Pine Drop shook her head. “I don’t like it. I mean the idea that she just goes out into the swamp for her moon. Anything could be happening out there.”
He gave her a sidelong inspection. “Are you worried about her?”
“No, husband. I’m worried about you. Deep Hunter and some of the others might not be the only ones who are bitter about the past. I think you can wager that Jaguar Hide isn’t acting in your best interests.”
How much did he dare tell her? “No, he has his own plans.”
“And Anhinga? There is talk. Eats Wood swears she is the same woman your brother captured in the Ground Cherry Camp raid.”
“She is.”
“What?” Pine Drop cried, using his arm to turn him so that she could stare into his eyes. Did all the women in his life have to be taller than he?
“We are bound, she and I. It is a thing I cannot explain. Something that no one but I can understand.”
“You and Masked Owl!”
He started, instantly regretting it as she read his expression.
Her voice dropped. “Is he real, Salamander? Does Masked Owl really come to you?”
He swallowed hard, knowing it made him look nervous, unable to help it. He bargained for time. “What do you think?”
She shook her head, a fragility in her eyes. “I don’t know. I just don’t know. Tell me, please. Tell me that it’s just an act, a thing you do to keep your enemies off-balance.”
That brought a wistful smile to his lips. “Pine Drop, why is it easier to believe that I’m making this up than it is to know that I converse with Masked Owl?”
She sank white teeth into her lower lip, searching his eyes, then said, “Spirit Power scares me, husband. I don’t know what it wants from you, or from me. I just have a feeling, is all. And you, you’re vulnerable, Salamander. You have a great number of enemies. Don’t you understand, they are waiting to destroy you.”
He reached out, running the backs of his fingers along her smooth cheek. “All but you and Water Petal. What has happened to you, Pine Drop? What do you see in me that the others don’t?”
Her expression pinched. “I don’t want you hurt. It is important that you understand that. I don’t know what I can do to protect you. I have my duties to my clan, and I will attend to them, no matter what.”
“I am forewarned, and I thank you for that. I wouldn’t expect you to act against the wishes of your clan. Whatever you must do, I will understand. You must not worry about me. I will take care of myself.”
She sighed wearily, shaking her head. “That doesn’t make it any easier.”
“It should.” He turned his eyes back to the northern end of the lake, where the Traders had disappeared. “When the time comes, Wife, we must follow our hearts. Remember that I said that. Things are happening. Power is gathering.”
She tightened her grip on his arm. “Come home with me, husband. The Snakes know where Night Rain is off to, but maybe she’ll stay gone for the night. I would like to have you to myself for a time. Just you and me together for as long as we can keep the world away.”
He let her lead him south past the Men’s House, hardly aware of the grim stares that Eats Wood and Red Finger gave him as he passed. He held his wife’s hand, and wished he were someone else, someone that Power and circumstance hadn’t called upon. Later, in Pine Drop’s arms, he forgot even that.
The canoe bearing Yellow Spider and Bluefin arrived in late morning. Mud Stalker matched his stride with Deep Hunter’s as they descended the trodden soil of the canoe landing. Squinting into the hot sunlight, he could see a small crowd already gathering. People were slapping Yellow Spider on the back, asking questions.
“Did you have trouble?”
“None,” Bluefin replied, a grin breaking his normally placid face.
“Did you see any Swamp Panthers?”
“A canoe with two men,” Yellow Spider replied. “We called out that we came for sandstone under Jaguar Hide’s peace. They said nothing, just nodded, but they watched us the entire time. Seeing what we did, and that we did nothing more than collect sandstone.”
One of the Eagle Clan men spoke. “I would be obliged for a piece of that. In fact, that piece right there on top. I’m sanding beads for a necklace.”
“We are pleased to present it to you,” Yellow Spider remarked with a smile as he handed over the thick piece of sandstone.
“What is this?” Clay Fat asked as he strode up to stand beside Mud Stalker and Deep Hunter.
“The first canoe load of Swamp Panther sandstone,” Deep Hunter answered.