The women remained silent, but their eyes spoke volumes. Some seemed hopeful, others resigned. Great bear, Ryder began carefully, choosing each word as if walking on thin ice. This honor you offer me is greater than I can express. The chief nodded, waiting.
But I must be honest with you. In my culture, a man takes only one wife, and that choice must be based on more than gratitude or duty. A murmur ran through the council. Some elders frowned. Storm spirit leaned forward, his eyes now fixed on Ryder with renewed intensity.
"Do you reject our gift? " asked one of the elders, his voice tinged with offense. Do you consider our women unworthy? No, not at all. Ryder hastened to clarify. Any of these women would honor any man.
But he paused, searching for the right words. Starry Sky continued to watch him, her expression impossible to read. What did she think of all this? Did she have a voice in the decision? Somehow Ryder doubted it.
I need time to think, he said, finally. This is not a decision to be made lightly. Great bear exchanged glances with the elders. There was a brief conversation in Apache, voices low but intense. Finally, the chief nodded.
We will give you until the sun rises tomorrow, he said. But you must understand, writer. This debt must be paid. If you do not accept our women, you must offer another way to settle the account. Honor demands it.
The women were dismissed, leaving the tepee silently. Starry Sky was the last to go. At the threshold, she stopped and looked back directly at Ryder. Her lips moved, forming silent words that only he could see. Please, no.
Then she disappeared into the night. Ryder stepped out of the tepee with his head spinning. Storm spirit caught up to him outside, grabbing his arm with enough force to hurt. "If you touch her," the warrior whispered in perfect English, his voice like broken glass. If you take her from me, I swear by all the spirits.
I won't, Ryder interrupted. But we need to talk, you and I. Now, the two men looked at each other under the desert stars. Between them lay a tension thick enough to cut with a knife, but also for the first time a tentative understanding. Something was about to change for everyone.
Ryder and Storm Spirit walked in silence to the edge of the camp where the light of the bonfires barely reached. The stars shone with an intensity only the desert could offer. Thousands of points of light in a velvet black sky. The night wind brought temporary relief from the day's heat. "Your English is perfect," Ryder said finally, breaking the silence.
"Missionaries," Storm's spirit replied bitterly before they drove us from our lands. "They taught me their language, their customs. They thought they could make me forget who I am. " He paused. They could not. They sat on some rocks, keeping a prudent distance between them.
Storm Spirit looked toward the camp where a bonfire marked the location of Great Bear's tepee. Starry Sky and I have been betrothed since we were children, the warrior said, his voice laden with contained emotion. When she was 10 and I was 12, our families agreed to the union. We have been waiting, preparing for the day when we would finally be one. Does she love you?
Ryder asked. With every breath she takes, Storm's spirit answered without hesitation. As I love her, but then his voice broke. My uncle's honor is stronger than my heart. If he is given his word, I cannot openly challenge him without bringing shame upon my family.
Ryder observed the young warrior. He could see the conflict tearing him apart inside. Love against duty, desire against honor. It was a battle no man should have to fight. I will not take her, Ryder said firmly.
Not her, nor any of the others. It is not right. Storm Spirit looked at him with surprise and something akin to hope. Do you mean that? Completely.
But there is a problem. Your uncle says honor demands payment for the life debt. If I refuse the women, I must offer something else. The warrior nodded slowly, thinking, "In our culture, there is another way. If a man refuses a gift of honor, he can prove his worth in another manner through trials.
What kind of trials? Trials of skill, strength, wisdom. If you pass them, you earn the right to propose your own solution to the debt. If you fail, Storm Spirit left the sentence unfinished, but the meaning was clear. Can you help me with this?
Ryder asked, "Why? 3 days ago, you wanted to see me dead. " Storm Spirit was silent for a long moment. Because I saw what you did. You gave your last water to a dying baby. When you found the spring, you drank last after everyone else had quenched their thirst.
These are not the acts of a bad man. He paused. And because if you help me keep starry sky, I will be in your debt. Ryder extended his hand. Then we have a deal.
Storm Spirit looked at the outstretched hand, then grasped it firmly. A deal. The next morning, Ryder presented himself before the council. Great bear and the elders were gathered once again, their faces serious and expectant. The 22 women were also present, seated in a semicircle.
Starry Sky kept her eyes lowered, but Ryder noticed her hands trembling slightly. I have made my decision, Ryder announced. With all due respect to these honorable women, I cannot accept them as wives. Not because they are unworthy, but because my heart cannot be divided among so many. It would be dishonest of me.
A murmur of surprise and confusion ran through the assembly. One of the elders stood up, clearly offended. "So you reject our most precious gift? You insult our daughters? " "Is insult no one? " Ryder replied calmly. "But I request the ancient right of trials. " "Let me prove my worth in another way, and I will propose a different solution to this debt of honor. " Great.
Bear leaned forward, his eyes studying Ryder intensely. "You know our customs. " Storm's spirit has instructed me," Ryder said, noting the surprise on many faces. Upon hearing this, the chief looked at his nephew, who nodded once. Something had passed between them. A silent communication rider could not fully interpret.
"Very well," Great Bear said. "We will give you three trials. The first, a horse raced to the twin rocks and back. The second track and find the ghost ear of the valley without killing it. The third, a combat of endurance with our best warrior.
Who is your best warrior? Ryder asked, though he already suspected the answer. Me, said Storm Spirit, standing up. There was a gleam in his eyes, something Ryder could not quite decipher. Amusement, respect, challenge.
I accept the three trials, Ryder declared. The first trial began at noon. The entire camp gathered to watch. The twin rocks were two identical formations rising on the horizon at what Ryder estimated to be about 5 mi away. The terrain between the camp and the rocks was treacherous.
Loose sand, scattered stones, cacti that could shred the legs of a careless horse. Storm Spirit would be his opponent in this race as well. The warrior rode a magnificent paint horse clearly bred for speed and stamina. The animal was younger and likely faster than Ryder's horse. The rules are simple, great bear explained.
Circle both twin rocks and return. The first to cross this line wins. There are no other restrictions. The two riders lined up. Ryder could feel the tension in his horse.
The animal sensing the excitement in the air glanced at Storm Spirit who returned the gaze with intensity. May the best man win, the warriors said. So be it, Ryder replied. Great bear raised his arm. Silence fell over the crowd.
Then with a shout that echoed across the desert, he dropped his arm. Both horses shot forward in an explosion of sand and speed. Storm Spirit took the lead immediately. His younger horse demonstrating its superiority in the first 100 yards. But Ryder did not try to catch him yet.
He knew his horse. He knew the animal had more endurance than pure speed. This was a long race, not a sprint. They crossed the first stretch of open sand. Storm Spirit maintained a lead of three horse lengths and they reached the field of rocks.
Here, pure speed was less important than agility and judgment. Ryder began to close the gap. His horse navigated the rocks with the confidence of years of experience in difficult terrain. Storm Spirit, in his haste, had to slow down several times to avoid dangerous stones. By the time they reached the twin rocks, they were tied.