Tiopa Ki Lakota (45 page)

"The Sun seemed to flare into a brilliant white light. She had to squint to peer at it, one hand raised to shade her eyes. As the light faded, she could see a cloud of dust rising and feel the ground beneath her shake at the stampeding of a thousand buffalo. They were running towards her, led by the most sacred animal of all,
tatanka ska
.

"Watching in dazed awe, she saw a warrior woman swoop in from the south, screaming her cry as she attacked the white buffalo with a spear. The warrior's hit was solid and
tatanka ska
was mortally wounded. It seemed that the remainder of the herd simply disappeared, as did the warrior woman. The white buffalo staggered closer to the wicincala, blood pouring from its side and its nostrils flaring wide as it panted for breath. It fell just outside the cleared area and looked so real that she could almost touch it. The Sun flared again, and she lost the image, covering her eyes with her arm. The light faded and she looked again, only to find
tatanka ska
gone."

Anpo paused in her narration, drawing in a deep, steadying breath. The woman in her arms was tense with curiosity, having shifted her stance to peer up at the warrior with intent dark blue eyes.

"Someone was in
tatanka ska's
place, a strange woman with pale skin. Her hair was long, longer than the wicincala's, and a yellow the color of the Sun itself. Her eyes were the blue of a deep lake, still and clear. She was wearing the
cuwignaka

and moccasins, her hair flowing freely in the breeze."

Kathleen's mouth had dropped open in shock.
She saw me in her vision...!? When she was... only twelve!!?
Her mind kicked into gear.
I was only fourteen! We'd just settled into the cabin on the river!
Hearing Anpo's voice continue, she forced herself to pay attention, thoughts whirling about in her head.

"This strange apparition rose from where
tatanka ska
had been, blood pouring from her side where he had been wounded. She walked closer to the
wicincala
staring at her in wonder. And then the woman put a hand to her wound, bloodying her fingers. She reached forward and brushed the blood onto the
wicincala's
face, two thunderbolts beneath her eyes. As the Sun flared again, the
wicincala
could see those brilliant blue eyes staring at her and hear the words whispered into her ear."

Anpo dropped her head, bringing her lips closer to the blonde's ear. She whispered the words from her vision. "
Mahasanni ki
."

Kathleen nearly swooned at the words, her arms tightening about the warrior's waist. "Oh, Anpo," she whispered, full of disbelief, desire and wistfulness. The arms holding her shifted and she felt a finger on her lips. The blonde looked up into a smiling face.

"The
wicincala
returned to camp, singing a song of her vision to all that would hear. She was happy the spirits had gifted her but unsure of its meaning. When she came upon the shaman, she sat and smoked with him, telling him what had happened. With his help, she was able to understand some of the vision - that
tatanka ska
was to point the way to this strange woman, that she would meet this woman in the future, that she would be loved by this woman very much." Anpo closed her eyes in pain. "That she would hurt this woman though she would be loved despite the pain she caused."

"I love you, Anpo, with all my heart."

The warrior pulled on a blonde braid with affection and continued her tale. "The shaman changed her name to reflect the vision that day. She was no longer known as Cinksi. Her name forever after became Wi Ile Anpo, the sun burning at dawn. And she continued on as a
wikoskalaka
in her camp, doing what the
koskalaka
did.

"Four winters passed. The vision would return to her in her dreams, sometimes when she was awake. The shaman told her that this strange woman was very powerful to be so strong for so long. Many do not remember their visions with such clarity as time passes, but hers remained strong and real. It was decided that maybe this strange woman was a spirit that would be revealed to the
wikoskalaka
when the time was right.

"And then I saw you," the warrior said, changing the point of view of her tale. She brushed her knuckles against the soft skin of Kathleen's face. "And you were real, not a spirit. I knew I had to have you, that you were mine forever. When I killed
tatanka ska
and Hehake challenged me, I wagered a pony against you. He did not know of the vision and I felt if it was meant to be as it was shown me, it was the only thing to do.

"I had spent many winters worrying about hurting the strange woman of my vision. I then spent more winters worrying about hurting
you
, Ketlin, my
mahasanni ki
. My vision never left me - it stayed with me when I was asleep or awake, haunting me with its puzzle. When we left to see the white traders, it changed. Teca would appear beside you and the two of you would walk away into the light without me." Anpo could feel the lump in her throat and she swallowed around it. "I did not know what to do. My
ate
and Inyan were far away. I could not talk to them...."

The blonde reached up a hand to caress her warrior's cheek. "Shhh, Anpo. I understand. Let me finish your story." When she received a hesitant nod, Kathleen smiled, staring into dark eyes. "Teca almost died and I became hysterical, demanding to have my family see him. You gave up your people and support to bring me to my parents' lodge so that your
cinksi
could meet his family. I was confused, unable to speak to my family about us, about our joining. I let my
ate
and
ina
make my decision for me, allowed them to put you in the barn for the night, followed their command to sleep in the lodge. I left you alone with your vision and your fears."

Anpo nodded silently, tears beginning to well up in eyes that watched intently.

"So your vision became true - Teca and I left you. You hurt me, though I loved you afterwards." There was another nod and Kathleen gazed up at her warrior. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "But we are here now. And I am healing." She pulled Anpo's head down, closing her eyes with a sigh as their lips met for the first time in over two years.

An immediate fire erupted in Anpo's belly and she explored the familiar territory with her tongue, holding the blonde close. She could feel the rapid heartbeat of her woman beneath her skin, the staccato matching her own heart as it thumped wildly. Hands twined in her hair and the two were alone in their love.

Over the next several days, Stewart received an in depth education in Lakota ceremonies and mating rituals. There were four days of preparation for the Sun Dance with plenty of singing, chanting and dancing. They were followed by three more days of the same, though these were located inside the giant
ti ikceya
erected in the center of camp. The white man wasn't sure which was worse - the men disfiguring themselves or Anpo holding Teca so the boy could get a clear view of the proceedings.

This was the first Sun Dance that Teca could remember. When the new babies received their ear piercings, he fingered one of his lobes in vague memory. He enjoyed the games and singing, spending quite a bit of his time reacquainting himself with his
inanup
. His eyes wide as he watched the Dance itself, Anpo's whisper in his ear explaining what was going on. By the end of the ceremony, however, the boy was whooping and cheering with the rest of his people as they honored the warriors.

Kathleen found herself enjoying a strange level of giddiness she'd never experienced. Her time with Anpo was markedly different than before. When she'd first become Anpo's woman, it was her responsibility to take care of the warrior, to fix and serve her food, to keep her clothed in a manner that befitted her status in the camp.

Now, however, it was so different. She would wake to find small gifts of flowers, food or adornments in her place at Stewart's fire. The warrior ate most meals at the fire, getting to know the white man and entertaining all of them with stories. After Teca would be put to bed, Anpo would return and sit just outside the firelight, playing a Lakota flute and drawing the blonde out into the darkness.

A sweet grin crossed Kathleen's lips as she heard her warrior's flute. She glanced at her brother to find a matching smile on his own face.

"Go, Kath," Stewart said in a low voice. "I'll get Teca to bed tonight."

The blonde's smile widened and she scampered off, feeling very much like a child given a reprieve from an onerous chore. Following the sound of the music, she found Anpo seated on a blanket in a dark pocket between lodges. With practiced ease, Kathleen settled down, leaning into her warrior as the tune finished.

Anpo smiled at the blonde as she set the flute aside. She reached out and pulled Kathleen into her lap, holding her close and inhaling deeply of her scent. "I have missed you,
mahasanni ki
."

"You just saw me a short time ago at our meal, my warrior," was the chuckled response. "You had seconds and thirds, too."

"It was a
long
time ago!" the warrior insisted, stealing a kiss. "And I am only hungry for you."

Kathleen felt a shiver rush down her spine. Warm lips caressed her face and she closed her eyes. Her mouth opened slightly in invitation as they were brushed in turn. There was a familiar twist in her stomach as the dark woman delved inside with a tongue. The heat of summer was nothing compared to the flames that burst from within as the kisses became ravenous.

With some surprise, Kathleen broke off from the breathless intensity to find herself in a wanton position. She had been turned in Anpo's arms, her
cuwignaka
hiked up to her upper thighs and her legs wrapped firmly about the warrior's torso. Blushing in surprise and embarrassment, the blonde began to cringe away.

Strong hands held her close, refusing to let her go. "
Hiya
, Ketlin. Stay." The hands moved on her back and shoulders, massaging the suddenly tense muscles there. "I know that you have been hurt in the past by the
wicasa
who captured you. I know that your people do not speak of this or act in this manner." Anpo peered into dark blue eyes. "But, you must know that I will not hurt you. And I will pleasure you in our joining bed. I have let this fear rule over us too long. We must be free of it."

Kathleen could only blink and pant in response, her heart beating triple time as she tried to catch her breath. Her body was on fire and the hooded brown eyes looking deeply into her soul didn't help, serving only to fan the flames of desire. Trembling, she pulled Anpo close into an embrace, gathering strength from the long arms that surrounded her, protected her.

After a time, the low voice said, "Tomorrow, my
ate
and Nupa will speak with Stu'et about your price. They will negotiate with your
misun
and then we will have a joining ceremony."

The blonde nodded her head against the shoulder she leaned on. "I will tell Stewart." Hands continued to rub her back and Kathleen relaxed, drifting along.

Anpo smiled as she felt the weight of her woman against her, trusting the warrior to keep her safe from harm. "
Mahasanni ki
," she breathed.

As was foretold, Nupa and Wanbli arrived at the white man's fire a short time after the morning meal. They were followed by a trail of
hoksila

who were interested in the proceedings and Stewart felt almost a circus like atmosphere coming from the children. Teca responded to their excitement by hopping about the fire, unable to be still. With proper hospitality, the blond man asked the
wicasa
to sit at his fire, giving Wanbli the honored seat to his left.

Kathleen served the men some tea and frybread, being careful to not look at Wanbli Zi. To her surprise, Inyan Ceye appeared and awaited an invitation.

Puzzled, Stewart asked the old shaman to sit with them and gestured for his sister to bring food and tea for their new guest. When the elder settled down on his right, the white man frowned in thought.

Her own eyebrows at their zenith, Kathleen gave the shaman some frybread and tea, receiving a smile in thanks.

The men then had the traditional pipe, smoking in silence as they all reflected on why they were there. When it was finished, they looked to the elder, Inyan, to begin.

"I adopt Ketlin as my child, my
cunksi

. She has had a vision that is very disastrous for our people. Her return and telling of it may mean that we will survive the coming winter." Aged eyes looked about the circle of wicasa, finally settling on the woman in question. A smile crossed his face at her shock. "I have no children and I am getting old. You are young and strong, yet have no Lakota man to speak for you in this matter." He patted Stewart's bare knee with a wry grin. "You have done well,
wicasa

ska

, but you are not Lakota," he said.

The blond man only nodded in agreement, feeling a bit relieved that the burden of these unfamiliar situations would be lifted from him.

Inyan returned his gaze to the young woman expectantly.

Kathleen swallowed, her heart soaring with fondness for the old man. Her face creased in a soft smile, she went to the shaman and hugged him. "Thank you,
ate
," she whispered into his ear.

The embrace was returned. "Thank you,
cunksi
," Inyan responded. He pulled back and peered into his daughter's face. "You must go now. This is men's work."

Nodding, the blonde paused only long enough to give her brother and son a hug, as well. She then left in search of Anpo.

The negotiations continued in earnest for quite some time. The worth of Kathleen, fairly high on the overall scale of Lakota society already, nearly doubled now that she was the daughter of the shaman. Inyan and Wanbli did the primary dickering, with Nupa putting in his opinions here and there. Stewart remained silent for most of it, watching the proceedings with avid interest. Soon a price was agreed upon and the men of Anpo's family took their leave.