The Captive Princess by Wendy Lawton

Author:Wendy Lawton [Lawton, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-57567-383-7
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 2008-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

Leving at Peace

The blow never came. Pocahontas could feel her brother’s hands lift her off the captive and stand her up, facing her father. The dancing had ceased. No one spoke.

“Amosens, come.” Her father motioned for her to come closer.

She could see open hostility on the faces of many of her father’s advisors. What had made her throw herself over a tassantassa about to be clubbed to death? As she asked that question, she knew the answer.

She walked toward her father. This would be one time she could not count on laughter, somersaults, and teasing to ease the tension.

“Can you tell me what my daughter intended by that spectacle?” Her father kept his hands clasped in his lap.

“I could not bear the thought of John Smith being killed.”

“And what do you know of this John Smith?”

“I have watched him at his village. He cares for his people, he cares for the land, and he seeks to understand us and honor us.”

“You’ve seen all that?”

“And I saw how brave he was today.”

“Do you think I gave the order to kill him?” her father asked.

Pocahontas started to answer yes, but stopped. Could this have been some kind of ceremony? She knew the Powhatan people had a rite of adoption into the tribe. She’d never seen it, but she’d heard it involved an enactment of death to life. Could that be what had been happening? Had she made a fool of herself for nothing?

“You ask many questions in your mind, do you not?” Powhatan’s mouth twitched. “Now you will never know if the captive would have been killed or spared.”

“I am sorry, Father.”

“Do not be sorry, little one. You proved your own bravery. There is no greater sacrifice than to lay down your life for another.”

Even the advisors murmured their approval. Opechancanough glared, but the other faces on the dais relaxed.

“So, you have saved the captive, John Smith.” Her father smiled at her. “What do you propose we do with him now?”

Pocahontas remained silent for a minute. She hadn’t considered that. “He could stay in our village to help us learn about his people.”

“Perhaps.”

“He can teach us English and I can teach him our language.”

Her father nodded, as if waiting for more.

“He can make hatchets for you and bells, beads, and mattassin jewelry for me.”

At that the great Powhatan laughed. Pocahontas looked over at the captive and saw that he’d understood enough to make him smile as well.

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