CHAPTER FIFTEEN AN UNEASY ALLIANCE #2
Raven put her hand on his arm to calm him.
“Not at all,” Greyeagle said. “I’m sure there are things you can tell us that we do not know.”
“For instance?” Kade asked, his voice dangerously low.
“Kade,” Greyeagle said. “You came here to talk. We’re talking. No one is accusing you of anything. From your expressions when I mentioned the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso. I take it you’ve never heard that word before? But I suspect you’ve seen them.”
“I have heard of them,” said Mason Iron Shield without taking his eyes off Kodiak.
Greyeagle turned toward him and nodded quickly at Kodiak. He frowned but stepped back to ease the tension. Mason waited until Kodiak stepped back before he relaxed his posture. Then, he glanced at Kade.
“If you know something,” Kade said. “Then speak up.”
Mason nodded and turned back to Greyeagle.
“My grandfather was a medicine man of the Blackfeet People,” Mason said. “As was his father before him for many generations. However, the Thunder Spirit did not speak to me. It did speak to my sister. But that is another story.”
“What was your grandfather’s name?” asked Jay.
“He was called Naatosi Kaa,” replied Mason. “Sun Crow.”
“I knew your grandfather,” Jay said. “He was a good friend of mine. I mourned his passing. I was part of the sing at his funeral.”
Mason looked at Jay for a moment, appraisingly.
“You’re the White Bear,” Mason said. “I know you.”
“I’m glad my name still carries weight with your people,” Jay said.
Mason bowed his head respectfully.
“So, what did your grandfather say about the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso?” asked Greyeagle.
“He said that when he was a boy,” Mason began, “he once saw them emerge from the ground to destroy a mining operation that was illegally on the Blackfoot Rez.”
“That fits the pattern,” Greyeagle said.
“But none of the Red Basin facilities were on the Rez,” said Raven.
“No, but they were slant drilling into the oil fields beneath it,” Greyeagle replied. “I would think that the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso would see no difference.”
“He is right,” Mason said. “Grandfather warned me that in times of great imbalance, the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso would come. And when they did, the only thing you could do was get out of their way.”
Kade looked over at Mason and frowned.
“We could’ve used that information earlier,” Kade said angrily.
“I’m sorry,” Mason said. “I did not know that was what they were.”
Kade started to say something else, but bit it off. Mason was right. He couldn’t tell them something he didn’t know at the time.
“Fine,” Kade said, “then if a powerful shaman knew what they were, then perhaps my grandfather, the great White Bear himself, can find a way to defeat them.”
“I would offer the same advice as Sun Crow,” Jay replied. “Stay out of their way until they finish what they’re doing.”
“But we can’t do that,” Greyeagle said. “How many lives will be lost if we do nothing?”
“Well, if they’re all wa?í?u,” Kade said with a shrug.
“But they won’t be, and you know it,” Raven said. “We’ve already seen what happens when the old bigotries rear their ugly heads. Our people suffer. That, I cannot stand by and watch. I may not be Lakota, but I’m Native. If they do it here, they can do it anywhere.”
“She’s right,” Sarah said. “This isn’t just a Lakota problem. This problem affects all of us.”
“You two could be sisters,” Kade said, shaking his head. “It looks like the sons of Black Fox have a type.”
Greyeagle stifled a chuckle, and Sarah gave him a dirty look.
“Sleeping on the couch tonight?” Sarah whispered.
Kade laughed out loud.
“You’re still a dick,” Greyeagle said, shaking his head.
“And you’re still an easy target, little brother,” Kade responded.
“By forty minutes,” replied Greyeagle. “Forty minutes.”
Everyone there instantly knew that was an old argument between them, and they also got their first glimpse of the bond that used to be there. The brothers glared at each other for a moment before Greyeagle’s face broke into a smile.
“Why don’t we eat together?” asked Greyeagle. “I’m sure we’ll all feel more relaxed with a belly full of bison.”
“I could eat,” Kodiak said,
“As could I,” added Mason.
“That’s our Big Bear,” said Sarah. “Never pass up a good steak.”
“Sounds like Mason,” added Raven. “Could I help prepare the meal?”
“I’d be happy to have the help,” Sarah said.
“I’d like to help, too,” said Aiyana Broken Sky.
“Absolutely,” Sarah replied. “The more the merrier.”
“I don’t cook for the men,” said Leah Red Willow. “I’m a warrior, not a servant.”
“I’m not a servant,” Sarah replied. “We all pitch in. Mika runs the grill, the Mohawk Twins keep the fire and help with the bread. Will… well, he stays away from the food. He could burn water.”
That drew a few chuckles.
“I do alright with cutting the vegetables,” Greyeagle countered. “And my eggs aren’t bad.”
“Does he still make crunchy eggs?” asked Kade. “I think the last time we went camping, my eggs were as much shell as they were egg.”
“We were ten,” countered Greyeagle.
That drew a round of laughter.
“Big Chief Crunchy Eggs still does that,” Mika added, grinning.
Kade started laughing.
“Some things never change, I suppose,” Kade said and slipped his arm around Greyeagle.
From the look on his face, he didn’t even realize he’d done it.
Everyone around the group froze and stared, waiting for the moment when Kade noticed.
After a moment, Kade froze and stared at Greyeagle.
When Greyeagle didn’t react, Kade got an odd expression on his face and slowly removed his arm.
Greyeagle paused a moment, knowing anything he said could be misconstrued or might push Kade away. Instead, he just smiled.
“Come meet your nephews,” Greyeagle said, nodding.
They walked over to where the boys stood, and both knelt to their level.
“Kade, these are your nephews,” said Greyeagle. “Wambleeska and Mato Watakpe.”
“You have warrior names,” Kade said, smiling. “Did you get them in battle?”
“They did,” Greyeagle said. “Against my better judgment, they got involved in a big fight we had a few months back with a vampire creature. They acquitted themselves like warriors.”
“What’s your warrior name?” asked Wambleeska.
“Farts in Sleep,” Greyeagle said.
The boys giggled.
“Hey, you want a fart-free tent, you stop making beans,” Kade said, grinning. “Everyone knows that. My warrior’s name is Black Thorn. Grandfather gave it to me after I tracked a wounded grizzly through a black thorn patch. I got cut up and had to fight the bear, but I still have the pelt.”
“That’s awesome!” said Mato Watakpe. “Why was the bear wounded?”
“Some lazy hunter shot it and didn’t want to track it,” Kade replied. “Your father and I spent three days in the backwoods tracking that poor bear to put it out of its misery. But he died well. Made his own ancestors proud.”
“And this bear had to weigh close to a thousand pounds,” Greyeagle added.
“Bears turn mean when they’re wounded, and this one mauled some campers.
It would’ve died from its wounds anyway, but it was in incredible pain.
Grandfather thought that would be the perfect way for us to earn our tribal names. ”
The boys looked impressed.
“I’ll tell you what,” Kade said. “Since I haven’t been around for all of your birthdays, I’ll give you two the pelt. Trust me, it’s big enough to make you both a cloak. Your father can make them for you. You do remember how, right?”
“Of course,” Greyeagle said.
“That would be cool!” said Wambleeska.
“I don’t have it with me,” Kade said, “but I’ll bring it to you before this is all over. I promise.”
“Will,” called Sarah. “Can you bring up more wood for the firepit?”
“On it,” replied Greyeagle.
“I’ll go with you,” Kade said. “Give us a chance to speak alone.”
“Last time you sucker-punched me,” Greyeagle said, half smiling.
“I can do it again, if you want,” Kade replied, grinning.
“Maybe next time,” Greyeagle said.
“Yeah, I’d hate to have to carry the wood and you,” Kade said.
As they headed toward the back of the campground to the large wood pile, they walked quietly for a few minutes. When they began filling the big wheelbarrow with wood, Kade turned to Greyeagle and stared at him.