Lakota Winds (Zebra Historical Romance) (24 page)

"The first party is large, Waci Tate, so a second one is doubtful. We
need all warriors to ride with us," Buffalo Hump refuted his idea.

"Do not forget the Crow have pulled that trick before, and it is
one of their favorites during any raid. We must not leave our camp
unprotected."

"My grandson is wise and careful," Nahemana told the gathered
men. "The Strong Hearts must remain, and Buffalo Hump must lead
the chase."

"Those are the same words which fill my heart and head," Chief
Rising Bear concurred. "Our homes and people must be guarded."

Plans were made in a rush as the women, children, and old ones sneaked into the forest to hide during the impending clash. Then, a
large party of Red Shields galloped from camp on a retaliation trail
while the leading warrior body hid themselves as Wind Dancer had
suggested.

It was not long before his suspicion was proven to be accurate: another
and smaller band of mingled Crow and Pawnee attacked the camp from
the other end, whooping and firing arrows as they charged in amongst
the scattered tepees. As soon as they passed the first dwellings, the
surprise trap was sprung and an awesome conflict ensued.

Members of the Strong Heart Society leapt from concealment and
attacked fiercely with great prowess, as their group was made up of the
most fearless and skilled warriors in their band, a group whose main
purpose was defense and survival of the Red Shields.

As she had promised her husband, Chumani lingered near their tepee
but had refused to go into the woods with the women, children, and
elders since she was a more than capable fighter and might be needed
there. She glanced at her beloved and his father as they battled enemies
while standing back-to-back for protection of their vulnerable spots.
She noted that Rising Bear had not lost his stamina, or talents with
weapons and hand-to-hand combat. To avoid being distracted by observing her mate's abilities and possible perils, she refused to watch him.
As her gaze drifted around the area where many struggles were in progress
either upon horseback or on the ground, she was horrified to sight
Nahemana leave his tepee, several beyond theirs, carrying a ceremonial
buffalo skull which he had no doubt returned to fetch to prevent its
theft. With bow in hand, an arrow nocked, and several more shafts
clasped between her teeth, she hurried toward the slow-moving, dulledvision shaman.

Chumani saw a Bird Warrior guiding his horse toward Nahemana
with a lance lifted high in one hand. "Oochia, bishkishpee!"she shouted
to seize the foe's attention. "Fight me, not an old man, if you are a
worthy warrior!" The startled Crow looked at her with an expression
of mingled amusement and scorn as she ordered him to stop, called him a lowly and scorned dog flea, and issued him an insulting challenge
in his own language.

"I will slay the shaman first, take the sacred skull as a war prize, then
capture you. I will fill your body with my man seeds before I slit your
throat and cut out your tongue. Run, foolish woman, but I will catch
you soon."

"You will capture and harm no one, piss of the elk!" He clearly did
not consider her a threat as he refocused on the shaman who had frozen
in place at his tepee entrance. As he drew back his arm to fling his lance
into Nahemana's body, she released an arrow, quickly yanked another
from her mouth, and nocked it in readiness if she missed her agile
target.

As Chumani fired the first shaft, Cetan gave a shrill cry from overhead,
swooped down in a rapid dive, and seized the lance with his strong
talons. Yet, its weight and imbalance caused the hawk to drift toward
the ground, despite its great strength and determination. At that slow
pace, another enemy warrior fired an arrow into Cetan's left wing, which
sent the large bird tumbling to the earth. She whirled to shoot his
attacker, but saw Wind Dancer leap upon the man from behind, both
crashing to the ground. She hurried to Cetan as the hawk flopped about
with the arrow protruding from his wing. She spoke soothingly to him
as she lifted him and carried him to Nahemana's tepee so she could
protect both from further danger.

"Do not worry, my friend, I will remove the arrow and tend your
injury very soon. Remain quiet until I can do so, for dangers surround
us." To the white-haired man, she said, "Go inside your tepee, Wise
One, and I will stand guard here." Without a word, only a smile and
a nod, Nahemana obeyed her soft command. She placed Cetan behind
her in the entranceway and faced forward. She only glanced at the
enemy whom she had slain with her first arrow before observing her
love's fierce battle for survival.

Wind Dancer sneered at the foe who had dared to attack his camp.
He knew the other Strong Hearts and Oglala warriors had the conflict
under control, but he did not want to take the time to play with his enemy, as the wounded needed tending. His gaze mocked the man who
was now vulnerable in the center of his camp with no rescue or escape
mount within sight or reach, so his death was a certainty. Even if he
were slain during their struggle, another would take his place, and
another if necessary, until this raider lived no more. "U wo, suska, "he
taunted, motioning the Crow forward and calling him "worthless and
lazy."

Though the Bird Warrior laughed and sneered in return, it was
obvious to Chumani that he knew his death loomed before him, so he
would fight with all he possessed to go out in a blaze of prowess. She
saw her husband's white teeth gleam as brightly as the blade in his
grasp, a metal one from trade with the wasicun. She had confidence in
Wind Dancer's ability to win, but she dreaded seeing him hurt.

"Where is your honor, Crow dog? Why do you slay innocents? Why
did you not ride to our camp and challenge worthy warriors to battle
you? Only a coward and weakling strikes at women, children, and old
ones. Where does the coup lie in such a bad deed?"

"All Lakotas must die and this land will be ours!" the Crow scoffed.

"The land belongs to the Creator. Do you seek to steal what is His?"

"Do you fear me, he who dances with the wind? Why do you wait?
Do you hope to breath the Creator's air for a short time longer?"

"No more words or waiting, Crow dog. Prepare to die by my hand."

A fierce and rapid clash ensued as the men rushed toward each other
with knives held high in readiness to strike the initial blow, to bring
forth the first blood, to kill their enemy. Both were strong, nimble,
highly trained, and experienced. They slashed out at each other, used
their hands and feet as deadly weapons. Their muscles bulged and rippled
as they battled, and they soon were breathing rapidly and glistening with
sweat. The fringes on their shirts and leggings swayed and snapped as
they whirled and fought. Their expressions had become frozen and
harsh; their gazes, glaring and hate-filled.

To Chumani, it was like watching a deadly dance as they writhed, twisted, and darted about, kicking up dust and stones with every step.
Despite the fact she was positive her husband would win the match of
wills because he was protected by Wakantanka, she flinched each time
the knife slashed too close to his body or his stalwart frame accepted a
near stunning blow. When Wind Dancer's head made forceful and
painful contact with the Bird Warrior's stomach, it sent the Crow
tumbling backward to the hard ground. Without hesitation, the foe
was on his feet again and charging her agile mate who parried his attack.
It was apparent to her that Wind Dancer was the superior fighter,
but the Crow's desperation and resolve made him a dangerous and
unpredictable opponent. She made sure she did not shriek or move or
do anything to distract her beloved, as it only took a moment's loss of
focus to turn the odds against him. She was almost angered when other
Strong Hearts and Oglalas gathered around the scene of the last action
and cheered on their companion and friend, fearing it would distract
him, though it seemed to give him a burst of energy and renewed
stamina.

Using quick reflexes and cunning, Wind Dancer soon had the Crow
pinned to the ground. He straddled his imprisoned enemy, knowing
he had but one course of action. He must kill the man or he would
return another sun to attack his people, for pride and generations of
hostilities would demand it. He raised his knife, glued his gaze to the
Crow's blazing one, and finished the deed. Afterward, he stood, lifted
his arms skyward, and released a whoop of victory as his friends encompassed him in a tight circle.

Chumani wanted to rush to his side, to embrace him, to kiss him,
but she held hack to avoid embarrassing him before his society members
with such a show of emotion. She stepped aside for the smiling shaman
to join the excitement, turned, and gathered Cetan into her arms. She
carried the hawk to her tepee to tend his wound. She knew it was not
a lethal one, but could he disabling. She closed her eyes for a short time
and prayed: If 'he is to help us on the sacred task, Great One, heal his wing
so he can fly again.

Wind Dancer glanced around the human enclosure for his wife and,
finding her absent, asked his grandfather, "Where is Dewdrops? I saw
her standing at your tepee. Was she harmed?"

"No. She saved my life when I was the target of a Crow's lance and
remained nearby to guard me from another attack." He explained how
the hawk had helped her in that battle but, sadly, Cetan was wounded.
"She goes to tend him," Nahemana revealed.

After Rising Bear returned from the forest and joined the others, the
exciting story about Chumani's and Cetan's glorious deed was repeated
to him, as was the final battle nearby. "It is good my son was shown
the peril of this sun so our camp would not be destroyed and our
people slain," the chief proclaimed. "We must tend our wounded, build
scaffolds for our dead and mourn them, and help those whose dwellings
were damaged by fire. Soon the others will return and join us to chant
the new coups of my sons, my second daughter, her bird companion,
the Strong Hearts, and our other warriors. It is a good and a bad day
for us, for we have a great victory, but suffered many losses."

"Soon we will leave on the first ride of our sacred quest, Father,"
Wind Dancer said, "and it will turn the Apsaalooke's eyes from us when
they must battle the Whites who will hold them to blame for our
coming deeds. We must post guards around our camp until we have
distracted them with another conflict and our people move to the
grasslands to hunt buffalo. On the next sun, we must hold the Sacred
Bow ritual for Swift Otter to replace Badger, for War Eagle will ride
with us to trick the Crow and Whites."

Within a short time, the rest of the band had returned to camp from
the forest and were enlightened to the events. With a mixture of elation
at their triumph and sadness over their losses, the people set about to
take care of the tasks Rising Bear had mentioned earlier.

Before joining other men to gather wood and erect burial scaffolds,
Wind Dancer walked to his tepee to check on his wife and the hawk,
and was followed by his sister. "How is he?" he asked upon entry to
his lodge.

Chumani looked up. "I have removed the arrow, but part of his wing is broken," she replied. "I seek to stop the bleeding and tend the
cuts before I bind it tight in place until the bone heals. You fought a
great battle, mihigna, and my heart soars with pride in your victory."

As Wind Dancer's gaze roved her for a sign of any harm, he murmured,
"As does mine for your courage and skills in saving Grandfather." He
was relieved the danger was past and she was safe, as he did not want
to even imagine living without her. He was also glad the hawk survived.

"As does mine," Hanmani added. "I will help you tend Cetan before
I go to help others in need if he will allow my touch and presence."

"He will do so if I command it, my sister, and I thank you for your
good heart. Fetch the medicine pouch for me," Chumani requested.

"I will return later; I have sad tasks to do now," Wind Dancer said.
"I will bring Cetan a rabbit or squirrel to eat since he cannot hunt his
prey."

Chumani smiled at her husband, their gazes melding warmly for a
time before he left the tepee. She took the pouch from Hanmani and
pulled out many small leather-bound items. She looked at the treatments
for cuts and bleeding and easing pain: spider's web, unripe puffballs,
fern, yarrow, white pine, pond lily, wort, Horsetail rush, wild tobacco.
She decided which ones to use on the large bird and began her work.
After the bleeding was halted and the cuts were smeared with medicine,
she used two sticks and thin strips of leather to secure the break in
position and hold it there. Not once did Cetan attempt to peck or claw
her, and he remained still and quiet and watchful. She noted that he
also allowed Hanmani's touch as the girl assisted with the splint. "He
likes and trusts you," Chumani told the girl. "When Waci Tate returns
with his food, if you will feed and water him, he will become familiar
with your touch before we ride from camp then you can tend him for
me while I am gone. Will you do that good deed, my sister?"

"Yes, my sister, and I will be honored and happy to do so. Do not
worry, Dewdrops, for no harm will come to him under my guard,"
Hanmani vowed as she smiled and stroked the hawk's chest as she
chatted to him.

Chumani's heart filled with joy and relief when Cetan ducked his head under the girl's hand and nuzzled her palm with its crest, a sign
of trust and affection and acceptance. "It is good, for you have become
his friend and I will be calm in knowing he is well tended and protected."

Chumani secured one end of a strong tether to the hawk's leg and
the other to a post driven into the ground. She told Hanmani it would
be easier for the bird to remain still and calm inside the tepee without
distractions and enticements from outside surroundings. She smiled
again when the girl fetched water and placed the wooden bowl nearby.
"Stay, Cetan, for we must go help others. Hanmani will return soon
with your food."