Sam just looked at Meera in complete frustration. She had no idea of what Meera was talking about. She just wanted to return to her dwelling and go to sleep. She felt tired and drained.

"Then why do I not remember as such?"

- 46 -.

"I have always wondered about that, as most our children can but remember easily from their fourth cycle. But now I believe they pushed that memory out of you until it was the moment."

"The moment for what? What are you talking about, Meera? You but make no sense."

"I am sorry, Second. I know this be confusing. I will explain, but you will need to get the remainder of the story from The Highest. When you were in your third cycle, the Spirits of the Falls summoned you and pro-claimed you as their Chosen One. Your Birth-Mother, The Highest and her advisors were there. They all heard."

"And I am to believe this?"

"If not, then you explain what has been happening to you and the changes that you have been experiencing."

Sam couldn't, but the story jarred no memories for her, "The Chosen One? What be a chosen one?" She felt too exhausted to even care, but the need for answers continued to bear down on her.

"I have not these answers, Sam. You must speak to The Highest. She needs to explain."

Meera noticed despair in The Second's expression. Too many changes had been occurring, and this too was taking her energy. Meera wished she could help, but this was not something she knew about.

"Oh, Sam, I am but sorry. I wish"

"Speak not about it anymore, Meera. It be already overly much."

The Highest's dwelling was the largest one in the community, and it was the only three-story structure. The Highest lived in the back part of the first floor. The front portion of the first floor was the community's library.

The Second floor was sectioned off into small meeting places, while the third floor was for large meetings and events. The Highest had been confined to her bedroom due to her illness, and that's where The Second and Meera headed. The Second noticed that Meera's guards were now at the doors and May was in feeding The Highest something that smelled wonderful. She realized she was hungry.

She went over to her bedside and bowed, "Highest," then waited to be acknowledged. She had never gone beyond the formalities with The Highest, as Oisin had done. Someone needed to set the example. Meera did likewise, but said nothing.

"Sam, come in. Come in. And Meera, you too. I feel a little better now. My stomach but seems to be settling down."

- 47 -.

She seemed much more alert to The Second than she had prior, and was sitting upright in her bed.

May said, "It be my cooking that did it, of course," then left the room.

The Highest was patting the side of her bed. "Sit down, both of you."

Meera sat on the side of the bed. The Second brought a chair over close to her.

"How did you enjoy your meeting with your new advisors?" The Second saw that she was chuckling.

"They are but a challenging bunch. You are looking much better, Highest. I am surprised. I knew not that the anti-poison could work so quickly. In fact, we were not certain that it would work at all."

"Well, May thinks it is due to her cooking. But you know, she be a much better cook than I am used to. Perhaps I should keep May on but permanently. She said that she would not mind cooking for the both of us."

The Second wanted to get to the business at hand, but had learned long prior to let The Highest control the meetings.

"Nill tells me that the anti-poison will halt the degeneration, but she does not think all of the damage will reverse itself. So, Sam, my turns are numbered as Highest. It is your responsibility now."

"If I may, Highest, I would like to return to this topic in a moment. I have some more urgent issues I need to discuss with you."

"I will listen, but I will make no vows."

Sam saw that she was in one of her non-listening moods, again.

Whenever she had her mind set on something, it was all Sam could do to get her to listen otherwise. "Thank you, Highest. I will try to be brief.

You were poisoned, and Meera and I believe that there are some on the inside who are the attempted assassins. This makes this a critical issue for all of us. Whether you like it or no, someone is out to kill you. Keddi's arrival with the anti-poison is but all the evidence we need."

"I know that, Sam. Do not be tedious. Have you but forgotten that I know Keddi?"

"No Highest, but you have not been able to supply me the details."

"Yes, yes. You are correct, of course. Meera, go get Karan for me."

Meera left while The Highest continued. "It be the moment I begin to tell you what you will need to know as Highest. Face it, Sam, this poison has taken many seasons off my life. I have not that many moments remaining to me. I can no longer fight these battles. I physically cannot do it.

This has left me very weak, and I may never be able to get my strength back. And to think that one of my own advisors may be behind this . . . "

She let the rest go unsaid. "But I know you will find whoever did this. You have always succeeded at the difficult matters for me."

- 48 -.

Meera and Karan had just arrived. The Highest saw Karan.

"Ah, Karan, just the person we need."

Karan bowed to The Highest, and then bowed her head toward The Second.

"Karan, please inform Sam about our scouts." The Highest then looked at Meera. "Meera, wait outside."

Karan began, "During the seasons of The Battles, the former Highest recruited and trained twenty women to go Outside and be scouts for Woden. Woden was in jeopardy of continued attacks unless we knew what the other communities were planning. A single mark was placed on each scout for identification purposes: The coiled snake. Only the current Highest, Oisin and I know about these women and who they are. Oisin needs to know because these women may seek passage home on one of her ships.

Two women have come home prior to Keddi. Some of the others have found ways to send messages to The Highest as they thought needed. We have never heard from one. Now these messages will but come to you."

The Second was stunned. To her, it seemed that Woden had a hidden society.

The Highest halted Karan, "That is only the beginning of what you need to know. Karan will meet with you to inform you of our background and everything else you will need. Karan, please see to this, give her some reading to do so she will learn of our background. And thank you for dropping in."

Karan bowed to The Highest, bowed her head to The Second, and left.

The Highest continued, "You may have forgotten this, Sam, but your Birth-Mother had also been a scout for Woden for many seasons prior to having you."

Sam had forgotten her Birth-Mother's snake tattoo, but now remembered. Her Birth-Mother showed her the tattoo upon only a few moments.

She had died when Sam was a young girl, but the memory stunned Sam.

My Birth-Mother was also a scout, like Keddi. She realized that Woden seemed to have a long background of scouts and wondered why she had never known about them.

"Sam, I would like very much to give you the opportunity to reflect on becoming The Highest, but I cannot. Think about it. Do you know of anyone else who you would really want to be The Highest? Your answer, of course, is 'no.' Oisin is but overly controlling for the position. You have been well groomed, the community loves and respects you, and you make sound decisions. Besides, you are hand-selected by me, and I know I have made a fine decision on this. This be your destiny, Sam, so quit the sliding.

It be the moment to embrace the position. I must quit. I will work with - 49 -.

you for a short while to help eradicate some of these problems. I am sorry I was unable able to fix my advisors or the Counselors for you, but we will work on that together, too. I think Jandra the only good one of the bunch.

I think you will find her quite special. I am sorry Sam, but it be the best I can do. Besides, you are ready to do this. I expect you to now take the position over. Thank our Keepers for Keddi's safe return. Not for my life, but for the continued safety of Woden. Karan will update you more on Keddi, as you are ready, and you will come to know how critically important our scouts have been for our continued safety. They have but given and risked their lives for us, so treat Keddi well."

As The Highest spoke, Sam had quit listening, wondering instead about why she seemed to be the last to know about anything in the community. She couldn't know if she interrupted The Highest or not, but said, "Highest, I need to talk with you about something personal."

"Why, Sam, you looked troubled. What is it? Are you afraid of being The Highest? You should not be"

"No, Highest. It is not that. I fear that I cannot even explain it." She thought about it for a moment and then realized what she should do. "Forgive me, Highest." She then touched The Highest's hand, feeling the current passing through both of them.

She felt The Highest think, So, it has begun. And I have not had enough moments to tell her of the advisors, The Realm, or the Spirit Mothers of the Falls. Or of her sisters- "Yes, Highest, so it seems. I just know not what it is."

She was yet touching The Highest's hand, and could hear her thoughts, You are The Chosen One, Sam.

"Yes, Highest. I sensed that much from Meera, too. But what does that mean? And . . . " She removed her hand from The Highest's, and looked at it. "What but happens to me?"

"Oh, my poor Sam. You must but feel so confused right now."

She opened her arms, inviting Sam to come to her. She did, and The Highest just held her.

Sam could feel her thoughts, Be not afraid, child. If we fear what we do not know, we will always live in fear. Your destiny is greater than you will ever come to imagine.

She let go of Sam and motioned for Sam to sit down next to her. Sam did so, but was getting increasingly tired.

"I thought your change would not occur until after you were The Highest. I saw the prophesy in a dream, but now I am proven as wrong. It would seem the Spirits of the Falls as well as The Realm need you now.

She touched Sam's arm. The current once again coursed its way through both of them.

- 50 -.

Be at peace. You will receive your answers at the proper moments. Trust the Spirits of the Falls. They will protect you.

She let go and said, "I am sorry to say that we have overly few moments or resources this eve to tell you the entire story. Come by next after early eve and I pledge to enlighten you and to answer your questions. Go in peace and be not afraid. I do have one thing you should hear, but will not understand as yet. Should anything happen to me, Sam, know that I am but sorry for what you will learn."

Thoughts raced through Sam's head, yet even the thoughts made no sense to her, Keddi and The Highest. My Birth-Mother. I am the Chosen One.

The Spirits of the Falls. The Realm. Meera. My destiny. I sense thoughts. Sisters?

"Yes, Highest." She bowed and left the room.

Meera was waiting for her, "Oisin sent a message. She said she is leaving for your dwelling in a few moments and will meet you there. Can you tell me anything The Highest said?"

In shock, exhausted, and not knowing where or how to begin, she simply said, "You will find out soon enough, I suspect."

"I will walk you back and then come back and get Caitha."

"No need, Meera. One of your guards must be around. It will but take me a few moments.

"Second? May I walk back with you?" Jandra had appeared out of nowhere.

"Of course, Jandra, as long as you mind not the guard."

"Jandra." Meera said as much of a greeting as she could to Jandra.

"Meera." Sam found the air tense between them, but thought that they needed to work it out between themselves, as it was most likely a personal issue.

"I will catch up later, Second." Meera left to find the guard to walk The Second back to her dwelling.

Sam was delighted to see Jandra. She always found her heart racing a little when they were together, but knew her hopes of long prior would go unheeded. "Jandra, this be certainly a surprise. I am most glad to see you.

What is on your mind that you need to meet with me personally? Is everything well with you?"

"Oh, yes, of course, Second. I am well. It be a beautiful eve, is it not, Second?"

Sam was confused, but didn't want to rush Jandra, so just went along with the conversation.

"Yes, it is. Meera and I were just enjoying it prior to my meeting with The Highest."

"How is The Highest?"

- 51 -.

"She is much improved. Have you been updated on the reports about the anti-poison and Keddi?"

"I have heard the rumor, Second. So it be truth, then?"

Sam nodded, "It is. The Highest was just sitting up in her bed and but eating her late eve meal."

"So Keddi is one of our long-lost daughters, returned home."

"Do you but know of this, too, Jandra?"

"You but mean our scouts, Second?"

"Yes. I was told it a secret."

"Oh, it is. Secrets but float on the winds. The Highest talked a lot in her very disturbed sleep, recently. I hope the anti-poison will prove to be but lasting."

"I as well. I want not The Highest to leave us." She looked at Jandra as they walked, wondering what Jandra wanted. She wished she could touch her, but refrained. "But Jandra, be this why we meet this eve?"