Dream Drive Ch. 07

It was an odd thing about him. He didn't care about exposure, but for some reason, he was put-off by the idea of taking a second wife, or even passing his strength to another tribemate through their wives. It was less that Jackson had no propriety, and more that their ideas of propriety were freakishly different.

Still, a part of her was glad for how he felt. There was a certain sense of validation in that act - her promised husband turning down perfectly reasonable offers from perfectly attractive women in deference to her. Chaki relished that small token of influence. Jackson could be so unpredictable; it made her a little nervous. When he realized how valuable a husband he could be, would he still look at her the same way? The fact that he did what he did told her that yes, Jackson valued her as his wife-to-be - not simply because she gave him attention, or out of obligation to their strange bond.

Chaki smiled, and her heart was a bit calmer.

Once she saw that Vuntha had wandered back toward the archery field, she tapped her foot a bit, but Palla kept on, and on, and on. And Haanak kept answering, and answering, and answering. They were soul mates -- a boy that loved stories, and an aging man that was reliving them vicariously through the boy's reactions.

They were laughing now, slapping their knees. Haanak was telling him about a time he'd actually gotten counted on -- it was quite an awkward story to trust to mere acquaintances. He and his men were chased into a river after having their mounts killed. Their enemies paused at the riverbank, mocking them as they struggled to swim across. Palla took it in stride after the prior list of significantly more heroic feats.

While Haanak did enjoy talking, Chaki had to admit he was quite something. There was a reason he held his position. Every one of his feathers was earned for one good reason or another, most of them through acts of bravery or feats of skill.

Haanak eventually sighed out the last of his laugh and patted Palla on the shoulder. "You're a good lad, Palla. You tell your mother I said so. Landri, if I remember."

"That's right," Palla said.

"Good. Well, enough is enough, though I appreciate you alleviating my boredom." Haanak smiled. "Go watch the archery for me. I want to hear about it later, when I share some wasna with you."

Palla's eyes widened. It was a great show of respect for a man to invite another man to share food at his tent -- the implication being that Palla was worthy of the attention. He nodded, and his voice was serious. "Thank you, Haanak. I graciously accept your invitation."

"Don't be so formal," he said. "Now, get."

Palla started off, but Chaki lingered. She looked at Haanak. "Thank you. Sometimes he feels a little bit too young."

"Every boy that age wants to be a man," he said. "If he's half the man his father was, he'll be worth far more than my wasna."

Chaki clasped her hands. "Thank you for performing your duties to the tribe. I will remember your words."

"Heh," Haanak said. "I have to cultivate a positive relationship with the spirit guide that follows Shaka, do I not?"

Chaki smiled. "You are doing a good job."

"I shall see you later, then," Haanak said.

Chaki began to turn away -- but Haanak had won something from her. She couldn't think he would fix the lottery. How could someone with so much honor abide the shame?

She cleared her throat. "Haanak...does anyone share your duties? I can't imagine you lingered here all day. I wish to thank them, as well."

"You are polite for doing so," Haanak said. "Actually, I took over from another halfway through the morning -- Kunaya. You may know him; he is an elder from another tribe of the Three Hills, in a different village than my own."

"I know him," Chaki said. "Until later."

"Until later," Haanak said.

Chaki paced through the grass in the direction Palla had gone. She felt partly relieved, and partly nervous. Relief, that Haanak was clearly innocent of any wrongdoing; and nervousness, that Kunaya almost certainly was not.

Kunaya was the elder of the biggest tribe of the Three Hills and the most outspoken against making war upon the iron men. Shaka had told Chaki only bits and pieces about the meeting between the elders and spirit guides, but she had made it clear that Chaki should not associate with the man. He was indolent, greedy, and he cared little for the plight of the tribes that wandered the plains. He took the view that they ought to be more like the iron men themselves -- focus on growing their food and living in fixed shelters.

There was nothing wrong with how the Three Hills tribes lived, but to impose that sort of thing upon the others was ridiculous. Shakhan mandated that the tribes were to keep outsiders away from the plains, with some few exceptions allowed on a case-by-case basis for travelers and tradesmen. But absolutely no one was allowed close to the mountain. They could only keep outsiders at arm's length if they moved about, patrolling as they followed the bison herds.

The iron men had chafed along their border for years. Settling down would only give them something to attack. It was foolish from a strategic standpoint, and it upset the balance that Shakhan had instructed they keep. A static lifestyle might be fine for the Three Hills, who lived far from conflict, but it would not help the Windseekers or the Drawn Bows.

The thought that Boonta might be close with Kunaya was bothersome. Was this the source of his adamant stance against war? If so, Shaka needed to know about it.

The spirit guide was closer at hand than Chaki could have hoped for; she had arrived with Landri and Hanta to watch the archery contest. They were standing with Palla, Vuntha, and Jackson, between the crowds and the groups of contestants that had yet to take their turn. "Ah, there you are," Shaka said. "Jackson was just telling me how he embarrassed the entire Windseeker tribe."

"You know," Jackson said, "you have a lot of expectations for someone who never fired a bow from horseback until about half an hour ago."

"I apologize," Shaka said. "From now on, I will lower my expectations."

"Uh, really?"

"That was an insult, Jackson," Shaka said.

Jackson folded his arms. "I knew that."

Hanta started laughing first. It spread to the others like a wildfire. Jackson looked miffed for a moment -- but his eyes pinched at the ends, and his lips turned up just a bit, the mark of the small smile Chaki had come to recognize on his face.

"Shaka," Chaki asked, "may I speak with you?"

"Of course," Shaka said. They went a short distance from the others, where ears from the crowd would not hear them. "What concerns you?"

Chaki summarized what she'd learned from Haanak. "I think that's where Boonta got his ideas," she said. "I know Boonta speaks to the messengers when they come to our tribe. Perhaps they have been in extended contact."

"It is a thought," Shaka said. "I will proceed with a new awareness. Come, it is almost time for Vuntha's ride. Let us hope he redeems some shred of Jackson's honor."

Vuntha mounted his own horse and made his go at the targets. He hit four on the way down, and four on the way back. One of them struck dead center. It wasn't an amazing performance, but definitely above average.

Boonta had scored slightly better; Katran, on the other hand, had come as high as 6th. After the scores were all tallied, the elder from the Three Hills who was running the games -- Jalak was his name -- announced the standings, one by one, with the name and tribe.

Katran was in second place overall. The current leader had won in horse archery, but it was expected he would drop in the standings during the spear tournament. As a result, it was widely agreed that Katran stood a fine chance of winning the games once again.

With his victory in the race and mild archery performance, Vuntha stood at an impressive 7th place. Boonta was further back at 17th. Tatanka Ska was in dead last.

Shaka chuckled after Jackson's name was called along with his 0 point total. "Chaki, perhaps you ought to rethink your engagement."

"Oh, yes," Chaki said. "Very amusing."

"I don't know," Landri said. "We need a man that can hunt. I'm not sure how Jackson will catch a bison, let alone shoot one down."

"We'll see who's laughing after the spear tournament," Jackson said.

"Your record doesn't fill me with confidence," Shaka said. "At least you have the head to learn runes."

"Vuntha, help me out. Tell them I'm good with the spear."

Vuntha grinned. "I'm not sure if I'd use the word good..."

Everyone laughed again. Jackson smacked Vuntha on the arm. "Traitor."

"I had to get you back somehow," Vuntha said. "My left ankle is twinging again after all that running."

"Your ankle?" Landri asked.

Hanta chuckled. "That would be where Jackson struck him very hard during one of their sparring matches. It was four days ago, and he's still whining about it."

"Hanta," Jackson said. He cocked his head. They all looked over; Boonta and Katran were walking nearby, accompanied by Yukatan. They were all forced to exchange perfunctory waves for the sake of some odd sense of tribal familiarity.

"Did they hear what you said?" Chaki asked Hanta. "About his ankle?"

Hanta shook his head. "I don't think so. Too far away." He gave Vuntha a look. "You'd better not use that as an excuse, later."

"If Jackson knew how to not hurt his sparring partner, I wouldn't have to."

Jackson rolled his eyes. They walked together toward the lottery tent, mostly getting in more good-natured jibes at Jackson. He alternated between annoyed looks and small smiles.

Chaki sidled up to him and rubbed his shoulder. "Just ignore them, Jackson. I know how brave you are."

"Thank you, Chaki," Jackson said. "It's good to know I have someone in this group I can count on."

"Just make sure you do well," Chaki said, "or I might be forced to kill you to redeem my shame."

"Oh yeah?" Jackson said. "What makes you think you can?"

"I said you were brave, not skilled."

"That was cruel," Vuntha said.

"Well," Landri said. "My daughter shall make a critical wife indeed."

"Good," Shaka said. "Jackson needs it."

Jackson muttered something ugly and scuffed the ground with his foot. Chaki leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He blinked, then glanced at her. She smiled. "Better?" she asked.

"I'm not that easy." Jackson faced forward, but she could see his lips trying to stop themselves from moving.

Chaki whispered into his ear. "I guess I'll have to make it up to you, later."

Jackson met her eyes; she stared back. Their bond flashed to the front of Chaki's mind. She could feel his fire flicker under the iron shell that surrounded her sense of him.

Shaka cleared her throat, loudly. Chaki and Jackson jerked their heads in opposite directions. Palla snickered.

They reached the lottery tent along with the rest of the contestants; the crowd pulled up just behind them, filling the open grass in a wide half-circle. One wall of the lottery tent had been drawn open and folded over the roof, exposing the inside; 32 pairs of leather cords were laid over the ground. The crowd gathered around where Jalak stood next to Haanak and the other elder, Kunaya.

Chaki took a long look at the man who was probably the most powerful elder amongst the People-Under-The-Mountain. Kunaya was old; not frail, but aged, probably similar in age to Yukatan. He wore his hair in a long braid that fell down his back. A mighty headdress topped his head, the biggest Chaki had ever seen. It must have contained a hundred white eagle feathers, spaced at intervals with red ones. It made Haanak's feathered necklace look like a child's toy.

She sincerely doubted that he earned all those feathers.

Jalak stepped forward to announce the pairings. Even his large headdress looked small near Kunaya. "Thirty-five and two! Step forward!"

The two men emerged from the gathered contestants. They met each other in front of the elders, clasped their hands, and exchanged respectful bows.

"You shall fight first," Jalak said. "May Shakhan grant you each strength and safety during your contest." The men bowed to the elder in thanks, and then started along a pre-made path toward the cleared battleground between the lottery tent and the sheer cliffs of the mountain.

Jalak went through several pairs. He lifted another set of intertwined cords, examining them. The beads were woven along the strips of leather in groups of five, followed by the remainder, which made for quick counting. "Twenty-three, and ten!"

Vuntha stiffened. "That's me," he whispered.

Jackson nodded. "Guess we'll see who..." He trailed off.

Boonta was moving out of the crowd, wearing a confident smile.

Vuntha tensed for a moment, then stomped forward with vigor. Despite having started after Boonta, he arrived in front of the elders first. Boonta's face flickered through several expressions; he glanced at Jackson, at someone else in the crowd, and then at Kunaya, before finally looking at Vuntha.

Vuntha clasped his hands so hard it resounded like a clap. He bowed -- barely. Boonta's return gesture was just as shallow.

"May Shakhan grant you both strength and safety during your contest."

Without a word, Vuntha and Boonta both bowed to Jalak, then went off along the path. They walked at an awkward distance.

Chaki kept her voice very quiet. "Jackson, what does that mean? How did Vuntha change the cords?"

Jackson looked at her. "Boonta would have fought me, instead, right off the bat. That worked out better than expected."

"What about you?"

"I kinda have this feeling I know who it is," Jackson said.

"Six, and sixty-four!" Jalak shouted.

Jackson licked his lips, then started out in front of the crowd. Everyone began to murmur, but that was typical. Murmurs seemed to follow Jackson everywhere he went. His pale skin and sun-brown hair was too different.

The murmurs intensified when Katran moved to join him. The two of them stared each other down for a long time. Jackson folded his hands and bowed. Katran did nothing.

Jalak cleared his throat expectantly. Chaki saw Katran say something. Jackson considered it a moment, and then he shrugged.

Suddenly, Katran grinned brightly. He clasped his hands and bowed. A palpable sense of relief broke over the gathered people.

"May Shakhan grant you strength and safety during your contest," Jalak said.

They walked down the path. Chaki wanted to follow, but that would be improper until the men had finished lining themselves up. She churned her feet in the grass and waited as the rest of the numbers were called.

****

"I don't know how you changed the cords," Katran said, "but I'm glad you did. Now we get to fight."

Jackson was standing with Katran a short distance behind Vuntha and Boonta. The other two both had their arms folded. They looked about as expressive as wrought iron. Neither one met the other's gaze.

Jackson would have preferred to move a sane distance away from them, but protocol dictated that they stand in place, lined up with the others. Considering he was already in last place, with no hope of making up the gap, Jackson was mentally preparing himself to throw protocol under the hooves of the metaphorical bison.

He looked around for shelter, but the battleground was designed to expose them, not shield them. There was a long downhill slope that cupped a section of the mountain, creating a sort of bowl-like depression. They stood at the flattened bottom of the bowl. The grass continued on for another few dozen yards before meeting the sharp stretched black rock of the mountain. Four square rings, marked out by wooden posts and lines in the dirt, were arranged lengthwise along the slope, almost like little arenas at the bottom of stadium seating. They probably picked out the spot so the mass of people could easily watch the fights.

"Do you have nothing to say?" Katran asked.

Jackson looked at him. The man's beady eyes stared back. "Actually, I do. Why are you so eager for a fight?"

"I have told you this. I wish to prove my ability. Test myself."

"I thought I was a coward and a schemer," Jackson said.

"You are," Boonta growled. "You have denied me the opportunity to humiliate you. I shall have to make do with the nameless warrior."

Jackson looked at Vuntha. He didn't budge a centimeter.

"Oh well," Katran said. "Boonta, I'm afraid I'm stealing Tatanka Ska. Think of it this way -- Drana will get a direct comparison between the two of you."

"As if she needs further scrutiny to tell the difference between a bison and an ant," Boonta said. He watched Vuntha for a reaction.

Vuntha didn't move.

"What's wrong?" Boonta asked. "Too frightened to speak up?"

"I," Vuntha said, "will let my spear do the talking."

"And now, fear washes over me," Boonta said, "for the great warrior has declared his intent to strike me down. For honor, for love!"

Katran chuckled. "Someone without a name might have trouble with the honor part."

Jackson glanced at Vuntha. He was stock still, his back turned to all three of them. "Hey, Vuntha?"

"Yes?"

"What's this whole nameless thing? Is that supposed to be insulting?"

"They mean to say I am so irrelevant that it is too much effort to bother giving me a name," Vuntha said. "As pointless as naming every rock."

"You are being too cruel to rocks," Boonta said. "I would place you at about the level of clods of dirt."

"Was that really necessary?" Katran asked.

Boonta looked at Jackson. "How did you make this happen?"

"Educated guesses and misdirection," Jackson said.

"What do you mean?"

Jackson cupped his ear and turned his head. "Hey...do you hear that?"

Katran looked about. Boonta cocked an eyebrow. "Hear what?"

"It's a faint voice," Jackson said. "It's saying...go fuck yourself."

"Katran," Boonta said, "ensure that he bleeds."

"I already plan on that."

"Hold on," Jackson said. "There's more." He turned his head back and forward. "It's saying that you both suck tiny amounts of cock. No, wait -- you suck each other's tiny cocks."

Vuntha's folded arms moved to his stomach; he was bending over in quiet, barely-contained laughter. Boonta looked murderous. Katran, to his credit, only rolled his eyes. "You mean to provoke me with boyish taunting?"

"Hey, Katran," Jackson said, "if we fight, you win, right?"

"I do plan on winning in our fight," Katran said, "but...your words seem to imply something else."

"Yeah," Jackson said. "I think I'm going three for three."

"What are you talking about?"

"You'll see."

"Speak now," Katran said. "What do you intend?"

Jackson shrugged. Katran tried to pry him open a few more times, then gave up.

The minutes ticked by slowly. Jackson's right foot ached from leaning on it. He shifted to the other one, but it started aching after a minute. He sighed and stood straight. "Hey, Boonta."

Boonta's eyes shifted at him.

"You screwed with the beads, right?"

"Little good it did us."

"But you know," Jackson said, "if things were left the way you wanted, you would have fought me, and Katran would have fought Vuntha."

"What of it?"

"You just needed to do better than Vuntha. Why butt heads with me?"

Boonta looked confused for a moment, and then, a smile spread over his face. He chuckled. "More confirmation that you're a coward. I simply cannot believe Chaki thinks well of you."

"Just answer the question."

"You assumed I would create a path of ease for myself in order to score points, didn't you?" He didn't wait for Jackson to confirm before continuing. "You were wrong. I don't care about the competition. You, Jackson, are my problem. You are the source of the trouble I and my tribe face."