Amazon Companion (26 page)

"Yes, Maya. There are rules. And you seem to know them."

"I could drown someone out there. There are a dozen ways. I can drown someone in less time than Nori can count to fifty."

"Are you threatening, Maya?"

"No. I am playing by rules. This is in fun, and I am playing by rules."

"She won't break them, Maya."

I nodded and asked her to pull me to my feet. She did. I turned to Vorine and stepped up to her.

"I do not know the types of holds you know," I told her.

"I know."

"I am afraid of you," I told her.

She offered a puzzled look. "Why?"

"You want to win."

"Of course I do." She paused. "Oh."

"You were looking at me like you were wondering what to break."

"No, nothing like that. I am trying to think what works when I have no leverage. That is all. I have never hurt anyone like that. I would be deeply ashamed if I did.
Omie and I fight all out, and we fight all out with the warriors, but you're a brand new companion. We're not animals, Maya."

"Your sister learned I could take the pain longer than she can take a lack of air."

"The
re are holds that hurt more that won't cause damage, but I was trying to think of some that would make you sink."

"I'll last below the water longer than you will."

She smiled. "We should have a good match. Your match with Omie was good. I would not have expected it. All I want is a good match, Maya. Please don't be afraid of me. I couldn't stand it." She smiled. "If you win here, maybe you will let us teach you how to wrestle on the ground."

Omie
stepped up, looking hopeful. "I'd enjoy that," she said.

"I'll never be good."

"That's okay. It's fun." She looked at her sister. "We love to wrestle. We want good matches. If we want a good match with you, we'll give ourselves a handicap."

"One hand tied behind your back?"

"You saw me with Serra," she said. "I could only win by pinning you. Right now, you would be easy, but if you let Vorine and I teach you, maybe I couldn't pin you."

I glanced at Malora, and she was smiling.

"You can swim, Vorine?" I asked.

"Oh
, yes," she said.

"Meet you in the middle."

I took three running strides and dived out into the water as far as I could, then swam quickly to the middle of the pool. Vorine was only a few seconds behind me. She stopped a short distance away.

"You played a long time with my sister."

"I tried to tire her out, but decided it would take too long. She is a weak swimmer."

"I am better," she replied. She smiled. "Cat and mouse, or just go for it?"

"Perhaps a little cat and mouse," and I disappeared under the water. She buried her face in the water, watching me, but I dropped out of sight of the surface. I made it to the bottom and found a rock that might weigh fifteen pounds or so. I levered it off the bottom, disturbing a few creatures below it, then I turned to where Vorine should be and kicked off the bottom. I found her legs, slowly treading water, and she saw me below her. She was smiling.

I grabbed an ankle, and then I let us both sink.

She wasn't expecting that, and we both went under the surface until I was standing on the bottom, holding the boulder in one arm, Vorine's ankle in the other hand.

I pulled her closer to me while she tried to kick away, grabbing her ankle in the same arm that held the boulder, then wrapping an arm around her entire leg, clutching it to me.

She struggled, then finally she bent over, grabbing my wrist and elbow. She tried to free her leg, but she didn't have any leverage, and she thrashed around. I held on tightly.

She squeezed my wrist painfully, digging her fingers in, and then tried to grab my fingers, but I curled my fingers into a fist and buried it against my chest.

She squirmed and squirmed, tugging at my arm, then pressing against my shoulder with her free foot. She pushed, and slowly I lost control of her leg. She pushed hard away from me, heading for the surface. I dropped my rock and took off in a different direction, surfacing a few seconds after she did.

We
both lay on the surface, panting, turning towards each other.

"You play to win!" she said.

"Isn't that what you wanted?"

"How long can you stay down there? You were down twice as long as I was." She eyed me. "You were almost out of air."

"You were about to tap out and we both know it," I told her with a grin.

"Yeah, maybe," she said.

We both slowly caught our breath, and both of us were moving closer to each other at the same time, circling carefully.

"My turn," she said, and she disappeared below the surface.

I immediately kicked away from her, making five strokes on my back, then doubling over onto my stomach, my face in the water. She had aimed for where I'd been, thinking I'd wait for her. I scissored, diving deep, then approached her from behind while she was still looking for me. I wrapped around her, and she spun to face me, which was exactly what I wanted. I clamped my legs and arms around her, holding on for everything I was worth.

She struggled, clasping at my ankles locked behind her. She clasped my toes, doing something painful to them, but she promised not to damage me, so I held on.

Ten seconds later, she tapped out, and I hauled her to the surface.

She panted for a while then called out to Nori. "I tapped out." Vorine looked at me. "I could have gotten you to release me, but only by moves that can damage you." She smiled. "Good match."

I had a few easy matches, then Benala jumped in. She wasn't a good swimmer, but she met me in the middle. I waited for her, and when she got close, I let her catch me. She grabbed me, spun me away from her, and applied a complicated hold involving both my arms and my neck. I hadn't expected her to be so fast.

"Over-confident?" she purred into my ear. Then she began pressing against the back of my neck, forcing my face into the water.

She held me under for about ten seconds, facing down into the water, but I kicked several times, slowly tipping both of us onto our backs, with her behind me. As I came further out of the water, she found herself going under. She struggled with it, but she wasn't used to having no leverage.

She tried thrashing me back and forth, and while I couldn't break the hold she had on me, she couldn't keep her head out of the water.

She let go of me and tried to kick away, but I grabbed her feet and began swimming backwards, lifting her feet in the air. She thrashed.

"No way!" she said. I tugged on her with her mouth open, and she got a mouthful of river water. She came up coughing, and while she tried to collect her breath, I spun her around, wrapped ar
ound her thoroughly, and said into her ear. "Close your mouth!" I pushed her under a half second later.

She hadn't closed her mouth, and she got a good dose of river water. She tapped out immediately, and I pulled her up, towing her to shore while she coughed and coughed.

Ralla went last, and I was tired, but I won every match before her. It was clear immediately she could swim, and she met me out in the middle, floating a half dozen feet away.

"You're a better swimmer than I am," she said, "and if you were as good a wrestler, you would win. But you're tired, and I know every move
Omie and Vorine do."

"Let's do it, then," I said. I didn't try playing cat and mouse. She was right, I was tired, and she could just let me tire myself out.

She came after me, lunging at me at the last moment, and I let her dunk me under, going straight down, then I grabbed her body and clambered back up her back, breaking the surface at the same time she went under.

We struggled back and forth for a while, one of us going under, then the other, but I was tiring faster than she was. I wrapped myself around her, got a better breath of air than she did, then let us both sink together.

She struggled to free herself, and we looked at each other from a few inches apart. I thought I could stay down longer than she could, despite being as tired as I was. We both stilled, and she smiled. We stayed like that, and it became a fight of who could hold her breath the longest.

I clutched her tightly, but as my lungs began to burn and burn
, and I knew hers were as well, I knew one of us would give in soon.

Instead, somehow she broke my hold, unlatching my legs behind her, then forcing my arms from around her neck, and she pushed off of me, shooting for the surface.

I immediately kicked away, angling for the surface, but she followed along above me, and just as I broke the surface, she lunged, pushing me under. My lungs were already burning, and she was able to stay above me, holding me down. I tried sinking away from her, but she had my arms clasped, and I couldn't escape from her and swim away.

I tapped out and she hauled me to the surface.

"Nicely played," I told her once I had my breath.

"Age and treachery always beat youth and beauty." She grinned as she said it.

Slowly we swam for shore.

Ralla
was the hero for having beaten me after I beat everyone else, but I received endless accolades. I was too tired to join in the conversations as I sat shivering on the rock, but I squeezed the hands of people who offered them, letting them know I was all right.

Malora sat down next to me, wrapping me in a second towel and holding me.

"You scared me," she said. "You were both down so long."

"Waiting game. I knew I could stay down longer than she could, but she outfoxed me at the end. Mine was a good strategy, but hers was better."

Nori joined us and I turned to her. "I didn't beat everyone. I hope you aren't upset."

She laughed. "No.
Omie and Vorine are already talking about rematches with you."

"What did I win?"

"Your duty roster is a lot cleaner," Malora said, "and you are owed enough deer skins for another outfit."

"You do realize I have a half dozen changes of clothes at home. If, you know, someone hadn't been in such a hurry."

Nori laughed. "You were shouting to the villagers to form a revolt, and some of them looked like they were considering it."

"You were being cruel," I told her.

I heard splashing, and I saw most of the Amazons reenter the water and begin wrestling around with each other.

"They've never done that before," Malora said.

"We started something," Nori added.

"My companion has agreed to wrestling tomorrow," Malora told her.

"She did?" Nori eyed me.

"My warrior indicates everyone is going to want revenge and suggests I be gracious about it."

"I said no such thing."

"So I don't have to be gracious about it?"

"Well, you do, but I didn't say a thing about revenge."

I nudged her playfully. "Why did you two do this?"

"You needed it, and they needed to learn not to discount you. You are my companion, Maya, and they need to respect you. Now they all do."

"Well, I'm done in," I said. "And I have snares to check. Please will someone go with me?"

"We trust you," Malora said.

"I don't want to go alone. I really am done in."

"If you can't handle your snares, you shouldn't have them," she replied.

"Seriously?" I asked. "Fine, I'll go alone. I didn't say I couldn't, I said I wanted company."

I stood up, dropping the towels where they were, and angrily pulled my clothes on. I grabbed the towels I had used and stormed off. I hung the towels up to dry, grabbed my snare-checking kit, and went to saddle my horse.

Malora was waiting for me when I got there.

"What?" I asked, annoyed.

"I don't know why I was like that," she said. "I can't go with you though. And I need Nori and Ralla as well."

"That's fine," I said. "I'll go alone. It's not that big a deal, but I don't know what you want from me. You're the one who told me I had to find the materials for my clothes, and you didn't exactly offer suggestions better than the ones I'm following. Just when I do a few things right, you turned mean. Did I do something to deserve that?"

"No. I'm sorry."

"Do you think I enjoy spending
an hour or so every single afternoon, going out to check snares for a few rabbits? I didn't pick this life. I was yanked from my old one, kicking and screaming, quite literally. I was good at my old life, a good teacher, and you and Nori dragged me here with nothing."

"I know."

"Furthermore, you insist on that damned training twice a day, and I have exactly two changes of clothing, which means I'm wearing sweaty clothes half the time. At least if I can make one more set, I can make it for the training grounds, and change into that set for training only, although I'll probably want two sets so I can launder one set now and then."

"I know."

"As my warrior, if you weren't going to let me bring anything with me, then you should have provided better. And if you're not going to provide better, you don't have to be bitchy when I'm doing the best I can."

"I said I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well." I turned away.

"Don't go angry," she said quietly.

"Where did that come from, Malora? I was basking, and then you have to give me that? It came from something. What?"

"I'm jealous."

I turned to face her.

"Of what?"

"The time you spend with Nori and Ralla."

"You told me to!" I yelled. I lowered my voice for the next part. "And they need someone. It's not like I'm having sex with them!"

"I know."

"Fine. You can be the one to tell them to find someone else to comfort them."

"No."

"Well I'm not doing it!"

"Lower your voice, Maya."

"Why?" I asked. "Are you going to have me whipped for being disrespectful?"

"No, I don't want anyone to know the details of what we're talking about."

"Fine," I said quietly, but I didn't approach her. "What do you want?"

"I want you to forgive me."

"What else?"

"Nothing else."

"I'll forgive you when you stop lying." I climbed on the horse.

"I want to kiss you."

That s
topped me. I turned to face her, looking over my shoulder at her. She was nearly twice my age, but she was beautiful and had a hard, lean body I could do nothing but admire. She was gentle and kind to me. She listened when I spoke. And she was a good, if perhaps sometimes harsh leader. I thought perhaps I shouldn't judge the last part, as being an Amazon training to fight demons was a lot different than being a schoolteacher or living in a fishing village.

"Kiss?" I asked. She nodded. "And more?" She nodded again. "I've kissed before. Boys. Never girls. I've never done more."

She looked down. "I don't interest you then."

"I didn't say that, Malora. I'm trying to tell you it's a big step for me, and I wanted you to understand how big."

She looked, and there was a glimmer of hope.

"But we both know I don't fit in here-"

"That's not true."

"We both know I am not convinced I fit in here."

She smiled. "All right."

"We both know I haven't promised to stay."

"If you run, we'll catch you."

"And then you'll drag me back, and you'll tie me to the post in the training grounds, and we both know what happens after that, and then we know I'll never forgive you. We know it will break my spirit, and you won't want me any more than I will want you to touch me. Even if you eventually send me home, I'll be broken for years. And do you think I want my first lover to also be the woman who did all that to me?"

She stared up at me. "I understand," she said finally.

"I consider this a puzzle for you to solve."

"A puzzle for me?"

"I share your bed, Malora. I kiss your hand, and it's not your hand I am thinking about when I kiss it. We touch like lovers. We talk like lovers. Get the hint."

Her mouth opened, and she gawked at me. Slowly she closed it.

"I have to go. I have dinner duty and I am going to be late."

"I'll get you off dinner duty. Take your time. Do you forgive me from earlier?"

I held my hand towards her, and she rushed to take it, squeezing and coming closer, leaning against my leg. I lowered my head and kissed the top of her head.

"Yes. I'm going to ride slowly. If there is anyone available to chase after me, please send her. If no one is available, that's fine. I'll be somewhat longer than usual, but I will be back in time to serve dinner."

"If I solve this puzzle, Maya?"

"You'll have your kisses and your promise, but if you ever tie me to that post, I won't forgive you."

She squeezed my hand, and then I rode away from her.

It took twenty minutes, but I heard several horses on the trail behind me. I stopped and waited for them, and soon I saw Bea, Neela and Aura riding fast for me. They slowed their horses when they saw me.

"We heard you wanted company," Bea said.

I smiled. "Thank you. Yes. Do you know where Backbend Gulch is?"

"Yes."

"Please lead. I'm tired."

"I bet." I stepped my horse off the path so
Bea's could step past us, then I dropped in behind Neela and in front of Aura, squeezing hands as the woman rode past me.

The three of them chattered at me, drawing me into conversations. I hadn't really spent much time trying to be their friend, but I decided I liked all of them.
They were much younger than I was, of course. Neela and Aura were young enough to be my students, and Bea only two or three years old than that, sixteen or seventeen years old. But they weren't my students, and I wouldn't mind having friends, even young friends.

"Nori says we're to wrestle tomorrow,
on dry ground," Bea said. She turned over her shoulder to look at me. "I really enjoyed our bout."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I didn't."

She frowned and faced forward, but said loudly enough for me to hear, "Because you lost?"

"Because... I don't like wrestling. It wouldn't matter if I had won. I was terrified the entire time."

"Why is it different in the water?"

"It's slower and no one gets hurt."

"I was terrified today," Aura said from behind me. "You were gentle, but I was terrified. I guess I can understand. I'm not used to the water, and it scares me."

I looked back at her. "You should be respectful of the water. It can kill you."

"Yes, but it wasn't going to kill me today any more than the training grounds are going to kill you tomorrow. But if I can be afraid of the water, I guess you can be afraid of the training grounds."

"It doesn't help that they whip us when we run slowly," Neela said. She massaged her bottom, even though I was pretty sure she hadn't taken any cracks from the whip there lately. She looked over her shoulder. "It gives you bad memories, and if you think of Queen Malora as a demon chasing you." She paused. "I've had a few nightmares of demons chasing me around and around."

"Bea," I said. "Were you a volunteer or a conscript like I was?"

"No one was a conscript quite like you were, Maya," she said with a laugh. "I was in between. I'm from a village where we continued to tithe, but one far enough west that it is considered a duty to join the Amazons, not a privilege."

"My village, too," Aura said. "But I'm a volunteer. I wanted to be here."

"In my village," Bea explained, "during the year you turn twelve, we draw numbers from a hat, and if you draw a one, then in the spring of the year you turn fourteen, you go with the Amazons when they come. I had two years to get used to the idea."

"My village was the same," Aura explained. "I drew when I was twelve, and wasn't selected, but then I let the people who had to go know that I would go instead."

"What happened?" I asked.

"One of the girls who was selected to go was the daughter of a merchant. He offered to pay some of my family's debts and made sure I was equipped when I left home."

I laughed. "I arrived with the clothes on my back."

"I was a conscript," Neela explained, "but they gave us time to collect some things."

"Were you really a teacher?" Bea asked.

"Yes. Head teacher. The old head teacher died, and they gave the job to me even though I was so young."

"It seems wrong to take a teacher," Bea said. "That's an important job."

"You guys don't know the story?"

"No," Bea said. "I saw you when you arrived at the queen's camp, but I don't know why you were tied up."

"I'll tell the story at the next fire," I promised.

"Why would someone want to become a teacher?" Neela asked. "The best part of being an Amazon was not having to go back to school! I can't imagine making it a job."

"So getting stung by Queen Malora's whip is better than school?"

"Yes," she said. "Math. Ug."

"Math is a lot of puzzles," I said. "I love puzzles."

"I hated being inside so long," Aura said. "I wanted to be outside. Here, we're outside all the time. It's a lot better."

"Back home, my village elders had to order me to go outside."

"No way!" Bea said. "Now you're telling a tall tale."

"Nope. Totally true. They told me I worked too much and ordered me to take one day off a week."

"You made your kids go to school six days a week?" Aura asked. "I'd hate that."

"No, but I spent a lot of time preparing for classes so I would teach the best I could. I was a young teacher, and it was a lot of responsibility. I wanted the elders to be proud of me."

"I want Lidi to be proud of me," Neela said. "Even though I wasn't happy when they made me come."

We arrived at the gulch. "Do you girls know about rabbit snares?"

"I do," Bea said. "Sometimes I set some around the village, when Clara or I need more skins. But she's a good hunter, so we usually have enough."

"I hunted rabbits at home," Aura said.

"Not me," Neela said. "Rats."

"Eww. Rats?"

"To keep them out of the grain. We were farmers."

"Well, I'll show you how Nori taught me to set snares." And I took them around all my snares. There was only one rabbit, and I moved two of the snares. We returned to the meadow at the base of the gulch.

"Do you know what I want to do?" Bea asked.

"Stay out here all night and skip training tomorrow?" Neela asked her.

"No! Do you know
what kind of trouble we'd get into?"

"I was kidding. What do you want to do?"

"Wrestle. Maybe the reason Maya doesn't like wrestling is because she doesn't like where we wrestle. Maybe if we wrestle here, she'll like it."

I had to admit the girl had a brain. It was a clever thought. I didn't think it would help, but it was a clever thought.

"Are we allowed?" Aura asked. "Nori isn't here."

"Yes," said Bea. "Well, I am
allowed. I've never heard any rules about wrestling. Did any of your warriors tell you that you couldn't?"

"No," I admitted.
"I tell you what, if you girls want to wrestle, I'll watch, and then I'll decide. But Malora said no takedowns, and that rule has to apply here, too. And because Malora isn't here, the two who aren't wrestling can both call a halt."

Bea turned to the other girls. "Can we? Do you want to?"

"Okay," said Aura.

"Me too," said Neela. "Who is first?"

"Well, it was my idea," Bea said. "So I think I should help judge for you two first, then whoever wins can wrestle me. And then Maya can decide."

"Okay," Aura said, looking to Neela, who nodded.

We climbed down from our horses and set them loose; they were well trained and wouldn't wander, not with plenty of forage to eat.

We picked a spot, and Aura turned to Neela. "You can have up or down."

"Down," she said. The two of them took their positions, and I told Bea to run it, but I'd yell 'hold' if I thought they should stop.

"Ready, fight!"

The two of them scrambled around for a while, neither getting a significant upper hand. Bea had to stop them a few times and restart them, as they separated.