"It was at that moment that I began trying to control the advisor meetings so as to prevent their takeover. They had nothing over me, so could not control me, and I kept threatening to inform the community of their plans. I knew not, though, that they were but blackmailing The Highest.

Through their threats, The Highest began to cut-off communication and trade to Hengist, more-or-less enslaving the men prior to a takeover, or protecting them. I never could figure out which. I can only guess that Keddi had learned of the plot and came to tell of it and to bring the anti-poison. I later learned that Josin had prepared some of the sentries, and that three from Apien had followed Keddi to prevent her from reaching The Highest."

Meera interrupted, "So Keets volunteered to remove Josin's heart to silence her."

Jandra nodded, "I know this not, but so it would seem. I should have informed you and Sam of this story, but knew not who to trust. And in all truth, it sounded overly crazy to believe. When The Highest died and Josin and the Spiritual Leaders were executed, I thought it but over. I knew not that Fionn and Vining would make such a move now that Josin be gone."

She looked up at Meera, "And I have no idea of what to think of this Buron, the High Spirit Mother of Fire, or this High Priestess. It would seem, as Sam has said, that the betrayal of Woden runs most deep. I can only guess as to what this means for Woden, though, for if there are truly this many in The Realm, and with such powers and abilities, we are well unprepared for such."

"What of this story of a child?"

"The High Spirit Mother wanting one of Woden's children? Is this your meaning?"

"Yes. Why a child from here?"

Jandra shrugged, "I know not, and I know not who."

Meera placed her hand on Jandra's shoulders, "That you held fast speaks well for you, Jandra. It be not easy to know who can be trusted through such events, and you knew us not well enough to do so. This is a most complex tale involving many more than we have guessed. And, in truth, you should not have informed Sam as you knew not the depths of her abilities or commitment."

Jandra held in her sobs, but cried quietly, "But I should be dying instead of Sam. If she had but known all this, she would have removed all those involved. I but thought they had changed and fixed their ways now that Josin was gone, and perhaps they have. In truth, I know not about Keets, Kandan and Govan."

- 201 -.

Meera had the hard look of a warrior in her eyes, "Nor do I, but we will soon find out."

Meera looked out to see the sun's rise, "It is finally the morn, and we have traitors to which we must now tend. One of them will tell me who be this High Spirit Mother, and whatever else there is to know, if you will but give me your leave to do as I must."

Jandra didn't hesitate, "Do as you must. I will come with you." Jandra looked sadly into Meera's eyes, "What will we do about Sam? We cannot lose her, Meera.

"May is tending to her, but let us hope that Keddi's search be successful. I will not give up easily, Jandra. But for now, let us tend to her would-be assassins."

Meera walked with Jandra out to the grasslands where Keddi had been found. Meera had already arranged with her guards to have the prisoners taken there. She carried her sword and offered Sam's for Jandra's use.

"Fionn and Vining die this morn."

"Be this why you give me Sam's sword?"

"No. Unless that be your wish. They will die through torture until I find out what we must know. Then we will cut off their heads and leave them for the animals."

"What about Keets, Kandan and Govan?"

"That depends on what we learn from them. I will torture them until I learn this truth. This be a deep betrayal of Woden. To learn that the former Highest was involved will shock the community. We need Sam at this moment, as she will be a great Highest. Your story explains much to me, though. It explains why Sam was kept so distant from The Highest's advisors."

"It was almost as if she were protecting Sam, and perhaps Hengist, through isolation."

"I also thought as much as I listened to your story. I know she thought much of Sam. How be your wound?"

"It hurts some, but I will not complain. It will heal and at this moment the pain reminds me of Sam."

They walked the rest of the way in silence. As they came to the site, Jandra saw all of Meera's guards present. She knew this to be unusual.

"Meera, are all your guards here this turn?"

She nodded, "They have risked much lately because of these traitors.

It be their right to this. These are very loyal women to this community and have much rage from what has been done. You cannot know how much these guards respect Sam. That Sam lies dying, they blame on these traitors.

I will allow them their due this turn. I hope your stomach be strong. These - 202 -.

women will expect it so and will want no mercy for these traitors, especially Vining and Fionn."

"What think they of Keets?"

"They will kill her this turn. Whether it be quick or slow, I know not.

I have stepped aside from Keets and will allow justice to occur. It is overly sad for me, but so it must be. Keets should have known better, and I am ashamed for her. She has shamed all our guards."

"Should we not have called for the community?"

"Due to the torture, the guards asked it to remain private. They did not want the community to witness such evils. The rumors will but be bad enough for the others."

Meera's guards had already prepared Fionn since she was the first to make a move to murder Sam. They had suspended her between two trees and removed most her clothes. Her arms were fully outstretched as she hung from the trees, but Meera could see that Fionn was acting defiant.

One of the guards approached Meera, "Be there anything you would like to know?"

Meera gave her the information she wanted, to obtain in whatever fashion they had to use to get it. The guard nodded when Meera finished.

"Do we have your leave to do as we must, then?"

Meera looked at Jandra, "You have my leave."

Jandra nodded to Meera and the guard, "Obtain the information Meera needs. We will remain here."

The guard bowed her head to Jandra, "Second," and went off to inform the others.

One of the guards went close to Fionn, "Tell us of this plot. Who be this High Spirit? Make it easier on yourself, as you will but die this turn.

Slow or fast, it is your choice. We care not."

Fionn continued to look defiant, "Even if I knew, I would not tell you."

Anyst just shrugged, "We shall see."

Another guard came over with a torch and handed it to Anyst. She stood near Fionn and placed the torch just under her arm, holding it there through Fionn's screaming. Jandra wanted to look away, but the guards would test her this turn, so she remained steadfast and unflinching. She hoped Fionn would quickly tell them what they wanted to know, and was surprised for how long Anyst held the torch to Fionn's flesh. The odor of burning flesh made Jandra feel ill.

Anyst halted and asked again, "Who be this High Spirit Mother?"

Fionn no longer looked so defiant. She was in great pain as the torch had burned much of her arm. Meera thought the pain would be most in- - 203 -.

tense, but Fionn hadn't yet passed out, although she had continued to scream.

Fionn looked wide-eyed at the torch in great fear. She spoke quickly in hope of avoiding further torture, "Vining knows. I know not. All I know is she wants one of Woden's members. I know not who it be. She says it be a future leader."

Meera spoke softly to Jandra, "The child?"

Jandra shrugged, "I cannot make sense of this."

Vining, being forced to watch Fionn, yelled, "Traitor. You traitor."

Anyst remained unphased, "Three more questions for you. If you but answer them truthfully and quickly, we will relieve you from your pain. If you do not, we will continue throughout the morn. Either way, you will tell us, Fionn.

Fionn nodded slightly, her head sagging from pain and lost hope.

Anyst nodded, "Good. First question. Who be this High Priestess?"

Fionn groaned her pain and looked beyond frightened, "I met her once, only. She is not of Buron or the High Mother. She wants her long-lost sister, only this, and has vowed she would help us to battle against Buron and the Spirit Mother if we gave the sister to her."

"Who be this long-lost sister?"

"In truth, I know not. She also knew not."

"Second question. What was Keets role in this betrayal?"

Fionn was in agony, so speech was difficult, "Keets followed along with whatever The Highest or Josin said." She paused for a moment to regain her strength, then added, "She was stupid and easy. And she followed all our orders without question if they came from The Highest or Josin."

Anyst nodded, "Answer this next question, Fionn, and you will have no more pain. "What was Govan's role in this betrayal?"

Fionn looked at Govan with rage, "Oh, so sweet and so innocent Govan. Everyone believes she be so wise and pure. Just look at her. Even now she hides behind her mask of sweetness and old cycles! She was Josin's main supporter. She wants more power, and Josin vowed her that she could be Second. Govan has longed for power for many, many cycles and has long resented The Highest. After Josin, she be your main traitor.

But she will never show it. I but hope she gets her due as she has betrayed us all. Every one of us."

Anyst looked up at Fionn, "If this be true, Fionn, and we will find out, then I but vow to you that this turn, Govan will get her due."

Fionn looked back at Anyst, "I have told you true."

Anyst asked, "Do you have any last requests?"

- 204 -.

She breathed in and closed her eyes as if tired of living, "One. Please give my daughter to a good home that be safe and protected from all this.

And tell my daughter that I love her."

Anyst nodded, "It shall be done, Fionn."

As Anyst nodded to the other guards that had been waiting and prepared with their arrows ready, twelve arrows went straight into Fionn's heart. She felt no more pain.

Two guards lowered her as Anyst asked the guards, "She showed truth and courage until the end even though she betrayed Woden. Do we burn her, for her final truth telling, and send her to our Mothers, or let her rot as a traitor, forever remaining apart from our Mothers?"

The guards voted through a show of thumbs. All but three voted no Fionn wouldn't be sent home to her mothers. When Fionn was laid on the ground, two guards dragged her body but a short distance away and chopped off her head. There they would leave her remains. Two other guards began to raise Vining, who had continued to make an equal show of defiance.

She shouted, "You will get nothing from me, Meera."

Meera came forward to Anyst as they were preparing Vining, "Anyst, I wish not to interfere, but I would like to get the first words out of Vining. I have great need of this."

Anyst nodded and bowed her head to Meera, "I well understand. I know the pain you must be in with our Highest in her deathbed. It would be our pleasure. Please make it slow."

Vining continued to struggle against the ropes and continued to shout in anger at Meera, "I hope your precious Sam dies."

Meera didn't yet speak. She took her sword and raised it to Vining's elbow, whereupon she sent the tip of the sword into the bone, breaking it.

Vining screamed . . . and screamed . . . and screamed until she was so weak she could do so no more. Since Vining was suspended on ropes by her arms, Meera knew that such a break in the joint would cause excruciating and unending pain. She waited for a short while before speaking, allowing the moment to get the better of Vining.

Finally, Meera began "Do not speak to me, Vining, unless you but answer my questions. I have no sympathy for you, unlike my guards displayed for Fionn."

She noticed that Vining was beginning to look scared, and that tears were streaming down her face. Good, she thought. Let her be afraid of me.

Meera raised her sword again, to the other elbow.

Vining screamed her pleas, "NO! Please, Meera," before Meera even touched her elbow. "I will tell you what you want to know."

"Who else is involved in this betrayal, and make your answer quick."

- 205 -.

Her speech was frantic and halting, from the pain that had been in-flicted on her, "Kandan and Govan . . . three sentries . . . the two that Oisin has plus Amara, five of Keet's guards, I know not their names . . . two men from Hengist, Govan knows their names, and one scout, Bentan. There may be others . . . I know them not." Her groaning was increasing.

"Where be this scout now?"

"In Apien . . . but it be only a guess."

"Who be this High Spirit Mother?"

Vining was struggling to speak, her pain great. She groaned and cried as she tried to answer, "A most powerful woman in The Realm . . . She fights against a queen of a much larger community. She wants one of Woden's children, but we never did learn which one . . . She uses Buron to fight against the queen she speaks of, as she needs more forces. Buron be one of the leaders of her forces."

"Who be this High Priestess?"

"A powerful woman from The Realm. She looks for a long-lost sister.

I know not who this is, and as Fionn has told, neither did she."

"Is she with this High Spirit Mother?"

"She said that if we but found her long-lost sister, she would help us to fight against this Buron and the High Spirit Mother."

"Who be this Buron? Why be he so important to this High Mother?"

"He be part human, and part of another sort . . . I know not." She groaned, then tried to continue, "It be rumored that he but laid with the queen they all fight against."