The Legend of the Bloodstone by E B Brown Read Free Book Online

then nodded.
    “You should sleep, Ma-ghee. You will be safe here in my yehakin.”
    He pulled a loose fur from the pile and reached forward. Maggie held her breath as he entered her space, his arms closing around her as he placed the fur on her shoulders.
    “This…house…it belongs to you?” she asked.
    “Yes. I will send Teyas to stay with you. She will be good company.”
    Maggie wondered where he would sleep and nearly asked him to stay, more for want of someone to remind her she was not dreaming than for actual companionship, but ended up flushing pink again as she reconsidered. He raised an eyebrow in response and Maggie dropped her chin to avoid his stare.
    “Okay. Thank you, Winn,” she murmured.
    He made a low grunting noise in reply and stood up.
    “Good dreams, Ma-ghee.”
    When she looked up, the bear hide hanging over the door way flapped closed. He was already gone.

Chapter 5
     
    Maggie walked beside Teyas through the center of the village, glad the younger girl’s arm was laced securely through hers. The packed clay beneath her feet lined a wide lane throughout the heart of the town, smooth under her moccasin-clad toes.  The Indian chatted gaily, pointing out the Long House that formed the hub of the community, taking care to explain how important it was to her people. It stunned Maggie to see how comfortable Teyas seemed with the idea of her time travel. The girl was patient and thorough as she gave Maggie lessons on their ways, focusing frequently on the role of women and how they were expected to behave.
    She was not surprised by the role women played, since she knew a bit about early American history and had once found stories about Native Americans quite fascinating; however, the reality of living it was a different matter entirely. 
    Listening as best she could while taking in the busy village, her attention peaked when Teyas spoke of her f amily.  She explained how the lineage of the Chief, or Weroance, came from the maternal line, and how their Great Weroance Opechancanough was brother to Chulensak Asuwak. Maggie dared a question at that point, hoping she would not offend Teyas or cause a stir.
    “So where is your father, Teyas? Does he have light eyes, like Winn?”
    Teyas shook her head. “No, Winn and I do not share fathers. Chulensak Asuwak is second wife to my father, Pepamhu. He lives with his people, the Nansemond, and sometimes he visits.  Pale Feather is the father of Winkeohkwet.”
    “Sounds complicated,” Maggie said. Teyas smile d and nodded to a group of women seated in a circle working hides. Maggie followed suit and smiled, not too surprised to see a few glares returned among scattered shy smiles.  Teyas noticed the somewhat unfriendly greeting and pulled Maggie to a stop in front of the women.
    “ Chitkwesikw! Eholekw toholao!” the younger girl hissed. Several pairs of eyes widened at her words and a few heads ducked to the ground in shame.  Teyas hooked her arm back through hers and continued walking.
    “What did you say to them?”
    “They are jealous women. I told them to be quiet.” Teyas squeezed her arm as she smiled.
    Maggie swallowed hard and did not reply, but squeezed back.  She was at loss over how to get out of the situation, knowing she had no weapons in her arsenal to combat the predictions of an Indian prophecy. She changed the subject back to where they left off.
    “So Pale Feather has light eyes then?”
    “Oh, yes. He is like you. A weopsit. ”
    She gasped and swallowed so fast that she choked, ending up in a coughing fit. Teyas patted her back, eyeing her strangely.
    “Does Pale Feather know how to use the Bloodstones?” she sputtered, trying to catch her breath and get more information before Teyas clammed up again.
    “Of course. He used one to leave many summers ago, before Winkeohkwet was born.”
    The sliver of hope she allowed to surface found a quick death. The only person she knew so far who could help her besides Winn was gone.