Sam laughed a little at the comment, but also wondered about it, "She came to Woden as a babe; found at the gates in a basket. She knows not of her background." Then she motioned to the guards, "This be Keddi, one of our Scouts. Margeria, Anicia and Anyst, our guards."

Rundle moved forward and wagged his tail, hoping for a friendly hand.

Keddi laughed and introduced him, while Betten and Anja knelt down to pet him and let him lick them all over their face.

"Please, come inside. What we have is yours. Please share our midturn meal with us."

As they went into Betten and Anja's dwelling, Jandra was surprised to see such simple living. It was a one-room dwelling with very little accommodation for comfort. In one corner, Jandra could see where one of them weaved blankets and clothing, and in another corner, the other one made and repaired their tools and weapons.

Sam nodded, "We have brought supplies for you. And I have two flasks of wine for you. May also sends two sweet cakes."

Anja smiled, "Thank you. We have our items for return trade. Are you but able to take them back for us?"

Sam nodded, "We are riding the perimeter, but with your permission we will leave one horse with you for three turns. When we return, we can pack your trade items then."

Betten and Anja fed them some soup and fresh bread. Keddi and Margeria, like Jandra, hadn't known that they had women of their community who lived apart. As soon as Anyst and Anicia had eaten, they began to unpack the supplies and feed the horses. They repacked the supplies for Sumi and Nodda onto their own horses.

Keddi was curious, "Do you find it dangerous out here all alone?"

Anja shook her head, "No. The sentries come by every few turns to check on us. And your Highest comes by once per moon. We love her visits. But we have had no danger from men or women until of late. We saw some fires down the valley, so Betten traveled to the sentry and informed her."

- 247 -.

Anicia nodded, "Yes. They be the same fires I saw, Highest, but they had come a little closer."

Meera frowned, "Have you seen them since?"

Betten shook her head, "No. Not since."

Everyone prepared to leave and exited the tiny dwelling. Sam remained inside with them for a moment. When she came out, Meera saw that she was frowning. Sam looked up and saw Meera looking at her. She shook her head slightly, but said nothing.

Sam gave Betten and Anja a hug, "We return in two or three turns."

The others had already mounted their horses and just awaited Sam.

As Sam mounted, Meera asked, "Is all well?"

Sam just shook her head, but smiled at Anja and Betten. They then waved and rode off toward Sumi and Nodda who lived a half-turn's walk away from the river. Meera once again took the lead, but kept Sam within her eyesight.

Jandra rode up closer to Sam, "Why do these women but live so far removed? Are they not overly old to do so?"

"It be but their choice. They have done so since they took each other as their companion. It has been over forty cycles of which I am but aware.

They have no sense of cycles in that regard, so would not be able to say.

They enjoy the quiet life and think Woden overly busy and stressful. They have been most successful in their gardening and crafts. And they eat no animals of any kind, except for the fish they can catch from the river."

"How long have you but visited with them?"

"I began when I became Second. Over fourteen cycles prior."

Their ride to Betten and Anja's had been mostly over the grassland area. As they began to travel toward Sumi and Nodda's, the terrain became hillier and they could begin to see some mountains off in the distance.

Meera saw smoke in one of the valleys of the mountains. She had decided to wait until after their visit with Sumi and Nodda before raising the alert.

Keddi rode up next to Meera and, saying nothing, nodded toward the smoke.

Meera nodded, "I have seen it. We will investigate after we unload the supplies."

Keddi nodded and returned to her position. Sam had also seen the smoke and had seen Keddi warn Meera of it.

She rode up to Meera, "I think we should begin a regular visit of the perimeter with fully armed guards."

Meera nodded, "Let us hope it be but a small group. I think we should investigate after we drop off our supplies. We could leave Jandra and Caitha at Sumi and Nodda's until our return."

"We can try, but do you plan to tie up Jandra to make her do so?"

- 248 -.

Meera laughed, "Look near those trees, Sam. I see their dwelling."

Sam knew their dwelling well. A very small dwelling, much like Betten and Anja's, but made of logs from the forest. It had only two small windows and one door. Nodda did the hunting while Sumi tended to the garden. They lived next to a small river from which they caught some fish.

One item they regularly traded with Woden was their leathers and furs Nodda cured from her hunting. As Sam's group got within shouting distance of the dwelling, Meera gave a warning signal.

"Sumi. Nodda."

After four tries with no response, Sam began to worry, "Sumi be not responding. She be always about. Something must be wrong."

Meera signaled to Keddi, Margeria, Anyst and Anicia, "We go in on foot, quietly. Be mindful of an ambush."

Keddi gave Rundle a hand signal to go to the forest and check for sounds. Rundle ran off quickly but quietly, somehow knowing not to bark.

Meera gave directions for how each should approach the dwelling, noting to all that she would ride up as soon as she had but given them a moment to arrive on foot.

"Sam, you wait here with Jandra and Caitha. "

Sam nodded, wanting to go but leaving it to Meera. Meera looked at Sam quizzically.

"What?" Sam asked.

"You argue not with me?"

"It must be your lucky turn. Now go, before I change my mind."

Jandra nudged her horse toward Sam's, "What be wrong?"

"No one responds to our calls. It is unusual, so we be but cautious. It is probably of no concern." But Sam knew better. Sumi was always around the dwelling.

She watched as Meera began to ride up. She could see the others moving forward quietly, but remaining as hidden as possible in the trees and bushes. As Meera arrived at the garden, she dismounted and called again, "Sumi. It is Meera, from Woden. Are you here?"

Yet no response.

Keddi and Margeria had arrived at the dwelling, coming up on one side of it. They crept their way forward to the door, one on each side, their bow and arrows pulled and ready. Meera had her sword unsheathed.

She called again, "Sumi. Nodda. It is Meera, from Woden."

Nothing.

Finally, Keddi kicked the door open and moved in, dropping to a stooping position, her bow readied. Rundle came running in beside her.

She saw nothing in the dwelling, so got up and looked around.

- 249 -.

"No one here, Meera. There looks to be no sign of fighting, either.

Everything seems to be in its place. The fire in the fireplace is cold, but there are warm embers at the bottom."

Meera waved for Sam and the others to come up to the dwelling. Anicia and Anyst came in from the forest. As they arrived, Sam, Jandra and Caitha dismounted, then went inside.

Sam looked at the garden, "It looks to be well tended, so I do not think they have been gone for long."

Meera nodded, "I saw as much."

She began walking around the dwelling and the gardens, looking at the ground. She kept enlarging her circle. After a few moments, she halted and looked off into the distance.

Sam walked over to her, "Do the bootprints lead off to the smoke?"

Meera bent to the ground and studied the bootprints more. "Two sets of bootprints. They go voluntarily, on their own. Sumi must have gone along with Nodda. The bootprints look deep. Perhaps they take supplies with them. They must have left this morn. It is but a long journey on foot.

If we left now, we would arrive just shortly after them, around mideve."

Sam looked at the trampled grasses, "It looks like they have gone this way but prior."

"You be correct. Perhaps three or four other moments."

"What be your suggestion, Meera?"

"We could but scout it out. If there be overly many, we could send a messenger back for more guards."

Sam nodded, "Let us go, then, before it becomes dark."

Meera called to everyone to mount up. Anyst and Anicia unloaded the supplies for Nodda and Sumi, and then mounted. Meera had Keddi and Margeria scout the way. Rundle now felt a sense of purpose and kept his nose in the air. She cautioned that they must give no warning to their arrival and also to watch for Nodda and Sumi. Keddi and Margeria left at a fast gallop and would slow and dismount as they came closer to the smoke.

Meera rode beside Jandra and Caitha, "When we but arrive toward the smoke, I will leave the two of you behind until we know it but safe."

"But I am Second and I deserve to"

Sam interrupted and smiled at her, "There are moments when even a Second must obey the commands of Meera."

"But, Sam, if you get hurt or"

"Then someone must be able to get back to warn Woden. And someone must remain back to protect Caitha. She has but no skills in weapons, and you do."

Jandra rolled her eyes at her, "This is a reason? My ability with weapons?"

- 250 -.

Sam laughed, but turned her horse toward the valley. Jandra thought it a weak excuse, but knew that Sam was partially correct. Someone had to remain with Caitha, and Caitha wouldn't be able to go in with them until it was clear. They rode at a normal pace toward the smoke. Anyst and Anicia had taken watch positions, one in front and one in back, with their weapons ready. Sam and Meera waited to draw their weapons until closer. As late after midturn arrived, they came upon Keddi and Margeria's horses. They had gone on foot from this spot. Rundle was not to be seen, so must have gone in with them. Meera decided that this is where Jandra and Caitha would wait until their return, so had all to dismount.

Looking at Jandra and Caitha, she pointed to the trees and quietly said, "Go into the forest with the horses and wait there. Jandra, have your weapons at alert. Caitha, listen for sounds until we return. You must both remain on alert, quiet, and on watch. If anyone comes by, hide behind the trees and keep the horses quiet. We will be back to get you shortly. Move not from this spot, and make no fire."

Jandra nodded and took Caitha into the woods. Meera and Sam watched them go, and then Meera motioned to Anyst and Anicia to scout ahead for them. All four left quietly. From this point on, they held their weapons on the alert. Sam and Meera walked upon the freshly trampled path while Anicia and Anyst trotted alongside in the forest, making sure no one was ready in ambush. As they arrived within hearing distance of the smoke area, an arrow landed in front of Meera. It came from her right.

She waited, knowing it was either Keddi or Margeria's.

Margeria came over from her left and whispered, "It be but a small community. Perhaps eighteen or twenty men and women, including a few small children. There could be a few more in their dwellings that we could not see. I know not Sumi and Nodda, but saw two older women who looked liked they had but just arrived. They looked rather wild and un-kempt, both with hair that needed much tending. Be that Nodda and Sumi?"

Sam nodded. It was.

Margeria continued, "It looks to be but a small town and very poor and desperate. The people look as if they starve. We saw no weapons.

And some look to be quite sickly. Keddi and I think that the Nodda and Sumi women give them food."

Meera nodded, "How far from here?"

"But a few moment's walk straight in."

"You and Keddi go around and be prepared to defend us. Anyst and Anicia will do the same. Surround the town without being seen, but make certain that you can protect The Highest at all moments. We will give you a few moments to get into place prior to us leaving."

- 251 -.

All four nodded and left.

Meera looked at Sam, "We go straight in."

"It sounds like a mixed community of desperate men and women."

Meera shook her head, "I have longed feared and thought that men and women from the mixed communities would seek us out for refuge."

"I as well. I fear we will have to create a third community under Woden Falls if we are to maintain safety in the realm. This moment, a mixed community."

"It will take Hengist and Woden many moments to get through their thoughts on this, but it is most certain that this group will not be able to remain here if they are to survive. This be but a most pitiful place to attempt a community. The storms blow through this valley with force, and the land be overly poor for good crops."

"Do you think Margeria correct in that they have no weapons? How do they hope to survive?"

"I think they but escaped from Apien or New Harborage and sought to try to reach Woden. If that be true, then they escaped but to survive."