When she finally tugged him out of the circle, it was to drop, panting and exhausted, among some of the Spotted Loon people.
These were Elders, smiling, offering bowls of food. Pearl dipped up sweet pounded nuts and, yes, even a roasted chunk of meat was handed to her.
“You got your prize!” Otter cried, the smile still living on his lips.
She savored the juicy meat, and admired him. The strong lines of-his face had softened in the firelight. His straight nose and strong brow had flushed with the exertion of the Dance. His head still bobbed in time with the people who shuffled and hopped past them.
“Quite a night,” Otter said happily, his hands tracing down her arms as he pulled her close. “The Contrary did this, turned it into a celebration.”
Pearl swallowed the last of the meat and licked her’fingers.
“Better that than allowing Tall Fisher to talk about the Mask.”
“He did that rather well, didn’t he? Maybe I should have let Black Skull pull his arms and legs off back there on the river.
He might have told us more about this insane venture.”
Pearl settled back against Otter, feeling the warmth of him penetrating her shirt. Otter’s expression had gone grim.
She jabbed an elbow into his ribs. “Stop thinking like that.
Whatever it is that Green Spider didn’t want us to hear tonight, he’ll tell us when the time is right. He doesn’t have a conniving bone in his body. You know that.”
“Yes. That I know.”
Pearl closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of Otter’s arms around her. Nearby, a girl giggled and . young man laughed. Youth was meant for young lovers.
She freed herself from Otter’s arms and pulled him up, saying, “Come on. Walk with me.”
She held his hand as she led him past the houses and down into the shadowed darkness of the trees.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“How should I know? I’ve never been here before. Are you coming, or do I go alone?”
“I’m coming.” And his arm went around her shoulder. They matched step as they followed the dark scar of a path that wound along the forest floor.
“Otter, when this is over, I think I want to go south again.” He walked quietly and then said, “All right. We might even be able to beat the weather. Downriver is always faster than up.” A pause. “Where would we go?”
She shrugged under his arm. “Somewhere with a swamp, some alligators, a little hanging moss, and warm winter evenings.”
“Alligator Clan? Or is that too close to the Anhinga?” .
She sighed. “It’s always going to be difficult, isn’t it?”
“It usually looks more difficult from afar than close up.”
They broke out of the trees and onto another of the rounded knolls. The whole country seemed to be made of rolling hills.
Fire had cleared this one—perhaps a fire from a lightning strike, since the rise appeared taller than the others. From the height, they could survey most of the surrounding country in the slanted light of the crescent moon.
“I hope you’re right.” She led him to the top of the knoll and stopped to stare southward, following the stars to the place where her home should have been. “I had a wonderful life down there.”
“Can I ask … ” he started uncertainly, “… why would they Trade you off like goods?”
“No one wanted me.” She pulled him down, snuggling under his arm and hugging him close. “Among the Anhinga, a woman has responsibilities. I turned my back on them.”
“You’re a beautiful woman. I should have gone after you the first time I saw you.”
She reached up to stroke his face. “Your heart was in a different place then. Are you sure you’ve made peace with that?”
“She’s my brother’s wife.”
“And what am I?”
An owl hooted in the trees, and a faint breeze stirred the leaves.
“The woman I love,” he said softly.
She ran her hands along his arm, her fingers tracing the swelling muscles. She could feel him tremble, and that stirred the warmth within her. “I’m afraid we’ll be riding out one storm after another, Otter.”
“I think I’d like that.” Slowly, gently, his hand smoothed her breast. “I don’t want to … I mean … “
“I’m not afraid, Otter.”
“That’s right, you and Trout … “
“No, we didn’t. I couldn’t, Otter.” She smiled up at his shadowed face. “That night I wanted arms around me. The problem was, I wanted your arms around me.”
“You don’t know how close I came to … I was storming down the beach, and Green Spider saved me. I’d have made a real fool of myself.”