ask you to do something that I know is difficult for you, I don't do it casually. Maya, I need you to compromise on this. Please."
I stepped into her arms. "I want you," I said. "Do you want me?"
I didn't have to ask twice. She captured my mouth, and then she was pushing me towards the bed, leaving the argument behind us. I broke away from her, laughing. "Don't you think this would be better with fewer clothes?"
"Maybe I wanted to wrestle you to the bed and then pin you while I slowly undress you."
"Oh?" I said. "All right. Should I struggle?"
"Oh yes," she said. "Struggle."
She grabbed me.
"Stop!" I said, squirming halfheartedly. "Stop!"
She chuckled, pushing me onto the bed. I crabbed backwards, but she grabbed me by the hips, holding me to the bed while she climbed on top of me.
I squirmed, and I squirmed more while she removed my clothes.
We spent hours making love until finally we slept.
* * * *
We cuddled in the morning for a while, Malora's arms wrapped around me tightly.
"I love you," she whispered.
I bent my head and kissed one of her hands, then clasped both of them tightly to me.
It felt so good to lay with her, her body pressed tightly against my back, one of her legs resting partly between mine.
"The day you fought Riva was the luckiest day of my life, Maya," she said, kissing the back of my neck. "You've made me so happy these last three years."
"It's just a beginning," I replied. "And we both know I vex you more than anything else."
She chuckled. "There is some of that, but I wouldn't trade it away."
I squirmed a little, which I knew would tease her. She chuckled again. "Stop that."
"I don't think so," I said, squirming again.
"We don't have time, Maya."
"I know," I said. "You need to train with a little distraction." And I squirmed again.
"Do that again, and you're going to be training with a freshly-paddled bottom."
I lay still for a good fifteen seconds.
"Don't do it, Maya."
I squirmed.
She exploded into action, throwing herself over me, sitting on my back facing my feet, pinning me to the bed. I struggled to squirm away from her, but my legs were tangled in the covers, and she lowered her weight fully onto me, pinning me to the bed. She slowly peeled the covers away from my ass until it was exposed to the cool morning air.
"I told you what would happen," she said. "You d
idn't believe me."
"Stop this!" I ordered.
She began rubbing my bottom, which caused me to squirm even more.
"Ten swats," she said. "You will count."
"No!" I said. I struggled, but I knew I was going to get the spanking. I knew it even before I squirmed.
She lifted her hand and swatted my bottom firmly. I yelped, then said, "One." Malora rubbed my bottom again, then delivered the second swat. I yelped again, then said, "Two."
By the time she reached ten, I was almost sorry for taunting her. Almost. She rubbed my now-flaming bottom before climbing slowly off of me to lay down lengthwise next to me again. I rolled onto my side to face her, still panting.
"What have we learned?" she asked me.
I smiled at her. "How to get my bottom rubbed."
She guffawed. She levered herself up then pulled me back onto my stomach. "It's bright red."
"You spanked it," I said. "Now you have to kiss it."
"I don't think so, Maya," she said, lying back down. She blew into my ear, and I rolled away to face her. "Spankings are punishment, not pleasure," she added.
I grinned at her. "Did you enjoy giving it to me?"
"No."
My smile faded. "I'm sorry," I said. "I was feeling playful."
She leaned forward and kissed my nose. "I may have enjoyed it a little bit."
"Only a little? Doesn't my queen enjoy dominating her playful little schoolmarm?"
"You are so confusing, Maya."
"Oh?"
"You get so mad when I give you even the smallest order at all, but then you taunt me like this."
"Oh. Well, this is like roughhousing in the river, except here you actually have a chance."
"I have a chance, do I? Only a chance?"
"Well, you didn't get any special attention on your bottom."
She laughed. "Is that what you call it?"
"Uh huh. You could use a spanking yourself, though."
"Oh I could, could I?"
"Yes. You've been naughty."
"I have not."
"You most certainly have! You have been lounging in bed with your play toy instead of getting up for breakfast, and if you don't hurry, you'll be late for training."
She laughed then gave me a big push, rolling me right out of bed so I landed on the floor.
"Oh, you will pay for that, Malora," I promised in a low voice. "When you least expect it."
She rolled off the bed then pulled me to my feet and into her arms. "And just what do you think you'll do to pay me back?"