People of the Nightland(133)
Ti-Bish kept quiet.
Nashat turned to Skimmer and malevolently said, “What’s the last thing you saw at Headswift Village?”
Skimmer wet her lips. She could sense his hidden joy, as though he was about to reveal some terrible bit of knowledge that he knew would hurt her. “Windwolf was preparing to fight Kakala.”
Nashat walked to the tea bag and dipped himself a cupful. He took his time swirling it before he said, “After that, Kakala overran the place. He tortured Windwolf to death, then hunted down and killed every man, woman, and child who had sheltered Windwolf. Including your daughter,” he said pointedly.
Skimmer had to lock her knees to keep standing. No, he’s lying. He’s lying!
Ti-Bish shakily got to his feet, and stared at Nashat with his mouth open. “You … you ordered Kakala to kill the Lame Bull People?”
“Of course I did. They deserved it. But I also did as you instructed and told Kakala not to harm any Sunpath People. Though that was certainly a mistake.”
“A mistake?” Ti-Bish asked in a tortured voice.
Nashat heaved a breath. “Ti-Bish, did Skimmer tell you that her friends, the Lame Bull People, sent her here to kill you? Did she mention that Windwolf was planning on attacking these caves, and hoped to kill us all?”
“What?” Ti-Bish whirled to stare at her. Every line in his face tensed with hurt.
She gave Ti-Bish a narrow-eyed appraisal, saying, “Don’t worry, Guide.You’re still alive. I think we both know the source of the problem.” Her voice hardened. “And so does Raven Hunter.”
Nashat ignored her, continuing to say, “Oh, yes, they sent her here specifically to keep you distracted while they organized their forces; then, at the last instant before they attacked, she was supposed to assassinate you.”
Ti-Bish gaped at her. “Is that true?”
“I came to kill you in revenge for the murder of Nine Pipes women in the pen just south of the Nightland Caves. You ordered Kakala to destroy the Nine Pipes and have me brought here. Nashat took a woman called Blue Wing from the pen. The rest were clubbed in the head by Karigi’s warriors. Murdered. When Nashat ordered it, he said it was your wish.”
Nashat was giving her a slit-eyed stare. “Then how did you survive?”
“By hiding under the corpses of the dead, you piece of filth. If so many hadn’t died of thirst, hunger, and cold, you would have got us all.”
At the still, ravaged expression on Ti-Bish’s face, she walked toward him and knelt at his feet. “I am telling you the truth, Ti-Bish. I came to kill the person responsible. And you are not he.”
Nashat squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Don’t be a fool, Ti-Bish. She’s using your emotions against you. Can’t you see that?”
Ti-Bish stuttered, “If S-Skimmer says she’s telling the truth, I trust her.” He looked up, stunned, tears beginning to leak down his cheeks. “But these other things? All of these horrible things? You have murdered in my name?”
“Of course,” Nashat laughed, throwing up his hands. “It was necessary. We needed the supplies. What do you think you’ve been eating for the last two winters? It’s food taken from the Sunpath camps! And as to your friend, Kakala, a rumor has come that the fool managed to get himself trapped at Headswift Village. I have sent runners for Karigi and Blackta. We’ll deal with the Lame Bull threat once and for all.”
“No.” Ti-Bish stiffened. “Send runners to bring our warriors home so that they can prepare for the journey to the Long Dark.”
Nashat rolled his eyes and grinned, inspecting Skimmer. “With a bath and a clean dress—”
“No!” Ti-Bish cried. “You send those runners! If you don’t I—I’ll tell the other Elders that you’re trying to leave members of their clans behind!”
Nashat stopped and gave Ti-Bish an evil look. “Do you wish to challenge me?”
Skimmer stepped between Ti-Bish and Nashat. “He does. Come on, Nashat, you and me. Right here. Let us see who serves the Guide. I call on Raven Hunter’s Power to aid me. What do you call on, you foul wretch?”
She saw his eyes widen, the first tremble of fear glittering behind his eyes.
“I need only call the guard,” he said softly. “And you will be servicing the warriors one after another until you come to wish you’d died in that pen.”
“I did die in that pen. I came here for justice, you pus-licking scum. And now I’m going to have it.” She stepped forward, all of the anger washing up through her soul.
Nashat scrambled back, hands up, eyes wide with disbelief.