41 A Mixed Reception

"Who's there?" the guard shouted out, lifting up her shield in defense.

The two Amazons had just been through the gate, so she had not been expecting anyone else to approach.

"We are unarmed!" Brightise yelled as she tagged at Clober's hand.

"Let me be the judge of that!"

As Brightise walked forward slowly with her sister, the Amazon narrowed her eyes suspiciously and raised a broad sword. Brightise heard Clober take a sharp breath.

"Names," the Amazon demanded.

"Brightise and Clober."

"Race!"

"We come from Paldagor. It's a small village in Selgonfield."

"I said race!"

"Half-bloods."

The Amazon frowned, but did not lower her weapons. "What kind?" she asked.

Brightise hesitated. She had not imagined that she would have to share this sensitive information with a mere gate guard, but she could see that the girl would not let them in unless she answered.

"Half-human, half-demon."

The Amazon's suspicious expression was replaced by an amused one. "Good one!" she scoffed.

Brightise felt her temper flare, but she tried to suppress it. "I'm not lying!"

"Prove it."

Now it was Brightise's turn to laugh. "I can't prove it without a fire! Just let us in, get us to a fireplace, and I will."

"Fat chance!"

Despite her negative answer, Brightise could see that the girl was intrigued.

"How about a lantern then?" Brightise suggested. "A lantern would do."

The Amazon pondered her idea for a few seconds. Then she suddenly set her shield down on the grass, cupped her hands around her lips and let out a long strange sound.

Clober almost jumped in fear, but Brightise gripped her hand tighter.

Soon, the sound of footsteps was heard behind the wall. The gate was pushed open from the inside and an old woman in a long tunic poked her head out. She was holding a sleeping baby in her arms.

"What is it, Mayna?" she asked the guard angrily. "You almost woke the babies!"

"I just needed a lantern. I thought someone else would-"

"A lantern?" the old woman asked. "Are you afraid of the dark suddenly?"

The girl blushed to the roots of her hair. "No, it's for the... There's two intruders!" she managed to say, pointing to Brightise and Clober.

The old woman turned her gaze on them, scrutinizing them with her eyes. "It's just two girls," she told the guard, as if she was making a big deal out of nothing.

"They say they are half-demon."

The woman suddenly looked at them with curiosity. "Do they? Is that what the lantern is for? Because you know there is plenty a fireplace lit inside."

Brightise tried to hide her smile as the girl called Mayna stuttered, "I can't let them inside. They could be lying. What if they are Doyas in disguise?"

The old woman rolled her eyes. "I think 50 adult Amazons can deal with two young girls!" Then she turned to Brightise and Clober with an exasperated expression. "Come in, girls."

Brightise didn't need to be told twice.

"Also, the Doyas have darker skin," the old woman told Mayna as she pulled the gate shut behind them. "I will speak to the Queen about choosing guards with better judgment in the future!"