Sam smiled, "Perhaps. But some things are better left just to the enjoyment of them."

They continued their ride, now heading north toward Woden's harbor, yet more than a half-turn's ride away. The route heading north on the western boundary also followed along the sea, as Woden's land bordered the sea on two sides. The route headed back downhill and the terrain began to change to more grasses and rolling hills. As they arrived at the junction of the sea and the river that came down from Hengist, Sam turned inland toward Hengist, keeping the river on her right. There was no path to Hengist from this part of Woden Falls.

"I was thinking that a third community could be placed somewhere upstream, but close to the sea."

Meera was uncertain of the location, "It be but a long walk to Woden from this spot."

Sam nodded and they continued their ride inland for a short while.

When Sam arrived to where she thought would be a fair town site, she halted the group. They were southwest of Woden and Hengist, and closer to the sea, but at an unvisited part, even given its proximity to them. From here, if a third community was begun, the towns would form an off-center triangle.

"Walk around this site for a short while. Tell me the good and bad aspects of placing the third community in this location."

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They left their horses to graze on the grasses while each looked the area over.

When they had all reconvened, Meera handed each their midturn meal and began providing her views, "It is downstream from Hengist so the water may be but overly used."

Keddi said, "There are but good grasslands here. As good as Woden's."

Margeria added, "There be but another river, although much smaller, that feeds into this river. It is upstream a bit but might be able to supply a new community with their water. The size of the community might be limited by the size of the river, though."

Anyst had drawn a triangle in the ground, "It be easy access to both Woden and Hengist. If we move to the northern side of Woden, it will be a long distance from Hengist to the third community."

Sam considered their concerns, "Be there but another spot that would be close to both Hengist as well as Woden and yet have their own water supply, and with good grasslands?"

Meera nodded, "There is, but it be inland. Do you wish to see it?"

Sam nodded and they all remounted and began to ride. Meera crossed the river upstream at the junction of two rivers, and they were all drenched as the horses swam across.

Anyst tried to shake off the water, "Cold!"

Meera kept them heading in a northwest direction toward the path between Woden and Hengist. Once they arrived to the path, she kept going in the same direction until they arrived at the river that crossed half of Woden's lands, headed straight down toward Woden's harbor, but was used by neither Hengist or Woden. When they arrived at the river, Meera found that they once again had to swim their horses across. It was as large a river as Woden or Hengist's.

"Here, Highest. This be the spot I was but thinking of."

"Nice spot, Meera. I had not thought of this area. I had forgotten about this river. I seldom enter into this part of Woden on my journeys."

Sam dismounted and asked all to scout the area once again.

When they all returned, Keddi began, "A good site, I think. Close to both Woden and Hengist. Good water. Good grasslands. Much like Hengist's terrain. The spot we stand on be flat enough."

Meera agreed, "I thought this might be the best spot. We could but ride to one other location, but it will be, as Anyst has said, far from Hengist.

Perhaps that not all bad, though."

Anyst added, "And this would be close to the path so all the communities would share the same paths between them, with little added effort, and each would have their own water source."

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"Good grasslands. The grass be sweet here. Look at the horses. They have not halted in their eating since we arrived." Keddi thought it a perfect location for a new town.

No one else had anything to add so they remounted and continued their ride. This moment they rode in a northeast direction, beside Woden's farms and gardens, and straight down again to the sea. They arrived to the sea by early mideve and began preparing their camp. They were now northeast of Woden, which seemed to be a sheltered side. Each went about their prior eve's duties without Meera having to repeat the orders. Sam noticed that the sea was much calmer on this side of Woden than on the south side. She thought that it also felt warmer even though there was a small wind. The shoreline was also much more gentle with mostly large boulders and sand. They had camped once again where a river met the sea.

It is from this spot that they would head inland at next turn to examine yet one more site for a third community. Rundle had enough traveling for one turn and instead of scouting for food with Keddi, he remained near Sam's side as she built the fire.

When Meera was done with the horses, she began preparing the dried food. "Did Jandra mind you coming on this journey?"

"She did. She understands not the stress for me in staying inside Woden. Many moments, I feel but a prisoner. I am uncertain as to this companionship, also. I don't know if I have it in me to be as she needs. I have been alone overly long, I think."

Sam went over to the beach and began to look at the rocks and shells.

She collected some beach wood for the fire and brought it back and then returned to the beach for more. As she bent down to pick up more wood, she saw a green stone. It was just like the bright green stones in the necklace. She picked it up and held it in her hand. She went back to the fire ring and sat down. Rundle nudged in close by for warmth.

Meera looked at the stone, "That stone looks much like the ones in the necklace Devin brought you."

"I thought as much."

She closed her hand around it and felt some power enter her body. As she undid her hand, she and Meera saw that the stone had turned dull.

Within a few moments, it began to turn bright again.

"How did you but do that?"

Sam shook her head, "I know not. I felt some power move from it into me, though. So perhaps the brightness is the power within it."

Sam tried it again, and as prior, she felt some energy move from the stone to her. It made her feel tense and restless, and a little irritated, but stronger. She held it longer this moment. After a while, when the energy - 277 -.

felt drained from the stone, she opened her hand and saw that the stone was lifeless and dead looking.

Sam gasped, "What be this stone?"

Meera cocked her head sideways, "It does strange things to you. Your eyes have taken on the color of the stone."

Sam shook her head, trying to clear the new energy from her thinking.

It felt to her as if it were taking over, yet she got up and went in search of another stone. She felt the need of more of this energy. It made her feel stronger and more powerful.

Meera followed and found one of the stones, first. She picked it up and held it in her hand as Sam had. She felt no energy from it, so tossed it into the sea.

"Meera, hold. I but need that stone."

"No, Sam. It takes over."

Sam shook her head violently again, "You are correct. It tries to make me find more."

Sam felt dizzy, yet stronger. She stumbled on a log. Suddenly angry at it, she bent down, picked it up and tossed it into the forest, a good distance away. Meera couldn't believe what she had seen. Sam suddenly realized what she had done.

She whispered, "What but happens to me?"

Meera went to Sam and guided her back to the fire ring, away from the stones. "Those stones cause you to be extremely strong, Sam. And they make you want more of them, and quickly so. You have had but two in your hand yet your craving for them grows a hundred fold with each one.

It is like an obsession. You gain much strength from them, which be good, but at what cost? It is like they give you the gift of strength in return for you."

Sam looked stunned, "Meera, the necklace. Where be it?"

"Oisin took it with her."

"Do you think it does the same to her?"

Meera shook her head, "I held one of the stones such as you did, but nothing happened. It must have something to do with you being but the Chosen One."

"How would King Buron but know about these stones?"

"It is an assumption that he does, Sam. He may not. It may be coincidence."

"As you have said prior, Meera, there seem to be but overly many coincidences of late."

Meera looked at Sam and raised her eyebrow, "Remain apart from those stones, Sam. They could but turn you into a one of those evil leaders, like Burn."

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"I but agree." She looked at her, "Meera, you do not suppose that they also held these stones, do you?"

"And that is what made them evil? Is this your meaning?"

She nodded, but Meera only shrugged, "Perhaps the Old Raggedy One could but tell you about these stones."

"Or my grandmother, the Woman in the Woods."

"I see someone but returning. Sam, for your safety, please tell no one about this, but remain vigilant about remaining away from these stones.

We will inform Oisin upon her return. These stones should be cast back into the sea or buried whenever we find them. You will have to will yourself against them, Sam, as they call to you like sirens."

"I will try, Meera, but I could not halt myself. It was as if they forced me to pick them up. Are you certain that they had no effect on you?"

Meera went and found another stone and closed her hand tightly around it for a short while. She felt nothing and when she reopened her hand, the stone was yet a bright green.

"No, nothing. Remain away from them, and tell no one. Not even Jandra. The fewer that know, the fewer that could be but forced to tell of this thing."

"Do not throw away the necklace, though, Meera. I want to speak to the Woman in the Woods about these stones, first. I think Buron knows.

And now that I but think about it, there are some of these green stones in two of the gowns he sent."

"This be good that you have but found out. Keep thinking, Sam. Was there anything else? We will place them in a safer spot from you upon our return. You must not have contact with these stones. They will make you do things that are not of your nature. It is almost like they force you to be exactly who you are not. They seem to hunger for more power; your power."

Sam yet felt restless, "Come, Meera. Help me to burn off this feeling of uneasiness within me. Teach me new sword moves."

Meera laughed, "Be this but a good moment? You will cut off my head with the power you now have."

Sam looked at her but didn't smile, "Perhaps there can be a good use to these stones. We will but have to learn it first, though."

Sam unsheathed her sword, as did Meera. Meera began to teach Sam some new moves and their practice went on until all the others had arrived.

As they were practicing, the others made the eve meal and watched. No one in all of Woden had the skill of the sword such as Meera, and Sam was almost as good, so it was fun to watch them practice together. When they finished, they all ate their eve meal. Sam then wanted to learn how to shoot - 279 -.

two arrows at one moment, such as Keddi. All of them practiced until the sun's setting, and then returned to the fire ring, exhausted.

"Thank you, all. I had great need to work off much unused energy.

Riding on a horse releases not the stress within me. And I have wanted to learn about this two-arrow shooting. I can see that it will take me many moments to even come close to your skill, Keddi. It be most impressive."

"Your Birth-Mother is the one who taught me. I saw her use three arrows, but only once did they all land where she wanted them. She was highly skilled in the bow craft."

Meera arose, "All of you. Come with me but for a moment."

They followed Meera over to the log that Sam had tossed into the forest so easily.

Meera motioned to the log, "Let us pick up this log and move it over a little. Sam, you but watch."

They all began to try to lift the log, but couldn't.

Keddi suggested, "Let us all try to lift just one end."

All came to Keddi's end and tried to lift it off the ground. They managed slightly, but couldn't hold up the log for very long, and let it back down.

Keddi asked, "Meera, why do we do this?"

Sam looked stunned and looked back to where she had tossed it from.

Meera replied, "It be of no matter. I was just checking on something.

Thank you."

They returned to the fire ring and Margeria settled down next to Rundle, who was helping to keep her warm. "Highest, will you read one more entry from the diaries for us this eve?"

Sam nodded and retrieved the diary from her carry pouch.

Entry #16: It's been three days since I last wrote in this diary. A storm came up and we've been busy trying to keep everything and everyone on board. We almost swamped the boat three or four times, but we've all survived, at least in this boat. When the storm had cleared, we saw that we were missing two boats. One of the women's and one of the men's. We hope they've just become separated from us but fear that they've sunk in the storm.

Some of our tools were in those boats, so our beginning has been made even the more difficult now.

Elaine takes us directly to our new home. She guesses that it will take us about 2-3 more weeks and hopes for clear sailing.

One of our sails is beginning to rip, so we have been trying to mend it during the non-wind periods. Some women continue to be seasick, and they grow even weaker as they can't eat anything.

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