about companions. I could tell from their expressions they were like everyone else. They didn't believe me. Then I asked loudly, "Why does White Pine not tithe? Why does White Pine not give us the new companions and future warriors we require to keep you safe?"
"The demons aren't real!" one woman yelled. "Go home and leave us alone!"
The rest of the village took up that cry.
We'd done this before. Normally this would be when Nori would pull forth Lathana's head. But instead, it was Tarine who jumped up on the wagon with me. She opened the crate that held the demon's dried head and, grunting, lifted it aloft.
As always, there was a gasp and a few screams.
Tarine displayed the head, and she did a good job of it. I stepped over and closed the chest, and once everyone had gotten a good, grisly look, I told her, "Set it there. Thank you."
She set it down and whispered, "We should take what we want and go."
"My way requires more patience but it will pay for us over the longer period," I said. "Just watch. And Tarine: be nice to the villagers. Make friends."
She shook her head, but she stepped down from the wagon. I looked around at the assembled villagers.
"Now, you were saying?"
They stared at me silently, or more accurately, they stared at the demon's head.
I told them the story, briefly. Then I told them what the life of an Amazon was like. I spared some of the details, but I gave a good image.
Then I laid down the law. "This village will tithe."
"And will you take your choice of recruits?" an anonymous voice from in back asked.
"We prefer volunteers," I said. "What we do is important. Does anyone doubt me?"
No one said anything.
"This village will host a party tomorrow evening. Every girl from the age of twelve to twenty-two will be there. Anyone else who wishes to get to know us is welcome. We will leave the following morning. Any girls who wish to become Amazons will leave with us. The choice will be that of the girls."
I looked around.
"Any arguments?"
The mayor stepped forward. "My daughters?"
"Your daughters will remain our guests until the conclusion of tomorrow evening's events," I said. "We will also take as guests any girls who wish to spend more time with us than they may have tomorrow."
I looked around. "Being an Amazon is not an easy life. Being treated the way we were treated today makes it even harder. This village should have been tithing all along. This village should have been delivering new companions to us all along. It has not done so. If we were vindictive, we would take from you what you owe us. Instead, we ask you to do the right thing."
I didn't hard sell it. "If you have questions, we will remain here for a while. If you wish to see the demon more closely, you may step up. You may touch it if you remain gentle, but you will not attempt to pick it up or damage it." I looked around. "I would like two of my sisters to ensure my last orders."
Badra stepped forward, and a moment later a woman from the south named Hanai. I nodded to both of them.
The villagers were, indeed, interested in the demon, and many of them clustered around the wagon, hoping for a good look. Most of them were men. I didn't care. Let them look. I trusted Badra and Hanai to handle the crowd.
I moved through the milling villagers, answering the occasional question, most of which were of the type, "was what you said true?"
It was. Every single word.
Eventually I found Malora. She had retained possession of Lia and Tamma. The girls were doing better.
"We're staying with you?" Lia asked.
"Just until tomorrow. Unless you decide to become Amazons. Then you will leave with us the day after."
Tamma looked at me critically. "I do not believe your story."
"What part do you doubt?"
"That you killed that!" she pointed towards the wagon. "Not with your bare hands."
I bent down and withdrew my hunting knife from the sheath instead my boot. "I had this knife," I said. "And I tricked her."
"That's a her?" she
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