"I will be here to do so, Highest."

- 111 -.

"I will rest better knowing this. Thank you. Now, Second, tell me of your needs."

Jandra did, but noticed that Sam had fallen asleep. She thought her words fell on deaf ears. Jandra thought it all the better and talked to the sleeping Sam for most the eve. And Sam missed out on the meal that May had brought in.

The before-sun morn came too soon for both Jandra and Sam. Jandra had slept only slightly, watching over Sam all the eve, and Sam had yet recovered from her exhaustion. May entered the room quietly.

She whispered, "Thank you, Second. I needed a good sleep after all that fussing. How is our Highest? Did she sleep well?"

"She sleeps like the dead, May. It be most distressing."

"She does? I often come in to a bed that looks like a huge wind storm came blowing through the room, and when she has been alone, too!"

"I think it the moment we wake her, May, but how should that be done?"

May ceased whispering, "Oh, I think us talking will do it. She sleeps not as deeply as you think. You should be but forewarned. She also has many bad dreams that pull her wide-awake. This be a troublesome position you take on, Jandra. I think you know not the stress our sweet Highest has had as Second. It is enough to kill a horse, but now with these strange things happening to her, it is as if she is cursed. She thinks of all the women and their needs constantly. Walking around daily on her rounds listening to their complaints. And what does she get in retur"

"May, hold your tongue. You have managed to wake me."

"See, Second. Just start talking about how badly she takes care of her own life, and she wakes up without me having to worry. It be like magic.

So, good morn, Highest. As always, it be good to hear you so pleasant."

Looking at Jandra, she winked and said, "You know, Second, The Highest's best moment of the turn is the morn. She loves to wake up in the very early morn just before the sun's rise."

Sam ignored the jest, "Tea, May. And please, no more soup."

"Tea it is, and porridge."

She groaned, "You will kill me."

"Jandra, please ignore her early morn comments. They do but make the birds fly away. Please help her to get up and prepared. This morn's events are grim, and she must be ready. I will return in a moment."

In a serious tone that May often heard, Sam said, "May, one thing before you leave."

- 112 -.

"Highest." Her smile had left.

"Attend not the mid-morn's events. You need not see such a thing as this. It will haunt you, and I wish you not those types of dreams."

"Yes, Highest. Thank you."

Jandra looked surprised. "Do you not want the community there?"

"That is difficult. I will respect those who wish to be there, knowing that some of the women will seek to see for themselves the end of these women who murdered The Highest. But it will be most brutal, Jandra."

"They did not really murder The Highest."

"You argue their intent? You would spare their life?"

"No, of course not, Highest. It is just that The Highest took her own life. They had not the opportunity to murder her."

"The intent when it concerns The Highest, as by law, be the same as the act."

Jandra nodded understanding and changed the topic, "Did you sleep well, Highest?"

"I am weak, but seemed to have found my tongue, at least. I hope the weakness will leave me. It is fine to sit, but I have little energy to move.

Perhaps May's morn meal will give me enough to get through this turn's events. Did you hear that we have five new women that Oisin's crew found on the ship?"

"Do they desire entrance into the community?"

"There has been no chance to speak with them. Meera and Keets will no doubt perform that function soon. It is always difficult if they have come from a mixed community and wish to keep to that type of companionship. Oisin can take them to such a community if that be their choice, however."

Sam looked distant, "Attend to yourself, Jandra. We must get ready for this which I have tried so hard to avoid."

May came in and helped Sam prepare, and to make certain that Sam ate and drank enough. Few words were spoken by any of the three women, and regardless that Sam had little energy, there was no question in anyone's mind that Sam must attend the turn's events. As May helped Sam get dressed, Jandra attended to herself. She knew that she would have to help walk The Highest to the various sites. May helped Sam dress in The Highest's ceremonial gown. Sarra had worked all the previous eve on it so that it would fit Sam. She had to take in many hems, but the gown was now a perfect fit for Sam. It was an off-white gown with vivid blue trim, in honor of the Spirits of the Falls.

May noticed Sam's eyes, "Highest, your eyes have grown much bluer of late. Have you noticed this?"

- 113 -.

Sam just shrugged, "No. But I have not looked into any mirrors in a long while. Perhaps it just seems so due to the blue in the gown."

Jandra looked at Sam's eyes and noticed the same. They were almost an unreal blue: extremely bright and the color and intensity of a deep clear pool of fresh water. She knew that Sam's eyes were blue, but remembered them as a soft pale blue. She also noticed that Sam's hair, even for its continual lack of tending by Sam, was shiny and very alive looking.

Jandra added, "I but guess that it has something to do with this new power of yours. Have you noticed any other changes, Highest?"

Sam shook her head and tried to avoid the conversation.

Jandra was focused on the executions. She had, as Sam knew, well avoided any such prior event. Although Sam had excused her from this one, Jandra felt she needed to be there for Sam, for the former Highest, and for herself. She felt that Josin had sabotaged the community, and she felt to blame for not informing anyone. But the event yet troubled her, wondering as to such harsh executions.

May said, "Jandra, is it yet with clouds outside?"

Jandra looked outside, "It is, but it will not rain. The clouds are patchy. It remains a gray turn. I can see the women starting to prepare for your ceremony, Highest. May, are you attending as well?"

May nodded, "Most truth. All will attend The Highest's ceremony."

Jandra went to the patio to wait for Sam.

May started to leave, then turned, "Highest. Please take care this turn.

I have set your other garments out for you so that you may change following your ceremony. It will not be proper for you to wear your ceremonial gown to the executions. Your other gown for The Highest's funeral has also been prepared and be laid out for you to change into following those gruesome events."

Sam nodded her understanding and went to the patio where Jandra was waiting, "Jandra, may I but use your arm to help me walk more securely?"

"Whatever you need, Highest, it be yours."

Sam looped her arm through Jandra's and held her own hands together. Jandra could help stabilize her while not causing any unbroken connection that would drain Sam. Jandra nodded to their escort of guards and were led to the ceremony, with Keddi and Margeria in the lead. No words were to be spoken from this moment. The ceremony to bestow a Highest, along with the funeral of a Highest, were the most spiritual and formal in the community. Not having any spiritual leaders from Woden to rely on this turn, the formal ceremony fell to Oisin and the spiritual leaders of Hengist. Sam had been but a young girl when the former Highest had been bestowed, so remembered little of the ceremony. She knew that the - 114 -.

ceremony itself would occur at their Sacred Rocks, a natural amphitheatre of stone that had been carved by the river eons prior to Woden's settlement.

Long prior, one of the rivers of Woden, on its downward path to the sea, had formed huge waterwheels that served to pound out other rock areas in the river into low-lying pools of water. As the river shifted course, the pools eventually drained dry. The Woden Sacred Stones was a naturally formed arch of three enormous rocks, the top cross one being flat, like a table top. The arch was large enough for ten people to stand under and be sheltered. Surrounding the Sacred Stones were nine natural circles, each higher than the other, that formed the amphitheatre appearance. The stage was the arch, in the middle of the circle, and the lowest part of the amphitheatre. The women, through the cycles, had built stairs down to each tier and enhanced the tiers so that all the community members could fit. Each tier stood easily one woman's height to the next tier. Many cycles prior, Woden held plays in the amphitheatre, but those had been long forgotten by many. Although made orderly every moon, the Sacred Stones had gone unused by Woden for many, many cycles. This turn, the women of Woden and the men of Hengist would find themselves twice to their sacred site.

Sam was escorted to the procession line. Oisin and the Spiritual Leaders from Hengist led the procession. The drums, instruments and chorus were next, followed by all the men of Hengist and then by all the women of Woden, half holding torches to light the way in the predawn moment. The advisors of Woden and Hengist were just prior to the procession of guards in which Sam was placed in the middle. As Oisin gave the signal to begin, the chorus, instruments and drums began a song that Sam could only imagine she knew from the ceremony so many cycles prior. It was both eerie and reverent in its tune, a tune that recognized the deep responsibilities and graveness of the ceremony itself.

The procession walked to the Sacred Stones, a location outside the community's walled community, but inside Woden's boundary. To Sam, each step taken seemed to tire her more. She was unsure if it were the changes occurring within her to cause this, or the silent weight that this new position held. As the procession reached the Sacred Rocks, the musicians descended to the Second tier up from the rocks, Oisin and the Spiritual Leaders from Hengist descended to the Sacred Rocks, the women and men from the communities filled the tiers, the advisors descended to the main ground tier, and the guards lined the stairs, at full attention. Sam was held at the top by Meera and Keets. Just prior to the sun's rising, Oisin unsheathed her sword and held it high above her head, signaling the guards to unsheathe their swords to form an arch, sword tip touching sword tip. It was under this arch that Sam followed Meera and Keets down to the Sacred - 115 -.

Stones, as the drums and musicians played their ceremonial tune. Sam was directed by the Spiritual Leaders of Hengist to go to under the Sacred Stones arch.

Fornan was the Spiritual Leader who would bestow Sam as Highest this turn. He was well known to Sam, and had been considered as a selected partner when Brett had wanted a child. He was, as was all of Hengist, especially exultant this turn to have Sam become The Highest, as she was someone they truly admired and respected. But he also recognized the sadness of the moment, given the former Highest's death. Sam was relieved and pleased that Fornan had been the one selected to lead this turn's ceremony.

He looked at Sam, and in a voice all could hear, said, "Sam of Woden, kneel before your community."

She knelt under the arch, and bowed her head. Fornan began the ceremony as the sun could be seen rising, still under the mountains. He gave a prayer to their Spirits of the Falls. He told of the background of Woden and Hengist. He reminded all of the duties and responsibilities of The Highest. Just as the sun was about to rise over the mountains, Fornan nodded to Oisin, Meera, Keets and Briggon. They each laid the tips of their swords upon Sam's head, a symbolic gesture that served to remind all of the past: If The Highest betrayed the oath, the swords would be used to be-head her. Fornan began the final part of the ceremony.

"Sam of Woden, are you prepared this turn to become The Highest of all of Woden?

Sam answered, "Yes."

"Do you understand the duties and responsibilities of this position?"

"Yes."

"Do you pledge your life to all of Woden?"

"Yes."

"Do you pledge all of your loyalty to Woden?"

"Yes."

"Then, Sam of Woden, repeat after me: "I, Sam of Woden."

"I, Sam of Woden."

"Give my life and loyalty to Woden."

"Give my life and loyalty to Woden."

"Swear to obey and uphold the customs and laws of Woden."

"Swear to obey and uphold the customs and laws of Woden."

As the oath went on, Oisin looked down at Sam and hoped that soon, she would be glad of having taken this position. Meera looked down at her own sword tip on Sam's head, feeling sadness in knowing how Sam had never wanted this position, yet knowing the seriousness of this moment.

- 116 -.

As the sun was mere moments from rising over the mountains, Fornan could see that his calculations had been good. "I, Sam of Woden, pledge you my life and loyalty. They are yours to command."

Sam looked up to Oisin and Meera, and then to Fornan and Briggon.

"I, Sam of Woden, pledge you my life and loyalty. They are yours to command."

Fornan then addressed the community, "Do you, as members of all of Woden, accept Sam of Woden's pledge?" As custom, the women and men all held their thumbs straight up as a sign of acceptance. The guards held up their swords.

"Do you swear your loyalty and allegiance to Sam of Woden?"

They repeated their gestures.

"Do you swear that Sam of Woden is your chosen Highest?"

They again repeated the gestures.

The sun finally rose over the mountains and shone on Sam. Fornan said in a loud voice, "I, Fornan, Spiritual Leader this turn of all of Woden Falls, pronounce Sam of Woden as The Highest. All kneel before our Highest."

He held out his hand and motioned for Sam to rise. Oisin, Meera, Briggon and Keets removed their swords from Sam's head and re-sheathed them. She rose and saw that everyone in the community had knelt before her, and all the guards held their swords above their heads as a sign that they were hers to command. As each woman and man knelt, they each said, "Highest."

The ceremony now over, Meera and Keets motioned for Sam to lead the way back up out of the Sacred Rocks. She followed Meera and Keets as they ascended their way back through the archway of guards. The others followed, beginning with the advisors. The procession made its way back to Woden's entry accompanied by the choir, musicians, and drums. It was a solemn affair from the beginning to end, in acknowledgement that while they celebrate a new Highest, they must bury another. When Sam was back through the entry, she began to make her way to her dwelling in order to change her garments and prepare for the executions. She hoped that May had left out some food for her. She felt exhausted and depressed, but the turn had just begun and she knew that this had been the highlight.

Meera came up beside her and saw that Sam was walking very slowly.

"I but think our community needs you as Highest, Sam. I think much has been allowed to erode of late, and I know that you will now make it right."

"You give me but overly much credit, Meera."

"We shall see, but I think not. Has May left out food for you?"

"I hope so."

"We will find something."

- 117 -.

Jandra came up to them. "Highest. Meera. Highest, may I help you prepare for the executions?"

Sam looked at Meera and hoped she was not disappointed. Meera nodded to Jandra, "This be but an excellent moment, Second. I must attend to my guards in preparation for the executions. Will you but see that The Highest make it out to the site? The Highest be also hungry."

Jandra nodded to Meera, and Meera left to her duties. Jandra opened her arm to Sam without saying a word. Sam took it gratefully, saying nothing.

"It was a good ceremony, Highest."

Sam nodded.