According to Legend

by Gerri Brousseau

  The walls were closing in. Who could I trust? The only thing I knew for sure was that I could trust Moheeladeck. I needed to be with him and to share these feelings with him.

  Half-Breed was already curled up on his side of the bed when I crawled under the covers. I never took the catcher from around my neck. I had the habit of placing my opened palm over it before I went to sleep. My head hit the pillow and I felt the catcher’s magic drawing me, lulling me to sleep almost immediately.

  Moheeladeck was standing in a dark, damp place when I appeared before him. The thunder of waterfalls roared in my ears and the cool mist of water glistened upon my face.

  “My love,” he said as he drew me into his arms. “Emanudeck has advised me to bring you here to the cave to find the answers we seek.”

  “Emanudeck?”

  “Yes, he said that perhaps there was something of value in the cave which might still be of value in your world, of enough value to release you of the debt so that you could return to me forever.”

  “Wait! Are we, are we behind the falls?” I stepped toward the water and reached out to feel the cold water rushing over my fingers.

  “Come, let us enter the cave. He placed his hand upon my shoulder and guided me toward the wet stone wall.

  Does he expect me to do something? I wondered. “The stones, Takshawee, you must use the magic of the stones to reveal the entrance of the cave.”

  As if waking from a dream, I took the catcher into my hands.

  “How? I don’t know, I—”

  “You do. Close your eyes and open your mind to your deepest memories.”

  I did as he instructed and the memories of Takshawee crept into my mind. I was the Tribal Princess, and I knew how to get into this cave.

  I placed the stone into the small hole carved for it in the center of a larger circular stone, and it fit like a key in a lock. When I did this, Moheeladeck turned the larger stone. Getting into the cave required two people, two of one heart, of one mind.

  Suddenly the sound of grinding stone on stone went down my spine like nails on a blackboard. As the hidden door slid opened before us, I feared the damp darkness of the cave. I reached to Moheeladeck for reassurance. His warm strong hand covered mine as he led me into the open cavern before us.

  We entered and once on the inside used the stone to close the door behind us. Panic rose in me, and my throat started to close as the grinding sound echoed in the cavern. A fear of being trapped beneath the earth in a dark damp place filled me. I closed my eyes and forced myself to calm down.

  “Takshawee, do not be afraid. Open your eyes.”

  I expected to be in a cold gloomy place but instead of a dark foreboding cave, it was bright as the Aurora Borealis beamed across the northern skies. There was a glittering underground lake and light from what appeared to be phosphorous floating on the surface of the water illuminating the walls. I thought it looked like a lit swimming pool.

  From the ceiling of the cave, crystals hung like stalactites reflecting this light to give the cave a beautiful glow as the light glittered off of the walls sparkling with flecks of gold, as if fairy dust had been sprinkled everywhere. I turned in a circle, and my jaw dropped as I gazed at my surroundings. I was struck with wonder.

  We walked to the bank of the lake where a few bark canoes rested. Drawn to the water, I knelt beside it and placed my hands into the clear lake.

  “Oh,” I said, startled at the touch. “It’s warm.”

  “Yes, it is warmed by Mother Earth and possesses healing powers.”

  “Can we swim in it?”

  “Yes, if you like, but let us go to the other side,” he answered as he helped me to my feet and guided me toward one of the canoes.

  Once inside, Moheeladeck pushed it out into the water, got in behind me, and gently rowed across the lake. I was awestruck by the glow of the cave and my skin tingled with the feel of magic in the air.

  As we approached the banks on the other side, I saw that there were paths between large boulders that stood like sentinels rising up from the floor of the cave to stand guard.

  Moheeladeck helped me out of the canoe and although many paths lay before us, he led me up a twisting path until we came to a huge cavern. There neatly to one side was a pile of furs, a stack of dried firewood, and several baskets of corn and beans.

  “This place is the sanctuary of our People. If we should ever be under a great attack or a tragedy befalls us, we have stores here to get us through.” Moheeladeck said as he took one of the furs from the pile.

  Sensing my trepidation, he took my hand in his. “There is no need to be afraid, my love. Come, there is more you must see.”

  “I am not afraid. I am in awe. This place is so . . . magical.”

  We wandered deeper into the cavern. This was a different path than the one we had traveled the first time he took me into the cave. Releasing Moheeladeck’s hand, I began to wander forward, exploring the cavern with rising excitement. I rounded a bend, and found etchings upon the walls.

  “This is the story of the Aloscotay,” he said as I traced the colorful artwork with my fingers, “our past . . . our present . . . and our future.”

  “And this,” I asked as I pointed to another drawing.

  “This is the story of the rebirth of the spirit of the Tribal Princess as foretold to us by the Great Spirit.”

  I saw painted there upon the wall a likeness similar to that of my parents and me as a child but as the light in the cave started to change, the likenesses of the faces in the etching also changed. The face of Pam Hastings began to resemble that of Takshawee.

  “You always knew I would return?” I murmured.

  “Yes, your return was foretold to us.”

  I gazed at the next etching. “And this?”

  “This is the story of our future.”

  “Our future?”

  “Yes, as seen by our Shaman, the fulfillment of that which was foretold to us. The return of The Princess and the sons of Moheeladeck.”

  The catcher tenderly hummed and my heart filled with warmth as I looked upon the vision drawn there on the cold, stone walls of the cave. There was an image in the likeness of me as Takshawee, with Moheeladeck by my side, and standing before us were two small boys. Their faces were much like their father but their eyes were amber like their mother. Beside Moheeladeck stood a man who looked like an older version of my husband. Behind us in the drawing was a likeness of Weekatay, Emanudeck, and a light-haired warrior I did not immediately recognize but somewhere in the swirling fog of memories, his face seemed vaguely familiar to me. From above, the face of a man I did not know glowed down on us. A face that was strikingly similar to that of my handsome Warrior, but etched in his eyes was the image of another, a man with long dark hair and amber eyes, but this image was not anywhere else upon the wall. Perhaps this was a vision seen only through the eyes of the man looking over us, a vision of the future. A prophecy that was yet to be written.

  “Who is it that stands next to you there?”

  “My father.”

  “Is he still alive?”

  “Yes, very much so.”

  I wondered why I did not know him and had not met him. “Who is that watching over us?”

  “That is the spirit of my grandfather.”

  I gazed again at the images drawn upon the wall. The likeness of Weekatay and Emanudeck. Somehow something in the image reminded me of my parents, Pam’s parents, Jill and Richard Hastings. I ran my fingers tenderly over the etching, lost in the emotions that flooded me, emotions long buried. I swallowed the lump that rose in my throat and fought back the sting of tears. Questions sprang to my mind, but I didn’t have the chance to voice them.

  “Come,” Moheeladech said. “There is something I wish to show you.” He took my hand and led me further up the winding path.

  The area widened, revealing several mounds of rock similar to huge piles of stones cast aside at a construction site. The catcher seemed to vibrate with excitem
ent as we drew closer, and I wondered what was so magical and special about piles of stones. Then, as I drew closer, I noticed colorful lights gleaming from within the rocks, bright green, brilliant reds and blues glistened, drawing me closer until I realized that these were raw gems. Here, deep within the cave, were mountains of amethyst, aquamarine, emeralds, garnets, and topaz, as well as a king’s ransom of gold and silver nuggets.

  As a child, I learned that such riches were buried deep in the bedrock beneath our feet, but I had never seen actual proof. Or was this a magic trick of the cave? But as I touched the cold, rough surfaces and held a silver nugget to the light, I knew the treasure was as solid and real as Moheeladeck standing before me.

  “How did these gems get here?” I asked Moheeladeck as I stared at the uncut and raw jewels is total disbelief.

  “They were placed here by my grandfather. Legend is that one day they will be scattered over Mother Earth like the many people to come. It is our duty to guard the treasure of our fathers until the time when the mighty hand of the Great Spirit takes them away.”

  In the distance, beyond the glitter of gold and gems, a spring bubbled up out of the rocks. The trickling sound of it was magical and drew me toward it. The spring overflowed and ran down a little ravine that fed into the lake. Where the spring emerged up from the earth, there rested a few small drinking cups carved from wood as well as some clay pots. I wondered what magic was in this water.

  As if he sensed my thoughts, Moheeladeck said, “Come, let us drink together from the waters of eternal life.”

  I followed him to the spring.

  He laid the fur down for us as a blanket upon which to rest, and then moved closer to the spring.

  Kneeling beside it, he took one of the cups, filled it with water, and came to my side. He first took a sip and then held the cup to my lips. I drank from it. The water was ice cold and totally refreshing. My eyes widened when the unexpected chill hit my lips.

  “The melting snow far north flows into this spring,” he said. “This is our sanctuary and our sustenance. The Aloscotay People may one day survive only because of the existence of this place.”

  “Is there another way out?” I asked as my eyes roamed the interior of the grand cavern.

  “Yes, but it also requires the stones.”

  “How can the People gain entry without the stones?”

  “They cannot, that is one of the reasons you are so important to our tribe.”

  Why didn’t I know this? I had begun to share the memories of Takshawee, but things were slow in coming back to me. Earlier, I thought that all her memory had returned, but now it felt as if I had amnesia and memories were revealing themselves slowly, in bits and pieces. This existence, this old world, was very mysterious and yet I was drawn to it and to the man who stood beside me. A shiver ran through me as I began to realize my destiny, and he gathered me into his arms.

  “You are cold, my love?”

  “A little.”

  “Let us make a small fire and share some food. We will talk of the future here in this sacred place. The Great Spirit will hear us and the words we speak here will surely come to pass.”

  I watched in silence as he made the fire and soon we were sitting close, sharing nuts, berries, and dried meat. He moved as if he were performing some ancient ritual. I pushed through the fog at the boundaries of my memory, but still I had no recollection of the ceremony he was performing. I didn’t care. I trusted him and didn’t want to be anywhere else but here in this place with this man, alone and away from the world.

  I told him of the things that were plaguing me and he told me I was correct in thinking that the circle of our enemies was closing in. He assured me that we were ready to meet and defeat them. I told him of my fears and that I could not trust anyone in my world. He told me that I was wise to follow my instincts and reassured me again. I clung to his reassurances.

  “I have a gift for you,” he said as he produced a small pouch from his belt. Opening it, he reached inside and drew out a leather strap with an amulet attached to it. The amulet was a flat stone with the likeness of a wolf and a deer carved into it.

  “This is the symbol of your Manitous, your spirit guide, the doe, together with mine and the symbol of our tribe, the wolf,” he said as he fastened it around my neck. “It’s magic will give you spiritual guidance in time of trouble and remind you that I am always with you.”

  “Thank you, Moheeladeck. It’s beautiful. I love it and will treasure it always.” My heart skipped a beat as this small gift touched me in a way I could not explain. I smiled, knowing that this man would give me the world if he were able.

  Then he produced yet another smaller pouch and emptied the contents into his hand. A dark purple powder filled his palm. He poured half of it into my hand. The powder felt warm and a pulsing sensation rippled over my fingers. Then he spoke some words I didn’t understand; words in a forgotten tongue from an ancient ritual.

  “Takshawee, toss the powder into the flame.”

  “What is it? What will happen?”

  “It is magic. It controls the fire.”

  Together we tossed the powder into the fire and sparks of many colors sprang up and danced like warriors in the flames. A fragrant purplish smoke rose up and I watched the strange colored smoke rise to the ceiling of the cave and drift away over the surface of the water. Watching it, I felt as if I were drifting along with it.

  He took me into his arms and kissed me gently. He held me close to his heart and murmured words of love and tenderness into my ear as he made love to me. Our bodies united and so, too, did the power of the stones. The energy that surrounded us when we made love seemed magnified by the magic of this place that the tribe held as sacred. It brought its light and life to every corner of the cave.

  After we made love, tears of joy trickled down my cheeks. My heart clenched with happiness and I was filled with an emotion I could not contain.

  “You are crying, my Princess. Have I hurt you in some way?”

  “No, you could never hurt me. I am simply filled with joy and it is overflowing in the form of tears.”

  I thought he would reach up to wipe them away, but instead he leaned down and kissed the tears as they rolled down my cheeks.

  As we walked hand-in-hand back toward the lake, we came to the mountains of gems. Moheeladeck pulled some empty pouches from his belt.

  “Before we leave this place, we must fill these pouches with stones.”

  “Why?”

  “Emanudeck has advised that when you return to your time, you can use them to pay off the debt to free yourself and return here to this time, to this place, to our People, and to me.”

  A smile spread across my lips. “That might actually work.”

  I stared into his eyes and wondered if I would ever be able to survive without this man. The catcher gently hummed over my heart, a heart overflowing with love and filled with a new hope.

  Chapter 23

  When I awoke the next morning, I was disappointed to find myself in my own bed. Half-Breed was snoring. I closed my eyes and remembered last night. I saw the cave, the beautiful water, the etchings in the wall, and Moheeladeck. What was that strange ceremony he performed in the cave? What was that all about?

  Moheeladeck performed a ceremony in the cave? Half-Breed asked through his yawn.

  I was deep in thought and slow to answer him.

  He questioned again with slight urgency. Did Moheeladeck perform a ceremony in the cave with you?

  Well, that’s what’s so weird, Half-Breed. Part of me feels like I should know this. He never actually said it was a ceremony but it felt like it was some ancient, unspoken ritual. Do you know anything about it?

  That depends on what he did. Did he give you that amulet?

  Yes.

  Did you share food together?

  Yes.

  Did he utter words in an ancient tongue and toss dark powder into the fire with you?

  Yes, I uttered as the f
irst inkling of butterflies danced in my stomach.

  I hate to tread upon what would be personal ground but after all this was done, did you mate with him?

  My tongue felt thick. I swallowed hard and replied in a mere whisper. “Yes.”

  He chuckled.

  “What? What is it?” I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

  It is an ancient ceremony.

  “Ancient ceremony? Why do I feel so uneasy about it?”

  It is believed that this ancient ritual performed on sacred ground, followed by mating, will yield a child. Your husband has asked the Great Spirit to bless your union. He is trying for an heir, he replied.

  “WHAT? How could he do that without discussing it with me first?”

  A man does not consult his wife about such things.

  “Here in my world they do! I’m not at all happy about this.”

  Moheeladeck does not live in your world.

  “What are the chances of this really being possible in the dream world?”

  With the power of the stones united in a sacred place, all things are possible.

  Our conversation was interrupted when my cell phone rang.

  I picked it up and barked into the phone in a voice that was probably a lot angrier than I intended. “HELLO!”

  “Good morning, is everything okay over there?” David asked.

  “Oh, good morning David. Yes, everything is fine. I’m just a little angry about something that happened last night.”

  “What’s going on? Anything I can do to help?”

  “No, that’s okay, its work related,” I said. Half-Breed chuckled.

  “I thought you were off this week.”