How is this even as possible, sending thoughts to another? She couldn't know that within some short moments in the future, this thought would be well remembered: Have I seen this done, long prior, somewhere?

She continued to send her messages to Sam, Use my strength. Come back.

You must give me some moments to earn your trust and respect. Take my strength.

Please, take my strength.

Finally, very faintly, she heard, sensed or felt, she was unsure which, The Highest reply, I am here . . . tired . . . I denied Meera . . . could not accept Brett's death . . . get traitors . . . Wake me when Lillon and eve . . . your strength helped.

Jandra removed her hands and looked around smiling, "She be with us. She has spoken."

Keddi needed to know, "How do you know? What did she say?"

Jandra was yet smiling. She hadn't smiled this much in very many cycles. "She said she is overly tired, and to wake her when you have rescued Lillon."

How was this accomplished? What be occurring amongst us? How did I know what to do? She wondered how, amongst all these others, she knew what to do, yet without knowing of it.

Keddi's knee and hand were unbelievably healed now, along with her head that was healed just prior. No one could believe it, but they accepted it for knowing not what else to think of it. Nothing like this had ever occurred in Woden. These events were not within their understanding, yet they had no choice but to accept them as truth. The rest of Keddi's cuts and bruises would have to heal on their own. And Keddi knew that she would now have to deal with Oisin. She guessed Oisin to be partly correct about her motives for getting healed, but hadn't really believed that Sam could die from this strange power. She hoped she hadn't been wrong, thinking that Sam was strong.

Jandra took over the session, "Oisin, would you please take The Highest to her bed? Margeria, please have May get Berth to tend and watch The Highest. Meera, would you please assign some guards to The Highest's room until we return?"

Jandra was slightly afraid that everyone would turn against her and not listen to her, so was pleased to see everyone quick to action.

When everyone returned, she said, "Meera, Keets, and Keddi, please quickly work out the details of your plan. The Highest wants Lillon back by early eve. Can you get this done for her?"

Meera responded, "We have just the last details to work out, and then we will get her back. Will you be coming with us, Second?"

"Do you so request it of me?"

- 84 -.

"I do, if you would so oblige. We could use your leadership." Jandra thought it a tenuous beginning, and knew she had a lot to account for with Meera.

"Thank you, Meera."

Oisin had very tenderly placed Sam in her bed. She noticed that her breathing had returned to a somewhat normal state, so was not as worried as she had been. She wondered how Jandra had known what to do, but thought that Sam had always been an excellent judge of character, herself included. She reminded herself to thank Jandra at some near point in the future. She was yet angry with Keddi, but Sam was more important to her at this moment.

May had been outside the library, but had overheard Oisin say to Sam, "Sweet Sam, you are well loved. Rest, and return to me; to us all. I have not done as much for you as I have wanted to, in my heart, but that does not mean you are not well loved and not thought of every moment of my journeys."

May looked in and saw Oisin kiss Sam on her forehead, and fix her hair ever so slightly. She had never seen a tender side to Oisin, so was surprised. But she had guessed that although Oisin had a very tough exterior, there must have been some tenderness inside or Sam would never have allowed her into her bed. She watched as Oisin just looked at Sam. When Oisin moved to take her leave, May walked in as if she had just happened in.

"Oh, Oisin, you be yet here? How be Sam?"

"She rests, May. Please watch over her."

"No one will disturb her, now, Sea-Duty Second. I vow you this."

"Two of my crew be just outside. If anyone tries to but interrupt her rest, please have them do as they have been ordered. They are here to protect Sam. I will have them respond only to you."

"Thank you, Second. I hope they will not be needed."

Meera, Keets and Keddi detailed the plan to Jandra and Oisin. Keddi was to be placed on a litter as if yet gravely injured. Oisin rewrapped her head with bandages. Keets suspected that Hern wouldn't let Lillon go, as she had vowed, when Keddi was given to them. Keddi was to let them take her inside, and then the attack would proceed. Meera and Keet's guards would take over the outside, and it was up to Keddi to find and recover Lillon and get her safely away from Hern. Meera and Keets had informed their guards to try to take the traitors alive. Oisin would prepare her crew so that when the delegation entered The Highest's dwelling, Oisin and crew - 85 -.

would take over the ship and capture the traitors. Oisin had informed them that losses might occur.

Jandra then asked them to prepare for any surprise attack while the delegation was at The Highest's dwelling. Meera, Keets and Keddi informed Jandra that they were well prepared for any surprise, while Oisin said that the harbor would be more than well prepared for attack. They told her that Briggon would be in attendance this late eve with The Highest, and his guards would serve as greater support for any surprise attacks. All of the Hengist community was prepared for battle. Jandra felt much better knowing that there were so many that could hold Woden safe from further harm.

She didn't yet know of the events across The Realm. None of them did. None of them could, as yet.

Jandra asked Meera and Keets, "Where will you hold the traitors?"

Meera responded, "We have a secured dwelling we will use. The Highest and you will have to make a decision regarding the traitors by midturn next. That be all the moments the law allows."

Jandra nodded, somewhat surprised that she would need to make a decision with The Highest regarding the fate of the traitors. She never had the heavy responsibility of making a decision on someone's life. Her respect for Sam continued to increase.

Keets added, "I personally think hanging be overly good for them."

"From what The Highest told me, Oisin would like to make them but fish-bait. Right Oisin?" Meera was laughing.

"Fish bait? That be not enough. I would keelhaul them until their eyes popped out. And then I would use them for fish bait."

"Let me at them and I would gladly rip out their eyes." Jandra had lost her former Highest, and almost lost all these women that she was now pleased to work with.

Keddi said, "A man has begun this. It is typical that what begins by men must end by women."

Meera laughed, "Keddi, I think you have spent overly many moments in a mixed community."

Keets arose and announced, "It be the moment. Let us be about our brutal business."

Meera was observing Keddi, "You need to look more pained."

"Not to worry. I will moan as we arrive."

Oisin went to Keddi, "You used Sam to heal you, and told her that you could save Lillon. Make certain you do, or you will account to me."

She turned to Keets, "I expect to be informed of this outcome when it be but complete. And I expect it to be successful. I will be at the ships."

"Yes, Second. I will send a messenger."

- 86 -.

All the guards were in ready as Keddi was carried to Hern's dwelling.

Women were gathered around at a distance, but overly close for Jandra's liking. She was unaware that Meera's guards were in the crowd as onlook-ers, remaining close by in case they became needed.

Meera walked close to Hern's dwelling.

Hern said, "That be close enough, Meera."

"Hern, we have brought Keddi in exchange for Lillon. Bring her out and we will but begin the exchange."

"I will show you Lillon, but she goes no further than the door until I can see this woman who has caused us so much trouble."

Under normal situations, Meera wouldn't have agreed to Hern's terms, but she wanted to get this over and knew that Hern was set to a single path.

"Hern, I must ask you once again to give this battle up. It is no good.

You will lose. You know that we have more strength in numbers than you do. What do you but hope to gain from this?

"Halt the lecture, Meera. You but waste my moments. These women about us see who the real traitors are. They want me for their highest."

Keets came over to Meera, "You talk for naught. She is deranged. Let us get this over with, Meera. She is not going to listen to you."

Meera knew that Keets was correct and nodded to the guards carrying the litter. She silently wished Keddi well, but knew enough about Keddi's background to let her be about her affair.

When the guards got to the door, Hern said, "Set the litter down. I wish to speak to this woman alone for a moment. I will then hand over Lillon."

"That was not the agreement, Hern."

"Take it or leave it, Meera."

She nodded, knowing what was to come next. Hern did as expected.

She had her women take Keddi, who was sufficiently moaning at this point, inside.

"Hern, we upheld our bargain. Give us Lillon."

She just laughed, "You are such a foolish woman, Meera."

At that moment, Keets gave the command to attack. Four-dozen women led by Margeria, surrounded and subdued the traitors outside the dwelling. Inside, as soon as she heard the attack and saw a few of the women run outside to help against the intruders, Keddi got up off the litter.

"Hern, where be Lillon?"

"What? What are you doing up? You are supposed to be injured.

Even the healers have said how badly inju"

"As you can see, I am not. Where be Lillon?"

Hern made a move to fight Keddi, but was no match against her. Using Hern's momentum, Keddi grabbed onto Hern's clothes and guided - 87 -.

Hern directly into the wall, headfirst. Hern dropped to the ground, unconscious. Keddi tied up Hern with her bandages, then stepped outside. She felt somewhat unsatisfied thinking, This was too easy. She felt robbed of being able to take out her anger on Hern. She then went out the door.

"All clear in here. Has anyone seen Lillon?"

"Look inside for her, Keddi. We have gathered all the traitors together. Is Hern alive?"

"Yes. We will watch her die later."

Keddi went back inside and found Lillon under a bed, unconscious, but alive. She pulled her out from under the bed and moved her to the litter.

"Second, I have found Lillon. She be alive."

Jandra smiled. It had gone well. All the traitors were captured, no deaths occurred, and only three guards had minor wounds. She didn't care that some of the Counselors were more seriously hurt. She suspected that midturn next, their pain would permanently be gone.

"The Highest will be pleased."

Two of Keets' guards were dragging Hern out of the dwelling. It looked like Keddi had done all but kill Hern, and Jandra began to understand the discipline that Keddi must have had to not do so. It looked like it was something exceptionally easy for Keddi to do. Jandra then saw Josin trying to talk to Margeria. She hadn't seen Josin during the short fight, but knew that she had been somewhere near Hern.

"Your words are wasted on me, Josin. You are no longer of this community."

"Margeria, is Josin giving you trouble?" Jandra hated Josin and couldn't stand to think she might talk her way out of this. She had argued bitterly with Josin of late about her recent stances against The Highest.

Josin had tried to turn Jandra against The Highest, Sam and the rest, and that was when their relationship had ended. Jandra was deeply loyal to the community and would have no part in Josin or Hern's plans.

"Not to worry, Second. Josin is but hot air." Margeria nodded to the guards to take Josin away, and shoved her harshly toward them.

Josin screamed after Jandra, "You are the traitor, Jandra. You have crossed over to Sam's side. This be only the beginning of our battle with you, Jandra. I may die, but you will too."

"As we all well, Josin, eventually."

Standing by, Meera nodded her head toward Josin, "It is not overly soon to lose that one. How did you put up with her?"

"There are a lot of things that I wonder about now, Meera. The Highest's advisors have been out of line far overly long. It be good that Sam is now The Highest. Many things that are wrong will now be put right."

- 88 -.

Meera nodded, "Yes. Sam has seen this to be true. But at what cost to us all?" She studied Jandra for a moment, wondering if Jandra could fill The Highest's place as Second.

"Let us see to Lillon."

Keddi was standing near Lillon, trying to awaken her. Lillon was coming around but seemed confused.

Meera, Jandra and Margeria went up to her, "Lillon?"

"Oh, hello, Meera. Jandra. What are you doing here?"

She was indeed confused, but it appeared she would recover soon.

"Keddi, please take Lillon to The Highest's meeting room and let her rest there. You might look in Lillon's chests to see if she has any appropriate, what did The Highest say, finery?"

"I will look for some 'finery' for me and Margeria, as well. Come, Margeria, we must go shopping for our finery," Keddi said as she laughed and went to do so.

Jandra looked around and saw that all was in order, "We should go back to The Highest's dwelling and help prepare for the delegates.

"Second, begging your patience, Keets and I must see to our women and make our guards and sites ready for any surprise attacks. Keets and I must also meet with Briggon's guards briefly to outline the plans. With your permission, we will meet you back at The Highest's dwelling this late-eve. I have guards already posted, so you need not worry about The Highest or the dwelling. She and the dwelling are well safe."