He huffed at her to show his displeasure at being called an old witch, then said, “I’d say he’s run out of remedies and doesn’t want to tell you so.”
“I think that, too.”
Panther studied the swollen joints on her fingers. “I want you to try something. Send one of your youngsters after willow. Strip the bark, dry it and pound it, then make a tea from it. It will help you for a while. It will taste vile, but it works on most pain. The Power in the willow is very strong. Don’t take too much of it, or it will affect the stomach.”
“Oh, yes. Always the stomach.” Hunting Hawk rubbed her gaunt belly. “That’s another problem.”
“Perhaps I can help.”
“Where did you learn so much about healing? From those Serpent Chiefs on the other side of the mountains?” ‘
“From them, yes, and others as well.” He tilted his head. “You seem to be well informed of my doings. The War Chief is reporting, I suppose?” “Oddly, he’s not talking about you with as free a tongue as I’m used to.” She made a-face. “I think he likes you. And, to tell the truth, Nine Killer has never been the trusting kind. It makes me suspect that you really do travel by night.”
This time, The Panther smiled in amusement. “He’s a good man, Weroansqua. I’d use him wisely. Such as he don’t just pop up like ears of corn in a well-kept field.”
Sun Conch stood to the rear, her attention apparently on everything but the two of them.
Hunting Hawk gestured toward the girl. “Your companion doesn’t seem the trusting kind. That wouldn’t be related to Flat Willow’s threats, would it?”
“Who told you Flat Willow had threatened me?”
“Oh, he was bragging that if you didn’t leave him alone, he’d be roasting your body in the bonfire some night soon. Funny thing is, I was watching Copper Thunder at the time. The Great Tayac was seated at my fire, apparently more entertained by Flat Willow than he was by Shell Comb.”
“Indeed, and is he entertaining her?”
“They are talking.” Hunting Hawk left it at that, wondering at The Panther’s complete lack of concern about Flat Willow’s threats.
“I see.” The frown lines tightened on the old man’s face. “And Greenstone Clan thinks this marriage is a good idea?” “What Greenstone thinks is of no concern to you, Panther. In fact, I’ve had people asking around. No one seems to know anything about you, who you are, where you come from. It’s as if you came out of thin air.”
“Been looking for owl feathers in my bed?” he asked mildly.
“Should I be?”
He laughed. “No, but you have been sending Streaked Bear to peek into Nine Killer’s doorway off and on for the last couple of nights. Has he reported that I’ve been in my robes each time?”
“He has,” she growled to herself, irritated that the young priest had been so clumsy as to be discovered.
The Panther’s lips twitched, as if controlling a grin. “Tell him that next time he might want to sneak over to the hole on the south side of the lodge. That’s where the girls go to gossip with their friends when they’ve annoyed Rosebud into punishing them. That brown-and white dog of Nine Killer’s sleeps over by the doorway, and he growls every time Streaked Bear sneaks up.”
“No wonder Nine Killer likes you. You have the same foul sense of humor.” She paused, evaluating him. “Have you found my granddaughter’s murderer yet?”
“No.”
“But you have suspicions?”
“Of course, but so do you.”
“You talked to Flat Willow yesterday. Do you think he did it?”
“Perhaps.” Panther cast a sidelong glance in the direction of the long house where the’ young hunter lived, a ramshackle thatch building just behind the Women’s House. “You saw him on the day they brought Red Knot in. Tell me, how did he look?”
She sucked at her cheeks, remembering that day, seeing the grim procession approaching through the fields, Red Knot’s body swaying from the pole. And there was Flat Willow, following… “He was last in line.” That thought hadn’t occurred to her then. “And that is significant?”
“For Flat Willow, yes.” She nodded, one eye narrowing. “Normally, he’d have been right up front, smacking his chest and making a show of himself.”
“He does strike me as that sort. And during the ceremony marking Red Knot’s womanhood? Did he act oddly?”
Hunting Hawk thought back, fingers to her lips. She remembered seeing him, didn’t she? Where was it that he’d been? Something a little odd had caught her attention, but… “He did, come to think of it. Had you not mentioned it, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought.”