Rise of the Death Walkers (The Circle of Heritage Saga)

by Lawrence Nason Jr.

  He paused for a moment and looked into the fire.

  “My forefathers were the first to be taken to Denastis and the stories of the initial days there have been told to our people since our return. They were kind and beautiful beings. I myself have seen only one of them in my lifetime but what I saw was beyond joy or beauty. They could have posed as the Great Spirits had they wanted to. Instead they chose to come as equals and teach us what we needed to know for our defense.”

  The next spirit I talked to was the Great-mother of the tribe during the time when the first white man settled our lands and began slowly to take from us what was ours.

  “When the white man came they opened up the floodgates for the Soul Reapers to feast. We had difficulty holding back the advance because our talents had not developed to a point where we could effectively fight. We were constantly losing ground because we had not only the Soul Reapers to battle but the white man too. I lost many sons and daughters during this time. My first husband was gutted before my own eyes as I was forced to watch.” She looked at me with pain evident in her eyes.

  “You will without a doubt lose loved ones in the battle but you cannot let this defer you from your goals. We have to have victory over this enemy. Years of suffering calls for revenge and this charge I lay on your shoulders. Avenge all the people who have been lost during this war.”

  I bowed my head to her and replied. “The blood of the enemy will be on my hands to provide fuel for vengeance, Great-mother.”

  During that long night I conferred with the people of my family line. Answers were provided by learning for the first time just how long my family line was. There were chiefs from thousands of years before the white man came to this land. Many examples of the problems and solutions that my ancestors faced. The last spirit I spoke to was the medicine man from the time of the first great war.

  “Grandson. We saw the evil in the eyes of the enemy on the front lines. They were not Germans, but they were possessed by feeding Soul Reapers. The war we fought beside the white man of America was just another battle in the long line of battles we fought. Every conflict from the beginning of this war had been sparked by the enemy the white man is unable to see.”

  “You mean that during the second World War that Hitler was being fed on by Soul Reapers?”

  “Actually considering the way the war has changed recently we believe he may have been one of the first primitive Death Walkers. When he no longer could be fed on, he committed suicide leaving the horrors of the war behind for men to clean up.”

  This session was long and detailed and it was midmorning the next day before we withdrew from the Circle to go home to prepare for the wedding dance.

  I thanked my grandfather and withdrew to my room to prepare for the wedding dance.

  My clothing for the day would be all self made. I donned the traditional wedding suit for the males of our tribe. It had been difficult to find the proper deerskin for the ceremony and when we finally had enough together it had taken nearly two months for me to put the suit together properly. I would be wearing the traditional buckskin vest and pants with a sewn cotton shirt. The wolf emblem on the back depicted the white wolf of a chief done in beautiful white beads.

  I carefully braided my hair and entwined the white tail father of the eagle in the last few strands.

  Katie had chosen the traditional white doeskin dress the females of the tribe wore and the only difference would be the footwear. Traditionally the male would make the footwear for the woman but Katie had chosen to wear the footwear that my grandfather had made for my grandmother. Mimi was excited that Katie chose to honor her in the way she did. The wedding dance was one of my grandmothers most cherished memories.

  The ceremony itself was simple. The bride would arrive in a canoe across the large pond behind my grandfather’s place. My arrival would be on a white horse that belonged to my uncle. I walked to my uncle’s farm to get the animal, having already timed when I would need to leave. The requirement of the state for witnesses would be covered not by a couple of people but the whole tribe. The actual ceremony would be not carried through by the elected chief of the tribe but by my grandfather who had been the last chief before elections who had been chosen in the traditional manner of the great mother choosing.

  I had asked Katie months before if she wanted a traditional ceremony of the tribe complete with wedding dance or if she would prefer to have her own minister marry us. She said because she was already an honorary member of the tribe she wanted to do it our way. Mimi had taken great pains to instruct her in the proper steps of the dance and I had looked on a few times as they practiced. Katie had a ball learning and Mimi seemed to enjoy it as well.

  Dr. Grant agreed to the ceremony we would hold with the one condition he be allowed to film it in its entirety. This caused a storm in the council because up until now the ceremony had never been recorded. Grandfather put his foot down and the council let him have his way as long as the film went no further than members of both families or members of the six nations.

  They had a firm resolve that outside of Dr. Grant and his family no white man would ever see the sacred wedding dance of our tribe.

  I waited until the proper time and rode out on Spanky toward the ceremony. Katie and my arrival at the ceremonial fire was on time to the second. My youngest brother took the reins from me when I dismounted. I approached my grandfather and stood before him facing my family who was gathered to the right of my grandfather. I would not be allowed to face or even look at Katie until she danced the acceptance dance.

  The drums began the wedding dance. I performed my part with my eyes to the ground. Katie had the more difficult pattern to the dance. When she moved into my sight I was mesmerized by her perfection. She was not only beautiful with her looks but performed the dance as well a woman who was a member of my tribe.

  My heart raced as I watched her graceful dance. When she finally came to a stop in front of me and looked at me, I looked up to meet her eyes. My throat was dry. I feared I would be unable to respond to the questions my grandfather was about to ask me. I took both Katie's hands into mine and my grandfather bound both sets of hands together with the wedding beads.

  The traditional wedding questions were asked and answered in the ancient language and Katie spoke the ancient language well and only stumbled in a few places. The pronunciation of some of our words was strange to her, so sometimes she struggled to get the word right. The questions were deeper in details than what would have been asked at a ceremony off the reservation and we had translated and explained them to Katie and her parents long before the wedding dance took place.

  Once the questions were answered Katie and I began the steps that would conclude the wedding dance. We moved as one because we were now considered one. The members of the tribe and Katie's relatives stared in slack jaw amazement on how well we danced together. Only occasionally we would stumble or step on each other’s foot during the dance. Usually when Katie's foot hit the ground in a beat mine was right with hers even though we were staring into each other's eyes. The final step of the dance was made and then our lips sealed to each other with the traditional first kiss.

  There was a moments silence and then an enormous cheer went up from everyone. Katie and I were finally man and wife.

  The whole dance had taken close to forty-five minutes and we were both gasping for air when the crowd rushed to us for the congratulations.

  Katie's mom reached us first and gathered us both into her arms. "That was so beautiful you two. I am happy you decided to do the wedding like this."

  My grandfather pounded me on the back and leaned to Katie and kissed her. "Welcome to the family Granddaughter."

  Katie's face had tears of joy on it and she actually replied in the ancient tongue. "Thank you Grandfather." My grandfather seemed to swell up two times his own size in pride and his eyes were twinkling.

  Dr. Grant came in and hugged both of us. He leaned forward and whispered loudly in my e
ar. "No need for that shotgun anymore is there Jason."

  I laughed at him and said. "Well I hope not sir because that would make the honeymoon rather difficult."

  Laugher broke out from both sides of the family and then my grandfather invited everyone to the reservation social center where the reception would take place. The whole group waited for Katie and I to depart on the horse I had ridden to the ceremony. As we were riding Katie hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear. "I love you, husband."

  My chest swelled in prided and I cut loose with the traditional shout of victory. Almost in the same breath I declared my love to her. "It was a long time in coming love but what started four years ago with a beating ends now in a victory ride for me."

  She slapped my shoulder and murmured, "Showoff, I wish you had not reminded me of that."

  "If you're the reward for taking a beating like that lover than I would gladly do it over." I cut loose with the victory shout again and It was echoed by the tribe riding behind us. I had been surprised that enough mounts had been found for the whole wedding party. I did not find out until later that my grandfather had driven all over two counties to gather enough horses for the ceremony.

  We reached the social center first, but were the last in because it was our duty to welcome all the guests. When we finally entered the hall the dancing had already started. All traditions were broken from this point on due to the diversity of guests included in the wedding party.

  There was dancing to modern music that was sampled from many forms. There was country and western, soft rock, hard rock even the classical waltzes. Food was in abundance but alcohol was completely absent. This was a condition I had made. I had not wanted a bunch of drunken fools to ruin what was the happiest day in my life.

  I was dancing a waltz with Katie when she asked me, "Now will you tell me where the honeymoon is?" I had refused to tell her where her father would be sending us. Dr. Grant had approached me months before with his offer to finance the honeymoon in its entirety. I had only agreed to it if he would not say a word to Katie about it.

  I smiled at her and teased. "Are you sure you want to know?"

  She stomped on my foot and said. "I demand to know right this instance Jason?"

  I hopped up and down for a minute then gathered her back into my arms. "We will be going to Niagara Falls for two week love. I just hope I will be able to walk after you wrecking my foot."

  "Niagara Falls? Oh Jason that is perfect!" She beamed at me and gripped me in a bone crushing embrace.

  I leaned forward and kissed her deeply. "Be sure and thank your father for it he insisted on covering the whole trip." She started to break away when I said this and I gathered her back into my arms. "Not right now silly I am not done dancing with you."

  She giggled at me and settled back into step. "I can't wait till I can get you alone. When are we leaving?"

  I smiled at her and replied. "Tomorrow, on the bus. For tonight Grandfather and Grandmother booked the best suite in the hotel in Massena for us. Of course that won't be until much later there is a celebration going on right now if you care to recall."

  "Darn!" she laughed in reply. I escorted her back to the table and sat down with her to watch the next dance and rest for a bit. "Jason? Who is that older woman next to Mimi?"

  I looked where she pointed and said. "That's her mother. I did not expect her to make the trip down from Canada." I grabbed her hand and said. "Come I will introduce you to my great grandmother. Make sure you do what I do because it's a great honor that she is here." I pulled her over to where Mimi was and knelt down before my great grandmother then grabbed her hand and kissed it, "Grandmother Cara may I please introduce you to my wife Katie?"

  Grandmother Cara placed her hand on my head and looked at Katie "Katie I bid you welcome to our family. My grandson chose his mate wisely and I see many grandchildren in your future."

  Katie looked shocked and bowed blushing in front of her. "Thank you Grandmother. I am hoping so too."

  Grandmother Cara looked pleased and said. "I was not hoping this, I know this."

  Katie looked confused so I spoke up. "Katie, Grandmother Cara has a very good sight about things of the future. She predicted to the child how many children my mother would have a full two years before she got married to my father. It's her gift to do such things."

  Grandmother Cara smiled at me as I explained this and said, "I will still be in this world for your first two children but will not live to see the third."

  This was the first time my grandmother had ever predicted her own death but she was close to one hundred right now as it was and it surprised me.

  "We will be sure to visit as often as we can grandmother." I stood up and bent down to kiss her on the cheek. "Thank you for coming to the reception."

  Grandmother Cara placed her hand on my head and closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes they seemed to be clouded with worry then she smiled and pinched my cheek.

  "I was also at the dance Grandson and your wife performed it perfectly. I just needed a ride over here after the dance because the old bones cannot ride on a horse anymore. Now go you two and have fun Mimi and I have things to discuss." She waved us away and began talking fast in the ancient tongue.

  I pulled Katie away and walked back to the table where we sat. Katie leaned toward me with her eyes still on the two women. "What was that about?" She asked.

  "She was making sure that Mimi would train you properly for your duties within the tribe." I replied in a light tone.

  "My duties within the tribe?" she asked puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"

  "Katie, I mentioned this before but you may have forgotten it. Traditionally the true leaders of the tribe has always been the oldest female in the line of chiefs. Some day that will be you. To fill this role you will be trained by Mimi who is the Great Mother of our clan. Because my mother has passed on you may have to fill this role sooner than normal.

  Since my father is not a member of the tribe, the next in line would be me but if Mimi decides that it would be in the best interest of the tribe that someone else besides myself be the chief, then her decision is final. I may be the next chief but after Mimi passes on you will be the next great mother. There is no alternative to that." I looked at Katie when I said this and she looked a little scared.

  "That's an awful lot of responsibility to think about." She said.

  "Mimi will prepare you properly love so don't worry about it. The females and males on my side of the family have always had long life spans barring accidents or things like happened to my mother. You will probably not have to worry about this for the next thirty or forty years. since Mimi is so young." I patted her hand in assurance.

  "How old is Mimi? I have never asked her because, well, it seemed rude." She asked.

  "Mimi just turned seventy this year." I noticed the shocked look she gave me. "Grandfather started late in his life with marriage. He told me he was too wild as a young buck to settle down." I laughed lightly as I said this.

  Grandfather came up to us and winked at me. "Spreading lies about me again grandson?"

  "Who? Me?" I tried to look as innocent as possible. "You're the one who told me you were wild in your youth."

  "I can't remember back that far boy. I think that was before fire was discovered." He started laughing at the expression Katie had on her face. "Don't worry Granddaughter I make sure I scrape the mold off every morning."

  Katie smiled at him and said. "I doubt any mold will grow on the tough hide of yours grandfather."

  "You got me there Katie." I had gotten used to the easy banter between the two of them. Katie had seemed like a member of the family so long now. Grandfather continued. "And now it's my job to take the both of you to your hotel. Mimi wants me back so she can force me into slave labor for the rest of the night."

  Katie laughed and accepted the arm he had put out for her and the two of them walked out of the doorway. I went and bid goodnight to Mimi and Grandmother Cara as was
proper and was stopped by Dr. Grant on the way out. He slipped an envelope into my hand and said.

  "Take good care of Katie for me son."

  "I will sir." I replied. "And thank you for the gift of the honeymoon."

  "You will see the start of the rest of the gift when you get back son." He smiled at me and pushed me toward the door.

  I started to say something else and he said. "Go son, Your wife is waiting on you." I turned and walked out the door puzzled by his comment. I thought the gift of a two week honeymoon was more than adequate as a wedding gift and I wondered what else he had planned.

  Grandfather dropped us off at the front desk and said "The honeymoon suite for these two Jack." He waved to us and winked at me. "Remember you have all the time in the world to sleep on the bus tomorrow." He laughed at my expression and left quickly before I could say anything to him. The porter escorted us up to the honeymoon suite on the third floor and left us at the door.

  I folded Katie into my arms and kissed her deeply. Then I scooped her up into my arms and carried her into the room. I set her down and looked around the room with a slack jaw. Our bags that we would be taking on the trip were already in the room and there was a bottle of champagne in a bucket near the largest whirlpool I had ever seen in my life. The room had shag carpet which was royal blue right up to the edge of the whirlpool. The whirlpool was already running and the lights were dimmed a bit. This was only the outside room. I could see what looked like it was a dining room off to the left and to the right it looked like a walk-in closet.

  Katie grabbed her bag and took off deeper into the set of rooms. "Ooooo." I could hear her from the other room. "The bed is heart shaped and big enough for ten people, I bet."

  I laughed and went into the bedroom, to see what she was talking about. She was right you could fit my whole family on the heart shaped bed and still have room for Katie's family.