Spirit Walk_ Old Wounds (Book 1) - Christie Golden [53]
The two boys, friends almost since birth, had never seemed a logical pair. Whereas Blue Water Boy was almost unnaturally calm, Chakotay always seemed to Sekaya to be like a caged beast. He never wanted to be where he was at any given time; he always wanted to do something different. But she loved both of these boys so much, and they loved one another. If Blue Water Boy had been of her own tribe, Sekaya thought that her parents would have made him an honorary son-brother. But Blue Water Boy was Oglala Lakota, and friendship was the closest bond they would be allowed to share.
Both the young Chakotay and the Lakota boy were looking directly at her now, Chakotay with his almost quivering brand of intensity and Blue Water Boy with his still, deep, unnerving regard. Blue Water Boy got to his feet and opened his hands. Nestled in each palm was a small, round stone, polished to a glassy smoothness by centuries of immersion in water.
“These are for you,” he said. “I dove deep and found them. Chakotay, this one is from the river. I thought it would suit you. The river is rushing and wild and fast. Always in a hurry to get somewhere.”
The young Chakotay grinned a little sheepishly and took the stone.
“Thank you,” he said. “I will put it in my medicine bundle when I am older.”
Blue Water Boy now turned to Sekaya. “This one,” he said, “is also a gift from the water, but it’s from the lake.” His eyes bore into hers with a solemnity far beyond his years, and inside, where she was an adult, Sekaya shivered.
Her heart ached for him, but she thought she knew why he had appeared to her today. He had given her and Chakotay a gift. Now, it was time for her to give something to Chakotay. She made her decision. Sekaya took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
She saw again the attractive but neutral décor of her quarters, and gazed once more at the contents of her medicine bundle. Her right hand still tingled from the contact with the akoonah, but not unpleasantly.
Her left hand clutched the lake stone Blue Water Boy had given her over thirty years ago.
Her eyes were wet. She wiped at her face. She re-folded the bundle, gently returning the stone and the akoonah to it, said a little prayer of thanks for the vision it had granted her, and returned it to safekeeping in the drawer.
“Computer,” she said, realizing how thick her voice sounded, “are Captain Chakotay and Commander Ellis still in Holodeck One?”
“Affirmative.”
She sighed. Well, she thought, better to interrupt him at his play than at his work. They would shortly arrive at the colony, and then he would have other things to think about.
Sekaya took a deep breath and headed for the turbolift.
Chapter
14
ON ASTALL’S ADVICE, Kaz returned to his quarters for a shower. Deliberately preparing for something often eases one into a certain accepting state of mind, she had told him. He finished the shower and changed into a fresh uniform, his thoughts racing. Kaz thought he would much rather have simply started right in on whatever it was the counselor had in mind. Having time to think about it served only to increase his apprehension.
Still, the Huanni was the expert here, and he wouldn’t have liked her telling him how to go about treating a broken leg, so he obliged. He returned to her quarters about a half-hour later.
She smiled at him as he entered. “Perfect timing. I’ve just finished getting ready.”
Kaz noticed the lights were dimmer than they were earlier, and there was a pleasant smell in the air. He sniffed, trying to identify it.
“It’s lavender,” Astall explained. “It’s an herb traditionally used on Earth for its calming effect. I can eliminate it if it’s unpleasant.”
“No, no, it’s fine. I like it,” Kaz said. The scent was clean and slightly sweet. He didn’t know about its calming him, though. He sat and looked up at her expectantly.
Astall handed him a cup of a steaming beverage. “Chamomile tea,” she said. “Also known for its calming effect. And it’s pretty tasty as well. Have a few sips and I’ll explain what