People of the Mist(173)
“If you will not, Flying Weir, I want you—”
“No!” Yellow Net stood, her angry eyes fixed on Hunting Hawk. “I agree with my cousin, Nine Killer. This must be heard for the sake of Greenstone Clan. We still do not know who killed Red Knot.” She bent to stare into Hunting Hawk’s angry eyes. “You said you didn’t kill her.”
“I didn’t!” Hunting Hawk cried. “You should know! I was with you that morning.”-‘ She pointed her stick at Copper Thunder. “Trying to figure out what to do about him!” “Did you have her killed?” Yellow Net demanded, face distrustful.
“No!” Hunting Hawk stared aghast at her cousin. “What do you think I am? A monster?”
Panther placed a gentle hand on Yellow Net’s shoulder. “The Weroansqua didn’t kill her granddaughter.”
“You know this?” Yellow Net demanded.
“I’m fairly sure.” Panther gave the fuming Hunting Hawk a sidelong glance. “Had she done so, she would never have sent the War Chief after High Fox. Instead, she would have ordered him to track down Winged Blackbird and then attack White Stake Village. She would have needed someone to take the blame, and Corn Hunter would have been perfect for the purpose.”
Black Spike cocked his head. “Then she really believed High Fox killed the girl?”
Panther nodded. “Red Knot’s murder caught Hunting Hawk by complete surprise. She knew that Corn Hunter’s warriors hadn’t committed the act: the body would have been desecrated. That left the most likely suspect as High Fox. And, forgive me, Weroansqua, but the-one thing you will not tolerate is a personal affront, or an insult to your clan’s honor.”
She gave him a grudging nod.
“Then, who killed the girl?” Nine Killer demanded. His gaze shifted to Copper Thunder.
“I didn’t do it!” Copper Thunder raised his hands in defense. “Why would I?”
“Jealousy,” Nine Killer countered. “You couldn’t stand the thought that she’d run off with a mere boy. Your honor demanded that the slight be paid for in blood.”
Copper Thunder gave the War Chief a crooked smile. “I didn’t care if she’d coupled with a camp dog. I needed an alliance and a child out of her, nothing more.” He tilted his head at the Weroansqua. “Two can play at subterfuge.” “I’m sorry, Grass Mat. Your best spy has been kicked out,” Panther added. “Flat Willow was banished this very evening. In fact, I’d say, Great Tayac, that your alliance has just evaporated before your eyes. These people are not the same as you knew among the Serpent Chiefs. They don’t have the discipline. They weren’t raised to believe, to obey, to be dominated.”
“People can change.” Copper Thunder propped a fist on his hip.
“Can they?” Panther indicated Yellow Net and Nine Killer. “You just saw two cousins claim this as clan business, in defiance of their ruler. In what circumstance would White Smoke Rising have allowed that kind of challenge to his authority? Even were it his own son who spoke up?”
Copper Thunder’s mouth twitched.
“And even more to the point,” Panther added, “where are all the warriors you brought with you? Sent home. Why? So they could fish, hunt, and trap. Unlike a Serpent Chief, you can’t hold your warriors to one task. The most you can commit to your efforts here is ten.”
Panther stepped over to appraise Copper Thunder. “The truth is, you’ll ally with whoever asks you. You’ve tried to build your fighting force, and trained them well, too. You were able to whip Water Snake’s warriors and Stone Frog’s Conoy, but then your elite force faded away. Your warriors wanted to go hunting, or maybe they worried about the Monacans up beyond the fall line to the west, or the Susquehannocks to the north. You couldn’t hold them despite all your tattoos, your stolen spider gorget, and that war club you took from White Smoke Rising’s trophy house.”
Copper Thunder rose with powerful grace. “I’ve had enough of you, Raven.”
“That’s why you were trying to talk warriors into joining your cause.” Panther locked his hands behind his back. “You were looking for young men who would make that full-time commitment. Problem was, all you could find were the malcontents like Flat Willow. He, and his kind, are hardly the stuff of a great rank of warriors, are they?”
“I’m warning you.” Copper Thunder took a step forward, only to have Nine Killer place himself between them.
“Oh, relax, Great Tayac.” Panther waved him back. “As much as I’d like to blame you for killing the girl, you needed that alliance, and when Red Knot was dead, I’ll bet you were desperately anxious to see what other opportunity would present itself.” Panther paused.