People of the Masks(49)
“Cousin, in the heat of battle it is difficult to know—”
“They were not in the heat of battle! I ordered them to come with me to attack the child’s house. Once I gave the child into their arms, they left!”
Uncle Blue Raven stood unmoving, but his expression said plainly that he did not believe this. “You did not use two of your best warriors in the fight? Anyone could have guarded the boy until the end of the battle.”
Jumping Badger stepped away from the birch tree and lowered his fists to his sides. “I had no way of knowing how Powerful he was. Of course I assigned my best warriors! Do you challenge my words, cousin?”
“I do not. I simply wish to know—”
“Ask my men. They will tell you the same.”
Wren’s gaze went over the warriors. They sat like stones, waiting to see if Uncle Blue Raven would shame the victorious war leader by asking.
Blue Raven said nothing for a time, as if considering the matter. “What about after they left the battle, cousin? You cannot know what happened to Skullcap and Mossybill once they had run beyond your sight. Can you say for certain that they received no injuries on the journey home?”
“I say that if they did, the injuries came from the False Face Child!”
Rumbler stared at Jumping Badger with unblinking eyes.
“Do you wish this child dead?” Uncle Blue Raven asked. “You were the one who urged this raid against the advice of our elders. You were the one who said, ‘We must have the child.’ Will you now stand before us and concede your judgment was in error?”
Jumping Badger lifted his chin. “At the time, I believed the child would give us Power over our enemies, and keep our bellies from hunger. I see now that he will do none of these things. He is wicked beyond my imaginings.”
Little Wren glanced at Rumbler. He was shaking worse, his whole cape glittering.
“Are you casting your voice, cousin?” Uncle Blue Raven asked. “Before you have heard all sides you would—”
“I would,” Jumping Badger said, and swung around to point at the severed head on the staff. “Before Lamedeer died, he told me that old Silver Sparrow had come to Paint Rock Village to warn them we were going to attack and steal the False Face Child. He said that the False Face Child would be our deaths!”
Gasps eddied through the assembly. Silver Sparrow was greatly feared and respected. If he had said such a thing …
But Wren heard something strange beneath the general din. Jumping Badger’s warriors whispered to each other, and shook their heads.
Wren’s gaze went from face to face. They did not seem to agree with their leader’s words. Would any dare to speak out against him? It would be a challenge to Jumping Badger’s position as war leader, and would require a fight to the death. In mere instants, the whispering quieted, and the warriors sat with their heads down.
Jumping Badger continued. “My voice joins Loon’s! I cast for death!”
“Death! Death! Death!” The cry rumbled through the warriors. They lifted their fists in a show of unity.
Uncle Blue Raven shouted, “It is too early to cast your voices! We have not heard from everyone!”
Jumping Badger tramped across the plaza, and one by one his warriors rose and followed. People watched until they ducked into their longhouses, then voices rose, shouting down those that disagreed. Shoving matches started, and men leaped to their feet to break up the fights. Women hustled children away from the fire.
Uncle Blue Raven yelled, “Wait! Come back! We are not finished!”
Wren got to her feet, cupped her hands to her mouth, and cried, “I cast my voice for life! Let the boy live! He does not deserve death!”
Rumbler swung around to look at her. Tears blurred his eyes.
“I wish him to live!” she cried. “Let the boy live!”
Rumbler tucked a shaking finger into his mouth and his eyes fixed on Wren, as if she were his only hope in the entire world.
At the top of her lungs, Wren shouted, “Let him live!”
Frost-in-the-Willows picked up her walking stick and swung it at Wren with all her might. Wren yipped, ducked the blow, and scampered backward. “Enough, child!”
“I have a right to cast my voice, Grandmother! I am part of this clan!”
Frost-in-the-Willow’s toothless mouth pursed. “That may be, but you do not have to cast with such enthusiasm. Let us go. This council is over. The decision has been made.”
“But Grandmother, I don’t wish to go! I want to stay and find out what will happen!”
“Blue Raven plans to bring the boy back to our longhouse later, after he meets with Starflower. When she has decreed how the child will die, Blue Raven will come home. You can find out then.”