Sam nodded, thinking the same. They began to walk up toward the smoke, slowly so as to give Keddi and the rest the moments needed to get into position.

As they entered the small cluster of shacks, Sam saw that the dwellings were nothing more than temporary shelters, with no doors, and none with windows.

They walked into the camp and Nodda and Sumi finally saw them, "Highest!" They turned to the rest of the camp men and women, "This be The Highest. This be who we have spoken much of."

Nodda and Sumi knelt to Sam. The small community also knelt. Sam saw that they looked frightened, hungry, and wretched condition. She saw that that the women looked particularly worn and miserable. Meera motioned for Keddi and Margeria to look through the dwellings. Anyst and Anicia stayed on alert just on the outskirts of the dwellings, but now within vision. Rundle remained near Keddi, on full alert. Sam went to one the palest looking of the women and saw that the woman was but crying.

Sam said softly, "You have no reason to fear us. We are here in peace."

The woman nodded but said nothing and kept her head bowed as she knelt.

Sam tried again, "Do you know who I am?"

Meekly and softly, the woman replied, "Yes, Highest."

"Then why be you afraid of us? Do you think we will harm you?"

As Sam spoke to the woman, Meera looked around at all the men and women. To a one, they were all kneeling and had their heads deeply bowed - 252 -.

to Sam. They shivered as frightened hares and looked hungry as starving orphans.

Again, the woman nodded.

Sam went close to the woman, "May I lay my hand upon you, frightened one?"

The woman nodded, and Sam placed her hand upon her head. She sensed the woman so frightened that it affected her heart. Sam also sensed that she was with child, but that this woman was in danger of dying from starvation and her child was dying at this moment. Sam focused and gave the woman a little of her energy, and also sent a soft message of safety to try to calm her. She couldn't save the child.

Sam looked to Meera, "Send Anicia for Jandra and Caitha. Have them bring the horses. Have Keddi and Margeria hunt for what food they can but find prior to the eve."

Meera nodded and made it so.

Sam looked back to the woman, "Rise, and look at me."

The woman rose but kept her head bowed. She no longer was crying.

"What do they call you, young one?"

"Tedra of Bolden. He be my mate."

Sam looked around, "Show me Bolden, your mate."

Tedra became nervous all over again, "Oh, please, Highest. Please do not harm Bolden. He be a good man. He does not deserve to die."

Sam looked surprised, "I am sorry that your life has had such misery in it for you to be this afraid of me. I will not harm him, Tedra. Please, introduce me to your mate."

Tedra yet looked frightened but motioned Sam over to Bolden, who Sam saw to be a young man also close to dying from starvation.

She placed her hand upon his frightened and bowed head. Once again she sensed sheer terror in these people, and complete hopelessness. She also sensed from Bolden that he had no skills in farming, building or hunting.

She saw that he also cried. "What is it you do, Bolden?"

"I was a musician and instrument maker. I also made paper."

"Rise, Bolden, and tend the fire. We will eat well this eve. Bring out what serving bowls or plates you but have, and let us prepare."

She turned to the rest of the camp, "Rise. You have no need to bow before me. I am The Highest of Woden, and we will now tend to your hunger, safety and wellness. Come and sit around the fire so that you may introduce yourselves to me as my guards prepare our meal."

Sam went over to Nodda and Sumi, "It be good to see you well. How long have they been arrived here?"

- 253 -.

Nodda answered, "They but told us they walked from Apien. They lost many along the way. We bring what supplies we can. We saw their fire a few turns prior and have been trying to teach them survival skills, but they be overly hungry to even fish. They have been here no more than that."

"Excuse me but a moment. I must tend to a duty."

Sam walked over to Meera, "Send one of your guards back to Woden.

Have Karan send enough horses for these men and women so that we may bring them back to Woden for care. They but die here. Have Briggon return with some of his guards and horses, as well. Also, have May send another pack of food, enough for four. You, Keddi, Margeria and I will complete the perimeter duty."

"Sam, we have found but not one weapon in this place. How do they but plan to protect themselves?"

"In truth, I have never seen such terrified men and women. I read Bolden's mind and sensed that he was abused much in Apien. The child his mate carries is not his, but of another. What has Apien become?"

"It would seem Apien has become but a plague. I will send Anyst back to Woden and will have her return with guards, horses and food. I will also have Anyst inform May to prepare the healers. She can but return by early midturn next."

Sam nodded and returned to Nodda and Sumi, "It is good of you to try to help these men and women. We will take them into Woden and heal and care for them. If they be willing to follow Woden's laws and ways, they can rest under our protection."

Sumi smiled at Sam, "It is as I have told them you would say, Highest.

You are the best of women in all The Realm and I but knew that your heart would go out to them." Then she frowned, "But they be overly frightened to believe us. They fear you mightily and have been told many stories of your terrible powers."

"I will make it right for them, Sumi. Help to prepare a meal, if you would, and then we must begin to prepare them for departure at midmorn next."

Nodda went right up to Sam and hugged her, "Thank you, Highest.

On our way back, please halt by our dwelling. I have prepared a most magnificent floor piece of animal fur for you. It be the best one I have done, and you deserve it."

Sam looked again at Sumi, "Sumi, could you look around this area to see if there but be any wild plants that could be prepared to the meal?"

Sumi nodded and headed off toward a small river. She knew what she was looking for and Sam knew that she would bring back armfuls of wild vegetables for their meal. Sam walked over to the fire where the men, women and children were all sitting, yet looking at her in fear.

- 254 -.

She went up to one of the female children and sat down next to her.

"What be your name, little one?"

The child was also crying. Sam was frustrated at all the crying, but knew that they were overly hungry and scared to be emotionally stable.

The child looked up at her, "Sansa."

"A pretty and most unusual name. How many cycles have you, Sansa?"

"Eleven cycles, Highest. Are you going to kill us?"

Sam laughed, "No, Sansa. I am going to feed you, take care of you, and try to make you a nice new comfortable dwelling, away from this most difficult of spots. Would that be fine with you?"

Sansa nodded her head vigorously, "Are there other children, where you are?"

"There are, Sansa, but I know not if you will choose to live in our community. But in Woden, you shall have many wonderful things to keep you occupied."

Sam placed her hand upon Sansa's head. She sensed the child hungry, but otherwise well, and like the others, afraid. Sam sent Sansa an image of comfort and safety and noticed that Sansa seemed to relax a little.

"When do we get to eat?"

Sam laughed, "Soon. We prepare the meal now. You will have all you desire this eve, and hereafter. You no longer need to worry about food."

Anicia arrived in camp with Jandra, Caitha and all the horses. As Jandra came into camp, all the women, children and men went to her, bowing before her, trying to touch her. Sam watched in disbelief, also seeing the surprise upon Jandra's face. But she also saw that Jandra's presence comforted them, so was pleased that at least something calmed them.

Sam went from person to person, placing her hand upon their heads and trying to comfort them. She was able to heal a few of some minor ailments, but found that a few had ills overly large for her powers. Jandra saw what Sam was doing and also went to each of them, trying to comfort them. All the men, women and children responded most favorably to Jandra. Caitha did likewise, telling wonderful stories about Woden, Sam and Meera. Sam went back to Tedra.

Tedra saw her coming over to her and knelt down, "Please, Highest. I will do what you want, but please do not kill Bolden."

Sam sat down next to Tedra, "You may remain in that ridiculous kneeling position if you want, but I have need to find some information from you."

Finally, Tedra saw that Sam meant what she said. She rose from her kneeling position and sat down next to Sam, "What be it you need from me, Highest?"

- 255 -.

"Why did you come here?"

"We have heard stories of your greatness."

"Did you not know that we are but an all woman community?"

"Yes, we know. And we know of Hengist, too. But we want to live our lives peacefully, as your women do of Woden and your men of Hengist."

"Do you not know that we have no mixed community?"

"We know this, Highest, and are willing to abide by your laws and split our unions so as to live peacefully. Our lives are certainly not worth living, at this moment. We will be but happy to see our mates at the moments of the festivals. It will be enough for us, Highest, but to have this peace and safety. We will do anything you ask of us, with no complaint."

"It has been that bad for you, then?"

Tedra nodded, "All our children are raped by their sixth or seventh cycle, regardless be they girl or boy. There is no way to halt the abuses. Those men are evil and want only power over everyone. And all the women are raped daily to keep us with child. The men . . . " She hesitated, "Well, they are also well abused, perhaps even more than the women."

"Who does these acts on you?"

"Manthar says that he is to be the father of all our children, in the name of High Spirit Mother."

"How is it that all the women and men do not revolt?"

"We have tried but are enslaved, so it be impossible."

"Then how did this group escape?"

"One of the guards wanted to escape and began the plan. He but died as we came here."

"How many be there in Apien now?"

Tedra shook her head, "I know not, Highest. We are not allowed to see much of Apien. I would but guess 400 children, men and women."

"Do they have ships and guards?"

"They have three ships, but one is rumored to leak. They have many guards, but all can be bribed."

"Are all the guards men?"

Tedra nodded, "And when Manthar doesn't look, they rape the women and children as well."

Sam smiled at Tedra, "Rest, Tedra. All is well for you now."

Caitha began singing, and everyone listened. She had a beautiful voice and it helped to calm the camp. When she was done, she began telling more stories of Woden. All the children gathered around Jandra, so she held them as she could. Sam saw that they looked as if they had found their long lost mother.

- 256 -.

Rundle came over to the children and Jandra, wanting attention. At first, the children were afraid of him, but as he wagged his tail and waited, they began to pet and embrace him. Sam went to help in the preparations of the meal. Keddi returned from the forest with some wild fowl draped over her shoulder, and three hares. Margeria returned with seven large fish.

Nodda took charge of the food and prepared the meal while Margeria plucked the feathers from the fowl and Meera cleaned the fish.

Nodda and Sumi had brought some potatoes over from their dwelling, and Sumi returned to camp as Sam had predicted-her arms full of wild but edible plants. The women, men and children of the camp just waited, amazed at the amount of food they were seeing. They hadn't known so much was available.

When the food was ready, Meera served it to the children and women first, a little, so that they would not over-stuff themselves. The men came next, and Meera did likewise. Then she nodded to her own group and they came over to get their serving. As all completed their meal, they waited to see if there was more, and Meera kept going around refilling their portions until all were full.

She said to the group, "There will be food in the morn enough for all.

Rest this eve. We will but guard you and keep you safe. In the morn, you will need to pack. We take you to Woden for care and rest."

During the meal, Sumi went to Jandra, bowing her head, "Second? A question, if I may?"

Jandra rose, "Of course, Sumi."

"Are you of the old ones, as the stories say?"

"Old ones? What do you mean by this, Sumi?"

Sumi looked surprised, "You know not of this? But most certainly you are. You could not have been born in Woden, as you are not of Woden. Have you not seen this as so?"

"You have seen this? How?"