Amazon Challenge

by Robin Roseau

  "All right, Maya," Malora agreed.

  We got looks at dinner, but no one dared to challenge the queen. We warned Beria beforehand, and she kept her head down and tended to her warrior and her own business. I halfheartedly joked with Malora and Nori, but conversation with the other warriors was strained.

  We went to bed early.

  I rose early the following morning, seeing to our needs. I assembled a trail breakfast and took care of most of our horses. Nori could make a decision about hers at the last minute. Then I nudged everyone awake saying, "Please, can we get out of here before Parlomith returns."

  "Calm down," Nori said. "She's not going to start anything."

  "I don't care. I want to get out of here. Please, can we go?"

  And so we were on our way, much earlier than we were most days, people eating breakfast in the saddle. Nori rode my horse; we would make arrangements for her horse, possibly asking Ralla to pick it up the next time she was down this way.

  We were perhaps thirty minutes out of Green Arrow when two riders came storming up our back trail. When they saw us, they set up a cry. "Queen Malora! Queen Malora! You're needed in Green Arrow."

  "No," I moaned.

  The riders came to a stop, their horses breathing hard.

  "There's been a demon incursion," one of the Amazons said. I didn't remember her name.

  "How many?" Malora asked.

  "At least ten," the woman replied. "Word is going up and down the forest. I don't know anything else. My warrior told us to bring you back to Green Arrow."

  "Maya," Malora ordered. "Climb down. Ride double with Beria. Bring the pack horses back with you."

  "But-"

  "Don't argue with me!"

  I slipped from her horse and hurried to Beria's horse, which had been towed behind Omie's horse. Beria was just slipping from Omie's horse as I got there. We collected the string of packhorses. By the time Beria and I were mounted and ready to head south again, Malora, Nori and Omie were gone.

  We followed along with the other two companions, riding at a slower pace, returning to my least favorite village of all the villages.

  * * * *

  I knew there would be more bad news. When we arrived at the Green Arrow stables, Malora's, Omie's and my horses were not there. My worst suspicions were confirmed when Landa, one of the companions, handed me a note. It was from Malora.

  "Maya, I know you're not going to like this, but you and Beria are to remain here. We'll be back in a few days. If we're gone more than three days, you may return home. Under no circumstances are you to travel east. I love you. Malora."

  I stared at the note before passing it to my sister.

  "Saddle the horses up again," I told her. "We're following them."

  "Queen Malora said-" Beria began to say.

  "I don't care what she said. I am following them. You can come with me or stay here."

  I didn't notice, but we were gathering a small audience. There were six women watching us carefully, all companions. Landa stepped forward.

  "Queen Malora told us you may try to follow her," Landa said. "We're ordered to hog tie you and throw you into a tent if you try it."

  I stared at them, and I saw a couple were holding coils of rope.

  "She told us to remind you that she's given very direct orders, and she's not fooling around."

  I began swearing a blue streak that went on for quite some time. When I finally wound down, Landa asked me, "Are you going to obey your orders?"

  "Yes," I spat.

  "She told us one more thing."

  "Oh?"

  "She said if you promised to obey but then didn't, we were to apply whatever punishment we felt was appropriate after we catch you."

  "I think she's serious," Beria said.

  I stormed off, furious. How dare she leave me here? I finally found the river and sat down next to it, staring at it, fuming.

  Just what I needed: to be left in the worst village of all of them. Just what I needed.

  Beria found me some time later. She sat down next to me. "I guess this has been a crappy trip."

  I turned to her. "I am tired of being treated like this."

  "It's not so bad," she replied. "We can take it easy for a few days."

  "Our warriors are out there-" and I pointed east, "facing who knows how many demons, and we're stuck here. Anything could happen. How dare she treat me like a child?" I screamed the last sentence.

  "You're doing a good job of acting like one."

  I turned to face her. "What is that supposed to mean?"

  "I love you, Maya. You know I do. But you've been sulking this entire trip."

  "Hello. Dyed purple for a prank while all of you stood by and laughed."

  "And you know I think that was a shitty thing to do, but who on this trip deserves your anger for it?"

  "Malora could have stopped it."

  "And you could choose to laugh about it," Beria countered.

  "Absolutely no one has suggested anyone else would have. Why am I supposed to be better able to take it than anyone else would?"

  She stared at me. "Because you're you, Maya. You take everyone else's pain. You've been doing it for as long as I've known you. I was just a baby when Grandpa died, but I was old enough to know I missed him, and you were the one who held me when I cried. Not Mom. Not Grandma. You. When I hooked you fishing, I know it hurt, and I felt horrible, but that night you pulled me into your arms and told me about the awesome scar you could show everyone. When Nema died, and we needed a teacher, the council picked you because they knew you were best dealing with all the kids, even though you were so young. And you've just kept doing it, over and over. You take Malora's pain and Nori's. Omie told me that you used to take hers, too, and Ralla's. And you still do sometimes. Omie comes away from a few minutes hug with you calmer than if she holds me for an hour. It's what you do, Maya. You take our pain!"

  I stared at my little sister.

  "You and Malora deserve each other," she said. "You are two peas in a pod. Except instead of taking pain, she protects people. Right now, you're not worked up because she treated you like a child. You're worked up because you know she's in pain without you, and you can't stand it."

  "Maybe I'm tired of it," I said. "Maybe I'm tired of being that person."

  "No, you're not," she said. "What you're tired of is thinking people take you for granted. No one takes you for granted, Maya. You don't hear what people say behind your back, and I think most of them forget I'm there, listening, but no one takes you for granted."

  "I'm tired, Beria."

  "You're tired of being purple, I bet," she said. "I don't blame you. But it's kind of cool, too."

  "Oh yeah, I'm sure."

  "Come on, you're almost invisible in the dark, and I bet Malora's tried to lick it off."

  "Shut up," I told her. "She has not."

  "She has too. I heard Omie and Nori teasing her about it. She thinks it's kind of sexy."

  "Now you're lying."

  "I swear, that's what she said, then she realized I was there and she shut up. She knows we talk."

  "I haven't been exactly amiable with her, Beria. There has been no licking."

  "Maybe that's why you're so crabby." She bumped her shoulder into mine, and then we sat watching the water for a while.

  "Do you suppose we have to attend training this afternoon?"

  "Hell, no," I replied. "We're on vacation."

  * * * *

  It took me a half-day to get bored. The village stores included no fishing hooks. I could make the rest, but I didn't know what to do for hooks. I wondered if I could fashion some out of other available materials, but nothing I tried seemed to work.

  By the end of the second day, boredom had reached new heights, and I was nearly frantic with worry.

  On the third day, the situation grew worse. Parlomith returned.

  Beria and I didn't realize it at the time. We were down by the river. I had finally fashioned hooks from
thorns off a hawthorn bush. I had fashioned them into flies, and we were trying them out. Beria managed to catch a trout, and we made a nice little fire and shared it for lunch. Over the course of the afternoon, we caught three more fish.

  Finally Beria said, "I volunteered to help with dinner duty. We should get going."

  We had been fishing upstream from the village, so we collected everything and took the fifteen-minute walk back. We both headed to the kitchen, where we found the companions appeared subdued, but had little to say.

  "We brought fish," Beria said cheerfully. "We can share them for dinner."

  "Perfect," said one of the companions, and I realized it was Spade, Parlomith's companion. They were back.

  "We cleaned them by the river," I said. "Do you know how to cook them?"

  Spade looked around and no one volunteered, but then Beria spoke up. "I do. I'll just pan fry them with a little butter, if we have it."

  "Cook one first," Spade said. "For Parlomith. She's the only warrior here. We'll eat when she's done."

  "There are only three fish," Beria said, "and ten hungry stomachs."

  "The warrior eats first," Spade said. "Cook one of the fish for her."

  "But-"

  "Beria," I said quietly, "Do what Spade says."

  My sister looked at me, and I added, "Please. We get fresh fish all the time."

  She stared for just another moment then said, "Of course, Queen's Companion. One pan fried fish, coming up."

  I stepped away, putting our fishing gear away. The poles were just sticks, and we could toss them in the woods when we were done, but I'd keep the rest, and I vowed to carry fishing line and flies on future trips.

  When I returned, Parlomith was sitting alone at a table, waiting for her dinner. She caught me watching her, and her eyes narrowed. I'm sure she blamed me for all the woes of the world.

  "You," she said. "Come here."

  I considered it for a moment then remembered she was chief here. I crossed the dining area and stood near the table. I considered sitting down, but Malora wasn't here to protect me if she decided to get angry, so I decided pushing Parlomith's buttons was a bad idea.

  "Good afternoon, Chief Parlomith," I said. "Did you have luck hunting?"

  She ignored my question, and I decided that no, she hadn't had luck hunting, or we would be eating venison instead of fish.

  "I see you have disgraced your warrior yet again. Yellow might have been a more appropriate color."

  "Malora seemed to think royal purple was perfect." Her eyes narrowed, and I realized I was already pushing Parlomith's buttons. Oops.

  "What did you do that your warrior dyed you purple?"

  "My warrior did not dye me purple, Chief Parlomith," I stated. "Chief Loren of Two Bends did."

  She slammed her hand on the table, and I was sure it was intended intimidate me. "Answer my question!"

  "I am sorry, Chief Parlomith," I said as carefully as I could. "Do you wish the real reason Chief Loren dyed me purple, or do you wish the fake reason she used as an excuse."

  "I wish to hear the stated reason, and stop wasting my time."

  "Chief Loren dyed me purple because while working her garden, I inadvertently disturbed some of her flowers."

  Parlomith stared at me. "You're lying."

  "The entire story takes longer to tell, and I told you the stated reason wasn't the real reason."

  "You have a smart mouth, and your warrior isn't here to discipline you for it. That means it is up to me."

  "I am sorry, Chief Parlomith," I said. "I am not trying to have a smart mouth. I am answering your questions as best I can. If I am doing poorly, I am sorry. Perhaps there was something in the dye that has left me somewhat addlepated."

  At that moment, Spade stepped out of the kitchen with Parlomith's fish. From the looks, Beria had cooked the biggest. I know she would have given her the smallest, so someone overrode my sister. I wasn't worried about going hungry, but I thought it was selfish of Parlomith to take the biggest fish and leave the two smallest for the other nine people here. There would be enough other food, but if no one ever fished here, fresh fish would have been a treat.

  "Tell the entire story," Parlomith ordered before diving into her meal. So I told the story, absolutely accurately, with no embellishments and no critical details omitted. I ended the story at the point I stared in the mirror and walked off. I didn't owe her the private details of my conversations with Malora or anyone else.

  "Well, now at least all Amazons know what a clown you are."

  "I'm sure you're right," I agreed.

  She eyed me. "Are you being sarcastic with me?"

  "I was agreeing with you. In fact, I believe the term I used with my warrior was laughingstock. Clown is just as accurate a word."

  She finished her fish before looking back up at me. She looked around and found Spade standing nearby. "The fish was excellent," she said. "Who caught it?"

  "Maya and Beria caught three," Spade told her.

  I almost laughed at her expression as she realized she'd eaten a fish my sister and I had presented to the camp, and then to compliment it besides.

  "Beria cooked it," Spade added. "No one else knew how."

  "How hard can it be?" Parlomith said. "Throw it on a fire until it's burnt."

  The fish had been perfect, and Parlomith knew it. I suppressed another smile at her petty behavior.

  She turned her attention back to me. "You speak of being a fool so easily. Does it not bother you?"

  "I am not a fool," I said. "I have the appearance of one. It seems to lighten hearts. It even lightened yours. We all do what we can for our Amazon sisters."

  I could tell she wasn't pleased she wasn't getting a rise out of me. She stood up and said to Spade, "I will be in our hut. Retrieve me when the evening meal is completed. There is a disciplinary matter to attend to."

  And then without another word, she turned on her heel and was gone. I was quite pleased to see her backside.

  * * * *

  Beria and I declined the fish, leaving more for the other companions. There was plenty of bread and some dried beef. We made do.

  "We're leaving in the morning," I told Beria quickly. "It will have been three days, and we're getting out of here. Keep your head down until then. Parlomith is looking for an excuse."

  She nodded, and then the two of us helped clean up after dinner.

  None of the other companions looked at us. We hadn't exactly made friends, but they were being even more standoffish than usual. I decided they were jittery with Parlomith here. I didn't blame them.

  As soon as the meal was over, I drew Beria to our tents, intending to be scarce and hoping that Parlomith would leave us alone. But ten minutes later, I heard Spade's voice. "Maya. Beria. You are required."

  I poked my nose out of the tent. "Excuse me?"

  "Parlomith requires your attendance. Please come with me." With her were four other companions, and I decided we were going whether we wanted to or not. I quietly told Beria to bring her staff, and we settled our staffs in place before following Spade. The other companions followed behind us, and I decided whatever was going on was bad.

  "Keep your mouth shut," I told Beria quietly. "She's going to try to push our buttons. Don't give her any reason to discipline us."

  "What's her problem?"

  "She doesn't like me. I don't know why. Just keep your mouth shut and let me bear the brunt of her anger."

  "You're doing it again."

  "Shut up, Beria."

  Spade led us to the training ground. Parlomith was waiting along with the last two companions. None of them looked at us. Spade led us straight to the village chief and said, "Maya and Beria, Chief."

  "I see that," Parlomith said. She looked at us. "Tell me why I shouldn't pronounce sentence right now."

  "I don't know of what we're accused," I responded, "So I can hardly answer that."

  "You have not attended training the entire time you have been here. I
personally observed you were not in attendance this afternoon. I take it you were out fishing instead of attending to your training."

  I stared at her, wondering how I was going to talk us out of this.

  "We were not aware there was training with no warriors in attendance," I stated, "and we were not aware you had returned to conduct training. Furthermore I know Queen Malora does not allow you to conduct training of companions, so even knowing you were here, there was still not a warrior present to conduct training."

  "I am the chief of this village, and I conduct whatever training I wish!" she thundered. "You were not here, and thus you are guilty of being absent from training without permission. Five lashes each!"

  "You are not allowed to train companions," I said. "And you have no authority over our training schedule. Furthermore, all disciplinary issues must be referred to our warriors for approval, and they are not here. You may lodge your complaint with our warriors or with our village chief, and I am sure you will be given all due consideration."

  "I am chief of this village and my word is law, second only to Queen Malora's. As she is not present, you are subject to my authority!"

  "You have no right to touch us. I am Queen Malora's companion, but I am also a warrior! I have taken the voices of two demons, killing one of them with nothing more than a knife and my bare hands. You have no authority over me. And my sister is also not of your village, and you have no authority over her. She answers to her warrior, to her training leader, and to Queen Malora, not you. We will be leaving in the morning, and that will be the end of this."

  Parlomith studied me carefully. I know she would have loved to declare me a liar, but every Amazon alive knew I'd killed Lathana and how, and it was no stretch to believe I'd dealt with a second demon.

  "You are no warrior," she said finally.

  "The definition of an Amazon warrior is one who has fought a demon and taken the voice. I have done so twice. If you believe I lie, you may ask my warrior for confirmation."

  Parlomith was in a corner. She'd staged this, but I was right. She had no right to touch us, especially me, and I was the one she wanted to punish.

  "Furthermore," I added. "Beria was following my orders as both most senior companion of all Amazons and a warrior of Queen's Town. You have no right to touch either of us. Queen Malora ordered us to remain here for three days, then return home if she had not returned. Today is the third day, and we will depart in the morning. Goodnight, Chief Parlomith."