by Robin Roseau
I stepped forward and took Lia's hands, then turned her to face the assembled Amazons. "This is Lia. She is the older sister of Tamma, companion to Badra. Many years ago, Tamma and Lia met some of us here. They both considered joining the Amazons, but their mother begged for only one to go. And so Lia, although she very much wanted to become a companion, gave her sister first choice. Her choice then is my good luck now."
I paused and looked at my new companion.
"I first met Lia far more recently, but it was still a year ago. I may be the only Amazon who knew not one, but two companions for more than a few hours before begging her to join us."
Lia squeezed my hand.
"I was quite taken with Lia from the first moment we met. I had already agreed with Tamma we would make room for Lia, Joelle and Annalise, but we didn't know what we might be getting into. But I met Lia and I met her girls, and, like many of you tonight, I was taken with all of them.
"But I didn't know I wanted her for some few weeks after that. We returned to Lake Juna, and I had offered my hut for their use while I completed a trip to the southern villages. When I returned, I discovered a prank waiting for me. Lia had already heard I was fond of pranks upon my warrior, and so I was quite sure the prank was a gift from her."
She grinned at me.
"That evening in my hut, she came to me, as she has every night since, to hold me in her arms and to calm my soul. And I sought to entice a confession from her, suggesting any punishment I may be forced to mete out would be far less than if I found misdoings and confronted her. Do you think she confessed?"
"Not my sister," said Tamma.
"Tamma is right. She did not confess. Instead, she lowered her hair, which I had not yet seen in its full glory, and she encouraged me to run my fingers through it." I stepped closer and let her hair, still a little damp, cascade through my hands. "And then she told me if I ever accuse her or her daughters of misdeeds without ample evidence, she would cut her hair."
The Amazons laughed and Lia grinned. When it was quiet, I went on.
"I knew then I wanted her. Oh, I wasn't ready to speak it out loud, not even to myself, but I knew. I had met my match, and I knew."
Malora let that settle in before she said, "Lia, have we given you sufficient time to explain why you have chosen your warrior?"
"I didn't need time," she replied. "They day I met Beria, she was one face amongst many Amazons. My sister was there, with her warrior, and Queen Malora and Maya. I knew Beria would be the village chief, but she seemed so young. Oh, certainly dashing, but you are all so dashing in these clothes you were. But she was one Amazon of nine, and I was quite overwhelmed by the experience."
She paused, her voice growing quieter. "I was not in a good situation. My mother had died recently. I was the eldest child, but in White Pine, inheritance goes to the eldest son, my younger brother. My sister-in-law does not like me, but I had nowhere else to live, and thus my daughters and I lived under her house. And she was worse than a shrew.
"She was quite rude. She was rude to Queen Malora. What foolish woman is rude to the queen of the Amazons? But I went to the kitchen to prepare dinner anyway. And a few minutes later, I heard Beria screaming at my sister-in-law. She screamed at her not for treatment she herself had received, but treatment I had received, and treatment Queen Malora had received. And then she calmed down and dictated exactly the behavior she expected from my sister-in-law for the next two days. After that, the house grew quiet, but a few minutes later, Zora came to the kitchen. And my sister-in-law, who has never in her life shared a kind word with me, apologized for her behavior and asked what she could do to help."
Lia beamed at me.
"I wouldn't say that was the moment I knew I wanted her, but it was the moment I knew I had a protector, someone with honor. Since then I have learned that she is fierce and funny. She is playful, and she challenges me, but she doesn't mind when I win. Which, I will point out, is most of the time."
That earned her laughs.
"I look at how all of you treat her. I look at the respect so many of you have for her. And I know it's not because she carries two swords and knows how to use them. It is because she knows when to use them."
"Hear, hear!" someone said, and I saw Vorine grinning at us.
"I don't know when I began to love her," Lia said. "But I know this. Even if I didn't love her, I couldn't have a better warrior. And to share love besides." She smiled before looking at me. "Thank you, Beria."
She received applause. Malora let it settle before saying, "Oh, I think I like doing it this way. It may be too difficult for our younger companions, but perhaps we should offer to let all of them speak."
"If they all speak as long as Lia and Beria did, we'll never wrap up with a full team of them," Maya said.
"We had to make it worth coming all the way from Lake Juna," I said. And then I stuck my tongue out at her. I hadn't done it in years, and so I earned more laughter.
"Knock it off, girls!" Lia said to us.
"All right," said Malora. "Now we have the more serious moment of the ceremony." She nodded to me. I turned Lia so her back was to the Amazons. Malora and Maya stepped away to the sides.
"This next part is for us," I said quietly. "You must close your eyes and do exactly what I say."
She closed her eyes immediately, trusting me. I pulled her hands above her head and said, "You come to us in these clothes from the west." Then I began lifting the shift from her, pulling it off her body. I knelt before her and removed the slippers, one at a time. I stood, taking her hands again. I saw her tremble, but her eyes were closed. Her brow was slightly furrowed, but she had a small smile at the same time.
Then I stepped behind her and began to braid her hair. Omie stepped forth, and she was holding a handful of flowers. I braided the flowers into Lia's hair, but I handed one to her to hold.
I finished, and Maya stepped forward. She began handing me Lia's Amazon clothes, one piece at a time. I dressed Lia slowly, pulling each garment into place, tightening the laces as necessary, finally ending with her boots. Maya stepped away, and I moved to stand in front of Lia again, taking her hands.
"You may open your eyes."
She opened and looked down.
"Normally, this would be the first time you might wear these clothes. Everything is a little different for you."
"These are new," she said.
I smiled. "So they are. I made them for you."
"Thank you, Beria," she said. "I didn't bring you a gift."
"You have given me yourself and your two daughters. There is no greater gift."
She smiled, lifting the flower and smelling it.
"We don't always have flowers," I said. "Omie provided them. That one is for my hair." And I turned around so she could tuck it into my braid. Then I turned to face her once more.
"We have a little more," I said. "It is time to exchange our vows to each other. These are only for us, and I go first."
She nodded.
"I, Beria, village chief of Lake Juna, vow to be your warrior. I will train you and protect you. I will care for you. And together, we will care for our daughters, who I will also train and protect. I will be your friend, your lover, your partner. I am yours, and only yours, now and forever."
Lia smiled and brushed away a tear from my cheek.
"I, Lia," she said, "offer myself as your companion. I will soothe your soul and join with your heart. I will share my thoughts, my hopes, my body, my life. I will learn from you as best I am able, but I promise to always obey when you seek to protect me. I offer my body and my special love to you, and only to you. Now and forever."
She smiled.
I moved closer, pulling her into my arms. She wrapped herself around me, and we kissed. Then I turned her to face the Amazons, all of them waiting for us, all of them smiling.
Malora stepped forward. "Lia, you have accepted a sacred duty. Be strong so that your warrior may be strong." She enveloped both of us in a
hug, and moments later, Maya joined us. There was a pause, and then the rest of the Amazons strode forth, congratulating us both.
Announcement
A year later, spring arrived, barely. Lia and I had worked out my myriad duties. She attended with me when she could, which was more often than expected. The girls, it turned out, loved rotating slumber parties between all the huts in Lake Juna, staying with this warrior and her companion for a night or two before being whisked away to another warrior's hut. The first time we were gone for more than a night was difficult for both of us, but we slowly took longer and longer trips. I found ways to break them up so it was never too long away at a time.
I did the things Malora requested, listening to what the villages said and watching for what they didn't say. We made a trip to Blue Meadow, planning to spend a night but eventually spending three. We thought perhaps we would find an abusive chief or an abusive warrior. But instead we discovered an aging chief besotted with a young, power-hungry companion. It became heartbreaking as we delivered our evidence to Chief Nalatt.
With tears in her eyes, she admitted, "Queen Malora, I love her. I don't know what to do."
"I will give you my judgment in the morning," Malora told her. Malora took all of us away, and then she made a small council of Malora, Maya, Nori, Rora, Lia and me.
"Beria," she asked. "You brought this to my attention. I would like to hear how you believe we should solve it."
She listened to my suggestions. None of them involved asking Nalatt to resign or banishing her companion.
"If she stays, she will be more trouble down the road," Malora said.
"She is an indifferent warrior," I said. "I believe she will bring heartache to Nalatt, but I will not tell another chief who she may love."
In the end, we moved the warriors with the most vulnerable companions to other villages where they would be properly nurtured. We moved in warriors with stronger companions who could stand up to Krissa. We then stripped Krissa of the duties normally assigned to the chief's companion and told the remaining companions to elect one of their members to the position of authority. As a group, they turned to a kindly companion to an older warrior, and I knew it was a good choice.
* * * *
I slept well and fully each night, Lia in my arms and, sometimes, especially on a particularly stormy night, one or two young girls between us.
We found time to be alone, sometimes in my old hut after the girls had gone to bed, sometimes when one of their many Amazon aunts took them for a night. Our passion was full and complete, and if I, once or twice, called her Omie, she forgave me.
We continued to play pranks on each other, but they were usually small. One rainy day, when we were all confined to the hut, she encouraged the girls to treat the area under the two beds as a "fort". They played underneath the fort while their mothers lay on top of the fort, quietly talking about this or that. The girls grew quiet, and I wondered if they napped, but it wasn't until I felt a tug -- a final tug -- on my hair that I realized what my companions had done.
I heard giggling from below the bed, and then from atop the bed, the chief conspirator yelled, "Good job, girls! Get her!" They all piled on top of me, searching for my ticklish places.
Yes, I am a strong, fierce Amazon warrior, but I still have ticklish places.
I put all three of them in pink hair and the mother in ponytails to go with it. She privately told me it was worth it.
"I know when you resort to being the brutish village chief that you're admitting I won," she said.
"Don't do it again," I said, knowing she would. Or maybe she'd find something else equally funny. I wondered if I was going to have to come up with my own, amusing punishments. I couldn't borrow from Malora forever, could I?
And then spring arrived, tempestuous and teasing, but Malora announced a tour of the villages prior to spring recruitment. Malora ordered my company, requested Lia's, which was as good as an order, and invited the girls. I in turn asked if Aura and Lindara could join us to assist with the children, a request which Malora immediately granted.
Malora arrived at Lake Juna early in the morning. It was a dreary day, the spring weather fickle. There were even suggestions it might snow, although I found it unlikely. Malora had taken to traveling with a somewhat larger retinue on these trips, and so she arrived with Maya, Nori and Rora, and much to my joy, Omie and Aren. I hugged everyone, finally arriving at Omie. We hugged fiercely and then, to the encouragement of our companions, even kissed. Moments later, both companions were stilling the voices the kiss had brought forth. A moment later, I found the companions trading warriors, and it was Aren stilling my voices, Lia wrapped around Omie. Aren kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, "I am so glad we've become friends."
"I think Lia likes hearing Beria stories from Omie."
"And I like hearing Omie stories from you," she said. "I was threatened by you for a very long time, and it was difficult for me to understand. But I do." She tightened her hold for a moment, and then I had my own companion back.
"They're plotting something," Lia whispered to me. "I just know it. We should strike first."
I laughed.
Not even Malora and Maya were immune to Lia's pranks, but they were always good-natured. Even if she did threaten to tie my hair to the bed again.
"Well," Malora said, "Do you believe you have attention to give your queen?"
"I'm sorry, Queen Malora," I said. "I am overjoyed to be amongst my dearest friends."
"Bea wanted to come, but Maya wants her for the recruitment drive, and we decided she had duties to attend. But I have an announcement, and I require your entire village to hear. Please assemble everyone."
"Some are on patrol."
"I may be old, Beria," she said, "but I think I remember how an Amazon village works. And I think you know when I say 'everyone' I mean 'everyone who is available'."
"You're not that old, Queen Malora," I said. "I bet you still take your companion two out of three bouts."
Nori snickered.
"Laugh it up," Malora said. "I heard Rora got the upper hand on you a week or two ago."
"She cheated," Nori muttered.
"How did I cheat?"
"You used one of Omie's moves on me while I was half asleep from the backrub you'd been giving me."
"Sounds fair to me," Maya said immediately. "Omie, think you can teach me that move?"
"Probably not," she said with a grin.
"Really, children," Malora said. "Do not make me stand about all morning. We have announcements to make and miles to travel."
And so I led us to the dining area. We didn't need much work to assemble everyone; they had all come out to see us off and greet the queen, anyway.
Malora spent a minute or two working the crowd, talking about the spirit of competition and testing ourselves against our sisters. Then Maya stepped forward and handed me an envelope. It was sealed with Malora's seal.
"Open it," Malora said, "And read it aloud, please."
I opened it carefully, allowing a little ceremony. I read it once to myself then again in my best speaker's voice, a gift of Maya's teaching, Malora's leadership, and my own experience.
"During the third week in June, Queen's Town will host an All-Amazons tournament. Each village may send one or two of its best fighters to the competition. Competition is open to all, and each village may select its competitors as it decides. It is signed by Queen Malora."
"You may also bring a modest number of non-combatant witnesses," Malora said. "Please coordinate with the senior companion. There will also be a companion's tournament, but my companion has not indicated the nature of the competition. As she is the one organizing it, I do not guarantee our traditional weapons will be a part of that competition."
There were chuckles. Everyone knew Maya hated to fight.
"There may be water involved," Maya said with a grin.
"There will be prizes," Malora said. "And, of course, a grand champion of all A
mazons."
"Will you and Nori be competing?" Frida asked.
"No," Malora said, "We will not. Queen's Town is hosting the event. It may be there will be a variety of unofficial events. I understand Bea is discussing a wrestling tournament, for instance, but those events are unofficial."
"Given the nature of Amazons," Maya added, "there will probably be wagers involved. Bring your trade goods. If you intend to enter into the companion's tournament, the wager is one deer hide."
"All to the winner?" I asked.
"I haven't decided," she said. "It depends upon the number of victims. I mean competitors."
I laughed.
"I suppose I can't be a companion that day?"
"No, but sister, perhaps you and I should discuss a doubles tournament."
Frida and Glorana perked up. "Doubles?" they said together.
Maya laughed. "Bring your skins," she said.
Malora spoke up. "To be clear: you must ensure patrols continue to occur. We have no reason to believe the demons will offer us a truce during the competitions. You may rotate around as necessary, but the competitors for the main tournament, as well as their companions, should plan to arrive sometime the day before the tournament and remain through the end of the tournament. I will allow those who are eliminated very early to depart for home if they wish."
"We don't have all the details," Maya said. "I expect a certain amount of chaos. There will probably be some rather humorous events as well. For the main tournament, I require the names of the competitors by no later than the end of the first week in June."
"If there are questions," said Malora, "direct them to your village chief, and she may speak with me or Maya as appropriate."
"You may also direct questions to my companion if you prefer," I added.
"Well then," Malora said. "We have more villages to visit. Chief Beria, are you and your companions prepared to depart?"
"We are, Queen Malora," I said. Then I looked at the girls. "We may leave as soon as our two youngest have taken a short trip to the latrines."
"Hmm," said Malora. "Perhaps they will each take my hand and lead me with them."
