The Last Sundancer

by Quinney, Karah

  Pele was by his side the moment that Tamol faltered and he bore his weight silently as his father regained his balance. Kaichen was already taking the lead as he raced back to the place where Tamol and Denoa had been challenged by Ni’zin.

  In the back of Kaichen’s mind, his heart ached for Amara. She had been so close to rescue and yet so far away. Fear gave Kaichen speed as he ran to the river’s edge.

  He scanned the area for hiding places or crevices. There was nothing except the river which had continued to swell due to the rain and the rock face that reached into the sky. There above him was a ledge that he had not noticed before and when Kaichen’s eyes cleared of rain, he saw a slim figure standing upon a ledge.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “Amara!” Thunder boomed and the sky rumbled in anger as Kaichen shouted over the storm. Amara swayed and for a moment Kaichen feared that she would lose her balance.

  “You cannot make the climb.” Tamol’s voice was the voice of reason as he urged his men to spread out.

  The warriors quickly rushed downstream, flanking the nearest side of the river. Kaichen shrugged off Tamol’s hands as the man tried and failed to restrain him.

  “The rock is too slick, you will both fall if you try to climb down.” Tamol called out to Kaichen.

  Heedless of the danger to himself, Kaichen did the only thing that he could do. He plunged into the fast flowing water. He was immediately submerged by ice cold rain water that propelled him forward. Kaichen swam with clean strokes that cut through the frothing liquid until he reached the rock wall that kept him from Amara.

  Sound was a thing of the past as thunder and the crash of the water worked together to drown out the world. Kaichen’s hands were numb with cold but he forced his fingers to grab hold of the rock wall as it sped past. Rock sliced into his palm but Kaichen managed to grab hold and haul himself out of the water.

  Fear and hope had brought him this far, but he had no way to reach the ledge above him where Amara was trapped. Kaichen looked up and he saw Amara staring down at him. Her face was thinner than it had been before and her eyes were shadowed with worry. Worry for him.

  Kaichen threw himself upward with a mighty heave and he found the slightest indentation in the rock. His feet were bare and he was thankful for the instinct that had caused him to rip the moccasins from his feet before plunging into the water. He found a toehold and used the force of his body to hang above the water, suspended by strength, urgency, skill and good fortune.

  There was no way up but Kaichen remembered the stakes that had once been plunged into the ground by Ni’zin’s men. He pulled these free of their place upon his back, four stakes had been all that he could manage to carry. With painstaking slowness Kaichen worked two of the stakes free even as he shivered from the cold. Amara’s tear streaked face flashed into his mind’s eye and he let loose a war cry that battled against the fury of the storm. His voice was inaudible as he used all of his strength to wedge the first stake into the small crevice above, creating a handhold that was secure. Kaichen did the same with the next hollowed bone and the following.

  He was able to peer over the ledge to catch his first clear sight of Amara. She was on her knees on the ledge and her lips moved without sound.

  “You kept your promise.” Amara’s voice was a caress that reached out to Kaichen and grabbed hold of his heart.

  Kaichen could not speak.

  The sight of Amara, alive and alert was enough to send him to his knees, but instead he forced his limbs to still their trembling and he reached for the ledge. Amara helped Kaichen gain his footing by instinctively shifting her weight. The water from the storm had prolonged her life, but the cold weather had stolen the warmth from her body. The ledge was barely wide enough for the two of them to stand on. However, Kaichen easily stood in front of Amara, pressing her shivering form against the slick rocks so that she would not fall.

  “I thought if it rained that I would be able to jump, but the distance is too far. The river was much higher three days ago.” Amara had tried to find the bravery needed to jump but she had not been able to force her limbs to obey.

  Three days. Kaichen knew that most men died after three days without water. Today was the first day that rain had come and it was the first day that Amara had been able to take in water.

  “I will carry you down from here.” Kaichen looked down at the water below and he knew at a glance that it was much too far of a distance for them to survive should they fall. The thought of Amara jumping to her death caused his heart to clench.

  He clenched his teeth together as he felt Amara trembling behind him. She did not speak, but he knew that she was afraid. If they fell, it was highly unlikely that they would live. Kaichen tried not to think of the jagged rocks that wound through the river below them. Debris was swept along by the rushing water which only increased in intensity as the storm pounded out its fury.

  “We have to go now, while there is still time.” Kaichen shifted so that Amara could climb onto his back. She wrapped her arms around his neck but her grip was weak.

  Before she could protest, Kaichen used the short length of rope that he carried to secure Amara to his back. He could not risk her strength failing as he carried her down the steep incline. Kaichen pressed his lips against Amara’s arm, the only part of her that he could reach and he breathed in the gentle warmth of her skin.

  She was chilled and shaking but when he spoke soothingly, she nodded her acceptance. It humbled Kaichen that Amara would trust him with her life. Her first words to him had been full of hope and confidence. She had faith in him and she believed in him. Amara saw him as he truly was and she measured him fully with her compelling gaze. Kaichen wanted to tell her that there was no danger, that they would make it safely to the ground without falling, but he could not form his lips around a lie. All that was left to him was to try his best and force his fatigued body to heed his commands. The thought of failure was unbearable.

  “Remember the warrior’s way.” Amara’s whispered words were clear despite the rain and blowing wind.

  Kaichen inhaled and exhaled slowly. His memories of long ago intruded as he returned to the time when he was a boy, learning from Azin day by day. In his mind ’s eye, he was with Azin as his weathered voice reached out to him.

  “Have you learned to release fear and doubt so quickly?” Azin watched as Kaichen balanced upon a rock high upon a narrow spire.

  Those that watched from below held their breath; they were almost certain that at any moment the young man would fall. Azin had expected Kaichen to show some sign of fear and doubt as he gave him the instructions that would have set greater men to trembling.

  Kaichen had only looked at Azin with eyes that were far wiser than his youth allowed and he had climbed the spire with ease. Azin had been behind him the entire way. Once they reached the top, Azin pointed to the rock that had been set by hands greater than those of man.

  “Look and see that life and death has been set before you. The man that climbs to the top of the rock and waits there will receive a secret thing, known only to a few.” Azin’s eyes had traveled the length of the spire and then returned to Kaichen.

  Kaichen was silent, watchful and aware of the challenge that Azin set before him.

  “If you climb up and find your place upon the boulder, do not look to me to save you. I will not hand you a guide rope to brace you should you fall. You are on your own. But remember, if you succeed, the reward is a secret thing that you must never share.”

  Kaichen grew absolutely still, it was not simply a cessation of movement brought about by limbs that were familiar with the stone that he pressed against, but an absolute stillness of being. Azin’s voice was with him, but the silence of his mind was greater still. He recognized the challenge set before him but he also realized that he would not lose face should he decline. Kaichen lingered for a moment in thought before he nodded once and silently climbed to the top of the spire. Azin had informed him that the challe
nge set before him would test his strength, endurance, agility and balance, but mental control was paramount. He told Kaichen that he would have to release fear and doubt while embracing peace and beauty.

  Kaichen did not know how long he stood upon the natural rock formation, formed by hands greater than his and set perfectly in balance long before he was ever born. He focused only on finding the silence within himself, so that he could look without seeing, listen without hearing. The sounds of the day faded away and even Azin’s constant presence was far removed from the place where Kaichen roamed. Though he never moved from position, his thoughts flew far away. He did not know the exact moment that the secret of the spire was given to him. He only knew that he held knowledge inside of himself that had not been there before. With lithe grace he climbed from his position upon the rock and anchored himself upon the summit only to gaze into Azin’s face.

  Azin cleared his throat but he did not speak for a time. He simply studied the land as it fell away before them. Peace and beauty. Even with his advanced age, there was still so much that he did not know. He thought that even if he lived another lifetime he would not come to a full understanding of all that there was to know. However, as he stared at the upturned face of the young man beside him, he wondered if the same could ever be said of Kaichen.

  Azin had never had a young person learn with the same ferocity and openness of mind that resided within Kaichen. If he told the boy that he could fight harder, faster and with more lethal skill, Kaichen simply stared at him for a time and went off to train. He never doubted Azin’s observations or criticism. He never questioned his teachings or his direction, but what was more, he never hesitated. Ever.

  The word fearless did not define Kaichen, it simply described him. The same could be said of many warriors, but Kaichen stood apart as different. Others noticed, but their whispered words and wide eyes did not affect Kaichen. He simply kept them at a distance. The only one that he allowed close was Antuk. Azin understood the friendship between the young men. Kaichen never asked Antuk for more than he could give and both young men accepted the other as a brother without judgment or hesitation.

  “Do you know the secret of the spire?” Azin’s voice interrupted Kaichen’s thoughts.

  Kaichen was silent for a time and then he simply nodded once in response.

  “I thought that you might consider declining the challenge that I set before you. Only two other men have tried and succeeded. Another man tried and failed.” Azin did not have to describe what failure meant. If a man lost his balance upon the spire, he would fall to his death far below.

  “Who was the man that succeeded in learning the secret of the spire?” Kaichen’s voice always surprised the listener. It was a dry rasp, hovering slightly above a whisper.

  “Your father and one other.” Azin did not have to see Kaichen’s face to know that the young man had already known the answer to his question though he was surprised that someone else had conquered the spire. “The name of the man that failed is no longer spoken.”

  Kaichen simply nodded. Accepting the words without question.

  “Why is it that you accept my words without question?” Azin’s voice held no hint of the irritation that he felt but his eyes spoke volumes.

  “You have never lied to me and you have always told me exactly what I need to know.” Kaichen’s response was so utterly simplistic that Azin almost missed his handhold as they started down the narrow spire. He laughed ruefully over the wisdom of a young man, not yet fully grown. Kaichen was so much like his father that at times Azin had to remind himself it was the son of Shale that he spoke to and not the man himself.

  “You never questioned that you could remain perfectly balanced upon the rock above, did you?” Azin spoke again once they were at the bottom of the spire and could look up at the rock that teetered in place, high above.

  “You have never asked me to do anything that I could not conquer with time and knowledge.” Once more Kaichen’s answer surprised Azin.

  “You saw the danger for yourself. The rock teeters upon nothing more than a narrow summit of stone.” Disbelief tinged Azin’s words as he tried to understand Kaichen. Suddenly, a memory of Shale standing before an injured mountain lion as he danced before the animal and all present, came to mind. Shale had aptly been give the title of Sundancer, but it was no more than he deserved.

  Azin looked away as tears filled his eyes and he blinked to clear his gaze, cursing his old age. Until now, he had not dared to believe that the legend of the Sundancer could actually come to rest inside of the battered and scarred young boy that had been given into his care.

  Kaichen had grown into a young man under the guidance of his watchful eyes and strict instruction. But Azin could not claim to have instilled wisdom into the man standing before him, that trait had rested within Kaichen all along.

  Azin turned back to Kaichen as the young man patiently waited for the opportunity to speak. It was only then that Azin remembered that he had spoken words of disbelief to Kaichen.

  He rested his hand upon the young man’s shoulder as Kaichen informed him that he had used his fear and doubt, transforming them into peace and beauty, only then had he been able to balance upon the rock without falling.

  “Even an old man can learn to embrace humility if it is taught to him in ways that are irrefutable and wise.” Azin meekly bowed his head to Kaichen in a show of deep respect. “A lifetime has come and gone in the blink of an eye and at times I fear that no one has taken notice. I have often wondered if anyone would be left to care or remember. Now I know the answer to my question and I am deeply humbled.”

  As Kaichen stood upon the ledge with Amara tied to his back, Azin’s wise words came to mind and Kaichen forced his body to grow still. A warrior’s strength rested in the place of knowledge and wisdom that lived within each being.

  Doubt eroded superior physical ability faster than anything else. Kaichen breathed deeply and sought peace as he released the doubt and fear from his mind. Peace and beauty. Amara was the epitome of both peace and beauty and it was easy to focus upon her.

  With deft movements of his hands Kaichen reached for the rock below him, he concentrated fully on remembering the exact placement of his hands and feet during his climb. He reminded himself that memory and strength could overshadow weakness. He quickly moved past the stakes that had been driven into the rock wall. At times he used only the edge of his foot to rest upon a foothold and at other times only the bottom of his toe held them in place. Amara’s hands were clasped firmly around his neck and he kept his pace as slow and steady as possible. Rain battered against them but Kaichen kept his eyes wide open and his breathing under control. The hardest part of the descent was beneath him. He would have to hang by one hand and use the full length of his reach to find a handhold.

  Down below Tamol felt his entire body quake as he and his men watched the awesome display of power taking place above them. Thunder and lightning battled against each other, coming so close together as to almost be indiscernible except for sight and sound.

  The storm had reached the height of its fury but Kaichen still worked to descend with Amara secured upon his back.

  Antuk stood uncertainly, shifting back and forth in obvious upset but there was no comfort for him.

  “If they fall into the river from that height it will be like hitting the ground. No one could survive such a fall.” The man’s words were unwelcome, but true, no one objected to his observation. He boldly continued speaking as the others divided their attention between him and the pair hanging precariously above. “Why would he descend now? He should have waited. He seeks death.”

  Antuk moved so quickly that Tamol never saw him shift position. One moment the man was staring up at Kaichen and Amara and the next moment Antuk had the man pinned to the ground beneath him.

  “Do not speak again.” Antuk warned through clenched teeth as he pressed his full weight upon the man.

  Tamol and Pele were the first to step
forward as they tried to stop the other men from attacking Antuk. Tamol watched as his men surrounded the pair and he was finally forced to speak. “Do not harm Antuk.”

  Tamol saw the moment when Pele shifted his gaze away from Antuk. Tamol had given Antuk his protection and also his favor. The other warriors stepped back at once and they watched warily as the large man slowly stood. Antuk did not look at them. His eyes reached upward, seeking the pair that even now dangled from the wet rock above.

  “Do not speak death into the world. Kaichen will survive. Watch and see.” Antuk’s words carried over the sound of the storm and all eyes turned to watch the marvel before them.

  Tamol helped the uninjured man to his feet and pierced him with a stony glare. “I would not speak again. He could have easily taken your life.”

  The warrior nodded even as he turned to study Antuk. Tamol understood the man’s confusion. Most of his men had brushed Antuk’s abilities as a warrior aside, even though he had fought with them in battle.

  Most assumed that he was not a threat and several now reconsidered their initial assessment. Tamol stared up at Kaichen and Amara.

  He thought that Kaichen was a fool to risk his life in such a way. His people needed him now more than ever. But Tamol knew that if it had been Denoa high up on a crumbling ledge, Shale would have risked life and limb to save her. It gave him no comfort that he would have done the same for Denoa if given the chance. Tamol was as surprised at the changes that had risen up in his spirit over time. He was not the same man that he had been so long ago. He could not pinpoint the exact moment that he began to change, shifting his thought process and actions.

  His thoughts turned to Kaichen’s mother as he considered that Denoa was already weak, battered and bruised. She could not take another blow. Tamol thought that even an emotional blow like the death of her son could steal the life left in her. Tamol set his concerns aside as he willed strength to Denoa’s son.