61 Waiting

Brightise hated her new job, as well as the risk of poisoning children if she failed to do it properly, but she had to admit that there was also an upside to her new post. She got to spend way more time with Clober than she had been allowed to ever since they had arrived at the Amazon Camp.

She was happy to see that her sister had adapted to her new home quite well, but she was also a little sad about it. Children were blessedly forgetful, but Brightise still found it painful to watch Clober play with her new friends. She never mentioned her old friends from Paldagor anymore and she only asked about Morral every once in a while. Brightise was glad that she wasn't crying for their older sister anymore, but she also caught herself feeling afraid that, given enough time, Clober would eventually let go of any memories she had of Morral. She was only five years old after all.

Brightise had to bring Morral back in time for them to make new memories together. She didn't care if that was in Paldagor or at the Amazon Camp. As long as it wasn't in Granza, she would be satisfied.

After a few weeks preparing meals for Mother and the children, Brightise decided that it was time she asked to get a proper training. One that didn't involve animal meat and roasted vegetables. She hadn't burned a steak in a while, so she thought she definitely qualified for a higher-stakes training session.

"Can you talk to the Queen for me?" she asked Mother one night after Clober had gone to bed.

"Why don't you talk to her yourself?"

"I'm afraid she might tell me to cook for someone else this time."

Mother raised her eyebrows. "Cooking is not a disgrace. No one can survive without food, no matter how mighty a warrior they are."

Brightise blushed in shame. "I know, but I need to learn how to fight too."

"The Queen will not send you into battle before you are ready," Mother reassured her.

Brightise looked at the old woman steadily. "I have my own battle to fight."

She had not said this to anyone besides Paula before, but she somehow sensed that Mother was someone she could trust. Someone that would look out for her without asking too many questions. She would do that for any of the children she had raised and was still raising.

The old woman nodded in understanding. "Then you should talk to her sooner rather than later."

Brightise stood up to leave.

"Where are you going?" Mother asked her.

"To talk to the Queen."

"It's past curfew. Do you want another incident like the one with Zelna?"

Brightise shrugged. "Everyone knows my face by now."

It was true. Everyone was familiar with her face and name by now, although a lot of Amazons insisted on calling her Dragon Breath instead. Brightise had a feeling that Zelna was behind the nickname, but she didn't mind it. It sure beat Stinky Fish.