Amazon Queen

His muzzle was black, like he'd stuck it into something he shouldn't have, but I knew he hadn't performed such mischief. He was only hours old and his body was cool. . almost cold.

I had no idea how to care for the pup, how to save him and, truth be told, no reason to, but suddenly I had to. I pulled up my close-fitting shirt and tucked him inside. With him snuggled against my bare skin, I picked the other two squirming pups up too-one in each hand. Like their brother, the girls screamed, but theirs was more a shriek of outrage than distress. I ignored it and with their mother on my heels, began the trek back to the safe camp.

When I got there I discovered my world had changed for good.

Chapter 12

The Amazons were outside the house, even the hearth-keepers, who had apparently just returned from Madison. The bed of the truck was still loaded with leftover produce and empty boxes. The warriors along with Sare were, as I'd expected, talking with Thea. What I hadn't expected, however, was how they were sitting. . cross-legged in a circle. . or the small fire in the center that someone had started.

The scene brought me to a halt.

It looked casual, but I knew better. Amazons didn't gather around a fire like that in the middle of the day, not when there was work to be done.

This fire wasn't casual. It was planned, a formal act by, I guessed, Thea to do something. . something she obviously didn't want revealed while I was around.

But I was around now, and I was queen.

Time to act like one and regain my tribe.

As I glanced toward the hearth-keepers, Lao stepped forward and held out both hands. I dropped a puppy into each, then reached inside my shirt for the third. Without comment, the elder hearth-keeper tucked the first two into an empty basket and slipped the third into the top of her shirt, squeezed into her cleavage. Then she nodded toward the circle.

'No good,' she murmured.

As I turned toward the circle, Bern stepped out from behind the truck. She held a staff in each hand. She didn't say anything, just tossed me one.

I'd asked her to stay in Madison and she'd disobeyed.

She was a bad Amazon, a worse sheep, and an ideal lieutenant.

I tossed the staff to gauge its weight and balance, then approached the rest of my tribe. When they didn't look up, I knew things were worse than I'd suspected.

I placed the end of my staff into the dirt about an inch from where Thea sat.

With a sigh, she stood. 'Zery, I'm glad you are back.' Behind her the circle of Amazons kept their focus on the fire. I shifted my own onto Thea and waited.

She looked calm, sad even, but I knew it was an act. I knew whatever she was about to tell me thrilled her to the core of her manipulative soul. She practically hummed with excitement.

'I'm afraid the high council is concerned with how you have handled their latest assignment.'

I kept my face motionless, outwardly as calm as she and twice as confident, but inside, my heart was thumping.

'They were distressed when I told them you lost the baby that night-'

That night? She had called them that night? Of course, she had her own phone. She could be making more calls than Ma Bell and I would have no idea.

'Then, of course, when you refused to protect the tribe from possible exposure-'

'By sacrificing one of our own?' I let my skepticism show.

'And ran to protect yourself-'

'Protect myself.' I twisted my lips to the side and nodded. Things were beginning to fall into place, Areto's discomfort when we talked, for one. I exhaled through my nose, my nostrils flaring. Thea's act would have been comical if I'd had a sense of humor.

'Then being in the same room as the baby and doing nothing. . ' The priestess shook her head. 'How could they overlook that?'

My back stiffened. I replied, my words low and soft, 'I didn't say I was in the same room.'

She tilted her head. 'But you were, weren't you?'

I held her gaze, but my mind was whirling. Had the baby been among those in the plastic seats? Had Mel known that? I smiled. I was lucky she didn't blast me to little bits.

Thea lowered her head. 'Is something funny?'

My smile widened. 'Everything. In fact, it's hysterical.' I was hysterical. I had to be or I wouldn't be about to say what I was about to say. 'We aren't killing the child. There is no reason to.'

Thea shook her head again, but she didn't correct my words, didn't deny that our mission had been to kill the baby. 'Zery, the high council has spoken and we have drawn the fire. Now, before witnesses and this ceremonial fire, I revoke your position of Amazon queen.' She took a breath; there was a glimmer in her eye. I had the distinct feeling I was seeing the real Thea for the very first time. Then the glimmer was gone and she was back to her polite facade. She waved her hand toward the group. 'You are welcome to stay at the camp, but only if you follow the high council's directives. I do, however, hope you will stay.'

Oh, yes. I was sure she did.

I didn't look at the group; whether I had their support or not wouldn't change what I was about to do. 'What are you, Thea? Are you a sheep or are you a wolf? Because I know one thing you aren't. You aren't an Amazon; not as I see Amazons. Not as Amazons should be.' I twisted the staff in the dirt and leaned into her space. 'So, tell me, are you a blind follower, or are you doing all this for some other reason? For some gain of your own?'

There was another flicker; this time strong enough I knew to duck. Her hand flew out as she grabbed for my staff, but I jerked the weapon behind my head. With my knees bent, I shifted so it fell behind me, the free end dropping into my other hand.

The ground beneath me moved. I had seen Thea in the woods with the sons, but I still wasn't sure of her powers, wasn't sure exactly what a battle with her might bring.

Something pushed up against the sole of my foot.

I stood and spun, using the strength of my legs to add speed and strength to my swing as I aimed the staff directly at her head.

Rocks erupted from the ground around me. They were small, none bigger than my fist, but one hit the end of the staff, knocking it off its trajectory.

Thea yelled and the Amazons stood. I realized then who had been given my title, who the new Amazon queen was.

Thea, a high priestess taking the role of queen. It was unheard of.

Warriors I had worked beside, Areto who I had trusted, faced off against me.

They weren't armed. Weapons weren't part of a ceremonial fire, but there were four of them, only one of me, and they were well-trained. I had taken care of that myself.

I braced my legs, my staff held out in front of me. I could fight them, I had no choice really, but the odds were also good that I would lose eventually. Still, I'd made my decision, made a stand, and there was no going back.

Areto approached first. I knew her strengths, but I knew her weaknesses too and I had every intention of using them against her. From somewhere a staff appeared. Probably my own left just inside the front door.

I concentrated on that thought, used it to focus my anger as Areto raised the weapon against me. My training, my weapon. . my tribe. Thea wouldn't take them from me, not easily.

Areto attacked first. She swung downward; I stepped into her blow, raising my staff from below as I did and smacking it into her groin. It was easy. She had obviously spent more time directing than training. An oversight on my part, I realized, but one that would serve me well now.

Without pausing or giving her time to react, I slid my staff forward and grabbed her hand-the one wrapped around her weapon. Keeping her elbow locked, I used her straight arm and my staff to force her to the ground. I