Jandra wanted to reach for Sam's hand, but didn't, giving Sam the space she so needed. Sam had also wanted to reach for Jandra's, but hadn't for fear Jandra was yet frustrated with her.

"Woden is indeed becoming their shelter. And now with Oisin pursu-ing battle in Apien, it be a good guess that she brings back many more who seek our shelter. I think they seek a permanent place."

Jandra looked into Sam's eyes and smiled, "Your power grows stronger, does it not?"

"How do you but know of this?"

"The color of your eyes grows more intense with the power. They are strikingly beautiful, Sam, if not a little forbidding."

"Forbidding? How do you mean, Jandra?"

"If one knows you not, they will think you can see through them with such eyes as this."

Sam laughed, "I must speak truly. I looked in the mirror when fixing my hair. As I saw my own eyes, they but frightened me."

"I know not which is more humorous. You frightening yourself or you trying to fix your own hair."

Sam nodded and laughed a little, "It be true. It be a little wild."

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"A little wild? You are a master of understatement, Sam." She looked at Sam, "I have missed you and am glad you are back. In our short turns together, I have grown used to you in the bed next to me. It be strange and lonely without you, and I have never been lonely prior."

"I also thought of you during my journey, which is a strange thing for me. I liked my journey much, but it was not the same as prior. I kept thinking of you and wanting to return to you, but not to Woden. You have invaded my thoughts."

"That does not sound good, Sam."

"I think it as good. As I lay by the sea, listening to its sounds, I thought of you and the sound of your voice. The waves made me think of your hair. And as I began to fall to sleep, I thought of you, your smell, and what it feels like to hold you, always next to me in our bed, and I missed all these things."

Jandra's eyes shone, "In truth? You speak these things truly?"

Sam nodded, giving Jandra a long, strong hug, "Most honest truth, Jandra. I cannot make up these things. In truth, I wished that you had come with us, but then I would not have wanted the others. They would have been interruptions to ourselves. But truly, as much as I like my freedom and the sounds and smells of the outside, I missed you. And that but surprised me."

Jandra did something she rarely did, which was kiss Sam. She usually let Sam take the initiative on this since she was The Highest, but couldn't control herself this turn. Sam was pleased and returned the kiss and embrace.

"Thank you, Jandra. It is most pleasant when you do this. I often wonder if I am overly bold in my kissing of you. I have noticed that you do not take this upon yourself to begin. This be a pleasant surprise."

She blushed, "I am glad you have returned. I have come to detest a separation between us."

"Let us go to our dwelling, then. May has our meal prepared, and then we can remedy your loneliness."

Jandra smiled, and they began to walk back to their dwelling, hand-in-hand. They didn't notice, but some of the community's women were watching, and smiling. As they walked back to the dwelling, they spoke of the advisor meeting next turn, Sam's rounds in Hengist, Jandra's stories from the community sessions, and Sam's journey. They walked the long way back to their dwelling, up and down through all the paths of Woden, just enjoying the silence, their leisure, and the quiet moments to speak together.

They arrived to their dwelling at dark, and the eve remained quiet.

They ate their meal on their patio, yet talking of their adventures, and occa- - 294 -.

sionally listening to the sounds of the eve. Sam enjoyed her first real leisure since her journey, and Jandra saw to it that she ate enough. They spent the eve enjoying their moments, and rushing nothing. They both enjoyed being back together.

The morn was also quiet. May had seen to it that the Sam had some quiet moments prior to her advisor meeting. May continued to worry about Sam even though she appeared to be in good spirits. She well knew the stress for Sam being The Highest, and sought to keep the events back on the advisors whenever possible, for Sam. Sam rose late and found Jandra already risen and gone. She was sorry that she missed Jandra, and went to the kitchen for her early morn meal.

May had heard her rise and prepare for the turn, "Good morn, Highest. Jandra said to tell you that she be at a short meeting in preparation of the festival in but two turns. It is but another glorious turn. It rained a little last eve, for which all the gardens and farms will be most grateful. The community smells clean and fresh this morn. As I walked by the river, I saw the lilies beginning to bloom. They be such a beautiful sight. You would most enjoy them. I have prepared a delicious morn meal for you this turn. And I have all the sweets ready for your advisor meeting. I was wondering, Highest. Since you go to Hengist this turn, would you like a bag of sweets to take over to them, as well? It be no bother. I have also given some to the guards. They but need some tending to. Have you but noticed that you be well guarded these turns? There are many more guards than you are used to. They have been most quiet and discreet, however, so as not to disturb you or make you feel a prisoner."

Sam began to eat what May had given to her and thought it delicious, as May had said. "What be this, May? It be most tasty."

"I call it a baked vegetable egg casserole. I made it up. I but heard you brought back many new women."

Sam nodded as she ate, "And men and children. We found a small group of about nineteen out beyond Nodda and Sumi's dwelling, down near the sea. And at the very end of our journey, we found three women and one child. All from Apien and all trying to escape those evils that occur there. Oisin has left to do battle in Apien and rid the place of Manthar."

"Who is Manthar?"

"A man. A leader. A very corrupt and evil one. It is spoken that he rapes all the women, children and men daily. It is also spoken that he enslaves everyone besides his own guards."

"What makes men do such things, Highest?"

"I think it not just men, May. Josin was also as evil. As was Hern. I know not what makes anyone do evil. I understand it not."

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"But Josin could not rape all these people, such as this Manthar seems to do."

"No, Josin could not rape, but I have learned that she gave herself to men in return for power. So it be the same, I think."

"I understand not this usage of sex as a weapon. Since when did it become a power issue? I thought it was to be for pleasure, such as we do in Woden and Hengist."

Sam shook her head, "I know not, May. Rape is a rare event in Hengist, and I cannot recall the last moment it occurred between Woden and Hengist."

"Only men can rape, Highest."

"Perhaps in the physical sense. But what Josin did to gain power is a form of rape."

"I disagree, Highest. Only a man can force his sex into a woman. A woman has no such parts and can do no such thing."

Sam shook her head, "I have heard of such, though, May. Women can arouse a man and then cause pain because of it. That be the same."

"No, Highest. I disagree. A woman when raped is entered by force.

It be evil."

Sam saw that May was most disturbed by these thoughts, "May, it be fine. But why does this disturb you so? Was someone you hold close, raped? Be this a personal issue within you?"

"Yes, but I wish not to discuss it, Highest. You will see to it that nothing like this ever occurs in Woden again. I am most comforted that you are now Highest."

"May, I will not press further, but was this you who was raped?"

"As you said, Highest, it be best if you not press further."

"I am sorry, May. I will give you your privacy. If you would ever like to share this with me, though, I will be here to listen."

"Thank you, Highest. It be enough."

May sat down at the table across from Sam, "The women wonder why you do not move into The Highest's dwelling. What be your plans?"

"We remain here. I wish not to live in that massive building. I would but get lost. And it is not a dwelling. Since Jandra and I be together, it saves space in the community to remain here. The community can use the building for a community-gathering place. And besides, May, I cannot give up this dwelling. I love this kitchen and the dwelling. It has all my memories."

May nodded, "I understand, Highest. I will but inform the women of the community. I think they will also understand. Highest, you continue to eat your morn meal. I hear your advisors arriving and I want to give them - 296 -.

some sweets. Jandra informed me that she would go directly to the meeting so as to organize the advisors prior to your own arrival."

"Is Lillon able to attend as yet?"

"I know not, Highest."

May left to tend to the arriving advisors while Sam continued to eat.

She thought about what new advisors Woden and Hengist would need, but thought it better to let the advisors tend to it. She thought about the bridge and the festival and of perhaps opening the bridge permanently, and she wondered why it had ever been closed. The diaries spoke of the evils the First Women had endured, but many cycles had passed since then. Perhaps it was the moment to begin an opening of the communities. Jandra entered as Sam was eating.

Sam looked up, surprised, "Is all well, Jandra?"

Jandra smiled at her, "Yes, Sam. Why do you ask?"

"May told me that you would not be back until the advisor meeting."

"I finished early and wanted to see you. Did you rest well last eve?"

"I always rest well with you, if that be what you would like to call it."

Jandra blushed, "I always feel like a young girl with you."

"You are. If you be not, you fool me. But you be not silly and ridiculous as that age."

Jandra sat down across from Sam, and they talked while she finished eating her meal.

When all the advisors had finally arrived, May went to retrieve Sam and Jandra, "Highest, they are but ready for you. Do you wish to fix your hair?"

"I did, May. Be it that bad?"

May shook her head, "Highest. It is just wild as is usual for you. On your next rounds, find Imly and get your hair tended to."

Sam nodded. Both she and Jandra rose to go into the meeting room.

As Sam entered, she saw that she had forgotten that Briggon and his advisors were also attending, and was pleased. Everyone saw her enter and rose so that they could kneel. They all did, and bowed their heads. Sam couldn't understand why everyone insisted on performing this much need-less act.

"Please rise. And please find another way to greet me. It be getting wearisome to see only the tops of everyone's head when I enter a room."

The advisors all laughed and sat back down. They had all been eating May's sweets. This turn, May had provided what looked to Sam to be some type of fruit tarts. She hoped that there would be some spare ones for later.

She sat down at her favorite chair and began to greet everyone, "Good late morn, all. Briggon, it be good of you and your advisors to attend.

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Please introduce your advisors to all of us in case we remember not." She saw that Lillon was in attendance.

Briggon rose, "Highest. We are most excited to be here. This is the first moment ever between Hengist and Woden that we share in this meeting. We thank you much for it."

Briggon motioned to his left, "This be Landric, my advisor for all of trade and accounts." He then motioned to his right, "This be Moduin, Hengist's advisor for health and building. And next to him be Gerin, Hengist's advisor for festivals and whatever else needs covering. I oversee security and Woden relations."

Sam had her own advisors introduce themselves and then began the meeting, "I will get straight to my agenda. Due to traitors in Woden, trade and much else was ceased with Hengist. That era is over. What remains, however, is how to put things as correct. We are short some advisors.

There is much violence and battle in The Realm. We have many new people seeking refuge in Woden, some of them from mixed communities. We have no spiritual leaders except those from Hengist. Jandra needs an assistant. And the festival approaches amidst all the turmoil. Suggestions?"

Sam sat down and took a fruit tart. She would let the advisors figure out the dilemmas of Woden. She knew that it couldn't be her duty alone.

Karan rose, "Highest. All. We have lost many women of late due to their own accord. That leaves us without an expert to the town's charter, an advisor of future planning in Woden, an assistant for The Second, an advisor in charge of festivals, and an advisor for community management.

We are also short Meera's counterpart, but perhaps Meera could be given a title and be in charge of the entire guard unit. Since Second is now Second, we also no longer have a community ambassador for you, Highest."

As Karan sat down, Jandra rose, "Perhaps we could combine some of these duties and do with fewer advisors, since we have but combined the two groups. We now also have the Hengist advisors meeting with us, so we should not need as many. I was the community ambassador to The Highest prior, and I could continue to do that. Prior to the former Highest's illness, the duties of community ambassador did not amount to much."

As Jandra finished, Briggon rose, "Perhaps Hengist could provide a more active role. Until Woden has its own spiritual leaders, ours could do what is needed, as was recently done. Our guards could also serve as counterparts to Meera's units, at her command. We could also provide some sentry duty, which we have not been allowed prior. Gerin would also be able to help on a committee for each of the festivals we presently share with you. And Landric, our trade and accounts advisor would like it much if he could but work with Ghada and Alain. It would keep our accounts more accurate and would help all of us to cease useless growing for that which we - 298 -.

might have overly much of. And we would like it much if our health advisor, Moduin, was able to work more closely with Tehna. We have much to offer each other in terms of remedies."

Meera then rose to speak, "Janel, of the fisheries, would be but a good advisor. She knows the community well, and is well liked. She is young, having many cycles ahead of her, and always is thinking of the community.

She also keeps her thoughts toward Hengist, making certain that their fishers are also supplying Hengist with enough. And Caitha has indicated to me that she also would be an advisor if but needed. We could allow Hengist to have yet another advisor, making it more equal between us and saving us from using more women that we do not have currently."

Iver rose when Meera finished, "I have been your advisor for outside relations. I could but take on the community ambassador duty, as it is much the same. I have also been long interested in the community's charter."

Ghett spoke from her chair, "As the advisor for commerce and trade, I could work with Landric from Hengist and Ghada and Alain, but I think many of our roles are the same and that my role could be done away with.

Then, if you so wish, Highest, I could be made free as advisor for something else of your choice."

No one else spoke up.

Sam got up from her chair, "I thank you for your ideas. I will think on them for a few turns, confer with The Second, and then inform you at the next meeting. I would like the next meeting to occur in three turns.

Hengist, you will need to be here, as well. I have another issue before us - should we create a third community? A mixed one? Many people are seeking refuge from Apien and New Harborage now, and some seek to come here. I would like a small group to examine this. Volunteers?"

Landric raised his hand, as did Ghett, Karan, Zan and Sephim.

"Thank you. Please discuss this in the communities and report back at our next meeting. I have a question. What became of those five women that were rescued from Sir Devin's ship?"

Karan rose and smiled, "They would like entrance into Woden, Highest. They want no more of a mixed community. One is a midwife and somewhat healer. One is a glass blower and mirror maker. One is a preparer of stored foods. One is a garment maker, and the last would like to learn the fisheries. We are finding dwellings for them."

Sam addressed the advisors, "Be there any issues from you?"

Sephim rose and looked embarrassed, "Highest, I have no suggestions for you about the festival this meeting. It would appear that our past issues with you having a companion are but over."