On the Wings of Birds

THE ENEMY

The giant streetfighter, with scarred muscles from several predisposed fights bulging ominously, roared at the crowd. “Who’s going to fight me next?”

The crowd shifted nervously as they dragged their injured challengers away from the makeshift fighting ring.

Kahu, bored from a long and wasted journey, turns from his place near a serving bar, pulling his hood from his head.

“Don’t even think about it!?!” Arnie steps in front of his master. “You have had too much to drink, and we are in enemy territory; somehow we have miraculously survived our journey without any problems; please, don’t get into trouble now that we’re half-way home…”

Kahu grinned up at the man his father had assigned to chaperone him on their trip. Kahu was not short, but Arnie towered over his charge. Kahu could not tell Arnie that he was more reluctant to return home and face his father empty handed, than face a big bully who relied on his size alone rather than actual training expertise to win money from equally strong but ignorant contestants and their gambling spectators. “Aww Arnie, you know I can take him down…”

“Come on, you sniveling cowards,” roared the fighter to the crowd, “there must be someone out there who thinks he can beat me?!?”

“It’ll only take a moment,” Kahu tried to move around Arnie.

But Arnie still blocked his way. “And expose yourself as a professional soldier, with only a small band of men in the middle of the Manaian territory? Because you were in such a hurry to return home that you told us to ‘exchange our tribal patterned cloaks with plain but hooded desert ones of the nomadic Awhia, we are taking a short-cut across enemy land’?”

Kahu looked disappointed, but thankfully, did not insist.

Arnie sighed and stroked his beard with relief, a subconscious habit of his, since joining this native tribe, his facial hair so prominent compared to the Maori whose hair only grew on the top of their heads…even their eyebrows were not as thick as the European eyebrows. “Now pull your hood back up and finish your drink. I think it’s time we retired for the night…”

Kahu sighed and turned back to the bar. His men, likewise, returned to their drinks. They all thought Arnie was being too cautious and doubted anyone would realize who they were. They all could have done with some youthful mayhem; but during their travels the older Arnie usually proved to be right, so they were used to accepting his advice without contention.

But they had hardly resumed drinking, when they looked at each other in bewilderment as a strong intoxicating; lemon and honey scent suddenly permeated the atmosphere. They looked up momentarily, not sure what they expected to see; but nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so they returned to their final drink for the night.

Kahu looked into his drink – the trading post bar did not have Kawa, which was found only in some coastal areas, and only protected calm beaches, not the cold wilderness areas of the vast countryside in the middle of this land, it was just the Maitai berry brew that the European liked but the natives found weak in comparison – they usually also supplied some English Ale, but their northern suppliers could not restock the beer as quickly as it was consumed - he supposed Arnie was right, because of his haste to return home, to return to the girl waiting for him there, they were in enemy land, and they could not risk drawing any attention to themselves. He sighed, as thoughts of the futile venture that his father had sent him on, to find a royal princess to be his bride and forget about the simple servant-girl that had captured and kept his attention for a few years now – long enough to have given him two sons. That was the deal. If he could not find a royal princess, his father would let him marry his lovely Hana. So, the dutiful son behaved, and visited all the neighboring provinces his father mentioned, in the north, east and south of the main island, but not the west, which was their worst enemy territory, but he did not find anyone he liked, or could imagine being his bride, whether all he met were not alluring enough, or stimulating enough companions, or whether he just could not stop comparing them with Hana, Arnie believed the latter, Kahu was returning home, without a prospective bride, on purpose, so he could marry Hana.

Then, a dark swift shadowy movement caught his eye. Bare breasts. A girl. Beside him, crouching below the leaning bar in the smaller wall-less public gathering shelter of this desert stop-over resting place. Her long dark hair hid her face from him, as she focused on what she was doing. She seemed to be applying that strong perfume they’d noticed, to herself. Around her thighs, her breasts, then she turned her face up to him while her hands continued deliberately and sensually up and around her throat, that’s when her hair fell back from her face, and they looked into each other’s eyes. For a moment, they just blinked at each other, neither knowing who was the most surprised, then, with a cute little dimpled half smile and a finger at her lips, she indicated for him to keep quiet. Kahu was too captivated and curious at the sight of the female with a woman’s body, but innocent looking cosmetic and tattoo-free face of a young girl squatting before him, to say anything, anyhow. Then with the same finger, she indicated that he leans closer. When he did, she whispered, “drink, please…?”

It must have only taken a moment to order another drink, but when he attempted to pass it to her under the bar; she had gone; swiftly disappeared, without a sound. Looking around, he couldn’t see her anywhere, and his unsuspecting men were still drinking and talking softly to themselves, as if nothing peculiar had just happened. He thought he noticed another swift and sinewy shadow disappear between the legs of the spectators, told himself Arnie was right, that he’d had far too much to drink, even if it was a very mild juice, and placing some coins on the bar said, “Let’s go,” to his men.

Then a young, female voice drew their attention back to the rundown fighting scene, as they curiously looked around the crowd to see who was speaking.

“I will fight you,” it said. So softly, everyone at first wondered if they’d heard anything at all. Just as the crowd decided they must have heard wrong, it came again. Slowly and sweetly, seemingly from nowhere; yet hauntingly, as if from everywhere. “I accept your challenge, giant…”

Everyone hushed as non-believed rumors of a perfumed female fighter who always won went through everyone’s mind. All had heard the exaggerated tales, but that’s all they were - weren’t they?

“What?!?” The giant wanted to laugh, but a look of uncertainty crossed his face as he too, had heard the rumors – but he had never believed them.

Kahu and his men had heard something about a girl fighter too, but they believed the stories to be embellished and found it easier to imagine some kind of large, experienced woman to be closer to the truth – then Kahu remembered the girl applying her scented balm to herself under the bar – could the rumors be true? And had she just been right next to him a moment earlier? But she had looked so small, so young, so innocent – he looked at the spot under the bar where she had been, and gulped – a Papa Hou miniature container was there, on the ground, below him. He picked it up to examine it more closely. It was smoothly handcrafted, it was small, and it smelled like – the very perfume the girl applied to herself just moments earlier - would she just leave such an exquisite perfume container here in a border outpost renown to be inhabited by drinkers, fighters, and gamblers? Then he noticed the bird, the Manaian symbol, carved into the lid of the container; and smiled as he placed the little pot into his bag, imagining she had purposely left it there, that she had wanted him to find it.

“Who is that?” Bellowed the giant, to the hidden voice.

“I – am she, who will do what your mother should have, and smack your…not so little bottom…”

The crowd laughed. Arnie suggested it was time to retire, but one of Kahu’s men said he wasn’t ready to leave yet, and the others agreed. Amidst Arnie’s objections, some of his men pulled themselves up onto the bar, for a better view. Even the boring old Arnie started straining his neck, trying to see what was happening.

Kahu also, was suddenly wide awake. Awake enough to notice that the famous Hauku, war-hero and leader of this land’s great Makimoi army, with some of his comrades, had arrived. Looking as cocky as ever, thought Kahu, while pulling his hood as far as it would go over his bent head, for they had fought in battle before, and he was afraid Hauku might remember him.

“I am she,” continued the female voice, “who will do what your teacher should have, and knock some sense into that big head of yours…”

The crowd were really enjoying themselves now, for the bully was looking rather perplexed; and not quite so confident anymore.

Keeping an eye on his enemy, Kahu then noticed that Hauku’s men were now taking bets, but not on the big guy, on the girl. Hauku made it appear as if he’d just been passing, noticed the female voice taunting the fighter, and had decided to join in the fun; but Kahu suspected the cunning Hauku was not only directly involved in this charade, but it was most probably his idea - which was making the bully pale – how clever, thought Kahu, no wonder the girl always wins – they’ve stripped the guy’s certainty away from him already, before the girl had even appeared. There was no way Kahu was ready to retire for the night anymore either, the entertainment, was just beginning…

“I am she…” did her voice sound just a little more menacing? “Who will do what your lover should have…” the crowd hushed to hear every word, “and make you feel like the small, blubbering coward you really are…”

‘Oohs’ and ‘aahs’ went around the crowd, and all eyes were on the big fighter, awaiting his response.

He tried to act brave. “Where are you! Why don’t you show yourself?”

A little giggle sounded from his left. He turned that way, and strained to see this teasing, huge, warrior woman, but there were only gaming men in that direction. Then another giggle, slightly louder than the first came from his right and again, he turned towards it, only to see more men. Then it came from behind him. And with the surprised looks on all the surrounding men’s faces, he knew she had finally emerged into sight in the ring. But when he turned to face her, nothing could have prepared him for what stood before him. She was not a giant. She was not even big. She was not a warrior. She did not even look like a fighter, nor was she in a typical fighter’s stance, ready to fight. She had no scars, or any evidence she had ever even been in a brawl. In fact, she was so small, that the top of her head barely reached his chest. And she was very young, like a child still, maybe only fifteen summers old, at the most. She wore only a platted flax headpiece, fitted since she’d been at the bar, thought Kahu to himself, and a short plain Pareu skirt. Other than that, she was completely naked, with no armor of any kind, or shield, no footwear, nor even any weapons. But more amazing than the absence of clothing, defense-wear or a variety of weapons, she wasn’t looking at the giant. She wasn’t studying him, sizing him up, as fighters usually do, before a fight. She acted as if she was ignoring him, as if she was already bored with the idea of fighting, as if she’d decided he was not worth the trouble. In fact, she had a hand outstretched in front of her and she was examining it, as if she was in a lady’s lounge, instead of in a fighting arena, and exclaimed in mock exasperation, “damn! Whilst trying to get here between all these…drunken gamblers, (she made it sound as though she found such men repelling) I broke a fingernail…?!?”

For a moment, the bewildered bully blinked in astonishment. Then his face reddened when she next overly exaggerated a ‘fed-up’ pose and sighed as if imagining better things to do, or better places to be – at that, the maddened man attempted lunging at the puny girl – for a moment, it looked as though she wasn’t ready for the fighter and seemed to be waiting, still in her ‘bored’ pose, but just before he reached her, she deftly stepped aside, tripped him up, and as his own weight took him down to the ground with a reverberating thud, she was heard to utter annoyingly, “oh, so impatient…bad boy!” After which, she deftly whacked him on his bottom before the poor giant had a chance to get up again.

The crowd was really enjoying this apparent comedy routine of the young female, and the humiliating of the bewildered fighter, even the sensible Arnie could not prevent grinning with amusement, although he did attempt to hide it behind a hand. The crowd saw a small female who had no apparent fear of a fighting bully and cheered her for making him fall without much effort. She was so supple and swift, and used that to confuse her opponent. Kahu also saw a small female, one might even say skinny, but the experienced warrior noticed her well developed, if still small muscles, as well. Not just recently exercised and pumped muscles, but toned and sinewy ones that only years of hard work could produce. He also noticed Hauku’s obvious confidence in the girl, and the money his men were already counting. They weren’t betting for a win; they were betting for the amount of falls that the big guy took. So, although entertaining, Kahu was a man of honor, and could not help but feel sorry for the big brute. He could not shake off the uneasiness that there was something wrong in the spectacle before him and shook his head.

Arnie must have noticed, for he said to Kahu, “only moments earlier, you were ready to take on the guy…”

“But I would have fought fairly…”

“No, you wouldn’t, he’s only a big strong bully, who relies on his size to punch a challenger’s lights out. Whereas you, are a well-trained killer…”

“I wouldn’t have teased the guy?!?”

“No, but you would easily have won, and why? You are the richest Maori Polynsian this side of the large sea, probably in the whole Pacific. It’s not as though you need the money…”

Kahu nodded. “OK, you made your point, but…”

“But?”

“Something still seems wrong about how much money Hauku is taking from these poor people. Look at his fine clothes. I don’t think the Manaian war-hero is exactly broke either...”

“Poor people? Maybe, but they’re laughing and clapping. Think of it as if they’re willing to pay for a good show. Like city people paying to go to the theatre.”

“Theatre?”

“Oh, I must take you to Auckland one day. They’ve building a theatre there, at the back of a hotel. To put on shows where entertainers can perform. These wretches might be even poorer in the morning but tonight, they’re getting a pretty good show. One they will talk and laugh about for a while…”

Kahu shrugged, but he was pleased to hear the wiser man’s words, for now he did not feel so bad for staying to watch the guileless street fighter being played so well by a weaponless, fearless girl, and her entourage of professional gamblers…

The girl went on to do all the other things she had threatened to do to the fighter and more; until finally, her unfortunate component refused to get up from the ground, knowing he would somehow quickly end up back down there again before he’d even had the chance to get all the way up and stand upright.

“No more…” the fighter begged her from his position on the ground, “you win…”

She didn’t even wait for the referee to raise her hand in triumph, nor did she strut around the ring rejoicing, like winners usually do. She didn’t call for any other challengers to fight her, nor did she shake the loser’s hand, not that that was expected in outback fights. With one little dimpled half-smile to the audience, which Kahu was certain she’d directed at him personally, but then most of the men there probably thought the same thing, she unfastened her hair band, shook her wild thick hair free, and as if using the long locks as a curtain, seemed to back into the surrounding throng of people and melted from sight into the crowd.

“Magic…” Kahu hadn’t realized he had breathed the thought out loud.

“Not really,” Arnie looked at Kahu, “there were more than one female voice that supposedly came from all over the place before the fight, from females dressed in men’s clothing, complete with hooded cloaks. She also slipped into a hooded cape, after leaving the bar here, so she could move around the crowd inconspicuously…she’ll be in that disguise again already, and could be anywhere now…”

“You noticed her at the bar earlier too?”

“Yes,” he indicated the others with his head, “I don’t think they did though…it was you, she had to prevent from spoiling her little scam…”

“Me?”

“She must have noticed how eager you were to fight, and had to stop you, by taking your attention away from the giant…”

“But she looked just as surprised to see me, as I was to see her?!?”

Surprised to see just how handsome you are up close, Arnie thought to himself, but he wasn’t going to tell Kahu that. He already thought that Kahu was too arrogant. “She’s a professional, Kahu…and that big fighter wasn’t the only one she was playing, tonight...”

Kahu looked disappointed. “I know you were a magician when you were younger, and a clever investigator before entering the priesthood; but sometimes, I wish you would keep your abundant knowledge to yourself…”

“Ah, you’re intrigued with the little perfumed female fighter…and why wouldn’t you be, most of the men here are spellbound by her, so much so,” he looked around at the jovial crowd that was still milling around, as if to leave would break the mysterious girl’s woven spell, “the gamblers are not angry over losing their money, nor are they interested in any other sports tonight, they know that what they just witnessed was a rare sight, and one that probably could never be bested, ever…?!?”

“I…” Kahu shrugged, “would have preferred to continue believing she actually liked me…”

Arnie grinned. She probably did, he thought to himself; females, and even some males, of all ages, swooned in the presence of the handsome prince. But he wasn’t going to let Kahu know that. The young prince was basically decent and honorable, but a little too confident, a trait Arnie refused to nourish, and hoped to douse long before the young man would one day become king. Kahu’s father was arrogant, haughty, and selfish, most of their rulers had been, Arnie believed Kahu would be the best they had ever had, if only he could get rid of that one little unsavory characteristic. “I thought you liked soft, gentle, feminine girls, like…Hana…?!?”

“I do…”

“But you’d like…one last fling with a dangerous girl before getting married?”

Kahu did not answer straight away. He’d traveled around for what seemed like many full moons, supposedly looking for a princess bride to please his father, but had been unable to stop thinking about his beloved Hana, and had been so impatient to return home to her loving arms, that they were taking a short cut through Manaian territory. With some guilt he realized, since the sight of the mysterious Manaian girl applying her perfume under the bar and asking him for a drink, he had not even thought of Hana, and their pending marriage. Then he further amazed himself at how quickly he could get over feeling guilty and stop thinking of the slave-girl he had been so eager to return to. “Find that fighting girl…”

“What? I was joking…!?!”

“Sometimes I think you forget who the boss is, Arnie. Find her!”

“How? Everyone thinks she’s…just a story. Even we did…”

“Someone must know about her…there aren’t that many female fighters around.”

“Someone does,” Arnie rolled his eyes in Hauku’s direction, “and he’s eyeing us, right now…you’ve let your hood slip again!?!”

Kahu turned back to the bar, pulling his cloak further over himself and saying to his men, “let’s finish our drinks…”

“Good. I think we’ve had enough excitement for one evening…”

“Not you, Arnie…follow Hauku, make some enquiries…I haven’t given that girl the drink she asked for, yet…!?!”

Arnie groaned. “We may as well just go and surrender to Hauku right now?!?”

Kahu sighed. “Of course, you’re right…again. Looks like he’s finally leaving, we’d better get some sleep…take the men, I’ll join you shortly…”

“Oh, no you don’t…you think Hauku will lead you to the girl?”

“Arnie, this is the second time you’ve tried to stop me from doing something tonight…”

“It’s just as well I’m here then, think about it,” Arnie held up one finger, “Hauku, Manaian’s warlord, and leader of the great Makimoi army,” then he displayed two fingers, “and a female fighter who never loses. She’s not a rumor, we’ve just found out she’s real, and she’s obviously one of…Hauku’s protégés.”

“That doesn’t mean…”

“Don’t be naïve, you fool…what are the odds?”

“Partners in war, and partners in games maybe, but…”

Arnie interrupted. “She believes he will intervene and save her, if need be…and he is so confident of her skills, he bets on her…only true partners in every way, could establish that kind of trust in each other, Kahu…now forget about the fighting girl, and let’s get some much-needed sleep. We still have a long journey ahead of us.”

Kahu sighed and nodded…but as they made their way to their nearby camp, Hauku, who had not gone far and had concealed himself and kept an eye on the strangers at the bar, signaled for some of the best men in his army, to follow them…

Hauku was looking pleased with himself the following day when they’d returned home, and he demanded an urgent audience with Mitaroa. But Mitaroa was angry with the young man and showed him into his personal parlor himself. Only a few were permitted in Mitaroa’s own apartments, so Hauku should have felt flattered, but Mitaroa did not look happy, which made Hauku feel uneasy. Nor did Mitaroa ask Hauku to sit, or offer anything to drink, like he usually did.

Hauku cleared his throat uncomfortably, before saying anything.

Mitaroa did not give him the chance. “I heard you and Hinewai have been up to your stupid little tricks again!”

“But…it’s so peaceful,” the warrior made it sound as though peace was repulsive, “and has been, for quite a while now. How else is Hinewai going to get the practice she needs, to protect Tairi? The job you gave her...”

Mitaroa did not try explaining that in fact his mother had appointed the duty of being the protector of ‘the one’ to Hinewai, and that he also, had always performed his duty as decided by Riri. Mitaroa briefly wondered at the young these days, so eager for war – had he been that keen at Hauku’s age? He remembered he loved winning, and showing off, he enjoyed the post parties and celebrations, he still did, but – surely peace is the reason they fought? “Don’t try to blame me! You have a weakness for gambling, Hauku, and because you’re my best fighter, I’ve been too lenient with you! But don’t involve Hinewai. She can keep up her skills by regularly training with the army, like the rest of the warriors do!”

“That’s not…real fighting…?!?” An image of Hinewai complaining to him that she needed to practice her abilities and couldn’t if she was always consciously aware that she had to also concentrate on not really injuring her fellow comrades, because they all needed to rely on each other in real combat, and couldn’t if they didn’t trust each other, came to Hauku;s mind.

“Neither is swindling our own people!” Mitaroa had never been this angry at the brave young warrior whom he had appointed captain of his army. “The very people we’re supposed to be looking after!”

“Nomadic country wanderers?!?” Hauku almost added that they could have been anyone, from anywhere, mostly the pesky Awhia of no true alliance, even during peacetime, which in this part of the world, history had proven to be an arbitrary kind of affiliation...

Mitaroa knew what Hauku meant. Usually, only outlaws or smugglers chose to live in such harsh conditions long enough for dwellings to develop into actual settlements. “Just because they choose to dwell at the outposts does not mean they can be treated so appallingly! If they’re on Manaian territory, they’re our people!”

Hauku just shrugged. He wanted to say, ‘if you say so,’ but he was too busy wondering how he was going to tell Hinewai her father was opposed to their game. They both knew Mitaroa had never liked Hauku’s gambling, and when Mitaroa found out his daughter won her first horse through a bet, he had forbidden Hinewai’s involvement, but they’d hoped he’d have no objections to their games if played while inspecting the outposts and borders of their land. Then he wondered if Mitaroa was more opposed to his spending so much time with his daughter, that perhaps that was the real reason Mitaroa was so angry with him.

With a sigh, Mitaroa went to his raised leader’s seat and sat down, and with an elbow on a knee, rested his chin on his fist to think. He gazed out of the window. It was a glorious day outside. Looking at the brilliant blue sky always helped him think. Without looking at the captain of his army, he waved his other arm, indicating Hauku also sit, at last. In the warrior way, Hauku crossed his feet, and sank to the floor. Mitaroa continued without turning from the window. “I’m sorry Hauku, I know that although you enjoy gambling, you wouldn’t include Hinewai unless she insisted you do. I know how impossible my daughter is. No-one dares deny her anything. I’ve seen servants tremble as she passes.” Mitaroa rubbed his forehead. “Large servants, scared of a little wisp of a girl…I used to think that was just as well, simply because she is so small…” he continued more to himself, “all because she shows no fear…I think she doesn’t know what fear is…” he turned to face Hauku, “but I’ve put you in charge of the whole army, Hauku…you shouldn’t give in to her every whim…”

Hauku forced himself not to say, ‘because you made her believe she has to protect the baby sister who is supposed to grow up to be the mother of a half-God child, her size, or the lack of it, is not an option for the poor girl.’ Instead, he answered, “and you’re her father, Mitaroa; neither should you.” Hauku had been so happy earlier, and eager to show Mitaroa what he had discovered. But his boss’s foul mood had deprived him of his enthusiasm so much so; that he barely cared what came out of his mouth anymore.

The shocked Mitaroa looked over the young man and was reminded of a similar scene so long ago now, before Hinewai was born, of a proud young man facing his ruler, not sure whether to stand up for his rights, or obey and accept his punishment. He had to turn away from Hauku again; this time, to hide his smile. “You’re right Hauku, I’ll have a word with my daughter myself. I haven’t seen her for days. Is she in her apartment, or at the barracks?”

“I had Nikau personally make sure she was returned safely back home. But Nikau said she wanted to visit her mother’s grave...”

Mitaroa searched his captain’s face for some truth. He’d heard his daughter spent more time at Hauku’s quarters than her own apartment. He’d supposed it inevitable, for since she joined the army, Hinewai had never shown any interest in a normal young woman’s life, like preparing for marriage. For the devoted protector of ‘the one’, being betrothed had never occurred to Hinewai, or Mitaroa. He supposed that guilt, for his part in arranging a wild warrior’s life instead of the artistic life the girl had craved, led him to turn a blind eye when natural yearnings led her to the attractive and bold Hauku. Mitaroa and his mother had denied her a normal life. He could not deny her a natural life as well. It could have been worse, but like her mother Ingari, at least she chose the captain of the army. The woman Hinewai had bonded with her trainer, as a natural matter of course, just like the infant Hinewai used to follow her schoolteacher around.

Then amidst his musings, Mitaroa remembered he had not summoned the young man, that Hauku had come to see him, about something. Surely the young man had not come to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Being partners in life is one thing, but although Hauku was the most militant and combative of his warriors, he was still a commoner – Mitaroa gulped as he realized, somewhere along the way, he had turned into Hemi – he liked the young man before him, but – Mitaroa rubbed his brow again, as if hoping the action might erase the despicable thought from his mind, that – Hauku was not worthy enough for his daughter. Mitaroa had not done anything about the kid’s fooling around, although they had never been discreet about it. Had Hauku mistaken Mitaroa’s silence for approval? He had presumed Hauku realized he could never expect to be the husband of his daughter, warrior or not, she was still a princess’s daughter, and the first-born child of the ruler of this land. And Hauku was – Mitaroa frowned, he had no idea where the young man came from – he knew Hauku lived at the barracks; most do for their first few years, then return to their family homes, or build a home of their own, especially if they marry. Those who prefer to live there permanently do so because they do not have a home, family, or bride. Was he an orphan? Or did his family live too far away for him to be in the army otherwise? He knew most of the parents of Hinewai’s Aiotia personally, and some of Reina’s Tiaki group also, and many of his warrior’s families - Mitaroa was ashamed to admit, he knew nothing of the man he had made captain of his vast Makimoi army, of the man his eldest daughter liked, and relied on so much.

Hauku seemed to read Mitaroa’s mind. “I thought you trusted me…”

Mitaroa squirmed on his seat. “I do…”

“But…you don’t like me!?!”

“Actually, I like you very much…you remind me a lot of me, when I was your age...” Mitaroa waited for the question to come and wondered if he would handle it the same way Hemi did when he had asked for Ingari, or would he allow them to wed and avoid the likelihood of Hauku killing him, and therefore causing Hinewai to hate the young man. Mitaroa felt like laughing at his own memories, but he groaned out loud at the irony of how life had a cruel way of repeating itself.

But if the question was ever going to be asked, it was not going to be asked right then; for suddenly, a side door entrance to the room burst open, and the cute little Tairi came running into the room, towards her father. At the sight of the lovely child, Mitaroa’ smiled, and drew her up into his arms.

A rather flustered and very pregnant Aniki followed the girl, while apologizing profusely to the men. “She’s so nippy, I couldn’t prevent her…”

Mitaroa tried to hide his relief, and jubilation, that he and Hauku had been so conveniently interrupted. “It’s alright, we’re almost finished here…” he glanced at Hauku hopefully, “aren’t we?”

“Well, actually…”

But Tairi interrupted, “I wanted to see the prize!”

“Sur-prise.” Aniki corrected the girl.

Mitaroa looked confused. “What…?!?”

“Ha-ku has a present for you,” continued the child to her father, “and I want to see it…”

“Hauku,” Aniki corrected the girl again.

Mitaroa blinked from the girl, to Aniki, then to Hauku. “What are they talking about Hauku?”

Hauku cleared his throat. “That’s why I came to see you, Mitaroa...you’ll never guess who I found, while…” he couldn’t hide his triumph, “gambling in the desert…”

The catacombs were dark, even with a bright, flaring torch in hand. The girl’s eyes were narrowed, her mind focused on her surroundings, concentrating on any slight change to the musky atmosphere, smell, or vibrations, that would warn her if any creepy spiders, bats, or Tua lurked in the darkness. Her senses had been sharpened after a few years of diligent combat training, so much so, that she confidently walked bare-foot and almost completely naked, fearlessly, deeper, into the bowels of the sacred resting place at the base of the mountain. Every now and then she’d carefully step over skeletal remains which had been placed there over the years. Then, with a final jump into a larger chamber, she inserted her torch in the flare holder, moved into the center of the crypt and placed both hands on the edge of a large Waka Huia Kawhena coffin.

“Mother…” Hinewai spoke as if in prayer, “I have had a vision, and I don’t know what it means…” she closed her eyes and rested her cheek on the cool wooden box. “An arrow pierces my chest…” she lets her legs sink beneath her until she falls to the ground, as if she’d been shot. “A black arrow, with one red feather…it flew so swiftly towards me, that I did not see it…and when I do, it turns into a huge Tua, with hungry eyes, looking into mine. How can that be? I am to be Tairi’s protector until she is old enough to be the mother of our next half-God King. Tairi is only five years old…” Hinewai sighed, “she’s lovely, Ingari…she has lots of bouncing curls, and she has tawny eyes, brown, with golden flecks…and she’s very clever…you’d be so proud. But most of all, she’s healthy…I know before she was born, you were concerned that your failing strength might weaken the child, but she’s strong, and happy…such a fun-loving little girl, who thinks life is a big adventure…if only…if only you were here to see for yourself…”

Hinewai could not remember ever being as happy as Tairi, Hinewai enjoyed things like painting and carving at first, and now, fighting skills and weaponry had become an obsession, but she hardly felt the urge to laugh, like the irresistible, giggling little girl. Hinewai remembered that when she was new to warfare and barely averted being injured, she had laughed with anxiousness rather than enjoyment, but because of the puzzled reactions of the enemy, she had continued to do so. She had inadvertently learned to use laughter on the battleground, as a fear tactic. Otherwise, Hinewai found little reason to smile, let alone laugh. Sometimes she wondered if her spending so much time with an old scholar as a child had made her too serious, that joviality and knowledge did not mix. Then, losing the mother and watching the father go to pieces was not exactly anything to be happy about. Being left with the responsibility of looking after her baby sister was an added worry, let alone defending the territory, and having to kill and stay alive while doing so.

Hinewai curled up at the bottom of the coffin into a fetus position. If only things had been different. If only her mother had been healthy instead of sickly. They would have been close, if Ingari hadn’t spent so much time in the temple, or in bed, even when not pregnant. Like Reina and her mother, Kai. She may still have had to be the protector of ‘the one’, but surely a lot happier, if she and a healthier mother were close. What if the ambitious Riri did not expect her son to come here, and a granddaughter bear the half-God King? But if her father had never came here and met Ingari, she would not have been born. “Oh; what if? What if! If we were a normal family, I’d probably be married off to an old man by now! But sometimes I wish…I wish…oh, I don’t know what I wish…people envy me, people fear me…which seems so ludicrous to me, that I react by giving them a reason to be scared, and yell at them, sometimes I’ve even hit the silly idiots…so now I have a cruel reputation as well…no wonder I sometimes wish things were…different…”

Opening her eyes wide, she realized she never thinks like this anywhere else, except when here. The sensations were so unfamiliar to her that she wasn’t sure if she was feeling emotional, or burdened. She wasn’t as positive as she was when she had first arrived, and she didn’t know if she liked the difference, but she was now suddenly aware of how dark and stifling it was in the cave. Yet cold. She shivered, yet smiled at the unusual sensations she was experiencing, the expression relaxed instead of focused, a little nervy, and expectant. “I never appreciated you when you were alive, did I? Is it too late to tell you how beautiful I thought you were? I remember when I was still crawling around on the floor, not yet walking, watching you try on a new pretty Pareu gown, the pleasure such a trivial diversion gave you…I remember hoping I would grow up like you, but I discovered art, then warfare, and…I am not in the least bit interested in pretty clothes…

Father has taken a new wife, I don’t think a woman like you would mind that though, since it was you who gave him Reina’s mother. My new step-mother’s expecting, already…in fact she’s due any time, now…she’s a Rauruan called Aniki, but he calls her Kiwi…his little Kiwi…she looks similar to you…I guess he has a…‘type’. I resented her, when he first announced their intention to marry, and I don’t trust her, but…she seems to be good for him, she’s bought him out of the deep depression he was in for so long when you…” she wavered, then changed the subject, “so finally, he was able to renovate that temple he promised you…in fact, he’s building a few, entwining his Tipu-Aki, your Manaian and the Rauruan beliefs in a huge multi-complex to the Gods. Can you believe it, the unbeliever building ritualistic places of worship? He’s doing it for you, mama…for you…”

She ran her fingers across some of the carvings on the beautiful casket. “If you were here, you’d tell me what the black arrow in my heart vision means…Nahera just said it means I am on the brink of womanhood, but she would not explain further…my instincts tell me she knows more, but when I said so, she just told me that I had to work it out for myself…she seems to think I have the same expertise as she, but…apart from the odd weird ‘image’, for example, I knew you were going to die, that’s why I tried to keep father and I from returning from war at that time, as if delaying our return might prolong your…untimely demise…but I can’t always accurately interpret these peculiar images, I don’t think I’m particularly gifted at all…how much simpler my life would be, if I were…”

Unintentionally, her caressing hands caused a piece of the ornamental, but aging structure fall from the crate. She picked it up and as she was attempting to replace the remnant, she gasped, and was glad for her earlier years in school, for the piece she was clutching in her hand, was the symbol for…love.

She laughed. Not just smirked, as is her usual manner, but really laughed, the way her little sister does. Then she stood, replaced the little motif onto the casket, dusted herself down with her hands, and by the time she’d taken the dying torch from its stand and had started her way back out of the tomb, her wide eyes had narrowed, and her usual serene yet focused, unreadable expression, with just a hint of a little half-smile dimple in her left cheek, had returned. “Thanks mum…”

Hinewai was relaxing in a perfumed bath, when Reina entered the room, the dog they’d named Pupuhi, following her.

“Don’t you ever knock?” Hinewai scowled at her sister.

“Have you finally discovered the meaning of privacy?”

Hinewai grabbed a Pareu cloth and rising, tied it around herself, then stepped out of the fragrant water. Her initial frown softened. “I have some good news, Reina…”

“Me too,” Reina picked Pupuhi up and they sat on the floor rug, “but you first…”

“No, you…now let me guess…Grandmother’s arrived, and she’s waiting to see me…”

Reina laughed, “no, although it is five years since she last visited, and it was five years before that when she first came to see us.” She sat herself down on the rug next to the puppy. “You, first…”

Hinewai glanced at the dog that Riri had given her, but in turn had promptly handed over to her sister as soon as their grandmother had returned to her own home. “It hasn’t grown much, are you feeding it?”

“Apparently, according to others who have seen dogs, this is as large as it’s going to get. They’re different to horses. Don’t change the subject. Your news?”

Hinewai’s mischievous dimple appeared. “I’ve decided to marry Hauku…”

Reina could not hide her shocked expression. “What? I thought…everyone thought…”

“That I was just using him? Yes, I was, but…we do suit each other, don’t we? We’re a good team, and he understands me; and my…situation…”

“But…”

But Hinewai did not give her sister a chance to try to talk her out of it. “Who else will put up with me, and my duty to our tribe and territory, especially our little sister?”

“But…” Reina expected to be interrupted again, but she wasn’t. “Hauku is not royal, Hinewai…”

Hinewai wanted to say Hauku was more royal than they were, but she had promised the bearer of this secret never to utter a word about the warrior’s ancestry. If such news reached Hauku himself, who knew how he, who had devoted his life to the Manaian, and Makimoi army, would react. “Neither is your betrothed, Reina…”

“No, but he’s a very important man…”

“So is Hauku…”

“My bethrothed, Titohi, is a noble…”

Hinewai took another gown, and wrapped her long hair in it, turban style, on the top of her head. Then she looked at her sister. “My mind’s made up…”

Reina thought of the news she had come here with. “I don’t think dad will approve…”

“Why not? Father’s always praising Hauku, treats him like the son he never had…”

“Son that he hasn’t had yet…”

“That’s right; he could have a son at any time; now, can’t he?”

Oh Hinewai, thought Reina, you’re sense of timing is so…so way out. Out loud she continued, “Hauku has not been pressuring you, has he? What made you suddenly decide such a thing?”

“No, I don’t think the thought has ever even occurred to Hauku.” The Vision of the black arrow piercing her heart and the love symbol that fell into her hand at her mother’s crypt crossed her mind. “I just think it’s…inevitable,” she sat herself down opposite her sister, the dog between them, “that’s all…now, what’s your news?”

Reina groaned. “Actually, I think I’ll let father tell you himself, now…”

Hinewai’s frown returned. “What do you mean? We’ve never been secretive with each other before…”

“I know, but he’s on his way to see you, only…as always, I wanted to be the first to tell you.” She picked up the dog and stood, “now, I think I should make myself scarce…”

“Don’t be silly. Sit down and tell me…”

But there was a knock at the door, and Mitaroa let himself in. Reina, clasping the dog to her breast, started to pass him. He put his arm out to bar her way. “You didn’t tell her, did you?”

Without looking up at him, Reina shook her head. “No…”

Mitaroa let her pass. “Alright then, go…”

Reina quickly and quietly passed him, and quietly let herself out…

Moments later, Hinewai’s scream could be heard from her rooms.

Mitaroa went out onto her balcony and leaned against the railing. He had expected her to be angry, but he had not expected the almost always expressionless girl to shriek. She was still screaming, ranting, and raving. He felt dreadful. Memories of the sweet child who wanted nothing more than to learn about the world and paint pictures of it came to mind. Although she had been originally appalled at the thought of joining the army, at his mother’s request, he had taken her with him to war. Guilt for forcing a lovely little girl to become a fanatic killer had left him incapable of disciplining the poor child, and he had let her have her own way ever since. He had justified the fact with the reality that she had never been a problem child anyway, and was quite sensible and mature, whether she was born so, or fate had given her no choice, she didn’t seem to need any guidance at all. In fact, he knew that her ‘comrades in arms’ often looked to her for guidance, even the corporal of her Aiotia regiment, young Nikau.

Silence. Mitaroa felt more afraid of her silence than her screeching and wondered if it was safe for him to return to her room. He moved to the entranceway and peeked inside. She had a container in her raised hand. Did she intend throwing it at him? She was known to throw things, especially at servants, when mad. But never at her family members. “It was just an idea, daughter…?!?”

“How could you! How could you even consider such a revolting idea! You! It was you, who taught me to kill the Te Arawa, and all their allied Tane-Atua people of the north-east. They are the enemy! They have been in forces with almost all the north-eastern tribes against us forever! Some say, from way back in the original old land. Even some of the mostly harmless Awhia spy on us, for them. They would take over our land if they could. Your mother sent you here, to defend this land from them. And that’s what we’ve been doing. Now you want me to…marry one of them?”

“Put the pot down!”

Hinewai wavered, looked uncertain.

“Put the container down daughter, I came here to discuss the probability with you, not to fight about it!”

Hinewai put the container down, then slumped down onto her floor rug defiantly. “I don’t believe it. You of all people, to even consider such a disgusting issue, let alone discuss it!”

Mitaroa went to sit down next to her. He wanted to take her into his arms, but he felt her stiffening beside him, so he did not.

“They’re the enemy, father…” Hinewai sulked, “we hate them!”

Mitaroa sighed. “The Rauruan, were enemies of ours too, once…”

It was before Hinewai was born, but it was still common knowledge, and she was aware of how her father had had to conquer Rauru before being allowed to marry her mother. She also knew that at the last moment, her grandfather Hemi had changed his mind about the wedding and her father had killed him and married Ingari anyway. She couldn’t even imagine the fun-loving Inia, who her father trusted so much that he had made him his minister and shared the ruling of Manaia and Rauru between them, to ever have been an actual enemy. She sighed. “Aniki! You, married an enemy…”

Mitaroa smiled. “Twice, to be precise. We…” Mitaroa hesitated, “I am a Mori. Better known in these parts as a ‘sea person’. Sea people were hated here, not only by the Manaian, but all the inhabitants of this Taranaki Mountain, because we knew that they were small and hated by the other tribes of this land, they had been ransacked by us before…” Mitaroa choked and could not continue…

Hinewai did not say anything, she was still sulking quietly, but her father mistook her silence for contemplation. So, for a moment, Mitaroa let his mind wander back to when he had re-met his adorable Rauruan, he called Kiwi. It was when Inia, who had been visiting his family at Rauru and had heard that Mitaroa was not coping without Ingari, came to visit, bringing his daughter along with him. Apparently, the girl had begged to be allowed to come over and see the beautiful Manaian village that the whole world coveted so much.

Inia had been appalled to have found Mitaroa slumped in his own private lounge; that the great warrior and leader was not up to receiving in the great hall.

Mitaroa had hardly noticed that Inia had a female with him, probably a favorite wife perhaps, who cared?

“Hello Mitaroa,” ‘how are you’ did not seem appropriate, Inia started the conversation, “it’s been a while…”

“Hi Inia, I know you’re concerned, and I thank you, but…I’ll be just fine…”

“I’m sure you will, however in the meantime, I’d like to offer my help, all the same…” he was afraid to offer condolences in case it made Mitaroa’s mood worsen.

Mitaroa just grunted.

“May I introduce my daughter to you,” Inia continued, “she wanted to see your amazing place, for herself…”

At last, Mitaroa looked at the woman alongside Inia, and blinked with surprise. He stood and took a step towards her. “Kiwi?!?”

“My name is Aniki, and…I am so glad to meet you, at last. My father has told me so much about you, that I feel as though we already know each other…?!?”

Mitaroa could not help but grin at the sophisticated way she had taken charge of the situation; obviously, she did not want her own father to know of a past, juvenile indiscretion. And Mitaroa was aware it was the first time he had smiled for a long time, now. He was also aware, that she was pleased he had remembered her. “I didn’t know you had a daughter, Inia…”

Inia cleared his throat. “When you conquered Rauru, I thought it was best to keep her hidden, at the time…”

I thought your willingness to become a hostage was hasty, Mitaroa thought to himself, but said instead, “I am so glad to see you Inia, I hope you and Ki…I mean…Aniki, can stay awhile…”

Hinewai’s voice interrupted his thoughts, at last. “But you conquered first, then married…albeit, twice.”

Mitaroa nodded. “And that’s how ingenious this idea is, Hinewai. We can change that family tradition, and marry first, then conquer…two tribes united in love, not war. Three, with Rauru an ally to us on one side, our side of this land, and the Te Arawa on the other, imagine how much bigger, stronger and safer, we will all be?”

Although her father’s reasoning made sense, Hinewai was so astonished by this unexpected proposal, that she felt confused and bewildered, none the less. After devoting her life to a career that she hadn’t wanted, and having killed so many of their enemies, and having also just decided it was Hauku she wished to share her life with, like the little girl’s reaction when she found out she was to join the army, she had difficulty adjusting to yet another distasteful obligation being required of her, by her family. “Is this another of…Riri’s ideas?”

Mitaroa cleared his throat. “No, but…to quote a word your grandmother would use, ‘destiny’, has bought the world’s wealthiest Prince into our hands. And, as fate would have it, a prince who is in the market for…a suitable bride. Now what kind of a fool ruler would I be if I didn’t take advantage of such an incredible opportunity?”

“It’s just as well you have a daughter of marriageable age then, isn’t it?” Hinewai retorted.

Mitaroa had thought how lucky he was, but he could not admit that to his daughter. His mother had sent him to a different country, why did he find it so difficult to send his daughter to a different territory, which at least was just across the desert and lake, and not across the great ocean.

Hinewai seemed to read his mind. “Wouldn’t that mean I’d have to…move to the northeast to be with him? How could I possibly look after Tairi if I live there? Besides, I’ve heard they…don’t treat their women very fairly, and they make them wear so much clothing, even in the summertime, and it gets much hotter over there than it does here…”

Mitaroa looked at the girl who had let her drying cloths fall from her body and hair. “You’ve never even been there…”

“You learn a lot about the rest of the place at…” she stopped, instinct warned her that her father wouldn’t like knowing about her fighting at the trading post, “from the older warriors…”

Mitaroa picked up her wet Pareu cloths and playfully threw them at her. “It might be time you learned to wear more…”

She threw them back at him. “When Riri starts wearing clothes, I will…”

Mitaroa laughed, but apart from a dimple that appeared in her left cheek, Hinewai’s expression hardly changed.

“Tairi is still a toddler,” Mitaroa continued, “well protected by me, Reina, Apero and Hepa. Kiwi loves her too, and it will be years yet before she’ll be ready to…” he swallowed, “bear the…child…”

Just the way he said it, made Hinewai wonder if he even believed in the fate of the small girl, in all their apparent destinies. “I was her age, when I found out I had to learn to fight, be a protector...and you went along with it all. Yet…sometimes you seem uncertain, father…”

He nodded. “I admit, it all sounds rather bizarre…”

“But…Reina and I are warriors, and Ingari gave her life to bear ‘the one’…it’s a little too late to have any doubts now, isn’t it?”

Mitaroa nodded again and sighed. “Much too late. But that doesn’t mean you can’t marry, in the meantime…”

“What? And in a few years’ time tell my husband, “Sorry, but I have to return to Manaia, because I have to make sure my little sister bears the half-God child that should reunite the Taranaki people under the rule of a half immortal child of the great mountain?”

“You don’t really believe it yourself, do you?”

“All I know is that I have been given a responsibility, whether I believe it or not, is of no consequence...”

“Exactly! Who knows for sure what’s going to happen in the future. We all have our parts to play. In the meantime, why shouldn’t you become the wealthiest woman in the land? And yes, you could become a Queen, and should be able to just tell your husband when you want to visit your family…I can’t imagine any husband, even a Te Arawa one, denying his wife the right to come home as much as she wants, especially when her little sister is…” Mitaroa had trouble saying, it out loud, and gasped, “’the one’!”

Hinewai sighed. She was running out of objections. Then she thought of one more. “What about Reina? She will willingly do as you ask; she always has, without argument...”

It was true. Hinewai had always been the reluctant one, and Reina too eager to please. He supposed the half-sister felt as though she had to prove she was part of the family, where the legitimate child had no need to. “Reina’s already promised to someone else.”

“Yes. Strange isn’t it, that the younger sister gets engaged before the older? My getting married has never been a consideration with you before…?!?”

“And it’s just as well, isn’t it?” Mitaroa rose to leave, “I’ve organized a banquet for our guests, tonight...”

“Guests?”

“You didn’t think a rich Prince would be traveling around on his own, now did you?” Mitaroa made his way to the door adding, “all I’m asking is for you to at least consider the idea. Let’s enjoy our dinner with the Royal Prince. Who knows; after meeting him, you might like him…” before he left, he looked back at his daughter. “And please wear something, the Te Arawa are no longer as used to complete nudity, as we are…”

She stood and picked up the container again as if to throw it at him, but he closed the door before she had the chance to. He waited for the crash from the other side of the door, but it never came. He sighed as he left, with mixed emotions. With guilt, because he felt as though he was using his child as his mother had used him, but with excitement too, at the prospect of their uniting with yet another great tribe. The Te Arawa are known as the wealthiest people in the Pacific. They were the first to grow crops at Toi Te Huatahi, meaning the First Fruits, he and all Maori at that time had no way of knowing that it would later become known as the Bay of Plenty, the English version of Plenty of Food, when most people just went out to find food when they got hungry - they were the first to enjoy hot baths, instead of quick washing in cold rivers, apparently, they couldn’t resist the natural hot pools which are everywhere, but especially abundant in what would later become known as Rotorua - some pools even periodically reached boiling point, but the people got to know their environment so well, that they knew when to get out of the pools, and when to avoid spurting geysers as well. Hot pools were scarcer on this side of the land, but Hinewai had nothing to compare, and loved soaking, swimming, and bathing in water, cold or warm, anyway. These facts alone, might make the westerners feel impelled to re-unite with the northeastern people and their obvious supremacy, without the need of bearing a half-God King, that the Taranaki natives believed in so much. Sadly though, after visiting with his daughter, Mitaroa didn’t feel that confident about the reuniting of his people with the Te Arawa. Still, he felt as though his visit with his eldest daughter went better than he thought it would, under the circumstances. Then he remembered he had forgotten to chide her for her gambling scam with Hauku. But he wasn’t going to go back; she was fuming enough at his hopes of a pending marriage with the enemy. And if Hauku and Hinewai were separated, hopefully, she will discontinue fighting at Kiwa, the Awhia trading post at Aotuhia. A scrupulous Te Arawa husband, may be just the thing she needs…

Tania hurried to her mistress’s rooms. She had been summoned. Although she liked Hinewai, had grown to love her like a sister, and she knew that her mistress liked her too, Hinewai; Tania learned, was not one to be kept waiting.

But Tania was grateful for her fate; although a slave, Hinewai treated her more like a friend, even gave her discarded garments and jewelry that the warrior girl no longer wanted. Since being captured and taken from her own home, Tania had owned only the clothing she’d worn at the time, and because her mistress hardly wore clothes at all, but carefully looked after her beautiful belongings all the same, the lovely outfits were almost always, as brand new. Neither did Hinewai treat the other servants as nicely; Reina had explained to her that it was probably because as a child, Hinewai had been bullied by a servant; but in reality, Tania suspected her mistress did not have much respect for those who showed fear, especially if they were afraid of her, and most were scared of the warrior or more likely, her reputation as a maniacal and fanatical fighter. She had seen Hinewai hit out at people who had shied away from her, even kick those who tried to shrink away and slink by in the shadows hopefully, unnoticed – that’s why unlike those poor souls, Tania had decided she was not going to show her mistress that she was frightened of her; Tania had always held her head high, and looked the warrior girl in the eyes; and she was right, Hinewai not only respected the brave girl, she actually liked her. They were about the same age and size also, but where Hinewai was quite tanned and had dark hair and eyes, Tania was pale, with lighter hair and eye coloring.

As Tania made her way to Hinewai’s apartment, she wondered what mood she would find her mistress in. She had already heard the servants gossiping about the Te Arawa Prince who had traveled far and wide looking for a bride, and Mitaroa’s hope of supplying him with one. She could only imagine how overwhelming being taught to hate the Te Arawa, then being expected to marry one, might feel, for her mistress.

With a little smile, she also thought of the time when Hinewai had mentioned how alike they looked. Tania had not believed it; but Hinewai said she was an artist with an eye for detail, and made Tania keep still while Hinewai skillfully applied some Hinau-Muka black eye shadow on both of them, then Tane-Kaha brownish-red on their lips, then placed a black wig on the servant’s head – how Tania had gasped when Hinewai stood beside her and they inspected their reflections in a pond – since Tania had now been more exposed to the sun, in a land where clothing was for only for warmth and or adornment, and no longer so pale, they could have been sisters. Tania suspected that their likeness was one of the reasons for Hinewai befriending the girl; for with the use of the dyes, a wig and cloak, Hinewai had sent Tania to sit in on the army council meetings that Hinewai found so boring – Tania didn’t think Mitaroa was actually fooled by their prank; but he understood his daughter, who preferred action to talking, and with just a little hint of amusement, never admitted he knew, nor attempted to prohibit the girl’s masquerade. She on the other hand, was pleased to be of help to her mistress, and found the meetings interesting; not realizing at the time that some of the knowledge accumulated during these charades, would one day be useful to the girl. The father teased the girl one day by asking her thoughts on a particular subject in a meeting, and she surprised herself as much as him, by mimicking Hinewai’s voice and confidently replying. She must have made some sense because the others in the meeting nodded their concurrence. Hinewai almost smiled when Tania told her about it later and joked the servant might be able to go out and fight instead of her too, now – just a little joke, but how Tania had grinned from ear to ear at the time, feeling as though she’d been praised, as it was most uncommon for Hinewai to ever bestow compliments, on anyone.

Then also as she walked, Tania thought of the first time they’d met; when Mitaroa had introduced her, or rather, given her to Hinewai. Hinewai had asked ‘what kind of a fool name was Tania’, and although Tania hadn’t yet picked up much of the language, she understood by the cruel tone and body-language alone, that the rather snooty daughter was cruelly taunting the girl in relation to her name. But during her short time with her new owner, Tania had learned that Mitaroa was a master of illusion, that the whole family were so inclined, so when the clever slave-girl answered quite clearly in the Maori language that the name Tania meant ‘magic’, and whether the shrewd warrior Chief’s daughter actually believed it or not, Hinewai had wisely gasped, if a little over-dramatized, and replied, ‘the pale girl will fit well in our community father’, and they’d been close ever since.

Soon after, there was one time Tania could recall when Hinewai did get mad at her; she could not recall why now exactly, except that she had purposefully angered her mistress, as still pained from her recent ordeal, a part of her had hoped the warrior girl would slay her and put her out of her misery; but Hinewai had merely thrown her fish-bone hair-comb at her new serving girl. Tania remembered how much it had hurt too; but, at the horror of other servants in the vicinity, she quietly picked up Hinewai’s comb and had thrown it right back. Instead of ducking the comb, Hinewai deftly caught it, that feat alone amazed everyone, then for a moment, there was silence – the other servants nearby were sure Tania was going to be beaten by the warrior princess, if not slain. The others truly tried to hide in the shadows now, lest the warrior princess vent her anger on all of them, some even ran out of the nearest door – but Tania held herself erect, and bravely awaited Hinewai’s assault. But to everyone’s surprise, it never came – Hinewai just resumed combing her hair, as if nothing had happened. Hinewai did not miss Tania blink uncertainly though, which made the famous half-dimple appear on Hinewai’s cheek, and before they knew it, both girls were laughing uncontrollably. Since then, Tania knew she wasn’t in any danger from her mistress, nor was she going to tempt Hinewai into killing her anymore either; and, she also felt privileged to have been a very rare cause of her mistress’s infrequent mirth. It was the first time Tania had laughed since her appalling experience and it was then, that she realized the pain was finally subsiding, that she was actually able to continue living, and laughing, after all - she often wondered why Hinewai was normally always so somber though, having been born to and surrounded her whole life with a loving family and a lavish lifestyle, and presumed that killing for a living, must be an intolerable occupation. Rumors though, proclaimed the warrior princess in fact enjoyed her job, and that that was the one place that Hinewai could be heard laughing wildly – mayhap hysterically? But Tania did not believe in gossip, and thought the tales exaggerated nonsense – Hinewai herself had agreed with her and had told her not to listen to such silly rumors.

Tania had grown to love her life in Manaia, she had been here for a couple of summers now, not that they really ever had a terribly frosty winter here, and the snow mostly remained on the mountain tops, unlike her own country, memories of which were already quickly diminishing in her mind; so much so, that sometimes she felt as though her previous existence was almost like a mere dream, now - or a different life, that had happened to a different person, to someone else entirely – she was discovering she could no longer relate to her now vague history – of being cuddled by a small, warm, soft, herbs and spices smelling mother, who had the sweetest singing voice, by being adored by a large bearded adoring father, by being spoiled by a doting older brother – of warm evenings in front of a huge open fireplace – of running and playing in the woods with other tribal children - of the tribe coming to her father for guidance, decisions, and judgment – for her father had been responsible for their people – had he been some kind of Chief? Had she been born a Chieftain’s daughter, perhaps even a princess?

The small family and community were all happy back then; but they must have really infuriated the Gods somehow, for in an instant it seemed, a sunny day clouded over, and a hoard of masked slayers on horseback flooded through their tiny village as suddenly and as vehemently as the rain struck them. Dogs barked and were silently and swiftly silenced. Babies cried and were also silently and swiftly silenced. Women screamed while their men tried to fight back with their garden hoes and rakes. But they were farmers; not warriors, and so in turn they also were silently and swiftly silenced. She shivered as she remembered standing in the middle of the stormy deluge, the carnage going on all around her. Although the rain was icy, she didn’t feel the cold. Although the burning shelters were searing all around her, she didn’t feel the heat. Although people were screaming and begging for their lives, she didn’t really hear them – but she saw it all, as if in a hushed, hazy hallucination – the drizzling downpour - the macabre massacre of her family – first the father; it took a few of the attackers to stop him, he felt it was his responsibility to save his people and although he was strong and defiantly stood his ground, he was outnumbered by trained killers, and was slowly but surely, felled to the ground – like a stubborn tree trunk, hack by hack, chop by chop – until finally, all that was identifiable was his leather-coat covering a bloodied mound in the sludge – her brother was next; and although the young man had his hands up in the universal pose of surrender, he was bought to his knees with one swish of a sword – his slayer prepared to finish him off, but the boy slumped headfirst into the mud and did not move – then her brother’s slayer turned to her – that’s when her mother protectively placed herself between her daughter and the killer – but with the same sword that had killed her brother, the killer effortlessly swung his sword around in a wide circle, and her mother’s head snapped to one side, then silently fell to the ground and rolling, came to a stop at Tania’s feet; the sightless eyes looking up at her helplessly, through muddied and blood-spattered hair. A moment later, the lifeless body also slumped to the ground, into the mud. With a few short steps, the killer was in front of her. She did not even brace herself for the inevitable. She did not try to run or beg for her life – he raised the sword, she closed her eyes, but the strike she was waiting for never came. Instead, he picked her up, and took her to his leader. The leader lifted her dress; she supposed he examined her, for she felt so numbed to the bone that she didn’t feel anything - he’d nodded to the man who had presented her to him, then months of walking whilst tied to a cart, or driven in some kind of cage, commenced – because she was a fair virgin, she had been saved for the slave market – stunned from the weather and what she’d just been through, distant and blurry memories of trudging through snow and slush for what seemed forever, and then of being thrown into the fowl smelling hull of some kind of ship, of heaving and being tossed around in her own vomit, of the relentless sea thrashing and clawing at her - if she hadn’t been tied to the vessel, she would have slipped to a watery grave – as it was, sometimes she thought she was going to drown anyway, in the vile muck at the bottom of the boat, and often she hoped she would – then, after enduring the ice blizzards and rolling sea, as if the world had a perverse sense of humor; in contrast, she climbed out of the dreary dampness of her past up and onto the driest, brightest, land she could never have imagined, in her whole short life.

Apparently, Mitaroa had been inspecting the borders of his territory, proudly showing his new Raurun wife his amazingly contrasting land of lush fertile rivers and endless, undulating desert on a combined honeymoon and business trip of sorts – while also looking up an old enemy, or friend; he wasn’t sure which, Mohaka – for Mitaroa’s worse enemies were to the north east and north west, so he’d planned to organize some kind of regimental forces closer to the great lake, with the fearsome Mohaka in charge – Mohaka was glad to be back in business, he was getting bored with being a security guard for the Awhia of the desert in semi-retirement – the Awhia had resumed their normally peaceful ways since Mohaka was sent to the desert and lake, so he and Mitaroa organized an army base at Erua to defend the land from there to Turangi or Tarangi, depending on whether you were an easterner or a westerner, which was south of the lake, and to send messengers to warn Mitaroa of any north-eastern approaches and attacks. And Aniki was happy to be seeing so much of her husband, and his land, and sub-tribes of the area. It was while they were visiting Aotuhia, where so much trade operated, that they came across a pale girl for sale, who looked quite conspicuous among the darker sun-drenched slaves – the adroit European trader mistook Mitaroa’s curious scrutinizing of the girl for desire and pretended the girl was already sold, hoping the ruler would offer twice the price – to which Mitaroa then actually demanded the trader make a present of the girl instead, explaining to the lying dealer that he never bought and sold people, that in his civilized villages the servants were employed and paid for their services in the way of shelter, food, clothing and discarded belongings which often even included property, and if the business man insisted on payment by way of the Pakeha European coin of which both Pakeha and coin Mitaroa hadn’t even seen before, let alone own, for the girl, Mitaroa would seriously consider abolishing the Kiwa trading post altogether; to which the seller promptly cut the girl free from the other slaves and presented her to Mitaroa, bowing as he did so, for he had been warned of Mitaroa’s warrior reputation. Aniki had scowled at her husband at the time, for being so insensitive on their honeymoon; but Mitaroa had laughed, admitting his fascination for the abnormal, and that he had wanted the pale girl for a gift for his daughter – both Aniki and Tania had sighed with relief, at the time – Aniki was not about to share him so soon after marriage, and although Tania didn’t understand the language back then, she understood the body language, and still felt far too young and innocent for men; even if he was handsome, and the ruler of this part of the new land, that destiny had brought her too.

So Tania had been saved from a life as a sex slave, by this land’s ruler himself, and after a couple of years living in a bright new land with its fun-loving royal family she had to admit, she was finally starting to feel safe again, and was at long last glad she had survived her dreadful ordeal after all – and day by day, she found herself becoming increasingly more and more like a native; she started feeling as though she’d been here all along, that the rapidly diminishing nightmare had happened to someone else, far away, further even than where Mitaroa the sea-person originally came from, far, far, away, across the great sea, and other lands.

Now she’d reached Hinewai’s apartment and hesitated before knocking – expecting her mistress to be distressed, eliminated all thoughts of her wonderful new life, in a wonderful new land – but Hinewai must have sensed her presence, because the door was yanked open from within, and a naked ‘recently bathed’ wet haired Hinewai pulled Tania inside with a rather brusque “what took you so long?!?”

Tania almost slipped over on the wet floor. “Sorry Hinewai, it’s turning into such a lovely evening out there, the Pohutukawa are in bloom, you know how I dawdle when enjoying the gentle cool breeze after such a warm day…”

“Yea, yea…now quickly, we have to dress you up as me…”

“What? Oh, no! Not this time…I don’t mind sitting in at political gatherings, but I’m not going to pretend to be you while entertaining a royal prince!?!”

Hinewai gasped. “You knew about it too…was I the last to know?!?”

“Apparently, Hauku found the Te Arawa Prince and his entourage at Kiwa, taking a short cut through our land…”

“Hauku?!?”

Tania knew how close Hauku and Hinewai were. “He didn’t tell you?”

“No. He sent me home before him, with Nikau, and our own group - I visited my mother’s grave, and it was late afternoon by the time I got back, and I’d just had my bath when dad visited…no, I haven’t seen Hauku since…I thought it strange he wanted to stay back at the outpost, and I was too tired to argue and presumed he wanted to fight too…or drink…but he wasn’t in a hurry to come home…”

Tania gasped. “That…smuggler’s den? Hinewai! That’s no place for a lady! Now…let me help you get ready…”

“No, let me help you get ready…”

But Tania shook her head. “No way. Your father might think my taking your place in meetings amusing, but he’d never forgive me for deceiving the son and heir of the richest man in the land...”

Hinewai slumped down on her bed. “You’re right, of course. It’s not fair of me to expect that of you…”

“Mitaroa has obviously decided that being friends with the world’s wealthiest family instead of enemies, is a good idea,” Tania continued, “and, I have to agree with him, it is…!?!”

“Whose side are you on Tania? My father is mellowing with age. He’d rather create than fight now, and if any of our enemies realized that, now is the best time for them to attack.” Hinewai sighed resignedly. “It was also my father who taught me to hate and kill the Te Arawa. You couldn’t possibly understand, it was before you got here. We’ve been relatively peaceful with our neighbors for the last couple of years; no-one’s been trying to conquer our land for a while. Even the Awhia have returned to their preferred nomadic peaceful lifestyle in the desert…

“No, I couldn’t possibly understand, and I can only imagine how disappointed you must feel right now; but Hinewai, tonight is only a meal, with a very important guest…why, you may not even like each other…?!?”

Hinewai’s little half-dimple appeared. “I can make sure of that…what man would want some kind of wild warrior for a wife?”

Tania gasped. “Your dad will kill you…”

“This was his idea; it is only fair that our guest truly knows what kind of girl Mitaroa’s oldest daughter is…”

“Beyond the city walls, you’re a fairy-tale…but in the city, you’re known as the princess warrior…he must already know that, and might be intrigued enough to meet you…”

The half-dimple disappeared. “O-Ra!”

“Don’t blaspheme…!?!”

“Just…dinner. Right?”

“Just dinner…”

“We probably wouldn’t be suited at all…”

“He’s Te Arawa, so most probably fastidious and honorable. You’re a true Manaian…natural, and free...”

“Very different…”

“I’ve an idea…he’s in the main guest room, isn’t he?”

The dimple returned. “Tania, you’re positively evil…!?!”

“Come on…” With a giggle, Tania grabbed Hinewai’s hand, “you should have the advantage of at least knowing what he looks like…”

Hauku rolls in his sleep; then wakes in a sweat, shaking. For a moment he feels alone, abandoned - he shakes his head and tries to remember the shadowy dream that has haunted him his whole life. But as usual, all he can recall are the sad eyes – a delicate oval face, abundant dark curls – pretty, but pained – warm, yet cold – loving, but aloof – safe, yet treacherous – then the eyes glaze over and the face turns from him – he wants to call out, but he cannot – he’s crying – she’s walking away; fading in the distance, and does not look back; not even once, before she disappears in a sudden gust of sand from his tearful sight; and he has been left sitting alone in the middle of the day on the hard rocky ground; except for a flax basket by his side, surrounded by hot, blistering dunes – then survival instincts set in, and the hungry and curious baby which is him, crawls towards the basket – startled, it moves before he gets to it – whatever is inside the container is alive, and it can smell the human child nearby – the sudden motion from within causes the basket to fall on its side, and the head of a Tua appears – that’s when Hauku usually wakes up, asking himself the question that has always disturbed him - was it his mother? Did his real mother leave him in the desert with a reptile? And if so; how did he, a tiny babe at the time…survive? But this time, the mysterious lady in the dream did look back, just before she disappeared in the cloud of dust; but the pained and pitiful face that looked back at him reflectively, were Hinewai’s…

He couldn’t remember much at all about his past before the army, sometimes vague memories include a caring but afraid mother, an angry intimidating father, and sharing his cot with another – someone smaller, that received more attention than he did – someone that was more special – someone who made the bullying father soften and beam proudly – someone more important than he – more loved - a brother? If so, what had happened that made destiny separate them and bring him to become the captain of the greatest and most feared army in the west? Questions that had plagued him his whole life, but there was no-one with answers…

All the woman he knew as his foster mother had told him was that she had been barren, and that her prayers for a child had been answered, when she had been given him to raise when he had been rescued from certain death in the desert. That’s why she had called him Hauku, Hau (light) Uku (strong) and this, she had confessed on her death bed, when he was only about seven years old – so he had lost two mothers in his short life, and no-one seemed to know anything about the person or people who bought him to town, as a toddler. Hauku’s foster mother’s husband, the only father he remembered had been killed at war; Hauku hardly knew him anyway, as other nations were always trying to conquer their fertile land of plenty at the base of the mountain, so the warrior had hardly ever been home, always defending the borders. Her neighbors at the time took the orphan to the army, where he was promptly welcomed because apparently; those without any emotional ties made the best warriors and it must be true, for here he was, captain of the Makimoi at only about twenty-two full seasons (it was impossible to know his exact age), when there were literally hundreds of other more experienced men in Mitaroa’s large militia.

He rose from his bed and splashed cold water over his face. Then he glanced out the window. A reddish glow spreading across the sky showed it was late in the day; he’d slept much longer than he’d intended. Capturing the Te Arawa he’d noticed at Kiwa; a small trading settlement on the road to the desert and lake had him traveling all night and most of the morning – then his meeting with Mitaroa took longer than he’d anticipated, for the ruler had been in a foul mood – he’d hoped that presenting the Te Arawa Prince to Mitaroa would please his leader, but when he summoned Nikau to bring the prisoners in, Mitaroa looked angrier than ever – demanded that the Te Arawa; there were ten of them altogether, be immediately untied – Hauku noticed though that he did not say to give their weapons back – Mitaroa went on about how you don’t treat royal guests so outrageously, but when he actually started profusely apologizing to Kahu, that’s when the flabbergasted Hauku and Nikau both sullenly and silently slipped away – there was no pleasing their boss at all, this day – so the humiliated warriors returned to the barracks and made their way to their beds, to catch up on some much needed sleep. Nikau was snoring almost as soon as his head hit his pillow but Hauku, who had his own room, dozed off feeling rather perplexed, and puzzled at what he had done to make his master so mad – he couldn’t understand what was so wrong with a little gambling in settlements where gaming was their only source of fighting experience during peacetimes – and bringing him the son of his worst enemy was a good thing; wasn’t it? Mitaroa had always treated him well, he thought the ruler liked him – or did he object to his daughter spending so much time with him? He’d tried to keep their little trysts discreet, but Hinewai was so – much too forward, confident, positive, honest, and natural – neither did she care about what others thought. He shook his head. They were in trouble. Perhaps that was what the alarming dream, ending with her in it this time, had been about…

He hoped Hinewai would come and visit him soon. He never sought her out, never went anywhere near the royal apartments unless invited; or if like today, he’d imagined he had something of importance to discuss with Mitaroa. Imagined being the optimal word. He sighed. The afternoon siesta hadn’t cleared his head any, he was still confused at his ruler’s bizarre behavior. He wondered if Nikau was any the wiser and went to seek him out.

In the Aiotian dormitory Nikau had also risen already, and was speaking with some of his comrades, but they guardedly stopped as soon as Hauku entered. This part of the barracks always smelled fragrant, so did the Tiakian area. Mitaroa’s daughters had access to the most luxurious oils and balms in the land. He took a deep breath. These aromas cleared the head.

“Am I interrupting?” Hauku asked Nikau, suspiciously.

“No,” some of the others answered, but moved away anyway.

Hauku seemed to be waiting for Nikau, so the others left the room altogether.

“What was that all about?” Hauku asked Nikau as soon as the others had gone.

Nikau was a brave warrior but right now, he was afraid of Hauku’s reaction to what he was about to say. “I think…”

Hauku waited patiently.

Nikau made another attempt. “They say…”

“What are you trying to tell me Nikau?”

“Mitaroa is having a banquet prepared for the Te Arawa!”

Hauku frowned. Hinewai had mentioned that her father was no longer a fighter, but he hadn’t believed that about the great conqueror. “So, they’re having dinner together. But…there’s more isn’t there…?!?”

“It seems Mitaroa and the Te Arawa Prince had quite a discussion, after we left…”

Hauku shrugged. “And?”

“According to servant gossip, the prince has been traveling in search of a…”

“Well?”

“In search of a…bride…!?!”

Understanding dawned in Hauku’s eyes, and he swore. “And it was us, who captured the bastard and introduced him to the ruler who would nowadays rather make friends, than fight…”

“And who also has a daughter of marriageable age. On your orders, Hauku; it’s your fault. We should have let the Te Arawa continue peacefully on their journey back home on the other side of the lake…”

Hauku nodded and swallowed. “I…brought him to her…”

Nikau turned, so Hauku would not notice that he, too, was upset. He had loved her long before Hauku did, when Hauku used to treat her so cruelly. How he had helped her at the time, and scolded the rest of the Aiotian, for sniggering at the girl who lovingly looked after her weapons; had encouraged them all to do likewise and to this day, the Aiotian were the neatest and most organized division in the whole Makimoi army – not only did they look after their weaponry, but they had learned; also from Hinewai, to look after each other as well, oil and massage each other thoroughly – Nikau swallowed at the memories of his fingers roaming her body as she stood still, holding all her long hair up out of the way – how he had gradually with time lingered longer and longer between her legs, she’d never stopped him, but neither had she encouraged him – just stood as he’d seen her do so many times on the battlefield – trancelike, waiting for the right moment – apparently, the right moment was not going to happen with him – for when she finally realized she was ready for more than just touching, she went to Hauku’s room – the one who had unmercifully beaten her when she commenced warrior training, just because she happened to be female – he’d dislocated a shoulder, broken some fingers, and had pushed her much more than all the others that Hauku had ever trained – Nikau had waited patiently, for her to come running back to him for comfort, as he had patiently massaged the pained child Hinewai in his arms – but now it looked as if the both of them were going to lose her because no matter what, she was first and foremost always; her father’s obedient daughter – that’s why she’d got involved with the army in the first place…

Giggling quietly and hand in hand, Hinewai and Tania ran down to the guest’s quarters with secret corridors concealed in walls that very few except security guards knew about, until they were in the vicinity of the guest room. Moving panels in carved walls cleverly combined with reed wallpaper provided hidden observation apertures that the girls could use to spy on their Te Arawa visitors. The anti-chamber was empty, so was the bedroom – luggage was in the main lounge room, but no-one was in there and finally, they came across the Te Arawa, all lounging on the large verandah. There were no spy holes to the public porch, so the girls had to sneak around outside and hoped that no-one would notice them peeking. They were all sitting or lying around on the stairs enjoying the cool evening air and talking quietly to themselves, and all were in traveling cloaks, so the actual prince was not easily identifiable…

“Which one?” Whispered Hinewai to her friend.

“Who cares?” Tania whispered back, “they’re all handsome men, I’d be happy with any of them…”

Hinewai glanced at Tania. “I think it’s time we found you a husband, or at least a regular lover, Tania…”

“At least we know he’s not old, well, not too old…the oldest would be that tall, bearded one…”

“Bearded one?”

Tania remembered seeing bearded men from her own original homeland. “Hair on his face…”

Hinewai gasped, “how is that possible?”

Tania shrugged. She had become used to the smooth skinned natives. “I haven’t seen men with hairy faces since…since…”

“Since you were captured?”

Tania nodded; she couldn’t answer, as she remembered her own father had had a beard.

Then Hinewai gasped as she studied the older man’s strange hairy face, then gasped again, when she realized that the younger one speaking with him, was the one she’d seen at Kiwa – these men were indeed the ones hanging out at the bar near the public fighting ground, and the younger one was the one who wanted to accept the giant bully’s challenge – “it’s him…!?!” Too late, Hinewai realized she’d verbalized her thought out loud.

The men turned in their direction.

Hinewai grabbed Tania’s hand again, and they fled from the scene.

Tania gasped as they ran. “You…know him?!?”

“The younger one…no, yes, no!?!”

“You do! How?”

“I distracted him…if he’d taken on the challenging fighter, he would have won, and…”

“Spoiled yours and Hauku’s little…scam?!?”

“Something like that…”

“But…how did you know he would have won?”

“A fighter can always identify another fighter, even in full cloaks…”

“No!?!”

“No, not really…it was his protective fighter’s ‘stance’ complete with his arrogant chin, and confident gleam in his eyes, that gave him away…”

Nearing Hinewai’s apartment, and out of the guest’s hearing, Tania laughed out loud. “You still couldn’t have known that he would have won…”

“Anyone would have won Tania, Hauku had Kowhai on his hands when he said, ‘Good luck,’ and good-heartedly slapped the challenger on his shoulders where he’d breathe it in…”

“So that’s how you two do it! The challenger was…”

“Yes! Relaxed. Alright, sedated!” Growled Hinewai. “Do you really think I could never lose? We make sure I don’t…reputation has already put doubt in the challenger’s minds, Kowhai does the rest…”

“Oh…” whispered Tania, “so it really is a scam…I’ll keep your secret, Hinewai…”

“I know you will, Tania…”

“But Hauku, doesn’t he become affected by the drug?”

“He puts some on a hand, slaps the challenger, then immediately washes it off with the foaming Kumeraho…”

The girls sat on the floor rug.

Tania was intrigued. “What else do you do?”

“Well, I don’t wear anything that the enemy can grasp hold of…”

“And we all thought that you just love to be nude…”

Hinewai just rolled her eyes.

“Yet you don’t tie your hair back, like most warriors do…”

“No, my hair hides my weakest parts, like the heart…oh, the enemy will know the vicinity, but not the exact spot…”

“Fascinating…anything else?”

“Smoke…”

“Smoke?”

“At a certain sign from me, my weapons bearer will roll some smoking Manuka – the honey makes it seem more like mist than fire…”

“So they can’t see you. But how can you see them?”

Hinewai smiled. “I don’t…I hear them. They can never keep their mouths shut in the sudden fog. They always have to say, I can’t see anything…they often even have conversations about it…”

“I’m impressed…”

“Don’t be…one of the very first things my grandmother Riri told me, was…we are magical magicians…”

Meanwhile on the guest verandah, an interesting discussion was going on between Kahu and his advisor, Arnie.

Arnie rubbed his beard. “I’ve had an intriguing talk with the guards…”

Kahu grinned. He knew Arnie was adept at charming information out of the naïve. “And?!?”

“Are you still interested in finding that fighting girl?”

Kahu’s grin widened. “Absolutely!?!”

Arnie noticed Kahu didn’t even hesitate with his answer. Arnie sighed and continued, “even though your haste to return to your beloved Hana took us through enemy land? And being introduced to yet another…eligible Princess tonight?”

A small half-dimpled oval face blinking up at him from beneath the bar at Kiwa, crossed Kahu’s mind. “I think I’m in love, Arnie…”

“Don’t be ridiculous! You’re intrigued with the thought of a small girl beating a big giant, that’s all! I imagine many men; well, men who are confident in their own power and not threatened by such a female, think they love her. And insecure men probably hate her. Nevertheless, here in Manaia, she seems to be more…well-known.”

“Really?”

“The villagers say she killed her first man when she was only a small child…”

“That can’t have been that long ago…”

“They say she didn’t even…cry…”

Kahu thought of his first kill, and how sickened he had felt at the time. He still gets nauseous when at war but has always managed to wait until the battle is over before giving in to it. “Wow!”

“In fact, they say she…laughs…”

“Laughs?”

“Hysterically. On the battlefield. Where others are terrified and screaming…”

Arnie was pleased to see the grin disappear on the prince’s face. Arnie continued, “they say she…loves killing…and she shows no mercy and takes no prisoners!?!”

“No!” But Kahu frowned, when he remembered how the girl enjoyed her little show in the ring at Kiwa.

“They say…” Arnie paused for a more dramatic effect, “she lives and breathes for war. She even designs her own weapons...”

“They say, they say!” Kahu interrupted, “do they have any proof?”

“Of course, there’s no real evidence, but…”

“But what?”

“There are two of them, girl fighters, in the Makimoi army; but the younger one hasn’t killed anyone yet, so she’s still…sane…”

“Are you saying the girl fighter that we saw is…mental?”

Arnie cleared his throat. “Well, she’s certainly not…normal!”

Kahu sipped on his drink and took his time answering. “But…that’s the attraction, Arnie…”

Arnie groaned. “I was afraid you’d say that…”

“Besides at this stage, all you’ve got for me is…hearsay.”

“There’s one more thing they said…”

Kahu waited.

Arnie continued, “They are…Mitaroa’s own daughters…!?!”

Kahu laughed out loud, almost spilling his drink.

Arnie sighed. “It does sound rather ludicrous, doesn’t it? A couple of pampered Princesses?”

“Come back to me when you have done some real investigating.”

“We might have been moved from the prison house to the guest rooms, but we’re still guarded, and undercover work is not that easy for prisoners to undertake. But…” Arnie had also been told that Mitaroa originally came from a place where female fighters were encouraged. In fact, his own mother is believed to be a warrior.

“But?” Kahu encouraged Arnie.

“But…what if it’s all…true?”

“Well,” Kahu shrugged, “we’ll soon find out at dinner tonight, I’d recognize those cute little dimples, anywhere…”

Aniki and Tairi came to Hinewai’s apartment, but it was empty. Aniki was glad that Hinewai had had a raised platform bed made; she was so huge with her pregnancy that she was afraid that if she sat on the floor, she might not be able to get up again. Tairi joined her and squealed with delight at being on a raised bed. Most slept on rugs on the floor. Chiefs had a raised seat, but not many built a raised bed, which was also thought of as royal furniture. Mitaroa had asked Aniki to help prepare Hinewai for tonight’s banquet. Apart from temple rituals, his daughters had never shown much interest in the use of cosmetic enhancements, except for the popular Hina-Muka eyeshadow, and he wanted them to look their very best tonight, especially Hinewai. Where was Mitaroa’s eldest daughter? Dinner was going to be served shortly. She’d heard from her husband that the girl was not exactly overjoyed at the prospect of marrying the Te Arawa Prince. Aniki wondered if the girl had gone off for a ride on her horse in a huff, Hinewai had a habit of disappearing into the wilderness, when annoyed. Aniki suspected the girl spent those times at her mother’s burial site. Aniki could not blame the girl. Mitaroa had taught her that the only good Te Arawa was a dead one, now he expected her to marry one of them. Kahu was very good looking though, if Hinewai at least meets him, she might feel differently. Aniki could only hope. Aniki had her own reasons for supporting the marriage. For Aniki would like Hinewai to get out of their lives. Aniki rubbed her swollen belly. If the protector of ‘the one’ was out of the way, ‘the one’; she looked over at Tairi, might not survive to adulthood and if her own due babe turned out to be a daughter, perhaps it will be her child that will fulfill the prophecy of bearing the next renowned ‘half-God’ King.

Tairi seemed to be sitting quietly looking out at the beautiful sunset but as if she read the woman’s mind, she turned her head and looked straight at her. Were the child’s eyes accusing her? Could the girl see into the adult’s soul? Nonsense!

Aniki forced a smile at the child. “Are you alright Tairi?”

Tairi forced a smile back and raised her head haughtily. “I’m going to be just fine, Aniki…”

Aniki swallowed at the uncanny answer and turned her eyes away from the child’s dark furtive gaze, fighting against an overwhelming urge to shiver. Was it possible the little girl had special powers? The family she’d married into possessed magical skills, and it was rumored the older sisters used witchcraft. Mitaroa just laughed at her concerns, admitting his daughters were clever girls, but they used actual knowledge and herbal plants, that there was nothing supernatural about his family at all; and reminded her of the time when they’d first met, and how he had explained to her about ‘acting’. “While waiting for Tairi to grow up and bear a half-God child!?!” Aniki had retorted to him sarcastically, but he’d only answered that that was ‘up to the Gods’ and left her wondering just how much he believed in his youngest daughter’s destiny himself. She knew that although he was building a huge temple complex, Mitaroa didn’t worship, or pray, except before going to battle, but he’d admitted to her that he only did that because his men believed in the Gods, and probably wouldn’t fight if he didn’t beseech immortal guidance on behalf of them all.

To avoid the child’s chilling stare, Aniki thought about the conqueror she’d fallen in love with years ago in Rauru. Although he had attacked their home, apparently, they’d been swiftly overtaken by surprise, as is the custom of the ‘sea-people’, and the then smaller Makimoi overwhelmed Mohaka’s larger but unprepared army like a crashing tidal-wave. As soon as the Rauruan surrendered, Mitaroa prevented his men from ruthlessly ransacking the place as is usual in war, if he was to unite Rauru and Manaia, he did not want the city destroyed, and organized a peaceful and orderly conquest of bounty and prisoners. He even ordered his own army doctors to help care for the Rauruan’s injured. Once the great Mohaka was contained, he knew the Rauruan would need someone else to lead them, and he thought it would be easier with their support, instead of resentment, so he wisely ignored the civilian’s obvious attempts at hiding their beautiful women and any sentimental belongings, and asked Mohaka’s own minister to gather some of the town’s loveliest possessions from the treasury, not from the citizens, along with some of the nobles, unhurt warriors and even adroit entertainers, who were willing to accompany him back to Manaia to act as ambassadors of and represent Rauruan’s endorsement for peace. Inia was eager to offer his services and support at the time, Mitaroa had thought a little too willingly, not realizing at the time that the minister was trying to get the Manaian out of the place before his own pretty daughter was discovered, but she’d glimpsed the handsome and fair-minded Mitaroa, and was glad her father returned to Rauru soon after. Mitaroa had left Manaia in Inia’s capable hands, and Inia ordered his daughter to remain hidden from the conqueror, but with the father away, the daughter decided to conquer the conqueror; and would have, if news of Hinewai’s birth hadn’t interrupted their brief, but amorous encounter.

Aniki couldn’t imagine anyone else replacing Mitaroa in her heart, so she devoted herself to helping her father, as Mitaroa returned to Hinewai’s mother and sent Inia back to look after Rauru. With time though, Aniki’s sorrow slowly diminished over the years, and she was finally about to marry someone else, when she heard that Mitaroa had become a widower. She did give the poor man some time to grieve, then convinced her father to let her accompany him on one of his many council trips to Manaia, making it sound like she wanted to see the beautiful village that the Manaian had built for their half-God Kings. She didn’t add that she was going to help Mitaroa forget Ingari like the conqueror had first asked her to when they’d met years earlier. Inia had no knowledge they’d ever known each other at all and was pleased when it appeared as though the two met and fell in love while he was showing his daughter the most stunning, impressive, fertile, and coveted place in the west.

Also, while waiting for Hinewai, Aniki looked around the warrior Princess’s room. It was not cluttered, like her mother Ingari’s apartment, a room no-one was allowed to use, or change. Aniki had admired her predecessor’s possessions, but preferred to have her own room and belongings, anyway. Hinewai had simple taste; Aniki supposed that was due to the girl’s army life, the bath in the apartment the only item of luxury, besides her collection of perfumed balms and oils neatly placed within arm’s reach beside it, and the raised bed. Everyone else washed in the rivers, some who resided in the palace used the palace communal bathing room, but Hinewai always got what she wanted. Aniki supposed Mitaroa spoiled the girl to ease his guilt, for introducing his daughter to killing for a living. But both of his daughters were in the army, yet Reina was not spoiled. Servants explained that Reina was keen to accompany her father to war, while Hinewai had been a quiet, gentle girl – Hinewai was still quiet and appeared gentle and serene, but everyone knew not to underestimate the delicate and rather feeble looking young lady, and all avoided making her mad.

Other decorations in Hinewai’s room included ceiling to floor rug-like hangings in light earth tones skillfully blending in with the burnished sandstone and camel colored reed walls, creamy Muka drapes separated the sleeping area from the lounging area, tied back at the moment with Aute tasseled cord – a huge woven Maro clothing container was at the foot of the plat-formed bed, but there was no changing screen; obviously, the immodest girl had no need for one. Neat piles of Pareu gowns were stacked on top of the container, as if the girl hardly opened the trunk for its contents – and the whole floor was covered with seating flax matting,

Hinewai’s little fire bier was out at the moment, but it still permeated a wafting soft scent – she made a mental note to ask Hinewai what she burned in it – there was a Ngairo flare on the balcony, to keep insects away, and an Ika-Kohiwi comb was placed on top of the Pareu gowns, probably to keep the gowns from falling off the clothing container, and that was all, apart from a couple of trident looking forked knives strategically placed within reach, next to the bed – did the valiant warrior girl feel fear after all? Was she afraid she might be attacked in the middle of the night while sleeping? The dolls that used to be there instead, she’d given to Tairi; tattered and dirty now, they’d still been like brand new when passed onto the youngest sister, but at least Tairi enjoyed playing with them; apparently, Hinewai had never shown any interest in the traditionally dressed figures from Raro Tipu-Aki. All other weaponry and armor were obviously kept at the barracks albeit, Aniki had heard that Hinewai wore very little to battle, that she found clothing inhibiting – Mitaroa had told her that his mother was the same, so mayhap the girl wanted to follow her grandmother’s example. Apart from the flare and a hammock, the balcony had nothing else on it at all - Hinewai’s room was simple for a girl of her status, but comfortable, in sandy earth hues and light tones. Plain, but calming – a soothing haven for a violent fighter’s life filled with cruelty and gore. She had heard that Tania’s dark wooden and green leafy cane furnishings once belonged to Hinewai and wondered why the girl who apparently used to love using colorful paints now preferred no vibrant shades at all. As if she could not focus on painting and fighting at the same time. Or did she use the lack of color to blend in, like a form of camouflage – understandably outside and on a dusty battlefield, but there was no need to hide in her own room – how strange for a princess not to have a love of beautiful, brightly colored clothing, sandals, baskets, jewelry, ornaments, low tables and seats, and beautifully patterned rugs and wall hangings. But she did have the raised bed and bath – things that not many did have…the girl was definitely a controversial individual.

Aniki peeked at the little girl still quietly sitting nearby. Tairi had returned her gaze to the luminous pink and purple evening sky. Aniki couldn’t help but admire the child. Usually so boisterous, yet the girl was always content to sit quietly and patiently for long periods, when waiting for Hinewai. So, this was the child that was supposed to bear the next half-God King. Mitaroa could never be crowned because he was a foreigner, not of royal blood, and a mercenary. But if things go as planned, he could be the grandfather of one. Only a native-born Lady of the Manaian terrain, known as the upper-world at the base of the mountain, could be given to a Lord of the Ponaturi under-water-world, fulfilling the native’s belief in a ‘new life’ or ‘beginning’ as in ‘renewed hope’, being created through ‘water’ fertilizing the ‘land’. Aniki had no idea how a native mortal of the land mated with an immortal of the water, she wondered if the natives themselves knew – she knew Mitaroa had no idea, for he had admitted as much to her – all he knew was that whatever his mother predicted always happened, and that they just had to wait, and see – she suspected it had something to do with the temples; the ancient beliefs and the Tapu-namu Priestesses of the Whare Tapu – and how the people think that without a half-God ruler, their monarchy is ‘cocooned’ until one is ‘hatched’ and even then, he will not be crowned until he has proven his immortality by finding a hawk and returning with a hawk feather, thus strengthening the existing land and sea bond of his birth, by then also linking himself with the way to the sky, and protection for his people, by mastering the strongest of all feathered creatures. “Tairi…”

The little girl returned her gaze to the woman but did not answer.

“Do you know anything about the Gods?”

The little girl nodded, curls bouncing all around her shoulders, but she remained quiet.

“Tell me about them…”

“Ra-Aki is the God almighty, but most just call him Ra…”

“Ra-Ngi-Nui,” corrected Aniki, “I thought he was the God of the sky?”

Tairi nodded. “He is, I used a term from the old land, he is also the main one. Then there’s Papa…Papa…I can’t remember…ah; yes, I do, Papatuanuku!”

“Papa…” Aniki didn’t even try to say the whole name, “I haven’t heard of that one…”

“Haven’t heard of Papatuanuku? But she’s the most important!”

“Why?”

“Because she’s the Goddess of our whole sea world, old lands, in-between lands that are also referred to as the old lands these days, and she is also the mother of all things…”

“And Ra is the father?”

“Yes, and when they embrace each other, it rains, and their children, the animals, birds, and plants, grow…”

The child knew more about the Gods than she did, Aniki thought to herself. “I suppose…because you’re ‘the one”, you have been taught everything about the Gods…”

Tairi nodded but grew quiet again.

“So…who is Tane?” Anika continued.

“Tane is their firstborn son…”

“So, he’s not called Ra as well? As in Ra-Tane?”

Tairi shook her head again. “No, although lots of people think so. His full name is Tane-Mahuta…”

“My, what a clever little girl you are…”

Tairi just blinked, without beaming proudly at the compliment.

“But there are lots of others aren’t there?” Aniki prodded.

Tairi just nodded in reply.

“So…” Aniki continued, “who is Manaia?’

“The first man who lived here…”

“He’s not a God then?”

Tairi shook her head.

“But the huge totem in the square…the people say, it’s his totem…”

The bird-God of war…” Tairi thought of how Hinewai worshipped him, as most warriors and protectors were expected to.

“So, it’s not Manaia?”

This time, Tairi corrected Aniki. “Because his…” Tairi stopped. She was trying to think of the right word, “his inscription is also on the Totem, because he wanted everyone to remember that he worshipped Tanemahuta the bird God, so the totem represents both of them…” Tairi didn’t want to tell her stepmother that she was being taught to worship this God, as part of her destiny. Instinct had made her wary of her father’s new wife. Aniki had always been nice to her, but the child knew that the woman smiled at her with her mouth only, and not with her eyes, that the stepmother did not really love her, like Mitaroa believes she does. Her father was usually so perceptive, but where Aniki was concerned, he often seemed quite blind.

Aniki was about to ask if Tairi knew about her destiny, and what was expected of her, when Hinewai and Tania finally returned. Hinewai had overheard a little of Aniki’s and Tairi’s discussion as she and Tania had approached her apartment and asked what they had just been talking about. Aniki made it sound as though Tairi had just been telling her about Ra and Papa, and their son Tane.

“I didn’t tell her anything important,” retorted Tairi to Hinewai.

“Enough about the Gods,” Aniki got off the bed and changed the subject, “Mitaroa sent me to prepare you for tonight’s banquet, Hinewai…where have you been?”

“Collecting some Tane-Kaha for our eyes,” Hinewai murmured under her breath.

“The usual dark smoky stuff?” Anika shook her head, “I have some Harakeke. Tonight is a special evening, let’s use some color instead…”

“Green?”

“Yes, green…”

Hinewai sighed, but let the woman take a variety of colorful cosmetics out of a Kete basket she’d bought with her and stood still while the older woman applied them. “Why don’t you tell us about your Gods, Aniki?”

“They’re similar to yours, of course,” replied Aniki, “now keep still…”

“I know all the temples dad’s building for all the different Gods in the new temple complex, Aniki…and there are no…similar Rauruan ones, just your one and only…Tua deity of you southerners…”

Aniki held a sharp looking comb threateningly to one of Hinewai’s eyes. “Yes…until now, your father has treated me as a foreign guest,” with her other hand, she rubbed her stomach, “but all that’s about to change…” she stood back to admire her work.

Hinewai had to agree, unlike her own mother, this woman seemed fit and healthy. And she’d probably bear Mitaroa several strong children. She grabbed the wrist that held the comb and squeezed until with a gasp, Aniki dropped it. “My dad seems stricken by you, and you bought him out of a deep depression, but…you’ll always be a foreign guest to me, Aniki…and guess who’s in charge if something happened to my dad? It won’t be your father; Inia, he has his beloved Rauru to look after…”

Aniki gasped, “You?!?” But she knew the answer even before she spoke.

“The people trust Inia, but they know that I will protect them and…” she fought an urge to glance at Tairi, “…look after ’the one’, as predicted!”

Aniki swallowed. “What about…Hauku…?!?”

“Hauku has great leadership qualities, Aniki…” Hinewai swallowed as she was one of a few who knew who Hauku really was, “but unfortunately, it is not in his destiny to rule this land…”

“But…the people fear you, Hinewai…”

“Exactly! They know that everyone fears me, including our enemies, whether from this land; or the sea…”

“You can’t rule with fear, Hinewai…”

“And you and your children will never rule with manipulation, Aniki…my father loved my mother so much that he did whatever she said…yes, people think it was his mother who guided him, and she did, when he was a boy – but he did everything, for his wife, including conquering your Rauru…and she in turn, believed in their destinies so much, that she was willing to die for it; the ultimate sacrifice…and his mourning and grief for her loss caused his depression but don’t kid yourself Aniki, with or without you, he would have revived sooner or later, and built the temple complex as he’d promised her…so forget any dangerous thoughts you may have regarding your own selfish ambitions, Aniki…because you are only his second wife, a female companion, and not the great love of his life…!?!” Hinewai picked up the dye and gave it to Aniki, “now finish my face, we’re late for dinner…”

Aniki resumed her work on Hinewai’s face. “I know you resented me when I first arrived; which is understandable, but…I thought we were finally getting…close?!?”

Hinewai didn’t answer.

“Was I mistaken,” continued Aniki, “is it unreasonable for me to hope that with time, we could become a…loving family?”

“As long as you harbor resentment in your heart, we could never be close...”

“Resentment? But I really do love your father…”

“No, you don’t, because if you did, you would love us too…”

“I do…”

“Actions speak louder than words, Aniki…”

“Alright, but at least I’m trying…are you?” Aniki stood back to admire her own work.

Tania and Tairi both ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ approvingly, but when Tania suggested they take a look at Hinewai’s reflection in the pond, Hinewai shook her head.

“Why not?” Aniki seemed wounded.

“I don’t need to inspect my reflection, one thing I do know,” Hinewai swallowed and attempted a compliment, “you are clever with clothes and cosmetics, Aniki…”

“Since you adore your Mori sea-grandmother so much, I thought you’d appreciate the natural look…with only the softest hint of color…”

Hinewai had never seen Riri with enhancing dyes on her face, but she’d only seen her twice and for all she knew, the great warrior woman may add dyes to her face for special occasions; the Mori dolls had color around their eyes and on their lips, and even spots on their cheeks; and that must be why Aniki believed it to be a traditional Mori style…still, she couldn’t resist taunting the woman who had taken her mother’s place. “Oh, Aniki; my grandmother didn’t use dyes that can be easily washed off, she has the Moko tattoo on her lips and chin, plus the dark swirls on her body…”

“Face and body?”

“Yes, the tattoos of a very brave warrior…”

Aniki gasped, and wondered what the amazing Riri would think of her, when they eventually meet.

“Barbed helixes that only warriors who have earned them,” Hinewai continued, “can wear…”

Aniki thought of the incisive spirals she’d seen on Mitaroa’s arms and thighs, and Hauku’s, and on some of the other warriors. “But…you don’t have any, Hinewai…”

“But I have earned them, I must wait until I am old enough to be tattooed. Warriors wait until the body has stopped growing, otherwise the markings can become distorted. Next year, I will be tattooed also…”

“Hinewai actually earned hers when she was only ten seasons old, Aniki…” added Tania.

“You weren’t even here then,” Aniki snapped at the serving girl. “I remember the day Mitaroa bought you!”

Tania did not wince or bow her head as servants usually did. “It’s common knowledge, Hinewai killed her first man at the age of ten; she…saved her father’s life!?!”

Tairi jumped off the bed, came around to confront her stepmother and added, “you didn’t know that did you?”

“So, if I were you,” Tania was enjoying the older woman’s discomfort as much as the sisters were, “I wouldn’t make an enemy of Mitaroa’s first-born daughter; in fact, I’d make sure she was…on your side…!?!”

Aniki gasped, “like you have, apparently…” then she turned to Hinewai, “let me put more make-up on your face…”

Hinewai raised her head towards the woman and shrugged. “Alright…”

Aniki put some more color on Hinewai’s face. “I was really; only teasing you…”

Hinewai almost felt sorry for the woman. “Well, even if it’s not really a Mori or Manaian look, I’d rather be an individual, so thanks to you Aniki, I’m going to start a new fad in this land, and call it the ‘Aniki’ style…”

“Really?” Aniki blinked uncertainly, “you…don’t even know what you look like…”

Hinewai looked at Tania and Tairi, they both nodded that they liked what Aniki had done. “Tania and Tairi like it, so I do too…”

But Aniki was no longer as sure. She looked at Tania. “Do you think her dad will like it?”

But Hinewai didn’t give Tania a chance to reply. “What’s important is that I like it…”

Aniki looked at Tania, she nodded. She looked at Tairi, she nodded.

Aniki smiled. “Well, we’d better get going, then…”

“Wait,” Hinewai pointed to Tania and Tairi, “do them too…”

Tania frowned. “Eh?!?”

Tairi jumped up and down with delight. “Yes, do me too…”

“Go and get Reina Tania,” Hinewai added, “we’re all going to be lovely Aniki styled ladies tonight…”

Tania rolled her eyes but went to find Reina.

Aniki looked at Hinewai. “I have another idea, what about some red dots on your cheeks, like Riri’s dolls…” then she giggled as she carefully placed the dots on Hinewai’s cheeks, “I haven’t dressed up for ages. Why don’t we all be Mori ladies tonight?”

“Hmmm; I’m not sure…” with her fingertips, Hinewai attempted wiping the red spots from her face, but had blended them into a flattering blushing appearance instead.

Aniki gasped. “That looks…quite pretty and will look lovely; in the soft evening lighting…I was supposed to make you look nice; I think your dad will be very pleased…”

Tania returned with Reina.

Reina gasped with admiration. “Oh, you look lovely, Hinewai,” she turned to Aniki, “love her cheeks…”

Aniki sighed. “Hinewai did that…”

The three girls ooohed and aaahed.

Hinewai couldn’t resist playing along, and winked at Tairi, “it’s an arty thing…”

Aniki blinked at Hinewai. “Yes, I heard, that you also like to paint…”

“Used to…”

“You just…gave it up?”

“Yea…”

Aniki indicated her surroundings. “I also noticed your…muted décor; as if you gave up color of any kind…?!?”

Hinewai’s eyes narrowed. A recurring vision of living in a comfortable but simple house on the edge of a steaming terrain, in contrast to her brilliant home at the base of the mountain between the ocean and the banks of the sparkling river, crossed her mind. Had she been inadvertently preparing herself for her future?

“Why?” Aniki urged.

Hinewai remembered how she had loved their glorious possessions when she was younger. How she used to stroke the soft silky stripped and burned flax drapes and press her face into her satiny beaten Tapa curtains. Now she almost always just rolled into her coarse plaited flax hammock to sleep. She hardly used the raised bed that her father had made for her. “Let’s just say; my…preferences have changed…”

“From creating…to fighting?!?”

“Fighting can be creative…”

Aniki glanced at the weapons nearby, “I know you designed those…?!?”

Hinewai nodded, “but I didn’t mean that…”

“But I do know what you mean,” Aniki quoted Mitaroa, “a good fighter has to carefully prepare battle strategies!?!”

“Carefully prepare?!?” Hinewai almost laughed. “No, a good fighter sees everything…all at once!?!”

“What do you mean?”

“A good fighter does not think…a thinking fighter will be killed while wondering what to do next. You have to see it all in one instant, the enemy, the advantages, the weaknesses, the terrain, the others, what will happen if I did this and what will happen if I did that, know it all instinctively, using all feelings and senses, rather than just the eyes and mind - be illusive, be surprising…would you like to know why I always win Aniki, I, a small female, I always win because others, unlike me, are constantly predictable, and so easily read…”

Aniki remembered the way Mitaroa and his small band of young men swept into Rauru and against all odds, overtook Mohaka’s larger and more experienced regiment before they had had a chance to secure their fortress, grab weapons, or defend themselves. “You’re…just like your father…”

“Mitaroa is a showman, and he uses those skills, but he also likes to plan…which has always worked for him, I guess everyone’s different...”

“Did…Hauku teach you all this?”

“Hauku taught me how to fight, but…it was my grandmother who taught me how to win, on her two brief visits...”

“But that was…”

Hinewai nodded, “years ago…”

“She must have made such an…impression on you?!?”

Hinewai’s half dimple appeared as she thought of her vivacious grandmother. “She’s irresponsible, like a spoiled brat…but she’s the most remarkable person I have ever met...”

“Do you think she’ll like me?”

“Probably not…”

“You didn’t even have to consider your answer…”

“Riri liked my mother, because Ingari really loved Mitaroa…”

“But I really love Mitaroa too…”

Hinewai ignored Aniki’s statement. “Ingari loved Mitaroa so much, that she couldn’t kill him like she was supposed to…”

Aniki looked surprised. “What?!?”

Little Tairi laughed. “You didn’t know that either; did you Aniki?”

“Ingari loved Mitaroa so much,” Hinewai continued, “that she gave him a concubine, Reina’s mother, to look after his physical needs, when she thought she could no longer pleasure him any more…”

Aniki swallowed as she remembered how jealous she’d been when Mitaroa had asked a trader for Tania while on their honeymoon.

“How odd,” Aniki declared, “for a wife to encourage a man’s infidelity…”

“To the contrary, better to provide her husband with a woman she trusts, than leave it up to a man’s besotted instincts because who knows, she may end up with an enemy in her midst!?!” Hinewai was practically spitting the words out. “Or worse still, like in Rauru; a whole harem of bitching whores to contend with?!?”

Aniki thought Ingari stupid but wasn’t about to say so in front of the daughters.

Tairi bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing some more.

“And,” Hinewai cleared her throat as she calmed herself, “Ingari loved Mitaroa so much that she went through several miscarriages until finally, she was able to bear a healthy daughter to be the ‘the one’, the mother of the next half-God King…”

Tairi bit her lip harder to prevent proudly retorting that the child was her, like most small children would.

Hinewai felt so proud of her little sister, at how good she was at restraining herself. Better than she was doing herself, right now. “So, if you really loved Mitaroa, you would love his daughters, and would try to protect them from any danger, instead of conspiring about how to get rid of them!?!”

Aniki gasped.

Hinewai did not give her a chance to answer. “Don’t try to deny it Aniki, you can’t even fool little Tairi…”

Aniki shrugged. “You can’t really blame me for…”

“Perhaps not, but just think about it Aniki - you’ve done quite well, for a Minister’s daughter…you’re with the man you claim to love, you have a good life in a nice home…your life is enviable Aniki, not ours…Tairi and I could never hope to have a normal happy family life…”

Aniki nodded. “You must miss her so…”

“Ingari? We…never really knew our mother that well, everything I just told you, her mother Akura, our other grandmother, told us...”

“I meant…Riri?!?”

“Yes…she said she will always be in my thoughts to guide me, and she is…”

“Is she guiding you right now?”

“Yes, she is, and she’s telling me to be wary of stepmother who comes to paint my face…”

Aniki couldn’t help but smile, even though she’d just been confronted and warned by a mere snip of a girl.

Hinewai almost smiled also but continued on with her sarcastic roll. “She also says to wear a cloak, to hide painted face…”

Aniki laughed out loud now. “No!?!”

“No, my own instincts are telling me that…”

Tairi laughed, her cute, tinkly sounding little giggle.

Aniki shook her head amongst peals of laughter. “You had me going there, for a moment!?!”

Hinewai raised an eyebrow. “Stop it, you two…I’m being serious now. Why stop at the face? Go and get some of your lovely cloaks Aniki, let’s go all the way with fashion tonight…”

“Cloaks?!?” Aniki could not believe that the girl who preferred to be nude was asking for clothing.

“And not just a little shoulder wrap-around, I know you have some long ones with hoods that can be pulled up over our heads.”

“You know your father does not expect women to cover up in his town, or in all of his territory…” Aniki’s eyes narrowed, “you really don’t like the makeup do you?” She pouted. “You just want to hide your face…”

“No Aniki, I like my face…especially since I blended the red spots. I’ve decided to cover up for our Te Arawa guests. I hear they prefer to wear clothing at all times, even in the summertime …”

“Hmmm…that’s considerate of you, but you’ve never cared what anyone else thinks before, what are you up to?”

Hinewai sighed. “Alright, I don’t want the prince to…see me!?!”

Aniki raised her eyebrows. “But…why not? Your father wants him to see how beautiful you are, Mitaroa hopes he’ll fall in love with you!?!”

“Beautiful? Me?”

“Yes…don’t you think that you’re beautiful?”

“No, I don’t have any fat…I’m too small…”

“You’re young, fat will come, when you’re no longer running around with the warriors, and having babies instead…you have a pretty face…”

“But that’s exactly why I don’t want him to see me. I would like him to like me for me, and not for how I look!?!”

Aniki smiled. “You’re actually considering the possibility then?”

“Don’t be silly. I haven’t even met the guy yet…”

“He’s very handsome…”

Hinewai thought of the tall bearded older man and wondered why she couldn’t see what Aniki saw. He was attractive, pleasant to look at, but she would never have described him as very handsome. Perhaps it was because he was so much older than her. If she was Aniki’s age, maybe she’d think so too. She shrugged. “Please, just go and get some cloaks…” she flicked the lid of her clothing container up, spilling the basket of gowns that were on top of it onto her bed. “As you can see, I don’t have any, and I know you have several lovely ones…”

“Did you say please? That must be a ‘first’…”

Hinewai sighed. “Do I have to go and get them myself?”

“Alright, alright…” Aniki made for the door.

“I want to wear one too,” Tairi called after Aniki.

Looking back over her shoulder Aniki answered, “they’re all too large for you, Tairi...”

“Bring one for her too!” Hinewai demanded, “we can fold it in half and drape it over her somehow. And one for Tania, and one for Reina, and…”

Aniki nodded. “And one for me too, I’ve got it…you don’t want to be the only over dressed female at the banquet…”

Hinewai nodded. “You got it…”

After Aniki left, Hinewai sat on the edge of her bed. She felt drained. She found heated discussions were a lot more wearying than physical combat.

Tairi stood in front of her, with hands on hips. “You taught me that knowledge is power, and to never tell anyone anything that they can use against us!?!”

Hinewai sighed. “Don’t you start, I’m worn out from talking, that is one thing where you really do have to think so much, and quickly, before the component, and be alert to what they’re thinking, how they would respond to this or to that, and how to get your message across without causing arguments, and how to use words in such a way that they cannot respond and are caused to surrender without even realizing how close they came to confessing, or ‘losing face’, and knowing when to end the conversation with a joke and a laugh before we insult each other to the point of never being able to forgive…no wonder I prefer fighting, thinking and talking…hurts my head!?!”

But Tairi would not be silenced. “You told her too much. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk so much before. Now she knows we’re onto her and her wicked plans, and…”

Hinewai grabbed Tairi’s little hands in hers. “And now she knows we’re onto her, and hopefully she also knows not to underestimate me…sometimes a little knowledge must be shown. It’s been so peaceful since she’s been here, that she has no idea of what I’m capable of…my reputation is fading in town too now, as well as without…how did Tania describe it to me earlier? A fairy-tale, she’d said…within two short seasons of peace, the warrior princess has been reduced to a myth…”

“Good!?!”

“Good?!?”

“If people thought you and I are not all that important, we’ll be a lot safer…”

Hinewai blinked down at her little sister. “When did you get to be so smart?!?”

While awaiting the royal women and dinner to be served in the great hall, the invited nobles and guests were lounging around the edges of the room, talking in groups. It was a lovely warm evening, so the partitions between the totem carved wall studs were rolled up, letting in the gentle cool breeze. Most of the villagers were sitting outside around the large hall so that they could watch the proceedings, with picnics of their own. The food would be served from the main cooking area into the center of the main hall and later, entertainers would also perform there, and outside. Behind the royal area at the far end of the hall stood a large dark totem of the Manaian bird-God which was a Hawk’s head and wings on the body of a Tua representing Manaia wearing a ceremonial head-dress and loin-cloth Piu apron. Seated on raised beautifully carved and feather cushioned seats beneath the imposing war deity totem, Mitaroa was in deep discussion with Kahu about the young Prince’s land, culture, and traditions, but mainly about the money that seemed to be the latest trend among vendors, traders, and gamblers.

“You don’t seem very impressed with currency,” Kahu had never met anyone so opposed to the idea before.

“Some of my…” Mitaroa paused as he thought of the way his captain and daughter tricked the naïve out of their belongings, whether it be a horse or coins, “best warriors are gambling…”

“Yes,” Kahu also thought of the captain of Mitaroa’s army and the elusive fighting girl, “the misuse of money can cause greed, leading to crime…what a shame, my father thinks it’s such a good idea, easier to pay for workers rather than provide for them, allowing them to be more independent and look after themselves; easier to purchase goods than to trade, easier to save and carry than to horde and move possessions…”

“Your… father?!?”

“Yes, money’s been around awhile now up north, and my father and I learned about it,” he glanced at Arnie seated on his other side of him on the floor, “all about it from Arnie, who my father respects both as a teacher, advisor, and friend,” he turned back to Mitaroa, “and encourages the use of coins that the European Pakeha have bought with them – it’s new to us too, but many tribes in the north are using money nowadays – it has become popular, as if an innovative new thing – and whether a good thing or bad, probably both, it looks as if some of the other Pacific islands are already using it too - currency is the new way to deal – you’d better organize your currency too, Mitaroa…”

“Mine?”

“The prettiest land in Aotearoa? The place where everyone wants to live? The Manaian have always been innovative and creative. Look at the lengths your people are prepared to go to for your Half-God Kings, in helping them return to the triangle of the land water and sky that produced them in the first place, you cannot afford not to organize your own legal tender…”

“Legal tender?”

“It has to be controlled, Mitaroa…records have to be kept on the value of one’s earnings in return for certain labors, just as you’d have depreciation schedules regarding your existing treasury, cost budget indicators to ascertain worth, projections for planning, saving for the future and avoiding bankruptcy…”

Mitaroa shook his head. It seemed to him that if you could make money, surely bankruptcy would be the least of your problems. “I’m afraid I’m a fighter, not a records-keeper – Inia, my minister and father-in-law will probably understand what you’re talking about, he rules Rauru in my stead, and Manaia too, when I’m away, he’s at Rauru at present, but I’ll have to organize a meeting between the two of you…”

“In the meantime, hold out your hands…” Kahu produced a pouch from beneath his cape and spilled some of its contents into Mitaroa’s open palm, “take a closer look at what the gambling warriors you mentioned are so fascinated with…you have the future in your hands right now, Mitaroa…”

Mitaroa had seen money before, at the trading post when he bargained for Tania without paying because he had no money, but not so much all at once and he gasped at the sparkling mountain of electrum in his hands. “It’s just like…jewelry?!?”

“Exactly!?!”

Mitaroa placed them on his couch and picked one up to take a closer look. “But…that’s…”

“Yes, a face…the English King…”

“Amazing…”

“Yea…” Kahu shrugged, “they’re…” he glanced good-naturedly at Arnie again, “clever…”

“I’m not clever,” Arnie joined in the conversation, “you have a lot more money than I do, Kahu…”

The three of them laughed.

“It’s not officially legal tender here yet, but still used for trade,” Kahu continued, “but I believe our country will have our own money minted soon…”

“Then you might have your face on them…” Mitaroa started scooping the coins into his hands to return to Kahu, when Kahu shook his head. “Keep it, Mitaroa…”

“Keep it?”

“I’ve got plenty…”

“But…if this stuff is used for bartering, what do you expect in return?”

“I’m buying safe passage for me and my men through your land…”

Mitaroa was about to say he would have given that for free but looked at Arnie and said instead, “But…I have no idea how much that costs…”

And the three men laughed again.

That’s the scene the women saw when they finally arrived for the banquet. Sworn enemies, obviously enjoying each other’s company. They felt a little confused, and a little piqued, especially Hinewai…

Mitaroa blinked in surprise. He’d told his daughter to wear something; he should have known the sarcastic girl would make him wish he hadn’t said anything about covering up at all.

Kahu also, blinked in surprise – he knew the Manaian; especially the sea-people, had no sense of modesty, the hall was full of naked natives, and he had been hoping to meet the female fighter that was rumored to be Mitaroa’s daughter but now, he had no way of identifying that cute little half-dimpled smile he couldn’t erase from his mind. Then, he hoped he would know her by her fragrance, but alas; all the women were wearing the same scent, and his disappointment visibly showed.

On the other side of the young Prince, Arnie chuckled to himself. He promptly received a dark glare from Kahu, and his grin disappeared. Arnie felt pleased though, and the ever-polite older man rose from his position on the floor in respect for the arrival of the gentler gender of the species. All the other men in the great hall followed his example, but Hinewai presumed that it was the prince who was the first to acknowledge the female’s presence, and wished her heart raced for the tall, pale, bearded, untattooed courteous male, instead of the shorter, smooth-faced, warrior tattooed, curly brown-haired swarthy-eyed golden-brown younger man beside him.

Mitaroa cleared his throat. “May I introduce the ladies…” that’s when he realized he wasn’t sure who was who, under all the cosmetics and cloaks which they’d wrapped themselves in and had even pulled up over their heads. That’s when he turned on his wife, who he only recognized because no amount of material would hide her huge pregnancy. “What have you done? I told you to enhance her pretty face, not hide it…Hinewai Reina and Tania all look the same – how am I supposed to introduce them to our guests?!?”

“Oh, don’t be absurd. You’d know who your daughters are, no matter how much they wore. Besides, when you do realize who is who, note; they are all wearing different colored cloaks...”

It was true. Although Hinewai Reina and Tania were all about the same height, the petite and athletic Hinewai in brownie black toned feathers effortlessly and quietly glided as if she walked on air, and Reina’s creamy feathered clad womanly hips rolled smoothly and alluringly from side to side with every curvaceous movement. And if from a distance the yellowy cloaked, although paler skinned Tania could be mistaken for Hinewai by others, the girl’s clumsy gait always gave her away – their physicians could find no sign of any unhealed injury and their general prognosis was that the girl’s tragic ordeal had resulted in her believing she did not deserve to be alive when the rest of her family had perished so horrendously; so Tania could never hope to imitate Hinewai’s graceful agility, until she managed to overcome her misguided judgment of herself – Mitaroa tried whispering to Aniki but everyone in the room knew how unnerved he felt, and he didn’t realize how loud he sounded. “Yes Kiwi, I do know who my daughters are, but…how is the prince expected to fall in love with…a Moa bird?!?”

A light laughter went around the room.

Aniki whispered back as she seated herself on the floor on the other side of her husband, but after the drilling she’d just been through with Hinewai she was not as irked with this situation and managed to hiss the words for his ears only. “One thing I learned while getting ready this evening, is not to underestimate your daughter, Mitaroa…I’m sure she knows exactly what she’s doing!”

“I wondered what was keeping you all, are you girls finally getting on? Have you found you have something in common after all? Like cosmetics and clothing?”

“Actually, we argued about make-up and clothes…let’s just say we have a better understanding of each other now…”

Hinewai lowered herself beside her stepmother, so gracefully that it appeared as though she floated to the floor, nor did she flutter as would be expected when talking through feathers, but she quietly added, “something like that…” in such a soft, lyrical way that the couple almost thought they’d imagined it.

Kahu stirred. Did he just hear that haunting, lilting voice of the girl fighter? But except for the child, all the girls had glided into their seating positions together, and he had no idea which one of them had spoken.

“You must know who I am daddy,” Tairi giggled before him, “no matter how many feathers I’m wearing?!?”

The laughter went around the room again, a little louder this time.

Mitaroa softened as he always did when Tairi was around. His legitimate daughters both looked so much like Ingari, but it was Tairi’s mischievous nature that reminded him of their mother the most. He joined in with the laughter. “And such a beautiful array of feathers to be wrapped up in…” He opened his arms, and the little girl cuddled into them. Then he turned towards the prince to continue with the introductions, but Hinewai spoke before he had a chance to say anything. “We’ve kept everyone waiting father, we’re all hungry, why don’t we have the food served and we can continue with formal introductions later…”

Both Arnie and Kahu were momentarily startled – the rest of their men were right beside them, and they’d all donned their finery for the banquet, but the girl seemed to know which one of them was the prince. Or did she? She was looking at Arnie. But when she bent her head, the way a royal would indicate that she had finished speaking and expected to be obeyed, she noticed that the older man’s feet were behind the younger’s – a servant would never stand in front of royalty, and almost smiled as she lifted her eyes ever so slightly to the striking young man. “I hope you are finding our part of the country…entertaining?!?”

Kahu looked deeply into the eyes before him. He was trying to recognize the dark eyes he remembered through the soft green make-up that softened the eyes, that this girl was wearing. Was she mocking him, letting him know they’d met out in the countryside? “I have seen an entertaining sight in your territory, something I will never forget…!?!” He held his hand out so she could place hers in his, to help her rise again.

She was glad he did, for this close to his handsome face, she was afraid her knees would not support her, as she straightened. “How intriguing…?!?”

He held her hand to his heart. “Very…!?!”

Then Hinewai managed to regain control of her senses and stepping back, indicated to the waiters who had hesitated when she’d stood again, to bring the food in, and sat down again before her shaking knees gave way completely and she’d fall. The guests returned to their seating areas and by the time the food was being placed before them, she had regained her composure. Only her father noticed one dimple appear and kissed Tairi on her little nose to hide his happy grin – Hinewai liked the Prince…

For a while, everyone ate in silence, enjoying the variety of Hangi roasted or spit charcoaled birds wrapped in Rau Pana and Puha greens, smoked fish and platters of steamed shellfish and other traditional delicacies kept being bought into the room. Mitaroa had ordered a large, lavish banquet be prepared for his prisoner guests…

Sitting between them, Mitaroa could not help but notice the furtive yet flirtatious glances between his oldest daughter and the prince on either side of him, so it was a happy father when everyone started relaxing and talking among themselves again, who decided to formerly introduce his daughter to the prince. After having just eaten however, and still nibbling, neither the prince, nor Hinewai stood, as normal traditional formality required at the commencement of a meal, which was just what Hinewai was attempting to avoid. Kahu grinned at the girl, a dimple quivered around her mouth, when she finally, loosened the cloak and let it slide to her shoulders – the prince gasped – where he came from, apart from the traditional lip and chin tattoos, women didn’t highlight their eyes or cheeks with so much color, and although he knew that the girl he saw at the post was pretty, the added shades made her seem older than her years, as if she had been transformed into an alluring woman – she smiled at his mesmerized stare, tilted her head as if waiting for his response, but none came – he was speechless – so was her father, which was what she had hoped with her full cloak and cosmetics charade, and took charge of the situation…

“I am Huie Hinehoe, known as Hinewai,” she turned to the girls beside her and pointed to each one in turn, and as she did so, each let their cloak slip to their shoulders, as she had done, “this is my sister Areina called Reina, my friend Thusania, known as Tania, because Tairi couldn’t say her full name when Tania became a part of our household, and…” she looked at the little girl between her father and Aniki, “I believe you’ve already met Whero-Tairi, called Tairi?” And the little girl, noticing what the others had done, used both hands to dramatically throw her cloak back, and all the little girl’s lovely tousles spilled out all around her. This made everyone smile, some cheered, and with the formalities over, Mitaroa indicated the musicians and entertainers start their performances.

Aniki swallowed, the only sign she showed, at having been left out of the introductions.

Hinewai looked at the musicians as they started playing their instruments, to prevent blurting out that Aniki was not their mother, and she managed not to cause a scene in public.

Kahu hadn’t even noticed Mitaroa’s wife had not been introduced. “Good to meet you Hinewai, you remind me of someone I saw recently…”

“Really?” Hinewai hoped he wouldn’t mention the Kiwa trading post in front of her father, “I don’t venture too far from home…“

“Not even into the desert?”

“The desert?” Hinewai frowned, “that place attracts furtive vagabonds, who scurry away in the infinite wilderness to hide…isn’t that where our brave captain Hauku found you?!?”

Kahu grinned. If the proud princess was attempting to mock him, he would play along with her tantalizing game, especially when the more she said, the more he was convinced he had found his mysterious fighting girl. “Makes you wonder what the great captain of the mighty Makimoi army would be doing in a place like that, doesn’t it?!?”

“Finding covert royalty, apparently…”

“Enough Hinewai,” Mitaroa interrupted, it appeared to him that the two he wanted to get to know and like each other were arguing instead, “let’s all relax and enjoy the evening’s entertainment!?!”

Then Aniki, because she’d been overlooked, looking around her husband, smiled at the prince and introduced herself. “And I am Aniki, Mitaroa’s wife. Welcome to our humble home, Kahu…”

“Thank you, Aniki, you have a lovely home, thank you for making us feel welcome here…” after which, he introduced Arnie, as some sort of religious man, but at that time the Manaian had no way of knowing that there was a different belief to the Gods that they knew and accepted him as another Tohunga priest. As Kahu went on with the introductions of his other companions, Hinewai studied him. He reminded her of Hauku, not quite as tall, his hair was not quite as dark, and his skin color was darker, but there was a resemblance, none the less. Kahu was quicker to smile and laugh though, and a confident charmer, as everyone, including their royal family seated next to the sisters, the old Queen also on a raised seat, laughed along with the charming prince, and listened to every word he had to say. Even halfway down the hall and at the far end where the prominent families of Manaia sat, including the main warrior leaders of regiments and their kin, everyone listened intently to the captured prince from the other side of the great lake.

Hauku was not there. Neither was Nikau. Apart from snacks that the people had bought along themselves, Mitaroa had also ordered food in abundance to be available in the town square outside as well, so the whole township can celebrate hopefully, what might turn out to be an engagement party. Hinewai knew Hauku and Nikau both had feelings for her, so understood if they’d prefer not to be in the great hall, or even in the vicinity, this night. Knowing them, they’d probably volunteered to be the main security guards, knowing that most of the town would want to party with their families and friends. She had never promised either of them anything. Strange, how just this morning, she’d decided to make a serious commitment to Hauku, but never got the chance to tell him – somehow, she knew exactly what her weird dream meant now – her heart fluttered just at the sight of the handsome Te Arawa prince – if this was her destiny, she would willingly follow it…

Mitaroa noticed his daughter was deep in thought and with a finger, indicated his daughter lean closer to him, and as she did, he whispered, “Alright, you don’t have to like my idea, or Kahu, and you’re finding it difficult to be pleasant, but please try to at least be civil tonight? If our guest goes home without a royal bride, I want him to think that at least he enjoyed his time at Manaia.”

“Oh; he’s enjoying himself father, and guess what? So, am I…!?!”

Mitaroa was momentarily taken aback. “Really? You call insulting each other fun?”

“Is he happy?”

Mitaroa quickly glanced at Kahu who was happily laughing with his men, then turned back to his daughter. “Yes?!?”

“You’re the one who’s stressing right now, father…”

Mitaroa briefly remembered the times he and Ingari had taunted and teased each other. He remembered her unmistakable desire, when she was supposed to be killing him, and smiled at the memory. He remembered her uncontrollable lust, that had turned to passion, to dream, to hope, but then to hate, and finally to loving acceptance with the birth of Hinewai – if only Ingari could see her now – their quiet gentle clever child had become known as the warrior princess and now very possibly, she could become the wealthiest Queen in the South Seas. When his oldest daughter turned away to check the fruits that were now being served, he had an idea. “Wait…you take my seat next to Kahu, I will sit in your place…!?!”

Hinewai promptly forgot about the desert. “What?!?”

But Mitaroa was already on his way to her place on the floor. And as if in afterthought he whispered, “when I suggested you cover yourself, I didn’t mean…”

Hinewai blinked her long eyelashes, emphasized by the green sparkling lids and the pinky smudges on her cheeks. “I thought I looked…nice!?!”

Mitaroa had to admit, she did. He smiled. “Actually, you do…” strangely, he thought to himself, she looks more alluring when covered, than when nude. “Just try to behave. Let’s all have a pleasant evening tonight…?!?”

“You’re the only one who’s on edge, father…!?!”

As Hinewai moved to her father’s chair, she noticed the money where Kahu and Mitaroa had left it, between them. She looked at the prince.

“I think you’d be familiar with coins,” Kahu grinned at her, “something gamblers like to fight for…?!?”

“I know what they are, but…I don’t keep any personally, for myself…”

“No, a Princess like you wouldn’t have to, but…those who work or fight for a living, like warriors for example, might be tempted to earn a little more than just…board and food?”

“I’m not really a Princess, my mother was, but my father…” she patted Mitaroa’s raised seat that she sat on, “but our leader, is not, so I’m not…still, why would those who have to work or fight for a living want these instead?” She carefully arranged herself on the seat without spilling any, “one cannot eat them, or shelter beneath them…”

He grinned at the way she managed to drape herself onto the couch without touching the money, as if it was contaminated. “But a princess can buy lots of lovely things, with money, cloaks, gowns, jewelry…”

“As I said, I’m not a Princess! And…we make our gowns, jewelry, mats, rugs, curtains, everything…I’ve never needed to purchase anything in my life before, why should I start now?!?”

“Spoken like a true…” he was about to say, ‘princess’ but decided having to be reminded three times that she was not a real princess might make her angry so with a little ‘ahem’, he said instead, “daughter of a princess…”

“So…” she placed a wary hand on the pile, “do you pay for everything Kahu, including a…bride?”

“If I find the girl I’m looking for, I’ll do anything for her…!?!”

“Anything…?!?”

“Anything…!?!”

For a moment, they studied each other in silence. Kahu had let his cape slide off behind him, to reveal he was wearing a white top the likes of which she’d never seen before, and which she would find out later was a cotton shirt, over a long Pareu wrap, which the outfit somehow cleverly looked both casually comfortable, yet of the highest quality, at the same time. Still, there was nothing about his simple outfit that stated that he was royal. He was not as flamboyantly dressed as his men, who were all wearing feather bordered robes and bone jewelry, Arnie even wore a shiny long necklace with a cross hanging from it, yet Kahu’s lack of color and accessories somehow made him stand out even more. Hinewai liked his simple yet comfortable taste; so far, they both had that in common. And fighting. She remembered how he had wanted to accept the bully’s challenge at Kiwa.

He, on the other hand, did not like bright colors, like the green on her eyelids or red on her cheeks. He admitted to himself that it did enhance her own pretty face, but he preferred the fresh face of the fighter he had seen at the trading post. But if this was the fighting girl he could not stop thinking about, he would provide her with as many-colored cosmetics that she wanted – even buy her a mirror, if she wished, he’d already noticed that this place had none. He smiled to himself as he thought of the cosmetic-free clear face he remembered peering up at him from beneath the bar at Kiwa. But he would even employ her own beautician, if she desired it. He did like the way she teased however, and her voice sounded so quiet and delicate, yet it had a hauntingly wafting resonance quality, as though she hardly whispered the words into the air, but they were carried away none-the-less and drifted throughout the atmosphere as if by a gentle breeze. The way she moved too, was similar – so effortlessly and, as if gliding on air - but best of all, he relished the way she looked at him, as if she was trying to decide whether they were friends or foe – understandably he supposed, for their tribes had been enemies forever – for so long, he doubted the original reason was known – there was a story about a woman being prevented from sacrificing herself to an erupting volcano to save her people by a man because he loved her and Manaia blamed the carnage of the volcano on the man who had saved her – apparently this happened on the old lands, some thought Rapanui, others Hawaiki, and because of that discrepancy alone, the story had now joined other ancient tales of myths and legends. Kahu was used to women swooning and giggling over him, and although it was obvious she was enjoying his company just as much as he was enjoying hers, she remained nonchalant and he was not used to unruffled females – he had no way of knowing that composure was simply Hinewai’s nature, so he hoped she might relax during the evening and warm to him, when she got to know him a little better - he was never much of a one for ‘small talk’, he preferred philosophizing, deep meaningful discussions, but he would banter with this fascinating girl all night, if he could.

When Hinewai noticed Aniki pick up a slice of melon, she reached over and tapped her stepmother. When Aniki faced her, Hinewai pointed to her own face and asked, “how long does a Rauruan lady have to wear all this over her face? I’m sure I’ve eaten all that lip cover already…”

Tairi giggled, so did most of the hall. And Kahu grinned at her. It was obvious by what she’d just said that she wasn’t used to wearing cosmetics, and although he didn’t want her to be half-naked as the fighting girl was at Kiwa, he surprised himself by realizing how pleased he was that she didn’t normally cover her face. Hinewai though was glad she was wearing makeup, for she felt sure that right now she was blushing naturally a lot redder than the rouge she was wearing.

Aniki though, feeling a little left out and ignored, dramatically and slowly broke a small enough morsel to fit into her mouth, and expertly and daintily, popped it in without touching the lips at all. This bought on some ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ from the girls who all in turn, imitated Aniki. Including Hinewai. And Tairi, who of course, squealed in delight and caused more laughter and merriment to go around the room. Mitaroa smiled at Hinewai for making a woman he knew she disliked, also feel included in the fun-making.

Hinewai helped herself to the melon, and also mimicked Aniki. But she spilled some down her chin, and laughed at her own mess. Tairi giggled at the sight, and more laughter went around the hall.

Mitaroa grinned at the sight. Hinewai hardly laughed. His daughter was happy. He was happy. “Take your cloaks off now,” Mitaroa thought the girls might be uncomfortable in the warm evening, “relax…”

Hinewai looked at her father. “Really?”

Mitaroa gulped. He should have known not to say something like that, she’s probably naked underneath. But before he could say anything back, Aniki jokingly nudged him and laughed, “she’s teasing you, Mitaroa…first me, because of the face colors, now it’s your turn…”

Mitaroa sighed. “Because of the clothes…”

“Is it a good sign?” Aniki whispered to her husband, “her teasing us?”

Mitaroa glanced at Kahu to find the young man staring at Hinewai with a mixed expression of wonder and humor. “A very good sign, I think…” Mitaroa whispered back to his wife.

“The night air is cooling down,” Hinewai answered her father, “we’re not in the least bit uncomfortable…” she glanced across him to the over-cloaked girls, “Reina, Tania, Tairi and Aniki, “are we?”

They all nodded, but no-one ever contradicted Hinewai, and Hinewai smiled at the youngest girl. Tairi did look cute and comfortable as she enjoyed her food and licked her fingers, sitting between her father and Aniki, amidst layers of the oversized feathers around her face and shoulders.

“The youngest is managing quite well amongst all the feathers,” Hinewai winked at Tairi, “we might all look like oversized birds, but…” she looked at Kahu, “clothes are not as uncomfortable as I thought they would be…”

To which Tairi laughed, “Moa birds, we’re big Moa birds...” Hinewai turned back to her little sister and laughed with her, then Tairi stood, and gracefully crossed her feet and twirled, feathers flying around her playfully. She wouldn’t even remember her grandmother, Hinewai thought, yet she loves to twirl, just like Riri. Because of the twirl, the cloak was now askew, and ‘back to front’, and the child was unsuccessfully trying to turn the large cloak back in place. “Come little bird, you aren’t going to go far with your feathers like that,” Hinewai could feel Kahu’s eyes on her, but she kept looking at her little sister, pretending she did not know he was watching her. “You’ll trip over and fall…”

“Come here,” Aniki called to Tairi, “I’ll fix your cloak for you…”

But Tairi scooped her cloak up enough so she wouldn’t trip over it and fall, and ran to Hinewai. “I want Hinewai to fix it…”

Which bought a sneer directed at Hinewai from the older woman – for the child chose the sister who preferred to be nude to help her with her dress instead of her fashionable step-mother - so Hinewai was sitting between a cute grin from one side of her and a dark look from the other, but she wasn’t going to acknowledge either and she was glad she had Tairi to concentrate on. Hinewai pulled Tairi’s cloak around and in place, tied it in a knot across the child’s chest, and kissed her forehead.

“Now I look just right,” Tairi said sweetly, and pirouetted some more – then her grandmother Akura laughed and called the child over, where Tairi was pleased to spend most of the rest of the evening, and everyone returned to enjoying the food and music.

Hinewai did not eat much that night, and she was glad of the cloak, it hid her hands rubbing her stomach because of an unfamiliar churning feeling at the closeness of the charming Te Arawa prince. He kept glancing at her, and when she thought he was busy eating or talking with Arnie, she stole glances at him. Her heart fluttered too, at the thought that the Prince turned out to be the one she had wished was the Prince, and not the older, paler, hairy priest – she’d even considered not turning up at the banquet at all, when she believed Arnie to be the prince – she may be spoiled, and known for hitting or throwing things in fits of anger, but she was usually obedient, and would do as she was expected when her tantrums waned and tonight, she was so glad she did attend the feast put on for the visitors…

“I believe I owe you a drink,” Kahu interrupted her thoughts, as he signaled for a waiter to re-fill her empty drinking cup.

At first, Hinewai thought this was his way of getting her to relax, then she remembered that evening at Kiwa, and how she had asked him for a drink, as a form of distraction. But she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction that she remembered the occasion; so, a coy “thank-you,” was all she said, as a waiter replaced both her and his own cups with a popular Taranaki recipe, cane dusted and crushed nut Kawa filled coconut. Something Mitaroa had shared with him earlier, and when he'd expressed it was the best drink he’d ever had, Mitaroa had said that if his daughter accepted his proposal, that Kahu should ask for the beverage to be served to them both – Mitaroa grinned – the young man was so confident of the outcome, that he had already asked for the drink - she couldn’t help but smile between her feathers though, when she was so aware of how he was intently studying her reactions to everything he said.

Kahu took a sip from his own coconut, without taking his eyes from her. “Do you know anything about a small, young female fighter…?!?”

Tilting her head to a side, Hinewai pretended to consider the question. “No…I don’t believe I do!?!”

“I believe they call her the…Warrior Princess?!?”

“Oh, her?!?” Hinewai turned to Tania, “what was it you called her earlier on today?” But Hinewai continued before Tania had a chance to answer, “a fairy-tale, that was it…a fairy-tale…” she turned back to Kahu. “Don’t believe everything you hear, Kahu…”

Kahu wonders if Hinewai prefers the Warrior Princess be kept secret from her family, and leans over so she alone can hear him, “but I have seen her with my own eyes, Hinewai…in fact my men and I watched her fight, at Kiwa…!?!”

Hinewai takes a sip of her drink, then leans closer to him but does not whisper. It is important to her that Aniki realized that Hinewai was not in the army just because she was a silly girl who fantasized about fighting men’s war games. “Really; and is she as good as they say she is?”

Obviously, Kahu realizes, this is no secret at all. In fact, she acted as though there was someone in the room that she wanted to hear about her fighting expertise, so he raised his voice also. “She won a fight Hinewai, with a huge wrestler. The man must have been twice her size…!?!”

“That’s…quite unbelievable, Kahu…and…did the fighting girl get hurt at all?”

“No; she was such a swift, supple little thing, that the bulky giant couldn’t even get near her. He even begged her to stop…”

Without even having to turn from Kahu, with the sound of rustling feathers on the other side of her father, Hinewai knew Aniki was shifting uncomfortably. Hinewai smiled into her drink. “Sounds as if the girl used…magic!?!”

“She did!” Arnie, who had also been listening to their conversation looked around Kahu to Hinewai, “she and her well-rehearsed troupe had the poor guy striped of all his confidence before she even appeared in the fighting area…” Kahu kicked him, and Arnie finished with an “ouch!”

Kahu turned to Arnie. “You thought it was clever and entertaining then, what was it you said? ‘The audience were enjoying themselves so much, that they didn’t mind parting with their money, for it was probably the best show the poor souls would ever see…”

“That was then! If I’d known your attraction was such that you’d risk imprisonment to find the girl, I’d…” he stopped, as if suddenly remembering where they were, and shrugged. “It was a good show…” then he returned to his plate of assorted food.

“And we’d be huddled under the stars in the cold desert instead of enjoying the Manaian’s fine food and hospitality…”

Arnie wanted to say Kahu was making a mistake, but he’d already almost insulted the girl, he wasn’t going to offend his host Mitaroa as well. So he continued in English. “Then enjoy the kind hospitality, Kahu…there’s plenty of time to make such an important decision, like…when we’ve returned home and consulted with your father first!”

And Kahu surprised everyone by answering him in English. “Consult with my father? He’s the one who sent me on this journey, if he was that interested in which princess I should marry, he should have made this trip himself!”

Arnie couldn’t argue with that. As the King, Kahu’s father wanted his son to marry a Princess instead of a servant. As the father, Kahu’s father also wanted his son to see a bit of the world before settling down. “Your father sent me to guide and advise you…!”

“And you have done well, but…I am old enough to make my own decisions, Arnie…”

Kahu turned back to the girl. Arnie’s protests were just making him more determined to marry the beguiling warrior princess. She had been resisting his attempts at confessing she was the fighting girl all night. But he had another trump card to play, which was quite literally, up his sleeve. Unbuttoning the cuff, he pulled out the tiny container that had been concealed in the gathering of the cuff, leaned towards Hinewai again, and holding it before her, went back to speaking their Maori language. “I believe this belongs to you…!?!”

Smiling, Hinewai put her drink down and clasped the hand that held one of her tiny perfume containers and leaning towards him whispered, “you have found what you have been looking for, Kahu…”

“I already have your father’s consent,” Kahu pulled the hand that she held with her container in back towards himself, bringing her a little closer to him. “Hinewai, warrior princess of Manaia, will you marry me?”

“Yes, Kahu, Te Arawa prince, I will marry you…”

Kahu continued pulling her closer until she was close enough for him to place his nose on hers, in the Hongi act of a public embrace – her being dragged across the couch towards him caused most of the coins beside her to fall to the floor, but the tinkling sound did not bring the couple out of their reverie; in fact, Hinewai slightly moved her face so her forehead found his, changing it from an action of ‘like and respect’ to the more intimate action of ‘love and care’ – Tairi’s little clap and giggle of delight could be heard throughout the hall – and with a sigh of relief from Mitaroa (but was there also a groan from Arnie?) the hall was filled with laughter and merriment…

Mitaroa, amazed at how quickly the prince and his reluctant daughter had agreed to the engagement was also astonished at how his beguiling daughter had used a cloak, cosmetics and other females to present objections, and how the adept prince had used a little jar of her own perfume to ‘close the deal’. And the obvious reluctance of the prince’s chaperone only made the prince more determined not to return home bride-less, after-all. Mitaroa signaled for the band to ‘up-tempo’ the beat – to which they immediately commenced playing some of Mitaroa’s favorite drumming of his own home and within moments, several people were dancing – it did not matter if they hadn’t finished their meals, at Whakanui/Hangi banquets, food was expected to be nibbled at a leisurely pace for most of the night - outside, the people cheered and also joined in the dancing, and Hinewai, the girl who hardly laughed, giggled happily at the outcome, and festive atmosphere…

Nikau groaned out loud – for dancing music was the signal that the foreign prince had proposed and Hinewai had accepted – Mitaroa had the main town-crier warn his people that if there wasn’t a betrothal that night, that the evening would just have been dinner with a foreign guest, with soft background music, instead of the loud drumming, to celebrate – but Nikau’s groan went unnoticed by Hauku, both warriors had willingly offered to take charge of security outside that night instead of going to the banquet inside, or village square, so they were up in the highest watch tower, and to Nikau’s surprise, the older, daring captain who never showed emotion, was vomiting over the side of a parapet…

Mitaroa tapped a foot in time with the music until finally, he could not ignore the tempting tempo of the drum beats any longer and with hands outstretched, and while alternating sides, shimmied into the middle of the crowd on the dance floor.

Hinewai; happier than she’d been in her whole life and flushed with more alcohol than she was used to drinking, leaned back on her dad’s chair and laughed delightedly – she hadn’t seen her father dance for years; not since before the death of her mother, and it was good to see a glimpse of the fun-loving man again after all this time and alternatively, Mitaroa was happy to see the girl who barely even smiled, laugh gaily…

Tairi; who had been on her grandmother’s lap for most of the evening, wriggled down and ran onto the dance-floor also – the little girl twirled and twirled, until Mitaroa grabbed her hands and whirled her around him – Mitaroa had forgotten how much fun it was to party – he hadn’t felt this good for years – he glanced over at Akura, she and her sons were also laughing, and enjoying themselves – perhaps she had forgiven her son-in-law, perhaps not, perhaps enough to be content with her lot – for another leader could have exiled her and her sons – but not only were they allowed to stay, they were allowed to keep their royal titles, rooms and possessions – albeit under guard at first, until Mitaroa believed that they were resigned to their fate and not a threat - her sons had grown up since the death of their sister, and they loved their jobs, being in charge of security, yet being able to join their family at the banquet tonight though, since Hauku and Nikau both volunteered to fill in for them – they had married also, and their lovely wives were sitting beside them – he looked over at his own lovely wife, his ‘Kiwi’, who had conquered the conqueror – she was due to bear him a child at any time now – Mitaroa felt so happy, yet sad also – although he knew marrying a Te Arawa with a Manaian a very good idea, he already had a pain in his heart at the thought of losing Hinewai – just like the pain he felt when she joined the army and he had to admit, that deep down, he was not as hard as his mother, did not find these peaceful entwined with business marriage arrangements with other territories so easy to live with – wistfully, his gaze returned to his first-born child – Hinewai and Kahu were engrossed with each other again – whispering and giggling together - she had already committed herself to her new life – he swallowed, as he thought his mother was right after all, when she said Hinewai was like her – the girl had given up her beloved art and devoted herself to the army without complaint – she’d reached out to her new-born sister without looking back over her shoulder to the dead mother in Ingarit’s own blood-soaked bed – now she’d committed herself to a man she hardly knew, and a land she knew nothing about – she lived for the future, not for the past – ‘just as well’, Mitaroa sighed to himself, ‘just as well…’

At another sign from Mitaroa, with the sun setting into the sea, the entertainment now included the Rauruan acrobatics and fire-twirlers that had become the Manaian’s main floorshow since he’d presented them to Hemi about sixteen full seasons ago now – a natural entertainer himself, he asked for some small Poi balls and to the delight of Tairi, made them disappear and reappear – these were replaced by long pois and he called for Hinewai to join him – reluctantly, she let go Kahu’s hand that she was still holding and tying her cloak around her chest the way she had done with Tairi’s earlier, moved in time to the rhythm towards her father and deftly caught the pois he tossed her way and they juggled them between each other for a while as they deftly spun and danced between catching, twirling and throwing to the ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ of the audience, even those who had seen this show before – this was the lead up to the expert fire-twirling Rauruans out in the square and as everyone turned to watch the fiery highlight of the night, Mitaroa and Hinewai went back to their seats - Kahu and his men had never seen anything like it in their lives, and they watched as if spellbound – afterwards, the people continued to eat, talk and dance almost until dawn, almost everyone danced and laughed happily, for everyone seemed to be enjoying the party – except for Arnie, who had not moved far from his seat the whole evening – Mitaroa was pleased, for having forged a peace treaty through marriage between his daughter and the son of his fiercest foe and as luck would have it, by the way Hinewai and Kahu held each other close right now on the raised seats, the couple were obviously enamored of each other – Hinewai felt euphoric, having the responsibilities of being the protector of ‘the one’ and being the Warrior Princess, she had never even dared dream of falling in love – and Kahu was ecstatic to have found a royal bride, or at least half royal, and a ruler’s daughter, who fascinated him enough to marry – and to think he had been on his way home, the journey a deliberate fiasco on his part – he would not have believed that he really would have found the love of his life on this trip, after spending weeks being bored out of his brains with all the other eligible royal Princesses – such a successful trip after all, and such a successful party - even Aniki felt elated, for regardless of all the warnings earlier in the evening, she still could not help but hope that with Hinewai away, her own child may end up being ‘the one’…

There was one person present that was not happy though, Arnie rubbed his beard in deep thought…he could not imagine a young, clever, immodest, wild carnival poi twirling warrior girl among the modest gentle women of Te Arawa, and worried that if she could have so much influence over one man in only one evening, what power would she have over their tribe…visions of their quiet females wanting to follow Hinewai’s example went through his mind…independent, half naked, face painted, perfumed magical entertainers and fighters…he imagined the Te Arawa men would love the change…and if he himself was younger, he probably would too…but unfortunately, it was his job to turn the natural natives, into clothed, pious Christians…

Soon after everyone had finally retired for the night and crawled off to bed, Hinewai and Tania roamed the secret spy panels again, passing one room with Kahu’s men, until they came to the concealed peeping place of the main guest room to observe Kahu and Arnie as they prepared to sleep. They both gasped in unison. Kahu had removed his shirt and although the girls were used to nakedness, there was something uniquely beautiful about the princes’ dark, good looks. He was perfectly proportioned, with well-developed muscles, without being overly pumped, of one who trained enough, without being fanatical about it, but – Hinewai gasped, for he wore only his Pareu skirt loin cloth tied around his hips and he was not as dark beneath his shirt as the rest of him, he couldn’t be described as pale, but he obviously liked wearing shirts in the sun. He had also let his long hair down and it fell in dark twisting coils to his waist – a sweat broke out on her forehead, a tingling sensation went through her stomach, and she felt weak at the knees – she sighed, and whispered, “I am in love with the enemy…”

Kahu stretched out on his bed-mat, his muscles rippling as he did so.

Arnie sat cross-legged on his, still cloaked, hair still fastened up out of the way, Maori warrior style. He wanted to talk, but was having trouble finding the right words. “Kahu…” he started cautiously, “Kahu!”

“Hmmm,” was the only reply from the prince, who was already half asleep.

“Kahu?” Arnie persisted.

Kahu opened an eye. “What?!?”

Arnie was still struggling for the right words. He knew he had been annoying Kahu all night.

Kahu opened both eyes. “I thought you were tired, Arnie…you were the one who wanted to retire, not me…!?!”

“I know, you were obviously enjoying yourself, but…we have to talk, Kahu…!?!”

“So, talk…!?!”

“You can’t have her, Kahu…you know that…don’t you!?!”

“Huh? I know no such thing!” Kahu rolled over onto his furthest side from Arnie, so he did not have to face his mentor, indicating he wanted to sleep. “Now go to sleep, Arnie…and…kill the lights!?!”

Arnie got up, went over to Kahu and squatted, grabbed the prince by his shoulder and rolled him back over to face him. “I mean it, Kahu…as the older and wiser, I cannot let you marry this girl…!?!”

At the sight of Arnie’s stern face, Kahu gave up trying to sleep, and raised himself up on his elbows. “Arnie, my friend…as you know, I have always taken your advice. But I’m growing up, and you must accept that…!?!”

Arnie shook his head.

Kahu sighed. “This marriage could be good. It would end a feud that’s been going on for so long now, that no-one even remembers exactly who started it, or why?!? A story of their ancestor Maui, fighting with Manaia over a woman crossed his mind. He almost laughed out loud at the irony. “Don’t you want a more peaceful, stronger alliance with the people of Taranaki? Everything grows here, the climate is perfect…everyone wants it, now it can be ours, too…”

“Of course, I do, but…somehow, I’ve a feeling this marriage is going to cause…a disturbance within our…traditional society!?!”

“Oh, I get it?!? You think our women might want to change, be more like her!?!”

“She makes deplorable things like fighting, gambling and drinking, seem…glamorous, and even…fun!?!”

“Yet here, in her own community, she is believed to be just a rumor…the other females at the party weren’t trying to be like her, in fact; most appear to fear Hinewai. Her own mother seems to be afraid of her, and the only other fighting female here is her sister, who, I believe, has no actual fighting experience, yet. Hinewai’s one of a kind, Arnie…you’re worrying over nothing…!?!”

“Her mother’s not her real mother, Kahu…Mitaroa’s first wife is dead. Aniki is Hinewai’s and Tairi’s stepmother…and Reina is their half-sister,” Arnie couldn’t hide his disgust, “the product of…a concubine!”

Kahu blinked. “You’ve been talking to the servants again?!?”

Arnie shook his head. “No. I actually didn’t go out of my way to speak to anyone. Some of the Manaian’s more influential citizens, politely came to speak with me and your men…since you were smooching with the fighting girl among cushions for most of the evening, that in itself a stupid risk, and in front of her father too…you two aren’t married yet…!?!”

“We weren’t ‘smooching’, I was embracing my fiancé.” Kahu rolled over again. “Get some sleep, Arnie…it’s nearly morning…”

“I can’t sleep Kahu, unless you can convince me I’m worrying needlessly…!?!”

“You always worry needlessly…”

“This is serious, Kahu…a bad decision now, will affect the rest of your life…!?!”

No answer.

“A girl like Hinewai would probably get bored, being a Te Arawa wife…?!?”

“Not if I can help it…I’m the richest Maori man in Aotearoa, Arnie…I’ll give her anything she wants. Anything!?!”

“New Zealand…” Arnie snapped, “This land is called New Zealand, now!”

“Don’t be silly Arnie,” Kahu knew he was about to hurt the Pakeha man beside him, “this is our land, and it’s always been Aotearoa…how long do you think a foreigner’s name will last?!?”

As long as we foreigners stay, and build theatres in cities, Arnie thought to himself…

“He’s gorgeous, Hinewai…” Tania whispered to her friend when they got back to Hinewai’s apartment. Tania did not want to wake others, and she always waited to be dismissed, or for Hinewai to sleep, whichever came first, before retiring to her own room.

Hinewai made for her balcony. She preferred to sleep in her flax entwined hammock when the weather was warm. “But…he’s different, Tania…he knows so much about money…”

“Obviously, Arnie would be teaching him, Hinewai…”

“And Arnie is opposed to our marriage; in fact, I get the distinct impression that he doesn’t like me…”

“It can take awhile for people to get used to differences…do you like him?”

“How can I like someone who doesn’t like me?”

“Because he’s trying to change Kahu, which will make it all the more difficult if Kahu had a natural native wife…and you don’t like him, because of it…”

“And, all the hair on his face…his cloak parted slightly while relaxing, and I noticed he had hair on his chest too…”

Tania tried to stop her giggle and slipped on the step down to the balcony, then grabbed hold of the railing to steady herself. “Men on this side of the world are so smooth-skinned, with all their hair only on top of their heads…”

“Should it be anywhere else?”

“Tania held a hand over her mouth but could not prevent the determined giggle. “Where I come from, men have hair on their face, arms, chests, legs…”

“Really?”

The hand still didn’t prevent Tania from giggling. “Some women do too…”

“You don’t…”

Tania’s eyes rested on some golden fuzz on her forearms but because it was not much, and the same color as her skin, it was barely noticeable.

Hinewai’s dimple appeared, “well, not much…”

They laughed.

Tania attempted to get serious again. “The Pakeha have been in the northeast for awhile now,” continued Tania, “perhaps even inter-breeding with the Maori which means, a new mixed race might result in hairy half-caste Maori people, or smoother skinned English men…”

“They’ve been there that long already? Long enough to mix marry and have children?”

Tania shrugged, thought at least a few generations, if not more, then nodded. “Yes, that long…the main Pakeha settlement, Auckland, where the ship that I was on landed, is the largest town I’ve ever seen, and I heard that they’re building others, they’ve started building one south of here…”

“South of here? Apart from Rauru, and an even smaller sub tribe…there aren’t many Maori settlements south…we…we think it’s too cold,” Hinewai gulped as realization hit her – Kahu had been caught taking a short cut through Taranaki, they knew of a sub-tribe of his own people were settling in Wairarapa, but Kahu could have avoided enemy territory by keeping close to the eastern sea-side when returning home – if there was a new Pakeha settlement being built in the south that they knew nothing of, was there a new Maori tribe as well? “We’ve been here for what seems like forever, and apart from you and now Arnie, I’ve never even seen any Pakeha. But they’re already building south of here? Without us even knowing about it?”

“Being the enemy, on the other side of the great lake and desert, you westerners are quite isolated…Kahu has money, and his father made a Pakeha his son’s guide…it’s obvious some northeasterners are living at each other’s settlements already, so…”

“So…a man is still a man…someone may have found a white lady desirable…” Hinewai teased, as she knew that quite a few had found Tania so.

“Or…”

“Or what?”

“Maybe a white lady seduced a Maori man?”

They laughed, then were silent for a moment.

“They…” Hinewai started, “Kahu and Arnie spoke a different language for awhile this evening. Did you understand it?”

Tania nodded. “English…”

Hinewai almost smiled. “Then you can teach me…”

Tania nodded. “Maybe, I don’t know if I remember much…”

“Is it so very different?”

Tania nodded again. “You Maori have an unhurried dramatic way of explaining, you use your whole body…” Tania waved her arms around, “to communicate, and use sounds to imply actions, like clearing your throat to let everyone know that you’d like to say something…whereas English gets straight to the point…fast…”

“Difficult?”

Tania nodded. “When you rely on just your mouth to communicate, without any actions, yes, it would have to be more difficult to learn…”

“You’d better start giving me lessons…”

“I’d love to…then we can have secret discussions that no-one else will understand…”

“Like Kahu and Arnie…”

“Yes, like Kahu and Arnie…”

Hinewai loosened her cloak, and let it fall to the floor. Then she sat on her hammock, letting her legs swing over the side. “Where do you come from? You never talk about it…”

Tania sighed. “Well, it’s…” memories of travelling for what seemed like ages across land and even longer across the sea crossed her mind. But she had been asked about the land, and not where it is. “It’s a lot colder than here…”

“It gets cold here…”

“With snow…”

“We get snow here too…”

“Just a little bit, compared to where I come from…and mostly on the mountain tops…”

“Then that’s probably why the people are…hairier…”

“To protect them from the cooler climate…?!?”

“Probably…”

“And they’re fairer because the sun is cooler too…?!?”

“Very probably…”

They laughed again.

“Tania,” Hinewai grew serious, “do you miss it…?!?”

Tania stopped laughing. “I hardly remember it, now…”

“Sorry…” Hinewai tapped the hammock, gesturing for Tania to join her. “I shouldn’t have asked that…”

Tania sat beside her and for a moment, they both enjoyed the swaying of the bed. “I already think of you as a sister, Hinewai…”

Hinewai drew her close. “And I you…”

“So, when you two marry, the handsome Kahu will be my brother…” then she went serious again. “I do have a real brother, Hinewai…!?!”

“What?!?” Hinewai had been about to doze off, but she was suddenly wide awake again. “I thought your whole family had been killed…?!?”

“He…” Tania gulped. “He was struck, and I saw him fall…but he could have survived…”

“Oh, Tania…!?!”

“All I’m saying is, I have no doubt that my parents are dead, but…I can’t be that certain that my brother is…”

“Have you…” Hinewai had been about to say had Tania ever considered looking for her brother, for although Tania was a servant, tribal responsibilities were to help the tribe, from leaders, to varying experts and workers, people were always allowed to leave if unsatisfied, but most preferred the safety in numbers lifestyle. “When I’m the wealthiest Te Arawa Queen in our south sea world, I’ll fund your search for your lost brother, Tania…we’ll find out what happened to him!?!”

Tania shook her head. “I hate what happened to my family, but it did, and there’s nothing I could do about it but accept the fact…but I was spared, and if I’m to continue without my real family, I’m so glad destiny sent me to you, Hinewai…”

Hinewai smiled at her friend. “Me too, Tania…me too.”

“I’ll do anything for you, Hinewai…!?!”

“That’s the drink talking…?!?”

“I mean it, Hinewai…sometimes I wish I was you!?!”

Hinewai hesitated. “Really?!?”

Tania nodded. “You know it…!?!”

“But there is something you could do for me, Tania…you can be me, tonight…!?!”

Tania blinked with surprise. She thought they were just being emotional, as loved ones might be, on occasions like engagement parties. She didn’t think Hinewai would give her a task at this time of night. “What?!?”

“Get the black wig…”

Understanding dawned on the girl. “Oh, no…!?!”

“Your face is already made up like mine, all you need now is the dark hair…”

Tania gasped. “I can’t do that…”

“He’s probably hoping I’ll come to him…”

“He won’t be fooled…”

“Neither were the others who wanted me, and you went willingly anyway…men are used to ladies sending their servants to them. You never complained, it’s a way of fulfilling the natural needs of a young single girl until you find yourself a mate, or regular lover…”

“But…I can’t go to a Prince?!?”

“I know you want him, now’s your chance…!?!”

“He’s your betrothed, Hinewai…?!?”

Hinewai sighed. “He would understand if…I wasn’t ready to go ‘all the way’ yet. But if you prefer, just talk, find out everything you can about him. I’d like to know what I’m getting myself into. I want a full report in the morning…”

Tania got off the hammock and stood staring at her mistress in disbelief. She shivered as a cool breeze whipped around the balcony and wondered how her mistress managed to sleep naked in such conditions, and supposed it was due to her having spent so many nights camping out in the wilderness while with the army.

But Hinewai also saw the hope in the girl’s eyes as well. She smiled to herself as she pulled her legs into her hammock, “I wouldn’t expect you to do anything you don’t want to, Tania…but if you do decide to go, wear my cloak… she pointed to the discarded garment on the floor, then turned to sleep. “Good-night, sweet dreams…!?!”

Tania grabbed the cloak, but passed the lights without extinguishing them. Hinewai uses aromatic Manuka flares, with added Ngairo insect repelling plants. “Goodnight, Hinewai…”

“Don’t trip in the dark…” Hinewai didn’t mean the small step between her balcony and room, both knew she meant the wall with the secret door panel of the guestroom...

Arnie snored in a deep sleep at last.

But as he had been interrupted by the persistent older man, Kahu now found himself unable to sleep as he twisted and turned, wide awake…he thought of the fighting girl he had found, and couldn’t believe his luck…she excited him, as no woman had ever done before…he hadn’t truly considered marriage yet, with anyone…he knew that as the King’s son he would be expected to, at some stage…obviously, his father deemed that that stage had come…Kahu had previously been in love once before, but the girl had been promptly married to another, a long established betrothal, apparently…but deep down, Kahu suspected his father had something to do with the girl’s hasty marriage, that he hadn’t thought she was good enough for his son at the time, and Kahu was then too young and naive to object…so he had found comfort in the arms of some-one else, lovely Hana…who until now, had been his female companion…she had borne him two sons, during their life together…but he had never felt the kind of ardent, passionate desire for Hana the way he had felt for his first love, nor the overwhelming excitement and stimulation Hinewai made him feel already, in their short acquaintance…but he had liked being with the soft quiet Hana, their relationship felt comfortable and until now, he had felt as if she was, and would have been, his female partner in this life…

Kahu had not wanted to take this trip, and only agreed to it if his father consented that if he returned home without having found a bride, he could make Hana his wife…and Amuri, Kahu’s father and the Te Arawa King, readily agreed, believing for certain that his handsome, wealthy son would have their neighboring Kings literally throwing their daughters at him and imagined several ambitious females flirting with the hope that they would be chosen…and the Chiefs did present their sullen, dull daughters, who bored him to tears, almost…and the more ambitious women did flirt, but their shameless behavior only made him grateful he had a nice girl waiting for him back home…and he was in such a hurry to return to her, that he had fatefully decided to take a short-cut through Taranaki, the only neighboring country his father betrayed him to venture into – not only because they were enemies, it was also believed that Manaia had no real current royalty, but although Mitaroa was a seafaring mercenary, Hinewai’s mother had been a real Princess, and that was royal enough, for Kahu…

Kahu had even foolishly discussed this trip with Hana, he had been so sure he would not find any-one, or he was more likely determined not to find a Princess, that he’d foolishly reassured her that he’ll come back without a bride, and even confessed to her about the ‘bargain’ he’d made with his father, that if he did return empty-handed, she would be allowed to become his wife…

And the trip had gone to plan, until he was missing Hana so much, that from the far reaches of their allied lands, Kahu decided to risk taking a short-cut home through enemy territory…so ironically, his impatience to be with his woman again, and with only a day or so away from her on his return trip, he found the warrior princess that no-one believed existed, and he knew, that they were destined to be together…

Arnie was opposed to the match, and Kahu had to admit that they would not be a normal Te Arawa couple, but it was her unusualness that he was so attracted to…knowing she was a trained and experienced fighter and also a magical entertainer intrigued him…the way she silently and swiftly moved…the way her soft lilting voice suffused vast distances without effort or strain…the way her hair floated around her as if it was not affected by gravity…the way her innocent little face blinked up at him through thick lashes, especially that first time from under the bar at Kiwa…he liked the way she teased him, and wouldn’t admit to being the warrior princess until he had used all his options…but most of all, he loved the cute little dimples that flickered in her cheeks when she was amused and, he loved the way she smelled…like a mixture of wildflowers and honey…like the fragrance that suddenly filled the room…he must be dreaming…he raised himself on his elbows, and sniffed…it wasn’t his imagination…then he thought he saw a shadow move, and heard a rustle of soft feathers…it must be the trees outside, swaying in the cool night breeze and playing with his imagination…then suddenly, she was beside him…even in the dark he recognized the beautiful cloak…”Hinewai…?!?”

“Shhh…” was the girl’s whispered reply, a much-practiced imitation of Hinewai’s voice, “don’t talk…!?!”

“But…where did you come from?” The door was near his bed. “I didn’t hear, or see you enter…?!?”

She placed a finger over his mouth and started kissing him. His forehead, his cheeks…if Hinewai didn’t care enough about him to expect commitment, why should she? Like her mistress said, now’s her chance…talk?!? If Hinewai wanted to know what she was getting into, she should have come to find out herself…

Kahu grabbed the hand that covered his mouth and kissed the fingers. Then he abruptly stopped and shoved the girl from him. “You’re not Hinewai!?!”

Tania was startled. This had never happened to her before. By the time the previous men realized Hinewai had sent her servant in her stead, they were far too aroused to stop and the intriguing Hinewai had excited them so much that they would have enjoyed anyone; also, they felt obliged to accept the girl she had sent to them, lest they insult her generosity. Tania, albeit a little fairer, still looked like her, acted like her, smelled like her, and sounded like her. “How…” she floundered, “how did you know?!?”

“Your fingers!” Kahu did not know whether he was angry, or pitied the girl. “Hinewai’s fingernails are long and sharpened,” a picture of the fighting girl leaving reddened welts on the street fighter at Kiwa as she deftly avoided his strikes, crossed his mind, “she…uses them in close combat. Yours are…” he hoped his aversion to her stunted hands did not show in the dark, he did not want to offend the maid of his fiancé, “how does one get such short nails…almost non-existent? I thought you were a lady’s companion, not a…cleaner, or farmer?!?”

“I am,” Tania felt humiliated. She knew she should not have come to such a fastidious Prince. She was not going to admit that somewhere along her frightful journey to her new privileged life in this land she had started a bad habit of chewing her nails to ease anxiety. “But she spends so much time training, that I…help the other servants to keep occupied until she needs me. Forgive me, my Lord…” she tried to pull herself from his grasp, “I should not have come…”

But Kahu did not release her. “Did…she; send you?!?”

A sarcastic laugh came from Arnie’s bed, on the other side of the room. Although hushed, he’d been awakened by the whispered yet highly distressed voices.

“Yes…” she sighed, “no, not really…I’m sorry, please let me go…!?!”

He thought the girl was trying to protect her mistress. “Do you do this often…for her?!?”

“She doesn’t force me! Pretending to be the girl I’d rather be seemed like a game, at first…which suited us both. She finds meetings boring; I find them interesting. And a few hopeful suitors, if a little upset at her rejecting them, at least they felt as though they’d enjoyed the next best thing. Until you, I don’t think that Hinewai had any intention of marrying anyone…and until; or if ever someone proposes to me, in the meantime, this little charade keeps me from getting too…sexually frustrated.” She stopped. She was supposed to be finding out as much as she could about him, but she was saying too much about her and her mistress. “I love my life here, and I feel indebted to her father for finding me…” she sniffed defiantly, “now let me go!”

The first signs of dawn started to spread across the sky, and she did not realize that he could see her quite plainly now. Tears were streaming down her face. Perplexed, he let her hands go. “You say you like your life here, but you’d rather be…Hinewai?”

“Who wouldn’t? She has a lovely home, a doting father…she doesn’t know what it’s like to go without a meal, or work hard to survive when the land has frosted over…”

“Killing for her people can’t be that…enviable an occupation?!?”

Tania hesitated. In her short time here, she’d only known peaceful conditions. “I…sound a little resentful, don’t I?”

“Are you…?!?”

“I really do love her, actually…”

“So do I…”

“But you’ve only just met…how could you possibly…?!?”

“I would have thought so too, a couple of nights ago…but somehow I just know that we are meant for each other…!?!”

“It certainly seems that way, destiny bought you here…if you’d taken the longer route, avoided Taranaki, and Kiwa…?!?”

“Oh, yes, the not so secret trading post in Aotuhia’s shifting sands,” he sighed. They could see each other a little more clearly now, and Kahu laughed out loud at the sight of her green and red make-up now a mess amid her teary streaked face.

She was not used to wearing cosmetics, had forgotten she was and thought Kahu found her company ludicrous. She blinked uncertainly, then turned to run; but his reactions were swifter, and he grabbed her.

“Forgive me,” he apologized, but her smudged face blinking at him in confusion made him laugh some more. “You’re not used to wearing colors on your face, are you?”

“Oh…!?!” But she smiled now, “I’ll never be graceful and elegant like her…will I?”

Kahu shook his head. “No, but be happy to be yourself, Tania…” he tried wiping her face with his own hands, “you’re lovely in your own way…”

“Thank you, Kahu…” how she wished he was in love with her instead, “I’m glad she has found a nice man like you, probably because of her occupation, she’s much too serious…she needs a good man to make her happy…I’ve never seen her laugh so much as she did last night, with you…”

“Really? I’ll do my best to make her happy, Tania…and I’m sure you’ll find someone too, one day…”

But she had a foreboding feeling that she will never love anyone, the way she was falling for this charming Te Arawa Prince. The saying, ‘Love at first sight’, really does happen, she thought to herself. She sighed wretchedly, as the sun started glinting through the windows. “I…I’d better go…”

Kahu just nodded.

“Goodnight, fair Prince…”

Kahu laughed. “But the sun’s rising, we should be saying ‘good morning’…”

His flashy strong white toothed grin and muscular bare chest dazzled her. If she wasn’t feeling so emotional, she would have laughed with him. But she turned on her heels and seemingly melted into the wall before she could not resist throwing herself at him again.

Mystified, both Arnie and Kahu jumped out of their beds to inspect the wall.

“Light a torch,” demanded Kahu, “it’s still not light enough to see…” but by the time Arnie managed to, the girl had gone, a trace of her mistress’s scent the only evidence she had ever been there. They thoroughly examined the wall, both from inside their room and outside, but they could not discover its secret opening. It had been cleverly made, Kahu was interested in architecture and building, and the wall did not even seem wide enough for anyone to move about within any secret aperture.

“Another optical illusion,” Arnie shook his head in amazement, “these people are masters of magic…” he checked himself; he did not want to compliment the family that had mesmerized his Prince, “of secret corridors and masquerading women! You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, Kahu…!?!”

“Actually, I’ve never had so much fun in my entire life! If the last couple of days are anything to go by, I may never have to pay for entertainers ever again!” He did feel a little uneasy though, yet he had a feeling of eager anticipation as well. “I’m looking forward to our magical future together…”

“If it’s magic you want, you should run away with a circus. Life is not a carnival, Kahu…these people are tricksters, cunning and calculating conjurers…!?!”

Kahu remembered a time he’d seen Arnie himself amusing some children by making coins appear and disappear between his fingers. “You should know, Arnie…!?!”

Now that the sun was up, Kahu gave up on any hope for sleep and grabbing his shirt and Pareu, told Arnie he was going to relieve himself, but he was really in the mood for a brisk morning walk in the fresh air, alone, without his nagging advisor. He noticed earlier when he and Arnie were examining the wall the girl disappeared into that there were no longer any guards posted outside their rooms. Neither were there any to be seen when he walked out of the building. He smiled. Now that he and Hinewai were formally engaged, he and his men were no longer treated like prisoners of war. The air felt fresh, the sun felt warm, and Kahu fought the urge to whistle; as after last night’s late celebrations, the town was not yet stirring, its people still sleeping off too much food, drink and partying. Even the sentries at the lookouts were dozing; except one, and although that guard was standing in the shadows, Kahu knew the man was watching him intently. Kahu would have waved, but instinct told him that this person was not in the mood to be friendly. Perhaps he was angry for being rostered on duty when most of the people had been having fun. Something about the guard’s stance made him think of Hauku. Shielding his eyes from the sun’s glare, he peered up at him again, but the man had moved out of sight.

He wondered where Hinewai’s rooms would be. He thought her perfume might guide him, but he couldn’t detect it anywhere he walked. But he did detect the smell of food…someone was baking fresh Taro and the aroma was intoxicating…he moved through an archway into a large open kitchen area towards the tempting smell and stopped in surprise. “Aniki…?!?”

Aniki, face washed of the previous evening’s cosmetics, hair tied back, was taking a tray of Taro-rolls out of a large pit oven. A larger chimney oven and charcoal spit were still smoldering; it was obvious, most of last night’s banquet had been prepared here. “I…have a craving,” Aniki patted her stomach to blame it on her pregnancy, “and no-one will be up for a while yet…”

Kahu leaned against the wall for a moment to admire the picture in front of him. Mitaroa had good taste, he thought to himself, even huge with pregnancy and splattered with food, Aniki was exquisite. She could have been Mitaroa’s daughter’s real mother. The ruler’s first wife and concubine must have looked similar too, as Aniki could have been Hinewai’s, Reina’s and Tairi’s older sister.

He had slipped a shirt on, but not thinking he’d bump into anyone so early in the morning except a few guards, let alone the first lady, he hadn’t bothered tying his hair up in place. Now, under her scrutiny, he realized he’d left both his clasp and head band behind, so tucked it on either side, around his ears.

Aniki didn’t even avert her eyes. “You don’t have to be tidy around me. Especially so early in the morning…”

“I didn’t expect to see you…or anyone, this early?!?”

“Nor I you…now I suppose I have to share my breakfast?!?”

“It does smell good…?!?”

“Usually a man’s job, I know, but I enjoy cooking…”

Kahu examined an assortment of kitchen utensils, chose one, and deftly sliced one of the rolls in half. “Let me serve you…?!?”

Smiling, she wiped her hands on her Pareu skirt. “I’ve never been served by a Royal Prince, before…!?!”

He removed some of the inside of both halves and crumbled the soft centers into a bowl, diced some of last night’s left over Kereru and added that to it, mixed it, stuffed some of the mixture back into the bottom halves of the roll, crushed some of last night’s left over Kumera and spread it over the bottom half of the roll, pulled some Puha apart and added that as well, re-placed the top half, cut the filled roll into two, took one for himself, and indicated she eat the other.

She did, while ‘mmm-mmm-ing’ her obvious approval.

Kahu grinned at her child-like behavior, “I like to cook too…”

“You don’t look like a cook…”

“What do cooks look like?”

Aniki licked a finger, and pointed it at him. “Not…like you.”

“What do I look like?”

Even his plain shirt and Pareu appeared to be made from the softest, best quality fabrics. “You look like a man who prefers the finer things in life. You look like a Prince who obeys his father and will do his duty for his people. You look like a fit man who has spent many years combat training to protect them. But you’re also a boy still Kahu, who is too easily captivated by the unusual…”

“Is that…bad?”

“No…I married a man who obeys his mother, does whatever he has to do for his people, and who is also attracted to unusual things…he collects the bizarre, like Hinewai’s pale maid Tania, and…” she pointed out the window to a white Hake Hawk in a cage, “Tairi’s pale bird, Atu…from a place called the Americas, apparently – he finds the oddest things – or given the oddest things, by vendors - whereas you, fair Prince, have promised to marry a rather odd girl…”

“You have doubts this marriage will work?”

“If you are patient and understanding with Hinewai, and are not too controlling, it might work…”

“So, what you’re saying is, she is not a typical Te Arawa woman, do not treat her like one…”

“Exactly…”

“Aniki, I fell in love with a girl who both intrigued and appalled me with the way she used calculated comedy and psyche to strip a huge guy of his confidence the other day in what was supposed to be a fair fight. She was an innocent looking little girl, he a typical large brute, but…I felt sorry for him. Yet, if she hadn’t operated in her devious way, she would definitely have lost.” He sighed. “I wouldn’t try changing the very thing that I am hopelessly attracted to…!?!”

“Yet in your own words, ‘appalled’ by, also…?!?”

“But that’s what love is, isn’t it? Love is all consuming. Regardless,” he shrugged, “in spite of, no matter what…!?!”

Aniki nodded as she thought of how she had fallen for the man who had attacked and conquered her people. “Yes…regardless, in spite of, no matter what…I just wanted to make sure you really do love her and are not just fascinated by her because she’s different and now, I believe you do. I’m sure your marriage will work Kahu, and I’m very glad for you both…”

“You’re a caring step-mother, Aniki…”

Aniki took another bite of her roll to avert her eyes from him. He would have no idea that she wanted to be rid of Hinewai. “I just want her to be happy, Kahu…”

“So…where do you come from, Aniki?”

“I’m…Rauruan.”

“Oh, that explains the…fancy but overly large cloaks, on a warm balmy night!?!”

“Actually, that was her idea, but yes, they’re mine…”

“Hinewai’s idea?!?”

“Mitaroa asked her to cover up, for you; for our…Te Arawa guests. So, typically, she did. She can be sarcastic, especially with her father. But she also didn’t want you to fall in love with a pretty face, she hoped you’d like her, the person, first…”

“But…that would mean that she hadn’t realized we had already…met!?!”

“Already met?!?”

“Sort of, briefly, at Kiwa…then that also means she didn’t leave her jar of perfume behind on purpose!?!”

“You’re not making any sense, Kahu…”

He thought of the girl fighter bluffing the fighter, and the audience. “I thought her little…ruse she used on me last night to determine who she really was, was planned…she’s so used to ‘performing’, that she was really only responding to everything I said…” Kahu grinned, “Hinewai had me convinced she was goading me into ‘finding the girl who had left her perfume behind’. In fact, I even believed she had left it at Kiwa, on purpose…obviously, she has so many containers, her mind doesn’t think of looking after one…”

“Mitaroa thought so too…when we retired to our room last night, he was so proud of the way she’d…!?!”

“Manipulated me into proposing so promptly…”

“Especially after acting as though she was abhorred by the idea of marrying a Te Arawa earlier in the evening…?!?” Aniki bit her lip. “You haven’t changed your mind now, have you…?!?”

“No, but between her wily ways and my advisor’s reluctance, I acted shamelessly impromptu…I really should have waited at least until after desert had been served, before proposing…”

They laughed.

“Would you still have proposed if she was not the fighting girl you thought she was?”

“No…I can’t stand the color green!”

They laughed again.

“That was my idea…”

“Just joking,” Kahu ran a hand through his hair, “I felt drawn to Mitaroa’s cloaked daughter, but that might be because she really was the fighting girl and somehow, I just knew it was her…”

Aniki pouted. “That green paint is my favorite…!?!”

More laughter.

“But you, Tania, Reina and Tairi all wore green and cloaks last night…?!?”

“She didn’t want to be the only one dressed like that…”

“I don’t think she wanted me to know which one was Mitaroa’s marriageable daughter, straight away…?!?”

“I hope you like unpredictable women, Kahu…?!?”

“Since meeting her, I have realized that I really do like…thinking females.”

“Are they really that boring where you come from?”

“It’s not their fault, since the coming of the Pakeha, they’re being taught to be subservient, modest…we try to keep our traditions, our own way of life, but things are changing, it was so slowly at first, that it wasn’t noticeable and when it was, it was largely accepted – but some, especially the men, are becoming discontent in a different way – also slowly but surely, they’re taking over some of our lands, have no respect for our sacred places, and…” Kahu sighed, “if this continues, unrest could turn into war…”

“We noticed that your advisor, is one of them…”

Kahu nodded. “Arnie, is trying to keep the peace – which my father liked, at first, but…he is not getting used to our ways, and I wonder about the future…will we get used to theirs?”

Aniki tried to sound positive. “There were differences between the Ruaruan and Manaian, but with my marriage to Mitaroa, we have learned to respect each other’s ways. Mitaroa is from Aitutaki, more commonly known as Raro these days, the ‘step-over’ island between the old land and this one. As you can imagine, there are now differences between his sea-people and the original settlers of this land who were also from the old lands, but have changed, over time. There have been wars also. So, the Pakeha are the latest newcomers – there might be compromises to be made,” she sighed, “and, there might be wars…that’s the way of people…isn’t it?”

Kahu blinked uncertainly. He could not imagine he and Arnie being on opposing sides.

Aniki continued. “That’s what I like about Mitaroa; probably because his own mother is a leader in her own right, he grew up not knowing any different…we’re respected as equal human beings here, and in Rauru also, since…he took over there as well…”

“He conquered Rauru as well as Manaia?”

Aniki nodded.

“Wow…it’s just as well we’re going to be related then, isn’t it?”

They laughed again.

Kahu ran a hand through his hair again. “I wonder if she’s awake yet?”

“Oh, they went out long before the birds started chirping…!?!”

“They?!?”

“Reina and Hinewai, and probably most of the army also…training, hunting, patrolling, whatever they do…Mitaroa sometimes goes too, and he did, this morning…”

Kahu looked disappointed.

“Don’t worry, we’re at peace at the moment, aren’t we, Kahu?”

Kahu nodded and ignored a vision of how his father might react. If it was the other way around, his father would still have guards watching over the enemy visitors. So he didn’t know how to react to Anika’s question.

She smiled at his unsure expression. “Don’t worry, she’ll be back before the hottest time of the afternoon, all sweaty and smelly…!?!”

Kahu crinkled his nose. “Sweaty and smelly?!?”

Aniki laughed at Kahu’s reaction. “Actually, she comes back looking as fresh as when she left…it’s as if dust and dirt can’t stick to her...but I think she carries her balms around with her, everywhere she goes...”

Kahu shook his head. “The daughter of a royal Princess, the grand-daughter of a Half-God King…out in the countryside, fighting and hunting…!?!”

“Sounds almost as unbelievable as a Royal Prince in a kitchen, whipping up culinary delights…?!?”

More laughter.

“After which she still soaks in a perfumed bath, anyway…” Aniki continued, “has a siesta in her hammock, then usually spends the rest of the evening at the temples…”

“She’s…religious?”

“Not particularly, neither is her father, but Mitaroa promised her mother that he’d build a temple in her memory, and restore the ancient beliefs…” she faltered, not knowing how much she should say, “he got rid of the modern male doctors who couldn’t save his first wife…”

“He…had them killed!?!”

“Oh, no! But those who refused to change their occupations were banished from the village, but they just lived on the seaside, and returned to it, so it wasn’t really an exile. He was angry at the time. We have lots of people who prefer to live outside the walls, but they’re bought into the village when being attacked during wartimes. While constructing Ingari’s temple as promised, Mitaroa discovered he loved building, and is in the process of erecting temples to several Gods; the sea-people’s main deities, our main Rauruan one, and a couple of the Manaian ones as well - I think he’s combining them in some kind of large complex to the Gods in an effort to prevent any further hatred and discrimination; and I believe Hinewai helps with the interior décor; she’s quite artistic, too. All his daughters are being taught healing, and the ways of the Tapu-Namu, in preparation for…” Aniki hesitated…

Kahu prompted, “For?!?”

“The Manaian believe their rulers can only be Kings if they are half-mortal, half-God…”

“Ahhh…that’s why Mitaroa has never been crowned…!?!”

“All the people of the Taranaki Mountain believe in this so much – that Mitaroa didn’t seem to mind, and the place he conquered still belongs to the Royal family. I think he feels guilty for making the Queen a widow…”

Kahu raised his eyebrows.

“Ooops, you wouldn’t know…” Aniki continued, “yes, apparently the King didn’t keep his promise that if he came back having conquered my…Rauru, he could marry his daughter…”

Kahu blinked.

“I think I’ve said too much…yes, he’s our leader, but he leads as if he is employed by the people to do so. The Manaian think that to be royal, one should be half-God - it seems strange to me…”

“Everything here gets stranger and stranger to me, yet…” another old story flashed through Kahu’s mind, of how one of his own ancestors was a Half-God, Maui…also believed to have been the person who originally found Aotearoa, and other islands in the great sea, whilst searching for his father who returned from whence he came, without taking his child with him…but that was because the child’s mother had hidden the babe from its father…but it was Maui’s fisherman friend Kupe who organized the first great Polynesian migration to Aotearoa. People of the affiliated Tane Atua tribes, means children of the Gods…not so strange to me, I suppose, he thought to himself, but asked out loud, “how is a half-immortal…created exactly?”

“A female of the earth and a Lord of the ‘underworld’, apparently…I’m not Manaian, I have no idea why, or how they do it. All I know is that they expect Tairi, to be the female of the earth…!?!”

If the usually observant Kahu hadn’t been so intently trying to understand the Manaian belief in half-God Kings, he may have noticed the resentment in her voice when she mentioned the name of her youngest stepdaughter.

To their surprise, they saw the little girl through the window. She had awakened, not dressed yet by a maid, and she was walking towards her unusual pet.

Kahu looked between the girl and Aniki. “Shouldn’t you…stop her? Hawks can be unpredictable…”

Aniki smiled. “She spends lots of time with that bird. Atu is her pet…!?!”

“Shouldn’t her times with her pet be supervised? Why aren’t her carers with her?!?”

“Atu’s very gentle with her, Kahu. They love each other…!?!”

“He may not be fully grown yet, but he’s still big and heavy compared to her, and could injure the little girl accidentally…!?!”

“Mitaroa got the thing for her, if he had any concerns…” she stopped as she noticed the stricken way that he was looking at her, and she realized how callous she sounded, so changing tactics, smiled. “Of course. We’ll both go shall we, although honestly, the first thing Tairi does every morning, is hug her beloved Atu…!?!”

By the time they’d reached the cage, Tairi was already patting and feeding the bird.

“Hello Tairi,” Kahu tried to keep the fear from his voice, “where are your carers?”

Tairi turned her face toward him and smiled. “Still sleeping…”

“It was a late night,” Aniki shrugged, “for all of us...”

“Are you hungry?” continued Kahu, “we’ve made some fresh rolls. Come and have breakfast with us…?!?”

Kahu wasn’t sure how the small child did not wince, as the bird jumped onto her little arm and used it as a perch. “I’m not hungry…!?!”

“What a clever girl you are Tairi, but are you allowed to visit Atu on your own?”

She shook her head.

Kahu did not miss Aniki swallow uncomfortably.

Aniki pretended she did not know he was looking at her suspiciously. “But I’m usually with you aren’t I Tairi?!?”

Tairi shook her head again.

“Yes, I am…” she pointed to the kitchen window, “I’m usually nearby, keeping watch…that’s why its pen is so close to the kitchen…”

Even with a palace full of servants, if Mitaroa disturbed her sleep when he went out early, Kahu could imagine a daughter of a Rauruan Politician may probably busy herself with domestic chores. He softened. “But the kitchen’s still too far away Aniki, if something…”

Aniki nodded. “You’re right. The girl handles him so well, and Atu has always been so gentle with her, that I guess I’ve become…”

Kahu put an arm around Aniki. “Of course. But Aniki, I wouldn’t even like the thought of you two alone with a wild bird. You’ll have to organize a couple of hawk experts to supervise these visits, in Mitaroa’s absence…!?!”

Aniki nodded with relief. “Come on, Tairi…let’s have some breakfast now…”

The girl hesitated.

“Let’s go Tairi,” coached Kahu, “while the food’s still warm…”

The girl turned to him and smiled. Then she expertly flicked her arm, whereby the bird returned to its perch, and she ran to him. Kahu picked her up and swirled her into his arms. But as they returned to the kitchen, Kahu told Tairi that she must never go anywhere near her pet without adult Supervision - and Aniki thought of the bird experts that she had drugged and were sleeping under some nearby bushes as if hung-over from last night’s festivities – they were so close that if they had snored, they would have been heard - she hadn’t thought her foreign guest would be out walking so early, but she did know Tairi would want to be with her beloved Atu first thing in the morning - and with Mitaroa and most of the army away, and the rest of the town’s people sleeping off last night’s celebrations, it was the perfect time for an accident to happen – but unfortunately, the missed opportunity was fated not to be – Aniki’s unborn baby kicked hard as if it also, was disappointed…

When Kahu returned to his room, he found Arnie prostrated in prayer, in the manner of the Christian priests. “Sorry Arnie, I didn’t mean to disturb your prayers…”

“I’ve finished anyway,” Arnie rose, “you’ve been awhile at ‘relieving yourself’, you just couldn’t wait could you?!?”

“What?!?”

“Soon after sunrise, you had to rush off to find her!”

“So what if I did?”

“Kahu, you must forget her! She’s the first to admit she’s not a real Princess, and you’ve witnessed for yourself how weird these women are, Mitaroa’s daughters would rather be fighters than basket-makers, and Hinewai has a maid who she gets to pretend to be her! Strange!?!”

Kahu sighed. “And lovely…!?!”

Arnie groaned.

“Anyway, I wasn’t with Hinewai,” continued Kahu, “I was having breakfast with her step-mother and little sister…I learned a lot from Aniki about Mitaroa, Manaia, Rauru and Hinewai, and I’m even more convinced now that our marriage will work!”

Arnie groaned some more.

Hinewai was the first to return to the barracks later that day. She usually preferred to water and brush down her own horse but today, she left the animal in the hands of a stable hand, as she was in a hurry. She did not even wait to help her fellow Aiotian troopers as per usual, and threw her weapons to a weapon’s bearer to tend to.

She even started undressing as she left the barracks. Not that she had much on, just a headband, a short skirt-type Pareu loin cloth, and a matching sleeveless jerkin - the headband was the first to go, and she shook her hair free – then she started to slip off her jerkin, exposing her small, firm breasts – the nipples instantly rounded and darkened, even though it was not cold – she was concentrating so much on slipping her arms from her bodice that she almost collided into Hauku, who had not accompanied the warriors today, he was still on guard duty when they had left at dawn and after spending the whole night on watch, he had retired to his room to rest, but did not get much sleep…

“Whoa!” Hauku caught hold of her, “what’s the hurry?”

“Oh, Hauku…I’m just looking forward to my bath…”

But he held her, barred her way. “Wait! I have some left-over Kawa in my room…I thought we’d…”

She pulled from him. “No! Not today…” she started to move around him, but he would not be put off.

He held her in a vice-like grip. “So, you’re impatient to see the Te Arawa prince?!?”

She struggled. “Let me go!”

He started pulling her towards his quarters.

“Stop it, Hauku!”

But he ignored her. She considered hitting out at him, but he’d just fight back – their relationship had never been tender, as her trainer, she’d insisted he treat her just like any other warrior, and in fact, he’d pushed her more than the others he had taught – and it was her that had walked into his room one day about a season or so ago now and straddled him, without foreplay – even as a juvenile she had drugged him while dancing with him, in an attempt to show him and her father that she was good enough to be chosen to continue fighting when Mitaroa wanted to return home to be with Ingari when Tairi was born – forged out of a military lifestyle, theirs had never been a romantic liaison – Hinewai needed a different tactic.

“Hauku, dear Hauku…” she said in a softer, more seductive tone.

Hauku eyed her suspiciously. “Dear?!?” But he’d slowed his pace, slackened his hold.

She smiled up at him sweetly, took his face between her hands and when her lips were almost at his, whispered, “my father’s right behind me…you’re a better fighter than I am, but I’m a better screamer…” he let her go, she ran – “Sorry babe,” she called back over her shoulder, “but I did say…not today!” And she was in such a hurry that she did not notice someone else in the shadows of the barracks, someone who had eagerly awaited her return, and who had witnessed the whole scene…

And true to Hinewai’s words, Mitaroa immediately rode in, dismounted, and threw some water over himself. Kahu decided to stay concealed in his hiding place a little longer. He couldn’t help but admire the older man. Mitaroa gleamed with sweat and looked every part the mighty ‘War-Lord’. His wide ‘burned patterned’ reed belt which covered his loincloth hang in brushed swinging tassels to his thighs, his tightly tied dark hair in a topknot on the top of his head, his choice of heavy Tai-Aha type weapons, his large warrior tattoo swirls on his muscular biceps and thighs – such a contrasting look to the softly robed entertainer with flowing hair banded at the nape of his neck, of last night. Although unroyal, he had the bearing of a King; he was fearful to behold and as Kahu watched, he knew he’d rather have Mitaroa on his side, he wouldn’t want to face him in battle.

He’d fought Hauku once before, well, almost, about five seasons ago at Whanganui…allied Tane-Atuan troops were helping some of the Awhia who spied for them back then…Hauku had all but annihilated them when Kahu’s Te Arawa reinforcements arrived just in time…some of the Awhian traitors managed to escape and Hauku with only about a quarter of the Manaian army was reluctant to take on the larger combined north-eastern fighters at the time, and retreated…obviously, Mitaroa was too heartbroken at the loss of his wife to be concerned about Hauku’s decision to retreat and treated Hauku like a hero…Mitaroa has even made Hauku captain of the Makimoi…but apparently, Hauku never forgot how he had been forced to flee at Whanganui and thought he’d have vengeance at last by capturing the Te Arawa Prince and his small band of travelers at Kiwa…how Hauku must really hate the Prince of Te Arawa, now that he’s engaged to his girl…

The first person Mitaroa saw was a hunched over Hauku. “Hauku, you look as though you’ve just lost a fight?!?”

“I have…!?!”

“Hinewai?”

Hauku straightened to face his boss. “I know I’m a good fighter…”

“The best…”

“But…she always outwits me, even without a fight…”

The father couldn’t help but laugh proudly.

“I should know by now,” Hauku swallowed, “never to let my guard down with her…!?!”

“That’s why women make such good warriors Hauku, they might have to learn to fight like a man, but they still think like women...”

“And scream like them…”

“I didn’t hear her scream…?”

But the rest of the army started arriving before Hauku could explain, along with their haulers and assortment of Kereru, Kaka and other birds to prepare for the evening’s meal, and the Kai Whare pantry, a raised store-house – Mitaroa and Hauku moved out of their way and inadvertently, closer to where Kahu was hidden so although they spoke more quietly, Kahu still overheard everything that was said between them.

Hauku cleared his throat. “I believe the Te Arawa prince is looking for…a bride?!?”

Mitaroa nodded. “That’s right!?!”

“I believe…” Hauku hesitated.

“What do you believe Hauku?”

“I believe you are considering…Hinewai…?!?”

“Wrong…!?!”

Hauku’s heart lifted, Kahu’s sank. Only a slight shift of Hauku’s eyes showed he’d overheard a sigh nearby in the shadows…

“I stopped considering within moments of meeting the nice young man. I decided their marriage would be advantageous to us all, before he’d even…” Mitaroa had been about to say, ‘met her’, but it was no longer any secret they’d seen each other at Kiwa, “I should be thanking you, or fate…”

“Advantageous?!?”

“The more friends and less enemies we have, the better…!?!”

“We could easily have conquered them!?!”

“At the price of unnecessary bloodshed?!?”

“That’s what we do!?!”

“No, it’s not, we defend ourselves, that’s all…in the end, it was a wedding that united the sea-people with the Manaian. It was a wedding that kept our peace with Rauru. It will be a wedding that will now unite Te Arawa with Manaia.”

“You conquered Rauru…!”

“I didn’t have any other choice at the time. I cannot be in both places at once; and it is my own current marriage that continues to bind Rauru and Manaia together.” Mitaroa softened. “I know you have feelings for her Hauku, but…she has royal blood!?!” He turned to go to his home.

“No!” Hauku could not help himself. “Even if I can’t have her because I’m a commoner, don’t make her do this…!?!”

Mitaroa turned back to face his miserable captain. “Hauku…”

But the young captain interrupted. “They’ve always despised us, and now, with the combined Manaian and Rauruan, people together, we can conquer them! In fact, we are so large now, that our sub-tribes of the west and south will join us too. It’s about time we south-westerners conquered the east-northerners, once and for all!”

“Our sub-tribes wouldn’t be enough. And the other main southern tribe of Wairarapa is a sub tribe of the Te Arawa people…Te Arawa might be Kahu’s home, and we knew that they were affiliated with the Tane Atua, the Waikato people as well, but his people have spread out, moved and made their own sub-tribe settlements, they now extend from Wairarapa, including Te Matau-a-Māui, and Te Waiariki, also known as Toi Te Huatahi, which of course, was where the Te Arawa first landed and settled in this new land, and then made their main home they call Te Arawa, inland from their coast…it is rumored, to make it more difficult to be found from any enemy, among all the steaming volcanic activity there…” Mitaroa put a hand on his captain’s shoulder and sighed. “Reina told me that just yesterday Hinewai had decided to marry you, Hauku…and I confess, I haven’t been that enthusiastic about your relationship with my daughter, but I would have approved…after all, I was a captain myself once, who married a Princess…but Hauku, things have changed, now…”

Hauku groaned. “Yesterday?!?”

“You bought Kahu here, Hauku…you! During the longest time that we’ve ever not been attacked…during peacetime…unofficial, but obvious, peacetime, you captured the wealthiest prince in the land and bought him here…what else was I supposed to do?” Mitaroa softened as his captain Hauku’s eyes filled with tears. He’d never known Hauku to cry, ever. “I’m so sorry Hauku, but…she wants this marriage too…”

Hauku gasped. “Hinewai wants to marry him, but…she hates the Te Arawa!?!”

“I admit she and I argued about it at first, and I did try to convince her…I didn’t know about her decision to marry you until later…but it was evident to all that Hinewai and Kahu were infatuated with each other last night…I would never have forced my daughter into a marriage she did not want herself, Hauku…never!?!” Then Mitaroa strode off towards his palace, leaving a defeated Hauku slumped against a barrack wall, and a mystified Kahu concealed in a barrack shadow.

Momentarily, Hauku leaned his head against the wall; then he turned towards the dark shadows and sighed. “Hey Prince, you can come out now, come out and face me!?!”

Kahu gulped; then stepped out of his hiding place in the shadows. “How long have you known I was here?”

“You betrayed yourself when Mitaroa remarked ‘wrong’ when I said I believe he was considering Hinewai to be your bride…”

“Yea…for a moment there I thought…”

Hauku nodded. “Yea…me too…”

For a moment, both men surveyed each other. Hauku was slightly taller and larger, but they were both strong looking, muscular men. Kahu had a soft sensuality, where Hauku was lusty…Kahu had an air of spontaneity and light-heartedness, Hauku was serious and sullen. Kahu had soft silky sun-gold flecked dark browny-black wavy hair that he often wore tied back in a tail at the nape of his neck, or up in a warrior’s top-knot, to keep out of the way. Hauku had long straight sleek jet black hair which he mostly let hang loosely, as it often fell out of any clasps because of its slippery sleekness…Kahu’s eyes were soft brown with hazel flecks of gold, Hauku’s were so dark that they almost looked black…and both, which surprised Hauku, were unadorned. Kahu was wearing a white loose puffy sleeved top he'd find out later was called a shirt, over a plain undyed long Pareu skirt, and Hauku was still in his piu apron over a Pareu loin-cloth and matching vest, but right now he was weaponless, they both were…Hauku had captured a Prince in a thick traveling cloak, but he had expected Kahu to be bejeweled and perfumed now that he was a palace guest…

For a few suspenseful moments they circled each other uncertainly the way fighters do, and others in the vicinity stopped what they were doing to watch the Tane-Atua Prince and their captain.

Kahu cleared his throat. “Why didn’t you…expose my presence to Mitaroa?”

“Why did you...hide?”

“I didn’t intentionally, I was waiting for Hinewai…” Kahu shrugged, “it was hot, so I decided to wait in the cool shade…but when she arrived, you got to her first…”

“So why didn’t you come to her rescue when I…when I tried dragging her off to my room?”

“I was about to; when it became quite apparent that…the Princess Warrior didn’t need my help…”

Hauku almost laughed. “One of the first things I ever taught her was how to use her brain first…”

Kahu almost laughed also. “But you obviously didn’t teach her to whisper ‘dear’ and look lovingly at the victim, first…”

“She’s something isn’t she?”

Kahu nodded. “She is…”

They stopped circling.

Hauku held his head high and looked down his nose at the slightly shorter man. “Well, why don’t you attack?!?”

“I didn’t come here to fight the Manaian…!?!”

“Oh, that’s right, you came here to marry one!?!”

“Actually, I was just…peacefully passing through this territory, on my way home…”

Silence again. Then they started circling each other anew, both ready to fight, both unsure if they should…Hauku hesitated because Kahu was Mitaroa’s guest, and a royal one, Kahu hesitated because he and his traveling escort were few and a fight between love rivals could re-start the warring history of the two great nations once again.

Kahu stopped circling and shrugged. “If you want to get rid of me Hauku, now’s your chance to…!?!”

Hauku stopped circling too and looked over at some nearby weapons as if considering it.

Kahu gulped. “Or…forever hold your peace,” he quickly added.

But Hauku looked at Kahu squarely, folded his arms across his chest and with feet firmly apart, stood his ground. “No! You get rid of me, or forever hold your peace!”

So Kahu moved over to, and took a closer look at the assortment of weapons and joked, “OK, how would you like to die?”

Hauku looked surprised but joined him, chose a small spear, and handed it to Kahu.

Kahu pretended to inspect it, then swiftly twirled, and speared the wall behind Hauku between his legs, just inches from his manhood. “Ooops, missed…” Kahu said sarcastically, “it must be your lucky day…”

Hauku smirked. “Clumsy. You want to try again?”

Kahu shook his head. “Nah…I’ve never been a good shot, killing you could take all day. I’d rather romance a Princess…” he turned towards the palace.

“It’d take a special kind of man to be able to live with Hinewai,” Hauku called after him, “she won’t be quiet and submissive, like…Te Arawa women…”

Kahu stopped and faced Hauku. “What would you know about Te Arawa women?”

A Vision of those dark mysterious eyes turning from him in the hot sand dunes went through his mind and he frowned with uncertainty, then shook his head and forced the haunting image from his mind. “Not much, but enough to know that Hinewai’s nothing like them…!?!”

Kahu grinned. “Oh…but that’s what attracted me to her!?!”

Hauku pulled the spear out from the wall between his legs, made as if to throw it at Kahu, then changed his mind and threw it angrily to the ground at Kahu’s feet. “Hinewai…” his voice broke, “Hinewai will never be the soft, sweet subservient sort…”

“Oh, I already have one of those,” Kahu jeered, “I need a change…” then he turned on his heels and continued on his way, thinking that perhaps he shouldn’t have purposely missed when he had had the opportunity to spear the guy…

Up on a parapet of the village wall, Tania finally found her mistress. Hinewai was holding onto the forked wall balustrade, looking out towards the north-east. On a clear day, the smoke from the peaks of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu could be seen from here. The mountains took turns and hardly ever erupted together. But there was no sign of any volcanic activity at all, at the moment…

“The calm before the storm...” Hinewai hadn’t realized she’d spoken out loud.

“What?” Tania squinted as she tried to see what had captured Hinewai’s attention. “Can you still see the Te Arawa going home?”

“No…nothing at all, they’re long gone…it is all very quiet and calm out there…”

“Which is a good thing…isn’t it?”

Hinewai closed her eyes, as a vision of Kahu coming into her room soon after she’d returned home, ripping his clothes off, and joining her in her bath went through her mind. “I hope so, Tania…”

“It’ll be dark soon, shouldn’t we…retire yet?”

Hinewai didn’t answer her maid, but Tania did not expect her to. Hinewai was missing Kahu already. So the serving girl joined her friend and imitating her mistress, clasped two of the wooden pointed balustrade poles, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the slight breeze as it fanned their faces. When she finally re-opened her eyes, it was getting quite dark, but Hinewai hadn’t moved, and was still watching the deserted, silent landscape…

“You two will be together again soon,” Tania was going to say more, but felt her own sadness, and just blinked at the darkening scene of deep purple hues before them.

Hinewai sighed. “Isn’t it… beautiful…?!?”

Tania looked back in the opposite direction where the view of their own mountain peak, great river with marsh areas and lush forest was quite spectacular. “I prefer…”

But Hinewai interrupted her. “All the different tones and shades…”

Tania blinked uncertainly. Although Hinewai’s apartment was decorated in soft creams and light browns, she’d presumed no-one liked the vast emptiness of the desert in the distance, except for the Awhia...

“The desert is forever still, yet forever changing…” Hinewai was still thinking of Kahu splashing water at her, “so comforting, yet so disturbing…” then leaning over her, “so cool, yet so hot…” and entering her, “so mysterious, and unpredictable…”

“I prefer rivers and trees, a sign of life in abundance…”

“I thought I did too,” Hinewai thought of how skillfully Kahu enfolded her in his arms, and expertly and deftly, spread her legs, “until now…”

“Now?!?” Tania supposed Hinewai was preparing herself for her future in a land that was mostly volcanic geysers and steaming pools. She remembered being pulled through some of the area barefoot. “But…won’t you miss the lush greenery of Manaia?”

Hinewai turned to her friend, with a smile on her face. “We did it Tania…”

Tania was about to ask did what, when realization hit her. “No!”

Hinewai nodded. “Yes…”

Tania was speechless.

Hinewai sighed, “in my bath…”

Tania remained speechless.

“It…it just seemed so natural, perfect…intoxicating…I never wanted it to end…I never wanted to let him go…” Hinewai shook her head, “and the formal farewell dinner afterwards was all a blur to me…still is…”

“Just as well you’re engaged…”

Hinewai turned her gaze back to the stark emptiness of the desert in the distance – quite dark now, and sighed again. It was as if her whole body sighed. If she wasn’t holding on to the fence, she thought she’d lose her balance and fall off. What have you done to me prince of the enemy? Why can’t I stop thinking of you? No-one ever forced their way into my room before, not even Hauku…no-one ever ravished me like that before…she blinked, as if that might erase the picture of Kahu taking her in her little canoe tub on dry-dock canoe stands…and how they had giggled afterwards, at the water all over the place…and how Tania had come in to say dinner was about to be served and had backed out bowing and apologizing…and how they had carefully dried and dressed each other and walked into the banquet hall arms around each other…and how they couldn’t stop cuddling during the whole meal…did they eat? She supposed they must have…and how it was over all too soon, the visitors wanting to get as much travelling as possible done before it got dark…Kahu impatient to get to his father and organize a wedding…he held her hand until he mounted his horse, and then they took off, Hinewai running after them for awhile, waving, after which she ran to the highest parapet to watch them galloping away for as long as she could…

“Come on Hinewai,” Tania pleaded, “it’s getting cold…”

Hinewai nodded. She reached out to her friend, and Tania hugged her.

“You’ll be with him again soon, getting married…”

They were on the topmost part of the wall and had four intermittent ladders to climb down. Lots of trees and plants had grown in their village over the years, flares were glowing, and happy voices and laughter came from softly lit windows, which reflected in pools and ponds.

Hinewai sighed. “It is pretty here, isn’t it?”

Tania had a now long distant memory of trudging through deep snow, mud and slush, and nodded. “Paradise…”

“You will certainly miss this place, won’t you?”

“You mean…I’m going with you?”

“Unless you’d rather stay behind?”

Tania smiled. “Of course not. My place is with you…” but she turned to hide her flush as she thought to herself, ‘and with Kahu’…

Go to Chapter Five

THE JOURNEY