The Frightful Dance (The King of Three Bloods Book 2)

by Russ L. Howard

  Taneshewa wondered how Sagwi could still be on Surrey’s side, when it was obvious he was so wrong. “Why would I ever do that? It’s obvious he has wronged me just as bad as Standing Bull ever did.”

  “Ain’t no way Surrey is anything like da Standin’ Bull. Dhat toad-livered liar only dhinks about hisself and what him want. Don’t hab no care fur anybody, but hisself. But Surrey, he only dhinks of protecting you and makin juor love special. He done tried to protect ju from being hurt before you got a good understanding of how dhem Herewardi operate in marriage. You knowed in yo heart der be powerful medicine betwixt and between ju two. Him tell me he know’d soon as him laid eyes on you, ju owned his heart. Don’t be throwin’ dhis good love away, like I did. Ahy, ju know I love yo like my own daughter, else I wouldn’t be talkin’ hard to you like dhis. Now, ju go find some quiet place and dhink bout what Thunder Horse done scryed for ya.”

  “Why don’t you scry for me, Sagwi?”

  “Ol girl! Don’t ju go temptin’ da gods. Ju have jour answer. ‘Sides dhis ain’t no decision for anybody, but ju to make. Ju got to believe it all da way in jour heart, elsewise it ain’t no use. Ju might as well lib jour life alone if’n ju throw this love away.”

  * * *

  By late afternoon a deep fog had settled over the land, bringing with it a chill that was unlike the bright morning that had preceded it. Familiar sounds were muffled. The women quickly hustled to collect their clothing from the lines before the damp mist could settle. Mothers called their children close, fearing the movement of predators, and the possibility of them getting lost.

  Two boys on their way home from fishing were startled by a strange hiss coming from a thicket of coffee berry trees on the edge of the Quailor Camp. They exchanged startled looks then took off running for their wagons.

  Fromer had called the dycons together for an emergency meeting. Each one was told to slip away without telling anyone where he was going. He had been addressing the dycons when he caught sight of two boys with fishing poles. Afraid he would be overheard, he stopped in mid-sentence and waited for them to pass. But he was too late. They had clearly heard something, for they were startled and darted off like spooked fawns. Secret meetings like this one were strictly forbidden under Quailor Law and he knew it, but he explained that such a meeting could be conducted under the Clause of Extreme Unction found in the Book of Martyrs. He knew that was not true, but he had grown tired of the heathens repeatedly chopping his legs out from under him. As soon as he was sure the boys were well beyond hearing, he resumed speaking.

  “It’s a good thing Sur Sceaf called an arrest to our march or I would have. I warned you that this plan of the heathens to join the three tribes together is altogether a sink of iniquity; full of rot, guts, and gore. It reeketh of depravity. I wish that all of ye had seen that barbaric tournament that I inadvertently and unwillingly witnessed.” He nearly wretched at the memory of the demonic practices he had seen. “Why, I swear unto you, there were cock fights, naked men and boys wrestling, and men and women dancing together. It was much worse than that Booger Dance. I’ve never seen such a demonic display of blasphemy. As far as I am concerned, this was all done to mock our Sabbath.”

  He was pleased to see that Linney Knighton, the youngest of dycon’s was emphatically nodding his head at every word out of Fromer’s mouth. Linney was young, but just as devout as him about Retrenchment. “Brother Dycons, I have seen with mine own eyes, that they practice naked witchcraft too. What shall be done Brother Muckenschnabel?” He edged forward. “We are at their mercy. This heathenism infiltrateth us all.”

  Fromer was proud that his protege was like a hound picking up the same scent he was. Since he couldn’t have eyes and ears in the corners of the camps, he relied on Linney to keep him informed of the iniquities and practices he was sent out to observe.

  Fromer continued, “Brother Dycons, I’ve had about as much as I can take. That savage, Thunder Horse, pretendeth to have visions. Did you see him waving smoking wands over those sick people instead of taking them to our hospitalers the way good people should do? I even spied Kachina idols in one of their wagons as I was passing. And, I ask you, where is our chief high priest in all this?”

  Linney popped up. “I’ll tell you, sitting in court with those heathens.”

  “Brother Linney is correct. Elijah’s supposed to be the role model. As the brother of Ludwig Hollar, the children hold him up as their example. But now, because he is so much in the company of savages and heathens, the children are beginning to think they can act like these heathens. The girls are taking off their teichls in the wildwood and letting their hair hang free to blow in the wind, young men are running around on hot days with their shirts off, and I even caught one of the maidens reading a book called Shakespeare’s Love Sonnets that she admitted was a gift from one of those red-coated demons she met.”

  “Don’t forget they have those devil cards, Brother Fromer,” Linney interjected.

  “Yes, of course. That’s why I called this secret meeting and everybody here must agree to keep what is said here under our eyes only. Normally, I wouldn’t call a special meeting on the Sabbath. I chust don’t think it would do for anyone to know we are meeting secretly. Before we proceed with my plans, by a show of hands, how many agree not to reveal what is said in this meeting to anyone else?”

  Fromer looked around. To his satisfaction all hands were raised.

  “Now, swear by your throats.” Fromer made the motion of holding both thumbs to his throat. “Swear it!”

  All swore save only Luther Hahnsauer, who only half swore.

  “Bruder Luther,” Fromer said with a stern gaze, aware that other dycon’s were showing some reluctance, “why aren’t you swearing?”

  “Because, I will only swear on things that matter. I already agreed to keep this a secret meeting, but I will not be lead by a flaxen cord like a calf to the slaughter. I must know the full purpose of this meeting first. Otherwise, I am opposed to it. Not always, but usually if a meeting is held in secret then it is to do dark deeds. I am not going to participate in dark deeds and were I frank, something feeleth wrong with this.”

  “Well, then maybe thou oughtest hear about their dark deeds,” Fromer declared. “Linney tell them what you saw.”

  Linney stood up, hat in hand circling his fingers nervously as he spoke, “I was chust walking up by the Skeenah Pots when I spooked an elk. I looked down to see where it was running, only to see pools full of naked Sharaka and Herewardi nymphs bathing nude before my very eyes. One of those Sharaka women, called Taneshewa, cast a powerful witch’s spell over me before I could avert my eyes and flee. But now I can’t even get her out of my head if I wanted. Even after Fromer hath given me a blessing, my blood boileth yet, and I’ve spilled my seed without wanting to twice already. It’s like a lust that burneth in me, like an unquenchable bloody fire in my bones. Since then, I’ve realized that was not an elk I followed, but the Devil himself what led me there. I tell you, we’ve got to get away from these savages and heathens before they’re the end of us all.”

  “Taneshewa!” Georg exclaimed. “She’s the one that hath cast a spell over Sur Sceaf. I saw her pull him off in the wood at the Booger Dance. She’s got him totally bewitched if you ask me.”

  “Well, even a good man can be corrupted by a temptress,” Fromer declared. “The purpose of this meeting is to discuss strategies on dealing with the heathen people we travel with.” Fromer smiled and put a finger to his chin. “So that we do not have anymore shocks such as that Booger Dance or those nymphs bathing where all could see their nakedness we must move cleverly to put a halt to it all.”

  “Of course,” Luther spoke up, “we must protect our culture, but we must also remember the Sharaka and Herewardi are a different people. We could have left the dance if it didn’t suit us. And remember Sur Sceaf is part Quailor through his grandfather, a man I always admired. He understandeth our uniqueness and he hath tried to honor it. And if ye ask me,
the bathers were being discreet. After all, when I planned to go hunting, I reviewed the map of this area which Elijah holds, and those Skeenah Pots are way off the trail and out of where we Quailor agreed to go. I don’t recall anyone else saying they saw the bathers. It seemeth peculiar to me that Linney said he saw them when he was following an elk, but as long as I can remember Linney doth not hunt nor doth he have a bow. Do you Linney?”

  The boy flushed red. “I don’t hunt, but I was going to report the elk to one of you. It chust slipped my mind.”

  “Such diligence. Those pots must be a quarter of a mile away up steep slopes in the depths of the forest.”

  “About that disgraceful pageant,” Walter Wetzel said, “all I know is as soon as I realized what was going on, my family and I left and went back to our wagon and any of us could have done the same, even thee, Bruder Fromer. We may find their ways distasteful, but where will we go if we don’t go with these people. We have no real weapons, save little in the way of our bows and knives. We saw what only a small band of Pitters did to some of our people on your berry hunt. Chust think for a moment what an army of those demons could do to us. I have faith in God, but I’m not going to tempt him by walking into some unprotected land. Seemeth to me, we want to slay the horse that’s carrying us to safety. Thou hast no children Fromer, so thou dost not have the same concerns I do. I don’t want to end up like Hartmut.”

  Luther Hahnsauer shook his head, “Fromer, if thou hast something to say that requireth the vote of the dycons, then I’d appreciate if thou wouldst say it in an open and stated meeting and not in the hush hush of a dark thicket. It made me feel guilty chust sneaking up here. I felt like a rat in a corn crib. Have we stooped so low? My conscience telleth me, I mustn’t be part of this.”

  Fromer felt his grip over the dycons slipping. It angered him that Elijah was winning this battle for the hearts of his people. He knew he was the only hope for the Quailor. “Well, suit yourselves, but we will meet again. I’m not letting this go. I pity you and your lack of faith. Ye have all become lukewarm, fit only to be spewed out and ye don’t even realize it.”

  “I’m coming with thee, Bruder Luther,” Walter said as he cinched up his suspenders and put his hat on. “It chust seemeth like more of the same fighting between Fromer and Elijah. When’s it going to stop?”

  Fromer gritted his teeth. “I charge you to examine your own hearts and faulty thinking. God hath called me to the task of saving his people from the broad path of sin. I am the only salvation for the Quailor now, Elijah is our enemy. If ye keep following this goat to the slaughter, God will damn you all as heretics.

  “Then so be it,” Luther declared, “but my conscience will be clear.”

  Georg and Walter nodded their agreement and disappeared into the fog. With only three of the seven remaining, Fromer seethed with frustration. “I can see they won’t be persuaded until we have some hard evidence.”

  The silent one, Hans Schneckenhaus, spoke up, his tone apologetic. “Bruder Fromer, methinketh the real danger is that we make a schism amongst our own people. Wouldn’t it be better that we wait until we come into our new lands before we start such a schism?”

  Fromer responded. “Hans, thou must take the snake by its head before it beddeth with thee. We need spiritual warriors, not watchers.”

  “Well, thou canst always count on me Bruder Fromer.” Linney said.

  “I too am on thy side, Bruder Fromer. I can’t fault the other dycons who have chust left this meeting. They follow the correct path in pursuing their conscience. What we need is further evidence that is convincing to make us all one body of dycons again.”

  Fromer’s eyes popped wide open, “Linney, this day, thy faith shall redeem thee. The Good Book sayeth Moses sent spies into the Promised Land. From now on I want thee to keep an even closer eye on Sur Sceaf, and let me know all his comings and goings.”

  “What can I do, Bruder Fromer?” Ichabod asked.

  “Ichabod Schwartzherz, my old faithful, I charge thee to follow Hartmut Hagele like a hound on a rabbit. Sniff him out for me. Remember that wicked dance, well, it was Hartmut who lent them the Quailor clothes to mock us all with. He hath not been right since he lost his wife and I think that he layeth her death at my feet. It’s obvious to me at least, that he hath rejected the Word. Yet, far too many foolish people listen to whatever he sayeth. I fear, that with that smooth serpent tongue of his, he might convince the others to ignore the counsel of the dycons. He hath that gift, you know. As for me, I am going to keep my eyes and ears on Elijah. All of us need to amass notes on any of their improprieties until we have built a solid case to present.”

  Hans said, “I’ll have nothing to do with spying. It’s too much dark work. It is written, let thy nays be nays and thy yeas be yeas. I think it’s time I be going back to my family.”

  “Remember, thou art sworn to secrecy.”

  As he led his cadre of devout dycons back for the Quailor camp they heard a great ruckus coming from the other side of the hill. Fromer halted to listen more carefully. It sounded like an alarm in the camp. There were voices shouting and screaming as though there was a battle going on.

  “Let’s turn aside and see what all that commotion is.”

  As they crested the grassy hill, the fog thinned. On the other side of the hill the meadow had a thin mist allowing them to clearly see two groups of teen boys running up and down with netted sticks and tossing a leather object. One group was painted white. The others were in their bare skins and spectators were gathered on either side of the meadow.

  “What in the devil are they doing?” Fromer asked, appalled that there were women in the crowd.

  “It looketh like some sort of sport.” Linney offered. “They’re throwing a ball with those sticks and fighting each other to catch it in those nets.”

  “Bruders, do ye not see what I mean? Linney, dost thou see now? Ichabod art thou seeing this? Look how they flaunt their nakedness in front of the women who don’t even turn away and I can see their balls even from here. How disgusting!”

  Linney said, “See, I told you, their women are all nymphs.”

  Ichobod tugged on Fromer’s arm and pointed. “Look there at the edge of the crowd!”

  Fromer directed his gaze toward the near side of the crowd. “I’ll be damned. That’s Herman and he’s gawking at all those young naked men. Damnable! Come bruders, we don’t want to pollute our minds with this kind of carnality. I’m going straight to Sur Sceaf and Elijah and demanding to know why they are allowing these abominations to happen within our hearing. It’s a direct affront on our sensibilities.”

  “But maybe we should see what Herman is really doing?” Ichabod posited. “Perhaps God lead us here so we could prevent more sin?”

  “It is true. He’s providing us with the evidence we are seeking to prove Elijah is a fallen high priest. Elijah, would not allow us to leave Herman behind in Salem, like I called for. But I revealed to you his sin and you know the man is corrupt and carnal to the core. You are all witnesses that Herman was there in the midst of those naked youth. People need to know the poison Elijah is allowing to spread because he’s ignoring heresy in our very midst. God hath called me to this task and now he hath shown us that we must act. I will remain silent no longer.”

  Chapter 19 : Colliding Rivers, Colliding Cultures

  Sur Sceaf sat with Elijah, Little Doe, Mendaka, and Going Snake in the Camp of Pyrsyrus. Sur Sceaf was showing his own Herewardi catechism cards to Going Snake. He had made the mistake of mentioning them and now the boy wanted to see them. Memories of sitting with Redith and being scared to death of the Grim Reaper Card appeared, flashed through his mind like heat lightning. But Going Snake showed no fear of it and passed over it like it was nothing, and even seemed bored when Sur Sceaf explained its meaning. However when Sur Sceaf turned over the Dragon Card, the child’s face lit up with interest and he plied Sur Sceaf with question after question.

  When they came to the end of t
he deck Going Snake asked, “How come you don’t have any palaces or the Silver Queen in your cards.”

  “That’s because they hadn’t been added. The Silver Queen was only a girl when I got my deck of cards and King Pyrsyrus had not begun to build his palace. The skalds add cards to add noted landmarks in our progress. All you have to do is hold your deck beside mine and you can see your deck is larger than mine.”

  “Your deck is worn and rough looking.”

  Mendaka said, “Your’s will be the same someday. Surrey has used those cards since we were children together.”

  Going Snake turned to Elijah. “Brother Quailor, what kind of cards do your people have?”

  Elijah smiled warmly on the boy. “An excellent question, young man. We don’t have cards to teach us about our people and history, chust one book with no pictures, chust lots of words. I would be happy to share it with thee someday, if thou wouldst like.”

  “No, I like pictures better than scribbling. Like this one.” Going Snake declared. He held up a card with a full moon and the number thirteen on it, showed it to Sur Sceaf and asked, “What does this one mean, Surrey?”

  “It means the Thirteenth Moonth. I was born on the fourth day of the Thirteenth Moonth. But why don’t you want to read Elijah’s book?”

  “It just seems boring. You know, the Quailor never do anything fun. They just farm and sing, and look down on people like crows from a branch.”

  Elijah laughed. “It might sound boring, but there are tales of being swallowed by whales, and seas dividing for people to walk through, and people being thrown into pits of lions.”