Rogon had spied my pacing and had begun to approach me, yet was she still three paces distant when the balance of our sisters arrived. They appeared at the chamber’s entrance and walked within in small groups, the silence of the hunt well upon them, yet jubilation upon them as well. Well did they know themselves the victors of the fey, these sister Midanna, and well did this knowledge show in the breadth of their stride and the manner in which their heads were held high. Among them walked their war leaders, filled with pride for the warriors they led, filled with pleasure from the deed they had done. Long would the doing live in the memory of Midanna, long would the story be told about the fires of the home tents. The walled city of males was theirs, said their joy, and would remain so till they saw fit to release it.
“Greetings, Jalav,” called Tilim, her words echoed by those about her, her steps bringing her quickly to me. “The guardposts have been set as you directed, and all is secure. Each chamber in this dwelling has been searched, and each male found either captured or put to the sword. Our victory is complete. ”
“Not quite yet,” said I, stilling the murmurs of pleasure about me. “This dwelling and the city is ours, yet they may be lost to us upon the new light when those in the balance of the city arise to find themselves invaded. Their battle skill is naught when compared to ours, yet our numbers are far too few to challenge them. Victory would be far less sweet were there no more than a handful of us remaining to joy in it.”
“What, then, shall we do?” demanded another, one Gidon, war leader to the Homma. “Are we to go from dwelling to dwelling, like Sarra trash, and slay them in their sleep? Sooner would I face alone two hands and more of armed males than so dishonor my blade!”
She stood with head held high, golden-haired and green-eyed, amid the growls of agreement of those within hearing. Her gaze was locked to mine, daring me to speak such loathsome commands, and my anger, despite the pain I felt, could not be withheld.
“I would know what prompts the war leader of the Homma to believe I would demand such a deed of her,” said I, stepping past Tilim to face the Homma more directly. “Should the war leader Gidon feel that Jalav must be likened to the Sarra, it would be best that she speak more clearly. ”
I stood before the Homma, my hands at my sides, yet was the desire to draw my blade great indeed. When a captive among the males, it had been necessary that I swallow a great many insults; now that I again rode free, a sword at my side, there were none who might insult me with impunity. This the Homma saw, and my anger as well, and a note of confusion and doubt entered her eyes.
“I—do not know what caused me to speak so,” she frowned, her voice now disturbed. “It is known by all Midanna that the war leader Jalav is naught if not honorable. I do not fear you, Jalav, and will face you with swords if you wish, yet it was not my intention to give you insult.”
“Then I shall take no insult,” said I, feeling my strength drain away with my anger. “We shall not seek out the males of this city, for they are sure to seek us out come the new light. It is for this that we must prepare, with rest and provender, and guardposts fully alert. There is sure to be further battle then, yet is it my hope that no more than a small amount of Midanna blood will be spilled. I shall inspect the guardposts, and then we may speak further of what plans I have formulated.”
“A moment, war leader,” called Rogon from behind me, halting us all as the others prepared to follow me to the door. I turned to face her, and she stood herself before me to look up into my eyes. “These plans you have formulated for the new light,” said she. “Do they require that our leader be in full health and strength, able to do that which is required of her?”
I made no immediate answer to her words, for her meaning was clear in the anger and impatience in her eyes, yet the others were not aware of the exchange which had gone on between us earlier.
“Of what do you speak, Rogon?” asked Tilim, a frown upon her. “Surely does it seem as though you feel Jalav will be unable to stand with us come the new light.”
“Should she continue on so, there is little doubt,” said Rogon, folding her arms beneath her life sign. “Her wound has already taken a great toll in strength, yet she will not have it tended and rest. Have we come so far, spending the lives of our sisters, to see our efforts come to naught due to lack of judgment?”
“My judgment is as clear as it has ever been,” said I above the murmurs of disturbance from the others, standing myself the straighter. “I am hardly an unblooded warrior, new to battle and the wounds it brings. When I feel that rest is required I shall take it. For now there are too many other things which must be seen to.
“Things which have already been seen to by your war leaders,” said Rogon, in no whit abashed. “Do you doubt their ability, that you must inspect the guardposts which they have already inspected? As there are plans which must be discussed, why may they not be discussed as your wound is seen to? Do you mistrust the intentions of those you lead?”
Rogon’s eyes refused to leave mine, her sharpened gaze saying she knew full well what consternation her words had bred in me. How might I say I doubted the abilities of those war leaders about me when it was not so? How might I say I mistrusted their aid when it was not so?
“I have ever inspected guardposts with my own eyes,” said I at last, rather lamely, somehow feeling the child among warriors. “Never has it been proper to allow others to do the thing for me.”
“It is now proper, Jalav,” said Tilim, her voice soft with understanding as her hand went to my unharmed right shoulder. “Never before have you had other war leaders among those whom you led. And though there be no other Hosta among us, still must your wound be seen to. Come. We shall find a place you may take your rest, and there you may speak of your plans for the new fey.”
They all gazed upon me in silence, these warriors and war leaders, Rogon and Tilim and Gidon and the rest, all awaiting my word upon the matter. I had had no disagreement from them at the time of battle, yet battle was now over and they were war leaders in their own right. Were I to deny their council at such a time, a disastrous rift might well begin to grow between us.
“Very well,” said I with a nod, looking about among them. “I will seek the rest you council for I find I do, indeed, have need of it. I will, however, refrain from demanding a similar complete rest for the balance of you, for there are many males about ripe for the taking. Use them with restraint, however, for the new fey will require alertness as well as an easing of need.”
The laughter and shouts of approval from the many warriors about the chamber brought smiles to the lips of the war leaders about me. They, too, I saw, would seek out males for their use before taking to their sleeping leather, yet first was it necessary to attend to matters of import. All nine war leaders would accompany me, therefore was it necessary that they designate those who would stand for them the while they sat in council with me. As I stood alone awaiting the completion of this task, a warrior of the Hulna approached me.
“Your pardon, war leader,” said she, stopping before me. “As you are soon to depart the chamber, we thought it best to ask your wishes in regard to the slave female. She has already been taken past each of the males.”
Filled with surprise, I followed the gaze of the Hulna to the female Karil, she who had apparently slipped completely from my mind. The poor wretch now lay crumpled upon the stones of the chamber before an enclosure of males, a warrior standing above her, the males in the enclosure laughing as they looked down upon her. Her body writhed upon the flags as though she lay in the grip of a great need, yet no more than weeping came to break her silence.