Amazon Companion (34 page)

"No. I listen when someone suggests another woman would rule better, but not when someone puts herself ahead of me."

"What are the main issues of contention?"

"Collecting tithe, replenishing the ranks, and a more unified approach to training. There are some who feel Morehama should pay us far more than we ask. Some would have the Amazons assume rule of all Morehama. Others have plans for at least collecting what most of us feel we are owed. Because these have been legitimate problems, and I haven't solved them, I must admit the possibility of someone doing better than I have."

"But that's one issue," I pointed out. "Do they ignore the things you do well?"

"Yes. It is easy to focus on the problems, after all."

"How did you become queen? Was your mother queen?"

"No. I defeated the old queen in single combat."

"What?" I said. "You staged a coup? Was she a poor ruler?"

"She was an excellent ruler, but she was getting old, and she knew it was a matter of time. She asked me to challenge her. I refused for two years, but then I knew she was about to be challenged by someone I was sure would be horrible for the Amazons, so I challenged the queen."

"So you could be challenged at any time?"

"Yes."

"During this trip?"

"At any time, but I am allowed to set the time and place."

"So if you were sick or recently injured, you can delay the battle."

"Yes. If I were challenged tomorrow, I would demand the fight back in Queen's Town in one month's time, and then Nori
, Balorie and Ralla would make absolutely sure I was ready."

"Are fights. Um."

"To the death?"

"Yes."

"They don't have to be. Mine with the old queen was to the first significant blow. Her wound healed, although she lost some motion in her arm. I have accepted three challenges since. I killed all three of them."

I turned around and looked at her.

"If I let them live, they could come back. If I let them live, then others may try, believing they have nothing to lose, and then I would constantly be fighting challenges, every time someone disagreed with a minor policy decision. If someone challenges me, she better be serious. There have been no challenges in four years, and I think I have at most one, possibly two more years before I will face a string of them."

"Because of tithing?"

"More because of replacements. The women who see only one issue are the ones who believe we should be far more aggressive collecting new companions."

"Did this drive your desperation this
spring?"

"It was in the back of my mind, but primarily it is a real problem that must be solved. If someone ever faces me who I believe will do better than I will, I will offer to fight to first significant blow. That can still be dangerous, but if she is good enough to beat me, then she is good enough to hold the position. And if she would be a better ruler, than I would rather have her queen than me. But I will defend aggressively against a poor ruler."

"If we solve these issues of replacements and tithe, then what?"

"Then the ones claiming to be able to do better will have no issue to stand on."

"But they could still challenge you?"

"Yes, but it would be very dangerous to challenge a queen who solved a problem that has plagued us for so long. She may find herself lacking support."

The village came into view, and I asked quickly, "Anything else I need to know?"

"Nothing I can think of. You have good instincts." She hugged me quickly once more, and then we were dismounting to an audience.

At Two Bends, I met Chief Loren and her companion, Meena. Meena was several years older than I was, perhaps approaching thirty, with Loren a few years older than Meena and much younger than Valan at Black Oak. Over the course of the evening, I also met everyone else living in Two Bends, not counting those out on patrol.

On our introduction, Loren looked at my hair and said, "Queen Malora, I do believe your companion has a story to tell."

"She does," Malora replied with a chuckle.

"Then I wish for her to delay any inquiries into her shocking hair until the bonfire this evening."

"Excellent suggestion."

"Chief Loren," I said, "you would have been even more amused if you had seen me yesterday."

"We could arrange a demonstration of your appearance, Maya."

"I do not believe you brought the required items, Malora."

"Are you sure?"

"I believe I should take care of the horses."

Malora and Loren laughed, then Loren said, "We have this hut for you." She gestured to one of the huts behind her. "It is simple but clean and dry."

"Thank you," Malora said. "Please see to everything, Maya."

Meena helped me unload the gear from the horses into the hut, and I got a good look around. There was a bed, smaller than Malora's, but room enough for both of us if we were cozy. I wondered if I would instead be sleeping on the floor. There were two chairs and a small table and little else.

We settled the horses,
catching up to Malora and Loren at Loren's garden. We received a tour of the extensive garden, larger than ours had been back home.

"I understand it is the custom for the companions to tend to the garden," I said.

"It is," Loren said. "Meena organizes their duties. We will leave you with her."

Meena turned to me with a smile. "Do you mind fetching water?"

I laughed. "Malora told me that is what you would ask. I can fetch water or pull weeds."

She showed me the buckets, pointed to the barrels, and then said, "That path leads to the river. You won't fall in, will you?"

"I think I'll manage," I said.

I made four trips with the buckets, and Meena declared my obligation completed. It was time to serve for dinner.

Dinner conversation was light. I sat next to Malora, and as we usually did, we shared a single plate. I saw that Meena brought separate plates for Loren, and Loren was far less affectionate with her than Malora was with me. But I detected no undue strain between them.

As Loren indicated, there was a bonfire following dinner. Malora and I were given locations of privilege. Once the fire was well-lit and fresh drinks passed out, Loren stood up and welcome
d "Queen Malora and her companion" to their village. She then spoke kindly about Malora before asking her if she wanted to say anything.

Malora stood up. "
Greetings, Amazons!" she yelled.

"Greetings, Queen Malora!" they yelled back.

She spent the next several minutes first praising Two Bends and the Amazons who lived here, then Amazons in general. She talked about the dangers we face and thanked everyone for her sacrifice. She talked about the greatest dangers facing the Amazons, but told them, "But we are Amazons. We will prevail!"

That resulted in cheering, and I was one of the loudest. Malora beamed at me for that.

She wrapped up by thanking Chief Loren for the warm greeting and hospitality, then resumed her seat.

I thought perhaps I wouldn't be asked to tell the story of my hair, but my hope was quickly dashed.

"You have a new companion," Loren indicated. "A very startling companion."

"I find her so," Malora replied. "She was a schoolteacher and has such naïve notions about how the world works."

"I find her physical appearance quite alarming," Loren explained. "Perhaps there is a reason for such a shocking color to bob its way through our forest."

"Oh, there is," Malora agreed. "But you should ask her about it."

She nudged me gently when she said it.

"Well, Maya," Loren said. "Would you care to explain?"

"Explain what?" I asked innocently, earning a few titters.

"Can you explain the unusual style you present your hair?"

I fingered my braid. "I was under the impression many companions wear their hair long and braided. I did not know it would be considered unusual."

Loren grinned at me. She knew I was playing to the crowd. "I was, of course, referring to the startling color. I am concerned it is a beacon to the demons."

"Oh, that," I said. "Demon repellent," I explained.

"Demon repellent?" Loren echoed.

"I can attest to its effectiveness. I have not encountered a single demon since my hair was dyed this color. Nor have I been troubled by giants, but I was attacked by a poor musician, so there are side effects."

Loren chuckled. "Judging by your warrior's body language, I believe there is perhaps a more accurate story."

"I suppose there is. Would you care to hear?"

"We are all ears."

I stood up, then walked back and forth for a moment so everyone could admire my hair and realize the eyebrows were the same color. "My warrior is fond of pink hair," I explained. "When I learned she was so fond of pink, I agreed to dye my hair this color. It was done entirely to please her. I believe she finds it quite fetching."

While I was talking, I slowly unbraided my hair, allowing it to tumble about my shoulders when I was done. I knew it would be even more shocking when seen loose and untamed.

"Maya," Malora said. "You have one more opportunity to present the accurate story, or you will be sporting a few additional adjustments to your appearance, adjustments you have well-learned." And I saw in her hand she held pink ribbons and a jar of the lip paint. She grinned when she caught me looking at them.

I smiled at her then began collecting my hair on one side into a
ponytail. I stepped to her. "I can't believe you brought these," I said, smiling. I pulled one of the ribbons from her hands and tied the ponytail off. I repeated it on the other side.

"That is a terrible job," she said. "Kneel!" she pointed to the ground in front of her, and I knelt. "Tell the story while I fix this."

I sighed dramatically but held still while Malora began to tie my hair properly, using all the ribbons at her disposal.

"My warrior arranged for this hairstyle," I explained. "It is my reward for accomplishing one of her greatest goals for me."

"Maya..." Malora said, menace in her voice. "Do you know what a tattoo is?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe you would like your lips tattooed this color?"

The Amazons enjoyed the threat, laughing about it. By the time they calmed down, my hair was fully adjusted, and Malora was painting my lips. She did it carefully, then she looked into my eyes and nodded. I held her hand briefly as I stood up, and everyone got a good look at my full appearance, resulting in a great deal of laughter.

"I am beginning to believe the explanation of demon repellent," one of the women said, shielding her eyes.

"I believe Queen Malora simply wishes to make sure no one will cast a second look at her companion," said another.

The suggestions flowed for a while, but at a lull, I sighed dramatically. "The truth of the story is simpler than that."

I had their attention again.

"I was caught training for too lengthy a period, and Malora wished to punish me for my transgression."

"That's it!" Malora said, but she was grinning. "Someone get a tattoo needle!"

"All right!" I said quickly. I told the story with only minor embellishments. "And thus, my punishment." I gestured to my face. I looked at Malora. "You aren't really going to tattoo my lips this color, are you?"

"No, only because I couldn't stand looking at them all the time."

"I will point out that my earlier explanation of training too long was accurate."

"And entirely misleading," Malora added, shaking her head. "Sit."

There was more laughter, and I took my seat.

Loren arranged entertainment from some of the other Amazons, and during a lull, Malora asked me, "I take it this was not an effective punishment? You seem to enjoy it."

"I think the color shocks you more than it does me. And I think the bright pink lips taunt you."

She sighed. "They do."

"Malora, I was a good schoolteacher, and sometimes playing the clown is a very effective way to teach. If you can make teaching fun, the children are more likely to listen. This is no different. I have done far more shocking things to my appearance, although this is the first time my hair has been dyed."

She shook her head. "You look positively ridiculous, and you're enjoying it more than anyone else."

"I don't mind looking ridiculous. I mind being ridiculous."

"That could never happen."

I didn't respond to that.

The
story telling turned into singing, and then musical instruments began to appear, including a fiddle. The women entertained us for a while, and then Malora leaned over to Loren. A moment later, Loren asked the fiddle owner if she would allow me to borrow her fiddle.

"Of course," the woman said, handing it to me. I was surprised, as many people find loaning an instrument to be very personal, but I thanked her, checked the tuning, then stood up.