The people were beyond listening. A roar of accusations and angry shouts filled the air. To Lana, those surrounding Elijah and Rudolf appeared like agitated black bats on a cave wall.
“Stop it! All of you!” Lana yelled at the top of her lungs. The crowd appeared shocked into silence. Faces turned toward her. Sur Sceaf tightened his arm in silent encouragement. “I know it is not the custom for women to speak out in this community, but I am convinced this situation demandeth otherwise. By Gott, I speak with the authority of a sister and a mother.” It felt good to have Sur Sceaf standing at her side as her silent bulwark. “As you know my family hath suffered grievous losses. I have lost a dear sister and at least two beloved nieces that I had just begun to know. Listen to Brother Elijah, today is not the day to assign guilt or blame. Please, lieber Geschwistern, Elijah is right. Today is a day to grieve and remember our loved ones. Let’s at least spend the rest of our time doing that.”
Hartmut added quickly. “I understand the need to affix blame, but I sustain Sister Lana and Brother Elijah’s request that we preserve this day for grieving alone.”
“Here, here!” Went up from most of those assembled with only few shouts of dissension.
People began to disperse. Surrey turned to her and said, “That’s my brave little Freckle Fox.”
* * *
Lana and Surrey returned to the Quailor Camp for a dinner. The table was already set under a canvas canopy next to her parents’ wagon. Though the air was chill, the table looked warm and inviting with a denim tablecloth and piping hot chicken pot pie. The children were seated at an adjoining table. The adult family was all gathered around the table drinking warm wassail made from the local apples. After Lana and Surrey greeted Lana’s parents, Ludmilla rose from the table to hug them both. She displayed the slight swell beneath her black mourning smock.
Lana drew back and offered Ludmilla a smile. “Dearest Sister, I perceive thou art with child. When dost thou expect the baby to arrive?”
Lana gave a tearful smile. “It will be in February. If it’s a girl, I will name her Ana after her cousin and my god-child, Ana von der Vogelweide. If a boy, then after my two nephews, Zephaniah Ishmael.”
As Surrey greeted the family and Ludmilla’s husband, Lana pulled Ludmilla to the side. “Hast thou seen Rudolf since the grief service?” She whispered.
“I haven’t, but I heard he hath taken up refuge with his parents. Methinketh it wise he depart. Father Friedrich is in a murderous mood.”
She shot a glance over at her father, the weight of his loss visibly written on his every motion and his face looked like it was ready to drop off. “As thou markest, there is no place set for him at the table.”
The dinner was delicious, but somber. Most of the conversations were centered on mundane activities. Friedrich asked endless questions about the soil types and pasturage in Ur Ford. He was pleased to hear that the weather would be milder than that of Salem and that both cattle and sheep seemed to prosper in the Sea air. Sur Sceaf told him that many of the pastures are river bottom with sandy loam soil, lots of huckleberries and cranberries, and the grasses make a sweet hay. Lana noted that as Sur Sceaf answered his questions that Friedrich was relaxing a bit. However, she did not note the usual give and take between her parents. Something had come between them.
As the women cleared the tables, Lilith declared, “I have prepared a nice bread pudding for you. I hope, thy man liketh bread pudding.”
Ludmilla’s two oldest daughters were clearing the children’s table. When they heard about dessert, they set up a clamor. Lilith and her two older granddaughters, Katherin and Bergita, served the wooden bowls of pudding while Sur Sceaf and Ernst lighted torches against the growing twilight. All around the encampment others were doing the same adding a warm glow against the chill night air. The cacophony of coyotes in the distant hills heralded the approach of night.
Sur Sceaf said, “This looks wonderful, Mother Lilith. It’s been a long time since I’ve tasted bread pudding.”
Ludmilla asked, “Why, Surrey, doesn’t Lana make this dish for thee?”
“Believe me, she makes great dishes. This just isn’t one of them.”
Lana was pleased to see that his comment brought a smile to her mother’s face.
Lilith said, “Of all my girls, Lana always wanted to try something different and was always pestering travelers and merchants for their recipes. It is what we call fremdzucht.”
Ludmilla chuckled, “Yea, I remember, that Hickoyan bread she once made and added too much yeast. It exploded in the oven and looked like a turkey cleaved in half, but oh, how delicious it was.”
Surrey beamed at her. “Another piece of my darling’s history I have never heard before.”
Even Friedrich let out a chuckle. “Oh, Surrey, the tales I could tell thee of that girl.”
“Papa, thou dost not dare!”
A dark shadow fell across the table. Lana looked up and Rudolf stood in the glow of a torch with his two children and a nurse maid holding a baby, swaddled against the chill. Lana recognized the girl as the middle daughter of Rudolf’s oldest brother, Gretta von der Vogelweide.
Friedrich was red-faced with anger when Lilith placed a firm grip on his shoulder and warned, “Vati, guard thy tongue well. Thy grandchildren are here.”
Rudolf took off his hat, “Father Friedrich, I know thou must hate me. No matter how much thou hatest me it cannot be any worse than mine own self-loathing. No greater torture could ever be devised for me other than that which I witnessed. I can never look at the world as a safe place again. Nor can I ever tempt Gott again. Never! Have mercy on my wretched soul. Please! My daughters will need their grandparents.”
Lilith hurriedly declared, “Ye children are chust in time. Come with me to the wagon, I have a special treat for you.”
Ludmilla stood up and said, “Allow me, Mother, I’ll get them the bread pudding.”
Friedrich was tight-lipped. His flushed face looked like it was ready to blow. He was not willing to let Rudolf get any absolution from his grief.
Lilith said, “My husband and I are not in agreement about our relationship with thee, Rudolf. I will point his mind to the times thou and he hunted the woods together and how pleased he was with the cattle that thou didst breed. And I would have him mark how delighted he was, when thou didst propose to Verushka. He even said, ‘T’was a marriage made in Heaven’.”
“There may come a time when I can forgive thee, but do not dare to ask such of me when my wounds are raw and bare. But unlike thee, Rudolf, I shall honor my wife’s wishes and shall not banish thee from our hearth.”
“I bare my back and my heart before thee, Father Friedrich.”
Lana leaned forward and captured Rudolf’s eyes with hers. She said ernestly,“Brother Rudolf, Verushka knew she was most likely going to her death, but loved thee with all her heart and followed thee anyway. That type of love hath got to mean something. Thou wast at least worthy of her love.”
“As I loved her. It will be a bleak future without her.”
“But she is gone and now the light hath gone out of our family. She would not want thee to destroy thy life because of a lack of judgment. We should honor that love and respect her memory by carrying on with her children. I am at least pleased that thou and three of the children yet live. Let’s see if we can somehow turn these ashes into roses.”
Rudolf choked as he struggled to speak, “I thank thee for those words, Sister Lana. Having thee come back into her life, made her last days filled with such joy.”
Rudolf then turned to Sur Sceaf. “I now understand that thou wast right all along, Surrey. Ach mein Gott, I understand how right thou wast to declare that I would be leading them into Hell. I now see the absolute necessity of fighting these demons until they are utterly extinguished.”
“What about your belief in Retrenchment?”
“To hell with Retrenchment and Fromer be damned. I want to help in this crusade anyway I can. I pledge my
self to the goals of the three tribes and thee as the leader. If I must take up spear and sword, then, so be it.”
Surrey was pleased. “I accept your pledge,” he said in a firm voice. “The time will come for its collection, but for now you need to care for your family. Your greatest service will be here in your community. Fromer is currently on probationary status as a dycon for maliciously stirring up rebellion against Elijah. Your influence in speaking out against Retrenchment will greatly aid the cause of the three tribes. Once we are firmly established on the coast, you will be safe in invoking your beliefs of Retrenchment.”
“From this point on, Surrey, I serve no God but thee.”
Gretta, the nurse maid, held Verushka’s baby. Gretta quietly took a seat near the wagon to nurse the stirring child and her tears dripped down on the babies face as she suckled. “Onkel Rudolf, Sister Lana hath spoken great wisdom here. This new precious baby is testament to that love. Thou must forgive thyself so that thou mayest live fully for them. That should be thy atonement.”
The baby squeezed her index finger in her palm and clung to it. It was so precious in her tiny lace cap, wrapped in a soft merino wool blanket. Lana couldn’t help comparing her to Brekka as an infant. Tears welled up afresh in her eyes. The poor little girl would never know her mother.
As though reading her mind, Surrey remarked, “Looks a lot like Brekka. Doesn’t she?”
Lilith said, “I have missed so much of thy children’s lives, Lana, I look forward to meeting them and to be surrounded by all my little darlings.”
“Rudolf, hast thou given this child a name yet?” Lilith asked, half crying.
“Not yet. We were on the trail during her third month with no high priest to record the name of the child in the Annals of the Quailor or perform the Giving of the Name,” Rudolf declared.
“Then, with thy permission, I shall name her and we’ll have Elijah write it in the records of the church.”
“That would be the way Verushka would want it to be, I’m sure.”
Lilith closed her eyes for a moment as though she was attempting to communicate with her deceased daughter. “Then she shall be named Eurydice Verushka von der Vogelweide.”
Rudolf nodded, “We’ll chust call her Veru.” He put his face in his hands and wept.
Chapter 23 : Oh, A Happy Day!
An oddly sunny day for the Dark Moonth shone over the rolling grasslands of the Clashing Rivers Encampment. As high noon rolled around, Hartmut Hagele decided he needed a full bath. He scouted out a remote section of the river where large rocks afforded him some semblance of privacy. There was also ample foil of elderberry and salal to undress in. He scanned the area to make doubly sure he was completely alone, kicked off his shoes, socks, and hat, then stripped down to his bare skin, hung his white shirt and pants from a nearby bush and took off his red long john underwear.
Slowly and cautiously he moved into the frigid waters stifling a scream as the cold hands of the river water moved up his body, sucked air through his teeth and waited as inch by agonizing inch he waded in deeper. He placed the lye soap on a nearby flat stone and waited til he was completely ensheathed in water up to his naval, sucked one last breath and then plunged in until he was totally submerged. He split the surface with a yell, “Aarghhh! For Gott’s sake, that is colder than a witch’s elbow!”
He swam over to the flat stone, thoroughly soaped down, scrubbed his hair and beard, then swam out into the deeper hole to rinse off and work up some body heat. His skin began to radiate some warmth as he made like a fish and dove deep then thrust himself up out of the water like a missle, exhilarated by the absolute freedom of being alone and refreshingly clean. He was starting to adjust to the cold. He dove back under again, and opened his eyes to watch the passing salmon.
When he re-surfaced, the first sound that struck his ear was the distinct high pitch giggle of maidens. He shook the water from his hair and looked out across the top of the water. Three Sharaka maidens with baskets full of salal berries and acorns were returning from a berry picking foray. Did they see me? he wondered. He tried sinking as low as he could with just his eyes above the water. This is unbelievable. They are stopping to watch me. Hartmut quickly ducked under the water then eased his eyes just above the surface like a beaver to watch the pestering girls. What are they doing? Damned little wenches. Get the hell out of here.
One of the maidens began gathering up his clothes. She turned with his red underwear and his white shirt. She can’t? She wouldn’t dare? She was holding up his underwear and mockingly flagging him. His heart sank. I’m in a hell of a fix here. As he sharpened his focus, he recognized that the maiden flagging him was that feisty Sharaka wench, Mendaho. Oh! That little hussy. When I get her, I’m going to throttle the snot out of her.
“Woo hoo! Hey, Black Hatter, those were some nice white cheeks you showed us there.” The other girls laughed as Mendaho assumed various poses with the red underwear. “This time you’re going to lend me your clothes with no more fuss, aye.” She turned her bum towards him and shook it.
Then taking his trousers from the bush, she stretched the suspenders like a bow string and then taunted. “What have we here?” Hoisting his black hat in the air, she brought it down on her head. “Who would have thought? The perfect fit.”
She tossed the white shirt to one of the other girls and tossed his pants to yet another. Hartmut strove to hear what they were saying. At first it was just all a chortle then he heard a girl distinctly say, “I can use this shirt. I’ll take it with me.”
He watched as they gathered the remainder of his clothes, took a detour onto the deer path and traipsed off into the brush with his hat still atop Mendaho’s head.
“Thanks for lending us your clothes, Black Hatter.” Mendaho boldly taunted him from the bank. The girls turned and wiggled their butts, then thumbed their noses at him.
He shouted at the top of his lungs. “You black-hearted impish perts. Go back to hell where you belong. You’ll burn for this one, you little hussies.” He swam furiously for shore.
Mendaho shouted back a challenge. “You’re never going to catch me. Black Hatter?”
Her mouth dropped as he rose naked and enraged out of the water. Mendaho waved his red underwear tauntingly one last time. Then the three of them darted through the brush, giggling loud enough to be heard. “Black Hatter, you know where to find me if you want your clothes.”
Wading as fast as he could, Hartmut yelled, “Stop, ye damned heathen brats, stop it right now! Bring my clothes back this instant or I’ll skin your asses alive.”
As soon as he reached the bank he ran as fast as his feet would allow down the stoney path, cursing as the sharp stones bruised his feet. “If I get my hands on you, I am going to wring your damned necks like chickens.” He was mortified at the thought of trying to get back to his wagon without clothes and thought she’d gone way too far this time. His anger mounted. “I am going to kill you!” he shouted above the brush whipping at his bare skin.
Mendaho stopped, turned and said, “Not now you won’t. You’re in no position to do much of anything. You’re too rigid to do anything, Hard Mud.”
“That does it,” Hartmut shouted. “I’ll show thee who’s rigid.” As he pursued, she disappeared around a copse of deer brush.
Hartmut made his feet move as fast as they could, running naked down the trail with all the energy he could summon till he came upon a neatly folded pile of his clothing directly in his path. He stopped and caught his breath, hurriedly dressed, and breathed a sigh of angry relief. Damn it, she’s not getting away with this one. That wench is going to pay dearly!
With a grin, he plopped his hat back on his head.
* * *
Taneshewa pulled on her favorite brain-tanned white buck-skin dress with its intricate beading of an owl on the back and fanged serpents running up each sleeve. Little Doe tied a white ivory choker with a rattlesnake rattle and a raven feather about her neck. “This will give you luck.”
The fire in the middle of Dancing Rabbit’s tipi burned bright as Mendaho added fresh logs.
“I don’t want to make any big deal of this breakfast,” Taneshewa said. “But how do I look?”
Mendaho scrunched her nose up.“You look like a cat in heat, girl. You’ll have Surrey swallowing his tongue.”
“Mendaho, that’s a little too much,” Ahy flushed. “I just want to know if I look acceptable.”
“Oh, Taneshewa,” Dancing Rabbit said, “you look absolutely stunning. You look like First Mother!”
“Do you really think so?” Taneshewa glanced down.
Sagwi chimed in, “You look good enough to eat girl.” Sagwi held a cup of bear grease with red paint mixed in. “Here let me put just a little more red into those cheeks and on jour lips.”
Taneshewa closed her eyes as Sagwi lightly smoothed the color over Ahy’s cheeks.
“I wish all of you could come with me.” Ahy said. “Then I wouldn’t feel so intimidated.”
Dancing Rabbit said, “You mustn’t feel that way. You are a daughter of a chief and Surrey is the son of a king. There is no difference.”
“But Pyrsyrus is a king. His tent is like that portable palace we saw on the Herewardi catechism cards. And he’s so rich and wealthy. He’s a sea-king.” Taneshewa rubbed some more of the red makeup on her lips. “I mean, I’ve never even been inside it, but it’s so huge, so white, and it has two golden pillars before the door. I walked by one day and I could see the deepest blood red draperies within. It makes me feel like I will always be an outsider.”
“Dat’s just da way da Herewardi are, Ahy, my dear,” Sagwi said. “Dat’s just da way dhose Herewardi do it. Dhey love dha beautiful and fine dhings of dhis here world. When I’s gone to visit my sister, Redith, down in Witan Jewell, I’s done seen prettier tents dhan his. It was at what dem Herewardi calls a ‘tournament.’”
The Frightful Dance (The King of Three Bloods Book 2) Page 41
