“Hide the people in the rockshelters.”
Kakala asked, “If I capture women and children and threaten to kill them unless he surrenders, what will he do?
“He’ll be expecting that.”
“Which means?”
Goodeagle shook his head. “I—I don’t know, but for every move you plan to make, he’s designed a countermove. If I were you, I’d stop thinking like a war chief and start thinking like a Prophet. The only way you’re going to beat him is if you can see the future.”
Again, that pride …
It certainly annoyed Kakala; Keresa could see it in the set of his lips. “If I capture ten tens of children and aim darts at their little chests, then he’ll be cornered and he—”
Goodeagle laughed loud and long.
Kakala just watched him through flat eyes. “I gather you’re trying to tell me something, Goodeagle.”
“I’m surprised after fighting against him for so long, you could entertain something like that. If you put the Lame Bull children at risk like that, you’ve played right into Windwolf’s hands. He’ll order every man, woman, and child to take up weapons and rush you.” He smirked. “And, they’ll do it.”
“That’s suicidal.”
“Of course, but he’ll take a lot of you with him, and that will ease his conscience.”
“Ridiculous! He wouldn’t risk killing women and children.”
“The Sunpath People aren’t like you soft Nightland dogs, Kakala. After our women have used their hide scrapers on your warriors’ faces for a time, you’ll understand that.” He tried to suppress the insane chuckle that shook him. Tears welled in his eyes—but not from amusement. “And if that doesn’t stop your attack, Windwolf will just do something so totally unexpected that not even I can imagine it.”
“Try?”
Goodeagle felt the smile fade from his face. “He’ll be thinking of Walking Seal Village. It haunts his soul. He’ll trap you, just as you tried to trap him.”
“But you told me that he wanted to trap us at Walking Seal Village. That Bramble was the bait.”
“Oh, yes, and what an irony this will be.”
“But this time, he doesn’t have any of my people for bait the way we had Bramble.”
“He has himself.”
Kakala snorted. “Impossible.”
“I’ve told you. Go on, fall headlong into it.” Goodeagle folded his arms tightly across his chest and squeezed, rocking back and forth, apparently trying to force the ache from his heart.
He’s ready to fall apart. The realization took Keresa by surprise.
Kakala tossed the dregs of his tea into the fire and stood up. “Go back to your hides. You’re of no use to me.”
Goodeagle stood, his eyes moist, and walked away.
Keresa studied him across the distance. The man sat by the fire, staring at the flames while he rocked back and forth.
Windwolf rolled to his back and stared at the door curtain. Wind Woman breathed against it, making it sway. It would be dawn soon. A pale blue gleam lit the world outside.
He hadn’t slept well. Goodeagle had filled his Dreams. All night long, vestiges of old and abiding friendship had vied with hatred. Even now, when he closed his eyes, he could see Goodeagle’s smile, filled with warmth and friendship.
What did I do to you, Goodeagle? What did I do to hurt you so much that you’d—
Voices rose outside, and he heard people moving around Headswift Village, going about their morning duties. The smell of fish cooking drifted in with the wind.
He threw off his hides and got up.
It was time to face the village Elders.
They weren’t going to like what he was about to tell them.
Twenty-eight
As Windwolf walked through one of the warrenlike passages, dawn light streamed between gaps in the boulders overhead. It dappled the silt-laden gravel at his feet. From the smooth surface of the rocks—they looked as though they’d been polished—he suspected these tunnels had once been filled with ice. When the ice melted, the boulders had collapsed on top of each other, forming the maze of passages.
Men’s voices echoed down the tunnel. He walked toward them, rounded the bend, and saw War Chief Fish Hawk looking up at a big gap, perhaps a body length across. Two men stood on the boulders above, peering down.
Windwolf called up to them, “When you’re finished, cover it with branches and dirt.”
Fish Hawk said, “I pray this works.”
“It will work. Just make sure you can trust every warrior you place at these critical spots.”
Fish Hawk let out a breath. “I will. I’m still not convinced—”