Tiopa Ki Lakota (23 page)

One rider ignored the women and hopped off his pony, intent on getting a closer look. He took a step forward before a pale horse purposely sidled into his path and forced him back.

“Leave her alone.”

A wave of relief swept over the blonde as she recognized Anpo’s voice. She risked a glance and saw the beautiful woman glaring down at the warrior who was on foot.
Thank God!

The man returned the glare and tried to step around the pony, only to have it backed into him and pushing him away again.

“I said leave her alone.”

“Who are you to order me?” the warrior on the ground demanded.

Anpo grew taller in the saddle. “I am Anpo and she is my
winyan

. You will not touch her.”

His chin went up at the challenge. “What if I do?”

“Then you will die.”

The warrior scoffed, tossing a look of disbelief over his shoulder at his comrades. Turning back to the mounted woman, he said, “I know you. You are
wikoskalaka
. You will not kill me.” He barked a laugh. “Besides, any of us who kill a Lakota will be banished.”

Anpo’s face developed an ugly smile. “Then I will be banished and I will live with my winuhca elsewhere. You will
still
be dead, hearing the whispers of your ancestors as they remind you of your dishonor with a joined woman.”

The man’s eyes narrowed as he considered whether she was bluffing or not. A flurry of hooves interrupted his thought and all eyes turned to the arriving horses.

Wicasa Waziya Mani pulled his pony up short of the tableau, dark eyes flickering about. Other elders from the summer camp had arrived with him, as well, all curious as to what was holding up the arrival of Wagna’s people. Surveying the situation, he jumped from his mount and approached the two warriors. With a great smile, he reached up to take the woman warrior’s forearm. “Anpo! It is good to see you, friend!”

The dark woman blinked at the chief. Not wanting to insult him by ignoring him, she grasped his arm in return. “Thank you,
wicahcala

.”

The elder made a show of looking around the woman’s belongings. “Where’s the robe of
tatanka ska
?”

The other warrior’s jaw dropped.

“It is with my
winuhca’s ti ikceya
,” Anpo responded, a grin curling her lips at the other young men’s responses.

“’
Winuhca
!’” The chief peered over the dark woman’s horse to see the blonde who was hanging her head. “So you are joined!? That is
very
good news!”

“Thank you,
wicahcala
.”

“
You
are the one who killed
tatanka

ska

?” the warrior on the ground finally sputtered.

Warming to his task, Mani turned and clapped the
koskalaka
on the shoulder. “
Hau

! There were four of us who tried and Anpo’s shot was true! I will tell you the story when we get back to camp.” The chief remounted his pony and waved the warrior to follow. “Come, we will talk at my fire.”

The warrior appeared to debate the issue, looking from the chief to the
wikoskalaka

. A glance across the horse and he could see the strange yellow hair that had garnered his attention. With a frown and a shake of his head, he glared up at Anpo. “I challenge you for the
winyan
.”

Not understanding the word spoken, Kathleen was aware that the tension in the area had increased threefold. Her face was concerned and questioning as she studied the people, trying to comprehend what exactly was going on and being said.

Mani made a last attempt. “Let the people of Wagna settle down in camp. You can challenge later, if you wish. Come with me.”

The warrior on the ground stubbornly shook his head.

Face grim, Anpo looked to her friend. Nupa’s horse edged forward until he was beside her. She handed the reins of her pony to him.

“You will win,
tanksi

,” he insisted in a low voice as he took her pony. “I have seen him wrestle before. His arms are weak.”

Anpo nodded and grinned. “Thank you,
tiblo
.” And then she hopped down from her horse and it was led away.

As the people cleared a space, pulling back from the two combatants, Kathleen was urged to one side by Hca. “What is happening,
stepan
? What is my
winuhca

doing?”

“She has been challenged for you,
stepan
. She will wrestle the warrior for you.”

Dark blue eyes were still confused. “What is that word, Hca?” she asked, repeating the one that baffled her.

“Challenge.” Hca thought for a moment. “My
mitan

has been challenged, asked to fight for you.”

“Fight for me!?” Kathleen looked at the two warriors who were now circling around the open area.
Oh my God! Challenged! Anpo’s been challenged!
As fear filled her heart, she watched.
What if she loses!?

The two weaved and dodged, grabbing at each other and feinting as they moved in the hot sun. Around them, bets were cast and items wagered. With a fierce cry, the warrior pounced on the woman, chest butting her in an effort to drive her to the ground.

Anpo met him, internally wincing as her breasts were crushed between them. With a growl, she kept her feet, wrapping long arms around his ribcage. Locking her wrists, she exerted pressure.

The warrior was not wearing a shirt and sweat covered his body. He was able to twist in her grasp, causing the wikoskalaka to lose her hold. Standing sideways to her, he brought his elbow down hard onto her neck juncture.

Letting go of the warrior, her left arm tingly and weak from the hit, Anpo felt more than saw the man reach for her head. Rather than get caught in a headlock, she dropped to the ground with a suddenness that surprised them all.

He had almost had her and then she simply vanished. Before the warrior could realize that she had ducked down, he felt his legs being swept out from beneath him and he fell.

Anpo watched the warrior roll over and try to regain his feet. She launched herself at him and landed on his back, forcing him into the dirt. Her left arm was better, but she decided not to chance it and wrapped the right around his neck, using her left hand to brace him in a hold.

The warrior could feel the woman’s grip tightening on his throat. He tried to use his strong legs to stand, but she kept him off balance enough to make it impossible. As he began to struggle with breathing, he could hear her voice.

“Are you finished fighting?” When there was no response, Anpo squeezed. The warrior could barely move from the hold, but she could feel his head shake in the negative. Grimacing, she continued to apply pressure. “Stop fighting and I will let you go.”

Unable to lose face with his people, the warrior refused. His struggles weakened, but he continued on until he finally passed out from lack of oxygen.

As soon as the man fainted, Anpo released him. She rose to a squat beside his body and gently turned him over. A hand held over his face insured her that he was still breathing. Around her, the crowd of spectators were quiet.

The
wikoskalaka
rose to her feet and stood over the body of her challenger. Her dark eyes raked dangerously over the people surrounding them. “Who else wishes to challenge me?”

No one stepped forward.

With a curt nod, she left the clearing, intent on her family and friends. Around her, the young warriors of her camp began whooping in celebration of her success.

Ah, who needs a knight in shinin’ armor?
Kathleen wondered as her
winuhca
approached her.
I’ve got one in buckskin and that’s much better!

“Ketlin? Are you all right?”

The blonde slipped into her warrior’s arms and smiled up into concerned dark eyes. “
Ohan

, Anpo. I am much better now.”

Hearing the gratitude in her woman’s voice, the warrior’s smile grew wider. She hugged Kathleen, relishing the feel of the woman in her arms.

“I
told
you you would beat him,” Nupa exclaimed with a grin. He handed Anpo the reins of her steed and clambered onto his own. “I now have a new spear and a bone necklace!”

Anpo shook her head with a fond smile as she released Kathleen and mounted her own pony. “You always bet well,
tiblo

.”

“
Hau
,
tanksi
. I always wager on you.”

Behind them, the challenger’s friends scooped him up and tossed him over his horse for the ride back into the summer camp. Mani winked at the young woman and shrugged slightly before turning away and leading the parade down the hill.

Looking down at her woman, Anpo smiled fondly. “Take my hand,
winuhca

,” she said, reaching out. “You will ride with me so that all might know we are together.”

Still holding the reins to her own pony, Kathleen grasped the firm forearm and felt herself hoisted up behind her warrior. There was a pause as she settled herself in place, wrapping her arms around Anpo’s waist.

“Are you ready,
winuhca
?” the dark woman asked. Her own arm was placed over the pale ones.

Nodding, Kathleen replied, “
Ohan
, Anpo. I am ready.” As the pony began to move, she snuggled closer. “Thank you,
winuhca

.”

Anpo squeezed the arm with fondness. “I will always protect you, Ketlin. You will be safe with me.” A past vision of a bloodied hand reaching to caress her face flashed through the warrior’s mind and she shook it off.
Hiya! It will be as Inyan said, only the hurts of a joined couple!

Unaware of the discordance within her warrior, Kathleen sighed, a small smile of contentment on her face.

Upon the camp’s arrival at their designated area on the southern side of the huge encampment, the women began setting up their
ti ikceyas
. Several
winyan
from the surrounding lodges pitched in to help. Most of the
wicasa

wandered off to other camps, greeting old friends and making new ones. There were a few men, older and with a black stripe painted across their faces, who stayed behind to organize the camp and ensure that all went smoothly.

As Kathleen finished the final tying of her lodge, she glanced around at the amount of idle people gawking at her.
Just like when our camp met with Anpo’s
, she remembered. While a few were rude enough to outright stare at her, most of the others watched from the corners of their dark eyes, looking quickly away when her gaze fell on them.

“
Stepan
.”

The blonde smiled as Hca came from around the side of her lodge, arms laden with drywood. She trotted forward and took part of the load.

The dark woman grinned. “I have found the best place to swim,
stepan
! And there is plenty more wood. You will help me?”

“
Ohan

,
stepan

. We will collect the wood for both lodges.”

Nodding, Hca looked around at the surrounding people. “Do they bother you, Ketlin?”

“
Hiya

. They are just curious.” Despite her words, however, Kathleen blushed and dropped her shoulders a bit.
Ye tryin’ ta convince Hca or yerself, lass?

The
wikoskalaka

dropped the wood in a pile near the future firepit. “They will be curious for some time.” She dusted off her hands and placed them on her hips. Glaring menacingly at the nearest spectators, she spoke loudly, “If you have nothing to do, you can help with my
stepan’s
lodge!” When no one moved, their faces startled, Hca marched forward and grabbed the first boy she came to. “Here!” She dragged him towards Kathleen’s
ti ikceya
and picked up a waterskin. “Get water for my
stepan
since you have nothing else to do but be rude.”

The
hoksila

blinked at her for just a moment before pelting away towards the river, waterskin flopping against his ribs.

Hca’s eyes turned to the suddenly clear area and she let out a joyous laugh. “They will talk of this through the summer camp,
stepan

! If you put any to work, they will be sure to avoid you!” She shared another laugh with the blonde. “You and I will collect more wood and stones for the firepits.”

Nodding, dark blue eyes sparkling, the pale woman joined her friend as they walked away. Two more
winyan
of Wagna’s camp also came with them, followed by three from the summer camp. Introductions were made and they continued on their way, chatting and giggling and getting to know one another.

Thus, Kathleen found herself with a number of new friends. They worked quickly and well together, laughing at stories regarding their men and brothers and uncles, comparing the young warriors good looks and abilities, and passing news of the other bands of their people.

It seemed like no time had passed before the blonde found herself back at her lodge, the firepit built, wood stacked neatly nearby, and a stew simmering over the flames. Hca had wandered off to her mother’s
ti

ikceya