"The animals and the children, Second. The way they love you, even upon first meeting you. It is as in the stories of the old ones. And you resemble them, from what I know of the tales."

Sam had overheard the conversation, but didn't know what to think of it. Jandra was very surprised in Sumi's words, but could say nothing either way, "All my life is of Woden."

Sumi nodded, "Perhaps it is as you say, Second. Perhaps the stories have not come to be."

Sam and Meera watched as the group went to their pitiful shelters for the eve. Sam had counted nineteen in all, plus two women with child, not including Tedra. Sam knew that at least two more would die from overly long starvation. Jandra and Caitha went from dwelling to dwelling to en- - 257 -.

sure that the people were warm and comfortable. Keddi, Nodda and Margeria had gone off hunting and fishing again for the morn while Sumi had gone in hunt of some roots that she could pound to flour for some bread.

Anicia was tending to the fire, "Meera, do you wish the fire to go through the eve?"

Meera shook her head, "No. Put it out. It be safer without it, and the eve is warm enough. We need it not until early morn."

Sam began attending to the horses, tethering them so they wouldn't wander off. She then began to undo her group's bedding so that they too might rest before the morn's events. She guessed that Anyst would return with guards and horses by midturn, at the latest.

Meera walked over and began to help, "It seems that Woden grows."

"We need to think about Apien. Has the moment come when we should protect others and take the innocent out of Apien?"

Meera frowned, "Perhaps. It will but increase our battles here, also."

"Are we prepared to defend Woden as well as do battle elsewhere?"

Meera nodded, "We can make it so. We will need to be prepared to but kill the leaders, though, so that they do not do this elsewhere."

"Woden has never battled so distant."

"Perhaps it be the moment."

Caitha and Jandra returned to the fire ring, each with several of the children.

Jandra smiled at Meera and Sam, "Highest, these five children are orphaned and wish to spend the eve with Caitha, Rundle and me. They have been frightened and want to feel safe."

The children went up to Sam and knelt before her, "Highest."

Sam rose so that she stood before them. She saw that one of them was Sansa. "Sansa, who be your friends? Rise and introduce them to me."

Sansa and her friends stood while she motioned to each as she introduced them, "Highest, this be Jemera. She has eight cycles and lost her Birth-Mother on our way here. Her father is yet with us."

Sam silently recalled that Jandra had said the five children were orphans, so wondered why Jemera had presented herself as such. She let the issue remain at rest until a more proper moment. Sam bowed her head to Jemera, "Jemera. Do you but ride a horse?"

She bowed her head and shook it looking sad, "No, Highest. Does this but mean I will have to remain here?"

Sam laughed lightly, "No. We will teach you to ride next turn."

"Highest, I want to live in Woden with the other women. I no longer wish to be raped."

Sam nodded but chose to say nothing. She wondered how a child of eight could know of such things in this realm.

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Sansa continued, "This be Alduth. He has twelve cycles and came with us, alone. He knows not his Birth-Mother or father."

Sam bowed her head to Alduth, "Alduth. You are a brave young man to come so far alone. What is it you seek?"

He knelt before Sam and bowed his head, "I wish to be knighted by you, and fight in your name against all The Realm's evils, Highest. I have long sought to come and be your champion. I know you to be but the Chosen One, along with another."

"Another? What do you mean, along with another, Young Alduth?

Who be this other?"

"I know not, Highest. But another, such as yourself. It is in the stories."

Sam took Alduth by the arm and made him to stand before her, "What does this word you use mean? What be a knight? And where did you hear such a word as this?"

"Manthar but met with some prince from Fornaith and he had knights with him. He called them Knights of the Round Table. The Queen or King gives this title to their most noble and brave warriors."

"And why would you but fight for Woden or Hengist?"

Tears came to Alduth's eyes, but he fought them back, "Because I hate all those evil men. They have hurt and killed everyone. They will pay for what they have done to my people."

"Well, Young Alduth. Be you aware that Woden is a Woman's Community and Hengist is a community of men?"

"Yes, Highest. I but saw Briggon with Oisin, your Sea Duty Second, three cycles prior when he visited Apien from a ship. I most want to be like Briggon, and he told me much of Hengist. I have longed for this since that moment."

"Then you shall have your wish. You will see Briggon again next turn, and he will find a dwelling for you. He will then prepare you to be one of our young warriors. Have you but ridden a horse before?"

"No, Highest. I wish to, but have had no horse to learn on."

She touched his shoulder, the warrior-to-warrior greeting, "You will learn to ride at midturn next. And Briggon will have a sword made for you so you can begin to learn to wield such a weapon."

Alduth's eyes shone in excitement. He knelt before Sam again and touched his lips to her hem and kissed it, "You will not be sorry for this, Highest. I pledge you my loyalty and my life. They are but yours to command."

Sam startled at these words, "Where have you heard this oath prior, Young Alduth?"

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"It is known throughout The Realm as the oath of warriors, and the oath you but pledge to your kingdom."

Sam heard Meera laughing. Meera walked over to Sam and Alduth, "So, you but wish to be a warrior, do you?" Meera removed her sword and held it out to Alduth, "Take my sword and help guard our camp this eve, then. Remain alert, boy, or I will but have the hair off your head. Guard to the east of the fire ring, just this side of the trees. Listen well for any strange sound."

Alduth's face broke into complete happiness, "Yes, Meera. As you command. I will guard you and The Highest well this eve. No one will get past your sword."

Alduth took the sword, his hands shaking in nervousness and excitement, and took off to his assigned duty.

Meera turned to Sam and winked, "That was your sword, but I will not tell him that. I will need my sword this eve."

Sam laughed ad turned back to Sansa.

Sansa motioned to her next friend, "This be Lorquist. She is but fourteen cycles and hates all men."

Lorquist bowed her head to Sam and said quietly, "Highest. Thank you for helping us."

Sam raised Lorquist's head by her chin, "You are with child, Lorquist."

Lorquist winced at that statement and sneered, "If you were raped twice per turn, you would be with child, too!"

Sansa nudged Lorquist gently, "Lorquist, be polite. You but speak to The Highest."

Lorquist's expression turned to fear as she fell on her knees, "Please forgive me, Highest. Please kill me not. I come to live in Woden away from all evils and torture, and to raise my child in peace and kindness. I will work hard, Highest. I am sorry for my outburst." She began to cry.

Sam made her to rise and wiped the tears from her face, "You speak truly, Lorquist, and I take no offense. Have you heard of the laws of Woden, Lorquist? The laws of companionship?"

She nodded, "I have, your Highest. I had but a companion on our way here, but she died in journey. I be but alone now."

"You had a companion at fourteen cycles?"

"Yes, Highest."

Sam asked her, "Have you ever ridden a horse?"

"None of us has ever been allowed away from our compound for fear we would escape. No, never, Highest."

"I will check with Meera and Keddi, Lorquist, but I fear you may be overly far with child to ride. Either way, you will be in Woden soon and will deliver your child into safety. Is your Birth-Mother yet alive?"

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Lorquist lowered her head, "I know not. We were separated two cycles prior. Father Mantas separates all children from their Birth-Mother at least by their twelfth cycle, if not sooner."

Sansa motioned to the last of the four, "Highest, this be Wigrad. He has but seven cycles. He is alone, so we brought him with us so that he could grow up in a safer community. He be scared."

Wigrad was trembling like a frightened rabbit. Sam bent down to his level, "It be safe, Wigrad. I will not harm you." She picked him up and held him close, trying to comfort him. She sent a message of safety and love, noticing that he calmed down a bit.

"Wigrad, would you like to ride with me next turn on my horse?"

He wiped his nose with his arm and nodded his head vigorously.

"We will find a new family for you, and you will have many friends soon to but play with."

Sam placed him back on the ground and felt him grab on to her clothes and not let go. She let him be, and he kept wiping his nose with his arm. She heard Meera laughing again, this moment joined by Jandra.

Caitha was smiling overly, but came over and gave Wigrad a cloth and showed him how to use it to wipe his nose. He took and used it, but wouldn't let go of Sam. When Caitha tried to take him away, he howled.

Sansa took Wigrad's hand, "Leave her be, Wigrad. She has vowed that you will ride with her next turn. She is not leaving you, and we will sleep near her this eve."

Wigrad looked at Sansa, and as if in considering the truth of her statement, then looked up at Sam.

Sam laughed lightly, "She speaks truly, Wigrad. You may sleep near me this eve."

He nodded, but didn't smiled, and went off with Sansa.

Caitha smiled at Sam, "It seems you have a new friend, Sam. I will go help them settle." And she walked away laughing.

In the late eve, after Keddi, Nodda and Margeria returned with what food they could find for the morn meal, they all settled around the now quiet fire ring. Sumi had returned with her root vegetables and was busy turning the root into a mashed mess of some sort. Meera thought it not appetizing looking, but complained not, knowing that any food these people would get would be most appreciated.

"Anicia, you take first watch along with me. Go now to relieve Young Alduth. Tell him he will take the early morn watch. Get back my sword for me and tell him that he can but have it on the next watch."

"Keddi and Sam, you but take the next shift. Wake Margeria, Nodda and Sumi toward early morn so that Nodda and Sumi can but get the fire and food prepared. We will need to rise early so as to dismantle this camp.

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I want no sign of it having been here. We will burn the shelters and then cover the ashes."

"Meera, you have not assigned me to a watch." Jandra wanted her fair share of the duty.

"Me either, M'Love. I can but listen to the sounds as well as any one of you." Caitha was tired of being left out, but also felt sorry for those on watch all the moments.

Sam looked to both of them, "Then enjoy it as you will have much to do in the early morn helping to prepare all of them. They will need your patience and guidance. The rest of us will have to dismantle the camp, and that will take most of the morn. We must be ready when the guards come so that we may return to Woden by late eve."

The eve passed quietly except for the brief moment when Alduth had to be convinced that even guards had to sleep. With the re-told vow that he would meet Briggon on the next turn, he went to rest. The watches went according to plan, and Nodda and Sumi had Margeria wake the camp when they had the morn meal prepared. Even Meera had been pleased with the meal. Sumi had made a thin flat bread from the root flour, had placed the meat and vegetables in it, then rolled it for easy eating. She had made an herb sauce from the meat drippings, and the meal was well received. Most went back for more, even given the large size of the meal.

Sumi had made enough for the return journey, so that this group had food to eat whenever they became hungry, as the stuffed bread meals were easily packed and carried.

Keddi, Sam, Margeria, Anicia and Meera set about clearing the camp while Jandra and Caitha helped the women and men to pack their meager belongings. Sam had Alduth guard again, giving him something useful to do, but also setting some mild protection to the camp. Keddi sent Rundle to watch over Alduth. As the people moved their belongings out of their shelters, Meera and Keddi broke the shelters up and set fire to them.

Nodda destroyed and covered over the fire ring, and Margeria and Sam began to hide or burn all other signs of the camp. They then brought in much leaf cover so as to make it look more natural.

Meera told Sam to cover the trail with as many leaves as they could, knowing that this many horses would create a noticeable trail. Sam looked over to the women, men and children and saw that they were ready to leave.

"All of you that are able, collect twigs, leaves, small logs and such from the forest and help to cover the trail. The horses will trample it down, but the trail must not be seen."

When all was done and inspected by Meera, the group rested for a bit.

Sumi and Sam both noticed that many of the camp people were eating their - 262 -.

stuffed bread meals. Sam saw that, even in one turn, they were looking a little better and seemed less nervous.

Keddi looked at Meera, "Horses come."

Rundle ran to the sound. Meera had everyone take shelter in the forest, just in case. They had been told what to do and where to hide, and everyone scattered quickly. Meera and her guards all readied their weapons.

Anyst came up first, "We are returned, Meera. Should I have them come up now?"

Meera nodded and Anyst went to get the rest. She, Keddi, Margeria, Anicia and Sam all stowed their weapons. There were enough guards now for them to not have to remain on alert. Sam saw the guards ride up and noticed that each guard brought two to three other horses each. She also saw that Briggon, Karan, Lillon, Sephim and Jenna all came. She walked up to them as they dismounted.

They knelt before her, "Highest. We come as you have bid."

"Rise. We are glad you have are arrived. I knew not that so many of you come."