Chapter Seventeen
"Willow, you MUST ignore Tara for the moment," Giles said urgently. "It is imperative that you concentrate on the parchment."
"But she looks so sweet! And so sensual. And so naked."
"Will, this is me," Tara broke in. "You have to look at the parchment."
"How are you talking without your mouth moving? It's such a sexy mouth."
"I'm sending you my thoughts."
"Oh."
"Willow, do you remember what happened last night, after your shower? That thing I did that you like so much?"
"Oh yes, I remember. It was so nice."
"Well, if you will concentrate on the parchment long enough to write down what it says, I'll do it again, and again."
"You will? That's just super! But I don't have any paper."
"Just sit up and Mr. Giles will hand you a pad and a pencil, okay?"
Willow slowly sat up with help from Tara, then took the legal pad and pencil from Giles, her eyes never opening.
"Now just look at the parchment and write everything down you see."
Willow slowly started making marks on the paper, writing from right to left, top to bottom. As she did everyone crowded around, trying to read the unfamiliar characters.
"Well, that makes no sense at all," Anya said as she went back to the chair she had been sitting in.
"It's in the proto-Sumerian," Giles explained.
"Will we get to see you do that 'thing' you do, with Willow?" Xander asked enthusiastically, as Anya glared at him.
Tara smiled. "Sure, if you want to watch a foot massage."
…………………………….-
"An Amazon? Me?" Buffy asked with some surprise.
"Of course. You would make an excellent sister to us."
"Well, I appreciate the offer and all, but I really don't plan on staying here that long. Any day now I'm sure Willow and Giles will find some way to bring me back home."
"But if they don't, you will be more than welcome to join us."
"Gabrielle?" Ephiny looked to Gabrielle for confirmation. "What do you think?"
"I hadn't really thought about it, but you're right. Buffy certainly has the skills to become one of us."
As the conversation continued, Alara was formulating a plan. It would be complicated, which would make her seem less the architect of it. And it would depend on a certain demon fulfilling his unwitting part in it. But first she had to learn more about D'Hoffryn, Vengeance Demons, and Slayer powers.
As the night wore on, the feast began to wind down. Many had left for their huts for the night. Ephiny offered hers to Gabrielle, Xena and Buffy, but Gabrielle graciously declined, and opted, rather for the guest quarters. It wasn't as large as the one reserved for the queen, but it had two extra beds and would accommodate them nicely.
………………………….-
The next morning, Alara was up early, waiting for Buffy. She caught up to her as she was leaving the small part of the camp set aside for relieving themselves.
"Buffy, may I speak to you?"
Buffy stopped and waited, her guard up. There was something about this woman she just didn't trust.
"I wish to offer my most sincere apologies for the misunderstanding yesterday when we first met."
"You do? You tried to have me killed. And you say it was just a 'misunderstanding'?"
"Yes. I need for you to understand our position here. It has only two full changes of the moon since my few sisters and I joined Ephiny's tribe . And in my overzealousness to prove we can be a valuable addition to the tribe, I obviously overstepped certain boundaries. I hope you can understand, and can forgive me."
"Well, I guess I can see how you would want to show everyone you have earned the right to be here."
Alara nodded at the tacit acceptance of her apology.
"I hope we can be friends," Alara continued. "You, your life, is so mesmerizing, I would love to know more about it."
"Well, there's not much more to tell. Anything in particular?" Buffy was beginning to warm up to her. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all.
"I am fascinated by these Vengeance Demons you described. Are they really so terrible?"
"Well, I guess it would depend on which side of their vengeance you're on."
"So, how do they find the women they help?"
"I suppose they can sense their pain somehow. And then they approach them, get to know them, and work it so the woman will make some kind of wish for something to happen to the guy, and she makes it happen."
"So, she can't just say who she is and why she is there?"
"I don't think so. It seems like even they have rules they have to go by."
"But what if they harm someone that another is in love with?"
"I'm not sure I follow you."
"Let's just say Xena and Gabrielle are lovers. But Ephiny is also in love with Gabrielle. What if Gabrielle does something that makes Xena call for the Vengeance Demon and she kills Gabrielle. Can Ephiny call for Xena, or the Vengeance Demon, to be killed?"
"I don't know about all that, except that Vengeance Demons can't be killed, as far as I know. I know one ex-Vengeance Demon, and she's over a thousand years old."
"So they are immortal?"
"Pretty much, I guess. I've never heard of any of them who were killed."
"And this demon who creates them. He is also immortal?"
"It seems so. Or maybe they just live a very, very long time."
"And Slayers, you have magic powers also?"
"No. Not really magic in that we can cast spells or teleport or anything. But we do get our abilities through magic. Mostly we're just very strong, very fast, have very acute senses, and we heal up pretty fast."
"Yes, the cut on your arm you described, may I see it?"
Buffy pushed up her sleeve to expose her upper arm, but there was no sign of any trauma.
"Well, I've taken up enough of your time. I'm sure you are ready for breakfast," Alara said. "Perhaps we can speak again. I'm sure I'll think of other questions. If you don't mind?"
"Sure, anytime."
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