40 The Amazon Camp

Brightise and Clober reached their destination at dusk.

When they arrived at the junction of River Quost and Lake Fallad, Neleah slipped out of the water in one fluid motion and pulled at her hair until it was not dripping wet.

Then she cast a furtive look at them and started walking slowly along the bank. Brightise slowed down. She could see that Neleah was heading to a tall stone wall with a big gate right next to the lake.

Unlike the Slorigan Camp in Linvas, the Amazon Camp was not composed of smaller and bigger tents set up next to each other. The structure behind the wall could be described aptly as a fortress. Its architecture was simple, yet intimidating. Despite the growing darkness, Brightise could make out lots of separate buildings, outbuildings and stables flunking the main structure.

As Neleah approached the gate at a carefree pace, a tall thin girl stepped out of the darkness with a shield on her arm. Her dark hair and metal armor glistened in the dim light.

"Oh, it's you," the girl said with a hint of disappointment. "Were you out on your daily swim, Stinky Fish?"

Brightise realized that Neleah had been right to tell them to omit the fact that they knew her.

If this girl was any indication, no Amazon held Neleah in a very high regard. The girl looked no older than 16, yet she was talking to her as if she was the village idiot.

Actually, the people back in Paldagor had treated the village idiot much better than this.

Despite the girl's hostility, Neleah smiled in response. "Yes, sister."

"I'm no sister of yours," muttered the other Amazon as she opened the gate reluctantly.

Neleah slipped inside without looking back.

Clober took one step forward to follow her, but Brightise stopped her.

"No, we have to wait a little. If we walk up there two minutes after Neleah, they will know we followed her and blame her for being careless. Getting her in trouble is not a nice way to show our gratitude."

Clober nodded in understanding. "How long do we have to wait?"

"A couple of hours, just to be safe."

Clober groaned silently and then sank down on the ground. Brightise did the same. The two of them got so comfortable, that a few minutes later Clober fell asleep in Brightise's lap.

Brightise didn't mind. She was so close to getting her little sister to safety now, that waiting some more did not bother her. They were only a walking distance from the Amazon Camp. The fact that it had turned out to be a guarded fortress only made her more determined to follow through with her plan.

This was the safest place for Clober to be right now.

As Brightise thought about their future, and whether they would need to part sooner rather than later, the sound of galloping horses was heard from afar. The sound got gradually louder, until two Amazons appeared through the woods on horseback. Their features were impossible to make out in the dark, but they looked strong and fearless. They looked exactly the way Brightise wanted to look before she embarked on a rescue mission to the Land of Fire.

When she saw the Amazons ride up to the gate, she nudged Clober gently.

"Wake up!"

"What?" Clober mumbled.

"We can go now. I don't care if the guard thinks we followed them!"