"Call me not Highest or I will slit your throat." She looked at him.

"Prove this to me, then."

"May I borrow your sword?"

Her answer was quick, "You jest."

- 165 -.

"No, madam. Just hold it out and I will but point out its features for you."

Meera held out her sword. "Keddi, be ready to cut this one's head off if he but makes the wrong move." Keddi nodded. The man rose and looked at the sword.

"See here?" He pointed to where the sword met the handle. "This be but a weak connection. I can do much better to make this sword stronger.

Look at the blade. It is uneven in its weight. The weight is all wrong for you. Each sword should be made for its owner. I see you have some of the men's swords on that horse. Can I but show you one of them?"

He didn't wait for an answer but shuffled over to the horse. All of them were now looking at him, and hiding their laughter from Meera.

"Look at this one." He pointed to one tied onto the horse's side. "See how this one is tapered in its weight? Yours should do the same. And see the beveling from the middle of the sword out to its sides? Yours doesn't do that. I could make you a wonderful sword. I am a very skilled blacksmith." He smiled at Meera. "You would be most happy with one of my swords in your hand."

Keddi smiled at Meera, "He does not seem a fighter. And he speaks like The Highest has read in her journals."

Meera looked at Keddi, "What?"

"He says the old words like doesn't and wasn't.

Meera had enough of this jesting. She looked at him and raised her sword to him as if to cut off his head. He fell to the ground, whimpering with his hands raised up in fear and weak protection. Meera saw that he was no fighter.

"Why are you walking to Hengist?"

"I heard it a peaceful life that needs skilled crafts-folk. And I want to live in a men's community. I have heard of it many moments along with the women of Woden. Be you the Women Warriors of Woden in the stories?"

Meera looked at Keddi. Keddi simply shrugged her shoulders.

"Women Warriors of Woden?"

Margeria overheard the conversation and laughed, "Yes, good sir, that be us. We are the Women Warriors of Woden and have just killed all the men in these three pitiful groups."

He begged, "Please take me to Hengist. Keep me in chains if you like, but see for yourself my skills. Let me make you a sword and you will see. I can shoe your horses. I can make you the finest door hinges in all the land.

I can make you body armor."

"What be body armor?" Margeria wanted to know.

- 166 -.

"Plates of metal that help protect you from arrows. Plates that fit to your body."

Meera nodded to Keddi, unhappy that they had a prisoner. She hoped he wasn't lying. Woden and Hengist could certainly use another blacksmith with the skills this one seemed to have.

"Tie him well. I want no trouble from him. We will give him to Briggon to deal with upon our return."

"Oh, thank you, madam highest. You will not be sorry. I am a most excellent blacksmith and will make you the finest sword in all the land. All of you. I will make each of you a special sword made just for you. I will tend to all your personal blacksmith needs. Oh, madam highest, I will but make you the finest"

Meera looked at him with a frown, "Your mouth overflows as this river. Keep quiet unless you would like to call more enemies to us. And then I would have no choice but to think of you as a trick from the enemy."

He made a motion as if to seal his lips. He was smiling.

"I hope he can ride."

Keddi laughed, "I would wager against that."

"Let us leave quickly for Woden. I want The Highest home by eve."

It was enough of an incentive to quickly complete their duties. They helped Sam onto The Second's horse. Meera took its reins and began leading them back upstream toward their first battle site. Keddi guarded the rear and watched the prisoner, and Margeria volunteered to run along the ledge top as a lookout. Per Meera's desire, she also checked on top for the arrows from the unknown sender. Jandra walked alongside Sam's horse, holding onto Sam's leg, as Sam drooped on the horse, her energy exhausted.

They made it back to the site of the first battle, and found their horses and gear waiting as they had left them. They took but a few moments to gather all the horses together and head out away from the gorge. Within a short while, Meera motioned for them to mount their horses and tie the rest to a lead. They waited for Margeria to descend from the ledge top. As they waited, Meera mounted Sam's horse and sat behind her so that The Highest wouldn't fall on the ride to Woden. Sam was too weak to fight against Meera's protective behavior. When Margeria descended, she shrugged as to the unsolved mystery arrows.

"Nothing? You found no other bootprints?"

She shook her head, "Nothing, although I was certain there would be."

"Nothing? This could not be so."

She shrugged, "I examined everything carefully, but found nothing."

- 167 -.

Both Keddi and Meera knew that the sheer number of arrows had been far more than they could have provided, but now saw that the mystery would remain unsolved. Meera led them out of the gorge, finally on horse-back. Jandra had been sore from the first turn's ride, but was grateful to finally be leaving the gorge of death as quickly as possible. As they reached the gorge's exit, Meera had Keddi help her move Sam to a fresh horse.

Meera then mounted behind Sam and made the horses to race toward home. All through the morn and midturn, the only rest Meera provided was when she changed horses.

As they entered the grasslands, a sentry approached and asked them to hold. Meera jumped off the horse and spoke briefly to her. She then remounted, and the group returned to inside Woden.

As they rode up to The Highest's dwelling, they saw torches lit around it. They all dismounted and helped Sam off her horse. The guards came forward to help, seeing how injured the group looked. Jandra knew them to be dirty, exhausted, and well bruised and injured from their battles.

May came rushing over, "What is wrong with The Highest?"

"She will be fine. Take her to her bed." May followed.

Meera saw Keets and nodded slightly. Keets said, "You have returned from what looks like battle."

Meera nodded, "We killed around forty men these prior turns. They come from Apien. I could not learn of the leader."

Keets put her hand on Meera's shoulder, "All is well here, for now.

Go rest. I will have the horses tended to. I see you bring back many weapons and a few new horses." She looked at the blacksmith. "And one prisoner. That be most unlike you, Meera."

"We collected the weapons. I saw them of worth to study and copy.

The prisoner is a long story, but he be not a fighter. He was running away from Apien to come to Hengist. He is a blacksmith. I will take him with me for the eve. He can but sleep on the floor, well-tied up. I will take him to Briggon in the morn since I have business with Briggon, anyway."

Caitha came running up and gave Meera a hug. She was crying. "You are hurt. Let me take you home to mend your wounds."

"It be good to see you, Caitha. I have but missed you. We have a prisoner for the eve. Have you enough meal to share?"

Caitha eyed the blacksmith. "A man? In our dwelling?"

Meera whispered to Caitha, "I think him harmless. He be like a pet dog."

Caitha laughed. They then left, arm-in-arm, with the blacksmith trail-ing behind them.

- 168 -.

Jandra turned to Keddi and Margeria. "You have served The Highest and the community well. You will be well rewarded. Go rest. I will send for you in the next turn."

Keddi said, "I owe The Highest my life and have repaid her very little.

I devote my life to her safety. Good eve, Second. Rest well."

As Keddi and Margeria left together, Jandra went to Sam's bedroom and found that May and the guards had gotten her safely onto the bed.

Jandra saw that she looked to be asleep. It had been a long journey and Jandra had gained much respect for these women. She knew not how to think of Sam, though. No Highest had ever risked so much for her community as this woman, but this woman was her lover, and Jandra didn't wish her to risk so much. She knew that Sam had been correctthe demands of being The Highest would provide much strain on the relationship.

She went to her and moved some of her wild but beautiful hair from her face. Sam was so small, in truth, when standing next to Oisin. Even Meera was much more powerful and taller than Sam. Yet Sam faced her enemies as if she were a giant. Lying here in bed, Jandra thought her to look like a half grown woman. Her face was young in appearance, almost child-like in its innocence, yet Sam had seen more killing and death than the entire community had in a lifespan. Jandra was amazed and delighted that they had become lovers, wondering if their relationship would last.

May came in and startled Jandra out of her reflections, "Second, dear, we must get you prepared for bed. You look to be sleeping on your feet.

Let me tend to your wounds."

May helped Jandra out of her riding garments, washed Jandra, tended to her cuts and bruises, and helped her into one of Sam's bedshirts.

"I know not what you wear to bed, Second, but we can sort that out in the morn. All your garments and articles have been moved over. We will speak of where you wish them to be next turn."

May helped Jandra into bed, "I have made it so that you will be undisturbed until you summon me in the morn. Many guards watch over you this eve. If you have need of anything, one waits in the meeting room. All you need do is call. I will return in the early morn."

Jandra laid her head on the pillow and moved her arm to drape across Sam's side. She remembered that May had said something, but couldn't recall the details. She was asleep almost before her eyes closed.

Sam woke in the morning to find herself in her bed, in her bedshirt, with Jandra's arm draped over her. She turned and looked at Jandra, her lover. She touched Jandra's cheek and felt its softness. She saw that Jandra's hair flowed about her, and enjoyed its beauty. She had selected her Second well. Jandra was untrained, but a natural leader and fighter. She - 169 -.

reacted quickly and decisively when needed, and Sam felt proud of her.

And she had been a most skilled lover in the brief moments they had enjoyed, which delighted Sam even more. And she was unbelievably beautiful, yet somehow slightly different than all the other Woden women.

She unbuttoned Jandra's bedshirt and admired her exposed breasts.

She circled them with her fingers, touching them lightly. She bent down to kiss them and gently suck on them. Jandra half-awoke to the strange sensation. She too, like Sam, had very few lovers who had remained through the morn. To awake to such enjoyment was arousing. Jandra moaned softly and moved into the feeling.

In a morn's soft voice, Sam said, "I like your breasts. They are full and soft, and enjoy being caressed."

Jandra thought, They do indeed.

She moaned again, softly. She woke enough to move to kiss Sam, pressing her own hands hard and urgently against Sam's breasts. Jandra moved on top of Sam, and lay upon her, kissing her. Sam enjoyed the feeling and gave in to it. Yet half asleep but determined in her focus, Jandra kissed Sam's face, her neck, her breasts, her stomach, and slowly moved down between Sam's legs. Sam protested and tried to move Jandra back up to her, but Jandra acted more forcefully, caressing Sam's breasts while remaining between her legs. Sam quit protesting and began to moan. Jandra had guessed right: Sam was used to more aggressive partners than herself.

Jandra thought that she would much like this. The morn went on undisturbed as May had vowed, while Jandra and Sam went in between their intimate physical explorations and sleep, only waking to the touch of the other.

As they lay together, tired but content from their passions, Sam moved so that Jandra lay on top of her, a feeling she well liked. Sam put her arms around Jandra. "Thank you for returning that eve. You allow the morn such that I can face it."

"You are the one who saved my life, Sam, remember? You are the strong one."

Sam laughed, "No, you are the strong one, and you but lied to me.

You said you are not as Oisin. I think you perhaps more forceful and strong in my bed."

"Our bed, Sam."

Sam touched Jandra's hair and face again, "You are most beautiful.

You make me to need you again."

Jandra laughed, "You are a hard one to tire."

Jandra began to move away but Sam pulled her back down. "But it is your fault that you make me desire you. You are overly beautiful. In truth, - 170 -.

I think you have hidden your beauty. And we have had but a short moment together."

"As are you. You make me melt at the sight of you. Your beauty and looks make it so that I can deny you nothing. Your eyes have become mesmerizing. I would find it near impossible to say no to these eyes."

After, while Sam was sleeping again, Jandra rose, tended to her needs, placed on her garments and went into the kitchen to see May.

"Jandra, how do you feel this early midturn?"

"Tired and sore, May. The Highest but wears me out. And be it midturn already?"

May laughed, "I had no chance to forewarn you. Her lovers all have the same complaint."

Jandra also laughed, "Oh, I think I might be able to handle the attention."

Jandra made arrangements for The Highest to visit Hengist, meet with the advisors, and begin the community sessions, and she had arranged with Meera to come over for after midturn meal with Sam. The advisors would be here this after eve meal, and Jandra found herself nervous about the meeting. She went to wake Sam for her meeting with Meera. She saw Sam yet asleep and hated to wake her. From May and Meera, Jandra knew that Sam had little chance for sleep over the prior moon.

As she looked down upon Sam, she yet thought her to sleep like the dead. Sam hadn't moved from the position Jandra had seen her in earlier.

"You need to wake up now, Sam. Meera is coming to join you for the after midturn meal."

She rubbed Sam's head and hair a little, trying to wake her.

She opened her eyes and looked at Jandra, "You are already risen?"