Free Amazon Chief by Robin Roseau Page B

Jasmine.
    Ralla and Omie squared off, several paces away from us. Then Omie said, "Fight." There was a moment's pause, and then she swung her staff at Ralla.
    It was fast! But Ralla deflected it, counter-swinging at Omie. After that, Omie was on the defensive, Ralla driving her around in circles, Omie launching the occasional attack, but it was clear she was outclassed. Finally Ralla did a maneuver that was far to fast for me to follow, and Omie was on her back in the grass, Ralla's staff against her chest.
    I stared.
    They paused like that, then Ralla bent forward and helped Omie to her feet. "Point to Ralla," Omie said. She turned to Ralla, paused, then said, "Fight!"
    Omie seemed to do better this time, as little as I could tell, but then there was a thud, and Omie fell back, rubbing her ribs.
    "Hold!" I yelled.
    Ralla and Omie both stepped back, then turned to me. "Y ou don't get to say that, Beria," Omie said gently.
    I climbed to my feet and ran to her. "She hit you!"
    "She did," Omie said. "And it hurts."
    "She's supposed to pull her blows."
    "She did," Omie said. "She didn't crack my ribs. It's just a bruise."
    "Let me see," I demanded. I turned around and glared at Ralla.
    "Your companion seems protective," Ralla observed.
    I turned back to Omie. "I said, let me see!"
    She loosened her tunic and let me pull it up. There was a growing bruise across her left ribs. "It's just bruised," Omie said.
    I looked at it. "This is the part Maya hates."
    "She also hates watching Malora fight," Omie said. "She's afraid Malora will get hurt. She doesn't like it when she gets hit, and she likes it even less when she hits someone else. It's just a bruise, Beria."
    I looked at it, then carefully pulled the tunic back in place, helping my warrior. I stood up. "That's two to nothing?"
    "Yes," Omie said. "Please go sit down again."
    I wanted to argue with her, but I returned to my place on the ground. She turned to Ralla and said, "Fight."
    The two exchanged blows for a moment, then Ralla did something to sweep Omie's staff out of the way and tapped Omie -- gently -- on the head.
    "Darn it," Omie said. "You always get me with that one."
    "You're still over-extending," Ralla said. "It pulls you off balance."
    Omie stepped backwards. "Fight."
    This round went longer, ending with Omie tapping her staff against Ralla's arm.
    "Good one!" Ralla said, stepping backwards. "Three to one. Fight."
    Ralla got the next two points, although both of them seemed softer. After Ralla's fifth point, they both took a step away then the two thanked each other. They turned to face Jasmine and me.
    "Not every point leaves a bruise," Omie said. "But you get bruises. It's rare, but sometimes you get hurt worse. Not often."
    "Broken legs?"
    "Not at Queen's Town," Ralla said. "Not with Nori training us. But Ping broke her leg in a demon fight last summer."
    "Maya's story," I said, and Ralla nodded.
    She turned to Omie. "We're going to go, unless we've scared Jasmine off."
    Jasmine stood up, took two steps to Ralla, and slipped under her arm. "You didn't scare me off, but you promised you would be gentle with me."
    "As gentle as we can," Ralla said. And then the two of them kissed, right in front of us. I had never seen two women kiss before, and I stared.
    Then, arm in arm, they walked off. "We'll be back before dinner," Ralla said over her shoulder.
    Omie turned to me. I looked up at her. "Did we scare you off?"
    "No," I said. I stood up, holding my staff. "Fight," I said.
    "Stop," Omie said immediately. "You aren't remotely ready."
    "Then it will be quick," I replied. "I need to know, Omie."
    "Half speed," Omie said. "Remain under control." I nodded, and she said, "Fight."
    She let me swing at her several times, easily blocking or deflecting my blows. But then she ducked under one of my swings, and I was hopelessly off balance. Her staff came up and slapped my back, although not very hard. I stumbled away.
    "Maya hates even that much," Omie said.
    I nodded,