Tykota's Woman (Historical Romance) (2 page)

The Legend

There is a legend that grew out of the West, carried
on the dry, restless winds past the vast deserts of El
Paso. It is whispered among the Apache that a
mighty tribe, the Perdenelas, dwell in a secret place
called Valle de la Luna, a lush, green paradise by
the Mountain of the Moon. The Apache speak of
untold wealth hidden in a sacred mountain, its
secret location passed down from the chief to the
son of his choice. The legend warns that anyone
attempting to steal the gold will die a horrible
death. The Apache sing songs of honor about a
great young chief of the Perdenelas who turned his
back on the treasure for the love of a white woman.
Or so the legend goes...

1849

Valatar, chief of the Perdenelas tribe, stood on
the red rock cliff, his gaze sweeping across his
vast tribal land. He was no longer a young
man; his long hair was laced with gray, and his
brow was furrowed with worries. But he
carried himself straight and tall and dispatched
with honor the obligations of a powerful chief.
He wore an unadorned breechcloth, as did the
other men of his tribe. But his leather
headband, unlike those of the the others, bore a
carved golden eagle.

His gaze moved to Mangas, who stood silently
beside him. Mangas had been his childhood
companion and was now teacher to his youngest son. "Find Tykota and bring him to me.
Then tell my other two sons and their mother to
come to the council room."

The old man left to do the chief's bidding, and
Valatar returned to his thoughts.

Tykota was only in his sixth summer, but he
was the son of Valatar's heart and destined to
be chief. Tykota had been born to him from his
first wife, Llena, long after they had given up
hope of ever having a child. Although she had
gone to the spirit world four summers ago,
Valatar still thought of her daily and missed her
deeply.

Again he gazed out over the Valle de la Luna,
now bathed in silvery moonlight. The Perdenelas
were cliff dwellers, and their homes had been
artfully carved into the granite face of the
Mountain of the Moon so they would blend in as
a part of it. With its harmonious passages and
family chambers, Moon Valley and its
surrounding mountains had been home to the
tribe for as far back as the Old Ones could
account, long before the first white man had set
foot on the continent. Legend had it that the
Perdenelas had once lived many miles away but
had long ago been forced to abandon their
homeland because the river had run dry. The
accounts handed down through the ages
recounted that a giant eagle with golden eyes had
led their forefathers across the desert to this
hidden paradise.

The chief sighed, his heart heavy over what he
must do tonight. When any of his tribe went
against the laws, the chief had to dispense
retribution. Over the years, many had suffered
his stern judgment for their transgressions, but
never members of his own family. Until now.

His gaze moved westward to the mountain
passage that led, between twin peaks, out to
the arid track of land his people called the
desert of a thousand deaths. But within the
valley, in the bright moonlight Valatar could
see the swift, clear river that nurtured the fruit
and nut trees and the blue moonflowers that
dotted the meadow with their brilliance. He
loved this land, and he loved his people. He
would do what he must to preserve their way
of life.

Valatar's footsteps were heavy when he
entered the council chamber, where the Old Ones
had already gathered. Age and wisdom were
revered among his people, and a warrior had to
live many winters before he was considered wise
enough to counsel the chief. Each man greeted
Valatar with respect, and, he thought, sympathy,
because they knew he felt tormented for having
to judge his own family.

There was also a white man present, an
unprecedented event, especially in the council
room, which was normally reserved for only the
most powerful tribal advisors. Valatar
acknowledged George Silverhorn's presence with a nod and seated himself on the white
buffalo robe reserved for the chief. He silently
motioned George to sit to his left, a position of
honor. He would ask much of their friendship
tonight.

There was a commotion at the entrance as a
woman and two boys noisily entered the
hallowed chamber. Petera was the second wife
Valatar had reluctantly taken when his beloved
Llena had seemed incapable of producing the
necessary son. And since Petera was a
Chiricahua Apache, Valatar had hoped that the
union would end the bad blood between the two
tribes. Although she was not as tall as
Perdenelas women, nor graced with the high,
delicate cheekbones or slender stature typical of
the tribe, she was yet a handsome woman. Her
forehead was wide, her face round. Her large
dark eyes, her finest feature, now held a
guarded expression as she cast a haughty look
at the gathered men and stopped in front of
Valatar.

"Why have you called me and my sons here?"
she demanded.

Valatar stared at her, almost hating this
woman who had given him two sons. "Woman,
you will not speak unless I ask it of you!"

She fell silent, but her mouth pursed, and her
brow creased in anger.

Valatar looked at the two boys. The elder,
Coloradous, was tall and had the features of the Perdenelas, while the other, Sinica, was
shorter and resembled his mother's people.
Valatar had never felt close to either of them,
although, as his eldest son, Coloradous should
have held a place of honor in the tribe and in the
chief's heart. Coloradous looked with
uncertainly into his father's eyes, while Sinica's
brooding expression mirrored the one his mother
wore.

All heads turned as Tykota and Mangas
appeared at the entrance to the chamber. The
chief's youngest boy was intelligent beyond his
years and had the look of his mother about him,
reminding Valatar of his beloved Llena. The
young boy stumbled, almost fell, and leaned
heavily on Mangas. And fury raced through the
mighty chief when he noticed how weak and
shaky Tykota was.

Tykota had been suffering agonizing stomach
cramps, and although he was well enough now to
leave his chamber, he had not yet regained his
strength. He hoped he would not shame himself
before his father by showing weakness. He took
a deep breath to ease the pain still gnawing
inside him. It wasn't often that he was allowed
into his father's council room, and he did not
know what to expect.

Valatar gave a small smile in encouragement.
"Sit beside me, my son. The matters we discuss
this night concern you."

Tykota stared at his stepmother and his two
half brothers. Why were they standing before the
chief when he was allowed to sit? Perhaps it was
because he had been so ill.

Valatar turned his attention to the gathered
elders. "You all know why I have called you
here today. Petera, step forward."

Sullenly, she obeyed.

Valatar continued speaking. "Know you this,
Petera-I have judged you to be a criminal,
without honor. Therefore, you will be sent from
this place to dwell once more among your own
people."

She glared at Valatar. "You would shame me
so?"

"You have brought shame upon yourself and
your sons, who must share in your disgrace.
Although they may share your guilt, I shall allow
them to remain in Valle de la Luna. But
henceforth let no man honor them."

Tykota gasped. He did not know why his two
brothers should be shunned by the tribe or why
their mother should be sent away.

He met the pale gaze of the white man, who
seemed to be studying him intently. George
Silverhorn smiled at him and nodded. Tykota
was troubled and turned back to his father.

Valatar was now speaking to Tykota's half
brothers. "If either of you choose, you may go
with your mother. But know this: If you remain,
neither of you are to call me Father."

Tears stung Tykota's eyes. Why was his
father doing this? He felt pain in his heart
because of the humiliation his half brothers
were suffering. He met Petera's gaze, and she
glared at him with hatred. He did not know his
stepmother very well because he had lived
mainly with Mangas since his own mother's
death. But only a week ago Petera had brought
him honey cakes, and, at her urging, he had
eaten them all to please her.

His father was speaking again, this time
directly to Petera. "You know why I send you
away."

Her gaze bore venomously into Tykota. "I
know."

"You wanted my son by my first wife to die so
that one of your sons would one day be chief. Do
you deny this?"

"You have already found the poisonous
berries in my bedroll. Why should I deny it?"

Valatar's eyes narrowed, and she actually took
a quick step backward.

"If you were a Perdenelas," he said fiercely,
"you would have to die for what you did to my
son."

"You have three sons," she replied through
clenched teeth. "But you have never seen my
sons as a father should. You think only of your
poor, dead Llena and the son and daughter she
gave you. I spit on you all!"

"These two are your sons, woman. I no longer know them." His eyes shifted to
Coloradous, then to Sinica. "I do not know if
either of you caused the other two accidents that
almost took Tykota's life, but I have my
suspicions that one of you aided your mother in
this effort. If I know for sure who was guilty, he
would die." He waved them away. "Leave me
now. Go from my sight!"

Tykota's brow furrowed. Before his illness,
he had been pushed into the deepest, swiftest
part of the river by someone he had not seen,
but he had managed to swim ashore. Did his
father think his stepmother and half brothers
were responsible?

Without thinking, Tykota jumped to his feet.
"Please do not send them away, Father. You are
wrong about my brothers."

Valatar's expression was fearsome, and his
voice held a sharp reprimand. "Do not speak
further of this, Tykota! I have made my
judgment, and that is how it will be."

His eyes shining earnestly, the young boy
said, "I do not believe Sinica or Coloradous
would harm me-I am their brother!"

Sinica stared into Tykota's eyes with such a
deep, dark hatred that Tykota drew back.

Coloradous hung his head and stepped
forward. "Even though I bear shame for what my
mother has done, I wish to remain with my
people, Fathe-I do not wish to live with the
Apache. Valle de la Luna is my home."

For a moment Valatar's eyes seemed to hold
pity that he had judged his sons so harshly.
Perhaps the guilt belonged to their mother
alone.

Then Sinica spoke. "I go with my mother, and
I am glad to leave this place. I curse the blood in
my body that came from the Perdenelas. If it
were possible, I would drain that part away."

Valatar stood, speaking in a decisive voice.
"Go from my sight. Petera and Sinica, you will
leave tonight and never show your faces here
again. Coloradous, you may stay in the Valle de
la Luna, if you choose, but my judgment
stands."

Coloradous looked sad as he walked to the
exit, but the malice etched on Petera's face was
echoed in Sinica's expression.

Valatar raised his voice so that the guards
standing outside the entrance would hear it.
"Escort Petera and her son, Sinica, out of the
valley and send them on their way.
Coloradous will be allowed food and water
and to remain in the valley, but he will not
live among us."

Tykota wanted to protest, but Coloradous
met his young brother's eyes and shook his
head, accepting their father's judgement. He
walked, straight and tall, out of the chamber,
while his mother and brother were led away by
guards.

Sinica stopped near Tykota and said in a voice that only the boy could hear, "One day,
you will feel my blade at your throat."

Tykota trembled in shock, but soon after the
three had gone, Valatar spoke again. "Is there
any here who disagrees with my judgment?"

There was silence; no man opposed him.
Tykota opened his mouth to voice his objections
on behalf of Coloradous, but the hard look
Mangas gave him sealed his lips.

Valatar looked at the revered members of the
council. "I have chosen to show Tykota the
secret of our sacred mountain."

Tykota's eyes widened in wonder. Of what
secret did his father speak?

The elders nodded in approval.

Valatar continued. "I have called you all here
tonight because I want every one of you to give
Tykota your pledge of faith. I want to watch
each man's face as he promises to honor my son,
so I shall know if he speaks true."

The chamber remained silent until Mangas
stood, bowing his head. "I will honor Tykota and
keep faith with your will, my chief."

The others followed, each in turn, while
Tykota watched in confusion. Why was his
father doing this? Coloradous was his eldest
son-he should be chief after their father.