The Last Warrior

by Karen Kay

  Glancing from one of them to the other, Buffalo Bill pulled his hat off, rubbed his arm against his forehead and shook his head. “Well, I wish you women happiness.” He grinned at them both, then turned to saunter away.

  “He’s really not such a bad person, is he?” Suzette commented, watching his departing figure.

  “No, indeed,” said Irena. “But he does seem to have a penchant for the opera stars, does he not?”

  Suzette laughed. “I do believe he does.”

  Later that night, White Claw held a council consisting of himself, Irena, Suzette and Black Lion, as well as Black Lion’s father and mother. As the day had worn on, Suzette had been given the opportunity to change clothes, as had Irena. At present, they were both comfortably seated around the lodge fire in Black Lion’s tepee.

  Black Lion’s wound had been dressed, and he, too, was wearing his best buckskin. He was also looking quite dear, and fortunately, quite well. As was traditional, the men were seated on the left, the women on the right, with White Claw at the head of the council toward the very back of the lodge.

  Lighting the pipe again with buffalo dung, White Claw presided over the ceremony, ensuring that the pipe was properly presented to the Sky, to the Earth, to the Four Winds and was passed to each person in the council, including the women.

  When it was done and the pipe was returned to him, he began. “I have called us together so I can answer any questions you might have. As you know, all our people are freed from the mist at last. It is done. But I fear you may still have questions. We will start first with your wife, Black Lion, for without her quick thinking, the curse might never have been broken.”

  Suzette, never one to back away from praise in the past, found herself blushing and averting her gaze.

  “Have you any questions, Little Blue Eyes, wife of Black Lion?”

  Suzette hesitated momentarily, then said, “I do have one question.”

  White Claw nodded.

  “What are your intentions toward my grandmother?”

  So unexpected was the inquiry, White Claw smiled. “Are you speaking of my wife, the one we know as the Song Bird?”

  “Your…wife? Irena, you didn’t tell me,” Suzette accused.

  “There has been so little time, Suzie. And there’s been much to do, preparations, and…”

  “Well, congratulations to you both!” said Suzette.

  Irena smiled, while White Claw spoke. “We are very happy to have your good wishes. Have you any other questions?”

  “Actually, yes, I do. It is apparent that the song melted the Thunderer’s heart, is that correct?”

  White Claw nodded.

  “Then if his heart had melted, why did he start to kill me?”

  “He has lived too long with hatred, I fear. But when your husband informed him of your condition, not only did the curse end for our people, but for him as well.”

  “But who brought the children back to life?”

  “That is a very good question, and indeed, it requires a good answer. Our people committed a wrong all those years ago, yes, but the Thunderer was not, himself, innocent. He, too, killed many people, and his heart has ever since been filled with hatred. What he failed to realize is that he, too, must sacrifice, for every life taken is precious. When he threw down his knife, refusing to kill you, he sacrificed a thing of some worth to him. He forfeited his hatred. And as he saved your child’s life, so did the Creator save his children. It has come full circle.”

  Suzette nodded. “Yes. I see.”

  “Do you have any other questions?”

  “No, none that I can think of now.”

  White Claw nodded. “Then we will ask our champion, Black Lion, have you any questions?”

  “I do,” spoke Black Lion. “The Creator gave us the clue to show kindness and decency to our enemies. To help them. And yet, even as I ended the curse, I did not help my enemy. I understand that the song melted the Thunderer’s heart. Was it that which freed my people? For I failed in my resolve to show kindness.”

  “This is another good question. Indeed, it was not the song that freed your people, though it helped because it started the disintegration of the Thunderer’s hatred. Yet, this is something I have little understood, for upon the curse being lifted, each champion has voiced much the same thing to me. Each hero has, without fail, told me he thought he was doing wrong, and that he was sacrificing his chance to help his people by not showing kindness to the enemy. I have pondered this deeply. I have asked the Creator, and at last I understand. It was not enough to simply be kind to an enemy, to sacrifice oneself for one’s people and to have only their welfare at heart. The people themselves had to sacrifice, to give up everything for the curse to end. And this was the crux of the matter. You, as their champion, were ‘the people’. When you sacrificed their plight, it was you, as the people, who sacrificed everything. Doing one’s duty, keeping only the tribe and its welfare in one’s heart, could never break the curse. Do you see?”

  Black Lion looked confused, while White Claw went on to explain:

  “You, as your people’s champion, represented your band of the Clan. To the Creator you were the people. Therefore, thinking only of the Clan’s welfare and putting your people before all else was, to the Creator, selfish. Indeed, each hero who broke the curse eventually sacrificed everything, and I think it safe to say that without love, such sacrifice would never have happened. Haiya! It is this that broke the curse…it was love. Perhaps we should always remember this: It was love that had the power to conquer a curse thousands of years old.”

  Black Lion nodded.

  “Have you any other questions?”

  “Only one other.”

  “Aa, yes, what is it?”

  “Will my wife and I be able to find happiness in this world when there is so much prejudice?”

  White Claw grinned. “Aa, you will find much happiness, indeed. Your people need you. Your people need your wife. As it has been before, so it will be. Your lives will be filled with love, honor, and perhaps also with music.”

  Epilogue

  The Wild West Show, Colorado Territory

  The baby’s cry split through the air. Black Lion, who had been pacing in front of the tent he and his wife now called their home, stopped and grinned.

  Flinging back the tent’s flap, he rushed into the white man’s tepee, not stopping until he reached the chamber the two of them called their bedroom. He was greeted by Irena’s and Rabbit Leggings’s delighted smiles.

  “It’s a boy,” said Irena. “A fine-looking, beautiful boy.”

  “A son, my son.” Black Lion grinned inanely. “And my wife?”

  “She is doing well. For this being her first baby, it was a quick birth. I think she is blessed. But she is also missing her husband, I believe. The doctor will allow you a few moments with her, I am certain.”

  Black Lion needed no further inducement. Coming around the Japanese partition, he sought her out at once, and he was pleased to see that his wife looked healthy, if a bit tired. In her arms was the babe.

  “Black Lion,” she said, as soon as she looked up to see him. “Come closer and meet your son.”

  Black Lion did as asked and knelt beside her bed. The baby was wrapped in a soft blanket. His skin was red, his hair was black and his eyes were a clear blue.

  “He is beautiful,” said Black Lion. “Almost as beautiful as my wife.”

  She grinned. “How you flatter me. I am certain I am quite a mess.”

  “You are the most beautiful woman of my acquaintance, and I will hear no argument saying differently.” Black Lion offered his finger to the babe, who took it immediately.

  “I have been thinking of names.”

  “Oh? Have you a name for him already?”

  “If you agree, I would like to christen him after my father, John
Carl Black Lion.”

  “It is a good name,” said Black Lion. “A very good name, indeed.”

  He raised his gaze to hers, and she smiled at him. “I love you so much. And I have never been so happy.”

  “And I love you. You, my wife, you hold my heart, will always hold my heart.” He kissed her then, knowing with certainty that whatever the future would hold for them, they would always have each other.

  Note to the Reader

  In writing this book, I tried to stay as historically accurate as possible. The scenes I have described in the Wild West Show were scenes inspired directly from Buffalo Bill’s original program. There are many pictures of these genuine acts, as well as a few movies that were made of them. I did, however, take two liberties that I thought I would mention.

  Buffalo Bill generally opened his shows with the American Indians riding first into the arena. I altered the sequence to have the Indians enter the arena last. My reasoning is that “he who is last on the program is often the most important.” While this is not always the case, having the Indians enter last into the arena worked well within the storyline of the book.

  One other liberty I seized upon concerns the song “O mio babbino caro” by Puccini. The aria is from the opera Gianni Schicchi. My friend Caroline Veach, a tremendous musician, helped me find this song. When she and her husband heard the storyline of the book, they both suggested this song and loaned me the DVD Andre Rieu, Live in Dublin. This is probably one of the most moving and beautiful songs and performances I have ever heard or seen, and it inspired the ending so greatly that I left the song in the story. However, the aria was first premiered in 1918, and my story takes place in 1892. I hope you will pretend along with me that this song was in existence during the time period of this story.

  Thank you.

  Karen Kay

  Glossary

  Because there are some words and ideas in my story that may be foreign to the reader, I’ve provided a glossary for your ease in reading. Please note that wherever possible, in the story itself, I have placed the English translation after the world used.

  Aa—A Blackfeet word meaning “yes”.

  Band—In most North American Indian tribes, a band refers to a smaller unit within a tribe—the people of which are mostly related. These people hunt together and camp together. Often the different tribal bands meet together in the summer and/or fall to socialize and celebrate. The Hunkpapa are a band of the Lakota Sioux tribe. Sitting Bull was a member of the Hunkpapa band of the Lakota Sioux.

  Ece—A Lakota word that means to be surprised, usually with indignation.

  Eya—A Lakota word meaning “well, then…” or “also, too…”

  Grandfather/Grandson—These terms of endearment were exchanged between the young and their elders. For a youngster to call a man “grandfather” or an elder to call a boy “grandson” does not necessarily denote a direct blood relationship. Thus, any elder could be called “grandfather” by any of the young people of the tribe. And vice versa.

  Hannia—A Blackfeet word that is used as we might say, “really!”

  Hau/Han—A Lakota word meaning “yes”. Men say “hau”, women say “han”. Often today men and women in greeting will say, “Hau, hau,” which would mean “hello”.

  Hepela—Surprise of joy at greeting a friend.

  Heyoka—A Heyoka in Lakota society is a backward person. This person would have dreamed of the Thunder Being in order to become a Heyoka. Heyokas did everything backward. They spoke the opposite of what they meant, washed in sand, became dirty in water, slept with blankets in summer and none in winter. They walked backward and did everything backward. To dream of the Thunderer in this manner was one of the most sacred of all dreams, yet one that was dreaded most, for if one who had been given this dream disobeyed it, he did so at risk of sudden death from a lightning strike. A good movie that demonstrates a Heyoka is the movie Little Big Man starring Dustin Hoffman.

  Hiya—A Lakota word meaning “no”.

  Ho—A Lakota expression meaning “well, then…”

  Kola—A Lakota word meaning “friend”. At this time kola meant a special kind of friend—usually friendship between males. These friends would hunt together, war together and would pledge to give their lives for one another. Such pledges were a sacred oath.

  Medicine—Medicine refers to the great mystery or to something mysterious or powerful. To have medicine meant that one had obtained a certain power, usually through dreams or some deed. Thus for one to say that another “had medicine” was a compliment, meaning that the person had some kind of spiritual power.

  Nacece—A Lakota word meaning “perhaps”.

  Sacred Song—The American Indian owns different songs. These songs may be passed down from relative to relative or simply given to one by another. They may also be given to one by the spiritual forces of nature or by the birds and animals. But one did not sing a song without the owner’s permission to do so.

  Sece—Another Lakota word meaning “perhaps”.

  Spirit Protector—A spirit protector was usually an animal, or in some cases a being, who would take pity on a man who was undertaking a vision quest. This animal or being would give his power to the man for life, provided the man held firm to what the protector instructed him to do. As I have said in this book, the Creator takes no sides, and so a man would plead with the forces of nature for aid in his life, particularly if he were going to war or were to be engaged in another activity that might hold some danger.

  Tula—A Lakota word meaning “to be surprised”.

  Wakan—A Lakota word meaning “holy” or “sacred”.

  Waste—A Lakota word meaning “good”.

  Winkte—A Lakota word for a person who is a hermaphrodite, a person who is both male and female.

  About the Author

  Author of seventeen American Indian historical romances, Karen Kay aka Gen Bailey, has been praised by reviewers and fans alike for bringing the Wild West alive for her readers.

  Karen Kay, whose great-grandmother was a Choctaw Indian, is honored to be able to write about something so dear to her heart, the American Indian culture.

  “With the power of romance, I hope to bring about an awareness of the American Indian’s concept of honor, and what it meant to live as free men and free women. There are some things that should never be forgotten.”

  Find Karen Kay online at www.novels-by-karenkay.com.

  Look for these titles by Karen Kay

  Now Available:

  Lakota

  Lakota Surrender

  Lakota Princess

  Proud Wolf’s Woman

  Blackfoot Warriors

  Gray Hawk’s Lady

  White Eagle’s Touch

  Night Thunder’s Bride

  Legendary Warriors

  War Cloud’s Passion

  Lone Arrow’s Pride

  Soaring Eagle’s Embrace

  The Lost Clan

  The Angel and the Warrior

  The Spirit of the Wolf

  Red Hawk’s Woman

  Coming Soon:

  Iroquois Warrior

  Black Eagle

  Seneca Surrender

  A love that defies the ocean. A secret deeper than blood.

  Lakota Princess

  © 2012 Karen Kay

  Lakota, Book 2

  Driven from her home in England by hostile political forces, Estrela was little more than a girl when she came to be raised by a far western Lakota tribe. On the wide, sweeping plains she grew tall and strong, and won the love of a handsome warrior.

  But on the eve of their marriage, she is torn away from her native family, torn from the man she loves, and forced to return to a place that feels more like a foreign country than her home. There she merely exists, haunted by her love’s sweet kisses and heat
ed embrace, yearning for his unforgettable touch.

  Black Bear has braved the ocean to find the woman whose beauty has captured his soul. But no sooner has he arrived in England than he is called upon to save her life. Who in their right mind would want to murder such a gentle spirit?

  As Black Bear comes between her and death time after time, Estrela wishes they could both just disappear back to the plains, and bury the secret she has long hidden—even from him. A secret from which only their love, truer than blood, can save them.

  Warning: Contains separated lovers who will let nothing come between them…not oceans, her mysterious past or a murderer bent on destroying their future. Sensuous love scenes could make you want to cool off with some skinny dipping, hopefully with a gorgeous lover of your own.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Lakota Princess:

  “Waste Ho Win.”

  Estrela sat up straight and glanced into the crowd.

  What was that? The wind blew by her and seemed to whisper. What? No. It could not be. It couldn’t be her name—her Indian name.

  She listened; nothing more. She gazed back around and stared at members of the Royal Guard as they lined the streets of Pall Mall. Dressed in red jackets and tall, black hats, the Guard reminded her that she was, indeed, in England. Crowds of the English populous had lined up behind the military for a view of their royalty, the parade being in honor of the adjournment of Parliament. There was nothing here to make her think of the American West. Nothing Indian. Nothing at all.

  “Waste Ho Win, where are you?”

  Estrela caught her breath. She’d heard Lakota words. There in the wind. It wasn’t possible and yet…

  She stared around her. She sat alone, perched up high in the back of a grand, mahogany coach. The Duke and Duchess of Colchester, along with their two daughters, reclined in the main coach, their seats facing one another. Two drivers, dressed in red jackets and black hats, sat in front, controlling a team of four horses.