bet. It had taken months of worry and great expense to have the thoroughbred shipped over from England.
Horses were rare in Indian Territory. Most of the villagers were still wary of the large animal. But now, with the village's Most Beloved Warrior showing an interest in him the others would be more curious.
At least Eagle would be safe enough until after the game. No Indian would steal what was up for wager. After that, only respect for the horse's owner would keep him from being fair game. It was another reason for James to make a good showing.
James pulled a robe up over his chilled body and willed the tension from his limbs. Finally, as Morpheus guided him into the blissful realm of dreams, his mind filled with visions of New Moon. Her pride in him reflected in the dark pools of her eyes as she stared lovingly into his face.
A Cherokee magi would have told him that his dreams were messages from the spirits. That they told of what was, or what could be, or what was to come. But to James, dreams were nothing more than a mirror's reflection of what a man already knew in his heart to be so.
Chapter Six
As the evening drew near James joined Silent Deer and the other game players outside the Asi, the Cherokee name for a low-built hot house. Here their purification for the game would begin.
With a smug grin Silent Deer stepped close to James, “Are you sure you want to join us in the purification?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he replied in as solemn a tone as he could muster for such a flippant answer, then threw in a curt nod so Silent Deer would have no difficulty understanding his intent. Deer slapped him hard on the shoulder before turning and bending low to enter through the small door. James followed his lead.
Once inside each took a place around the fire that burned in the center of the small structure. When all were in place they lowered themselves into a cross-legged position.
James looked around the circle of warriors. Being allowed to sit with these warriors in the Asi was to be given a great honor. He could have thought it was his past association with Cloud, but no one knew of their friendship. In fact, it was Deer who invited him to play, and was therefore responsible for his presence here.
He stole a glance at Deer who sat stiff with his eyes closed. Deer was playing an important role in James' becoming accepted into the tribe. He wondered why.
The door flap opened and a young boy stepped from the waning light into the dark, hot house. His job would be to keep the sacred fire burning while the Beloved Old Man told the stories of The Principal People. The old warrior, by reciting the legends, would explain the beginning of their world and the importance of the purification rituals they must now endure.
James waited patiently as the old holy man adjusted his aging body for the long night ahead. Beads of sweat rolled down his back and chest as his gaze went again to the Beloved Old Man and wondered how one of such advanced years could withstand the building heat inside the Asi throughout the long hours of the night.
The boy added a handful of kindling to the fire. The crowded, over-hot room grew hotter. Smoke stung his eyes as the tears that ran down his cheeks mingled with the sweat that popped from his pores. The air was thick with the odor of smoke and heated bodies; still the boy added tender to the fire.
Finally, the old man cleared his throat and all eyes turned respectfully to him. He began his story quite simply at the beginning.
"The earth is a great island floating in a sea of water and is suspended at each of the four points by cords hanging down from the sky vault, which is of solid rock. When the world grows old and worn out, the people will die and the cords will break and let the earth down into the ocean. All will be water again."
James closed his eyes and let the low, monotone wash over him. The stories became a thread on a tapestry and the teller a weaver of
Horses were rare in Indian Territory. Most of the villagers were still wary of the large animal. But now, with the village's Most Beloved Warrior showing an interest in him the others would be more curious.
At least Eagle would be safe enough until after the game. No Indian would steal what was up for wager. After that, only respect for the horse's owner would keep him from being fair game. It was another reason for James to make a good showing.
James pulled a robe up over his chilled body and willed the tension from his limbs. Finally, as Morpheus guided him into the blissful realm of dreams, his mind filled with visions of New Moon. Her pride in him reflected in the dark pools of her eyes as she stared lovingly into his face.
A Cherokee magi would have told him that his dreams were messages from the spirits. That they told of what was, or what could be, or what was to come. But to James, dreams were nothing more than a mirror's reflection of what a man already knew in his heart to be so.
Chapter Six
As the evening drew near James joined Silent Deer and the other game players outside the Asi, the Cherokee name for a low-built hot house. Here their purification for the game would begin.
With a smug grin Silent Deer stepped close to James, “Are you sure you want to join us in the purification?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he replied in as solemn a tone as he could muster for such a flippant answer, then threw in a curt nod so Silent Deer would have no difficulty understanding his intent. Deer slapped him hard on the shoulder before turning and bending low to enter through the small door. James followed his lead.
Once inside each took a place around the fire that burned in the center of the small structure. When all were in place they lowered themselves into a cross-legged position.
James looked around the circle of warriors. Being allowed to sit with these warriors in the Asi was to be given a great honor. He could have thought it was his past association with Cloud, but no one knew of their friendship. In fact, it was Deer who invited him to play, and was therefore responsible for his presence here.
He stole a glance at Deer who sat stiff with his eyes closed. Deer was playing an important role in James' becoming accepted into the tribe. He wondered why.
The door flap opened and a young boy stepped from the waning light into the dark, hot house. His job would be to keep the sacred fire burning while the Beloved Old Man told the stories of The Principal People. The old warrior, by reciting the legends, would explain the beginning of their world and the importance of the purification rituals they must now endure.
James waited patiently as the old holy man adjusted his aging body for the long night ahead. Beads of sweat rolled down his back and chest as his gaze went again to the Beloved Old Man and wondered how one of such advanced years could withstand the building heat inside the Asi throughout the long hours of the night.
The boy added a handful of kindling to the fire. The crowded, over-hot room grew hotter. Smoke stung his eyes as the tears that ran down his cheeks mingled with the sweat that popped from his pores. The air was thick with the odor of smoke and heated bodies; still the boy added tender to the fire.
Finally, the old man cleared his throat and all eyes turned respectfully to him. He began his story quite simply at the beginning.
"The earth is a great island floating in a sea of water and is suspended at each of the four points by cords hanging down from the sky vault, which is of solid rock. When the world grows old and worn out, the people will die and the cords will break and let the earth down into the ocean. All will be water again."
James closed his eyes and let the low, monotone wash over him. The stories became a thread on a tapestry and the teller a weaver of
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