People of the Lightning(134)

“Two or three tens,” Seedpod said. “By the time we arrived, many had fled into the forest, hunting down our people. I’m not even certain how many were there. What else did Dogtooth say?”

Tailfeather moved his hands to the top of his drill again, and continued spinning. “He said Musselwhite streaked through those warriors like a Lightning Bird.”

Seedpod nodded. “She did indeed. Without her, we would all be dead.” Then he turned and smiled at Kelp. “Thank you for the wood, Kelp and … and what is your name, young warrior?”

“Dace, Spirit Elder. I am Black Dace. A friend of Pondwader’s.” He straightened, throwing out his chest proudly.

“And mine,” Kelp added.

Seedpod was digging a hole in the sand with a large clamshell. When he’d scooped out enough, he said, “Could you select a small stick for me, Kelp?”

“Yes.” She rummaged around in the pile, pulled one out, and handed it to him.

“Thank you,” Seedpod settled back, removed a hafted chert knife from his pack, and began whittling on the stick, letting the thin strips of wood fall into the hole in the sand. Gusts played with them as they fell, tumbling and spiraling the strips around before they landed.

“I’m ready,” Tailfeather said.

The War Leader laid down his drill, cupped his hand around the glowing dust in the hole on his fireboard, and carefully moved it to the firepit, where he dumped the contents on top of Seedpod’s whittling. Seedpod sliced more strips of wood on top of the dust. Tailfeather shielded the kindling with both hands, and blew gently. Flames crackled and whipped in the wind. Seedpod pulled larger sticks from the pile and fed the flames until they had a good blaze going.

Kelp shivered when the warmth struck her. She had been sweating all day, and her damp tunic stuck to her body in clammy folds. Soon, she would be bitterly cold. She slid forward, snuggling up to the firepit with her hands extended.

“And then what happened?” Tailfeather asked.

Seedpod untied his blanket from his pack and swung it around his elderly shoulders. Wind fluttered the ends. He gathered them up and held them, sighing. “Let me start at the beginning,” Seedpod said. “Three days out from Heartwood, Musselwhite felt something terrible had happened at Windy Cove. She decided to run on ahead, but before she left us, she gave Pondwader strict orders to hide in the forest until she had made certain everything at Windy Cove was all right.”

“Which he didn’t,” Kelp said, knowing her brother.

“That’s right,” Seedpod smiled. “Before we even arrived, we heard the screams and cries. We raced forward as quickly as we could. I told Pondwader to do as his wife had said, and he crouched down behind a scrub oak. Musselwhite was in trouble, though. Surrounded. It looked very bad. I nocked my atlatl and cast, killing one of the men who threatened her. Then …”

A tall youth walked across the sand, and Seedpod stopped and looked up. “Ah, Diamondback,” he said. “Come, join us.”

“I didn’t wish to disturb you, Grandfather,” Diamondback said, and glanced at Kelp. “I just wanted to tell you that I found Dogtooth. I set up our camp near his.”

“Good. Thank yon, Grandson. And Thorny Boy?”

“I fed him supper and put him to bed. He was asleep in my arms before he finished his dried redfish. He was a very tired boy.”

Diamondback smiled and Kelp saw the bandage tied around his leg. He’d been wounded, though he seemed to be walking pretty well—just stiffly. She scrutinized his face in the firelight. What a handsome young man. He looked very much like Musselwhite, with an oval face and turned-up nose. He had long, black hair; it hung down his back in a braid. Diamondback saw her looking at him and smiled. Kelp blushed and looked away.

Seedpod caught the exchange. “Sit down, Grandson,” he said. “You have already met War Leader Tailfeather. Let me introduce you to Pondwader’s sister, Kelp, and her friend, Dace.”

Diamondback took Dace’s hand in a strong grip, saying, “Dace, thank you for coming to help us.”

Dace nodded. “I am glad to help in any way I can.”

Then Diamondback leaned over and reached for Kelp’s hand. As he did, his shaggy eyebrows drew down over his nose, a little worried, but his full lips tipped in another smile. “Kelp, thank you, as well. I did not know your brother for long, but I considered him to be a friend. I hope we will be friends, too.”

She took his hand and his fingers felt warm and strong in her grip. “I hope so, too, Diamondback,” she answered.

He eased down next to Dace, making certain his hurt leg extended straight out.