The Last Sundancer (8 page)

Kaichen did not mind such traits in his friend.  Perhaps it was because his life had become a study in control, mastery of weapons and fighting.  Antuk’s inability to master any one thing had intrigued Kaichen from the start. 

“Perhaps tomorrow we will find something good to bring back to the village.” Kaichen spoke to Antuk first in his tongue and then in Dejali for Amara’s benefit. 

She had watched their conversation intently and her eyes were wary.  He realized that she felt excluded when they spoke words that she could not understand.

“You men are hunters?” Amara wanted to believe the man that stood before her, but he was dressed as a warrior. 

At Kaichen’s affirmative nod s
he took in his well made animal skin vest and fitted leggings.  His feet were covered in moccasins that were finely stitched and decorated. 

The other man was just as well dressed and he was armed as a warrior.  She counted two short spears, one long spear as well as a large bow and quiver of arrows.  He wore an array of knives that were fashioned to fit into a belt strapped over one shoulder.  It was difficult to believe that these men were simply hunters.

“It is not safe to allow you to wander by yourself without a village or band to return to.  You must come with us to our village.  We will seek the guidance of the village leader; he will know what to do.” Kaichen’s words did not leave room for argument.

He was confused by the feelings evoked by the
brave young woman standing before him.  He wanted to protect her and shelter her from harm.  He wanted to touch the softness of her skin and press his face against the hollow of her throat.  She stood before him, undecided, with eyes as large as a young doe. 

He tried to see past
the loveliness of her features to the person within. The yearning that the woman’s presence brought forth was so powerful that he felt blinded by it. 

I
f anyone from the woman’s village survived the raid then they had been taken captive or they were already dead.  Kaichen urged Antuk to keep watch over their resting place while he made preparations for the night ahead. 

They would not hunt before the sun took its place of rest.  Tonight they would keep watch and they would find little comfort in the darkness of the night.  

It was by chance that Kaichen caught sight of the buck’s antlers, nestled within the hedge of bushes that offered shelter.  If the animal had been a doe, he would have allowed it to pass.  

Females were needed to bring forth young during the beginning of the warm season.  Azin had taught him to respect the ways of balance. 

If he killed a young female, who was to say if there would be enough young born to feed their village during the coming season?  Kaichen had learned these lessons well.  He motioned for Antuk and Amara to remain silent and wait.  Amara had remained silent and watchful throughout the morning.  He was not certain that she had even slept during the night.  Fatigue was plain to see as she stumbled to a halt. 

Kaichen’s bow was strung with a blur of mo
tion that was almost too quick for the eye to follow.  He inhaled and sought his target before releasing one arrow after another. 

Killing a deer was difficult, if the animal was not felled by the first shot it would often run until it tired.  Searching out an injured animal in the heat of the day was not only dangerous but
foolhardy. 

Kaichen knew that Antuk would look after the woman if needed, but he did not want to let the young woman out of his sight.  Though he had sought to reassure her, she
still appeared shaky and fearful. 

Amara watched in stunned fascination as the man before her
displayed the skill of a trained hunter.  She watched as he sent arrow after arrow flying toward the buck. 

The large animal never stood a chance of escape.  A lump formed in her throat as the animal collapsed.  She watched as the man strode forward with sure steps.  He ended any chance of suffering with the sharp blade of his hunter’s knife. 
He murmured a few words that were indecipherable and then he placed a multicolored feather upon the ground.  

Amara had never watched as an animal was brought down.  She was a woman and as such, it was not her place to
take part in the hunt. 

Like all
women, she was adept at skinning an animal’s hide and working the skin into clothing, moccasins, and a multitude of other uses.  Even the sinew could be used to make string and rope.  Nothing was wasted. 

She held her breath as the man set about quartering the meat from the buck and severing the antlers from the animal’s skull.  Both men worked side by si
de with practiced movements, in perfect harmony. 

Soon the meat was strung up so that it hung far above the ground out of the reach of predators. 
Antuk stepped forward with a stone that was used for scraping the flesh from the inside of the animal’s skin. 

Amara could see that the men were used to working without the help of a woman.  She knew how to scrape a hide and work the skin until it was supple.  When she stepped forward to help the warrior that had placed the killing arrows grunted and shook his head.

“You are injured.  Do not move, we are almost finished.” True to his word they made quick work of the animal’s skin.  The larger warrior quickly buried the entrails and preserved the organs, after washing them clean with the last of the water.

Without any more speech between the
m, Amara watched as the men prepared to leave.  She glanced back at the meat that hung from its place and he seemed to understand her concern.   What if a predator came upon the meat before they were able to return?  Even though her situation was dire and her future uncertain, she did not seek to waste something as hard-won as the meat from the buck.

“We
will join Azin’s people by midday.  I will send several of the young runners eager to prove themselves to this place where they will retrieve the meat.  Come, we have much farther to go before we rest.” Kaichen gestured for the woman to follow behind him. 

Antuk took up the rear as they journeyed onward.  Not for the first time, Kaichen wished that he had brought his horse along with him.  He was concerned about the man that they had managed to injure.  If he had survived his wounds then it was possible that he pursued them.  The woman’s fear was tangible and he could not determine if she feared them or the man that might even now be following after them.

Kaichen was unwilling to leave Antuk and check their trail for signs of pursuit.  He walked with his bow in one hand and his spear in the other.  If one injured man sought to challenge him for the woman, then the man had unknowingly chosen death instead of life.

Azin was surprised when on
e of the young boys ran to him, bouncing from foot to foot with breathless excitement.  “Kaichen and Antuk have returned and they bring with them a young woman.”

He forced his body to move, though he had aches and pains in places that became better known to him each day.  Kaichen had gone to seek food to fill their food caches, but what had he found instead?

Azin moved quickly and from a distance, he moved with the same sureness of footing as he had in his youth.  His seasons of life spent as a hunter and warrior served him well, even in his old age.  So too did his eyes take in every detail of the three people walking toward them.

He was not surprised that his people did not immediately circle around Kaichen and Antuk, eager for word of their brief journey.  Kaichen’s scowl was firmly in place and he did not inspire feelings of welcome. 

Antuk, for his part, appeared distracted by the noise of the villagers and the sights and sounds around them.  Azin sighed as he looked upon the two men that had unknowingly become the future of the bands that took shelter upon the mesas and the deserts sands. 

He noticed the proprietary gleam in Kaichen’s eyes as some of the young hunters stood ready to make their presence known to the young woman, huddled behind Kaichen. 

Azin was not so old that he could not see the way that young woman’s eyes continued to flicker back and forth between their people and Kaichen.   The young men of his band poked each other with elbows and slaps upon the back as they eyed the woman.  Kaichen fairly growled as some of the bolder men walked forward.  Before Kaichen could make his intentions known Azin cleared his throat, calling the people to order around him.

“
I am Azin, leader of the people of this village.  You are welcome here.” Azin directed his words to the young woman that stood like a willow swaying in the breeze.  “Kaichen, it is good that you and my nephew have returned from your hunt.  Come, we will go to your dwelling and you will tell me the story of your success.”

Azin’s eyes caught sight of the bundle that Antuk presented to him and he hid his smile as Kaichen grunted and then tapped three young men on the shoulder in rapid succession.  He stood silently as Kaichen gave the young men directions and sent two of the warriors to watch after the young boys. 

“Is there some hidden danger?  Why are warriors needed to watch after our fastest runners?” Azin watched as Kaichen placed a hand upon the woman’s arm to draw her forward.

“Your nephew and I stopped several warriors from taking this young woman captive.” Kaichen bowed his head respectfully as Azin drew abreast of the fire outside of Kaichen’s dwelling. 

A young boy ran forward and set a small fire to blaze before scrambling out of the way.  It was obvious that the boy wanted to linger but one glance at Azin sent him scurrying out of the circle of the fire. Azin thought that Kaichen’s face would break into a smile as he placed his hand upon his walking stick. 

They had both come to terms with Kaichen’s fear long ago.  While Azin was quick to remind insolent young men of their place, he never used his walking stick to inflict punishment. 
Instead, he used the lash of his tongue and the heart of the listener to make his meaning clear. 

“We will allow the young woman time to wash.  I sense that her journey was both difficult and grievous.” Azin waited until Kaichen spoke to the young woman
, urging her to enter his dwelling.

There was silence for a time as the young woman stood and made her way inside the dwelling of the man that had forced her to accompany him. 

“Speak quickly.” Azin did not ask any questions as Kaichen began to tell him all that had befallen him. 

“We brought her here, because her village was abandoned and I could not leave her to fend for herself.” Kaichen spoke as if he would turn the matter over to Azin, but Azin’s eyes narrowed in quiet contemplation.

“Her village has been taken by raiders.  Those that would care for her have either been taken captive or killed.  You are responsible for her life.  It was you that decided to rescue her instead of leaving her to her fate.” Azin’s wise eyes saw the flare of Kaichen’s nostrils as the woman returned to kneel beside Kaichen by the fire.  If he was not mistaken, Kaichen’s nostrils flared much like a young stallion scenting a mare.  Azin had hoped to see Kaichen’s interest captured by one of the young women of his band.  He had hoped to solidify Kaichen’s place amongst his people even though he knew that Kaichen would still feel honor bound to leave. 

“We seek your counsel, wise one.” Kaichen waited patiently, confident that Azin would have a solution for the young woman. 

They both understood that he would journey to his mother’s people with the rising of the sun.  Azin looked upon the lovely young woman and he was reminded of another couple that had sought his counsel, long ago. 

Shale and Denoa had come to him seeking shelter
and advice and he had been able to help them.  He would do the same for Kaichen now. 

“Tell me, what is your name?” Azin spoke in
the language of the young woman. 

H
e knew from Kaichen’s story that she did not understand their tongue.  The young woman lifted her head and he was startled by the sight of her eyes but his expression did not change. 

“I am called Amara, but my name is Amaranth.”
The young woman met his gaze without flinching and he felt confident in his decision. 

Amara’s eyes were wide as she took in the features of the two men sitting
nearby.  They had not harmed her and they had taken her to their village just as they promised. 

She still trembled inside when she thought of her mother and the rest of her village.  What had become of those that she loved?  The man called Kaichen shifted almost
imperceptibly and Amara struggled to keep her eyes straight ahead. 

She was drawn to
the warrior kneeling at her side, almost as if an invisible thread tied them together, pulling them toward one another. Amara’s feelings were jumbled up inside her chest, bringing pressure to bear, making it difficult to breath. 

She recognized kindness in the wise elder
’s eyes as he looked upon her.  His eyes roamed over the men and then returned to rest upon Amara’s upturned face. 

A sound of alarm came from the entrance to their small village.  All eyes turned to Azin as all around them commotion broke out.