Amazon Companion by Robin Roseau Read Free Book Online Page B

tight then tied them tautly, finishing the hog-tie.
    If I'd been in agony before, now it was worse.
    I vowed to kill her.
    "Sleep well," she told me.
    Ten minutes later, Balorie stopped by. "I told you to sleep." Then she was gone again.

The Queen
    We traveled two more days. I became increasingly angry as my arms felt like they were being pulled out of their sockets. Nori never untied my arms, but I didn't give her any further reason to hog tie me, and she kept me in her tent with her for the final two nights.
    I spent most of the time gagged and had little to eat, as I became verbally abusive to everyone I could the moment the gag was removed. I called them no end of names, all of them completely justified in my opinion.
    Nori told me the only reason the punishments for my behavior weren't worse was because she understood my anger. "I don't blame you, but I won't allow your abuse. Once the queen takes possession of you, she can decide what to do with you."
    She was going to kill me. What oth er choice did she have? They hadn't hauled me all this distance to let me go in the end, after all, and they could never trust me.
    Our final day was extraordinarily long. Nori didn't explain; we just kept riding well into dusk. And then, from ahead, there was a hail.
    Nori answered with a complicated whistle. Two minutes later we entered a large camp of Amazon women.
    We still weren't to the Dark Forest. Oh, we had passed through forest and field, but we hadn't reached the home of the Amazons, of that I was sure. I wondered how much longer the journey would be, and when my torment would end.
    I was ready for it to end.
    I would have promised almost anything to be untied by then. My entire body was on fire; I could no longer distinguish the pain in my shoulders from the rest of my body. And I would have kept the promises up until I could kill as many of them as possible.
    I hated them, all of them.
    Nori accepted help lowering me to the ground, and then the horses were led away. She strode forth, leaving me on the ground, and there were cries of joy.
    I ignored all of it. I no longer cared. All I cared about was when my agony would end.
    But then I heard Nori say, "Queen Malora, I have brought you a gift. I apologize for the condition."
    A crowd approached, and then I was surrounded by Amazon feet.
    "This is my present?" I heard a woman say. "What an unusual way to wrap a present, Nori."
    "I thought you might enjoy the singular experience of such an unusual gift." She paused, and her tone changed. "There is a story to tell, but I am weary. Perhaps we could retire to yo ur pavilion, and I could relate the story behind your gift."
    "Of course," the queen said slowly, and I wondered if she was puzzled. "Shall we bring my gift?"
    "It won't go anywhere," Nori said.
    The feet departed, and I groaned in my agony, shutting my eyes and wondering when it would end.
    It wasn't long, but then two of the Amazons knelt beside me.
    "You have a choice," one said, and I realized it was Balorie. "We can free your legs and you can walk, which we will do if you agree to behave, or we can drag you. Would you like to walk?"
    I nodded enthusiastically. They began untying my legs, which took a minute or two, then together they lifted me to my feet. I sagged between them, and they caught me by my arms, sending fresh agony into my shoulders. I cried into the gag.
    They steadied me, and I gained my feet. Then, slowly, I made my way across the clearing.
    They led me to a large tent, and it was clear it must be the queen's, by the size if nothing else.
    "Queen Malora," Balorie called out. "We have the woman."
    "Bring her in," came the queen's voice. I stepped through the doorway and blinked in the light. "Stop there," she ordered, and I froze.
    I got my first good look at the queen while she looked at me. She and Nori were both seated in chairs, turned slightly towards each other, slightly towards the entryway. Balorie and the other Amazon held me in place while the