The Last Sundancer (55 page)

The people of Denoa’s village prepared for
the cold season in the way that was common to their band.  The last of the fields to produce green shoots was quickly harvested with the help of the men, women and children.

It was an occasion for celebration as their Beloved Woman, Denoa, joined them.   She moved in harmony with the other women and Tamol’s eyes strayed to her constantly. 

He could survive torture and recover from the wounds of battle, but the sight of the one woman that he could never possess was more than he wished to endure. 

Kaichen understood that Tamol had come to the end of his endurance when he finally turned to face him.

“Do not stand certain in the belief that Ni’zin and Tonaka will heed your warning.  Ni’zin does not forgive dishonor though he has no honor to call his own.  Tonaka is the leader of his brother, though he is often silent.  You defeated their men, you decimated the band of raiders that they built up from the dregs of men that chose to call themselves murderers and thieves. They will not rest until you are felled by a blow from their hands.” Tamol’s voice was a low murmur of warning.

“I will keep watch for the men that have marked themselves as our enemy.” Kaichen’s hand gestured between himself and Tamol. 

“Do not give them a chance to escape or to strike.  Remember your own words and do not show mercy.  Do not pull back the killing blow of your hand.” Tamol looked steadily at Kaichen and his voice was that of a father as he spoke to his son.  “If you have the chance to end the life of our enemy, do so without thought, move swiftly and strike the first blow. It is the way that your father walked.  Remember this.”

Tamol exhaled as he finished speaking.  Without another word he turned his attention back to the people that worked over the field.  There was laughter and the sound of joyous voices as each person worked to aid his companion.

Kaichen allowed Tamol’s words to sink into his mind.  He did not utter any words against Tamol’s warning.  Instead, he committed all that he heard to memory.

For a moment, Kaichen was the image of his father.  He saw Shale recreated in the form of a young man, strong of body and full of health and vigor.

“I will send men to journey with you.” Kaichen’s words broke into Tamol’s thoughts.  He knew before he spoke that Tamol would reject his offer and he was not surprised when the man simply glared at him.

“Continue to train these men to be warriors, instead of mere hunters and harvesters of the land.  You will always have a place within my band.” These were Tamol’s parting words and Kaichen took them to heart. 

“Our people have made plans to meet during the start of the warm season.  We will join you and Farren in a celebration of our victory over the raiders.” Kaichen remained silent as Tamol gathered his weapons and the few belongings that he carried with him. 

The men, women and children of their village stood silently by as Tamol climbed the steep cavern walls that were their protection and shelter.  When Tamol made it to the top of the ridge wall he looked down upon the raised faces of the people of the red rocks.  One person stood apart from the villagers.  Denoa.

He had not taken the time to say goodbye, he had sensed that the gesture would not be welcome.  She had already expressed her sorrow over the loss of his son.  There was nothing more to be said between them.  

The gifts that he carried in his packs were tokens of her thanks.  She had all that she needed with her son near and his wife who had become the daughter of her heart. 

Tamol was no longer needed and he had no further reason to linger.  He memorized the face of the woman that remained faithful to the love of another. 

Who could say what tomorrow would bring?  Yet, Denoa had not given him any reason to hope that her heart would soften toward him. 

“If there is a life after this one, then you must wait for her, just as she waits for you.”
Tamol spoke silently to Shale.  For surely theirs was a love that even the bonds of death could not break.

The days passed in a blur of activity as each person tried to prepare for the time of long cold.  Their food caches were full and their dwellings were made as comfortable as possible.  The villagers preferred to stand in the light of the sun and enjoy the last vestiges of warmth that the midday sun brought to them. 

Kaichen was pleased to see that Amara had been accepted into the circle of women that he called cousin and aunt.   Denoa and the other women had encircled his wife, pulling her into the comfort of their fold.  He was thankful beyond measure that his wife’s face glowed with good health and her cheeks were often tinged with a flush of happiness. 

The men kept guard over their village from the high places just as they had been directed.  Instead of grumbling and complaining, men eagerly offered themselves and standing watch over their village had become a position of honor.  The men of their village understood the need to protect that which they held dear, now more than ever.  

There was very little reason to venture outside of the red rock caverns.  But the lure of the hunt called to th
e men even as the sky told of a coming storm.

The weather gave cause for agitation.  If the time of long cold lasted longer than expected there was always the risk of starvation.  Even with the last
of the grain collected from the fields there was no guarantee of survival. 

If Kaichen did not bear the responsibility of an entire village he would simply restore his food supply as it started to run low.  But he needed to think of the men, women and children that trusted him to see to their safekeeping. 

“What is this that you have made?” Kaichen spoke gently to his wife as she positioned a red jar so that it sat just so. 

“Each day the women gather together and make preparations for the time of long cold.  I have learned to coil the clay into ropes and shape it so that it forms a vessel such as this jar.  With my own hands I polished the moist surfaces with a smooth stone and placed the jar upon the hot stones of the fire.” Amara proudly displayed the jar to her husband.  He turned it in his hands and lifted it up so that he could see the etchings that she had created.

“A man dances around the fire, but the circle continues, never stopping.” Kaichen spoke the words given to him by his father, from the lips of his mother.  “You have captured the central place of all bands.”  Amara ducked her head shyly as Kaichen praised her work.

“It is a thing of beauty.” Kaichen carefully moved the jar into the exact place where Amara had set it to rest.

“Inside are delightful things that we have gathered for the time of long cold.  Each woman gathered what she could and we shared amongst each other.” Amara cleared her throat as Kaichen started to reach for the lid of the jar.

“You wish to wait?” Kaichen almost groaned with dismay and he was surprised at the eager anticipation that he felt to discover what was kept in the hidden depths of the jar.

“Many are eager to see the time of long cold come as it must and then go away as quickly as possible.  In this way, we will have something to look forward to each day.  With the first snow you can reach into this jar and something delicious will be waiting for you.” Amara chuckled as Kaichen groaned again.

She enjoyed seeing the delight dancing in Kaichen’s eyes. 

“Is that why Antuk was so happy this morning? I saw him walking to his dwelling with a jar similar to this one.” Kaichen considered the full mouth that Antuk had and the vigorous chewing that his friend had been in the midst of and he wisely kept that knowledge to himself.

“I do not think that Antuk will wait to discover the hidden secrets of his jar.  But we will wait, will we not?” Amara smiled with mischief as Kaichen made a grab for her.

He was too quick for her to elude and in truth she did not try very hard at all to escape the welcome heat of his arms as they encircled her.

“I will take three men with me to hunt outside of the boundary of the red rocks.” Kaichen spoke to the hunters gathered nearby.  The men had taken to sitting beside one fire, while the women sat beside another.  The children of their band ran back and forth between the men and women.

“When will you go?” One of the men called out in question even as a shriek of laughter from the women caused all eyes to turn their way and then the men turned their eyes back to Kaichen.

“We will leave before first light.” Kaichen knew that the men wondered which of them would be asked to go and which would stay behind.  

Each man was eager to go on a hunt and enjoy the praise of their band when they returned laden with fresh meat.   He quickly picked the two men that had proven to be the best hunters in the village and then he selected a boy that had not yet been named a hunter.

“Why do you lower your chances of making a kill, by choosing an unprov
en boy, instead of another able bodied man to hunt at your side?” Urri was the first to speak up, but his question held no belligerence, only mild curiosity. 

The other men grunted and mumbled, but none spoke as they waited for Kaichen to answer.  Kaichen looked at the beaming face of the youth that he had chosen to accompany them.  He was a boy of thirteen seasons and his father had been killed in a fall from the red rocks that sheltered them.  He lived in a small dwelling with his grandfather, mother and younger brother.  Kaichen had taken the time to get to know each family and he knew what the needs were of their village. 

“Boys are made into men when they make their first kill. That is the way of our people.  But how can a boy ever become a man if he is never trained by the men of his village?” Kaichen responded to Urri with a question of his own while allowing the resounding silence to fill in the words that he did not speak. 

Soon each man took his turn recounting the story of his first hunt.  The boys were eager to hear the stories of the men of their band and soon all were gathered close.  As the day faded
into night the women and young girls came and went with platters of food and well spiced stew. 

Kaichen enjoyed the company of the other men, but what he enjoyed most was the overwhelming sense of friendship and goodwill that existed within their village.  

Amara’s clear laughter floated over the den of voices and Kaichen was captivated by the sight of his laughing wife.  She walked arm in arm with two other young women as they chased after the children that sought to stay awake a little longer. 

How was it that he could not name a time that he did not hunger for the warmth of her slight form and the touch of her soft hand upon his shoulder?  He shared a look with her across the fire that communicated much and his wife smiled as her eyes danced with merriment.  Kaichen felt the rhythm of his heart speed up from the intensity of her gaze.  Her attention was taken by one of her companions as the woman pointed to a child.

He watched as his wife picked up the little girl even as the youngster tried to scamper off after the older children.  Amara whispered to the girl and kissed the child’s round face.  Kaichen found himself smiling in return as the little girl returned the gesture and Amara tipped her head back in laughter. 

Tamol’s warning came back to mind and Kaichen resolved to keep close watch over
Amara.  He had already warned the men to watch over his wife and mother at all times. 

Ni’zin had done his best to dishonor his mother and take her life.  Only Denoa’s strong will to survive had kept her alive until help arrived.  Kaichen had the feeling that if Ni’zin still lived, he would find a way to take his revenge. 

“Kaichen, the others are laughing and enjoying this last evening before the long cold sets in.  Why do you wear a frown that appears darker than the night?” Antuk spoke loudly drawing all eyes toward Kaichen, but he was ready for Antuk’s untimely comment.  He had no intention of upsetting the men with his concerns.  They were well aware of the possible dangers that their village faced.

“Have I ever told
you men that Antuk weaves watertight baskets better than any woman?” Kaichen saw that he had stunned Antuk with his rejoinder.  At first, he knew a moment of sympathy as all eyes turned to Antuk and his friend rolled his eyes up to the sky and away. 

Antuk did not enjoy undue attention.  He preferred to focus on one thing at a time, to the exclusion of all else.  Kaichen had begun to think that he had become too accepting of his friend’s behavior.  He would not underestimate Antuk ever again. 

Antuk’s basket weaving was his personal secret and he did not truly seek to wound his friend.  The men immediately shifted their attention to Antuk. 

“If his weaving is anything like his skill with forcing the land to provide water to a dry field, then our women can learn something from him.  Antuk, will you show us your work?  Is it true that you created the belt that the Sundancer wears?” Men eager for an opportunity to trade with Antuk spoke up and Kaichen smiled.  But it was the look on Antuk’s face as the women crowded close around the well muscled bulk of his friend’s shoulders and back that caused Kaichen to choke with muffled laughter.