"They possibly camp where we must this eve."

"Do you think they expect us?"

"No. They are lazy. They send their worst to slay us to avoid the exertion. They think us dimwitted fools and soft women."

Sam went to see to Jandra. She was standing over one of the dead men, and Sam could see her knife in his back. Jandra looked shocked.

"He was injured but got up to attack Margeria from the back."

Margeria came over, smiling, "Many thanks, Second. Well done."

- 154 -.

As Margeria spoke, Jandra went over to some bushes and became sick.

Margeria looked surprised. Sam looked at Margeria, shrugged and said, "It is her first killing, and it but surprised her."

Margeria nodded knowingly, "Then she will be fine, as she did not hesitate. She should be most proud."

Sam gave her a smile. Margeria wasn't the type to understand Jandra's heart, but she had spoken wisely.

Sam went over to Jandra and touched her, I am most proud of you. You have acted as the finest Second, without hesitation, and the reason you are well chosen for it.

Jandra smiled up at Sam, then turned and became sick yet again.

Keddi found a way across the river, while the others engaged in gathering the men's weapons and horses. Keddi and Margeria began collecting and cleaning their arrows to place back in their sheaths, fully knowing that they would have need for them yet, up ahead, while hoping they hadn't been bent.

Meera tied up the horses so that they could get water and eat from the grasses and bushes until their return. They would take the extra horses and collected weapons back to Woden when they were able to return.

Meera spoke to all, "It will grow dark in this gorge quickly. We must find this other group soon."

They began walking ahead again as Keddi went across the river and Margeria climbed to the top of the ledge. Sam and Meera both guessed that they would hear this lazy group and see their fires well before they arrived to them. Keddi and Margeria had agreed with them. Their concern was the number the group might have.

As they walked, Meera kept close watch on Keddi and Margeria. Margeria had gone far ahead to scout for the group. As before, the group remained silent. Jandra now knew the need for constant alertness and remained ready. She had taken a spear from the assortment of weapons gathered and thought it a good weapon for herself. She hoped she could keep the fouled knife sheathed.

As the sun began to set behind the gorge, Keddi sent an arrow across the river in front of Meera. Its message was clear: Hold.

Meera looked for Margeria but could no longer see her, so was forced to trust in the young guard's abilities. Meera motioned to Keddi, How many?

Keddi didn't look pleased. She signaled back, ' thirteen', that she could see. She indicated that some were resting around the campfires, some were eating, and only two were on guard, nearer to Meera. Meera yet saw no sign of Margeria and signaled such to Keddi. Keddi shook her head, No.

Meera motioned to Keddi, Begin the fight at dark. Keddi nodded. They all waited until the sun's set and the shadows had disappeared. All weapons - 155 -.

were readied, and Meera hoped that Margeria would be close by to help.

Suddenly, Meera heard the rushing sound of arrows released, and then heard their targets scream in pain. More arrows were released. More sounds of the arrows making their target. Meera couldn't tell where the arrows had come from and wondered if Margeria were assisting. She moved forward, along with Sam, and they also released their arrows. Meera was pleased that Sam had been correct. These men were fools, standing about the fires so that they were excellent targets. Jandra moved forward and speared a man, then discovered that it was difficult to remove the spear. Sam was quickly beside her, fighting off the next man heading toward Jandra as she yet struggled with her spear. Sam slashed his torso, then moved on. Jandra, in desperation, left the spear in disgust, and picked up the man's sword. He made a move to grab her arm and she sent the sword through him without thinking. Removing the sword was far easier than removing the spear.

Sam yet heard arrows flying but couldn't tell their targets. She feared they might be from the men's group.

She yelled to Meera, "MEERA! Overly many arrows fly."

It was Sam's signal to move away from the fires. Sam made a motion to Jandra to back up to the gorge's wall, out of the shadows. Meera and Sam did likewise, watching for the remaining moving shadows. They heard two voices whispering, and Sam and Meera jumped out from the wall and overtook the two. With swords at their throats, they remained still. It was too dark to see far, so Sam hoped that Keddi and Margeria covered the edges.

No sounds were about except the moaning of the injured. The dead were silent where they lay.

Keddi came up and said, "All clear. One went running, but he knows not that Margeria is waiting for him. She will return with him, directly."

Meera was trying to count, "How many do you see?"

Jandra looked around and counted, "I see but eleven."

Sam had been afraid of that. One missing, not counting the one heading toward Margeria. She listened. Nothing. An arrow raced by Keddi and slit across her arm. Her arm bleeding, she made no notice of it as she unsheathed two arrows, knelt and sent them flying from where she heard the arrow. As soon as the two were released, she released two more, slightly moved to the right. Two more, slightly removed to the left, then two more until she heard the impact of an arrow into her target. An arrow returned, way off target. She knew she had hit him. She drew one more arrow and aimed to where the last one had hit. She pulled back hard and let it swiftly fly. She once more heard the soft thud of it hitting her target. She was on - 156 -.

her feet and running before Jandra even realized that Keddi had unsheathed her first two arrows, for Keddi was surprisingly quick.

Meera looked down at the two yet alive and put her sword to one's eye, "How many more groups be there?"

The other one tried to spit on her. Meera moved her sword swiftly into his heart. She moved it back to the other and placed it against his eye.

"You have but one moment to answer."

"You will kill me anyway."

Meera nodded, frowning, "You speak the truth. I will. But I will do it slowly or swiftly. It be but your choice."

The man had already been well injured and was in much pain. Meera could see that he wanted no more suffering.

"There is a group on the way. They should arrive two turns hence."

"How many in this group?"

"Perhaps ten. Perhaps twenty. I know not. My own group began with twenty, but many died on the way here."

"Where do you come from? Who sent you?"

"I come from Apien and am but a hired fighter. I know not the leader of this."

He closed his eyes for but a moment, and Meera swiftly and quietly put her sword through his heart. He didn't even know he died. Margeria entered the camp with a badly limping and much wounded man. She kicked him over to the fire.

"This thick uncouth makes the thirteenth."

Meera was glad to see Margeria but saw that she too had been wounded, as Margeria limped slightly over to Sam and Meera.

"You are injured."

She shook her head, "Worry not about me. It is twisted and cut from climbing the rocks. A turn's rest will see it better. Where be Keddi?"

Meera looked across to the rocks, but could see nothing. "She finds her target."

Meera moved over by the injured man and sent her sword through his heart. She would allow no survivors this journey.

Sam was with Jandra, laughing, "So, Jandra, how did you fare with the spear?"

Meera laughed as well, knowing that spears, when embedded in bone, were difficult to remove. She had seen Sam save Jandra from the man taking the advantage as Jandra struggled with the spear.

Meera went over by Jandra, "Do not let her jest with you. You did well and are most courageous. I am proud you fight with us, Second. We must teach you to use more than one weapon. As you saw, they are often needed."

- 157 -.

Keddi came back into camp. "How many arrows did you let fly, Margeria?"

"All. I have none left. We must recollect them."

Meera had been amazed at the sheer volume of arrows that had been used in the battle. "Between you two, it was as if legions were letting fly their arrows. Keddi, how does the wound fare?"

Keddi also wondered about the number of arrows that had flown during the battle, thinking that there far more than she could account for, but having no logical answer for it, let it go, "It will need purifying, and will scar, but what is yet another scar? Margeria will tend to it."

Meera looked around, "Let us remove the bodies to beyond the bend, and we will make camp here. The Highest believes that the cave entrance is across the water."

Jandra started unloading the food, "We must eat. It has been all turn and you have all worked well for your meager meal."

Margeria laughed, "It be not so meager. Look here," as she held up the men's rations.

"No wine for us this eve. Jandra, you will take first watch. Keddi, Second. I, third, and Margeria fourth."

"Why not me as well, Meera?"

"You have much work in the morn and will need your strength. Let us tend to the fires."

They put out all the fires, knowing that they were nothing but targets and signals. Jandra made a move to gather the weapons, but Meera halted her.

"Rest for this eve, Second. The Highest gives us moments in the morn as we wait for her. We will find their horses then, too. They will not have strayed far."

They talked for a while before resting. Meera noticed that Sam no longer grew weakened through contact. She guessed that the little old person in the rags had done something to her when Sam had bowed before her.

Jandra was thinking the same, "Sam, what did that old ragged one do to you? You no longer grow weaker from your power."

Sam shrugged, "In truth, I know not. I know only that she said she would make it right until I met with the Woman in the Woods."

Keddi asked, "Who was the old person? Be it woman or man?"

"Also in truth, I know not. It was certainly older than all of the eons, though. And he/she was a most kind soul and has lived beyond our dream- - 158 -.

ings. She/he was of the earth itself. She came to summon me to the Woman in the Woods."

Meera asked, "And who would the Woman in the Woods be, Sam?"

Sam sighed, "This makes as much sense to me as for you. I know not.

I wish that I but did. I cannot even imagine having a power. It be far too distant from our lives and realities to think of such a thing. What be this magic? I know that it is not of us. I know that I am to meet with the Woman in the Woods. Become The Chosen One at some point in the future. And that they were here prior to all humans, as they refer to us."

Jandra was sitting beside Sam, holding her arm to her, while Sam laid her head on Jandra's shoulder. Meera saw that Sam was well weighted by all this.

"Sam, I grow well concerned. You are The Highest now, and that of itself is enough to bear for the community. But this has added strain beyond measure to you. I like it not."

Sam sighed, "There have been moments these few prior turns when I but wished I was no longer of this realm. I have noticed, though, that life gives one the bad along with the good, and for this I try to remain strong."

Meera pressed a little, "Are you concerned for yourself in these next events?"

"I think our main test outside the cave's entrance. Be well prepared for surprises while I be gone."

Jandra laid her head lightly onto Sam's.

Meera smiled at Sam, "The next festival proves to be a happy one for the both of you."

Jandra frowned, "It did until that old person appeared. Now I will worry until Sam's return."

Meera nodded, "It be what women are set to do in this realm."

Keddi had been thinking about what Sam had said. "Highest, the Old One told you that these spirits are not of us?

"The Old One did. It said that this had not meant to be a realm with such as us. It was their realm, free from our kinds."

"How can that be so? What does that mean?"

"I know not. It said that perhaps we might know, but that the clues were there for us."

Jandra asked, "Clues? What clues?"

Sam laughed a little, "If we but knew, we would know the answer to our questions."

Margeria asked, "Highest, what is the use of this power and why is it being given to you?"

Sam looked at Margeria, shook her head, and sighed, "I wish I but knew."

- 159 -.

Meera had said they should all take to their rest. Given the events of the turn, they all did so willingly, except for Jandra who stood first watch.

Margeria woke The Highest just before the sun's rise.

She bent down and spoke softly to her so that Jandra might sleep through Sam's exit, "Highest. It be the moment for you to watch for the cave entrance."

"Is all quiet?"