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Authors: Janelle Taylor
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scene in near panic.
Kionee watched three warriors break off from the band to challenge the Hanueva men who were crossing the river. They knew they were at a disadvantage while in the water, and rushed to get on land. The other five warriors charged toward the tivas with obvious intent to attack and kill. “Sumba, they hold strong shields to defeat our arrows,” Kionee noted with displeasure. “We must trick them. Fire at the first one’s head; when he lifts his shield, I will fire into his belly. Fire next at the second one’s leg; when he lowers his shield, I will fire into his chest or neck. Two will be gone before they learn our trick and guard against it. Fire twice on my signal, then get behind the trees.”
“Dwil,” Kionee told Sumba to loosen the first arrow. The instant the Crow jerked up his shield to ward off the shaft, Kionee fired into his stomach and saw him double over in pain and surprise. “Dwil.” She coaxed the second shot and struck another enemy in the chest as he protected his leg. “E’fa! Ombeg!” She complimented Sumba and ordered a retreat as the astonished men halted in caution and to check their friends’ conditions.
The odds were now three to three, with the tivas havingprotective cover. The Bird warriors grouped close and whispered as the women awaited a new assault. With loud yells, the enemies whirled their highly decorated mounts and headed to fight with their companions.
“Six skilled warriors are too many for our three hunters to battle.”
“You are right, Sumba. We must help them. Come, Taysinga.”
“I will wait here and guard our horses and game. I am a bad fighter.”
“If you come, our numbers are the same,” Kionee pointed out. “We must ride fast before our friends die.”
Kionee and Sumba mounted and galloped after their attackers before the aggressors could join their friends who were nearing the hunters’ position. The frightened Taysinga did not join them.
Within moments, the three Crow whirled again and galloped toward the two tivas, fanning out to engulf them. It was clear the warriors had not intended to aid their friends, only entice the tivas into the open and into a trap. Kionee and Sumba reined in and began to fire arrow after arrow at their assailants because it was too late for a safe withdrawal; it was face and fight or take a shaft in the back while trying to escape. Sumba called for Taysinga to help them, but the terrified girl remained in hiding. It was fortunate for the two brave women that one Crow headed for the trees and the concealed target cowering there, evening their odds.
Kionee wounded her attacker in the arm and caused him to drop his shield. He yanked a knife from a sheath and charged her in fury. Quickly she dismounted, knowing she had more chance of success on the ground and could prevent her horse from taking a deflected blow. The warrior leapt from his horse and ran to meet her challenge. In his anger, he slashed wildly andmissed striking her each time. Kionee cut his wrist and then his calf as she ducked and darted past him. Before he could react, she buried her knife in his back.
Kionee finished in time to see the other Bird warrior lift his blade to plunge it into Sumba’s heart. She heard him taunt Sumba with vows to take her horse and possessions, and to skin the painted masks from her face and hand to adorn his shield with them. Kionee could not come to Sumba’s defense because the third warrior had halted his charge at Taysinga and focused on the “brave tiva ” whose “magic and power” he craved to steal with her death. He shouted to Taysinga that a coward had no value to him.
Kionee prepared herself to battle him. She was tired and tense, and he was fresh and calm, yet, Taysinga still did not come to her aid. The Bird warrior aimed his war lance and flung it at her, an action she sidestepped by inches. The moment it struck the earth, she seized it and drove a lethal blow to the warrior’s belly as he
Kionee watched three warriors break off from the band to challenge the Hanueva men who were crossing the river. They knew they were at a disadvantage while in the water, and rushed to get on land. The other five warriors charged toward the tivas with obvious intent to attack and kill. “Sumba, they hold strong shields to defeat our arrows,” Kionee noted with displeasure. “We must trick them. Fire at the first one’s head; when he lifts his shield, I will fire into his belly. Fire next at the second one’s leg; when he lowers his shield, I will fire into his chest or neck. Two will be gone before they learn our trick and guard against it. Fire twice on my signal, then get behind the trees.”
“Dwil,” Kionee told Sumba to loosen the first arrow. The instant the Crow jerked up his shield to ward off the shaft, Kionee fired into his stomach and saw him double over in pain and surprise. “Dwil.” She coaxed the second shot and struck another enemy in the chest as he protected his leg. “E’fa! Ombeg!” She complimented Sumba and ordered a retreat as the astonished men halted in caution and to check their friends’ conditions.
The odds were now three to three, with the tivas havingprotective cover. The Bird warriors grouped close and whispered as the women awaited a new assault. With loud yells, the enemies whirled their highly decorated mounts and headed to fight with their companions.
“Six skilled warriors are too many for our three hunters to battle.”
“You are right, Sumba. We must help them. Come, Taysinga.”
“I will wait here and guard our horses and game. I am a bad fighter.”
“If you come, our numbers are the same,” Kionee pointed out. “We must ride fast before our friends die.”
Kionee and Sumba mounted and galloped after their attackers before the aggressors could join their friends who were nearing the hunters’ position. The frightened Taysinga did not join them.
Within moments, the three Crow whirled again and galloped toward the two tivas, fanning out to engulf them. It was clear the warriors had not intended to aid their friends, only entice the tivas into the open and into a trap. Kionee and Sumba reined in and began to fire arrow after arrow at their assailants because it was too late for a safe withdrawal; it was face and fight or take a shaft in the back while trying to escape. Sumba called for Taysinga to help them, but the terrified girl remained in hiding. It was fortunate for the two brave women that one Crow headed for the trees and the concealed target cowering there, evening their odds.
Kionee wounded her attacker in the arm and caused him to drop his shield. He yanked a knife from a sheath and charged her in fury. Quickly she dismounted, knowing she had more chance of success on the ground and could prevent her horse from taking a deflected blow. The warrior leapt from his horse and ran to meet her challenge. In his anger, he slashed wildly andmissed striking her each time. Kionee cut his wrist and then his calf as she ducked and darted past him. Before he could react, she buried her knife in his back.
Kionee finished in time to see the other Bird warrior lift his blade to plunge it into Sumba’s heart. She heard him taunt Sumba with vows to take her horse and possessions, and to skin the painted masks from her face and hand to adorn his shield with them. Kionee could not come to Sumba’s defense because the third warrior had halted his charge at Taysinga and focused on the “brave tiva ” whose “magic and power” he craved to steal with her death. He shouted to Taysinga that a coward had no value to him.
Kionee prepared herself to battle him. She was tired and tense, and he was fresh and calm, yet, Taysinga still did not come to her aid. The Bird warrior aimed his war lance and flung it at her, an action she sidestepped by inches. The moment it struck the earth, she seized it and drove a lethal blow to the warrior’s belly as he
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