People of the Nightland(67)

She ground her teeth, watching the fire—a wealth of wood packed in on the backs of captives—burn into smoke that rose up through the ice.

A droplet of water spattered on the leather beside her.

“The hole in the ice is there, Deputy,” the Guide said, as if reading her thoughts.

“Of course,” she told him, masking her own doubts.

Ti-Bish gave her a knowing smile, his eyes warming. “If it helps, you won’t be making that passage.”

She started. “I won’t?” A chill flowed through her, images of Maga’s body filling her thoughts. Please, tell me it won’t be a gut wound!

Ti-Bish fixed his understanding eyes on hers. “Power has another fate in store for you. You and the war chief are the lace that mends us.”

“The lace … ? I don’t understand.”

“No, but you will. The lace must be wetted, then allowed to dry into a tight binding.Your soul isn’t made for the paradise of the Long Dark.You must see the Raven Bundle to dry land.”

“You speak in riddles, Guide.” She took a deep breath, aware that most of her warriors, weary from days on the trail, had succumbed to the soft hides and dozed off.

In a soft voice, Ti-Bish said, “Follow your heart, Keresa. It will lead you in the right direction. This world is ending. Washed clean. Power is turning; something new is being born.”

“And what would that be?”

“The future.” He shrugged, reaching down again as Kakala gasped in his sleep.

“What did you give him?” she asked, indicating the little wooden cup beside Kakala.

“An herb tea made of moss, phlox, and a certain mushroom. He is Dreaming, allowing his soul to fly to the past.”

“With his wife?” she asked curiously. Thoughts of her own youth, of being a misunderstood girl, filled her. Once again she could see her parents’ disapproving stare as she returned from her first hunt. At nine, she’d run off, spent four days on the tundra, and returned with a brace of partridges, two hares, and a pika. The load had almost been more than she could carry.

She had expected praise, but her father had beaten her, insisting in no uncertain terms that such doings were for boys. Her older sisters had just rolled their eyes.

And where are they now? Both women were widows, with six children among them, living on the largess provided by Sunpath captives who bore food up from the forested lands to the south.

“Your children will be the binding,” the Guide told her.

“I have no wish for a man.” She almost snorted her derision. She had yet to meet one who could stand to put up with her ways. Well, all but Kakala, perhaps. And their souls, so close as warriors, would have rubbed raw as man and wife.

“And he has no wish for you,” Ti-Bish added. Then he smiled. “Yet.”

She chuckled. At least it wouldn’t be Nashat!

At that moment, the Ash Clan chief, Khepa, entered the room, stopped short, and stared with startled eyes.

“Guide?” the old man asked, his right hand trembling uncontrollably.

“Greetings, Councilor,” Ti-Bish said, suddenly uncomfortable.

“What are these warriors doing here?” The old man’s glassy eyes took in the sleeping warriors. “And isn’t Kakala supposed to be in a cage?”

“I … I freed him.” Ti-Bish couldn’t seem to meet Khepa’s eyes.

“You … But, Nashat …”

“Nashat what?” came the sharp query as Nashat himself strode in, stopped short, and recognized Kakala. His eyebrows arched sharply, and his gaze fixed on Ti-Bish. “Guide? What is going on here?”

“Well, you see … Kakala … he was in a … cage.”

“He failed you!”

“No … that is …” Ti-Bish swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on his hands.

Dumbfounded, Keresa watched the Guide fumble with his fingers. She stood, kicked Kakala hard, and stepped between Nashat and Ti-Bish, who also stood, shifting awkwardly.

“There had better be a good explanation for this,” Nashat growled.

Keresa braced her hands on her hips, stating, “The Guide ordered him freed.”

Nashat stopped short, eyes half-lidded. “I thought you were hunting Windwolf, Deputy.” Then he gave her a sly smile, his gaze lingering on her body. “But, for certain consideration, I might overlook your dereliction of duty. Perhaps we could discuss it later, in my chamber?”

“We will not,” she snapped, caution vying with a sudden anger. She was aware of Kakala, awakened by her swift kick, sitting up on the hides, his eyes oddly unfocused as he peered around. Several of her warriors had awakened, and were nudging the others.