Amazonia: An Impossible Choice

by Sky Croft

  “I would deny my wife nothing. Least of all her life.” Shale’s brain was in overdrive, and she called out to Tanis in an attempt to delay her. Tanis had now reached Kale’s side. “Kill me instead. Look at how much pain Theron’s loss has caused you. It’s worse than death, isn’t it?” Shale paused an instant to let that sink in. “Your best revenge would be to kill me, leave my wife and twin alive to suffer as you suffer now.”

  Blake cried out in protest of such a plan. “Shale, no!”

  Tanis seemed to think about it. “Good try. I intend to kill you all, after I finish Kale here.” She pressed the tip of the knife to Kale’s chest. “Last chance?”

  “Kale! Damn you, wake up,” Shale yelled, hearing the desperation in her own voice.

  If only Shale could pull Blake up, she could stop Tanis. Her bracing hand just couldn’t find any grip. It was the same problem they’d faced before when Amber had fallen into the river. Only Blake’s idea of using the tree for leverage had saved Amber from going over the falls. The same principle applied here. If she could just find something to help her...

  If she hadn’t already been crying, Shale would’ve wept when she spotted the satchel around Blake’s middle. She’d assumed Blake had left it behind to be brought up with the gold, but fortunately for them both, Blake liked to be prepared. Since Blake had known something bad was happening, she’d obviously shouldered the bag and brought it with her.

  “Blake, the chisel, throw it up. As near to my hand as you can get it.”

  With one hand, Blake removed it from the bag. She tossed it up next to Shale’s bracing hand. Shale’s fingers crept toward it, clasping it when it was in reach. She tilted the chisel tip downward, pushing it into a narrow gap between two large stones that were buried securely in the ground.

  With considerable strength she wedged it down, firmly, deeply, until it was submerged up to its handle. Shale pushed against the now rooted chisel as she heaved Blake up with one arm, muscles bulging as they strained in effort. The chisel had good purchase, and now that she had a solid brace to leverage herself against, she began to make some headway in lifting Blake.

  Shale glanced back to Tanis, just in time to see her thrust the knife into Kale’s chest. “No!” she screamed.

  Shale used her anger at Tanis, and at the complete injustice of the situation, and mightily hauled Blake upward, so her top half was out of the shaft.

  Blake grabbed the chisel with both hands. “Go! I can manage from here.”

  Shale rolled to her feet and whipped out the dagger at her waist— the one Kale had given her for a joining present. As Tanis raised the knife to deliver another strike, Shale launched her dagger straight at Tanis. End over end the dagger flew through the air, its aim straight and true. It thudded satisfyingly into Tanis’s back, right between her shoulder blades. The force of the impact not only drove the blade in up to its hilt, it spun Tanis around, her body crumpling as she fell bonelessly to the ground. It had been a fatal strike, delivered with deadly efficiency.

  Shale sprinted across and dropped to her knees, calling out Kale’s name again and again. She searched frantically for Kale’s wound, frustratedly batting Kale’s satchel aside, which had gotten entangled around her front, likely from when Tanis had dragged her along the ground. Kale had insisted on carrying her satchel of food up with her, saying that it was light and it would save her from hauling it up later.

  Shale’s tears were blinding her, and she couldn’t find the injury. She hastily swiped at her eyes, but still she couldn’t find the wound.

  “Blake!” Shale yelled, desperate for her wife’s unwavering presence. To Blake’s credit, and to Shale’s unending relief, Blake slid to a stop on the opposite side of Kale.

  “Tanis stabbed her in the chest.” Shale’s hands trembled as they searched. “But I can’t find—”

  “Let me.” Blake gently but firmly moved Shale’s hands away, as if to allow her gaze to look unhindered for the wound. “There’s no blood.”

  Shale frowned in confusion. There was indeed blood on Kale’s head, and on the side of her face, but none was on Kale’s chest or torso. “I saw it with my own eyes. Please don’t let her die, Blake.”

  Blake began to probe around Kale’s chest and stomach, an intense concentration on her face—she clearly didn’t want to overlook any damage.

  Her heart breaking, Shale urgently tapped Kale’s face, trying to rouse her. “Kale, please don’t leave me. I beg you! I couldn’t bear it.”

  Shale’s plea was desperation itself, but she received no response from Kale. She noticed that Blake was also crying, though it was clear Blake was trying to be strong, trying to hold herself together.

  Blake abruptly stopped her search. She tugged across Kale’s satchel, which Shale saw had a hole in the side of it. After hastily digging into the bag, Blake withdrew Senna’s greave. She showed it to Shale, pointing to a large dent that now marred its metal surface.

  “Kale hasn’t been stabbed,” Blake said. “This greave deflected the strike.”

  Shale shook her head, knowing what she’d seen. The horrific image of seeing Kale grievously stabbed, perhaps even fatally so, was forever burned into her memory.

  Blake looked at her worriedly. “Shale, listen, you’re in shock, but I need you to try and take in what I’m saying. Kale wasn’t stabbed. She’s just unconscious from the blow to the head.”

  “I saw...”

  Blake took Shale’s face in her hands, forcing eye contact. “You felt Kale’s blow to her head, an echo of it at least. Did you feel her stabbed? Did you get any pain in your chest?”

  Shale frowned as she struggled to think, her mind in disarray. She recalled the fear she’d felt, the pain at the thought of losing Kale, but not actual pain. Shale blinked in confusion. She should have felt the pain of such a strike, she felt the pain of any serious wound. She tried to consolidate what she’d seen, with what she had felt. They contradicted one another. But her senses regarding Kale had never failed her, so she trusted them now, allowing Blake’s words about the greave deflecting the blade to finally sink in. Kale wasn’t near death, she was merely unconscious.

  Shale burst into tears, relieved beyond imagining. She raised Kale upward, cradling her gently in her arms. Blake moved to Shale’s side and embraced her, rocking Shale soothingly as her frame shook.

  Kale groggily stirred in Shale’s arms, and murmured. “Why are you both crying all over me?”

  Shale cried all the harder, and unable to speak, she clutched Kale tightly to her.

  “WHAT’S GOING ON?” Amber’s voice echoed up from the shaft. “Could someone pass me a rope?”

  Shale crossed to the hole in the ground. “I’ll get a rope down to you, Amber.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  “Tanis attacked us. Kale took a nasty hit to the head.” Shale glanced to her twin, who was having her head wound treated by Blake. “But she’ll be all right. Her skull is thick.”

  “Mocking me when I’m injured,” Kale said. “Have you no shame?”

  Shale smiled at her, knowing Kale had to be feeling better to respond in her usual way. She moved away from the shaft to fetch the last remaining rope. The extra unused rope now came in useful, it was vital in fact. They’d already had two ropes before visiting the blacksmith’s shop, and had purchased four more, which made six. They’d carried one rope each, and all had been left down in the caves. Another was used for the shaft rope, which had now been cut, so that left one spare. They’d left it up top rather than take it with them, since no one could carry two bulky ropes while still being able to climb comfortably. It was a good thing they had left the rope on the surface, or they’d have no way of getting Amber out of the caves.

  Shale unfastened the cut rope from around the pillar, the part that remained of it anyway, and fastened the fresh rope around the stone instead. She shouted a warning down to Amber before releasing the rope down the shaft.

  “Do you want me to put the gold on
?” Amber’s voice came back a few moments later.

  “Yes, go ahead. I’ll pull it up myself.”

  “Shale, are you sure?” Blake asked, her hands pausing over the gash along the side of Kale’s head. “I can go back down in the morning and tie it on.”

  “No, it’s all right. I can bring it up. It’ll just mean extra hassle tomorrow.”

  “What about your arm?”

  Shale looked down at her upper arm, the blood flowing from the cut was barely a trickle now. “It’s not deep. It won’t hinder me.”

  She saw the rope jerk as Amber pulled on it, and Shale sat down, legs apart and knees up to brace herself. She began to reel in the rope with a smooth, repetitive motion. Her muscles strained as she drew up the gold, but they didn’t quiver.

  To distract herself from the monotonous task, Shale watched her twin as Blake cleaned her wound. Kale was doing a good job of being stoic, but on occasion she winced, causing Blake to apologize profusely.

  As if wanting a distraction herself, no doubt from the pain, Kale met Shale’s gaze. “Tanis certainly knew how to take advantage of a situation. She had me right in her crossfire. I was barely out of the hole when she clobbered me with that rock. I didn’t even have chance to react.”

  “I know.” Shale kept on drawing in the rope as she talked. “Tanis got me the same way.”

  “She hit you with the rock, too?” Blake threw a dark look toward Tanis’s body. “It’s fortunate for her that she’s dead.”

  Shale smiled at Blake’s protective streak. “I managed to twist out of the way. Didn’t take the full force.”

  Kale sounded annoyed. “How come you managed that, and I didn’t?”

  “Because I knew something was wrong, so I was expecting an attack. You weren’t. That split moment of delay was all it took to make a difference. As I said, Tanis still struck me.” Shale wasn’t trying to make excuses for Kale, it was the simple truth.

  “After I finish treating Kale, I’ll take a look at you.” Blake’s green eyes were sympathetic. “I bet you both have splitting headaches?”

  Shale and Kale nodded in unison.

  “I’ll need some of that awful pain killer,” Kale said. “Would you mix me some, Blake?”

  “Of course.” Blake gave Kale’s shoulder a squeeze, as if knowing that Kale found it difficult to ask for help.

  Shale smiled at the interaction. She watched quietly as Blake put down her cloth, and began to sprinkle some herbs over Kale’s head wound. Shale knew from experience that the herbs would help to stop infection from setting in.

  Kale uneasily eyed the needle that Blake was in the process of threading. “Shale, are you nearly finished pulling that bag up?”

  “Almost. But I have two more to bring up.”

  As Blake reached out, needle in her grasp, Kale hastily leaned away. “What are you doing, Blake?”

  “I’m going to stitch your wound closed.”

  “Oh, no you’re not. Amber’s told me about your lack of stitching skills.”

  Shale sniggered as she hefted the first bag of gold up onto the ground beside her. She untied the rope from it, then let the rope fall back down the shaft. Though she was now free to assist in stitching Kale, she made no move to do so. “Blake can do it.”

  “It’s true I like scars, Shale, but I don’t want them to be a complete mess. Especially not on my head.”

  Blake scoffed indignantly. “It won’t be a mess. Appollonia has taught me how to stitch.”

  “Since when?”

  “Since I knew I was going to be joined to a warrior. After Shale and I were betrothed, I had Appollonia teach me.” Blake’s voice lowered, as if sharing a secret. “You saw how much trouble Shale got into when you both first arrived.”

  “That was hardly my fault,” Shale said loudly, scowling as Kale laughed at her expense.

  Blake winked at Shale, then looked back to Kale. “As warriors, I knew you were bound to get injuries, so I thought it wise to learn how to stitch.” She shrugged. “I like to be prepared.”

  “Speaking of,” Shale gave Blake a curious glance. “Is that what made you bring up your satchel?”

  Blake nodded. “I wanted to be armed coming up here. I thought I could use one of the tools as a weapon if needed.”

  “It’s a good thing you did.” Shale indicated the rope, which was waiting to be pulled up. “Kale?”

  “Go ahead, Blake can stitch me.”

  At Blake’s smile, Kale added, “I’d better not end up looking like a monster.”

  Blake grinned. “I’ll do my best.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  RELIEVED TO BE resting finally, Blake stretched her tired legs out in front of her. Her feet were sore from walking all day, and her entire body ached. She leaned against Shale, who sat beside her, and smiled as Shale draped an arm across her shoulders. Despite the exhaustion Blake felt, all she craved was Shale’s touch, her presence a balm against all discomfort.

  After patching Kale and Shale up, Blake had given them both pain medication. She was pleased Shale hadn’t needed stitches, though she did have a nasty bump on the back of her head.

  Blake was amazed that despite the injury, Shale had still managed to bring up all three bags of gold, which now lay beside the rest of their supplies. The rope from the shaft had also been removed. Blake was glad the hard work was behind them, and that they personally had no further need to revisit the cave.

  Now that the important tasks were done, Blake turned her attention to the meal—the rabbits Kale had long been awaiting. Blake and Amber had taken pity on the twins, and after Amber caught the rabbits, Blake had set to and cooked them. Blake enjoyed every bite that she took, surprised by how hungry she was.

  “I’m pleased I gave you that dagger,” Kale said around a mouthful of meat.

  Shale nodded. “Me too.”

  “I’m pleased you found that greave,” Amber added. Blake had given Amber a full account of what had happened after she’d reached the surface. “Senna protected you.”

  Kale’s eyes twinkled as she smiled. “She certainly did.” She raised her mug toward the sky, as if in salute. “To Senna.”

  The words were echoed back by three different voices, all toasting Senna in the same fashion.

  “Do you want any more rabbit, Shale? There’s still some left.” Blake held the plate of meat out to her, but Shale shook her head.

  “Give it to Kale, she’ll have it.”

  Blake saw that Kale’s plate was nearly empty, and she offered the meat to her. Kale took the food with obvious eagerness, and quickly dug into it. Blake shared a humorous look with Amber.

  Kale shrugged at the exchange. “What?”

  “Nothing.” Amber placed a hand on Kale’s thigh. “I’m just pleased to see that your injury hasn’t put you off your food.”

  Kale harrumphed. “It’ll take more than a knock on the head to put me off.”

  “That’s a good sign,” Shale said. “Kale has to be practically on her deathbed before she stops eating.”

  Kale patted her abdomen. “I have a strong stomach.”

  “It has to be, to hold all the food you eat,” Shale teased.

  Blake shared another look with Amber, though this one was pleased. She knew Shale and Kale had to be feeling more like themselves, to be bantering in their usual way.

  “Amber, are you finished?” Shale gestured to her plate. At Amber’s nod, she said, “Come and help me set up our camps for the night. It’ll be getting dark soon.”

  Blake’s surprise came through in her tone. “We’re not staying here?”

  “We won’t go far.” Shale tipped her head toward the shaft. “But it’s probably wise to move away from that hole. You’d probably roll into it while sleeping.”

  Blake’s eyes widened. “Me?”

  “Yes, you. Twice now, you’ve nearly plummeted to your death.” Shale grinned at her as Kale began to snigger. “Now who’s the one finding trouble?”

  “I...b
ut...” Blake narrowed her eyes, having no defense, as Shale indeed spoke the truth. She couldn’t keep the scowl on her face. A sheepish smile formed instead. “That’s probably for the best,” she finally said. “Though the second time was hardly my fault.”

  “I know that.” Shale became serious, her teasing seemingly forgotten. She took hold of Blake’s hand. “I’d feel better if we were away from here.”

  Blake nodded. “Fair enough.” She read the unspoken words easily. Shale didn’t want to stay in a place where she’d almost lost her wife and twin, which was understandable. Blake raised Shale’s hand and kissed it, then rose to her feet, tugging Shale up with her. “I’ll help.”

  Shale smiled, her gratitude clear. “And while we’re on the subject, we’re never setting foot inside another cave again. It always ends badly.”

  “I’M SO TIRED I think I could sleep for a week.” Blake yawned, and politely covered her mouth with a hand.

  “Mm. I know what you mean.” Shale was sitting by the campfire, idly stoking it with a stick. The fire was burning well, it needed no tending, but she wanted something to occupy herself with. She kept dwelling on what had almost happened, what could have easily happened, and though she was weary from the long day, and her injured body was demanding rest so it could start to heal itself, her mind just wouldn’t allow her to relax.

  Despite their hostile feelings toward the woman, they’d buried Tanis, after checking to make sure she was definitely dead this time. They wouldn’t be fooled on a third occasion. But even though the threat of Tanis was definitely behind them, Shale couldn’t easily forget the situation Tanis had put her in. Asking her to choose, had been the worst moment of her life. Even though events had eventually played out in their favor, the memory still haunted Shale, and she knew it would for quite some time to come.

  She felt an arm encircle her waist as Blake sat down beside her. “Aren’t you going to bed?”