John and Argent by cmsix

Chapter 36

After breakfast I talked to Racaato and asked him to take all my mates, except Ameliea, plus the rest of my main helpers and their mates into the practice cave and get them started on shooting lessons. I wanted them all to be able to use their Glocks competently first. We had a possibly hostile neighbor and I wanted to make sure that we maintained our advantage. I wasn't going to turn all my people loose with firearms yet but I was going to see that all the leaders were proficient.

I took Ameliea with me to the horse pens and saddled Bonehead for her. I got her started riding by herself and after a half hour of instruction I set her to practicing. She didn't give me any trouble and I assumed she wanted to learn this new means of travel.

My wranglers and I started with the horses again. I caught the wild stallion first and got him started leading with Danlo's help then I had my helpers get a horse each for more leading practice, while I worked with the stallion.

We worked at it until noon and then took a break for lunch. After Ameliea dismounted I tied Bonehead to the fence and loosened her saddle girth. We walked back toward the cave and when we entered Ameliea headed for the bathroom while I went to the table and sat down.

When Ameliea came back out of the bathroom I saw that she had removed her trousers while she was in there. It made me wonder what she was up to. She headed for the kitchen but she mostly just watched what was going on. I knew that it must be strange to her but she was taking it in stride.

After lunch we went back to the horses. I put Bonehead's tack back in shape so Ameliea could resume her riding practice and I decided to catch Red and do a little riding of my own. When he was saddled I told Ameliea that I was going to ride off down river for a while. She wanted to come with me but I asked her to stay close to the camp until she was more comfortable with her riding. She gave me a look but didn't protest.

I'd had a nagging feeling all morning that we hadn't had the last gasp out of the other camp. I didn't think that our offer of the other huts would cure the hard feelings they probably had. Of course from our point of view they had brought it on themselves. I was pretty sure they didn't see it that way.

They had been a growing camp and they'd had a big advantage with their new weapon. It was a fluke that they came up against something even better and it must have been especially hard to swallow because they hadn't even seen the weapon that had bested them. Even the man we'd captured and released hadn't seen it. He had seen the effects up close but he hadn't seen the rifles or the pistols in use. I'm sure that they thought it was some kind of magic and since they had no ideas about how it worked or what its limitations were I was sure they would try to find out more about it sooner or later.

I headed down river to look around. I didn't take my M1 and I probably should have but I hadn't wanted to make a point of going for it in Ameliea's sight just yet. Red seemed ready to go and after a couple of minutes I let him lope down the canyon. I pulled him up after a mile though and headed back.

When I was back in camp I mimicked the whistle that Merita and Maia had started using to call the wolves. I got more than I bargained for since all the young ones came scrambling after Prince, King and Rover. I tied Red to the fence and walked back to my cave and then to the practice cave with all the crew trailing behind me.

When I entered the practice cave I went to Merita and told her I wanted to take Prince, King and Rover with me while I took a little ride and I asked her to keep the young ones with her. She amazed me by just telling them to sit and stay. I don't guess that was so amazing but when I walked off with the three bigger wolves the young ones did stay. That was amazing.

I went back to Red with my escort and when I mounted and started off they followed. As we got away from camp they spread out some and got a little ahead of me. I made Red walk this time and if the wolves got too far ahead I called them back and they actually came. Merita and Maia had done a lot more with them than I'd have thought. They were actually well behaved.

I just rode and looked casually until we got to the marshy area where the other stream joined the river. When I was south of the confluence I dismounted and looked the trail over carefully. I couldn't see any tracks other than those that we had made. I remounted Red and crossed the shallow river then dismounted again on the other side. The wolves didn't cross right away and were pacing back and forth on the other bank. I called to them and they bucked up their courage and jumped in to swim across.

I spent some time checking for sign on this side also but didn't see any. I led Red toward the wooded area that started just below the side stream and ran back up into that valley. The ground was softer as we approached but it was still firm enough for good footing.

I wanted to look around in the woods but they were too close and too tangled to lead Red into and since I was alone there was no one to hold him. I had some hobbles but wasn't about to hobble him and then leave him alone. I walked as far as I could take him into the woods but didn't see anything interesting. Satisfied that I wasn't going to see anything this way I remounted and crossed back through the river and then headed farther south. After a couple of more miles I decided that I wasn't going to find any bad guys today and I turned back toward camp.

The wolves cheerfully examined everything again as we made our way back. I hadn't seen a damned thing out of the ordinary but I still had the nagging feeling that things were going too good to last and I decided that I'd try to ride down this way every day or get someone else to do it. It might not hurt to check upriver either. We didn't have any idea whether anyone was living north of us and up the river's valley wasn't the only way to get up there anyway. In fact I was pretty sure that the traveling would be good on the upper plateau.

We had taken our safety for granted since we got here but I didn't think we could get by with that much longer. At first it had seemed that everyone was friendly. Jakado and his group had changed my thinking on that. He probably wasn't the only one around that would take advantage if he could. He was just the first one I had run into.

Ameliea was still riding when I got back to camp so I asked her if she wanted to go upriver with me for a little way. She did and she had Bonehead fall in beside Red. We rode without speaking until we came to the ramp.

"Let's take this trail up to the plateau." I said.

"What is up there?" She asked.

"It is a big level grassland mostly. There are often bison, aurochs and horses to be seen."

We headed up and it didn't take long to reach the top. I could barely see what I thought was a heard of bison a mile or more from us. There was a rather large group of Aurochs a little closer and I also saw a band of horses. I was glad enough that I didn't see any cats and I hoped that if there were some about they were busy hunting. Maybe coming without the M1 hadn't been such a good idea after all.

"This must be a wonderful place to hunt." Ameliea said.

"It is, I have killed many bison up here already."

"What do you use to kill them? You never carry a spear." She asked.

I knew that she was fishing again and I knew that I wasn't going to tell her yet. She probably thought that I might let it slip since I was sure that she understood that I hunted with the same weapon that I used for protection; the weapon that I used to kill Jakado.

"I use the same thing that I used to kill Jakado. I am sorry I had to kill him but it seemed plain to me that he would have killed me if I hadn't." I told her.

"You are right. He would have killed you if he could. Jakado was a much better man before Cardiato made the spearcasters. After everyone learned to use them Jakado got the idea that he could do as he wished since his weapon was so much better than a spear. At first he got two camps to join us by convincing them that we would be better off together with the new weapon. He intended to force Barbo to join us though." Ameliea said.

"He would probably have succeeded if the timing had been different. I'm sure that he would have had to kill Barbo though. Barbo was stubborn. If his men had come to Barbo's camp a day earlier it would have been much more troublesome for me. I still think that the outcome would have been the same but maybe not."

"I knew that Jakado was not planning his moves very well. He should have known at once, when he found out that Raalto was taking his camp to join another one, that something unusual was happening. He didn't even send anyone to see where your camp was. Though I do not care for Cardiato I do know that he is smarter than Jakado was." She said.

"Do you think Cardiato will cause us trouble?"

"I shouldn't tell you until you tell me about your weapons. I will though; because, even though I don't know whether I like you or not, I am sure that I don't like Cardiato. He is smart and he is cunning; he will cause you trouble if he thinks that he can come out on top. If he doesn't think that he will try to become your friend.

"You were going south this morning to see if anyone had followed us here from their camp weren't you?" She asked.

"Yes, I went south to see if anyone from any camp had come toward us."

"It will be a few more days before Cardiato can make sure that he is the new leader. The two leaders from the other camps will also want to be leader. Cardiato may have to kill them or at least one of them. He will be the recognized leader within a few days though." She said.

"I guess that we should start paying more attention to our surroundings then. Are you going to stay here or have you decided yet?" I asked.

"I am going to stay here and you probably knew it already. I wasn't angry that you killed Jakado but I didn't intend to appear anxious to go. If Cardiato hadn't come for me before you left I would have come out and found you. If not I would have left on my own. I would not stay with Cardiato. I do not trust him." She said.

"I still meant what I told you. You can stay as long as you like and in any capacity that you want. The only thing I demand of you is that you not take another man unless you move from my cave." I said.

"Why would I want another man? You are the leader and you must be a very good leader if Raalto brought his camp here to let you be his leader. All your mates are proud of you and glad you are their mate. That says more in your favor than anything else. I'm sure that you have told them all they may leave if they want and I'm sure that you could not drive any of them away. Soon enough you probably won't be able to drive me away either." She said and laughed.

"Besides, these are wonderful clothes. Where else could I get their like?" She added.

I laughed with her then and we turned to go back down the ramp. When we reached the valley again I led the way north intending to show Ameliea where I had found most of the horses and perhaps go as far as our prospective hay meadow. When we got to the wide spot where the horses had been acquired I was surprised to see that there were no animals grazing in it anywhere. It was deserted as best I could tell.

This wasn't unthinkable but it was unusual. Every time I had been through this area before I had seen something moving. We stopped and I spent some time looking things over.

"What are you looking for?" Ameliea asked.

"Usually there are some animals grazing here or moving through. I can't see anything today."

"Have you been here often?" She asked.

"A few times. It is where I found horses to capture twice and it is on the way to the place we intend to gather hay. I have probably been through here seven or eight times and this is the first time I have not seen anything here."

"That is a little odd. We should be careful to make sure there are no big cats close by. They could drive everything else off, at least until they left." She said.

"Or men, men about might cause all the other animals to leave."

"I don't think that is it. Men might make the animals move away from them but the valley is wide and long. If it were men animals might be far from the men but might still be visible. It is probably a big cat or cats." She said.

"Maybe, I hope not though. I killed a whole pride of cave lions in the next big opening upriver. I hope more have not come here so soon."

"Maybe we should turn back to camp. No matter what a great hunter you may be it isn't wise to wander among big cats with just two of us. In fact it isn't wise with twenty." She said.

"Yes, we should turn back. Racaato, Raalto and I will return later today or tomorrow and see if we can find anything."

I didn't feel embarrassed in the least by turning back from imagined danger. Something or someone had scared everything else out of the large open spot and they were making me leave it too, even if I didn't know who or what they were. I didn't intend to get any fight started with anything armed only with the Glock.

It was nearing sunset when we got back to camp. We led Bonehead and Red into the horse cave; unsaddled them and then I showed Ameliea how to rub Bonehead down, check her feet and clean them with a hoof pick. I took care of Red and we turned them both loose in the large pen. Everyone else had already finished for the day and the wild stallion was the only horse that was still confined to a pen.

We went back to our cave then. I was happy to see Georgo sitting at the table, back from his trip already, and drinking a mug of coffee. Ameliea headed for the bathroom and Ladeliea brought me some coffee of my own when I sat near Georgo.

"How was the trip Georgo?" I asked.

"It went well. I was able to locate Dotallto with little trouble and he came back with me to perform the ceremony." He said.

"Where is he?"

"He was amazed by my meditation chamber and he is using it as we speak. I have heard that I missed out on some excitement while I was gone." He mentioned.

"You did. It was excitement I could have done without. I guess that I should be thanking Barbo for his foolishness though. If he hadn't gotten himself killed Racaato might have been in a bad position if he'd been present when Jakado's men came calling."

"Maybe, but then again they might have found themselves in danger earlier than they did." Georgo said.

"That is possible, still even well armed Racaato might have had difficulty with the numbers so heavily against him. Everything worked out well enough though. Now I hope that Cardiato is more sensible than Jakado was."

"He is more sensible but I am afraid he is no less ambitious. I think that we will have trouble out of him sooner or later. Probably sooner." Georgo said.

"That is what Ameliea thinks also. She says that in her opinion he will need a few days to consolidate his leadership position and then we will need to be prepared for dealing with him."

"She is probably right. It may take him more than a few days though." He said.

"I hope it does. I hope it blows over and he decides to look elsewhere for expansion."

I saw Ameliea returning from the bathroom then, she had again removed her trousers after the riding. When she saw me looking her way she stopped, turned away from me, and when her back was toward me she used her hands to flick the back of her skirt up over her ass exposing it to me. She flicked it back down quickly and turned back toward me, catching me with my mouth hanging open and what I'm sure was a dumb look on my face. She laughed and headed for my other mates in the kitchen.

"What is it John?" Georgo asked me.

"Oh I was just surprised to see that Ameliea has already gone from spitting and cursing at me to teasing me. I will get over it."

"You are something John. I leave to find a shaman so that you and I can have a mating ceremony and when I come back you have gained two mates while I was gone." He said, doing a little teasing of his own.

"I am trying to cut down. I tried to make sure that Racaato and Raalto took most of the new mates."

"I was joking. There was no other way that trip could have come out. I'm sure you knew before you left your camp that Jara's camp would be joining yours and that she would become your mate. As far as killing Jakado goes I am sure that he gave you no choice and I know that it is best that Ameliea became your mate. She was much too clever to be Jakado's mate and I doubt it would be possible for any of the others here to handle her. I'm sure that she would have been more than even Raalto wanted to try." He said.

"He and Racaato made me promise to kill Jakado first if it came to a fight."

"They probably have gained all the mates they want to deal with for a while as it is. I am not sure that your coming has caused it but there have been many killings and much mate taking since you arrived." Georgo said.

"I know that you are right but I just can't see where I had any other choice."

"I don't either except for the reclaiming of Geera and Dieta. I do understand why you felt you had to do it though and I know that everyone is better off with the outcome." He said.

"I was not about to let those two gain from their ambush of Gigo and Dergo. I only wish that I could kill them again."

"Unless I am mistaken you will be needing to kill others later. I do not believe that Cardiato is going to let this die down unless he does it to put you off guard." Georgo told me.

"I am afraid you are right but I am tired of talking about it. When will we be having the mating ceremony?"

"In two days unless you go up and kill another large bunch of bison. Will you need to have a hunt before the mating?" Georgo asked.

"I will probably let Racaato hunt this time and I will ask him not to kill more than five bison. That should be enough for all the meat we need for any celebration and we should have plenty of people to take care of them quickly."

"He did well before the accident then?" Georgo asked.

"He did very well. He even killed three of the lions that attacked Barbo and Bowto."

"What has become of Bowto's mate? Has anyone else taken her since he died?" Georgo asked.

"Not that I know of. I will ask Jara if you want me to."

"I'm sure that Ladeliea will find out. If she hasn't joined with another I might ask her to be one of my mates also." Georgo said.

"It won't hurt for you to be well cared for. This might also work out well for Daaggo now that the young one will be living here with us."

"I do not know. Time will tell whether they get along or not. I am surprised that the boy hasn't become a man yet." Georgo said.

"Have you ever thought that he might be a man already and hiding it because he has no desire for women?"

"I hadn't thought of it but it makes perfect sense. I think that I will mention that to Daaggo and see what he thinks. The boy might need someone to talk to that is more able to understand his situation than I am." Georgo said.

Raalto joined us then and we discussed the upcoming mating ceremony for Georgo and I. Then we discussed Cardiato and his camp and we agreed that we would need to organize some type of watchful detail. We also decided that we would have to ask some of the men to cut back on their bruga intake so we could have at least a few who were sober all night. I would be busy and Raalto shouldn't have to bear the whole burden of lookout all night long.

Our supper came soon and I was glad because I was tired of talking. I knew that we needed to discuss these things thoroughly but I still didn't like it. It was probably my loner personality causing me this discomfort. I was accustomed to doing what I thought was right without discussing it with anyone. That had served me well enough when my survival and the survival of others wasn't on the line. I realized that wasn't the case now. I would have to solicit the opinions of others and depend on their help if I intended to keep my people from getting killed.

The meal was over and the cleanup was done. Only Georgo and I were still at the table when Dotallto came in to my cave from Georgo's. Ladeliea had kept some food out for him and she brought him a plate while Georgo was introducing us.

"Georgo has told me much about you John, I am glad to meet you and feel honored to visit your camp and perform your mating ceremony." Dotallto said.

"And I am honored to meet you also. Do you have a permanent home or do you wander as Georgo did?"

"I wander mostly, as Georgo did before he came to settle with you. I must say that I am impressed with the respect you have shown the spirits by providing such a wonderful home for Georgo and giving him the buckboard, as he called it, and the horses to pull it. It is a wonderful way for him to travel and his meditation chamber is very special too." Dotallto said.

"I would like to take credit for it but the spirits provided it for Georgo. They have blessed me since I came here and they continue to provide more than I could ever have asked for. Do you usually stay with a camp during the winter?"

"Yes, we must all find a camp to provide for us in winter. The snow is often deep and it is always very cold." He said.

"If it is possible, we would enjoy your company this winter. We have plenty of room here and plenty of food. I'm sure that Georgo and you would have many things to talk about and could learn much from each other during the cold months."

"That is very generous of you John and in fact I haven't spoken to any camp about staying this winter. If you are certain that you can manage I will take you up on the offer." Dotallto said.

"I am certain and I am also certain that we will be doubly blessed by the spirits if you stay with us. It wouldn't surprise me if they made a place for you among us." I told the visiting shaman.

I hadn't thought of it before now but of course I knew that it would probably make Argent happy. I got confirmation a minute later via a little tingle at the back of my neck. What the hell I might as well see if Argent would furnish Dotallto a buckboard and team of his own.

Georgo and I drank coffee and visited with Dotallto while he ate. He told us that while he was in the meditation chamber he had felt closer to the spirits than ever before. I would have bet anything that Argent had made sure of that. I excused myself and left Georgo and Dotallto talking while I went over and took a seat in front of Frank.

My message was answered by Argent himself at once. He was delighted that Dotallto would be staying the winter with us and was chomping at the bit to make him a cave of his own. I told him to go ahead and then asked him if Dotallto could have a buckboard and team too. He said that a buckboard exactly like Georgo's would be in the horse cave in the morning and another pair of Morgans would be in the big pen. I nearly laughed and wondered to myself what Argent's fascination with shaman was. It didn't really matter to me though and I simply asked him to give my side of the canyon a little shake when Dotallto's new cave was ready.

I returned to the table and Georgo was giving me an odd little look as I came back. I nodded toward his cave and then looked at Dotallto pointedly. Dotallto had his back to me so he couldn't see the byplay between Georgo and I. About thirty minutes later there came just the slightest tremor. My mates all yelled out but didn't run outside. Georgo looked at me and I nodded my head to confirm his suspicions. Dotallto looked like he was afraid the whole roof was coming down.

"What was that?" He asked.

"The ground often shakes here. I think that it is a sign from the spirits. It usually means that some new cave has opened up for our use." Georgo told him.

"We should look around and see if there isn't a new place for Dotallto." I said.

Dotallto couldn't believe anything of the sort but Georgo and I convinced him to go with us as we looked around. We went to Georgo's cave first at my request. Sure enough there was a new opening near the meditation chamber. We entered, stepping over the rubble that had been scattered around for effect, and discovered a new apartment that would be just right for Dotallto. He was overwhelmed and Georgo had no trouble now convincing him that the spirits were very happy that he would be staying with us this winter. I didn't say anything about the new team and buckboard. They could be discovered in the morning.

Dotallto was moved and had to excuse himself, first to the bathroom and next he camped out in the meditation chamber again.

"It appears that I will have to learn to meditate in the presence of another shaman." Georgo said.

I knew at once that Argent and I had made a mistake. We should have known that Dotallto would need his own meditation chamber. Before I could even reply to Georgo there was another slight tremor. Georgo looked at me as if I would have the answer. Then Dotallto came back to us also to see what had happened.

We examined Georgo's cave but saw nothing. I didn't have a clue this time so we headed back to my cave where most of the others from this side of the canyon had gathered because of the first tremor. We could see nothing new in here. I was begining to worry now, afraid that Argent and company had made a miscalculation and maybe the last little tremor had been a complaint from mother earth herself.

We checked the practice cave. Ameliea got her first glimpse of it and was stunned. I told her I would explain it all later and we continued checking with a trip to the quarters of all my leaders. Nothing. We finally decided that it had just been a normal tremor. I was thinking aftershock but didn't say it. After nearly an hour of looking around we gave up and everyone went back to their own quarters, except Georgo. He sat at the table with me and Ladeliea brought us some coffee.

I didn't know how to broach the meditation chamber snafu with Georgo. I couldn't tell him that I forgot to ask for another one. I had just about decided that Argent was going to have to do a little dream work on Georgo when Dotallto came rushing back in from his quarters.

"There is such magic here. The spirits must live here. We have come to holy ground and it seems that they want us here." Dotallto told us, wide eyed.

"What is it Dotallto, what has you so excited now?" Georgo asked him.

"That last tremor, I found the cause. I can hardly believe it." Dotallto blurted.

"What was it then." Georgo asked and I noticed that he seemed to be losing patience with the other shaman.

"It is in my new quarters. I have my own meditation chamber now. I felt ashamed when I saw it. When the tremor came I was in Georgo's chamber trying to meditate and thank them for my quarters but a nagging thought in my head was wishing we each had a separate chamber. Then the ground trembled again and I rushed out to see what had happened and we all started looking for the cause. I never dreamed that the spirits could tell what I was thinking." Dotallto said.

"I am ashamed also Dotallto. I was having similar thoughts about separate meditation chambers when the last tremor came. I hope we haven't offended the spirits by asking for more in the face of their wonderful gifts." Georgo said and he did look distressed.

I was afraid that Argent might have gone too far though at the time I was thinking the same things that they both had. I hoped this didn't get a big round of penance or something started with Georgo and Dotallto.

"I know that you are both wise in the ways of the spirits but I am afraid that you are trying to second guess them. They have given you what you both were wishing for and I think that you should go to your chambers now and spend some time thanking them instead of wondering if you have offended them. I am sure that they will let you know if you have displeased them." I told them both, pulling it all directly out of my ass as I went.

"You are right of course John. It is not our business to wonder why the spirits did something. It is our job to wonder what we can do to please them, not worry about what they have done to please us. I am going to my new chamber at once to thank them." Dotallto said and left.

I could see that Georgo was about to do the same.

"Please Georgo, stay here with me for a few moments. I have something to ask you."

"Of course I will stay. What did you want to ask?" He said.

"I am wondering if it is upsetting you for Dotallto to stay here with us this winter. You know that you are our shaman and if Dotallto is going to cause friction he can be convinced to leave." I said.

"There will be no friction John. The spirits have made it plain that they want Dotallto to stay here too." He said.

"They have spoken to me also Georgo. They only want him to stay if it will not upset you. They have made it plain to me that you are their primary shaman here and have let me know that they want Dotallto to stay during the winter so that when the spring comes he can take the burden of some of the traveling off you. I haven't mentioned it but I know that he has been given a buckboard and a team also. They want you to spend as much of your time here as you can."

"You must be a shaman too if the spirits talk to you John." Georgo said.

"I am not shaman. I do listen carefully when the spirits let me know something though. Believe me, the spirits want you to be the foremost shaman in this land and they want Dotallto to help you. They will let him know also. You must concern yourself with what is going on here as much as you can. The spirits still want you to do some traveling but they hope it will not be as much as before."

I couldn't believe that all this shit had come about because of my spur of the moment idea to have Dotallto stay with us too. I hoped that I hadn't fucked everything up in the process. I could tell that Georgo was thinking about what I had told him.

"Why don't you go to your chamber and think about it Georgo?"

"I will John. I will go at once." He said and left.

I went at once too. I went to Frank and sent a message to Argent who answered right away. He asked me to lie down and sleep for a moment. I knew that my mates were going to think that this was strange so when I got up I told them that I needed to be alone to think about some things for a few minutes and then I went to the practice cave and sat in one of the chairs. I was asleep almost at once.

"Have we made a mistake John?" Argent asked me.

"I think we have but I think that you can fix it. From what you've said before I assume that you can read the thoughts of people here if you want to." I said.

"We can and we often do with the others but we never monitor your thoughts." He told me.

"I think that you should monitor Georgo and Dotallto while they are meditating. I believe that you should give them the feeling that everything is to your liking now that they are both here. I also think that you should somehow let Georgo know that he is your main man here and let Dotallto know that too. I don't know how or if you can do it but it would help."

"Dotallto already thought that Georgo was our primary contact here. Georgo didn't feel that way until the talk you just gave him. We will monitor their meditation and reinforce those feelings as they come up. I hope we didn't err in giving Dotallto a meditation chamber of his own." Argent said.

"I don't think you did and I was going to ask you to do it later tonight myself. I never thought that it would cause Georgo to question his place here and that is my fault."

"It seems that things are back on track now though. I am afraid that we got a little carried away with the excitement we created with the tremors. We will be sure to wait for you to suggest any other major changes." He told me.

"I would have asked for exactly what you did later tonight. It seems that I misread the situation and I really didn't give it enough thought. I will try to be more careful myself." I told him and then I was waking up.

I was still wondering if things really would work out when I returned to my mates. They knew that I was preoccupied and this caused things to be rather subdued as time for bed came around. I didn't even bother to try sneaking a look at Ameliea as we got into bed and I was asleep again as soon as I lay down. Thankfully it was a dreamless sleep.