The Bear and the Wolf

by Griff Hosker

  The warrior was no coward and he drew his club and his knife. Two of his companions also drew their weapons. I took the blow from the club on my shield and the knife thrust was blocked with my sword. Pulling back my head I butted Angry Voice who tumbled backwards. I did not slow and stepped forward to punch at one Penobscot with my shield while I swung my sword at the second warrior. A knife grated off my mail, but my sword sliced through the warrior to his spine. The warrior I had punched was dazed and I lunged at him with my sword. It entered his stomach and I twisted as I withdrew it. The wounded warriors were trying to get away and back to their boats but Angry Voice, his head bleeding from my head butt stood and advanced.

  This time, when I spoke, I spoke in Mi’kmaq, and I spoke slowly, “I am Erik and Laughing Deer is my woman. You will die here, and I will take your hands so your spirit will never touch in the Otherworld.”

  He understood enough of my words to scream some Penobscot curse and race at me. I was ready and I pivoted on my left leg so that my shield protected me from his wild blow, and I was bringing around my sword to sever his body in two. He was dead before his torso hit the ground. The survivors had halted close to their boats for their leader was dead. I heard one say something, it was the one who had fled without wounds, and they began to advance. Suddenly an arrow flew past me and smacked into the warrior’s chest. It was too much for the four already wounded warriors and they stumbled to one of the birch bark boats and began to paddle west. I turned and saw Laughing Deer behind me with the bow. Stands Alone no longer looked afraid and she held her seax purposefully. They would have come to my aid if I had been attacked! I watched the warriors take two of the boats and paddle away as quickly as their wounded limbs would allow them.

  By the time dawn arrived, I had placed the bodies in the cart, and we had pushed it to the spit of land at the end of the river mouth. In the distance, I could see the Penobscot as they struggled to paddle back to safety. They were finding it hard for the wind was fresh and in their face. If I had wished I could have taken my own boat, hoisted the sail and caught them. Perhaps I should have but hindsight is always perfect. Instead, we gathered kindling and made a funeral pyre for the dead warriors. There were eight of them. My traps had not only wounded some of them, but they had also killed. Laughing Deer took Angry Voice’s feathers as a trophy. She told me they would give me more power next time we fought the Penobscot.

  As I lit the kindling I said, “They will not return.”

  She shook her head, “I fear they will for this is now a blood feud. We killed Yellow Feather and so Angry Voice made this impossible journey to end our lives and when the warriors reach their home, they will tell the chief and he will want vengeance for his son. It will not be this year for soon they will return to their winter camp but come the new buds they will wish to make war.”

  She seemed remarkably calm about the whole thing. As we walked back to the hall where we would have to clean up the blood and I would have to repair the door, I said, “And that does not worry you?”

  She laughed, “I have watched you slay many warriors here and at the river, yet you have not a scratch. My people spoke of battles with tribes like the Penobscot, the Odawa and the Mohican. None ever slew as many. We are not afraid. Your hall slowed them down and we were ready to fight.”

  Stands Alone smiled and took my hand, “I am afraid no longer, Erik the Bear. They could not harm you and I saw that they were weak men. You are strong and we will survive.”

  The burning bodies sent a huge column of smoke into the sky. The fleeing Penobscot would see it as would the Mi’kmaq. Now we had no choice. I would need to sail to the mainland as soon as possible.

  Chapter 14 Erik

  We set sail three days after the fight. I repaired the door, bridge and added stakes to replace the ones which had been damaged. It was harder to leave our home than I had expected. On Laughing Deer’s advice, I took my bearskin and the wapapyaki, but I left my mail on the island. Laughing Deer also suggested that I take a gift. We had found a small hatchet close to one of the deserted farms. The handle had been broken. I had repaired and cleaned it. We both thought that it would make a suitable gift. The voyage across the bay did not take long for the wind was from the south and west. We had to tack a couple of times, but ‘Ada’ was a fine vessel and she flew. The Mi’kmaq were still at the coast and as we neared the beach, I saw a youth run inland. The fact that there were two Mi’kmaqs with me made my arrival less intimidating than had I been alone. A couple of boys even helped me to drag my boat on to the beach and two warriors approached us.

  “I am here to speak with Chief Wandering Moos.”

  One of the warriors who was guarding the shellfish gatherers nodded to me, “We have sent word, Shaman of the Bear.” He looked curiously at Laughing Deer. “What tribe are you? I see you are of our people, but I do not know you.”

  “My sister and I live far from here and we were captured by a Penobscot raiding party. This warrior killed many Penobscot and rescued us.”

  “I am Black Bird and I am impressed that you are a shaman and a warrior. Few are granted both skills.” He suddenly looked to the sea. “We saw some Penobscot birch bark boats, it is why our Chief sent guards. Did they come to your island?”

  Before I could answer Laughing Deer said, proudly, “Aye, but Erik the Bear slew seven Penobscot with his own hands, including the son of the chief!”

  I saw the respect on Black Bird’s face, “That is a tale I would hear.”

  The youth arrived back. He was out of breath, “Chief Wandering Moos has asked me to take them to the camp.”

  Black Bird said, “When we return to the camp, I will leave boys to watch this boat and it will be safe.”

  I followed the boy who hurried ahead. He was obviously nervous about being so close to the Shaman of the Bear. The whole of the tribe had gathered to meet us and they formed a funnel at the head of which stood Chief Wandering Moos, his shaman and his chief warriors. I recognised the one who had been friendly to us, Long Sight. I saw that they were not painted for war and that was a good thing although the Wapapyaki should have ensured our safety in any case. They waited until we were close and then the Chief held his hands for the Wapapyaki. In the time we had been back on Bear Island I had added the pictograms which told of the battle with the Penobscot at the falls and the departure of the clan. The Chief studied it and then handed it to the shaman.

  “Sit Shaman of the Bear and your two companions.” He was polite for I could see that he was intrigued by their presence. Like Bear Tooth he recognised them as Mi’kmaq but the fact that he did not know them made him curious. He clapped his hands and two women brought us food and drink. I knew that we had to partake and to refuse would be an insult. Stands Alone was shaking in the presence of warriors. I knew then that she might never overcome this terrible fear she had. We ate and I wiped my hands on my breeks as I had seen the Mi’kmaq do the last time I had been in their camp.

  The Chief smiled, “I can see that there is a tale to tell here but I do not wish to rush it. We would be honoured if you would eat with us and spend the night in our camp.”

  We had already eaten but I understood the protocol and ritual of such matters. I glanced at Laughing Deer who smiled at the chief and then nodded at me. “We would be happy to, but I hope that you are not insulted if I ask for a sleeping chamber for the three of us.” He gave me a questioning look and I added, “When you hear the tale then I hope you will understand. And you are right, the tale is long and is complicated.”

  “Then while we wait for Black Bird and the other warriors to return from guarding the gatherers and hunting, for they will wish to hear the tale, Long Sight will show you and…”

  “I am sorry, I have been rude. This is Laughing Deer and Stands Alone.”

  “Welcome Laughing Deer and Stands Alone, know that you will be perfectly safe here in my camp!”

  Long Sight was grinning as he led me around the camp and explained who everyone was. I
could not possibly remember all of the names, but I nodded and smiled when he spoke to them.

  He stopped by one of the larger dwellings, “And this is my home. White Doe, we have guests.”

  His wife came out. She was a short and squat woman, but she had a smile as big as a billowing sail. “This is Laughing Deer and Stands Alone; take them inside away from the eyes of the tribe.”

  When they were inside, he said, “I can see that the little one is much troubled; her eyes show too much pain for one so young.”

  “And their tale is bound up in mine. I beg your patience for I would not spoil the tale I will tell.”

  He laughed, “And your language has improved. That is the work of Laughing Deer?” I nodded. “She is your woman?”

  “She is and we are happy.”

  “I can see that.” I glanced at the door to the dwelling. “Fear not, my wife is kind and she will be seeing to their needs. Women have different needs from men. We can sit here in the open and enjoy the air. They like to have their heads together.” He glanced at my bearskin. “I see you do not wear the magic coat you wore last time.”

  “Last time I did not know what reception I could expect.”

  “Aye, Eyes of Fire and his friends were foolish. Chief Wandering Moos has other sons and they do not have the wild streak of war which infected Eyes of Fire.”

  I spent a pleasant hour or so speaking with him about the tribe and their winter camp. I was interested in when they left for that would mean we would be alone and the Penobscot attack had worried me a little. The fact that they had attacked at night and over a dangerous stretch of water showed me how much they wanted Laughing Deer. He told me that their winter camp lay three days to the north-west. When the tribe left for their winter home, after the harvest, we would be alone on our island.

  As the sun began to set, Black Bird led the fisherfolk from the beach and the hunters returned from the woods. Long Sight stood and said, “White Doe, it is time,”

  I noticed that when Stands Alone emerged she looked happier than when she had entered. Laughing Deer was beaming. We made our way across to the open space before the chief’s home. Women were fetching food and drink and I saw that I had a place of honour between the chief and Long Sight. Laughing Deer and Stands Alone were with the women. That would please Laughing Deer’s sister. Eating was obviously a serious business for the Mi’kmaq, and they ate with purpose. When the meal had finished, I was offered a splinter of wood to clean my teeth. It was fortunate that I had been offered one by Laughing Deer before or else I would have looked foolish wondering if I should eat it!

  Chief Wandering Moos gestured to the open space before us, “The tribe awaits your words, Shaman of the Bear.”

  It felt like standing before a Thing, except that it was worse. I did not know these people, and, despite my improvements, I would still be butchering their language. I decided to keep it simple. I stood and began to speak. I told of our coming from across the seas and I mentioned my dream. Everyone looked at Laughing Deer when I did so and some of the younger women giggled. I realised why. I was bigger than almost all of the Mi’kmaq and Laughing Deer had already told me that I would be attractive to the women. I spoke of Gytha, her prophecies and her death. The Shaman looked intently at me and I could almost hear the questions in his head. When I spoke of finding Laughing Deer and the horrors inflicted upon the two sisters, I heard a murmur of anger and I stopped so that it could subside. The Chief glared at the ones who had spoken. When I spoke of the battle at the falls, I saw that each and every man and boy was listening carefully. They were the ones who had fought the Penobscot. I went into detail about what I could remember for I wanted them on my side. When I spoke of our flight, the death of Yellow Feathers and the capture of the boat some of the younger ones could not contain themselves and they gave a delighted war cry. Once again, the chief silenced them. I was careful to explain in detail about the flight of my people for Laughing Deer did not understand how my family could abandon me despite the fact that her family had, apparently, abandoned her. The building of my new boat caused the most interest. I saw Long Sight look at the Chief for he wished to interrupt but knew he could not. I paused in my tale, “When I have spoken then I will happily answer any questions which the tribe has.” That brought relieved nods. When I spoke of how I had improved the defences of the hall and then the details of the attack you could have heard a pin drop. After I had finished I said, simply, “And as you are our neighbours and our friends I thought to bring you this news for Laughing Deer is convinced that the Penobscot will come for her again and I would not have our neighbours suffer because of our actions. That is all I have to say.”

  I was going to sit but the Chief stood and walked over to me, “I have a question. Will you be sailing to your people in the land of the rising sun?”

  Shaking my head, I said, “The journey would need a bigger ship than the one I have now.”

  “And yet you built one of these after the peace.” He was an astute man. “If the tribe helped you, could you make one?”

  “I could but a spirit has come from across the Great Sea to tell me that my future lies here in the west.”

  Seemingly satisfied he nodded, “And will your people return from across the water?”

  I smiled, “That is a good question. I do not expect my brother and my clan to return but others may come. The journey, however, is not easy.”

  “Those are honest answers,” He sat down and waved a hand. It was the signal for questions, and I noticed a hierarchy in the clan. Long Sight and the senior warriors, the ones with scars, asked theirs first and then the shaman, Finally, the younger warriors asked theirs. I answered them all honestly although I had to struggle to find some of the words. Finally, Chief Wandering Moos said, “Our guest has done enough. Come Erik, Shaman of the Bear, and sit by me. We will smoke a pipe.”

  I was introduced to the ritual of smoking leaves in a wooden bowl. I confess I never particularly enjoyed it but the Mi’kmaq, like many other tribes, seemed to find it rewarding. “We have watched your island since we returned to the summer camps and we expected you to come to hear the words of our council. When we saw the ships with the fierce faces gone, we wondered and when you returned there was much talk of how the spirits had devoured your ships and eaten your people.” He smiled. “I did not believe those tales and yours makes more sense.”

  I spoke to him for it gave me the opportunity to drink some water and rid my mouth of the taste of the burned leaves, “And what did the council decide?”

  “That you Erik, Shaman of the Bear, should present yourselves to them at our winter feast.”

  “I missed that feast?”

  “Aye, you did, and I will have to return this winter to do the same. You could come with me.”

  I could tell from his voice that he did not wish me to come and I filled in the gaps in his words. Their council sounded like a Thing and at our meetings there were always dissenting voices. Some of those would be angry that Wandering Moos had not done as he had promised. It was understandable. I made it easier for him, “Stands Alone is better now than she was but a winter with Laughing Deer and me will help to heal her more.”

  Long Sight had been listening and he nodded, “You are wise, and I believe it is a good thing that you have come to our land.”

  I nodded, “And Chief Wandering Moos, I am also forgetful for we brought a gift for you, a hatchet!” I took the hatchet and a seax with a simple scabbard and handed it to him. He withdrew the blade and I counselled, “Be careful, it is very sharp.”

  I thought he would have been more excited, but he frowned, “And have these magic within them which will ensnare me?”

  Shaking my head, I pointed to Laughing Deer and her sister, “They both have a blade like yours and they are unchanged.”

  He sheathed the weapon and smiled, “And there you are wrong. I do not think you speak an untruth, but they are under your spell. I will accept these gifts and I will think if I will
use them or not.”

  I nodded although I did not understand. “If you do use it then you must slash with it and not stab.” I mimed the action.

  He placed the seax and scabbard reverently on the ground along with the hatchet. “And when you have gone, tomorrow, my warriors and the elders will speak of these matters for you have given us much to think about. The Penobscot are our enemies. Laughing Deer and Stands Alone are not of our tribe but they are of our people and if our enemies return, we will fight them for their land is south of the Peace River. We should have challenged them when they sailed north.”

  I had wondered about that.

  Long Sight gave me the answer, “They were clever, Wandering Moos. They came up the coast and camped on the islands. In that way, there were able to disguise their presence until young Hawk’s Feather spied them.”

  “Aye, that was the way we sailed north. There are many islands. They do not have much game, but they give shelter.”

  “It seems to me, Erik, that you know parts of our land better than we do.”

  I spent a short time explaining how I used maps. They were confused until I likened them to the wapapyaki and then realisation set in. “So you use these,” Long Sight paused as he made his mouth say the Norse word for map, “maps, to find the places you have been. Interesting.”

  I could tell that he did not see the value in them, “The sea is vast. We sailed for more than twenty days out of sight of land. I had just the sun and the stars to tell me where I was, and the chart helped me.”