Read Online Amazon Chief by Robin Roseau - Free Book Online Page A

moment.
    "I guess that's it," I said.
    "All right." She paused. "First, the way we came here last year was wrong. We should have done what we're doing this year. We've been arguing and begging with the village councils throughout all of Morehama, and it hasn't gotten us anywhere. Frankly, it never occurred to any of us to appeal directly to the villagers. Maya let us know quite clearly what she thought of that oversight, and she was entirely right. Malora and I both feel horrible for that, and I felt bad about it last year, too, but we were desperate and didn't know what else to do. Beria, I am sorry for scaring you. And I am sorry I hurt your sister. I am not at all sorry for taking your sister, but I am very sorry for how I did it."
    I thought about what she had said. I actually couldn't believe she was apologizing to me like this. It was making it hard to stay angry with her. But then I hardened my resolve.
    "What about Mrs. Winehouse?"
    "That isn't my fault," Nori said. "I do not take responsibility for the actions of your village council. T hey picked her, not me."
    "They wouldn't have had to if you hadn't taken Maya!" I spat.
    "No," Nori said, "but you have noticed that Maya isn't trying to stay in Gallen's Cove. I am sorry that taking Maya meant you needed a new teacher, but it is not my fault your village couldn't find a better teacher. I would understand if they couldn't find a teacher as good as Maya, but perhaps they could have found someone more appealing as Mrs. Winehouse."
    I'd spent a year hating this woman. I'd spent a year hating all the Amazons, and it was difficult to believe my sister was one of them now. I looked over at Maya. She was standing with Queen Malora, Omie and Vorine. Malora was saying something, but all of them were watching Nori and me.
    She looked really good in her Amazon clothes, and it was clear how she felt about Queen Malora. I thought it was clear how she felt about Nori, too.
    "The queen listens to my sister."
    "We all do."
    I looked back at Nori. She was watching me. "I spent a year hating you."
    "I don't blame you. I hate what I did. Maya has forgiven me. I haven't forgiven myself."
    I was surprised to hear that. I wondered if she were lying, but she didn't look like she was lying. I looked back at Maya. She smiled tentatively.
    "Maya wouldn't let me do something wrong," I said.
    "No," Nori said, "I don't believe she would."
    "She wants me to come with you. She wants me to forgive you."
    "She misses you terribly."
    I looked back at Nori. "Last year, you took girls who didn't want to go. You would have let that girl take me."
    "Yes. It's complicated, Beria."
    "But you're not trying to take me like that anymore. I could stand up right now and walk away, and no one would stop me."
    "I believe your sister would stop you and suggest you let her take you home. If she didn't, then Omie would. Queen Malora would probably order someone to take you."
    I glanced at Maya again, then back at Nori.
    "You're not used to an adult apologizing to you, are you?"
    "No."
    "It can take time to change your opinion of someone, even when you know in the end you're going to. Do you think you're going to stop hating me?"
    I didn't want to admit it. I didn't say anything right away.
    "It's hard to let go of hate," Nori said.
    I looked at my hands. "I don't hate you anymore." I said it in a small voice.
    "You sound ashamed to admit that. Do you think admitting it means you were wrong to hate me this past year?"
    I didn't answer. I was very confused now.
    "You weren't wrong to hate me," Nori said. "From what you had seen, I was worth hating. But now you're seeing more of me, and you're seeing how Maya responds to me. Forgiving me now doesn't mean you were wrong before."
    I still wasn't ready to look at her, but she let me sit and think about it before she went on.
    "Beria," she said. It was said gently. "You're not a child anymore, but you're not an adult, either. I am about to give you a lesson in being an