People of the Masks(40)

Jumping Badger dipped himself a cup of tea and held it in both hands, as if to warm his cold fingers. “Cousin, all of the creatures that dwell in the sky, forest, meadows, seas, and under the ground joined forces with us. Our triumph was stunning. We—”

Blue Raven said, “How many warriors did we lose?”

“In the first battle at Sleeping Mist Village, we lost eight, then—”

“Sleeping Mist?” Frost-in-the-Willows leaned forward. In the fire’s gleam, her white hair shimmered golden. “For what reason did you attack them? I recall no such order!”

Starflower added, “Nor do I, War Leader. What is this?”

Bogbean, her mouth quivering, said, “Why would you attack innocent people? They had done nothing to us.”

Jumping Badger made a calming gesture with his hand. “Please, Matrons. Hear my side. We did not wish to attack Sleeping Mist Village. We had no choice. I instructed half my forces to circle around to the south of Paint Rock Village, and wait for my signal. I took the other half northward in the hopes that we could surround the village—”

“To assure that the False Face Child did not escape?” Starflower surmised.

“Yes. But my forces and I ran into a Sleeping Mist war party. We obviously had to kill them before they could warn their relatives in Paint Rock Village. It so happened that we fought the war party all the way back into the village, and some of the villagers died in the battle.” He shrugged casually. “I cannot say how many.” He swirled his tea in his cup, and took a long sip. “We did not take a count.”

“Blessed ancestors,” Blue Raven said. “How could you have been clumsy enough to run into a war party? Didn’t you have advance scouts out? You should have—”

Jumping Badger shouted, “Do not tell me what I should have done! You have not been a warrior in fifteen winters! What do you know of strategy? War parties sometimes meet accidentally, with no warning, and they are thrust into battle before anyone can think! We did what we had to!”

“But you—”

“Enough!” Starflower said. “I am certain you did your best, War Leader.” Her faded old eyes went from Jumping Badger’s enraged face to Blue Raven’s tight mouth, and she set her teacup on a hearthstone. “Perhaps meeting tonight was not wise,” she admitted. “We are all tired, and grieving. Let us end this. We will begin again tomorrow morning, after a good night’s rest.”

“Thank you,” Beadfern murmured, her eyes moist. “I wish to see Kit, to tell her good-bye.”

Frost-in-the-Willows nodded. His mother’s wounded expression touched Blue Raven’s heart. “I, too. There are things I wish to give her. To take with her to the afterlife.”

Jumping Badger stood. “If you are dismissing me, I will go and find my blankets. Every muscle in my body aches.”

“Of course, War Leader,” Starflower said. “Rest.”

Blue Raven watched his cousin stalk away, toward his bedding at the northern end of the longhouse, then he gently placed a hand on his mother’s shoulder. “If you need me, mother, I—”

A shrill scream penetrated the house. Blue Raven was on his feet before he heard his name: “Uncle Blue Raven! Uncle!”

Little Wren flew beneath the door curtain and ran madly across the longhouse, her pretty face wild with fear. “Uncle!” she wailed. She threw her arms around his waist so forcefully that she almost knocked him black-ward into the firepit.

“Wren!” he said in shock. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

“He—he tried to g-get me!” she stuttered. “A bloody b-boy! He had crazy eyes, Uncle! Crazy! He told me I had to go with him, and when I said I wouldn’t h-he told me Power had chosen me!” She looked up with swimming eyes. “Oh, Uncle, you have to hide me. Don’t let him take me away! I don’t want to leave you!”

“Shh, Wren,” Blue Raven whispered. “I won’t let anyone take you away from me.” He stroked her hair for a few moments, trying to calm her, then said, “Who was the boy? I will speak to his mother about this. He has no right to frighten you this way. Tell me his name?”

Wren’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Finally, she blurted, “Uncle. He wasn’t human! He was one of the False Faces of the Forest! I know it! No human boy could have laughed that way with his body cut to pieces! He had to be a Forest Spirit! Please! Don’t let him take me!”

She buried her face in his shirt, and Blue Raven glanced for help to the elders seated around the fire. Starflower’s eyes had narrowed, and Bogbean and Beadfern looked genuinely worried. Only Frost-in-the-Willows appeared perturbed. She rose to her feet, hobbled forward, and shoved Wren’s shoulder hard.