by Robin Roseau
"All right. Of course, Malora," I said.
Our stay in Two Bends was cordial, but Nori told me privately that Maya once had a far friendlier relationship with Chief Loren and her companion, Meena.
"I remember that day we first arrived."
"Maya forgave them for that prank, but they've never been close since. It still tears at Loren and Meena, but no one blames Maya."
"I'll do my job here," I said, "but while Maya may have forgiven them, I don't forget people who hurt my sister. And they hurt her."
"They didn't intend to," Nori said. "It was meant as a prank, trying to out-do Malora."
"It doesn't matter. They hurt my sister. I will not hold it against the village, and neither Chief Loren nor Meena will ever know how I feel, unless they are foolish enough to ask."
Nori nodded. "Times are better," she said. "This village was under stress, and now it has its full complement of Amazons and nearly full companions. During difficult times, judgment can be affected."
I thought about it. "Tell me. Does Green Arrow receive luxury goods from the tithe?"
Nori laughed. "No."
"Maya has not forgiven the women who hurt me, Nori."
"That was a lot different."
"Different degrees," I said. "I will not punish this village. I will not punish this chief and her companion. But I will not pretend to have forgotten what they have done, either."
She shook her head.
"Am I wrong?" I asked. "Should I great them more warmly than my sister does? It has been fifteen years, and my sister does not go fishing here with Meena. She does not offer to carry water for the garden, and she certainly does not step into the garden. Are you suggesting I make friends with this chief and pick her over my sister? For politics?"
"And when this chief retires, and a new chief rises, perhaps someone who was here that day, and who laughed along with the rest of us. What would you do then? Will you continue to carry a grudge?"
"Does Maya send this village more than its share of salted fish?"
Nori smiled. "Every year, she prepares a single package of salted fish and sends it directly to Loren and Meena with a gentle note of hopes they will enjoy it. You cut to the heart of matters, Beria."
"When you can tell me my reaction is inappropriate, or my sister comes to me and asks me to fully forgive people she has not, then I will amend my behavior."
"If you were queen, what would you do?" she asked.
"Nothing," I said. "It was a prank. I wouldn't punish them. Maya chose not to, and she was the wronged party."
"And if Loren came to you requesting a favor, would you find an excuse to deny it?"
"I would do my best to consider it fairly. I do not know if I would succeed. I would ask your guidance, and my sister's."
She nodded. "One could not ask for more than that," Nori said. She smiled again. "If I tell you a secret, will you keep it to yourself?"
"Not if it is an opportunity to torment my sister."
"It's not. When Malora was first queen, she was frequently the target of pranks. I was not the least of the pranksters. When the pranks were harmless, I did nothing. But there were two pranks that were not harmless. Malora never knew who the perpetrators were, but I did. And ever since, I have done everything to block anything and everything they ever asked of her. They have both since retired, frustrated they did not achieve their ambitions."
"So you do not believe my response is wrong?"
"You are very loyal, Beria, and that pleases me greatly."
"However," I said, "We should not be driven by these ambitions. We should serve our Amazons sisters the best we can. I have not asked for the duties Malora has given me. I only asked to be allowed to serve her, and all of us, the best way she could use me."
Nori hugged me. "You and me both, Beria." She paused. "If you were queen, and your companion were treated to the prank Maya receive, what would you have done?"
"I don't know," I replied. "I hope I would respond calmly. I would probably end up doing what Malora did, calm my companion down and continue to love her, hoping to help her heal while defusing what could have become a tense political nightmare." I shrugged. "I am glad I don't have to worry about such things."
"Maya thought Malora should have done something. Malora was livid with Loren."
"She was?" I said. "She looked calm."
"You didn't see her grab my hand and squeeze it half to death, trying to control her reaction."
"She told Maya to go along with it. And Maya told me later that Malora offered some hogwash about tension and the Amazons needing to laugh. Did you know Maya threatened to challenge Loren to a death match?"
"Oh hell. No, I didn't. But it wasn't hogwash. That's no excuse. I imagine if the whole thing with Parlomith hadn't happened, Maya would have enacted retribution, but she felt an out-of-control prank paled in comparison to seeing Parlomith planted in the ground."
"I offered to salt the garden. Maya begged me not to."
"If you'd have come to me, we'd have done it together."
"Really?"
"I don't know. Maybe. We would almost certainly have gotten caught, and it would have caused trouble for Malora. She'd have had to let Loren punish us. It wouldn't have helped the situation. See? This is why I'm not queen."
I laughed.
"Nori, should I talk to Maya and consider really forgiving Loren and Meena?"
"I think you should ask Malora that question. But if Loren and Meena retire, you mustn't continue to hold any grudges towards Two Bends."
"I don't hold a grudge now. I just don't feel particularly friendly to them, either. I don't intend to fish their river."
"It's all unfortunate. Maya and Meena were good friends."
"Guess they should have thought harder before they pranked her so dramatically. Maya has a long memory. She forgives mistakes made for the right reasons, but isn't as quick to forgive those made for wrong reasons."
"What I did to her was a lot worse," Nori said.
"But you made your mistakes while doing the best you could. You were perhaps a little too focused on the needs of the Amazons and not considering the position of the people you were taking, but that was a difficult situation with no right answer."
"No, just wrong ones."
"She forgave you, but did she ever forgive that woman she fought for me? Imagine how different things would be if she'd taken a shine to someone else's sister instead."
Nori offered a distant look.
"Would I have liked her?" I asked Nori.
"No. Omie was far, far better suited for you."
I sighed, missing Omie.
* * * *
We reached Northglen, staying overnight and replenishing supplies, and then we turned west.
It took four days to reach White Pine, arriving early in the afternoon. Tamma grew quiet during the last day of travel, and I saw her turning to Badra for comfort. I didn't know how I would feel when my parents eventually died, but I imagined I would be at least as upset as she was.
We were not anticipated, although Maya laughingly assured me we were being greeted far more cordially than her first visit.
"They tied me," Tamma said. "Me and Lia."
"Taking lessons from Nori?" I asked.
The four of them told me the story. I hadn't heard it before.
"But then they introduced us to Queen Malora," Tamma said. "Lia and I were both in awe, and it didn't take long before we forgot all about it."
"She has that effect," Maya said. "If she could smooth me over, she could handle anyone."
"Damn it," Nori said. "You just can't let it go. Maya, I am sorry. I really, really am sorry."
"Nori," Maya said, "How many times have I told you I have forgiven you? How many times have I told you I am glad you didn't let me knife you? How many times have I thanked you for the life you gave me? I thank you every day. Every time I touch you, it is in thanks. Every time I touch any of the other warriors, it is with my thanks. But it was
a defining moment in my life, and I do not know what my life would be if I had come to Malora less angry than I was. What would have happened if I had come complacent?"
"Goddess forbid," Malora said.
"Nori, everything I am to the Amazons is because I arrived the way I did. Would you change who I have become? Do you think you can finally forgive yourself?"
And Maya turned to Tamma. "Lead us to your sister."
White Pine
Tamma led us to a large house immediately off the town square. Maya leaned to me and said, "The house where she grew up."
Tamma knocked, and a moment later, the door was opened by a woman perhaps a year or two younger than me. She was, in my eyes, at least, expensively dressed, but her reaction I found lacking. Her eyes widened, first in shock at the sight of nine Amazon women at her doorstep, but then she recognized Tamma.
"Oh," the woman said. "It's you. What are you doing here?"
"Hello, Zora," Tamma said. "Got a hug for your sister-in-law?"
Instead of a hug, Zora looked Tamma up and down disdainfully, then did the same with the rest of us. "You are all filthy," she said. "You do not expect to enter this house caked in mud, do you?"
I did not like this woman. I glanced at Maya, and her jaw was clenched.
Badra decided to ignore the rudeness. Instead, she stepped forward and enveloped Zora in a hug. "Hello, Zora. It's been a few years. I'm Badra, in case you have forgotten. It's really good to see you." Then she stepped forward across the threshold, knocking the mud from her boots perfunctorily as she did so. She didn't set Zora down until she was inside the house, taking over the job of gatekeeper.
"Come in, everyone," Badra said. "Maybe take off your boots once you're inside so we don't track in too much. Zora is just so shocked to see her sister-in-law, come to visit the grieving family, that she didn't even recognize she was being rude to the queen of the Amazons."
Zora tried to protest as we began stepping in, but Badra simply backed her up a little further. "Tamma, your boots, then help me with mine," she ordered. Tamma was, after all, her companion. "Zora, how rude of me. Perhaps you do not remember Queen Malora and her companion Maya. This is Nori, Queen Malora's right hand, or perhaps her left hand and Maya is her right hand. I am never sure. And Nori's companion, Rora. Rora is also the master carpenter to the Amazons, and we're so lucky to have her. I'm Badra, of course, and you know Tamma. This is Ralla and her companion, Jasmine. And over here, with no companion and struggling with her boots herself, is Chief Beria of Lake Juna. Beria is also Maya's sister and, of course, chief of the village where Tamma and I live."
Badra took a breath, and Zora opened her mouth, but Badra went on. "You should call the queen 'Queen Malora' unless she offers differently. She dislikes being called 'your majesty'. She also dislikes being curtsied to. You should call my chief, 'Chief Beria'. Again, she may invite something else. The others have no particular titles you must use, and of course, you wouldn't understand their duties. But perhaps we shall have scintillating conversation about that later. Now, where are Lia and the little darlings? And of course, we must also offer our condolences to Arden."
Zora opened her mouth, but Badra plowed on. "Queen Malora, hearing of the death of Warina, has come to offer her condolences in person. And, of course, Tamma and I felt we should be with family at such a time. I'm sure you would agree."
Zora still didn't get a chance to speak.
"We've been traveling for four days from Northglen. I don't know about anyone else, but I am positively parched, and I do hope we can make room for dinner. Of course, we have descended on you so suddenly, so perhaps we can send out for more supplies, if necessary. You must feel positively intimidated, your house full of nine Amazons, all of them wearing the tools of their craft." She rattled her sword for emphasis. "It's a good thing we're such excellent friends, isn't it?"
She grinned. "Now, a word to the wise. Maya there -- she doesn't look like much, but she is exceedingly fierce and even more protective of her queen's honor. It's a good thing you have such a deep, abiding respect for all the Amazons and would never intentionally insult the queen of the Amazons by showing her a lack of hospitality or greeting."
Badra grinned at us.
"Now, just as a reminder, this is-" and she named us all one more time. "Don't worry if you don't get all the relationships right the first time around. Now, where are Tamma's sister and nieces? We must say hello and offer our condolences."
I had never seen Badra act like that, but it was a far better reaction to Zora's rudeness than I might have offered. She completely disarmed the woman, leaving her gaping like a fish.
"The children are at school," Zora said slowly. "Lia is at work for another hour or so, but then will be home to manage her children and prepare dinner. Of course, Challi lives with her husband, and Arden is also at work. He will not be home until dinner, or sometimes much later."
"Well then," Badra said. "Tamma, would you care to wait here, or perhaps Zora can guide us to her sister-in-law's place of employment?"
"Is she still at the inn?" Tamma asked.
"Yes," Zora said. "But you mustn't bother her there. She has duties."
"Ah, the inn," said Badra. "Perhaps we could retrieve a beer or two, and then we can ask Lia what we can donate to the dinner tonight. I know it will be cozy with all of us, but far less cozy than we normally dine, at least in the winter. Of course, in the summer we dine in the cool, fresh air. Tamma, does this plan suit you?"
"Yes, Badra," Tamma said.
"Queen Malora, of course, it is your decision. Would you care to wait? Perhaps if Zora is not properly provisioned, we can send the companions for supplies. Or we could be off to the inn and return later with Lia."
"Oh, I would like to see this inn," Malora said. Then she turned to Zora. "I was grieved to hear of the loss of your mother-in-law. We had only brief encounters, but I remember her as a good mother to her children."
"Thank you," Zora said dully. "It was quite sudden, and it has been a trial since, but of course, we muddle through."
"Of course," Malora replied. "We'll just pull our boots back on and be off, but we'll be sure to talk more later."
And so, we all pulled our muddy boots back on, knocking a little more dried mud onto Zora's floor, shrugged back into our cloaks, and stepped outside. Badra was the last out, pulling the front door closed behind her. She took her companion's hand and asked, "Do we ride or walk?"
"It's just across the square," Tamma said, pointing. "Badra you were-"
"Amazing," Malora furnished. "Brilliant."
"I taught her everything she knows about bursting into that particular house," Maya said, grinning. "Although we didn't take any girls out with their hands bound this time."
"Maybe later," Badra said. "The day isn't over."
"Companions, if it is Zora's job to clean the floors, we will let her, but if it is Lia's job, you will handle it."
"Yes, Queen Malora," the companions said together. Even my sister. I grinned at her.
"This way?" Malora asked, gesturing, and we all crossed the green, heading to the inn.
I'd never been to an inn and didn't know what to expect. We entered into a large common room with tables and benches. There was a large stone fireplace on one side, currently hosting a modest fire. There were two old men sitting at a table nearest the fireplace playing some game I didn't know, and they didn't even look up as we entered.
We milled about for a moment. I didn't now how we would find Lia. Then Tamma gestured to one of the long tables. "We can sit. It's the quiet time of the day, but someone will be out, I'm sure."
I moved closer to Maya. "Who is making the decisions today?"
"Malora will back you," Maya said.
"Let's sit, then," I said. "But Badra, you seem to be feeling robust today. Perhaps you can assist our quest further. Summon the barkeep."
She grinned at me, waited until we were seated, then began loudly calling out, "Barkeep! Innkeeper. You hav
e guests, and our throats are parched."
"I'm coming, I'm coming," replied a woman, and Tamma perked up in her seat. Before the speaker had fully stepped into the room, she was on her feet, facing her.
The woman came to a stop, seeing all of us, then stared at Tamma. "You came," she whispered. "Tamma, you came!" They both took three steps, and Tamma crushed her sister to her. They both started crying immediately, and we gave them some space for a moment, but then Badra began urging them to the table, helping them to sit.
"I'm sorry, Lia," Badra said very gently. "I'm sorry about your mother."
"Thank you, Badra," Lia said, reaching out with a hand. "Thank you for coming."
We gave them a little time, and then Lia pulled herself together. She looked up at us, gazing first at Malora. "I remember you," she said. "Queen Malora."
"That's right," Malora said.
"And you're Maya. Have you become a warrior?"
"No," Maya said. "I am to forever remain a companion. It's good to see you, Lia. I'm very sorry for your loss."
"Thank you." She looked at Nori. "I remember you, too. You're the woman who tied our hands but then were so gentle afterwards. I'm sorry, I don't remember your name."
"I am Nori, Lia," she said. "I am sorry for your loss."
"Thank you."
Tamma provided the remaining introductions.
"How did you know to find me here?"
"We stopped by and talked briefly with Zora," Tamma said. "She was somewhat taken aback by the arrival of nine Amazons on her doorstep."
"How rude was she?"
"Not at all," Badra said. "We invited ourselves in and shook off the mud."
Lia suppressed a grin. "In other words, she was exceedingly rude."
"We didn't give her that chance," Badra said.
"How long can you stay?" Lia asked. "I'm sorry, I cannot offer you shelter. It is not my house."
Badra grinned. "We'll invite ourselves. Don't you worry about that."
