Sam just blushed and the others laughed.

They ate their meal, laughing and talking throughout, and Sam was glad to have good friends. She knew that Jandra had been correct. She would need to confide more in her, along with Meera and Caitha.

She hoped that their lives would remain calm for a while, but had a dark foreboding that she should enjoy this moment. May returned with plates of sweets and after-meal drinks, and finally informed them that all the advisors were present and waiting.

Elsewhere, across The Realm She knelt and bowed her head, "My Queen."

"Good, you return. Rise. Tell Me your report."

"She was summoned to the Woman in the Woods."

At first the High Queen said nothing, but looked displeased. After a long moment, she finally spoke, "Pity, as that one is far from The Realm. I will have to deal with that one upon one turn. But at least she will have increased her powers. Did the Spirit halt her weakening?"

"Mostly, Highness. Some remains. She made a male warrior to drop his knife by using her powers, but became sickened directly after. She is a - 176 -.

strong warrior, my Queen, and her companions are also strong and most capable. But she thinks of herself as human only."

"Male warrior? She was in battle?"

"On the way to the Woman in the Woods."

She looked angered, "The Woman in the Woods again. She conjured up that legend on her own."

"Legend, my Queen?"

She waived her hand as if dismissing the topic's importance, "The one that tells of great resistance to those that seek entrance into her lands. Stupid legend."

"Yes, Highness."

"How many were in this battle?"

"There were three separate battles, Highness. I counted thirty-nine men against the five of them."

She raised an eyebrow, becoming more interested, "Only five? Are they such strong warriors as this, then?"

Her messenger blushed, "With a little help, my Queen. By the way, Highness, she is The Highest now."

She turned, looking fully at her messenger. "The Highest? What happened to Woden's Highest?"

"She drank from a poisoned vial, Highness."

"Why would she have done such as this?"

"I know not, my Queen. There is some sort of inner conflict within Woden. The new Highest has had many traitors put to their death."

"I met the former Highest once, did I not?"

"Yes, my Queen. You thought little of her abilities. You said that she was overly connected to the Spirits of the Falls."

"Ah, yes. I recall her. A slow thinker, and overly cautious. They will do better without her." She paused for a moment, "So she is now The Highest of Woden. And she is learning of her powers. Tell Me of her companions in this battle of theirs."

"Her force leader is called by Meera. She is most capable and strong.

She could serve The Realm most excellently, Highness. The others I know little of, as yet."

"Watch them. Tell Me more of them upon your next report."

"Yes, my Queen. There is something else, Highness."

She raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"She has taken a lover."

She laughed, "So? Can one not have a lover?"

"It is much more complex than this, my Queen. The lover seems different than all the others."

"Why do you say as such?"

- 177 -.

"Well, my Queen . . . the lover is exceptionally beautiful. And she has no fear of anything, yet she is untrained. She is as an innocent, but overly intelligent and observant."

She was amused, "Does beauty not occur in Woden, My messenger?"

"Yes, my Queen. It is just that she looks somewhat different."

"Different? In what way?"

"Her beauty is astounding, and her looks remain apart from any other in Woden. And there is something with her and the animals, but I will learn more about this."

"Watch it carefully, then. You know My expectations."

"Yes, my Queen. It shall be as you say."

"Did that awful Buron return safely to his lands?"

"Yes, my Queen."

"Pity. We should have interfered. An accident would perhaps have gone unnoticed. He will take up battle against her soon, I think."

"The Spirits of the Falls already didn't trust you, my Queen. They accompanied him back to his lands."

- 178 -.

Chapter IV.

Hengist Meera, Jandra and Sam went to the Meeting Room to find the room full, and everyone eating May's sweets and drinks. As Sam entered, all the women rose and bowed, "Highest," and then nodded to Jandra, "Second."

Sam noticed that all the advisors were there except for Treena and Josin.

Sam decided to begin the meeting. "Good eve, all."

"Good eve, Highest."

"I am sorry to say that there is no agenda for this meeting as I had not the chance to prepare for it, formally, but I do have some items for your consideration. The first being the advisors. I know that you have all waited patiently for Jandra and me to but name our new advisors. In truth, Jandra and I have not had a chance to make this determination, but I have an idea I would like to put forth. For many cycles we have had a system of separate advisors with very little contact between them. I would like that practice to halt and to put all the advisors into one group and have a shared system. I would even like you to consider bringing in the Hengist advisors once every moon. What say you on this?" Sam sat down. In truth, she had no idea of what any of them would have to say about this, not even Jandra.

Liley stood up, "In regard to adding the Hengist advisors once per moon, I think this an excellent idea. We are facing potentially dangerous turns before us and we will need to have better, quicker and more assured communication and support from Hengist if we all are to survive. I believe that Hengist would also welcome this change."

Zan asked, "Would all of us be needed, or would some need to leave?"

Sam didn't answer. She had determined to let the group work this out.

She just took a cup of tea, then sat back.

Meera looked at Sam and figured out what she was up to, so added, "Woden is growing enough to need all of us, and it would be but good to have Hengist in once per moon. We could but know our needs better across the two communities."

- 179 -.

Karan stood, "I have always seen that one thing has influence over every other thing. So if we but make a decision about the gardens, it affects our trade, which affects our supplies, which affects our health, and so on.

So I think it better that we all sit together as one. As for Hengist, we need each other, and this way we would avoid over-duplication of produce that we currently have."

Vining looked less agreeing, "I think it a bad idea for both. I believe The Highest should have only advisors that understand that level. Placing all of us together will create far overly many problems. And the number of advisors be way overly high. Bringing Hengist into our meetings would allow just mere tenants to have a say in how our community is run."

Fionn agreed with Vining, "We should not allow the power we have be given up."

They argued back and forth over the issue for many moments, when Jandra finally got up, seeing that Sam wasn't going to. She looked at Sam, "I assume this would have to be held in another meeting room as there would not be enough room here." Sam said nothing but sipped on her third cup of tea. "How shall we show agreement on this. By vote?"

All the advisors agreed and Jandra held the vote. All but three voted for the ideas. Sam was surprised that there was some dissension, but said nothing of it.

"Thank you. The majority votes yes, so it be done. I would like all of you to think about your duties as advisors. Should we keep the same designations, add more, or reduce? Please bring your ideas to the next meeting.

One more item: Festival be upon us and will be here most directly. I had asked a group to handle this, but much has occurred, so, I would like Kandan, Lillon, Jandra and Briggon to work this out. Would anyone else like to volunteer to help?"

Govan raised her hand, as did Tehna.

Sam nodded, "Fine. I will no longer tend to this chore. Jandra, since you are Second, you are now in charge of the festival." She smiled as she sat down, thinking that being The Highest was good in one regardshe no longer had to worry about the details of the festivals.

Sephim stood up and bowed to Sam, "Highest, I would like to raise but two issues once more."

"Go ahead, Sephim. We will all be equals while in our sessions."

"Thank you, Highest. First, I need to remind you about the community sessions. The women need these, and it has been but a long moon since the last one."

Sam chuckled, "It is good, Sephim. I have thought much about this and my place in it. I am The Highest now, but every highest has her strengths and weaknesses and likes and dislikes. The community sessions - 180 -.

are but both my weakness and my dislike. I have seen Jandra as a fair-minded and objective judge when it comes to such things. So I am giving this duty to The Second of Woden. Be there any objections?"

Sam looked at Jandra and raised her eyebrow. Jandra would feel free to counter Sam anywhere in their personal life, but never in their profes-sional life. She knew Sam had won this one. And, in truth, Jandra knew that she looked forward to this duty. No one raised any objections.

Jandra said, "I will take this duty, Highest, and it will be my pleasure.

In truth, I like such challenges as these complexities. Lillon, will you send a messenger around for two turns hence?"

Sam looked at Sephim, "Sephim, you had one more issue?"

"I do, Highest, but am afraid to mention it again."

Meera laughed, "She growls worse than she bites, Sephim. And besides, she is yet our Sam."

Sephim didn't look certain, but continued, "The festival arrives, Highest."

Sam looked at her and sighed, "And?"

"Highest, it be long past the moment that you consider taking a companion. The women all say that you need one. Your, well, your . . . "

"My what, Sephim?"

"Well, your evening activities are becoming, well, shall I say, most leg-endary and not as we might need in a Highest?"

Sam looked straight at Sephim with her mesmerizing eyes. Sephim thought that Sam was going to become very angry with her. The women in the room also thought the tension overly much. Finally, Sam laughed while Sephim looked at her, wondering if The Highest had gone crazy. The advisors, in truth, knew not what to think of Sam now, given her eyes and almost glowing appearance.

"I will give it strong consideration, Sephim. Would that but do for now?"

Much relieved, she said, "Oh, yes, Highest. Would you like us to tell you of the available women?"

Sam laughed again, "I will make note to visit with these women on my daily rounds, Sephim. Meera, perhaps Caitha would like to go with me on these rounds?" and she laughed again. Only Meera and Jandra knew why Sam was laughing, and why she had wanted Caitha to go with her. Caitha could match all of these women to each other.

Lillon stood up and bowed, "Highest, Govan and I would like to know if we are to remain as assistants, and if so, which of us is to be your assistant or The Second's?"

Sam shook her head and looked at Jandra, "Jandra, I know not. What say you?"

- 181 -.

Jandra took Sam's lead and looked at Lillon and Govan, "What be it that you two might want?"

It was apparent that Lillon and Govan had discussed this issue prior to it being raised. "I am uncertain about remaining an assistant after what occurred with Hern. I know not what others think of me now or if they can but trust me."

Sam saw the courage this took from Lillon and felt sympathy for her.