So great was my anger that I had stalked well within the chamber before it came to me that others awaited me there, others who were not male. Rogon, war leader of the Hirga, and Palar, war leader of the Hunda, stood by the board with cups of daru in their hands, their brows raised at the manner of my entrance. Rather than speak I stalked to the board, poured daru of my own, then swallowed it down without pause. The drink did naught to cool the flames which raged within me, and this the others were able to see.
“War leader, may we assist you in any manner?” asked Rogon, her head to one side in unspoken curiosity. Not so large as other Midanna was this Rogon, yet was her sword swift and deadly, she having bested all who had ever stood to face her. She accompanied me when first we had taken that city and had proven her courage and strength without question. Now I attempted to keep the heat of my anger from her, as I attempted to relate in some manner what had occurred.
“Never, Rogon, never allow those who are male to speak with you upon any subject,” I growled, reaching to a pitcher to refill my cup. “Should you fail to heed my words, you will surely regret it.”
“Jalav, never have we found more than a single use for males,” said Palar, amusement to be heard in her voice. Both taller and broader than Rogon was Palar, hair of a brown touched less with red, eyes as dark, sword as quick. “Should those who returned with you be too great a bother, my warriors would be pleased to see to them for you.”
“Indeed,” said Rogon with a grin, exchanging glances with Palar. “We are warriors of Mida, are we not, and it was at the behest of Mida that these males were brought here, was it not? What, then, would be more fitting?”
“To see them strung above a slow fire would be more fitting,” I replied, speaking the words with such distinct vehemence that the two war leaders laughed. “Should the strangers take much longer in arriving, surely will I greet them as sisters, rather than lead attack against them. Their appearance will cause the males to ride out immediately, and how might one attack those who take so great a stone from about one’s neck?”
“The males seem much involved in courting you, Jalav,” Rogon observed, her amusement continuing as she sipped at her daru.
“Males have little reason,” said I, taking my cup of daru as I seated myself cross-legged upon the floor cloth. “They seek to have me do what I would not. One would believe they had no knowledge of the coming battle.”
“They are males, Jalav,” said Rogon, “and ever do males seek to avoid thoughts of battle.” She seated herself before me as she spoke, Palar also doing the same, and only then did I see that she waited to speak with me regarding some matter. Custom dictated that a warrior not attempt to speak before her war leader was prepared to listen, and although Rogon herself stood as war leader, also was she a warrior of Mida under my command. I had done little for those who followed me since my return; now I must lay aside my own concerns for a time.
“How may I assist you, Rogon?” I asked, looking upon the small Hirga war leader. “Has something gone amiss here in the city?”
“Our doings here in the city proceed with little difficulty, Jalav,” said she, naught of concern to be seen in her smile and headshake. “Palar and I were asked by Rilas to give sword training to those males here who wished it, and gladly did we assist the Keeper. At first were the males rowdy and ill-prepared to benefit from instruction, yet Palar and I soon saw them settled down.”
“Rogon bested the loudest of them with the swords of wood we had made,” said Palar, with a grin of amused remembrance, “and then I drew my edged blade and asked if any there dared to face me. The males looked from Rogon, to the male who sat upon the ground cradling head and arms, to the gleam of Midas light upon my blade, and then were we no longer disturbed by rowdiness.”
“Those who are prepared to give difficulty rather than accept it seldom have the bother,” said I, nodding in approval. “As city matters cause no difficulty, for what reason have you come to me?”
“I have come, war leader, so that proper form may be observed,” said Rogon with sobriety. “These males who accompany you are free, I know, still do they indeed accompany you, and I would not have you believe that I sought to take what was yours without first speaking of it with you.”
“You would have one of the males?” I said, surprised. To seek out one of those males when one had no need to do so, struck me then as a doing fit for one who was bereft.
“Not for converse, Jalav, merely for use,” replied Rogon, a twinkle in her eyes. “The male came to speak of those training weapons which we had made for the city males we taught, and when he had gone I thought upon what pleasure he might be able to give. Large was he and exceedingly well made, broad of shoulder and chest, well-muscled—a male fit for a war leader, I think. Do you object?”
“Not at all. I’m relieved,” I returned, then did I look upon Palar as well. “Should you also wish to be a true sister to me, war leader, you may also take one of the males. Or, perhaps, two or three. It had not occurred to me to rid myself of them in such a way.”
“I regret, Jalav, that I may not be of such aid to you,” laughed Palar, Rogon chuckling beside her. “I have long since chosen three of those whose use I most prefer, and have not the time for another. One may not spend all the hind of each fey in one’s sleeping leather.”
“Certainly not with battle in the offing,” I agreed, joining their amusement. How good it was, to be returned to the midst of one’s own! “Which of the males will you have, Rogon?”
I would have the light-haired one, Jalav, he who is also dark-eyed,” she replied, sipping the daru she held. “The covering he wears is black, and I believe he is called Arsan.”
“Aysayn,” I corrected, a sudden, unexpected delight filling me, my own daru sliding down my throat nearly unnoticed. So the male would see matters done according to his own will, would he? So he would speak to Jalav of what she might be and do? The Sigurri felt secure with his warriors so near at hand, however they had not yet been allowed entrance into the city. He who had spoken so well of my power in that place would learn the truth of the words he had uttered.
“Rogon, how do you mean to use him?” I asked. “Do you mean to have him, or is he to use you?”
“Much do I prefer the taking of males, Jalav,” said she, surprised. “Why do you ask?”
“I ask for the reason that I am acquainted with Aysayn,” said I, unfolding my legs and leaning down to one elbow so that I might consider the matter more comfortably. “Should you approach the male as one who is free and request his use, he will either refuse you or see the thing done to his own tastes, he taking use from you. Far better that you visit him with a number of your Hirga, approach him closely, then ring him with daggers. Take care that he not be allowed to move, however; the male is possessed of great speed, and is skilled in a form of battle which requires no weapons.”
“You would have us make a use-captive of one who has been given assurance of his safety?” asked Rogon; she and Palar both looked bewildered. “War leader, I do not understand.”
“War leader, the male was given no such assurance,” I replied, looking upon Rogon and recalling the use once taken from me by Aysayn. “What assurances there were, were given by him to the other males who accompany us. Naught was said concerning his own safety.”
“Much does it seem that Jalav would have more of the Hirga take use from the male than merely their war leader,” said Palar, amused again. “Is there, perhaps, a thing owed this male, Jalav?”