She knelt on the hides.
A brief expression of relief crossed his face. He lowered himself across the fire from her, and stifled a weary sigh.
“War Chief,” she began, “thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”
He nodded. “How is Kakala?”
“Delirious. As I’m sure your spies have told you. He keeps reliving old battles. All night long he called for Hako and Tanta, and screamed things about Brookwood Village.”
Windwolf reached over and dipped himself a cup of tea. As he swirled the liquid, he said, “He was placed in a cage as punishment, wasn’t he?”
“Yes. Our Council of Elders ordered that every warrior involved in the battle be locked in a wooden cage. Since War Chief Gowinn was killed in the battle, Kakala, his deputy, was singled out for punishment. They tortured him for two moons. When he was finally freed, he crawled out of his cage a changed man, they said. He spent several moons living alone in the mountains.”
Windwolf sipped his tea and casually said, “Why did the Nightland Elders do that?”
She lifted a shoulder. “If you punish people for losing battles, they won’t lose as many.”
“If you escape, will they do that to you?”
A cold sensation filtered through her, as though ice water had just been poured into her veins. “Let’s … let’s talk about something else.”
He slowly shook his head. “Once, before the coming of Nashat and the Prophet, the Nightland People were envied. Your people harvested the waterfowl, fished the Thunder Sea, hunted the seasonal migrations of the caribou, and stored their wealth of food in the ice caves for winter. You crafted the finest artwork, conducted the most elaborate rituals. Your Dreamers charted the paths of Father Sun, Sister Moon, and the Star People. You made the finest boats out of wood we Traded north in return for your dressed hides, paintings, and shell jewelry.”
She sat silently, remembering.
Windwolf clapped a weary hand to his knee. “And now your Council orders its finest warriors placed in cages.” His gaze bored into hers. “I have just learned that they had Kakala locked in a cage again because he failed to take Headswift Village with ten and eight warriors. How he was returned to leadership is a little hazy, but tell me, are your chiefs mad?”
She caught herself on the verge of speaking, and bit her lip.
“I thought so,” he added, reading her expression too well. “Tell me, how did Kakala get out this time?”
“On the Guide’s orders.”
“He didn’t order him placed there?”
She gave him a narrow-eyed glare.
“Nashat,” Windwolf guessed.
At her silence, he asked, “What do you think of this Guide of yours?”
“He will lead us to the paradise of the Long Dark.” It was a safe answer.
Windwolf stared at her for a long time before saying, “Kakala is interesting, isn’t he? After the Sprucebell massacre, did he really send runners to the surrounding Sunpath villages telling the chiefs to be ready for the survivors?”
“He did.”
“Thoughtful of him, considering that the Nightland Elders might have had him killed for it.”
“He knew that.”
“Then why did he take the chance?”
“To save a few worthless Sunpath lives.”
Windwolf ran a hand through his damp hair. “That’s difficult to believe, considering the tens of tens he’s taken in the past few summers. But I’m sure he has his reasons. I’ve promised myself that after I’ve had a thick buffalo steak and slept for three days, I’ll think about it.”
She lifted a brow. “Why don’t you just ask him? When he gets better.”
“If he gets better. I really was trying to kill him.”
Just like I tried to kill you. She clamped her jaw and watched the way the dim light shadowed his forearm above his wrist. His hand shook slightly from exhaustion. “You’re not very subtle.”
“But I’m a good host. Your cup is empty. Please fill it again. Some of the refugees killed an elk on the way. They would think poorly of me were they to learn, but you are welcome to the piece offered to me.” He raised his voice. “Fish Hawk?”
“Yes, War Chief?”
“Could you bring that roasted elk to me?”
“Of course.”
She dipped her tea, thinking, Keep him talking on friendly terms; think of something.
“That was a crazy stunt you pulled at Jayhawk Village.”
He looked at her curiously, aware of the change of subject. “You were holding my people hostage. What did you expect me to do?”
“Something saner.You rushed a heavily armed camp with six warriors to rescue two people?”