A short woman with white hair stood before us with a wrinkled sunken face. She wore a simple one-piece traditional pull over garment. She had on a moon-disk necklace. The moon disk was a polished stone shaped like the full moon.
I took a deep breath and spoke: "We seek Bone Woman!"
"I am the one known as Bone Woman!" she answered. "Why do you enter the cave of ancestors?"
"We heard you in here and that is why we entered." I told her.
She looked upwards towards the cave roof. "You hear me mourn for our ancestors. I come here to pray and give offerings." She made a circular motion with her right hand. "You see this holy cave? This is where your ancestors lived ages past."
I fell to my knees, leaned forward and placed my hands on the floor of the cave. Amara immediately followed my actions. I began to recite the ancient praise of the ancestors in a low-pitched intonation. Bone Woman placed her hand gently on my shoulder.
"Rise, child. Come closer. Let me see you."
Amara and I both rose to our feet.
"Come closer, do not be afraid of me. I do not see well."
We approached Bone Woman. She kept prodding me to come closer until my face was directly in front of hers.
"Ah, I see that you wear the moon priestess head band, a young member of the priestess class."
Bone Woman felt my face with her trembling hands. Then she felt Amara's face. Her hands felt warm and soothing.
She stepped back with a pleased look. "Two lovely maidens, one from the salt mine clan and the other from a clan of the River Village."
We left the cave. Our conversation continued.
"Why do you come and see me?" The old woman inquired.
"We were sent by Atula, our High Priestess." I told her.
"I see." How do I call you?"
"Saline, from the cliff clan."
"And you?"
"Amara, from the river tribe."
We followed bone woman along a trail out onto a promontory which had a breathtaking view of the valley. Here built along a very narrow ledge was Bone Woman's house. It was made of wood covered with clay, so it blended in well with the cliffs.
It was a small house. Bone Woman opened the door. We entered. The inside was covered with panels of woven strips of thin wood. Paving stones on the floor were covered with furs, and in the center of the house there was a vented fire pit. Long strands of sea shells dangled along all the walls.
We removed our sandals and we sat with crisscrossed legs near the fire pit, where embers still glowed red.
"Atula told us that you lived in a cave." I said.
Bone Woman smiled. "Ah, Atula - she tells you that? Atula, daughter of the morning star, she came to me many seasons past. Yes, in earlier times I lived in one of the caves in a hut. I was once High Priestess. Now at the end of my days I keep the remembrance of our ancestors. Tell me, why does Atula send you here to see Aivena?"
"Aivena?" I said.
"Yes, I am Aivena. I have not always been called Bone Woman. Now tell me, why do you come?"
She listened as I told her about the trouble with Tam-Rue, about my feelings for Mar, and the proceedings of the tribal council. As I finished talking I remembered the sacred bone, and I reached into my shoulder bag and handed it to her. She examined it closely, running her thumb over the engraved symbols which covered the bone, then she spoke:
"This divination bone is from ancient days. Yes, it will be most useful."
She unfastened a large leather bag from a roof beam. She held it up and shook it. Amara and I could tell that the bag contained bones by the rattling noise. Now Aivena placed the bone that I had given her into the bag. She placed a large square of animal hide on the floor, gave the bag another shake, then dumped the bones out onto the hide. She fell to her knees and studied the bones up close, humming in a very low pitch.
"Where is the bone, Saline? Where is the bone that you gave to me?"
I studied the bones, pointing to one.
"Yes! Yes! That is the one, Saline. You are a gifted one."
"I remembered the symbols. Aivena." I said.
Aivena smiled and continued to hum. Now her humming was in a high pitch. ""Saline, come to me."
I came closer to her, and she held my head between her hands. She began pressing harder on the sides of my head. Then she spoke:
"I see and I know, yes. Saline, I see what you are and what you become." She began to chant and sing in a low tone, then her head touched mine. "You are to be the mother of many people, your descendants will possess the land, and they will be powerful."
I felt as though I were no longer myself. Visions flashed through my mind of faraway places and people I've never known. It was as though my soul were moving forwards over the lands, mountains and streams. My soul was eternal, continuing through the ages of time, a constant flow of birth and re-birth.
Aivena was quiet. I felt drained as I came out of the trance. I had seen all that would come, all that was beyond me. My course now seemed clear.
Now it was Amara's turn. Aivena gathered the bones and scattered them once again. She read the bones, then she held Amara's head between her hands. Amara began to shake.
"I see and I know, yes, Amara. I see what you are and what you become. You are a leader, and your descendants will be leaders. You and Saline will forever be bound in spirit."
Amara's eyes were shut as Aivena chanted. Then there was a long period of silence. I felt one with the Great Mother.
We recited the traditional prayers and sang the sacred songs in praise of the Great Mother and our ancestors. We felt a joy and inner peace in our hearts that we never knew before.
Amara and I stayed the night at Bone Woman's house. She told us many heroic tales of the time of our ancestors. We listened to every word as the fire flickered through the long night. We finally fell asleep huddled close to one another.
The majestic birds were in flight above the cliffs, I heard their loud calls as they went in search of food. I can smell the scent of the forest below. A slight breeze caressed my face. It is time to rise.
Some men from the valley came and gave us good food and drink. Aivena told us that they come every morning to provide her with daily necessities.
It was time to go. Amara and I embraced bone woman, and we promised to come back soon to visit. And as the seasons passed, we returned for many more visits.
Chapter Five
The Challenge
We took a longer route home, a trail that went around Swan Lake. There was a certain plant that grew there along the banks that we wanted to harvest and eat. The stalk of the plant was tender with a pleasing flavor. It would not be much longer that we would be eating greens, the summer days were coming to an end.
It was late afternoon by the time we got to the trail that went to the community tent. We were surprised to find many other people on the trail. Everyone seemed to be headed in the same direction.
I asked one of the women about this. "Is there a meeting tonight at the community house?"
The woman seemed surprised by my question. "Don't you know about the challenge?"
"No. We have been gone a few days. What is this challenge?" I asked.
"Mar and Tam-Rue are to fight tonight in the pit!" she told us.
I could not believe what I was hearing. "No! No! This can't be! We must stop this! Amara, let's hurry! We have to stop Mar!"
Amara and I ran as fast as we could. We saw the community tent ahead. There were many people already gathered there, waiting to go in. I anxiously searched for Mar in the crowd. I did not see him, but I did see Verdi standing to one side with several other council members. We went over to her. I was shaking as I spoke: "Verdi, what is happening? I am told that Mar and Tam-Rue will fight in the pit! Please, you must stop it!"
Verdi looked at me with deep concern in her eyes. "I tried to stop this foolishness, believe me, Saline. This is an action of the warrior class, and we have little control of what goes on there. Tam-Rue has challe
nged Mar, and Mar of course accepts the challenge. The warrior council will not stop it."
"Somebody has to stop this!" I cried in desperation. "Please, Verdi, help me!"
Verdi shook her head. "I am sorry, Saline, we have tried everything. Bordith, leader of the warrior council, has not listened to our objections, he is allowing this to continue."
"Where is this Bordith? I will speak to him." I said.
"Please, Saline, do not do so. I tell you, he cares not."
"Where is he, where is Bordith?" I demanded.
Verdi pointed to an older man dressed in a warrior hide vest fastened up the front and a leather flap loin wrap.
Amara and I went over to him and pleaded for the match to stop. He looked at us with his rough, pitted face and full beard. "Please, Bordith, stop this contest!" I pleaded.
He spat on the ground and heaved a long hideous laugh. "And why would I do that? This is the way the warrior class settles disputes."
He looked at me more closely. "Ah, let me see, you are Saline, correct? You are the young woman at the center of this controversy. You are the reason why my two brave warriors must fight. Sit and enjoy the show, Saline. Tam-Rue is our finest warrior, and if he is victorious he will take you as his prize!" Bordith let out another wicked laugh.
I covered my mouth as I felt vomit come up to my throat. Amara held me as I broke down in tears.
The people began to file into the enormous community tent. I continued to cry in Amara's arms. "Please, Amara, help me! What can I do?"
Amara stood back, releasing her embrace. "Perhaps Atula can help." she suggested.
We looked through the crowd for Atula, but we could not see her anywhere. "What about your father?" Amara said. "I don't see him anywhere."
"He is probably up on the ridge above the tent watching from there. I know that he would want no part of this!"
People sat on mats around the pit area. All the torches that encircled the pit were lit, the flickering flames were dancing off the tent beams. Amara and I stood off to one side of the tent, at the back of the crowd.
Bordith came to the center of the pit and addressed the audience. "My people, we have gathered here tonight for a contest, a warrior challenge between two brave men. I open the contest with an initiation dance. These young men dancing in the ring will compete for inclusion into the warrior class. Let the ceremony begin!"
The drums sounded out a rapid beat as about 20 boys entered the pit and performed a traditional warriors circle dance. They took turns twirling fire sticks (long wooden batons lit on both ends). They tossed the fire sticks upwards and caught them on the down swing. This was very impressive, but I felt nothing but anguish. Bordith was turning this into a spectacle intended to glorify his warriors.
When the dance concluded, Bordith once again came forward and addressed the crowd.
"These young men are the finest qualified competitors from our tribes. Some may move on to become full warriors, others will not."
Bordith paused for a moment. "My people, now the challenge. A contest between two brave warriors to settle a dispute. We have not had such a contest in a long time; we always try to keep unity and peace among our ranks. But something has happened that eats away this unity. She is among us tonight, a young member of the priestess class! She incites my men to rash actions and foolish behavior. She has brought disgrace to the priestess and warrior class. She has defied the principals and standards set forth by our forbearers, and she is unworthy to remain a priestess. She has been with my men! She entices them to do these deeds!"
Bordith continued: "So this is what this is all about. Tam-Rue has exposed this illicit conduct. Mar defends the accused. Tam-Rue fights to defend his honor and the honor of the warrior class!"
"No!" I shouted. "This is not true! I have done nothing wrong! Tam-Rue attacked me!"
Bordith looked my direction and pointed his finger at me. "You will be silent! You be silent or I will have you removed from these proceedings and bound between the whipping posts!"
A murmur rose from the crowd.
"How dare you to speak to a daughter of the priestess class like this, Bordith!" Atula came forward from the crowd, she had arrived in time to hear Bordith's speech against me. She continued: "You have always resented and mocked us, throwing your insults at us on every occasion. I stand behind Saline, she has made no transgression nor is she on trial here, but your man Tam-Rue is. If you think that this contest will settle anything, you are mistaken!"
Bordith was enraged. He shot back with venom: "You cannot interfere in these matters, High Priestess. This is no concern of yours, we will settle this as warriors!"
"Then this blood be upon your hands, Bordith! There is no reason for this contest to take place." Atula spoke bravely.
The crowd began to become restless, many people siding with Atula.
"Let the contest begin!" Bordith shouted.
There was a hush in the crowd. My heart was beating hard within my chest, I felt like I was suffocating.
A drum roll sounded, followed by a slow 1-2-3-4 beat. Tam-Rue ran into the arena pit with a feathered tribal quarter cape on his shoulders, his face painted with red and black stripes. He looked fearsome, and he danced around the arena shaking his long spear in rhythm to a rapid drum beat. The crowd cheered and seemed delighted by the excessive display. Mar came into the tent and stood off to one corner. He was bare chested and all he wore was a leather flap loin wrap. His face was also painted with red and black stripes. I looked into his eyes, and he returned my gaze. He sensed my fear and anguish, and he mouthed the words "I love you!"
"I love you Mar!" I said out loud.
The drums stopped, and Tam-Rue went to one side of the pit. Mar entered the opposite side and they faced each other. Bordith stepped into the pit and made introductions.
"My people, here is Tam-Rue, eagle class warrior!" Tam-Rue raised his arms and the crowd cheered. "Tam-Rue has been honored for many acts of valor, including four kills of trespassers on tribal lands!" More applause.
"Over here is Mar, first class warrior, decorated for valor, including two kills of trespassers on tribal lands!"
The crowd cheered for both men.
"In this challenge, the victor will pin his opponent and bind his hands together. The contest begins now!"
The drums rolled once again. Tam-Rue and Mar were each given a long-baton type fire stick, lit on each end.
The drums rolled a second time, then silence. Both warriors stood facing one another, waiting for the third and final drum roll. The drums sounded the third time, and the contest began.
Tam-Rue and Mar charged at one another; they fought with the fire sticks, holding the wood shaft with one hand on either end. using the center of the shaft for hitting and forceful blows. They rotated around the ring as they fought, the rapid clack of the hard blows sounding throughout the tent. Neither man was gaining an upper edge, they appeared to have equal skill and strength. Finally, both men seemed to tire somewhat as the blows became less frequent. I had my eyes shut through most of the contest. My stomach was tied in knots.
Mar suddenly went on a furious rampage, he knocked Tam-Rue off balance several times. Mar's face looked red with rage, he was gaining the upper edge, his younger age giving him the advantage in endurance. He knocked Tam-Rue to the ground and was about to pounce on him to claim victory. As Mar leaped towards Tam-Rue to pin him down, Tam-Rue swung the shaft of the fire stick so that it struck Mar on the side of his head. Mar lost his grip on the fire stick and he immediately fell to the ground. He did not get up.
Tam-Rue was claiming victory, but several other warriors were chanting "foul blow!" (an illegal maneuver of the stick) This meant that Tam-Rue would be disqualified, and that Mar won the match.
I ran to the pit crying. I held Mar in my arms, calling his name over and over. He laid there motionless. "You killed him!" I screamed at Tam-Rue. "You killed him!"
Several warriors pulled Tam-Rue out of the pit as I continued
to grieve over Mar. Mar's mother was also very distraught and she knelt at his side with me. She called out his name, but he did not respond. We raised up his head, and I felt breath! He was still breathing. He was alive!
Four warriors helped us to take Mar to his mother's tent. I stood vigil over him all night. I finally fell to sleep at his side.
In the morning Mar was breathing well, but he was still in a deep sleep. There was a large gash in the side of this head. Atula came into the tent, and we prayed to the Great Mother Goddess. Atula felt Mar's forehead then rose to her feet. "He is hot! We must send for Bone Woman. Only she can heal such wounds. Send out the call to bring Aivena immediately!"
The message was sent, and the warriors went to bring Aivena to the tent.
It was dusk when she arrived. She examined Mar, then she asked for several types of plants and powders to make medicine. At first light, several warriors went out and gathered the things that Aivena had requested. Everything was gathered by mid-day, then Aivena mixed a strong medicine in an earthen pot. She put the medicine into Mar's wounds. Other medicine she put in his mouth. Then she rocked back and forth and chanted as she pressed the medicine into his wounds.
Atula and his mother also stayed near. Aivena continued to pray and apply the medicine. This went on into the night. I held onto his hand. Suddenly Mar grasped my hand! I have never felt such a feeling of joy. "Look, he takes my hand!" I said.
Everyone cried out in joy! We knew now that he would be strong again. Amara and I embraced.
Mar slept another day, then he opened his eyes. "Saline, Saline...." he whispered. I held him close.
He was still weak, but now he was healing. Aivena had made a miracle. Atula put her hand on Aivena's shoulder. They smiled.
Now I attended to Mar alone. I made soup for him. He was gaining back his full strength. I told him how Tam-Rue had been disqualified for his infraction of the contest rules. Mar was delighted to learn that he had been declared the winner of the challenge.
We were very happy and held each other close. "Oh, my Saline, my lovely Saline, I fought for you, for your honor."
The Wings of Creation Page 3