He then walked to the injured beast and as it snapped and growled at him, he sent an arrow into its heart. Once it quit moving, he pulled both arrows and took them with him back to his fire. He then added another cow pie to his fire.
The wolves stayed just out of firelight until about an hour before dawn, when suddenly the whole pack rushed for the meat. Men fought with bows until they ran out of arrows and then picked up their spears and backed toward the meat slowly, determined to protect what was theirs. The wolves advanced slowly and then one by one the men entered into battle with the animals. Screams were heard, yips, yells, and howls, but the battle continued.
One man fell beside Amon, with three wolves ripping at his body. Turning, the lead hunter speared two of the wolves and ran the last off, just as the others turned tail and ran. A false dawn was coming and the wolves could be seen licking their wounds off in the distance, yet determined to get at the meat. One man was down and his throat torn from his body, but the ground was littered with dead and injured animals. Livid at the attack and death of a hunter, Amon walked among the wolves within the fire circle and speared each one.
As he pulled his bloody spear point from the last wolf, a bright ray of light struck his eyes and he knew they'd made it. The sun was rising and surviving wolves were now trotting off in different directions.
“Mount, place the dead man on a travois, and let's move. We must reach the village before dark, so we have a long day of riding ahead of us. If you pray, pray we don't have to spend another night out here. I'm sure the wolves will follow us all day.”
“Are you okay?”
“No, I've lost two men on this hunt, most of us are injured, and I'm deep bone tired. Not to mention my ass is sleepy and I'm hungry. No, I am not okay, but by God, I'll get this meat to the village even if it kills every last one of us. Our people depend on us.” He walked to his horse and mounted.
“When will we eat breakfast?” Zedock asked as he mounted near his lifelong friend.
“At dusk, Zed. We'll eat breakfast at dusk.” Amon replied, and moved his horse forward.
When Amon and his men entered the village near dusk, Mongoose breathed a long sigh of relief and knew part of her peoples problems were solved. She'd also had the women out digging tubers and roots that could be added to the broth for the sick. Now, she ordered everyone with a knife to start slicing the beef thin, so come morning they could jerk the meat in the sun. She also had drying racks placed inside small teepees and smudge fires started inside of each. The sun could dry the meat, but only if the weather was fair, so the smudge fires would burn twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week until all the meat was processed.
She also had the hides placed in her lodge, so come morning she'd assign woman to flesh the hides and then start the long process of tanning the skins. This night, beef tongue and ribs would make the last feast for her people until after the disease ran its course. She'd prayed, as had the shaman, for her people, so all she could do now was wait for the first person to turn ill.
Amon dismounted and said, “I lost two men on the hunt. One was caught in the center of a stampede and there wasn't enough left to bring back for burial. The last man, Gideon, was killed when wolves attacked us last night for our meat. His body has been returned. My hunters have not slept since we were last in the village and have eaten poorly.”
Mongoose turned and said, “Nora, you will prepare a meal for our hunters. They are in need of nourishment and have hunger. Once they have eaten, they need rest.”
“It shall be done.” Nora said.
“Has salt and honey been brought in?” Amon asked.
“Honey was found and it is stored, but I am not sure it is enough. I have others out now looking for more. The people I sent for salt have not returned and I'm concerned about them. They should have been back long before now.”
“Have the Dog Soldiers checked them to see if they are safe?”
“Eldon has men searching for them now.”
“I must eat and then rest. The wolves were determined to get our meat, and last night was a long one, because every man was awake to guard the beef.”
“Rest, my husband, you have earned it.”
Later that night, when Mongoose went to the lodge of Amon, he never knew his wife spent the night with him, leaving just before first light. She'd cuddled him, drawing strength by being near and touching him, and awoke recharged with new energy.
She was in her lodge eating a light breakfast when Eldon knocked on her door. When she met his eyes, she knew he had bad news, so she said, “Come sit by the fire and we will talk.”
After long minutes of silence, the chief of the Dog Soldiers said, “We found the group near the salt lick, but all were dead, and mutilated in the style of the Plains People.”
She nodded in understanding.
“My men circled the area for many miles, but found no one. They did find where the Plains warriors waited in ambush and then the tracks leading north to their people.”
“This creates two problems, as you know. Now another group, protected by your men, must return for salt. Then, since the people killed were carriers of small pox, the Plains People have been exposed to the illness as well. When they mutilated and took the scalps of our people, they in turn, will take the disease home with them. However, we can do nothing about that. As soon as our talk is finished, gather a mixed group of women and warriors and return for salt. Send enough Dog Soldiers to keep the group safe.”
“I will do so, but I will have few men left. Some are scouting, others guarding the village, and even more are —”
“It cannot be helped. It is essential we have salt; if needed, pull other warriors to help guard this village.”
Standing, Eldon nodded and said, “I'll have the group gone within the hour.”
Mongoose walked from her lodge with Eldon, smiling when she saw every available man, woman, and child hanging meat up to dry. A few women were adding wood to the smudge fires, so the teepees would continue to dry meat as well.
She walked to a table, where the meat was stacked and picking up a few long strips, she moved to a drying rack, enjoying the sun's warmth on her back. She placed the meat on the rack and was turning to get more, when Julian neared and said, “It has started.”
Knowing what he meant, she asked, “What has started?”
“The illness. Come, we must speak away from the others.”
Chapter 8
BYRON SAT BY THE SMALL FIRE cursing. He'd lost two more men to traps and in an ambush so he was now down to half his original fighting force, and he still had no idea where the women were. Hell, he thought, I'm no better off now than the first day I started out after those bitches. If anything, I'm in worst condition, because I've lost men. Asa will shit if I return empty handed. Five men dead and I've yet to see my enemy.
Ora and Lum walked to the flickering flames and sat in the dirt. After a few minutes, Byron looked at Ora and asked, “What in the hell are you smiling about? I send you two out scouting and you return smiling like the village idiot.”
“I have discovered that we'll not get those two women back; well, not on this trip anyway. I also know where the biggest village of the Eagle People is located that I've ever seen in my life. There are well over 500 people in just this one village.”
Byron's mood shifted and he asked, “How far from here?”
“Less than seven miles, and I think we can take the place. We got close enough to see they were drying meat, which has me confused, because it's too early in the year to be doing that now.”
“Maybe, with all the people living there, drying meat is a full time job.”
“Did you get an idea of how many warriors were there?”
“I'd estimate at least two hundred, but with them coming and going, scouting, and guarding the horses, I may be way off. Plus, they use women as warriors too, so I really don't know.”
“This will please Asa, more so, I think, than capturing the women. He has
long desired to attack and kill this Eagle People village. Were you seen?”
Ora laughed and when he grew sober again he replied, “I think not, because we are still alive. The Dog Soldiers of the Eagle People kill all strangers, but there are many more of them out now than anytime I can remember in the past. It will be hard for a large group of warriors to moved close to them without being seen.”
“That, Ora, is not my problem. Prepare the men; we will return home.”
“Return now? It is night and the men, as well as their horses, need rest.”
“Now. We will move toward home for a few hours. It would not pay for us to be seen now, not after we've gathered valuable intelligence for Asa.”
Less than an hour later, the men were moving toward home, but Ora could not shake a feeling he was being watched or followed. There was a full moon, which added to his nervousness, and he dropped back to speak with Byron.
“At the next dark turn, I'm slipping from my horse and checking our back trail. I think we're being followed.”
“Do you think that's wise? If you're captured, you'll be on your own, because this information must reach Asa.”
“Don't worry about me, and get back home. I'll find you, more than likely, at some point tomorrow.”
“As you wish, but I think it's pretty damned stupid.”
“Someone is riding my ass, because I feel it.”
“Good luck. I intend to ride long and hard, so if you miss us, it's a long walk home.” Byron said as they rode around a dark curve. When he didn't get a reply, he saw Ora was gone. He's a damn fool, because what can one man do even if we are followed?
Ora moved into the shadows to hide in the thick brush lining the trail. He grinned as he watched their drag man, Eli, ride right by him, scanning as he moved.
Within thirty minutes of Eli passing, he heard movement. Two Dog Soldiers of the Eagle People stopped almost in front of him, but were using some sort of hand signs to communicate. Ora watched closely, but the sign made no sense to him at all. Suspecting these two were the reason for his earlier spell of uneasiness, he raised his bow.
His first arrow dropped the nearest warrior to the ground, where the Eagle began to scream and crawl toward the brush on the other side of the trail. The second warrior charged right at Ora and at the last second leaped from his horse onto the warrior of the Wolf People. Both men were knocked to the ground and when they broke away, the warrior of the Eagle Clan pulled his new steel sword.
“I'll gut you like a fish.” the Eagle warrior said, holding the long steel blade in his hand.
Ora, feeling foolish, pulled his much smaller knife and held it cutting edge up, and then lunged at his enemy. He immediately felt the sharp bite of the sword to his thigh. I have to even the odds in some way, he thought, or this Eagle will kill me. I have to do it quickly too, or I'll start to weaken from blood loss.
The warrior made a sweep with the sword hoping to decapitate Ora, but the Wolf ducked and when the sword passed over his head, he lunged toward the man and felt his knife slide into his enemies right shoulder. The Eagle warrior, unable to retain a grip on his sword, dropped it to the grass near his feet. He then pulled his knife with his left hand.
“I though you were going to gut me, Eagle boy?”
Around and around they moved, each searching for a weakness in the other but none was seen. Finally, the Eagle warrior's foot slipped on a pebble and down he went, with Ora on him in an instant. The warrior was forced to drop his knife in order grasp at the Wolf's right hand, which held his knife, but he missed and the knife blade sunk deeply into his left shoulder.
Knowing his enemy was now unable to protect himself, Ora stood, and picked up the sword.
“Get up.” the Wolf said.
“I cannot on my own.”
Ora grasped the man's right wrist and pulled him to his feet. He glanced around and saw both horses standing near. Then a thought hit him, Where is the other warrior?
Knowing the man in front of him was unable to move his arms, Ora quickly tied his legs together, picked up his bow and made an arrow ready. He then searched for the injured man, but found nothing due to darkness. From the dim light of the moon, he spotted some drops of blood, only that was it. I usually get in a killing shot and he was an open target, so he'll die, he thought, and then gathered up the horses.
He untied his captive and led him to the horses. He then helped the man mount, tied his feet together under the horse and tied his hands to the saddle horn. Lastly, he tied a rope around the man's neck and tied it to the horn as well, to keep the man honest as they moved. He, as well as his captive, knew if the rider fell from the saddle, he'd hang.
Ella remained motionless in the shadows of a clump of brush and watched the whole process. She wanted to help Ralph, but she was bleeding profusely from her side and she could hardly move. The pain came in waves and it took all her training as a warrior to keep from screaming. Then, she passed out.
When she next open her eyes, she was laying on a blanket and Eldon was treating her injury. The sun was up and she could hear birds singing. He gave a weak smile and said, “Ralph was taken and I have men following the Wolf People to get him back. You've taken an arrow through your side, from left to right, and it doesn't look good.”
“I will . . . die?”
“I think you will pass over, yes.”
“I have died . . . protecting my . . . people.”
“Do you have much pain?”
“I . . . hurt.”
“Drink.” Eldon said as he raised her head with his hand.
“Kill . . . me.”
“I cannot do that, and you know to do so would violate our warrior code. There is no enemy threat, and I can only kill another warrior to prevent them from being taken captive. Most enemies torture captives to death.”
“I . . . hurt . . . kill me.” Her whole body suddenly shook with pain.
“Drink.” He placed the cup of rough alcohol to her lips and watched as she swallowed. He was able to get three cups of the strong drink down her before he lowered her head.
“Four, maybe . . . five . . . Wolf warriors. I . . . heard talk. They . . . know . . . our village . . . location.” Ella said through clenched teeth, and sweat was beading on her pale forehead.
Eldon was torn between his oath as a warrior to always try to save the lives of other warriors and ending her suffering. He knew she'd never survive the injury, because the arrowhead had caused massive internal bleeding and death was only a matter of time, after much pain.
Hearing her groan and moan and watching her jerk and twitch with pain for over an hour, he finally stood over her and pulled his sword.
She met his eyes, smiled, and then said, “Thank . . . you.”
He raised the blade high overhead and then brought it down hard, with all his weight behind the steel blade, which struck the top of her head. The blade went in deep, Ella quivered once, gave a light gasp, and died.
Pulling the bloody steel from her head, Eldon wiped it clean on her pants, and then wiped the tears from his eyes. In close to twenty years as a warrior, he'd never had to do anything that bothered him as much as this had. He then knelt, lowered his head and said, “Lord, I have killed, not out of anger, but out of love and compassion for a fellow warrior. Her pain was severe and her injury such that she could not have survived. You know this, my God, so please forgive me, because I have sinned greatly against you. This I ask in the name of Jesus, amen.”
He wiped his eyes once more and then covered Ella's body with another blanket. She died bravely and in defense of her people, which is a good way to die. I think songs will be written honoring her death, and I will always pray for her. I just wish there had been some way to —
“Eldon, it is us. We have returned.” Georgia said as she neared.
He wiped his eyes once more and said, “Ella has passed over to the other side.”
“It was expected.”
“Did you get Ralph?”
&n
bsp; “No, but we tried. We managed to kill one more of their warriors, but the remainder rode from us.”
“Why didn't you follow them?”
“Our horses were killed. I suspect they downed our animals on purpose, too.”
Lowering his head, Eldon said, “Lord, give Ralph strength, because the Wolf Clan will torture him, and they are a cruel people.”
“Yes, my brother, they are cruel. We must return to our village. We cannot return with Ella's body, so it must remain here.”
“Before she died, she told me the enemy knows the location of our village.” Eldon said, and then wiped his eyes.
“Then we must run like the wind to the village and warn everyone. Come, we must leave now.”
“What about Ella?”
“I think you are grieving and not thinking as a leader. We must return home now, so Ella will have to be left behind. She would think of our people first, and we must as well. Our living people come before our dead and it is as it should be. Come, we must hurry.”
Ralph smiled as he rode, although he was in great pain, because he knew the Wolf People would first interrogate him and then torture him to death. He didn't fear death, but didn't really welcome it either, but in the end his revenge from the grave would make his death worthwhile. He wasn't by nature a cold man and most would call him tenderhearted, except he knew no matter what he said to his enemies, he'd eventually die on the fire poles. They would assume, as would any people, that his tale of small pox would be an effort to avoid death. The sun was shining, which made his desire to live grow stronger.
Ora saw the smirk on the prisoners lips and asked, “Why do you grin? Do you not know your death will be slow and painful?”
Meeting the warriors eyes, Ralph said, “But nothing compared to your death, and the deaths of many hands of your people.”
“Of what do you speak? You are making no sense. What harm can you, a bound prisoner, do to me or my people? Are you a shaman who can turn us all into frogs?” Ora gave a mighty laugh at his own joke.
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