Amazon Chief by Robin Roseau Read Free Book Online Page A

Maya taught me that word, too, but it had been directed towards me at the time.
    I answered Omie's question with a couple of nods.
    "If I ask a question," Omie whispered to me, "I expect an honest answer. Do you understand?" And I nodded. She leaned away. "Vorine and I are together a lot, which means the two of you would be together a lot. Initially, we would be sharing a hut, and it isn't that large a hut. Furthermore, you are both companions at the same point in your training, and you would need to train together and do other duties together. If there is a problem, we need to know."
    "I'd be the youngest," I said. "Does that mean I'd get all the crappy jobs?"
    "No," Vorine said firmly. "You would get Omie's crappy jobs, and Careen would get mine."
    I laughed. I thought that was funny, then I sobered. "What if Careen tells me to do something?"
    "You answer to me," Omie said, "Not Careen. Now, if Vorine tells you to do something, you will want to think long and hard before ignoring it."
    "But I wouldn't tell you to do the things Careen is supposed to do for me," Vorine said. "However, the two of you may find that you prefer trading duties."
    "Like what?" Careen asked.
    "One of you may be better at mending," Vorine said. "For instance. Or perhaps you would trade because one of you wants an afternoon off for something else, so you might do your duties and the other's one day, then the next day, she would do yours."
    "So I don't answer to her," I said, "And I don't have to clean up her messes."
    "Right," Omie said.
    "What if we have a fight anyway?"
    "It would depend upon the nature of the fight," Vorine said. "Disputes should first be directed to your warrior or settled in a supervised fashion on the training ground. If you fall outside the rules, there are consequences. There is a low tolerance for physical altercations."
    "It's important to remember the real enemy are the demons," Omie said. "You need to know you can trust the woman next to you."
    "If the two of you cannot live in the same hut," Vorine explained, "that's temporary and will be resolved. But if you can't live in the same town, that is a bigger deal."
    "I don't have a problem," I said.
    "Neither do I," responded Careen.
    Omie whispered into my ear, and I felt her take my hand under the covers. "Squeeze my hand if you're being completely honest."
    I gave her hand two quick squeezes. I was fine with Careen, as long as she didn't think she could boss me around. I thought I was going to get enough of that.
    "Careen," said Vorine, "You understand that if you give me the sort of trouble it sounds like you gave Maya, you won't enjoy the consequences."
    "I won't," she said.
    "All right," Omie said after a minute. "It's late, and sunrise comes early."

Decisions
    Omie cuddled me all night. I hadn't shared a bed with anyone in a long time, and the ground was firm, but I slept better than I would have expected. I woke a few times with her arms around me, shifting position a little each time I woke. Then I woke again, and it was light enough to see. I opened my eyes and saw the back of Careen's head. I heard her and Vorine murmuring quietly to each other. I shifted a little, and from behind me, I heard Omie say, "Thank you, Beria."
    She still had her arms around me. I rolled over to look at her, our noses inches apart.
    "For what?" I asked.
    "I haven't slept that well since Vorine became a warrior," she replied.
    From behind me, I heard Vorine say, "I haven't, either. Thank you, Careen."
    "I didn't do anything," Careen replied.
    "You were here," Vorine explained. "You let me hold you. Thank you."
    "Do you understand?" Omie asked me quietly.
    I nodded.
    "I have to. Um."
    "Right," Omie said. "So do I. Get dressed and I'll show you."
    It was awkward getting dressed in the tent, and I was a little self conscious about it besides. I turned my back on all of them and pulled my clothes on as quickly as I could. The air was chilly, so I was glad to have my cloak with me. Omie showed