She felt the growing child in her womb shift, pressing on her bladder for a moment. She took a deep breath, irritated that the life within her didn’t have the decorum to pick a less auspicious time. She shifted to ease her discomfort.
“The inescapable conclusion,” Blue Heron exclaimed, “is that whoever is taunting us has a tie with Yellow Star mounds. We could have discounted the arrow maker’s identification of the Tula bows. After all, what’s an arrow maker’s judgment worth? But when we send for the amayxoya, and he’s immediately killed to prevent us from learning anything about the Tula? I may be simple, but that is pretty convincing to me.”
“I’m still having trouble with this.” Tonka’tzi Wind touched the tips of her fingers together. “Why these Tula? What have we ever done to them? A people I’ve never even heard of? Yes, I could understand if it were some barbarian tribe on the eastern coastal plain, or in the southern or northern forests, who had been displaced by one of our colonies. But we have not, and will not, infringe on the territorial rights of our allies. And Yellow Star is an ally.”
Takes Horn Fivekiller had been listening as his translators whispered in his ear. Now he spoke, the translators saying, “Perhaps this is a means of breaking that alliance?”
Blue Heron, fingering her healing throat, shook her head. “I think not, my good friend. Though I almost wish that were the case. If it were, we could foil the plotters with a simple reaffirmation of our alliance and good will. Strengthen it, in fact.” She touched her chin respectfully to augment her words.
That’s a good trick, one I need to remember.
Lace, to show her agreement, nodded and touched her own chin.
“No,” Blue Heron continued, still speaking to the Yellow Star emissary. “The strike is aimed at us, and only at us. The amayxoya’s death, through tragic, was incidental. Your good friend and leader, unfortunately, either knew, or may have known, something that would have damaged the assassin and his plans.”
“But what?” the translators asked as they repeated Takes Horn’s question. “His last words were ‘The young walk.’ Of course the young walk. They also swim and run. He was trying, through the blood, to tell me something. I have struggled, laid awake, and tortured myself, but cannot imagine what it might be.”
“Perhaps it will come to you,” the Tonka’tzi said wistfully. “Or perhaps we may yet uncover the plot on our own. Surely the assassin will make a mistake.” She glanced up at the darkening smoke hole overhead. “For tonight I think we’ve done enough. Tell those who are waiting at the bottom of the steps that we shall take up their claims and requests in the morning.”
With that she raised her head and arms, calling out the blessing of the Morning Star upon all who were present.
Lace gestured, signaling White Squash, her household chief to collect her porters. Then she waited as the people present prostrated themselves, bowed, or lowered their heads depending upon class and status.
Only after the Tonka’tzi had been carried out did her porters lift her litter and bear it from the room and out into the dusk. From the look of the clouds, it would be another rainy night.
She pursed her lips, considering the recent events, as the litter was born through the massive wooden gate. Her bearers started down the ramp. The great plaza, in evening shadow, still hosted a couple of stickball teams as they raced back and forth, apparently having more fun than success, since they could barely see the ball when it was pitched.
At the foot of the stairs, the crowd made way for the Tonka’tzi, a squad of warriors marching out in formation as they bore her aunt toward the Four Winds Clan house. By the time Lace was carried to the bottom, most of the crowd was filtering away into the darkness. The Traders were packing up their wares, the pilgrims singing their chants and leaving offerings at the base of the Morning Star’s great earthen pyramid.
Her own warrior escort fanned out. The outermost scouts took position no more distant than an arrow could be shot.
“Lady?” White Squash began where she walked beside the litter. “I have news. Your husband has returned from his clan business up north. He arrived with a couple of friends this afternoon and sent a runner. I didn’t have the time to inform you, as busy as your schedule was.”
She smiled at that. “Thank you.” As desperate and confused as things had become, sleeping next to him would be reassuring. She’d been so frightened since the attacks began that she’d actually allowed two armed Four Winds warriors, kinsmen, to stand just inside her door for the last couple of nights.