“Will you and your warriors swear an oath of loyalty to the Standing Stone nation?”
He glanced down at his people. Many of them were staring at him, talking in low voices. “That, Matron, would be treason. Of course not.”
“Your warriors do not consider themselves traitors already? I’m fairly certain the Hills Ruling Council does.”
“Which Hills Ruling Council?” he countered.
She tilted her head. “Ah. I see.”
“Do you? Let me explain so that I’m certain we understand each other. We did not turn against our nation. We turned against Atotarho. So far as we are concerned, we follow the rightful leader of the People of the Hills, his daughter, High Matron Zateri.”
Down in the plaza five people started a round dance, their arms around each other’s waists. As though nothing was wrong in the world, their voices rose in song. One man kept stumbling, laughing.
The sight left her hollow. Were they still so flushed from yesterday’s “victory” that they thought themselves invincible?
As though reading the tracks of her souls, Sindak said, “I’m sure you’ve heard the same things I have, but just in case you haven’t, your villagers are saying that it doesn’t matter if Atotarho attacks again, because Sky Messenger will protect the Standing Stone nation.”
“I’ve heard that foolishness, yes.”
“Is it foolishness?” Sindak propped an elbow on the palisade and searched her face.
“You can’t believe that. He’s just one man.”
“True, but I was there when he called the storm. I saw it crash down over the hill, sweeping my army from the battlefield—”
“And every other army,” she added.
Curiosity lit Sindak’s eyes. “You don’t believe he called the storm?”
“What I believe is that he is right about this Peace Alliance. That is enough for me.”
A confused smile creased his lean face. “I wouldn’t let that get around, if I were you. If his own mother does not believe—”
“I believe in peace, Sindak,” she replied in a firm voice.
The breeze tousled his hood around his face. “I remember the loathsome tone in your former husband’s voice when he used to call you a Peacemaker. It still turns my blood cold.”
“Well, Gonda has changed.”
“Haven’t we all?” Sindak frowned at the dancers. As the firelight fluttered in the wind, it cast the shadow of his beaked nose across his cheek. “If we were traitors why would we have volunteered to stay and help protect your villages? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It does if Atotarho specifically instructed you to turn against us during the next battle.”
“Oh,” he breathed, “now I understand. We are to commit suicide for our chief while killing as many of you as we can?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Maybe. It would help if you told me what you expect to get out of this arrangement, Sindak. Why are you here?” To leaven the tension a little, she asked, “You’re not still smitten with me, are you?”
His lips quirked. “That was a long time ago, but I have never been ‘smitten’ with you. It was undying love. I was a silly youth.”
She chuckled.
His head dropped forward until his chin rested on his chest. He had a thoughtful expression. “What do I expect to get? I haven’t thought that far ahead. And I’m exhausted. Perhaps we should discuss this later in the morning, after we’ve both had a chance to—”
“No, now. Tell me what you hope to gain?”
He lifted his head, and his jaw went hard in annoyance. She could see his teeth grinding. “You remember that I’m a Hills warrior, correct? Maybe you should explain your perspective on the command structure here. Do you think I take orders from you?”
“You’d better.”
He actually laughed, and they smiled at each other. “All right. Let me try to force my foggy souls to think.” He paused for a long while, before saying, “First, I want Atotarho dead, and the People of the Hills reunited with Zateri as High Matron of all our people. Next, I want peace throughout the land, as you do. Beyond those things, I have no idea.” He shoved away from the palisade. “And now, I am off to find my blanket.” He strode down the catwalk.
She called, “Tell me one last thing?”
He turned. “What?”
“Where is Atotarho? Why don’t we see his campfires out there? Our scouts haven’t returned.”
Firelight reflected in his dark eyes. “I’ve been wondering the same thing. My guess is that he’s on the trail.”