Sam hadn't noticed that all the guards standing nearby had quizzical, but smiling faces. None had yet known about Jandra and Sam, so had been surprised.

She helped Jandra to stand, then looped her arm through Jandra's and smiled as she looked directly into Jandra's eyes, "You will feel better as we do our rounds together."

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

She turned around, surprised, "You return with yet another tale of Woden? As soon as this?"

She saw The Healer was also in attendance with the High Queen.

"Yes, Highness. She met with the Most Honored Spirit Mother of the Falls."

"And the Woman in the Woods? Both?"

"Yes, my Queen."

She frowned, "This is not a good report, Force Leader. You know well what this means."

"Yes, Highness. They have joined forces, against us."

"And they now seek to bring her into their fold."

"Her lover saved her life, my Queen."

"Her life? Tell Me more on this."

"More traitors in Woden, Highness. Two tried to kill her, but her lover took the knife. She used her powers to save her lover, then died, but the Most Honored Spirit Mother of the Falls then returned her life."

She raised an eyebrow as her eyes narrowed, "The Spirit Mother returned her life to her? Without dying? She doesn't have this power." She frowned, "I like this not. Watch them well."

- 230 -.

Chapter V.

The Boundary Lands Sam chose to do rounds in the other half of Woden, the half she didn't live in. She was seeking general feelings from the community regarding the recent betrayals. As she and Jandra approached the first section of dwellings, Morian and Jardua approached with their two daughters, one but a small child.

They knelt, "Highest", then waited for her to respond.

Sam touched their shoulders and motioned for them to stand, "There be no need for you to kneel to me. How be your children this turn, Morian?" She had asked her specifically as she was the Birth-Mother to both of the girls.

"They are well, Highest. Would you like to hold little Morija?"

Sam let go of Jandra and held out her arms to see if Morija would come. She did, and laughed at Sam, "Play." Sam twirled her around a bit and then touched her hand to Morija's head, briefly. Morija laughed and laughed and laughed. Sam smiled at her and gave her back to Morian, then bent down to the other daughter. "What have you been doing all this turn, Mordua?"

"My Birth-Mother let me help in the gardens this turn. And then I got to pet a horse. Have you ever ridden a horse, Highest?"

"Oh, yes, many moments. Would you like to ride a horse? She held out hand to Mordua who instantly took it and held it, and together they walked away a little.

"Can I, Highest, really?. I would like that very much. Can I? Can I?"

Sam placed a hand on Mordua's head while yet talking and walking, "I think that can be arranged, if your mothers would but allow it. How many cycles have you now?" Sam frowned for a moment. She placed both hands on Mordua's head and was silent for but a moment. Mordua, being but a child, didn't notice that Sam had focused on her thoughts.

Mordua began pulling on Sam's sleeve, "Highest? Did you hear me?"

- 231 -.

She smiled at Mordua and laughed lightly, "Yes, Mordua, you said nine cycles, which is more than old enough to begin to learn to ride. I will speak with your mothers to arrange this. But you will have to do your chores, as this will be a most special treat."

They returned and Sam asked if she might arrange some riding lessons with Jenna for Mordua.

"Oh, Highest, she has been after us long to do this, but we were unsure if there were moments in Jenna's schedule. That would be wonderful."

They spent the remainder of the after midturn and early prior eve completing Sam's rounds. Jandra noticed that Sam felt compelled to see as many children as she could this turn, to see if the betrayals or executions had effected any of them. At the end, Sam was exhausted and went to the park to rest for a while. Sam sat near at the bank of the river and played with some river birds. She was hungry, as they had missed their midturn meal, but felt she needed some moments to her own thoughts. After a while, Jandra came over and sat down on the bank next to her, but as soon as she sat, all the birds waddled over to her and sat down beside her.

"What did you do to them to make them do that?"

Laughing a little, but as surprised as Sam, she said, "I have done nothing. Do they not do this to you?"

"Ha! They come to me looking for food. They see you, these little traitors, and go to you as if you were their Birth-Mother."

Jandra stroked the birds' heads, taking some comfort in the feeling.

"They have done this to me for as long as I can but recall."

"Jandra, were you but born in Woden?"

"It was told to me that I was an orphan, left at the gates."

"When is your first memory?"

Jandra thought about it for a moment. "On my sixth or seventh cycle, I think."

"Not earlier than this?"

"No. I cannot recall my overly early childhood."

"Are you ready for our early eve meal?"

"I thought you would never ask. We missed our midturn meal and I am but famished. How do you do so much walking on so little food? You are getting overly thin. You will not be able to lift your sword anymore if you do not eat. And I have a meeting with Tehna and Briggon this eve about the festival, so we must get back."

"I need to speak to the guard. I will return in but a moment."

Jandra had learned to worry whenever Sam spoke to a guard, so hoped it was about nothing serious.

Sam returned quickly, "Worry not. I have just sent a message to Meera and Caitha. I have need to speak with them. Your meeting provides - 232 -.

me a good opportunity. Would you mind if they joined us for our meal? I just hope May has made enough, but I have asked Caitha to bring extra, in case."

Jandra would have been disappointed in past relationships about not having a quiet meal alone, but knew Sam was The Highest and needed some freedom in her decisions. "Of course, Sam. If you need or want to see them, then we will have a good moment in their company."

She suddenly sensed Jandra's disappointment, "I should but have asked first. I am sorry, Jandra. Let me just cancel the message." Sam went to talk to another guard.

"Hold, Sam. There is no need. I speak truly. It will be good for you, as I will be busy with my meeting."

They walked back to the dwelling arm-in-arm, chatting about the women they had spoken with, and the children. Jandra could hear in Sam's voice that she was concerned about the children. She made a mental note to have all the advisors tend more to the children that had suffered from the executions.

"Sam, what did you sense in the children that made you frown so?"

Sam shook her head, "A worm. An overly dark insidious worm. They know of this High Spirit Mother, and are now fearful."

Jandra changed the subject so that Sam might become less stressed, "I saw that you were reading from the journals. What have you learned?"

Sam sighed deeply, "That there always be an overly dark insidious worm."

Jandra once again wanted to change the subject so began telling Sam about one of the requests she had this turn, "It was very humorous, and I tried desperately not to laugh. Karan kept pinching the back of my neck, as she was afraid I would start laughing. But I saw her try not to, as well. Do you know Bernare and Lorian? They had this fight . . . "

By the moment they had arrived at their dwelling, Jandra had succeeded in making Sam laugh at her stories, "Thank you for those most wonderful stories. I think I am quite ready for our meal. I hope Meera and Caitha arrive soon. I am starved."

When they arrived to their dwelling, Sam went to change her garments and tend to herself while Jandra went in to see May.

"Good eve, May. Was the guard able to deliver the message to you yet?"

May was upset with Jandra and Sam, "Yes, they did, and of course I have enough, and both you and Sam should but know this as you both missed your midturn meal so there is much for all of you to eat, and yes, I know that Meera and Caitha are arriving too, but if you two do not start eating more, and more often, you are"

- 233 -.

"MAY! It be enough. I know. Sam needs to eat and she is not. I will tend better to this. But she is most hungry this eve, so will perhaps eat enough to help fill out her bones. I have a late meeting in the sitting room with Briggon and Tehna, but Sam will remain with Meera and Caitha out on the patio, so perhaps you could keep providing her more food. If I could but find a way to get Meera and Caitha in helping us to feed Sam more . . . "

"I will tend to that, Second. Now go and get ready for your guests and let me tend to our thinning Highest."

Jandra went to find Sam, and found her out on the patio, looking off into the distance. She hoped that May would bring out some food for Sam, quickly.

"What are you thinking, Sam?"

She turned and looked at Jandra, "I was wondering about life, and our future in it. That be all."

Jandra had noticed that Sam had changed her garments. "Your garments suit you well. You look most beautiful this eve, Sam."

"They are just comfort garments."

May brought out some food for Sam even knowing Meera and Caitha were not yet arrived, "You two can begin with these refreshments. I will bring out the main courses when Meera and Caitha arrive so that Second will have a moment to eat prior to her meeting."

Sam began to eat, "May, these are wonderful. They taste like the little foods I had at Hengist this prior turn."

"I had learned that there were some foods you liked much over there, so I asked a messenger to get one for me. I have recreated it for you so that you can enjoy it more."

"May, you spoil me." Looking at the other items, she asked, "Are these little things the other ones I liked?"

"Yes, Highest. Go ahead and eat them all. I have lots more."

Caitha and Meera arrived and greetings occurred. Caitha and Jandra went inside to get the rocker so that Caitha could sit in it.

Sam poured Meera a drink, "Have you heard anything about the five new women from the ship?"

"I know that Karan placed them in dwellings of volunteers, and all five have but requested to enter into our community."

Sam sat back and waited for the meal, "Why do you think our advisors became traitors?"

Meera also sat back and drank her wine, "It is but a puzzlement to me.

They had everything that all the others do. They had enough to eat, to wear, nice dwellings, responsibilities, leisure moments. They wanted for nothing of which I am aware. They had positions of importance and some esteem, if that but mattered to them."

- 234 -.

She looked at Sam, "I have thought much on this and remain confused. They wanted more power, but to what purpose? Why would that be important to them? I have not satisfied myself with an adequate answer.

And who be this High Spirit Mother and Buron?"

Sam listened intently but also could find no answer.

May came out with the meal, "Here are you meals. Where are the other two?"

Meera looked around, "I thought they left but to get the rocker for Caitha. Where could they have gone?"

"I will find them. You two go ahead and eat. Meera, I expect you to make certain that our Highest eats plenty this eve."

Meera nodded and laughed, "Do you ever get any peace, Sam?"

Sam just laughed and began to eat, "It be difficult to complain when they but tend to me so well. Meera, have homes been found for Fionn and Vining's daughters?"

"Karan is tending to this, as is her usual. She is but an excellent advisor, Sam. It is Kandan's daughter that but worries me. Jandra has ordered her to Apien as part of Kandan's torture - trading her daughter into slavery as she wished to have done for our women. Be this something you would approve of?"

"What do you think we should do with her?"

"It be a harsh punishment for but an innocent victim."

"I think it will take care of itself. Hold her, for a while."

As Sam ate, she saw that it was one of her favorite meals - vegetables layered and baked with cheese and long thick noodles. May always provided at least two types of cheeses in this dish. And Sam saw that there was a bowl of fresh lettuce.

The gardens must be producing heavily once again.