People of the Lakes(49)
“Catfish, quite naturally, flew into a rage and stormed down to Sun Mounds to exact a fair retribution. Mica Bird offered to meet him in the clan house—alone. Except it would seem that when Catfish entered, your husband was wearing the Mask.
“Hear this, woman. Two of your clansmen dumped the body out in the snow, where Woodpecker found it, half chewed by wolves.”
“You don’t want to go to war,” Tall Man insisted.-
“Pardon me, respected Elder, but why not?” Robin demanded.
“Do the High Heads expect us to live like this? To be treated like camp dogs? Kicked around and murdered at Mica Bird’s pleasure?”
“Indeed not.” Tall Man rotated to dry his front again.
Steam was rising off his backside. The effect made the little Elder appear as magical as his name. “However, members of the venerable Blue Duck Clan, consider what you will start.
This is not some border skirmish between one clan and another over pilfered storage pits, or slighted pride. You seek a blood vengeance that will rip the valley apart. And then what?
This cannot be brought to a conclusion before midsummer at the earliest. What will you do? Retreat to the hilltops? Live behind the clan fortifications? Do you have enough provisions to see you through? How long, can you live in the snow up there? When will you plant your fields? As this drags out, the Traders will avoid you.”
“Then what do you counsel, respected Elder?” Robin asked, raising an uncompromising, eyebrow.
“I will deal with Mica Bird.”
Incredulous stares centered on Tall Man.
“You?” Robin smiled at the absurdity. “Honorable Magician, we know your reputation, but in all seriousness … “
The Magician’s expression changed for the first time as he fastened a gleaming stare on Robin. Perhaps it was a trick of the firelight, but he seemed to grow, his eyes expanding into
great, luminous orbs. “Do you always judge a man by his size, young Robin?”
The burly man stepped back a pace, his flat features losing some of their color. “No, Elder.” Then he took a deep breath.
“But let us say that you do punish Mica Bird. That still doesn’t solve our problem. Someone else from the Shining Bird Clan will pick up the Mask and look through it. It will all begin again.
We’ve dealt with Mica Bird, and before that, his grandfather.
Now it’s our turn.”
Tall Man fingered his shriveled chin as he pondered the warrior’s words. “I see. And I suppose the other clans would like the Mask, too?”
“I cannot speak for the other clans.” Robin’s answer was plain enough. All of the clans along the Moonshell had seen the Power granted by the Mask. Everyone would be entertaining the same thoughts as Robin.
Tall Man smiled easily. “Yes, young Robin, I think we’re in agreement. The Shining Bird Clan has had the Mask long enough for one people. Let us see what we can do about that.”
“And her?” Robin pointed a finger at Star Shell.
“Oh, she’s on our side. Believe me.”
Robin spun on the ball of his foot, his fist clenched at Star Shell. “What about your clan obligations? What about your responsibility to your husband? How do you answer that, woman?”
Star Shell forced herself to stiffen. “I was born of the Starsky Clan, man of the Blue Duck. As you well know, I was Starsky before I married Mica Bird. Catfish’s son wasn’t the first person Mica Bird beat and degraded. My husband practiced on me. I have my own reasons to hate him.”
Robin’s stare pierced her, measuring. From deep inside, she forced herself to remember the empty eyes of the Mask— watching as Mica Bird ripped away the blanket and beat her naked body until she gasped in surrender.
She could feel his hard hands as he rolled her over, driving a knee between her legs. Then the pain as he drove himself mercilessly inside, grunting as he took her.
Her anger rose in response. Yes, the time had come for her to do something about Mica Bird—and that accursed Mask.
Robin nodded, a reluctant acceptance in his eyes. “Very well, Star Shell of the Starsky Clan. We take your word … for the moment. But remember, the time for retribution has come. If you betray us, if you won’t help us get the Mask, we’ll remember.
And if that happens, you’ll wish I’d ordered your death here, tonight. I promise you that.”
Black Skull couldn’t shake the sense of impending disaster—
and it was all Green Spider’s fault.
Sunlight flickered in dazzling silver beams from the wind choppy water as Black Skull continued to throw his weight into the paddle. His canoe shot forward with the speed of a thrown dart, while in the canoe following him, Three Eagles struggled at the end of his endurance to match the pace.