Chapter 16 : Taneshewa’s Trials and Tribulations
Lana awoke to a sun filled, cool morning. Sur Sceaf had gone off early to conference with the lore masters, so she had spent the morning in Pyrsyrus’ plush communal tent breakfasting with his wives with the exception of the charming Faewylf, who had spent the night with Pyrsyrus in her private tent. Swan Ray was planning to work on the loom in her tent today until the train got started. Mountain jays heckled outside the tent. Donya and Lana were discussing the events from the night before, when Face-of-Stars burst through the door with a basket full of truffles.
“Look what I’ve gathered for Xelph to cook tonight. Yummm!”
“Truffles,” Lana said, “my favorite mushrooms.”
Swan Ray “Wait til you see what Xelph can do with these and a little goat meat.”
Donya looked bright eyed, “Si, Cabrito!”
Face-of-Stars set the basket of truffles on the table. “Get ready for visitors. I saw two Sharaka women heading directly this way. My guess is it was Sagwi and Dancing Rabbit. I barely beat them here.”
Even before she finished her sentence, a voice came from outside the tent. “Lana, is you in der? Lana?”
“Yes, I’m here. Come in.” Lana beckoned.
Sagwi stuck her head inside the tent. “By da Dhunder Beins dhis sure is pretty in here.”
She scanned the interior for a few seconds. “Would y’all care to soak your bones wif us in da Skeenah Pots up on da hill?”
Lana looked over at Swan Ray, who nodded enthusiastically. “Our thanks, we’d love to join thee, but what about the Quailor. Surrey said we must be extra modest around them.”
Donya and Face-of-Stars expressed interest. Face said, “What can a little bathing hurt?”
“Taint no reason y’all should worry at all. Dem Skeenah Pots be plenty private.” Sagwi added with a snicker. “A Quailor would have to be hell-bent on seeing us up der in da wood.”
“Besides,” Dancing Rabbit added, “the Quailor think we’re savages. They wouldn’t want to join with us.”
“Savages?” Swan Ray gasped. “Why do you say that?”
“Because,” answered Dancing Rabbit, “Meny had gone to the Quailor camp to return the borrowed suit to the Black Hatter Hagele, when she overheard the Mosquito Beak call us all a bunch of savages. Said we are all vermin.”
Swan Ray added, “I’ve heard from Pyr that they think no better of us Herewardi heathen, and call our marriage rites and practices sex magic.” They laughed. “Besides why should an eagle give ear to a crow?”
Lana thought Dancing Rabbit must have mistaken what Meny heard. “I can believe Fromer capable of thinking of you and us as savages and heathens, but I don’t believe Hartmut or the other Quailor feel that same way.”
Donya and Swan Ray tightened their housecoats, while Lana gathered combs, soap, and drying cloths. Face-of-Stars stripped out of her smock and into a housecoat. As Face-of-Stars and Lana exited the tent, she hugged herself to keep warm. “It’s a chilly morn. I hope the water is at least as warm as my tent was.”
Walking barefooted up the path on the soft forest mulch felt wonderfully soothing to the soles of Lana’s feet. She had always found the fresh fragrance of the deep fir wood mingled with campfire smoke invigorating. “My, what a beautiful morning. Oh how I love these crisp days of the Holy Moonth.” Even as a child embracing nature in the morning had somehow charged her being with purpose. It dawned on her that she had always been more in tune with the Herewardi rhythms and beliefs than her own. Living with the Herewardi taught her that life is to be embraced, rather than caged up and bound as the Quailor are taught to do. Amongst the Herewardi, life was always a flaming log, never a smoldering one. Exhilarated, she drew in another deep breath and listened to the wrens and chickadees celebrating the new day in the leafy tree tops.
As they neared the hot springs, Sagwi’s brow wrinkled as she looked around. “What about Faewylf? Will she be a joinin wif us?”
Donya answered, “I think not. It’s been her night in the Conjugal Tent with Pyrsyrus. I’m sure she would prefer we not disturb them. She can give the servants the instructions for loading up everything when she rises.”
Meny came hurrying up the path. She was disheveled.
When they reached the steaming pools of water, Face-of-Stars twilled a corn lily she had picked along the trail in her hand. “Why is this place called the Skeenah Pots? Does that have some special meaning?”
Sagwi explained, “A Skeenah is a demon who our people belieb captured da Sun in a spider web and buried it in da mountain. When da Sun woke up, he was so angry at the Skeenah dat he hurled da mountain off of him. Dat is how da Elk Spirit Crater came to be made. Anytime da Sun looks at da ground too long, he chases dem der Skeenah’s out into da forest. Dat’s what makes dem der forest fires. Dey be afraid of da Sun. And dhese Skeena Pots are where da Sun put down his fingers befo he jumped back into the sky. Dat what made da waters here so hot.”
Face-of-Stars nodded, “Well, I can see why they’re called pots. They look just like big old clay bowls or pots your people used to cook in.”
Mendaho complained. “Sagwi, I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
Face-of-Stars and Swan Ray were the first to disrobe and ease into the hot springs with shrieking as they slowly settled into the pools, up to their necks.
“Hot! It is hotter than I thought,” Face-of-Stars let out.
Then Sagwi, Dancing Rabbit and Donya followed Face and hopped in, sucking in their breath at the intense heat.
Sagwi motioned with her hand. “Come on in Meny.”
“Once you get in,” Lana added, “it’s really quite pleasant.”
Meny looked over her shoulder. “I think I’ll wait for Little Doe and Taneshewa.”
“Oh,” Lana said, “Are they coming too?”
“Yes,” Mendaho said, “Should be here any moment.” Once again, she looked behind her. “See, here they come now.”
Mendaho squatted down, ran her fingers through the steaming water. “It’s way too hot for me. I’m just going to ease in, one toe at a time. I don’t know how you all can plunge in like that. My skin could never take it.”
“Sorry we arrived late.” Taneshewa said as she slipped out of her buckskins and rubbed some of the chill out of her fingers. The others greeted the newcomers. Ahy declared, “Blooms-Alone ate too much last night and Little Doe had to give her some medicine. I needed to check on her before I came.”
Taneshewa disrobed the rest of the way. She and Little Doe looked at everyone to see who had come.
Face-of-Stars inquired, “What herbs did you give her?”
“Oh, fennel seed and spirits of pine. It calms the tummy and drives out worms. I think she just had a bad case of worms.”
“And do you follow up with some mountain tripe and ginseng.”
“No, I haven’t tried that. Is that something the Herewardi use?”
“The ginseng, yes, but the mountain tripe is from my Tlingit medicine chest. I’ll bring some by this afternoon.”
“Thank you, my dear.”
Dancing Rabbit said, “I know you now. You are the young maiden that collects plants everywhere. Sorry, I don’t remember your name.”
“I am Face-of-Stars, daughter of Raven’s Tongue, whom the Herewardi call Hrafn.”
“That’s right,” Donya said, “she ees our medicine woman, young, but the keenest healer ju will ever meet.”
“You done got dat right.” Sagwi said. “She done took all my extra herbs for healin. She’s right curious too, she is. Make a fine medicine woman. I ’spect her marrying Pyrsyrus and he being da seaman make it hard to gather herbs. Don’t it?”
Lana exchanged looks with Swan Ray who smiled, and Donya answered for them. “No, she is actually still under her father’s roof. Pyr has his hands full enough with us. We don’t want him to burn out the forest like one of those Skeenahs, now, do we? If he married a young maiden as pretty as Face it would likely c
atch the wood aflame.” They laughed.
“We all thought you were one of Pyrsyrus’ wives,” Mendaho said. “How old are you Face-of-Stars?”
Face-of-Stars frowned. “No, I am not yet wed. I have only seen seventeen winters and I am still a maid. Lord Pyrsyrus is as old as my father and I only see him as a kind uncle.”
“Have you set your heart on anyone special?” Mendaho asked as she drew her legs out of the pool.
“I’m not sure. All the boys I met in the Sand Wand are so boring, but there’s this young Prince Arundel in Witan Jewell. Now he didn’t seem boring to me at all. He didn’t make a face when I talked about plant lore or medicine. Showed only the keenest of interest.”
Lana smiled, “The Young Prince Arundel is a fine boy with a very bright mind. He shineth above the others.”
Sagwi declared, “T’aint no surprise bout dhat, he’s Surrey’s boy.”
Face-Of-Stars eased herself out of the steaming pool, splashing her still budding breasts with the warm water. “What about you Mendaho, have you someone special?”
Mendaho laughed, “Fat chance.” She slowly eased down to her waist into the steaming pool. “I have had a lot of special ones, but none who stay around long enough to marry.”
Little Doe stifled a giggle. “Well, there’s always the Black Hatter.”
“Are you crazy? I don’t want to join with a man who wears his clothes to bed. For Tah-Man-Ea’s sake, I’m goinna want a man for riding, not cuddling.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Lana explained. “You know, it’s really not true what they say about Quailor and their wearing their clothes during sex.” She laughed. “Well, maybe Fromer.” They all laughed hysterically.
Swan Ray declared. “Meny, I’ve seen how those young blood fyrd warriors eye you.” She smiled teasingly. “I can’t imagine you’d have any problem finding a man in Witan Jewell. You have one of the prettiest faces I’ve ever seen.”
“Well, it has to be one that’s not married, because I have to be the first wife, I’ve decided.” She glanced over at Ahy. “That is unless it was Sur Sceaf.”
Sagwi snorted, “I ain’t sure how much y’all know, but Sur Sceaf and Taneshewa have been circling around one another ever since he came to Eloheh. Taneshewa has dhis dhing bout all dem other wives, too. Me and Mendaho been telling her da history of how dis is come about, but we’s dhinking da best way is to show her how it all works wif all dhese wives. Dhat why we here.”
Little Doe glanced around, “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” Lana said. “I think the best way for us to explain it is if you ask us questions.”
Taneshewa reddened, but was curious. She wafted the hot vapors with her hands, before asking, “Are you all happy being married to a man with so many wives?”
All, but Face-of-Stars answered, “Yes.”
Donya added, “I was married before to a man named Ilker, who was slain down in the Taxus. After his death, our covey of four elected to re-marry. Swan Ray and I married Pyrsyrus, bluest of king’s blood, and the other two married noblemen from other Herewardi tribes. I’ve been perfectly happy ever since. I loved both my husbands, but in very different ways. You see once you are the member of a bride-covey you don’t want to go back to one man and one woman. There’s just too many advantages to our type of marriage.”
Swan Ray said, “My sister, Donya, is right. We were happy with Ilker and Pyrsyrus is a wonderful husband, no woman could ask for a more caring man.”
Dancing Rabbit gave a quick look at her daughter as though to gauge her reaction. “I don’t think I could be happy as one of many wives, but that’s just me. I certainly have no objection, if a woman chooses that life for herself.”
Taneshewa turned to Lana. “Lana, aren’t you a Quailor. Don’t they only have just one wife?”
“That’s true.” Lana remained guarded in an effort to honor her husband’s request. “In truth, I had doubts in the beginning and I was not sure I would be able to handle being one wife of many. I was in love, but I also knew in my heart I would never find a better man, so I took the chance and now I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
A crashing sound came from the brush directly above them. The women all covered their breasts in surprise. A large bull elk charged through the opening. Upon seeing the women, it smashed back into the thick undergrowth, snapping branches as it went.
Sagwi said, “He probably runnin’ back to tell all his wives and chillun he just seen a naked woman and thought she’d make him a manitou.” The ladies laughed.
Face-of-Stars wiped the sweat from her face, “With my people the bear, owl, and salmon are totems, but not the elk. I’ve seen the elk on many of your tipis and wagons so I’m assuming it holds some sort of spirit power for you.”
Dancing Rabbit replied, “Yes. And it is powerful medicine to see one if you are about to be wed. It means you will marry a man of great spirit-power and your firstborn will be a son of distinction.” She eyed her daughter.
“I didn’t really look,” Taneshewa muttered.
“Sure, you didn’t.” Sagwi taunted.
Face-of-Stars declared, “Among the Tlingit the bear is the totem of virility.”
“Well, it does work.” Little Doe declared, “I saw a bull elk as a maiden, married a man of great spirit-power, and my first born was a son. No less, a redhead at that. It doesn’t get anymore unique than that in our tribe.”
Lana chuckled, “I didn’t see an elk, but my firstborn is a son and a redhead too. I also have a daughter that hath hair the color of brazen copper.”
An odd look settled in Taneshewa’s eyes. She asked, “How many children do you have?”
Lana splashed warm water upon her shoulders. “I have eight. Four boys and four girls.”
“Impossible,” Dancing Rabbit exclaimed. “You have the body of a young woman.”
Lana caught herself glancing at Taneshewa’s perfectly shaped breasts, “Well, thou art too sweet.”
Donya lifted herself out of the water momentarily. “She has the most children and she looks better than us all.”
Little Doe swiftly inquired, “How many do you have, Donya?”
“I have four children. Two by my first husband and two by Pyr.”
Mendaho shrugged her shoulders. “Well I have none yet, through no fault of my own. How about you, Swan Ray?”
“I have none,” Swan Ray reported. “But I hope to have children in my season.”
“But where are your children,” Little Doe asked. “I haven’t seen any with you.”
Lana seized the opportunity to educate for Surrey’s sake. “That’s just one of the many benefits of having sister-wives. We can entrust our children to the other wives for watching when we want to go traveling. Sometimes we travel to other settlements as a group of bride-sisters and attend plays together or some other recreational activity. We, of course, all take turns to make it fair. Sometimes we rotate visiting other bride-coveys to learn from one another.”
Mendaho raised her eyebrows. “Do you travel often?”
“Yes,” Lana nodded, “we travel a lot.” Lana turned to Taneshewa. “For example my bride-sisters decided I should travel with…” Lana caught the quick look Swan Ray darted in her direction, and realized she had almost revealed too much. Keeping up this pretense was getting harder and harder. Soon she would just have to insist that Surrey tell Taneshewa.
Swan Ray then stood up out of the pool and said, “Look, look, there is one of those cute little dipper birds.”
“Oh,” Sagwi said, “Dhat what we be calling an ouzel.”
The piercing voice of a young boy came from the trail, “Mama, Mama!” Everyone submerged their bodies in the water.
“What is it, Going Snake?” Little Doe asked.
* * *
Going Snake rushed back from the Skeenah Pots to report his success at warning the women they were setting the wagon train to rolling. Sur Sceaf thanked him. Slowly, he drew a
chamois from his coat pocket, unwrapped the gift, and presented it to Going Snake. The boy’s eyes grew wide.
“For me?” he asked in awe.
“This is the gift I promised you. I obtained them from the Rune Lord.”
The boy carefully handled the deck of painted cards with both hands.
“Use them well, my little friend. I was given my deck by Old Grokk when I was your age and still have it. Keep them dry and if you have any questions about what the cards mean, just ask your father or Meny.”
“Holy Elk Spirit! For me!” He looked down at the first card bearing the image of a Long Swan. “Are they what I think they are? Are they magic cards?”
“Some say! They are catechism cards and yes, they do bear a magic.” Sur Sceaf said. “Lore masters use them to teach what the Herewardi believe. Some godhi put a lot of time into making them. So always honor his work by treating them well.”
“Surrey, I’ve gotta show my friends. They will be so jealous. Do you think I could get them a deck?”
Before Sur Sceaf could answer, he saw Mendaho approaching.
“There you are, you little chipmunk. Your mother asked if you could ride with Sagwi and me in our wagon. She wants Dancing Rabbit to ride with her today and doesn’t want little ears to tell big tales.”
“Oh, do I have to?” Going Snake pleaded. “Sur Sceaf just gave me these magic cards, and I want him to show me what they mean.”
“Let me see them.” Mendaho stretched out her hand, shuffled through the deck. “I can tell you what they mean. I have my own deck stashed with the Mountain Scrolls.”
“Meny, I want to know about this one, first,” Going Snake held up the card of the Bleeding Dragon.
“Come with me,” she winked at Sur Sceaf before taking Going Snake by the hand, “This is the card of the Bleeding Dragon. It means you must bath in the blood of the Dragon before--” she held it out for Going Snake to see as they moseyed back to her wagon.
The Frightful Dance (The King of Three Bloods Book 2) Page 30
