Young Warriors Read Free

wanted to be seen,” he said. His smile was relaxed, not at all threatening. He was about my brother’s age, it seemed. Not much older than me. “Tell me why you are hurrying.”
    He could be one of Scaled Jaguar’s warriors, I thought. But his hands were empty. He wore no armor. Then I noticed his eyes. In his young man’s face, his eyes were the eyes of an old man. They were eyes that would detect a lie.
    â€œI carry a message for my father,” I said. It was not a lie. Lord Tayomam was father to all his people.
    â€œSo there is news in the world of men,” he said. Two deer, a doe and a buck, came out of the shadows and stood on either side of him, near enough that he could have reached out to touch them. “Come, stay with me awhile.” He gestured toward the door of a stone house that I hadn’t seen before. “We will drink and eat and smoke a cigar.”
    â€œYou are a gracious host,” I said, for I gathered that this was no mere spirit. “With your permission, I must decline. My father needs me.”
    â€œYou are a loyal son,” he said. “But if you will stay with me but a moment, you will find that I am powerful over many things, visible and invisible. I could give you a gift of armor and a fine spear.”
    â€œI thank you,” I said again. But I repeated, “My father needs me.”
    â€œGo, then,” he said.
    I hurried on. When I looked over my shoulder, the place where he had stood was empty.
    Not long after, who should I see in front of me but the same young man with old eyes. “I do like to hear news of men,” he said. “Come, you are wet with sweat, and breathing hard. In the cool of my house, you can rest and refresh yourself.” Again he gestured at the door of a house that looked just the same as the one I had left behind.
    â€œI must decline,” I said.
    â€œIf you will but keep me company for a while, I will give you these.” From the shadows, he picked up a set of wood-and -leather armor, and a shield. There was a spear, too. A very fine one. I was tempted.
    At the same time, the beings that owned mountains were known for their wit and trickery, and the owner of Rain Mountain would be no different. The safety of my people depended on the message that I carried.
    â€œLord,” I said, “I thank you. But I must continue, for my father needs me.”
    â€œGo, then,” he said.
    The third time that he stopped me, he again offered me armor, a spear, and a shield. But this shield was covered with green feathers. I couldn’t stop myself from saying, “It is beautiful.” But I could not carry such a shield without having earned it.
    â€œCome into my house,” he said, gesturing toward the shadows, where I saw what looked like the same stone doorway as before. “You will give me news. Then, when you accept my gift, you will take with it the reputation it demands. All will know you as a great warrior.”
    That was tempting. I licked my lips. How much would it delay my message to sit down with the owner of the mountain? Not much, perhaps. But what if Smoke Bat and Scaled Jaguar were even now marching to attack? “Lord,” I said, “my father awaits me.”
    â€œYou serve him well, since you will not be tempted. Your message must be important.” For the third time he said, “Go, then.”
    The owner of Rain Mountain did not appear before me again as I descended the far slope of his domain. I came into my city from the fields, so I appeared at the palace without an escort. The guards were a little surprised, therefore, by my arrival from the wrong direction, and alone. Still, they admitted me. A captain heard my report, then brought me to the first general, who heard it and had me repeat it for a second general. Then both generals made me wait while they reported to Lord Tayomam. Then yet another captain summoned me to a cool, dark room where the