Musselwhite leaned forward and laid a gentle hand against Pondwader’s cheek. His eyes shone. “Yes. I understand.”
They looked at each other and, for a brief moment, they were close. “I regret that I must say goodnight,” she said. “I promised Beaverpaw I would speak with him more tonight and I am already—”
“Will you come to see me tomorrow? Before you leave?”
“I’ll try.”
Pondwader reached up and took her hand, moving it to his lips so that he could kiss her palm. Her skin felt very soft. The tender, loverlike gesture made Musselwhite smile, and his heart soared.
“Good night, Pondwader.” She drew her hand back. “Sleep well.”
“And you also.”
He watched her go. As she walked across the village, a young warrior named Bowfin stepped into her path. He wore a breechclout and headband, but carried no weapons. He said something too soft for Pondwader to hear, but he heard Musselwhite laugh. Smiling, Bowfin fell into a crouch, and began circling. Pondwader frowned. What was he doing? Fighting!
As if accepting the challenge, Musselwhite bent her knees and extended her arms, ready.
Bowfin let out a war cry, lunged, and Musselwhite struck—neat, fast, gauging Bowfin’s speed perfectly. She spun, smashed him in the back of the head with her elbow, and when he stumbled, trying to regain his balance, she kicked his feet out from under him. Bowfin sprawled across the sand. He groaned.
Musselwhite chuckled and walked away.
Pondwader sank back against his sleeping mat … wondering.
When Musselwhite strode into the council shelter, long hair whipping about her shoulders, all conversation halted. Seedpod stifled a smile as Dark Rain’s beautiful face tensed. Moonsnail peered at Musselwhite just as breathlessly. Her wrinkled old jaw had set.
“How was the fight?” Seedpod asked.
“Short.”
“I saw that.” Seedpod said. “And Pondwader?”
“He’s a fine young man,” Musselwhite said, alleviating Moonsnail’s and Dark Rain’s fears. She added, “Father, may I speak with you? It’s important.”
“Gladly. I could use a reprieve from Moonsnail’s stubbornness. Let’s go for a walk. It will do us both good.”
“Bah!” Moonsnail growled. “You’re the one who’s stubborn. Go for your walk. I’ll be here when you return.”
Seedpod grinned, got to his feet, then linked his arm through Musselwhite’s and allowed himself to be led through the village.
When they had gone beyond hearing range, Seedpod said, “What’s the matter? Is the boy a blithering idiot?”
Musselwhite smiled. “No. Quite the opposite. He has one of the purest hearts I’ve ever seen. I found his innocence quite disarming.”
“Hmph,” Seedpod grunted. “He certainly didn’t get it from the female side of his family, I can tell you that. Moonsnail and Dark Rain are both as sly and merciless as hunting panthers. What did you wish to speak with me about?”
“Nothing, really. I just needed to gaze into your stern old eyes again—to regain my balance. Pondwader left me floundering.”
He gave Musselwhite a sidelong look. “That is … unexpected.”
“I think he will be a loyal companion.”
“That’s something, especially since they’re waging a real battle over this marriage. Because you can’t give Pondwader any children, Moonsnail wants half of our nut harvest every autumn.”
“Half!” Musselwhite shouted, stopping dead in her tracks. “That’s outrageous! What did you say?”
Seedpod chuckled. “I told them I’d heard Pondwader couldn’t even aim a dart, which meant he would be utterly useless to our clan. And especially to you, my dear daughter, since you would not even have a measly squirrel in your boiling bag to prove he was your husband. I promised them they wouldn’t get a single nut! In fact, I demanded half their nut crop to pay for Pondwader’s incompetence.”
“So you are at a standoff?”
“Oh, no. As a matter of fact, the negotiations are going very well. I anticipate you’ll be married tomorrow, after—”
“Tomorrow!” Musselwhite blurted.
“They are in a hurry. This is good, not bad.”
“But it’s so sudden.”
Seedpod shrugged. “They are eager. And we are desperate, let’s admit it. That’s why I didn’t object when Moonsnail suggested tomorrow afternoon. Now, tell me about Pondwader. What did you talk about?”
Musselwhite guided Seedpod around a pile of sand that earlier in the day had been a leaping dolphin, and now resembled a squashed gourd. “He wanted to tell me all of his failings. It was touching, really. He claims he has other talents which will benefit our clan.”