His only answer to her was to smirk at her before he turned to walk away.
****
"Are you leaving to go to the fort now?"
Gray Falcon slowly turned around to see the image of his wife standing behind him, although she was located in the shadows. Why was she here when she should be asleep? It was the middle of the night, and, like the silent flight of a nighthawk, he had been careful to make no noise as he had arisen from their sleeping robes.
He sighed. He and Strikes Fast were set to leave tonight. He had paused in camp for as long as he dared, and only last night he had made his plans to leave at the time when the darkest part of the night was upon them. This was the best moment in which to set out upon the trail, not only because the darkness would hide them, but because people tended to sleep more deeply at this time of night.
He was ready to go. Strikes Fast was ready to go. Even the moon was cooperating and had already set, while the stars overhead were hidden by clouds.
However, instead of answering her question, he asked one of his own, murmuring, "Why are you not asleep?"
"I have already told you. I intend to come with you."
"But, why?" He took a step toward her and reached out toward her to take her hand in his own. And, then he pulled her in toward him and hugged her. "My wife," he began, "please tell me why you are insisting upon doing this. Do you not understand? Having you with me would hinder me. My attention would be on you and keeping you safe, not on my opponent. What I go to do is important, and with you there, I could too easily make mistakes."
"I don't agree. Having me there would help you because I would watch others carefully to ensure you come to no harm. Besides, whatever is to be your fate, I wish it to be my own. If you are imprisoned, I wish this to be what happens to me, too. If you are killed, I would be killed, also."
Because he couldn't fault her courage, he remained silent. But, then he saw the error in her reasoning and said, "They would never have you, a white woman, experience my fate. They are white. You are white. If they imprison me, they would simply give you to Maká'pato'si since he holds the paper tying you to him. If I am killed, again, they would give you to the evil one. It may not be fair and it may not be right, but this is what would happen."
She didn't answer, and he used her silence to say, "You would serve me better to stay here and ensure all is well with you and the others. Do you not wish to talk to your father and urge him to let my friend help him?"
"My sister and my mother can do this, and already are doing it."
Bringing her in even closer to him, Gray Falcon placed his chin on the top of her head and said, "Do not do this. I told you if you insist on this, I will tie you up so you may not follow me. I did not say this without having thought it through. I meant it, and if I have to, I will do it."
She shrugged. "I will only get loose somehow."
"You will not get loose. I know how to tie knots so they do not come undone. Only a man who has some experience with this kind of knot can undo it."
"A knife would serve to cut through it."
"And, you would need others to help you with cutting it because both your hands would be tied. Remember, I have told the others they are not to aid you if you take it into your mind to follow me. So, do not think you can ask anyone here to come and assist you."
"I will cry out until at last someone will come."
"Again, I will say this to you: do not do this. I mean it. You are not to accompany me, nor are you to follow me."
"But—"
He held up his hand. "I have not finished. How do you expect me to defend you and your relatives if you will not let me? This evil one concerns me as much as he does you. I have prayed about this, and I have a plan. It is the Creator's plan, and I fear it may not go well if you get involved."
"You speak true? It is the Creator's plan?"
"It is."
She sighed and seemed to collapse into him. At last she said, "All right. If this is really how you think it should be, I will try to remain here. I will not give you my word about it, though. But, I will try to acknowledge my fate and stay behind."
"Soká'pii, it is good." He smiled. "Trying is good. Now, come here in my arms so I can kiss you. And, then you must let me leave."
"Without making love to me? Shouldn't you make love to me before you go?"
"Saa.A warrior does not make love to a woman, even his wife, before he goes to war. Where did you get the idea he should?"
"Because you did it with me. You were going to go to war, but you found me and we made love."
"Because you seduced me into making love to you."
