People of the Owl(199)
“Bah! He’s soft. Willing to take the easy way for less when the hard path will give him more.”
“Is that so bad?” She studied the little mouth working so desperately at her breast.
She looked up at his silence, startled to find his expression hard, an unforgiving glint in his eyes. “Are you giving up on me, Niece? Is that what you are trying to tell me? That now that you have a husband who fought for you, and planted that child within you, that your heart has lost the fire of revenge?”
She gave him a grim smile. “No, Uncle. I came here to tell you that the time has come to strike.”
He settled back, exhaling as he closed his eyes. “I cannot tell you how I worried. First Striped Dart returns, obviously bearing secrets. Then moons pass without word from you, and finally, when you do come, it is with the warning that we must be guarded here. What was I supposed to think?”
“Perhaps you should have thought less and looked deeper into my heart.”
“So, you want to strike now? Why?”
“We are running out of time. The clans are gathering against Salamander.” She frowned at that, surprised it hurt to admit that in front of her uncle.
“You fear for your life if they move against him?”
She shrugged. “It’s not that. I will have warning enough to get away. He’s a good man, that’s all. And the odd thing is, he’s a Powerful one. Uncle, he knows what is coming, but does nothing to avoid it.”
“How is that?”
“He knows that the clans are poised to strike him down, but he goes about his life searching for the proper actions to save not himself, but everyone else.”
“Sounds like the ways of a fool, if you ask me.”
She gave him a bitter smile. “Never think him a fool, Uncle.”
“A man with Power against him—not to mention so many people—isn’t smart.”
“My husband is a very smart man, Uncle.” She gave him a half-lidded stare. “Smart in ways that I don’t think you can understand, but we’re straying from my reason for meeting you.” She met his eyes. “The Dead have been coming to me, pleading with me. I have to act, Uncle, or they will lose their patience with me.”
“How do you intend to do this?”
She gestured over her shoulder. “Do you remember the hemlock that grows on the far side of the island?”
A slow smile spread on his lips. “Ah, and then?”
“The next time I paddle south, Uncle, will be for the last time.”
Fifty-two
Firelight illuminated the interior of the Men’s House; it flashed on the masks and danced over cane walls decorated with the hanging trophies, war clubs, sets of antlers, and grinning human skulls. Beyond the east-facing windows, the night was black, veiled with thick clouds that promised rain. But for the crackle of the fire, only the sounds of the night insects broke the silence.
Mud Stalker reached for a section of broken oak and tossed it into the fire. Sparks crackled and whirled, dancing in the air. He stroked his chin, dark eyes watching the licking flames.
“Speaker?” Water Stinger called from the door. “Speaker Deep Hunter is coming.”
“Is he alone?”
“Yes, Speaker.”
“Please see that we are not bothered. And make doubly sure that no one is lurking around the windows or pressing their ears to the walls.”
Water Stinger’s lips twitched. “Yes, Speaker, I understand.”
“Also …”
“Yes, Speaker?”
“Stick your fingers in your ears. You don’t need to hear this either.”
Water Stinger smiled, nodding. “Yes, Speaker. I understand.” He ducked out the door and into the night. Several heartbeats later Mud Stalker heard soft voices, then Deep Hunter stepped in.
The Speaker wore a bobcat pelt over his shoulder; a dark brown breechcloth with interlocked alligators on the flap hung down the front. He raised an eyebrow as he stopped short and studied Mud Stalker. Then his eyes made a quick survey of the room, a question reflected in the set of his mouth.
“There is no one else here. Thank you for coming.” Mud Stalker gestured at the mat across the fire from him.
“Just the two of us?” Deep Hunter asked. “In the middle of the night?”
“Just the two of us. My young hunter will ensure that we are not interrupted and can speak our minds without having it carried to every hungry ear and flapping set of jaws among the clans.”
Deep Hunter shrugged and walked across to ease himself down onto the matting. His bones cracked as he settled himself and removed the bobcat hide from around his shoulders. With careful fingers he folded it and laid it neatly to one side.