by C. M. Lance
"Uh- huh." After a pause, she hollered, "Fiona, will you pick up the extension? Please."
Sig heard a click, a clatter, and then Fiona′s voice, "Hello, I′m here."
"Fiona, Sig′s on the phone. So I don′t have to repeat it, Sig will you please tell us about what happened last night."
When Sig finished telling them, silence filled the line.
"Herman′s OK, but two Amazon′s died?" Fiona asked.
"He′s upstairs sleeping. As long as his arm isn′t infected, he′ll recover. The women won′t."
"I didn′t see it on the news."
"You won′t. The Amazons took care of their own. Last night the police missed the sword stuck in the parking lot. Rick witnessed it disappear this morning. Lightning struck my Jeep, just not natural lightning."
"Your Jeep?"
"Didn′t I mention that car I deflected lightning into happened to be my new Jeep? How did I miss that?"
"Is it repairable?"
"Uh, no. The gas tank exploded and caught it on fire. It took firefighters fifteen minutes to put it out. The fire melted the pavement."
Fiona said to Meredith, "Girl, like I said, you are a witch; you even got the burning car right. I guess you graduate."
They were celebrating his car burning? First Rick and Giselle laughed and now this. "Damn. You knew my car would burn? Now I really need you to tell me your visions. I would have been more careful if I knew."
"Young man, watch your language. Yes, I will tell you in the future. I′m glad you′re OK. I love you."
"Love you Mom. Bye Fiona."
He clicked off. It was nice to know that he could provide entertainment for everyone he knew while demons tried to kill him.
The Professor returned to work after a few days. He told those who asked that the sling on his arm was because of an old rotator cuff injury. He wore his sport coat like a cape. He probably considered it dashing. Apparently, some of his female students thought so too.
Rick, Giselle, and Sig huddled together over pizza and beer to plan their hunting trip. Rick received clearance for their visit to his uncle′s land in Wisconsin. In fact, his uncle was enthusiastic. He hadn′t participated in a human-Were hunt and looked forward to the experience.
He offered them the use of a remote cabin in the woods, on a creek. They would need a four-wheel drive to get close enough to pack in the last two miles. Hiking in to a remote cabin made it even more interesting.
His uncle′s property, surrounded on three sides by state parks, had few roads, none paved, and no access roads from the parks, which reduced almost to nil the chances of encountering a game warden.
Their excitement built as the day of departure drew near. To-do lists were completed and essentials packed.
Giselle reminded Sig that Mary Beth, the tribe′s Training Master wanted to meet him. She asked that he come prepared to spar. Sig called to make arrangements.
On the phone, he introduced himself and said, "The last time I sparred a mature Amazon, my life passed before my eyes."
"I heard about that. We won′t have a repeat. As Training Master, I don′t look on skilled opponents as the enemy. They are a training resource. I want to get an idea of your skill level by watching from the sidelines when you spar with some of the girls. If it looks like we should spar, we can discuss it."
"I miss working out with the tribe. I′ve learned a lot. I found out how much recently when I fared much better against a previous opponent. I understand I have to get your approval to continue."
"That′s true. I′d like to be armed with good arguments when I confront the Commander."
"When should I come?"
"Does tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 fit into your schedule?"
"I′ll see you then."
†††
Sig arrived at the training facility at 1:50, changed, and asked where to find Mary Beth. She was observing a fencing match when he found her. The match finished and she offered pointers to each of the contestants.
Sig decided as he watched her that she wasn′t what he expected. Somewhat shorter than the typical Amazon at under six feet tall, and more full figured, her hair was a mass of black waves that hung half way down her back. From the deep timbre of her voice on the phone, he had pictured a tall, lean blonde with close-cropped hair.
She acted less the drill sergeant than he anticipated after his encounter with the Commander and more like a teacher; handing out compliments, mixed with constructive criticism, and participation with technique demonstrations.
When finished, she walked to Sig and extended her hand, taking his firmly and warmly. "I′m pleased to meet you. It looks to me like you′ve been a positive influence on the girls."
"No more than they have been on me."
"A fair trade favors everyone. You′re dressed. Are you ready?"
"Give me a minute to stretch. In what discipline will we compete?"
"I want to start with hand-to-hand."
"Start? Usually a match with one of your tribe wears me out."
"Let′s play it by ear." She turned and called "Giselle, are you ready?"
Sig′s eyes widened. Giselle and he hadn′t competed previously.
Mary Beth turned and saw his expression. "Surprised? She told me that you two haven′t practiced. That disappointed me. She′s one of our best at hand-to-hand, but we all can learn."
"I thought Arianna was the best."
"I′m sure you heard that from Arianna. Arianna won most recently and claimed the title. In the long view, Giselle and Arianna are well matched. Amazons are nothing if not competitive. However, sometimes I think Arianna received both her own and Giselle′s share. This will be good for you to workout with a new opponent and put you at a slight disadvantage. She has observed, and is familiar with your technique. You have less familiarity with hers."
Giselle stood ready when Sig finished stretching.
After preliminaries, they circled, striking, and kicking, while watching for an opening. Sig observed her footwork, and then feinted a kick, which she moved to block. He shifted his weight to follow through and stomp on her instep before she pulled her foot back. When she was unbalanced, he grabbed her and threw her over his hip onto her side.
He followed her landing with a knee drop to her kidneys and a blow to her temple, neither of which he completed.
He stepped back, clasped his hands, and bowed to her. She climbed to her feet, bowed back, and then attacked.
She closed on him with a flurry of hand strikes, most of which he managed to block. Two blows caught him in the face, one under the right eye. By the end of their round his eye began swelling. Before the round had finished, he threw her twice more, delivering potentially crippling strikes when he had her down.
During the break, they traded observations. Sig noted, "You have blazing hand speed, which you over-rely upon. As a result you have lazy footwork." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mary Beth nodding.
Giselle observed, "You′re a male chauvinist pig, who beats up on defenseless girls."
Several Amazons in the crowd watching the bout laughed.
Sig rolled his eyes and winced. He pointed to his eye, now half way to swollen shut. "Defenseless?"
"OK, you′re a male chauvinist pig who thinks he can block punches with his head."
Sig saw Mary Beth smile at that. He forgave her; he had to smile at it too.
They restarted and Sig decided to take advantage of his superior footwork. He launched a combination of kicks that kept her off balance. She tried to close so she could take advantage of her hand speed, but his kicks kept her at a distance. She retaliated with kicks that he blocked or dodged.
He hit her with heel and foot strikes to the top of her shoulders and behind the head that shook her. She danced away from him, avoiding further damage. He pressed and she surprised him with a leaping, spinning wheel kick that slammed into the angle between his neck and shoulder, dropping him to his knees, stunned.
It was a gu
tsy kick; she landed on her butt after it hit him. He managed to lunge forward through his daze and grappled with her, tying her up on the mat in a wrestling hold.
When time Mary Beth called time, he hesitated before he rolled off her onto his back, and stared up at the ceiling. Lying on top of her felt amazingly good. She pressed up onto her hands and knees and looked over at him.
He rolled his head toward her and asked, 'Was it good for you?"
She snorted. "You wish."
He sat up. "I think that I′ll call it a day." He reached up, rubbed the back of his neck, and looked over at her. "That was ballsy. If you missed, you were on your butt and dead meat. But since it connected, you won."
He pulled himself up with the hand Mary Beth extended. "I wouldn′t say she won; you had her on the defense in the beginning and then she was wrapped up at the end. But the match was closer than I expected, thanks to that 'ballsy′ kick, as you called it."
"It surprised me. Surprise is an effective tool."
"I am going to recommend to the Commander that you continue working with the girls. You have very good techniques and are generous with your critique and advice. I can see why the girls have improved."
Sig nodded. "Thank you."
"Will you do one more thing for me?"
"What′s that?"
"I understand you can change forms, will you do that for me?"
Sig raised his eyebrows and looked around. All the women had gathered around and looked at him. "Right here?"
"I don′t see why not, most everyone except me has seen it already."
He shrugged, grasped his medallion, and said, "Aðalbrandr." Still uncomfortable with the roof rushing down at him, he ducked.
She looked up at him with her mouth open, and then shut it and said, "Ahh, a Battle Wizard." She walked around him. He turned his head to follow her.
"My, but you are a big one. I think you′re the biggest I′ve ever seen."
Sig rumbled, "That′s what I′ve been told."
"Is your magic powerful?"
"I′d rather not discuss it."
"Alright, who was your predecessor?"
"My Grampa Thor, Thorval Sigurd Arnsohn."
"Ah ha, Thor, Son of the Eagle. I know him. How is he?"
"Not well."
"I′m sorry to hear that." She looked like she sincerely meant it. "He is a good, good man. You say he′s your grandfather?"
"My Great-grandfather."
She nodded. "I knew your Great-grandmother Giselle too."
"Was she a member of your tribe?"
Giselle looked at Mary Beth; all the other Amazons looked at Mary Beth.
"No, she became the Commander of another tribe."
Unexpectedly, Sig felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Mary Beth noticed the group of Amazons standing around evaluating Sig. She turned back to him. "OK, I′ve satisfied my curiosity as to what you are. You should change back now before some of them go into heat."
Sig quickly said, "Koma aftur".
"That′s better. If you didn′t know, many Amazons have an overwhelming attraction to beefcake. Your other self appears to be almost more beef on the hoof than they can bear." She turned to the girls and waved her hands as if brushing them away. "Shoo, shoo. The show is over, back to work."
Sig felt his face burning.
Mary Beth turned back to him. "Sorry, I didn′t mean to embarrass you, just warn you. It would be best if you don′t transform when you are here. There isn′t much point in you training here as a Battle Wizard. The whole bunch of them wouldn′t be a match for you."
"You don′t think so?" Sig asked lamely.
"I saw a Battle Wizard take on a squad of elite commandos once. He went through a dozen tempered fighting men like a lion through a pack of jackals. I know he didn′t have your martial arts skills and he was probably eighty percent of your size. No, I′m sure not."
"OK, I won′t change."
"I′m not forbidding it. I just think it′s in your best interest. Keep in mind; they don′t want you, just your body."
He can′t remember feeling more embarrassed. He would have glowed in the dark if the lights were off. His face felt like a torch as he hurried out of the center.
On the day of the hunting expedition, everyone arranged to leave early enough so it would still be light when they hiked the last two miles to the cabin.
Their packs filled up the back seat of the Jeep. With hands on her hips, Giselle considered the packs.
"Women always pack too much," Rick said.
"You′re gonna be happy that I did."
"Negligee? I′m in with that. I hope it′s a black teddy."
She gave him an exasperated look.
Sig looked at Rick over the top of the Jeep. "I′ll flip you for who rides on top of all that in back."
Rick shook his head. "Nope, you can′t ride back there. Don′t forget the seatbelt law."
"What′ll we do?"
"Just a minute. Dogs don′t need a seatbelt", Rick said. He bent down out of sight. His clothes flew up onto the packs.
His wolf form leapt into the Jeep. Mouth open, tongue hanging out, it looked like a smile. He turned around three times, pawed at the packs and lay down on top of them.
Giselle and Sig looked at each other, shrugged and got into the Jeep. She pulled away and then stopped in the parking lot, looked over at Sig and said, "Do you know where we′re going?"
He shook his head. They both turned to look back at Rick. He held a piece of paper in his mouth. Giselle took it from him and wiped it on her shirt before she opened it. She looked it over for a few moments, and then handed it to Sig. "You′re navigator. Tell me when to turn."
The beautiful day demanded traveling with the top down. Rick napped for the hour it took them to clear out of metropolitan Chicago. After the nap, he sat on his rear haunches, head up, catching the blast of wind over the windscreen as they travelled north. He observed the passing scenery with tongue lolling out of his mouth.
Many people who motored beside them slowed to gawk at Rick. It wasn′t every day that people saw a dog the size of a small pony sitting in the back of a convertible enjoying the view. Children in particular were enthralled with the spectacle, pointing and waving as they travelled alongside, then turning and watching as they passed.
One little girl in a car seat appeared particularly taken with the view. Face pressed against the window, mouth open, she stared intently at Rick as her parents slowed to keep pace. After a few moments alongside, the car accelerated away from the Jeep. As it pulled away, the little girl winked, held it for a moment, smiled, and pointed at Rick.
He tilted his head like Nipper in the RCA advertisement and then turned to Sig who watched the interchange. He shrugged. No telling what magical powers the little girl had, but she obviously saw deeper than surface appearances. Acknowledgement of shared magic from one so young surprised but comforted him.
Giselle pulled into a White Castle at Sig′s urging. When they stopped, Rick jumped out of the Jeep and trotted around to the back of the store. He returned in a few moments in human form. "Excellent choice in greasy cuisine. I think I could manage to slide a dozen down."
While they chowed down, Giselle asked Rick, "You stick your head into the wind just like dogs do. Why do you do that?"
Rick looked at Sig and arched an eyebrow, already having covered this topic with him. He turned back to Giselle. "It′s canine speed reading. Smells come at you fast and furious with lots of information, like 'Oh there′s Fifi. She′s ready. Fido marked territory, but he doesn′t realize he just marked a spot in Killer′s yard. There′s a female poodle in heat. A boxer is outside her fence.′ I smelled this White Castle before you saw it on the freeway food sign. I also know there′re a pizza shop and an Italian fast food joint nearby."
"So you just take in info about food and sex, like dogs."
"Puleeze, them are fightin′ words. We Weres are much more discriminating than
dogs. However, like any book you randomly pick up, you read what′s written. A baby in a red minivan full of kids that passed had a pant load and will be chapped if they don′t change him soon. I also detected a plastic manufacturing facility back that way." He waved to the west. "I could tell that gray pickup we followed for a few miles needs new rings or valve seals. It′s burning oil, but not enough to be visible, or even detectable by inferior human olfactories."
"I′m glad of my human olfactory if it keeps me from smelling a pant load as it drives by."
Sig grimaced and nodded. "Amen."
Rick grinned. "It′s something you get used to. It comes at you all the time. It doesn′t even bother me when you guys fart."
Sig and Giselle looked at each other.
Rick held up a White Castle slider. "Especially after these babies, it gets ripe."
Giselle started laughing and Sig joined in.
Rick looked back and forth between them. "Should I tell you what you had for breakfast?"
Laughing, Giselle raised her hands. "TMI, TMI."
Rick had a sly look in his eyes. "Anytime you want to remember, just ask me."
Sig gave him a challenging look. "What?"
Rick squinted, considered the question, and then said, "Eggs, bacon and toast. It included a waft of fruit. Perhaps orange marmalade on the toast?"
Sig shook his head and nodded with a smile. "You nailed it."
Still laughing, Giselle threw her head back. "Oh my God. Excuse me, I′ll be back." She rose and headed toward the restroom.
After she left, Rick asked, "While she′s unburdening herself, does she know I ate breakfast with you?"
"No, and let′s not tell her."
"Deal." Rick raised his fist and Sig bumped it.
Before they sped on their way, Rick changed forms and jumped into the back of the Jeep.
The highways narrowed, speed limits dropped, and traffic evaporated.
Rolling down a narrow, rutted, dirt track, Giselle asked, "OK what′s next?"
Ahead the trail narrowed to a walking path. Sig stared at the directions.
Giselle stopped the Jeep. "Next?"
Sig shook his head. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned. Rick sat on the packs with his hand out.
