Chapter XIV
The Great Council of Nations
They had followed the trampled remains of long grasses throughout the night, as dawn broke, the magnitude of what hoofed buffalo had done became evident. They decided to stop, for a short while, and as they did so Black Buffalo took the Talking Stick to try to contact Running Bear again; Humming Bird sat by him in the hope that her prayers might aid him in his task. Michael and Gabriel paced back and forth, impatient to find out the truth of who Running Bear could be and what it was he guarded. The Nations of the First People silently ate what food stuffs were available to them.
“Perhaps he is another Watcher after all: a very powerful one,” guessed Gabriel.
“No,” replied Michael, “I’m sure Black Buffalo is the only one here but having said that, as you and I are both aware, our universe has always thrown up the unexpected, so anything is possible.”
“It is of no use,” Black Buffalo drew in a deep breath, wearied by his efforts, “he remains beyond my sight.”
“We must do something?” muttered Uziel.
“Well I’m listening,” said Michael. “What do you suggest?”
“We send Long Tooth,” responded Uziel, “He is so big he could carry someone, someone like Grey Wolf perhaps.”
Grey Wolf immediately jumped in, “I’ll do it we all have to make sacrifices and this is not a great one.”
"I think it will bring upon you unnecessary danger," replied Humming Bird.
“Exactly, it would be a difficult mission to say the very least,” said Gabriel, “there’s bound to be Higher Wold out there looking for us right now and you’ll be fortunate if it’s only them you meet.”
“Then we had better not meet anyone,” responded Grey Wolf.
“What sort of answer is that?” queried Gabriel. “Have you lost your wits?”
“That remains to be seen,” responded Grey Wolf.
“Let’s not find out at all. Michael, would you please have a word?”
“It’s a good idea.”
“That’s more a sentence, and it’s not the one I’m looking for.”
“Grey Wolf knows these lands,” continued Michael, “and so for that matter does Long Tooth. When he gets through to Running Bear he will be able to tell him what has transpired here and to make contact with us. That may give us the edge we need to win the day.”
“Are you serious?” said Gabriel. “I don’t know whether you’ve noticed but up to now not a lot’s gone right.”
“Look, I understand your concern,” said Michael, “but the only creature that could possibly catch them is Fenrir. And he will be after us not after them, and Long Tooth can outrun any horse - think about it, this is the moment when we can take the initiative. We must seize it.”
“Very well then,” Gabriel sighed deeply, “Make sure he has enough food for the journey.”
Michael turned back to Grey Wolf and studied him for a moment. He looked thinner than when they had first met. His eyes were more sunken, the scar adjacent to his right ear had now fully healed but it would now remain a constant reminder of their meeting with Moloch. Still his shoulders remained unbowed; as with all his people he wore his burdens well. The question was, would this be one charge too many? The Spirit People were remarkable, remarkable in their understanding of the Equilibrium and their selflessness.
“If there is any sign that the road is too difficult,” said Michael, his eyes narrowing, “you find a way to either make it back to us, or you find the nearest safest corner to hold up in and stay there until help arrives or it’s safe for you to move on. These are the conditions of your journey. Do you understand?”
Grey Wolf nodded.
“You sure about that?” asked Gabriel sternly.
Grey Wolf half smiled and left with Uziel and Humming Bird as both wished to help prepare him for the task he faced.
“If he doesn’t make it?” queried a sullen Gabriel.
“He’ll make it,” said Michael throwing his leather sack across his shoulder.
“I wish I had your confidence but remember how he wanted to rush into things,” replied Gabriel.
“Yes, but I have faith that he will succeed,” said Michael slowly, “and we have no room for thinking otherwise.”
Black Buffalo had silently watched their exchange, his arms cradling his tomahawk thoughtfully.
"You have doubts that he will be successful?” he queried. “I have learnt much about Grey Wolf; he will accomplish the task you have set him. His purpose may seem unclear but he is one of the few to have survived the destruction of the Pawnee, he has escaped the Wold, and has journeyed far already. He is distant from the more reckless warrior who first came to you; so fear not, I believe he is more than capable for what you have asked of him.”
“I hope you’re right,” said Gabriel under his breath. “I hope you’re right.”
“Come,” Black Buffalo pointed toward the First People, who were already alert and able to move on. “If you doubt what I say it means you still do not understand the First People. The thing is we are not far from the Angry Mud Flats - if Fenrir comes I believe he will strike us there and with as much force as he’s able to gather together. And we shall see what transpires should such a thing occur.”
“He knows we will be expecting such an attack,” said Michael, “when he came upon us in the gorge he had the element of surprise in his favour. He has lost that, and after the assault on the column we also know that the Mages are here. We know more about them than they know about us. They do not know we have the Watcher with us, and once Uziel readjusts the instrument that was in your care we will be able to mete out to them what they will not expect, it is that that gives us the advantage so we can and will defeat them.”
“Do not think that they will be unprepared,” said Black Buffalo, “the one you call Lothos has his spies who are probably tracking us as we speak and as for the Mages, I’m sure they know I am here, they would have sensed me when I tried to contact Running Bear and long before that in my vision quests they would have felt that there was something different about me. It is a pity you never dealt with your enemy differently.”
“What do you mean?” asked Michael.
“The first people seldom war on each other,” replied Black Buffalo, “if there is a conflict between us then a council is convened and a solution sought. We even ask Great Spirit to help guide us. Why did you not seek the same?”
“I see,” said Michael his eyes momentarily glazing over. “We did in the beginning but it was to no avail. Ears that were once open, closed, brothers became enemies as voices once raised in praise of what we were, suddenly became condemning, a great Schism appeared within the Angelos, the Sky People as you call us, things then escalated to such a degree that we found we were at war; a war that has lasted to this day. Long ago our enemy sought sanctuary among the Mages, and it is difficult to know whether they changed him or he changed them. He certainly convinced them that his cause should become theirs and by joining with him they would become all powerful, all mighty and by such offerings they were seduced. In effect they were made for each other; as neither was willing to choose the right path; which in itself is a tragedy.”
“I wonder how they view us?” asked Black Buffalo.
Michael stared through Black Buffalo as if into some unknown place. “They view us as evil, they believe we are murderers, and in this war there have been many victims not all have been combatants so from their perspective….”
“This war has brought shame on us all,” said Black Buffalo as Michael’s voice trailed off.
“The shame Black Buffalo, is that they chose such a way,” said Michael. “We didn’t, but to maintain the Equilibrium we must protect what we can, who we can, where we can and when we can; so therefore the War goes on, until the final outcome, which is either our end or theirs.”
“There was one John of Patmos,” said Gabriel, “you have a connection to him. On a Vision Quest he saw all this.”
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Black Buffalo’s eyes narrowed as if trying to recall.
“Those fateful words,” replied Michael, “in the book of Revelation and ‘there was war in heaven.’”
“That’s it,” Gabriel began to rub his arm as if the chill morning air was getting too close, “what else was it; something to the effect that…. ‘The Dragon and his angels fell to earth’. Quite prophetic really and here we are chasing them once more, or being chased by them once more.”
“Then since so many of the Sky People are now on Earth,” said Black Buffalo, “which is The Dragon and his acolytes?”
“He’s the one that rebelled,” said Michael, a little vexed by such a question, “so let’s leave it at that, shall we.”
Uziel approached; he had heard the final exchange between Black Buffalo and Michael and appeared perplexed by it. “Grey Wolf and Long Tooth have left, and White Eagle believes we have remained here too long and should leave also. He has sent a message for everyone to gather their things, also he intends that a War party should leave to harry the enemy and make their passage as difficult as possible, so that they find it more difficult to come upon us.”
“Right,” said Michael, “We’ll debate this another time Watcher, now with Lothos on the march we must embrace the act to come.”
They made their way through the crowd to where White Eagle waited for them and once they arrived at his side he lifted his spear above his head and waved everyone forward, as one they set off across the plain, its never ending lowlands of trampled grasses guiding their path. As they went, other Nations joined their company, the Nez Perce, Ponca, Santee, Sarsi, Cree, Kitsai, Omaha, Wichita, Ojibwe, Kiowa, Arikara and many other nations gathered to them that had heard the call. Word had spread that the Sky People had returned to war on the Shadow People. By the time they had finished that part of the journey their ranks had swollen by many thousands and still there was no sign of Fenrir or the Wold; it was now hoped that their strength in numbers would deter any that might try to intervene and prevent their passing.
The days wearied; the wind, though not harsh, still bit deeply into hide and hair. Snow now crowded the land where it could, but parts remained untouched: bubbling bursting hot waters spewed forth from their base dwellings, they had reached the Angry Mud Flats. Heated from beneath, pools of water did not turn to ice, snow rarely had time to lie, indeed the lands were such that the First People when at rest and crouching down had to remove their heavy buffalo hides for the heat was too much with such coverings.
Word soon reached them from one of their scouting parties that the Shadow people had halted. Apparently they had stretched themselves too thinly and the people being half-starved had refused to go any further without food. Lothos had exacted the most severe retribution by killing the ring leaders of the rebellion and would have continued his killing spree had Leif Erikson not intervened, after his own councillors spoke out about the deprivation of the people. And so it was that the season had waylaid them and that they had decided to stop for a time.
Michael wished to take advantage of the opportunity presented by this. So when they had settled and eaten, he called all the leaders of the Nations together in council, the first of its kind. There were the usual murmurings as people became acquainted, all at once Black Buffalo rose and motioned for all to be quiet; as voices subsided he introduced Michael and handed him the talking stick.
“It is with great honour that I speak to you this day. A day that will become legendary among the First People. The threat that has come upon you has travelled across the great lake from distant lands. Their leader is well known to the Sky People. We have chased him for many ages before even the First People came to Turtle Island. Now comes the time that your ancestors prepared you for; to war on the dark spirited Manitou. I am not here to tell you that I know the outcome, the future, only Great Spirit knows that, but I can say that if each of us do our duty by our brothers we will surely prevail. They have among them an army of what’s left of the Wendigo, which we defeated in the Great Forest. They have some we know as the Mages who are in form what we call Higher Wold. The Mages are mighty Shamen. Also they will have the nations of the Shadow People, wolves, bears and all types of creatures both known and unknown that have been forced into their service. But you are free peoples - you are here not because we coerced you into coming, but for your own sakes and the sakes of your children.” There was a mighty clamouring as Michael spoke words that held power, he gestured for them to calm before continuing, “Now is the time for which your people will always be known, now you shall be truly deserving of being called the First People and as you are known to us the Sky People now is the time for the Valour of the Spirit People.”
Michael sat down; as he did so Black Buffalo rose took the talking stick and began to speak.
“You all know me. I am Black Buffalo of the Hidatsa. I see that some here have fought against my nation over things that now seem unimportant. I am pleased that I can now call such people brothers for we are all brothers that are willing to fight and die together to preserve our freedoms, our way of life. The First People have had to sacrifice much in the past, and I’m sure we will have to sacrifice much in the future. But for the Sky People and Great Spirit we are willing to do so. If it was not for them we would not know or understand the creator of all things. We would not know the spirit within us and nor would we know all the things that make life worth living.”
Once more there was a clamour as the people saw and felt the truth of his words. “We do not fight because we have to,” continued Black Buffalo, “we do not fight because duty tells us to fight, we fight because in the end all that matters is that we are one people, one nation, all brothers….that is why we fight.”
Gabriel and Michael were visibly moved by his words. Uziel’s eyes glistened as he brushed a tear away. Black Buffalo passed the talking stick to White Eagle and sat back down next to Michael.
“Well met,” said Michael quietly into his ear, “you are truly a person of esteem. You do your ancestors proud.”
Black Buffalo nodded as he listened intently to White Eagle who then introduced the next leader, until one by one all within the circle had their say. As they smoked their pipes and shook their medicine pouches the air was filled with the fumes of incense and mystery. They remained speaking throughout the day and well into the night, after many hours meat was then passed round and fresh water drunk, for during such a council mouths had dried, and bellies had sunk to a place where they needed reviving they then continued on until all had had their say as to what was to be done. And by the time they had finished it had been decided that the Sky People were to take leadership of the many nations of Turtle Island that were present.
The first thing the Sky People thought paramount was to take advantage of the respite of the Shadow People by training the nations of the First People for the coming battle, and it was decided that this should commence at once; Uziel was then charged with this task. They began to build small lodges to shelter in; out of muddy clay and wooden bough with earthen roofs that protected them from rain, snow and sleet that let only smoke escape through small openings.
The land was so heated that even in that cold wet climate it remained dry and not too unpleasant to lie on. They bathed in hot springs and felt refreshed and invigorated. Word spread that they were to be shown how to make more powerful bows, clubs, axes, spears and staffs and that some Shamen were to be shown the art of Morphosis; it was the ability to alter ones shape the way creatures do in nature, like the caterpillar which can become a butterfly.
And while they remained there to train, many nations came to them and were taught in the use and craft of many things. They stayed on the angry mud flats for some weeks, and prepared. Hour after hour, day after day they laboured until they were well drilled. After the moon had waxed and waned and come again the great council was called together once more as news had arrived from Running Bear of the Ute. It appeared that Grey Wolf had made it through but no
t without incident. The Ute would retreat to what was the highest peak of the rocky heights a place known as the Mountain that stands alone.
“There is more,” continued Black Buffalo. “The one that guards the Codex is one of the Sky People, his name is Raphael and he has skilled the Ute in the ways of the Warrior but does not feel that will be enough to hold back the storm that is coming.”
“Raphael,” echoed Michael, “What of the Codex - did he say what it was?”
“He tried,” said Black Buffalo, “but something grave and disturbing happened, I was made aware that we had been detected. At that point I gave warning and broke off contact. The last thing I heard was a crazed cry of Raphael’s name - it was Moloch. And I was revealed to him. I fear the Dragon will now make haste to the Great Basin, though according to Rafael they are still some weeks from there, as are we; perhaps we shouldn’t have tarried so long.”
“Tell the people,” said Michael, “to make ready, we leave at once. Gabriel, we need a way to slow down our enemy. I believe White Eagle had something in mind which he alluded to earlier.”
“I’m on it,” replied Gabriel calling Crazy Coyote and Black Elk to him.
“Uziel, what of the weapon?” Michael walked defiantly toward the end of the Angry Mud Flats.
“I’ve had a few ideas especially now that I've empowered the Seal,” responded Uziel, “I think since we have so much energy at our disposal with an army this big the best thing to do for defensive purposes is to use it to enhance everyone’s energetic field, making a shield out of their natural body energies. It will neutralise any power, for a brief while at least that they might employ.”
“It will not neutralise,” said Michael, “axe and sword. You know that.”
“Here me out,” responded Uziel, “the Dragon no doubt will enhance the strength of their weapons but with the dampening field of the planet and with the equilibrium he would not have been able to bring through anything too powerful from outside the planet, that means what he has brought through can be balanced by the natural energy of those who were born to this world. We can also use the script of the Angelos to counter Haldrago the way we did with the Longfoot. Moloch and the rest of the Mages - now there’s the problem.”
“I and the Shaman I have taught will deal with them when the time comes,” said Black Buffalo who had remained by Michael’s side.
“Consider it, Michael,” Uziel turned and gestured to the assembled host, “the two armies will be evenly matched.”
“And so once more the Equilibrium is maintained,” said Michael under his breath.
“Yes, but we should move out at once,” replied Uziel. “There are many days’ crossing to the dry lands before we come upon the Great Basin and who knows what we will find when we finally reach the Ute?”
“Very well then we leave immediately,” said Michael who could feel the urgency of the moment; in his heart, at least, he knew they were all well trained and rested.
Quickly they gathered together and raced across the lowlands, a column that stretched snake-like for almost a league. Their pace was relentless: thousands of warriors called upon to maintain the Equilibrium. Running through the cold, their feet barely left any impression on the snow. Uziel had used the device to strengthen their energy waves, giving them such power as to prevent any normal hindrances of nature. The nations of Turtle Island found that they were no longer chilled to the bone and some even threw off their heavy hides.
Their pace naturally quickened, the wind rushed past them, letting dark hair fly free. As they went an entire group of nearly five hundred turned aside and disappeared in the direction of the Shadow People. As they vanished from sight Gabriel approached Michael his face set to the task at hand.
“Black Elk, Crazy Coyote, and Humming Bird have left with a number of First People to intercept the Shadow People. They will harry the enemy and try to slow them down.”
Michael gazed straight ahead, watching the sun as it reached the horizon, “The greater field of battle will be when we reach the Ute.”
“This is all too familiar,” said Gabriel thoughtfully, “I wonder why we have heard nothing of Fenrir. He must still be out there.”
“Yes,” replied Michael waving the column past as he gestured for Gabriel to join him at the top of the rise, which was a pointed rocky hillock. “But not to worry - we have made the First People more powerful than they know or understand, and by doing that we’ve made our enemy weaker. When Fenrir encounters Black Elk I think he’ll be in for a surprise, also Humming Bird is a better Shaman than when she first met Black Buffalo. He has taught her much, and with her new found understanding of nature she will have strength enough for the ordeals ahead. Fenrir will find that these people are not as vulnerable as he supposes.”
“That is the hope,” replied Gabriel, “that they might, if at all possible, delay the Shadow people and be able to fight Fenrir and the Higher Wold on a more equal footing.”
The two climbed to the highest point of the rise and from there the land opened up in front of them. Rolling uplands danced and weaved, wooded ranges plucked from the earth stood up tall as feathered headdresses. Vascular rivers traversed barren lands. Mountains sprung up, so distant that they resembled the craggy bent backbone of a withered old man.
“Look, what do you think?” asked Michael.
Gabriel gazed in every direction. “About? You didn’t bring me up here for the sights. So what’s on your mind?”
“It’s the news that Raphael is here,” replied Michael.
“I wondered when you would broach that subject,” said Gabriel. “I think that Rafael has been here for some time. And as for what he’s protecting, it has to be more important than ever, otherwise he wouldn’t have risked so much to hide it here at this time and guard it himself. He probably thought that he was well below the Dragon’s sensor range.”
“It makes sense. Lothos and Malachi must have been on Rafael’s trail for some time, perhaps our enemy has been after him since their run in with Uziel in the Middle Age of man. And that's why he needed Leif Erikson, because he knew without an army they wouldn't have been able to locate him, let alone go after him.”
“Of course,” Gabriel shielded his eyes from the lowering sun. “Rafael was with Uziel when they fought the Dragon. You don’t think….?”
“I do,” said Michael. “The Codex in Rafael’s possession is probably the one from that time.”
"You are aware that by helping us the Dragon will exact a terrible vengeance on these people - he has already tried to enslave them and take their lands from them.”
“Yes, but for the most part the Spirit People have already proven resilient to his machinations. Only once before did he truly succeed in winning the hearts of people.”
“You are referring to the great devastation of Terra Azure.”
“The deluge. That was at the height of the first real great battle we had here, when we were forced to intercede and drive out the Ananaki; and consider all the wars since. These people have shown themselves to be a most resourceful and deceptively durable tenacious species.”
“And may it continue to be so,” said Gabriel.
“Let’s hope,” replied Michael, “it doesn’t have to always be so and harmony once again reigns. And the madness ends and our foe comes to his senses at long last.”
“Do you really think that a possibility?” replied Gabriel with uncertainty.
“There is still hope,” said Michael. “Remember all can be saved if they choose the right Way - even the Dragon.”
“The Dragon may not believe in the Way or the Equilibrium but he still has to abide by it. It is the very heart of nature he is up against. He would need a complete change of heart to ever come back to the fold. I think he is blinded by conceit and driven by bitterness, not to realise that his war is wrong.”
“He believes he is fighting a righteous war,” replied Michael heavily. “Consider this - he is so consumed by his desires they act like a deep unq
uenchable thirst, he has a need without boundaries, without end that’s why he must be stopped. He’s ruled by his deceit and in his fantasy all lies take on the aspect of truth. It is for that reason that he believes he has the right to break The Equilibrium?”
“And what of us are we not just as driven? Do we not consider our fight righteous? Who is to say which of us is right and which is wrong?”
“The Way is right and The Equilibrium must be maintained at all costs. He would have all in chaos and as you are well aware, chaos is the name some call him, but that is not The Equilibrium.”
“And so it comes to this,” said Gabriel, “where we must rely on the Spirit People in what may become the final conflict. And that’s only if we get to Raphael in time and what if we don’t?”
“Then, Gabriel, the War continues; that’s why it is important that we get the Codex before the Dragon has his way with it.”