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Sun is Burning at Dawn 10 page

Again there was silence.

"Did ina ever hurt you, ate?"

"Hau, cunksi. As I said, it is the way of life."

Dark eyes regarded him with concern and curiosity. "Then why have you not given her away? Why have you kept her? Why has she stayed with you?"

"Because my mahasanni ki and I care for each other, cunksi. And we are stronger together than we are apart."

Anpo sighed and nodded.

Wanbli settled a hand on his child's shoulder, walking closely beside her. "Be still in your heart, cunksi. Do not worry the vision so. It will not change and will only make you crazy with grief and fear." He nodded in front of them. "Look. We are almost to camp. You and I will bring our catch to our women and we will eat well this night!"

The young warrior forced herself to smile, picking up her step to keep up with Wanbli's.

 

 

"Anpo will be very surprised, Ketlin," Hca said as she finished braiding the long yellow hair.

"Why?" the blonde turned to one side as directed so the other half of her hair could be taken care of.

Waniyetu Gi, who had finished the last stitching on a pair of leggings, spoke up. "Because you were a gift and not a traditional maiden, Ketlin."

Kathleen was confused. "Someone like me would not join with a warrior?"

"Usually not until she learned our words." Gi looked up from her task, a twinkle in her eye. "But you have learned fast, Ketlin. And you have a dowry I have given you. And the most important thing you have done is make my youngest child happy."

Blushing slightly, the blonde looked down to her fidgeting hands in her lap. "I have done nothing, Gi. I do not deserve your dowry."

"Do not presume to tell me what to do with what is mine, Ketlin," the older woman chided, albeit in a gentle tone . "I know what is right." Looking to her oldest daughter, she said, "Go outside and tell me when Anpo and your ate return."

With a grin and a quick squeeze of the white woman's shoulders, Hca left the ti ikceya. The older woman settled down behind Kathleen and finished working on her hair.

"Slaves and winyan who are not of our people must learn our words, learn to please the wicasa they belong to. But Anpo is no wicasa though she is a great hunter and warrior." As the braiding was finally twisted into place, Gi used a strand of sinew to tie it off. "If a woman who is a slave pleases her wicasa, learns our words and gives her wicasa a child, she will truly become Lakota and will be the wicasa's winuhca."

Kathleen's eyebrows raised as she recognized the name her warrior had called her. Winuhca. Wife? But something else came to mind and she blurted it out before she could stop. "But, I cannot have children, Gi!"

The elder woman leaned forward to peer over Kathleen's shoulder, a small smile on her lips. "It does not matter, Ketlin. You make my cunksi happy and that is important. You have honored me and her ate by your attention to Anpo and I will have you joined with my cunksi."



And what mum says, goes, Kath! The blonde fought back a nervous giggle. She's goin' ta make an honest woman outta me and her daughter!

"They are here! They are here!" Hca exclaimed, ducking into the ti ikceya.

"Be calm, cunksi!" Waniyetu Gi ordered, though there was a sparkle in her eye. She turned back to the blonde woman and readjusted her braids for the sixth time. "Are you ready, Ketlin?"

Swallowing on a suddenly dry mouth, Kathleen nodded. "I am ready, uncisi."

"Good," was the crisp reply. Turning away, the older woman shooed her daughter back out the tiopa of the lodge. "We will await you outside, wiwoha." And then she stepped out herself.

Kathleen found herself alone in the ti ikceya. "Well, here goes nothin', Kath," she murmured. She twitched her belt to a better position and paced in front of the door.

As the two warriors approached Waniyetu Gi's lodge, Anpo noticed a flurry of activity as her cuwe and ina stepped out. Dark eyes narrowed in suspicion at Hca Wanahca's ill-hidden excitement. "Ate?"

Her father, who had also noticed the commotion, shrugged in resignation. "Do not try to understand them, cunksi. They are winyan and do not make sense."

Anpo considered this with growing concern. "I am winyan, ate. Do I not make sense?"

Wanbli Zi grinned and clapped her on the shoulder. "You are a warrior, cunksi, born and bred. You make very good sense."

As they arrived at her mother's lodge, the young warrior decided to drop the subject, though her mind worried it a moment longer. But why do I make sense to ate if I am winyan? Pulling the satchel from across her shoulders, she held it out to her mother. "Ina! We have many fish for you."

The elder woman accepted the catch. "You have done well, cunksi." Without a second glance at it, she set the leather bag on the ground near her normal work area. "Now sit and rest."

Wanbli Zi smiled a greeting at his woman and his oldest child, sitting in his place at the head of the fire. He pulled a pipe out as the younger warrior followed suit.

Looking around, Anpo asked, "Where is Ketlin?"

With an infectious grin, Hca leaped up from her seat tending the fire. "I will get her!" she exclaimed with a giggle.

Her younger sister's brow flashed into a frown of puzzlement. Dark eyes flickered to the man and his recent statement regarding winyan assailed her memory. Anpo's face cleared. They make no sense.

Anpo attempted to distract herself from her cuwe's's strange behavior by glancing about the camp. Nearby, the ti ikceya that had been given to Kathleen stood tall, appearing to be completed. We will live there, soon.

Motion to one side grabbed her attention. Nupa was standing near his mother's lodge, arms crossed over his chest. Anpo almost rose to wave her friend over until she noticed the smug grin on his handsome face. What is so interesting? she wondered. Suspicions fully aroused, the warrior scanned the remainder of the camp, finding whole families loitering outside their lodges and the council fire. All were avidly ignoring Wanbli Zi's fire.

Kathleen paced back and forth in front of the ti ikceya entrance, nervously plucking at her cuwignaka. The leather covering was pushed aside and Hca's head popped in.

"It is time, Ketlin," the young woman said, a wide smile of excitement on her face. She reached out a hand.

A flutter of nerves hit the blonde, her stomach twisting in an unpleasant way. Quit bein' silly, lass! 'Tis just a formality! Nodding and putting on a pleasant face, Kathleen took her friend's hand and allowed herself to be led out the opening.

Anpo turned to her father, preparing to ask his opinion on the oddness of the camp, when Kathleen stepped from her ina's ti ikceya. The warrior's face went slack from shock.

The yellow cuwignaka had been cleaned with paint freshly applied to the designs. A dark brown leather pouch hung from the white woman's waist, an antler knife handle protruding from it. Leggings wrapped her calves and new moccasins were on her feet, the tops of which were painted white with the sun design in red.

Just like mine, Anpo marveled, her eyes drawn back upwards.

The long, blonde hair had been thoroughly combed and oiled with animal fat. Two long braids hung down her back. Around Kathleen's neck was a necklace of elk teeth and porcupine quills.

Her mind blank from the shock, the warrior could only stare at the pale woman's approach.

Kathleen's dark blue eyes took in her friend's nod of encouragement, stifling her fear. She smiled in acknowledgement and turned her attentions to her warrior. With a grace that belied her shrieking nerves, the blonde stepped forward until she was standing before Anpo.

The dark woman peered up at her, eyes bright with unspoken emotion.

The realization that Anpo was as scared as she bolstered the blonde's courage, though her stomach remained upset. The corners of her mouth curled up and she held out her hand.

Reaching up, Anpo felt a tingle move up her arm at the contact of their palms. And then she was being pulled to her feet and led away from her ate's fire. She is joining with me! her mind blithered.

Kathleen's ti ikceya was as yet unadorned. The fire in front was burning merrily, a haunch of meat roasting over it. The blonde led her warrior past it and into the lodge.

Inside, another fire burned, though it was low and just enough to give light. Again, Anpo was led past, this time brought to the place that was across from the tiopa. Here, Kathleen knelt, pulling the dark woman down to sit.

Anpo watched carefully as her woman removed the moccasins she was wearing. They were still damp from the river and Kathleen set them near the fire to dry. Another pair of moccasins were beside them and the woman pulled them closer.

Putting the new footwear on Anpo's feet, Kathleen looked up and into deep brown. "We are joined, winuhca."

The warrior swallowed the lump in her throat. She reached behind Kathleen and pulled the yellow braids to hang forward and down the woman's chest - an indication of her new status. "We are joined, winuhca," she repeated in a husky voice. And then she gathered her woman into her arms.

Kathleen relaxed into the embrace, soaking in the peaceful adoration her warrior emitted. Ye'll never have children, Kath, but p'rhaps God has intended ye somethin' ta make up for it.

 

 

Anpo and Nupa stopped to water their ponies at a creek. It had been several days since the young woman's official joining and feast. Wagmiza Wagna's camp was now on the move towards the summer camp. The pair were acting as advance scouts for the rest of their people. So far, things had gone well and there were no dangers to be had. They were now headed back for the night.

The dark woman pulled her pony away from the river and prepared to mount him. "I wish to be to camp by dinner," she said as she settled into the saddle.

Grinning, her friend looked up to her, making no moves towards his own steed. "Is it the way of joining that you cannot be without my hanka's company for more than a day?"

Instead of rankling at Nupa's teasing, the warrior laughed. "Ohan, tiblo! You will understand when you are joined!" Whirling her pony around, she exclaimed, "I will race you to camp! Whoever is first receives a gift from the other!"

The young koskalaka blinked at Anpo for only a moment before vaulting onto his horse. The two sped away, whooping.

As all young warriors were prone to do, upon their arrival at camp, the pair circled around and raced right up to the council fire before pulling up short in a cloud of dust and noise. The hoksila hollered in their excitement and chased each other around the two ponies as the warriors dismounted with laughter.

"I am first!" Nupa exclaimed. "You will give me a gift!"

Anpo nodded, her face a mirror of his own. "Ohan, tiblo." She pulled a pouch from her horse and handed it to her friend. "Here is a pipe. It is made of the bone of tatanka ska. I just finished making it yesterday."

The young man's smile faded to seriousness. "You honor me, tanksi," he murmured.

"I share my honor with my family, tiblo." Anpo draped her arm across his shoulder. "You may not be blood, but you are family to me."

"Thank you, tanksi."

"Anpo!" a voice interrupted.

The two turned towards the voice, seeing Hca Wanahca running towards them, her face serious.

Anpo dropped her arm and took a step forward, all thoughts focusing on her sibling. "What is it, cuwekala?"

"It is Ketlin, mitan. She is ill."

The warrior's heart turned to ice. She left her sister, friend and pony, running for the ti ikceya. Behind her, Hca's voice followed.

"The medicine man is with her, Anpo!"

At Kathleen's lodge, the dark woman was met by her parents who were blocking her way. "Stand aside!" Anpo demanded.

"Hoh, cunksi!" Wanbli Zi insisted, physically holding his worried daughter back. "Let He finish what he is doing!"

Inside the ti ikceya could be heard the sounds of the medicine man, He Osni, chanting a spell of protection over his patient. Anpo glared at her ate, but he would not back down.

Waniyetu Gi slid around from behind him and took her youngest child's shoulder in her hand. "It will be all right, cunksi. Ketlin's stomach hurt her. I asked He to help ease her discomfort." Seeing that Anpo was less agitated, she continued. "Sit at your fire, cunksi."

Wanbli nodded, not losing eye contact with the warrior. "Sit at your fire and wait for the medicine man to finish. He will tell you what you need to know." When Anpo made no move, the older man physically turned her resisting body around and pushed her towards her place.

By now, Hca had returned from the center of camp. As Anpo sat down, she handed her sister a waterskin and some dried meat. "Nupa is tending your pony, mitankala. He will bring your saddle and things when he is finished."

Their father settled down in place beside Anpo. With a gesture, he dismissed his eldest daughter and woman. "I must speak of things with this warrior," he told them. He waited for them to leave before speaking again.

The young warrior's mind was in a turmoil, her heart pounding. Anger boiled beneath the surface. I must see Ketlin! I must protect her! She stared into the fire, trying to find a way to help, not even sure what help was needed. Her ate's voice filtered through and Anpo focused her eyes on him.

"You can do nothing, cunksi. You can only wait. It is hard, being helpless, but you will not ease things with your presence."

"I must help Ketlin," Anpo said, voicing the thoughts racing through her head. "She needs me."

"She needs you to be calm, warrior. She needs you to be able to think." Wanbli sighed. "It is the mark of a man that he may set aside his emotions in trying times, be calm and able to think, to reason. All that can be done is being done. Your presence will only complicate matters and show your dishonor of He."

Anpo blinked at him. "I do not know if I can, ate," she said in a low voice. "I do not wish to dishonor the medicine man...."

"Then stay here at your fire. Be a true warrior, Anpo. Wait until he comes out to speak to you. Do not speak before he does." A strained look crossed his daughter's face and Wanbli's heart went out to her. "I did the same when you were born, cunksi. It is not an easy task to hear your woman scream in pain and not go to her. But it would have dishonored her, as well, should I have interfered."

Finally convinced, though only by a hair, the young warrior nodded and stared into the fire. Her back was to Kathleen's ti ikceya but all her attention was on it.

Nupa arrived, saddle in hand and worry on his face. He set the wood and leather apparatus to one side of the tiopa and sat in his usual place at Anpo's fire. His dark eyes flickered back and forth between the two warriors and he nodded to himself, pulling out the pipe that had just been given him by his friend. "I will smoke now and ask you to join me," he said.

At Wanbli's nod, the young koskalaka filled the bowl with tobacco and lit it. He took a long puff from the pipe and handed it to Anpo.

The three sat at the fire, smoking until the bowl was empty. Inside the lodge, there was only the noise of the chanting and rattling of He's instruments. Eventually, even the sound of these things drifted away and voices could be heard.

The leather opening was thrust aside and an elderly man stepped out. He Osni shuffled towards the fire and settled laboriously in the honored place that Wanbli Zi had vacated for him. The medicine man was very old, having been old when Anpo was born. His skin was dry and leathery, his hair snow white and wispy.

Sitting in silence, Anpo resisted the urge to grab the old man by the collar and wrestle the information out of him. She held back her desire to bolt from the fire and see her winuhca. Behind her, she was comforted to hear her sister and mother entering the ti ikceya to help Kathleen.

After long contemplation, the medicine man spoke, his voice as leathery as his skin. "Your winyan is ill, Anpo."

"Will she be alright, wicahcala?" the woman asked, trying to keep control of her emotions.

"If she does as she is told, she will be fine." There was a long pause. "She is with child."

Stunned silence met his pronouncement as all three of the warriors stared at him.

"W... what?" Anpo asked in a whisper.

The craggy old face broke into a smile, his few teeth gleaming. "Your woman is with child, warrior. She will give birth in a few moons." And, though it was rude, He didn't take offense when the young woman leapt to her feet and dashed into the lodge behind her. Rather, he chuckled and pulled out a pipe.

Kathleen was in her sleeping robes, looking a bit worse for wear. Her stepan was mixing herbs to alleviate her nausea as Gi was preparing water in a clay bowl near the fire. She looked up as Anpo entered, her heart jumping at the dark eyes that pinned her own.

The warrior knelt down beside her winuhca, reaching out to pull a pale hand into hers. "Ketlin," she started, but couldn't think of anything else to say.

The blonde chewed her lower lip and dropped her gaze. She tried to explain. "Anpo. I am sorry. I did not think I could have children...."

"Ketlin," and this time the voice was warm.

Dark blue eyes peered up into a wide smile.

"You are with child, winuhca," Anpo stated happily. "You will bear me a son or daughter!"

Kathleen blinked at her warrior. 'Tis that simple then? My child will be Anpo's? A dim flicker of hope sparked and filled her soul. The fear that she would be tossed aside for bearing another man's child dissipated. "You are happy then...?" she ventured.

"Happy? Winuhca! This is the best thing to happen to me in my life!!" Anpo swept her woman into a hug, rocking her. "Thank you so much for this gift!" she whispered.

Unable to hold back the relief, tears spilled from Kathleen's eyes and she held Anpo tightly. "Thank you, winuhca," she whispered. "Thank you."

 

 

Chapter 6

Yuwipi Ki
(yoo-wee-pee kee)

The Sun Dance

 

The following morning found Kathleen seated outside her ti ikceya, a mass of reeds in her lap. The base of a basket gave the vegetation some semblance of order, but the loose ends haphazardly filled the air above it. Her tongue was sticking out the corner of her mouth in concentration as she tried to remember which end went where from her lessons with Waniyetu Gi.

A trio of native women walked by, chatting amiably amongst each other and carrying water from the creek they’d camped beside the previous evening. Upon sighting the blonde, they all called to her, bidding her a good day.

With a tentative smile, Kathleen returned the sentiment and watched as they went their way. Well, lass. News certainly travels fast, eh? Shaking her head with a small smile, the woman returned to her task, weaving the reeds together.

As Gi had said, all women were accepted as full members of the Lakota when they made their wicasa happy and bore them children. When He Osni had announced she was pregnant, every woman and wikoskalaka had shown up at the lodge with offers of assistance and help for the new young mother.

It was all a bit overwhelming, to say the least. Yesterday, nobody’d speak ta ye and now ev’rybody’s a friend. The blonde braids shook again at the wonder of it all.

Despite Anpo’s apparent happiness at the news, the white woman hadn’t slept well. Visions of the horrible abuse instigated upon her filled her sleep, making for a restless night. Her warrior had held her closely through the nightmares, soothing her fears and singing her to sleep.

There was no doubt in Kathleen’s mind that the child she carried belonged to her rapist. The knowledge of it chilled her heart even as it soared to new heights of joy. After two years, Adam and I couldn’t have a child. I doubt ‘t’would have changed. And her time with Hehaka Yatke certainly wouldn’t have resulted in pregnancy. He never did anythin’ with me.

Kathleen sighed and tried to focus on the basket in her hands. But the fears and uncertainty continued to plague her mind. Questions flickered through her thoughts, disappearing nearly as fast as they could form.

Just how acceptin’ are these people? Will they accept this child as Anpo’s? Will Anpo accept the child? And the worst thought, the one that the blonde mentally cringed from each and every time it came up - Can I accept the child of the man who raped me?

Han, winuhca!”

Looking up from her task, Kathleen smiled up at her warrior. She set aside the half completed basket.

Anpo, a wide smile on her face and two brownish animals hanging from one hand, approached and settled down at her fire. Brandishing the dead carcasses, she said, “I have brought you pispiza. You can cook these this night.”

“Thank you, Anpo. You are a very good hunter.” The blonde watched Anpo flush from the compliment before bending to her task. Ah, she’s a pretty one, she is, came the fond thought. “Are you hungry now, winuhca? I have grains boiling.”

“That would be good, Ketlin.”

Kathleen used a wooden spoon to ladle some of the mixture into a clay bowl. She crumbled some dried herbs into it and stirred. Rising, she walked behind the busy young woman and knelt to set the bowl to one side, placing a hand on Anpo’s shoulder to steady herself. Unable to resist, the blonde remained on her knees and leaned forward, using the strong back as support.

Feeling the warmth of her woman against her, Anpo stopped her butchering and turned her head to see the yellow hair just over her shoulder. “How do you feel, winucha?” she asked in a soft voice. “Are you still ill this morning?”

The blonde head readjusted itself. “Hiya. I feel much better now.” The morning sickness had been mild over the last few weeks. So much so that Kathleen hadn’t realized what was happening, thinking it was the stress of her situation that was upsetting her stomach.

“You should try to sleep this afternoon,” the dark woman said. She held her torso steady for Kathleen and returned to her chore of skinning the animals she’d caught. “We will not be leaving for summer camp until tomorrow.”

Loathe to attempt sleep without her warrior, Kathleen shrugged slightly and snuggled against the shoulder she rested on. “I do not know. Maybe.” Her eyes closed.

Anpo finished butchering the carcasses with as little movement of her upper body as she was able. Eventually, the job was done and she remained quiet and still, enjoying the peaceful moment. Ketlin is still so scared, so fearful. Will she ever be free of those evil spirits? A fierce wave of protectiveness flowed through the warrior and she inhaled deeply to quell the sudden urge to turn and sweep Kathleen into her arms. It will frighten her if I move too quickly, she considered, not wanting to repeat her original mistake with the blonde.

“Ketlin.”

Despite her desire to remain awake, the white woman had dozed a bit. Her hand was still on Anpo’s shoulder and, as she roused, she squeezed gently. “I am sorry, winuhca. I am still tired.”

As the blonde pulled away, Anpo turned to peer over her shoulder at her. “You did not sleep well. You must sleep this day. There will be no rest tomorrow until we reach summer camp.”

Kathleen grimaced a little and gave a little shake of her head, looking away. “I cannot, Anpo.” She moved back to the fire and stirred the pot of boiling grains.

She is afraid she will have the dreams again. Anpo looked down to her bloody hands. The meat had been separated from the skins and it was prepared to cook. I will protect mahasanniki while she sleeps. “I must clean myself,” she told her woman. “You fix the pispiza. We will both rest this day.” Handing the meat to Kathleen, her face brooked no argument.

Kathleen peeked up at her warrior as the taller woman rose. “Ohan, winuhca,” she agreed in a quiet voice. Her heart held a mixture of trepidation for the coming nightmares and caring for this young woman who would insist on taking care of her. Why do I feel so much more for Anpo than I did Adam? the blonde wondered as the dark woman made her way to the creek. And in far less time.

After Anpo had cleaned up and eaten and Kathleen had prepared the meat to be cooked for their evening meal, the warrior took her woman’s hand and led her into the ti ikceya. The edges around the base had been rolled up a few inches to allow a summer breeze to cool the interior. The dark woman removed her shirt and moccasins, leaving her breechclout. Settling down onto the sleeping furs, she waved the blonde closer. “Come, Ketlin. You need rest.”

Still shy even after almost two weeks of being in the warrior’s custody, Kathleen tinted a little and looked away as she removed her cuwignaka. She knew without looking that Anpo’s dark eyes would take in every inch of her fair skin as they always did. And the blonde still hadn’t decided whether it was good or bad. Certainly not like anythin’s goin’ ta happen, lass. At least yer safe in that respect!

A distant part of herself mourned the thought.

As the white woman curled up with her, Anpo sighed in contentment. Her skin on mine feels so..., and she searched for the word. Right. It feels so right. Wanting to increase the contact, the warrior turned on her side and cuddled closer, draping a long arm across her woman’s waist. “Try to sleep, winuhca. I will be here when you wake.”

Kathleen rolled over, as well, facing her warrior and tucking her head beneath a dark chin. She felt the arm snake around her side and a hand rub her back in a gentle, soothing motion. As any tired child, reluctant to sleep, the blonde forced her eyes to remain open. Noting the pulse jumping in Anpo’s neck, her hands reached up to finger the necklace of quills and wooden beads that hung around it.

Anpo continued her caresses, knowing that the woman in her arms didn’t sleep. Finally, she asked, “What is it, Ketlin? What worries cloud your mind?”

There was a sigh followed by silence.

“Ketlin?”

Frowning as she tried to formulate her thoughts into questions, Kathleen sighed again. Just as the dark woman began pulling away to peer down at her, she hastily spoke up to forego the movement. “What happens when the baby arrives?”

The warrior relaxed and returned to her position, blonde hair beneath her chin. “You want to know how our women have children?”

There was a nod and a muffled, “Ohan.”

“When a woman is with child and ready to give birth, she calls her ina to help her. The shaman and the medicine man also help with the birth.” Anpo considered what she knew of her own birth. “Since your ina is not here, my ina will help in her place. The medicine man, He, will chant spells and prepare you, giving you medicines if you need them. Inyan will protect the child from evil spirits that wish to invade it once it is born.”


Date: 2015-12-11; view: 579


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