Amazonia

by Croft, Sky

  “Hmm?”

  “Can we stay here a bit longer?” Blake looked skyward, trying to see the position of the sun.

  “We can stay as long as you want.” Shale didn’t want this day to end.

  Blake squeezed Shale’s hand, which was entwined with her own.

  THEY REACHED THE village earlier than Blake expected, the sun, though low, was still present. They'd made good time. They didn't leave the lake till late afternoon, and only did so because it would be difficult to navigate the terrain in the dark.

  Both women had wanted to stay the night, but knew it wasn’t possible. If Blake didn’t return, half of the tribe would be out searching for her, and if Shale didn’t, Kale would come looking for her also.

  They had barely entered the village when a red-faced woman came storming over, her furious gaze directed firmly on Shale.

  “How dare you say those things to Payleus!” she said loudly, drawing intrigued glances from nearby Amazons.

  Blake spoke up quickly, “Mnaesa, what are you talking about?”

  “Her.” Mnaesa pointed at Shale. “She insulted Payleus, she’s over there crying as we speak.” She gestured toward the cabins.

  “Mnaesa, I assure you, Shale did no such thing. She’s been with me all day.”

  “Kale,” Shale muttered. “What did she say?”

  Mnaesa glared at her. “As if you don’t know.”

  “How could she?” Blake raised her voice a notch. “Shale was with me.”

  “Oh.” Mnaesa paused briefly. “Well Kale called Payleus fat, and said she looked like a horse.”

  Blake had to admit that it was an apt description of Payleus, but it was one thing to think it, and quite another to say it.

  “I’m sorry,” Shale said.

  Blake frowned. “Shale, don’t apologise, you haven’t—”

  “What kind of Amazon speaks like that to her sisters?” Mnaesa shook her head. “Your twin’s not only unkind, she’s cruel, and I don’t want either of you near me or my cousin. Do I make myself clear?”

  Shale nodded. “Yes.” She rubbed her temple as Mnaesa turned and stomped away.

  “Shale, why didn’t you defend yourself?”

  “What’s the point? Won’t change anything. I’d better go and speak to Kale, see what all that was about.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Blake said, falling into step beside a now despondent Shale. She linked her arm through Shale’s, and was both surprised and upset when Shale pulled away.

  “You don’t want to do that,” Shale said flatly. “I’m the bad guy, remember?”

  “FROM THE LOOK on your face, I’m assuming you’ve already heard.” Kale was droll as Shale and Blake approached. She didn’t bother acknowledging Blake.

  “What did you do?” Shale asked.

  “Why’s it always my fault?”

  “You insulted Payleus,” Blake said. “Why?”

  Kale continued to clean her sword for a long moment, as if Blake had never spoken.

  “Kale!” Shale yelled.

  Kale threw the sword down, causing a puff of dust to emerge from the dry soil. “Payleus wanted me to have sex with her. I refused. She wouldn’t back off, so I told her some of the reasons why I wasn’t interested.”

  Blake believed her. “Payleus can be quite pushy.”

  Kale thrust her hand out toward Blake in a triumphant gesture, looking to Shale as she did so. “See?”

  “You could’ve tried to break it to her gently,” Shale said.

  “I did, she wasn’t having it. What did you want me to do? Just stand there and let her have her way with me?” Kale’s voice grew louder on each word.

  “No, but—”

  “But nothing, Shale! You were off with her.” She scowled at Blake before returning her attention to Shale. “You weren’t even here!”

  “You’re right, I wasn’t. But I’ve still got to take the blame afterward, and I'm so sick of doing that, Kale!” Shale was shouting now, her frustration visible. She took a deep breath, and sat down heavily on the nearby boulder. When she spoke again, it came out as a broken whisper, “Just once I want someone to notice me...to notice that I’m not you.”

  “Shale,” Blake murmured, her heart breaking for her.

  Shale shook her head in resigned acceptance, then stood and strode away, disappearing amongst the trees.

  Kale made a move to go after her, but a command stopped her.

  “No, Kale. I’m going.” Though Blake’s voice was low, it was firm, and she didn’t wait for a response.

  “SHALE?” BLAKE CALLED after her. “Shale, please stop.”

  Shale halted, though she didn’t turn around. Blake caught up to her, and took hold of Shale’s arm from behind, silently requesting for Shale to face her.

  Shale slowly turned, but kept her head hung low. “Nobody sees me,” she said in a pained whisper.

  Blake gently cupped Shale’s cheek, and waited till pale blue eyes raised and met her own. “I see you, Shale. Not Kale, not just twins, you. Only you.”

  Shale had longed to hear those words since childhood. Blake noticed her and her alone. For who she was. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she was too overwhelmed to stop them. Blake brushed them away with soft fingers, her gaze so tender Shale barely managed to hold herself together.

  “You’re loyal and caring, and incredibly giving. You are truly beautiful, Shale,” Blake said.

  Shale raised her hand, and began to stroke Blake’s fair hair, the intimate gesture coming naturally to her.

  “I see you,” Blake repeated, leaning into Shale’s touch.

  Shale smiled, and closed the remaining distance between them. Never had she wanted to kiss someone so much.

  “I should hope so.” Kale’s voice ruined the moment completely. “She's standing right in front of you.”

  Blake drew back. She frowned at Kale. “Must you be such an ass?”

  “You seem to bring it out in me.”

  “No, Kale, I think you choose to bring it out when I’m around.”

  “How insightful of you.”

  “All right, enough,” Shale said. “If you can’t get along, just stay out of each other’s way.”

  “That’s kind of hard when she’s around you all the time, Shale.”

  “She’s my friend,” Shale said. “I like spending time with her.”

  “Friend? Is that so? Then what did I just interrupt?”

  “What is your problem, Kale?” Blake demanded, her annoyance showing.

  “You!” Kale said loudly.

  “I can see that, but why? What is it about me that you dislike so much?”

  “Shale’s right, it’s best we don’t have anything to do with each other.” Kale spun on her heel and walked off. “Don’t bring her to our camp, Shale,” she called back.

  Shale sighed. Maybe it was for the best that she hadn’t kissed Blake. If Kale and Blake couldn’t get on, things would be doomed from the start.

  SHALE DUCKED AS Kale swung a powerful left hook toward her face. She came up fast, unleashing an uppercut that knocked Kale onto her back.

  Kale went with the momentum, rolled, and jumped back to her feet in one fast, fluid motion. Kale touched her lip, grinning at Shale when her fingers came away red. “Got me good that time.”

  Shale smiled back, tapping a small cut above her brow. “I owed you one.”

  “That you did.” Kale turned as clapping erupted behind her, and she shook her head humorously when she saw it was Amber. Amber wasn’t the only Amazon present. Despite their unpopularity, their daily sparring sessions attracted quite a crowd. They fought with no restraint, and their fighting prowess guaranteed a good show.

  “Don’t these people have anywhere better to be?” Kale said, but only loud enough for Shale to hear.

  “Apparently not.”

  Shale circled Kale, then moved in, each trading savage blows and kicks at a frightening speed.

  Shale’s sharp ears heard Amber laughing, and it
was followed by Blake’s voice—she sounded close. Shale’s mind wandered to Blake, and her heart started to beat that much faster. No woman had ever had this effect on her before. She was completely captivated by Blake.

  Shale didn’t see Kale’s kick until it was too late. She cursed herself for losing focus, knowing that at this pace Kale had no chance of stopping it.

  Kale’s foot connected solidly onto Shale’s left knee, forcing it back unnaturally. Shale dropped with a grunt of pain.

  “Shale!” Blake cried out.

  Kale moved to Shale’s side, kneeling beside her worriedly. “Are you all right?”

  Shale was clutching her leg, though she kept her hands well clear of her knee, which was already starting to swell.

  Blake came dashing over, with Amber close in tow. Blake knelt on Shale’s other side, opposite Kale, and Amber squatted next to her.

  “I owe you big time for this,” Shale said between clenched teeth.

  “You’re lucky I pulled it, Shale. You should’ve been concentrating.” Kale scowled accusingly at Blake.

  “I know. I lost focus. I’m lucky my knee’s not broken.”

  “All right, Shale, let’s get you to the healer.” Blake placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Do you think you can stand?” At Shale’s nod, she added, “Lean on us.”

  “I’ve got her,” Kale said, in no uncertain terms. She wrapped one arm under Shale’s legs, the other around her back, and lifted her almost effortlessly.

  Shale’s jaw clamped tightly at the move, but knew Kale was being as careful as possible.

  “You can get the door,” Kale told Blake condescendingly, as she strode toward Appollonia’s lodge.

  Blake’s eyes narrowed, but she kept her mouth shut.

  Kale moved quickly, despite the fact she was carrying her own body weight in her arms. When they reached the lodge, Blake did indeed open the door, and pointedly ignored the cocky smirk Kale directed at her.

  “Put her down there.” Appollonia indicated one of the beds, even though they were all empty.

  Shale was set down where the healer wished, on the middle bed.

  “What happened?” Appollonia asked, but the question wasn’t directed at anyone in particular.

  “Sparring accident,” Blake said.

  Kale gave more detailed information. “I connected with the front here.” She pointed close to the joint but didn’t touch it. “Much more pressure and it would’ve broken.”

  Shale, though sitting upright, was leaning back on her arms. She hadn’t moved her injured leg at all, so it was still bent at the knee, while the other was stretched out flat.

  Appollonia leaned over her patient, feeling the joint carefully. “I’ll have to straighten it.”

  Shale tensed in anticipation, and Kale placed a hand on her shoulder.

  “Amber,” Kale said, looking pleased when the red-head immediately knew what she was referring to and moved into position, taking firm hold of Shale’s uninjured leg to keep it still.

  Blake perched alongside Shale, reaching behind and gripping her hand.

  “Ready?” Appollonia asked calmly. When Shale nodded, Appollonia slowly repositioned her leg.

  Shale didn’t make a sound, but she squeezed Blake’s hand to an almost painful degree. Blake kept her hold, even after Appollonia had finished.

  “You need to keep off it. You’re right in that it’s not broken, but it will still take a while to heal. Resting it will help.”

  “Looks like you’ll have to spar with Amber for a while,” Shale said to Kale.

  “My jaw’s only just recovered from last time,” Amber moaned good-naturedly.

  “I’ll go easy on you,” Kale taunted.

  Chestnut eyebrows rose indignantly. “You most certainly will not!”

  “Yes, please go easy on her, Kale, it makes my job so much easier,” Appollonia said. She selected some herbs, filled a mug using her waterskin, and began to mix them together.

  Amber looked questioningly at Kale. “If I’m not needed anymore, I’d better get back.”

  “Okay. Thanks for your help.”

  Shale smiled at her. “Yeah, thanks, Amber. You’re a good friend.”

  “No problem.” She stopped at the door when Kale called to her.

  “Hey. You’d best get in some sparring practice.”

  Amber laughed, and shook her head before leaving the lodge.

  As Shale took the mug from Appollonia, an offensive smell wafted into her senses, and her nose scrunched up in distaste. “I hope this is to put on my leg?”

  Appollonia smiled. “Afraid not. It will help with the pain.”

  Shale eyed the substance warily. “I think I’d rather be in pain.”

  Kale chuckled, and tapped the mug. “Bottom’s up.”

  Shale scowled for a moment longer before drinking the entire contents in one go. She thrust the mug back to Appollonia, keen to get rid of it. “That was disgusting.”

  “I’ve got worse,” Appollonia said. “I can’t do much else for you, Shale, these things take time. If you need any more pain relief—”

  “I’ll come and get it,” Kale said.

  “Good. I know a lot of my patients would rather sleep in their own bed, but since you don’t yet have a cabin, you’re welcome to stay here.”

  “Thank you, but I’ll be fine.” Though Shale turned her down, she appreciated the offer.

  Appollonia nodded. “A cold compress will help keep down the swelling.”

  “Noted,” Kale said. “And new rule, Shale, no sparring at all until you’ve regained your focus. What you did today was really stupid.”

  Shale straightened, resenting Kale’s statement, but having no defence for it. Kale was right. She unlinked her hand from Blake’s.

  “Everyone gets distracted now and again, Kale," Blake said. "You should—”

  “Not us,” Kale said sternly. “And I wasn’t talking to you.”

  Appollonia discreetly left them to it, crossing to the shelves at the far end of the room. She started to sort through the numerous jars there.

  “Well I’m talking to you. And yes, Kale, even you two can get distracted. You’re not above the rest of us, though clearly you think you are.”

  “I don’t think that!”

  “No? You act like you do.” Blake’s voice rose to match Kale’s. “So Shale made a mistake, it doesn’t mean you’ve got to rub her nose in it. The gods know she’s let plenty of your mistakes slide!” Blake got to her feet, confronting Kale across the bed.

  “I don’t know how you dare!” Kale shouted. “Especially since this is all your fault!”

  “My fault? Oh, that’s right, shift the blame onto me. It could never be your fault, could it? It’s always someone else’s. You need to take responsibility, Kale.”

  “It was my fault,” Shale said. “Not Kale’s, not Blake’s, mine. Now stop blaming each other.” She could tell both women were furious from the way they were breathing—fast and loud. They ceased to argue though. “One of you needs to leave. I don’t care who,” Shale said, subdued.

  Kale and Blake stared at one another.

  Kale defiantly crossed her arms. “I’m not leaving.”

  When Blake hesitated, Shale wondered whether she was going to order Kale to leave. A moment passed, but Blake didn’t resort to that.

  “All right. I’ll leave.” Blake fixed her gaze on Shale, who was looking extremely unhappy. “You know where I am if you want me.” She kissed Shale softly on the cheek, then left.

  Shale missed her presence almost instantly, and wished she had never spoken.

  “Shale, you need to stop this before things get too far,” Kale said. “I can see how you feel every time you look at her.”

  Shale couldn’t lie to her. “So? I know nothing can come of it, but I still want to be friends with her.”

  “I don’t see why,” Kale muttered.

  “Well you wouldn’t, would you? You’re always so rude to her.”


  “And she’s not rude to me?”

  “Only in response to you. I know you don’t like her, but she’s my friend. Can’t you try to get along with her? Please?”

  “I have tried,” Kale said.

  “Barely! Blake hasn’t heard one civil word from you.”

  “And she’s not likely to either.”

  Shale shook her head. “You’re being ridiculous.”

  “I’m being ridiculous?” Kale gave a short laugh, though it was humorless. “You’re the one chasing someone you can never have. It will never work. We both know this.”

  “I’ll be happy to have her as a friend.”

  “You may try to fool yourself, Shale, but you’ll never fool me.”

  “It’s my life!”

  “Yes. But it affects both of us.” Kale stormed out of the lodge. “Don’t forget that.” She slammed the door shut.

  “How could I?” Shale asked quietly.

  SHALE LOWERED HERSELF cautiously onto her sleeping roll. It had been a difficult and painful walk to get back to camp. Since Kale had stormed off, and Blake had been sent away, she’d had no one to assist her. Appollonia had of course offered, but Shale declined. Though she liked her, Shale was very particular as to whom she willingly allowed into her personal space.

  At first, Shale had intended to head straight for Blake’s cabin, but Kale’s voice rang in her ears, warning her to stay away. The fact that she automatically thought of Blake proved Kale’s words to be true. She was too attached to Blake, too involved emotionally. So Shale had changed her mind, and ended up back at camp.

  Her leg was throbbing, but she was able to block it out, her thoughts distracting her easily.

  Shale wondered how long it would be before Blake came to visit, and a sick realisation dawned on her. Blake might not. Kale had told her not to come near their camp.

  She hoped Blake wasn’t upset. Shale hadn’t wanted her to leave, or Kale either for that matter, but knew it was the only way to stop them arguing. Shale needed to tell that to Blake, the last thing she wanted was to hurt her.

  Shale struggled to her feet, and headed toward the village. Her warrior’s pride was still in full effect, and she intended to go behind the cabins—she didn’t want half of the tribe to see her limping.