The Sun Maiden and the Iron Steed (Na Shi Dát á na Et Bain)
Summary
The Day of the Sun and it celebration approached and as it did the Viscan Tribe readied for holiday. They prepared the Sun Tokens of Good Fortune and Good Health, they set up race courses and honorary fighting arenas, they gathered the flowers for decoration, and they practiced for the longest day of the year. Most importantly they picked the horse that would be sacrificed to the Sun Goddess, the best horse of the Viscan Tribe. The night before they all retired to their tents, excited for the next day.
However, when the next day dawned the tribe found all their work destroyed and the horse to be sacrificed gone. In haste they found another Sacrifice so that they may still perform the rituals to the Goddess. It was a somber day.
The next morning, as the Day of the Sun and the peace that it mandates came to an end, accusations ran rampant through the tribe: who had dared to disrespect the Goddess by trying to ruin Her Day? The tribe Elders and Chief retired to the Great Tent to hold council on what was to be done. Two days passed and still the elders remained in council, letting only food and water pass into the tent. Finally as the third day drew to a close, they emerged and proceeded to the Shaman’s Tent. There they remained all night as the Shaman preformed great magics. On the morning of the fourth day, the Elders called a Community Circle.
At the circle, the Chief stepped forward, ‘We have consulted the signs and they say,’ he paused, ‘to look not to blame but to look to the future. Thus, we will look to the next Day of the Sun and leave this matter to the past.’ With this, the tribe took up its daily routine once more, believing the matter ended.
And so another year passed and the Day of the Sun approached yet again. This year the preparations went about as normal despite the whispers, the hidden fear that the same events might come about again. To allay such worries, the Chief called for his best warriors and tasked them with guarding the Sacrifice and the tribe’s work.
The next morning came. The warriors, each and every one of them, were found in a deep, deep sleep from which they could not be woken. The Sacrifice was gone and all the preparations in ruins once more. Worse, none of tribe’s horses were to be found. The day went by and fear crept among them, what punishment would the Lady Goddess bring upon them for failing to honor her?
The Elders and Chief again withdrew to council and again consulted the Shaman. Two days after the Day of the Sun, a Community Circle was again called. ‘The signs say look not to blame for blame there is a plenty, but look still to the future,’ the Chief said, ‘We have been tricked twice but not a third time, who will guard the Sacrifice at the next Day of the Sun?’ But despite fear of punishment from the Goddess, no one stepped forward for still the warriors slept beyond any help. ‘We have a year to prepare, this time we will be ready,’ the Chief said and ended the Circle.
The following day, the tribe’s lost horses were found wandering, but the Sacrifice was not among them.
That year saw drought that parched the land, withering the grass and sickening the horses. More miscarriages than ever before darken the tribe’s women and mares alike and the storms of the winter season were the harshest in memory. Rumors ran. It was the wrath of the Sun Goddess. It must be.
The Viscan Tribe prayed and prayed for some hope, someone or something to save them from what looked to be the end of the tribe. But news had spread of the misfortune of the Viscan Tribe, no other tribe would trade or have anything to do with them. The Viscan Tribe were shunned.
It was the day before the third Day of the Sun since this had all started, preparations had been made and an agreement that the entire tribe would stand guard. It was this day that a warrior rode into camp. ‘I hear misfortune has befallen your tribe twice before on the same day of the year and that tomorrow will be the third time,’ she said. ‘I have come to help.’
‘Who are you?’ the Chief asked.
‘A warrior,’ she replied simply, ‘Tell me, have you read the signs? What have they said to you?’
‘The first time they said to look not to blame but to look to the future and the second time to look not to blame for blame there is a plenty, but look still to the future. Will you truly help us?’
‘Yes. I ask but three things of your tribe.’
‘Anything.’
‘First, I will be the only one to guard the Sacrifice. Second, the Sacrifice will be my horse here. Third, to give me two lengths and ten of the garland chains your women have woven for tomorrow’s festivities,’ she said.
‘I fear the Sun Goddess would object to the tribe sacrificing a horse not of our tribe’s line, but she would be angrier still for having no sacrifice. We will do as you ask.’ With this, the warrior collected the two and ten lengths of garlands from the women, turned her horse and rode to the edge of the camp. There she unsaddled her horse, brushed him down, and remounted, bareback.
During these proceedings most of the tribe held back but one child crept closer until she could nearly touch the horse. ‘What is it little one?’ the warrior asked, turning suddenly.
‘How will you save our tribe?’ the child asked, staring up in wonder at the warrior.
The warrior, so serious up til now, smiled down at the young girl, ‘With skill, magic, and a little luck,” she answered and began to bind herself to the horse with the garlands. After a moment she paused and turned back to the girl, ‘I will make a promise to you, if I make it through the night and guard your tribe’s sacrifice, I will tell you how.’
As the sun set, then the moon, the members of the tribe retired to their tents, finally leaving the woman warrior to stand guard alone.
…
Comments