Rays of a bright winter sun shone down from the opening on the roof where the smoke of the toasty fire escaped. A commotion outside the walls of the hut stirred her, the sounds of chatter and laughter drew her from her peaceful slumber. When she realized where she was and remembered what happened the night before, she quickly woke up and looked at the place where the Native man slept. The mat was gone and she was alone. The fire burned brightly, creating cozy warmth throughout the hut. Content with being alone, she stretched and snuggled deep into the warm fur blankets. The quilts made in New Orleans were not as cozy or as warm as the furs she rested on. She was sure to find blankets like this when she returned home. That was if she could return to New Orleans.
Aveline de Grandpré looked at the fire, deep in her thoughts. She remembered the Native man that told her life was in danger. She also remembered losing her balance and his strong arms that held her so tightly. She remembered how secure she felt in his embrace. She scolded herself for remembering such asinine details of the night before. She instead brushed her hand over the aching wound on her side. Since the effects of the medicines wore off, the wound hurt something awful. She wanted to check to wound to make sure she would be able to continue her journey. As she ran her hand over her bandaged wound, her thoughts drifted back to the strong arms of the wolfish Native man that held her. She was curious to know where he went and if he would return soon. She tossed the fur blankets aside and sat up. Aveline would use this opportunity of his absence to leave the village.
"…their kindness always ends in destruction…"
Those words from the Native man echoed through her mind. She ignored the pain on her side as she stood from the fur bed. Aveline knew that staying in the village would only bring trouble for her and the villagers. She grabbed her boots and listened to the laughter of some children as they ran past the hut. She would not ruin the peace of this village. Aveline de Grandpré was determined to leave today.
After she slid on her boots, she shuffled through the supplies lying around the hut. She grabbed a stone dagger and used an empty satchel to store whatever supplies she could find in the hut. She felt bad for going through the possessions of the man who cared for her but she had no other options since her supplies were held from her. Leaving the village was her first priority and she was sure to buy more things when she reached her destination. She finished stuffing the satchel and laced it shut. When she turned, a sharp pain from her side made her pause. She doubled over, clutching her side as she held onto a table for support. Grimacing, she fought through the pain and stood slowly.
"I see that you are still in pain."
Aveline turned to see a Native man approaching her. He was not the Native man that slept on the mat near the fire. This Native had long braided hair and kind dark eyes. There was a slight smile on his face as he looked at her, seemingly amused at her antics. He sat near the fire and crossed his legs. "I heard from Ratonhnhaké:ton that your name is Aveline." He eyed the satchel on the table and clearly knew of her intentions. "He is away for now and left you under my protection." He smiled at her and held out his hand, gesturing for her to sit. "My name is Kanen'tó:kon. Please, sit."
Aveline de Grandpré eyed the Native man, embarrassed that she'd been caught snooping around. As Kanen'tó:kon was busy stoking the fire, she carefully slipped the dagger she'd found underneath the satchel of things she'd stolen. Her side still throbbed but she stood upright as she walked, wanting to keep her dignity intact. She sat down on the fur bed she grew so attached to.
"Where did he go?"
"I am not sure. Ratonhnhaké:ton leaves the village often, without words." Kanen'tó:kon looked at her as he spoke. Aveline looked back at him, relieved that this man was kinder and friendlier than his quiet and cold counterpart. "I am sure he did not explain much to you."
Aveline quietly nodded as she slipped one of the fur blankets around her shoulders. If Ratonhnhaké:ton was gone, she was certain that it would be easier for her to escape. The people in the village seemed preoccupied and she would find an opportunity to slip past them and leave. "I would like to know how I got here and who cared for me. I would like to thank them and get back my things."
Kanen'tó:kon smiled to himself and shook his head. His friend hinted that the woman named Aveline was stubborn, "as if she were born with two mouths and no ears", Ratonhnhaké:ton told him earlier when describing her. Kanen'tó:kon was very amused when Ratonhnhaké:ton approached him before dawn with an annoyed look on his face as he wondered why the woman would not listen to him. Ratonhnhaké:ton was not a man of many words but when he did speak on rare occasions, people listened without question. Aveline de Grandpré was different from most.
"Ratonhnhaké:ton is my trusted friend and he told me not to let you have your belongings." Kanen'tó:kon said as he looked at her. He was sure Ratonhnhaké:ton told her to sit quietly and rest. He knew as well that his brothers considered her as an outsider and a threat. Kanen'tó:kon would enjoy watching his friend handle such a persist, beautiful woman. "I can tell you still have intentions to escape. I would like to know why."
"I have to meet someone." Aveline hesitated to tell her plight. Telling others would only put them at risk for danger. "I am grateful that Ratonhn…Ratonhnhakedon…"
"Ratonhnhaké:ton." He finished.
"I am grateful that he cared for me but I wish to leave soon. If your village does not wish for me to be here then I will leave." She nodded towards him, not wanting to make a mess of his name again.
Kanen'tó:kon nodded, understanding her words. "You are right. Some people in my village were startled of your presence and my brothers wanted to leave you in the snow." He spoke truthfully. He watched Aveline, noticing that she was snuggled in Ratonhnhaké:ton's fur blankets as if they belonged to her. It was well known that Ratonhnhaké:ton disliked sharing his bed with others and disliked people, especially strangers, in his personal space. Kanen'tó:kon and other villagers wondered why Ratonhnhaké:ton took her in so willingly. "Ratonhnhaké:ton carried you to the village and protected you when my brothers wanted to end your suffering. He has done a lot to make sure you were cared for as you slept for these past two days.
"I slept for two days?"
"Yes. He had some of the women tend to your wounds and made sure you were properly cared for." Kanen'tó:kon added, observing the surprised look on her face. Ratonhnhaké:ton really did not tell her anything, as he often did. "Some people in the village are still troubled by your presence but they acknowledge your attempt to rescue our people. We are thankful for your efforts."
"There's no need to thank me." Aveline muttered. She was glad to see that the Natives that were once imprisoned in the convoy's wagon were safe but she scolded herself for ending up here. Her need to save others always resulted in mishap. Her meddlesome ways was the reason she was forced to leave New Orleans and travel to the bitter cold north.
She was warned by her mentor to stay her blade. He warned her to stay out of trouble before she left New Orleans and again, she failed to heed his words. Now she was injured, weaponless, and held captive in a village. She clicked her tongue at her own foolishness.
"I will not force you to stay here." Kanen'tó:kon stated as he felt her distress. He knew what Ratonhnhaké:ton told him but he did not want to hold her in the village. The odds that she would make it out of the territory of their clan were unlikely but he wanted to see how things would unfold. Kanen'tó:kon wanted to see some excitement happen and looked forward to seeing a different side of his friend Ratonhnhaké:ton as he handled Aveline de Grandpré. Kanen'tó:kon was always known for being mischievous.
"You will help me leave then?"
Kanen'tó:kon shook his head. "I will only protect you if you happen to encounter my brothers in the village. If you manage to leave my sights, you are no longer under my protection." He was not as tenacious as Ratonhnhaké:ton. If she could manage to slip away then he had no problem with her leaving. However, they both knew that she would not make it far with her injury and without her belongings.
"Then, will you return my bag and my weapons?" Aveline was getting excited with the prospect of leaving. She wanted to leave quickly before Ratonhnhaké:ton had a chance to return. She was sure that he was not as lenient as his friend Kanen'tó:kon.
"They are hidden somewhere in the village. Only myself and Ratonhnhaké:ton know of its location. Find them and you can have them –."
The door of the hut swung open, interrupting Kanen'tó:kon. Startled, both Kanen'tó:kon and Aveline looked at the Native women who scurried into the hut. Aveline watched as two women pushed Kanen'tó:kon towards the door. They were laughing and speaking a language foreign to her as they grabbed his arms and escorted him out the hut.
"What are they saying?" She looked between the two Native women as they approached her. Their smiled were bright and their voices were cheerful.
"They want to get you ready!" Kanen'tó:kon managed to call out to her through the door of the hut.
"Get me ready?" Aveline questions as she looked in shock as one of the women removed the fur blanket from her shoulders and quickly worked at the buttons on her shirt. Aveline protested and tried to shield herself from the woman undressing her. They seemed to laugh at her shyness.
"They are saying you should not be modest as they have seen you many times before!" Kanen'tó:kon yelled outside the hut. His arms were crossed as he paced back and forth, dodging the women as they scurried back and forth through the door of the hut. They came back with buckets of water, clothes, and other things. "Do not worry. Ratonhnhaké:ton allowed these women to care for you as you slept!" He yelled through the door of the hut.
"Did your friend Ratonhnhaké:ton see me as well?" Aveline questioned as she helplessly crossed her arms over her breasts. She wanted to stand and move away from them but they sat her down quickly and began to work on her. The bandage on her stomach was slowly unwound and hands unraveled her braided hair. The women continued to talk as the bandaged was removed from her waist and someone inspected the wound.
"Ratonhnhaké:ton did not see. He is usually elsewhere." Kanen'tó:kon said aloud. "He makes sure that you are cared for and protected before he goes away."
"When will he be back?" Aveline looked down at her side. The sword that pierced her caught her flesh and left a fairly deep gash. She watched as the woman applied a salve to the sutured cut on her side. It was no wonder her stomach was bandaged. She needed to be as still as possible as the cut healed close. As the woman tended her wound, she could recognize the feel of those gentle hands as she drifted in and out of consciousness. She suddenly felt grateful as the woman smiled at her.
"I do not know. Ratonhnhaké:ton leaves the village without many words. He could return today or maybe in a few weeks." Kanen'tó:kon continued to pace around the door with his arms crossed, his feet crunched in the snow as he moved. To him it seemed as if Ratonhnhaké:ton would return before nightfall. He'd gotten used to his friend leaving suddenly that he could estimate how long he'd be gone by the way he behaved. "He may return before night fall. He may return tomorrow."
The woman dipped a cloth in the warm bucket of water. The steam drifting from the bucket carried the aroma of rosemary and other fragrant herbs. Aveline gratefully took the cloth and washed herself. At first she was shy about being naked and washing herself in front of the women, but warm water on her skin felt delightful. Another woman worked her hands through her now unbraided her, washing it with the fragrant warm water. "I hope he returns tomorrow…" Aveline mumbled as she enjoyed the care given to her.
Kanen'tó:kon smirked to himself as Aveline went quiet. Since she did not say anything else he assumed that she was fine. "We will talk later then, Aveline."
Thank you for reading! Please look forward to the next chapter! Please tell me your thoughts and opinions in a review. I love hearing from you guys!
