“This is all coming to a head,” she told him. “Sometime soon, The Panther tells me, Black Spike will arrive with High Fox. When they do, I might find myself in a most uncomfortable position.” She looked up, meeting his excited gaze across the fire. “If things begin, to come apart, I may have to depend on you.”
“And your War Chief?”
Hunting Hawk shrugged. “I’m not sure of his loyalty to me anymore. But this is not the right moment to replace him. That would take time. His men like him. Too many of them would question my action. And, I’m still feeling the sting of the Three Myrtle raid. If we could only raise half of our force to attack an allied village, how many could I hope to call up for an action within Flat Pearl?”
His intent black eyes reminded her of a snake’s when a chipmunk hopped ever closer.
“What do I gain?” he finally asked. “My ten warriors and I can remove Nine Killer, and the few who might stand with him, but I need to know what I’m righting for. What I’ll get from this.”
She rubbed her wrinkled palms together, and then studied the parchment-brown skin on the backs of her hands. “You’ll get your alliance, Great Tayac. I’ll give you Shell Comb… and Quick Fawn when she comes of age. Two ties, instead of one. Age, and experience, coupled with youth and fertility. Your eastern borders will be stable, and in the spring we can unite to strike southward into the Mamanatowick’s territory. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
Copper Thunder’s lips curled into a smile. “And, I want the old man, too. I take him back to my village when I leave.”
“He is yours.” She raised her hand. “But not until I say so. Do you understand me? The one thing I will not tolerate is a mistake. There have been too many of those already.”
Copper Thunder inclined his head slightly, the smile of satisfaction spreading. “As you wish, Weroansqua.” He paused. “When may I speak with Shell Comb?”
“A couple of days, Great Tayac. For the moment, she’s in the Women’s House, attending to her phase of the moon. Surety, anything you have to say can wait until after she’s through there.” “It can.” He stood, his muscles rolling under greased skin. “Thank you for your confidence, Weroansqua. You have relieved my mind. Together, I think we shall be unbeatable.”
“Sleep well, Great Tayac.”
After he’d left, she returned her gaze to the fire, an emptiness in her soul. In a low voice, she asked, “Did you hear all of that?”
Yellow Net stepped out from behind the mat divider in the rear of the room. “I did, Weroansqua.” Her hands were clenched at her sides. “Did you have to promise him my daughter?”
“Would you rather that I gave you to him? Of course I did. He had to know I was serious about the long term. Shell Comb’s womb could dry up at any time. Quick Fawn is healthy, young, and about to blossom.”
Yellow Net barely managed to control herself, her face on the verge of disgust.
Hunting Hawk lifted an eyebrow. “Easy, cousin. If this works the way we’ve planned, the Mamanatowick will fall on the upriver villages like an enraged sow bear. The two of them will tear each other apart and buy us breathing space. That’s what we agreed to in the beginning, wasn’t it?”
“I’ve begun to question your plans, Weroansqua.”
“Do you question that you will be calling yourself Weroansqua before too much longer? That, in itself, should mollify some of your outrage.”
“And Shell Comb? She will not contest?”
“No. I won’t make the announcement until after she’s left with Copper Thunder. Your position is safe. After Copper Thunder and the Mamanatowick are bleeding each other to death we will cancel Quick Fawn’s betrothal to secure her succession.” “How do you know that Shell Comb will accept this?”
“I’ll walk over to the Women’s House after the first light and explain that she’s leaving with Copper Thunder. She’ll accept that—especially if I stress that it is best for the clan.”
“And if the old man spoils these plans of yours? You don’t control him, cousin.”
Hunting Hawk smiled grimly. “No, but Copper Thunder will serve our purposes, should we need him.”
Yellow Net took a deep breath. “Not all of us have the same passion for authority that you do.”
The flames licked along the oak branch, blackening the wood and checking the surface. “Then you had better develop it, cousin. That’s what ruling the clan is all about.”
“And the callusing of the heart? Does that come first?”