"The women and men are well pleased. The sun rose just as you were pronounced Highest. They think this bodes well for the community and you. And they be most pleased with you as Highest."

Sam sighed once again, and nodded. She held back the tears that so desperately wanted their release.

Jandra noticed Sam's sadness, "Perhaps it be best if you not think about this turn and all that occurs within you. It but overwhelms, I think.

Perhaps we should but talk about who you should take as a companion."

Sam just rolled her eyes and laughed, "And that is supposed to cheer me, Jandra? You are but a funny one. I need not one more thing to think about this turn."

"Perhaps they would take excellent care of you."

Sam shook her head and just smiled.

As they reached the patio, Jandra motioned that Sam should sit at the patio table. "Let me find us some food and drink, and then I can help you to change your garments."

Sam shook her head again, "I need to change from these garments first, Jandra. They are most uncomfortable and overly remind me of who I must be, now." Sam turned to go to her bedroom but saw Jandra waiting.

"Come, attend to me, Jandra. I could use your help."

Jandra nodded and followed. She helped Sam change and noticed that Sam was remaining very quiet. "Highest, when this eve comes, will you regret being alone?" As she asked the question, she frowned, wondering, Why did I say that? She shivered and felt suddenly quite odd, but had no understanding of it.

"Perhaps. I am but overly weary to consider it."

Jandra finished helping Sam change, "Go sit in the patio. I will bring out some food and drink."

Sam nodded and left to the patio. She noticed that there were now twice as many guards around her dwelling. As she had been told by one of her advisors, perhaps it was something she should now get used to. She - 118 -.

could hear the river flowing and let the sound comfort her. Jandra came out with a platter of food and drink.

"May had it prepared for you. She has enough for a small party. Are you expecting company this eve?"

Sam shook her head, "I cannot imagine anyone wanting to be with me right now. If I look half as bad as I feel, it would scare the children away."

"It is but that you are overwhelmed. If you looked into a mirror, you would see that what you say be most untrue. I know not what occurs within you, but outside, you grow more beautiful, if that be at all possible."

Sam just looked at her as if she were crazy, and smiled, "I think you have been alone overly long, Jandra."

They ate their meal in silence. As they were finishing, one of the guards came to inform them that they should leave for the executions.

"Perhaps we should not have eaten, Jandra. Our stomachs will have difficulty with this event."

They began walking to the site, the guards following at a small distance.

"Where is it to be held?"

"Out at the border, Highest. It is a mid-length walk, but we will arrive soon enough."

"Out where we found Keddi?"

"No, Highest. Straight out from the gate; out by the river."

"On the open flattop, then?"

"Yes. The Highgrounds. Keets wanted them on the Highgrounds for all to see."

"A beautiful place. I have always liked the view from there with the valley just below. It will be but sad to leave those memories on it."

"Do you go there often?"

"I make the attempt to see all our lands at least every moon. It is most enjoyable up there when the early flowers take bloom. There are great boulders there, and at moments, it is as if they speak."

Jandra thought about her moments at the boulders, far prior when she had once been there. They called to her in a way she didn't understand, but let the thought fade. "You have done more than I can even suspect. It be no surprise to me of the length and depth of the respect for you in the community. I know of your daily rounds, but that you watch over our en-tirety . . . we owe you much respect. I should have done as well. We all should. I will speak with the community about this."

- 119 -.

Sam listened to Jandra, but chose not to respond. Jandra was good with the women, and it would only help to have more women watching over the lands.

"How did you think I fared with Sir Devin prior eve?"

"Oh, Highest, you were magnificent. But I must say, it was all I could do to keep myself from laughing."

They continued to talk about the eve's events through the walk. Sam tried not to lean on Jandra overly, not wishing to tire her. She knew that she would need increased assistance for the return, so planned on getting Oisin or Meera to help, too. The walk wound through some of the food and herb gardens. What were always pleasant walks in the past were now but grim reminders of the cycles of life and death.

Meera met them as they arrived, bowing to Sam, "Highest."

"Meera. Is all in ready?"

"It is, Highest. I have also made certain that Treena be but present to watch the executions. I think it her due punishment."

Sam nodded, "Yes. She needs to see. Who is to be the executioner?"

"Keets. She says she is doing this for The Highest."

"I hope we do this for no other reason."

"We will execute the counselors first, then Hern, and then Josin."

"It is as expected." She looked around. "It be sad to leave these memories on this place."

Meera nodded, "Let us hope it be but the last place we must leave such memories on."

Meera looked at Jandra, "Second, please take no offense of this, but should you attend this morn's events? Josin's execution will be difficult for even me, and I do not think you will be"

"Thank you, Meera. But I want to be here. Josin will meet her due.

She has done more harm than you know. I take the blame for not telling you before it be overly late."

"This be not the moment for regrets, Second. Josin knew well what she did, and knew well the consequences. What any of us knew or not would have made little difference in her scheme."

Sam nodded, "Well said, Meera. We all will be here for Jandra should she need, but she has told me that she needs to be here for the community, for us, and for The Highest. Meera, has anyone attended to these traitor's poor wretched companions?"

"Tehna and Liley have, Highest. They meet with them now at The Highest's dwelling so that they would not attend these proceedings. Fortunately, most of these counselors were but companions of each other.

Josin's companion is well rid of her, from her own mouth, and Lillon, I doubt, will not miss Hern. But Lillon attends, Highest. She be over by - 120 -.

Karan." Sam looked over and noted that Karan was speaking with Lillon.

She could guess the topic.

"Keets is bringing them over now, Highest. I am sorry your beginning as Highest is filled with such acts as these. Will you know when to begin the proceedings?

"Give me word, Meera, and I will do my duty."

Meera left to help Keets.

"Jandra, I know your heart be in the right place, but I ask you once more: Will you not leave this place of our vile revengeful deaths? Even the dark realms visit not with us this turn."

"My place is by your side, Highest."

"So be it, and may our Mothers be with us this turn."

Sam went over to where she must make the decrees. She noticed that about 400 women were here to observe the executions. It was the amount she expected, and about the amount she thought effected in one way or the other by The Highest's death, Hern's acts, and Josin's sabotage of the community. Jandra remained by her side.

Margeria was in charge of the traitors, but Sam didn't know if Margeria were ready for this turn. She hoped that Meera had spoken with her about this. She saw that Keddi was at Margeria's side, and thought that wise on her part. Keddi was well used to the harsh realities of executions. Keddi's dog was also in attendance, sitting where Keddi had told it to remain.

The traitors were a depressing lot. Josin stood firm and tall, defiant in her stance. Sam didn't think she would be able to hold this act when she finally was to hear of her particular execution. The Counselors were mostly crying, showing much fear about their impending deaths. And Hern was, unsurprisingly to Sam, shouting at everyone. Sam knew that she too would face a grim reality, momentarily.

Meera nodded at Sam, and Sam said only loud enough for Jandra to hear, "Let us get this unnatural act done."

Sam stepped up to the hill, directly facing the traitors, and began the worst duty a Highest could face. "I, Highest of Woden, as required of me, now pass sentence on you. You have committed acts of treason against all of Woden, and you have attempted murder on The Highest. Woden law commands that such acts be punished through execution within one turn. I now uphold this law. You have committed these acts in full awareness of these sad consequences. You, as Woden's daughters, have brought shame and most grievous sorrow to Woden and our Mothers. There be no compassion for you this turn. Because of your actions, we are all shamed this turn. May the mothers hold you in their thoughts. I do not."

She nodded to Margeria and Keddi, and they brought the Counselors forward.

- 121 -.

Sam tried to block her ears to the wails and cries of the counselors.

Their fear filled the air. As she nodded to Keets, Keets' guards, one-by-one, tied the women to their stakes. One had fainted, while all the rest were begging and wailing for mercy. None would be given this turn.

Jandra watched, paralyzed by the sounds. She looked at the boulders, trying to distance herself from the scene, wondering if they felt anything.

She wished she could touch them.

Oisin stood with torch in-hand, "May the Mothers be with you."

Oisin handed Keets the torch, and at Sam's nod, Keets lit each mound of straw and wood. Sam hardened herself to withstand the screams, the smells, and the most unholiest of visions. It was her duty to stand and watch as if justice was better than the evils done. She tried to block her mind of all thoughts so that she may continue these fateful, awful, hideous and frightful sights. She knew well that her eves would be those of revolt-ing dreams for long to come. The odors of burning flesh and hair perme-ated the air, but Sam refused to weaken. Woden had been through many battles in her short life, and each ended with some event as this. Through each one, Sam thought of the severity Woden's laws exacted on the guilty.

There had never been enough peace to permit leniency. She hoped to live long enough to know that type of peace and justice.

"Highest, this be most gruesome. These poor wom"

Brusquely, from her own sadness and frustration, Sam said, "Harden yourself, Second. Toughen your soul and think of The Highest. Let not these acts or these traitors catch you soft. They felt no such compassion for The Highest, or for those of Woden."

The screams of the burning women had all quieted after many moments. Now the piles of wood burned but dead flesh. The executed would be left in place until the fires burned out and until the carrion eaters had cleaned the bones.

When the fires began to merely burn instead of rage, Sam nodded once again to Keets. Hern was brought forward. Sam had a swift reflection that Lillon was here, but would leave Lillon to Karan.

"I want neither your pity or mercy, Sam. May you be struck dead."

"As I will be one turn", and nodded to Keets. Oisin came forward with sword in-hand. Keets made Hern lean over a rock so her kneck showed, then moved her hair.

Oisin said, "Your remains will be untouched and unburned so that you will return not to our Mothers."

With that said, Oisin brought down the sword, and as suddenly, Hern was dead. Meera thought it overly fast a death for such as Hern, but didn't deny its grace considering what Josin was facing. The body was left where it lay and Hern was permanently silenced. Oisin felt the sentence fitting for - 122 -.

Hern. Hern had sought much attention and had been overly loud. The quick and silent death provided a stunning contrast to Hern's noise.

As Sam nodded to Keets, Margeria brought Josin forward. Two guards brought forward a narrow table with a cross bar. They laid and strapped Josin to the table, and strapped her hands, legs, and arms to stakes in the ground. Josin's eyes were wide open in the now-known horror of what she faced. She screamed, and wouldn't halt, calling Jandra's name as Sam resigned herself to this hated moment. She had seen this particular execution but once in her life, and yet recalled it through overly vivid images. She felt deeply saddened to be The Highest at this moment.

She turned to Jandra and softly pleaded, "Jandra, you know not this horror, and I would wish it so. I implore you to leave before you watch this event. I know that she tried to murder The Highest, but this woman was your lover. By the Mothers, Jandra, save your mind from this torture."

"The hate in my heart will not allow me to withdraw from this justice."

As she made the comment, Jandra instantly felt the profound and overwhelming truth of it and knew fully of its meaning, It is my fate. But how and why remained as an impossibly unsolvable mystery to her.

Sam nodded to Keets and Oisin. Meera and Oisin stood on the opposite side of Keets, each equally trying to harden themselves before they began this act. Margeria was looking pale, but Keddi moved her slightly away.

Keets drew up a knife.

Oisin looked down at Josin, "There be no mercy for you, Josin. Your death will be slow and tortured, as is required by our law. Your screams and cries for mercy will fall on deaf ears, as you heard not our pleas. Your body will lie where it dies. We will not return you to the Mothers through the fires. May the Mothers have mercy on your soul, Josin, because none do here."

Josin's eyes were ablaze in fear. She mentioned Keets name as she yelled her terror, but made no sense. Sam had no understanding of how Keets was able to do this act, but Keets began at Josin's stomach and made her way slowly to the heart, piece by piece, as if no screaming or torture were occurring; as if she were a healer performing an operation. Sam thought herself to be sick as Keets pulled out the sections one-by-one.

Meera stood by staunchly, but looking pale. Keddi watched as if she had seen this horror a hundred fold, and Margeria had moved away to be sick.

The screams of Josin persisted. Keets was doing as the law had intended.

This would be a slow, horrible and painful death.

Sam turned to look at Jandra and saw that Jandra had knelt to be sick.

She placed her hand on Jandra's head.

- 123 -.

The current went through into Jandra, but this moment, Sam sent the message, Be strong. It bodes well that we be sickened by such events. Take my strength and stand.