“Are you all right?” Towa asked. He gazed at Hiyawento in concern. “You just made an agonized sound.”
“Sorry. I…” He took a breath and held it for a few heartbeats. “I was thinking about last spring. We made maple sugar candy in Coldspring Village.”
“Yes, we did in Riverbank Village, as well. I know for a fact that the Landing People didn’t have a chance to. Mountain raiders tapped all their trees long before they could get to them.”
To Hiyawento’s right, he glimpsed a tall man striding between huts, heading straight for them, his short black hair flapping over his high cheekbones.
As he trotted up, Sky Messenger said, “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
He embraced Hiyawento and for the first time in days, Hiyawento smiled in true happiness. He pounded his friend’s back. “It’s good to see you. I’ve been worried. We’ve spent half our time dodging war parties.”
“Me, too.”
When they separated, Hiyawento said, “We should probably paint your face, before we try to—”
“No, not me.” Sky Messenger turned abruptly to embrace Towa. “Gods, it’s good to see you.”
“And you, my friend.”
Then Sky Messenger looked from Towa to Hiyawento and his smile faded. “Tell me everyone made it safely to Canassatego Village.”
“Yes,” Hiyawento answered, “though Canassatego was attacked shortly after they arrived. But that’s a long story for another time. It will be dark soon.”
Sky Messenger’s eyes shifted to the village gates. “We have more important duties.”
Towa sternly said, “All right, listen to me, both of you. Let me do the talking. Sky Messenger, until you reveal yourself, I will introduce you as my new assistant, Odion. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly.” He nodded.
“All right. Follow me and act obsequious, like you worship me.”
Towa walked up to the gates and cupped a hand to his mouth. “Towa, the greatest Trader in the land, requests entry to Shookas Village!”
Laughter ran down the catwalks, and a man with a shaved scalp leaned over to look down at them. Tattoos covered his face, including a spiral on the tip of his long nose. “Towa! You’re back sooner than we thought. Who are these men with you?”
“My new assistants, Wrass and Odion, both are from the Standing Stone nation. I am training them in the great and noble art of Trading.”
“And what worthless trinkets have you brought this time?”
“Many worthless trinkets, Nokweh! You will be amazed and delighted by the price I ask, I assure you!”
“Oh, yes,” the man said doubtfully. “I’m sure I will.” He signaled to someone Hiyawento couldn’t see, and said, “The gates will be open shortly.”
Towa grinned up. “I’m glad to see you alive, Deputy War Chief. I feared you’d fallen to the—”
“I’m War Chief now, Towa. Our former War Chief is traveling the Path of Souls.” Grief twisted the man’s bony face.
“Ah,” Towa said sadly. “I will miss him. Did the fever take him?”
“No. The Mountain People have been ravaging our country, killing anyone they can. Our women and children are afraid to go out to fill pots at the river for fear that they’ll be ambushed by the vile beasts. Our former War Chief fought to his last breath to protect his people; he fell to one of their arrows.”
Towa glanced back at the huts that extended for as far as they could see. “Is that why so many people are camped around Shookas? Are these all refugees from destroyed villages?”
“A few survivors ran here from Agweron Village. The others are not refugees. Three days ago our scouts reported a huge Mountain army on the move. We assumed they would be coming here to finish us for good. Decanasora Village and Elehana Village chose to abandon their homes and move here to consolidate our forces. It makes strategy easier.”
“Strategy?”
“Yes, my friend. Haven’t you heard? It’s the news of the camps. We are organizing the largest army in the history of our People. Apparently the Mountain army was not on its way here, but headed elsewhere. That means their villages are poorly defended. We are going to attack and annihilate every Mountain village in the land.”
Towa gave Nokweh a pained nod. “I’m sure you will, too. Landing warriors are the best in the world.”
Nokweh glanced to his left, and said, “Get ready. The guards are opening the gates.”
“We thank you!” Towa lifted a hand again.
The gates swung open and Towa, Hiyawento, and Sky Messenger passed by the guards with respectful nods, and walked out into the crowded plaza.