Tales of Erogenia: Book 2 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Departure

Zenaria's departure from the stockade of the Snow Leopard was without fanfare. It was not her tribe's way to stage elaborate ceremonies. However, her fame as a warrior meant that there were a number of people to see her and Shalandra off, and of course, Cron was there.

"May the Snow Leopard go with you," Cirilia said, offering the familiar blessing of her people. "And may this venture prove as blessed as your first."

"I'm not sure I want to return carrying a child this time, mother," Zenaria smiled.

"If the warrior who seeds you be valiant it is an acceptable outcome," Cirilia returned. "But take care for Shalandra. She has not yet had her first Moon."

Shalandra frowned, annoyed at being the subject of conversation. However, she said nothing, honouring her mother's word. Although only Zenaria's half sister, there was a strong resemblance through their mother. Like Zenaria she was tall, already standing five-foot-nine inches although she had only seen her thirteenth summer, and she was blessed with the same thick, richly dark hair as her sister. However, her striking blue eyes came from her father, Shalan, a Wolf Tribe warrior who had ventured into the Snow Leopard lands. Instead of killing him, as was the norm, Cirilia had taken a liking to him and the result was her youngest daughter.

Cirilia turned to Shalandra, embracing the younger girl and then holding her at arms' length. "You are young to be leaving the nest, but you are a warrior of the Snow Leopard and equal to the task. However, I ask that you obey your sister in all things. Although you promise to be most powerful as your talents mature you are not her match as a warrior and the path you travel will be filled with danger."

Shalandra flashed Zenaria a quick look of irritation, but she turned back to her mother and gave the ritual answer. "I will do as you ask, my queen."

Cirilia smiled her appreciation at Shalandra's answer and stepped back. She would say no more to either of her daughters, but she waited to watch them leave.

Zenaria took a quick look toward Cron. She met his eyes and smiled, but it was not the smile of a lover leaving her beloved, but that of a woman who knew she could leave without regrets. Cron was surrounded by several admiring females, one of whom was already running her fingers over the muscles of his right arm.

There was just one more goodbye to be said. Standing to one side was a tall blonde carrying a dark-haired child. Zenaria took her daughter into her arms and cradled her next to her breast. "Goodbye Trenaria," she said planting a kiss on her downy cheek. Following Snow Leopard custom she had named her daughter after the father, taking Tren's name and adding the feminine suffix. The infant crowed, grabbing at Zenaria's long braid, and she felt a quick tug on her heart, but it was time to go, and by Snow Leopard custom Trenaria was no longer truly hers. Now she belonged to the tribe and most of her upbringing would be carried out by Zenaria's aunt Darria, the stately blonde who had been holding her. Reluctantly she relinquished her hold on her daughter and turning her eyes to the road she set out, Shalandra following.

They carried very little gear. Snow Leopard warriors usually travelled light, but in consideration of the fact that Zenaria was acting as the ambassador of her tribe Cirilia had given her a donkey to help carry their gear. It was a welcome addition, especially as it allowed Zenaria to take her exquisite brass-studded leather armour with her without being forced to wear it. However, the donkey proved to be a bit of a mixed blessing. Shalandra christened the animal "Balky," which about summed up its personality.

After a number of false starts which Zenaria finally resolved by using the flat of her sword on Balky's hindquarters they finally got going, cheered on by the well-wishers who had stayed to see them off.

They headed for the Ice Gates, a high pass that was the only way in or out of the land of the Snow Leopard. It was a steep climb through rugged terrain and it got tougher as they progressed, so they took their time. There was no point in rushing. Shalandra's vision had contained no sense of urgency, and so much as Zenaria looked forward to visiting other lands she did not hurry, more for Shalandra's sake than anything else. She did not want her sister to become discouraged by exhausting her in the first few days' march.

Although Shalandra would have been considered remarkably fit by the standards of almost any other society, by Erogenian standards she had led a sheltered life, her training in the arcane arts taking her away from the normal athletic pursuits of Snow Leopard life. Zenaria planned to let her get her wind first before tackling the more difficult terrain near the Ice Gates.

Within a few hours they had trekked several miles from the stockade. The isolated domain of the Snow Leopard Tribe was a region dominated by coniferous vegetation, primarily spruce, but containing a mixture of fir, and pine. The forest provided shelter from the high winds that often tore down from the mountains, but also contained a variety of dangers and Zenaria kept her senses alert. Occasionally she stopped and sent out a mental probe.

Highly attuned to nature, Erogenians had a strong connection with the animals that populated the wild lands they had chosen for their homes, but Zenaria had a special connection, one unmatched by anyone else in her tribe. She called, seeking a link with a mind that only she knew. She felt a faint tug and then suddenly an animal awareness filled her mind.

The contact was always startling. The creature she was bonding with thought nothing like her. Its thoughts were completely alien; filled with images of blood, fang, claw and animal passion, but underlying all of this was another thought, one of affection and trust. "Jaree," Zenaria called. "Come to me."

There was a confirmation, almost like a mental purr and Zenaria smiled. Her childhood companion, the enormous snow leopard that had bonded to her, had answered. She turned to Shalandra. "Keep hold of Balky. We don't want him making a break for it."

Shalandra nodded. She knew of what Zenaria was alluding to. She stepped closer to the donkey and took hold of his halter. A few seconds later Balky went mad.

Slipping through the trees like autumn mist, a huge ghost-like cat suddenly emerged from the trees. Ignoring the screaming donkey it moved toward Zenaria and rubbed against her, a low rumbling issuing from somewhere within.

Zenaria knelt and threw her arms around the neck of the leopard, holding tight to keep from being knocked off her feet as the giant cat tried to rub against her. Shalandra stared in amazement. She knew of Zenaria's bond with the huge snow leopard, but like most members of the tribe, she had never seen the animal before. Jaree came and went when she chose. Standing four feet tall at the shoulder, the snow leopard dwarfed other members of her species, but was meek as a kitten when her bondmate was present, and Shalandra watched the powerful cat as she attempted to calm the terrified donkey.

Her hand upon Balky's neck, Shalandra called on her training, radiating soothing thoughts into the distraught donkey. Gradually the animal calmed, although it kept a wary eye on the huge cat.

"You did well," Zenaria said. "You have progressed far in your training."

"It is only a small thing," Shalandra replied, but she blushed with pride. Although she and Zenaria were sisters, there was no rivalry between them; the three year age difference was too great. However, it was no small thing to receive a compliment from so famous a warrior as Zenaria.

Jaree's arrival seemed a good omen, and Zenaria wondered if this time the great cat could be persuaded to accompany her beyond its normal range. The wilds of Erogenia were fraught with danger, and although confident that she could handle almost anything that came her way, it was always good to have allies, particular one as impressive as Jaree. The addition of the big cat also meant that they could proceed more rapidly. There were few things in the forests of Erogenia that Jaree would not sense first. By late afternoon they reached the upward climb to the Ice Gates.

"We'll camp here," Zenaria said. The spot she had chosen was a small clearing screened by trees, and next to a small creek. It was an ideal spot and it was still early enough that she and Jaree could hunt before night set in.

"You set up camp," Zenaria ordered. "Jaree and I will see if we can provide any fresh meat." She strung her bow and sent out an image that Jaree understood. The flickering images of the cat's reply indicated that she agreed with Zenaria's idea and without a sound she slipped into the forest, moving upwind of Zenaria.

Zenaria moved in a semicircle, allowing Jaree to get into position. The plan was simple. Jaree would move a few hundred yards upwind, allowing any game to catch her scent. The animals would flee toward the waiting Zenaria who would bring them down with her bow. It was a tried and true method that Zenaria and Jaree practiced before. Zenaria had no idea how much Jaree was capable of understanding. The huge cat was intelligent, but their communication consisted of a transfer of images, and Jaree's thoughts were so full of feline violence that it was difficult to hold anything resembling what might be called a conversation. For hunting the system worked well enough, but Zenaria had another idea in mind for Jaree and she hoped that she was capable of communicating it.

She reached her position at the edge of a meadow and waited, screened by a stand of alder. She didn't have to wait long. Her keen ears picked up the sound of something moving rapidly toward her. She readied her bow and waited.

Bounding across the meadow came not one deer, but two, a buck and a doe. In a single smooth motion she drew and released, bringing the buck down in mid-leap. The buck collapsed in a heap, dead before it hit the ground. Zenaria slung her bow over her shoulder, drew her knife and crossed to the dead animal. She knelt before it, asking its forgiveness for taking its life and offering up prayer to its spirit. Then she cut its throat and allowed it to bleed. Jaree approached and she cut off a generous portion for the leopard. Leaving the cat to feed, she tossed the remaining meat over her shoulder and returned to Shalandra.

Shalandra had their simple camp set up by the time Zenaria returned. Balky was tethered close to camp, but where he could graze on the succulent summer grass. A fire had been started and Shalandra had set a small pot on the fire to boil in preparation for making tea, the traditional beverage of the Snow Leopard Tribe.

Zenaria set the carcass on the ground and began the process of gutting and butchering it. She cut off enough for supper and then set some aside for breakfast the next day. If there had been a need she would have prepared more, but she knew there was no need. Game was plentiful and she and Jaree could continue to hunt as they journeyed.

Shalandra had also gathered a few wild onions and a number of small plants that could be used to season the meat. Zenaria set a couple of steaks by the fire to cook and then sipped at the tea Shalandra had prepared.

The meal finished, they prepared places to sleep. With Jaree nearby there was no need for either of them to stand watch or for Shalandra to set up any wards. Snuggling down inside the simple shelter she had built both warriors were soon asleep.

---

Zenaria woke early. Without disturbing Shalandra she crawled from her shelter, attended to her personal needs and revived the fire. A yawn from her sister revealed that by this time she too was awake and a few seconds later she joined Zenaria for a breakfast of the remainder of the venison. A few feet away there was a loud crunching as Jaree too joined in the meal.

Breakfast finished, they broke camp, and continued their journey. Both women were alert. In spite of the presence of the big leopard there were still dangers that could threaten their lives, as was proved just an hour into their trek.

A snuffling sound from their left alerted them to the danger. Barely thirty feet away a stand of fir suddenly parted and a gigantic horned snout emerged. As it shouldered the trees aside an enormous brown-haired body was revealed, measuring twenty feet long from the six foot horn on its nose to the tip of its tail, and standing over ten feet tall. It swung its enormous head toward them. Downwind, it had clearly caught their scent while its own was masked.

Jaree screamed a challenge, ready to take on a monstrous beast more than thirty times its own weight. Zenaria sent out a single command: "Flee!"

Already, and with astonishing speed, the rhinoceros was thundering toward them. Zenaria let go of Balky's rope and ran for her life. This was something that mere arrows could not stop. The eight ton monster shouldered trees aside and tore through thick stands of willows as if they did not even exist. Zenaria headed for a large boulder just ten feet away, hoping to place itself between her and the charging beast, but the speed of the rhino was so great she knew she was not going to make it. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Shalandra sprinting to safety. She could hear the steamy puffing of the rhino's breath and feel the ground shake as the deadly six foot horn speared toward the middle of her back. There seemed no escaping death, but at the last instant Zenaria threw herself toward the base of the large stone and curled her body toward it.

With a "whuff" the rhino came to a sudden halt, sensing the immovable block of granite in front of it. Gravel and turf sprayed over Zenaria as she lay under the beast's head. Dim-sighted but with a remarkable sense of smell, the rhino scented Zenaria beneath it and swung its head back and forth in an attempt to dislodge her. She curled her body as tight against the rock as she could; hoping that the granite mass would prevent the rhino's huge head from reaching her. With a snort of frustration the beast took a step back, enabling it to probe at her with its horn.

Zenaria came out of her fetal crouch and grabbed at the giant horn. It was a desperate measure, but it was either that or be speared like a fish. The rhino whuffed in anger and tossed its head, lifting Zenaria like a feather. She flew straight out from the rhino's horn, her body waving like a flag on the edge of a pole. It was all she could do to keep her grip, but Zenaria knew that to let go would almost certainly mean her death. She would be dashed to the ground and then either gored or crushed to death under the rhino's feet.

The rhino whipped its head back and forth with tremendous force. Zenaria's fingers slipped. With a frantic twist of her body she let go just as the rhino lifted its head. Her body described a high arc and then descended, coming down in the middle of the rhino's back. Instinctively she clutched at the rhino's long thick covering of hair, digging in her fingers with a death-like grip.

For a heartbeat the rhino came to a complete halt, and then sensing the unfamiliar weight on its back, it went berserk, crashing through the forest and heaving its huge bulk in an effort to shed its unwelcome burden. Zenaria hung on with all her strength, her muscles straining as the rhino swept under and through branches, crashing headlong through the forest. Branches slapped against her face and tore at her arms forcing her to bury her head in the fur of the rhino, but as the beast thundered over the uneven ground each jolt caused her to fly into the air, her heels higher than her head, and then she would slam back down, the impact almost knocking the air from her lungs.

But gradually the rhino slowed as its frenzied attempts to get rid of the uninvited weight upon its back drove it to the edge of exhaustion. Finally it came to a halt in the middle of a meadow, its sides heaving like some great bellows and jets of steam shooting from its nostrils. Battered and bruised, Zenaria released her hold on the beast. She would get no better chance to escape than this unless she decided to try and kill the beast.

That she could have done. She was perched directly over the rhino's massive shoulders. She could have drawn her sword and driven the razor-edged blade into its spinal cord, but she could not do that. The code of the Snow Leopard taught that it was wrong to kill without reason, and the rhino had done nothing wrong except to defend its territory against a possible predator. Zenaria had killed wild beasts before when attacked, but only when there was no other way and there was no glory in killing a helpless animal that had run itself to exhaustion. She slid off the rhino's shoulders and moved away as fast as her battered body would allow.

"Zenaria!" Shalandra's shout echoed through the trees. The call came again and Zenaria answered, driven so close to the edge of exhaustion she could barely speak.

Shalandra pushed through a stand of willow, her eyes wide and frantic with worry. Behind her was Jaree who immediately rubbed up against her and began to purr loudly. "Sister," Shalandra exclaimed, "are you all right?"

Zenaria leaned against a tree, trying to catch her breath. Gently she pulled Jaree's ears and knuckled the big cat's head. "I'm fine," she gasped. "Just give me a few heartbeats."

"You don't look fine," Shalandra said, unslinging her bag of herbs and medicaments from her shoulder. "Sit down and let me tend to you."

Zenaria did as she was told. She was too beaten to do much more in any case. While she sat on a fallen tree Shalandra took out her waterskin and began to wipe the blood from her numerous wounds.

"Hmm," Shalandra said professionally, "not too bad. I'll just clean you up and put some ointments on a few of the deeper scratches."

"Of course I'm not too bad," Zenaria replied, recovering a little of her wind. "I told you I was fine."

"I am the healer here," Shalandra said, "and you will let me treat you."

Zenaria acquiesced. Shalandra would just keep on nagging until she agreed. She had the same sort of determination that her older sister had and although she had not yet seen sixteen summers she was accomplished in the healing arts. With time when her powers came to the full she might even become one of the great healers, but that unknown was before her. She would know nothing of her true potential until she had her first moon, and from the look of Shalandra's blossoming body that would not be too long.

"There," Shalandra said finally, putting her tools and medicines away. She had neatly stitched up two deep cuts and smeared pungent and stinging cream on the rest of her scrapes and bruises. "How do you feel?"

"Like a healer's medicine bag," Zenaria replied, getting to her feet. It was important for her to get moving. She could already feel her bruised body stiffening, but with her amazing stamina she had recovered enough that she was able to move off at a brisk pace.

There was no sign of the rhinoceros and she didn't expect there would be. She had ridden the maddened beast until it was on the verge of collapse and she doubted that it had the same powers of recovery that she had. She headed off the way she had come, following the trail of broken trees and crushed bushes until they reached the place where the rhino had attacked. About halfway back they found Balky. The donkey was calmly munching on some tender willow shoots, having shed every bit of gear it had been loaded with.

---

It took some time to locate the scattered items and reload the donkey, but eventually everything was found, including Zenaria's sophisticated leather and bronze armour which she carefully inspected for damage before repacking it. Then, the reburdened donkey in tow, they continued their interrupted journey.

"We're not going to make the Icegate today," Shalandra commented.

"No," Zenaria agreed. "We've lost too much time. We'll go on a bit farther and then look for a place to camp. It's a good thing we aren't in a hurry."

A short time later they found a suitable campsite. It consisted of a flat area near a large fallen fir. The tree would provide both firewood and support for a simple shelter. Also nearby there was a small stream trickling from the rocks. While Zenaria worked on the shelter Shalandra unpacked Balky and built a fire. Soon the small pot of tea water was heating and then Shalandra cut up what was left of the venison. There wasn't much left, Jaree having devoured most of it for breakfast, and they would have to hunt soon to avoid digging into their supplies. Jaree was not a factor. Shortly after rejoining the expedition she had disappeared into the forest to do a little hunting on her own.

Zenaria paid little attention to Jaree's departure. She snow leopard was a free spirit, not a pet. She came and went as she wished. She would return when it suited her.

With the unexpectedly early halt Zenaria decided a short hunt might be in order. She readied her bow and set out. Within a few minutes her keen eye and powerful bow had brought down two rabbits and a wood grouse. She returned to camp and prepared the rabbits, skinning, gutting and spitting them with expert skill. Placing the rabbits near the fire to slow cook she took out her sword, and placing it across her knee carefully oiled and polished the blade.

Shalandra joined her, taking out her own sword. Although a member of the priesthood, all members of the tribe took weapons training, and her younger sister was an expert with the blade. Their weapons attended to Zenaria went to their gear and took out two maplewood training swords. There was still a bit of time before the rabbits were ready and Zenaria did not want to stiffen up. A bit of sparring might help to keep her loose.

She tossed one of the swords to Shalandra who caught it with a smile. "Careful, big sister. Now that you're all crippled up you might get a bit of a surprise."

"Defend yourself, little one. And I'll try not to lay too many bruises on you." Raising her wooden blade she moved toward Shalandra.

For the next half hour few other words were spoken. There was only the sound of wood on wood, and the grunts of blows given and blows received. Zenaria held back, but soon found she did not have to give her sister too much breathing space. The girl had improved immeasurably since she had last spared with her and she soon found herself admiring the girl's skills. "You've been practicing behind my back," Zenaria said, sweat dripping form her body. She was nicely warmed up and hoped that the stiffness from her wild ride might have been worked out. It probably would have had it not been for the several bruises Shalandra had laid on her.

"I hoped to surprise you," Shalandra replied. "Cron practiced with me when you were working with the others."

"That weasel. I underestimated him. Training my sister behind my back. However, he taught you well. I will have to give him a beating when I return." Zenaria lowered her blade. "Enough for now?"

"One more touch," Shalandra replied. She raised her sword and stepped forward on the attack and then suddenly doubled up in agony.

Zenaria dropped her sword and stepped toward her sister. "What is it, Shel?" She didn't have to ask if her sister was in pain. Members of the Snow Leopard Tribe were stoic in the extreme, and for Shalandra to show any sign of discomfort meant she must really be suffering.

Her sister looked up, and to Zenaria's surprise she was smiling. "I'm alright, Zenaria, I have received the blessing of the Moon."

Zenaria took Shalandra in her arms and gave her a powerful. My sister, you are now a woman."

"I'll be a dead one if you don't stop crushing me," Shalandra gasped.

Zenaria released her and headed for the tiny stream. "Do you need water?"

"No, I took precautions," Shalandra answered. "I knew it was going to happen soon."

Zenaria nodded. Shalandra's prowess as a healer had enabled her to anticipate her moon and her bleed had not soiled her clothing. She continued to the stream and stripped off her clothing. The stream was glacial, but she thoroughly doused her nude body, washing off the dust and sweat of the day's events. A short time later, Shalandra joined her and they took turns washing the hard to reach parts of one another's bodies.

"Hmm," Shalandra mused, running her fingers over Zenaria's back. "The salve I put on your cuts and bruises seems to have helped. I see no sign of infection and the stitches seem to be holding. You should be back to normal in a day or so. But you are still going to be sore tomorrow."

"I've survived worse," Zenaria replied.

"I can see that," Shalandra said. She looked admiringly at the scars crisscrossing Zenaria's powerful body, mementos of her duels and adventures. Except for the few bruises she had received while sparring with Zenaria her own body was unblemished and she wondered whether she would ever receive such marks of honour.

Zenaria pulled her clothes back on and went to check the rabbits. They were so well done the meat was falling off the bone and her busy day had worked up quite an appetite. Sitting cross-legged on the ground she picked up one of the rabbits by the stick she had used to prop it near the fire and began to pull the meat off the bone, leaving the other rabbit for Shalandra. A few heartbeats later Shalandra joined her and together they demolished the two carcasses.

Zenaria licked her fingers clean. It was not yet dark, but they still had the Icegate to traverse. She might as well get as much sleep as she could. Before retiring, however, she sent out a probe for Jaree. She got an almost immediate reply. The big leopard was nearby and from the sleepy response Zenaria knew that the cat's hunt had been successful. However, Jaree would return to camp and stand guard as on the night before.

She crawled into the shelter and was joined a few heartbeats later by Shalandra. Although it was not cold at the moment, both women knew that cold air would flow down the pass from the Ice Gates and their shared body warmth would be welcome. Huddled together they were soon asleep.

---

As before, Zenaria awoke well before dawn. She was well rested, but as Shalandra had predicted stiff and sore from the beating she had taken on her wild ride. Ignoring the pain she slipped out of the shelter and soon had a fire going and tea water on to boil. Shalandra soon joined her and together they prepared breakfast and broke camp, but not before her healer sister had once again inspected Zenaria's wounds.

"You will live, sister," Shalandra pronounced.

"I could have told you that," Zenaria replied, pulling her doeskin shirt back on. Buckling on her sword and slinging her quiver over her back, she picked up her bow and moved off. The Ice Gates called and she wanted no more delays.

They had not gone far when it began to rain lightly. "This is what delay brings," grumbled Zenaria. The rain would soon make her and Shalandra quite uncomfortable, but it was more than that. At higher elevations the rain might easily turn to snow. She had crossed the Ice Gates once before in winter, but it had been a painfully slow ordeal and had taken her two weeks of slogging through deep snow and climbing over avalanches, and it was not an experience she cared to repeat. She unpacked a pair of elkskin capes from the packs Balky carried and handed one to Shalandra. The capes would help keep them dry for a little while and hold in their body heat, but eventually they too would become soaked. However, the only other choice was to seek shelter and wait out the rain; and since it might last for days it was an option she rejected.

She trudged on, Shalandra and Balky following. This time Jaree followed as well, although the cat sent out a query as to the wisdom of not denning up when it was raining. Zenaria was glad of the leopard's presence. On her first ascent of the Ice Gates she had encountered a creature out of her tribal legends. In order to save herself she had been forced to kill it and this time with her younger sister along, she hoped that Jaree's presence would keep the huge snow beast away.

They climbed through the day with the rain falling steadily and then as Zenaria had feared, turning to snow in the higher reaches of the pass. At that point Zenaria called a halt beneath a large rock overhang. She wanted a chance to eat and rest before making the final push over the pass. For the first time they had to dip into their stores of food, having eaten the grouse for breakfast. They had seen no sign of game during the day, all animals except them apparently having the intelligence to get out of the rain, and they had to make do with strips of dried meat and a mixture of dried nuts and berries. It was nutritious and filling, but not particularly appetizing. However, the tea they brewed gave them a needed pick-me-up. After drinking her tea Zenaria went to the pack Balky carried and took out dry elkskins, giving thanks that they had brought the donkey with them. Without it they would not have been able to carry a change of dry clothing.

Zenaria stepped from their shelter. "Let's go, and pray to the Moon and Sun that the snow does not get any heavier."

---

They spent the next part of the day marching through slush. It continued to snow, but just heavily enough to make them thoroughly miserable without slowing their progress. By midday they reached the top of the pass. Miraculously as they crested the summit the snow stopped and the skies cleared, giving them a clear view of the precipitous descent on the other side. Below them lay Erogenia proper and the lands of the Hawk Tribe, the first stop on Zenaria's mission. Fortunately what they did not see was any sign of one of the snow beasts that had attacked Zenaria on her first ascension of the pass and Jaree gave no sign that she registered any danger. Seeking to take advantage of the break in the weather and the absence of danger Zenaria pressed on and they began their descent.

It was Jaree who sensed the danger, the giant cat's low growl alerting both Zenaria and Shalandra. An image flashed into Zenaria's. "Urtts," she muttered. There was no fear in Zenaria's voice, but the urgency in the way she said the word made the hairs on the back of Shalandra's neck stand up.

Shalandra had never seen the almost mythical lizard beings, but she had heard Zenaria's story of how she had been lured into a trap by a traitor from her own tribe and almost brutally raped. The traitor had used Urtts to capture her, a plan that had eventually backfired when the Urtts had turned on him and had him for dinner. But the misadventure had almost ended Zenaria's short life. Shalandra had her bow off her shoulder and strung in an instant. She stood beside her sister, an arrow fitted to the string.

Zenaria also stood ready. She flashed a mental command to Jaree. Like a ghost the cat disappeared into the trees on the left side of the trail. They were at a point in their descent where the pass widened to allow a steep tree-covered slope to their right and a more open area to their left. It was to the right where Jaree had sensed the danger.

Zenaria was a little surprised. No Urtts had dared trespass on Snow Leopard lands in recent memory, probably due to both the isolation and sparse numbers of her people, but here they were, daring the high pass of the Ice Gates to infiltrate her tribal territory.

"Not this time," she muttered. She owed the Urtts for the humiliation they had forced on her. It was time to pay them back. As if on cue the trees thirty feet ahead of her shivered and a green-skinned figure stepped onto the trail, followed by several more.

They were definitely man-shaped, even wearing crude skins to conceal the region between their legs, but the resemblance was only superficial. Their skins were covered with green snake-like scales and lank unkempt black hair reached to their shoulders. Their eyes were blood red and set above a snout-like nose and mouth. Pointed teeth filled their mouths when they smiled as they were doing now. They were armed with a variety of weapons, including crude spears, spike-studded wooden clubs, and axes.

The largest of them stepped forward, his teeth barred. "Ssso," he hissed, "two femalesss. Thisss will be fun."

Zenaria waited. A year earlier she would have plunged unthinkingly into an all out attack, but she had learned a bit of patience in her first adventure and she waited to see just haw many opponents she faced.

The Urtt leader glanced at their bows. "Come," he said. "Sssurender peacssefully and we will not eat you. You cannot essscape." He motioned with his hand and the trees behind him seemed to come alive with Urtts. The two women were facing a full Urtt war party.

"It is you who will not escape," Zenaria retorted. "Surrender now and I won't kill every one of you."

The Urtt leader hissed out a laugh. "Ssstupid human femalesss. You will regret your desscission when I am between your legsss."

Zenaria let him talk. She counted thirty Urtts lining up on the narrow trail. Confident in their numbers they had overlooked one basic fact. There was only room enough on the trail for them to come at the two Snow Leopard warriors two at a time. And they knew nothing of Zenaria's secret weapon.

"Get behind me," Zenaria said to Shalandra.

"Sister, I will fight at your side," Shalandra protested.

"No, I need room to swing my blade. Stay back and shoot from behind."

Shalandra opened her mouth and then closed it, seeing the wisdom of Zenaria's strategy. She knew in spite of her success in sparring on the previous day that Zenaria was by far the better swordswoman, and Zenaria had real experience in battle whereas she had not. She stepped four paces back and readied her bow.

"Now, before the little one esscapess," the Urtt leader shouted, mistaking Shalandra's action.

The horde of Urtts charged up the trail. Zenaria loosed her arrow and then tossed her bow behind her, drawing her sword in one smooth movement. The arrow caught the lead Urtt in the throat, dropping him in front of his charging comrades and tangling up their attack. An instant later Shalandra's arrow struck true, taking down a second Urtt. And then they were on top of Zenaria.

They were met by what seemed like a wall of steel. Zenaria's blade seemed everywhere, cutting off hands, ripping through throats, and cleaving skulls, while at the same time blocking or deflecting every blow aimed at her. From behind Shalandra chose her targets carefully, loosing arrows at any Urtt that stood back with the intent of hurling a spear or axe at Zenaria. Within seconds a dozen dead or dying Urtts lay sprawled on the mountain trail.

Zenaria slowly stepped back, allowing the Urtts to press her back up the trail. Her retreat was not, however, due to any threats from the Urtts. She wanted to draw them on, deceiving them into thinking that they might have some chance of winning. It was not until she gutted the Urtt leader that they realized there was no hope. By then almost half the Urtts were hors de combat or dead. As the realization spread over them they suddenly broke.

Screaming in their own language they turned almost as one and attempted to run back down the trail. "Now, Jaree!" Zenaria thought.

Seemingly from out of nowhere, the huge cat plunged out of the bush, cutting off the retreat of the panicked Urtts. A swipe of a huge paw took down one; another's skull was crushed by her jaws. Completely panicked the Urtts fled any way they could, Shalandra's arrows continuing to impale one Urtt after the other.

Zenaria reclaimed her bow and emulated her sister, picking off whatever targets remained, until finally the only Remaining Urtts that were still alive were those that had only been wounded. Zenaria made short work of these, lopping off their heads in grim determination.

Shalandra watched, her face expressionless. The adrenaline drained out of her. She had never seen an Urtt before this, but her sister's cold dispatching of the wounded showed her a side of her sister she had not yet seen. Still, she did not object. She had sensed the foulness of the creatures they had killed and knew well the tales of her ancestors. If anything deserved to die it was an Urtt. It was what Zenaria did next, however, that had her wondering.

Methodically Zenaria behead even those Urtts who were already dead, and then setting aside her sword, she retrieved an axe from Balky. Amazingly, the donkey had wandered off only a short distance to graze during the mayhem. Taking the axe she lopped off the top of a number of trees equalling the number of heads and then trimmed off the branches leaving a living stake. On top of each she impaled one of the heads.

Shalandra swallowed as she looked at the gruesome forest of heads. Expressionless, Zenaria cleaned off the axe, did the same with her sword, and retrieved and cleaned any arrows that were not broken. She turned to Shalandra. "I remember a place to camp not too far from here. We will stay there tonight."

Shalandra nodded dumbly. Without a word she took Balky's halter and towed the donkey after her. She knew why Zenaria had set up the macabre monument. Any Urtts that dared think of venturing into Snow Leopard territory would have to pass by the heads of their brethren. It would give them something to think about if nothing else.

She quickened her pace, moving alongside Zenaria. "That was well done, sister. I would not have had the courage to carry it out."

"It needed to be done," Zenaria replied. "But it was a task I did not relish."

Slowly Shalandra reached out and took Zenaria's hand. Her sister's fingers tightened around hers and then hand-in-hand they proceeded down the trail.

Continued in Chapter 3

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