Kingfisher Mask

The next morning the Owl Men awoke to pale sunlight filling the house from the smoke hole and door. In spite of their constant grief, the three braves had slept comfortably on soft reed mats. Throughout the night, they took turns watching the shaman who after the rebuke by Chief Soowali had retreated to a dark corner to sit holding his knees in silence -- almost becoming invisible except for his staring eyes.

Hayoqwis was pleased that the plan had succeeded blood shed. To defeat an enemy peacefully is the height of cunning. He had quieted the shaman and charmed the chief. It was better than winning a great battle. If only he might complete his quest, get the white bear skin back to Meet in the Middle Island before his rival and win marriage to Butterfly Woman, his reputation among the tribes would give the Kaw-Seth prosperity and honor long after his death.

He wiped soot from his forehead and remembered the clear water of the pool at the crest of the rock. If only he could bathe as is the Kaw-Seth custom early in the morning.

Hayoqwis watched the elder chief known as the Whirlwind rise from his bed to ignite the embers of the fire, feeding it with arm sized sticks taken from a neatly stacked pile that reached the ceiling along the north wall. It would be impolite to speak first.

Hayoqwis and his cousins had retreated to sleep on one side of the fire. The Flatheads on the other. The huge room felt empty.

"If the Kaw-Seth tribe last for another one hundred and fifty three generations," he mused silently, "my name will be remembered for this feat. Spe'eth must be watching out for me from the sky world."

From the coming of age ceremonies, he had a spiritual connection with his uncle who had trained him in the Kaw-Seth ways. The two men often had shared dreams. Even in death, he felt his presence.

The thought of winning over the Selawik filled his mind as the newly lit fire warmed his ashed covered face. A smile of satisfaction grew as he recounted his fortune, like assessing the winnings of a bone game.

It had gone well beyond expectation. After the confrontation with the shaman was quieted the night before, the three men sat down with the chief to share the aged elk roast and made their case. Hayoqwis had forgotten how delicious such fine, soft meat could taste. There was much more than they could finish.

Soolwali's generous spirit extended across tribal lines. He was truly sorry for the loss of Spe-eth and Tiska and offered his help in any way to make up for the wrong. The chief agreed to carry out the restitution for the deaths. Because the visitors stood on the Rock of Refuge their offenses against the tribe for trespassing the burial grounds were canceled.

Soowali's wrinkled brow contracted in worry, looking up at the smoke hole to check the onset of morning light, then down into the orange flames before him. He always enjoyed impressing visitors from other tribes with Selawik hospitality. But, these are the first foreigners ever to dine in the secret house. The Owl Men are in the Selawik circle now. Suddenly the happy thought occurred to him. One of the Owl Men must marry into his tribe. He would choose one of his full brested grand daughters.

The elder chief was mindful that the Owl Men's plea for help were just since the Selawik had violated sacred obligations. As High Chief and Adjudicator he had given the suitor party permission to hunt and promised to guide them safely. He had failed to live up to his word. Here the ancestors watched. He realized soon that if he failed to craft some kind of restitution for the crime, misfortune would come to his people and he would be remembered as a bad chief.

All tribes believed a suitor's test is sacred and are obliged to permit passage and assistance. The chief's decision to grant the Kaw-Seth their demands was right regardless of how much mad Mowa'kek shrieked.

Soowali instructed the men to exchange the heirloom weapons taken from the mortuary house for a box of various weapons in the house, including knives, clubs and a long spear with a black obsidian point. These weapons were finely crafted and in better condition than what they had taken to make their appeal.

Continued

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