“Do she and Right Hand know of the other knives?” Night Shadow Star asked.
Blue Heron arched an eyebrow. “With the exception of the assassin himself, or assassins as the case may be, only the people in this room and Matron Wind know. If we hear anyone else mention the blades … Well, it will prove to be a most interesting interrogation when we find out how they know.”
Morning Star now watched Sun Wing from the corner of his eye, as though intrigued that she stared so raptly at the bit of broken knife.
On impulse, Blue Heron tossed it to her, saying, “You find the magnificent stone knife that is missing that piece, and whoever is carrying it will turn out to be our assassin.”
Sun Wing caught it with a snapping twist of her hand, and lifted it, a rapt look on her face as she inspected the keen edge.
Blue Heron added, “Cut String’s uncle, Pond Water, has been hung in a square. He’s crying, pleading, insisting that it’s all his fault. He says some stone Trader gave him the knife, told him that if he couldn’t talk Cut String into the assassination attempt, he’d disclose Pond Water’s incest. My belief is that he’s telling the truth. Someone, very cleverly, used him as a tool.”
“What of the thief?” Night Shadow Star asked as she tried to hide the distaste at her sister’s fascination with the knife. “What does he add to our understanding?”
Blue Heron saw Seven Skull Shield cast an uneasy glance at the Morning Star; then the man touched his forehead respectfully. Even in the presence of the living god, he gave Night Shadow Star a lascivious grin. “I’ve been seeing to things, Lady. Whoever is behind carving, or trying to carve, Four Winds Clan throats, he’s a canny one.”
“And you know this how, thief?” Sun Wing couldn’t keep the disgust from her voice.
Seven Skull Shield was good. The only hint he gave of his irritation was the slightest tightening at the corners of his eyes. “I know it, Great Lady, because no one else knows it.”
“Why is this idiot here, Night Shadow Star? You’re the one who had the Clan Keeper find him. To what purpose?”
Seven Skull Shield, to his credit, spread his hands wide and inclined his head respectfully as he continued in a reasonable voice. “Great Lady”—he kept the sarcasm to a faint inflection—“there are people in Cahokia who make it their business to know everything that’s going on. Who is dealing with whom. Which embassies are arriving, and what Trade they bring. They know who has committed crimes, and what it is worth to either find, or hide, those people. Sometimes just knowing is worth a great—”
“Who?” Sun Wing demanded hotly. “Who dares infringe on the right and authority of the Four Winds Clan in this manner?”
“Half the city,” Blue Heron blurted dryly. “Which you’d know if you ever got out among the people.”
“No,” Seven Skull Shield countered matter-of-factly, “she wouldn’t, Clan Keeper. She’s who she is, and she wears that identity like face paint. Even you, Clan Keeper, as talented as you are, and knowing what you do, have no idea of the true identities of those people.”
“And you do?” Sun Wing bit off the words.
“Yes.”
“You will tell me. Right this moment.”
He glanced uneasily at the Morning Star, then at Blue Heron, and said, “I will not.”
“Enough!” Morning Star broke his silence, gesturing Sun Wing back into her litter seat as she started to rise, her face burning, eyes enraged.
“But, my Lord—”
“The thief has his place.” Morning Star waved her down, but his suddenly intense eyes were locked with Night Shadow Star’s. They might have been waging some unspoken wrestling match.
To Seven Skull Shield, Sun Wing added, “I could have you hung in a square, torture the names out of you.”
Seven Skull Shield kept his wary eyes on the Morning Star as he said, “You could do that. But I’d never live long enough to give you the names. As soon as word traveled that I was in a square, and that you wanted names, I’d be found dead within a couple of hands’ time. They’d see to it. One way, or another.”
“How?” Morning Star asked, turning his thoughtful eyes on Seven Skull Shield.
This time there was no insolence in his deep bow as he touched his forehead, and voice low, answered, “They control the homeless, the lost individuals, those with no hope. They hold sway over others as well. Even chiefs and matrons have gambling debts, owe favors, or are otherwise beholden to such persons. Their influence and authority comes not from birth, but from who and what they control.”