Grail Quest

by D. Sallen

  “I hope they friendly. Those wicked looking lances.” Moyock said.

  Indeed they were. Thin, about six feet long, decorated with feathers and bearing a long sharp looking point. The men returned our peace sign and waved us in. All three wore black paint around their lower faces. I kept my gun handy in case they turned hostile.

  Moyock beached us and then helped Leahna from the canoe. The men seemed astonished by her appearance. They exchanged troubled-sounding words and backed up a short distance. They didn’t point their lances at us but kept them ready.

  They didn’t address words to us until Moyock introduced me as the great White Chief Squire. Cradling my weapon in my left arm I walked up the leader and held out my hand in friendship. Moyock explained hand shaking was a White Chief’s sign of peace with another warrior. The man hesitated but then took my hand.

  In talking and signing with the men Moyock said, “I think many of their words are like Sioux words I’ve learned.”

  The guards indicated we should leave our canoe and come with them. On a promontory farther up the river we could see their village. It looked like nothing I’d seen before in the New World or in Europe. The Natural houses we’d seen along the way were either wikkiups, of one style or another, or conical tepees. The Mandan houses appeared to be huge dark domes. They were surrounded by a palisade of tall poles, which was open to the river side..

  While we walked beside the river, Moyock couldn’t keep his eyes off of the women still in the water. Seeing his attention, some of the women giggled. All modestly ducked until only their heads showed. Other now dressed women, ran ahead of us shouting our arrival to the village. “This may be the strangest place I’ve ever seen.” I said.

  “Not like woods houses,” Moyock said. “What they made of?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m sure we’ll find out.”

  Leahna was quiet. She looked puzzled.

  As we came near to the settlement we could see an inner palisade which also opened toward the river. Both palisades were further protected by a dry moat in front of them. I estimated the outer moat to be twenty feet wide and maybe nine feet deep. Since I doubted the Mandan had any iron tools, digging such a ditch must have taken an enormous amount of human labor over a long period of time.

  A group of dignitaries met us. One of our guards ran ahead to speak to the oldest man in the center of the group. The other two held us back while the elders discussed the situation. As soon as the headman looked back at us, I said to my friends in English, “All together, make peace signs now.”

  Our action halted conversation. Then the Chief, followed by the other dignitaries, returned our signs. I at once saluted by raising my weapon and then lowering it across my arm.

  Stepping forward Moyock bowed and grandly announced “My master…the great White Chief Squire!”

  Then I stepped forward to offer my hand to the Chief. As soon as the guard explained what I was doing, the Chief strode foreword to meet me. Then I shook hands with the rest of his council. Naturally our arrival caused a great buzz of excitement from the crowd.

  The old Chief was called Wolf. “Strangers, You come in peace. I welcome you to the People of the Pheasant.”

  Moyock interpreted for me, “We have traveled far to come here. We are happy for your welcome greeting.”

  “I think you have many tales to tell us of your travels. We will smoke first.” True to form, our curious hosts would not question us until we’d shared a pipe.

  He started to lead us between the closely packed domes. Just as I stepped forward there was a buzz behind me. I wheeled around. Leahna was bared from following me. One of the black-mouthed men planted his lance in the ground before her. I stepped up to the guard and right in his face said, “Who dares stop the mate of a White Chief?”

  The guard acted too perplexed to reply. I could hear angry muttering all around me. He held his ground while I stared at him. Leahna stood still. Coolly she looked around like the lance had nothing to do with her. Moyock intervened by forcing his way between me and black mouth. “Squire, I think maybe fall back. Women not allowed in men’s counsel, not even Chief’s wife.”

  “Moyock right, Squire.” Leahna said. “Best I go with squaws.”

  “Moyock tell them. My customs are different from theirs. Since we are guests we will honor their ways.”

  His explanation brought some smiles and happier chatter from the viewers. As Leahna left with an older woman I turned to follow Wolf again. He led us between the two palisades to a large plaza surrounded by the domed buildings. In the center was a circular structure about eight feet high made of poles tied together. I estimated it was probably about four feet in diameter. We sat in front of the largest dome but did not enter it. The entrance appeared to be closed with a pole door. The open doors of the surrounding structures all faced the plaza. While we smoked and talked, watching and listening to us, many citizens sat on the rims of the domes.

  We being the guests, were invited to tell the story of our journey to this land of the ‘People of the Pheasant.’ Moyock said I was from across great water and explored a strange land for my King-Chief. He didn’t mention the Grail Quest. During our travels we came across Leahna and decided to help her reach her own people, the Mandan. On the way she became the mate of White Chief Squire. Mentioning her caused a ripple of excitement.

  “We do not have girls with red hair. She may be witch.” An older black-faced man holding a pointed rod decorated with a band of feathers said. He was the Medicine Man named Old Cougar. “Why you think she is one of us.”

  Moyock went into her history as we knew it. “Some think her white cousins came here many summers ago to join the Mandan.”

  Another buzz of excitement. “We have not seen a white man before. Yet many here have yellow hair, white hair, brown hair, light colored skin. Maybe old stories of white ancestors are true. Maybe we also cousins to Squire.”

  There was no point in me trying to explain the difference between the English and the Welsh. On the other hand the unlikely connection wasn’t impossible. I said, “Maybe all of us are related. I have black hair like many Mandan.”

  After a pause in the conversation, Old Cougar said, “Your Leahna…” He paused and looked around at the other council members. They hesitated, looked glum at him and then seemed to nod assent. “A witch was here. A Coyote Witch. He is one of us, but we don’t want him here. He is unreliable and causes problems…always after other men’s squaws.”

  I started to say something about Coyote until I caught Moyock’s slight sideways nod.

  “Coyote told us red-haired girl coming here. He not mention you. He say when girl come she will be his mate, his witch-mate.”

  Now everyone gave me their undivided attention. I stalled by looking in the eyes of each man around the circle. They waited. “This Coyote Witch. Can he shape-shift? Does he have a notched left ear, when man, when animal?”

  “Yes. Coyote have nicked ear in fight with Iktome. Young boys not like each other. Iktome bit his ear. Coyote grow up with nicked ear. He always hate Iktome.”

  “Maybe Iktome and I should be friends. I hate Coyote.”

  Old cougar laughed. “I think you not want to be friends with Iktome. He Sioux witch. Very bad Spider witch. Why you hate Coyote?”

  “As a bear, Coyote tried to kill me. He is angry because Leahna is my mate, not his. He tried to assault her. If I see him, I will kill him.”

  The men exchanged what I took to be amused looks. Probably thinking as Moyock did, how do you fight a witch?

  Wolf said, “Too much talk. Not enough food. I think now we eat.” He invited Moyock and me into his dome. Except as an exceptional translator, I doubt if Moyock, as an untried youth, would have been included in the council or to the Chief’s home. Probably Moyock stepping between me and the guard who stopped Leahna earned him some admiration.

  If digging those moats took a lot of work, the same was true of their circular dwellings. For starters the floor was
sunk about two feet below the exterior plaza. Close set poles imbedded in the earth were the main wall support. From this wall longer tilted poles extended upward and inward, leaving a smoke hole of perhaps three or four feet over the center. On the inside the tilted roof poles were supported by beams upheld by embedded posts. A rectangular arrangement of upright poles and beams supported the higher center area of the roof. On the outside the structure was covered by willow boughs, overlaid by sod two or three feet thick, and then covered with clay. A network of saplings held this outer cover in place.

  The interior of Wolf’s home had a very settled look. Probably fifty feet in diameter it was the largest dwelling I’d seen among Naturals. The center was occupied by a fire pit for cooking and warmth. I assumed the thick walls kept it relatively warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Curtains of a sort gave occupants of several sleeping areas around the walls some privacy. Personal items like shields, head dresses, weapons, and beautifully tanned hides hung from the rafters or were attached to the upright beams. A number of women lolled about or helped with the meal. Later I learned that five of them were Wolf’s wives. Some of the others were relatives or wards.

  On that subject, Wolf asked, “Where are your other wives? We see only one woman with you. Where did you leave the others?”

  Moyock explained, “The White Man’s God says man should have only one wife. Chief Squire has no other mates.” Wolf said, “One wife is not enough, not reasonable. You need many wives to do everything for you. Maybe we can help you. There are several widows and unattached women you can have. I’ll give you one of my wives too.”

  Zounds! How would that set with Leahna? “I thank Chief Wolf for his generous offer. I don’t know if I can accommodate more than one wife. I’m afraid Leahna would have fits.”

  “Hah. It doesn’t matter what a woman thinks.” I’d just gone down in his estimation. “She should be happy to have so much extra help in her chores.”

  “Yes. More so when she has baby. I must think about it.”

  Watching and listening , Moyock had hard time keeping his eyes off of a young women with blonde hair like his. Wolf was no dummy. “In your tribe, have you passed the manhood tests,” he asked.

  Moyock’s face turned down. “No, my father died before I was old enough. It would have been my turn next year.”

  Wolf said, “You can look at the girls, but you can not have a wife until you are a man. If you want a Mandan wife you will have to survive O-kee-pa. That is our manhood test.”

  I knew Moyock couldn’t ask, so I did it for him. “Tell me what that is all about.”

  Wolf looked at me. He stalled and after grunting said, “It is a four day test of a young man’s strength and courage. He will find out next summer.” He said all he was going too.

  When we finished eating he took us on a trip around his domain. Inside the inner palisade there must have been fifty or more dwellings and perhaps twice that number between the two stockades. “How many people live here?” I asked Wolf.

  He stopped, faced me like he thought I was challenging him and said, “Many, many Mandan here. Many more in other village. I think maybe man cannot count so many Mandan.”

  When we returned to the plaza we were joined by a warrior named Bear. We were about the same age and I gathered he was kind of a second chief. “What is the meaning of that round structure in the middle?” I asked.

  “All Mandan prayer dances held around it. Underneath is place from which sacred vine bringing Mandan up from nether world grew.” Bear said. “Among the people, it is called Old Canoe .”

  Old cougar added, “That Waken Shrine contains bundles of all sacred Mandan symbols. Only Medicine man can touch these things. Our Wakan Totem is in there.”

  “I have not heard of that. Can you tell me about it?”

  “Very mysterious. Looks like a cup with a leg, shiny metal like Leahna’s charm. Very holy to us. Our way to Wakan Tanka, the Great Mystery Spirit.”

  These Mandan were the most fortunate of all Naturals I had ever seen. They farmed huge productive fields along the river and on the prairie. They exhibited beautifully decorated clothing and personal objects in their homes. I didn’t see anyone who looked hungry. From the many skin and hair colors, and their way of life being so different than other Naturals, I didn’t doubt that their heritage included some Welsh ancestors. Though not Christians, perhaps their way of life indicated that the Holy Grail was incorporated into their religious life. I had to get into the Wakan Shrine to recover the Grail…their Wakan Totem?

  I casually walked around it once .”Your Old Canoe looks very sturdy. It must hold many sacred things.”

  “Yes, everything we revere. Wakan Tanka has richly blessed us.”

  How can I get in there? And, perhaps how do I get it out of here? I’d brought Leahna here to find her people. Now she was more than just a traveling companion. She was my wife and the love of my life. She seems happy now that we’re here. How will she feel about leaving? And how can we leave? Our canoe seems to be the most obvious way. The Mandan would never catch us in their coracles. I just assumed Moyock would follow me. But to where for him? Back to Jamestown, back to England? With winter coming on, retracing our route would be difficult. I had a lot to think about.

  Our tour finished, Moyock and I returned to our canoe. Someone had pulled it farther up on the beach. A cursory inspection indicated nothing missing. We paddled to a point closer to the palisade entrance. “How many canoes do you see out here Moyock?”

  “Hmmm. Only one. Ours. I think those skin tubs we see are their boats.”

  We’d seen some of these tubs in various places around the village, often sitting on the roofs of domes and one inside Wolf’s dwelling. As we unloaded our canoe, Moyock proved to be right. A young warrior carried a tub to the water got in it and pushed off. While we watched he let it drift down stream. Opposite a marsh he guided it into shallow water. Maneuvering it was tricky. I knew the Welsh had a keel less dingy called a coracle. But why a craft with limited usefulness compared to a canoe? We carried our belongings up into the village.

  Chief Bear invited us to spend this first night in his dwelling. When Leahna rejoined us she said, “Siouan dialect of Mandan much like I talk as child. Dolts even called twp.” Welsh?

  The next day when we saw Wolf again he said, “You can stay with Mandan. No need to travel farther. We have empty lodge for you.”

  “That is very considerate of the Mandan. We are very pleased, and very impressed with your hospitality.”

  “First, Medicine Man must purify house. Belong to great hunter, great warrior. Now dead. Medicine Man make sure warrior spirit gone to Wakan Tanka.”

  Our new home was in the cluster between the palisades, and right on the edge of the river terrace. The closest other houses were three in a row behind us. The space between our dome and the inner palisade was open except for the ditch. At noon a small party gathered to watch Old Cougar, the Medicine Man, cast his spell on the house. After lighting his elaborate pipe he toasted the four directions and once straight up. Then he passed the pipe to me. As instructed by Bear, I followed the same ritual only in English.

  I was going to pass the pipe to Leahna until Bear intervened and handed the pipe back to the Shaman. I should have known better. After some more ritual, and language I couldn’t follow, Old Cougar thrust the pipe to the sky and shouted. Fascinated, we watched a white puff of smoke rise from the skylight and blow away. To many murmurs of approval, the Shaman said, “Now Warrior’s spirit joins Wakan Tanka. Now your house, Squire.”

  “I thank you for making our house ghost free. I am honored to have the dwelling of a great warrior.” I gave him one of the Sioux pipes.

  I took Leahna’s hand. “Come sweetheart. I want to show your our first home.”

  She was so happy. “This so nice. I so glad you brought me here.”

  We led a parade of spectators into our new home. Many of the guests brought gifts for the bare house. Soon we had tw
o sets of privacy curtains, some cooking utensils, tanned decorative skins for the walls, and not the least, three buffalo robes. I noticed a chill in the evening and wondered if winter was close by in this northern land.

  When everyone left except four women, I realized they were making themselves at home. Suddenly I felt the urge to go talk to the men about hunting. Heading out I said, “I must see Bear about weapons.”

  Moyock followed me. “I think something cooking in your house besides stew.”

  “Oh. What do you mean?”

  “I hear four women talk, say they your wives. Maybe Leahna burn up, huh?”

  “Oh God! I hope not. In her new home? Oh no! Wolf says I need more wives. Help with work, cooking, cleaning skins, making clothes. Too much work for one wife.”

  “Hah. What Leahna say?”

  Because I treated Moyock as a younger brother, a son even, he could say things to me that I wouldn’t tolerate from anyone else. Also I believe he thought of Leahna as an older sister. He was always concerned for her.

  “We haven’t discussed it yet.”

  “Hmmm. I not want to be there when you do.”

  Me neither, I thought. “Make sure our canoe is secured, will you? I must talk to Bear.”

  Moyock went stalking off looking like I was full of hot air. Without him to translate I hoped my language skills were adequate to talk to Bear. I found him in front of his dome, smoking knick-knick. He watched two boys tussling on the hard-packed plaza. “Young warriors,” I said.

  “Yes,” he smiled proudly. “My sons. Where are your sons, Squire?”

  “I have no sons, no daughters. Short time, I have only one wife. I think one wife is plenty.”