Amazon Companion (43 page)

I explained in more detail, details I hadn't shared with Malora before. "This isn't proof," I said when I was done. "We can't accuse her. In all honesty, it happened very quickly." I began calming down. "I take it back. She may not have tried to kill me. She seemed honestly concerned. I may not have given her time to react. As soon as she pulled my hand from the rock, I scrambled for her."

"If she had let go, would you be dead?" Malora asked quietly.

I thought about it. "I don't know. I was tired. I couldn't have made it back to the same spot or one like it. I was just too tired to do it again. But I may have stayed alive long enough to find an easier eddy."

"I know that river," said Ralla. "I would not have gone swimming there, and I'm almost as good as you are. It's treacherous."

"Maya..." said Malora.

"I was fine," I said. "It was invigorating."

"Kill her," Nori said.

"Is she a good warrior?" I asked.

"Very good,"
Balorie said.

"Can she beat Malora in a challenge?"

"Not if Malora is at her best," Balorie said immediately.

"I agree," said
Ralla. "But if she were weakened, then maybe. She's a fine warrior."

"The Amazons need the warriors we have," I said. Malora smiled at the 'we'. "May I offer a proposal?"

"Haven't you been?" Malora said with a wry smile.

"We have several problems to solve," I said. "We have the issue of
Omie's companion. Vorine is serving duty now, but she needs to be treated as a warrior. We have a queen's companion who is a very poor student. We have an unwelcome trainer looking for more opportunities to beat me to a pulp." I paused. "Maybe she thinks she can drive me into running away. Malora, if you let her train me, I'd run. You know I would."

"We'd catch you,"
Balorie said.

"And Malora would have to whip me, and I wouldn't let any of you touch me again. Does it work if I am unwilling?"

"No."

"All right. Anyway, we have these problems to solve, and it strikes me that they have the same solution."

"Oh?" said Malora. "Do tell."

"I like Vorine and
Omie as trainers. Let them work under Nori as the trainers for the younger companions. You will need to supervise, and I do not know if they can do all the training. That gives Vorine responsibility, as consolation for keeping her near Omie and available as a companion at least until we can acquire one for Omie. She loves her sister, and she'll wait. She would probably wait anyway, but this is recognition for her."

The women were nodding.

"That gives you a reason to cut Parlomith loose, thanking her for her offer, but you like this solution for Queen's Town better. It has the benefit of being honest. And you can also state that Parlomith is too valuable a warrior to be wasted training the young companions when there are younger trainers available who can produce results."

"What results?"
Balorie asked. "That's what she'll ask."

I smiled.

"That's when we invite her for a swim," Ralla said, laughing. "She doesn't need to know you were kicking everyone's ass even before Omie and Vorine started training you to wrestle."

"We have to be careful with that," Malora said. "You can't humiliate her."

"I'll give her a good match," I said. "I'll let her win at the end." I paused. "I won't stay underwater willingly for more than a thirty-count, so if it's longer than that, you'll know something is wrong." I turned to Ralla. "You need to be there."

"I haven't agreed yet," said Malora. "
She's been training the companions for two days. Did she beat any of them the way she beat my companion?"

"None
that have complained," Nori said, "and I've been watching. She's rough with them, but I don't think as rough as you described."

"Find out," she said.

"Leave that to me," I offered. "I'll have an answer ten minutes after we get back."

They discussed it. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the physical pampering I was getting. I could get used to being a companion, if it was going to be like this.

"So," Nori whispered into my ear. "Am I forgiven?"

"I'm seriously considering it," I said, earning some chuckles.

"Anything else we need to discuss?" Malora asked.

"Nothing is pressing," Nori said.

"How soon can I send you on patrol, Malora?" Balorie asked.

I opened my eyes, curious about the answer.

"This fall," Malora said. "Can we put it off that long?"

"Why so long?"

"I don't want to go even three days away from my companion right now."

"Oh," said
Balorie. "Companion, do you understand the implications of what your warrior has just said?"

"Suck it up on the training ground so I can go along."

"Yes."

"You don't need to be good enough to fight a demon," Nori said. "I'd feel better if you'd been tried in a few real fights."

We hadn't mentioned the bandits. I glanced at Malora, and she shook her head just once. Ralla grinned but said nothing.

"We've been gone long enough," Malora said. "As nice as this is,
Balorie, you need to put her boots back on her."

"Do we have time for a swim?" I asked.

"We have to wait for that part," Malora replied.

"Just a swim, no playing. And I really, really want fresh clothes."

"With this one, it's always about the clothes," Ralla said.

"I think that is about to get better," Nori added. "The warriors have all paid their debts from their wagers with you."

"Really?" I smiled. "Who can I beg to help me make the clothes?"

"Bea is actually very good," Malora said. "There are better in other villages, but she's as good as anyone here."

"What wagers?" Balorie asked while lacing my boots.

"Are you a good swimmer,
Balorie?" I asked her again.

Nori laughed, and we all climbed to our feet. Nori told the story while we walked back to the village.

* * * *

We didn't have time for a swim. Dinner was waiting for us. I managed to grab Bea, Neela and Aura and pull them to the side.

"What did you think of Parlomith as a trainer?"

They looked uncomfortable about answering.

"This is important," I said. "I am asking for Malora. She needs the truth. Did Parlomith abuse you?"

"She's rough," Bea said. "I wouldn't call it abuse. I have a couple of bruises Nori wouldn't have given me."

"Nori is willing to give bruises," Aura said, "but Parlomith seems to enjoy it. I think I have three from her."

"I have four," Neela said. "But one is from Bea."

"She made me hit you. I'm sorry."

"She doesn't use a whip when we run," Aura said. "So that's a little better. But Nori stopped doing that, too."

"They only did that for the first few weeks when I got here," Bea said. "Enough I knew they would, and enough I learned my limits were a lot further than I realized."

"No one has been hurt so badly you couldn't attend to your warriors?"

"Oh," said Bea. "Not me." The three of them shook their heads. "Maya, what aren't you telling us?"

"I'll tell you, but not today." We were drawing an audience, as we were supposed to be serving our warriors. "We'll talk more later though. There will be a bonfire tonight."

"Parlomith said she's our trainer," Bea said.

"Don't worry about that," I said. "Trust Queen Malora."

Bea smiled, then grinned. "Tell us."

"Go serve your warriors," I said, pushing them away and smiling.

When I got to the table with a tray for Malora, Parlomith was sitting to her left, which was normally Nori's position. I gave Malora her tray then kissed her cheek and said, "I'll be right back."

I made a tray for Nori and gave it to her, sitting on Malora's right, out of position. Then I sat down between the two of them, and immediately offered each of them a hand to hold. They both took it. From the corner of my eye, I could see that
Parlomith noticed. I squeezed their hands, then shifted in my seat so I was leaning slightly against Nori while facing Malora. I began grabbing bites of food from her tray while I wrapped a leg around hers, under the table, and settled my left hand on her neck. That didn't give Nori much bare skin to touch, but then I felt her fingers on my shoulder.

Fingers weren't enough, but it was symbolic if anything else.

The conversation over dinner was largely inconsequential. I people watched. Omie sat next to her sister and had a hand on her at all times.

"Do we notice
Omie or wait until later?"

"So," Malora said loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Does anyone have any news to share?" She looked around. "Why didn't
Benala and Ree take their companions when they went on patrol?"

"
Benala doesn't have a companion," Vorine said, smiling at her sister.

"
Omie!" Malora said, "congratulations! We'll have a celebration at the bonfire tonight. Will you be ready to tell the story?"

"Yes, Queen Malora," she said. "May I speak with you beforehand?"

"Of course, Omie," she said, her voice soft. "It gets easier."

"That's what they've all said,"
Omie said. "I had no idea. I mean, I did, but..."

"We'll talk," Malora said.
"Vorine, I would like you there as well."

"
Omie, I'm pulled a little thin, but I always have time for you," I told her, and she looked at me with gratitude after a worried glance at her sister.

From Malora's other side, I heard
Parlomith mutter something about coddling. Malora ignored her.

No one else had anything to add, but Bea said, "I noticed that Maya's hair is finally starting to fade."

"The pink washed out of mine three days ago," Neela said. But Aura still had pink tips at the end of her braid. I wasn't going to tell her, but it looked cute.

"About that," Malora said. "Maya disobeyed a direct order a week ago, and she needs a fresh reminder.
Serra, we'll need more of the dye. Can you arrange it before the bonfire?"

"Of course, Queen Malora,"
Serra said with a grin. "But I have no more of the lip paint."

"Just the dye would do."

I didn't know she was going to do this, but it amused me, and I heard Ralla chuckling.

"I am not surprised to hear your companion was disobedient,"
Parlomith said. "Perhaps she requires a more stern hand."

"Perhaps she does," Malora replied. "We will apply the punishment I have selected, and then she will explain to all of us why she is being punished."

"Queen Malora," I said, "are you really going to make me act it all out the way you threatened?"

"Yes," she said immediately, a twinkle in her eye at my suggestion.
"That was such a brilliant idea of mine."

I clasped her leg under the table, squeezing in thanks of her compliment.

Conversation moved to other, more mundane topics. Twice Parlomith tried to bring up the topic of "my new training program", but Malora only said, "not now, Parlomith," both times.

Finally dinner was over. Malora dismissed everyone then invited Vorine and
Omie to her hut, bringing me along. When we got there, I hugged Omie, moving her hands to the back of my neck and pressing my cheek against hers, my hands on the back of her neck.

"Ohhh," she said. "Ohhh." Then she was quiet. Vorine came up behind her, leaning against
Omie's back, and the two of us held her for a while.

"It's quiet,"
Omie whispered. "The voice. It's quiet!"

"It won't last," Malora said. "I'm sorry about that,
Omie." Then she joined the hug. "I'm proud of you, my newest warrior."

"How do you handle it, Queen Malora?"

"For this conversation, I am just Malora. All right?"

"I'll try," she said.

"That means you too, Vorine. I have a favor to ask of you."

"Anything, Queen Malora." Malora gave her a dirty look, and she amended it. "Anything, Malora."

"Good. All right, let's sit." We separated, Omie sighing, but she let Vorine pull her to a bench, and then Malora and I took the other bench.

"First again, congratulations,
Omie."

"I didn't do anything," she said. "I just stood there, frozen once the voice entered my head."

"Were you close?"

"Yes."

"So you hesitated a few seconds?"

"I should have killed it! It was right there, and I had my sword out.
Benala killed it for me before it could reach me. I'm not a warrior."