The Second usually did her rounds around midturn so that she could wander in and out of the shops and community as well as speak to the women. It took her two turns to cover the entire community. She would normally do half of it one turn and the other half the next. She enjoyed the walking, and it let her keep in touch with most of the community, even if it was just to greet them. Since she was later than usual this turn, she thought - 40 -.

she would just wander around without a pattern. The rain had halted for the moment, and the air smelled fresh. Alain was updating her about Hengist's payment for these past several seasons.

"The new ship be almost complete. It has but taken many seasons with work crews from both our communities to finish it. You should go see it, Second, as we are most proud of it. Since we had enough working resources to keep up with the Farm and Gardens as well as building and maintenance, it was decided to let Hengist help us with the construction as their land payment. They also had a crew working on the new dock for the ship. I would recommend, Second, that we have a celebration for it."

"This be good a good report, Alain. Will it be near enough comple-tion to have it honored at this next Festival?"

She didn't want to hold any further gatherings until she had figured out their present problems. Combining the celebrations was the only other option. She hoped that it might also help uplift the mood of the community to let them take pride in something so big as this, but she had another reason, as well. It might also help show the Counselors how much defense we have, now.

Ghada liked the idea, "We could but begin the festivities at the ship and dock. It might provide the mood for the entire festival. Perhaps Oisin would even allow people on board."

The Second just thought, Wishful thinking.

"Perhaps she would allow them just on the top deck itself. Oisin is extremely protective of her ships. I will speak to her about this. Ghada and Alain, could you speak with the Festival Committee when they meet and suggest this idea? Alain, it might be best if you were the one to present it."

What The Second especially liked about Ghada and Alain was that they ignored the politics of anything; they just wanted to work with their accounts. And what most of the women tended to forget about them was that they were companions.

"We will be delighted to, Second."

"How are our stores of food and supplies?"

The Highest generally took care of these issues, so The Second was never well versed on them. Ghada handled the accounting for the work hours in the community projects and made certain that everyone did their fair share. She also made certain that all the projects got sufficient cover-age. Alain handled the community's stores and supplies.

"We are fully stocked."

The Second didn't doubt that. Alain worried about the smallest of details, and knew that the community had gone through too many periods when the crops had failed for Alain to take chances. Woden tended to be very cautious with the food stores, now.

- 41 -.

"I always make certain that we have our prescribed stock of six months, Second. But I do need your permission and advice on an idea we are considering."

She waited for The Second's permission to begin.

"Go ahead, Alain. You need not my permission to speak."

"Thank you, Second. Oisin met with Ghada and me and told us that she could trade three months worth of our grain supply for a new type of food product. I would not recommend it normally, but I consulted with Liley. She informed us that our early grain crop, which she is harvesting now, is larger than normal. The island Oisin be going to but needs the grain, and has a lot of other food stuffs they are willing to trade."

The Second asked, "Be there any risk?"

"Liley told me that Oisin needs to check to make certain that the produce will return safely and in good condition on the return trip. She also told Oisin that it must be isolated from any other foodstuff to prevent spread of disease. If it has seeds of any sort, Liley will but plant it apart from our food crops. Oisin will also be bringing back a new type of fruit tree stock."

"Liley has given her blessing to this trade?"

"Yes, Second. She is actually looking forward to it."

"Well then, go ahead and do it."

They walked down the main path past the shops. The main path provided the two main entrances to Woden, which was laid out in a square pattern. The town was a walled-in city. Each square and path was tree-lined, and each square contained twenty dwellings, except for four. A small park was in the middle of each square of dwellings. Visitors generally entered at one of the two large community parks. The Highest lived in the middle of the entire area, and both Meera and Keets lived nearby her.

The Second wanted to visit one shop and saw the woman who tended it, so went in. All of the shops on the main path were small two-level dwellings. The trade was conducted on the first and the women lived on the top part. They were getting better at building complex structures, but since these dwellings represented some of the first attempts, they were considered original structures and were thus well tended and kept in their original design.

"Good after midturn, Raitha."

Raitha made and traded pottery of all types. The Second particularly loved the colors she was turning of late. She had learned some new meth-ods recently by going with Oisin to a relatively close island.

She bowed her head, "Second, good to see you again. I have not seen you on your rounds of late. Come in and look at some of my new pottery."

- 42 -.

Everyone went inside her small and artfully designed shop. She had everything from bowls, to cups, to pitchers, to plates. The Second thought her new colors were wonderful.

"These pieces are stunning. These will be overly popular in the community. Will you be sending some with Oisin to be traded?"

"The men in the mines have found some wonderful minerals that produce these very intense blues. And I am sending eight complete sets with Oisin. I am also sending a set over to your dwelling. May told me that you have some pieces missing."

"Thank you, Raitha. I am well pleased." She paused for a moment, then asked, "Be there any new reports in the community?"

Raitha was quick to respond, "I hear that Hern is going to be evicted, if that be what you mean. I hear she beat Lillon almost to death. How is poor Lillon?"

Lillon also did rounds, and the community had readily embraced her.

She had been resistant at first, as she was shy, but she saw the reasoning and purpose behind it.

"Her wounds are recovering, but her heart is broken. What are the shop keepers saying about Hern?"

"We wonder why she has not yet been banished, but you must have your reasons. I will remind you, though, that we are supposed to be a non-violent community. By the way, Second, when did Hern arrive here? None of us recall."

"Second, we best be on our way if you are to get through your rounds." Meera was helping The Second out of the conversation since she had no good answer to Raitha's question about Hern.

"We have witnesses to the attack and are discussing the incident now.

While the law is clear, Raitha, we do need to make sure we hear all sides before making the final decision. Thank you for your visit. Regards to Afa."

They left the store and continued down the road toward The Highest's dwelling, the largest and finest in the community. The Second had done as much of her rounds as she could this after-midturn, and Meera and she needed to visit with The Highest.

"Alain. Ghada. Since we are near your dwelling, I have no need to detain you further. Thank you for walking with me to bring me up to date on our accounts."

Ghada and Alain bowed their heads to her and said their good-byes.

The Second headed toward Woden's gardens with Meera beside her, sitting down to enjoy the season's flowers for a few moments.

"I need to gather my thoughts together before speaking with The Highest, Meera, so let us just sit here for a moment."

- 43 -.

The garden was almost half as long as the entire length of the community, and there were two at this size, with The Highest's dwelling in the middle. One of the main rivers flowed directly through the gardens, and had been incorporated as part of the original design. Meera rarely accompanied The Second on her rounds so didn't know her patterns. The Second usually halted in the gardens for a few moments to enjoy the silence or to visit with others. Since other women generally surrounded her, there were few moments, except during the eves, that she had a moment alone for thinking.

Meera broke the silence, "I am worried about you, Second. You seem . . . distracted."

The Second looked at her but waited her out, really not wanting to hear about it, or to speak. She could tell Meera had more to say.

"I am worried that I am not seeing all the danger that is surrounding you right now. We have never had this much inside potential for harm to you. And I am but worried about how you are taking the duty of being The Highest. I know you have never wanted to be The Highest, but you are now. If The Highest lives, that be good, yet you know as well as I do that it will not be long before everyone wants you to become The Highest. Are you going to be able to deal with that?"

"Meera, you always worry about me." She smiled at Meera and laughed a little. "It be good that I never accepted your proposal to become companions. You would have but fretted over me every moment."

"I do now, anyway."

"But, Meera, I did you a favor. Now you have Caitha fretting every moment over you. And you deserve it."

Everyone had assumed that it had been Meera who hadn't accepted The Second's proposal. The reverse was true, but The Second never wanted anyone to know. Meera had honored, but not liked her request for silence on that. The Second had loved Brett too much and too well to take another companion. If she had, it would have been Meera. She hadn't wanted Meera to carry the burden of rejection when it was her own issue.

She looked around the gardens, "You know, Meera, I always wonder how I ever got to this position. All I ever wanted to do was to live a quiet life with Brett. Think not that I expect you to give your life for mine. Not even because of me being The Second. We are both in danger now. This community but needs you as well; perhaps more so. Use your guards more and you do less guarding. I want you safe. I could stand it not if I lost you also, to violence. We will have to deal with old cycles later, but allow not what happened to Brett happen to you."

- 44 -.

She looked down the pathways. No one was in the gardens. It was almost too quiet, but she liked it this way. It was almost like she had willed it to be peaceful.

"I want not to become The Highest. I never have. Every moment I see The Highest, she tries to get me to take the position, permanently, not just for the interim. She be overly ill to continue, and she knows it. Even if the anti-poison works, I think she will not be The Highest for much longer.

She is tired of it. Afterall, she has been The Highest for the longest reign of any of them. I have been doing a lot of thinking about the moment when I will really have to make that decision. What will I but do?" She looked at Meera. "The Highest told me that the Spirits of the Falls have spoken to her. Did you know about this?"

"No. What did they say?"

"That she can conclude her term. That she has served well and can step down. And that I am to be the next Highest."

"They told The Highest who is to be the next Highest?"

"According to her, yes. But there be something else that troubles me.

They told her that they would hold a celebration for me at the Falls with both communities present, shortly after I become Highest. That is not our way, and it has left me concerned. Why are they but involved in our community after all these moments? I have never spoken with them, have you?"

"It is not my place to speak with them, Second. Perhaps you should speak with The Highest about this. She knows more than I on this issue."

Meera knew much more than she was willing to provide, but recognized that she wasn't the one to inform The Second. Apparently, the moment for the Chosen One was coming to pass, as the Spirit Mothers had foretold many cycles prior. She had begun to see changes in The Second during the past few moons, but hadn't connected the changes to anything in particular. She didn't think that The Second had noticed any changes in herself, however. If she had, The Second hadn't informed her.

The Second could sense that Meera wasn't telling her everything she knew. She placed her hand on Meera's, wondering if the current would pass through them again. She was surprised to learn that the current was even stronger, this moment.

Meera looked at The Second in surprise, so The Second knew that Meera had felt it too.

The Second felt, or sensed Meera say, She is the Chosen One, as they said.

No words had been spoken, but Meera somehow knew that The Second had heard her thoughts. Meera could also tell that each moment this occurred, it weakened The Second. She had seen it the first occurrence.

The Second looked tired.

- 45 -.

Defeated, The Second said, "The Chosen One, Meera? What do you mean by this?"

Meera shook her head trying to escape from the current that passed between them, "Please, Sam, do not make me do this. It is not my place to tell you."

She glared at Meera, "Not your place? Are you not my friend, Meera?

What are you withholding from me?"

The Second hadn't noticed that Meera had called her by her given name. The Second's hand hadn't moved off Meera's, but the current had finally left.

Then The Second whispered, "What was that feeling? What is happening?"

She removed her hand and looked at it. Sadly, she said, "This is beginning to frighten me. And now I hear things that are not spoken."

"Perhaps you but need to know, after all."

"Know what?" and then she realized, "Meera, you but called me Sam."

"I am sorry, Second," and bowed her head.

"Oh, Meera, be not so," and unthinkingly reached out to Meera's chin to make her raise her head. The feeling passed between them again. This moment, she felt Meera's concern. The Second looked frightened.

"What is happening to me?"

Meera groaned, lightly. Poor Sam. The burden is going to become unbearable.

But Meera knew that The Second needed to know what she was facing.

"Do you recall your Birth-Mother, Second?"

"Of course I do." The Second was yet looking at her hand.

"How far prior do you remember?"

"Not far. And I have always wondered about that. My earliest memory is just prior to my seventh cycle."

"No one ever speaks to the Spirits of the Falls, Second. No one, that is except for you. They only speak to those they wish."

"And you think they spoke to me?"

"I know they spoke to you. To my knowledge, they only ever speak to whoever The Highest is. But Second, they did speak to you once, and you to them."

"No, I did not. I would remember such a thing."

"No, Sam. They did. They spoke to you."

"How do you know of this, Meera? Who told you?"

"I was there."