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  "Or maybe try to tangle me into the two of you."

  Malora cocked her head. "Maybe." I watched her count opponents.

  "The only way we win is if I pull an Aura at the beginning," I said. Shortly after we had become Amazons, Aura had sacrificed herself in a fashion that allowed her team to defeat Nori and Malora.

  "No," said Nori. "We never fight as if losing is a forgone conclusion. You are not expendable."

  "I'll take the center," Malora said. "Maya on my left. Try not to smack me with the whip."

  "Nori, call it when you want me to send the whip out. It's nothing more than a distraction. Give me a name. Malora, stay out of my way."

  She laughed.

  "No Auras, Maya," Malora said. "I mean it. That is a direct order from your queen."

  While holding my staff in my left hand, I began waving the whip around, getting used to it, snaking it back and forth from behind me to in front of me. I discovered I could use it an awful lot like when I went fly-fishing. Malora gave me enough room, the whip extending out over my right shoulder but returning in the space between us.

  I added a little snap at the end. The third time I did it, I got a small crack. It wasn't anything like when Malora or Nori did it, but a few swings later, I got another crack.

  "You're going to do it just like that?" Nori asked quietly.

  "Yep."

  Clara stood there watching us then said, "Well? Are we going to have any wagers?"

  "I'm not betting with all of you," I called out. "Make a recommendation."

  "Stop waving that whip around first," Clara said.

  "You'll retreat to outside the ring after negotiations," Malora replied. I let the whip come to a rest then coiled it, holding it in my hands. Clara grabbed Omie and Beria, and the three approached.

  "Just the three of you?"

  "We're the representatives," she replied. "Our suggestion is this. You wager four deer hides and four dinner meal shifts. We don't care how you pay it, and we'll decide whom they go to if we win. In exchange on our side each companion will wager a dinner shift and each warrior will offer a single deer hide."

  "You're offering us odds," Nori said. Clara nodded.

  "I don't think we should take it," I replied. "They can suicide rush us."

  "I've ordered my companion to no Aura's," Malora explained.

  "No suicides, no sacrifices," Clara said. She grinned. "No Aura's."

  "I heard that!" Aura said from in back.

  "You should be proud that a fighting strategy is named after you," Nori called to her.

  I turned to Malora. "Got any deer hides to wager?"

  "You know I don't," she replied. "You know better than I do, in fact."

  "All of mine are from Nori," I said.

  "Not all of them," Nori corrected. "Ralla still leaves one with you every few months."

  "Well, most are from you," I replied, and she nodded. "It's up to you then. I'll do the dinner duties and contribute your own hides if you want, but I think we're going to lose."

  "Such a defeatist attitude," Nori said. She looked at our opponents. "We'll have to owe you two hides."

  "We'll have to owe a few as well," Clara said. "We have agreement?"

  Nori turned to Malora. "You're getting out of this cheaply."

  Malora sighed.

  "I have a counter-offer," I said.

  "Oh?" asked Clara. "Go ahead."

  "I don't mind the dinner duty, but I don't care to give up the hides. The three of us will let you dye our hair any color you like."

  "Four dinner duties and three dyed heads of hair?" Clara asked. She eyes Malora and Nori. "They don't have much to dye."

  "I was thinking no dinner duties and three dyed heads of hair."

  "I'm not sure about this," Malora said.

  "I'm putting more on the line than either of you are," I said, waving my overfull braid about.

  "Pink hair is not regal," Malora countered.

  "As short as you keep it, you'll cut it off in a month anyway," I countered.

  She glanced at Nori, who shrugged. "Fine. Three dyed heads of hair against your dinner duties and deer skins."

  The three of them conferred for a moment before Clara said, "And three dinner duties. One from each of you."

  I laughed and laughed again at Malora's expression. She turned to me. "You put her up to this!"

  I shook my head. "No, but it might be another member of the Softpeace family."

  Beria was trying to look innocent, but we all knew better.

  "Agreed," Nori said.

  "We need to confirm with the rest of our team," Clara said.

  "Some emissaries," I said. "Next time, send people who can make decisions for you."

  The three retreated, and then our opponents all clustered together. The conversation lasted a couple of minutes, and we received several sideways looks throughout the conversation. Finally Clara, Beria and Omie returned to us.

  "That wager plus two deer skins."

  "Six rabbit skins," I immediately countered. "I'll have to owe you."

  "Agreed," said Clara.

  "Not quite," said Omie. "Until you have paid us, all three of you must also agree to accept a wrestling match from anyone who asks, any time she asks, up to once per day per person."

  Malora laughed. "Agreed."

  The three backed away. Malora chuckled. "I do not want pink hair, so the two of you better fight for all you're worth."

  Our opponents huddled for another moment, then they lined up. Clara and Lidi stood to our right, Nori's side, followed by Gaylie, Vorine and Omie. On my end were all the companions, and my sister was smiling directly at me.

  "I don't think I'm going to be in this very long," I muttered.

  "They'll try to flank you," Malora said. "Shift in behind me when they do."

  Our opponents began approaching.

  "Nori, cover my flank at the beginning; I'm going to reduce the pressure on Maya."

  "Ready, Maya," Nori said. "Aura in three, two, one, now."

  I let the whip flow back and then forward, aiming for Aura's sword arm. She raised her sword to intercept my whip, and that's when Nori's reached out and wrapped around Aura's arm. In the meantime, mine got tangled in Aura's sword.

  We both pulled at the same time, and Aura fell off balance, leaning forward. She lost control of her sword, but Nori's whip remained wrapped around her arm. Nori reeled her in, and Malora darted forth and brought both her swords down, each on either side of Aura's head.

  "Darn it!" Aura said, falling to the ground in a heap.

  Malora danced backwards. I finally freed my whip. "Beria, now, Maya!" Nori said. I reached out with my whip. Beria shrank away from it, and Nori's whip wrapped around her leg. Nori yanked, and my sister went down.

  "Back," Malora ordered, and the three of us retreated, Nori dragging Beria like a dog on a leash. Well, if the leash were around the dog's leg.

  Neela dropped her staff, bent down, and grabbed Beria under the arms, trying to tug her away from Nori. This only left Jasmine on my leftmost flank and everyone else on the other side of the whip stretched between Beria and Nori.

  And I was better with a staff than Jasmine was.

  I cracked the whip at Jasmine, letting it fall over her shoulder. She jerked away from it, getting tangled for a moment, and that was all I needed. I dashed forward, swept her staff out of the way, and then pulled a strike to her ribs. Omie came around the back of Neela and Beria, coming to Jasmine's rescue, and I immediately backed away.

  "Cracked ribs," Malora called out, and Omie told Jasmine to fall back.

  "Maya switch," Malora called, and I ducked behind her, stepping between her and Nori. Nori jerked Beria off balance once more while Malora stepped out for Omie. The other warriors stepped forward towards Nori, who traded the whip and the sword, now wielding the sword in her primary hand.

  Omie defended herself against Malora, but she was deeply outclassed. With the whip stretched in the way, it served as
an impediment to the other warriors helping her, and Omie retreated rapidly from Malora's attack.

  Vorine tried to duck under the whip to come to her sister's aid, but Malora reached out with her right hand, jabbing a sword at her, then Nori stepped forward and swished the whip, causing a loop to fall over Vorine's neck. She got a hand up to protect her throat, but I stepped forward and tapped my staff on the top of her head, then stepped back to Nori's flank.

  "Malora," Nori called.

  Malora didn't pause. She disengaged from a retreating Omie and retreated towards us, stepping between Nori and me.

  Vorine went down, dropped by my tap on her head. Beria managed to free her leg from the whip, and Neela pulled her to safety. Our opponents retreated, dragging both whips with them.

  Count: Vorine and Aura both down, Jasmine partially disabled, and our opponents demoralized.

  "Stay calm," Malora said. "Good job so far, but I need you to be extra cautious now. This is when you'll make a mistake."

  "Remember, you're not playing for fun," Nori added. "It's our lives at stake."

  My heart was pounding, but no pressure.

  "I think we should break up their conference," Nori said. Our opponents, down two, were making a new strategy. Nori stepped forward one step, then Malora and I together, the three of us in a line with me a quarter step behind Malora.

  "Keep up," Malora said, and then she was moving quickly, Nori matching her step for step. She took me by surprise, but I hurried after. But then Malora cut me off as Omie stepped forward. I feinted with my staff between Malora and Nori but then spun around behind Nori and swept the ground at ankle height, surprising Clara. She stepped backwards out of the staff's path, and I caught Lidi hard against her ankles.

  I hoped it hadn't been hard enough to damage her.

  She grunted when she fell. Nori yelled, "Push!" and she and Malora danced forward a step and a half, causing our opponents to fall back a similar amount. I stepped forward and tapped Lidi on the top of the head with my staff.

  "Retreat," Nori called.

  I stepped back immediately.

  "Maya," Malora called, and I stepped further behind them, coming up on Malora's left side.

  "Hold!" Malora called. Everyone froze. "Lidi, are you all right?"

  "Hurts," was the response.

  "Oh no, Lidi, I'm sorry!"

  "Nori, check it," Malora said.

  Nori stepped forward and knelt down in front of Lidi. I hung back, my hand in my mouth. Malora stepped closer.

  "You didn't break it," Malora said quietly. "They aren't sufficiently accustomed to fighting sword against staff, and they really aren't used to someone with a staff being screened by someone like Nori."

  I couldn't see what Nori was doing with Lidi's ankle, but I didn't hear any screaming. Then Nori was helping Lidi to her feet, supporting her as she put weight on her injured ankle. Lidi limped around for a moment, Nori supporting her, and then Nori stepped away.

  "It's going to be a heck of a bruise," Nori said. "But nothing is damaged. She should take it easy for a few days."

  "I'm sorry, Lidi," I said again.

  Lidi limped over to me. "Good blow," she said. And then she stepped forward for a hug. "I never even saw it," she whispered into my ear. "You've come a long way, Maya. I'm glad you're on our side."

  "Right now I'm not," I replied, and she chuckled.

  "You know what I mean."

  "I'm sorry. I should have pulled it."

  "You shouldn't have to pull it," she said. "You didn't break anything, and I probably learned something. I bet you did, too. If you get another chance to do that, you do it. Don't hold back."

  Then she pulled away.

  "I'm going to go sit over there," Lidi said, gesturing to the grass. "You'll have to live without an obstacle.

  "Keep it elevated, if you can," said Nori. Then she stepped back into line next to Malora.

  "Don't feel guilty," Malora said. "Guilt leads to mistakes. You're doing perfectly. But if you get a chance to do that again, swing just a little higher." Then she raised her voice. "Ready?"

  "Ready," said Clara.

  "Come and get us," Malora told them.

  They rushed us, all in a line. Clara and Gaylie focused on Nori. Omie, Bea and Beria focused on Malora. I faced my sister and Jasmine. Jasmine was supposed to be simulating cracked ribs, but she seemed amazingly whole. I wasn't sure if I got another chance whether I would tap her quite so lightly as I did the first time.

  However, neither Beria nor Jasmine had any experience fighting together this way, and they weren't coordinating their attacks. I held my position on Malora's flank, then when I got a chance, I fended off an attack on Beria, returning a swing at her head, one she easily blocked, but my staff bounced off Beria's and bumped Jasmine. It wasn't enough to cause any damage at all, but she shied from it anyway, bringing her staff around to block my non-existent swing, leaving her entire left flank turned towards Malora. Malora reached out with a sword and slapped Jasmine with the flat.

  "Stay calm, Maya," Malora said. "Don't get cocky. That's not your sister, that's a bandit."

  I didn't take my eyes off Beria, using my peripheral vision to keep track of everything else. I thought I heard Nori score a strike, but I didn't see anyone else go down.

  "Push," Malora said at the same time Beria launched a series of attacks at me. I was forced back at the same time Malora stepped forward, exposing her flank to my sister. Beria made a swing at Malora, but I blocked it then used the counter motion to sweep Beria's legs out from under her. I blocked a return swing, but it was awkward, and I tapped the side of her head with my staff.

  "Ouch!" she said, dropping her staff and holding her ear.

  I hadn't hit her that hard.

  "Don't be a baby," I said.

  "Stay alive, Maya," Malora said. "Fall back."

  We stepped backwards as a unit, but I saw an opportunity with Bea and lashed out with my staff. It had been a ruse on her part, and she swept my staff out of the way and smacked me good across the arm, but it cost her a spank across the back of her head with the flat of Malora's sword.

  "You're down, Bea. Broken arm, Maya," Malora called. "I told you to fall back."

  I hung my left arm limply and fell back to cover Malora's back. Our opposition was down to Clara, Gaylie and Omie, and Gaylie was fighting left-handed. I was sure Malora and Nori would have them easily, but then I realized Nori was fighting left-handed as well.

  "If you can, push," I said quietly, "let me get a sword and I'll help guard Nori's flank." With my left hand out of commission, I was better with a sword in my right hand than trying to use a staff one-handed.

  Malora fended off an attack and blocked an attack meant for Nori, then she yelled, "Push!" and our opponents fell back even before she and Nori could move forward. They filled the ground, and I bent down to grab a discarded sword, dropping my staff, then rolled behind Malora and Nori to come up on Nori's right side.

  "I'll do what I can," I whispered, "but don't count on me for too much."

  "Defensive only," Nori said. "Fall back from any concerted attacks."

  Thirty seconds later, the fight was over.

  I stared around at the "bodies", my heart still pounding, and then Malora was behind me, lowering me to the ground, my back against the whipping post.

  "You've got to stop doing this," she said.

  I turned my head to face her, feeling numb, unable to think clearly. A moment later, Bea was there with a mug of water. Malora held it for me and I drank when she ordered me to.

  "Did I faint again?" I asked.

  "You went white and your knees started to buckle," Malora explained. "Feeling better?"

  I nodded.

  "Help me stand her up, Bea," Malora said. Together, one on either side of me, they helped me to my feet. I wavered a bit, but then I was fine.

  "We're going to go dissect what happened," Malora said. "But no one wants to sit in the dirt."

  They led m
e over to the grass, the other Amazons watching me closely. Then they lowered me to a seat next to Lidi. I turned to her.

  "How's your ankle?"

  "Stiff. I'm going to soak it in the river as soon as we're done."

  I looked over at Malora, who was sitting next to me. "Swim."

  She smiled. "Absolutely."

  Nori herded the remaining Amazons over and soon we were all sitting in a circle.

  "What went right? What went wrong?"

  "I'd say my sister fainting went wrong," Beria said. She looked at me with concern.

  "It happens," Clara said in my defense. "I still get sick after a demon fight."

  "What's important is she waits until the fight is over," said Nori. But then she looked at me firmly. "However, if there were more enemies waiting, or another emergency, it would be nice to count on you afterwards."

  "I'm not doing it on purpose!"

  "Consider going to one knee for a few seconds after the fight until your heart calms down," she suggested.

  I nodded understanding.

  "Maya doesn't know how to use a whip," Clara said, looking at my fiercely.

  "I'd say she made good use of a weapon she doesn't know how to use," Nori replied. "Why is that?"

  "Because she psyched us out," Aura said. "Much to my chagrin. We should have known better. There's no way Maya has ever practiced with a whip before. We'd have seen it. But she looked like she knew what she was doing."

  "And she did get it to crack," Lidi said. "Poorly, but the crack of a whip is intimidating, and when you couple it with Nori, it can be disheartening."

  "She didn't actually do anything with the whip," Jasmine said, "but startle us."

  "If she managed to startle highly-trained Amazons," said Malora, "that says a lot."

  "It was Nori that did the real damage," Beria said. "But Maya served as a distraction."

  "That was the idea," I said. "Nori called the targets. I wasn't even trying to hit any of you because I don't know how, but I was pretty sure I could shake you up."

  "Were we supposed to ignore her?" Beria asked.

  "Probably not," Nori said. "But advancing slowly gave us opportunity we wouldn't have had if you had come at us more quickly. There is no reason to hold back and let longer weapons disrupt you like that. You should have waited outside whip range and then moved quickly through it and engaged."