Nolsteney looked straight into Sam's eyes, kindly, "It was the same in Apien and New Harborage. Most all our women in The Realm have been abused and suffer terribly. I will work hard to make it better for all the women, Highest. I have longed to be here for most my life. While there was great need of me in other places, I now need a home to live out the last part of my life."

Sam nodded and let go Nolsteney's hands. She then turned to Meera, and they both left, with Karan following.

As they got outside the door, Meera turned to Sam, "Is he as evil as you first thought?"

Sam frowned and glared, "No. He be far worse. He was a follower of Manthar and but raped that little child every turn. Take him away and kill him. He came here to enslave us all. Make it quick and short."

Meera nodded, "It will be done directly. I will report back to you."

She turned and left. Sam looked at Karan, "It now seems I need be more careful with all our new arrivals. Thank you, Karan. Please make sure that those who wish to remain in Woden are placed quickly. Nolsteney could use a dwelling this eve, if one be but ready. And you might introduce her to some of the single women more her cycles. She be but gentle and kind and will serve Woden well. Please make certain that she but attends festival. We could use a woman spiritual leader.

After leaving the infirmary, Sam walked down to the fisheries, guards-in-tow. She hadn't had the spare moments to get to the fisheries for over a moon, and was feeling somewhat guilty. The fishers were an integral part of Woden, and much of their food source relied upon these women who braved the currents every morn. Except for domesticated birds, Woden relied little upon animal production from the farms. Some sheep were used mostly for their wool and for special occasions, and cows were primarily only used for milk and cheese production. So Sam was well aware of the importance of the fisheries to all of Woden. Given the distance from the community, the fishers mostly dwelt near the docks in near-shore dwellings, as did the net makers and the boat and shipmakers. Sam knew that the fishers would be well back from their morn runs, and would be at the docks cleaning and repairing.

As she approached the fisher docks, Janel saw her coming, "Look sharp, The Highest comes."

- 335 -.

All the women gathered around Janel to greet Sam, "Highest. How goes it? Should we kneel to you, Highest?"

Sam laughed, "No. I tire of seeing the tops of women's heads. Just show me your catch of the turn."

"We had a good haul this morn. We have enough to but smoke and dry much of our catch. Except for May. She but requested one of the large red fish for your late eve meal. Lucky you. We caught many red fish this morn, and they be but good size, too."

Tiada put out a stool for Sam. The rest of the women just sat around on floats and such.

"When will you be able to get more of those little white muscles of fish?"

"You mean the scallops, Highest?"

"I think so. I know not the name."

"Karan found such a name in Woden's dictionary. We know not if it be correct, but that is now the name for them. Soon, Highest. Another moon."

"We have some new women coming into Woden. One of them but wants to be a fisher. Have you need of another?"

"Sure we do. Does she know fishing or must she be trained?"

"She must be trained, but it is her choice alone."

Eile looked at Sam, "Highest, why be your eyes so blue these turns?

Be it because you are The Chosen One?"

Sam nodded, then shook her head, "It is but strange, is it not? It even frightened me when I looked into a mirror."

Eile laughed, "When are you going fishing with us, Highest?"

"When might I catch a large fish? One worth fighting?"

Brid smiled and nodded, "Aye, you refer to the big ones. They be in two more moons, Highest, and are but worth the wait."

Wida came over and offered Sam some fried fish, "We just prepared these fish cakes for our meal. Have some, Highest. This be good fresh fish, and you will like the coating. We also have some new fresh beer just made."

Sam ate her midturn meal with the fishers. She much enjoyed the fish-cakes and had never had them quite like they had been prepared.

She especially enjoyed the beer, "How did you come by the beer so fresh?"

Emma pointed to Muirgel, "Murigel's companion, Harva, brought it by just prior. It is luck that her companion is but our best beer maker."

Janel added, "And seeks to spoil us upon our returns from the sea."

"So what think you of all the changes occurring of late?"

- 336 -.

Wida shook her head, "We but heard from Oisin's crews. New Harborage and Apien need to be demolished, from what we hear."

Brid got up, as if angered, "Aye, and all those evil men need to be killed. We but heard what they do to the women and young ones. Oisin's crew will get them, though."

Emma asked, "What be this we hear of a third community, Highest?

We have heard that Woden will have but a mixed community. Be this so?"

Sam nodded, "It is a discussion only, Emma. But, as you have all said, New Harborage and Apien should be dismantled. Where would all those people go?"

Sam told them of the large and small group that just walked over from Apien. She told them of Manthar and of all the events she had heard regarding Fornaith.

Emma nodded, "It is but a dilemma, Highest. We leave it to you and trust your vision for Woden. You are the best Woden will ever see. We know you will do well by us. By the way, Highest, do we but hear you will accept as a companion this festival? You have but remained alone for a long while. Be this report but truth?"

Sam smiled, "Perhaps. I have not yet been asked. I have yet to inform Oisin, though. She has been gone the entire moment of this. She will understand, but I wish not to surprise her, so."

Brid responded, "She has her own mate, Highest. Oisin will manage.

She be but a strong one and will want you to do what is best for you and Woden."

"You speak truly. I am grateful for the reminder."

"We are just about to go out to pull up a few catches, Highest. Do you wish to join us? We vow you a short adventure. I do not think you have seen our new fishing beds. We will not take overly long, and we could use but more strong arms as yours."

"Under one condition."

Janel looked surprised, "A condition, Highest? Whatever you wish, but what could this be?"

Sam smiled mischievously, "Make my guards come. It will make me laugh, plus give you a few more strong arms. If they but wish to follow me everywhere, then they should be made to go on the fishing boats."

Sam went in Emma, Evergren, and Janel's boat, while the two guards each went in one of the two other boats. They rowed out to where they had placed the pots at the bottom of the sea. Each pot weighed a great deal, so the fishers were glad to have the extra hands to lift them. Sam noticed that the two guards each looked rather pale and sickly from the waves, but they said nothing and continued to help.

- 337 -.

Janel's boat raised the first pot. Sam had seen these types of fish but rarely. They were also red but with long arms that could snap.

Sam looked to Janel, "Why does May not cook these for me?"

Janel laughed, "These be bottom feeders, Highest. And May thinks that bottom feeders are not good enough for you. When we return, allow us to steam one of these for you. You will most enjoy it. I cook these with corn, and have some corn bread with it, and it makes but a fine meal."

Emma added, "I put the meat in a stew with other fish and vegetables.

This is but a great bottom feeder, but May does have her desires."

Sam laughed, "What else am I not getting that I would but enjoy?"

Evergren said, "We will make it point to but expand her thinking for you, Highest."

Finally, all the pots were pulled up, emptied, and then returned with some bait placed inside. It was hard and difficult work, especially in the cold winds and water, and Sam fully appreciated the abilities of these women. She thought that the guards would now appreciate these fishers much more than prior and thought it a good lesson for them. When they arrived back at the docks, they all helped to unload. Janel went about preparing the bottom feeders for Sam and the guards. When the work was done, and the nets had been hung, Janel fed Sam and the guards the bottom feeders.

Sam was delighted, "These are wonderful, Janel. I need all of you to make May taste these. I like these much. Either that, or just invite me down when you but have them." She laughed and ate.

Brid said, "We could but do that, Highest. We often have bakes of such on the beach. It be most fun. We do it in the early eve, in fair weather."

The guards also liked the taste, but ate little. Janel and Sam both saw that the guards looked a little ill from their sea outing. Sam waved her farewells and began her walk back to Woden.

She waited for the guards and walked alongside them, "Well, Eabha.

Cranait. How did you but enjoy your sea adventure?"

Eabha spoke first, "It was an adventure I will not soon forget, Highest. They but have most difficult and wavy work. The motion of the sea seems quite constant to me. I but like the land."

Cranait nodded, "I hope I have to never but sail on the sea. These small boats and that short journey were enough for me. But I most enjoyed the fish."

- 338 -.

Sam walked back to her dwelling in silence for the rest of the way, as the guards needed to be more watchful. She decided to pass by some of the shops on her way back. She was hoping that Imly could do something with her hair so that others would stop talking about it. She passed by the shop and saw some light, so she knocked and went in.

"Imly? Are you in?"

Imly came out from the back of the shop, "Oh, Highest. You surprise me. What can I do for you?"

"Well, Imly, many are"

"I can see, Highest. Your hair. May has but sent you over, has she not?"

Sam nodded.

"Sit. Let us see what I can do with this. How long has it but been since your last visit with me, Highest?"

"I know not, Imly. I care little about appearances. And this hair is such a bother. It is always flying about."

Imly began to cut and trim, "I will fix it so that when it flies, it will look wonderful. You have beautiful hair, Highest. It just needs a bit of taming. I hear that your turns of dwelling alone are almost over, Highest.

Be that true? If so, it be a wonderful report for you. It was a hard loss on you. I also hear that Woden is but considering a third community, one of mixed believers. Be this true, Highest?"

"Possibly, for both, Imly. It is true that I have settled down to one woman currently, but I have not yet been asked to be a companion. And yes, we are but a third community because of all the men and women coming over from Apien and New Harborage. Life be dangerous in The Realm now. What think you of this?"

"Well, Highest. Since you ask my opinion, I am happy to provide it. I hear that Second would like us to move our shops between Woden and Hengist. To this, I object not. It would increase our abilities to trade better, but I like not the idea of a mixed community. Those people think overly strangely for me. I but like our life in Woden. It be safe and peaceful. If we bring in a third community of mixed people, how can you assure me that they will not try to force us into their ways?"

Sam told Imly of the diaries, of Manthar, and of King Buron. She told the stories of the women who were seeking refuge in Woden. And she told Imly of how the women and men were arriving in Woden, all but dead from starvation.

- 339 -.

"Can we read from these diaries, Highest? They sound most fascinat-ing. I would like it much to hear more from them. Where did the First Ones come from?"

Sam explained about the lost diaries, of the experiment, and of the men and women, and how Hengist must have been first formed.

Imly gave Sam a hand-mirror, "There, Highest. That be much improved. Look at you. You be most stunning, now. You were prior, but now the hair is a bit more tamed. I think we should try to recover the lost diaries, Highest. Do you not?"

"I do as well. As soon as we can spare a moment, we will do so.

Thank you much for the hair fixing, Imly. I will send over two flasks of wine in appreciation of this most difficult task."

Imly laughed, "It be not as hard as that, Highest. Your hair is wild, but beautiful, so a pleasure to work with. Take care, Highest. We need you. Eat more. Your face be but overly thin these turns."

As Sam exited, she noticed that there had been a change in her guard duty. Two new guards were now waiting. She walked back to her dwelling, seeing that most of the shops were now closed. She knew that May and Jandra would be waiting and wondered if she would ever be free from commitment again.

Sam abruptly halted, realizing she was unsure of what she wanted.

I have never thought about this issue. After Brett, I have merely gone along all these cycles, free from the burdens and worries of commitment. What do I want? Perhaps I am more like Sumi and Nodda. Perhaps I want commitment as from Jandra. I don't know.

She shook her head, dismayed at her own lack of knowing, What is it I truly want? Have I been so free that I now fear this commitment? Can I live with but one woman now? I have had many lovers in these past cycles, and enjoyed them all. Can I but commit to Jandra as I had to Brett?

Suddenly, a guard came up to her, "Highest, be all well with you?"

She had startled Sam from her thinking, "Oh. I am but thinking. I am sorry to have startled you."

She went on walking to her dwelling. What makes me feel as if I should get on the back of a horse and take off to nowhere as fast as I can? I cannot make such a commitment to Jandra if I have not these answers. What be wrong with me? I should but halt this foolishness. Women and men but rely on my sensibilities. How can a Highest have such doubts as these? This be foolishness. One eve prior to festival and I act as a spoiled child. But why do I want to run away? Perhaps I don't wish this companionship. I do not love Jandra, but do care deeply for her, and she be most excellent in sex. Truly, she be the best partner on a turn-to-turn basis, ever. But be sex more important than love? She truly be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, so it be not the - 340 -.

issue of her appeal. I just need more freedom. I need not more nagging, certainly, as I have that in May.

Sam reached her dwelling and halted to look at it. There it was, as it had always been. Familiar. Brown. One story. With a full bank of windows and glass on the back side. The door on the front that Brett had made for her. Flowers, trees and shrubs of all types surrounded it. She felt frozen, unable to move or go in. She walked around it, instead, looking at it from all angles. She knew the guards thought she had gone crazy.

Sam walked by a guard, taking quick notice that the guard wasn't paying any attention to the weapons she carried. Sam walked close by, wondering if she could steal the guard's sword. She made a quick decision and suddenly unsheathed the guard's sword without her awareness.

"Nice sword. Find another, and we but practice."

The guard was stunned but ran over to another guard and borrowed her sword. As she returned, Sam lunged at her. The guard was barely able to counter. Sam was far away the better swordswoman, but enjoyed the practice.