chapter 26

Emmett stood before the council as they continued to deliberate over his demands. As soon as it was first light, he had woken up, rushed through his morning chores then headed to the council building where the council had begun gathering. They had tried to tell him to come back later because they had another meeting to finish first, but he wouldn’t be deterred.

As soon as all of the current members were present, they had allowed him into the room to state his business. He had presented his total earnings to them, telling them he wanted to purchase his freedom as well as that of his family and a friend. The council then had told him they would look at his earnings to see if he had enough for everyone he wanted to free once he had told them their names.

So, once they had decided how much his total earnings were worth, they now stood in a tight group deliberating on if he had enough to set everyone free. He could hear them murmuring, but their voices were too low to hear exactly what they were saying.

Finally, they all took to their seats again, leaving only the two empty seats that remained unclaimed since their previous owners had passed away. However, the business with White Coyote did not need those two seats to be filled.

“We have totaled your earnings and have deduced that once we take the amount that you are worth from the total, there is only enough to free one other.” announced Wise Bear.

“What? But Darting Rabbit is new, she cannot be worth that much yet!”


“Because she is new, we cannot allow her freedom yet until we discuss this with her owner about her worth to him. Only then could we tell you if you can afford her. As for the other two, they are both valued by their owners which means you only have enough for one of them.”

Emmett gritted his teeth in frustration. As much as he hated leaving Alice behind, he knew that was what he was going to have to do.

“Fine. Then I choose to buy my freedom as well as that of White Swan’s.”

The council looked among each other before Wise Bear spoke up again. “Is that your final choice?”

Emmett nodded. “It is.”


“Very well then,” Wise Bear motioned to two braves who stood near the entrance. As they moved closer, he pointed to one then the other. “You will go to Crow Flies home and bring both him and White Swan immediately. You will go to Black Wolf’s home and bring him immediately.”

After the braves left to do as told, Wise Bear finished talking to Emmett. “As soon as all parties are here, we will finish these purchases. If all is agreed upon, we will allow you to pay us and be on your way.”

Emmett nodded and took a seat to wait for all of the others to arrive. He just hoped none of them had a good reason to keep him and Bella there other than the fact that Crow Flies liked Bella for all she did for his family. Still, Emmett knew that wasn’t a good enough reason to deny Bella her freedom. Especially since Emmett had more than enough earnings to buy her freedom from them.

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“White Swan! We are needed at the council building,” announced Crow Flies as he approached White Swan where she was finishing up washing the morning dishes in the area between the houses.

She straightened up from where she had been leaning over a very large stone bowl that was filled with sudsy water that appeared a little dirty. She still held a slightly curved wooden piece in her hand which was one of the plates they used to eat on.

“All right. Give me a few moments to clean up here then I’ll…”

Crow Flies shook his head. “Leave it. Squirrel Gathers will clean up for you. I was told by the messenger that we were to go immediately.”

White Swan nodded as she wiped her hands on the cloth she had tucked into the side of her deerskin belt. She tossed the cloth over the side of the stone bowl, then straightened herself up a bit before following Crow Flies.

As they walked, White Swan couldn’t help the feeling of giddiness that began to well up inside of her. She knew Black Wolf was supposed to speak to the council this morning, but she couldn’t believe how fast it had all been done. She hadn’t expected to be summoned by the council until it was closer to the afternoon. Still, she wasn’t going to complain. The sooner she was summoned, the sooner she and Black Wolf could begin their lives together.

Hitching her skirts a little higher so she could keep up with Crow Flies’ longer strides, she tried not to break into a run to get to the council building quicker than necessary. However, she couldn’t keep the smile from blossoming over her face.

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Black Wolf was finishing up getting ready to go to council building when there was a scratch at his door. Wearing a puzzled expression on his face, he made his way to the door and pulled the flap aside.

The brave standing there inclined his head. “Excuse me Black Wolf, but I have come to summon you to the council building. They need you to come immediately.”

Black Wolf frowned. “Has the meeting started already?”

The brave shook his head. “They are waiting for you and a few others to show up before they finish the proceedings.”


“All right. I am on my way.”

The brave nodded his acknowledgement before leaving Black Wolf alone. He quickly finished getting ready before heading to the council building. He hoped the meeting wouldn’t take that long to complete. He was more than ready to get to the part where he asked the council for White Swan’s rights so that he could be hand-fasted to her.

He had been ready since the night before because he had returned to his home in high spirits after leaving White Swan at Crow Flies’ home. Once he returned home, he had looked in on a sleeping Alice and a subdued White Coyote before retreating to his room for the night.

There he had gone about making his room suitable for both him and White Swan, since he was certain that by that time the following evening she would be living there with him. He had made plenty of room for White Swan and any of the items he was sure she would have with her before finally calling it a night to get some sleep in order to be rested for the meetings in the morning.

As he made his way to the council building, he couldn’t keep the smile from forming on his face as he began to wonder just what life with White Swan would be like. However, the smile slipped when he saw White Swan approaching the council building with Crow Flies.

Reaching the building first, Black Wolf waited until they had approached too. He nodded to Crow Flies before looking at White Swan. “What brings you two here?”

White Swan shrugged as Crow Flies answered him. “I have no idea. All the messenger said was that the council needed us to come immediately.”


“Strange,” replied Black Wolf as they entered the building together.

It was then that Black Wolf noticed none of the other warriors from the recent raiding party were there. Only the council members were seated at the far end of the room while White Coyote stood near the center of the room. Black Wolf frowned as he approached White Coyote with Crow Flies and White Swan behind him.

He glanced at White Coyote, who simply stood and faced the council. Turning to the council members too, Black Wolf asked them, “Is something wrong?”

Wise Bear spoke up. “Black Wolf, you have been called here because you are the owner of the slave, White Coyote. He has just petitioned with his earnings for the right to free himself from his servitude. We agree that he has enough to purchase that freedom. Can you give us a reason that we should deny it?”

Black Wolf glanced at White Coyote, then White Swan before he answered the council. He knew he didn’t have a strong reason to keep White Coyote. Besides, he had only kept him for White Swan’s sake, but if the man wanted to go free, Black Wolf could see no reason to deny him that.

He shook his head. “There is no reason to deny his request. I leave the decision to you, the council.”

Everyone there knew that there didn’t need to be a full gathering of council members for something like this to be decided. So long as the owner and the slave were in agreement, it could be settled with a few witnesses.

Wise Bear nodded his head. “Very well then, White Coyote we will take the earnings which we have deemed is the price for your freedom.”

One of the other council members, Horse Dances, stood to extract the amount of goods from the pile White Coyote had brought with him. Once the goods had been taken away with the majority of it given to Black Wolf, there were still a few items left in the pile. The eldest council member, Wise Bear, waited until Horse Dances finished dividing the payment then returned to his seat before he spoke again.

“It is done. You are now a free man, Emmett Swan.”

Emmett nodded his acknowledgement, as did Black Wolf.

“Our business with you, Black Wolf, is done. You may go.”

Black Wolf nodded again as he moved towards White Swan’s side when Wise Bear addressed Crow Flies.

“Crow Flies, you have been called here because you are the owner of the slave, White Swan. Her brother has petitioned with his earnings for the right to purchase her from you. We agree that he has enough to purchase her rights. Can you give us a reason that we should deny it?”

At the mention of White Swan’s name, Black Wolf had snapped his gaze to where Wise Bear stood. Black Wolf knew when Wise Bear said Emmett was buying her that meant White Swan was going to be free.

He stepped closer to the council as Crow Flies looked at White Swan with a sad smile before shaking his head to the council. “There is no reason to deny his request. I leave the decision to you, the council.”

“Very well then, we will take the earnings which we have deemed the price for your sister’s purchase, Emmett Swan.”

Once more Horse Dances went to extract the amount of goods from Emmett’s pile and handed the majority of them to Crow Flies. As soon as he sat back down, Wise Bear finished up.

“It is done. You are now given into the care of your brother, Bella Swan.”

As she glanced from her brother to Black Wolf, Wise Bear looked to Crow Flies. “Our business with you is done, Crow Flies. You may go.”

Crow Flies nodded, stopping to give White Swan’s shoulder an affectionate squeeze before leaving the building. As he disappeared, Black Wolf walked up to the council once more.

“Forgive me for the interruption, but there is something I must ask the council.”

As the elders gave Black Wolf their attention, Emmett took Bella by the arm and tugged her towards the door. “Come on, let’s go pack our stuff, little sister.”

She refused to move as Black Wolf made his request.

“I would like the council to grant me the right to ask White Swan to be hand-fasted to me.”

Bella smiled as she tried to go to his side, but Emmett held on to her arm. Refusing to take her eyes off of Black Wolf, she muttered, “Let go, Emmett!”

“No, you are free and I am taking you out of here!”

The council appeared shocked that Black Wolf would ask that now, after the deal to set White Swan free had been made. Not only that, but some of them couldn’t believe their still-unannounced chief would tie himself to a mere slave. Wise Bear looked to where Bella and Emmett stood before turning back to Black Wolf.

“We are sorry Black Wolf, but since there is no longer a White Swan in our village, we cannot grant you that right.”


“Then grant me the right to ask Bella Swan!” Black Wolf growled.

Wise Bear sighed. “Before you ask us, I believe it is the brother of Bella Swan whom you must first ask, for he is her care taker.”

Black Wolf turned to Emmett, who was already shaking his head before Black Wolf could open his mouth. “Don’t ask me, Black Wolf! I will not give you my permission!”

Bella frowned as she tried to pull away from him. “Emmett! Hear us out, please.”

Emmett turned to glare at her. “I didn’t go through all this trouble to free you just so you could stay here! I didn’t have enough to free Alice or Rosalie! How do you think they are going to feel seeing that you are free, but not them?”

“But I want to…”

“Isabella! As your older brother, you are my responsibility! Don’t argue with me!”

Black Wolf turned back to the elders. “It was my intention to ask for White Swan’s rights before she was freed. Had I known White Coyote was going to do this, I would have come earlier. Can you not allow me to…”


“We are sorry Black Wolf, it is not our decision anymore. You must take this up with Emmett Swan.” Wise Bear paused before glancing at Bella, then back to Black Wolf. With a compassionate look, since he was one of the ones who was not opposed to his young chief being with a slave, he said, “I am truly sorry, my son.”

Black Wolf turned to Bella with a helpless look on his face. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

“Emmett,” she pleaded, her voice cracking.

Emmett pursed his lips and turned to the council. “May we leave now?”

“Yes. The both of you should gather your belongings and be ready to journey within the hour. A couple of braves will escort you wherever you want to go.”

Emmett nodded, as he began to pull his sister out of the room.

Just before they left, Horse Dances spoke to Black Wolf. “Black Wolf, Little Pelican has approached us to ask that we grant him the right to hand-fast his daughter to you. While we have told him that you must be the one to give your consent, we believe that it would be a good match. One that will benefit not only you, but the tribe as a whole. You would do well to look to Brown Skunk instead.”

Some of the other council members nodded their assent while Bella’s gasp could be heard behind him.

Black Wolf literally gaped at the council. “What? I have no interest in her. You don’t understand, I had already talked to both Crow Flies and White Swan about this!”


“That may be, but as we said, there is no White Swan…”

Bella didn’t hear the rest of it as she was dragged outside by Emmett. They were a few feet away from the building when she finally managed to yank her arm out of his grip.

Glaring at him, she hissed, “How could you? You know I was happy here!”

“And you know I could never leave you behind! I promised ma and pa I would take care of you both and that is exactly what I’m doing!”

“I don’t need you to take care of me, Emmett!”

He gritted his teeth. “Look, it’s done okay. Now you heard them. We have one hour to get out of here and find someplace to stay before it gets dark.”

Bella glared at him. “You don’t even know where we are, do you?”

He sighed. “Just go get your stuff and meet me by the horses. I’ll think of something.”

Bella huffed before she turned on her heel and began to stalk away.

“Isabella,” Emmett called, making her turn to glare at him.

“What?” she snapped.

“Don’t take too long or I’m coming after you! I mean it Bella!”

She gritted her teeth and stalked away again, furious with Emmett for doing that to her. She should have known he would try to come between her and Black Wolf from the beginning, especially after the way he had gone on and on about the so-called heathens on the night they had welcomed Alice back. Still, she had tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, thinking maybe he would understand that she was a grown woman who could take care of herself.

As she continued to walk away, her anger turned to worry, then fear. She had heard what the council was trying to persuade Black Wolf to do. What if they gave him no choice? What if he had to marry Brown Skunk? Would he be able to resist their persistence? Would he even want to?

Her thoughts were in turmoil as she arrived at Crow Flies home where she found him, his wife, their two sons, their daughter and Squirrel Gathers, the other slave, waiting outside for her. As she reached them, Dragonfly Takes Flight pulled her into a hug.

“Crow Flies has told us what happened. I am happy that you will be with your family again, but sad to see you go.”

Bella hugged her back before moving away to look between her and Crow Flies. “I am sad too. You and your family have been so wonderful to me.”

Crow Flies hugged her quickly before ushering her inside. “Go ahead and gather your belongings. I am sure your brother is waiting for you.”

Bella nodded unhappily before heading inside to pack her things.

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Emmett walked into Black Wolf’s home to find Alice sitting in the front room looking lost. She started when she heard him enter, but a smile quickly spread when she realized it was him.

“Em! I-I was scared…no one was here…when I woke up!”

Emmett sighed at the timidity he heard in her voice. He knew that Alice wasn’t going to take this well, but it had to be done. He knelt down in front of her as he put his hands on her shoulders.

“Listen Alice, I went to the council today to buy our freedom and Rose’s too, but the council would only let me and one other person go with the earnings I had. So I chose Bella.”

Alice’s eyes went wide. “B-Bella? So….so you and Bella are,” her voice caught as tears welled up in already red-rimmed eyes. “…you’re leaving me here?”

“Ali…”

“You’re leaving me!” she cried as the tears flowed freely down her face.

Emmett shook his head. “No, it’s not what you think little sister! I am just going to go find a place to stay, then get some more goods so I can come back and get you and Rosalie free!”

As Alice continued to cry, Emmett pulled her into a tight hug. “Alice, I promise! I will be back for you as soon as I get the money, okay?”

She clung to him desperately, but he felt her nod even as he felt her tears soaking his jerkin. Emmett continued to hold her, rocking her gently as he tried to think of where to go. Suddenly he remembered the trapper Bella had introduced him to. Jasper was a good friend of Bella’s who lived in a cabin not too far away.

Pulling his little sister away so that he could cup her face in his hands, he smiled down at her. “Listen Alice, I won’t be far away okay? There’s this man who has a cabin not too far from here. Bella and I are going to go stay with him. His name is Jasper and he comes to this place often to trade with the heathens.”

“H-How do you….do you know you can stay with him?”

“He’s good friends with Bella. I know he’ll let us stay with him for a while since she told me that he said she could visit him when she wanted to. I’ll ask him to come see you often and you can give him messages for me. I’ll do the same okay? But you won’t be alone, Alice. Rosalie is here and I know she’ll come see you too.”

Slowly she nodded even though the tears continued to fall freely. “O-okay.”

He gave her another hug before letting her go. “I’ve got to get my things together, then go to meet Bella. I’ll try to get Jasper to come see you tomorrow, that way you’ll know we’re there. I promise Alice, I won’t leave you here for long.”

She nodded and wiped the tears away with the backs of her hands while Emmett rose to go gather his things. A few moments later, she followed behind him and stood aside to watch him finish packing.

Neither of them were aware that someone had overheard their short conversation. Someone stood silently just outside of the entrance the way he had been trained since childhood. Now, as Emmett was busy inside packing, Mountain Lion Guides quietly backed away before going to search for his friend to tell him what he had heard.

It was fate that Mountain Lion Guides had decided to swing by Black Wolf’s home, to see if the warrior wanted to walk to the council building together. It allowed him to hear what the pale-face’s plans were for him and his sister once they left the village. Mountain Lion Guides knew this was just more information he had to tell his friend about, in the hopes that it would help to bring White Swan and Black Wolf together again.

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“Do you think the council will talk to Black Wolf today, Brown Skunk?” asked Spotted Bat as the two girls sat in the shade, watching the council building.

Brown Skunk flipped her hair over her shoulder, looking bored. “Well of course they will! Father said they would persuade him as soon as he returned from the raid. He has returned and now he is with the council. What else would they have to talk to him about?”

Spotted Bat giggled. “Nothing else, I guess. Now that White Swan is out of the way, there is nothing left for you to worry about.”


“That’s true! I can’t believe the pale-face came through! After everything we went through to help him raise the bounty he needed to free her! He almost didn’t do it in time!” huffed Brown Skunk.

“Well, I’m sure that extra little bit you managed to give him before he left for the raid helped too!”


“Yes! Especially since that awful Badger Snaps was too much of a coward to stand up to Black Wolf and take what he wanted!”


“Hm, I’m still not sure he really wanted that white slave.”

Brown Skunk tsked. “Of course Badger Snaps wanted her! You saw how he was always making lewd remarks towards her or following her around!” She suddenly grinned wickedly. “However, it was Black Wolf he would have had to go up against…and we all know just how much of a brave and powerful warrior Black Wolf is.”

Spotted Bat giggled. “He is the bravest and most powerful warrior in the tribe!”

Brown Skunk’s eyes narrowed in on the council building. “Yes…and he will be mine.”

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Whale Sings quietly slipped away from the side of the wall she had been hugging as she listened to the two scheming girls. They had been too focused on their conversation while staring at the council building to notice that Whale Sings had been approaching. When she realized what they were talking about, she backtracked to take shelter against the house wall so they couldn’t see her.

Now that she had heard the majority of the conversation, she knew that she had to tell White Swan what her brother had done with Brown Skunk. If she couldn’t find White Swan, she would go to Black Wolf or one of his friends in an effort to get the truth heard. There was no way she would let Brown Skunk get away with her treachery, especially not after the vindictive witch had nearly ruined her reputation just because she was friendly towards White Swan.

It had taken some time for Whale Sings to convince her parents that Brown Skunk’s accusations were false, but she had finally been able to promise her parents that she would never break the laws of the tribe. She had made them understand that she would remain pure until the day she finally became hand-fasted.

Yes, Brown Skunk would pay for all of the pain and humiliation Whale Sings had gone through. She would soon feel the same things she had made Whale Sings feel.