No one will ever dare to mock the Khota again.”
“Everyone mocks the Khota,” Black Skull rasped, squaring his massive shoulders, heedless of the blood dripping from his swollen and lacerated arms. “A few skulls on the wall will not change that.” He braced himself, standing tall and strong, and Star Shell couldn’t imagine how he managed it. “Killing Khota is like killing rabbits in a catgh pen!”
“Not rabbits … ” Otter’s face had frozen into his charming Trader grin. He had cautiously moved away from Black Skull, working to the left, so that he and Pearl and Black Skull created a perfect triangle. “More like netting fish. Rabbits at least have the sense to run, but build a little fire and the Khota come swarming like whitefish to a torch. Just so you can dart them!”
Star Shell glanced around. Silver Water was gone. And with her, the Mask. She shot a glance at Pearl. The woman looked like an enraged she-bear, ready to take on anything to save her litter of cubs.
And I’ve become one of her cubs. If she can offer herself to save me—a woman she doesn’t even know—then … Star Shell closed her eyes, saying a small prayer, inhaling a deep breath. If felt good to be alive. She couldn’t deny that, despite everything. An ironic smile touched her lips. She clasped her hands before her, making a tight fist, then spun around, slamming an elbow into the gut of the man behind her.
He gasped and staggered backward in shock. Everyone turned in her direction, including Pearl, who had an alarmed expression on her face.
“Let the men go!” Star Shell shouted, walking to stand near Black Skull. “Pearl and I both challenge you, Wolf of the Dead!
What do you say, male worm? Can you stand to be laughed at by two women? Or is it enough to be scorned by just one?”
“What are you doing, Star Shell?” Black Skull asked, his voice tremulous, as though he could barely find the breath to speak. “This isn’t your fight!”
“I have my reasons. Besides, you were willing to Trade yourself for me. Grant me the dignity—” “Enough of this!” Wolf of the Dead shouted. He squinted, studying Star Shell in the translucent gleam of sunset. “You are most beautiful. Who are you?”
“I am Star Shell, of the Starsky Clan,” she declared. Her knees had begun to shake so badly that she feared she might not be able to go through with this. “I am the daughter of the terrible High Head Magician, Tall Man. Sister of Pale Snake, the Serpent Society sorcerer. You ask who I am, Khota? I am your death]”
Star Shell forced her feet to take two steps forward so that she stared up into Wolf of the Dead’s ugly face. “My husband hung himself from the clan house ceiling, and his body was burned as a suicide! Shall I call him?”
Wolf of the Dead’s jaw muscles slackened. Fear glittered at the corners of his eyes, and Star Shell smiled. He flinched when she reached up and ran her fingers along the side of his cheek.
Then she extended her arms wide and yelled at the sky: “Mica Bird! Come! I call to you, my husband. Arise and come! These Khota worms want to see you!”
“Stop!” Wolf of the Dead struck her in the face.
Star Shell staggered. With great deliberation, she spit in his face.
“You shrew!” This time he drove a fist into her cheek.”
Star Shell landed hard on the ground, gasping for breath, fighting the sickness in her belly. The blow had left her head spinning. His warriors broke into a riot of laughter and hoots, slapping their thighs in approval.
Black Skull bent down to pick her up, defying the pain that had to be screaming in his mangled arms. “What are you doing?” he said softly. “I didn’t save you just so the Khota could kill you for insolence.” She whispered, “Silver Water escaped. I’m buying time for my daughter.” And she was, among other things.
Black Skull’s brows lifted. “You’re as bad as the rest of us.
Now, if we only knew where the fool went.”
“The fool?”
“A Contrary. His name is Green Spider. It was his Vision that brought us here.”
The Khota had started the fire. Wood crackled and shot out wreaths of sparks as the flames leaped higher. Otter had advanced, only to have a club-wielding Khota gesture him back.
The Trader pointed at Wolf of the Dead. “Before this is done, I’m going to kill you, filth. I promise.”
“Kill me?” Wolf of the Dead laughed, exposing the gap of his missing teeth.
“I owe you,” Otter insisted. “Twice!”
Wolf of the Dead slapped the Trader with all of his strength; the blow snapped Otter’s head sideways.
“Who are these Khota?” Star Shell asked as she watched Wolf of the Dead turn away from the Trader and begin conversing with his subordinate, the one with the bear-tooth necklace.