People of the Mist(35)
The crawling sense of premonition in Nine Killer’s gut disturbed his digestion of the excellent corn and duck he’d just eaten. Red Knot’s death had precipitated a disaster that he was just beginning to grasp. But which of the participants was tugging the fragile weaving of his life apart?
Hunting Hawk sat in her usual place on the mat behind the fire. She leaned forward, watching the leaping flames, her dark eyes pensive. Had her once-sharp mind lost its clarity of purpose? Had she misjudged the needs and interests of Flat Pearl Village?
To her left, in the place of honor, Copper Thunder sat like an oiled serpent, curiously calm at the murder of his betrothed.
Nine Killer surreptitiously studied the Great Tayac. He almost looked amused by the sudden uncertainty that plagued Greenstone Clan. Why? What was his purpose here?
To Hunting Hawk’s right sat Shell Comb, her beautiful features barely hiding her distress. Her vehement insistence that Winged Blackbird and his warriors had killed Red Knot bothered Nine Killer.
He had never trusted himself when it came to Shell Comb. Her beauty always left him off balance, plagued by a desire for her which he knew was lethal. Of all the terrible deeds humans could commit, incest was the most dreaded and loathsome. Tall and willowy though Shell Comb might be, she remained his cousin. They were both Greenstone Clan, and such a mating would be incestuous in the eyes of his people. The punishment for such a crime would be immediate and agonizing death. Nine Killer’s family would probably be rounded up, and burned with him, including his sister, Rosebud, her daughter, White Otter, and the rest of the children. The idea was that only burning purified the insult to the gods, and their mortal descendants. To insure that the gods were placated, those who engaged in incest were burned slowly, the flesh seared from their bones so that their screams carried to the spirit world.
Despite such dire consequences, Nine Killer never allowed himself to be alone with Shell Comb for any length of time, unsure of his resolve should she ever offer herself.
The Kwiokos, Green Serpent, sat on the right side of the fire, Lightning Cat and Streaked Bear dutifully behind him. The old priest looked tired. His eyes wandered as if the purpose of the council eluded him.
Hunting Hawk’s niece, Yellow Net, sat just to his right. A prominent member of the community, Hunting Hawk had always sought Yellow Net’s advice on matters concerning the village. She was the daughter of Hunting Hawk’s younger sister, and an old friend of Shell Comb’s. A somber expression creased Yellow Net’s face.
“I have received a message from Three Myrtle Village,” Hunting Hawk said wearily. “Black Spike informs us that if we want High Fox, we will find his warriors waiting for us. He claims his son is innocent.”
“He is.” Shell Comb gave her mother a level stare. “This is a distraction. We are losing time and advantage as Corn Hunter prepares for our retaliation.”
“The young man’s tracks led right to the girl’s body.” Hunting Hawk glared back. “Corn Hunter’s warriors were found on the other side of the ridge. From where Quick Fawn saw them, and where Nine Killer intercepted them, they could not have killed her.” “They could have. If you assume they killed her as a distraction, then doubled back around the ridge to catch us unaware.” Shell Comb narrowed an eye, as if daring her mother. Hunting Hawk glanced at Nine Killer, ignoring the statement.
Nine Killer sighed, and spread his hands. “It is possible, but I don’t think it happened that way.”
“And why not?” Shell Comb had turned her attention on him. Curse it, a man could melt under those eyes.
Why did she have to look at him that way?
“If Winged Blackbird’s warriors had killed her, wouldn’t they have simply retreated, their mission accomplished? A dead Red Knot couldn’t marry the Great Tayac. They would have scalped the girl, mutilated her in some way to send us a message, a warning not to ally with the upriver villages.”
“Assuming they knew who she was,” Copper Thunder added. “Perhaps, unaware, she walked right into the middle of them. They killed her so she could give no warning, and hurried on.”
Tayac, you know better than that. Even if a war party didn’t recognize her, they would have taken a trophy, something to give Corn Hunter. What game are you playing, beast?
Before Nine Killer could respond, Yellow Net shook her head. “No. Winged Blackbird knew her.” Her gaze shifted to Shell Comb. “A year ago … you took her with you when we traded for rhyolite.”
Shell Comb nodded slowly. “Yes, she played with many of the children. Even Corn Hunter’s. They would have known her.” She gave Nine Killer a forgiving look. “Perhaps they didn’t kill her, War Chief. But I… it’s just…”