"Yes, my Queen."

- 429 -.

- 430 -.

Chapter X.

Woden's Battle Sam and Meera ate on the patio. May fed them well and lots. They then slept. Meera slept on the long chair in the meeting room. They both slept fitfully and rose early, struggling against their eve visions. Sam noticed that she now felt odd without Jandra next to her. From the sun's rise on, Woden was on watch. Meera held her control in the north park. From there, she issued all her commands.

The turn moved slowly. Sam used her moments to practice using her eyes as weapons. Once, accidentally, Sam looked at a bird in flight and saw that she had turned it into a ball of fire that plummeted to the ground. She was saddened by such a senseless death and remained angry with herself for her own carelessness. Suddenly, Sam saw movement in her brain. She sent her mind to scan the forests and sea. She saw them coming. Her eyes could see at a distance, and she hadn't known.

"Meera. They but come."

"You have but the same sight as the Old One. From what direction do they come?"

"From our north, along the shore, through the forest. That be one group. Another group comes from the sea. I see four ships."

Meera informed her guards, and the defense was begun.

"Be that all?"

Sam focused. Meera waited. Suddenly, Sam said, "No. A group approaches from our western border, near the river valley. This be a large group. One-hundred, perhaps. On horses. Fully loaded with weapons."

"When do they arrive?"

"It looks as they prepare for a morn attack. It looks well coordinated."

"Keddi and Margeria return soon. I will send them with guards to dispatch the western boundary group. Where be Buron?"

"On the first ship."

"Has he seen you?"

- 431 -.

"He doesn't have the same sight. He has learned that Jandra has gone.

He no longer senses her. He knows I remain."

"How much can you see, Sam? Can you but find the innocents used in his battle?"

Sam looked. Meera saw that her eyes focused on nothing, but stared.

"The group from our north is but a ragged group. They look not as prepared or brave as the group on our western boundary. But I cannot tell more. There are many on the ships that I think Buron but masks from me."

"How can he do this?"

"Except for my eyes as weapons, he has the same or more power."

"I will have the group on the northern boundary dispatched this turn and be done with them. We can then but concentrate on the other two groups. Be there more?"

Meera spoke to a guard and had a strong unit go to the north, with Ahkna in-charge. They were ordered to determine if this group be the innocents. If not, no prisoners were to be taken.

Meera spoke to Ahkna, "Surprise them this turn, as they settle into their camp. Make short order of them, and then return. The main battle will be from the sea front and from our western boundary. We will need you back quickly."

Ahkna nodded, "We will return after the moon rises. We will gather what information we but can. Worry not, Highest. We will but surprise them."

"Go swiftly, and run softly. Make no noise in this attack."

Ahkna turned and left. Her guards followed silently and quickly with her, all at a slow run, their bows and arrows at the ready.

"Are our ships prepared and safely hidden?"

"The signals are arranged. The attack will be a surprise."

"No, Meera. Buron will already know where the ships but hide. If not, he will feel their movement when they move to attack. For us to win the battle, I must engage Buron away from all the rest. If he be otherwise occupied, he will be unable to attend to his forces. It is up to me to keep him fully busy. I will call to him at the sun's rise and challenge him to step foot onto Woden to engage me in his conquest. As soon as I entertain him away from the rest, that be your moment to take the battle. Not until then.

He will undo all your plans. There will be no surprises unless you wait until I engage him. There be nothing you have that will undo Buron. This I must do for us."

Sam turned to Meera and looked at her for the first moment in many turns. Meera looked into Sam's eyes and saw no response. Her eyes were no longer as eyes, but waving pools of water.

- 432 -.

"Do you but see as you did prior? Your eyes look not as eyes anymore."

"If I choose them to, they remain the same. Now, they must be used differently or Buron will use them on me. Meera, as I begin this battle with Buron, you can't look back to me. You must win your battle as I must win mine. If you see me falter, know this: There is nothing, nothing, that you can but do to fight and win against Buron. If I but lose, go to Caitha and Jandra and remain with them. For a little while, the Spirits of the Falls will be able to battle against him."

Sam halted for a moment and then looked again at Meera, "Worry not, though, as I have no intention of losing to him. If you see me falter, do not assume me dead. It be best if you don't look to my battle. You will know when I win. You will hear it and know it."

Sam hesitated, and then said, "There be one thing for you to know. If I win but have become overly injured, you must do this for me: When Buron be dead, his eyes and heart must be removed and burned, or he will return."

"I will make it so if the need be there."

They waited throughout the turn. By late midturn, Keddi and Margeria arrived and said that Jandra, Caitha and Tadan had been delivered safely and well received. Meera gave them their orders to take on the battle of the western boundary. She sent 37 guards and people of Woden with them and wished them well.

Keddi knelt to Sam, "Highest. Worry not about the western boundary. Margeria and I will handle them without question. Good luck in your battle, Highest. We all think of you this turn. We will return with good reports by two turns. No one will escape from us."

Sam placed her hand on Keddi's shoulder, "Be swift and safe. Woden needs you, Keddi."

Keddi nodded, and then rose and left with Margeria. They quickly went to their unit and took their departure.

Meera walked to Briggon, "Prepare the sea front. Be well hidden and silent. The attack begins in the morn."

Briggon nodded and left with Janel.

"There be another group, Meera, but you have no need to worry on them. They came through the tides on the southern boundary and but crashed their ship on the rocks."

"A large group?"

"No, forty or fifty at most. They be gone or near dead. They will not bother us."

"I will send five guards to ensure us of them."

Meera spoke to one guard and had it arranged.

- 433 -.

She looked to Sam, "Where do you wish to await the sun's rise?"

"At the eastern gate. We can arrive quickly to the docks from there, as needed."

Sam rested while Meera remained on watch, and then they did the reverse. Sam kept focused on Buron. The sun's rise approached and he still hadn't made movement toward the harbor.

As they waited, Ahkna sent an assistant to give Meera a report, "We have overtaken the northern group, Second. We but extract information from some remaining, as we speak. We have found no innocents in this group. There were but 56 poorly trained guards, with miserable weapons.

They thought we be weak women. They but thought we would offer no resistance. We have determined that one group comes through our western boundary and another comes by sea along our southern boundary, making their way into Hengist. The ships have weapons that throw attacks in large amounts, like fire and rocks. It sounds like our catapults, but not. We could make no further determination of this by my departure. Ahkna finishes with the remainder. As you commanded, the attack was swift and quiet, as is the clean-up. No sight of this will be left. Their weapons be not worth keeping."

"Have most of the guards returned with you for our sea-side battle?"

"Yes, Second. We are here for the battle. Ahkna says to inform you that she too will be here by the sun's rise or shortly after. We are prepared, and are now resting."

"Well done. Do not expect this next battle to be as easy. Be there any injuries or deaths on our side?"

"One injury only, Second. Our arrows flew in mass, and they dropped their weapons quickly, in fear. In truth, Second, they be cowards. It was a sight I had never imagined as so."

"The innocents will be as such, but the others will not be so for fear of what Buron might do to them."

As the sun's rise occurred, Sam stood.

She looked out toward the sea and held out her arm, sending a message to Buron, I am here.

She told Meera, "I have sent my message."

"Has he returned it?"

"Not yet. He will. The ships make ready to move. When we meet in person and pass through Woden's gates, begin your attack at that very moment. Do not hesitate."

Meera nodded.

Suddenly, Sam laughed. Meera looked at her as if she were crazy. Sam looked at Meera, "He sent his message. It but made me laugh. He said, "I come, my betrothed."

- 434 -.

"How can such be humorous to you?"

"The game prior but continues. I now know the rules. Remember, Meera, no matter what you see, remain to the plan. Even if it appear we begin as friends, remain to the plan. Trust not what you see."

"Yes, Highest."

They waited. Sam and Meera began walking to the docks, away from the gates. Sam was fully armed and readied. She knew that Jandra was safe for now, along with Caitha and Tadan, so she moved them from her current thinking. As she walked, she looked along the path to the docks and wondered if it would be as ordered and clean looking after the battle. She couldn't visually see any of Woden's guards about her, but knew them to all be waiting, as were the ships around the next cove. Just prior to reaching the docks, Sam halted. She and Meera saw the ships approach, and then halted by one of Woden's own. All four ships lowered anchor after some discussion between them and Woden's ship. Sam watched as five large rowboats were filled with passengers and then lowered. Meera motioned to one of the guards, a coded signal, and twenty guards appeared, readied.

Sam said nothing. She monitored Buron's thoughts as best she could, but he masked them well. She knew that Buron was in one of the rowboats. She wondered how the battle would begin, but left that reality to Buron. He would have to take the first move. As the boats docked, Sam could see Devin beside Buron. He was pointing toward Sam. Buron looked fixedly on Sam, and smiled.

He was a monster of a mana human mountain. Sam guessed him to stand three full heads taller than Briggon and weigh at least two normal men's weight. His arm muscles were massive and were fully exposed. Buron wore no shirt, and wore only the tightest of pants. His sword was another half length of Sam's, and she knew this was why the Old One but made her learn to throw her own. She would never be able to match Buron's strength or length in an arm-to-arm fight.

The boats emptied. All the passengers were fully armed guards. While Meera's guards numbered only twenty, she knew the archers to be readied and would adjust the ratio at a moment's notice.

Devin came forward to Sam and knelt. He looked extremely nervous.

"My Queen. King Buron wishes your company."

Sam nodded and looked to Buron, "He but has it."

Devin rose and let it be known that Buron could come forward.

He did so with a smile, "It is as Sir Devin hath spoken, Sam of Woden. You are a rare beauty, indeed. It be rumored you a strong and mighty warrior, yet what I see before me but the most beautiful and petite Lady in all The Realm."

- 435 -.

Sam smiled at him, "I now know where Sir Devin gets his flattery from."

"I see you wear your weapons, my betrothed. Please feareth me not.

Our union will ensure your protection."

"Thank you, Lord Buron. I have no reason to fear you. I have but just returned from practice. If you had sent a messenger, I would have presented myself more appropriately."

Buron waved his hand in dismissal, "And cover up your body more?

Then I be glad I did not, as now I seeth your fine, long and slender legs.

They are most welcomed sights after my long journey. They make me desire to touch them. Let us take a walk, my fair Queen. We have much to discuss."

Sam nodded and turned away from the docks. As soon as they entered Woden, Meera would begin her attack. Devin looked at Meera with some fear.

He placed his hand on his sword, and she shook her head, "It not be a good idea for you to do as such at this moment, Devin, if you wish to but see your next moment."

Sam walked Buron into Woden. She was trying to move him toward the other side of Woden, past the other gates.

He asked, "Where be your castle, M'Love?"