by K C West
“I see.”
“We have no slaves here, except those that are captured in battle, and they are, after a while, given the opportunity to assimilate into the tribe or return to their own people. Most choose to stay.”
“Sounds fair.”
“And to answer your other questions, Marna and I have each had three children, two boys and four girls. The boys were given up at birth, two of the girls died of fever when they were very young, and the other two are away in another village near the coast, training to be warriors. If our present village is attacked and destroyed, we will probably all go to the coastal camp and then, if necessary flee across the sea to a safer place.”
My mind was processing all of this new information, trying to figure out how this group got to be connected to the group we discovered in Arizona. I couldn’t reconcile the concept of time moving backwards and forwards enough to visualize it. One thing was certain: Life went on, no matter what we knew or didn’t know, or how much we tried to alter it to suit our needs.
“Every Amazon has a duty to keep her nation strong,” Leeja said, her voice cracking with emotion. “No matter what happens, it must survive.”
“Wow. That’s an awesome responsibility to be charged with.”
“PJ, you need to know something. I’ve thought about the wisdom of telling you this for a day now, and I think it will probably help you understand your role in all of this.”
I settled back against my pillows. “Go right ahead.”
“From the time we were very young, Mania and I can remember our village elders telling us stories of a golden-haired bard who came into the tribe before most of them were born. She had been a slave who escaped her captors and sought sanctuary with our ancient foremothers. In gratitude for having a place to sleep and eat without fear, the bard told stories. In spite of her painful past, she had a cheery disposition and loved to tell jokes and make everyone laugh. During her lifetime, she gave birth to several children, but only one was a girl. That daughter, who was also fair-haired, grew up in the Amazon village and learned all her mother could teach her about storytelling. She became a proficient bard and a valued peacemaker when her mother passed on to be with the Goddess.”
I leaned forward on my pile of furs. “Do you think I’m related to either of those women?”
Leeja gently took my hand in hers. “I believe so. The women were both named Taceesha. The older one earned a medallion for her bardly work and for her ability to seek peace and make treaties among the villages. When she died, her medallion was transferred to their daughter. Unfortunately, we have no further information about the younger Taceesha or her medallion. Mania was told that she was related somehow to her, but there is no evidence of that. We believe the young Taceesha was taught to be a warrior as well as a bard, though she disliked fighting.”
“Oh, crap.” I pulled away from her, rolled onto my back, and stared at the grotto ceiling. “Just when I had some hope of learning about my Amazon connection, you tell me there’s nothing more about her?”
“It is disappointing, I know. But now you realize how important it is for us to find as many missing Amazon connections as we can. We need you and Kim to search for links to our past.”
“You want us to use our archaeological skills to do this?”
Leeja leaned toward me. “Yes. We need all of your abilities. You would make an excellent chronicler of our stories. The Amazon history must be continued for our future and yours. Once these missing sisters of ours are found, they must be recognized as part of our heritage, and any living Amazons you encounter must know about their foremothers. This is the destiny we see for you and Kim.”
I blew out a sigh. “Whew. That’s a monumental task, Leeja.”
“In fact,” she continued, “you could keep a journal about your love for Kim and your life with her, adding how you feel about your Amazon roots.”
“I don’t know what Kim is going to say about all of this, but I guess I could try.”
She started to respond, but stopped abruptly. Instead, she yawned and stood up, bringing me to my feet. “If your mind’s as cluttered as mine right now, it’s probably best that we let things go for now. You need time to think about this and talk to Kim about it. We will let the shaman help you sort it out. She and the Goddess know what is expected of all of us. We must enjoy the time we live in and make the most of it.”
“Spoken like a true diplomat,” I said. “Goodnight, Leeja. You’ve opened up a fresh can of worms for me tonight.”
*
My sleeping chamber was located close enough to Leeja’s to share the protection of a pair of muscular guards. I nodded to them when I returned from another quick dip in the private pool, an even quicker visit to the outdoor privy, and a hasty rinse of water and mint for my teeth.
“Sleep well, Dr. Curtis.”
“May the Goddess bless you with pleasant dreams.”
Not likely, I thought, but I thanked them both and wished them a good night.
I pulled the door covering across the threshold and, by the light of one small candle, I removed my robe, folding it carefully and placing it on the low bench near my bedding. A solitary white orchid rested on my pillow.
Now, how did that get there? Maybe Leeja still needs to give a certain Amazon a clue.
I picked up the flower, placed it on top of my robe, and extinguished the candle. Somewhere high above me, through an opening in the rock ceiling, I could see stars in a tiny corner of the night sky. Just enough light filtered down to prevent total darkness.
The flower’s sweet perfume helped me drift off to sleep despite my troubled mind. I heard nothing until a noise in the predawn grayness awakened me, and I sensed a dark form hovering over me.
In a panic, I pushed against my intruder. An extremely solid, extremely naked female body resisted my efforts. An orchid petal touched my cheek.
“Reena, no,” I managed to say before moist lips crushed my own, stealing my breath.
A tongue slipped between my parted lips and thoroughly plundered the interior of my mouth.
Someone - maybe both of us - moaned.
Her fingers tangled in my hair and her lips branded my jaw and chin with searing kisses. Her teeth nipped and tugged a pathway down my neck.
Fully aroused, I clutched her head, pulling her mouth to my breast. “God, I’ve missed you. What a wonderful surprise.”
“Mmm.” Her tongue teased an already taut nipple.
“When did you get here?” I asked between shuddering gasps. Her hands had begun a persistent descent down my torso, stroking, caressing, and driving me insane with desire.
“Little while ago. I cleaned myself in the pool. Didn’t want to smell of horses.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
We wrestled and groped our way at first, anxious to relieve our pent up sexual tension. Hands and fingers found a rhythm and worked in tandem, kneading and coaxing thoroughly stimulated body parts.
“Sorry if I’m too rough, but you seem to be a bit needy yourself.”
I guided her fingers to a wet and waiting spot. “Needy doesn’t begin to describe it. Welcome back, Kim.”
Her fingers continued their masterful work, bringing me to a state of near ecstasy.
“So, who’s Reena? My competition?”
“Not for you, my horny Amazon.” Her fingers slid home, and I surrendered to the orgasm that rocketed through my body. When I could speak again, I reassured her. “No competition at all.”
Chapter 13
We lay luxuriating in the warm aftermath of lovemaking. I had no idea how long PJ and I had slept after our exhausting reunion, but nobody came to drag us out of our room in the grotto, so I was happy to remain where I was, in the comforting embrace of the love of my life. Everything I wanted in the world was right here with me; I had no reason to move, no thoughts or desires, at least for the moment, to return to that other world.
As if reading my thoughts, the woman draped so unceremonious
ly across my torso opened her eyes and planted a slobbery kiss on my neck.
“I was afraid you were a figment of my sexually-starved imagination.” She wrapped one arm around my chest. “God, it’s so good to see you, to feel you close to me again.”
“I think you mentioned that a few times during the night, but I’m just as glad to see you and to be with you. I missed you while I was on my anger management retreat to Hell.”
“It doesn’t sound as though it went well.”
“Let’s just say that Marna believes in the principle of tough love.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Oh, yeah. The worst part was when she disappeared for hours on end, even overnight, and left me with nothing to eat and no firewood.”
“What!” PJ pushed herself to a sitting position. “Why, that bitch. I’m - “
“No, it’s not what you think. I was never in any real danger, though I didn’t know that at the time. I thought I was alone against the mountain, and while I think of myself as being self-reliant, it scared the hell out of me.”
PJ lowered herself and tucked her head against my neck. She was so close to me that I could feel the beating of her heart. It was steady and reassuring.
“That seems like a perfectly natural assumption to me, since you thought you were alone against the elements. I’m sure you dealt with the situation in your usual professional manner.”
I massaged her hip and slid my hand across her ribcage. “I appreciate your support, but that was when I made the mistake of allowing my anger to take over. Marna taught me, very vividly, that anger doesn’t solve any problems. I was my own best example.”
“That may be, Kim, but Mama’s methods could’ve been more humane.”
“Mmm.” In the comfort of PJ’s warm embrace, it was easier to forgive and forget the trauma of the cold desperation I had experienced on the snowy mountain. I had been forced to admit that Marna knew what she was doing. “She provided the opportunity for me to face and think through the problem. By doing that, I was able to find a way to survive, an opportunity I might not have experienced otherwise.”
“Oh, my poor baby.” PJ clutched my roaming hand to her cheek.
“No. I needed to survive, and to do that, I had to become a thinking, planning human being. It was me against the wilderness, me all by myself, and anger was my enemy.”
PJ released my hand and rested her cheek against my chest. “I’m sorry you had it so hard. And it sounds like it was a lot colder where you went.”
“Yes, we rode through a long, narrow valley then climbed high into the mountains. Really high, though I had no way of knowing what the altitude was. I felt it in my breathing, though. And by the time we arrived at the cave, it was beastly cold. We were in a different zone. The snow was thick on the ground, and there was little food and almost no fuel. This place is a paradise by comparison. Have you been here since we parted?”
“Yes, we have. First Leeja and I soaked in a mineral pool, and then we were massaged with oils that I swear had magical powers. We had long discussions, during which she forced me to take a good look at myself, at what I had become after Mother’s death, my relationship with my father, and the events in Wales. She said I was a scarred individual, and you know, I’m inclined to believe her.”
“At least you had comfortable conditions and plenty of food here. Marna and I had a debate over killing wild game for food. We had brought some provisions along, but she wanted fresh meat, ‘to give us strength,’ she said, ‘to combat the cold.’”
“You had to kill animals?”
“Marna did. She shot a buck and dressed it.”
“Oh, Kim. How awful. There must have been some way to avoid doing that.”
“You weren’t there, PJ. I’ll admit that I was appalled by the idea, but after going out in the cold, in a snowstorm, to gather windfall for a fire to keep me warm, I was so hungry that I literally tore meat off the carcass and cooked it on a stick over the fire. I even thanked the animal for giving its life for me, for us. Marna did that when she made the kill, and it felt right for me to do so, too.”
“I can tell it was no picnic for you.”
“Hardly.” I propped myself up on one elbow so I could watch her expression while we talked. Much as I hated to lose her body’s warmth, I wanted to see how she reacted to my experiences and to learn what she had been doing. “Okay, now it’s your turn. What, beside the spa treatment, has happened to you?”
“Leeja spoke about a blonde Amazon from ancient times.”
“Really? Are you related?”
“Maybe. This woman was a bard and a peace negotiator for the tribe. She told stories and taught the art of storytelling to her daughter.”
“All wonderful attributes for an Amazon to contribute to her tribe.”
“Yes, but that wasn’t all Leeja told me. We talked about the medallions, and Leeja said I have yet to find mine. This one is more like a loaner.” She fingered the medallion which nestled between her breasts. “During the time I’ve been here, I’ve been able to relax. That’s been hard for me to do lately. Totally relax.”
“Good. You needed that.”
“Yes, I suppose I did, though I would never have admitted it. I preferred to believe that I was in sync with the world, and I really wasn’t.” She lapsed into silence.
“You know,” she said, after a moment, “in our time, Leeja would make a top-notch psychologist. Susanna would be jealous. They both believe that facing one’s demons is the first step to a full recovery. And though they came at it from different directions, the result was the same, except that with Leeja, I was able to see the bigger picture more clearly.”
I stretched out to my full length, keeping my face turned toward her. “From what I’ve seen of Leeja, she’s a wise woman and a capable queen.” I tickled PJ’s stomach and watched her abdominal muscles ripple. “It sounds as though your therapy was easier than mine. But then, perhaps I was more stubborn than you were.”
“Possibly.” She caught my fingers and warmed them against her belly. “I don’t care to find out right now, however.”
*
Little by little, we rehashed her meetings with Leeja and what she had learned about this tribe of Amazons. PJ told me that our mission might involve finding Amazon remains and trying to locate medallions to match them with their rightful owners. This sounded like a daunting task, but apparently the shaman had more ideas on the subject and would probably give us more specific data when we met with her.
PJ was curious about the red and black tattoos and how Leeja had suggested that she had earned one for the wound on her shoulder.
“I refused, of course,” she told me. “I don’t need anything else to remind me of that time.”
I hugged her, keeping silent. I didn’t want to break her train of thought now that she was willing to share her feelings. In fact, my mind was reeling from all the information PJ had gathered in her talks with Leeja.
She appeared to be honored that she wore Leeja’s medallion. It had been loaned to her in the Superstition Mountains, and she was expected to wear it until her rightful medallion was found.
“What do you think of that concept?” I asked her.
“It could explain why I don’t resemble any of the women in camp.”
“True.”
“She assured me, though, that I’m an Amazon, and more importantly, that I’m meant to be your soul mate.”
I touched her cheek and gave her nose a tweak. “As if I didn’t know that already.”
“So it looks like we’re stuck with each other for now. Maybe throughout eternity.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. Do you think you can handle that?”
“Tall order, that eternity stuff.” I gazed into the softness of her eyes and felt my heart melt.
“Always and forever appears to be a fact.”
I pulled her face close enough to kiss with all the passion I was feeling. “I’m game if you are.”
She moaned from deep in her throat and slid back on top of me. “All this talk about loving you forever has my engine racing. Are you up for another spin around the block?”
“This jalopy is ready, willing, and able.”
We heard a cough outside our room and seconds later, Leeja pulled aside the skins that were hung for privacy.
PJ slipped off to one side, and we hastily pulled the animal furs up around us.
“Sorry, Your Majesty,” PJ said. “Please forgive us.”
“Are we late for a meeting?” I asked.
“No need to apologize. And it’s Leeja. We’re friends, remember. I just came in to see if you needed food. But I see the only thing you hunger for is each other. I’ll request that a meal be left outside your door, and you can have it when you like.”
“Thank you, Leeja. It seems Kim missed me almost as much as I missed her.”
“That is how it should be.” Leeja’s hand moved to cover a bite mark adorning her neck. “It would appear that Marna suffered from the same affliction.”
“It was a difficult separation,” I added.
“Then I suggest you carry on with what you were doing.” She left, pulling the privacy skins back across the opening.
PJ’s body rocked with her laughter. “Our queen has a hickey. Can you believe it?”
“She’s not the only one.”
Her expression changed from mirth to horror, and her fingers flew to her neck. “No. God, Kim.”
“Sorry, baby. These things happen.”
“Where am I going to find a turtle neck in the midst of all these skimpy Amazon outfits?”
“You aren’t. You’ll just have to hide out with me until your neck returns to normal.”
“Wonderful. What are we going to do while we wait?”
“You heard your friend. And since she’s the queen, I suggest we consider it a command rather than a suggestion. We’re to carry on.”
“Oh, okay.” PJ rolled onto her back. “Where were we?”
By way of an answer, I lowered my mouth to her breast.
*
Later, when we sat chatting around the fire in the queen’s hut, PJ learned more about my experiences on the mountain.
