Sisters in Arms


Hylla was struggling with the hook on the belt. It had to be latched on from behind, and Hylla's shoulder throbbed, plus she had to tighten it because of her size and so that didn't make it any easier.

"Need a hand?"

Hylla turned around to the sound of Kinzie's voice. She smiled sheepishly and nodded. Kinzie grinned, trying not to laugh at her, and came to help. She had the belt tied securely in ten seconds and Hylla couldn't even say something like 'I loosened it for you'.

The labyrinth-like golden chinks immediately pressed themselves against Hylla, surprising her.

"Oh," she said putting a hand on her lower stomach. "Gods."

"It likes you," Kinzie said. "My mother used to say that the belt had the power to find the Queen anywhere."

That's me now, Hylla had to remind herself. As if it wasn't big enough of a shock to become royalty overnight, having passed out for ten hours poisoned and bruised and cut up hadn't helped her any.

But Faith's cure that worked and Paula had healed up Hylla's other injuries in the meantime. She'd have another scar on her shoulder to add to her collection, and it was still sore and she was walking around with a cool and medicated patch under her clothes, but she managed.

"I'm sorry that the title doesn't fall to your mom," Hylla said. "I truly am. I'm sorry that your mother had to die before anyone noticed that Miranda was a snake."

Kinzie shrugged. "Things happen. And she'd be glad that it was you now. Except your hair's a mess," Kinzie said before combing her fingers through Hylla's hair. "Also you should wear it up. Show the cut on your cheek. Look badass."

She pulled Hylla's hair up.

"Do you have your speech? Fiona has got the visual supports you asked her for so that you can explain and prove what Miranda did. Have you figured out who you want to name in your Court yet?"

"Nearly," Hylla said.

"Nearly? You're appearing in front of the Kingdom for the first time as their Queen in about ten minutes!" Kinzie said.

The fight had been two nights ago. Yesterday, Valerie had taken over the Kingdom for her as she slept for most of the day and healed. The Amazon had dropped by to talk to her last night, and Hylla had had a nice chat with her. Valerie had the experience to help her figure out who to pick, although Hylla had been very adamant about a few people that she wanted in her Court.

"Congratulations on defeating Miranda, by the way." Valerie had said after helping her settle on Counsellors. "Most of us have been preoccupied sick about your health so I don't think you've heard that much."

"No," Hylla said. "I haven't."

"Was she your first? The first is always the hardest."

"My first what?"

"Your first kill," Valerie said.

"Oh," Hylla said. "No."

"Good," Valerie said. "Good. Asha was devastated when she came to the throne- I remember it as if it were yesterday."

"I'm sorry you lost her," Hylla said. "She was a good woman."

"That's true," Valerie said with a faint smile. "Most people just call her a good Queen."

"She was that too," Hylla said. "I hope I can rule like her."

"I'm sure you will."

"I was hoping that maybe you could be my left-hand," Hylla had said. "If you advised her so well… I'd like someone with experience in my Court, and I want to be the kind of Queen that Asha was."

Valerie had been shocked and unprepared for it.

"You are a peculiar girl, Hylla Castillo. But I'd be honoured to serve you."

That had made composing her Court easier. The guards were easy to choose from- Hylla took people she'd seen fight well, that she could fight with well and who could fight well with each other at the gym. The ministers were harder, but she'd made a list.

COUNSELLORS

Right hand-

Left hand- Valerie Jefferson

Secrecy- Alex Hayes

Information- Alec Hayes

Security- Faith McCartney

Foreign Affairs- Nat Kang

Industry- [find oldest Amazon in the Kingdom: experience = +] Mary Jane Kelley

Justice- Diane McCrae

Finance- Fiona Dubois

Marketing- Daisy Lee

She only had one missing.

"I just need one more person to say yes," Hylla said.

"You know that you appoint people, right? You don't have to ask them." Kinzie said.

"I know. But I wanted to make sure that you'd like to be my Right hand, Kinzie." Hylla said.

Kinzie looked like a doe in the headlights.

"Hylla… oh gods, no, Hylla you don't have to take me," Kinzie said softly. "Faith or Nat or Valerie would manage better, I'd understand. Hell, take Lulu."

"There's only one Kinzie, isn't there?" Hylla said.

"Yes," Kinzie said.

"Did I stutter?" Hylla said. "It's you that I want. I can't imagine myself making ends meet without you."

"You'd manage."

"No I wouldn't," Hylla insisted. "And even if I would, I'd be miserable. You sell yourself short, Mack. You give me a reason to do things, the courage to do them and the intellect and advice I need to do them. And that's as important as any historical great deed. Also, I won't let you turn down my offer just because you think otherwise, or because you sell yourself short. I'll chain you to my wall and have you advise me if I have to."

Kinzie looked at her. The emotions from the last summer shone in her eyes once again- all of them.

"But," Hylla said, "I'm not going to forget what you said when we met. How you were born into the Kingdom and how you always thought you had no choice but to live there. If you don't want to be an Amazon anymore because you want to see the world… well, I'll pack your bags for you Mack."

Kinzie shook her head, lips trembling.

"If you need me, I need you. If you want me here, I want to be here. If you see good in me, there's got to be good in me. Basic rules of thumb for how we operate, Hylla. How the hell could I leave you now?" Kinzie said.

She hugged Hylla. "You're my big annoying sister in arms, after all. How could I possibly let you do something this big without me?"

Hylla grinned and slipped her bruised hand in Kinzie's. "I take it that we won't need to find out."

"No," Kinzie said. "We most certainly will not."