"No, Second, I just have difficulty discussing the personal issues."

"I do as well, Jandra. Just pretend I am not here."

Jandra laughed, "Yes, Second. I have done that many moments in my dwelling when I am alone. And I must tell you that you received the information very well."

Sam laughed too, enjoying Jandra's laughter and humor, "Well, there you are. So just pretend you are in your dwelling and I am but a glimmer of your imagination."

"You know that my companion died two cycles prior."

"Of course I do. I attended the ceremony."

"The community now wants me to take another companion."

Sam turned to Jandra and faced her, "Oh, Jandra. I know the feeling well. Prior to every festival, my advisors but nag at me like a bunch of old women to do the same. I am so sorry."

As they approached Sam's dwelling, Jandra continued, "I was but wondering if you would grant me the permission to take"

Sam watched May come out the dwelling's front door and knew that she was waiting for her.

"Of course, Jandra. Whoever you select is fine with me. Just make sure she makes you happy, as you certainly deserve as such. That, and you are most beautiful." And she meant it.

May came over to meet Sam, "Your guest is here, Second."

- 52 -.

Sam had wanted to return before Oisin came, but found her waiting in the front meeting room. Being too exhausted from the turn's events to deal with Oisin, she had wanted to cancel the eve.

As she entered her own dwelling, Oisin met and embraced her, "It has been but overly long. I have missed you."

Oisin never was subtle or shy, and Sam usually liked her aggressiveness when it came to sex. It was no different for Sam this eve, as it helped her to forget the turn's all-consuming events. As Oisin embraced Sam, giving her a long, urgent, and passionate kiss, the current surged through Sam into Oisin. Oisin mistook the feeling for passion and urgency from Sam, and kissed her even more passionately.

Sam felt Oisin thinking, By the mothers, you feel so good.

Sam laughed a little, feeling somewhat comforted in the ordinary feelings that Oisin was unknowingly sharing with her. She knew where this was heading and hoped that Meera had sense enough to wait a little while before coming over.

Oisin was extremely used to being in control, "I have but thought about you all this turn and cannot wait longer."

Oisin undid Sam's buttons and slowly traced Sam's breasts with her fingers. Sam no longer perceived Oisin's thoughts. She was too busy feeling her own needs and desires to notice. The current was there, but it had now turned to passion.

Sam gasped for breath, "Not here, Oisin. I have the guest in my bedroom and she will but hear us. We need to move to the library. Besides, Meera and Caitha will be here in a while, and we need them not walking in on us, do we?"

Oisin laughed, "They would probably learn something useful if they did." She let go of Sam, "Wait here, I have a surprise for you."

She left, but quickly returned with some new type of chair. It was all wood but had curved runners at the bottom. Sam thought it beautiful.

"I found this on my last trip and knew immediately it was for you."

She set it down in front of Sam, "Sit in it."

She did, and it rocked back and forth. At first it was an unsettling feeling, but after just a short moment, she began to like the feel of it. "This be wonderful. A new type of chair. The other women will want one as soon as they try this one out. I will have to let the wood crafters have a look at this."

"No. That one be yours. I brought another for the woodcrafters.

They have already taken it apart and be but busy making patterns. Every- - 53 -.

one will have one soon enough. You have the original. I find it much like the feeling of sailing."

Sam continued to rock in her new chair, enjoying the feeling.

Oisin held out her hand to Sam, "Come with me. I need you before Meera and Caitha come over. While they be here, you can but rock all the eve."

Sam took Oisin's hand and rose. The current surged through both of them as Oisin pulled Sam to her and gave her another long and very urgent kiss, but Sam didn't notice. Oisin explored all over, kissing Sam's neck, lips, mouth, breasts and lower, slowly at first, then with a steadily increasing desire. Sam had no moment during the turn to think about Oisin's visit, but instantly fell into the passion and need, desiring the moment as much as Oisin. They finally went to the library.

May worried about Sam as much as Meera, and had placed a small bed in the library for her. Sam wouldn't have to sleep on the long-chair, and now Oisin and she could use the bed. Sam thought she was getting too old for these types of physical maneuverings anymore, anyway. As they entered the library, Oisin again pulled Sam to her and kissed her. Sam could feel the current run between them, but now it was more a part of their need for each other. She returned Oisin's passion, and they soon urgently began undressing each other. When their intimate moment was over, Oisin lay exhausted and spent. Sam laughed. It had been a much-needed release for her, as well.

Oisin wanted to meet Keddi, and decided to visit with her before Meera and Caitha arrived. Sam was exhausted, but forced herself to get dressed so she could entertain this eve. She saw that Keddi was awake when they entered, and that May had provided some more for her to eat.

She looked a little stronger to Sam, and was feeding herself.

Sam sat down next to Keddi, "Good eve, Keddi. Let me but introduce Oisin, our Sea-Duty Second."

Oisin hated formalities and just began talking, "I hear that you be one tough woman. I like that. Held your own. Good for you. I but hope you gave them as bad a moment as they gave you."

Keddi smiled at Oisin's comments.

"What community did you come from?"

"Fornaith to New Harborage."

"Long way. And then you walked over from New Harborage? Quite a trip. Trying to avoid suspicion? That be but a difficult journey, and through the mountains, too. How was the community of New Harborage?

Last trip I was there, they were but having problems within the community."

- 54 -.

"Same. The women and men are leaving for other places. Disorganized and corrupt."

Keddi was speaking much better after her last rest, but very softly.

Sam could tell that her strength would take a while to return.

"I will not go there anymore due to that. They but try to steal everything off my ship. I had to have my weapons out in sight last trip just to keep them away. Wasted trip. Where are the women and men going?"

"To Apien, if they could not afford passage elsewhere. Some women want to come here."

Apien and New Harborage were both communities on the same landmass as Woden, but on the furthest opposite shore. The ship captains from the various communities had charted four landmasses so far, but hadn't yet covered the entire known realm. It was guessed that all the communities combined covered only a very small portion of the total landmass.

Oisin looked at Sam, "You know, we should provide shelter to these women. Some of the communities have not enough women for their men, so are capturing and enslaving them. What crafters do we need? If I find any, I will but bring them back."

Woden had provisions for this. "They will have to get here, first, though. We have no other way to find them, unless you pass by there on your next trip. We need any crafter and artist you can find, but especially good healers. Do you need more ship builders or crew?"

Sam halted, wondering, "I thought that Apien was a men's community."

Keddi responded, "Was, but it was taken over. It is now a combined community, but ruled by a tyrant. I fought my way out of there."

Sam looked back at Oisin, "How are our ships compared to theirs?"

Oisin smiled knowingly, "With this new ship, good luck to them. We have but many more ships than they do, unless they have stolen the ones from New Harborage. I had better leave my assistant behind, guarding the coastline while I am gone, though."

Oisin continued to ask Keddi questions while Sam quietly just listened and observed. Oisin had recognized and admired Keddi's strength right from the beginning, and Sam wondered why she hadn't seen it. Keddi seemed an extremely confident and capable woman. The graying in her hair only added experience to her beauty. Through the conversation, Oisin remained fixed on Keddi, as was her usual style, but Sam often caught Keddi looking directly at her.

What does she want of me?

Berth interrupted the conversation, "What are you two doing in here?

The poor woman needs some rest, after all! Besides, Meera and Caitha have arrived, and May put out some treats for you."

- 55 -.

That reminded Sam that she had missed her mid-eve meal, so the treats would have to suffice.

"Berth is telling us to get out, Oisin."

To Berth, Sam added, "We will leave her to you. But I will speak with her again in the morn."

The eve provided a brief escape from reality for Sam with Oisin, Meera, and Caitha, but had contained no rest, which she had desperately needed. When Meera and Caitha left after late-eve, Oisin spent the remainder of the eve continuously desiring and needing Sam. Sam hadn't felt emotionally up to it, and had drunk more wine than she should have, but her body continued to crave the physical passion and release. Oisin had left just before the sun's rise, so as to miss seeing anyone. But morn came early now that Keddi was staying there. May came just at sun's rise to begin the cooking, just after Oisin had gone, and Berth came shortly after her to check on Keddi. With Oisin gone, and she physically and mentally spent, Sam quickly slipped into a deep sleep.

May came in just few moments later with her usual positive early morn announcement, "Good morn, Second. It is a lovely morn to be up. You have much to do this turn, and already Meera, Keets, Berth, and Keddi are all awaiting your presence. Since they are all here, I decided you would like to take your morn meal with them."

She couldn't wake her up, so sent in Meera.

Meera was standing next to Sam's bed, looking down at her, and shaking her shoulder gently to try to wake her.

"Second, wake up." As Sam woke from the feeling of the current flowing from her as Meera shook her shoulder, she felt Meera thoughts, She is so beautiful.

Sam had no clothes on, and her breasts were exposed from the eve.

But that I could have touched her breasts just once.

Sam hadn't opened her eyes yet, but said, "Go ahead Meera. They will not bite." Meera's thoughts had amused Sam.

"Oh, Second, I am so sorry. I should not have touched you, but I forgot that you could read my thoughts. You should not have heard that, and I should not have thought that."

"It be overly late for that now, Meera."

She opened her eyes, yet very tired, and smiled at Meera, "I am the one that is sorry, Meera. That was inappropriate of me. But it made you blush."

- 56 -.

Meera was fully embarrassed. She had forgotten that Sam could now read some of her thoughts when there was a physical contact.

"Be not so embarrassed, Meera. I knew that much anyway, from our past. Neither of us is used to whatever is happening to me, so we will have our embarrassing moments. Help me to get dressed. I am overly tired to even move. Oisin left but only a few moments prior."

"You have not been to sleep?"

"No, and I am so tired I know not if I can even function. Perhaps some of May's tea might help."

Meera helped The Second get dressed and ready for the turn, then they went to the kitchen. Even Keddi had been helped into the kitchen and was sitting at the long table, although Sam thought that she looked quite uncomfortable.

As Sam entered, she said, "I would welcome you all to my dwelling for this morn meal, but it would appear as if you have all made yourself comfortable already, so I will not bother. May, I need a cup of tea as soon as you can manage one."

Her mind was asleep, her head felt heavy, and she thought she should just turn around and go right back to bed. She couldn't imagine how she was supposed to do the work of The Second, as well as The Highest's, feeling this way. She sat down next to Keets and across from Keddi.

"Keddi, you look most uncomfortable. Are you certain you be up to this, or is Berth controlling your life like May be controlling mine?"

"Oh, listen not to her," May said to Berth and Keddi. She turned to Sam, " . . . and you should be but grateful that Berth and I know what is best for you and Keddi." She laughed and got tea for Sam.

Sam thought, How can I complain when someone but waits on me all the moments?

As Sam ate her first meal in over a turn, she realized how hungry she was and hoped the food would help to restore some of her energy. Meera and Keets detailed the beginnings of their security plans for the festival.

Keets seemed proud of their new idea, "We are going to be trying out a new security idea: security that does not look like security. We will just let the guards be on duty even though it will look like they are not. Of course, all our guards are always alert, but during this festival, they will all be on-duty and not just on alert."

Meera added, "And we will have Briggon but do the same with his guards."

Sam was uncertain if that would be sufficient, "That be a good start, but I would like to see more detailed plans for the areas the festival will not be held in, like the dock, the grasslands, and the perimeters. Perhaps you can recheck with Briggon and work more on that plan. There will be no - 57 -.

need to hide the security in those places, though, so it should not be as difficult."

She hadn't given them many moments to make their plans, but had hoped for better. "I know this be difficult, especially since everyone wants to attend the festival, yet we need increased protection. Consider using shifts of guards so that everyone can participate in the festival at some moment."

Keddi added, "Any attack will have to come from the sea. While New Harborage is the only town that has enough people to mount such an attack, the distance and their own internal conflict will prevent that, for now.

My best advice is to loosely guard the perimeter for the turn, but be more careful on the seaside. They have been preparing ships for battle, as they are better at short, quick surprise attacks than large-scale ones. I suggest to Oisin to have all the ships ready for any surprises. Perhaps part of the festival could also be held at the dock."

Meera and Keets listened to Keddi with surprised interest. Once they found out that Keddi had been a well-trained scout for Woden, their opinion shifted to one of intense respect of Keddi and what she had accomplished.

May changed the subject, "So, Second, what did you and Oisin discuss last eve?"

They all laughed.

Meera just added, "They did not discuss anything, May."

And they all continued to laugh.