People of the Black Sun(44)
All of Zateri’s life, Grandmother had trained her to understand the role of the Wolf Clan ohwachiras. They had power because of them. Ohwachiras possessed and bestowed chieftainship titles, and held the other great names of their lineages. They bestowed those names by raising up the souls of the dead and Requickening them in the bodies of newly elected chiefs, adoptees, matrons, or others. The ohwachira also had the right to remove a soul, and take back the name from anyone who disgraced it. The nation’s sisterhood of ohwachiras also decided when to go to war, and when to make peace.
Zateri finished the opening, “I pray that Great Grandmother Earth hears our voices and guides us in our decisions for the good of all things, great and small. I would speak first, if there are no objections.”
The matrons shook their heads, and glanced at their war chiefs.
Three paces behind Kwahseti, her War Chief, Thona, crouched, waiting to be called upon should the council find it necessary. Three paces behind Gwinodje, her War Chief, Waswanosh, stood with his arms folded tightly across his broad chest. Hiyawento had not moved, but he’d lifted his head to listen.
Zateri smoothed her hands over her white cape and squared her narrow shoulders. “Let me speak straightly, I need to know how you think your lineages view Matron Kelek’s ascension to the position of High Matron of our nation.”
Usually, upon a High Matron’s death, the oldest female in her direct line underwent the Requickening ceremony, received the dead High Matron’s name, and—if the former High Matron had so specified—was installed not only as the new matron of the entire clan, but also as the High Matron of the Hills nation. However, during the last meeting of the Wolf Clan ohwachiras, where Tila had presented the possibility of Zateri following her, there had been objections. Unfortunately, Tila had died without making her final successor known. Regardless of who was selected as High Matron, there should have been no question but that the High Matron would come from one of the Wolf Clan ohwachiras, which meant that Zateri, Inawa, or Yi should have ascended to the position. No one understood yet what Chief Atotarho had done to assure that the Wolf Clan would be replaced by the Bear Clan in Atotarho Village, but he’d obviously made some kind of “arrangement.”
Kwahseti shoved short gray hair away from her eyes. “The leader of my lineage, Yi, must be livid. The Wolf Clan has led the nation well for more than thirty summers. To have the Bear Clan suddenly assume leadership is an outrage.”
Zateri waited for her to continue. When she didn’t, Zateri said, “Gwinodje?”
Gwinodje had been staring at her fingers, lacing and unlacing them in her lap. She and Zateri were both small-boned and childlike. “I think Inawa, the leader of my lineage, must be deeply troubled. She will suspect foul play on Atotarho’s part. I imagine she is wondering what kind of deal was struck between Kelek and Atotarho to accomplish the task. Everyone knows the Wolf Clan is the largest and most powerful clan in the nation. By all rights, a woman from one of our lineages should have ascended to the High Matronship.”
Zateri’s short black hair hung at chin level, shining at the corners of her vision. “Since Yi and Inawa both live in Atotarho Village, what sort of repercussions have there been?”
Kwahseti snorted. “Repercussions? I imagine Yi is on a rampage, organizing our lineage for a political campaign to overturn Kelek’s ascension. Things must be getting ugly between the clans.”
Zateri looked across the fire.
Gwinodje’s thin heart-shaped face tensed. She thought about it, before quietly answering, “Zateri, you know that Inawa objected heartily to having you follow your grandmother. She knew that if your grandmother did not appoint you, her own lineage would assume the leadership of the Wolf Clan. Inawa would have become High Matron of the nation. She must be stalking about like a stiff-legged dog. In fact, I imagine her indignation enlivens every conversation in Atotarho Village.”
Zateri took a moment to glance at Thona and Waswanosh, judging the war chiefs’ expressions. Both appeared to be analyzing the information.
Zateri said, “As we are all aware, my appointment as High Matron of our faction of the Hills People is temporary. Once we have melded our villages with Canassatego Village, every ohwachira will have a chance to speak with its members about who they wish for High Matron. Until then I plan to—”
“But, Mother,” Kahn-Tineta said with a sleepy yawn and opened her eyes. She rolled over in Hiyawento’s arms to stare at the matrons’ council.
Zateri turned to look at her daughter. Black tangles framed her pretty young face. “My daughter, we are in council. Perhaps your question could wait—”