What think you of this, Second of Defense?"

"Can you embed them in such a way so as she will not need to touch them?"

- 373 -.

He nodded, "As it be with the knife."

"Then do so."

Sam started to hand the knife back to Ivers but Meera interrupted, "Halt, Highest. The Old One told you to have your knife with you at all moments."

"I did not bring my sheath for it."

Ivers said, "I will get you a temporary one, Highest. You can have a messenger return it when you get back to your dwelling."

Sam nodded. She was yet a bit overwhelmed by the strength of the knife.

"Do you feel any effects from the stone as before, Highest?"

"No. Not as prior when I but touched the stone. This felt no different than usual."

Jandra got frightened, "What is so unusual about touching these stones?"

"I found these stones on a beach when Meera and I but checked the perimeter of Woden. I picked one up and held it tight. When I released it, the stone looked dead, but the power had gone into me. It made me feel strange. And I quickly wanted as many of those stones as I could but find.

Meera saved me from them. I feel no such longings from them this way."

Tadan came close, "Highest Mother, may I take a look at that stone?"

Sam handed the knife to Tadan, "Do you know this stone?"

He nodded and looked somber, "I do, but was unaware of what it could provide to you. You think it safe if I but touch the stone?"

Meera nodded, "I have tried it as well. The stone did nothing to me as it does The Highest."

Tadan touched the stone. He felt its smoothness. He looked into its middle. He picked up a rock and hit it lightly against the stone. Nothing happened to the stone. He tried it again a little harder. Again, nothing occurred.

"This stone be harder than this rock. What happens when you but touch it, Highest Mother?"

"It can make me want more power. More than anyone should have.

It but makes me want to touch more of the stones."

"Be there extra of these stones?"

Sam nodded.

"Might I try a few experiments with one?"

Meera shook her head, "Be that but a good idea, Highest? We need to take the remainder of the stones and but hide them."

Sam looked to Ivers, "Give one of the stones to Tadan. When you are completed with the sword, give the remainder of the stones back to Second of Defense."

- 374 -.

Ivers nodded and left to get Sam's temporary knife sheath.

Caitha interrupted the moment, "Jandra, you are getting as bad as these two. You but work all the moments of the turn. This is festival. Let us go to celebrate. Are you asking Sam to be your companion this festival, Jandra?"

Caitha took hold of Jandra by the arm and began to walk away with her toward the food booths. Meera just shook her head and laughed. Sam laughed lightly, placed her knife in her belt, and began to follow Caitha and Jandra.

"Did you tell Caitha of the child?"

Meera nodded, "I did. She will assist Jandra through this. I was but thinking that Caitha should go with Jandra to the Spirit Mothers to attend her. It would make me feel better, and it will allow Jandra to have a friend with her."

"If the Spirit Mothers but allow it."

"I would bet that you could make this so, Highest."

"It is a good idea, Meera. I will see to it with the Old One when she but arrives."

"Are you aware, Highest, that you accepting Jandra as a companion this turn is but the highlight of all this festival?"

Sam halted, "Huh? Why be this so?"

Meera slapped her on the back and laughed, "I know not, Highest, but prepare yourself. There will be but a crowd to watch the event. They most likely bet you will not, once again."

"I have made this of my own doing by waiting overly long."

"There be sword contests this festival. I would but like to watch them."

"Watch them? Why be you not in them?"

Meera moved quickly away, "Highest, hold where you are while I tell you this."

Sam looked at Meera, and suddenly raised and eyebrow, "Meera, you did not do as I think you did, did you?"

Meera began to walk further away, "It be just for fun, Highest."

Sam kept walking toward her, "Meera, you did not enter us into this contest, did you?"

Meera began to run toward Caitha, "Help, Caitha. Highest is after me."

Jandra turned to Sam, "Sam, behave yourself."

Sam pointed to Meera, "But she started it. Do you know what she did?"

Jandra just looked at Sam, "You are but a child at moments, Sam."

- 375 -.

"But, she entered us into the sword contest, and I am not prepared for this."

Jandra looked at Meera, "You are as bad as she is."

Caitha laughed, "Let them play. We will eat the sweets while they but entertain us, Jandra."

Jandra looked to Meera, "And how is she to do this with her gown on, Meera?"

"I have had a changing station arranged for her, and I had one of the guards bring over her fighting garments."

Jandra shook her head and went up to Meera, wagging her finger in Meera's face, "You had better hope that this be the only moment you steal her away from me this turn, Meera or you will face me and Caitha."

Rundle barked at Meera, sensing that she was somehow in trouble with Jandra, and since it was Rundle's duty to protect Jandra, he joined in.

Most would have thought Jandra serious, but Sam, Meera and Caitha knew that Jandra was playing with her, and Meera was most grateful for it.

She liked that Jandra could now tease her so. It had been many cycles since they had a good relationship, and now was delighted to be able to play into the game with her.

She fell to her knees in front of Jandra and folded her hands as if in pleading, "Oh kind and good of all Seconds, please be gentle with me.

Please hurt me not."

Jandra laughed and slapped her lightly on her head, "Get up, you old woman warrior. You make me but laugh. As if I could injure you."

She turned to Caitha, "Are you certain that these two be old enough to be such leaders? I find it most disturbing, do you not?"

Caitha laughed and grabbed Jandra's arm and began walking off with her yet again.

Sam looked at Meera, "I hope you no other surprises for me or Jandra will but have your head."

"No, none. A sword contest be but enough."

"What be the prize?"

Meera looked at Sam and laughed, "Why, fighting you, of course."

Sam stared at Meera a moment, then laughed loudly, "If I were not in my Highest gown, Meera, I would but tie you to a tree and take target practice on you."

Tadan went to Sam, "I take my leave now, Highest Mother. But I will attend the sword fight to watch yours and Meera's skills. Perhaps later you would be willing to tell me about this child of Jandra's that also seems to be yours. I know not how this could be so, but I would like to hear it."

"These turns, there is much that even I know not, Tadan."

"Don't? What be this word, Highest Mother?"

- 376 -.

"I have been reading the diaries of the First Ones. They use words such as this. It is a word that seems to combine two words into one. Don't means do not."

"What other words like this did they use?"

"Can't for cannot is another."

Tadan giggled, "I can't understand this. This be most amusing, Highest Mother. Will you tell me more of these words later?"

"I think another is didn't for did not. Go now, and have fun at festival.

Within a moon, Woden will be under attack and our fun moments will be but limited."

Tadan left and the four walked together, with Rundle following. They tried out the food booths, whereupon Jandra had announced that she much liked the cheese breads and crackers. Caitha and Meera liked the sweets, and Sam liked the vegetable rolls. They went to the beer tasting contest and found that they much enjoyed Hengist's beer over Woden's. Eeda of Woden won the wine contest, and the sweets contest was unsurprisingly won by May. Since Sam was present, she was asked to present the prize to May, and she willingly did so.

May smiled sweetly so as to fool all those watching and said very softly to Sam, "You better take good care of Jandra or this will be the last sweet you but have, Highest dear. You actions last eve were but embarrassing to her."

"I know, May. It is good to have you watch over me so. Someone needs to keep me in my place. I am making it up to her."

"I should think it would take you at least a cycle to do so. Thank you for my prize, Highest."

"I will tell Jandra of your pronouncement for my punishment. Con-gratulations, once again, May. Is this not the fortieth cycle you but win this prize?"

May pushed Sam's shoulder in jest, "Halt with teasing me, Highest.

You well know this be only my nineteenth prize in this category. I but think of changing categories next festival."

All four of them watched the play once again, as did all of Woden.

The women of Woden loved it and asked for it to be repeated next moon in Woden. The men of Hengist said that they were busy in production with yet another play. Following the play, Ivers came up and delivered the temporary sheath for Sam's knife. It made carrying it far easier.

During the festival, the jesters made all the attendees laugh, the mimes mimed The Highest, The Second, Meera and Briggon, much to the enjoyment of all, including Sam. The puppeteers entertained the children and adults with their funny puppet plays. And all the contests occurred.

- 377 -.

Sam excused herself for a moment and went up to one of the craft booths.

"Good midturn, Agga. Did you but receive my message?"

"I did, Highest. It be prepared for you. I know it will fit as she has tried on such prior. The bracelet is most beautiful and matches."

"I will have thirty flasks of wine delivered for this. Will it be enough, Agga?"

"Oh, Highest. It be overly much. Five flasks will be fine. I am most honored to do this for you."

Sam took the items and placed them in a small pocket behind The Highest's hood. She then returned to Jandra, Meera and Caitha.

Meera met Sam, "Highest, it be the moment you must prepare for the sword contest."

"Where must I do this, Meera?"

Meera pointed to a small tent, "Your garments be in there. I will tend you."