The Last Sundancer (10 page)

Amara had been startled to learn that they would leave this place and continue on the journey that was set before them long before Kaichen rescued her.  She accepted the garments given to her by th
e women of the village.  Among the items given to her was a well-made doeskin dress and moccasins.  The dress had been stitched with care and there were even small bits of colorful beading that had been added to give the dress color.  Kaichen urged her to accept the gifts, knowing that the women of the village had worked throughout the night to offer her something in parting. 

“Your people suffer each day.  Your mother wishes your return, but it will come at great cost to you.” Azin
studied the young man that walked with the burden of the world upon his shoulders.  “I ask you to remember the way that your father walked.  I ask you to remember the story of his life and sing it over the fire so that you never forget.” Azin stood with Kaichen upon the land where his father lived and died. 

He spread his hands over the land and invoked a blessing for Kaichen.  His voice lifted to the heavens in a chant that was rarely heard and much revered.

“I would remain here if I could.” Kaichen’s voice was a raspy whisper that Azin strained to hear. 

The young man always spoke in low tones that were hard to decipher.  Azin had grown used to Kaichen’s distinctive voice.  As the sun reached its zenith Azin placed his hand upon Kaichen’s shoulder and looked away. 

He would hear of Kaichen’s success or failure.  He would know if the boy lived up to his name and the name of his father.  Word would spread like the wildfires that often scorched the land. 

From the day of Kaichen’s birth until now there had not been rain except for m
ore than a handful of storms.  How much longer could the people live without water from the heavens?

“Remember that although you go to fight our common enemy, the greatest enemy is the one that lives inside each of us.  Do not let doubt creep in and kill that which you will become.” Azin nodded once and then pushed Kaichen forward.

Kaichen was used to the way that Azin spoke.  Often he would not gain the sense of the man’s words for many moons.  He had learned to memorize the man’s sayings and repeat them at a later time until he understood their meaning. 

Azin had lived longer than any man that Kaichen have ever known.  He was wise and full of knowledge.  Kaichen wanted to stay and make life easier for Azin.  But the old man told him that h
e was meant for a great purpose even though Kaichen did not wish to hear his words.  All of his life he had been told that he was born to serve a greater purpose yet, he saw no purpose to his life. 

He learned to fight with such skill that no man could take him down.  He learned to shoot his arrow while riding at full speed upon his horse.  He could wield a boa and hurl it from a great distance to bring down prey.  He had learned how to make strong medicine and cure many ailments
.

Azin often said that if Kaichen set his sights upon a goal then there was not anything under the sun that could escape his grasp.

“I will go with you
, Kaichen.” A voice brought Kaichen’s head around and he looked into the eyes of Antuk, Azin’s true nephew.

“Antuk, you will get yourself killed
if you are not prepared to fight for your life.” Kaichen’s eyes clouded with concern. 

Antuk was his closest
companion; they were of the same age and often hunted together, though Antuk could not claim to have ever brought in a kill.  Azin had finally been forced to name Antuk a man of their small band by age alone, much to Antuk’s shame.  Kaichen knew that his friend tried, but Antuk could not claim to have skill with any one task. 

Part of the problem was that he spread his thoughts and ideas thin instead of focusing on one task at a time.  Kaichen knew of one skill that his friend had, but it was a secret between them.  Antuk would never admit to it, but he wove baskets that were interlocked so tightly that water could not escape the seams.  Basket weaving was a woman’s task. 

Antuk would never admit to having any skill when it came to women’s work, but the truth was that he was the greatest basket weaver that Kaichen had ever known.  Kaichen kept his friend’s secret.  It would only embarrass Antuk further if others knew that he excelled at women’s work but could not do any of the tasks needed to be called a man of his band. 

Kaichen saw Azin’s eyes light with hope.  He wished for a different type of life for Antuk.  He wanted the best for his nephew, even
the people of his band often laughed at the young man, some even teased him to his face.  Kaichen always defended his friend, but the problem was that much of what was said was true, though no less hurtful. 

“You
can join me on my journey only if you vow to be careful.” Kaichen sighed as he glanced at his friend. 

He kept one hand upon the small of Amara’s back in gentle support as she stood beside him.  Her eyes were uncertain and her lips trembled but she did not speak.

Antuk had a way of finding trouble and stepping directly into it.  However,  Kaichen could not help but feel his mood lighten over the thought of making the journey to his mother’s people with Antuk at his side.  

“Kaichen
, the horse that you have trained from a colt is yours to keep.” Azin knew that his gift was unexpected by the way that Kaichen’s body straightened with surprise. 

Horses were rare and they were not given away except for trade or if a man sought to win a woman to take as his wife. 

“This is good fortune!” Antuk pointed at his own mount and Kaichen stifled a groan.  His friend continued to call the donkey that he rode a horse, but the animal often brayed loudly in objection. 

“If your donkey bites my horse’s rear again, I will cause him harm.” Kaichen warned Antuk as both men went to gather their animals. 

“He did not bite your mount, he simply nicked him with his teeth.” Antuk smiled crookedly and Kaichen had to force himself not to use his strength against his friend. 

He wanted to push him once, hard.  But he chose not to harm Antuk
and not to upset Amara.  His friend meant well.  It was for this reason that Kaichen insisted that Antuk take the lead as he settled Amara upon his horse and mounted behind her. 

“You did not say farewell to Azin.” These were the first words that Amara had spoken and Kaichen leaned closer to hear her.

“There is no need to bid him farewell. We have said all that there is to say, long before now.  It would only diminish all that has passed between us to speak words now.” Kaichen did not look back as they moved farther away from the village of his youth. 

Antuk had never been o
ne to learn the four directions and Kaichen did not expect Antuk to keep a straight course even though they traveled into the face of the setting sun. 

He urged Antuk to keep his eyes straight ahead and follow the sun’s progress across the sky.  Perhaps his friend simply needed someone to show him patience and kindness.  Kaichen hoped so. 

At times, even Kaichen’s bottomless well of patience was worn thin.  When they crested the top of a grassy knoll Kaichen turned to look back over his shoulder. 

If Kaichen had
glanced back he would have seen Azin standing alone as a solitary figure upon the wide open land.  The old man carried his walking staff and his arms were locked across his chest in a familiar posture. 

Cohtzen was present and ever silent, as was his way.  Azin spoke no further words of farewell and in this way Kaichen knew that the old man hoped that one day they would return.
Kaichen hoped that it would be just as Azin wished. 

“May it be so.” Kaichen whispered as Antuk asked him to speak up. 

His friend complained that he could not hear him over the braying of his donkey.  Kaichen stifled a groan as he thought of the long days of travel that lay ahead of them.  Antuk smiled with anticipation as he cast his friend a hopeful glance. 

Kaichen grumbled under his breath as he corrected Antuk’s sense of direction time and time again.  Antuk did not seem to mind the correction or notice that he continued to stray in the wrong direction more times than Kaichen cared to count. 

“Where do you think the luminaries go when the sun gives us a new day?” Antuk’s questions were often surprisingly insightful.

Before Kaichen could think of a response Antuk
shouted with the full power of his voice.  The sound carried far into the distance until it came back to them again. 

Kaichen silently nodded in understanding.
  This was the friend of his youth; Antuk’s attention span was almost nonexistent.  Already he had forgotten his question and looked to Kaichen to take his turn yelling as loud as he could.  Kaichen did not wish to shout and yell but Antuk’s eyes said that he missed home but did not wish to return.  Kaichen shouted as loud as he could, startling Amara and his horse. 

Antuk laughed as Kaichen’s horse
pranced in place.   Kaichen found that his chest ached with laughter instead of sadness.  Perhaps that had been Antuk’s intention all along.  Better to cry with laughter, than to weep with bitter sadness. 

More quickly than they thought possible the sun began to make its way to its resting place. Kaichen called a halt to their travels for the day.  He selected a shady place with several large boulders that had been warmed by the sun.  The weather would cool drastically before the morning light came to warm them again. 

Kaichen walked around the boulders and rocks to make certain that there was no obvious sign of snakes or scorpions.  He found a few scorpion holes and he chose a different place for their fire.  

Throughout the day they had stopped to pick up scraps and firewood.   Kaichen’s horse carried the majority of their supplies.  Antuk’s donkey was known to bulk and Kaichen did not wish to see the stubborn animal run off with their meager supplies. 

The sun set over the land casting the sky with rays of bright red and orange.  Kaichen thought that it looked like tendrils of fire thrown across the heavens before darkness claimed the light.  It was fitting.  Darkness had long ago claimed the light within him. 

Kaichen woke suddenly as was his way.  He immediately took in his surroundings.  Amara scrambled to her feet as she awoke just as suddenly. 

“Tell her that she is safe.” Antuk spoke to Kaichen.  He wanted his friend to reassure
Amara that all was well but Kaichen’s eyes were not upon them.  His gaze caught and held the sight of clouds gathering in the distance.  They were not safe, nor were they likely to live long enough to see the next sunrise. 

Kaichen pointed up into the sky as Antuk eagerly followed his finger.   Antuk made a strangled noise as he caught sight of the thing that gave even great m
en fits of terror. 

“Sandstorm
!” There was very little that struck fear in Kaichen’s heart, but the ways of the land and sky heeded no man. 

Kaichen grabbed hold of
Amara’s hand.   He whistled for his horse and swept Amara up into his arms.  They were out in the open with the closest shelter far into the distance.  It was not likely that they would make it to shelter before the storm was upon them, but Kaichen had to try. 

As he spurred his horse forward he told himself that
he would survive.   He was the only hope for his people.  Suddenly, he realized that his thoughts and beliefs did not matter, it was what his people believed that mattered and if he did not return to them, all was lost.  

S
ince the death of his brother, Kaichen had never known a moment where he lived only for himself.   Through no wish of his own, he knew that he must fight to live, not for himself, but for the people that shared his blood.  If he died, so too would they.

Amara flinched as
Kaichen lifted her onto his horse.  She expected him to join her immediately.  She had also caught sight of the great sandstorm that had risen out of nowhere and now moved toward them. 

Amara bent over the horse as the man jumped up with one fluid motion and yell
ed for his horse to run.  She saw that the larger man had gained his seat upon his donkey and the smaller animal followed them while bawling pitifully. Amara wanted to scream, but there was no breath left in her body, between the pain in her ribs and the man that pressed his body over hers, holding her against the lathering horse.

Kaichen knew that he pushed them hard.  He also knew that Antuk’s donkey would be hard pressed to keep up with his horse.  He could hear the animal bray in panic and still he would not slow. Antuk shouted behind him
and Kaichen knew that his friend was close at their heels and his words told him that the storm was moving swiftly their way.  If Antuk fell, then Kaichen would be forced to stop, he would not continue on without his friend, they were in this together.

Antuk’s shou
t told Kaichen that he was near and he thought that they still had a small chance of reaching safety until he glanced back over his shoulder. For a moment, he wished that he had not looked at all.

The sandstorm roared behind them and it looked like the yawning maw of a great beast from times long past as it moved swiftly toward them, blocking out the light
and stealing away their hope.