Sharon Green - To Battle The Gods

Without hesitation I moved to the nearest warrior who held a spear, took the weapon from her, then made my way to the disputants. Telion and Chaldrin stared with surprise when I halted between them, yet could do no more than stare. Quickly and with the strength of my annoyance did I use the haft portion of the spear to rap sharply at the shin of first Ceralt and then Mehrayn, ending their exchange and sending them back from each other with yelps of pain. Save for the two males and myself, all those standing about laughed heartily as I looked with little approval upon the two who hopped about one-legged, holding or rubbing their injured limbs.

“Should the matter of safe conduct be ended, the war leader Jalav shall see first to the spilling of blood,” said I, sending an icy gaze first to one and then to the other of them. “Even warriors-to-be, not yet large enough to lift a sword, would know and understand the need to see to the strangers before other considerations. Long have I known that males are less than the youngest of warriors-to-be, yet had I not expected proof of that at so poor a time. Should you all wish to squabble among yourselves, the Midanna are well able to see to the strangers with none save their own.”

“No, no, wench, we shall not allow this to occur again,” said Aysayn, clearly attempting to swallow his laughter as he put a hand to Mehrayn’s arm. Galiose, one hand arub upon his face, held Ceralt in a similar manner, the while the two who had faced one another now looked angrily upon she who had separated them. “Perhaps it would be best if we were to take a short while apart,” said Sigurr’s Shadow, “and only then attempt discussion upon the matter foremost in our minds.”

“Before that, we must discuss the coming strangers,” said S’Heernoh with such bland innocence that all of the males save Ceralt and Mehrayn again began chuckling. Clearly had the comment meaning for males, yet such are the minds of males that they are able to see meaning where those of fuller reason find none. I spent no useless thought upon the matter, turning instead toward Linol, war leader to the Hersa.

“Sister, we have those who require places to rest themselves,” said I, moving forward to return the spear to the Helda warrior I had taken it from. “Conduct them to those places, and allow them their rest. Should any join again in heated exchange, however, show them the dungeons instead, and make no great effort to recall the cells in which they are left.”

I turned about to gaze upon the males as Linol chuckled her agreement and gathered a number of her warriors to her with a gesture, seeing that the greater number of males chuckled as well. Again Ceralt and Mehrayn alone found no amusement in the happenings, a thing Ceralt made clear as he and his companions reached the place where I stood.

“I trust the—war leader will graciously find a pair of reckid later, so that she and I might speak,” he murmured, looking down upon me with a look I well recalled. “It has clearly been too long a time since last we did so.”

The look was then gone, as was the male, he and the others following after Linol and her Hersa. Lialt grinned well as he passed, clearly having heard Ceralt’s words, the insolence of both doing well with increasing my annoyance. At such a time one has little need of additional sources of irritation, yet at such a time one need not look far for them.

“I find little amusement in your manner of doing, wench,” said Mehrayn in a growl, his green eyes full displeased as he looked down upon me. “Once before we spoke of your raising weapons to me, yet clearly the matter requires further discussion. When once I am able to walk again, I shall seek you out for the discussion.”

Then did the Sigurri and S’Heernoh follow after the previous set of males, blessedly leaving behind no others than Midanna. The clamor of them all had brought a throbbing to my head, as though many males stood within and hammered to be released. I put a hand to the throbbing and sought to rub it from me, yet Rilas appeared before me with the rubbing only just begun.

“Truly do some blessings have their dark sides,” said she, looking up into my eyes with an attempt at understanding. “For what purpose have these males been brought here, Jalav?”

“Surely for the purpose of stealing my reason and leaving me gibbering,” said I with an edge to my voice which nevertheless brought amusement to Ennat. “Should I continue to find victories which involve males such as those, likely will I fail to survive.”

“I believe the war leader would do well to seek rest of her own, Rilas,” said Ennat with a smile. “And surely are there words which you and she would wish to exchange, alone and uninterrupted. You and I may speak later, after I, too, have rested.”

“Ennat, your wisdom has no need of enlarging,” said Rilas, turning to her sister Keeper with a smile of gratitude. “Already does it encompass understanding beyond the efforts of those about you. Please accompany us till we reach the place you may rest yourself.”

With a nod of agreement Ennat stepped back to allow me to pass her, a thing which I did with both eagerness and hesitancy. My eyes found little pleasure in the glaring brightness of Mida’s light, yet was the thought of being enclosed within the walls of a dwelling dispiriting. So pleased was I to be rid of the males and in a place where they might not force their presence upon me, however, that the walls we stepped within were welcome. Cool was the air between the pink stone of walls, floor and ceiling, blue cloth hung about upon some of it, small and large platforms standing here and there along the halls, some with seats, some without. Also were there those who were city males and females, moving about the dwelling with as much confidence as those warriors who did the same. No collars nor chains were there upon those who moved about so, yet did they look upon me with a deference which was nearly slave-like.

“Those who see to this dwelling for us seem somewhat in awe of you, Jalav,” said Rilas, noting where I looked as we walked the halls. “Surely do they recall you from our time of having first taken this place, and know you as she who commands those who command them. In accordance with your will, no longer are they slaves, a thing which filled them with joy when it was done, and now fills them equally with awe. Much do they prefer being servants to slaves.”

“Only the city-bred would find a difference in the states,” said I, increasingly annoyed. “Ever are those of the cities chained in one manner or another, and those of towns and villages as well. We, ourselves, will do well only when we have left them all far behind us. I live for the fey as I live for few others.”

No response came from Rilas, Ennat remaining silent as well, therefore did we continue along the hall, turning every now and again, until we came to a number of steps leading upward. Ennat continued to look all about her with endless curiosity as we took ourselves to the floor above, and when we reached a door not far from that which had been mine when first my warriors had taken the dwelling, Rilas halted and threw it wide.

“Accept this chamber as your own, Ennat,” said she, gesturing over a passing servant male. “This male will fetch daru and provender to you, and should you require aught else, you have only to speak of it to him.”

“You have my thanks, Rilas,” said Ennat, looking upon the male who had smiled at her before taking himself off to do the bidding of the Keeper. “There may perhaps be another thing he might see to.”

“The warriors he has already served have found him able to give much pleasure,” said Rilas, smiling with amusement at the manner in which Ennat followed the departing male with her eyes. “He feels neither humiliation nor resentment in being commanded to the service of warriors, therefore is the pleasure he gives unrestrained and untainted.”