Chosen of Mida

4 Rilas—and dispositions are made

The fey was nearly gone when I once again descended from the chamber which had been that of the High Seat, trailed by two hands of silent warriors. I had intended to sleep no more than a few hind, merely to take the blinking from my eyes, yet had Mida—and perhaps Sigurr—visited me with a deep, dreamless sleep which had carried me through many hind, hind which were to have been spent differently. A crossness had taken me over the loss of that time, a crossness which I attempted to put away from me even as my temper flared beyond the bounds of my control. How foolish to rail at the doings of the gods, and yet how was a warrior to see to the tasks given her when those selfsame gods plucked precious time from her hands? I paused at a wide, lightly curtained window to stare out at the lessening light, seeing naught without the dwelling save faintly browned grass and thin, poor trees beneath the blue of the skies. The males, it seemed, had not returned to harass us, which might or might not be an omen for the future. I disliked the thought of remaining within that city, yet how might I take myself off with the safety of my warriors no certain thing? And then the thought came that the turn of the spear might allow me no choice in the matter, for the gods were notorious in their impatience, and that, too, irked me. After another glance about at the weakening fey, I turned and strode off to seek what sustenance there might be in the dwelling. There were many decisions yet to be made, and for weighty decisions one required adequate sustenance.

I had thought to begin my search with the chamber of slaves and yet, upon passing another chamber whose doors stood closed, I heard the sound of many voices exchanging laughter. Thinking to find a chamber where males had been put to use—and, perhaps, where daru or renth had been brought—I threw open the doors to find surprise instead.

“Jalav! You have awakened at last!” laughed Tilim, rising to her feet in greeting, with Gidon and Rogon and Palar doing the same. In the midst of these war leaders, retaining her seat upon the floor cloth, was Rilas, Keeper of our clans, a sight indeed most welcome. Warmly did Rilas smile, the smile of greeting I knew so well, and I gave silent thanks that not all of the time I had spent in sleep had been wasted.

“Jalav, we attempted to awaken you when Rilas was at last brought to the dwelling,” said Rogon, moving aside to allow me room beside the Keeper. “Though three of us made the attempt to say your orders had been carried out, nothing roused you. The Keeper felt your sleep was Mida-sent, therefore did we leave off our efforts and settle Rilas here.”

“I, too, believe the same,” said I with a grimace to Rilas, settling myself upon the floor cloth beside her. “Had I not had the foresight to leave instructions that you be guided here before I slept, your arrival would not yet have been accomplished. At times I wonder how seriously spoken are Mida’s commands.”

“The next task you have been given will be accomplished in its turn, Jalav,” Rilas laughed, amused at my sourness. “That Mida prepares you for it in her own way is surely proof of this. You have located the proper males?”

“Aye.” I nodded, looking toward those slave males who hovered about the edges of our talk, carrying pitchers and goblets. The one I looked upon blanched and hurried forward to serve me with trembling hands, and even learning that the pitcher contained daru failed to raise the deeper sourness settling upon me. Much do I dislike the look of slave males, those who bow and scrape and cringe in fear of that which might be done to them, and ever shall I feel so. These males, stripped of all covering and made to serve bare, were meant to please the eye of a warrior; none of those about me seemed quite pleased, and this I was able to understand.

“Do you speak of the males in the chamber of slaves, Jalav?” asked Palar as I sipped at my daru, she leaning forward in the place she had reclaimed. “The four who had been draped in cloth of black? What of them?”

“I must journey with them to their city,” I replied with a glance toward Rilas, wondering as to her reason for having raised the question. I had not intended to speak of it till the time for departure had become more imminent. “It is the wish of Mida that I see to a thing there, and then shall I return.”

“And the Happa shall, of course, accompany you,” said Tilim, her tone having settled the matter.

“The Hirga follow me as I follow Jalav,” said Rogon, her voice as cold as her eyes. “Should the Happa come as well, they will find themselves unneeded.”

“The Homma stand before all others,” said Gidon, looking about with a growl. “It is we who. . . . ”

“The Hunda have first call!” snapped Palar, bristling immediately. “It was we who guarded these males, and we who ....”

The wrangling grew more and more heated, each war leader speaking upon the words of the others, and I turned my head to regard the Keeper.

“I see Rilas, that you felt the need to partake in some part of the bloodshed so recently past,” I observed, raising my goblet to sip again. “In future, I shall be sure to recall this need and send for you the sooner.”

“Do not berate me, Jalav,” laughed Rilas, stirring in amusement where she sat. “The matter is one best settled now, before your departure, when I may have your presence to soothe your decision. Do not forget that your sisters are war leaders all, beyond and above the required obedience to a Keeper.”

Her words though light, held a deep understanding of what I had done and what I intended doing. Never before had all our clans been combined in such a venture, to act as a single clan, to obey a single leader. Had I intended remaining to direct the doings of the following feyd, the matter would have been simplified as I was unable to remain, the question of leadership must quickly be seen to.

“I bow to your wisdom, Rilas,” I said, attempting a grin to ease her mind. “I will be pleased to settle the question at once. It is my decision that I shall go alone.”

“Alone?” shouted those war leaders who, of a sudden, were full intent upon words not yet addressed to them, no longer enwrapped in wrangling. “Alone? Never! Impossible! Ridiculous!”

The growls of disagreement swept about the chamber to the warriors who stood a respectful distance back, each of them shaking their heads, many putting hands to sword hilts. Their war leader would not ride off with none to ride with her, said their displeasure, their scowls bringing a shadow to the face of Rilas. Her eyes came to me with a gaze which bid caution, yet the time for caution was not then. A long swallow emptied my goblet of daru, and then I rose to my feet.

“I hear words of council and support from my sister war leaders,” said I, pleased at the silence which had fallen when I arose. “For your support and concern you have my thanks, and yet—I would know which of you speaks with the blessing of Mida.”

The deep, attentive silence was broken by no more than the faint turnings of heads as glances were exchanged, the slow removal of hands from sword hilts. All knew they had spoken at the urging of no more than their own hearts, a commendable source and yet in no wise to be considered on a par with Mida.

“It seems it is now clear to all that had I been bidden to take any of the Midanna with me, the matter would already have been seen to,” I continued. “Another point I had not thought necessary to mention is the fact of the presence of Rilas. Has it not occurred to any to ask the reason for the presence of a Keeper among us when we rode to war? Is a Keeper not forbidden the glory of battle in the higher glory of service to Mida? For what reason, then, has Mida set her among us?”

A look of surprise had touched each war leader and warrior at my words, and a moment passed before Gidon nodded in sudden understanding.

“It was the will of Mida that she be among us,” said Gidon, “therefore has a task been set to her hand. It is clear this task has to do with the journey of which Jalav speaks. Is she meant to accompany you, Jalav?”

“Her task has been made considerably more difficult, Gidon,” I said with a headshake. “In the time our warriors must inhabit this city, it will also be necessary to deal with the males in a manner designed to avoid further bloodshed. As we are to stand against the strangers when they come, we will require every sword available to us, with none wasted in frivolous battle with males. This must Rilas see to, along with curbing the playfulness of our warriors. Who among us will not speak to her warriors on behalf of the Keeper?”

“Not I!” came from each of four voices, undoubtedly to be echoed by those five war leaders who were not then present. Fully outraged did the four appear at the suggestion that any would refuse support to the Keeper, and by those words was the obedience of the four committed to Rilas.

“Excellent,” said I, smiling around at my sisters. “Mida is sure to be pleased—as shall I be, should I find that which may be fed upon in this place. Have we no hunters among us, that the Midanna must hunger?”

“That matter, too, has been seen to, Jalav,” laughed Rogon, as amused as the others. “The provender has been prepared, and need only be fetched. The slaves will see to it.”

Indeed did the males, at the growls of the warriors about them, jump to see to the fetching of the provender. One slave male, well made yet with hollow insides, found himself the last to remain—and the first to be detained. The warriors in the chamber wished to amuse themselves the while the provender was being fetched, therefore did two of them stand to block the male when he attempted to depart. In confusion and nervousness he turned from the two, only to find a third, a small yet excellent Hunda warrior, in his path of withdrawal. Slowly did she smile up at him as her small hands went first to his chest, then to the flat of his belly, and then below; his gasp as he looked down at her in shock was lost in the laughter of the balance of the warriors. Clearly was it the intention of the small Hunda warrior to do without the sthuvad drug, and as the attention of all those in the chamber turned to the amusement, Rilas leaned near to me.

“Clearly does Mida stand with you, Jalav,” said she, a deal of annoyance to be seen in her eyes and heard in her softened tone. “To place a Keeper above war leaders—and have them pleased to have it so! What of the others, Jalav? If one should refuse as those here did not . . .”

“They will not refuse,” I quickly assured her, feeling a strangeness in thus reassuring a Keeper. Always has it been the other way about, for myself as well as the others. “Should I attempt to choose among the war leaders for one who will stand for me, the blood will indeed run deep. You, Rilas, need do only that which you have ever done: advise those about you wisely and well. I must have a fighting force to return to.”

“And shall have,” said she, nodding slowly with the beginnings of a smile. “Indeed has Mida chosen wisely, taking the war leader of the Hosta to stand for her. Through you does her glory shine most strongly. ”

I drew a breath and forced a smile in thanks to Rilas, then made it seem that my attention was taken by the small Hunda who now coaxed the panting male slave to the floor cloth. In truth my thoughts had turned to Mida and the glory one received from her hand, as opposed to that which was received by actions in her name. The two were most damnably different, in some unknowable manner most distinctly unalike. It was a matter to be thought upon, perhaps when all tasks had already been seen to, when all other matters were done and over with. Till then the thought was idle.

In time was the provender brought by the slaves and served to all, and then were the slaves themselves served up to their captors. It had come to me that the sthuvad drug had been withheld from these males so that my warriors might test the depth of them, that they might see how deeply buried was the manhood in them. Truly were the males put to their knees and humiliated, and the sight recalled to me the fact that there were other males to see to, those who were called Sigurri. When I rose to my feet Palar also rose to hers, apparently aware of my intentions; I made no attempt to keep her from my side, for the warriors who stood over the chamber of slaves were hers without question.

Much laughter came from the chamber of slaves as we approached, much laughter and also much shouting. Many of the males within had not been slaves, taught to fear the lash and sword and those who wielded them. With such free, strong males does a warrior find true enjoyment, and such was that which the warriors of Palar had found. As we entered the chamber we found a hand of warriors whose attention was immediately upon us, yet this was naught less than to be expected when one is encamped among enemies. These guarding warriors nodded in greeting before returning an eye to the doings of the others, and softly did I direct Palar to join them before moving toward the silk-covered enclosure.

The flicker of torches jumped about upon the blue silk as I put a hand to it and lifted it from the flags so that I might approach a bit closer. Beneath was a darkness unrelieved by the torchglow, all shadows without that which casts them, and one of these shadows stirred and spoke.

“So you have at last seen fit to return,” came the voice of the Sigurri male called Mehrayn, he of the hair of red. A thick calm was evident in his tone where another would surely have been annoyed or angered, and this I had not expected.

“Indeed have I returned,” said I, holding high the drape of silk. “Has the privacy you required proven adequate?”

A stirring of shadows came in the dimness, accompanied by the clink of chain, and then was the male at the metal lines before me, his large fists curled tightly about two of the lines.

“Very well,” said he, the calm in his voice unchanged, his face hidden in shadow. “My jest was at the expense of your dignity, your response to it at the expense of ours. May we now consider ourselves quits, and able to begin again? We shall find little accomplished in a back-and-forth of this sort.”

“Certainly,” I agreed in a matching calm, doing naught to hide the grin which touched me. Indeed was his request filled with wisdom, most especially as it came from one in the chains of a slave. “I would know if you are now prepared to voice your decision.”

“Our decision is the obvious one,” said he, moving very slightly where he stood. “We agree to guide you to our city, as Sigurr demands. Where stands the light beyond these walls? We have not breathed of the outer air for many feyd.”

“The dark is now upon us,” said I, refusing the memory of my own time within such an enclosure. “I shall have you removed from your confinement at once. ”

“But another moment,” said he as I began to turn away. “As I have said, we agree to guide you to our city in accordance with Sigurr’s wishes; we, however, have been in captivity for so odious an amount of time that we shall not remain the longer within this city. We depart come the new light with your presence or without, and would have you know this before you release us. We will not have any man—or wench—say we spoke other than the truth in order to see ourselves free.”

Having had his say the male then fell silent, an expectant air to the calm which remained with him. I, too, remained silent, for I knew not how I might see to all which was left undone with naught save the single darkness remaining to me. And yet— Ah, Mida! How the thought tempted me! To be free of that vile city, to return to the forests and the freedom therein, to begin at last the task set to my hand by the goddess and thereby be the sooner done with it! Indeed did I remain silent for a very long moment, a silence which was misread by the male.

“I believe I see a delay in our promised freedom,” said this Mehrayn, and no longer was he able to keep the dryness from his tone. “Exactly how long a delay undoubtedly depends upon the amount of time required by you before you find yourself able to depart. ”

“A Midanna does not return ashes to one who speaks the truth,” said I with sharpness, stung that these strangers would think Midanna so dishonorable. “We are warriors, not males nor city folk! As your freedom was promised you, so shall you have it!”

Before the male might reply, I allowed the blue cloth to fall again to the floor, and moved from the enclosure to gesture the guard warriors to me. Quickly were they before me to hear my instructions, and once those instructions had been given I left the area of the enclosure to join Palar where she stood laughingly watching the doings of her warriors. Pitchers of daru and empty goblets stood about; therefore did I pour a goblet for myself and attempt to divert my mind with amusement.

The males currently in use by Palar’s Hunda were those who had been of the chamber of slaves, yet not themselves enslaved. Males of metal and leather were they, those who had taken pleasure in forcing obedience from slaves at the direction of the male Bariose and the female Karil. Now was it they from whom pleasure was taken, most especially the four who had been removed from the wall. These four males, stripped naked, had been bound wrist to ankle in the cleared space, two warriors about each of them, heating their blood. The broad bodies of the males writhed to each touch and caress, straining at the leather which held them, glistening in the torchlight as desire was put more and more strongly upon them. Their voices raised in shouts of protest above the laughter of the warriors, showing them entirely free of the sthuvad drug. No use was vouchsafed these males, merely arousal, and I knew not the why of it till Palar leaned to me with a chuckle.

” See these four, Jalav,” said she, sipping from the goblet she held. “Those who were enclosed in this chamber informed us that among all the others, these four took the greatest pleasure in their cruelty. The males they lashed till they bled, the females they used till they wept, and they, secure in their freedom and position, laughed at the misery they caused. My warriors scorn their use, giving them no more than the agony they gave to others. ”

“Ever and again is the spear cast,” said I, looking upon the four who writhed, knowing the face of one. The eyes of the male, he who had brought me great shame at the bidding of the female Karil, turned to regard me with fury and desperation, then widened and looked quickly away at sight of the smile I showed.

“And at each cast does one’s lot in life undergo a change,” agreed Palar, also smiling at the look upon the male. “A pity these four lacked understanding of that fact; they now pay for that which was done in ignorance. ”

“And yet not unwillingly,” said I. “Had they been informed of this possibility, they would have done no more than laugh; had they believed, they would have refrained out of fear. To do as one must, knowing full well the possible consequences, accepting those consequences in the need of the moment to do that which must be done; such are the actions of a true warrior.”

“Indeed,” nodded Palar, turning more fully toward me, yet before she might speak again, an interruption came.

“I see you do indeed keep your word,” came the deep voice of Mehrayn. I turned my head to see that he stood, unescorted and unchained, behind my left shoulder. And then his hand reached out, calmly and with full confidence, to take the goblet I held and bring it to his lips. “Ah, just the thing I lacked all these feyd of captivity,” said he when the goblet was drained, his light eyes sparkling. “Drink such as this sets a man’s blood to thumping. What have your wenches done with our breechclouts? It is unseemly for a man without chains to walk about unclothed.”

“I, for one, do not consider it unseemly,” murmured Palar, again sipping at her daru as her eyes moved about the male. “For some, perhaps it would be; for you it is not.”

The male returned her stare without also returning the faint grin she sent him, in some manner disturbed over the observation Palar had made. Males are strange in such things, deeming it natural for them to find pleasure in looking upon females, yet unnatural for warriors to find pleasure in looking upon them. Indeed had Palar the right of it, for the male was broad and well made, strongly muscled and a full head taller even than I, his skin nicely tanned beneath his thatch of red hair. I, too, gazed in appreciation, then voiced the thought which came.

“Should you find yourself too uncomfortable,” said I, resting my left hand upon my sword hilt, “you may feel free to request that chains again be placed upon you. In such a manner shall the unseemliness be seen to.”

Immediately did the light eyes of the male flash with anger as his skin darkened, yet his voice, when he spoke, retained the calm which seemed so much a part of him.

“It gives me great pleasure that two such lovely wenches find approval in my appearance,” said he, putting aside the empty goblet to fold thick arms across the broadness of his chest. “Your gay, female laughter also gladdens me, yet would I have a more direct answer from you. Are we or are we not to have the return of our breechclouts?”

“Have the body cloths returned to them, Palar,” said I, holding the gaze of the male as he held mine. “We would not wish our honored guests to feel that we mock them.”

“Very well, Jalav,” sighed Palar, also putting aside her goblet. “Though mocking them is considerably less than that which we wished to do with them. I shall see to the retrieval of the cloths. ”

With a last doleful look Palar took herself off, drawing the male’s gaze with her as a wide grin suddenly took possession of him.

“Never have I seen such lusty wenches,” said Mehrayn in a soft voice, his eyes clapped to the roundness of Palar’s thighs as she strode away. “Had I been free when she used me, I would easily have had her screaming with pleasure. A pity we must depart so quickly.”

“A pity indeed,” I murmured, of a sudden understanding that the haste of the males must surely be the doing of Mida. To have them free among Midanna would undoubtedly cause much bloodshed, though little if any would be their doing. “You and your brothers will be given places where you may rest in comfort for this darkness, so that you will be well prepared to depart come the new light.”

“And you?” said he, again bringing those light eyes to study me. “We have given you very little time in which to prepare, I know. Will you be accompanying us?”

“If it is Mida’s will.” I shrugged. “There are many things remaining to be seen to, yet might it be possible to see to them all. If it should not prove possible, I shall follow you as soon as may be.”

“Follow us?” said the male, his brows drawn down into a frown. “You would ride the forests alone, unescorted and unprotected, attempting to follow the track of Sigurri warriors who are accustomed to leaving no track?”

“Of a certainty.” I shrugged again, failing to see wherein his difficulty in understanding my intentions lay. “To ride the forests alone is a great pleasure, to follow the track of others the simplest of doings. Ah, here are your body cloths. Now I may show you to your accommodations.”

A Hunda warrior appeared with the cloths, handing them out among the other three males who stood rubbing at unfettered wrists and looking about themselves. The male Mehrayn, after a short hesitation, took himself over for the cloth which was his and quickly wrapped it about himself, drawing the end up and tucking it in with a decisive gesture. I, indicating that the Hunda were to remain in the chamber, led the way from it and to the floor above, where guest chambers were to be found. Distasteful were those chambers to a warrior, filled as they were with city-folk contrivances, yet the Sigurri hummed with pleasure at sight of them. Also did they find much pleasure in the sight of the slave-females who had been unbound to kneel again at the corridor platform not far from their chambers, and swiftly was I informed of the fact.

“We will take these slaves for the darkness,” said Mehrayn, looking down upon four females who trembled with fear and made no effort to meet his gaze. “They are pretty little bits of fluff who will warm our beds this darkness and our memories upon the long journey home.”

“You may have them as long as they come to no harm,” I said, also looking down upon the slave females. “I know not what may be done with such as these, and yet must their final disposition be decided upon. What is one to do with females who know naught of standing tall with dignity?”

“One makes slaves of them,” said the dark-haired Sigurri, touching the throat of the female he stood above, causing her to shudder. “Just as you made a slave of that strutting female known as Karil. ”

“I made no slave of the she-sednet!” I snapped, annoyed that the male would see it so. “I merely gave her what she deserved. Sooner would I have faced her with swords, yet she refused!”

“I feel there are few females about who would not refuse to face you,” said Mehrayn a thoughtful look to him. “And as we speak of weapons, I would know when our own weapons are to be returned to us. ”

“Your weapons will be given you when you are prepared to depart,” I replied, feeling a strangeness come over me. I did not hold with slaves nor the making of them, yet in the eyes of the males I had done that very thing. Never have I felt the need to explain what actions I take, and yet was I then filled full with the desire to make them see how wrongly they judged me. The beliefs of males mattered little to me, and yet had Mehrayn not spoken up, surely would I have continued in my efforts to sway the males! I looked from one to the other of them, meeting the gaze of each, then abruptly came to a decision. I knew not what ailed me, yet surely would I be best off leaving the males to their own devices.

“Should you wish provender,” said I somewhat briskly, “send the slaves to my warriors. Perhaps we shall see one another again come the new light, before your departure. Should this not occur, we will undoubtedly meet upon the trail. I bid you a pleasant rest.”

I turned then and walked from them all, intending an end to the talk, yet the male Mehrayn, in typical male fashion, felt the need to speak last.

“I do not wish to hear of perhaps, wench,” he called after me, caring naught for the fact that I did not turn again to him. “Should you fail to be there when we are prepared to depart, I shall come seeking you!”

Acting as though I had not heard him, I continued up the corridor to the steps I wished to descend, silently calling down the curse of Mida upon his head. I knew not what humor rode the male, yet had I little need of so sudden a change of heart. Best would be to have the Sigurri quickly gone from the city which we had taken, yet now, despite his earlier words, their leader seemed intent upon vacillating. Ah, Mida! I know not the why of my being constantly thrust among males, yet would your warrior be grateful should they, at some time, be filled with reason rather than foolishness!

Though I spoke in my heart to Mida of reason, the following hind brought me little of the precious stuff. The five war leaders who had not yet sworn allegiance to Rilas did so without urging—then proceeded to insist upon accompanying me to the land of the Sigurri. Linol, war leader of the Hersa, tall and proud in her covering of orange, tossed her auburn-haired head and declared that Mida need not speak to her for her to know where lay her duty. Never before had Linol cared to follow another, yet had she seen me with sword in hand as we took the dwelling, and later, when I faced and bested that male chosen as champion to the High Seat, and now was Linol devoted to Jalav, war leader of all the Midanna. Softly did I speak with Linol, as one sister and war leader to another, yet were my words like feathers in a gale, lost as quickly as they came to sight. My well-being would be seen to by Linol and her Hersa, and no other thought would the Hersa war leader countenance.

In Mida’s name, I knew not what to do! Linol and I had stepped from the dwelling so that we might speak without interruption, and well pleased was I that the darkness cloaked all vision of what expression I wore. As war leader of the Hosta had all my instructions been promptly obeyed, yet had there then been no other war leaders among my followers. My eyes found the faint points of light in the distance which marked the dwellings of those of the city, the points which were torches dancing gently in the slight breeze which tripped about the ends of my hair. Indeed did the chirping darkness smell sweet and free, unburdened with the scent of many males which the large dwelling reeked of, unburdened with the need to disencumber oneself from unwanted protection. I raised my face to the darkness of the skies, seeing the uncountable points of light shining above, and Linol stepped to my side, breathing deep of the sweetness about us.

“The new fey shall be as clear and bright as the one just past,” she observed, scanning the skies as Midanna are wont to do. “Indeed does Mida smile upon us, sending us the glory of her light in which to obey her word.”

“Were Mida to speak to you, Linol,” said I of a sudden, “would you then obey her will rather than strut about doing as you please?”

“Jalav, I do not do as I please,” returned Linol, a shadow of hurt hovering about her words. “I do as I feel I am commanded to do, and that is to see to the safety of our war leader.”

“I have put a question to you, sister,” said I, turning to face her in the darkness. “Should Mida speak to you of her wishes, would you then obey them?”

“With my last breath,” she replied, turning her head to one side. “Yet I know not how I am to be spoken to. Never have I been blessed as you have been, Jalav.”

“The matter may be seen to thusly,” said I, refraining from dwelling upon the manner in which I had been blessed. “It is clear the new fey should be bright and sweet; you, yourself, have said so. Should it come to pass that the new fey arrives covered in the tears of Mida, you may know that Mida has spoken. How say you?”

“The matter seems reasonable,” she allowed, a smile to be heard where it could not be seen. “Should the rains come with the new light when there is no sign of them now, it will surely be the doing of Mida. I do not think the rains will come, Jalav.”

“The new light will show the truth of the matter,” said I, agesture toward the large dwelling. “Let us now return within, for there are other matters which I must see to.”

With a pleasant agreement Linol accompanied me, yet was her pleasure destined to be short-lived. It had not been my thought which had begun the matter of the rains, this I knew beyond all doubt. Upon previous occasions had Mida placed thoughts within my mind, and surely had she done so again. The new fey would bring her tears, whether I rode with the males or no.

The following hind were spent with Rilas, some alone, some with the presence of the war leaders who would see her word obeyed. The disposition of the captives taken was a point which saw long and stubborn argument, based as it was upon the release of certain males which each of the clans wished to retain the use of. The care of so large a number of captives would drain our strength in the midst of enemies, yet were the war leaders loath to release them. Again and again did I press the point, holding firm in the face of near rebellion, yet was it Rilas who found a stand of agreement all would accept. Each of the males would be examined by Rilas and the others, taking hunter from city male, slave from male of leather and metal. Those capable of wielding weapons would not be released, nor would those who felt a burning hatred for Midanna. All others would be examined and released if unwanted, or, in certain circumstances, held for the use of warriors. Those held who might be released would be given special standing, thereby lessening the sting of capture. The question of the female slaves was of lesser importance, yet did I carry the memory of a female who had gone from slave to sister by the strength of her will. Gladly did Rilas agree to examine the females held as slave, and free those who served only by cause of the lash; the others were a matter more difficult to settle, yet would Rilas think upon it.

The hind passed slowly as we moved to the deployment of warriors and the extent of freedom to be allowed the city folk, and of a sudden the daru I had swallowed began to weigh heavily upon my eyelids. I knew there was no time at all to be wasted in sleep, yet the voices of those who spoke about me slowed and slowly sunk to the depths, tugging at me to follow. Desperately did I attempt to struggle against the pull, calling to Mida to leave me be, yet the will of the goddess was firm. Down to the depths of sleep was I taken, raging at such treatment, yet powerless to deny it.