People of the Masks(55)

“Jumping Badger told me! I swear, the story comes straight from his own lips.” He ran a finger around the rim of his cup. “Of course, I had to pay him to hear it, but it was worth it.”

Worth it. Of course. A slow anger built beneath Dust’s heart. Cornhusk had not canoed across the lake for six days, then run for another day across land, to tell her about Briar. All this was a prelude to the real news he carried. He was giving her a glimpse of the information before he tried to sell it to her.

“And what of the boy? What did Jumping Badger do with Rumbler?”

Cornhusk smiled like a cat at a mousehole. “I will tell you. Truly. That’s why I came. But I wish to ask a small favor first.”

“Indeed.”

Cornhusk’s smile faded. “It is very valuable information, Matron. Especially to you.”

“To me? Why?”

Cornhusk made a gesture of self-reproach. “Forgive me, but I thought you might wish to save the boy? I had heard that you cared for him.”

Images of Rumbler’s bright eyes flitted through her souls. “Blessed gods, you mean they plan to kill him?”

“Oh, yes. I stayed at Walksalong Village until I heard the verdict, then I ran straight to you.”

“Why would they steal him and then—”

Cornhusk lifted a hand as though to calm her down. “It seems that the Paint Rock war leader, Lamedeer, told Jumping Badger something terrifying before he died.”

“What?”

“First—”

“Yes! Yes! Name your ‘small’ favor.”

Cornhusk seemed to be examining the wood grain in his cup. He hesitated, then said, “This is a difficult matter for me to discuss. Let me put it this way. A young woman at one of the villages in the south tempted me beyond my powers to resist and I—”

“Bedded her.”

“Yes, but it wasn’t my fault, you see. I tried to explain this to her husband, but he—”

“Wants you dead, because the Flicker Clans cut people apart for adultery.”

“Er—well—yes. I think her husband kills two or three men a moon. This woman, she is insatiable. Not to mention very beautiful.”

“How many war parties are searching for you?”

“Three, I think.” Cornhusk shrugged. “Not that I’m scared. I’m too cunning for them to find me, but I do need a tiny little—”

“Will you please get to it!”

Cornhusk set the cup back near the teapot, and wiped his hands on his mangy buffalo coat. “Silver Sparrow’s Powers are renowned far and wide, Matron. You may not think much of him personally, but his speeches about the gods have become famous. People repeat fragments of them wherever I go. Truly, his reputation has grown faster than any holy man I have ever heard of. Just mentioning his name in the south causes gasps and scurrying.” Cornhusk looked up.

“And you are hoping that Sparrow will … ?”

Cornhusk’s nose wrinkled, as if what he was about to ask was such a trifle. “Curse my enemies for me?”

Dust leaped to her feet and shouted, “Are you crazy!” Planter’s infant son shrieked and Planter clutched him to her chest. “If the Flicker Clans ever found out, they would slaughter Earth Thunderer Village!”

He said, “They might, but once you have heard the rest of the story, Matron, I think you will consider that to be the least of your worries.”

Dust felt weak. She forced herself to sit down again. “Go on.”

Cornhusk laced his fingers around one knee. “I’m not certain how much of this is true. Jumping Badger told me one thing and his warriors told me another. But Jumping Badger’s story is this: He says that Lamedeer told him that your husband—”

“Former husband.”

“Yes. Sorry. Anyway, he said that Silver Sparrow went to Paint Rock Village fourteen nights ago to warn Lamedeer that Jumping Badger was going to attack and steal the False Face Child. He also …” He blinked and straightened when he saw Dust sag. “Matron? Matron? Are you well?”

“Mother?” Planter said in concern.

So that’s why Sparrow had gone to Paint Rock Village. She wondered if everyone but her knew. She glanced at Planter and found her daughter staring at her from beneath her lashes. Hallowed Spirits, he had Dreamed Briar’s death and not even told her? She clenched her fists.

“I’m fine. Continue.”

“Do you need a cup of tea?” He reached for the empty pot. “No, well, perhaps a—”

“Tell your story!”

“So,” he rushed to add, “Lamedeer said that the False Face Child would be the death of the Walksalong Clan, and …” Cornhusk lifted a finger to emphasize his next words. “Then Lamedeer said that Silver Sparrow had cursed Jumping Badger. Sparrow supposedly prophesied that Jumping Badger’s Power would drain away until he was like a camp dog, kicked by everyone.”