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Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Thirty: The Battle: September 23, 2002: Three days before new moon, at first light, Crazy Wolf assembled the wild men before the longhouse. Then he called out the old fat men who had been his warriors. "Look upon these new Bandar warriors," he chided. "These came to replace you because you became large of belly and slow of foot. Now I have these, I need you not. Yet I offer you leave to redeem your shame. Would any among you have the courage to battle for the glory of the Bandar?" Crazy Wolf strode among them looking fiercely into their eyes. All of them looked away and shuffled their feet in the morning frost. None answered his challenge. "It is as I thought," he hissed with contempt. "You are not Bandar. You are old women. Remain here and grow dull with the juice of the berry. I go to bring power to the new Bandar." Crazy Wolf turned his back on them and spoke to his new warriors. "Today we go to do battle against the Husbandmen and Wesoomi. In two days time we will find them and destroy them. Then, with you as my warriors, I will rule the Nation of the People. You will be know through the land as the feared Bandar. Let us go." Crazy Wolf turned and strode toward the forest with Little Warrior at his side. The new Bandar warriors followed and Hawk trailed behind with his selected band. So they marched toward the village of the Husbandmen. In the forest, two watchers noticed their approach. One of them moved away and became a fleeting shadow moving quickly and silently through the brush and trees. It was the first of Wesoomi's runners. He would carry the first news of the Bandar warriors and their number to Wesoomi and the Husbandmen. The second watcher remained hidden in the forest. It was his to notice any later events, in case of some kind of further treachery. His was the most fearful task for he was alone in a forest full of Bandar warriors. He trembled as he watched them pass, but held his place. Later in the day, another pair of runners notice the approach of the Bandar. As before, one stayed and the other sped away. So it went throughout the day and the next. As the sun melted into the earth on the second day, Crazy Wolf and his warriors stopped and encamped near a small stream. At that time, one of the eighth pair of runners slipped away and went rapidly through the forest. He knew exactly where the Bandar were and how many there were. He would report the count of one hundred ninety-three to Wesoomi. They were encamped less than one day away from the Husbandmen's village. There was no doubt about their goal. Near dusk a lone warrior slipped from the forest and joined Hawk's group. It was Cat Foot. "What say you?" queried Hawk. "What of Wesoomi and the husbandmen?" "They be warned," answered Cat Foot. "I spoke to Wesoomi." "Be they prepared?" "I saw nothing of that. I saw them in the field, preparing the earth for seed." "Did they not understand the threat?" "I know not. Wesoomi showed no concern. He gave me thanks and offered me sup." "I like it not," muttered Hawk. "Saw you no sign?" "Nay, Hawk. I saw no sign and no weapons. Only tools of tilling." "Would that I could speak to Little Warrior," mused Hawk. "Speak then," said Little warrior smiling from behind him. Hawk was startled for but a moment. "You show the stealth of a cat," he grumbled. "Indeed, as do all true Bandar warriors." "Aye," admitted Hawk. "You heard Cat Foot." "I did." "What say you? Think you that Wesoomi has erred?" "I think not. I would trust Wesoomi." "Cat Foot saw no preparations for battle." "Indeed. And why would Wesoomi show his plan to a man he had seen but once? Would you?" "You speak wisdom, Little Warrior. I would not." "We be here Hawk. It be too late for new thoughts. It be too late to turn back. We must needs trust Wesoomi. Let us go forward." "Aye, Little Warrior. For good or bad, I be with you. Let us go forward." On the following day, Wesoomi stood on a ridge above the fields and gardens of the Husbandmen. Beside him stood Elder Quiet Stalker and Soft Hand. Near them stood fifteen of Wesoomi's messenger runners awaiting his call. As the sun reached its highest point the last of Wesoomi's watcher runners arrive on the ridge. "They come," he said. "You have done well. Rest now," said Wesoomi. I will soon have need of your swiftness again." "Aye, Wesoomi. I will be ready." They travel swiftly," remarked Quiet Stalker. "Indeed, the wild ones are young and strong," replied Wesoomi. "They will arrive err the sun is gone, when the shadows are long." "We have prepared well," said Soft Hand. "Yet, I must needs entreat the Great Spirit." "As must we all," answered Wesoomi. The approach to the village sloped downward from the forest though the valley of the Husbandmen's gardens. A ridge ran the length of the valley to the West of the gardens. East of the gardens was a rugged marshland into which flowed the stream that had been diverted from the highlands to the North and West. With this lay, the gardens became the perfect trap. Hidden in the brush of the slope beneath the ridge were sixty-two Husbandmen bowmen. North and West of the valley, concealed in the forest were thirty-one spear and bowmen, prepared to cut off escape. The Marsh to the East was a natural barrier. It would be difficult to travers for any fleeing wild men. The shadows were long when Crazy Wolf arrived with his warriors. What he saw before him was the valley of the gardens with several workers preparing the earth. They had no weapons, just the tools of tilling. Crazy Wolf grinned. "They are fools," he said. "Look at them, waiting to be slain. This will be a child's game." "Aye," remarked Little Warrior. Crazy Wolf saw only what he wished to see. Little Warrior looked at the lay and saw more. He looked at the ridge above the gardens and there was a knowing in his heart. Disaster awaited Crazy Wolf. "Where would you have me, Chief?" he enquired. "Would you have me with you or with my men to follow." "I would have you with me, Little Warrior, as my second as always. Hawk can lead the others." "As you command, so it shall be, Chief. Let us begin." With that, Little Warrior turned and strode toward what he was sure would be his own death. He only wished for the chance to slay Crazy Wolf err it occurred. Crazy Wolf strode beside him and the wild men followed. As they approached the gardens, the Husbandmen saw them and fled before them toward the village. Crazy Wolf cried out in jubilation and began to pursue with spear raised. The Husbandmen fled before them to the edge of the gardens. Then they stopped and reached down to the ground. When the stood and faced Crazy Wolf's warriors, the had bows in their hands, which they quickly strung with arrows. Crazy Wolf stopped in surprise. "What is this?" he exclaimed. "I know not," answered Little Warrior. "They have weapons." "There are few of them," roared Crazy Wolf. "Come, let us slay them quickly." At that moment, sixty-two shafts flew from the slope above the wild men. Many struck true. There were screams of rage and surprise in the ranks as wild men fell to the ground everywhere. There was just a short pause before another volley fell upon them. Terror took hold of the wild men and many turned to flee. Hawk, with his selected warriors had followed them into the valley. Now he blocked their escape. "They are fleeing from battle," he shouted. "We must slay them." He lead the way as his men attack and wild man slew wild man. On the ridge, Wesoomi had seen the following warriors and surmised Little Warrior's plan. He quickly sent a runner to his concealed warriors to hold back. Crazy Wolf was beyond surprise. "We are undone," he cried. Then he saw what Hawk was doing and he suddenly perceived the betrayal. He looked to Little Warrior with surprise in his head and rage in his heart. At that time Little Warrior raised his spear high. He was about to avenge his father at last. He meant to slay Crazy Wolf. In that, he was undone, for as he loosed the spear, a terrified wild man stumbled between them. The spear impaled the wild man and he fell to the ground threshing about. Little Warriors spear was lost. He drew his knife. Crazy Wolf now understood the full measure of the betrayal. His eyes narrowed as he drew his own knife. Then another flight of Husbandmen's arrows flew about them. Crazy Wolf looked at the slope above them and saw disaster looming. He turned and fled toward the marsh. Little Warrior moved to follow and Crazy Wolf turned long enough to hurl his knife. It slid along Little Warrior's cheek, making a long shallow cut as it went. Then Crazy Wolf fled into the marsh. Some of the wild men followed him. Shafts stopped flying as Wesoomi gave the command. Little Warrior looked about him. There were slain wild men everywhere. He was given to wonder how he had been spared in this turmoil. In fact, Wesoomi had described Little Warrior to his bowmen and asked that he be spared if possible. Little Warrior made his way through the field to where Hawk awaited him with the selected warriors. "It is done," he said. "It is done," agreed Hawk. "But few escaped." "It be sad that one who escaped be Crazy Wolf." "Aye, I saw, but could do nothing." "Nor could I," agreed Little Warrior. "He knows the full measure of our scheme. If he lives, he will seek vengeance." "Aye. We must watch for him." "For now, let us go home, Hawk. There be enough misery for one day." "Indeed," agreed Hawk. "More than enough. Little Warrior turned to look up at the ridge. He could not see Wesoomi, but knew that Wesoomi could see him. He looked at the ridge, then he looked to the north. He looked back to the ridge, then to the north again. Then he looked to the ridge and held up four fingers and looked to the north again. Then he turned and strode into the forest. Hawk and the selected warriors followed. Elder Quiet Stalker had watched the gestures of Little Warrior. "What meant he by that?" he asked Wesoomi. "He would meet me four days hence in a secret place known to us." "Will you go?" "Indeed, I must." "Be it safe to meet with him?" "Safe indeed, Elder. Little Warrior be a true warrior. Soon, he will be chief of the Nation of People. I must tell him that." "How know you this?" "It is given me to know from the lips of my mother, Elder. She came to me in a dream last night. It be a time for greatness and greatness is given him." "It must be as you say, Wesoomi. The Golden Earth Mother knows all." "Indeed," said Wesoomi, "but first we have much to do. The wounded must be tended. The slain must be given honor and proper departure. We have a huge bier to build." "Aye, Wesoomi. Let us begin." Back to Wesoomi's Archives
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