Still holding the sword, I followed my brother's example, I let go of a scream. This one in victory.
With Padia dead, I turned to face her followers.
The Amazons lowered their swords, dropped their knives, and stared at each other. Then they turned to face the birders who were still lined up and waiting to receive their powers. The T-shirt-wearing women, unaware what had happened, their view blocked by the massive Amazons, moved closer. . until they saw Padia.
A shudder went through them, like a football-stadium wave. Moving as one unit, they lifted their gazes again. . to me, blood-coated me.
I picked up the sword from where it had fallen after slicing through the priestess's neck and held it overhead. 'So, you want to become Amazons?'
They ran.
And this time I didn't think they would be coming back.
Mel walked out of the woods, the bow over her shoulder. She nocked an arrow and let it fly. It hit a tree only feet from the slowest birder. The old woman doubled her stride.
Our attention on the birders, we didn't notice Tess break into a run. Mel lifted her bow again, but I placed a hand on her arm.
Jogging through the trees toward us were Bern and the others. Seeing the fleeing hearth-keeper, my new lieutenant changed direction. She caught up to Tess in two strides, and with one strike of her nunchakus, she took the hearth-keeper out.
With Tess crumpled on the ground, Bern stood over her. 'She betrayed you,' she said.
I nodded and turned away. I didn't look back to see if the warrior took my nod as permission to kill the girl or left her lying there unconscious, but alive.
Tess might have been under Thea and Padia's spell, but her betrayal had been more complete than the others and longer lasting. I couldn't believe they had turned her that completely, not without some desire of her own.
The other Amazons stood quiet, waiting. I was within my rights to take their lives too. And they all knew it.
I didn't, though. They had dropped their weapons once Padia fell, and unlike Tess they hadn't run in guilt.
I'd take their names, keep track of them somehow, but I wouldn't order them killed, not today.
Jack, human and naked, walked up with a shirt in his hand. He pressed it to my shoulder. 'Sorry we were late. I hate to miss a good party.'
I grunted. 'You could have stayed the first time.'
'And taken all this glory away from you?' He shook his head. 'Besides, I thought you'd want to share the fun with friends.' His tone turning serious, he added, 'They were drugged. I don't know how. Its effect on me was different, it froze me in my animal form, but the others were unconscious. Mel came out of it first, her body anyway, her priestess skills. . ' He shook his head. 'She insisted on coming ahead anyway, though.'
Hearing her name, Mel approached. She held two arrows in her hand.
'You shot me,' I said.
She smiled. 'I've wanted to do it many times. Be glad I waited this long.'
'And that your aim is good,' I replied.
'Is it?' she asked.
I ignored the jibe. I knew if she had wanted me dead, I would be.
'It was smart,' I said. 'Shooting me.'
She took Jack's place, lifted the cloth, and studied my wound. 'Padia was focused on stopping me from shooting her, but it never occurred to her I'd shoot you.'
'She didn't know you.'
She pressed the cloth back down, a little harder than necessary, but I ignored the flash of pain. 'No, she didn't know either of us, didn't know how strong an Amazon you are.'
I grunted. I hardly planned on bragging about the events of the past few days.
She grabbed my arm. 'You killed her. You stopped her from whatever the hell she was trying to do.'
Not knowing how to reply, I changed the subject. 'Something needs to be done with Athena's blade.' I nodded to where the stone blade lay, white and sinister, in the grass.
She twisted the cloth around my shoulder and tied it in the back. 'That's a job for the high council.'
'If there is a high council.'
She sighed. 'With Padia's influence gone there should be, but they definitely have a few openings. Seems like the perfect time to get things going.'
'And. . in what direction?' I asked.
Her face solemn, she met my stare. 'Don't play that with me. We both know this has changed you. You see what has to be done. If you won't leave the damn tribe, you might as well step up and lead them in the right direction.'
Lead them in the right direction. My friend who hated the Amazons, but hated the high council more, had just suggested I join them.
Denial formed in my brain. I wasn't ready; I had almost failed here. The council wouldn't respect me or listen to me.
It would be a wasted effort to even try.
But Mel pressed a finger to my lips and said, 'Shut up and just do it.'
And for once I decided to take her advice without arguing.
My decision made, a cloud lifted off of me.
Yes, I had screwed things up here, but I had made them right, and by joining the council I could stop things from getting screwed yet again.
Areto walked up, Bern beside her.
Since the smaller warrior was still breathing, I assumed Bern didn't think she had betrayed us again. Actually, I knew she hadn't. Jack had told me she had been unconscious too. Padia had lied about that, to shake me, I guessed.
'They are going to need a new queen,' I said.
'You aren't coming back?' Areto asked.
Bern stared off to the side.
'I'm going to the Northwest, to find the council.' I didn't know where they met, but I would place a call. Someone would answer and someone would find me and let me know if they would hear my claim for a position.
They had three vacancies. . one my mother's. I'd been queen for sixty years and served well.
I had also just uncovered their biggest failure. If word of the Athena cult growing under their noses got out. . there would be more than three positions to fill.
'Oh,' Areto studied her hands.
'I was thinking someone familiar with the camp should fill the role, at least until the council is back together and someone can be officially appointed.'
Bern nodded. 'Areto will serve well.'
I nodded. 'I'm sure she would, but I think there's someone else who would do better.' I glanced at Areto.
She closed her eyes, agreeing, then walked away.
I stepped into Bern's space, stared into her eyes. 'Anyone ever call you a sheep, Bern?'
Confusion rippled her forehead. 'No.'
I smiled. 'I didn't think so.'
A few hours later I'd told a silent Bern I was leaving her in charge of the safe camp, and I'd said my good- byes.
With my staff and a few other belongings stashed into a duffel, I set off through the woods back to Jack's neighbor's house. Mel, Cleo, and Bubbe were still there with Lao, cleaning up.
By the time I got there everything was set to rights. Lao swore the place looked better than when we had arrived.
