Heng IV

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The next three weeks came and went quickly. True to what she predicted, Wachiwi’s father Hanska refused to allow his daughter out of his sight, never letting her meet up with Heng. Instead, the two of them ended up secretly meeting up around the campfire at night, sometimes planning, most of the time just complaining about how much their lives sucked.

As for the other two women he’d been told to choose from, one was still a child and the other was gay, so at the end of the day his choice was more or less made for him. It made their ‘dates’ (which he refused to acknowledge as dates for moral reasons) a lot less romantic, and a lot more like he was meeting up with a friend.

Well, at least it was that way with Ehawee. Kimimela, on the other hand, was more like babysitting his friend’s little sister who also happened to have a crush on him. More awkwardly boring, than anything else.

But none of that mattered right now. The three weeks had passed, and now they’d met up out of the village for one final planning session before the big event.

“Are you sure about this?” Heng asked, pacing back and forth frantically. “There’s… there’s got to be some way we can put this off, right? Elder Chayton’s got a daughter, doesn’t he? That’s another week right there! That enough time, right? We can figure something out in a week!”

Wachiwi sighed from where she was watching him flail about. “I doubt it. You’ve already gotten an extra three weeks—there’s no way they’ll let you put it off any longer.”

“But they could!”

“They won’t.”

Heng deflated, plopping down on the ground across from her. “I know. It’s just so… so… stressful. I hate having to speak in front of crowds, and this is like that except the speech is about how I’m going to my boss to ask for a raise, except that raise is his daughter, and it’s the one daughter that nobody wants me to pick!”

Wachiwi raised an eyebrow. “Heng. You are the one in charge. You’re the, ah, ‘boss.’”

“You know what I mean!” Heng sighed, throwing his hands up in the air. “I’m just stressed, okay!”

“Look, I get it,” she rolled her eyes. “I’m stressed too. But we can’t waste all our prep time worrying about how we don’t have enough time to prepare! We’d never get anything done!”

“Right, I know,” Heng sighed, slouching. “Well, anyway, is there anything else you want to talk about before we go over our gameplan for today?”

“Well, I suppose there is one thing…” Wachiwi nodded, frowning. “I’ve been wondering this for a while, but what exactly is she doing here?”

“I’m here for moral support!” Ehawee—who had been there the whole time—exclaimed happily, thrusting a fist into the air.

Wachiwi gave him an aggrieved look. “Why is one of the other marriage candidates here? Are you trying to tell me something? Is this really how you plan to start our marriage off?”

Heng winced. “In my defense, she just sort of showed up.”

“Don’t worry, Wi-wi,” Ehawee turned to Wachiwi, missing how Heng choked back laughter at the nickname. “I’m not here to steal your boy-toy. I’m just here to help!”

“Did you just say boy-toy!? That translates!? No, hold on, what the hell kind of word is that translating!?” Heng asked incredulously.

Both of the women ignored him, instead turning to face each other fully.

“You say that,” Wachiwi narrowed her eyes. “And yet, the position of Chieftess is a powerful one. How do I know you aren’t trying to sneak between us for your own gain? The Chief’s an idiot—even a rock could manipulate him.”

“Hey!”

“How do I know you aren’t trying to seduce him and take the title of Chieftess in your own right?” she continued to ignore him, scowling at the other woman. “Heck, even being his concubine has a power all its own.”

Suddenly, Ehawee grabbed the other woman’s hands, staring her in the eyes with all the emotion in her heart. “Wachiwi, you don’t have to worry about me seducing Heng! I think he’s very ugly!”

“Hey!”

“In fact,” she continued, “out of the two of you, I find you much more appealing. What with your delightfully rare smile, and your big, strong arms… and your eyes are just… so beautiful…”

Wachiwi’s eyes went wide and her face flushed scarlet. She tried to step back, only to stumble when she realized Ehawee was still holding onto her. “Um. I… I don’t know how to respond to that.”

“And you’re worried about me getting seduced!”

“However, if that is, um,” Wachiwi stuttered. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. Opening them back up, she glared at the other woman. “Okay, I’ll let you stay. Just never say that again!”

Ehawee tilted her head cutely. “You don’t like being complimented?”

“That’s not a compliment!” Wachiwi spluttered. “That was… well, it certainly wasn’t a compliment!”

“I see,” Ehawee frowned. “I’ll have to try harder then.” Taking a deep breath, she began again. “Wachiwi, daughter of Hanska and Chapa, granddaughter of Huron and Illweki, I think you have a very nice body. I especially like your bre—”

“STOP. TALKING. RIGHT. NOW.”

“I know we’re not actually in love or even married yet,” Heng muttered dryly from the sidelines, “but it still feels weird watching my future wife get seduced in front of my eyes.”

“I am not getting seduced!” Wachiwi snapped, spinning around to glare at him.

“Sure you aren’t,” Heng rolled his eyes. “Hey, Ehawee! I appreciate you and everything, but please stop trying to seduce my wife. She’s very innocent.”

“I see,” Ehawee nodded solemnly. “I did not mean to seduce her. I just think she has a very nice a—”

“BOTH OF YOU NEED TO SHUT THE HELLS UP!”

--

In the end, they didn’t get to do much preparing. But Heng did feel a lot more relaxed now, so he’d take that as a win.

The ceremony was set at the center of the village. Enough teepees had been moved out of the way to allow everyone to gather, while the remaining teepees stood like walls surrounding them, acting like a division between the event and the rest of the world.

That all said, he wished that he was told this would be happening in front of the whole damn tribe sooner. Apparently the Elders decided that the marriage ceremony would happen immediately after he chose one of the women. Which meant that the rest of the tribe had to come to watch their Chief get married.

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‘‘Tradition’ my ass,’ Heng grumbled mentally. ‘These people just want some cheap entertainment.’

In front of the firepit at the center stood the five Elders. Hotah, Hanska, Chayton, Chaska, and Wapasha. To their right stood the three women, Wachiwi, Ehawee, and Kimimela. And surrounding all of them was the other hundred or so people of his tribe, watching their leaders rapturously.

Standing in front of such a big crowd of people, the three potential wives in front of him, Heng felt somehow both nervous and mortified. Like he was on some messed up reality TV show or something. ‘The Stone Age’s Most Eligible Bachelor,’ coming soon to Channel 69!

He clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to hide his nervousness. Just because he knew how this would play out didn’t mean he wasn’t tense. He wasn’t ready to get married, damn it!

But the world hadn’t cared about his wishes before, and it certainly wouldn’t start caring now.

“Chieftain Heng,” Elder Chayton spoke as the only neutral Elder. “As is tradition, the Elders have gathered our people together to experience the Ceremony of Binding. However, as is not tradition, you have not yet chosen a bride. So, before we may begin, I ask you this. Who shall be your bride?”

Heng closed his eyes briefly in an attempt to calm himself. It didn’t work.

‘Well Heng,’ he tried psyching himself up, ‘You ready to make some enemies?’

Opening his eyes, he turned to Wachiwi, and spoke as clearly as he could. “By my right as Chief, I pick a woman who’s hand has been offered to me by her father. Today, this Heng, son of Chonglin and Meizhou, grandson of Heng and Mai, shall marry Wachiwi, daughter of Hanska and Chapa, granddaughter of Huron and Illweki. As I have stated, so it shall be. As we have all agreed, so it shall be.”

The ensuing silence spoke louder than any shouting about how little anyone actually agreed.

“You…” Hanska snarled, his face purpling with rage. “You…!”

“I, Wachiwi, daughter of Hanska and Champa—” Wachiwi began continuing the ceremony, only to be cut off by her father.

“You dare!” Hanska roared, breaking rank and running towards Heng. “You dare take my daughter away from me!”

Heng barely had time for his eyes to widen in fear before Hanska slammed into him, knocking them both to the ground.

“Father, no!”

“Someone stop them!”

Heng hit the ground hard, a painful ‘CRACK’ resounding as his head slammed into a rock. His vision swam, and he only barely managed to focus his eyes just in time to see a fist heading straight for him.

“He’s an Elder, we can’t just grab him!”

His head snapped back, bouncing off the ground. The back of his head felt wet, and he could feel his brain jiggling about in his head. Something told him that wasn’t supposed to happen.

“Grab the Elder, damnit! This isn’t the time for that!”

Heng’s nose caved in as another punch rained down on him. But there was a pause after that, finally allowing him to bring up his arms in defense. However, when no more came, he chanced opening his eyes, glancing around his arms to see what had happened.

Hanska had been grappled by two others, one of which he recognized as the hunters Lakota and Tȟatȟáŋka. The Elder struggled hard against them, but he was an old man compared to two hunters in the prime of their life. All he could do was struggle angrily.

Then Wachiwi stepped between them.

“Father, stop!” she shouted, grabbing his shoulders. “Don’t you realize what you’re doing!?”

“I know exactly what I’m doing!” he snapped back. “I’m getting rid of the bastard who stole my daughter from me!”

“You don’t have to do that! I’m fine with it! I promise!”

“Well, I’m not fine with it!” Hanska snarled back. “You were to marry Mahkah! I had plans for you, and yet now this bastard comes in and ruins everything!”

“The two of us talked about this,” she continued, almost desperately, “and we both agree it’s for the best! Just calm down, father! Why aren’t you listening to me?! Why do you never listen to me!?”

“SHUT UP!” he roared. “YOU THINK YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK NOW? AFTER SO FLAGRENTLY TURNING YOUR BACK ON ME!? HAVE YOU GONE MAD? TURNING AWAY FROM YOUR FATHER FOR THIS BASTARD, YOU MAY AS WELL BE A MOTHERLESS WHORE!”

Wachiwi took a step back in shock. The pandemonium around them stopped as well, everyone staring at the Elder in shock.

Wachiwi swallowed, turning away from her father. Then, with tears in her eyes, she hardened her face, before spinning back around and bringing up her fist and punching her father in the face with a thunderous ‘CRUCH.’

It was as though the world itself stopped turning. Everyone was frozen, staring as the daughter broke a cardinal rule of their society. Everyone except Wachiwi, who panted heavily over her father’s stunned form.

“Take him somewhere he won’t be a nuisance,” she spoke quietly, and yet her voice carried to everyone. “I’d like to continue this ceremony in peace.”

Nobody moved, still staring at her in shock.

“Well!?” she raised her voice, turning to the hunters still holding onto her father.

“Oh, uh, of course, Wachi—Chieftess Wachiwi!” Tȟatȟáŋka nodded, jumping to his feet. Dragging up the other hunter, the two of them grabbed Wachiwi’s father, who appeared to still be in shock, a massive bruise swelling on his face.

Wachiwi spat on the ground as they left, causing a quiet hiss to make its way through the crowd. But she ignored them, instead turning back to Heng.

And her eyes immediately widened.

“Heng!” she yelped, kneeling on the ground next to him. “Are you alright? Can you speak!?”

Heng, whose face was covered in blood and gore, tried to speak. Unfortunately, all that could come out was incoherent mumblings.

“Šóta! We need Šóta!” she shouted turning to the crowd. “Where is he, we need him now!”

“I’m here, I’m here,” the Medicine Man called back, shoving his way to the front of the crowd. “What seems to be the issue—ah. So that’s what all the commotion was about.”

“Can you heal him?” she practically begged. “Please tell me you can heal him!”

“Of course,” the old man grunted. Walking closer, he leaned down, narrowing his eyes at Heng’s bloody body. He squinted, poked his arm a bit, and placed his ear on his chest, before finally sighing and standing back up. Then he kicked him. Hard.

“Ow!” Heng yelped, jumping up to a sitting position. “What the hell was that—oh hey, I’m up.”

“Quit being a drama queen and get up already,” the old man scoffed. “I’ve seen you worse than this when that Tusk-Beast of yours stepped on you last winter. I know you’ve already healed from this. Just go bathe in the river and you’ll be good as new.”

“Well I’m so sorry. But I don’t know if you noticed, but I just got my face caved in! That takes a bit of time to heal from! It hurts like a bitch, too!”

Šóta scoffed. “Whatever, I don’t care for your excuses. That being said, your new wife might not feel the same.”

Heng blinked, before his eyes widened and he spun around to face Wachiwi. And when he saw her expression, he winced.

Her eyes were puffy red and tear tracks were visible on her cheeks. Her hair was a mess, and her face looked like it couldn’t decide between anger, relief, and terror. Speaking plainly, she looked like a mess.

The two of them stared at each other in silence for a long moment. Then, taking a deep breath, she glared at him sharply. “I know this is not your fault,” she told him calmly. “But never do it again.”

Heng let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “I don’t plan on getting hurt, don’t worry. I don’t exactly like pain any more than the next guy, you know.”

“No,” she sighed, sounding exhausted. “I suppose you don’t.” Shaking her head, she turned back to the other Elders, who were at this point awkwardly standing off to the side, wondering what they should do. “Elders!” she snapped. “I believe there was supposed to be a ceremony today? Well, let’s get on with it already!”

“Ah,” Elder Chaska spoke up, “Would you not want to delay it until tomorrow? You two look like you’ve had a long day, and—”

“No,” both Heng and Wachiwi deadpanned as one.

“Oh. I see. Well, if you insist…”

“We do,” Heng grunted, getting off the ground. “Let’s just get this over with. I don’t want to deal with this sh—with this ever again.”

“Right, well,” Chayton began. “Where were we?”

“We barely started.”

“Ah, right,” Chayton nodded. “In that case…”

And so, with a bloody-faced Heng and a tearstained Wachiwi in front of him, Chayton began the ceremony. “Today, we have gathered together to witness a Ceremony of Binding. As is tradition, every soul in the White Mammoth Tribe has gathered to bear witness. On this day, Heng, son of Chonglin and Meizhou, grandson of Heng and Mai, shall marry Wachiwi, daughter of Hanska and Chapa, granddaughter of Huron and Illweki. Normally, any living relatives would at this point be brought forth to speak, but it appears that they are all… indisposed. In that case, we shall skip to the final part of the ceremony.”

He clapped twice. The crowd around responded with the same.

“Heng, son of Chonglin and Meizhou, grandson of Heng and Mai,” Chayton turned to him, his voice filled with gravitas. “Here you stand, in the light of the gods. The Earth is watching; The Sky is watching; The Sun is watching; and hidden around the edge of the world, The Stars are watching. Thus, the gods ask of you this. Shall you bind yourself to Wachiwi, daughter of Hanska and Chapa, granddaughter of Huron and Illweki? In marriage, in bed, and in life? Or shall you turn back here, at your last chance before the will of the gods binds you?”

Heng took a deep breath. “I do. Blood to my blood—I bind myself to her.”

“Then, Wachiwi, daughter of Hanska and Chapa, granddaughter of Huron and Illweki. You also stand in the light of the gods. The Earth is watching; The Sky is watching; The Sun is watching; and hidden around the edge of the world, The Stars are watching. Thus, the gods ask of you this. Shall you bind yourself to Heng, son of Chonglin and Meizhou, grandson of Heng and Mai? In marriage, in bed, and in life? Or shall you turn back here, at your last chance before the will of the gods binds you?”

Wachiwi’s face was resolute. “I do. Life to my life—I bind myself to him.”

Chayton nodded solemnly. “Then today I speak for the gods—and they bless your marriage wholeheartedly.”

Heng and Wachiwi turned to each other and, in finishing the ceremony, pressed their foreheads softly against each other, their breaths mixing and eyes meeting. The ceremony concluded, the people around them cheered.

And that was it. He was married.

And after all that, Heng was simply… tired.

9,911 God-Kings Remain