“I’m listening. Tell your story.”
Hanging Star smiled. “You are sure? You won’t be angry? The last one of her lovers that I tried to forewarn offered to slit my throat for me.”
“I am not like her other lovers.”
“Aren’t you?” Hanging Star peered at Beaverpaw speculatively.
Beaverpaw looked up. “Perhaps I will slit your throat—but not because of your silly stories.”
Hanging Star guffawed and slapped the ground. “Oh, I like you, Beaverpaw. Very well, then. I shall tell you one of my ‘silly’ stories.” He braced himself on one elbow. “I met Dark Rain ten summers ago, in Standing Hollow Horn Clan’s spring village. She was trying to catch Cottonmouth’s attention, but he would have nothing to do with her. I, on the other hand, appreciate beauty. And since she offered herself for such a small price, two conch shell horns, I accepted.”
Hanging Star plucked a stem of grass and put it in his mouth, and appeared to be thinking about those days. The lechery showed on his face.
Beaverpaw sat so still that his gray chert scraper caught the gleam of sunlight and held it like a clamshell mirror. Only the faded fabric over his broad chest moved with the rise and fall of his angry breathing.
Beaverpaw put his scraper down. He said, “I don’t know much about her, except she is of my wife’s clan, but I do not care what she’s done—”
“Your wife!” Hanging Star roared, slapping his thigh. “So you are her adulterous lover! This gets better and better! Go on!”
Beaverpaw lowered his gaze to his growing pile of stone tools. His jaw set. “I have been married to Waterbearer for ten-and-five summers, and in all that time, I rarely saw Dark Rain. She spent most of her life out wandering about. When she did return, she always stirred controversy. I never knew what to think of her—except that she was exciting.”
“Well, I won’t deny that,” Hanging Star agreed. “How many children do you have?”
“Seven.”
. Hanging Star chuckled again, this time low and disparagingly. “No wonder she wanted you so badly. What a prize! War Leader, and married with children. I do not think she has ever won a lover like you, Beaverpaw. Most of her ‘friends’ are worthless scavengers unfit for decent company. But you! Ha! She must feel as Powerful as Sister Moon!” Hanging Star moved his head closer to Beaverpaw, and whispered, “Tell me. How did she do it?”
“Do what?”
“How did she convince you to give up everything for her? You are a smart man, and were much respected by your people. It had to be more than her delicious body. What did she do? Eh? You can tell me.”
Beaverpaw’s jaw hardened. He wouldn’t repeat the conversation he had had with Dark Rain on the night of Pondwader’s marriage to Musselwhite. Hanging Star would not understand Heartwood Clan’s history … and Beaverpaw, could not forget it. No, he still believed Dark Rain had been correct about that. The elders would have punished him severely—just as they had Dry Cloud.
Hanging Star’s eyes glinted. He seemed to be waiting for Beaverpaw’s response.
Beaverpaw decided to change the subject. “You mentioned Standing Hollow Horn Village. Have you been there recently?”
Hanging Star stretched out on the grass and laced his hands beneath his head. The stem in his mouth switched from one side to the other. His square face with its blunt chin looked very brown against the dead grass. “Of course. It is my clan.”
“Your clan?” Beaverpaw asked. “Standing Hollow Horn is your clan? Then you must know about the recent attack on Windy Cove Village! I have heard—”
“Know about it?” Hanging Star replied. “I was there! I killed more than my share of their pitiful warriors.”
Haughty amusement twisted the man’s mouth, and anger lit a fire in Beaverpaw’s veins. Obviously, Hanging Star did not realize he had just admitted to murdering Beaverpaw’s new relatives. Or perhaps he did, and did not care that the admission gave Beaverpaw the right to cut out his liver on the spot.
“I heard that Musselwhite was there,” Beaverpaw said calmly.
“Yes,” Hanging Star laughed. “Indeed! She was magnificent. She moved like a dart in flight, striking down anything in her path. It was glorious to watch.”
“Even though she was murdering your relatives?”
“Certainly!” Hanging Star shouted. “I didn’t say I liked it. I tried to kill her myself. It doesn’t lessen my admiration for her skill as a warrior.” He smiled. “I cannot wait to see what happens when she reaches Standing Hollow Horn Village.”