When the Khota came paddling up to raid, the Six Flutes’ warriors sent the Khota right back down river—with about half as many paddlers, I might add.”
“Then these warriors have Power?”
“It’s not so much that they have Power. It’s that … well, there’re a lot of them. Most of the men are warriors as well as farmers. They work as a practiced team in a fight. The people come together for the ceremonials, like we do. Part of that time is dedicated to war training. The rest is for games, feasts, prayers and offerings, but they do practice war. The War Societies ensure that.”
“Perhaps we should do it that way.”
“We could never make it work. They have powerful societies that cross clan boundaries. Think of it like a piece of cloth. The clans might be thought of as the warp and the societies the weft.
Together, they hold the Serpent Clans together. If the leader of a society orders something, the people within that society do what they are told. Here, if a clan leader asks something, the people talk about it for a while, then half of them do it and the other half don’t.”
“Who makes the Serpent Clans take orders?” Black Skull asked.
“Men like you. Men initiated into the society and who make sure that its rules are followed.” The Trader paused thoughtfully.
“In the case of the Warrior Society in the Moonshell
valley, it’s a man by the name of Robin. I can’t remember which clan he belongs to, but he’s been initiated, tested, and proven. Through courage and dedication, he’s been given the leadership of that society. Except in unusual circumstances, any warrior will follow his orders—no matter what clan he belongs to.”
Black Skull nodded, looking out over the river. “A lot could be said for such a way of doing things.” “I thought you called them wild.”
“They probably are.” Black Skull studied the Trader from the corner of his eye. “You might be telling me this to trick me. You, and the fool.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Traders are born to trickery.”
“And you, warrior?”
“I was born to discipline and order.” Otter paused for a moment. “You don’t like Green Spider, do you?”
“I can’t believe Power would work this way. I don’t approve of it. I didn’t approve of coming here. We passed four war canoes on the river. If they’d wanted to hurt the Elders, I couldn’t have stopped them. Now I’m expected to leave here— and who will guard the Elders on their way back to the City of the Dead?”
“Four Kills and the White Shell Clan.”
“Four Kills may have fought bravely once, but he doesn’t have my skill. Nothing must happen to the Clan Elders. It would reflect on me.”
Otter frowned slightly. “Warrior, I don’t know what to tell you. It seems that Green Spider—and his Vision—have changed our lives. As of yesterday, your duty lies with the Contrary.”
“And yours, Trader?”
“I’m a Trader. That’s what I do. This is just another form of Trade. Along with my other goods, I carry you and Green Spider.
“You make it sound easy.”
Otter’s facile smile grew. “A journey is never as easy as you would hope, warrior, and it is often more difficult than you ever believed it would be.”
Black Skull growled to himself. “Now you sound like the fool.” He paused. “What about this Vision? Do you believe it?
I saw the lightning strike, found the Clan Elders as they pulled Green Spider from the burning temple. I could feel the Power … but was it there to enlighten Green Spider, or just to kill him? The latter would seem more likely. Unfortunately, he survived despite the Mysterious One’s efforts.”
Otter made a helpless gesture. “I’ve met Contraries before, Black Skull. I’ve met the Anhinga, Fell Through the Sky, and one in the Ilini territories—but I was allowed to see each of them only once. They are considered very holy. It is said that Contraries see things more clearly than other Holy Ones untouched by their truth. I know only enough to have recognized what Green Spider became.”
“Oh, just wait until you sit in the same canoe with him.”
Black Skull shook his head. “He has become very simple. Like a child. He had no right to risk the Clan Elders.”
Otter gave him a curious inspection. “Do you question the ways of Power, warrior?”
Black Skull snorted his derision. “Not in the slightest, Trader.
I know what I am. Power made me that. Green Spider is different.
He was becoming a great Dreamer. A Healer who could make people well. This last time, when he went to Dream the solstice, it was to seek Power to Dream the rains and see the future.” Black Skull ground his poorly occluded teeth. “And look what happened to him. He came back a fool!”