When she was done, Jandra again lowered her head and sighed, "I am sorry I did not prior tell you this. It has been hard to determine the amount of damage that was done, but more than this, it is hard to determine if it continues. I keep hoping that the others who were involved have reformed."

She looked up at Sam, her face showing her sadness, "I should have told you this, prior. I am sorry, Highest, for not doing so."

"There be no need, Jandra. You knew not who to trust in all those moments, and surely could not have come to me, for even I could have been part of that corruption. I had guessed that The Highest might have been blackmailed, but could find no evidence to this. But now we must undo all this treachery, fully."

Jandra was deeply troubled, "I wanted to inform someone, but as The Highest stepped down, I didn't think such knowledge would benefit the community to know of her betrayal of them."

"I would have done the same, and you are most correct in this. This knowledge will fall most heavy on all of Woden. She was well respected.

But now we must repair all the prior deception. I must but speak to the guard for a moment."

Sam went and spoke to the guard. The guard nodded, replaced herself with another nearby guard, and went off on her errand.

When Sam returned, she saw Jandra sitting at the table, her head propped-up in her hand, looking like all the burdens of Woden had crashed fully upon her.

She placed her hand on Jandra's shoulder, knowing it wouldn't remove her defeated feeling, but hoping to supply some support, "In truth, Jandra, given the depth of the deception, I also would not have told anyone. In your position, who could I have told?"

She looked up at her, her eyes moist, "Oh, Sam. I was hoping you would never have to know." Sam saw that she looked beaten.

Sam went suddenly cold at the thought of what Jandra had told her.

"Prepare yourself, Jandra, for I have summoned for the advisors."

- 194 -.

Jandra thought Sam looked sadder this moment than when she had lost Brett. She could see that Sam was indeed deeply saddened to learn that the betrayal of the community had also included The Highest. And she knew all the others would be, as well.

Sam went to the meeting room to find the advisors and assistants present. Meera stood on the side, knowing fully that if Sam called a surprise meeting this late, it was for good reason. Sam noticed that Meera had brought her sword, but had hidden it behind herself. She nodded to Meera, a sign to be on alert. Jandra came in after Sam, looking deeply burdened.

Meera took quick notice of it. The guard Sam had sent had awoken the advisors and told them it was a most urgent meeting.

"What is wrong, Highest?"

"Are we under attack?"

"Did someone die?"

"Are you ill?"

Sam raised her hand for silence, "Thank you for coming. I will explain why I have summoned you here."

She sat down, "As you are aware, we visited with Hengist this turn.

During the visit, many questions were raised that I could not answer. "Why had The Highest not visited with Hengist, as be our agreement?"

Meera looked around the room, watching the women's reactions to Sam.

"And why do we no longer have open trade with Hengist, as is our law?"

Sam watched the women she suspected. "Why has entertainment between the two communities been halted?"

"And why did The Highest kill herself overly quickly when she knew we would but save her?"

Jandra kept her head bowed, ashamed that she hadn't told this tale to Sam well prior to this moment. Sam was The Highest and should have been informed, perhaps even when she had yet been The Second. Jandra felt she had let down the community.

"Keets, can you but answer those questions for me?"

Meera was shocked, but held it in. She saw that Sam knew something she didn't, and had learned not to trust many women long prior. She would trust Sam over Keets any turn, But Keets?

"Why, Highest? What do you mean? Why do you but ask me?"

Sam looked at Fionn, "Fionn, would you care to answer these questions for me?"

"Perhaps The Highest was overly ill to continue, so killed herself instead of being taken hostage."

- 195 -.

Sam nodded, "That be exactly what I had thought, Fionn, but then I remembered a conversation of late that I had with her. She said she was looking forward to stepping down and spending her last cycles in peace.

She knew she had not long to live, but she had some things she yet wished to accomplish."

She looked around the room slowly, then settled on one advisor in particular. "Vining, perhaps you could answer these questions for me?"

Vining shook her head nervously, "No, Highest. I know not of what you ask."

"If Treena be here, I would but ask her as well. But I will ask one of my own advisors instead. Kandan, what can you tell me of my questions?"

Kandan suddenly began to cry. Meera was surprised at how many Sam was pointing to, but toward what, she had no clue. But Meera was stunned. Even Kandan?

Sam turned to Govan, "Govan, since I know you as all-knowing, perhaps you would answer my questions?"

Govan turned white and shook her head, "No."

Meera began to worry. There were no guards inside the meeting. It would be only her if something were to occur.

Even though no one was answering Sam's questions, and everyone was claiming innocence, Sam waved her hand as if it didn't matter, "While I would much like these answers, I know that Oisin will get them from the two sentries that say they found Keddi at the grasslands."

There was a momentary silence, then suddenly, Fionn jumped up and rushed toward Sam, trying to get close enough to kill her with her concealed knife. "Noooo!"

As Meera moved to halt Fionn, her worse eve visions came true. She had moved slightly so as to intercept Fionn, when she suddenly saw Vining draw a knife and move toward Sam.

Pandemonium abruptly ruled the room.

Meera drew her sword and moved to intercept Fionn while hoping to halt Vining with her body. But as suddenly, Lillon threw herself in front of Vining, while Jandra hurtled herself upon Fionn. By the moment Meera and the others halted Vining and Fionn, Lillon and Jandra were lying on the floor, well injured. Meera's guards had been alerted through the shouting, so were now inside holding Fionn, Vining, Keets, Kandan and Govan at sword point.

The remainder of the advisors were looking to Sam for an explanation, but Sam was more interested in tending to Lillon and Jandra. Liley, who was with Lillon, told Sam that Lillon would live, but would require much care, as the knife had entered her ribs deeply.

- 196 -.

Sam looked at Jandra, seeing the knife deep within her midsection.

She knelt down to her, "Why did you do as such? Woden needs you, Second."

Jandra knew she was dying, but cared little over it. She smiled weakly, "At least you know my tale of guesses to be but truth, now. At least you have allowed me to see that all of Woden's deception is now fully over, before I die."

"You cannot die as yet, Jandra."

Jandra placed her hand on Sam's arm. She was beginning to see only darkness, and tried to hold tightly to what she could yet see of Sam's blue eyes, "Worry not over me, Sam. You are The Highest, and Woden clearly needs such as you."

Sam rose and went to Meera. She placed her hand on her shoulder, "More than any prior moment between us, I now trust you will know what to do, my friend. Forget not my prior meetings with the mystic ones."

Meera looked at her questioningly and had absolutely no notion of what Sam meant.

"I am sorry to put this burden on you, but it must be done. Act quickly, but hold steady to that all my trust is within your great abilities."

Sam then returned to Jandra and sat down on the floor next to her.

Jandra looked at her, but as if she could no longer see her, "Sam? Is it you?

I am sorry."

Sam said, "I know this as truth, Jandra. But you will not leave me as soon as this. We yet have a lifespan before us." She placed her hands on Jandra's stomach and focused, well knowing from the Woman in the Woods that using the power to save a life demanded a life.

Focus.

She heard Jandra speak to her, "No, Sam, it will kill you . I can hear it in your mind, and my life is not worth yours." Everyone heard Jandra say, "NO, Sam!"

Focus. Sam blocked out Jandra's thoughts.

Sam's hands suddenly jumped away from Jandra, and Sam passed out, falling to the floor from where she sat with Jandra. Jandra, all but healed, moved to pick up Sam and hold her head in her lap. She knew Sam was now dying, and thought it should be her. She just rocked Sam back and forth, crying softly. She kept crying, "No. Not Sam."

The eve was a long sad vision to Jandra and Meera. Meera was unsure what to do or think about Jandra, but focused more on Sam. She loved Sam to the very core of her heart and couldn't stand the thought of losing her.

She went to Jandra, "This is what she told me prior to healing you."

- 197 -.

Jandra listened intently to the tale, then nodded, "Then that is what must be done."

Meera nodded, finally understanding, then called for Keddi and Margeria.

When they came, she told them the errand, "Find the old raggedy one, or the Woman in the Woods. Find one of them and bring her back, quickly. Tell her their Chosen One be dying. Run like the wind."

Keddi and Margeria didn't hesitate, and took two guards with them.

Meera hoped they could find one of the Spirit Mothers, and quickly so. But she knew it would be more than difficult to find either, if not impossible.

They moved Sam to her bed, where she lay barely breathing. It was the most lifeless Meera had ever seen in a living one, and could barely contain the rage she felt inside. Jandra couldn't move easily, but no longer cared. Sam had healed most of her wound, and the rest could easily heal itself, but Jandra wished it were her dying instead of Sam. Meera could take no more.

Leaving Sam in May's capable care, Meera went to Jandra, yet in the meeting room, "Tell me what you know of this, Jandra. I must know."

Jandra looked slowly up to Meera, her mind yet numb from the recent occurrences. She didn't feel she could even breathe, but nodded.

"I only guess much of this, but have pieced the following together. In truth, until this turn, these were but guesses and suspicions in my mind.

About four cycles prior, Fornaith, what we now know as the place with King Buron, came to meet with The Highest. They asked The Highest to give some of Woden's women to them, for their men, in exchange for her own dwelling and many servants. At that moment, she must have said no to the offer. Then, according to Josin, another leader came, from yet another community. But this leader was someone from another race than ours, and someone with mystical powers. I prior thought this foolishness, but now after seeing Sam's powers, see it far differently. At first I thought these were two separate events, but that did not come to be as so.

"The Highest called her the High Spirit Mother, and said that she came from fire. Josin told me that this Spirit Mother wanted The Highest to also give her the women in Woden. Josin said she offered a very high price and gave The Highest many presents. According to Josin, The Highest took the presents, but yet said no to the offer. At the moment, I thought Josin was lying. In all ways, the story sounded unbelievable, as it yet does.

"But Josin said that Buron and this High Mother became angered that The Highest would not agree to their bargain, and Buron then threatened war upon Woden if The Highest did not comply.

- 198 -.

"They must have met again, I know not when or where, and the High Spirit Mother said she would take but one child from all of Woden, and that this would be enough to save Woden, if The Highest but agreed to the exchange. It was at this moment that I became confused, as another tale told of a High Priestess who said that she would prevent war on us if we would only give to her a long-lost sister. Josin spoke of each of them, but seemed to have little regard for the High Priestess woman. I know not of either of these and never met them.

"The Highest, apparently well worried, told Josin of this, or so Josin said. She also made the mistake of telling Josin that she had already accepted many gifts from this High Spirit, thus obligating herself and all of Woden to them.

"Josin has long wanted to be The Highest, so used this knowledge against The Highest. I never knew this, but it was my guess that The Highest was being blackmailed. And now this eve, I just learned that Sam also thought this." She hung her head, "I wish I had been able to make sense of all this, but yet have overly many questions remaining."

She took a deep breath and began again, "I knew not that Josin wanted to be The Highest until she told me of such, but then it made much sense. That was the eve I kicked her out of my dwelling. She must have told the Spiritual Leaders of this story, and together they must have devised their takeover of Woden and Hengist, thinking that this High Spirit Mother would help them once they gained control. Josin had long wanted a mixed-community for all the riches the women of Woden would bring as slave trade, as well as the men of Hengist, also as slaves. She now saw her opportunity. Buron, apparently, just desires the women for his men.

"Josin must have then made her move on The Highest. Instead of killing her directly, with some secret arrangements through Keets, a message must have been sent to Apien and New Harborage saying that Woden was now open and receptive to providing women to their men.

"That must be how the plot for poisoning The Highest began. Josin must have asked in exchange for the Women of Woden, that Apien and New Harborage provide a way to kill The Highest and make it look an accident. I know for truth, as you must also recall, that they invited The Highest to a ceremony. I know that Josin encouraged The Highest to attend, and The Highest did. I argued strongly against it, but The Highest listened not to me. This must have been when The Highest was poisoned.

"Vining and Fionn are involved as well. To what degree, I know not.

Keets supplied the messengers and sentries for Josin's needs. For what reason, I know not. Kandan had been friends with Vining, who must have shared the story with her, but I know not to what extent Kandan was involved. I do know that Kandan supported the idea, agreeing that The - 199 -.

Highest a weak leader. I heard her say as such. Treena never wanted such a betrayal, but knew not how to go against Josin.

"When The Highest discovered she had been poisoned, she must have guessed that Josin was trying to kill her. It would have been the only logical choice, but I think it may have surprised her to think that her favored Josin was turning against her. My guess be that she then wanted to publicly and quickly place Sam in as Highest so as to seek revenge on Josin and the Spiritual Leaders. She probably thought that Sam might be able to stand against this Buron and the High Mother, especially knowing that Sam was the Chosen One. I know this not for certain, but I did see a change in The Highest toward Josin around the same moment she began to make Sam The Highest.

"Two cycles prior, I began to see something wrong between The Highest, the Spiritual Leaders, and Josin. Josin, rather than risking me finding out, decided to act as if she but wanted me as her lover. I believed her and we began our affair." She hung her head again, shaking it heavily from side to side, "I cannot believe that I took that woman to my bed."

She sighed, then began again, "Slowly, each moment we spent the eves together, she would tell me these stories of how much more was out there in The Realm, awaiting us. Of how many riches there were for the taking, in The Realm."

She looked up at Meera, "In truth, Meera, for all my lifespan, I but believed that Woden Falls was the largest and strongest community in all The Realm. And never did I know of such things like these mystic powers they speak of." She shook her head again, "And now we learn things such as the Woman in the Woods, and this raggedy one."

She placed her hand to the knife wound, feeling it throb, but ignored it, "Josin kept telling me that should we agree to this partnership with Buron and the High Mother, Woden would become the main center in The Realm. She often invited Woden's Spiritual Leaders to my dwelling so that they would tell me of the same things, and that this mighty Buron and High Priestess but wanted us and needed us as their appointed leaders in The Realm. She told me that we needed to unite with this High Spirit Mother and Buron to stand against some evil queen of some valley, but I know not who they spoke of. Yet another mystery.

"The eve I finally kicked Josin out of my dwelling, she had threatened that if I did not follow her ways, I would be considered as a traitor. I told her that if she continued on this path that I would have no choice but to inform the community."

Meera remembered well the yelling and the words spoken, but knew not the context at the moment. She had been there, summoned by her guards, to ensure that the breakup between Josin and Jandra remained un- - 200 -.

physical. She hadn't needed to intervene, but now recalled the words Jandra was saying.