Food was brought to them, along with Tadan. Jandra saw that Tadan was quite taken by this place. As was his fashion, he asked questions about everything. The Spirit Mothers answered as they could, patiently, but seemed glad to drop him off for the meal. Even without speaking aloud, Tadan seemed loud.

Good turn, Second and Caitha. This be a wonderful place to expand one's mind.

Did you yet but notice the walls of the room, for example? It is not a wall as we know it, but branches and limbs forming a wall as if they have a mind of their own. And their way of speech, without talking, is much more quiet than ours. We should take up this practice.

Jandra laughed, It might be a good idea, Tadan, but it is not of our possibility.

We are able to do it now only because the Spirit Mothers would have it so. Sit, so that we might eat. Even their food looks different than ours.

Except for a form of flatbread, they didn't know what they ate, except to know that it was not of animals. They thought they could distinguish the fruits, but even their fruits were different than of Woden. They decided - 444 -.

among them that whatever it was, it was delicious. When they were done with their meal, the Old One came in with several of the Spirit Mothers.

They already knew Strada'n'il and Loudrill'n , and now they met three more of the Spirit Mothers - Char'neilane, Aluthe'nen, and Sarth'nis.

We would like to speak to our unborn daughter, if this meets with your permission, Jandra of Sam. We will not harm her, but just wish her to know us prior to her birth.

It will not cause you any discomfort or pain. Even now, our daughter hears us speak and wishes to know more. We hear her calling but will await your permission before we answer. Perhaps all of you would like to hear what it is we say to her. It is possible, with your permission.

Jandra decided to simply nod her consent, not wanting them to know of her questions about their sincerity. They asked her to stand and then placed their hands upon her womb. The message they sent was, as they had vowed, open for all to hear: Our granddaughter. We meet you with much excitement. Your beginning has been long in the waiting for us. Now you are with us, in your land. While you are here, you may listen and speak as you please by sending your thoughts. You are yet a young one, but are well on your way in your knowledge. Your mother, The Highest of Woden, has provided much knowledge to you already. We can feel it as so. We will begin your lessons during your short visit with us. We welcome you into your home away from home.

Jandra, your Birth-Mother, is most nervous in you. She is worried about being such.

While you are here with us, let us all assure her of you and this birth. She is to be the most important person in your life, Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n. She will provide you with all the lessons we cannot. She alone will provide you the knowledge of these others that even now seem foreign to you. Trust your Birth-Mother as you will trust no one else in all The Realm, including us. And take good care of her. We wil al ow you free use of your senses while you be here, but be mindful of your Birth-Mother's needs as well. And come to know of your tender watcher, young Tadan. We have allowed him here at your mother's request and have found him mentioned in the legends. Welcome, young Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n. Hear our songs to you while you be here.

When they were done, they removed their hands from Jandra's womb and looked at Jandra, Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n is her name in legend. Fear not, little Birth-Mother, her name will be the one you provide to her. A legend name is different than the names your kind but provide. She already knows her name in the legends, but awaits the name you will but give her.

They placed their hands lightly upon Jandra's head and sent her great thoughts of their joy and happiness.

After they removed their hands, they stood before Jandra and Caitha, Rest now, Birth-Mother of Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n. You might now hear questions from our unborn. She is your Birth-daughter, so you may choose to answer them as you will. She will not be like the ones born to your kind. Although at the very first she will resemble them, within a very short span of life, she will grow more quickly and much differently - 445 -.

than what you know. But enough for now. Feel free to wander about as your desire.

And please know that whatever you wish, we will be here to see that it occurs for you.

They bowed their heads to Jandra, turned and left. Even before they were out of the dwelling, Tadan began his questions, What do they mean that I am, according to the legends, the watcher to, what did they call her, Sele'lr'tinel'ti'non'n?

No, Tadan, they call her Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n. I know not the legends. You must ask them of these.

Jandra looked at Caitha, Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n be an interesting name. I wonder what Sam's real name is. Sam isn't a name of Woden, so it must be a shortened one.

These are very long names. We could but name her Sele'.

I think you and Sam need to discuss this issue. The naming of this one will be no easy matter. It would seem this unborn has more to her than I had but guessed. Tadan, after you finish eating, why not find out how you can get eyes such as your Highest Mother's?

He nodded, In truth, I have many questions to ask, and they have but told me that it is fine that I ask them. I hope I will receive the answers, though. They look at me as if I might have a disease. It is most disconcerting. I know I am the first male to ever be in this land, but I am not evil because of it, am I?

No, young Tadan. You are just an oddity to them. Have patience. Return here as you need.

After reporting back to The Highest and Second of Defense, Keddi and Margeria took their unit to the western boundary. They had a small unit, but highly skilled. Keddi knew they would face well-armed and most likely, well-trained guards. She hoped they would have the benefit of surprise. Their arrows would dispatch several prior to their main battle, but the odds were a challenge. And Keddi knew that they had no chance to set up a trap. These invaders would be overly smart to set camp in a closed valley. They took the horses to the boundary, and then tried to locate the invaders. Keddi could see no signs of them. Scouts were dispatched into different areas. They wouldn't be able to have the benefit of surprise if they rode up on their horses, but Keddi needed to know where the invaders formed.

After some wait, overly long for Keddi, a scout returned and pointed off into the distance, "Over there, Keddi. They just remounted and move again. If you look, you can but see their dust they make from their horses.

They be well-armed, as The Highest but said."

Keddi decided that they could take their horses down a little further, and then they would have a chance to lay a surprise. They would have to guess as to the direction the invaders took, but Keddi felt comfortable in - 446 -.

guessing their path, knowing there only one good way up to Woden from the valley. They hid their horses and prepared, half scattered across the ledges, for a short concentrated distance. They would provide continuous arrow fight from slightly above. A few were stationed so as to come from the rear and take the surprise there. The rest remained hidden at the mouth of the valley, and would fight hand-to-hand with the invaders. They hoped that the arrow fight would take many lives at the start.

Anchen came up to her, "We are ready, Keddi. We will take them most easily. Fear this not."

Keddi looked at Anchen for a moment, "You are a strong and brave fighter, Anchen. Why have you never prior been a warrior? Woden could use your warrior talents."

Anchen frowned and looked out toward the plains, "I was a warrior in a prior life. Hopefully, no more."

Keddi let the remark go unchallenged, but wondered as to Anchen's past, knowing that Anchen was indeed a fine warrior.

As they waited, Keddi hoped the fight in Woden went well. She worried about The Highest and her battle with Buron. She had heard much of Buron and thought it to be an overwhelming battle for The Highest. She knew Buron to be a skilled fighter and very strong. While The Highest was as skilled a fighter, she couldn't have the strength of such a man. Keddi kept her thoughts to herself, though, even as her women and men in the unit asked her many questions of it. She looked at her unit, of those she could yet see that were only partially hidden. These women and men of Woden were brave. None in Apien or New Harborage had the courage or determination of these. She thought that The Highest had much to do with this and felt lucky to have returned home to Woden to such. She knew their pains and fights had been well worth their efforts and losses, even though the loss of Brett was more than she had ever wanted to bear. She hoped that Margeria would remain safe from harm.

But Keddi knew they would face many losses this turn and felt saddened by it. These women and men, all of them from Woden that fought this turn, should live, and it made Keddi angry and sad.

They should live!

It brought back her anger of Manthar and all the others that enslaved and abused those in The Realm. She had hated her moments spent scouting for Woden, but they had been well worth the anguish of what she witnessed. Now the abuses and tortures would end, she hoped.

She was unsure as to the truth in all the statements being given to The Highest by the Spirits in the Falls, but trusted The Highest to know the difference between truth and lie. Yet, she had a sense in her that all was not as they were being told.

- 447 -.

Margeria sensed that Keddi was thinking overly of what was about to occur, "Keddi, all of us know we might die this turn. There be no other way, so we will fight bravely. If we die, we die as brave. No one wants to die this turn, but none of us want to be enslaved into the evils of Buron and all the others. We be aware of what may occur. You have trained all of us well."

Keddi touched Margeria's hand, "Remain safe, Margeria. Watch your back."

Margeria placed her hand on Keddi's shoulder, "You as well. We all need you, but I especially need you."

As the group came nearer, Keddi saw that she should have placed more guards in the rear. She motioned to some on top to move to the rear and hold from shooting until after the front guard began. She sent only a few more, but she could tell that it would help. She felt sorry that they hadn't had the opportunity to set a trap such as had been done with The Highest's trip to the Woman in the Woods. As the enemy approached, Keddi saw that they were indeed fully armed. They all carried swords, knives, spears and many bows and arrows. Keddi knew they would be a strong match and offer much resistance. She also knew that they would be caught unprepared for a moment, but it might hopefully be enough.

Margeria had gone on top so as to start the fight. It would be at her command when Woden would let fly their arrows. She watched and waited. She saw that the invaders had no idea they were there, and felt some gladness in it. As they approached, she waited until the best moment.

As the front matched her line, she gave the command: a loud shriek. The arrows flew as the invaders wondered what the noise was, and many went down in the first wave. The arrows continued, but the invaders were well-trained, so responded quickly to the attack. They dismounted and hid behind their horses. But the arrows continued. The invaders sent their own arrows back, but blindly so. They couldn't see Keddi's unit, but would soon figure out that they were surrounded. Keddi's rear guards began their attack.

Some of the men from the invaders rounded up a group and ran forward to attack. The hand-to-hand combat began, with Anchen leading a small group of Woden's forces.

As Keddi saw Anchen fighting against the invaders, she found herself amazed at Anchen's warrior abilities, seeing that they clearly shone over most of the others. But having the battle with which to contend, she turned her eyes back to her enemy. She picked her opponents carefully, and let fly her arrows. And with each, she downed one more. The arrows from above kept flying, and the hand-to-hand combat continued. Slowly, the invaders saw that they were surrounded and out-matched, so surren- - 448 -.

dered. Some begged for mercy, some remained quiet, and some yet resisted. Keddi had the resisters killed instantly, but hesitated with the remainder. She knew that Meera wanted no prisoners, but yet, they had surrendered. She had her guards gather them together, and she began to take stock of all the losses and remainders. Of the approximately one-hundred original invaders, only fourteen survived.

Of the original thirty-seven in her own unit, twenty-two but remained, and several of these were injured, including Margeria. As Keddi saw her being carried down, she saw an arrow sticking out from Margeria's leg.

Keddi was grateful, as it hadn't hit her main body. Keddi knew the arrow to be a problem, but was most likely not life threatening. Another injured but yet alive guard had an arrow sticking out from his stomach. Keddi knew this not good and wished for a healer.

Now they numbered twenty-two to fourteen, and Meera wanted no prisoners. Many of the remaining invaders were badly injured. Keddi sighed and moved to follow her orders. Killing prisoners was difficult for Keddi. She didn't like killing the unarmed, but she would do as was commanded of her. She placed them in a line and tried to block out their pleas for mercy. She had her archers prepare, then ordered the arrows released.

In a few moments, there were no prisoners, and Keddi went to Margeria.

Margeria had been placed on the ground, and was busy trying to remove the arrow. Keddi smiled at her toughness but knew that Margeria wouldn't be able to do it.

"Hold. Let me break off the end only and let the healers do the rest."

Margeria looked up to Keddi, "I know you wanted not to kill those prisoners, but Keddi, Woden will have its hands full with others upon our return. And the enemy would not have spared us."

Keddi nodded, "Yes. It be certain, as you say, but it makes not the task the easier for it."

"We won, Keddi, and that be all that matters. We yet have our majority remaining."

Keddi nodded, but the weight of the losses sat heavily upon her. She began preparing Woden's dead for their last journey home. They would leave the battle scene to rot. She had some guards help her prepare their own dead by placing them on the horses. The remainder of her unit was busy unbridling the invader's horses so that they could be set free to roam.

This battle was over, all the invaders were dead, and Keddi began their journey back to Woden, hoping that Woden was yet theirs, and hoping that Sam had won her own battle.

- 449 -.

Meera had heard Sam call to her. She had only a vague notion of where Sam was, but went to where she thought the call had come from.

Sam had told her she would try to move her battle beyond the wall and hoped to see signs of it. As she passed the gates of the western wall, she looked for Buron's bootprints. They were large enough to find easily, and Meera followed them. When she came to the forest, it was obvious that this was where their battle had been. Meera saw hundreds of trees over on their sides, burning. She followed the bootprints inside the forest, and eventually came to the ring of fire. It was massive, and Meera wondered who or what had built it.

She moved urgently, worried about Sam. She had brought ten of her closest guards with her. At her silent command, they fanned out and searched for signs of Sam, or Buron.

By chance, one of the guards looked through the yet hotly burning ring of trees, "Second, someone is in there; inside the ring."

Meera ran over and saw the small opening the guard had peered into.

It wasn't Sam, but Meera could see Buron, "I must get inside the fire ring.

The guards began hacking away at the burning trees so that Meera could get inside. They worked as swiftly as they could, but the trees were yet fully engaged in the fire. They used their swords to break off the big limbs. Piece by piece, they made a path into the ring. As they entered, they couldn't believe what they saw. Buron was dead. While they kept moving to within the enclosed area, Meera and another guard searched for Sam.

After searching for long moments, Meera began to think that Sam had gone back to Woden, when the other guard called her over.

"Second, here she is."

There was Sam, lying on the ground, unmoving. Meera couldn't tell if she was alive or dead, but saw much blood.

Anyst came over to Meera, "Second, we have gained entry into the ring of fire. You may enter now. I will look after The Highest and tend to her wounds."

Before she left, Meera gently checked Sam's body for signs of life.

Anyst bent down and checked for breathing. Meera began to panic, as she couldn't feel Sam's heart.

Anyst tried to keep Meera calm, in spite of the moment, "She breathes, Second, but barely so. Do not move her yet, Second. Many of her bones look broken to me. If she is moved, we may injure her more."

Meera didn't know whether to be elated that Sam lived, or worried over her condition, But she lives!

- 450 -.

Meera felt helpless, "But I must tend to her."

"Second, move away and let us take care of The Highest. You are overly close to her, but you have taught us well. We too love The Highest, Second, and will make certain she is not further harmed by any movement."

Meera unwillingly nodded her consent, "I must tend to Buron quickly, as The Highest has requested. I will return directly after."

Meera went through the small entry they had opened into the fire. She saw that it was as hot as walking into a wall of fire. The heat was so intense she could barely breathe. She went to where Buron lay and saw that Sam's sword had hit him so hard that the sword hilt had halted only when it met his chest. The rest of the sword went through him and out his back. Meera wondered at what distance Sam had thrown her sword, as the impact alone could have toppled a tree. The sword had gone straight through his heart, but Meera saw that if that hadn't killed him, Sam had apparently also hit her mark with her knife. It had gone fully into his neck. Meera pulled the knife from Buron's neck, and then removed his eyes and heart as Sam had requested. It was a grisly act, and messy, but Meera gave it no thought, especially after what he had done to Woden and The Realm. She took his eyes and heart and threw them into the fire, where she heard them instantly siz-zle. She chopped off his head, and did the same. She then returned to Anyst and Sam.

Anyst had a request of her, "Go get some horses, Second. Make yourself useful. And bring many bandages and blankets. Go quickly, Second.

We need you back swiftly with the blankets."

Meera was too worried to know that she had just been issued orders by her own guards. She obeyed instantly, seeing that Sam looked half-broken. Meera ran with all her speed and tried to clear her head. As she entered Woden, she went first to Sam's dwelling in hopes that May was there. She went inside but couldn't find May in the kitchen. She called and called but heard no answer. May had been in the meeting room, busying herself and trying not to worry. Meera told her about Sam, and May raced around, gathering supplies.

Within a few hectic and panicked moments, she had given Meera a basket of all the things she would need, "Go quickly, Meera, and send me word."

Meera ran to the stables, quickly bridled three horses, mounted, and made them run as fast as they could back to Sam. When she returned, she halted the horses well away from the fire, but saw that the guards had cleared the fire away from Sam. The trees surrounding her had also been on fire. Anyst had taken charge of tending to Sam and had discovered the extent of her injuries. When Meera came up, Anyst wasted no moment in - 451 -.

her worry, "Second, give me the bandages. Move over to the trees and make a traveler for The Highest. We cannot place her onto a horse."

Anyst motioned for two of the guards to help Meera make what The Highest would be carried on. Anyst began tightly wrapping some of The Highest's wounds. Her right arm had been smashed when the tree hit against it. Anyst could tell that many of her ribs, on both sides, were either broken or cracked. While The Highest's neck seemed fine, Anyst had found a disjointed bone in Sam's back, but couldn't tell the extent of that injury. Since The Highest seemed to have moved slightly away from the fire after her injuries, as Anyst could tell from the prints in the dirt, she guessed that The Highest wasn't paralyzed.

Although they look not like Sam's prints. Given Sam's needy condition, though, she wasted no more thought on the mystery.

Anyst also discovered that Sam's right thigh had been broken or cracked, and worried a great deal about that injury. She would have to splint that leg with a counter-balance so the bone wouldn't rise into the body, if it were broken. Anyst had decided to leave the many minor injuries for the healers. Sam had burns upon her body, cuts across her breasts and stomach, and bruises too numerous to count. And the last injury that Anyst could find was on the back of Sam's head where her skull had been cracked. It was a slight crack, but whatever the size, Anyst knew that a crack in the skull was never good.

Anyst bandaged Sam's ribs first while she waited for the splint one of the guards made. She cut off Sam's outer garments and wound the bandages tightly around her body. She then bandaged her right arm against her body, preventing movement of any kind. The guard had returned with the splints ready. The guard pulled the right leg down gently but firmly while Anyst made the counter-balance splint. A low dreadful moan stirred from Sam. Anyst knew that this bone setting was a most terrible pain, but at least The Highest had responded. She motioned for the guard to continue. The guard pulled down on the leg once again, strongly, firmly, but as gently and quickly as she could. They both had heard the screams from others when they had done this prior. The pain normally pushed the broken one into unconsciousness. Since The Highest was already unconscious, Anyst knew the pain must have been overly unbearable for an unconscious one to moan so. When they had gotten the splint in place so that the broken bone wouldn't ride up into The Highest's body, Anyst looked carefully at it and thought it well done. The leg looked to be straight now. Together, Anyst knew that she and Lorin, the other guard, had set the bone well.

"We must place her on a flat surface. Be there a flat object around?

We need a flat board."

- 452 -.

"There be panels of buildings in the tool shed, near the gardens. That would work."

"Good. Be swift. Take a horse and get them."

Lorin took off, not halting to explain to Meera. She wouldn't take long. In the meanwhile, Anyst began considering what to do about The Highest's head. The head wound complicated the back injury. While The Highest must lay flat, she wouldn't be able to lay The Highest onto her back, and yet she must. Anyst knew of nothing else, so decided to lay The Highest on her back on the flat boards, but turn her head to the side. She hoped The Highest's neck hadn't been injured, and she hoped this would not further harm the back injury. As she began to bandage The Highest's head, it suddenly came to her to encase The Highest's head in a pillow of bandages. Having come up with a plan, she worked on The Highest's more minor wounds as she waited for Lorin to return. She placed some of the poultice May had sent onto the burns and minor wounds. She also began to wash some of the blood from The Highest.

Lorin returned quickly with the boards. She brought three in case of the need. Anyst motioned to the other guards, and together they all moved the board against Sam's back, secured Sam tightly to the board, and turned the entire matter over. Then Anyst formed a pillow around the sides of Sam's head and toward its back so that it didn't touch the board, but only slightly so. They then wound more bandages around her head and body, and around the entire board so The Highest wouldn't be able to move her head or any part of her body. Anyst then allowed Meera to come to inspect.