Pondwader propped his head in his palm. “What happened to the child?”
Grief swelled Seedpod’s heart. He whispered, “I don’t really know. He was a beautiful boy. I only saw him twice before he died. I know he caught a fever. I assume that’s what killed him. Musselwhite has never spoken of the boy’s death. Not one word, Pondwader.” He lifted a warning finger. “And I would not ask her about him, if I were you.”
Pondwader blinked. “Why not?”
“I have only known one person who dared to. That was Dogtooth, and had I not been there to pull my daughter off him, that old Soul Dancer would be dead. She leaped across the fire and grabbed him around the throat so quickly, I barely had time to react.”
“She tried to kill Dogtooth!”
“Yes, and almost succeeded.”
“What did Dogtooth do?”
Seedpod shook his head. “He’s such an odd character. While I was wrestling with Musselwhite, shouting at her to stop fighting, Dogtooth began whirling around like a demented bird, squawking, ‘Musselwhite saved one of Glade’s souls! She changed it into Lightning! Look at Glade soar!”
“Glade?” Pondwader’s face went slack. “The boy’s name was Glade?”
“Yes. Why?”
Pondwader had gone extremely pale. His expression resembled that of a man running for his life and suddenly finding himself trapped, and too alarmed to think straight.
Seedpod frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I … I’m sorry. Did—did you ever figure out what Dogtooth meant?”
“No, but Musselwhite seemed to understand immediately. The words soothed her. I remember how she relaxed in my arms, and tears filled her eyes.”
Pondwader’s jaw trembled. He tipped his head to peer at her shelter. Musselwhite had not moved. Wind whipped lose strands of her silver-streaked black hair about her face. Thorny Boy and Diamondback had rolled up in blankets and both fallen asleep near the firepit.
Seedpod said, “I’m glad Diamondback is sleeping. I feared he might try to stay awake all night to stand guard, and he is still ill from his wound. He needs rest … . As you do, Pondwader. Why don’t you stay here tonight? There’s no room for you in Musselwhite’s shelter now, and I won’t be here anyway. I promised Black Urchin I would stand night watch with him.”
Pondwader whispered, “But I should be with my wife. She needs me.”
“She has her sons. And I will post myself near her shelter. If you plan to go with her, you had better sleep all you can.” Seedpod reached over to the folded pile of blankets and tossed one at Pondwader. “If you think she pushed us hard on the way home, you have a grave surprise in store for you tomorrow.”
Pondwader unfolded the blanket and held it in his lap. “Let me stand watch with you, Seedpod. I would like to be useful. I—I don’t think I can sleep now anyway.”
“Try. You will be of far more use to all of us if you sleep.” Seedpod picked up his atlatl and darts and rose to his feet. White hair fluttered before his eyes. “I’ll sleep tomorrow. You will not have another opportunity for two, or maybe three, days. You will certainly kill my daughter if you are weaving on your feet when the time comes to sneak into Cottonmouth’s village. You see what I mean, Pondwader?”
“Yes,” he whispered.
Seedpod trotted away toward the place in the forest where he had promised to meet Black Urchin. Just before he entered the grove of tall pines, he looked back, and saw Pondwader wrap up in the blanket and stretch out on his back beside the fire. But the boy didn’t close his eyes. He tilted his head to frown curiously at the Power bundles. Could he hear them? Were they speaking to him?
Seedpod strained his ears, and a frail sweet voice came to him … the Sea Bundle? Or just the wind? He prayed the bundles had opened their eternal eyes, seen the troubled Lightning Boy and wanted to help him. Pondwader could use their guidance.
If, by some miracle, Musselwhite allowed the boy to go, the journey would be difficult and deadly. Musselwhite would be no friend to him. She would expect him to act like a warrior. And if he did not … Seedpod didn’t even want to contemplate the possibilities. Sun Mother knew she had it in her to kill him and let him lie, while she went on to do what she must. He knew his daughter as well as himself. Already her souls would be weaving the strategy and tactics necessary to rescue Diver, and bring them both out safely.
Musselwhite could not spare a single precious moment for sentimentality.
Not even for her new husband.
Twenty
“ … Not meant to hurt you … your life … too precious to risk …”