66 The young man pushed The Healer away.
"Go find someone you can help," he insisted. "I know. We're
taught to use knives, remember? It's funny, I thought it would
hurt! I don't feel anything, except cold. I've never been so
cold!" He put his hand on Gray Deer's shoulder. "Lord," he asked, "do
you think there'll be a place for me at The Table, or will that be too
much to ask?"
67 "I'm sure," insisted Gray Deer, "there'll
be a place...a place of honor."
68 The young man's eyes were growing dim.
"Lord," he pleaded, "when they lay me in my fire let it be in a uniform
of brown, not in these Hood's rags."
69 "It will be done," promised Gray Deer, "now
tell me, what is your real name? Where are your kin, so I may go
to them and tell them of your bravery."
70 "No, Lord, never!" the young man
pleaded. "If you tell them how I died, you will have to tell them
how I lived before. It is better they remember me as I was while I
lived in their house. Now go, Lord. The battle rages. Your people need
you."
71 Gray Deer rose. By the time he gained his
feet the young man was staring blankly into the sky, but he wasn't
breathing.
72 Gray Deer rushed through the gate and
across the yard. The tents had already been cleared. Dead Hoods
were strewn all about. At the house things were not going well. Somehow
The Hoods had rallied. They held the bottom of both stairways and the
doorway into the house. They knew it was a fight to the death,
with no mercy.
73 Gray Deer reached the right-hand stairway,
pushed through his own people, and fell four Hoods as he gained the
stairs, many of his people right behind him. Six more Hoods fell
as he climbed up, and two more met their reward at the top. But not
before one of them managed to cut Gray Deer's helmet strap with his
spear, and the side of his face with it.
74 Gray Deer went charging on, as his helmet
went flying. His people couldn't understand what had happened to him,
but they didn't care. They stayed right behind, keeping the path
he was opening clear. More poured up the stairs behind them.
75 Gray Deer looked over the balcony at The
Hoods blocking the door below. Shoving his sword into his scabbard he
jumped down, grabbing the edge of the balcony. His feet came down in
the faces of two of The Hoods. They fell backwards into their
companions. Gray Deer dropped down, and his sword was swinging before
The Hoods could gain their feet. He was now behind them.
76 Not knowing how many were attacking them,
too many of The Hoods turned to face this new threat, and The Children
of Spirit broke through. Somebody ran up to Gray Deer with a
shield and a helmet which he quickly donned. "Are you mad?" asked
the man. "Are you out of your mind?"
77 Gray Deer didn't answer. There was an
internal stairway and he made for it. The Hoods were fighting even
fiercer here, but again Gray Deer hacked his way through! At the
top of the stairs four Hoods in black robes guarded another man who was
directing the other Hoods in battle. Gray Deer knew he'd found his goal.
78 This was the only Hood who wore no symbol
of rank. The shield he carried bore The Hood insignia with red eyes.
The man also saw Gray Deer. A couple of sharp orders to his guards, and
they fell back, leaving room for Gray Deer to pass. Four of his
own people came up behind him and one of them said "Go Lord, he's
yours!"
79 Gray Deer moved in. He was wounded
and weary from battle, and this man was good. They fought for
many minutes and somehow found themselves on the back balcony.
Gray Deer noticed his opponent had a hilt blade. His sword was
not so equipped. He also had to beware of the dagger. Hoods were
fond of a second blade. The hidden blade in his opponent's shield
though, almost took his throat out before he saw it! In the end,
it only got his tunic.
80 With one final effort he caught his
opponent's shield and drove it away with his own. He pushed his
opponent's sword up and away, and before he could recover, drove its
point home. To his surprise, his opponent whispered "Very good!", slid
backwards, and fell over the balcony.
81 Gray Deer wasn't aware that his people were
cheering. He just looked down at the twisted form below, then
collapsed! When he regained consciousness Bright Sword was
sitting beside him, her arm bandaged and strapped to a board.
"Got you, too?" he asked.
82 The woman looked embarrassed. "would
you believe," she answered, "I got through the whole fight without a
scratch, then slipped on the damned stairs and broke my arm?"