People of the Fire(161)

She looked around, frantic, trying to figure how she'd lost the advantage, seeing confusion in the faces of her people. To them, the request couldn't seem to be the underlying threat it was.

With hatred in her eyes, she returned her hot stare to his. He relished her sudden confusion. Yes, through this, he'd broken her hold. How delicious! He hadn't lost his power to manipulate the people. She'd refuse—he could see it in her eyes—and it would erode her position. Granted, his wouldn't be strengthened, but he'd saved himself from disaster.

"You know"—her voice came almost wistfully— “you've succeeded in dividing the Red Hand again, breaking up what I've worked so hard to make one."

He spread his hands innocently. “I only came to ask a woman I thought was worthy of the Wolf Bundle to take her share. True, I had to test you in the beginning, see it you were strong enough. You passed that test. To turn your back on the people now, well, I just can't imagine you—"

“You . . . you maggotl"

Taking a foolish risk, he slapped her, hearing cries from the people. No dart landed in his broad back, assuring him for the moment that he'd carried the argument.

Careful, you fool! Some of these idiots owe her their lives. Push it now, before she recovers. Use the Wolf Bundle against them!

“So that's what you really think? The Keeper of the Wolf Bundle is a maggot?" He looked around, seeing that for the moment he'd shocked Tanager beyond responding. She K at her hand, pulling it back from a bloody lip.

“You see, my people. She's given you spirit. She's been cunning, yes. But anyone who insults the Power of the Wolf Bundle like she just did—well, can we allow ourselves to be led by her likes?" That's it, play on their foolish attachment to the Wolf Bundle. Build on it! He held it up, waving if and forth in the firelight as night deepened.

The resistance in people's eyes drained away as they looked up at the Wolf Bundle. For this moment, he should have cleaned it up a little. Maybe put some new paint on the scuffed and worn hide. Still, some hesitated, staring back and forth between Tanager and the Bundle he held high.

"Don't be fooled!" Tanager cried.

"If you would hesitate," Blood Bear continued, "think about this. Why has the Wolf Bundle stayed with me through the years? Hmm? Bundles have Power." Or so you fools think. "Are there any of you who would betray your loyalty to the Bundle in favor of Tanager's claims?"

And he had them! The last holdouts licked their lips or lowered their eyes in confusion.

"Think!" Tanager cried. "Think about what we've done! You, Fat Elk, you, Tall Fir, or you, Green Snake, remember the times I've changed the course of a fight? Who Dances her Power as she drives the Short Buffalo from the land? Will you turn your back on that?" She wheeled, fire in her eye. "I ask you, Blood Bear, how many of the Short Buffalo People you've driven from the land this last year! Count them!"

"More than you can imagine," he told her smugly. "Tell me, Tanager. Who do you think Dreamed your Power? Hmm? Did it just come out of the air?"

"White Calf!" she cried, raising an old atlatl in a defiant fist.

"White Calf?" He laughed yet again and slapped his side, "Did it ever occur to you that maybe the reason you drove all those enemy away, Danced your fight so well, was because I—yes, I was using the Wolf Bundle to give you that Power?"

Her mouth opened as she shook her head in disbelief.

Use it! Use it now! He turned, lifting the Wolf Bundle high. "Yes! I did it! Her Power, her strength, comes from the Wolf Bundle! Think, people! Think hard! What is the Power our fathers left us? What's the Power of First Man? This is!" He shook the Wolf Bundle in a clenched fist. "And with it, I've Dreamed all of your courage."

He turned, seeing reason leaving Tanager's eyes. Good, goad her just a little more, and she'd attack him. Then he'd have justification to break her once and for all. Drive her insane with anger, loose that uncontrolled emotion, and she'd condemn herself.

"So I’ve come, people, because I could see that Tanager wasn't capable of leading you. She's too involved with her own delusions of Power—without the control a war leader should possess. The Wolf Bundle told me she'd fooled herself with the image of Power. She was false to the Wolf Bundle! She refused to recognize the source of her Power and gave credit instead to some witch—who came from the enemy in the first placel

“Yet I thought I could help, come to test her and offer to make her my wife that I might teach her the true Power of her people! That's what I came here to do!

“Now she spits on the will of the Wolf Bundle! But I've seen. I've heard the voice of the Wolf Bundle. It's told me to save the Red Hand before it's too late!"