Kiera looked down respectfully. “Thank you for allowing me to join you at the Meeting Place.”
“You will always be welcome here.”
He put his hand under her chin, gently lifted up her face and studied her. He stared again into Kiera's green eyes and touched her strange, wavy hair.
“Yes, you are very much like the Teachers. Legend tells of how they came to escape capture as well. They came to us with knowledge of the Creator, the Great Spirit, and offered to help us build a new world of love and respect for the Great Spirit and Mother Earth. Although the original Teachers have long since passed on to the world above, their descendants, like Chocan, continue to spread their teachings to the people.”
Kiera turned to Chocan. It was becoming clear that Chocan was also of Irish descent. He didn't seem to notice her incredulous stare and continued to focus upon Atchak. The chief cleared his throat. Embarrassed, Kiera turned back to the Grand Chief.
“Tell me about your captors, Kiera.”
“The Vikings?” she asked, surprised by the question.
“Yes. We have only heard rumours of them. Over the past few years, we have seen their strange vessels sailing our waters. We also know they live on our land to the north. What are they like?”
Kiera took a deep breath, her courage returning. The Grand Chief of the Beothuck needed her help. She finally felt useful.
“The Vikings are a people who live by conquest. My homeland of Ireland, the home of the Teachers, was invaded by the Vikings many years ago. They took what they wanted and burned to the ground any villages that chose to resist their invasion. They are strong and fearless warriors. They also take captives, such as myself. I was removed from by home and forced to become a slave.”
“Slave?” asked the chief. “I do not understand. What is this word?”
“Slaves are people who have to do what their master, their owner, tells them to do. They are like a captured animal, to be used and to be put to work without reward.”
“Your family, are they too slaves?
Kiera felt the stab of sadness. “No. At least I don't think so.”
“Then they are back in the Land of the Teachers?”
Kiera nodded, trying to check her emotions. “Yes. They are in Ireland.”
Atchak paused, then changed the topic. “The Vikings on our lands, are they warriors?”
She shook her head. “Some were, at one time, but no longer. They are settlers. They came to your land to start a new life. But they will fight if they have to. An earlier Viking explorer killed a skraeling chief to the north and since then, the northern skraelings have been attacking them. We have had to fight to protect our village.”
Atchak looked to Chocan. “Skraelings?”
“I asked Kiera about them. She is talking about the Thule people.”
Atchak turned back to Kiera, nodding slowly. “Ah, yes, we know the Thule well. We have also fought them for many years. They have come from the north seeking more land. We will not give up our home easily. We will fight any invader, be it Thule or Viking.”
Chocan looked at Kiera. “But you said that the Vikings to the north are only settlers, that they only defend themselves when attacked.”
Kiera frowned. “Yes. That is true. But if they are allowed to stay and flourish, more Viking settlers will follow. The Viking warriors will come as well, seeking fame and fortune. If given the chance, they will take your beautiful land by force. I have no doubt about that. The Vikings would love to have your forests and fish for themselves.”
The Grand Chief frowned. Chocan walked to a natural platform of raised granite, stepped up and repeated everything Kiera had told them to the large assembly in their native tongue. A worried mumbling rippled through the crowd. She could sense fear among the people. She hated to be the deliverer of upsetting news, but the sooner the Beothuck knew of the Viking danger, the better they could prepare themselves for future encounters. She liked these people and also owed them her life. Perhaps this was one way she could repay their kindness to her. Chocan stepped down, and Atchak now stepped forward to the granite podium. Several men helped the frail man onto the platform. He held up his arms.
“Enough!” shouted Atchak. “What Kiera has said will be discussed in detail by the council of chiefs. Let us not forget why we are here. We are here to celebrate our nation. We are here to rejoice in the return of the Great Herd. We must not let this disturbing news take away from the joy of celebrating these wonderful gifts from the Great Spirit.
“Now, Kiera, you have been welcomed into your band through our traditional passage of womanhood. Now allow me to welcome you into our great nation. Walk to me.”
Kiera shook her head. “I…I can't.”
“Walk.” He repeated. Atchak held out his hand.
Kiera turned to Chocan, frightened. He nodded and smiled. Taking a deep breath, she took her first step on the injured leg. Again, there was no pain. She took a second, then a third. She carefully, slowly limped her way to the rock, where she was helped up to its flat surface. Standing beside Atchak, she watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pouch. He held it over her head.
“Cinders from the Great Fire! Life consumed and reduced to ash! But ash is only part of the Great Circle! From cinders come life. A new forest. A new beginning. From life comes love, family and birth.” He sprinkled the ash onto her ochre-stained hair. “Great Spirit, we welcome Kiera as one of our own. May she live wisely in the Great Circle!”
A whoop of rejoicing burst forth from the crowd. Rhythmic singing and stomping reverberated throughout the crowd as it began to spin around the granite stone like a slow-moving crimson whirlpool. Kiera was overwhelmed by the sight of so many humans dancing for her. Atchak placed a tender, bony hand on her shoulder.
“Welcome, Kiera. You are not only a member of Nadie's band, but you are now part of the entire Beothuck nation.”
TEN
Kiera felt like a bird being released from a cage. Her heart was flooded with an indescribable feeling of euphoria. Freedom! Chocan and the elders had checked the damaged bone in her lower leg. They all agreed that her leg was healing well, but they warned her not to do anything too strenuous until at least the next new moon. Kiera thanked everyone for their kindness. She silently vowed that she would somehow pay them back for their care.
During the next week, with her limited mobility, Kiera did her best to help the Beothuck in any way she could. She worked alongside the women of her band, preparing the huge dinners for what seemed like an endless parade of hungry mouths. She also made sure the cooking fires were properly stoked with fuel. During the rare quieter times, she would play with and help supervise the many children. They loved her strange but exciting games and stories. They would giggle at her mispronunciations of the Beothuck language and would limp teasingly around with her as she did her chores.
Little Shawnadit was never far from her side. After a day of shadowing, Shawnadit had finally broken her self-imposed silence. Kiera was amazed how a little girl could go from a mute to a torrent of talk so quickly. Together
