Amazon Chief Read Online Free PDF Page A

"Training is very, very important, Beria. Can you understand why?"
    "Because the demons are terrible, and you need to learn to kill them."
    "Yes, and you need to be so much better than the demons you don't get hurt. We train very hard. You would train very hard."
    "I understand," I told her.
    "Training lasts about two hours," Omie explained. "You will be tired afterwards, and at the beginning it can be difficult until you get used to it. You understand we make you work hard so that you will be as ready as we can make you long before you ever see a demon."
    "Do we go to school, too?"
    "No, although Maya has offered to hold classes in the past. She teaches some of us to play musical instruments."
    "She used to teach me piano."
    "Did you like it?"
    "I'm not very good," I admitted. "What happens after training?"
    "That varies. Sometimes we go swimming in the river. Your sister is the best swimmer of all of us. Can you swim?"
    "Not as good as Maya," I said. "But everyone in Gallen's Cove learns to swim as early as we learn to walk. We swim in the cove. It's cold."
    "The river is cool and feels nice when it's hot. It's where we bathe in the warmer months. So sometimes we swim in the river. Sometimes we have chores."
    "Chores."
    "There is never an escape from chores, Beria."
    I sighed.
    "Then it's time for lunch," she said.
    "I would help cook?"
    "Some days. And you would bring a tray for us, and clean up afterwards. Then there is usually a short break before afternoon training."
    "Another two hours?"
    "Yes. After that, you have a few hours until dinner. Some of the companions have rabbit snares, and they use that time to check their snares. You can do chores, or if you don't have any, you can go swimming or do other things. Do you know how to ride a horse?"
    "I've never been on a horse."
    "Then some days, you and I would use that time to teach you how to ride a horse. Maybe we would check rabbit snares or go hunting for deer."
    I smiled. "Girls hunt?"
    "The Amazons are all women," Omie pointed out. "There are no boys, no men. So yes, girls hunt."
    "Why do you hunt if we send you food?"
    "Because the villages don't send enough food, and because fresh venison tastes much better than salted pork."
    "Oh."
    "Then there is dinner, and if it is your turn to help cook, then you would need to get there early enough for your duty. We all have dinner together, and then it is evening. Every several days, we have a bonfire where we tell stories or sing songs. That's when Queen Malora is most likely to tell us any news she has for us or when we can talk about the things we need to discuss as a village. The other nights are yours to spend the way you like, as long as you are caught up on your chores."
    "It sounds like there are a lot of chores."
    "It wasn't so bad for me," she said. "I would teach you."
    I thought about it. It didn't sound too bad.
    "Are you thirsty?"
    "Yes."
    Omie pulled out of my arms, but kept my hand, and she drew me away from the dance floor. We collected mugs of cider. "Where can we talk?"
    "There are more tables outside, but it might be cool. I have a cloak."
    She smiled and followed me to the table where Mom and Dad were talking with Maya and the queen. "I want to talk to my sister for a minute," I told Omie. She nodded to me, and I turned to Maya, collecting my cloak at the same time. I stood waiting for a moment, and then Maya turned to me and smiled.
    "How are you doing, Beria?" she asked.
    "Good. Could I talk to you for a minute?"
    "Sure, sis." She squeezed the queen's hand for a moment as she stood, then drew me to the side.
    "Well?" I asked her.
    "Well, what?" she asked.
    I glanced at Omie.
    "Honey, Omie is wonderful."
    "What about.... Nori?"
    "You want to be Nori's companion?"
    "No," I said. "I don't like her."
    "Oh. She and I got off to a very poor start," Maya said. "And she can be scary, but honey, she saved my life, and she's taught me a great deal. She and I are friends, very good friends now. I know it seems