Witan Jewell

by Russ L. Howard

  “But, but...” The amber-haired youth stuttered then fell silent, looking both crestfallen and confused.

  “You heard her, buster,” Mendaho whipped out a sharp blade from the sheath affixed to her belt, “I’ll cut your man parts off of you right here and now.” She waved her blade in the direction of Namen Jewell. “Beat it punk!”

  At that Aelfheah headed back into the dense brush, and they watched until he disappeared behind a thicket of marsh willows.

  Ahy let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank you, Meny. He’s like a snake stalking little chicks in the grass. Every time I turn around, he’s there with that forked tongue licking up my scent. Even his compliments give me the creeps.”

  Meny nodded. “You are right to call him a snake, Ahy. This has the makings of a serpent gnawing at the roots of your happiness. I’m sure his father would kick his ass above his shoulders if he knew his son to be behaving this way.”

  Ahy sighed once again. “I know. I kept thinking it was just a passing fascination like some young men get, but this is worse. Thank goodness, he doesn’t scare me anymore. He’s just a stupid persistent annoyance.” She picked up her laundry basket and Meny did the same. “I’ve got to make Lana aware of this problem. She’s got to handle this before it becomes a crisis. In what world does one go after their father’s wife?”

  * * *

  It was a perfect day for hunting. Snake Horse left the sharaka compound and took the path far enough away from the river to cross any deer moving to get to the water. He waited in a nearby thicket of ash and cottonwoods where he had seen white tail frequenting the path.

  After waiting for a time and seeing nothing, he moved to the edge of the riparian woodland, his bow to the ready. After a few moments he spotted a buck in the field between him and the river. He was about to dispatch an arrow when he caught sight of Ahy and Meny arriving at the river with their laundry baskets. But to his surprise, instead of washing the clothes the two girls disrobed to bathe in the clear pool.

  Sorry that the buck was not to be his, he unnocked his arrow and began turning back for the camp when he caught a flash of red moving in the brush. Straining his eyes, he peered closer and realized it was a man hunkering down, watching the women bathing.

  Moving silently, careful to keep hidden, he moved in on the target. Suddenly, from behind the man, a goat sprung from the tall grasses, then several more, but the man took no notice of them at all. Instead he seemed utterly and entirely fixated on the naked women.

  Drawing closer, Snake Horse was shocked to discover it was Sur Sceaf's son hiding and spying on the splashing nudes. It took him a moment to remember the boy’s name. The youth was called Alf or was it Aelfheah, if his memory served him right. He was clearly fixated on Ahy. Straightening to his full height, Snake Horse cleared his throat and startled the boy, who sprung up in surprise, and spun around to face him.

  “You’ll want to be moving away from here young man,” he ordered in his sternest voice. “The women are bathing down there, but then I suspect that was your intention in lingering here.”

  Aelfheah's face turned as red as his sash. “Sorry,” he stuttered, “I...I...I was just rounding up my goats. I’ll be off right away. See there they are.”

  Aelfheah trilled his tongue and the goats followed him off into the willows and broom.

  Another point of the medicine wheel later, Snake Horse walked up to Surrey’s manor gate. The guards saluted him and politely inquired of his business.

  “I have business with the lady Lana. Can you tell me which building is her house?”

  “Of course,” replied the tall blond one. “It’s easy. Just follow this path til you get to the one with a big black, yellow, and white hex sign that has a red center on the gable.” He formed his arms into a tipi like shape. “That's the lady Lana’s house.”

  A few minutes later Snake Horse knocked on her door. A moment later the door opened and she had a surprised look on her face. “Why, Snake Horse, can I help thee?”

  “Yes, my lady,” Snake Horse said. “I don't wish to distress you, and I know that boys will be boys, but this morning, as I was hunting deer next to the river, I noticed your son, Aelfheah, crouched down and hiding in the bushes. It appeared he was spying on Taneshewa and Mendaho bathing. Normally, I would have taken this straight to Sur Sceaf, but as you know he’s not here.”

  Her face flushed. “How dost thou know he was watching the girls?”

  “Because my lady, I walked upon him. He was crouched down and his eyes were frozen on Taneshewa as she and Meny bathed in the river. I could see no other reason for his being there. He excused himself by saying he was looking for his goats. But the goats were clearly right behind him. I don’t think it was necessarily anything perverse. What young man would be able to resist such a sight, had it not been for the other night when I also noticed he was spying on Taneshewa at her tipi from the nearby bushes and there were surely no goats anywhere nearby. I gave him the benefit of the doubt at that time, but I can no longer consider this a boyish curiosity. It has too much energy in it. These are the types of problems that can cause misunderstandings among the tribes, so I’m just telling you so that you will fix it before it goes any further.”

  “I thank thee, Snake Horse, thou art a good-hearted man to have not publicly shamed my son. I will deal with this right away.” She looked so upset that he'd almost wished he'd kept his own counsel. But there was more at stake than a mother's distress.

  * * *

  On the appointed night of the fortnight Taneshewa was to stay with Faechild, it did not take her long to find out that she felt totally at ease in Fae's presence. Surrey's third wife was so welcoming and ingratiating, so inviting and non-judgmental, and so, so much fun to be around. Taneshewa actually felt she was sitting in her sister Sparrow Hawk's presence. They played cards, ate apple pie, drank mead together, and shared tales of Surrey over their cups.

  Faechild fired off a series of questions. “Are you settling in well with the other wives? Do we still seem strange to you? You know they've all said they like you very much.”

  “I suppose I like them too. When I stayed with Swan Hilde she taught me the Forty-Four Laws. She said each law has a corresponding star mark, and she read to me how the Rite of the Veil, what she called the Flammeum, requires confession.” Taneshewa looked up from her cards into Faechild's disarming face. “Shining Moon told me her version of the rite, but I still have a question.”

  “Sure, ask away. It's the only way you'll ever discover all our strange ways.”

  “What would happen if I decided to keep my past love life secret or only told part of it?”

  “Holy Wod, by the Seven Faery Mothers of Heredom, you would simply retard any spiritual or physical blessings that are supposed to be for the two of you to claim. It would be like burning a wet log all your life when you could have a blazing flame going right into the grave. Girl, don't you know, this is all rooted in the Ur Fyr, which you will learn about in the Elder Religion. You simply would never get the heat you would otherwise be capable of. It would be like always making love fully clothed.”

  “You mean, like Mendaho says the Quailor do?”

  “Yes, just like that. Can’t you see, sexual and spiritual power is rooted in vulnerability. The Veil in the Secret Place, the Flammeum as we sometimes call it represents the hymen and shows that pain is the door to pleasure and that all pleasure comes at a price. The Great Lore Master Alph, taught that the weakest point, in a relationship, is also the strongest point. How vulnerable can you make yourself? How far can you open your heart? If Surrey is to be your eternal lover, why would you hold back any particle of yourself from him? Confession is how we make ourselves vulnerable. Confession is the knife that severs the old relationship and opens the way for the new. I promise you, you’ll want to be a clean vessel when he pours his choice wine into you.”

  “I think I see what you are saying. Redith did tell me that Herewardi truths are always hidden in plain sig
ht, but only the sincere can know or recognize them.” She paused and contemplated for several minutes while Faechild examined her hand of cards.

  Chapter 11 : The Skipping Moonth

  It was the end of the Skipping Moonth, so called because of the playfulness of the lambs, when Sur Spear called for a special meeting at the Shepherd Hall. He had received messengers three days before telling of an incoming envoy of Kaninchens from the White Mountains expected to arrive that day. The outposts had already sent word of their passing.

  He had sent for the leadership of all three tribes to attend specifically requesting that the Durers, Vogelweides, and Yoders be in attendance. When they arrived at Shepherd Hall full of questions, the stewards explained to them the proper decorum of the hall and emphasized that all explanations must come from the High King Sur Spear and no one else.

  When the appointed time for the meeting had come, the usual opening proceedings took place. The prayer was given by Redith, who with her usual diplomacy adapted it to the Quailor ways. After she returned to her seat, Sur Spear stood with staff in hand, officially welcoming the leaders. He directed his attention to the Guest Valley, where the Quailor had been seated.

  “Beloved Quailor, friends and brethren, I have called you here with a very expectant heart. We are anticipating the arrival of a host of Kaninchens from the White Mountains. Their messengers have brought word that they bear a most precious cargo for you.”

  Amidst the stir of surprised comment, the chief steward signed that he was ready to admit the contingent. He paused as the other stewards opened the doors admitting three Kaninchen dignitaries. They approached the altar, knelt one by one on the ewe's-foot-shaped wool sack and saluted him twice.

  The tall bearded blond with thick long hair, buckskin pants, and shirt spoke first. “Hail, King Sur Spear, son of Sur, whom the gods of our fathers have greatly favored. Blessings and tidings we bear from the Lair of Kanarus. I am Andrimnir, son of Jorgmungand, first heretoga of the Kaninchens under Kanarus, son of Ilker the Fallen.”

  Sur Spear smiled, “Os-Frith, Andrimnir and welcome. Jorgmungand and I were friends. I served with your father in the Taxus Lands. Of noble blood and brave father you are come.”

  A second ambassador with tawny hair and a mustache stepped forward and said, “Hail King Sur Spear, ruler of the Herewardi Kingdoms of the Four Quarters. I am Bronoak, son of Hermod, and second heretoga of the Half-King Kanarus.”

  “Os-Frith, and welcome Bronoak, whose father is likewise known for his bravery and wisdom of old.”

  Finally, a third ambassador stepped forward. He was a Red Man clad in buckskin attire, known well in these parts. “Os-Frith, Great Chief of the Herewardi, I am Mesculera Coloratus of the Apache-Ndee and am come bearing great tidings for the Quailor.”

  “Most welcome are you, Chief Mesculera, your deeds of valor and friendship are told in many messages from the White Mountains. Numerous are the souls you have saved and many are the enemy you have put to the sword.”

  “Great King, if it please you, Andrimnir has requested that I deliver our discovery, and then he shall render an account of Kanarus' doings.”

  “Tis well. Proceed.”

  “During the Wolf Moon, we were passing through the Mogollon Mountains with our warriors when we came upon a Pitter slave train snaking into the Witch Lands at unusual speed. We sorely beset them and they fell before our bows and swords. After we put all of the Pitters and some Growlings to the knife, we took stock of the slaves, all of whom were young females ranging from four winters to twenty-two winters in age and coming from many nations. We were surprised, that unlike most Pitter captives, these were altogether not in bad condition and had been fed well. We gave them water and nourishment and then took them into Kanarus' Lair for safety. They revealed to us their nationality, some Mexus, some from several of the Rogue Nations, and three young Quailor maidens.”

  A stir rose in the hall.

  Rudolf sprung up and shouted. “Thank Gott, mine daughter liveth.”

  Lilith and Friedrich Durer hugged eachother, both in tears. Lana’s sister Ludmilla embraced her husband with joy.

  Mesculera continued after the interruption. “Shall I have them brought in, my lord.”

  “Of course!” Sur Spear said and then signaled for the stewards to escort the Quailor children in.

  The doors opened and the three little girls dressed in Apache attire walked in holding hands and blinking in surprise. As soon as the girls caught sight of their father, who was running up the aisle to them, they shouted, “Vati! Vati! Vati!”

  Tears streamed down the Rudolf's face as he knelt down and gathered the three girls in his arms. Sur Spear’s tears welled up in his eyes. There was hardly a dry eye in the entire assemblage.

  He quickly announced, “Let us all take a moment to refresh ourselves and allow our Quailor brethren to take their time in welcoming home their lost children before returning to their community to celebrate. For those who were lost are now found.”

  As the stewards served horns of mead, the Quailor rejoiced in the company of the little maidens and then they swarmed Mesculera to thank him. Sur Spear noticed with amusement that Habraham practically shook his arm off.

  Finally, he gave the stewards the sign to begin shepherding them from the hall.

  After those who remained in the hall had regained composure, Sur Spear called the assembly to order again. “Please allow me to add my gratitude to those of the family, Chief Mesculera. You have rendered a great service to the three tribes by showing that miracles do indeed happen.”

  Mesculera hesitated for a moment. “In truth, my king, we had not intended on going through the Mogollon Mountains, but Red Knife read some evil omens if we were to take our accustomed route. And now we see, it is always wisdom to consult the shaman and do his will.”

  “Indeed it is. And now I would like to call on Andrimnir, to give us an accounting of Kanarus.” Mesculera bowed and took his seat.

  The ambassador then walked to the altar and saluted once again. “As you wish, my lord. To begin with, as most know, Kanarus and his Kaninchens operate independently as an irregular Herewardi tribe in the White Mountains. There Kanarus wreaks havoc upon the Pitter legions, that attempt to pass through or near the lands of the Ndee. He has been joined by the Ndee under Chief Mesculera and together they plague the Pitter rat lines incessantly. More recently, as Chief Mesculera has indicated, they have been intercepting slave trains. He and his warriors have freed all sorts of slaves coming from the East Lands. Of late, many have been of the Black Race, and mostly female slaves coming from the South Lands.”

  Andrimnir turned towards the Roufytrof and addressed them. “We have recently engaged the might of the Pitter legions of the Skull Worm. We have discovered that the Skull Worm fights like no other Pitter leader heretofore. The rescued captives have told us, it is not greed, but creed which drives this dark fiend for he is a high priest of the Dark Brotherhood and under the sway of the Ard Elves. Our spies have it on good counsel that he he has sworn blood oaths to crush the Seed of the Woman before it can sprout. To this end, he has fixated on Lord Kanarus and Lord Sur Sceaf as his arch-enemies, by ordering his elite legions of specially seasoned warriors to extinguish them.

  “He has set up his base of operation in the city of Copperopolis in the Kalifornias as the control center of all his plans and designs. There is even a large group of Dominiker assassins that he has personally trained with the help of Rogue traitors in Charly's Harbor that he plans to unleash on the city states. Their mission is strictly to assassinate leaders and create chaos in any way they can.”

  Chapter 12 : Prying Eyes

  Although expected home soon, Sur Sceaf was still occupied in training under Raven’s Tongue in Port Ur Ford when Taneshewa received the summons from Sur Sceaf's wives to attend the Rite of Yays and Nays, to be held at Namen Jewell on the third point of the medicine wheel on Leofday. As soon as the summons had arrived she hurried off to find Mendaho, who was ju
st returning to her tipi after hauling several salmon out of a weir.

  “The summons says I may bring a companion to the meeting. So, I’ve chosen you, Meny.”

  Mendaho gutted the fish and then laid the salmon on a rack over a slow cooking fire. “No more doubts? No more second thoughts?”

  “None! In fact it's so odd, but after spending time with the wives, and having all my questions answered, I can't believe I fought the idea of becoming his wife. So far seventy two of the eighty-eight days of the waiting period have passed and now I can't wait to join them. Paloma said I was to use this time to see if my heart was truly into joining Surrey's family or not. I want to join them.”

  Meny stored the basket outside next to the wood pile. “What if they reject you, Ahy?”

  “That possibility has occurred to me, but seems so unlikely now. So, I have no idea what I would do. I already love Sur Sceaf more than I ever loved Standing Bull. I simply wouldn't be able to live with a 'no' answer. But Sur Sceaf told me that if I felt good in their presence, then the answer would be a 'yes.' I’ve felt good around most of them, although I confess I feel extreme envy for Faechild, she’s so beautiful with her snow-white skin and her lips all bloody red and then there is that glorious mass of soft golden hair. Look at mine, we Sharaka all look alike, Meny.” Ahy fingered one of her braids. “Our hair all looks as black as a raven. It’s just hard to believe Surrey could find me as attractive as her.”

  “Look at me! I’m considered a beauty, but no one has asked me to marry them. Ahy, you are every bit as beautiful as her and obviously Sur Sceaf discovered that beauty the moment he set eyes on you. He saw what I feel all the time, in here.” She touched her chest. “It’s more than beauty Sur Sceaf is looking for. He’s a god to his own people. He didn’t have to stop at six or seven wives, he could have had his fill and more around him. Yet he chose you above all of them.”