It seemed an eternity before she backed away, leaving him whimpering and weak like a wounded puppy. Her chin was down, brow furrowed. This time her eyes didn’t violate him, but simply watched in a passive stare.
After an eternity she said, “You are an unusual young man, Salamander.” She paused. “You would have made a great Dreamer.”
I won’t be a Dreamer? Nothing had prepared him for the sense of loss that washed atop his fear.
She smiled then, an expression of pity on her perfect lips. “Nothing comes without a price.”
A feeling of despair washed through him. How did he chose between Dreaming and helping his people? How did he know what was right. It would be easier to let brother mushroom kill me.
“It would.” Her smile challenged him. “Is that your choice?”
No. I will live.
“Once upon a time, I, too, followed the path you have taken. Brother mushroom can show you a great many things, but unless you are trained, it is illusion. Not to be taken lightly.”
I know.
“I will help you Dance with brother mushroom’s Power. We will have to do this together, you, and I, and brother mushroom.”
Thank you!
“Do not thank me, Salamander. My help will rouse jealousies. Wolf Dreamer and Raven Hunter rarely join forces, but my interference could be enough to ally them against you.”
Who?
“You know them as Masked Owl and Many Colored Crow. They are the Hero Twins, the brothers of Light and Dark. Terrible things happen when opposites are crossed.”
She reached out, her slim fingers tracing his cheek. Waves of cool relief washed through him. Had he ever felt such pleasure?
“You cannot escape brother mushroom by yourself, Salamander.” She stepped closer, her ethereal body a hand’s breadth from his. Her dark eyes sucked at his souls. “You do not know the way to the One. I will have to Dance it with you. In the process, you can see the channels of the future. I warn you now, it will come at a price, young Salamander. Will you pay it?”
Yes.
He was aware of the white bearhide as she wrapped it around them, pulling his souls against hers, locking them together. He opened his mouth to cry out.
And then … ecstasy!
Forty-six
Secrets! The whole world was filled with secrets! Night Rain fumed, but it did little good. She kept her own secrets, while the secrets of others remained hidden from her. She didn’t want to be here, out in the cold gray day, pinned in place by her uncle. Alone, she had to bear that hard penetrating look in his eyes.
Mud Stalker clamped a hand on her shoulder. “You must have heard something about Eats Wood?”
“I can tell you honestly that I have never heard my husband or Anhinga mention Eats Wood. Not once.”
Uncle’s gaze pricked at her souls like a copper needle. “He vanished the last time that barbarian bitch left Sun Town, Niece.” His eyes narrowed. “You and I, I thought we had a special relationship. Especially after our last little talk.”
Like a fish in a weir, she could feel bars rising to catch her. “I would hope that we do, Uncle.”
He shook his head, glancing around at the blustery brown day. “I raised you better. Think, woman, what could you possibly owe that barbarian bitch? And after what she did to you? The way she humiliated you?”
Night Rain bit her lip.
“What are you hiding?” Mud Stalker shifted, leaning back. “Don’t trifle with me, woman. I’ve been at this game for so long I can smell deception.”
“I swear to you on my souls that I haven’t heard a single word about Eats Wood from anyone! Salamander hasn’t mentioned him. Neither has Anhinga!”
“And your sister?”
“I can only tell you that she doesn’t think Salamander had anything to do with his disappearance.”
“What does Deep Hunter say?”
“I haven’t seen him since I went home to my husband.”
“And Saw Back?”
“I haven’t seen him either, and I don’t want to.”
He watched her through narrowed eyes. “For the right reasons I could be tempted to support a divorce. Owl Clan couldn’t deny us—and that silly Moccasin Leaf would agree to fly off to the moon if I asked her to. She is desperate to curry our favor.”
“No, Uncle.”
“What?”
She glared at him. “I will stay with Salamander.” Assuming she could figure out who this new Salamander was. During his illness, something had changed. When he looked at her now, it was with a longing that melted her souls. She could feel it, a sensation of Power that spun around him. It was as if he could touch a winter-dry stem, and it would burst into bloom.
Uncle, his eyes narrowed, might have heard her thoughts the way Pine Drop claimed that Salamander had heard hers. “What is it, Night Rain? Snakes and poison! I’m your uncle. You can tell me. What hold does he and that cunning barbarian witch have on you and Pine Drop? Is it witchcraft? Some spell he’s cast on the two of you?”