"Human? What be this, about?"

"This Realm is mostly of others . . . not our types. At least this is what the High Mother has said to us, through Buron . . . He be only half human."

"So, you just wanted power and riches."

She raised her head to look at her, looking well defeated and in deep pain, "Meera, believe me. There be so much in The Realm that we know not of, and we should have some it. We be so poor compared to others . . .

When you see this, you will understand." As she answered, Meera could see that Vining fully believed her own words.

"You have seen this for yourself?"

"I saw their treasures, and they be wonderful. And I saw The Highest a weak woman. I only went to kill Sam because she had found out."

Meera pointed her sword at her, "Where be this High Mother?"

"Never meet with her, Meera. She be evil, truly and has many forces, beyond our abilities."

"How much was Govan involved?"

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As she tried to answer, she accidentally moved her injured elbow, and screamed. After a few moments of screaming and pleading, she finally could scream no more and just hung her head, fully exhausted from the effort. Her words were quietly spoken; her defeat abundantly clear, "It is as Fionn has said."

"How is Kandan involved?"

Her voice was now all but a whisper, "She is stupid as Keets, and flies as the wind in any direction. She is of no use to you or Sam as an advisor."

"Do you have any final requests?"

"Give my two daughters to good homes."

Meera nodded to the guards and 12 arrows went straight into Vining's heart.

Meera turned to Anyst, "She will remain unburned. We will not send this traitor to the mothers."

"It will be as you say."

"Have a guard bring Amara here, quickly. She will also die this turn."

"It shall be so, and has already been tended."

Meera looked tired and put her sword back into its sheath, "The rest are yours. Secure the information in any way you need. I know that there must be more involved. Get the two names of the men of Hengist from Govan. Then have a guard inform Briggon that he has but two men involved in this betrayal."

Anyst put her hand on Meera's shoulder, "I know that Keet's was your teacher. Perhaps it be best that you"

Meera interrupted her, looking suddenly well angered, "Sam be my friend and Highest. Keets made her own decision and I will not feel pity for her. If Keets or any of you wants pity on her, look not my way."

Anyst nodded and motioned to the guards to prepare Govan. As they began raising her up by the ropes, Govan struggled, yelling, "I have done nothing, Meera. Anyst, you know me well. Jandra, you know me to love Woden. Please, halt this. I have done nothing!"

Anyst went up to Govan, ignoring her comment. "You saw Fionn and Vining. You know you face the same. If you tell us truth, we will end it swiftly for you. Who else is involved in this betrayal of Woden?"

"I am not a traitor. It is you, poor Anyst. It is you who will die the death of a traitor. All of you. The High Mother be great and all-knowing.

She will have no pity on those who do not follow her. And Buron be a leader of leaders. Please, hear me. It was The Highest who betrayed Woden. Not me."

A guard handed Anyst the torch and Anyst did the same to Govan as she had done to Fionn. This was most difficult for Anyst as Govan was an - 207 -.

older woman, but one who had betrayed Woden. As she knew would occur, Govan screamed and begged for mercy, like the others.

"So these friends of yours permit killing of a Highest?"

Govan was suffering from the pain and moaned and cried for a long while. As she became exhausted, her screams quieted and any hope she held had vanished. Finally, although crying, she answered, "She lied to them, and showed her weakness. And she thought she could keep Woden isolated from The Realm. But Woden will be destroyed as The Realm now faces battle. Only this High Mother and Buron can but save us. They know of the evil queen and fight against her."

Anyst just shook her head in disbelief, "I think you crazy, old woman.

Enslaving our women be not saving them. Who are the men involved from Apien and New Harborage?"

"You refer to Manthar and Rolnen."

"Be they also the leaders of these towns?"

She nodded lightly, "They provide the leadership the High Mother commands."

"Who else be involved, Govan?" and she held the torch up so Govan could see that her patience was ending. "Who be the two traitors from Hengist?"

Govan hesitated. Anyst didn't. She took the torch to Govan's other arm and held it for a while.

After she removed it, and after Govan halted her screaming and wailing, Anyst tried again, "Give me the names of the two men from Hengist."

She moaned, then whispered her response, barely able to speak or breathe from the pain, and barely conscious, "Jaspun . . . Bortrun."

Anyst had heard enough and nodded to the guards. The arrows flew into Govan. The guards did another changing of the ropes, placing Kandan up. One guard went running to Hengist and Briggon.

Anyst came over to Meera, "What else would you wish to know from this one?"

"See if she can but add to these stories. And remind Kandan that she was perhaps a traitor to both Sam and me, as well. Kandan may be stupid, but she was one of Sam's advisors and I want all to know this as unacceptable. I want this one not easy."

"But Meera, she be weak and not one of the leaders of this."

"She was one of Sam's trusted advisors. It be enough."

Anyst bowed her head, "As you say. It will so be."

Anyst turned to go toward Kandan, but Jandra interrupted, "I will do this."

Meera and Anyst turned to Jandra. Anyst said, gently, "Second, we respect that you remain here through these events, but to perform the act - 208 -.

itself is for a guard. It be a most difficult thing, and we have all watched it overly much."

"I am not here to prove myself to any of you. I am but here for Sam.

Kandan betrayed Sam. I will learn why."

Both stepped aside and Jandra went up to Kandan. Kandan was crying, as she had been since the advisor's meeting prior eve.

"Kandan. You have disappointed all of us. It was enough to know that The Highest's advisors were betraying Woden, and that The Highest herself was as well. But Sam's advisors had remained true and loyal, except for you."

"Just kill me, Second. I meant not to hurt Sam or the others."

"Stupidity is not a part of Sam's advisors. You knew that. You knew what you were doing, Kandan. You are just sorry now because you have been found out. Tell me of this story."

Kandan told of what she knew. The stories remained much the same.

"Who else is involved?"

"I know no others."

Jandra took Sam's sword and held it up to Kandan's stomach. She sliced across it. As the blood and various stomach parts came rushing out, Kandan screamed in pain.

"Who else is involved?"

Gasping, her eyes wide with terror, and in full shock, she half-spoke, half-screamed her desperation, "None."

"Why did you betray Sam?"

She was sobbing, yet screaming, but her voice was going quickly weaker, "Please just kill me, Jandra. I beg of you. Please . . . "

"You will have no mercy this turn from me or these guards. You will die where you hang."

Her voice was now even softer, but her effort great, even as she accepted her pending death, "My daughter and companion. Have them taken care of."

"I will have your daughter given to Apien. Since you were involved in wanting to have our women enslaved, so shall be your daughter, Kandan.

Others will know of this betrayal of Sam."

She wailed her desperation, "Please . . . not my daughter!"

"It be what you wanted for the Women of Woden."

Jandra walked away, trying to block out Kandan's screams for mercy of herself and pity for her daughter. By the moment, though, her screams and pleas became softer and less able. Her strength and life were leaving her as quickly as her blood was flowing out of her.

She walked back to Meera, "Leave her to die. Have her daughter sent to Apien to be enslaved."

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Anyst responded, "Her daughter be but thirteen cycles."

"Have it done. No one will ever betray Sam in this fashion again."

The guard nodded, "As you say, Second."

Kandan died shortly from the deep gash Jandra had made. The guards then switched from Kandan to Amara, who two guards had just returned with.

Given the suddenness of the event for Amara, she was in shock, "But I know nothing about this. I only was given things for a small service."

The guards wasted no moments on Amara, simply executing her on the spot with the arrows. It was done very quickly, and was meant to un-nerve Keets.

They brought Keets up and began to prepare to raise her ropes. Keets was a well-trained warrior and had many cycles of being hardened against pain and death. She watched the guards do their duty as if she were a mere observer, then looked at Meera, fully knowing well her weaknesses, "Meera, do I deserve no respect?"

Meera stared at Keets, surprised at the statement, but understanding Keets' intent to disturb her. Meera steeled herself. "Give us the name of your guards in this betrayal."

"Make me a deal, Meera."

"I will listen to it."

Anyst warned Meera, "Second, she but uses you for a quicker death."

Keets kept talking, trying to get Meera to ignore Anyst, "I will tell you all I know if you will but let me die as a warrior. Let me fight you. You know you will but win, anyway. This be between you and me, Meera. Not all these guards."

"I will first hear what you have to tell, then I will make that decision."

She looked straight at Meera, ignoring the guards around her, hoping she could convince her. Beyond all else, Keets wanted to avoid being tortured. She raised her eyebrows, as if trying to look sincere, "It be as Vining and Fionn have said. I was stupid and ridiculous. I knew The Highest to be weak, and I questioned Josin and The Highest about this High Mother, but I saw no harm in it. I was trained to follow The Highest's every command, as you do with Sam, and The Highest spoke not against Josin."

"You be wrong, Keets. Sam expects me to question her when I think her wrong."

Keets nodded, and tried to look understanding, "Then it be good and you have done well. Follow not my example, for I have been weak. I knew Josin to be evil, but I thought The Highest would take care of it, and when Jandra began to run the meetings more, I thought it all might be well."

Meera was more than suspiciousshe now knew Keets to be manipulative and conniving. She could barely contain her anger, "And you thought - 210 -.

nothing of bribing sentries and sending secret messages to Apien and New Harborage? A message that wanted nothing but slavery for our women? A lifespan of slavery? How stupid be you, Keets? In truth, I think you wanted more power and have long been jealous that my guards were better.

In truth, you wanted to control all the guards in The Realm, Keets, and were most likely vowed this by this High Spirit Mother of yours. You can go ahead and act stupid if you wish, but I know you for who you are. And you are nothing but a coward. You have not just betrayed this community, Keets, but you and I go long back, and now you have betrayed me. You make me sick, Keets. Give me the names of your guards."

Keets hung her head and gave her seven, and not the five they thought. Meera was sickened from the information, but held it in.

Meera turned to Anyst, "Get these guards, and loan me your sword."

Anyst nodded, handed Meera her sword, and sent out a group of Meera's guards to get the now seven of Keet's that had helped betray the community. Anyst had seen Meera angry often, but had never heard Meera say so much. She saw that Meera shook with anger. Anyst motioned for two guards to come close by.

Meera noticed, "They will not be needed, Anyst, for Keets is as weak in body as she is in the brain. She has grown fat with laziness and arrogance, but she displays herself as strong and kind."

She looked at Keets, "I will but give you your fight, Keets, but you would have more dignity dying as the others. I will shame you to death as we fight, for you have shamed all of us; all my guards. You are nothing but a loathsome embarrassment to all our training and all of our community.

You will rot before I give you any dignity, Keets. I asked Anyst to keep me out of your death. Not out of pity but knowing what my heart wants to have of you."

Meera raised her sword toward Keets, and Keets screamed, "No, Meera! Please." Meera's eyes narrowed as she shook her head, dismayed, "You disgust me, Coward." With a quick movement of her sword, she cut the ropes from Keets, then tossed Anyst's sword toward Keets, who was too slow to catch the movement. Meera watched the sword drop to the ground, disgusted in her prior teacher.

"You are nothing but a pitiful and shameful disgrace, Keets. Pick it up and try to fight. Try for just one moment of your pitiful existence to act as a warrior."